Category: English

After Yelena Sullivan, the youngest daughter of the Sullivan family, lost her sight, my older brother Ethan Lambert broke off their engagement and went abroad. My parents had no choice but to send me, their adopted son, to live with her as compensation. For five years, I meticulously cared for Yelena until her vision was finally restored. Just as Yelena and I were about to get married, Ethan showed up at the wedding with a bouquet of flowers, knelt on one knee, and confessed his love to her in a voice thick with emotion. Yelena, who had always been cold and distant, burst into tears. She threw away her wedding ring, rushed off the stage, and blamed Ethan for why he had waited until now to come back for her. At that moment, all the guests were laughing at me. I simply changed out of my wedding attire and quietly gave up the ceremony to them. Yelena praised me for being understanding and generous, insisting it was all a charade and promising her husband’s title would belong to me always. I smiled but said nothing, booking a one-way ticket abroad. Yelena had no idea that the care I gave her all those years was nothing more than a paid job. Now that Yelena’s old flame had returned, it was time for me to live my own life.

As soon as I stepped off the stage, I heard Ethan explain, “Lena, I was diagnosed with cancer back then. I didn’t want to burden you with my worries, so I went abroad, but I never expected it to be all just a misunderstanding. “You regained your sight because I prayed for you day and night. “I’ve always loved you, and that hasn’t changed.” My mother, Maria Lambert, pushed me aside, took Yelena’s hand, and told her how deeply Ethan loved her. “Ethan truly loved you and didn’t want to trouble you. Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, you should get back together.” But the truth was, they all knew Ethan had despised Yelena’s blindness and refused to marry a blind woman. That’s why he’d resorted to threatening suicide to force her into breaking off their engagement before running off abroad. My parents didn’t want to sever the long-standing relationship between the Lambert and Sullivan families, so they hoped I would marry Yelena. Now that Yelena’s sight had returned, Ethan was eager to come back and elope with her. Thankfully, Yelena saw through his lies. After all, during her darkest days of self-harm and psychosis, he’d never visited once. Instead, he’d even rubbed salt in her wounds, cruelly saying he had never loved her. During the five years of Yelena’s blindness, I had been by her side, taking care of her day and night. I told her stories, guided her steps, and became her eyes. I’d felt so certain, but the next moment, I saw Yelena, tears in her eyes, take Ethan’s hand and choke with sobs. “I knew there was a reason.” Watching them hold hands tightly, I was stunned and could only smile bitterly. How naive I’d been! Ethan was her great love, the man she’d nearly died for. How could a substitute like me ever replace him? Seeing them reconcile, Maria breathed a sigh of relief. But the moment she turned and noticed me still standing there, her patience vanished. She shot me an irritated look and snapped, “Why are you still here? You’ve had ten years of living Ethan’s life. Are you still trying to steal his wife now?” My parents, who had been so gentle with me in my childhood memories, now looked at me with hatred. They pushed me away and shoved me out the door, scolding me, and I couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. Back then, when Ethan went missing, they were devastated, so they adopted me because I looked like him. For those ten years, I had parents who doted on me endlessly and a childhood sweetheart, Yelena, who was as close to me as anyone could be. It was the happiest time of my life. But Ethan’s return shattered my illusion. My parents felt I had stolen the love meant for Ethan, and they despised me. Even Yelena, who’d vowed to marry me, chose him. Under the weight of their hostile stares, I lowered my head, feeling utterly alone. Still, they had raised me, and I didn’t even have the right to protest. As I nodded and turned to leave, Yelena finally noticed my lonely figure. She raised an eyebrow at my parents and said, “Mr. Harrison Lambert, Mrs. Maria Lambert, there’s no need to be so harsh. What do you mean by ‘steal’? He’s my husband, and no one can replace him.” Watching Yelena slowly approach me, a touch of gratitude rose in my heart. She still favored me, just like when we were children. Yelena took my hand and whispered, “Zach, I was just putting on an act with him. We’ll go skiing soon, just like you’ve always wanted.” Ethan, who had followed Yelena over, sneered when he heard this. I could only smile bitterly in silence. We had grown up together, but how could she forget that I suffered a concussion from a skiing accident as a child? Since then, I developed a phobia of the sport and dreaded it. Skiing was Ethan’s passion, not mine. So, I was still Ethan’s substitute, and that had never changed. Ethan clapped my shoulder with a smile. “Alright. We’ll make it a trio.” My parents pulled Yelena aside and said, “Don’t let this outsider ruin your marriage.” Yelena wrenched her hands free and leaned in, whispering softly in my ear, “Don’t overthink it. It’s been five years since he dumped me, and I’m not about to let it go. I just need these five days to make him pay. “Once everything’s settled, we’ll get married and live happily ever after.” I nodded, watching them depart. Just then, a message from my boss popped up on my phone: [Zachary, the headquarters in Mercado is impressed with you. They want you to work there. If you’re okay with it, you’ll leave in five days.] I looked up at the stage where Yelena posed with Ethan’s family, radiant and whole. They were the real family, and I’d always been an outsider. Swallowing my pain, I replied: [No problem. On my way to finalize.]

Seeing how quickly I replied, my boss asked curiously: [Aren’t you getting married today? Take time to discuss with your wife and come back tomorrow if needed.] Following a devastating car accident that left her completely blind, Yelena was abandoned by Ethan at her lowest point, spiraling into a crippling mental breakdown. When I first met Yelena, I was covered in scratches from her every day. Over time, Yelena grew accustomed to my presence, and she could only fall asleep at night while holding my hand. If I’d been transferred earlier, I would’ve thrown away my entire future to stay with Yelena, because her fragile mind was all I could think about. Now, seeing Yelena beside Ethan with a beaming smile and sound mind, I knew her true love had returned, and my role was over. I typed: [I’m not getting married.] As Ethan slid the ring onto her finger amidst cheers, I slipped away. Upon handing over my work at the office, I walked out of the building. Yelena was nowhere to be found at the wedding. However, I never expected to find her waiting for me downstairs at the office building. She had roses in hand, was leaning against a sleek convertible, and waved me over. My colleagues gave me teasing looks before dispersing. Curious but composed, I walked over to her. “Zach, why did you leave so suddenly? You missed dinner, right? Let me take you…” Before Yelena could finish, Ethan stepped out of the driver’s seat and interrupted impatiently, “Lena, why are you wasting time talking to him? “Zachary, you’ve been wearing the heirloom meant for me for five years in my place. Time to hand it over.” Yelena pushed Ethan, telling him to be polite, and whispered to me, “Don’t listen to him. You’re the only one I consider my husband. “But Ethan needs to wear the emerald ring at today’s family banquet. Can you lend it to him? He’ll return it tomorrow, okay?” I took off the emerald ring, its green gem still warm from my body heat. Yelena had no idea that my life in her family was just a deal. Her parents had never seen me as her husband. With my unknown origins, they considered me an illegitimate child, unworthy of living with the Sullivan family. They paid me a monthly salary to take care of Yelena. The day Yelena no longer needed me would be the day I was cast aside. They had never intended to give me the emerald ring. Yelena had gone against her parents’ wishes, insisting on giving me the ring and placing it on my finger herself. I’ll never forget how she gently told me, “Zachary, you’re my husband now. You deserve everything that comes with it.” Now, she was taking back the ring meant for her husband, along with the favor she had once shown me… Without hesitation, I removed the emerald ring and handed it to Ethan. “Keep it. No need to return it to me.”

Hearing this, Yelena frowned. “You’re just lending it to him, but why are you saying that? You still want to marry me, don’t you?” Ethan sneered. “Why do you think? He’s just playing the victim again, trying to win your sympathy. “When we were kids, he threw a tantrum and refused to ride in the car, choosing to walk home barefoot in the freezing winter instead. It was as if my family had mistreated him, the adopted son.” Upon hearing Ethan’s words, Yelena seemed to remember something. Her expression darkened, a flicker of displeasure crossing her face. But that wasn’t how it had happened. When Ethan was found and brought back, he never stopped complaining about the hardships he’d endured. “I rose before dawn to work the fields, walked barefoot in the winter to chop firewood in the mountains, and only ate one meal a day, with no delicacies…” My parents resented that their biological son had suffered while I, an outsider, had lived comfortably. So, they made me experience everything Ethan had gone through. From then on, I was woken up at the crack of dawn to pull weeds and had to walk home barefoot in the winter. While my family enjoyed lavish meals, I was given scraps, and even the maids ate better than I did. Whenever I begged them for mercy, they would say it was nothing compared to what Ethan had endured. Yet Ethan’s suffering wasn’t my fault. I was just an abandoned child they had taken in. Word of my mistreatment spread soon. To protect the Lambert family’s reputation, they blamed me, saying I had deliberately caused the trouble out of jealousy for Ethan’s return and embarrassed them. From then on, I became an annoying troublemaker, ostracized by everyone. Even Yelena, who had once been close to me, turned against me and soon started dating Ethan. Back then, I was terrified Yelena would grow to hate me, so I told her the truth. However, no matter how hard I tried to explain or how much evidence I presented, Yelena didn’t trust me the way she once did. In fact, she only seemed to dislike me even more. Right then, as I saw the doubt flicker in her eyes, I didn’t explain, simply shaking my head. Anyway, I was leaving. It no longer mattered if she misunderstood me. As I turned to leave, Yelena grabbed my hand and sighed, as if compromising. “You have to come to the family dinner tonight, so please get in the car.” I nodded. This would be my last meal with them before I left. I sat in the back seat. Throughout the ride, Yelena chatted animatedly with Ethan in the front seat, reminiscing their unforgettable memories together. I didn’t say a word. Arriving at Sullivan Villa, I walked into the living room and found my parents there. When they slid a kidney donation consent form in front of me, I finally understood why they had invited me to the family dinner. It turned out Ethan had been diagnosed with kidney failure and needed a transplant. It all made sense now why my family had pushed for that medical checkup just a few days ago. They had discovered my kidney was a match for Ethan’s and were forcing me to save him. Yelena’s mother, Grace Sullivan, served Ethan food while telling me, “Zachary, your parents raised you all these years, so you should be grateful and do the right thing.” My father, Harrison Lambert, snorted. “If you don’t want to donate your kidney, we can pay you.” Ethan put on a fake act and said, “It’s my fault for hurting Lena before. You don’t have to save me. Let me die, and it’s the least I can do to make up for what I’ve done.” Seeing this, Yelena’s eyes showed a flicker of worry. She held my arm and pleaded, “You’ve always been kind, Zach. You wouldn’t let your brother die, would you? “It’s just one kidney. You’ll recover after the surgery, and it’s no big deal.” I hadn’t even sat down before they started pressuring me. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself. “When is the surgery?” Everyone seemed shocked that I agreed so quickly. Harrison said in a low voice, “Tonight. The sooner, the better.” I turned to look at Yelena. Yelena, who would’ve defended me in the past, now stayed silent, as if she were afraid I might refuse. It was a lie when Yelena said she was just putting on an act. She loved Ethan so much that she was terrified his condition would get worse, so she hurriedly tricked me into coming back for the family dinner. I didn’t refuse. “Alright, but I have one condition.” Upon hearing that I still had a request, Maria instantly looked indifferent. “Sure enough, you’re still greedy for money. I raised you for nothing all these years!” Yelena also thought it was inappropriate for me to ask for money and raised an eyebrow, saying, “Zach, you should repay your parents for raising you. How could you ask them for money?” I hadn’t even said anything, yet they were already labeling me as an ungrateful guy. I shook my head and told my parents, “I don’t want money. I want to cut ties with you. From now on, I owe you nothing.” My parents were stunned. They hadn’t expected this, but they agreed quickly. Without eating anything, I was rushed to the hospital and wheeled into the operating room. As I woke up from the anesthesia, I was back in my hospital room. Ethan was sitting by my bed, peeling an apple. We had both undergone surgeries, but why did he look so different? Just as I was wondering, Ethan answered with a smile, “You’re surprised, aren’t you? “Zachary, I was never sick. I just wanted to make it clear to you that our parents and Yelena have never been on your side. “To save me, your miserable life could be thrown away at any moment!” Chapter 4

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In the third year of my marriage to my husband, I was the one who asked for a divorce. Everyone thought I was bluffing to get his attention. He thought the same. Later, he started making headlines with different women, all in a desperate attempt to make me obedient. At first, I cried and screamed every night, waiting for him to come home. But my pain only emboldened him further, turning me into a laughingstock for everyone around me. Eventually, I stopped fighting. That’s when he went mad, demanding, “What’s this? A new tactic to win me back?” I wish I could have seen what his gentleness was like. But it’s too late for that now. In the third year of my marriage to Jack Sullivan, he brought home yet another woman. She was exactly his type: young, radiant, and exuding a soft elegance—completely different from me. From her smug, taunting words, I pieced together how they met. Her name was Emily Blair, Jack’s new assistant. She was also proof of his abuse of power. Without any proper vetting, Jack had personally placed her in the role, despite the fact that his previous assistant had been with him for years. Friends had warned me repeatedly to keep an eye on Jack. “He seems like he’s caught up in some midlife crisis,” they’d say. But I was too exhausted to care anymore. Being Mrs. Sullivan for three years had drained me, leaving me a stranger to myself. The day I was diagnosed with cancer was also the day I first met Emily Blair. Holding the thermos my mother-in-law had handed me, I caught her hopeful expression and chose to give in. No matter how ugly things got between Jack and me, my mother-in-law had always been kind. From the very beginning, she had shown me nothing but warmth, even warning me about Jack’s flaws. But back then, all I could see was him. For three years, she had taken my side in every argument, even when I was in the wrong. Sitting in the backseat of the car, watching Jack’s office building come into view, I felt none of the anticipation I once had. Even when faced with the whispers of employees, I had learned to remain unbothered. What I didn’t expect, however, was to encounter Jack’s latest fling here—his latest obsession. As I scrolled through my phone, I could feel someone’s eyes on me. Every time I glanced up, the gaze disappeared, but the feeling remained. I knew that look. I’d seen it countless times. It was the look of women who despised me for being Mrs. Sullivan, who wanted nothing more than to take my place. Their viper-like stares haunted even my dreams. Emily tugged at her friend’s sleeve and whispered nervously, “She’s not what I imagined. Didn’t they say she was crazy and mean?” I heard her. That’s when I finally got a good look at her face. In that instant, I knew she was exactly Jack’s type—like the one he had loved and lost. The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected our contrasting figures: Me, vibrant yet with dead eyes. Her, youthful and full of life. From the start, I was never the kind of woman Jack wanted. But moths always fly into flames, heedless of the consequences—even if it means their death. I took the water she handed me, my gaze scrutinizing her closely. “Mrs. Sullivan, why are you staring at me? Did I do something wrong?” she asked cautiously. “No,” I replied, a faint smile on my lips. “I’m just curious what kind of woman climbs into Jack Sullivan’s bed.” She froze, clearly not expecting my bluntness. After a long pause, she feigned innocence and looked me straight in the eye. “Obviously, someone young and beautiful. After all, Mrs. Sullivan, you…” I knew what she was implying—that I was old and worn-out. I’d seen this tactic too many times to care. Not wanting to waste another second, I handed her the thermos. “Give this to Jack for me. I have somewhere else to be.” “Oh… okay.” That’s when I saw her name: Emily Blair. How fitting—it was such a lovely name. I’d seen it before, tucked into the notes Jack left on his gifts. I had considered staying to see how Jack treated Emily. Would he be gentle? Would he show her patience? But the pain was too much. Lately, I’d been plagued by excruciating headaches, at first assuming it was just insomnia. But now, the pain persisted even during the day. I knew something was seriously wrong. Jack would probably enjoy eating whatever Emily cooked for him. After leaving the thermos with her, I went straight to the hospital for tests. The results were just as I had expected. The doctor told me I wouldn’t make it past the fall. How poetic, I thought. To die in the season of harvest—isn’t that a kind of beauty too? I thanked the doctor softly as he handed me a prescription for painkillers. When you’ve witnessed so much death, the only thing left to fear is pain. Perhaps these pills would help me leave with dignity, unlike my parents, who had died in agony and despair.

When I got home, Jack was already sitting on the couch. He glanced at me briefly before turning his attention back to his phone. I knew he was texting Emily. Only with someone he truly liked would he smile so warmly. I thought silence would fill the room between us, but as I stepped onto the stairs, his cold voice cut through the air behind me. “Where were you? Why did it take you so long to get home?” “If I told you I went to the hospital, would you treat me more kindly?” “What’s this? Another fake illness? Whatever you’re scheming, remember to live up to the title of Mrs. Sullivan.” Mrs. Sullivan. That was the only tie left between Jack and me. Everything about me was something he disliked. He had only married me because his parents pressured him into it. Maybe the saying is true: to gain something, you must lose something. In the three years of being Mrs. Sullivan, there was never a moment when Jack didn’t have someone else on the side. To get back at me, he would parade his affairs in front of me, bringing them into the home his parents had gifted us—the same home where he wanted to erase the pain of losing his first love. But I had never done anything to him. At first, I was heartbroken, hysterically questioning him about his infidelity. But eventually, I realized those women were just tools—props in his revenge against me. None of them ever stayed around for more than a month. I used to think I held a place in his heart. Until Emily Blair came along. Jack never brought her to this house. He remembered her birthday, gave her gifts to mark their 100th day together, took her shopping, watched movies with her, and even kept her by his side at work. They were just like Jack and his first love had been—doing all the things couples in love do. Jack gave her everything: his time, his attention, his money. I turned to look at Jack, his brows furrowed in irritation. For the first time, my voice was calm. “If it weren’t for me, would you have fallen for Emily after marrying Chloe?” “What kind of nonsense are you spouting now? You’re clearly not thinking straight.” I knew that name—Chloe—was a sensitive subject for him. But I didn’t care anymore. Still, I wanted to know the answer. But he was never going to tell me. Pressing my hand against my throbbing head, I watched as Jack slammed the door behind him, leaving the room without looking back. Even though I’d told myself long ago not to feel hurt by Jack anymore, not to lose the last shred of dignity I had left because of him— I still couldn’t stop the ache when I saw his cold, resolute back disappearing down the hall. If only none of this had ever happened.

The bed felt emptier than ever. I curled into myself, clutching my head as waves of pain wracked my body. Even with the air conditioning set to the lowest temperature, I was drenched in a cold sweat. The painkillers barely worked, only dulling the edge of my suffering. I must’ve been hallucinating from the pain. Half-asleep, half-awake, I saw us as we used to be. Before Chloe ever appeared, I had always been the only one by Jack’s side—even if he treated me with nothing but indifference. I’ll never forget that day. It was a bitterly cold winter, snow falling thick and fast. The freezing air outside couldn’t compare to the chill in my heart. That was the winter when I lost both my parents. My father lost his battle with cancer, and on the same day, my mother jumped from the 18th floor. Looking back, maybe the signs had always been there. But back then, I was too young to understand. Grief consumed me. I shut myself away, refusing to see anyone, refusing to eat, hiding in the last place they had been. The day was glaringly bright when Jack found me. He stood there, out of breath, trying to act casual. “I just came to check if you were dead. Don’t read too much into it.” “I’m not dead. You can leave now.” “Come on,” he said, his tone brisk but oddly determined. “You’re practically growing mold in here. Consider yourself lucky—I’m feeling generous enough to drag you outside for some fresh air. No arguments.” And just like that, with his forceful attitude, he pulled me out of the darkness. His hands were trembling, yet he held on tightly. Before I could protest, he started rambling. “Taylor, when was the last time you ate? You feel like I’m dragging a ghost, not a person.” His words made me snap back at him instinctively. “None of your business. I can walk on my own.” Normally, that kind of retort would’ve earned a sharp comeback from him. But that day, he just muttered under his breath, still holding my hand, never letting go. That day felt like the first ray of light in my world after endless darkness. Even now, I’ve forgotten so much over the years, but I still remember that scene vividly. A boy, grumbling endlessly, leading a girl by the hand. A cup of hot chocolate in his other hand, the two of them walking down a snow-covered street. The pale winter sunlight shone on their faces, melting away the shadows that clung to them. They didn’t know it then, but moments like that are fleeting—gone before you realize how beautiful they are.

When I woke up again, it was already past midnight. My stomach burned with hunger after going so long without food. Even without looking in the mirror, I knew I must look terrible. Not that it mattered—there was no one here to see me. I lived alone in this house. Stumbling downstairs to find something to eat, I noticed the living room lights were still on. To my surprise, it was Jack. He had come back. He rarely stayed home at night. I knew he spent his evenings with Emily—eating the meals she cooked, taking walks in the park to help digest, and even going out of his way to track down the exact breed of kitten she wanted. Maybe Jack liked cats too. But I was allergic to cat fur. From the very start, our habits, our preferences, our lives—they were never aligned. He was lounging lazily on the couch, a cigarette between his fingers, his eyes fixed sharply on me as I descended the stairs. I lowered my gaze and tried to walk past him, but he grabbed my wrist. Hard. His grip was so tight that red marks formed almost instantly around my skin. He frowned as he looked me over, his voice full of suspicion. “Why have you gotten so thin?” I froze for a moment, then yanked at my arm, trying to break free. When I couldn’t, I sneered. “Jack Sullivan, what kind of game are you playing now?” “What, did one of your mistresses finally treat you like dirt? Is that why you’re suddenly noticing me?” Jack’s eyes flicked to my wrist, then back to my face. My tone must’ve stung, because his expression darkened. When I finally managed to pull my arm free and walked toward the dining table, I noticed something strange—a cup of my once-favorite bubble tea and a slice of the cake I used to beg Jack to bring home for me. What was this? A peace offering? A bribe for the lunch I had delivered earlier? Or maybe it was an apology. But none of it mattered anymore. I was dying. I didn’t need Jack. I didn’t need his pity. Without a second glance at the table, I headed straight for the fridge and grabbed a cream puff. That’s when Jack snapped. He slammed me against the floor-to-ceiling window with a force that made the glass shudder, his jaw clenched, his voice full of rage. “Taylor, what the hell do you want from me?” “Aren’t these the things you used to love? How dare you ignore them!” Them. Or maybe… him. I looked up at him with a bitter smile. “Jack, I don’t want any of it anymore. Not the tea, not the cake, and certainly not you.” “You know,” I continued, my voice dripping with venom, “you’re pathetic. When I loved you, you couldn’t care less. But now that I don’t, you cling to me like a stray dog.” In all the years I’d known Jack, I’d learned exactly where to hit to make it hurt. His face turned ice-cold, his temper brewing into a storm. As his hand shot up like he was going to hit me, I met his glare, raising my chin in defiance. “Go ahead, Jack. Hit me. If you don’t, you’re not a man.” His hand froze mid-air, my words pushing him to the edge. But instead of striking me, he let out a strangled growl and stalked in circles, his hands on his hips. When I turned to leave, he lost it completely. In one swift motion, he threw me over his shoulder and stormed upstairs, ignoring my fists pounding against his back. Like a wild animal, he threw me onto the bed, his hands yanking at my nightgown with a feral desperation. I felt nothing but disgust. Balling my fists, I punched him with all the strength I had left, but it wasn’t enough. Compared to him, my efforts were nothing but a nuisance. “Get off me, Jack!” I spat. “Don’t you dare touch me with your filthy hands—you make me sick!” He pinned my legs down with his knee and silenced me with a brutal kiss. His lips crushed mine with such force that the skin split, leaving a metallic taste of blood in my mouth. I stopped struggling, my strength completely drained. Leaning down, his breath hot against my ear, he whispered, “Taylor, you say no, but your body seems to want me just fine.” “If you’d just admit what you did back then, we could go back to how we used to be.” “I don’t understand why you’re so stubborn about this.” Hearing those words, I turned my head away, bile rising in my throat. The thought of his mouth—just hours ago, probably on someone else—made me retch. “Am I really that disgusting to you?” For the first time, I looked at his face. His eyes were bloodshot, his expression unhinged, like a child throwing a tantrum because his favorite toy had been taken away. But what was I supposed to admit? I’d done nothing wrong. I would rather die than confess to something I hadn’t done. I used to think I was special to Jack. Until Chloe came into the picture. She was his first love. If I hadn’t accidentally stumbled across the truth, he probably would’ve kept it hidden forever. Jack was always cold to me, but with Chloe, he was different. He smiled warmly, acted playful—he was human. Just not with me. I thought I’d spend my life like a rat in the shadows, watching them bask in their happiness. Then one day, Jack stormed into the house, his face twisted with rage. “Taylor, did you tell my parents about Chloe?” I froze, completely caught off guard. “What are you talking about?” His response was a scream, raw and venomous: “You’re such a miserable bitch. You should’ve died with your parents. If you can’t be happy, why drag me down into your hell?” That was the moment I asked myself: Why didn’t I die with them?

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When my girlfriend’s male best friend was being treated at our hospital, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with AIDS. After I told my girlfriend, she thought I was lying to her. Not only did she slap me on the spot, but she also hired trolls to smear me online, accusing me of causing a patient’s death through malpractice. I was viciously cyberbullied as a result. Later, she and her best friend even burned me to death. I’ll never forget her words as I was engulfed in flames: “You deserve to die for keeping me and Jake apart!” When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day her best friend was diagnosed with AIDS. This time, I didn’t tell her. After all, if she loved him that much, she’d have to accept everything about him. “What’s wrong with Jake? Tell me already!” Olivia’s voice snapped me back to reality. I looked at her impatient face, then glanced around, realizing I was in my office. So I really had traveled back in time. It seemed even the heavens didn’t want me to die so senselessly. “What the hell are you spacing out for? I’ve been asking you for ages,” Olivia said angrily, shoving me. I came to my senses and looked at Jake’s blood test results in my hand. Sure enough, just like in my previous life, he had AIDS. He was Olivia’s male best friend, and they were very close. In my previous life, on this day, he had suddenly been in a car accident and brought to the hospital. Olivia had been beside herself with worry. After learning he had AIDS, I agonized for a long time before deciding to tell Olivia. But she didn’t believe me at all and slapped me hard across the face. “I know you don’t want me hanging out with Jake,” she had said. “But you need to know when to draw the line. You’re a doctor – you can’t just accuse patients of having infectious diseases because of your personal feelings!” No matter how I tried to explain, she wouldn’t listen. Legally, I shouldn’t have disclosed a patient’s condition to her anyway. It was private medical information. But out of concern for her safety, I had selfishly told her. Little did I know that my loose lips would lead to my brutal death in my past life. So in this life, no matter what, I won’t make the same mistake again.

“It’s not too serious, just some minor injuries. He’ll be fine after a few days of treatment in the hospital,” I told her. Hearing this, Olivia let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good.” But the next second, she was irritated again: “Then why didn’t you say so earlier? I thought it was something major!” “Adam, let me tell you – Jake is my best friend. Don’t you dare try anything sneaky.” I smiled at her. “Don’t worry, I won’t.” After she left, a colleague came in and patted me on the shoulder. “Hey Dr. Grant, didn’t you tell your girlfriend that Jake has AIDS?” he asked. “I saw her go feed him some soup just now.” “The law states that a patient’s condition is private. Doctors can’t disclose it to others without permission,” I replied formally. My colleague looked at me in surprise. “But that’s your girlfriend!” “She used to be. Not anymore,” I said.

I’ll never forget what Olivia did to me in my past life. After I told her Jake had AIDS, she thought I was deliberately lying to drive them apart. So she started giving me the cold shoulder and stopped coming home. Before long, rumors spread online that I had caused a patient’s death through malpractice. People were calling me an incompetent doctor. The hospital was terrified of the public backlash and suspended me under pressure. That’s when Olivia came to find me. “I’m the one who spread those rumors online. I hired people to smear you,” she admitted. “That’s what you get for lying about Jake having AIDS!” My heart shattered. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Olivia, you’re my girlfriend! You’ve ruined my entire career!” I cried in anguish. “So what?” She glared at me furiously. “Jake has been my best friend since childhood. I won’t let anyone say he’s sick. Not even you!” In that moment, my heart died completely. I broke up with her and left. I moved to another city by myself. But her mother kept contacting me, urging me to go back and marry Olivia. I refused. Soon after, Olivia called to yell at me: “You deliberately got my parents to scold me, didn’t you? You’re trying to keep me and Jake apart. Just you wait!” The next time I saw her was when my house suddenly caught fire. I saw her and Jake pouring gasoline outside. She even said: “You deserve to die for keeping me and Jake apart!” I’ll never forget the agony of being slowly burned alive. Olivia, in this life I won’t be your doormat anymore.

I contacted Olivia’s parents to break off the engagement, saying I no longer wanted to be with her. No matter how much her parents tried to persuade me, I insisted on ending things. They finally had to agree. That night, Olivia called me. “How dare you, Adam! Just because I took care of Jake for one day, you want to break off our engagement?” she yelled. I calmly replied, “It’s not because you took care of him. I just think you really like him and you two are a good match. I don’t want to come between you. So I’m stepping aside to let you be together.” She spent all her time with Jake anyway. It would be hard for her not to get infected with AIDS. So I had to stay away from her. “Fine, have it your way. But don’t come begging me to take you back later!” she snapped. “I won’t. I wish you and Jake a lifetime of happiness together,” I said before hanging up. I had never stood up to Olivia like this before. She bombarded me with angry texts afterwards: “Who the hell said you could hang up on me?” “Adam, where did you get the nerve?” A few minutes later: “You didn’t pay Jake’s medical bills?” She had brainwashed me into thinking she and Jake were just friends before. So I had always covered Jake’s hospital bills whenever he came for treatment. They both got used to it over time. Looking back now, I was such a fool. I didn’t reply to her and blocked her number. I had no patience left for someone like her.

The next day, Olivia came barging into my office with a pale-faced Jake in tow. “Give me money,” she demanded. “Hurry up. Don’t make me slap you.” In my past life, I had been her obedient lapdog. I gave her whatever she wanted, which is why she felt so entitled to demand money from me now. “Olivia, have you forgotten? We’ve broken up. We have no relationship anymore,” I said calmly. “Adam, how could you break up? Did I cause problems between you two?” Jake suddenly chimed in, looking all innocent. He always used that act to gain Olivia’s sympathy. “Yes, it’s because of you,” I said, staring him down. “You two like each other, don’t you? So I’m letting you be together. You should be the one giving Olivia money now, not me.” Olivia’s face was livid with rage. “Adam, are you trying to play hard to get now? Let me tell you, this won’t make me like you. It’ll only make me hate you more!” she spat. With that, she dragged Jake away. Not long after, I received a complaint. A patient had reported me for having a bad attitude towards them. The next thing I knew, a nurse said someone was causing a scene in the hallway. I went to check and found Olivia sitting on the floor crying and screaming, with Jake standing beside her. “Dr. Grant was extremely rude to patients. We just asked about a condition and he told us to get lost,” she wailed. “Where’s the hospital director? Come out and explain this!” In my past life, she had used her talent for lying to get me cyberbullied. In this life, she was trying to use the same tactic to harm me. But I had anticipated she might do this. Before coming, I had gone to the security office to retrieve the surveillance footage from my office. Then I called the police.

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I transmigrated into a novel as the adopted daughter of a wealthy family, while my best friend became their biological daughter. The rich family hated me for taking their daughter’s place and threw me out on the streets. Thankfully, my best friend helped me out and even treated me to high-end escort services at bars. But I mistook the CEO of Thompson Corporation for an escort and confessed to him with a wad of cash. He accepted. After a year of dating, I realized that Lucas was asexual and never touched me. He was also a control freak who kept me locked up at home for three months, not allowing me to go out. I cried to my best friend, “Lucas is an asexual control freak!” She hugged me and complained, “My parents want me to marry a 60-year-old man who’s impotent!” We both burst into tears. “I want to break up. What about you?” “If you break up, I’ll run away from my marriage!” Soon after, a car accident off a cliff supposedly killed both the Bennett family’s biological daughter and their former adopted daughter. Meanwhile, in the romantic city of Paris, two wealthy women appeared, waiting to encounter true love.

I woke up early to make breakfast, the sky barely light outside. After preparing sandwiches and heating milk, I went into Lucas’s room, opened the curtains, and woke him up. “What’s with the sudden kindness? What do you want?” He frowned, his handsome face showing suspicion. “Sophia asked me to go out with her,” I hesitated before continuing, “just to chat.” Lucas stared at me intently, “Is she taking you to bars for escort services again? She’s always a bad influence on you!” I mentally rolled my eyes. He used to be a regular at bars too, and now that he doesn’t go, he won’t let others have fun? Suppressing the urge to argue, I explained softly, “I haven’t been out for three months.” He paused, then reluctantly nodded in agreement. Lucas had a strong need to control me. Three months ago, I quit my job and had no income source, relying on him for all expenses. He kept me confined at home, not allowing me to go anywhere. But after today, he would no longer be able to control me. Because I was meeting Sophia to find a way to break up with him. Sophia and I had transmigrated into this world as the real and fake daughters of a wealthy family. She was the biological daughter, cherished and loved by the rich family after being found. I was the fake daughter, kicked out of the family when my identity was exposed. Due to her family’s interference, Sophia couldn’t directly help me. She could only occasionally send me gifts and cover my expenses for escort services when we went out to bars. That’s how I met Lucas at a bar. In the dim light, his face was stunningly handsome, instantly capturing my heart. Not to mention his muscles, clearly visible even through his shirt. I jokingly asked to book him and even confessed my feelings. Later, I found out he was a VIP guest of the bar owner, not an escort. But he accepted my confession anyway. After a year of dating, I discovered that Lucas was asexual. He was the CEO of his company and always busy. He spent half his time staying at the office working overtime. And when he came home, he always brought work with him. By the time he got into bed next to me, I was either already asleep. Or we would only help each other with our hands, which was hardly satisfying. Although he did respond when I helped him, in a whole year, we never had any substantial physical relationship. Several times, I wanted to threaten him with breaking up. But every time I saw his face, which was exactly my type, I swallowed my words. I didn’t take the initiative, and Lucas became even more distant. In the end, we even slept in separate rooms. Three months ago, the job I had for half a year was ruined again by my former adoptive parents from the rich family. I was sighing and feeling down at home, in a very bad mood. But Lucas didn’t seem to care. He even proposed not letting me go out. After giving me a credit card, he kept me at home every day. A man so asexual, full of bad habits, and without any sense of romance. Even with such a handsome face and good body, I couldn’t take it anymore. I decided to break up with him. But I was also a bit afraid of him. After a year of dating, I knew very well what kind of person Lucas was. If I brought up breaking up first, the consequences would probably be very serious. That’s why I needed to see Sophia, to ask her to help me think of a way.

We hadn’t seen each other for three months. Sophia looked at me with tears in her eyes, scolding me for valuing love over friendship. “We’re best friends, how could you not see me just because you got a boyfriend? This is the first time we’ve been apart for so long, waaah…” I couldn’t help but tear up too. Lucas was asexual and had such strong control issues. After three months, I was almost going crazy staying at home. Such a miserable life, compared to before, was like heaven and earth. Two years ago, when I first transmigrated, I had already been kicked out of the rich family. My work was also suppressed, and I had no money at all. Because I couldn’t pay rent, I was evicted by the landlord. I was in a sorry state, dragging my suitcase along the street. A luxury car stopped beside me and lowered its window, revealing a familiar face. “Ava?” “Sophia?” We recognized each other on the street and hugged each other, crying our eyes out, while passersby looked at us like we were crazy. After that, I moved into one of Sophia’s properties, and only then did I realize we were actually the real and fake daughters. She said she suspected I was the fake daughter when she found out about my existence. She never expected to guess correctly. “Why didn’t you come find me earlier? I’ve been waiting for you for so long, bestie.” “Well, my family wouldn’t tell me anything about you. I had just returned to the family and didn’t know many people, so I had no way to find out about you.” “If I move into your house, won’t your parents find out?” Sophia only then realized the problem and quickly rented another place for me. But it was too late. When her parents found out, they gave her a strict order not to have much contact with me. They even specially arranged a driver to monitor her. But these obstacles were nothing for me and Sophia. We met at bars every time, as that was the only place the driver wouldn’t follow her in. Relying on the gifts Sophia sent me occasionally and some intermittent work, my life was quite comfortable. But three months ago, I was once again suppressed by my former adoptive parents and completely lost my job. I originally didn’t plan to tell Sophia, to avoid putting her in a difficult position. At worst, I would just fulfill the wishes of my former adoptive parents and leave New York. After all, they treated Sophia well, so I had nothing to worry about. But since I quit my job, Lucas’s controlling behavior became more and more severe. I always suspected he had some psychological issues. “Sophia,” I held onto her arm and said seriously, “Lucas is an asexual control freak. He won’t let me see you, but I’ve made up my mind, I want to break up with him!” Sophia was stunned for a moment. Then she hugged me tightly and cried in my arms. I quickly comforted her, “Shouldn’t you be happy? If I break up, we can see each other often again.” She sobbed and said, “I am happy for you, I just thought of myself…” “My parents are forcing me into an arranged marriage, they want me to marry a 60-year-old man. He’s not asexual, but he’s impotent!” “Ava, what should I do?” Sophia and I grew up together like childhood sweethearts. I knew how much she longed for love. Even if she married a scumbag for love and ended up being cheated on, she still believed in love. While I only believed in the power of money. That’s why I confessed to Lucas when I thought he was an escort. As a result, we transmigrated. She was being forced to marry a 60-year-old man. And my belief in money didn’t work out either, instead, I was being controlled by a man. Unable to think of a solution for the moment, I could only comfort Sophia, “Didn’t you say your parents treat you well? They cherish you like a jewel after finding you. If you beg them, they’ll surely soften up.” “Give me some advice first, I really can’t wait any longer to break up.” Sophia pouted and cried out loud, “I’ve already begged them, but they insist on me marrying him. Do you think I can fall in love with a 60-year-old man? I don’t want to marry someone I don’t love…” I thought Sophia was the cherished biological daughter, but it turned out she still had to sacrifice her own happiness. A surge of anger rose in my heart. After crying, Sophia asked me between sobs, “Are you really sure you want to break up?” I nodded. She hugged my shoulders tightly, “Then you break up, and I’ll run away from the marriage!” I hesitated, “With the Bennett family’s power, can you really escape this marriage?” Sophia: “Even if I can’t escape, I have to try. I’d rather die than marry a 60-year-old man!”

As soon as Sophia finished speaking, my eyes lit up. Yes, we could ‘die’! The Bennett family and Lucas had enormous power, if we just hid, we would definitely be found. Only by faking our deaths could we escape their control. After repeatedly confirming that she would rather give up her wealth than go through with the arranged marriage, I told her my idea. The Bennett family was very concerned about our movements, so we had to die together. One after the other would easily arouse suspicion. I told her to look into luxury cruise trips abroad and set a final deadline based on the engagement date. To ensure our future life, I instructed her to sell her luxury items and deposit the money into an overseas bank account… We also planned which country we would settle in. “I like Paris, it’s the city of romance. I’m sure I can find true love there,” Sophia said with dreamy eyes. As we chatted, only an hour passed, and the bar’s night scene was just heating up. But both Sophia’s and my phones rang one after another. Her parents called to urge her to come home. And Lucas told me he had finished work early and was coming to pick me up. I could only arrange to chat with her on the phone and hurried to the back door, leaving the bar before Sophia’s driver came in. Lucas was waiting at the back door. Before I could fasten my seatbelt, the car sped off. The sports car was a convertible, and we drove like lightning to the garage. The wind made my eyes dry, and I got out of the car with a pale face. I must look very disheveled now, he did it on purpose, just wanting to see me look bad! “What’s wrong with you? I was only in the bar for an hour, barely said anything, is there any need to get angry and drive so fast?” I glared at Lucas, unable to help but jab at him. “I’m sorry.” His face was calm as he apologized frankly, which left me not knowing what to say. After entering the house, he broke the silence and asked, “What did you talk about? Did she mention anything about the Bennett family’s arranged marriage?” I was surprised that he also knew about Sophia being forced into marriage. But more than that, I felt guilty, after all, Sophia and I had gossiped about his asexuality. “She said it’s been too long since we met,” I chose my words carefully, “and she invited me to go traveling with her.” “Is she complaining about me?” Lucas examined my expression and said in a flat tone, “You don’t have a job, I let you stay at home to rest, it’s for your own good!” Seeing that I didn’t answer and remained noncommittal, he continued in a harsh tone, “Anyway, I won’t allow you to see her again.” “She’s from the Bennett family, and the Bennetts are competitors with Thompson Corporation. Her approaching you definitely isn’t with good intentions.” I mentally rolled my eyes. He really doesn’t understand my relationship with Sophia. With our years of friendship, I can be sure she would never harm me. But I knew this wasn’t the time to argue, so I just placated him, “You’re right, I’ll do as you say.” Lucas frowned. This was the first time I had expressed an uncooperative, non-compliant attitude. After all, since we started dating, I had always gone along with him and followed his lead. In his view, Sophia and I, as the real and fake daughters, must be enemies. My repeatedly sabotaged jobs were evidence of this. But I knew her difficulties. Her parents hated the fake daughter for taking their place, which didn’t conflict with them being good to Sophia. I didn’t want to make things difficult for Sophia. I had tried to explain to Lucas. But he couldn’t understand at all. How could the real and fake daughters be best friends? Over time, I got tired of explaining to him. I continued to hang out with Sophia in private as usual. Until I lost my last job, and he started forbidding me from going out. Perhaps my placating attitude made Lucas dissatisfied. He turned my body to face him, stared at me intently, and said in a cold tone. “I’m not trying to interfere with your friendships, but Sophia Bennett is not acceptable.” “You can go out and play tomorrow, but you’re not allowed to see her again!” I remained silent for a while, then finally nodded and agreed to his demand. I definitely wouldn’t be seeing Sophia anytime soon, but in the future, we would always be together. Sophia and I were going to escape from this place.

That night, lying in bed. I was discussing the fake death plan with Sophia on my phone. Just thinking about soon being free from Lucas’s control, I couldn’t calm down for a long time. Lucas, who usually worked very late and had been sleeping in a separate room recently, came to the bedroom early, contrary to his usual behavior. After glancing at my phone screen, he declared, “Chatting with Sophia Bennett again?” I quickly turned off the screen and hid under the covers, not answering his question. Lucas lay down beside me, his movements gentle, “Are you still upset that I won’t let you see her?” He sighed helplessly. Moving closer to me, he reached out and pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. I stiffened, not daring to move for a moment. Lucas’s embrace was very warm and gave a sense of security. In our year of dating, what I liked most was cuddling up to him like a sloth. But he was asexual and didn’t like much physical contact with me. Such cozy moments were always rare. So at this moment, I strangely craved this feeling. But I knew it wasn’t right to think this way. Probably any tall man’s embrace would make me feel warm and secure. They wouldn’t be like Lucas, who was asexual and controlling. I didn’t need to give up the whole forest for him. But would other men be as handsome and rich as him, with such a good body? After all, every time we helped each other, his abs and pecs felt really good to touch… A night of wild thoughts. When I woke up, Lucas had already gone to work. After getting ready, I went on a shopping spree at the mall with his credit card, buying lots of gold jewelry. Worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. It’s his own card, might as well use it. After dismissing the driver Lucas had assigned to me, I took the heavy jewelry to an antique shop. The shop owner led me to a back room. I dropped my bag on the table, unzipped it, and revealed the jewelry boxes inside. I felt a secret thrill – the feeling of flashing gold jewelry was really quite nice. The shop owner counted and weighed the items, then put them away in a cabinet and asked, “Didn’t you say before that you weren’t leaving? What made you change your mind now?” I had met her when I first transmigrated here. At that time, I was forced out of work by the Bennett family. It was the shop owner who helped me. She told me she had connections and could get me a quick visa to Europe or America. And it would be a work visa. At the time, I was amazed at her far-reaching connections and was very tempted by her offer. But then I met Sophia, and I gave up on the idea. “Two people,” I said, without answering her question. I sent her Sophia’s and my identity information, “As soon as possible. I don’t have cash, if this jewelry isn’t enough, let me know and I’ll get more.” “Don’t worry, the jewelry is legitimate, I still have all the receipts inside.” The shop owner was a smart woman and didn’t ask why I was in such a hurry to leave the country. “With expedited processing, it can be done in a week. I’ll send you the required documents and papers when it’s time.” Hearing her calm words, I felt relieved. Besides wanting to escape from Lucas, Sophia’s situation couldn’t wait either. Her family had indeed arranged her marriage, and even sent out engagement party invitations. God knows how horrified I was when I saw that electronic invitation yesterday. That night. Lucas again stopped work early and came to the bedroom. Seeing that I had already turned off the lights and gone to sleep, he looked surprised, “Why are you sleeping so early today?” I was a bit nervous, worried he would ask about the gold jewelry purchase. But I guess that amount of money didn’t mean much to him. He didn’t inquire about it. After lying down next to me, he gently took my hand and placed it on his abs. In our year of dating, not having any substantial physical relationship with him had always been my regret. I unconsciously pressed my hand against his abs. Feeling the firm, smooth, and elastic muscles under my hand. Lucas let out a muffled groan, gripping my hand tightly, his fingertips caressing my palm. My heart heated up in response. Now like this, was he trying to seduce me?

He was actively seducing me. With a body and looks like that, wouldn’t I be missing out if I didn’t indulge? Realizing this, I boldly caressed his abs. Inch by inch, feeling his warmth, my hand slowly moved lower. Following my actions, Lucas’s shirt came off, and he let out heavy breaths. Just as I was about to reach the crucial area. He grabbed my wrist and sat up, turning on the bedside lamp. In the dim, intimate light, his well-defined but not overly bulky muscles looked even more tempting. My mind went blank, and I propped myself up, covering his lips with mine. Lucas froze for a moment, then put his hand on the back of my head, deepening the kiss. After several seconds, I could barely breathe. When we parted, a silver thread connected our lips. Before I could catch my breath, a flurry of kisses landed on my body. From my forehead down, passing my earlobe, throat, all the way to just above my chest… I felt like everywhere he kissed was on fire. I looked up at him with raised eyebrows, arching my upper body slightly. At this moment, silence spoke louder than words. Lucas chuckled softly, reassuringly pecked my lips, then buried his head in front of my chest. My chest heaved rapidly, and some soft moans escaped my lips. The next second, his hands also began to roam wildly over my body. “Is this okay?” he asked huskily in my ear, his voice full of desire. I softly agreed, and then a pain came from inside my body. But with his gentle movements, this pain soon turned into pleasure. My hands unconsciously climbed onto his shoulders. He held me tightly in his arms, inescapable, again and again. The intimate atmosphere in the room grew thicker, the dim light casting our intertwined shadows on the wall, entangled all night long. Wasn’t Lucas supposed to be asexual? What happened today? It wasn’t until dawn, when I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, that he finally let me go. The next day. When I woke up, it was already noon. My body was so sore I didn’t have the strength to get out of bed, and my throat was too hoarse to speak. Fortunately, Lucas had been considerate enough to help clean me up, dress me, and even change the sheets and blanket. I picked up the water glass, took a sip, and put it down with a clinking sound. Lucas, who should have gone to work, quickly opened the door and hurried to the bedside, helping me sit up. I looked down at the marks all over my chest under my nightgown and couldn’t help but frown. I didn’t need to imagine; my neck was probably in a similar state. “Why didn’t you sleep a bit longer?” Lucas asked gently. His voice was unbelievably soft. I examined him, feeling a bit confused and somewhat distressed. Could it be that Lucas wasn’t asexual? For two years of our relationship, no matter how much I initiated, he never responded. Yet just when I had decided to escape his control, he let me have a taste of him. I felt utterly helpless. What a situation this was. Seeing that I didn’t speak, he wasn’t annoyed. He brought in some food and placed it on the bedside table: “You must be hungry, eat something.” I silently took a bite of the soup dumpling and made a request: “I want to go out shopping tomorrow too.” The shop owner had sent me the required documents last night. I had to meet Sophia, get her documents, and then deliver everything to her. Lucas paused, then asked, “Didn’t you shop enough yesterday? The driver said you dismissed him. Where did you go? Don’t do that again in the future.” My heart sank. The little hesitation I had felt because of our physical encounter dissipated. His need for control was really too strong. Softening now would be irresponsible to myself. I turned my back to him, my expression cold. After a while, a voice came from behind: “Remember to take the driver when you go out, don’t lose him.”

A week ago. I once again ditched the driver and went to the antique shop to hand over the documents to the owner. After returning home, Lucas strictly forbade me from going out. But today was Sophia’s engagement party. Even though Thompson Corporation and the Bennett family were competitors, they still had some interactions. Lucas took me to attend the party. The Bennett family had booked an entire floor of a luxury hotel, making quite a grand spectacle. The hall was crowded with people. I drank two glasses of wine and excused myself to go to the bathroom, arriving at the door of the makeup room. Sophia had chased away all the makeup artists, so I slipped in easily. I handed her the sportswear I had prepared in advance, then changed out of my formal dress, only to find that Sophia hadn’t moved at all. I flicked her forehead, “What are you thinking about? Hurry up and change!” Sophia looked up at me and said cautiously, “I want to tell you something.” I narrowed my eyes, “You want to marry that old man?” She glared at me, “It’s about Lucas. He reached an agreement with my parents. If they acknowledge you as the Bennett family’s adopted daughter and let you marry into the Thompson family, my engagement can be called off.” I wavered for a moment, but then thought of Lucas’s increasingly severe controlling behavior. I quickly pushed the thought of his abs out of my mind, suppressing the inexplicable reluctance in my heart. I said coldly, “I have no intention of acknowledging parents who don’t want me. They treated me so badly before, I won’t degrade myself.” Sophia saw that I had made up my mind and let out a sigh of relief. “I’m glad you don’t want to. If you gave up breaking up for my sake, I would feel guilty to death.” “But if you really regret it, I’ll definitely stay to help you. It all depends on your choice.” I hugged her gratefully and urged her to change clothes. Then, we followed a bribed service staff member, taking the VIP elevator down to the parking lot. A van was already waiting at the elevator exit. The antique shop owner stuck her head out from the driver’s seat and greeted us. Just as we got in the car, another VIP elevator showed someone coming down. I hurriedly urged the shop owner to drive away. As the vehicle started, the elevator doors opened, and a group of people poured out. The head of the Bennett family and Lucas were at the front, followed by many bodyguards. Several bodyguards rushed over to try and stop us. The steady van drove off at sports car speed, leaving them far behind. As the car left the parking lot, three cars appeared parked side by side, blocking the exit. Even if someone wanted to chase, they would have to move the cars first. This was arranged by Sophia, who had paid for it. The car drove to the port, arriving just in time for the final check-in of our pre-booked luxury cruise. The shop owner handed us our passports and gave me a backpack. The bag was full of military compressed biscuits. Hurriedly checking in with Sophia, we boarded just as the cruise ship was retracting its gangway. I felt relieved and turned to look at the shop owner on the shore. She was gesturing for me to check my phone. I opened our chat, and a voice message came through the speaker: “I’ll fake a car accident in the country to create the illusion of your deaths. Your ID documents will also be cancelled. Good luck.” I replied with a simple “okay.” My anxious heart finally settled down. This was the last step of faking our deaths, and the reason I had given the shop owner so much gold jewelry. Just getting passports wouldn’t have cost nearly that much. After coming up with the idea of faking our deaths to escape, I immediately thought of the shop owner. With her extensive connections, she could surely help us cover our tracks. Sure enough, she did it. The cruise ship set sail, heading out to sea. Sophia and I followed a steward to our room. The cruise sailed for twenty days, with nightly banquets. We had originally planned to go out and eat. But on a cruise departing from New York, people at the banquets might recognize me and Sophia. We could only hide in our room, relying on the compressed biscuits in the backpack to stave off hunger. When the biscuits ran out, we could only sneak out to eat after the nightly banquets ended. After twenty days, Sophia and I looked pale and sickly from hunger. But the cruise ship had also arrived in the country of the city of romance. We had escaped. 7

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At our wedding, my wife Jessica Greene suggested that her stand-in marry me, Chris Morgan, while she traveled the world with her lover, Logan Parker. Everyone thought I would be furious and cancel the wedding. Instead, I just smiled and handed her the financial report, telling her to enjoy life with her lover while I took care of the company’s small matters. My wife thought I had finally been tamed. After casually signing the contract I gave her, she promised me that when she came back, I would get a promotion and a raise. What she didn’t know was that what she signed wasn’t a financial report at all. It was the transfer of her shares and our divorce agreement. A month later, when my wife returned, eager to take back control of the company, she found that I had become the new CEO and that she had been fired. The self-proclaimed clever woman was left stunned. “Chris, the stand-in’s already changed into her wedding dress. Go on and take the vows with her. I’ve got a flight to catch, so I’ll leave you to it.” At the wedding, my CEO wife, Jessica, was wearing workout clothes. With a smile, she shoved another woman into my arms and urged me to go up and get married. It should have been a joyful day, but as I looked at the stand-in, who looked about seventy percent like Jessica, I couldn’t bring myself to smile. I had been with Jessica for seven years. When it came to our wedding, she always said she was too busy with work and didn’t have time. She kept saying, “Once the company is stable and we’re listed, we can talk about marriage.” I worked tirelessly for her, building teams, pulling in business, and sacrificing my youth and health. In the end, I helped the company go public. Finally, after all this effort, I thought our wedding day had arrived. I thought we would finally walk down the aisle together. But now, she had suddenly changed her mind and sent a stand-in to take her place. Seeing me stay silent, Jessica checked her watch, and her expression grew impatient. “Chris, it’s our big day. What are you giving me that sour face for? “If it weren’t for our seven years together, I would’ve let you go out there and make a fool of yourself with a stand-in. As it is, I’m being nice by letting you go through with this. “I don’t have time to waste with you. “Just tell me, are we getting married or not?” As soon as she finished speaking, our colleagues and friends, as if rehearsed, started pressuring me. “Chris, it’s just a different person walking down the aisle. Why make this difficult?” “Yeah, Mr. Morgan, with a wife like Ms. Greene, successful and beautiful, you won’t find better. You’re still married, whether it’s her or the stand-in.” “Besides, the stand-in looks almost identical to Ms. Greene. No one will know the difference. Why are you worried?” The guests all spoke in unison, almost scolding me as if I were the one in the wrong. It was obvious to me that from the start, I was the only one kept in the dark. And no matter how fine their words sounded, the looks in their eyes were filled with disdain and condescension. To them, I was probably just a dog on a leash owned by Jessica. After all, if Jessica truly loved me, why would she send a stand-in to marry me while she traveled the world with her lover? Instead of getting angry, I turned to look at the real culprit behind it all, Logan. Although Logan was Jessica’s lover, he had abandoned her ten years ago. Back then, Logan dumped her to flatter other rich girls. Now, seeing her become successful, he quickly came back, crying about how much he loved her over the years and claiming his departure had a hidden reason. To my surprise, Jessica not only believed him right away but also brought him into the company as an executive. To even accompany him on a trip, she casually found a substitute to cover for my carefully prepared wedding. The next moment, Logan noticed my gaze and grinned even wider. “What are you staring at? Jessica didn’t completely ditch you. She even found a stand-in to help you with the wedding. You should be grateful. “If you don’t want Jessica to go on a trip with me, just say it. Don’t act all innocent like a martyr. You think no one can see through your schemes?” I listened to Logan’s accusations, but I couldn’t help but laugh coldly inside. Logan’s tactics were as low as they were before when we worked together in the company. Since he came back to the country and Jessica brought him into the company, he had been using these twisted words to deliberately provoke me. Little by little, not only had the entire company started to gossip about me being a master of disguise, but Jessica also began to believe that I was a ruthless schemer. Logan’s taunts only seemed like straightforward honesty to her. But this time, I wasn’t going to play along with their childish game anymore. With that thought, I didn’t get angry. Instead, I smiled lightly. “How could I stop you two from going on a trip? “Ms. Greene has worked so hard for the company. Now it’s my time to give back. “As for the wedding and the company’s matters, I’ll follow Ms. Greene’s decisions. You two just go and enjoy your trip.” With that, I handed Jessica a stack of papers and smiled. “Ms. Greene, here’s this month’s financial report. If you sign it, I’ll notify the finance department to release the salaries this afternoon.” Seeing that I agreed so easily, Jessica was momentarily stunned. She stared at me for a long time before finally nodding in satisfaction, not even glancing at the papers, and just flipped to the last page, signing her name in bold strokes. “It would’ve been better if you did this earlier. You did well today. “Handle the wedding and the company matters, and when I come back from the trip, we can consider giving you a promotion and raise.” If I had heard this before, maybe I would’ve been happy, thinking Jessica finally recognized my hard work. But now, I saw clearly that she didn’t love me. She just didn’t want to handle everything herself. The company had just gone public, and everyone was swamped with work, left with countless problems. But she didn’t understand any of it. She was only looking for an excuse to go off with Logan, to relax and take a break. If she divorced me now, without me handling everything for her, how could she go out and date without worry? But when she mentioned promoting me and giving me a raise, Logan immediately furrowed his brow. “Managing the company for Jessica is already your responsibility. You don’t seriously think she’ll promote and raise your salary, do you? “If it weren’t for your incompetence and the company’s continuous decline in performance, Jessica wouldn’t be so tired that she needs to go on a trip to relax. “You agree, right, Jessica?” At that, I couldn’t help but twitch my lips. If it weren’t for Jessica insisting on bringing someone like Logan into the company and even giving him a major role as project leader, the company’s performance wouldn’t have been so bad. But Jessica didn’t hesitate for a second, immediately agreeing with Logan. “Logan’s right. I almost fell for your acting again. “A five thousand dollars salary a month? I’m not just giving it to you for free.” Hearing Jessica’s words, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter laugh rise in my chest. She actually had the nerve to bring up my salary. This company was my creation! It was because I saw how hard she worked alongside me that I transferred most of my shares to her as compensation. But after she became the CEO, she started taking advantage of everything. She became more and more demanding. All the sacrifices I made, in her eyes, became things I should have done. She even pushed me to the limit with my salary, claiming that long-time employees should set an example. Meanwhile, the new interns at the company were getting six thousand dollars a month, but I, the founder of this company, the one who built it from the ground up, was stuck with a measly five thousand. And even with that five thousand, I had to use it to cover my family’s daily expenses. By the end of the month, I couldn’t even save enough for a few packs of cigarettes. Before I could say anything, Jessica impatiently waved her hand and dragged Logan towards the door. “Alright, you handle the wedding and company matters. Logan and I have a flight to catch. “Behave yourself. When I return to the company, I might consider giving you a raise.” I watched as Jessica and Logan walked away with a cold smile. She still had no idea she wouldn’t be coming back to the company. If she had been even a little cautious just now, she would have realized that what she signed wasn’t just a financial report. It was the stock transfer agreement and the divorce papers. After the divorce, the shares she transferred, combined with the ones I originally held, now made up over 50%. In other words, I could call a shareholders’ meeting at any time, take over as CEO, and kick her out of the company. I wondered what her expression would be when she found out the company had already changed hands by the time she returned.

By the time Logan and Jessica were out of sight, I turned away and walked toward the wedding venue. Grabbing the microphone, I cleared my throat and announced. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry to announce that today’s wedding is canceled. “But don’t worry, I’ll cover the bill. Enjoy yourselves, consider it an early Christmas’ Eve dinner.” The room erupted into shocked murmurs, but it quickly returned to its lively buzz. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy a free meal and drinks? As for me, I left the event immediately and rushed back to the company to hold an urgent shareholders’ meeting. Between uncertain love and the firm grasp of stock equity, the latter felt a lot more secure. Before the meeting started, my assistant reminded me that according to protocol, I still had to give Jessica a call to inform her. I shrugged, not bothered at all. After all, the agreement was already signed. Even if she objected, it wouldn’t change a thing. But when I picked up the phone, it was Logan who picked up first, and he immediately started yelling. “Enough, Chris. You really are pathetic! “I heard from the substitute that you canceled the wedding. Do you really think that will make Jessica feel sorry for you or care about you? “I’ve already blocked your number and WhatsApp on her phone. She has no idea what’s going on. Even if you change your number, it’s pointless. “Everyone can see that I’m Jessica’s true love. You’re just a figurehead husband. Did you really think you meant something? “Get back to your work. Jessica’s happy with me now and has no time for your petty problems.” With that, he hung up. The moment the call ended, everyone in the meeting room awkwardly glanced at me. But I didn’t care one bit. Jessica’s little stunt had been the talk of the company ever since Logan joined. It was obvious he was doing it to flaunt his relationship with her. But Jessica was letting it happen, even enjoying the attention. Before all this, I had been in a secret relationship with her for seven years, and no one had ever found out. She had repeatedly insisted we keep our relationship private and that we couldn’t have any rumors spreading around, especially not because of the company. It wasn’t until our marriage was announced that everyone found out we had been together for seven years. Seven years. I had hidden it like a mouse in the shadows, afraid it might affect her career. But now? As soon as Logan arrived, she wanted to shout to the world to prove to everyone that Logan was truly her soulmate. This was the difference between love and indifference. At this point, though, I wasn’t even angry. Instead, I almost felt sorry for Jessica. If she knew that Logan had kept an important matter like the shareholder meeting from her and dismissed it as nothing more than a trivial matter, she’d probably be so furious she might strangle him on the spot. The thought made me smile bitterly as I slammed Jessica’s stock transfer document down on the table. “I’ll be straight with you. From now on, I’m the largest shareholder and the chairman of the company. “Any objections?” Hearing this, no one in the room shook their heads. In fact, some of them even had a look of excitement in their eyes. After all, none of these people were particularly close to Jessica. They were just there to make money. They also knew that the company had reached this point because I’d been the one holding it together all along. Jessica knew nothing about management, and ever since Logan joined, he’d been making reckless decisions that had caused the company’s performance to plummet month by month. They were angry but had been too scared to speak up. Now that the company was back in my hands, they all wholeheartedly supported me. After taking care of everything, I returned to my office and received a message from Logan. In the video, Jessica, who had supposedly gone on a trip, suddenly changed into a wedding dress I’d never seen before, walking down the aisle with Logan hand-in-hand. “Chris, you canceled your wedding with the stand-in. What good did it do you? You only saved your sorry reputation. “You’ve never seen Jessica in a wedding dress, have you? “You don’t really think we’re on a trip, do you? “Jessica herself said she wanted to save her first time wearing a wedding dress for me, and that we would have our wedding to make up for all the years we lost.” I watched the video, which showed Jessica and Logan wearing matching wedding bands on their ring fingers, and I couldn’t help but scoff. Jessica had told me the reason she didn’t get me a matching ring was because the diamond ring didn’t come in a couple’s version. So she didn’t forget about the ring at all, she had already given it to Logan. After that, Logan didn’t stop taunting me almost every day. “Chris, it’s pretty late. You’re still stuck at the office, aren’t you? “You must be exhausted. Want me to send you some money for a coffee? After all, Jessica just transferred a million dollars to me. Oh, poor me, I have too much money and nowhere to spend it. “Chris, did Jessica not reply to your messages again today? Well, what can I say? We’re on our honeymoon, and her eyes are only on me. She’s too busy sightseeing with me to have time for you. Don’t get jealous now.” I looked at the messages Logan sent and could only coldly smile as I saved the evidence and forwarded it to my lawyer. With these pieces of evidence, even if Jessica tried to act like a sore loser and sue me, it would only backfire on her. A month flew by in no time. After working non-stop to adjust the company’s business, I was exhausted. Finally, I could get a good night’s sleep. But just as I was drifting in and out of sleep, a slap landed across my face. “Chris, it’s already past 4 a.m., and you’re still sleeping like a dead pig? “Get up and throw your stinky clothes out. Don’t dirty my luggage.” I looked up to see Logan suddenly standing in my home, a frown forming on my face. “Are you crazy? This is my house. How did you get in?” At that moment, Jessica walked in from the living room, looking completely indifferent. “Of course, I brought him here. “From now on, this room is Logan’s. It’s closer to the company, so it’ll be more convenient for him to come to work. Do you have any objections?” I was stunned for a moment and instinctively asked, “This is my house. If I don’t live here, then where am I supposed to live?” Logan scoffed dismissively, “Who cares where you live? “Ms. Greene paid your salary. You can rent a place on your own if you want. “And your house isn’t even yours, it’s Ms. Greene’s house. And Ms. Greene’s house is my house. I can let anyone stay in my house. What, you got a problem with that?” I stared at Logan, his illogical reasoning making me laugh in anger. These two were done pretending. At that moment, I couldn’t help but show a cold smile as I grabbed Logan and Jessica’s luggage. Seeing that I was obediently following their orders, Jessica finally nodded in satisfaction. “At least you know your place. When we head back to the office…” But before she could finish, I tossed their luggage straight into the river and turned around to smile at them. “Just tossing out some trash on my way to work. Don’t mention it. “Also, we’re divorced now. This is my house. If you don’t leave, expect the police to come knocking.”

With that, I slammed the divorce agreement Jessica had signed on the table and headed straight back to the office. After all, now that the company was listed, my time was extremely valuable, and there was a mountain of work waiting for me. Plus, now that Jessica and her people had returned, I could finally notify HR to handle their termination. After I finished talking with HR and was about to head back to my office, I found Jessica and Logan already sitting inside. As soon as Logan saw me, he couldn’t help but sneer, “Oh, look who it is, Jessica’s ex-husband! “You were so tough back at the house. I thought maybe you’d turned into some big shot after a month, but you’re still just working at Jessica’s company, huh? Jessica tilted her chin up proudly, looking like a rooster strutting around. “Chris, it seems I’ve been too nice to you over the years. That’s why you’ve become so selfish and ungrateful. “Even if you used dirty tricks to get me to sign the divorce papers and took more than your fair share of our assets, so what? “Don’t forget, I’m the chairman of the company, and you’re just one of my employees. “I can fire you anytime, and if I mess with your background check a little, I guarantee you’ll never work in this industry again.” Saying that Jessica threw the pot on the table to the ground, looking at me with a mocking expression. “If you want to stay in this industry, then use your tongue to clean the floor. Maybe I’ll think about giving you a job as a janitor at the company.” Before I could respond, Logan chuckled and teased, “Jessica, you’re just too soft-hearted. “Not only do you give Chris a job, but you’re also letting him drink such expensive coffee. You really are soft on your ex-husband. “Now you’ve got me jealous.” Hearing their sarcastic insults, I just found it amusing. So much for being the company’s CEO. It looked like she and Logan had been having too much fun this past month and hadn’t paid a single bit of attention to the company. She didn’t even know she’d been kicked out of the board. I shrugged, indifferent. “Fine, if you’re so capable, go ahead and fire me.” At that, Jessica froze for a moment, then snorted dismissively. “Chris, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Do you really think the company can’t do without you? “Let me tell you the truth. Do you really think I gave you a month to prove yourself? “You really thought I was going to make you the vice president? No. I was just using your experience to turn around the company’s decline and fix the situation with the poor performance and stock drop. “Now that the business adjustment is done, I could replace you with a dog as the director, and it wouldn’t matter. What do you think your value is now?” Logan, standing nearby, looked extremely impatient and waved his hand dismissively. “Jessica, stop wasting your breath on him. “Talking to someone like him is just like wasting your time. Once he gets blacklisted and can’t find a job, he’ll come crawling to us, begging for help.” Hearing this, Jessica smirked, walking with an air of superiority as she ordered. “HR, prepare a termination letter!” Soon, HR came back with the letter, but instead of handing it to me, they handed it to Jessica. At this, Jessica’s face turned sour. “What’s this for? “Are you new here? Don’t you know I’m the company’s CEO?” At that moment, I looked at her with disdain, slamming the board’s appointment letter onto the table with a cold laugh. “Oh, right, you probably don’t know. “After a unanimous vote at the shareholders’ meeting, I’m the new CEO now. “And you, Jessica… from this moment on, you’re fired!”

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I abandoned Lucas Song when he was at his poorest. “Did you really think I enjoyed squeezing into a tiny apartment with you, living in poverty?” When we met again, he had already become a wildly popular author and director. Reporters swarmed to interview Lucas about the inspiration behind his masterpiece, “The Monster in the Apartment.” He looked past the crowd, his eyes meeting mine as he smirked coldly. “The female lead in this book is indeed based on someone real. We had a brief connection once. “However, she’s dead now.” As the end credits rolled, the screen went dark. The lights in the theater gradually brightened. Quiet sobs could still be heard – many viewers hadn’t yet emerged from the emotional impact of the film. My friend Emma nudged me with her elbow as she wiped away tears. “Aria, I’m so glad I dragged you to see this! I loved the novel, but I never expected the movie to be this good and moving!” A complex mix of emotions churned inside me, but I held them back, not responding. Today was the premiere of “The Monster in the Apartment.” The premiere was meant to generate buzz before the official release, with a select audience getting to watch the film a week early. After the screening, the director, lead actors, producers and other key crew members would interact with the audience. The host was preparing to take the stage, and the audience’s attention quickly shifted, an air of excitement building. But most weren’t here for the lead actors. The film’s director and screenwriter, who was also the author of the original novel, Lucas Song, had far surpassed the two leads in fame. Since publishing his debut work “The Monster in the Apartment,” Lucas had consistently topped bestseller lists with his bold realism and gripping prose. His subsequent works were also hugely popular with readers, cementing his status as a literary superstar. With his handsome looks, female fans dubbed him “the genius author who doesn’t rely on his face.” Lucas continued to break new ground, adapting his first blockbuster novel into a film. Even when just the trailer for “The Monster in the Apartment” was released, the hype was so intense that even those outside literary circles knew about it. All these years, I had just been quietly following his career from afar. I met Emma, who also grew up in Muyu City, while studying abroad. We returned to China together, and Emma’s birthday happened to coincide with this premiere. Since she was a devoted fan of the novel, I agreed to accompany her. I clutched the premiere ticket tightly in my hand. The host walked to the center, smiling as he began his opening remarks. Media reporters in the front rows had already raised their cameras and microphones. My mind went blank, my heart inexplicably racing. It wasn’t until Emma excitedly patted me that I realized the key crew members were entering one by one. Excited screams erupted from the audience. “Lucas is even more handsome than in photos!” “I finally get to see my idol in person!” I looked up. My breath caught. I spotted Lucas immediately. Most of the camera flashes were focused on him. He walked calmly to the center. That handsome face now had an added air of coolness. His gaze was no longer as gentle as before, but calm like a deep pool. If my previous impression of Lucas was gentle, sensitive, and passionate… Cold, aloof, and distant would be all the words I’d use to describe him now. Lucas nodded slightly to the media, casting a quick glance over the audience. I was sitting in the back corner, unlikely to be noticed, so I let out a small sigh of relief. The entire venue quieted at the host’s cue, and reporters began interviewing the key crew members one by one. The media’s interest was entirely focused on Lucas. They only asked the male lead a few cursory questions before quickly turning their microphones to Lucas. “Mr. Song, ‘The Monster in the Apartment’ tells the story of young men and women finding redemption in a run-down apartment. The descriptions and details feel so real that many people deeply relate to and are moved by it. “So I’d like to ask, Mr. Song, are these experiences you’ve personally been through? Is the female lead based on a real person?” The venue fell silent for a few seconds as everyone waited for Lucas’s answer. Suddenly, Lucas looked past the crowd, his eyes meeting mine. My heart plummeted. He stared in my direction, smirking coldly. “The female lead in this book is indeed based on someone real. We had a brief connection once. “However, she’s dead now.” His words caused an uproar. “Oh my god, so this work actually has a real-life inspiration? Does this mean the story is Lucas’s way of commemorating this dead love interest?” Emma said. I gave a bitter smile. Only I understood Lucas’s meaning. In his heart, I had died completely that summer day long ago.

After the premiere ended, I said goodbye to Emma. As I waited for a ride by the curb, people around me were still discussing the “dead” female lead Lucas had mentioned. “My friend went to college with Lucas. I think I know who he’s talking about…” “Who is it?” “This girl called Aria Ning. She was broke but liked to pretend she was rich. People found out she was working as a waitress and hostess all over town. “The funniest part is, there were rumors she hooked up with Lucas, but then dumped him because he was poor. “Isabella Locke was the one who suppressed this gossip.” “Isabella Locke? The lead actress who was sick and couldn’t come today?” “Yeah, the wealthy heiress. She’s always liked Lucas, and had a complicated relationship with Aria Ning. I guess they were love rivals… I always thought the female lead was based on Isabella.” “Me too. Isabella is beautiful, comes from money, and is a good actress. She seems like the perfect match for Lucas.” I froze in place. Even after all this time, hearing Isabella’s name made my heart sink. Isabella Locke was the lead actress Lucas personally chose for “The Monster in the Apartment.” She was my nightmare. Isabella had destroyed so many things in my life, including my relationship with Lucas. For reasons I never understood, Isabella had always targeted me. In college, Isabella spread rumors that I was cheating on my boyfriend and had secretly aborted another man’s child. When the rumors came out, combined with my reputation as a goody-two-shoes top student, it spread like wildfire across campus. Isabella, as the student council president, deliberately brought up these rumors, indirectly confirming them. Although there was no direct evidence in the end, I was forced to take a leave of absence due to the pressure of public opinion. After several attempts to argue my case, no one believed me, including my father. My father cut off my bank card and made me stay at home to “reflect.” Furious, I ran away from home and had no choice but to find work to support myself. But then I was accused of pretending to be rich when I was actually broke. It wasn’t until years later, when I worked hard to get back on track academically and successfully applied to graduate school abroad, that my father started to look at me differently. Everyone believed Isabella, just because she was the Locke family’s daughter. Little did they know, she was only my father’s adopted daughter. Though adopted, she was especially doted on by my father. Since she was slightly older than me, my father tacitly acknowledged Isabella as the Locke family’s eldest daughter in public. My birth mother had passed away early on. I took my mother’s surname, so few people connected me to the Locke family. In college, I always kept my head down studying and never deliberately revealed my true identity to avoid attention. Isabella was different, flaunting her status as the Locke family’s daughter. While I was gradually overlooked, as if I were the outsider in the Locke family. Shaking off these thoughts, I realized the driver had arrived. As I got in the car, I suddenly changed my destination. “Take me to Bluespring Lane.” I stared absently out the window. We drove further away from the bustling city center, with more and more low-rise buildings appearing. Despite its pretty name, Bluespring Lane was just a cramped alley among dilapidated apartment buildings. Opening the car door, I stepped onto the damp, muddy ground. The apartment building in front of me had peeling walls, rusty security bars with clothes hanging from them, and a constantly dripping public faucet that seemed impossible to tighten fully, forming puddles where bicycles were parked, with spots of mold and moss growing nearby. The only thing that seemed capable of dispelling all the damp gloominess was the single yellowed light in Bluespring Lane. I walked straight into the alley. Most of the units here were rentals, crammed with confused and lost young people, cheap pots and pans, and noisy arguments. It was also where Lucas and I had once found solace in each other. Back then, I was penniless and desperate. It started pouring rain outside, so I randomly knocked on someone’s door. Lucas opened it. He was the one who took me in. I stood in front of the building entrance and lit a cigarette. My vision blurred in the bluish-white smoke from my fingertips. I vaguely sensed someone passing by and slowly looked up. Suddenly, I found myself staring into Lucas’s eyes. He stood before me, expressionless. I froze slightly, wanting to speak but hesitating. Lucas just said coldly, “Excuse me.” “Lucas?” My voice trembled slightly. He repeated coldly. “Please move aside.” I shifted slightly. Lucas walked into the building without looking back. I turned and called out to him. “You still live here?” Lucas paused briefly, turning his head to smirk. “What’s it to you?” He continued up a few more steps without stopping, just taking out a cigarette. I instinctively followed. But he turned back, his gaze icy. “Don’t follow me.” Seeing I didn’t move, Lucas leaned down, getting close to my face. He had the cigarette between his lips, tilting his head slightly. The glowing ember from my cigarette naturally lit the end of his. I could clearly see his eyes, but couldn’t read the emotions in them. He deliberately blew a smoke ring in my face. I choked, coughing uncomfortably. I still hadn’t gotten used to the harshness of cigarettes, only daring to take tiny puffs. “If you can’t handle smoking, don’t pretend.” Lucas slowly straightened up, saying mockingly. “And don’t act concerned about things you wanted to throw away.” My heart ached dully. My phone rang – it was Ryan, my childhood friend. Since I’d returned home, he’d been pursuing me. “Aria, is the premiere over? I’ll come pick you up.” “I’ve got hot pot ready at home, let’s eat together.” The stairwell was eerily quiet. Ryan’s voice came through clearly from the other end of the phone. Lucas glanced at the ring on my middle finger, his tone flat. “You’re engaged to him?” I hung up the phone, not getting a chance to explain before Lucas gripped my chin. He forced me to look up at him. Lucas sneered, but there was anger in his eyes. “You have a fiancé but you’re here trying to seduce me? Quite the player, aren’t you.” “I…” My eyes stung slightly. The grip on my chin hurt. Lucas suddenly let go and turned to go upstairs without looking back. “Someone who’s already dead to me, “Don’t appear in front of me again.”

Suddenly, footsteps coming down the stairs echoed in the stairwell. “Lucas, you’re back! “My fever’s mostly gone. I’m so glad you let me rest at your old place – I really didn’t want to go to the hospital… “Oh, I was just about to take out the trash. There was a lot of clutter in the apartment, so I helped clean it up for you.” It was Isabella’s voice. “Who told you to touch my things.” Lucas’s voice was ice cold. “Huh? I just thought a lot of that stuff wasn’t worth keeping…” Isabella was taken aback. The next second she put down the trash bag and tugged at Lucas’s hand. “Come on, don’t be mad. I didn’t know you don’t like people touching your stuff.” As Isabella was speaking, she noticed me and her movements faltered slightly. “Aria Ning? What are you doing here?” Isabella frowned, her tone somewhat sharp. Seeing no reaction from me, she suddenly made an “oh” of realization, let go of Lucas’s hand, and walked past him. She crossed her arms and stood in front of me, looking down her nose with a smirk. “Came running to latch onto success, did you?” “Or…” Isabella leaned in close to my ear, lowering her voice. “Ryan isn’t satisfying you?” Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Lucas clench his fist. Isabella continued with a smile. “Should I remind you how you abandoned Lucas back then?” “You go first,” Lucas cut Isabella off. “I already called a car for you earlier, it should be waiting at the alley entrance.” Isabella was speaking to Lucas but looking at me triumphantly. “Then I’ll come find you at your place tomorrow, Lucas.” As she passed by me, she leaned in close to my ear again. “If you dare bother Lucas again, you know what the consequences will be.” I stumbled back slightly from her shove. Not long after Isabella left, it started pouring outside. I stood dazed in front of the building entrance. I took out my phone, debating whether to call Ryan. I had refused his offer to pick me up earlier. But now with the heavy rain, he was the only person I could think of to help me. The stairwell light behind me flickered off and on again. I turned around to see Lucas. His face was hidden in shadow, his expression unreadable. “Come up.” “What?” I was slightly stunned. “I need to go. I was about to call Ryan to…” The name “Ryan” seemed to provoke Lucas. Before I could finish speaking, he gripped my wrist tightly. “Come up.” “Lucas… let go of me…” I struggled to break free. Lucas’s grip only tightened. “Your fiancé doesn’t show up for hours, “You tell him not to come, and he just leaves you alone here? “You’re that eager to go with him?” “I need to go home…” I stubbornly tried to pull away. “Back to the home you share with Ryan?” Lucas’s tone grew increasingly cold. “He’s nothing but a hypocrite. You’re going to marry him?” “Lucas, let go of me!” The pent-up emotions finally exploded. My voice carried a hint of tears. “What does it matter to you… In your eyes, I’m already…” Lucas ignored me, dragging me up to the third floor. He unlocked the door one-handed, pulled me inside the apartment, and kicked the door shut. My wrist was gripped painfully as my back slammed against the wall. The light switch was accidentally hit. In the dim yellow light. Lucas’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse. “It matters to me.”

Outside the window was a rainy night. Inside was a tiny rented apartment. The sound of rain pounded relentlessly on my heart. I leaned weakly against the wall, eyes downcast, lashes trembling slightly. “Lucas, calm down.” I tried to keep my voice steady. But Lucas’s scent was making my thoughts chaotic. The smell of citrus body wash mixed with a faint tobacco scent enveloped me, along with waves of scorching heat. Hearing my words, Lucas’s tightly gripping fingers trembled slightly, as if trying to restrain himself, then loosened a bit. In that brief moment of withdrawal, the temperature and scent nearly dissipated. I instinctively grabbed the front of his shirt. Lucas froze, then his eyes darkened. I quickly pulled my hand back, avoiding his gaze. “I… “I need to go.” I pushed Lucas away, but he caught my wrist with one hand. He propped his right elbow on the wall above me, looking down. “Look at me.” A shadow loomed over me as my chin was gently tilted up, suddenly meeting Lucas’s dark eyes. “Say you like me.”

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It was the third year of my marriage to Lucas. He was 35. I was barely 21, just starting my senior year in college. I hadn’t decided yet whether I wanted to be a full-time housewife. Then I overheard him chatting casually with a group of big shots in his circle: “Sophia has nothing going for her except her youth.” “Compared to her, Bella is much more sophisticated.” “I’m starting to regret getting married. It would have cost so much less to just keep a young mistress. Now if I divorce, I’ll lose too much.” Without hesitation, I handed him divorce papers. Seeing the black and white text stating that I would leave the marriage empty-handed, he let out a long sigh of relief. He then feigned generosity and said, “I’ll give you $2 million as compensation.” I smiled and refused, “I’m still young. I can afford to play around.” What he didn’t know was that my brother was the prince of the city’s elite circle. All these years, Lucas had only managed to squeeze into the big shots’ circle thanks to my brother’s support. Divorcing me? His losses were just beginning.

For my senior year internship, I decided to work at Lucas’s company. All so I could catch a glimpse of my handsome husband every day. As a lowly intern, I kept such a low profile that even Lucas didn’t know I was there. I didn’t want to bother him or distract him from work. Occasionally, I’d overhear other interns discussing Lucas. I’d listen carefully but never chimed in. “Mr. Evans is so handsome. 35 is really the golden age for a man.” “Too bad he’s married. I heard his wife is some unknown young girl.” “Ugh, why can’t I be that lucky…” When I was 18, Lucas pursued me with the intention of marriage from day one. He gave me the engagement ring right away to express his sincerity. I responded with equal enthusiasm. We got married after dating for a year. It was impulsive and exhilarating. Sweet and blissful. He gave me a fairytale romance beyond my wildest dreams. The love of a domineering CEO was straightforward and overwhelming, leaving me dizzy and disoriented. If I hadn’t come to intern at his company this time, I might never have discovered his secrets. Bella. Lucas’s secretary. Sexy and beautiful, the typical mature woman. She often accompanied Lucas on business trips and social engagements. She handled all company affairs, big and small, and even knew more about the company than Lucas did. So, before everyone learned about Lucas’s marriage, they all thought Bella was the real boss’s wife. While getting lunch in the cafeteria, I’d overhear old employees who had worked with Bella complain: “Mr. Evans really has poor taste. He doesn’t know how to cherish a beauty like Bella right by his side.” “Bella even gave up her high-ranking position at a listed company to be Mr. Evans’ secretary.” “Mark my words, once the passion fades, Mr. Evans will definitely divorce and end up with Bella.” There were many rumors, but I didn’t take them to heart. After all, the passion between Lucas and me was still burning hot every night. Until one night at a social event, a drunk Bella confessed her love to Lucas in front of everyone. It wasn’t so much a confession as it was forcing Lucas to make a choice. Bella asked Lucas if he had feelings for her. Lucas remained silent for a long time. Bella pressed on: “If you don’t have feelings for me, why won’t you approve my resignation letter?” Lucas’s face was grave as he replied with one word: “I do.” Then he gazed at Bella intently and said, “I do have feelings for you. I can’t be without you. That’s why I can’t approve your resignation. Is that okay?” Bella smiled, downed a glass of white wine, grabbed her purse, and walked out. The air froze for two seconds. Then Lucas chased after her. Everyone at that gathering had worked alongside Lucas and Bella for years. I wasn’t there. But Emma, a chubby girl I was friendly with who loved gossip, had recorded the scene and sent it to me privately. Emma asked me: [Do you think something will happen between Mr. Evans and Secretary White tonight?] I replied: [Probably not… right?] [They’re both adults who’ve known each other for years and have such deep feelings. They’ve had drinks, confessed their love… how could nothing happen?] I firmly typed back: [Mr. Evans is married. He should know better. Besides, Secretary White has no reason to be the other woman!] [You’re right. But whether something happened or not, we’ll know tomorrow.] I didn’t understand what Emma meant by “we’ll know tomorrow.” But the moment I exited our chat, I got my answer. Lucas messaged me saying he wouldn’t be coming home tonight due to a last-minute social engagement. My heart sank. I immediately called him. At first, no one answered. I called several times in a row. Finally, Lucas picked up. “Baby, my phone was on silent. I didn’t hear it. What’s wrong?” I held back my emotions, my fingernails digging into my palms. “Honey, are you really not coming home tonight?” “Yeah, we’re all still here at the gathering. I can’t get away. Try to understand, baby.” I gritted my teeth and continued, “Are there any women at your gathering?” He paused, then chuckled, “No. Since when did you start checking up on me? Do you want to video call so I can prove my innocence?” As he spoke, I heard a rustling sound – the kind made when expensive shirts rub against hotel sheets. In the past, when our love was wild and passionate, I often heard that sound too. “Mmm…” A muffled groan escaped Lucas’s lips. In that instant, all the knots in my heart unraveled. After three years with Lucas, we’d done plenty of intimate things. I knew exactly what that “mmm” meant. It was the sound he made when he was trying to stifle his pleasure. This detail – he probably didn’t even realize it himself. Well, well. I didn’t even need to stop him from cheating. He’d already crossed that line. I laughed bitterly, “No need for a video call…” I was afraid I’d go blind. “Enjoy yourself. I’m going to bed.” My heart felt dead as I prepared to hang up. But Lucas spoke again, his voice low and husky. “Baby, we just closed a big deal tonight. Starting tomorrow, everyone will be working overtime. I might be working late for a while, so don’t wait up for dinner.” Working overtime. Or spending overtime with Bella. It didn’t matter to me anymore.

After hanging up, I couldn’t sleep all night. With dark circles under my eyes, I arrived at the office the next morning. My mind was still blank when Emma sidled up to me to continue gossiping about last night. “Something definitely happened between Mr. Evans and Secretary White last night.” I frowned slightly. She went on, “This morning, Mr. Evans’s clothes were all wrinkled, and… he was wearing the same outfit as yesterday. Doesn’t that mean he never went home last night?” I nodded, too drained to compliment her observational skills. She continued, “Secretary White was late this morning too. When she came in, she looked radiant. Usually, she’s all business, but today she seemed like a whole new person.” I asked her, “How so?” She chose her words carefully: “More cheerful, more sexy, more coy… you’ll see for yourself.” I looked up and saw Bella walk in wearing a tight-fitting dress. I’d seen that dress before. When Lucas and I were shopping together, I had my eye on it. But they didn’t have my size, so I just paid and asked them to send it to Lucas when it came in stock. Now I see. The dress arrived alright. But the recipient had changed. Bella was in a great mood. As soon as she came in, she asked everyone what they wanted to drink, her treat. Everyone cheered excitedly. I sat in the corner, my emotions a jumbled mess. I tried to numb myself with work. But it didn’t help much. In a daze, lunchtime arrived. I sat at my desk eating takeout. Bella, carrying bags of gourmet food, headed to Lucas’s office. She went in. And didn’t come out all afternoon. When she finally emerged, it was almost time to leave work. Emma next to me clicked her tongue twice and sighed, “The world really is going downhill. Of all people, why did Secretary White have to fall for a married man? Jack, who sits close to the CEO’s office, said that as soon as Secretary White went in, she threw herself into Mr. Evans’s arms. They almost turned the office into a hotel room!” With that, Emma sent me the photo Jack had secretly taken. Bella was sitting on Lucas’s lap, feeding him lunch. Their intimate posture and expressions were unmistakable. “I wonder how Mr. Evans’s wife would feel if she saw this scene,” Emma sighed softly. Mr. Wilson, sitting across from us, frowned. “They’re in love. Why are you two meddling?” Emma didn’t catch Mr. Wilson’s tone and joked, “That’s right, she is the mistress after all!” Mr. Wilson was not pleased. He tossed a ledger at Emma, “Since you’re so free, finish this. You’re not leaving until it’s done.” Emma pouted. I quietly sent her a message: [Mr. Wilson and Secretary White go way back. He’s definitely on her side, so don’t say stuff like that anymore.] Emma sent back a crying emoji. I comforted her: [I’ll help you with that ledger. Let’s finish it quickly and get off work. I’ll treat you to crayfish.] She perked up again. That evening, we finally finished our overtime work and were ready to go for crayfish when Mr. Wilson stopped us. “Thanks for working late. Let’s all go grab a late-night snack.” Mr. Wilson didn’t give us a chance to refuse. He took us straight to a restaurant near the office. After eating, he dragged us to a karaoke bar. We didn’t want to go, but we had no choice. As lowly interns, we had no say. Sitting in a dark corner, Emma and I decided to play mobile games instead. We got so into it that we didn’t notice more people entering the private room. Until I heard a familiar voice. That’s when I saw Lucas, surrounded by a group of big shots, sitting in the main seat. At first, they were discussing business. Then, they started talking about their personal lives. Kids, wives, in-laws… and of course, mistresses. “I saw Bella’s social media post. Something about true love prevailing. What’s up? Did you finally come to your senses and take Bella to bed?” Someone asked. I couldn’t help but prick up my ears. Lucas replied calmly, “You guys don’t understand the situation that day. I had no choice. Bella was forcing my hand. If I didn’t accept her, she was going to quit. You know Bella’s been with the company for so many years. The company can’t function without her. And… I guess you could say I can’t function without her either.” “So Bella’s okay with being the mistress? Lucas, don’t let this backfire on you later.” “Yeah, we all saw how much effort you put into marrying that young girl back then. Forget about keeping your mistress stable, what if your wife finds out? Won’t that cause a huge scene?” “It’s not like that. If Bella doesn’t mind, why should that young girl care?” “After being spoiled by Lucas all these years, how could that girl go back to an ordinary life? Even if she finds out about the affair, she definitely won’t do anything rash. At least with the title of Mrs. Evans, she’s set for life and can be someone important.” Everyone chimed in with their opinions. In the end, they concluded that as long as Lucas kept Bella happy and quiet, his wife at home wouldn’t cause any trouble. They even congratulated Lucas on having the best of both worlds. Emma listened, her face scrunching up in disgust. She couldn’t help but whisper in my ear, “Disgusting.” Then she added, “Even though Mr. Evans is being a jerk, what they’re saying isn’t entirely wrong. That young girl hasn’t even graduated yet, right? With no family background or skills, making a fuss really wouldn’t do her any good. What do you think?” I nodded, “She won’t make a scene. In today’s society, everyone wants to keep up appearances.” Anything can be discussed calmly and rationally. Even divorce. At this point, Lucas put down his glass and spoke: “It’s true, Sophia has nothing going for her except her youth. Compared to her, Bella is much more sophisticated.” “But Bella’s proud personality, who knows how long she can tolerate being the other woman.” “I’m starting to regret getting married. It would have cost so much less to just keep a young mistress. Now if I divorce, I’ll lose too much.” So, he was calculating his losses. Of course, Lucas and I were legally married. A divorce would mean splitting his assets acquired during our marriage. Well, I’ll grant Lucas his wish. I can leave the marriage empty-handed. But the price he’ll pay after I walk away with nothing – that’s something he’ll have to bear.

When everyone finally dispersed, Bella left with a drunk Lucas. From a distance, I watched them embrace, their lips pressed together. Perhaps they had been holding back for too long. As soon as they got in the car, it started rocking up and down. Silently, I recorded everything that had just happened. Then, I called my brother. “What’s up, little sis? Why are you calling so late?” My brother’s voice instantly touched the softest part of my heart. With a “plop,” I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears started streaming down my face. “Sweetie, what’s wrong? Are you crying?” I was choking on my sobs, unable to speak. My brother immediately asked where I was. I mumbled an address through my tears. Half an hour later, he appeared in front of me. I was huddled on some steps by the street, my body shaking. My brother took off his coat and draped it over me, sitting down beside me. “Where’s Lucas?” “He cheated.” My brother froze, his jaw clenching tight. “Where is he? I’ll kill him.” I grabbed my brother’s hand, shaking my head, “There’s no need. It would only dirty your hands.” My brother angrily stomped on the ground! But he wasn’t satisfied with just that. He asked me, “Do you want a divorce?” I nodded without hesitation. “Could it be a misunderstanding?” I showed my brother all the videos and photos stored on my phone. Although I didn’t say anything, my brother had already made his decision. He immediately took out his phone and made several calls. First, he contacted his lawyer friend to draft a divorce agreement for me. Second, he contacted Lucas’s suppliers, telling those who had just negotiated contracts but hadn’t signed yet to not sign, those whose contracts were expiring to not renew, and those whose contracts weren’t up yet to withdraw all discounts and charge market prices. After making those calls, my brother took my hand, “Come on, let’s go home.” I shook my head, tears still hanging in the corners of my eyes, “Before we go home, I want to move out first.” My brother didn’t hesitate. He drove me to the marital home Lucas and I shared. The house was bought by Lucas. I had nothing to be nostalgic about. It’s just that after living here for three years, I never thought I’d leave like this. “If you want this house, I’ll get you the best lawyer to help you keep it.” “No need, bro. Anything that’s touched by Lucas, I find it all quite dirty now.”

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My wife was a fool. For three years, I took complete care of her and gave her everything. Then one day, she regained her sanity and became the CEO of a listed company. She spent tens of millions of dollars holding a grand proposal for me. After getting married, I became the envy of everyone. Whenever she could, she expressed her love for me. Her true love’s return caused a change in everything. She kicked me out to make room for him. With nowhere to go, I took a bottle of sleeping pills. I had spent 25 years trying to win over four heroines, only to lose everything in the end. The system said that if I died in this world, I could return to my original world. While my life was passing by, I heard someone begging me to live. “Ryan Scott, I know you’re awake. Why did you choose to commit suicide on such a joyous day when Dylan is returning? Are you trying to frame him by your death?” Hearing the cold voice, I opened my eyes to see my wife, Luna Wright. Her icy glare was full of hatred. Luna, one of my targets, was my wife who had loved me. When we met at the very beginning, she pretended to be mentally disabled to avoid being involved in a family feud and insisted on marrying me. For three years, I took complete care of her and gave her everything. Upon the death of all the family heirs, she regained her sanity and became the sole beneficiary. Only then did I know that she had been pretending all along and that I was the real fool. I tried to leave, but Luna knelt and begged me, spending millions to propose to me in a high-profile way. “Ryan, don’t leave me, please. I can’t live without you. I deceived you, but I truly love you.” In the midst of swirling flower petals, I looked at the girl I had seen every day and accepted her proposal. However, when her true love, Dylan Hughes, returned, Luna fell out of love. She used work as an excuse to stay away from home for long periods. She even questioned me, “Ryan, why can’t you understand me? Without my hard work, we won’t have a good life.” I believed in Luna. But not long after, I discovered her intimate moments with Dylan in her office, along with used condoms on the floor. I confronted her, but she kicked me out without a penny. Dylan even staged a false suicide by jumping into the sea and posted a lengthy accusation on Twitter, claiming I had abused him and driven him to death. I faced a torrent of online abuse. Luna then kicked me out of our home. Even my sister, Bella Scott, cut ties with me, calling me a vile person. No matter how much I tried to explain, no one believed me. I didn’t know why Luna saved me, but seeing the intense hatred in her eyes, I struggled to speak, “Kill…me.” The next moment, Luna let go, slapped me hard, and shouted, “If you want to die, do it somewhere else. You’re so disgusting!” Her slap left me dazed. When I came to my senses, her bodyguards had already thrown me onto the road outside the villa. Luna crossed her arms, looking at me with contempt as if I were a pitiful creature. “If it weren’t for you bullying and tormenting Dylan, he wouldn’t have been driven to jump into the sea. Go away if you want to die. You really make me sick.” I forced a bitter smile. They slandered me, yet somehow I was the one at fault. With power and influence, they could smear me at will. Luna probably forgot that without me, she would never have achieved what she had today. Since that was the case, I wouldn’t bother her anymore. Stumbling away, I reached a bustling street. Watching the flow of cars, I jumped. I thought, “As long as this body dies, I can go back to my original world.” Suddenly, the screeching sound of tires and honking horns filled the air. Someone grabbed my hair and dragged me to the roadside. “Ryan, what are you doing?” I looked at the furious Luna and asked calmly, “I’m already leaving you alone.” Though her words were harsh, I saw her trembling all over. When she was pretending to be a fool, she would tremble with fear and hide behind me. Looking at Luna, I thought, “What is she afraid of? Afraid I would die? But I’m making things easier for her and Dylan.” Luna slapped me. “This is the road Dylan takes to come home. How can I let him see such a bloody scene?” I lowered my gaze, laughing bitterly. I went to the riverside. Here, I wouldn’t disgust her beloved man.

I was walking towards the river when someone suddenly grabbed my hand. Confused, I turned around and saw it was my sister, Bella. She was holding a cake with “DH” written on it. This cake was probably prepared to celebrate Dylan’s return after his fake death. Bella’s eyes blazed with anger and hatred. “What are you doing here, Ryan? Are you trying to stop me from giving this cake to Dylan? We’ve cut ties!” In this world, if anyone hated me more than Luna, it was Bella. Bella wasn’t like this before. We were orphaned at a young age, and I raised her alone, naming her Bella, hoping she would be beautiful and free. She dreamed of learning music, and I dropped out of school to work three jobs so she could attend the best training programs. When there was a fire at home, she ran barefoot into the burning house, crying that she couldn’t live without me. We used to be each other’s support, the closest family we had. But everything changed after she met Dylan. Dylan said he wanted to eat something tasty, so Bella forced me, despite my illness, to cook an elaborate meal for him. Dylan didn’t even take a bite, and when I asked why, Bella lashed out, saying my cooking was terrible and accused me of being mean to him. Then, she threw away the food I had painstakingly prepared. Later, Dylan and Luna conspired against me, faking his death by jumping into the sea. Bella hated me and cut ties with me. She watched coldly as I suffered and even pushed me further into despair. Thinking about this, I didn’t respond but pulled my wrist out of her grasp. Luna sneered. “Dylan is back. I left your brother penniless. He can’t accept it, so he must be thinking of committing suicide.” Bella frowned, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she said, “Ryan is such a coward. He wouldn’t do it. This is just for show.” “Exactly,” Luna nodded, laughing. “He tried this twice.” Bella looked at me with hatred. “Ryan, someone as vile as you won’t be missed even if you die. Get out of my way. I’m going to see Dylan.” I lowered my gaze. “Fine, I’ll go.” The next second, I fell into the turbulent river. Bella’s face turned pale. The current was swift, and within seconds, I was carried several feet downstream. I wasn’t afraid of death. Instead, a sense of relief washed over me. This time, maybe I could really die. But then, with a splash, Bella saved me, throwing me onto the shore. I was covered in mud, looking pathetic. She was soaking wet, kicking me furiously. “Ryan, are you trying to make everyone think I drove you to suicide and ruin me? Bastard!” “When did you learn to swim?” I coughed violently, cold water spilling from my mouth. Bella kicked me hard and sneered. “After Dylan jumped into the sea. Huh, your trick didn’t work. Are you upset now?” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Love was truly powerful. I had tried many times to teach Bella how to swim, but Dylan had always stopped me, saying, “With me around, Bella doesn’t need to learn to swim. I’ll always be there to save her.” Bella belittled me by saying, “This is where you and Dylan differ. You only force me to do things I don’t want to do. Ryan, you’re not fit to be my brother!” Later, when Bella accidentally drowned, Dylan looked on indifferently, while I dived in to save her. But she thought it was Dylan who had saved her and gave him all the credit, calling me heartless for standing by. Unexpectedly, Bella, who used to be afraid of water, had learned to swim for Dylan. I snorted. “It has nothing to do with you if I live or die. To me, you’re just a stranger now.” Hearing this, Bella turned livid with anger and slapped me. “If it weren’t for my vow to pray for Dylan’s soul, do you think I’d save someone I’ve cut ties with? I’d even save a dog that fell into the water!” I laughed bitterly. “Huh, what a moving story. Do you know? Dylan is going to marry Luna.” At this, the cake in Bella’s hand fell to the ground as she stared at Luna. “What? Marry her?” Before I could speak, another target, Violet Wood, rushed up in a panic, blurting out, “Dylan is missing!” “Ryan, did you hide Dylan? Bring him out right now!” Luna glared at me.

Luna, who had always been composed, panicked for the first time. “What? Dylan is missing? Ryan, no wonder you’ve been so strange today. You must have done something and are trying to clear your name. Tell me, where is Dylan?” Bella’s eyes turned bloodshot as she slapped me hard. “Dylan went through so much to come back, and you dare to harm him. Ryan, I shouldn’t have saved you just now. Where is he now? If he dies, I won’t live either!” The taste of blood filled my mouth. I parted my lips slightly, and a few drops of blood fell. I thought, “Dylan disappeared again. Huh, he really couldn’t stand me. Then I might as well fulfill his wish.” Just as I was about to speak, Violet, who had said I was her only salvation, pressed a dagger against my neck. “Where have you hidden Dylan?” Violet, one of my four targets, was a renowned expert in the field of traditional medicine. At that time, her family was murdered because someone tried to steal her family’s secret traditional medicine manual. I risked my life to save her. Perhaps witnessing her family’s murder made Violet extremely wary of anyone getting close. There was a scar on my left hand, which was left when she bit me in a moment of distress. Despite this, I accompanied her through that traumatic period. Eventually, Violet regained her composure and resolved to master her family’s medical techniques and seek justice for her family. Through countless life-and-death struggles, I helped her rise to prominence and exact revenge on all her enemies. That day, Violet cried, saying I was her brother from then on. I also cried because she reminded me so much of my sister from my original world. I missed her so much. However, after Dylan appeared, Violet gradually distanced herself from me just because he didn’t like me. She warned that if I came within ten feet of her, she would mute me with needles. When Violet learned Dylan had jumped into the sea, she went mad. She stabbed thousands of needles into my body, torturing me relentlessly to avenge Dylan. “Ryan, he must have suffered a lot because of you. You drove him to suicide. Every day from now on, you’ll endure torture a hundred times worse than what he experienced!” My silence further infuriated Violet. The sharp dagger pressed against my throat, leaving a thin line of blood. “You won’t say it? Well, it seems you’ve forgotten my means because I haven’t tortured you in a while.” With a cold expression, Violet knocked me out and dragged me into a small dark room in Luna’s villa. She inserted countless needles into my acupuncture points, amplifying my pain before torturing me with various tools. Luna and Bella didn’t stop Violet. Instead, they glared at me with intense hatred. I writhed in agony, the piercing pain spreading throughout my body, making me scream in torment. Violet slapped me hard and sneered. “Can’t you endure this bit of pain? Don’t forget how you tormented Dylan. If you don’t tell us where he is, I’ll make you suffer everything you did to him!” Hearing this, I opened my eyes. I didn’t want to be tortured anymore. Now, I just wanted to die quickly. Then, I could come back to my world and rest. I cried wildly at them and said, “Dylan is dead! I chopped him up into pieces. Kill me. Then you can avenge him. Just do it!” Violet, in a rage, couldn’t believe my audacity. “You think I wouldn’t dare kill you? Now that Dylan is dead, you must die with him!” She suddenly grabbed a dagger and thrust towards me with all her strength. She thought I would resist, but I just stood there, letting the blade stab into my chest. Violet froze, staring at the blood gushing from my chest, seemingly unable to believe it. I smiled. Finally, it happened. As my consciousness faded, Dylan’s voice suddenly came from the doorway. “Hey, you are all here. I’ve been looking for you all.”

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After I was raped and murdered, my mom started selling meat buns. The buns she made were incredible—thin dough, packed with juicy, flavorful fillings. Rumors began to spread that the thugs who’d gone missing in our town might’ve somehow ended up inside the buns. My mom just laughed when she heard. “How could that be? I’d never use old meat in my buns,” she said with a smirk. One day, someone found a severed finger in one of her buns. The shop erupted in chaos. Customers screamed, some ran out, others vomited. The police arrived quickly, sealing off the scene. On her cutting board, they found part of a human thigh that hadn’t been chopped up yet. And from the pot of rich, fragrant broth simmering on the stove, they pulled out a row of bones, still covered in tender meat. But my mom didn’t flinch. She stayed calm, almost proud. “The meat is fresh,” she said. “Test it if you want. I never use old meat, and I refuse to grind it in a machine. It ruins the texture—makes it too soft, no bite.” She even started explaining her “secret recipe” in a slow, deliberate tone: “You see, the meat needs to be braised first—so it’s tender and juicy when you bite into it. My braising sauce has—” “Enough!” one officer snapped, cutting her off. “Laura Sullivan, why did you kill them? And where’s your daughter, Jane? She hasn’t shown up to school in weeks. What did you do to her?” “School? What’s the point of school for a girl?” my mom sneered. “She doesn’t need it anymore.” I’d heard those words so many times in life, but even now, they hit me like a punch to the gut. Because I was a girl, my mom always looked down on me. No matter how hard I worked, I could never win her approval. It’s strange. I’m dead, but the pain still lingers. The police, confused, followed my mom’s gaze to the refrigerator. When they opened it, everyone recoiled, covering their noses in horror. Inside, they found me. What was left of me.

I was killed on my way home from school. A group of men grabbed me, covering my mouth and nose with a cloth soaked in chloroform, and dragged me into an abandoned factory. I woke up in agony. I screamed, I fought back, but they only became more violent, more vicious. They didn’t stop until I blacked out. When I came to, I heard one of them swear under his breath. “Shit, I think she’s dead.” “No way. Must be faking it. She was screaming her head off just now,” another one muttered. One of them checked my breathing. “She’s not faking. She’s gone.” Panic set in. “Dammit, we’re not supposed to kill anyone! We just got out of prison—none of us are going back!” The leader grabbed me by the neck, shaking me violently. My head lolled to the side, and with a sickening crack, my neck snapped. I was gone. My soul curled up in the corner, trembling. For a moment, I felt relieved. At least I wouldn’t have to endure any more pain. The leader cursed again, lit a cigarette, and muttered, “You know what? Maybe it’s for the best. Dead means we charge more. That little rich kid’s family can pay up.” When I floated back to our house, my mom was playing poker with the neighbors. “Gu, your Jane’s got such good grades. Bet she’s heading to one of those big universities in the capital, huh?” My mom scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. You think I’m stupid enough to let her leave town? I’ve raised her all these years—she’s not going anywhere.” “Still, wouldn’t a top school give her a brighter future?” “What future? She’d just end up in some dead-end office job making peanuts. Girls are only good at burying themselves in books. If my son were still alive, he’d be a hundred, no, a thousand times better than her.” She had once been pregnant with a baby boy. But at five months, she caught pneumonia from me and lost the baby. Not long after, my dad’s mistress gave birth to a son. He divorced my mom and left our family for good. My mom never forgave me. “If it weren’t for you, this family wouldn’t have fallen apart!” “You didn’t want a brother, did you? You got sick on purpose, didn’t you?” Late that night, she put away her poker winnings, muttering angrily to herself. “Where the hell is she? Evening classes ended hours ago. What’s she up to now?” She had no idea her daughter was being dismembered. I watched as she paced the house, growing more and more anxious. She called my phone over and over again. “Sorry, the number you’ve dialed is unavailable. Please try again later.” Every time she heard the automated message, she got more frustrated, more frantic. She called my teacher. My classmates. She even started shouting at the walls. “If that brat’s out messing around, I swear I’ll break her damn legs!”

My mom confessed to the murders without hesitation: “As for how many? I’ve lost count. You’ll have to figure that out yourselves. Don’t you guys have DNA testing for that?” Of course they did, but the sheer complexity of the evidence was a nightmare for the forensic team. That pot of her famous braising sauce? It was a stew of chaos—filled with an endless list of ingredients: star anise, dried orange peel, rock sugar, fennel, cardamom… even the cuts of meat were carefully chosen—lean meat here, belly fat there. I watched as my mom, her hands cuffed, was pushed into the back of a police car. Before the door could close, a woman burst through the crowd and started clawing and kicking at her, screaming hysterically, “Where’s my son, Laura Sullivan?! Give me back my son!” It was my dad’s second wife, Ava. The onlookers started murmuring: “Didn’t her stepson go missing recently too? Could it be her doing? God, this woman’s a monster. No wonder her husband ditched her!” “Laura Sullivan, if you so much as touched a hair on my son’s head, I’ll kill you!” my dad yelled, red-faced and trembling with rage. Bruised and bloodied from the scuffle, my mom simply smiled coldly. “Look at you two. Looks like karma finally came knocking.” After I disappeared, my mom had been forced to call my dad to ask for help. His response? “Your daughter’s missing? Isn’t that your responsibility? Don’t bother me with this nonsense.” Now, as both my dad and Ava stood there, desperate and panicked, my mom blinked innocently and said, “I really don’t know where Shane is. I sell so many buns every day, you know?” Her business was booming. Customers lined up outside her small shop from morning till night, the tables always full, the steamers constantly empty. She tilted her head, her lips curling into a smirk. “If you’re gonna ask, maybe you should be asking the people who eat here.” The room fell silent. Even the officers, who had been holding Ava back, froze mid-action. My dad and Ava stared at her, their faces pale, before collapsing helplessly to the floor. I couldn’t help but enjoy the way they looked—completely shattered. Ava begged my mom like a dog. It reminded me of the time I begged her not to destroy my family. Back then, she’d kicked me to the ground and sneered, “Stupid brat. Get lost with your mom!”

Ava used to be my mom’s best friend. It’s a story as old as time. My mom spent the best years of her life building a future with my dad, only to be betrayed by him and her closest friend once he became successful. My mom always believed the only reason Ava “won” was because she had a son. And so, she blamed me for the divorce. I don’t know how my mom eventually found the warehouse. When she saw what was left of me, she froze. Everything about her—her breathing, her expression, even her heartbeat—seemed to stop. She gathered my broken body in her arms. I don’t know how long she sat there before she finally reached out to gently close my lifeless, unblinking eyes. Her face was emotionless the entire time. No tears, no sobbing. Just a hollow, empty stare. I laughed bitterly to myself. Whenever she talked about the son she lost, her face was never this cold. Maybe now that I was gone, her life would be easier. She could start over, build a new family, have the children she had always wanted. It had to be easier, right? But my mom didn’t call the police. Instead, she carefully wrapped my remains and took me back to her shop. At dawn, she called my teacher to report my absence. “Hi, this is Jane’s mom. She’s sick and will need a few days off. Don’t worry, it won’t affect her studies.” I wasn’t sick. My mom was. She went about her day as usual, preparing breakfast and lunch. She banged on my bedroom door, shouting, “Food’s in the fridge, make sure you heat it up before you eat! And there’s money on the table if you need it. You’re so skinny—eat more!” She left for six days. On the night of my seventh day—the night when spirits are said to return one last time—she stood before my shrine. And my mom, with her own hands, offered up the life of one of the men who had destroyed me as a sacrifice.

Before my mom made her move, she bought a used food delivery uniform. Having run her shop for so many years, she knew all kinds of people, and it didn’t take long for her to get the information she needed from the local gangsters. She rode her electric scooter around the apartment complex, her hunched figure blending in easily. Years of hard work had made her back slightly curved, a detail that only helped her avoid suspicion. It didn’t take long for her to identify his address. She knocked on the door, holding a takeout bag. The door opened, and there he was—the punk. He grabbed the bag, glaring at her suspiciously. “What are you staring at? Get lost!” My soul froze. It was him. The one who had jumped me in the bushes. My mom, staring at his hostile expression and rough demeanor, smiled meekly. “Hey, young man, if it’s not too much trouble, could you leave me a five-star review?” “Get out of here before I beat you!” he barked, slamming the door in her face. The moment the door shut, my mom’s expression changed. The timid smile vanished, replaced by an icy, burning hatred. She didn’t leave. Instead, she waited in the shadows on the rooftop, biding her time until nightfall. When she finally broke into the apartment, the punk was already lying on the floor, unconscious, foaming at the mouth. The takeout she had delivered was laced with enough sedatives to knock him out cold. I watched, holding my breath, as she dragged his limp body into a suitcase she had brought. There was a security camera near the building’s entrance, but my mom didn’t panic. She calmly pulled out a length of steel wire, hooked it around the camera, and yanked hard, twisting it to face the wall. Then, lowering her head to hide her face beneath the helmet, she disappeared into the night.

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My best friend called me drunk, asking me to pick him up. But when I arrived at the private room, I saw him getting intimate with my girlfriend. My friend looked up and asked her, “Do you really like him?” She shook her head with a smile, “Of course not. You’re the one I’ve always had feelings for.” I turned away silently and sent my girlfriend a breakup text. Afterwards, I actively distanced myself from them. But they kept coming to beg for my forgiveness one after another. Hearing the chaotic music through the phone, I worried about my friend’s safety. I quickly got dressed and took a cab to the bar he was at. When I reached the private room, the door was slightly ajar. I was about to walk in when I suddenly saw a woman sitting on the couch whose side profile looked just like my girlfriend. Next to her was a man who looked exactly like Jack. The lighting was dim so I couldn’t see clearly. I quickly moved to the side and peeked through the crack to observe the situation inside. The scene made my blood boil. The woman was all over the man, kissing him passionately. It was an incredibly intense scene. At that moment, I could see clearly that the two people inside were indeed my girlfriend Celine and my supposed best friend Jack. My heart skipped a beat as I stared in disbelief. I remembered how they always seemed to dislike each other, but now they were secretly hooking up behind my back. And Jack had deliberately called me – did he want me to see this? I instinctively took half a step back, then called Celine’s phone. Hearing the ringtone, Celine quickly took out her phone but frowned. Jack took the opportunity to pull Celine closer, leaning into her as he asked with a smile, “Are you going to answer his call?” Celine stopped Jack and answered the phone casually, “Hello?” I suppressed my turbulent emotions, trying to stay calm as I asked, “Where are you, Celine?” Celine leaned against Jack and said in a serious tone, “I’m at a work dinner. I’ll probably be home late.” Watching this scene unfold, my heart ached and I felt a lump in my throat. After composing myself, I said, “Alright, be careful and don’t drink too much.” Celine nodded and quickly hung up, then eagerly went back to being intimate with Jack. The pain in my heart felt like being stabbed by a knife. I clenched my fists unconsciously as anger built up in my mind. Just as I was debating whether to burst in and confront the cheating couple, Jack’s voice rang out, “Do you really like that Alex guy?” Hearing this, I suddenly became curious to see how Celine would respond. But her answer was like a bucket of cold water poured over me. She looked away, her tone full of disdain: “Of course not. I only got close to him to get to you.” So that was it. Celine had only gotten close to me because of my best friend Jack. Suddenly, my heart shattered and my mind went blank. Tears started streaming down my face involuntarily. I opened my phone to Celine’s chat, where I could still see the loving message she had sent. “I love you so much…Alex.” Looking back now, it was all just a big joke.

Jack and I go way back. We’ve known each other since we were little kids. With his sunny image and witty personality, he was always very popular. Lots of girls pursued him. I benefited from this too. Many girls would try to get close to Jack through me, buying me snacks and treating me to meals. But Jack had always been picky, so no girl ever succeeded with him. Later we got into the same university, where we met Celine, a popular student leader. She was a big deal on campus – rich, pretty, and nice. Lots of guys liked her, including me. But I could only admire her from afar. Until one New Year’s Eve party, when the male host had an emergency. Celine found out I had relevant experience and invited me to co-host. Afterwards, we got to know each other and became friends. Jack felt left out and complained to me a few times. He started to dislike Celine and would try to trip her up in various ways. Although Celine was usually easygoing, she was quite unfriendly with Jack. They would argue heatedly in front of me multiple times. Time flew by and in our junior year, I finally worked up the courage to confess to Celine. I thought I’d be rejected, but to my surprise, Celine agreed. So we started dating. But Jack wasn’t happy about it. After all, he and Celine were like bickering enemies, so he really didn’t want to see this outcome. I had to convince him for a long time before he reluctantly accepted it. But afterwards they still disliked each other as always. Celine even advised me several times to distance myself from Jack, saying I should cut ties with him if necessary. This awkward situation continued until now. I never imagined they would end up hooking up together. So everything before had just been an act. If the Oscars gave out awards, they would both deserve one for Best Actor.

My heart turned cold. In the end, I chose to go home. Celine didn’t reply to my message. My nose stung as I cried again. I cried until midnight before falling into a restless sleep. I was woken up by the faint sound of keys in the door. Suddenly someone turned on the lights, which were a bit blinding. It was Celine. She had come home, looking tired. Seeing me lying on the couch with sleepy eyes, she frowned, “Why are you sleeping here?” Looking at this woman in front of me, I suddenly felt like she was a stranger. Because in our relationship, Celine had always been passive. She never actively hugged or kissed me. It was always me initiating, and she would comply. All along, I thought it was just her personality. But now I realized, she simply didn’t love me. Under my direct gaze, Celine looked uncomfortable. “I saw the text you sent. What are you making a fuss about now? I told you I was just busy with work, can’t you be more understanding?” Seeing her fake act, I found it laughable. She had always been fake, I had just been deliberately deceiving myself, subconsciously believing she loved me. I sat up straight and looked Celine in the eye, “Alright then, let’s get married.” Hearing my words, Celine was stunned for a moment before quickly saying, “Didn’t we agree long ago to focus on our careers first? Can we talk about marriage later?” Actually, the reason Celine had stayed with me was simple – her family business was facing bankruptcy and needed my family’s investment to save it. Including Celine’s own startup afterwards, she relied on my family’s resources to become successful. Under these circumstances, she wouldn’t dare break up with me no matter what. But I wasn’t going to give her the chance anymore. I coldly said, “In that case, let’s break up.” Celine hadn’t reacted yet, thinking I was joking with her. “Alex, we’re adults now. Can we talk seriously?” She quickly came over to hold my arm, but remembering how intimate she had been with Jack, I felt disgusted and nauseous. I didn’t hold back, decisively shaking off her hand and walking into the bedroom.

When I woke up the next morning, Celine was gone. She had left for work. I got up, washed up, and went to Celine’s company. The receptionist greeted me right away: “Are you here to see Ms. Liu? She’s in a meeting now, I need to check with her assistant first.” Hearing “assistant”, I paused, suddenly realizing something. “What did you say? Which assistant?” Seeing my sudden seriousness, the receptionist was startled. “J-Jack.” So it was him. I guess I hadn’t paid attention to company matters for too long and didn’t know when he had joined as Celine’s assistant. Seeing me lost in thought, the receptionist tentatively asked, “Mr. Lin, should I let Jack know you’re here?” I shook my head, “No need, I’ll go up myself.” After I left, some new receptionists gossiped. “Is that really Mr. Lin? He doesn’t seem that well-matched with Ms. Liu. I wonder how she ended up with him.” “Shh! Watch what you say! Mr. Lin owns company shares!” “But Ms. Liu and Jack seem unusually close!” “Keep it down, he hasn’t gone far yet. It’d be bad if he heard!” I narrowed my eyes, ignoring the chatter as I took the elevator to Celine’s office. I sat on the couch, waiting for their meeting to end. About half an hour later, I heard footsteps and a man and woman talking outside. It was Celine and Jack’s voices. Celine said softly, “Jack, Alex has been acting strange lately. Why don’t you check on him after work?” Jack scoffed, “Didn’t you say you were going to break up with him? Why do you still care?” Celine was silent for a moment before saying, “Let’s wait a bit. The company can’t do without the Lin family right now. You have to believe me, I like you. Alex isn’t even my type.” Then I heard the sound of kissing. My whole body was shaking. Tears welled up in my eyes again, falling onto my phone. This feeling of being betrayed by two people at once was awful. After a while, I heard Jack’s voice: “Celine, will you marry me?” Unfortunately, Celine opened the door just as she was about to answer Jack, and her words got stuck in her throat when she saw me. I didn’t get to hear Celine’s answer. “Celine, why aren’t you saying anything?” Jack walked in like he owned the place, but stopped abruptly when he saw me. Celine’s brows furrowed as she stared at me intently, pretending to be calm as she asked, “Alex, why are you here?” I leaned back in the chair, saying nonchalantly, “I heard we’re looking for a spokesperson for the new product. I came to take a look.” Jack put both hands behind his back, lowering his head to avoid looking at me. I knew this was Jack’s habit when he was nervous. I held back my tears, trying to keep my tone normal as I looked at Jack and asked, “Jack, when did you start working at the company?” By now Jack had come up with a response. He walked over to me with a grin. “Didn’t I tell you I quit my job? I saw Celine’s company was hiring so I came to work here temporarily. I’ve been busy moving recently so I didn’t mention it to you.” I looked at Jack and Celine. They were still trying to fool me. I asked, “Is that so?” Celine quickly answered, “Yes, that’s right.” I nodded and said “Oh.” Looks like they still planned to keep me in the dark, playing me for a fool.

When I left the company, it had started raining outside. I went to the front desk to borrow an umbrella from Lily, but she mysteriously pulled me aside. Lily gripped her phone tightly, looking a bit nervous as she glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before asking, “Mr. Lin, do you know Jack’s Instagram account?” I should know Jack’s Instagram. But as far as I knew, he hadn’t updated it in a long time. Lily handed me her phone. I looked at the Instagram profile on the screen for an account called “JackKnows” with over 1 million followers, labeled as a couple’s account. I glanced at the most recent post from yesterday. [M is taking me to see the Northern Lights in Iceland!] There was also a 9-photo collage of pictures he took in Iceland. Looking at the date, I suddenly remembered that just a week ago, I had wanted to go on a trip with Celine but she said she had a business trip. Then when I went to find Jack, he said he had to go back home for something. Could it be that they had both lied to me and actually gone to Iceland together? I thanked Lily and told her not to spread this around. Back in my car, I searched for this account on my phone. Scrolling to the bottom, I saw posts from two years ago when we had just graduated college. [Graduation trip with M! I said I like the ocean so she brought me here.] The photos were of Jack’s travels, including many that I had taken for him. Graduation trips were popular when we finished college. At the time, both Celine and Jack had asked me to go on a trip with them separately. I had to convince them for a long time before they finally agreed for the three of us to travel together. To help them get along, I put in a lot of effort and carefully planned out an itinerary, looking forward to traveling with my girlfriend and best friend. But I never imagined that they had hooked up that day, keeping it from me for two whole years. [M rushed back from out of town in the middle of the night when she heard I was sick.] I looked at the date – it was around the time my mom passed away. The company was just starting up then, and Celine was traveling everywhere trying to secure project partnerships. When my mom died of cancer, Celine was on a business trip in Shanghai. I called her in despair, wanting her to come back and be with me. But she said she really couldn’t get away, and would fly back as soon as the deal was done to be with me. But even after the seventh day memorial service for my mom, I still hadn’t seen her return. Yet the day after my mom died, when Jack had appendicitis and was hospitalized, she couldn’t even wait for the next day’s flight and had her driver bring her back that same night. So it wasn’t that she couldn’t come back. I just wasn’t worth coming back for. Tears blurred my vision, making it hard to see the screen clearly. I closed my eyes and tears rolled down my cheeks onto my phone. My heart was in so much pain. It felt like countless ants were biting my heart. I wiped away my tears and continued scrolling through Jack’s Instagram. [One year anniversary! M took me to Disneyland, she’s my princess forever.] This date was last June 1st, when I had planned for a long time to go on a trip with Celine. But the day before we were supposed to leave, she told me she had to meet an important client and might have to delay our trip by a few days. So the important client she mentioned was Jack. She didn’t go on a trip with me, but went to accompany Jack instead. [M and I had a fight today. I was in a bad mood, but then she bought me 999 roses and a diamond ring. I guess I’ll forgive her.] The photo showed their intertwined hands, with shiny diamond rings clearly visible. I noticed a mole on the woman’s index finger. Celine has a mole just like that on her hand. I didn’t want to look anymore. I quickly closed my phone and leaned my head on the steering wheel, accidentally hitting the horn which blared loudly in the empty underground parking lot. The sound briefly snapped me out of my daze. But as soon as I thought about how Celine and Jack had betrayed me for two whole years, my heart ached unbearably again. I took a deep breath, started the car and drove out of the parking garage towards home. But just as I was getting close to home, a car suddenly swerved out of nowhere. I quickly turned the wheel to avoid it, but ended up crashing into a tree. 5 When I woke up, the hospital room was empty. My throat felt dry and uncomfortable. I instinctively reached out, trying to get some water. But my hand had no strength and I couldn’t grip the cup I had just grabbed. The cup fell to the floor, shattering into pieces. The door opened and a woman wearing a hat and mask walked in. Seeing I was awake, she came to my bedside and poured me a new glass of water. Before I could ask, she explained, “Sir, you were in a car accident and hit a tree. I brought you to the hospital.” I looked at her and asked, “Were you the car that suddenly swerved out?” She quickly waved her hands to deny it: “No, no. I’m just a good Samaritan. Your injuries aren’t serious. I’ll call the police now and you can sort out the rest yourselves.” Looks like I got lucky. At least nothing major happened. The woman saw I was okay and asked, “My name is Emma. Do you want to call your family?” Who could I call? I didn’t want to worry my dad, so I definitely couldn’t call him. Celine? Jack? They were the last people I wanted to see right now. I shook my head. Emma seemed like she wanted to say something but held back. She didn’t say anything else and left after the police arrived. The police said the driver who swerved out was drunk driving. Luckily I had avoided them in time. Although I hit a tree, my head was protected by the airbag so there were no major injuries. After taking my statement, the police left. My head felt groggy and I fell asleep soon after lying on the hospital bed. When I woke up again, it was already dark outside. I picked up my phone and saw that besides missed calls from my dad, no one else had contacted me. I called my dad back but didn’t tell him about the accident. I just said I was out with Celine and wouldn’t be visiting him for a few days. After hanging up, I stared at Celine’s chat window and impulsively decided to call her. The phone rang several times before she picked up, sounding impatient: “Hello.” I lay in bed staring blankly at the ceiling as I asked, “I got in a car accident. Can you come to the hospital to see me? I want to eat the porridge you make.” There was silence on the other end for a while, like she was doing something. Then she said, “Okay, I’ll be there soon.” Hearing Celine agree, I felt nothing and just hung up expressionlessly. About 15 minutes later, Celine called back. I answered and heard her slightly guilty voice: “Alex, I’m so sorry. I have some urgent work to deal with right now. I’ll have my assistant bring you some porridge. I’ll come see you first thing tomorrow morning with more porridge, okay?” I didn’t argue or get upset. I just said “Okay” and hung up. Not surprising. Thinking back on our years together, she had never really cared about me. But I was still so passionate, believing I could be her exception. What a fool I was, dreaming the impossible dream. I covered my eyes as tears spilled out, soaking the pillow. At first I cried silently, but gradually I felt more and more wronged. I started sobbing out loud until I cried myself to exhaustion. Then I moved my hand and lay on my side, staring wordlessly out the window at the sky. My phone suddenly lit up. It was a notification from Instagram. I tapped on it and saw that Jack had posted an update. [Just now! M lost to me in a game, she said she’ll buy me a new skin every week for a month. Everyone witness this!] The photo showed them in Jack’s home, both wearing pajamas and curled up on the couch playing games, just like a normal couple. I stared at the photo, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. Celine couldn’t be bothered to care that I was in a car accident, but was happily playing games with Jack. Can a person really be so heartless? I lifted my hand and found Celine’s chat window. My hands were shaking too much to type properly, and my eyes were too blurry with tears to see the keyboard clearly. I wiped away my tears and steadied my hand, typing five words into the chat box. “Let’s break up.”

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