I sat in my bedroom, phone to my ear, my voice barely a whisper. “Hannah, I’m ready to accept the family’s arrangements. I’ll enter into a marriage alliance.”
On the other end, my sister Hannah’s tone brightened, clearly thrilled. “Really? You’ve finally come around?”
“Yeah, Hannah. I’ll be home in a week.”
“Haha, good, good, good. Then let Liam drive you back. He has to attend your wedding anyway.”
“He… won’t have time,” I said, biting my lip.
Suddenly, I heard the lock turn at the door.
Liam Donovan pushed the door open, pulling me into his embrace. His warm breath brushed against my neck. “No time? What no time? Me?”
I froze for a second, then shook my head. “No, it’s just I haven’t been home in a while. Hannah said she misses me a bit and wants me to stay with her for a few days. You definitely won’t have time.”
“Hmm… work’s been pretty hectic. Can’t really get away.” With that, Liam’s lips slowly moved from my neck to my mouth.
I pushed him away, testing the waters. “Are you going to come back with me? To meet my sister?”
Liam kissed my eyelashes. “Chloe, if your sister found out about us, she’d kill me.”
My body tensed. My voice couldn’t help but sound disappointed. “But when we get married, won’t you two have to meet anyway?”
He fell silent. A moment later, he said, “I’m going to take a shower first.”
I instantly understood what he meant. I closed my eyes in agony.
Sure enough, a stand-in is just a stand-in. They never get a happy ending.
The first time I met Liam Donovan was when I was thirteen. My family sent me to a top-tier high school in a major city for better college prospects, so I ended up living with his family.
Liam was already twenty-three then. He leaned down, his eyes fixed on me, a faint smile playing on his lips. “What a cute little girl. Don’t worry, you’re safe with me.”
Back then, he was a relative of my sister’s boyfriend. Now that Hannah was married, our family was even closer to Liam.
From that day on, the handsome and considerate Liam slowly found his way into my heart.
I thought my secret crush on him would last forever, but I never expected that when I was fifteen, he’d bring home a girl named Skylar Hayes.
He’d never allowed outsiders to disrupt my studies or life at home before, yet he let Skylar come and go as she pleased.
Around the time I was prepping for my high school finals, Skylar would sometimes come over and stay with Liam.
Each time, I’d grip my pen so tightly, listening to the intimate laughter from the next room, so lost in my pain that I didn’t even feel the tip digging into my palm.
Skylar often smiled brightly, patting my cheek. “Sweetheart Chloe, would you be happy if Liam and I got married?”
My fists clenched inside my sleeves, my lips pressed shut. It was Liam who eventually intervened. “She’s still so young. Why ask her something like that? How’s she supposed to answer?”
Skylar’s smile was radiant. “She’s not that young anymore. She should understand these kinds of feelings.”
My body trembled then.
I thought I’d hidden my feelings perfectly, but Skylar’s expression and tone made me wonder if they’d been discovered.
I looked at Liam, a flicker of panic in my eyes. I was terrified he’d find out about the feelings I’d kept locked away, yet I also feared he wouldn’t, because a part of me longed for them to be returned.
But when his eyes met mine, there was no flicker of emotion. He turned away and chuckled. “What are you thinking, baby? She’s not even an adult yet.” Then he ruffled Skylar’s hair. “How about we go back to my room?”
Skylar leaned into his embrace. “You’d better treat me right tonight.”
From that day on, I tried my best to avoid Liam.
I wanted to avoid any awkwardness, and honestly, I just couldn’t stand seeing him anymore. It drove me crazy.
After high school, I successfully got into college.
I wanted to move out of Liam’s house, but he wouldn’t agree.
He insisted, “Your university is right downtown, and I’ve seen your class schedule. You don’t have classes every day. You could easily commute. It’s more convenient to keep living here.”
His attitude gave me the mistaken impression that he liked me too. But that very night, he brought Skylar home again, and their intimate sounds pierced my eardrums, tearing through my heart.
I gave up.
But on the night of my college acceptance party, everything changed.
That night, despite Liam’s objections, I drank a lot.
Fueled by alcohol, I summoned the courage to hug the man I’d loved for years.
He pushed me away and fled in a panic.
Yet, just a few days later, he and Skylar broke up.
On the night they split, Liam, reeking of alcohol, pinned me beneath him. One hand cupped the back of my head, the other encircled my slender waist.
His kiss left me breathless, and the intense rush of hormones made it impossible to resist.
Liam’s kiss was possessive, as if he wanted to meld me into his very being.
My hands were forced against his chest, but gradually, the intensity of years of unspoken love made me stop struggling. I couldn’t help but close my eyes and return his deep kiss.
I had never been in a relationship, never kissed anyone before.
The clumsier I was, the more Liam seemed to want to conquer me.
His large hand deftly slipped beneath my top. “Be with me.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Okay.”
With that, Liam deepened the kiss.
I could no longer control the profound love in my heart, wanting to take another step with him. “I love you, Liam Donovan.”
“I love you too.” He paused for a long moment. “Skylar.”
A single tear rolled from my eye.
After that night, Liam and I officially started dating.
But deep down, I knew perfectly well that I was just Skylar’s stand-in.
A sudden pang in my chest pulled me out of my thoughts.
Every time I thought about it, the pain would choke me.
The bathroom door suddenly opened.
Water droplets clung to Liam’s hair. “Baby, why is my toothbrush cup different?”
I replied distractedly, “Oh… I accidentally knocked it over today, and it fell on the floor. I thought it was dirty, so I bought a new one.” I paused for two seconds, then added, “They didn’t have the matching couple’s one.”
“Okay.” Having gotten his answer, he disappeared back into the bathroom.
My heart felt even heavier.
After we got together, I bought so many matching couple items: couple’s clothes, couple’s towels, couple’s cups, couple’s toothbrushes, and so on.
Almost everything visible in the house was a couple’s item.
But just the day before yesterday, while Liam was cooking, I accidentally saw his phone.
It was one of the rare times he cooked himself.
I saw how happy he seemed, so I sat on his lap, wrapped my arms around his neck, and asked him why he was so cheerful. He just smiled and said he was simply happy, no reason.
As for his phone, I wasn’t deliberately trying to look, but when I picked up my phone to hand it to him, I accidentally saw a message notification on his screen.
It was from Skylar.
I never knew why Skylar and Liam broke up back then, I just heard from Liam’s friend, Noah, that Skylar moved abroad shortly after their split.
I thought back. Liam definitely seemed down during that period, and then we got together.
And the reason I knew I was just a stand-in was because more than one person had told me how much I resembled Skylar. Even I thought so.
When I first realized it, I had a complete breakdown.
So, when I realized Liam’s mood had shifted because Skylar was back in the country, I understood. I was just her stand-in, destined never to replace the original.
That’s why I made my decision.
To accept the arranged marriage my family had set up for me.
My sister had always known I had a “first love” in my heart, but she never knew it was Liam.
The Miller family was one of the most prominent and influential families in the entire state, and they certainly wouldn’t allow me to just drift around.
Now that I was a year out of college, Liam was still reluctant to meet my family, and with Skylar back in the picture, I decided to give up.
I would let go of Liam, and more importantly, I would let go of myself.
By the time Liam finished showering, I had already drifted off to sleep.
In my dream, I felt myself being pulled into a warm embrace. I instinctively snuggled deeper, but then his warm breath on my ear startled me awake.
Liam held me tight. “Baby, I want you.”
My body stiffened. I suppressed my inner urge and gently pulled away from his embrace. “I’m a little tired today.”
Hearing this, he instantly rolled away, putting some distance between us. “Alright, Noah’s taking me to dinner tomorrow. You should come too.”
“Okay.”
No sooner had I spoken than he began to snore softly.
To say I wasn’t disappointed would be a lie.
If he were a little more observant, he would have noticed I’d replaced all the couple’s sets.
Or perhaps he did notice, but simply didn’t care.
Either way, it was hopeless now. Soon, I’d be completely free.
The next morning.
When I came downstairs, Liam was almost done with breakfast. My plate was waiting on the dining table.
I sat across from him, my eyes involuntarily drawn to his tablet.
On it, clearly displayed, was a necklace worth over eighty thousand dollars.
And it was the exact necklace I had fallen in love with before but couldn’t bring myself to buy.
My mind started racing.
If he didn’t like me, if he only saw me as a stand-in, then how could he remember such a small detail so clearly?
If he liked me, then why would he only treat me as a stand-in?
I couldn’t figure it out, and I didn’t want to anymore.
Liam finished his breakfast, gave me a quick kiss goodbye, told me to go to the agreed-upon place by myself that evening, and then rushed off.
While eating breakfast, I opened up Ins and logged into a burner account.
It was Skylar’s private Ins account, where she documented little moments from her relationship.
I had been following it for a long time.
After their breakup, the account had been inactive, only recently resuming updates.
For instance, yesterday she posted a photo of a man in a sharp suit.
Though his face wasn’t visible, I recognized him instantly. It was Liam.
The caption read: “No matter how much time passes, you’re still my love.”
Annoyed, I closed my phone and started packing my luggage. Things I didn’t need, I tossed. Things I wanted to keep, I discreetly shipped away.
In just half a day, I had sorted through most of it. There wasn’t much left, just enough for one suitcase.
I then dragged my suitcase to a small, almost abandoned storage room. I carefully placed the suitcase inside, triple-checked that it wouldn’t be discovered, and then locked the door.
Five more days.
I’d let myself be wild for these last five days.
Breaking tradition, I used the black card Liam had given me to buy a few clothes I’d always wanted.
When he first gave me the black card, it was so I could spend freely. But I felt like I was just a stand-in, unworthy of using it, and I didn’t want to so humbly enjoy Liam’s affection through that identity. So I’d never touched it.
But since I was going to be wild, I wouldn’t hesitate anymore.
Even if I was just a stand-in, I deserved a performance fee for all these years, didn’t I?
After swiping the card, I sat in a coffee shop, waiting for a message from Liam.
I hoped that when he saw the transaction alert, he’d text me, a sign that he cared.
But he didn’t.
He didn’t care about me, so he wouldn’t even think about my recent unusual behavior.
At 6 PM, I looked at Liam’s chat. The last message was still the restaurant address and time he’d sent me that morning.
6:30 PM, STAR Bistro.
It was almost time for me to go.
When I arrived at the private room, Liam and Noah were already there.
Noah was Liam’s best friend. They’d known each other for years, supporting each other to get where they were today.
Seeing me enter, Noah quickly stood up. “My sister’s here! Come, sit!”
I glanced at Liam, then sat next to Noah.
It was the first time I hadn’t sat beside him.
Liam’s expression darkened slightly, but he didn’t say much. He just frowned and called the waiter to order.
“Three cream of mushroom soups, three foie gras, and three medium-rare rib-eye steaks. And three blueberry cheesecakes for dessert, served an hour later.”
“Understood, sir.” The waiter quickly jotted down the order and left.
But both Noah and I looked uneasy.
I furrowed my brows tightly. “Did you forget? I’m allergic to beef.”
At the same time I spoke, Noah also chimed in. “Liam, my sister is allergic to beef. How could you order her steak?”
Liam froze at their words.
He looked somewhat guilty, but he instinctively said, “I just forgot in the rush, do you two have to make a big deal out of it? Can’t we just order another dish? I’ll eat this one myself, is that not okay?”
Noah looked at me worriedly, sighed, and said nothing.
But it was clear he was displeased with Liam, yet powerless to do anything about him.
I grabbed my purse, stood up, and said, “I’m going to the restroom.”
Noah quickly called out to me. “What do you want to eat? We’ll reorder for you.”
“I’m not hungry. Just a light dessert will do.”
“But…”
Before Noah could finish, Liam’s face instantly turned grim. “Alright, you don’t need to bother with me. I’ll eat if I want, or not. I’ll eat when I’m hungry.”
My steps faltered. Once in the restroom, I looked up, trying hard not to cry.
Even though I was leaving him, my love for him had existed for so many years. To say I wasn’t sad would be a lie.
Besides, I had lived in Liam’s house for so many years, yet he had forgotten I was allergic to beef.
I suddenly remembered Skylar’s private Ins account had posted a photo at a bistro, captioned with “medium-rare rib-eye steak.”
I looked at myself in the mirror, eyes red-rimmed. I tried to offer myself a comforting smile, but I couldn’t.
After composing myself in the restroom for a long time, I touched up my makeup, ready to go back. But before entering the private room, I heard Liam say, “She’s just a stand-in. Why should I care?”
Those words struck me like a bolt of lightning, shaking me to my core.
My last tiny shred of hope was completely extinguished by Liam’s statement.
I had no expectations of him left.
I was about to turn and leave when I heard Noah start to explode. “Liam, why did I never realize you were this kind of person?”
My retreating steps halted. I listened on.
“How I am is none of your business. Just focus on your own arranged marriage. My affairs have nothing to do with you.”
Liam’s tone was clearly annoyed.
“It has nothing to do with me, but as your best friend for so many years, I’m advising you not to provoke trouble and not to let a good girl down.”
During my years with Liam, I’d often joined him to see Noah.
I could tell Noah was truly furious this time.
Liam grew increasingly impatient. “Alright, I get it. Stop talking, it’s annoying.”
Noah suddenly spoke with confusion. “She’s been gone for a while, hasn’t she? Why isn’t she back yet?”
“Who cares if she comes back or not? She’s been getting more and more out of line lately, always throwing tantrums. Let her calm down.”
Noah looked exasperated. “She’s your girlfriend!”
“Noah.” Liam thought for a long time before speaking. “This isn’t your business. You’re overstepping.”
My small hands clenched into fists.
I lowered my head gently, then turned and walked away.
I went to my usual bar, found an inconspicuous spot, and distractedly sipped my favorite Long Island Iced Tea.
Whenever I was upset, I’d come here for a Long Island Iced Tea. It had become a habit.
“Chloe?” Someone called my name.
I looked up and saw it was Skylar.
Skylar made herself right at home, jogging over and grabbing my hand, chattering away. “See? We’re so meant to be. I just got back, and I ran into you here!”
I forced a smile. “Yeah, what a coincidence…”
My other hand gripped my glass, my fingers trembling slightly, my body stiff.
Skylar didn’t notice my oddness. She pulled me to my feet. “Come on, let’s drink together! Liam will be here soon too.”
Hearing that, I was a bit stunned. “You two… got back together?”
Skylar looked thoughtful. “I don’t know if it counts, but I’ve been back for three days, and he’s spent all three days with me. So I guess we have, right? After all, we never forgot each other.” She smiled at me again. “Come on, let’s go together! Drinking alone is so boring.”
I was about to refuse when Liam’s furious voice cut in beside me. “What are you doing here? Are you following me?”
I froze for a second, then gave a cold laugh. “Following you? Do you own this bar? Only you and she can come here, but I can’t?”
Liam was speechless for a moment. He stepped forward as if to say more, but Skylar pulled on his arm. “Liam, don’t. I’m still just a little girl.”
I stopped watching their public display of affection. My desire to drink vanished. I turned to leave.
Before I reached the door, I was bumped into by a strange man.
He was reeking of alcohol and about to curse, but when he saw my delicate and pretty face, he flashed a yellow-toothed, lecherous grin. “Well, look at this pretty little thing. What’s the fun in drinking alone? Come have a couple with me.”
I frowned, trying to avoid him, but he grabbed me tightly.
Seeing I was ignoring him, the man burst into an expletive. “Bitch, you don’t want a nice face, huh?”
I instinctively looked in Liam’s direction, unable to help but shout, “Let go of me!”
More and more people gathered, including Liam.
He strode over, took my hand, glared at me, then politely said to the drunk man, “I’m so sorry. This is my little one. She’s clumsy and bumped into you. I apologize on her behalf.”
Then, without waiting for the drunk man to react, he quickly pulled me into a corner.
I was upset. “He was touching me and called me a bitch! Why did you apologize to him?”
Liam’s face was grim. “If you didn’t come to a place like this, would you have bumped into him? If you hadn’t bumped into him, would he have suddenly gotten perverted with you? Chloe, when are you going to grow up?”
“A place like this?” I suddenly laughed. “What do you mean by ‘a place like this’? Is it sleazy? Or immoral? If you think coming here is improper, then you and Skylar are meeting here – how proper is that?”
*Slap!*
I clutched my cheek, staring at Liam in disbelief.
In all these years, it was the first time he had ever hit me, and it was because of Skylar.
“Liam Donovan, no matter what our relationship is, and no matter what happens in the future, right now, I am your girlfriend.”
Though it wouldn’t be for long.
“Are you threatening me?”
More coldness seeped into his eyes.
I met his deep gaze with a cold stare. “I wouldn’t dare.” I forcefully shook off his hand and said fiercely, “I’m leaving. You can enjoy your date with your old flame.”
But the man in front of me said nothing, only stared at me silently.
Speechless, I turned and walked away.
Just as I reached the door, I heard someone inside shout, “A fight’s broken out!”
“Liam! Stop fighting!”
I was about to take my final step out but was startled by the familiar voice and name.
Logically, none of this should concern me anymore, yet my feet uncontrollably turned back.
At the center of a crowd of onlookers, Liam had a large, burly man pinned beneath him, savagely beating him. This man was the same one who had harassed me earlier.
He wildly threw punches, repeatedly smashing them into the man’s face, muttering, “You animal! Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson, you pervert who harasses women!”
Skylar sat on the ground nearby, trying to stop him, but flinched away, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. She could only cry out, pleading for him to stop.
I stood rooted to the spot, watching him go wild for Skylar, until security finally pulled the two apart.
The man’s face was covered in blood. He yelled that he would press charges against Liam, but Liam met his gaze with a furious glare, completely unfazed.
Ultimately, because the man was in the wrong and it was his second offense that day, he couldn’t withstand the public outcry and fled in a panic.
Liam then straightened his collar, turned, and saw me, who had been watching for a long time.
“Why are you still here?”
His tone was not good.
I tried to calm myself. “I’m leaving now.”
“Chloe.” Seeing me about to go, Liam quickly called out to me. “Let’s leave together. I’ll take you home.”
I glanced at him and Skylar, then sneered, “No need. Go take good care of your Skylar.”
My movement to leave paused for four or five seconds, then I walked away without looking back.
Liam took two steps in the direction I left, but ultimately turned back to Skylar, putting his arm around her as they walked away.
I went home, took out all the packed luggage, and checked into a hotel.
Lying on the bed, my mind involuntarily replayed the events of the night.
I had also been sexually harassed by that man. I was clearly one of the victims, yet when Skylar was harassed, he went wild wanting to protect her. But I had to be yelled at by Liam, and he even apologized to that pervert on my behalf?
I opened my phone, unconsciously scrolling through social media.
Skylar had posted a photo of clasped hands, with the caption: “This filthy world isn’t worth it, but he is. After all this circling, he’s still the only one by my side.”
On the man’s hand in the photo, there was a circular mark on his middle finger.
I was all too familiar with that mark.
It was the imprint of a ring.
The day after Liam and I officially became a couple, I eagerly rushed to the counter and bought the pair of couple’s rings I had longed for.
I had saved up my allowance for three years to afford them. I waited until I was finally with the man I loved before I finally brought them home.
I still remember that day, smiling brightly, I personally slipped the men’s ring onto his finger. Then, shy but with a hint of possessiveness, I said, “This ring took me ages to save for, so you can’t take it off! As long as the ring is there, I’m there. If one day the ring disappears from your middle finger, that means you’ve completely lost me.”
Liam smiled indulgently, gently hugged me, and kissed my forehead. “I’ll never take this ring off, not even in death.”
Hearing that, I hastily covered my mouth, playfully chiding, “Don’t say such things!”
A frantic ringtone jolted me from my reverie.
It was Liam calling.
I hesitated for a few seconds. Just as I was about to answer, Liam hung up.
After a brief lull, he started a barrage of messages.
【Chloe, where are you right now? Are you home?】
【Reply quickly, let me know you’re safe.】
【Are you being unreasonable again? I’ll come home tomorrow to find you. If you want to make a scene, let’s talk about it when I get back.】
I bit my finger, pondering for a long time before replying: 【Liam, if one day I disappeared, would you miss me?】
I hadn’t expected Liam to say anything nice, it was just a farewell before I left.
It wasn’t until my phone’s alarm woke me up that I realized four hours had passed since I sent the message.
“Hello?” I rubbed my eyes, answering weakly.
But a familiar yet strange voice startled my heart.
I had just fallen asleep and hadn’t checked the caller ID. Unexpectedly, it was Skylar calling from Liam’s phone.
Skylar’s voice carried undisguised mockery. “Chloe, I mean, how old are you? You’re an adult, how can you be so shameless? You’ve been living with Liam all these years, he’s practically your brother, and you always speak to him in such a slutty tone? Ha – what a tramp.”
I cleared my head, frowning. “We’re in a relationship right now. How I speak to him is my business. On the other hand, you’re monopolizing someone else’s boyfriend in the middle of the night. What exactly are you?”
Skylar was speechless for a moment. “You… you shameless woman, don’t you know you’re just being used as my stand-in? After Liam and I broke up, he only got with you because he missed me. Don’t you have any self-awareness?”
I said nothing.
Skylar on the other end continued, “Guess why Liam has been spending all his time with me since I came back? And then think about why I’m calling you from Liam’s phone so late? You’re old enough to understand that there’s a difference between men and women, and we women should have some dignity, don’t you agree? He’s already reconciled with me, why are you still clinging to him?”
“Oh, Liam, don’t kiss me yet, I’m on the phone chatting with your little sister. Stop… that tickles so much…”
“Liam… I’m still on the phone… mm…”
After a string of extremely suggestive words, the call abruptly ended, like a sharp blade plunged deep into my heart.
Though I clenched my eyes shut, my fists tightened, nails digging into my palms, trying desperately not to cry, tears still streamed down my cheeks.
I don’t know how long I cried before I fell asleep clutching my phone.
When I woke up again, it was already the next day.
I sprang out of bed, immediately changing my flight time.
Every second I spent in this city now felt sickening.
I looked at my swollen, tear-stained eyes reflected in my phone screen and cursed myself for being an idiot.
After washing up, I grabbed my suitcase and headed straight to the airport. At the same time, I sent Liam one last message, then changed my phone’s SIM card.
My future life might be peaceful, or it might be exciting, but it would definitely be without Liam, and I didn’t need Liam.
【I’m gone. I wish you and Skylar a long and happy life together, filled with love and trust.】
Stepping out of the terminal in Los Angeles, I was wrapped in a black trench coat. A silver Bentley pulled up in front of me.
The driver got out, walked over to me, and respectfully took my suitcase. “Good afternoon, Miss Chloe.”
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A furious shout ripped me from my sleep. “Ava Miller! What gives you the right to be in my bed?!”
I slowly opened my eyes, the sight of Liam Smith sitting at the head of the bed, his face ashen and enraged, coming into focus.
Liam’s chest heaved with anger. “How dare you take advantage of me when I was drunk and crawl into my bed? Who gave you the audacity?!”
He didn’t give me a chance to explain, continuing to seethe with indignation. “You need to understand your place. You’re just the housekeeper. What right do you have to covet me?!”
“The woman I love is Chloe Hayes. You’d better know your limits! You’ve tainted my love for Chloe, you’ve polluted everything! If this ever happens again, get out of my house!”
My heart shattered into a million pieces.
And I distinctly remembered that last night, Liam had been the one to make the first move.
It was Liam’s 30th birthday last night. Around 1 AM, he returned home, stumbling drunk after a party with his friends.
As I went downstairs to make him some hangover soup, he suddenly grabbed me in a tight embrace.
Liam unexpectedly kissed my lips, whispering softly into my ear, “Ava, I love you…”
I had secretly loved Liam for ten years. In that moment, I was completely defenseless, quickly drowning in his tender affection.
But I never imagined that Liam, sober, would be a completely different person. Every word he uttered felt like a sharp blade, piercing deep into my heart.
Just then, a soft knock on the door interrupted Liam’s furious outburst.
“Liam, are you in there?”
It was Chloe, Liam’s girlfriend.
Liam frantically snatched the scattered clothes from the floor, throwing them at me, and warned in a low voice, “Hide somewhere. You’d better keep this to yourself. No one can ever know.”
Barely dressed, I used my torn clothes to cover myself, scrambling into the wardrobe in the room.
Liam quickly got dressed, straightened his appearance, and then opened the door with a smile.
“Chloe, what are you doing here?”
His gentle and warm demeanor was a stark contrast to his earlier rage.
“Who were you talking to just now?” Chloe asked him.
“Nobody, just on the phone with my assistant.”
Chloe stepped inside, pinching her nose and frowning. “What’s that strange smell in your room? You didn’t hide a woman in here, did you?”
“I drank too much last night and didn’t shower; it’s just my own smell,” Liam said with a roguish laugh. “You know I only have eyes for you. How could there be another woman?”
“What about that little housekeeper?” Chloe pouted, her tone complaining.
The “little housekeeper” she referred to was me. She had always disliked me.
Liam sneered dismissively. “She’s just a housekeeper. How could she possibly compare to you?”
Chloe started to say more, but Liam put his arm around her shoulder, changing the subject. “Alright, didn’t you say yesterday you wanted to go shopping? Let’s go, I’m free today. I’ll buy you anything you want.”
Liam walked out of the room, his arm around Chloe.
Through the gap in the wardrobe, I watched their retreating backs, my heart aching with every beat.
It dawned on me then. Liam’s mumbled “Ava, I love you” last night was actually “Chloe, I love you.”
I had naively thought he loved me, never imagining he was simply drunk, mistaking me for Chloe.
It wasn’t until I heard the car starting in the driveway that I crawled out of the closet.
I ran to my room and showered for a long time.
But no matter how much I scrubbed, I couldn’t wash away the traces Liam had left on me.
I collapsed helplessly onto the floor, tears mingling with the shower water, streaming down my face.
After my shower, a text message came in. It was from Liam.
[Keep your mouth shut about this. Don’t let Chloe find out, or I swear I’ll make you regret it!]
I didn’t reply, silently turning off my phone.
Liam didn’t come home until evening.
And with him, he brought Chloe.
As soon as they walked in, Liam gave me a stern, emotionless order from the kitchen. “Make a few extra dishes tonight. Chloe’s staying over, and she loves spicy shrimp, spicy chicken, and sweet and sour fish. Get those ready for her.”
I turned my head blankly, looking at the two who had just entered.
Chloe clung intimately to Liam’s arm, her eyes full of blatant provocation as she glanced at me.
Liam let Chloe hold his arm, his collar slightly open, revealing several prominent red marks on his neck, crimson and stark.
I remembered I hadn’t left any marks on his neck last night.
Realizing what they meant, I felt a wave of nausea, like I’d swallowed something foul. I forced down the disgust and numbly replied, “Got it.”
“I don’t eat garlic or cilantro. All the shrimp need to be peeled, and make sure the vein isn’t broken inside. Also, the sweet and sour fish needs to be definitely sweet, like more sweet than sour, understand?” Chloe ordered imperiously.
I silently washed the vegetables in my hands, not responding to her.
The large kitchen fell into a heavy silence.
Liam’s face darkened, and he snapped, “Ava Miller! Chloe is talking to you! Did you hear her?”
“I heard,” I mumbled, my voice barely audible.
Liam shot me a displeased glance, then led Chloe into his room.
I worked in the kitchen for over an hour, preparing the dishes Chloe loved.
Before all the food was even served, Liam and Chloe had already come out of the room and sat down to eat.
Chloe picked up a spicy shrimp and brought it to Liam’s lips, smiling sweetly. “Liam, this shrimp is good. Try it.”
“Okay,” Liam said, smiling indulgently, opening his mouth to take the shrimp Chloe fed him.
Only I knew that Liam had a sensitive stomach and never ate spicy food. But now, to humor Chloe, he swallowed the shrimp as if it were nothing.
Watching Liam furrow his brow, trying to hide his stomach ache, I found it incredibly ironic.
As I carried the last bowl of soup to the dining room, Chloe suddenly turned the conversation to me.
“Liam, Ava must be 26 this year, right? She’s not getting any younger. She should really start thinking about her personal life. It’s not quite right for you two to be living under the same roof, just a man and a woman.”
Liam’s hand, holding his fork, paused.
After a moment of silence, he turned to me, his voice sharp. “Chloe’s right. Ava, you’re not a kid anymore. It’s time for you to find a boyfriend. The Smith family has taken you in for so many years, it’s time for you to find a new place to go.”
At his words, a crushing pain erupted in my chest.
He was telling me to leave.
But when he first took me in, he had clearly told me, “My home is your home. I am your family. You can live here forever.”
All those past promises, he had clearly forgotten them.
In my daze, my finger accidentally touched the scalding hot soup. I instinctively let go, and the soup bowl instantly crashed to the floor.
“Ah—” Chloe shrieked.
The soup splattered onto Chloe’s arm, instantly turning it red.
Liam’s expression changed instantly. He grabbed Chloe’s arm with concern, asking anxiously, “Where did it burn? Is it bad? Let me see—”
“It’s okay, Liam,” Chloe said, her voice laced with a sob, feigning understanding. “Ava probably didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t blame her.”
“What do you mean not on purpose? I think she did it on purpose!”
Liam turned to me, his face frighteningly dark. “Ava Miller, I just asked you to make a few dishes for Chloe. Do you have to be so scheming against her?”
I stammered an explanation. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“Don’t try to deny it! The soup was perfectly fine when you carried it out of the kitchen. The moment you got near Chloe, it spilled! What else could it be but on purpose?!”
I opened my mouth, but suddenly no words came out.
“I can’t believe how malicious you are!”
Liam grew angrier with each word, slamming his hand on the table. “If you ever try these petty tricks again, get out of my house!”
With that, Liam rushed Chloe to the hospital.
Leaving me alone in the house, to clean up the mess.
No one knew that my finger was also burned, red and swollen.
The pain was bone-deep, excruciating.
I remembered, the old Liam used to dote on me.
I lost my father at a young age. When I was eight, my mother and I moved in with the Smith family.
Liam and I grew up together.
As a child, Liam was wonderful to me, treating me like his own little sister.
When I was thirteen, my mother suddenly left without a trace, and I never heard from her again.
It was the Smith family who continued to take me in when I had nowhere to go.
During those darkest days, Liam gently and firmly told me, “Don’t be scared, Ava. My home is your home. I am your family. You will never be alone.”
I lived in the Smith house for over ten years, and my relationship with Liam was always good.
But all of that ended with Chloe’s arrival.
Chloe was Liam’s arranged marriage prospect. After they met half a year ago, Liam was instantly captivated by her.
He fell in love with Chloe, and with it, he withdrew all his kindness from me.
Simply because Chloe didn’t like me, Liam started to become cold and distant.
My status in Liam’s eyes gradually shifted from family to housekeeper.
After taking Chloe to the hospital, Liam didn’t come home for several days.
In the past, no matter how late he worked, Liam would always come home. Even if he couldn’t, he would call me beforehand.
But now, I was left alone in an empty house, waiting for someone who didn’t want to come home.
Liam’s parents had moved abroad two years ago, and Liam had let go of all the household staff, leaving only him and me in the house.
Now, Liam wasn’t coming home either.
This place, for me, was no longer a home.
It was time for me to leave.
But before I went, I wanted to say a proper goodbye to Liam.
One day, two days, three days… I waited for a week, but Liam never returned.
On the eighth day, the house was broken into.
That night, as I slept, I heard rustling noises outside. I thought Liam had returned. I threw off the covers and got out of bed, only to see a shadowy figure lurking in Liam’s room, prying open his safe with a small knife.
In that instant, I forgot my fear. My first instinct was to protect Liam’s possessions.
“Stop right there!” I shouted, trying to scare the thief. “I’ve already called the police!”
The thief panicked and, as he fled, swung the knife, slashing my arm.
Crimson blood flowed steadily down my arm, dripping onto the floor, spreading into a stark, painful bloom.
I bit back the pain, pulled out my phone, and called Liam.
It was the first time we had contacted each other in a week.
The phone rang several times before it was answered. Liam’s emotionless voice came through the receiver. “What is it?”
I hadn’t cried when the assailant cut my arm, but hearing Liam’s voice after a week, my eyes instantly welled up.
My voice raw, I choked out a plea, “Liam, the house was broken into… could you please come home?”
What I got in response was a string of cold accusations from Liam. “What new trick are you trying now? The security system here is so good, how could it be broken into? I think you’re just looking for an excuse to trick me into coming home!”
“I’m not lying, Liam. The house really was broken into, and my hand is hurt…”
Before I could finish, Liam coldly cut me off. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do. I advise you to drop those ideas quickly. There’s no future for us! Chloe doesn’t like me getting too close to you. We should keep our distance from now on.”
“And even if it really was broken into, just call the police. What good is calling me? I need to be with Chloe. I don’t have time for you!”
Before I could say another word, Liam hung up.
Listening to the busy signal, a twisting pain seized my chest.
I suddenly remembered the night my mother abandoned me when I was thirteen. A thunderstorm raged, and I, terrified, hid under the covers, trembling.
In my most desperate moment, Liam was there beside me, patting my back and gently coaxing me to sleep.
He had told me then, firmly, “Ava, whenever you’re scared, come find me first. I’ll always be there for you.”
But now, he said he had no time for me.
Time had passed, and people had changed.
It seemed I was the only one still trapped in the memories, unwilling to wake up.
After calling the police, I went to the hospital alone.
My wound required six stitches.
The stitching itself was a searing, bone-deep pain, yet I felt numb, as if I couldn’t feel it at all.
My mind was filled with memories of the past decade with Liam.
I finally understood: my dream had to end.
Three nights later, Liam finally came home.
He seemed to have been drinking again, his cheeks flushed, his eyes hazy and unfocused.
Leaning against the door, he stared at me for a long moment, then ordered in a hoarse, cold voice, “Go run a bath for me.”
Without a word, I silently entered the bathroom.
As I filled the tub, Liam quietly approached, suddenly embracing me from behind.
My heart jumped in alarm, and I pushed him, but he held me tighter.
“Ava…” he murmured softly, “I’ve missed you so much…”
“Let go of me…” My words were swallowed whole as Liam kissed me.
Liam kissed me with a frenzied intensity, hot and fierce, again and again, as if he wanted to devour me whole.
I was breathless from his kisses, almost lost in his passion.
But then, a sudden realization hit me. He was calling out “Chloe,” not “Ava.” He loved Chloe, not me!
I mustered all my strength and pushed Liam away.
In a panic, I ran out of the villa.
Outside, a fierce storm raged. Without a coat, I wandered aimlessly through the streets, drenched by the rain, like a body without a soul.
The wound on my arm tore open again from the exertion, staining my sleeve crimson.
Shivering from the cold, I sat down forlornly by the roadside.
I finally couldn’t hold back anymore. My tears streamed down, a dam breaking.
I couldn’t understand why Liam always gave me hope, only to cruelly shatter it.
He clearly didn’t love me, yet he toyed with me again and again.
My heart was twisted in agony.
I cried for a long time, tears mixing with the rainwater, splashing heavily on the ground.
Even after the rain stopped, I remained sitting by the roadside, lost and staring blankly.
Suddenly, a hand, long-fingered and holding a tissue, appeared before me.
I looked up blankly and saw an unfamiliar, handsome face.
The man before me was around thirty, his elegant brows slightly furrowed. He looked at me, asking softly, “Your arm is bleeding. Do you need help?”
I took the tissue he offered, shaking my head numbly. “No, thank you.”
Perhaps seeing how disheveled I was, or out of sympathy, the man pondered for a moment, then pulled out a business card and handed it to me. “If you ever need any help in the future, feel free to contact me.”
I took the card, still in a daze.
After the man left, I finally made out the words on the card.
[Julian Reed, CEO of Reed Industries]
My heart skipped a beat.
It was Julian Reed, a formidable figure in the city’s business world.
What kind of luck was this, to get Julian Reed’s private business card!
After calming down, I checked into a nearby hotel.
I showered and changed into clean clothes.
I also gave the wound on my arm a basic cleaning.
I didn’t sleep a wink all night.
The next morning, I still returned to the Smith residence.
When I arrived, Liam was about to leave, and we met at the doorway.
Liam was sober now, but seemed to have forgotten what happened last night. He stared at me coldly, the chill in his eyes seeming to pierce right through me.
“You weren’t home all night. Where were you?”
I lowered my gaze, avoiding his eyes.
“Nowhere.”
Liam’s face was grim, and his words, once again, felt like a sharp blade, deeply hurting me.
“As a young woman, what kind of behavior is it to stay out all night? So undisciplined. Did you crawl into someone else’s bed last night?”
My breath hitched, and that familiar twisting pain surged through me again.
I clutched my chest, saying nothing.
There was no point in explaining anymore.
My silence angered Liam. He furiously grabbed my arm, his voice as cold as ice. “Why aren’t you speaking? Cat got your tongue?”
“Ow—” My face went pale, and I struggled to pull away. “Let go.”
Liam had squeezed the wound on my arm.
Liam’s eyes were icy, and he erupted in anger. “Ava Miller, what is this attitude? You won’t even let me touch you now?”
“My arm is hur…”
“Forget it, who even wants to touch you!” Liam released my hand, his voice cold. “Chloe is coming for dinner this afternoon. Make sure to prepare a lavish meal. If Chloe isn’t satisfied, you’ll be held responsible!”
With that, Liam stalked away, his face cold.
I stood there stunned, blood seeping from my arm again, staining my entire sleeve.
I quickly tended to the wound on my left hand and began preparing ingredients for dinner.
Because of my injured hand, I worked all afternoon, only managing to make four dishes and one soup.
Around 6 PM, Liam returned home with Chloe.
Even after some time apart, Chloe was still radiant, her eyes full of happiness.
Liam, on the other hand, looked a bit thinner.
Seeing the few dishes on the table, Liam’s face instantly darkened. “Didn’t I tell you to prepare a lavish meal? Why is there so little food?”
“I wasn’t feeling very well today,” I mumbled, my voice barely audible.
Liam showed no concern, instead reprimanding me sharply. “Then you don’t eat tonight!”
I nodded blankly. “Okay.”
Chloe stood by, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.
Liam led Chloe to the dining table, attentively serving her water, his face tender—a stark contrast to his earlier coldness.
Chloe silently went into her room.
After dinner, Chloe, on a whim, asked to see my room.
I had no right to refuse.
Liam directly led Chloe into my room.
Chloe entered, looking around with a disgusted expression, then suddenly fixed her gaze on the painting on the wall.
The painting showed two people: me in my early teens and Liam in his youth.
Liam had painted it himself when we were younger.
When he made that painting, Liam had earnestly promised me, “Ava, we’ll always be together, just like us in this painting, framed together, never to be separated.”
For all these years, I had believed him.
But Liam had long forgotten his vow.
The two figures in the painting were beautiful, yet Chloe frowned with displeasure, her face sullen. “Liam, I don’t like this painting. Take it down and burn it!”
Liam paused for two seconds, then readily agreed. “Okay.”
I panicked, rushing forward to stop him. “Liam, this painting is very important to me. Please don’t burn it!”
Liam dismissed my concern, waving my hand away and saying heartlessly, “It’s just a painting. Something I drew carelessly when I was a kid. What’s so important about it? Besides, Chloe doesn’t like it. Even if it were priceless, I wouldn’t allow it to be here!”
Liam wouldn’t be reasoned with. He forcefully took the painting off the wall.
I grabbed his arm, my eyes red, pleading humbly, “Liam, please, I beg you, don’t burn it! If Chloe doesn’t like it, I’ll move it out of her sight. Just please don’t burn it!”
Liam cruelly shook off my hand, ignoring my pleas, and stubbornly carried the painting to the yard, setting it ablaze until it turned to ashes!
I ran frantically to the yard, watching the painting burn fiercely on the ground. My heart felt as if it had been cruelly gripped, then brutally torn out and thrown into a freezing wasteland.
A chilling cold instantly enveloped my entire body.
That fire not only destroyed a painting but also severed the obsession I had held for over a decade.
The last flicker of hope in my heart finally collapsed completely.
That night, I locked myself in my room, silently packing my luggage.
But I had no family left, no one. Where could I go after leaving here?
As I packed my clothes, a business card suddenly fell out of my pocket.
I picked up the card from the floor, paused, and then remembered the man I had met last night.
Julian Reed, a powerful figure in the city.
With his help, could I find another place to call home?
Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I dialed the phone number on the card.
The call was answered quickly, and Julian’s deep, magnetic voice suddenly sounded. “Hello, who is this?”
My breathing quickened, and my heart pounded.
I unconsciously gripped my fingers, stammering, “Mr. Reed, hello… I’m the girl you… you met by the roadside yesterday.”
“Yes,” Julian asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Uh…” I was so embarrassed I felt my toes curl with mortification, but I still mustered my courage. “Mr. Reed, would you be able to help me find a job?”
For the past few years, I hadn’t worked. Only because Liam had once said he would support me for life, wanting me to stay home and keep him company. I had foolishly given up my career to focus on caring for Liam’s daily needs.
I had essentially become his personal assistant.
Looking back now, it was ridiculous.
Julian on the other end of the line pondered for a moment, then spoke in a deep voice. “I happen to be looking for a secretary right now. Are you interested?”
“But I don’t have much experience…” I said, lacking confidence.
Julian didn’t mind at all. “I’ll arrange for someone to train you.”
I didn’t want to miss this chance at independence, so I accepted, feeling both nervous and excited.
Julian gave me three days.
In three days, I would officially report to Reed Industries.
I had planned to leave the Smith residence tonight, but after being caught in the rain last night and my wound becoming infected, I suddenly developed a high fever, shivering uncontrollably.
I abandoned the idea of leaving tonight, took some cold medicine, and decided to sleep first, planning to leave early tomorrow morning.
I curled up in bed, praying for the fever to break quickly.
In a daze, I heard a knock on my door, and Liam’s cold voice suddenly echoed from outside. “Ava Miller, open the door.”
I dragged my weak body out of bed and opened the door.
Liam stood at the doorway, with no intention of coming in, only coldly ordering me, “Go downstairs and buy a box of condoms for Chloe and me.”
My chest tightened, my heart felt like it was being cruelly squeezed. I asked him in a hoarse voice, “It’s so late, can’t you order delivery?”
“No. Chloe specifically wants you to go.” His words were as cold as ice.
My eyes were vacant, and I clenched the hem of my clothes so tightly that my nails nearly dug into my flesh.
I remained silent for a long time, then nodded blankly. “Okay, I’ll go.”
It would be the last thing I did for him before I left.
I dragged my feverish body out the door, trembling, constantly forcing myself to stay upright so I wouldn’t collapse by the roadside.
After buying the condoms, I returned home, weak, and knocked on Liam’s door.
It was Chloe who opened it.
🌟 Continue the story here
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My husband, Julian Blackwood, was paralyzed when he was sixty. I nursed him, cleaning up his messes until he died. The moment he was gone, my stepsister showed up, clutching Julian’s video will.
Their heads were practically glued together, eyes brimming with sickening affection:
“The biggest regret of my life was marrying your sister.”
“She was a good wife, a loving mother, a free nanny, a baby-making machine, but never my lover.”
“I love you. Your fierce brightness, your unrestrained spirit. Since I couldn’t marry you in this life, let these assets be my compensation. In the next life, I promise to make you my wife!”
Stripped of my fortune, robbed of love, the rage boiled over, and my heart simply gave out.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the prime of my youth, with countless suitors from the elite circles.
My stepsister pointed at Julian Blackwood’s photo on her phone, fawning over me:
“Sister, only he is worthy of you! I heard his favorite type is the perfect wife and mother, just like you!”
I scoffed, taking a long drag and blowing the smoke right into her smug face:
“The ‘perfect wife and mother’ act? Can’t do it. But sitting down to smoke a few with you? Totally.”
Serena Hayes froze.
She stared at my practiced move, utterly disbelieving.
“What are you talking about? How can you smoke!”
Her sharp voice pierced my ears. I casually stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and stood up.
“So what?”
“Are you rushing to tattle to Dad, or are you calling the cops to arrest me?”
Serena was stunned. She couldn’t understand why her usually gentle sister had suddenly transformed.
Immediately, she continued to fawn over me:
“Sister, what are you saying? Are you angry because Dad set up a trust fund for me overseas? Dad’s just planning for Mom and my future. After all, Grandpa Sterling said the company’s management has to stay in your hands.”
“You still come out ahead.”
“I just thought you and Julian would be perfect together, and I wanted to set you two up.”
Perfect together?
A mocking smile touched my lips. I glanced at that slick Julian in the photo, then at the two-faced Serena standing before me.
A scumbag and a manipulative bitch.
You two are truly perfect for each other.
Seeing my smile, Serena thought I was interested.
She quickly leaned closer, handing me a thick stack of flyers.
“I knew Sister still liked Julian.”
“We go to the same school, so I already found out what kind of girls he likes. These training classes? I handpicked them, and I even signed you up!”
“The first step to winning Julian over? Becoming the perfect wife and mother!”
My gaze dropped, scanning the flyers. Home cooking, crash course barista, dining etiquette, infant care, patient nursing… Serena had even signed me up for cleaning classes.
She leaned in to add:
“Dad also said, Sister, you just need to relax and enjoy life at home, marry a good husband to manage the company for you.”
Looking at Serena’s earnest eyes, I almost believed her.
Too bad.
In this life, “perfect wife and mother” was a derogatory term to me.
Serena and that old geezer just wanted to make me useless and dependent.
I picked through the flyers, pulling out one for “Charm and Etiquette Training.” I raised my hand high and slapped it hard against Serena’s face, chuckling:
“Save it. I have zero interest in Julian Blackwood.”
“If you like him, go for it. This class is actually pretty perfect for you, though.”
“You should teach a class on being a manipulative sweetheart!”
With that, I pulled my mask higher and headed towards the backstage lounge.
The competition was about to start; I’d only stepped out for a few minutes to smoke.
I hadn’t expected to be ambushed by Serena. What a pain.
TPL was the biggest esports event in the country, and this was my second consecutive year making it to the finals. But in elite circles, being good at gaming was still seen as something lowbrow.
So, to avoid any trouble, I always wore a mask during matches, keeping a low profile.
But that was exactly how Serena had exploited me last time.
In my previous life, Serena had snuck into the lounge, posing as my sister.
She’d swapped my keyboard and mouse, stolen my clothes, and dressed up to look like me.
Not only did her sabotage make me lose the championship due to equipment issues, but it also made Julian Blackwood, watching from the audience, equate the star esports player “K” with Serena.
The calm commands, the powerful resolve, the steady leadership of that young girl, along with her fingers flying across the keyboard…
They became Julian Blackwood’s lifelong dream.
Even I, his wife, no matter how virtuous, how gentle, how devoted I was to him…
I couldn’t compare to the indelible mark on his heart.
But this time, there would be no such opportunity.
Back in the lounge, I immediately sought out our team leader.
“My stepsister is not to be trusted; she might try something. The match is about to start, and we absolutely can’t have any problems. Get a few more security guards from the venue to secure the lounge.”
“No one gets in except for players and coaches!”
This life, my glory—no one would steal it.
The team leader nodded, agreeing quickly.
He was about to call the organizers when Alex Thorne, captain of the opposing team, somehow appeared.
“I’ll handle it. I’ve worked with the organizers here before.”
“The venue’s security is usually mediocre. I’ll ask them to send some bodyguards instead.”
I glanced at Alex’s steady face and nodded.
“Thanks, brother.”
Alex smiled.
“No problem. K, play well.”
“I’ve been looking forward to this match against you for a long time.”
To the roar of applause in the arena, my teammates and I entered. Sure enough, my eyes scanned the VIP section and immediately found Julian Blackwood.
His gaze was glued to me the moment I appeared.
It annoyed me.
I took a deep breath and pulled my mask up a little higher.
As the host announced the official start of the match, muscle memory made me forget Julian entirely. The clicking of keyboards and mice filled my ears as we battled through five grueling rounds.
In a critical moment of the final round, I launched an offensive, taking down Alex.
We secured the victory for the fifth round.
3:2.
This life, I finally achieved my dream and lifted the championship trophy.
The cheers and screams of the fans nearly brought the house down. Even Julian, sitting in the audience, stood up excitedly, applauding and shouting for me.
Julian, as a representative of the investors, was also invited onto the stage to present the awards.
With his expensive suit, polished red-soled shoes, and dark hair falling over his eyes, he looked every bit the charming young gentleman. When he smiled, his eyes crinkled with warmth.
No wonder many girls in the audience, while watching the match, had their attention drawn to him instead.
With those looks, he could’ve been a male escort, easily.
No wonder I fell for him.
Backstage, his intense gaze was fixed on me, and his body language suggested he wanted to come up on stage next to me.
When our eyes met, Julian’s face was filled with surprise.
Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak to me,
I rolled my eyes at him dismissively, openly and without hesitation.
Then I grabbed Liam, my teammate, pulling him between us:
“Liam, stand here.”
Julian paused, taken aback.
Then he smiled even more brightly.
On stage, he seemed to want to bypass the designated award presenter and personally hand me the medal. But seeing him approach me with that confident, smiling swagger, I just felt sick.
I stepped forward quickly.
The medal was already around my neck.
Julian missed his chance.
But there was no trace of anger on his face; instead, he let out a laugh.
He looked at me with an amused expression, whispering,
“Interesting, indeed.”
I wanted to puke.
Interesting?
That bastard would only be interesting when he was six feet under.
After the award ceremony, I packed my things, ready for the celebration party. But on the way to the parking garage, Julian blocked my path.
I glanced at him.
Then walked around him, straight ahead.
Suddenly, Julian’s excited voice came from behind me:
“Serena Hayes, I like you!”
My steps faltered.
I turned back to him, confused.
Julian, however, spoke with even more enthusiasm:
“You’re the most special girl I’ve ever met—fierce, bright, unrestrained. This life, I don’t want to miss you again.”
“Serena Hayes, be with me!”
I raised an eyebrow, finally understanding.
Julian had been reborn too.
And this time, he’d mistakenly identified me as Serena.
“Idiot!”
I scowled, climbing onto the team bus.
As soon as I got on, my teammates were roaring with laughter.
“What’s wrong with his eyes? How could he mistake you for that conniving stepsister of yours?”
“First time I’ve seen a guy confess his love and get the wrong person. Was he even trying, haha?”
“K, maybe we should be nice and tell him?”
I pursed my lips, retorting:
“No need. Keep it a secret.”
“I want to see what kind of mess he makes this time.”
The next day, Julian arrived with his big mess. The celebration party had gone on very late yesterday, and I was so happy that I had blacked out. I barely remembered who took me home.
So by the time I arrived at the gala today, it was quite late.
Julian’s declaration of love was already nearing its end.
Seeing me arrive fashionably late, Serena, clutching the flowers Julian had given her, walked over to me, eager to show off:
“Sister, I’m so sorry.”
“I never thought such an outstanding man like Julian would actually be in love with me.”
“You’ll bless us, won’t you?”
Julian saw Serena cautiously speaking to me, and his protective instincts immediately kicked in.
He shielded Serena behind him and yelled at me:
“Maya Sterling, what are you doing here?”
“Let me tell you, don’t get any ideas about me. I won’t give you any response.”
“This life, I will only marry Serena. No matter how much of a perfect homemaker you are, I, Julian Blackwood, would never marry a glorified nanny for the rest of my life! The perfect elite wife candidate? In my eyes, you’re just loveless, uninteresting, and utterly boring!”
Julian’s emotions were exceptionally intense.
It was as if he wanted to vent all the suppressed emotions from his previous life onto me.
His voice was particularly loud, drawing the gaze of all the guests.
Watching Julian, with the face I had loved for over a decade, publicly humiliate me like this…
It hurt, that was undeniable.
But mostly, it was pure disgust.
I suppressed the urge to throw my glass of wine in his face and, scowling, shot back:
“Julian Blackwood, are we even acquainted?”
Julian was taken aback by my question.
He suddenly remembered that in the previous life, though we moved in the same circles, our true acquaintance began at this very gala.
Julian let out a relieved breath, as if narrowly escaping disaster:
“Good, good, no, we’re not!”
I seized the opportunity and walked away, not wanting to get entangled with him further.
Behind me, I heard someone gossiping:
“What’s going on? Didn’t Julian always want to pursue Maya Sterling? How did he suddenly end up with her stepsister, Serena Hayes?”
“He probably couldn’t catch her and gave up. Who is Maya Sterling? Even my notoriously picky mother said if I could marry a girl with half her qualities, I’d consider myself incredibly lucky.”
Julian’s voice interjected into their conversation.
“Then your mom clearly misjudged.”
He sneered, glancing at me not far away, deliberately trying to provoke me:
“Maya Sterling only looks good.”
“Honestly, marrying someone like her would be a lifetime of misery. She’d constantly be micromanaging you. The only good thing is she’d cater to your every need, and pretty comfortably too. But why marry a glorified nanny when you could just hire one?”
“Serena, though, is different. You know ‘K,’ the champion esports player? That’s Serena!”
A collective gasp of surprise went through the group:
“What? ‘K’ is Serena Hayes?”
“No way, I never would’ve guessed. She looks so delicate, but she’s a total beast!”
“Julian, can you ask Serena to play some games with me? I’d love to experience being carried by a national champion!”
Julian’s vanity was instantly satisfied, and he nodded.
With his chin held high, he cast a cold glance at me.
Then he turned to the approaching Serena, speaking softly:
“Serena, are you busy tonight?”
“Want to play some games together? We need to worship your gaming skills!”
Serena looked confused.
“Huh? Why are you suddenly talking about playing games?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to go home and meet my parents tonight?”
Julian wrapped an arm around her, reassuringly:
“I was just worried meeting your parents might be too much pressure for you.”
“Besides, you’re not bad at games, are you? You’re the champ—”
Julian’s words were cut short.
His quick-witted friend immediately interrupted.
“Understood, Serena has other plans tonight. Games can be played anytime.”
“But a girlfriend like this, Julian, you need to hold on tight!”
His friend’s words made Serena blush, and she snuggled closer into Julian’s embrace.
Julian didn’t insist further, laughing:
“Alright, next time for sure.”
“You all just wait for my wedding with Serena!”
That very night, Julian went home and finalized his engagement with Serena.
During this period, he spoiled Serena endlessly. Three consecutive days of fireworks lit up the city to celebrate their engagement. The wedding dress was air-shipped, the invitations were handwritten, and even the diamond ring was a priceless rarity auctioned at a sky-high price.
Such familiar actions.
Even seeing the news, a faint, familiar ache spread through my heart.
He had been the same way when he married me in his previous life.
Julian Blackwood.
When he loved, he’d give you his life.
When he didn’t, he couldn’t even stand to look at you.
“Drink less? Why do you care? What man doesn’t drink during social events?”
“Why are you throwing a fit? What more do you want? Do you know how rare it is in our circles to find a man like me who doesn’t mess around?”
“What’s wrong with flirting with other women? I’m not sleeping with them. Otherwise, if I talked to you about household chores, would you even find that interesting?”
…
My thoughts were interrupted by the ringing phone. It was the team manager:
“K, are you really retiring?”
“Your talent, it would be such a waste not to continue playing.”
I shook my head, my resolve firm:
“No, I’m done. I have more important things to do.”
“Prepare to notify the media and fans.”
“I’ve worn K’s mask long enough. I want to take it off. I want to tell everyone, openly and proudly, that my name is Maya Sterling.”
Players begin with a match.
Since I was retiring, I decided to end with a match as well, so I arranged a game with Alex’s team.
Once the team released the news, the buzz was enormous.
#EsportsPlayerKRetires,ReturnsToLife#
#ThisExhibitionMatchIsK’sLastDance#
#KDecidesToShowHerFaceKRealIdentityKRealName#
Seven or eight trending topics dominated for two or three days.
Backstage, without my mask, I felt a rare mix of nervousness and anticipation.
The host had already begun the announcements.
Julian had already taken his seat in the VIP section with Serena and many of his friends from the elite circle, all there to cheer for K’s last match.
He gently squeezed Serena’s hand and asked:
“Aren’t you going backstage to get ready? The match is about to start.”
Serena’s eyes widened, and she asked back:
“Ready for what?”
“Julian, aren’t you just taking me to watch the match?”
“Only Maya Sterling is backstage, and I don’t want to go. If you hadn’t insisted, I wouldn’t even have come to watch.”
Julian indulgently stroked Serena’s head and said:
“Why are you bringing Maya Sterling into this again? I’m just concerned for you. Go backstage early to get into the zone.”
“Your last match before retiring, you definitely want to win beautifully!”
Hearing this, Serena’s body stiffened instantly.
She looked at Julian in disbelief:
“Retire?”
“Julian, what are you talking about? Are you misunderstanding something?”
But Julian only thought Serena was nervous.
He decided to spill the beans while comforting her:
“Stop pretending, Serena. I know you’re K!”
“From three years ago, the first time I saw you play, I fell for you. That day, after you won the championship, we met eyes backstage, and my heart nearly burst. In that moment, I knew. I would never love another woman in this life.”
“You don’t have to retire, you know. Even if we get married, I’ll still support you in pursuing your dreams. After all, the person I love is the shining K on that stage!”
Julian was completely lost in his own emotions, pouring out his deep affection for Serena. He didn’t notice Serena’s increasingly pale face beside him.
“Julian, so you love K.”
“Not me?”
Seeing Serena’s reddened eyes, Julian looked confused:
“What kind of question is that?”
“Aren’t you K?”
Serena screamed, close to tears:
“I’m not K!”
Julian was dumbfounded.
He asked back in disbelief:
“Serena, what nonsense are you talking about?”
“If you’re not K, then who else could it be…”
Julian’s unfinished words were drowned out by the thunderous screams of the fans in the arena. Only the host’s voice cut through the noise:
“And finally, let’s welcome—K!”
The flashlights and cameras focused directly on my face.
This time, there was no mask to hide behind.
I took the microphone, confidently introducing myself:
“Hello everyone, I’m K.”
“My real name is Maya Sterling!”
Julian turned his head to look at me, shining brightly on stage.
His mind went exploding into a million pieces.
He was utterly stunned.
🌟 Continue the story here
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The Monster He Called Brother
My family handed me over to Caleb.
He was the city’s rising magnate, ruthless and unforgiving, feared by all.
Everyone knew he was back for revenge, for his deceased brother, Elias.
And my family was the first name on his hit list.
Desperate to appease his fury, my family offered me up like a sacrifice – their least favored daughter, delivered like a package.
The day they sent me away, my sister, Victoria, gripped my hand, tears streaming down her face, claiming I was taking the fall for her.
My father, meanwhile, sighed and murmured about our family’s debt to him.
I said nothing, only smoothed Victoria’s wind-tousled hair.
They all thought I was terrified, or consumed by resentment.
The truth? I didn’t care.
Because they didn’t know that Elias, the brother Caleb respected most, was the one I killed.
The car stopped in front of a brightly lit mansion nestled halfway up the mountain.
The driver opened the door for me, gesturing with a hand, his eyes filled with pity.
I stepped out, carrying an almost empty suitcase.
The mansion’s front doors stood open. A man was framed in the doorway.
He was tall, dressed in a black silk robe, his figure cloaked in shadow, only the crimson glow of a cigarette flickering between his fingers.
It was Caleb.
He was back.
I walked, step by step, up the path and stopped before him.
He didn’t look at me, his gaze sweeping over my head, fixed on the city lights twinkling below.
“The [Lena’s Last Name] family sent *this* to me?” His voice was colder than any winter night in the city.
I didn’t answer.
He finally lowered his eyes. There was no warmth in them, only scrutiny and disgust.
“What’s your name?”
“Lena.”
“Lena.” He chewed on the name, a mocking smile twisting his lips. “What did your family promise you for delivering you to me?”
“My mother’s safety and security.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
He seemed skeptical but didn’t press further. He turned and walked into the mansion, and I followed him.
The living room was shockingly large. A massive black and white photograph hung on the central wall.
The man in the photo was charismatic and sophisticated, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. It was Elias, the man I’d personally watched walk into death’s embrace.
Caleb stopped before the photo, his voice echoing eerily.
“Kneel.”
I obeyed, dropping to my knees on the cold marble floor.
“Do you know why you’re here?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
“To atone for my family’s sins.”
“Atonement?” Caleb laughed, a harsh, brutal sound. “Your family killed my brother, and now they send a daughter to atone? You must be dreaming.”
He walked over to me, crouched down, and gripped my jaw, forcing me to look up at him.
“Where’s your sister, Victoria? As my brother’s fiancée, why isn’t she here?”
“Victoria isn’t well.”
“Not well?” Caleb’s grip tightened, a sharp pain shooting through my jawbone. “Or is she just scared? Pushing you out, her worthless burden, to be a scapegoat? She really knows how to play her cards right.”
My phone chose that inopportune moment to ring.
Caleb released me, signaling me to answer.
It was Victoria.
I put it on speaker.
“Lena, are you at the [Caleb’s Last Name] residence? Caleb… he didn’t give you any trouble, did he?” Victoria’s voice was tearful, sounding utterly helpless.
Caleb stood nearby, a smirk playing on his face, enjoying the show.
“Yes, Victoria, I’m here.”
“I’m so sorry, Lena, truly sorry… I’m useless, I couldn’t protect you…” She sobbed on the other end. “You have to take care of yourself, and whatever you do, don’t make Mr. [Caleb’s Last Name] angry.”
She kept repeating “I’m sorry,” but each word felt like a reminder.
“Victoria, don’t blame yourself.” I spoke, my voice calm. “Didn’t you say it yourself? I’m just dead weight in our family anyway. If my death can bring some peace, it’s a good trade.”
The sobbing on the other end abruptly stopped.
Caleb’s smile deepened.
“Lena! How could you say that!” Victoria’s voice turned sharp. “That’s not what I meant! I was just… I was just so worried about you!”
“I know,” I said. “Victoria, you should rest. Our family still needs you.”
After I hung up, the living room fell silent.
Caleb looked me over again, his gaze now tinged with a hint of curiosity.
“From today on, you’ll live there.” He pointed towards a spot on the second floor. “My brother’s room. You are not to leave it, not even a single step.”
It was both a punishment and a humiliation.
The room was arranged exactly as Elias had kept it – refined, elegant, filled with a scholarly aura.
Just like him, seemingly flawless on the surface.
I walked to the desk, where an open copy of *Faust* lay.
Tucked between the pages was a photograph. It was me.
Sixteen years old, in my school uniform, pigtails, a brilliant smile.
It was the first time I’d seen Elias. He was the keynote speaker at a school alumni event.
Back then, he was every girl’s Prince Charming, gentle, charming, and perfectly composed.
I was one of them.
I’d had a secret crush on him, for a very long time.
Until that day he ripped off all his pretenses.
“Do you like it here?”
Caleb’s voice suddenly startled me from the doorway.
I quickly closed the book, hiding the photograph.
He walked up to me, picking up *Faust*.
“My brother loved this book.” He traced the cover. “He used to say, a person can make a deal with the devil for their desires.”
His finger paused at the corner of the book, as if about to open it.
“Lena, what would *you* sell for your desires?”
I looked at him, not understanding his words.
“Do you know how my brother died?” he asked again.
My hand trembled.
“A car accident,” he said. “Drunk driving. He left your engagement party, completely wasted, and then crashed into a bridge abutment. Tell me, why would he go to your engagement party? And why would he drink so much?”
I stayed silent.
“The [Lena’s Last Name] family told everyone my brother was deeply in love with your sister, heartbroken, so he drank his sorrows away,” Caleb’s voice was soft, yet it carried an icy chill. “But I know that’s not it.”
He leaned in, his mouth close to my ear.
His breath on my earlobe sent a shiver down my spine.
“My brother’s death… was because of you.”
He suddenly reached out and pulled the photograph from the book.
I gasped, startled.
He looked at the picture of my younger self, then at me, his eyes growing dark and unreadable.
“Why was your picture in my brother’s book?”
“I don’t know,” I lowered my gaze.
“You don’t know?” He held the corner of the photo, bringing it closer to my face.
“But my brother’s diary… it was all about you,” Caleb’s voice was a low murmur, each word like a chip of ice landing on my heart. “He said he’d found his muse, his salvation.”
My body began to grow cold.
Caleb’s voice held a hint of cruelty. “The day before your engagement, he came to find you, didn’t he?”
My lips moved, but no sound came out.
“He confessed his feelings to you, but you rejected him,” Caleb pressed on. “That’s why he got drunk at your engagement party, that’s why he died on the way home. Lena, my brother’s death? You’re the real culprit!”
“It wasn’t me!” I finally managed, my voice shaking in a way I hadn’t realized.
“It wasn’t you?” He flung the photo at my face. The edge of the paper grazed my cheek, leaving a faint sting. “Then tell me, why did they find *this* at the scene of my brother’s accident?”
He pulled an evidence bag from his pocket.
Inside was an earring.
The one I wore on my engagement day. Unique in the world, my own design.
I’d lost it in the chaos of that “accident.”
The earring lay silently in the evidence bag, like a quiet eye, peering into all my secrets.
My mind went blank.
Caleb seemed satisfied with my reaction. He tucked the evidence bag back into his pocket.
“What, nothing to say?” He sneered, looking at me. “You were messing around with my brother, and then getting engaged to another man. Lena, you’re quite something.”
“It’s not what you think between him and me,” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down.
“Then what is it?” He took a step closer. “Was my brother forcing you? Or were you just playing games, enjoying the thrill of two men chasing after you?”
His words were like daggers, piercing my heart.
“Neither.”
“Then what is it? Tell me!” He suddenly exploded, sweeping everything off the desk.
Books, pen holder, lamp… crashing to the floor in a chaotic mess.
“You think I’ll believe your innocent victim act?” He grabbed my shoulders, his grip so tight I felt my bones might shatter. “Everyone in your family, from inside out, is rotten!”
I was in too much pain to speak, letting him vent his fury.
Footsteps hurried outside the door. Mr. Davies and the maids rushed over, but seeing the scene inside, they froze, too scared to approach.
“Mr. [Caleb’s Last Name]…” Mr. Davies cautiously began.
“Get out!” Caleb roared without turning around.
They scattered immediately.
Only the two of us remained in the room, along with his heavy, ragged breathing.
After a long while, he finally released me, shaking his hands in disgust, as if he’d touched something foul.
“Clean this mess up.” He tossed the words over his shoulder and left the room.
I collapsed to the floor, drained of all strength, looking at the chaotic room, feeling utterly cold.
Caleb knew more than I thought.
I don’t know how I managed to clean the room. By the time I finished, dawn was breaking.
I hadn’t slept all night, yet I felt no tiredness.
The next day, Victoria came.
She wore a white dress, delicate makeup, looking fragile and beautiful.
She carried a thermos. The moment she entered, she grabbed my hand, her eyes red-rimmed.
“Lena, I made you some soup. You… were you okay yesterday?” She looked at me worriedly, her eyes subtly scanning my cheek.
There was a faint red mark there, left by the photo.
“I’m fine, Victoria,” I pulled my hand back.
“Where’s Mr. [Caleb’s Last Name]?” she asked.
“In his study.”
“Then I…” She hesitated. “I’ll go say hello to him. Lena, don’t blame him. He just loved his brother too much.”
With that, she adopted her understanding facade and walked towards the study.
I didn’t follow.
I sat on the living room sofa, clearly hearing snippets of their conversation from the study.
“Mr. [Caleb’s Last Name], I’m so sorry… it’s all my fault. If I had stopped Elias that day, he wouldn’t have been hurt…” Victoria began to sob. “Please don’t blame Lena, she didn’t mean it, she’s always been so…”
She didn’t finish her sentence, but the implication was clear.
She always found a way, with just a few words, to completely clear herself and simultaneously dump a bucket of dirt on me.
A while later, the study door opened.
Victoria emerged, tears still clinging to her lashes.
Caleb followed behind her, his face grim.
“Lena, I’ve spoken with Mr. [Caleb’s Last Name], and he won’t make things difficult for you,” Victoria walked up to me. “But you have to be obedient. Don’t make him angry again, okay?”
Caleb didn’t refute her, only watched me coldly.
“Victoria,” he suddenly spoke. “You’ll prepare my brother’s memorial service.”
Victoria paused, then nodded. “Yes, Mr. [Caleb’s Last Name], I’ll handle it.”
“Good.” Caleb looked at me. “As for you, Lena.”
My heart jumped.
“You will kneel before my brother’s altar and bow in penance,” he said, word by word. “You’ll keep bowing until every single guest is satisfied.”
Elias’s memorial service was set for three days later.
“Lena, wear this black dress to the memorial, okay?” Victoria handed me a dress. “I specially picked it out for you. The fabric is very comfortable, so your knees won’t hurt too much from kneeling.”
She smiled, gentle and considerate, but her words were vicious, like a poisoned dagger.
“Thank you, Victoria,” I took the dress.
“Don’t mention it, we’re sisters, after all.” She linked her arm through mine affectionately. “Oh, and Mom and Dad told me to tell you to behave well at the memorial. Don’t embarrass the family again.”
“I know.”
“Good.” She patted my hand, satisfied. “Lena, don’t blame us, and don’t blame Caleb. We’re all doing this for your own good.”
On the day of the memorial, all the prominent figures in the city arrived.
The [Caleb’s Last Name] family held immense power, and Elias’s death was a major event.
I wore the black gown Victoria had prepared for me, my hair neatly tied back, my face utterly devoid of color.
The funeral hall was solemn and dignified. In the center stood Elias’s black and white portrait.
He still had that gentle, refined look, a slight smile on his lips, gazing with pity at everyone who came to mourn him.
Caleb stood by the portrait, dressed in a black suit, his expression stark.
Victoria, playing the grieving fiancée, stood on his other side, accepting condolences, crying her eyes out, looking utterly heartbroken.
When it was my turn, the entire hall fell silent.
All eyes focused on me, filled with curiosity, contempt, and schadenfreude.
I walked to the altar, not looking at anyone, and knelt directly.
Then, I lowered my head and brought it down hard on the cold floor.
“Thud.”
A muffled sound, distinct in the silent hall.
“Lena [Lena’s Last Name], the sinner of her family, begs forgiveness for Elias [Caleb’s Last Name].” My voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough for everyone present to hear.
“Thud.”
“For Elias, I repent his misguided love for Victoria.”
Victoria’s body stiffened.
“Thud.”
“For Elias, I repent his misplaced trust in my family.”
My family members’ faces darkened.
“Thud.”
“And for Elias…”
I kept bowing, again and again. My forehead quickly became red and swollen, and trickles of blood began to appear.
The blood ran down my cheek, dripping onto the floor, forming a small, eerie flower.
I didn’t stop.
I felt no pain, only one thought in my mind.
Bow.
Keep bowing.
I looked up, through the blurry red haze, at Elias’s portrait.
He was still smiling.
So hypocritical, so sickening.
“And for Elias… his untimely death brings me immense satisfaction.”
I spoke each word clearly, distinctly.
“Thud.”
This time, the sound was louder than before.
As if all the hatred in my heart was being slammed into that cold floor.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Victoria’s sobbing stopped.
A hand suddenly clamped onto my hair, yanking me up from the ground.
A tearing pain shot through my scalp.
Caleb’s face was inches from mine, his eyes burning with a rage that threatened to incinerate me.
“You’re asking for death.”
He spat the words through clenched teeth.
Victoria rushed forward, grabbing his arm. “Mr. [Caleb’s Last Name], please don’t be angry, Lena… she must be overwhelmed with grief, she’s not making sense.”
“Get off me.”
Caleb flung her hand away with such force that Victoria stumbled back a few steps.
Caleb didn’t even look at her, dragging me out of the hall.
My knees scraped against the floor, then I was hauled along, the rough carpet tearing at the skin beneath my dress.
He shoved me into a car and sped off towards the mountain mansion.
He dragged me straight to the second floor, kicking Elias’s room door open.
I was thrown hard onto the floor, the back of my head hitting the ground. My vision instantly swam with black spots.
“Are you proud of yourself?” He loomed over me, his chest heaving violently, his eyes filled with a surging, bloody rage. “My brother is dead. Do you feel finally free?”
I braced myself on my arms, trying to sit up, but he stomped his foot on my hand.
A sound like bone shattering.
I gasped in pain, cold sweat instantly breaking out on my forehead.
“Speak!” he roared, pressing down harder with his foot.
“Yes.” I looked up, meeting his murderous gaze, and managed a twisted smile. “I’m happy. I prayed for his death every day.”
His pupils constricted sharply.
“Say that again.”
“I said, Elias’s death brings me immense satisfaction!”
“You’re asking for death!” He roared like a wild beast pushed too far, grabbing my collar and hauling me off the ground, then slamming me onto Elias’s soft bed.
The world spun.
His body pressed down on mine, radiating scorching fury.
His hands closed around my throat, tightening, tightening, but he stopped himself at the last second.
“Do you hate him that much?” His voice was hoarse, like sandpaper. “Hate him enough to humiliate him at his own memorial?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
I closed my eyes, not wanting to answer.
“Because he loved you, and you didn’t love him? Because he harassed you, so you wanted him dead?”
He pinched my chin, forcing my eyes open.
“Lena, what is your heart made of? Stone?”
“How could you… be so cruel…”
His voice was strained, actually carrying a hint of a sob.
I opened my eyes and looked at him. That face was so similar to Elias’s.
Elias had once pressed down on me like this, whispering the most vicious words in the gentlest tone into my ear.
“Lena, the more you resist, the more excited I get.”
“You’re thinking of Caleb, but your body is beneath mine. Isn’t that thrilling?”
“What do you think Caleb’s face would look like if I took a picture of you right now and sent it to him?”
Yes, Caleb.
The one I loved was Caleb.
It all started, not with that speech, but when I was seven years old, and fell into a frozen lake.
The icy water instantly swallowed me, and primal survival instincts made me struggle desperately.
Just as my consciousness faded, a figure jumped in without hesitation.
He wasn’t much older, maybe ten or so, with a stern expression, but his eyes were incredibly resolute.
He dragged me back from the brink of death.
Afterward, I blacked out. When I woke up, I only knew that a son from the [Caleb’s Last Name] family had saved me.
So, when I first saw Elias at sixteen, I mistook him.
I mistook him for the boy who had pulled me from the icy water.
The boy who had carried me a long way, the one with an old scar on his wrist.
I mistook him for Elias.
At first, my existence didn’t register with him.
He was a golden boy, with countless admirers. Even with Victoria, his fiancée, he was cool and distant. Naturally, he paid no attention to me, the unfavored daughter of the [Lena’s Last Name] family.
Until he discovered I had “changed my mind.”
I don’t know when Elias found out.
Perhaps it was the way I looked at Caleb, or perhaps he secretly read my diary.
That day, he called me to a secluded corner, still wearing that gentle smile.
“Lena, you like Caleb?”
“But what can I do? Some things, even if I don’t want them, he doesn’t get to touch.”
“You, too.”
In that moment, I felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave.
I suddenly remembered hearing that whenever Caleb was punished by their father, Elias would be the first to plead for him.
But the result was always a harsher punishment.
Elias wasn’t helping him.
He was savoring it, enjoying it.
He enjoyed the thrill of having Caleb firmly under his thumb, the pleasure of playing the perfect older brother.
From that day on, his gentle mask completely shattered in front of me.
Elias began to bring up Caleb’s name frequently in front of me.
He would “accidentally” mention that Caleb had gotten into another fight with some heir from a rival family and almost had his hand crippled.
He would “worriedly” tell me that Caleb had lost a lot of money street racing, and that Elias had paid off all his debts.
He would “painfully” describe how Caleb defied their elders, refusing to change his ways.
Each time, he played the role of a doting older brother, burdened by his younger sibling’s troubles.
I started to worry for Caleb, to be anxious for him.
I used all my savings to anonymously pay off those so-called “gambling debts.”
I pulled countless strings to secure him an exchange program opportunity abroad, hoping to get him away from this turbulent place.
But the day he left, Elias smiled and said to me, “Lena, you see? Thanks to my persuasion, he’s finally willing to improve himself.”
He was like a venomous snake, flicking its tongue, reveling in the pleasure of toying with its prey.
Tormenting me became his greatest joy.
At family dinners, he would gently pick food for me in front of everyone, while discreetly rubbing his foot against my calf under the table.
When Victoria wasn’t around, he would corner me in the hallway, his lips close to my ear, describing his desires for me in the most vulgar language.
He said, “The more you like Caleb, the more excited I get.”
He said, “Seeing you so worried for him, it makes me want to defile you.”
My engagement was the last way out I found for myself.
I thought that if I married, Elias would find it boring and leave me alone.
I was too naive.
“Why?”
Caleb’s voice dragged me back to reality. His hand was still clamped on my jaw, his eyes a network of red veins.
My gaze slid from his face to the old scar on his wrist.
That was the only truth I remembered.
“Caleb,” I said, my voice soft but steady. “You don’t understand your brother at all.”
“He was a monster.”
The air went dead silent.
Time paused for a moment.
Then, he laughed.
There was no warmth in that laugh.
“Lena, to escape blame, you’d even insult a dead man?”
I pushed him away, furious. “I’m not insulting him!”
“You think he loved you? No. You weren’t his brother; you were his toy.”
“You think he loved *me*? No, to him, tormenting me was more interesting than loving me.”
I didn’t get to say more.
A knock sounded at the door.
Mr. Davies’s respectful voice came from outside: “Mr. [Caleb’s Last Name], the [Lena’s Last Name] family has sent a surveillance video.”
“Bring it in.”
Mr. Davies pushed the door open, holding a tablet, his head down, not daring to look at the scene inside.
Caleb took the tablet.
The screen lit up, showing the entrance to the [Lena’s Last Name] family mansion.
A black Bentley was parked by the side of the road. The door opened, and Elias pulled me into the passenger seat.
The car started and sped away.
The timestamp in the bottom right corner showed the night he died.
The video ended there, abruptly. This was the “pledge of loyalty” from my family. With this video, they were telling me, and telling Caleb, that Elias’s death had nothing to do with them. It was me, Lena, who, on the night of my engagement, ran off with my sister’s fiancé.
Everything I had said before instantly became a joke.
Caleb slowly turned around.
The rage, the confusion on his face, all vanished, replaced by a suppressed calm.
“You were there when my brother died,” he stated.
“How did my brother die?”
“Or… ” He paused, his voice tinged with rage, “did *you* kill him?”
My heart sank to the bottom, cold and chilling.
I was held captive in Elias’s room.
Meals arrived three times a day, delivered by a maid to the door. Other than that, I saw no one.
The windows were boarded shut, the door locked from the outside.
This became my prison.
🌟 Continue the story here
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🔍 search for “298918”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic
I was going to file for divorce from my husband, Caleb.
But he was away on a business trip, with his personal assistant in tow.
Then, Caleb got into a car accident. He lost his memory, and his mind reverted to when he was eighteen.
He stared at the divorce papers in front of him and yelled.
“You cheated on me?! *Me*?!”
I just rolled my eyes, rubbing my temples.
Seriously, *he* was the one who betrayed our relationship, wasn’t he?
When I arrived at the hospital, Caleb was sitting on the bed, looking completely dazed.
His head was wrapped in bandages, his cheek bruised. He looked oddly pathetic.
His personal assistant, Brianna, stood by his side, her eyes brimming with tears, showering him with concern. She looked more invested than me, his actual wife.
Brianna’s face was etched with sorrow. “It’s all my fault,” she sobbed. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt protecting me.”
I frowned slightly. They were acting like a smitten couple. What was I even doing here?
“Rounds!”
The doctor’s call made Caleb notice me standing at the door.
Perhaps it was my imagination, but I felt like a sudden light flickered in his eyes.
“What are you doing just standing there? Come here!”
I was utterly bewildered.
Was he talking to *me*?
I cautiously walked closer, a growing suspicion that my husband was acting really weird.
Just a step away, Caleb suddenly yanked me toward him, wrapped an arm around my waist, and wailed loudly.
“Hazel, I’m so hurt! What took you so long to get here?”
“Quick, blow on it for me! Am I going to have a scar? I won’t be handsome with a scar!”
“Hazel, I was so scared I wouldn’t see you again!”
“Hazel, I missed you so much!”
Me: …
Brianna: …
Doctor: …
Caleb?
Was he possessed?
Who was this goofy guy?
After the doctor’s examination, it was confirmed: the car accident had affected his head, causing Caleb to lose part of his memory.
His memory was stuck at 18.
Eighteen. That was when we were deeply in love, when our romance had just begun.
“Family signature.”
I instinctively took the form from the doctor. Caleb, beside me, grumbled under his breath.
“You’re quite proactive, aren’t you? So eager to be my family.”
I shot him a glare.
Seriously, we’d been married for seven years!
But a shy flush spread across Caleb’s face, his eyes sparkling with happiness.
It had been so long since I’d seen him look at me with such singular devotion.
I took Caleb home, determined to talk to him about our current situation.
But as soon as he stepped through the door, he started bouncing around like a hyped-up husky, exploring every corner.
“This is our home! It’s exactly how I always imagined it!”
“We actually got married!”
“I’m so incredibly lucky!”
“Hazel, I’m so happy!”
He wandered around the house, then came right up to me.
“Wife, where are our wedding photos? Why aren’t they displayed?”
“Wife, how long have we been married? Do we have kids?”
“Wife, wife…”
I looked at the overly excited Caleb and let out a long sigh.
I pulled him down onto the couch. “We’ve been married for seven years,” I said calmly. “No kids.”
“And, we’re getting a divorce.”
A scream erupted in the room—”Impossible!”
“How could I divorce you? I love you the most, Hazel!”
“Did something go wrong with our relationship?”
“My fault?”
Caleb shook his head resolutely. “No way, I would never fall for someone else!”
“难道是……”
Caleb looked at me, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes.
Seeing my perpetually cold expression, panic finally dawned on his face.
“Hazel, did *you*… betray me?”
“Who is he? Who’s that guy? I’ll destroy him!”
Caleb’s emotions were running high.
But he’d just been discharged from the hospital. Such intense emotional swings made him clutch his head, wincing in pain.
I quickly took out his medication and helped him take it, gently soothing him until he calmed down a little.
Caleb, looking utterly miserable and pitiful, tugged at my sleeve, his voice a pathetic whimper. “Hazel, please don’t divorce me, okay? Forget about that guy, please?”
I was speechless. What was he even imagining?
“There’s no other man, no betrayal. We’re having an amicable separation.”
“Impossible! I…”
Caleb’s brow furrowed slightly, and I could tell his headache was starting again.
I patted his shoulder. “Just focus on recovering for now. We can talk about everything else later.”
“Okay…”
But his face showed a familiar anxiety, one I hadn’t seen in years.
This was the insecurity of 18-year-old Caleb.
30-year-old Caleb was composed and stoic, rarely showing his emotions.
I didn’t understand him anymore…
After an exhausting day, I was just about to get some rest when a large, bandaged head peeked around my bedroom door.
He was hugging a pillow, leaning on the doorframe, cautiously. “Hazel, I heard we’re married.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“So, I’m still your husband, right?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Then… can I come in?!”
“Huh?”
Caleb quickly explained, “I just want to come in! No other intentions!”
I looked at Caleb’s hopeful eyes and spoke bluntly. “We’ve been living separately for six months, and sleeping in separate rooms for almost a year!”
Caleb’s face was a picture of shock. “Why are we living separately? Why separate rooms? Is there something wrong with me?”
My silence made him interpret it as an admission.
He visibly crumpled, squatting in the corner, muttering to himself.
“I can’t believe I have issues at thirty! I’m only thirty, just thirty…”
He sulked in the corner, looking like he was literally drawing circles of misery on the floor, while peeking at me with sad puppy-dog eyes.
“I finally understand why you’re so determined to divorce me…”
Me: …
I don’t think you understand at all.
“But Hazel, can you give me another chance?”
Me: ?
“Medical technology is very advanced these days.”
Me: So?
“I think I can still be saved…”
Me: …
“I’m sorry, Hazel. I’m the one holding back our happiness.”
Me: …
My silence was deafening, but he just kept rambling.
“Hazel, I honestly didn’t realize you cared about that so much. I…”
“Just shut up already!”
I finally exploded, unable to hold it in any longer!
What kind of nonsense was rattling around in this guy’s head?
I patted the empty space beside me on the bed. “Be quiet, come sleep!”
“Okay, wife, I’m coming!”
Caleb immediately wrapped himself around me, arms and legs everywhere, like an octopus.
“What are you doing?”
He said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, “Sleeping with my wife, of course!”
Enveloped by his warm body, I felt a strange awkwardness. It had been so long since we’d had this kind of intimate skin-to-skin contact.
30-year-old Caleb only cared about work.
18-year-old Caleb only cared about me, and… talking endlessly.
“Hazel, this is amazing.”
“Yesterday, I had my first kiss with you on the school track, and today I get to sleep with you!”
“Do you remember that time?”
Caleb looked at me expectantly, his eyes full of starlight.
That slightly awkward first kiss was still vivid in my memory.
Caleb was the kind of golden boy every parent wished they had, a campus heartthrob from the moment he stepped into school.
Excellent grades, handsome, athletic—he was the dream guy for countless girls.
And I was one of those girls who had a huge crush on him back then.
He’d slam-dunked on the basketball court, leading his team to victory again and again, achieving brilliant results.
An opposing player, annoyed by the loss, angrily threw the ball into the stands after the game. It was headed straight for me, an innocent bystander…
Caleb sprinted over, dashing right in front of me to block it!
Completely unaware of the rivalry between the two teams, I quickly pulled him toward the school clinic for a check-up.
“Tilt your head back a little, you’re bleeding from your nose.”
“Does your head hurt badly?”
“Come on, the school clinic is right there.”
I thought I’d take a shortcut through a tree-lined path, but Caleb suddenly pulled me to a stop.
Despite the blood dripping from his nose, he looked incredibly handsome in the dappled light beneath the trees.
“Hazel, I like you.”
“Hazel, will you be my girlfriend?”
I stared blankly at the boy in front of me.
To love and be loved simultaneously—could anything be more beautiful?
Caleb lowered his head and kissed me, in that naive, budding summer, in that forest laden with memories.
I still remember that first kiss, tinged with the metallic scent of blood, and how hard I had to stand on my tiptoes to reach him.
Love swept in with the breeze, and even after it died down, the lingering feelings refused to settle.
Caleb saw me lost in tender memories and carefully leaned in to kiss me.
A soft, fleeting kiss.
I was a little lost in thought, this unfamiliar yet familiar intimacy.
Caleb’s husky voice whispered in my ear.
“Hazel, I think… I can still be saved!”
Caleb was visibly excited.
“No, you’re not, you haven’t, go to sleep!”
“I…”
“Shut up and sleep!”
“Okay…”
This naughty boy, did he have to look so wronged?
Only when I heard his steady breathing did I finally relax.
He was finally asleep…
I stared at Caleb, who was still holding my hand even in his sleep, my mind a complex swirl of thoughts, too troubled to sleep.
We met in high school, dated in college, and married after graduation. Everything was unbelievably smooth.
We were the perfect couple in everyone’s eyes, a match made in heaven.
Even we thought we’d walk through life hand in hand…
Unfortunately, no matter how strong the feelings, they couldn’t withstand the wear and tear of time.
One misunderstanding after another, one test after another, one confrontation after another, until eventually, we had nothing left to say to each other.
I reached out, tracing Caleb’s handsome features.
How did we end up like this?
A night of worry resulted in a splitting headache when I woke up.
Caleb, on the other hand, was full of energy, striking poses in front of the mirror in a crisp suit.
“Hazel, you’re awake!”
He enthusiastically leaned in and gave my sleepy face a kiss.
A good morning kiss. It had been… a long time.
“I made breakfast! Even your favorite fried eggs!”
“I can’t believe I’m thirty in the blink of an eye! Skipped all the college entrance exams, university, and job hunting, and became a powerful CEO directly!”
“Hazel, what kind of CEO am I?”
“Am I the kind who can take down competitors with a snap of his fingers, a big shot who makes millions in minutes?”
He adopted a cool, aloof posture. “It’s getting chilly. Time to bankrupt Evergreen Enterprises.”
Me: …
What to do? My head hurt even more.
The current Caleb wasn’t the savvy Mr. Sterling who knew the ins and outs of the company, was skilled at managing people, and acted decisively.
He was an 18-year-old goofball who could only strike poses and babble.
If this Caleb went back to the company, it wouldn’t be “Time for Evergreen to fall,” it would be “Time for Sterling Corp to crash and burn in minutes.”
I hastily finished the breakfast Caleb had meticulously prepared, deciding to accompany him to work.
Even with the mindset of an 18-year-old, 30-year-old Caleb certainly looked impressive.
Dressed in a sharp suit, composed and serious, he appeared to be a business elite…
That is, as long as he didn’t speak.
Caleb held my hand, subtly surveying his company, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.
But the other employees were whispering.
“How come Ms. Hayes is here?”
“Aren’t they getting a divorce?”
“Keep your voice down, Mr. Sterling is still holding her hand!”
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My college roommate, Scarlett, and my dad were dating. She brazenly moved into our house for the summer vacation.
The very next day after she settled in, extreme weather hit: an arctic freeze accompanied by a relentless hailstorm.
As temperatures plummeted, Scarlett claimed her room was too cold and promptly took over my master bedroom.
“Anya, I naturally tend to feel cold. Your room is so much warmer. If you don’t want me to, I’ll manage, I guess.”
“Scarlett, just take her room. You’re practically her stepmom now, why can’t you have the master bedroom!”
My dad, worried I’d interrupt their quality time, coldly shoved me out the door to buy supplies.
When I finally managed to finish my shopping, I found the yard gate locked. No matter how much I yelled, no one opened the door. Then, hailstones the size of eggs suddenly started falling.
With nowhere to hide, I was beaten to death by the hail, right outside my own front door.
This time, I’ll be sipping hot cocoa by a roaring fire, watching them get pummeled by the hail!
“Anya, I want to find a part-time job in the city this summer. Can I stay at your place?”
“I can clean and cook for you. You know my family doesn’t have much money, so that’s all I can offer.”
Seeing Scarlett, with her usual sweet-but-sly demeanor, I couldn’t help but shiver.
That deep-seated terror, etched into my very bones, made me hug myself tightly, desperate to find shelter.
Only when I stepped inside the academic building did my heart finally return to a normal rhythm.
“Anya, if you didn’t want me to stay, fine, but why are you avoiding me?”
“Yes, your house is huge, a standalone mansion with a garden. Not like me, who doesn’t even have a place to call my own in this city. But that’s no excuse to look down on me!”
Scarlett’s voice wasn’t loud, but her tearful act made every passing student stop and stare.
It was exactly like this in my previous life. She used the public opinion of our classmates to force me to take her home.
She was pretty and always spoke with that sweet, manipulative tone. The guys in class absolutely fell for her act.
Even though we were roommates, we weren’t really friends. I’m more introverted and usually kept to myself, rarely exchanging more than a few words with her.
But she constantly ridiculed me behind my back, calling me a hick and saying my clothes were totally unfashionable, like something from the sticks.
She even told our other two roommates, Chloe and Harper, not to talk to me, saying it would ‘drag them down.’
From then on, it was always the three of them, and me, alone.
I didn’t care about any of that; I was used to being by myself.
Until one time, when I was video chatting with my dad in our dorm, she saw my house and asked, dramatically, “OMG, Anya, your house is a mansion?”
“Your dad’s so young and handsome! Is he, like, a CEO or something?”
I tried to explain that it was just a modest, single-story house with a small yard, definitely not a mansion.
And my dad was just a regular employee.
I wasn’t lying. That small mansion was left to my mom by my grandma. After my mom passed away, it was just my dad and me living there.
But she didn’t believe me. After that, she started calling me “Anya” affectionately.
She even began talking to me more in the dorm, often sharing her snacks.
Perhaps my personality was too cold, because soon enough, she reverted to her old self.
But then I noticed she started having more money. She often wore new clothes, new jewelry, and even carried designer bags.
I thought she’d found a good part-time job, but then I saw my mom’s bracelet on her wrist. That’s when I understood.
“Give it back! That’s not yours!”
I grabbed Scarlett’s arm, trying to yank the bracelet off, but she shoved me to the floor.
“This is a gift from my boyfriend! Have some shame! You see something nice and claim it’s yours? Why don’t you claim this bag is yours too? Oh, wait, you’re a hick, you wouldn’t recognize it!”
After Scarlett finished speaking, Chloe and Harper burst into laughter.
“Yeah, hilarious!”
“Scarlett’s bracelet, and you’re saying it’s yours!”
Even a fool like me could figure out what was happening. My dad, that old pervert, must have given it to Scarlett.
No wonder she’d suddenly gotten so rich. She was leeching off my dad!
“Tell Scarlett to give me back that bracelet!”
“Otherwise, I’ll expose you to your company! They’ll find out exactly what kind of man you are!”
My dad didn’t care about my mom or me, but he cared about his reputation.
Sure enough, Scarlett returned the bracelet soon after. She wanted to smash it, but she was probably afraid she couldn’t afford to replace it, so she gently placed it in front of me.
“Hmph, I don’t care! Your dad will buy me an even bigger one!”
I ignored her, carefully putting the bracelet away.
My dad probably wouldn’t buy her a real one; he’d just get a cheap fake for a couple hundred bucks. After all the money he spent on her bags, he wouldn’t want to ‘invest’ too much more.
Before today, we hadn’t spoken for a month.
In my previous life, once she moved into my house, her true colors immediately showed, and her manipulative charm had my dad completely under her spell.
Despite the atrocious weather outside, freezing everything, he ruthlessly sent me out for supplies, afraid I’d interrupt their time together.
I still remember, when the hailstones started, I knelt at the front door, begging them to open up and let me in.
But no one answered. I was simply beaten to death by the hail.
As my last breath left my body, I saw my dad, arm around Scarlett, emerge from the house. Bundled in thick winter coats, they stared at my bloodied form, completely emotionless.
Scarlett looked down at my corpse with disdain, her voice overly dramatic.
“Oh, honey~ Why didn’t Anya knock when she got to the door?”
“It’s all your fault for being so impatient, otherwise we could have come out to check on her sooner.”
“It was her fate. Besides, with this awful weather, who knows how long it’ll last? One less mouth to feed.”
Then, my dad stepped over my hail-pitted body, picked up some scattered food from the ground, and walked away.
My entire body ached, a phantom pain. I shook my head hard, trying to clear the memory.
Seeing that I hadn’t responded, Scarlett, once again, spouted her usual ‘innocent victim’ nonsense.
“Anya, I’m beneath you. I don’t deserve to be your friend.”
I offered a slight smile.
“What are you talking about, Scarlett? I never said you couldn’t stay!”
“Why are you always slandering me? I haven’t done anything to you!”
Scarlett’s brows furrowed as she heard the murmurs around us.
“But you just ran off…”
Ha, already losing your composure, are we?
“It was just too sunny outside, so I figured I’d come in and talk. But I hadn’t even said anything yet, and you started showering me with complaints and accusations.”
“Anyone who didn’t know better would think you did this on purpose, just to get people to trash-talk me!”
Hmph, who doesn’t know how to play the innocent victim?
Having died once already, if I’m still kind, then I deserve everything that’s coming.
“No, Anya, you’re the best. Don’t be mad. I misunderstood you.”
Before I could say anything, Brendon, Scarlett’s pathetic simp, spoke up, clearly annoyed.
“Anya, enough already! Scarlett apologized, what more do you want?”
“You’re the one who ran off without saying a word, so it’s really your fault.”
“Besides, you didn’t lose a limb, did you?”
In my previous life, I was too soft-hearted, and this ugly simp’s few words were enough to make me agree to Scarlett staying at my house.
“What stray dog is yapping? Did anyone ask you to chime in?”
“When you’re simping for someone, can you at least not spray your slobber all over me? It’s disgusting!”
Brendon tried to say something else, but Scarlett stopped him. She whispered something in his ear, and he immediately calmed down.
“Anyway, aren’t you dating my dad? Why are you asking me?”
“Couldn’t you just tell him directly?”
This time, I finally understood why she hadn’t just gone to my dad. This house was mine, and he didn’t actually own it or have the final say. He must have somehow twisted the truth to Scarlett.
“He’s totally fine with it, of course! But we both respect you and wanted to hear your opinion.”
Seeing Scarlett’s desperate eagerness, I almost burst out laughing.
Even the simp who’d just defended her stared at her, confused by her sudden change in story. He muttered “gold-digger” and walked away.
“Dad, my roommate wants to stay at our house this summer, is that okay?”
I texted my dad right in front of Scarlett, and sure enough, I got an affirmative reply.
Scarlett, seeing the message, affectionately linked her arm with mine, ready to go home together.
“Can we go tomorrow? I need to go home and pack today.”
Perhaps she figured one day wouldn’t make a difference, because Scarlett didn’t press the issue.
But for me, one extra day meant more time to prepare what I needed.
I actually had another house, left to me by my grandmother: a small, two-story mansion in the suburbs, which my dad didn’t know about.
After school, I immediately rushed to a hardware store and picked out a tough-looking boss.
“Mr. Jenkins, I need the best steel plates you’ve got. I’m reinforcing my roof.”
“And I need top-grade bulletproof glass to replace all the windows in the mansion.”
“Also, get me as much waterproof, fireproof, and moisture-proof material as you can find!”
The hardware store owner thought I was messing with him, remaining motionless in his chair.
“Look, kid, if you’re joking, go to another shop. Otherwise, I’ll kick you out!”
Exactly! This is the kind of boss I need. That way, I won’t have to worry about him if we’re working at night.
“Sir, here’s a $10,000 deposit. I’ll pay the rest when it’s done.”
After Mr. Jenkins left with the materials, I went and bought two truckloads of high-quality charcoal, several thick blankets, and over a dozen extreme-weather coats.
Last time, the news said the extreme weather would only last a month, but I never lived to find out if it was true.
By the time I finished all that, it was almost evening. I went to the grocery store and pre-ordered two whole pigs, various other meats, and a truckload of vegetables.
Storage wouldn’t be an issue; with the freezing temperatures, it wouldn’t spoil.
After buying bottled water, I made a quick stop at the supermarket to stock up on a year’s supply of feminine hygiene products. Essentials like these had to be stockpiled.
Finally, I bought over a dozen power banks. Power outages were a certainty in extreme weather. I thought about buying candles, but then I realized the light would make me too visible. In desperate times, people show their true, ugly colors.
There was still so much more to buy, but my mom’s inheritance was almost gone, so I’d have to make do and pray I could last the month.
“Wow, Anya, your house is huge! Your dad is so amazing!”
Scarlett gushed the moment she walked in, shamelessly batting her eyelashes at my dad, who was completely besotted, practically drooling.
“Oh, this old house? It’s nothing, Scarlett. Feel free to stay as long as you like, don’t be shy with me.”
My eyes practically rolled into the back of my head. How dare that old pervert? This house wasn’t even his!
“Dad, your AC is so good! The living room is wonderfully cool.”
That old pervert was still basking in his self-congratulation, nodding lecherously at everything Scarlett said.
Only I knew it was the ominous calm before the storm, the prelude to the extreme cold.
“Dad, let’s have hot pot! Didn’t we buy a lot of meat and seafood yesterday? Let Scarlett try some.”
My intention was not to leave them with too much food, so they wouldn’t last too long.
But my dad surprised me.
“Get it all out! Let Scarlett try a little of everything!”
I feigned hesitation and looked at my dad.
“But Dad, that’s enough for us for two weeks or more. Isn’t it too much to take out all at once?”
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My Mom’s Secret Identity
From the moment I could remember, Mom and I played the death game many times.
The first time I found her lying motionless, without even breathing, I was so scared I broke down and cried.
Gradually, I learned Mom was just teasing me, and I stopped being afraid.
The cemetery was somber and silent.
Beside a newly dug grave, a coffin lay still.
Everyone was crying, except for me.
I looked at the national flag draped over her coffin and thought:
“She’s really going all out this time, even Dad’s putting on quite a show.”
The coffin slowly descended into the grave, and uncontrollable sobs erupted from the crowd.
I tugged on Dad’s hand and asked:
“Is the game over? I want to go back and wait for Mom now.”
Dad held me, tears streaming down his face.
“Skylar, Mom isn’t coming back.”
I touched the military dog tag around my neck and shook my head.
“Mom said she’d be back.”
But no one believed me, everyone said I was sick.
Soon after, Dad brought a woman home, saying she was my new mother.
But Mom was still alive, I saw her. If Dad didn’t believe me, I’d find Mom myself.
Rain tapped against the black umbrellas, a dull, continuous sound.
The cemetery was a sea of solemn black.
Suppressed sobs came from all directions, everyone’s eyes red-rimmed.
Dad’s back had hunched significantly, his shoulders trembling, tears falling.
This time, the game was a big production; even Uncle Mark, who we rarely saw, was there.
Uncle Mark knelt down and put Mom’s dog tag around my neck.
“Skylar, this is the only thing your mom left behind. Keep it safe.”
Shovel after shovel of dirt fell, covering the flag.
Everyone was immersed in grief.
Except for me.
I was waiting for Mom to suddenly jump out from a corner, laugh, pick me up, and spin me around, saying:
“Gotcha! My Skylar is so brave!”
I’d played this game too many times.
Under the bed, inside the closet, and once, Mom even hid in an old trunk in the attic.
Every time, I found her, and we’d roll around laughing.
Mom would always say:
“Skylar wins hide-and-seek again!”
So, this time was no different.
Even if it was all very formal, with a lot of people involved.
But this had to be just part of the game, a new rule Mom set to make it more realistic.
After everyone had left, I asked Dad:
“Is the game over? I want to go back and wait for Mom now.”
Dad pulled me into his arms, holding me a little too tightly.
His voice was hoarse:
“Skylar, Mom isn’t coming back.”
I looked at the tombstone, stubbornly arguing:
“Mom will come back when the game is over.”
“There’s no game anymore…”
Dad’s hands tightened abruptly,
“Mom sacrificed herself! She’s gone! She’s never coming back!”
I was held so tightly I couldn’t breathe.
I thought Dad must have forgotten the rules of the game, so I pushed his shoulder to remind him.
“But, Dad, what they buried was Mom’s uniform, not Mom herself.”
Dad’s sobbing stopped abruptly, as if something had choked him.
He opened his mouth, his lips trembling violently, but not a single word came out.
Just then, Uncle Mark, who had given me the dog tag, called Dad aside.
The rain was heavy, but I strained my ears and still heard Uncle Mark’s words.
“The blast radius was too close, too fragmented. There was nothing left to put back together.”
“Only her combat uniform was found, barely pieced together.”
“Robert, that’s all there is. Please accept our condolences.”
I listened, stunned.
I knew what death was.
Mom used to say:
“Death is becoming a bright star in the sky, but Mom can’t touch my Skylar, or hug my Skylar anymore.”
So, death meant no longer being able to touch or hug.
Dad believed Mom was dead, and from then on, he could never hug her again.
That’s why, when he could barely stand, he pulled a woman into a tight embrace.
Dad was sad for a month, the sorrow gradually fading from his face.
One day, Michelle moved into our house with her son, Leo, who was two years younger than me.
“Skylar, say Mom.”
Dad took my hand, trying to get me to go closer to Michelle.
I kept my mouth tightly shut, stubbornly staring at the floor, shaking my head.
“I only have one mom, and she’s playing a very long game of hide-and-seek.”
Michelle looked a little awkward and quickly stepped in to defuse the awkwardness:
“It’s alright, it’s alright. Just call me Michelle.”
Dad took me to a psychologist, who said I had PTSD.
I put the pills in my mouth in front of Dad, but as soon as he left, I spit them into the toilet.
“It’s the grown-ups who need medicine, not me.”
I watched the swirling water, thinking,
“I’m not sick. You’re all just too stupid; Mom fooled all of you. You have no idea how clever she is.”
After a while, Dad found out I wasn’t taking my medicine.
“Skylar Stone! Why aren’t you taking your pills!”
His voice trembled with anger,
“Do you want to keep living in this delusional world?”
I just looked at him silently, completely unwavering.
The standoff ended with Dad slamming the door and leaving.
Dad’s patience, worn thin by repeated failures, increasingly turned towards Leo.
Listening to Leo share stories about school, taking Leo to the company, giving Leo tasks.
The plan to groom me as his successor, once showered upon me, had quietly shifted its target.
I didn’t like Leo because he always ran into my room and messed with my things.
When I told Dad, he just said:
“He’s just a kid, Skylar. You’re the older sister; you need to be more patient with him.”
Leo broke the last model Mom and I had built together, and I flew into a rage, screaming at him to get out of our house.
Dad’s scolding was harsher than I’d ever heard.
“Skylar Stone! How can you treat your brother like that! Go to your room! No dinner for you tonight!”
It was the first time Dad had punished me for someone else.
I became increasingly withdrawn.
Often, I’d stay in my room alone, caressing the dog tag around my neck, staring out the window for long periods.
Dad looked at my mediocre grades on my report card, and the disappointment in his eyes grew stronger.
He stopped inviting me to the dinners I used to attend; only Leo’s outfits were prepared.
That day, Dad came home very late.
As soon as he opened the door, I heard his laughter with Michelle, and Leo’s triumphant voice.
“Dad, everyone says I have your style.”
Dad ruffled Leo’s hair:
“Of course, you’re my son. The company will be yours someday; you’re much stronger than your sister.”
After saying that, he saw me sitting silently in the living room.
A flicker of awkwardness crossed Dad’s face.
“Skylar, you’re still up this late?”
I nodded:
“Came out for water.”
“Dad, I was so good today, can I have a reward?”
Leo’s voice was bright and clear.
Dad’s gaze immediately turned to Leo, his eyes filled with doting affection:
“What do you want? Dad will get you anything.”
Leo pointed at me:
“That! That tag around my sister’s neck!”
Dad’s smile froze instantly.
I clutched the dog tag tightly, taking a step back, watching them with wary eyes.
“Leo, that’s something very important to your sister.”
Dad’s tone was hesitant,
“Dad will buy you the newest remote control plane, or Legos, alright?”
“No! I want that! That tag is pretty!”
Leo stomped his feet impatiently, running over and reaching out to snatch my dog tag.
“Get away!”
I shoved Leo away.
Caught off guard, Leo stumbled backward, hitting his elbow on the corner of the coffee table, and burst into tears.
Michelle immediately rushed forward to comfort Leo, heartbroken:
“Skylar, Leo is just a child, how could you hit him?”
Dad lunged forward, pointing at my nose and yelling:
“Skylar Stone! What do you think you’re doing! Apologize to your brother immediately!”
I glared at Dad, refusing to back down:
“He’s not touching Mom’s things!”
“Give it to me!”
Dad was completely enraged, he commanded sternly,
“Take that dog tag off and give it to Leo!”
I looked at Dad in disbelief, screaming:
“Why? This is what Mom left for me! Have you forgotten Mom?”
“You were already holding another woman before she was even officially gone!”
“Now you’re even going to give the only thing she left me to that son of yours?”
“Shut up!”
Dad roared.
A loud slap landed heavily on my face.
My cheek instantly turned red and swollen, burning with pain.
A flicker of regret crossed Dad’s eyes.
He stepped forward, trying to grab me.
I dodged, looking at him with an utterly unfamiliar gaze.
Dad’s fingers curled inward, his voice stiff:
“You always live in a fantasy world. One day, you’ll regret it.”
I ran back to my room, slamming the door shut.
The stinging sensation of the slap still lingered on Dad’s palm; he couldn’t sit still.
Michelle patted Dad’s shoulder:
“If you’re worried, go check on her.”
Dad shook his head:
“It’s good for her to face reality; she can’t keep living in the past and in her imagination. Leave her be. A few days of cold shoulder will do her good. She’ll come back and apologize.”
The next morning, I didn’t come out for breakfast.
Michelle said:
“Should I bring Skylar some food in her room?”
“No.”
Dad said sternly,
“Skylar is too willful. Don’t spoil her; she needs to learn that talking back to elders has consequences.”
On the third morning, I still didn’t appear. Dad thought I was still sulking and didn’t pay much attention.
During a meeting, he saw my name on the caller ID. To teach me a lesson, he hung up directly.
It wasn’t until the fourth day that Michelle hesitated and said:
“Skylar’s room has been quiet, and her food hasn’t been touched.”
Only then did Dad unlock the door. The room was empty.
“She must have run off to a friend’s house! Didn’t even say when she was leaving! She’s getting more and more out of line!”
Dad furiously called several of my friends, but got no information.
The next moment, the school called:
“Is this Skylar Stone’s father? Skylar hasn’t been to class for three days. Is something wrong at home?”
Dad’s face went white, instantly panicking.
After hanging up, he immediately dialed my number.
The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.
On the other end, a flippant male voice spoke:
“Oh? Finally remembered you have a daughter, huh? Mr. Stone, you must be so busy, can’t even get through to you.”
A wave of ice washed over Dad. His voice trembled:
“Who are you? Where’s my daughter?”
“Your daughter, you ask?”
The man drew out his words, as if savoring Dad’s fear,
“Hard to say. We wanted to discuss a price, but couldn’t reach you. My buddies got annoyed, nowhere to vent their frustration, so we had to… tsk tsk.”
Dad suddenly remembered that because he was angry at me these past few days, he had even hung up on my calls.
Later, he was busy taking Leo to a father-son event and completely forgot about it.
Dad’s vision went black, and he almost collapsed into the chair, swallowed by a massive wave of fear.
“Let me talk to my daughter! I want to see her! Video call now!”
Dad practically screamed, his words incoherent,
“I’ll give you any amount of money! Don’t hurt my daughter! Please!”
“Video call, huh? Might not be too convenient right now.”
The man’s voice was like a cat toying with its prey.
“Mr. Stone, just get the money ready first. We’ll be in touch…”
Just then, the keypad on the front door beeped, then clicked open.
Dad abruptly looked up, and there, in the hallway, I stood, disheveled.
I was filthy, my clothes torn in several places.
My hair was a mess, and my face was smudged with dirt and tiny scratches.
The kidnapper on the phone was still saying something, but Dad couldn’t hear a word.
He hung up immediately and practically lunged to embrace me.
“Skylar! You scared your father to death! Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did those bastards do anything to you?”
He urgently wanted to check me over.
The thought of the kidnapper calling Dad in front of me, only to be repeatedly hung up on, flashed through my mind.
I sharply took a step back, evading his touch, my gaze cold.
Dad’s hands froze in mid-air. After the initial surge of emotion, questions flooded his mind:
“How did you get back?”
I said calmly: “Mom saved me.”
As those five words left my mouth, the excitement on Dad’s face instantly drained away.
It turned cold, his eyes filled with revulsion.
“Skylar Stone! How long are you going to keep this charade up?”
“You staged a kidnapping! Had your accomplices make those calls to me!”
“Do you think this is fun? To get back at me this way? To get my attention?”
Dad looked down at me, like he was looking at trash.
“I never imagined you could be so manipulative! How dare you even use your mother as an excuse for your lies!”
“Aren’t you afraid she’d be heartbroken watching you from above?”
“You’ve truly disappointed me.”
Dad’s accusations crashed down on me, but I didn’t feel the sting or anger I once did.
Even as he roared, I slightly tilted my head, distinguishing a faint sound in the distance.
“Dad, I saw Mom. I even hugged her.”
My voice was soft, my heart filled with surging joy, leaving no room for other emotions.
Dad froze for a moment, then grew even angrier.
“Get back to your room! I don’t want to see you anymore! You’re truly insane! You scare me!”
Whether Dad believed me or not, it no longer mattered at all.
My lips curled into a faint smile.
I found Mom.
From that day on, I completely changed.
I no longer showed any emotion regarding my father’s neglect or Leo’s favoritism.
I became silent and focused, with a clear goal.
I put away all my leisure books. My desk piled high with thick workbooks and military academy recruitment brochures.
My desk lamp often burned late into the night.
My grades soared at an astonishing speed, jumping from mid-class to the top ranks of my grade, eventually settling at the very top.
Dad noticed the change.
Amidst his surprise, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, even feeling a sense of “I knew it.”
He believed that his previous neglect, and the act of funneling all resources and attention to Leo, had finally spurred my competitive spirit.
Making me turn from my misguided path and realize I needed to strive for success.
He was very pleased.
At the dinner table, Dad began to casually bring up company matters.
He even proactively asked for my opinion on certain business cases.
Though he didn’t explicitly say it, his intention was clear.
He had reconsidered me as a potential successor.
I hadn’t expected this subtle shift to trigger Michelle’s most sensitive nerves.
She had painstakingly worked to establish herself in this family, finally succeeding in getting Dad to pour all his efforts into her son.
With victory seemingly in sight, she wouldn’t allow me to re-enter the race.
My important study materials would mysteriously disappear, only for me to find them later in the trash can.
The night before my college entrance exams, the air conditioner in my room conveniently broke.
Its incessant buzzing made sleep impossible, and the repairman was unreachable.
Once, the milk she brought me tasted off.
I didn’t pretend not to notice; I quietly got up and poured it down the drain.
I calmly avoided all these petty tricks.
I didn’t tell Dad, not out of forbearance, but purely because I felt it was a waste of time.
My goal was higher and further, and I had no interest in participating in such domestic squabbles.
Until one day, I intercepted a recommendation letter Michelle had altered, mimicking Dad’s handwriting.
The person recommended to study at a top business school abroad had been changed from me to Leo.
I didn’t go to Dad to cry about it. Instead, I directly confronted Michelle with the recommendation letter.
Michelle’s face instantly went ashen, but she tried to appear calm:
“Skylar, what are you doing with that?”
“Michelle,” I said calmly,
“You don’t need to do these useless things anymore.”
“I have no interest in Dad’s company; I won’t compete with Leo for anything.”
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The king-sized bed in the hotel room.
I was still basking in the afterglow of Ryder’s touch when his voice, husky with post-intimacy breathlessness, whispered a promise in my ear.
“Stella, just give me one more month. Next month, I’ll propose.”
“Stella, I, Ryder Sterling, swear I’ll give you the most magnificent wedding, make you the most envied bride in the world.”
This was the seventh year of our secret relationship.
No one in all of Veridian City would ever believe that the notoriously aloof heir of the Sterling family and the infamous adopted daughter of the Reed family had been secretly dating for seven years.
I had waited for that promise from the age of eighteen until twenty-five.
My heart suddenly hammered.
Before I could answer, my phone chimed with a special notification.
Ryder reached for my phone, his voice still thick with desire. “Which wild man is that? Baby, are you really keeping some D-list actor on the side, just like the tabloids say?”
I chuckled, pushing his hand away.
“Just my best friend.”
I tapped on the SnapChat picture Valerie had sent. It was a marriage certificate.
The marriage certificate was dated today.
And the groom? None other than Ryder Sterling, the man I’d been secretly dating for seven years, the man who’d just spent our passionate thirteen rounds with me tonight, and who’d promised to marry me in a month.
I replied “Congrats” to my best friend, Valerie, then turned back to kiss Ryder.
Ryder was an incredible kisser.
His soft, lingering kisses left me breathless, tears welling in my eyes from the pleasant suffocation.
Ryder was still pressing, “Just one more month for me, the very last one, okay?”
“Okay,” I said.
“I’ll wait one more month for you.”
I bit down on Ryder’s lip, hard, not releasing until I tasted blood.
“Ryder, after seven years, this is the very last month I’ll wait for you.”
I casually dodged the lurking paparazzi outside the hotel and slipped into the car sent by the Reed family to pick me up.
My brother, Liam Reed, was driving.
His eyes were shadowed, dark, as he watched me stumble out of the side entrance, barely able to walk straight.
“Which struggling actor was it tonight? Stella, aren’t you satisfied with your already ruined reputation? Are you determined to drag the Reed family name through the mud completely?”
“Look at Valerie! She’s brilliant, plays the piano beautifully, and has an impeccable reputation. When she was eighteen, Mr. Sterling himself had personally visited the Valerie family to arrange a marriage proposal for Valerie – to become the Sterling family’s daughter-in-law, to marry the Sterling heir!”
“I heard the Sterling heir waited for Valerie for seven years, visiting her abroad every year. He kept it up until Valerie finally got her PhD overseas this year.”
“The tabloids caught photos of Ryder proposing to Valerie today, and them leaving City Hall together. They must have gotten married.”
“Ryder must have been impatient, couldn’t even wait for a wedding, just went straight to getting the marriage certificate to make their marriage official…”
“Stella, you and Valerie came from the same orphanage, but look at her…”
The words barely left his lips when Liam slammed on the brakes!
The black Lincoln screeched to a halt. Liam slapped himself across the face.
He didn’t dare look at his sister in the passenger seat, his voice low.
“Stella, I said the wrong thing. I’m sorry.”
I sat rigidly, my face pale, my eyes hollow.
Liam reached for my hand. My fingertips were icy cold.
“Hit me, Stella. I messed up… I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
After a long moment, I finally whispered, “The photos.”
Liam blinked. “What photos?”
“The ones the tabloids took,” I said, my gaze blank, fixed on the darkness ahead.
“She was, after all, my friend from the orphanage and my supposed best friend. I want to see if Valerie and that legendary Sterling heir really make a good match.”
Liam tossed his phone onto my lap.
“See for yourself.”
I unlocked it with my fingerprint and scrolled through the pictures.
Ryder on one knee in a lavender field, kissing Valerie’s finger, adorned with a wedding ring.
Ryder, grinning widely, with his arm around Valerie’s shoulder, standing in front of a wedding dress shop window.
Ryder sweeping Valerie into his arms, walking out of a castle…
Every single picture was taken abroad.
I remembered the past seven years of our secret relationship, every time Ryder mentioned “going abroad for business.”
Twelve trips a year, half a month each time.
Turns out, his “business trips” were all spent romancing Valerie!
I lifted my hand, clutching my chest.
An indescribable ache spread from my heart, agonizing through my entire body.
The pain made me double over.
Liam was startled by my reaction. He snatched the phone from my hand.
“Stella, I’ll never mention Valerie’s name in front of you again! Don’t scare me!”
He was one of the few people in the world who knew that Valerie, my so-called best friend, and I were deeply at odds.
Liam didn’t know the details, but he knew how much his sister loathed Valerie’s name.
I forced a smile.
“Didn’t you tell me to learn from Valerie? I will. Help me arrange it, Liam. Send me abroad to study.”
Liam looked at me, incredulous.
“Are you serious?”
He couldn’t believe his non-biological sister could be so clear-headed.
I smiled.
“If I’m not married off by next month, then yes, I’m serious.”
Liam took me back to his private estate.
“Mom and Dad aren’t happy about the news of Valerie and Ryder getting married today,” Liam said, peeling me some fruit.
“You should stay here for a while.”
I looked at the sliced fruit platter, skewered with toothpicks, and let out a cold laugh.
“Are they still regretting not picking Valerie when they had to choose between us for adoption? Didn’t they practically fall over themselves to be Valerie’s godparents years ago? They might as well change their last name from Reed to Valerie!”
Liam, seeing me looking like I was about to lose it, said nothing and retreated to his study.
He knew me well. Engaging with me now would just make him my personal punching bag.
I checked the time. It was one in the morning.
I called Ryder.
It rang three times before someone finally picked up.
Ryder’s voice was cold, a stark contrast to the intimacy we’d shared hours earlier in the hotel.
“Didn’t I tell you not to call me when I’m home? My family… wouldn’t want to see me associated with a woman like you.”
“A woman like me?”
My voice rose sharply.
“We’ve been secretly together for seven years, Ryder! Do you really believe those tabloid rumors? Believe I’m a promiscuous woman?”
Ryder’s reply was icy.
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
Perhaps realizing he’d gone too far, he quickly added,
“Don’t cause trouble, Stella. You’ve always been so understanding these past seven years.”
I looked at my empty ring finger, picturing Valerie’s wedding ring.
“Ryder,” I whispered. “Did you really mean it? That you’d marry me in a month?”
His tone softened slightly.
“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”
“Okay.”
I put down my phone, my gaze drawn to the calendar.
Just thirty days to wait.
Thirty days later, either Ryder would keep his promise, or I would vanish from his world forever.
A moment later, rustling sounds came from the receiver.
I realized I hadn’t hung up.
Ryder must have forgotten too.
I heard his voice, chatting with his best friend.
“Ryder, you chased Valerie for seven years, and you finally made it official. Old Man Sterling must be thrilled to see your marriage certificate, right?”
Ryder’s voice was reserved, yet tinged with a faint pride.
“Grandfather has already signed over his shares to me; the paperwork is being processed. Oh, and Valerie’s pregnant. What do you think would be a good gift for her? Do you think she’d like the estate on the west side of town?”
Ryder’s friend lowered his voice.
“Ryder, that Stella girl you’ve been stringing along… when are you going to get rid of her for good?”
Ryder was silent for a moment.
Amidst my violently beating heart, I heard Ryder’s indifferent voice.
“Stella? Oh, next month.”
His friend pressed him.
“You’ve been playing her for seven years straight? Young Master Sterling, can you really bear to let her go?”
Ryder’s voice was tinged with annoyance.
“She’s just an adopted daughter of the Reed family, not particularly favored. What’s there to miss? Valerie and she came from the same orphanage, both adopted, but why is Valerie so much more accomplished, so perfect in every way?”
Ryder’s friend lowered his voice.
“Young Master Sterling, everyone in the circle knows Stella had your ‘tag’ on her for the past seven years. You even had someone smear Stella’s name, ensuring she wouldn’t have any other men around. Now you’re bored with her, how about… you let us have a taste? See how ‘open’ the Reed family’s adopted daughter really is? She’s only ever been with you, so she must be pure.”
Ryder’s chuckling, cursing voice drifted over.
“Fine, she’s been with me for so many years, I won’t let you guys lose out. I’ll find a chance to let you all taste what a ‘little firecracker’ is like…”
The voices faded.
It was then I realized that, at some point, tears were streaming down my face.
I wiped away my tears expressionlessly, then wiped away the blood from my lip where I’d bitten myself.
Looking at my pale reflection in the mirror, I cursed myself for being so weak.
My heart was utterly cold.
The question that had plagued me for seven years finally had an answer today.
How did I, a woman always so proper, suddenly become entangled in countless salacious rumors seven years ago, all fabricated so convincingly, making me an object of scorn in Veridian City?
Making my already precarious position in the Reed family even worse.
It was Ryder, pulling the strings all along.
At that moment, another invitation popped up on my phone.
It was for an afternoon tea.
The host was Valerie.
The time was the following afternoon.
I never received invitations to these kinds of afternoon tea parties for socialites and rich wives in the circle.
My reputation was terrible, I wasn’t favored by my family, and in our social circles, I was implicitly considered to have no social value.
The next day, I went to Valerie’s afternoon tea party.
By the time I arrived, quite a few people were already there. Valerie, surrounded by admiring glances, was clearly the center of attention.
I found a corner and helped myself to food and drinks.
The sound of Ryder’s voice made me crush the delicate mini-cake in my hand.
A chorus of envious voices rose around us.
“Valerie, Young Master Sterling is such a busy man. He often misses board meetings, but he’s actually spending an entire afternoon having tea with us, just for you?”
“Valerie, when you first said you could get Young Master Sterling to come, we thought you were joking.”
“Valerie, you and Young Master Sterling have already gotten your marriage certificate. When’s the wedding?”
“Young Master Sterling, I hear you’ve been looking into wedding venues. Any chance of working together?”
I sat outside the group, my gaze distant, meeting Ryder’s eyes.
Ryder’s lips were still at Valerie’s ear, clearly whispering sweet nothings between husband and wife.
Valerie followed Ryder’s gaze and noticed me too.
A flicker of malicious triumph crossed her eyes.
Valerie walked towards me, outside the crowd, and intimately linked her arm through mine.
I dug my nails into my palm, repeating one phrase to myself—
Just one more month.
Just one more month of Ryder’s promise.
Perhaps… this man who had never broken his word to me, my lover of seven years, would actually keep his promise.
Perhaps he would marry me and take me home.
Just as I was about to reach my limit, Valerie whispered in my ear.
“Stella, do you know how Ryder described you to me?”
“Ryder said you were just a slut. Someone he didn’t even have to spend money on, someone who’d spread her legs for just a few sweet words.”
“Did he promise to marry you in a month?”
“Our wedding is in a month, Stella. Ryder said he’s going to make you look absolutely pathetic that day, to let all of Veridian City see that Stella Reed, the adopted daughter of the Reed family, is a public plaything!”
“Last night, Ryder told me to send you the marriage certificate.”
“He said he was in bed with you at the time, and he just wanted to know if, after seeing him marry me, you’d still willingly let him…”
Valerie didn’t finish the last word, ‘screwed.’
The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the room, and a deafening silence fell over the entire room!
I had just slapped Valerie hard, knocking her to the ground, in front of everyone!
For the first time, Ryder lost his composure publicly.
He quickly rushed forward to help Valerie up. Then he turned, raising his hand high, ready to strike me.
I stared him down, offering him half my face.
Ryder clenched his fist, then let it drop.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!”
He grabbed my collar, lowering his voice.
“This is not where you belong! Now, apologize to Valerie! Tell her you were jealous and lost control! Then go home!”
I laughed.
My smile was seductively charming.
“Jealous of her? Of what?”
I kept my voice low, only audible to the two of us. My words tumbled out at a breathtaking pace.
“Jealous that you were dating me while secretly chasing her for seven years? Jealous that we both came from the orphanage, but you ruined my reputation until I was universally despised, while she was praised as a pristine, untouchable flower? Jealous that you promised to marry me in a month, yet got married to her on the very same day?”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice on that last sentence!
The slap Ryder had held back moments before now landed heavily in front of everyone.
It utterly silenced my last words.
The moment the slap landed, Ryder regretted it.
He had only wanted me to shut up.
But the blow made his palm tingle.
He saw me standing rigidly, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.
Ryder’s voice held an almost imperceptible plea.
“Stella, I’m begging you, don’t make a scene in public! I promised to marry you in a month, and I will! Please, believe me, okay?”
I closed my eyes.
Only twenty-nine days left.
Believe him or not, the pain Ryder could inflict on me only had twenty-nine days left.
“I believe you. Twenty-nine days from now, I’ll be waiting for you to propose at the Reed family home.”
Uttering those words with every ounce of strength I had, I turned to leave.
But Ryder gripped my arm tightly.
“Stella, you haven’t apologized to Valerie. You can’t leave… Today is her day, you need to show her that respect.”
My eyes were cold.
“Apologize to Valerie? Never.”
Ryder stared at my stubborn refusal, then suddenly raised his voice.
“Guards!”
Ryder had his people tie me up.
Right there, in front of all the guests.
“She offended you, Valerie. You can do whatever you want to her,” Ryder told Valerie.
“Do as you please, don’t hold back. I’ll handle the Reed family.”
Valerie looked into Ryder’s eyes, which seemed to hold a smile, yet conveyed no emotion at all.
She pressed him.
“Any way I want?”
Ryder nodded, agreeing.
Valerie broke into a radiant smile, turning to me.
“Stella, I’m entering an international photography competition soon, and I think you’d make a perfect model for me. How about you cooperate and let me take a set of photos of you today?”
A bad feeling bloomed in my gut.
Valerie continued,
“But for this photo series… I need a boudoir model. Stella, if you change your mind, just apologize to me, say you shouldn’t have slapped me, and I’ll ask Ryder to let you go.”
She sounded incredibly generous.
I hated Valerie’s pretense most of all.
She was like this even in the orphanage. Under five years old, Valerie with her sweet, innocent face would lie shamelessly to everyone, claiming she’d seen me steal cookies from the dining hall.
Later, we were both adopted, she by the Valerie family and I by the Reed family.
Valerie would smile innocently, telling everyone stories about me kissing boys for an egg in the orphanage.
I couldn’t even count how many times Valerie had done things like that.
At first, I tried to explain, but everyone seemed to believe Valerie, the girl with good grades and a sweet face.
As if I, with my overly bright, aggressive looks, was born a villain.
I lifted my chin, staring at everyone.
“Apologize? Valerie, I only regret that slap didn’t kill you. You want to strip me naked? Why don’t you check your new husband’s phone gallery? There are plenty of my…”
Before I could finish, Ryder kicked me!
A searing pain stole my breath, and I choked back the rest of the sentence: “my boudoir photos.”
Ryder didn’t wait for Valerie to speak. He just waved his hand.
“Valerie needs a model, doesn’t she? Strip Stella and keep her that way until Valerie’s finished shooting!”
His voice was cruel.
“After all, Miss Stella Reed’s reputation… from eighteen to twenty-five, has never been good in Veridian City.”
“Taking her clothes off in public today will just let everyone see how much ‘capital’ Miss Stella has for her wild ways!”
My mouth filled with the taste of blood.
I didn’t know if it was from Ryder’s slap or his kick.
I swallowed the bloody saliva, my eyes colder and more hateful than Ryder’s.
“Young Master Sterling, you go ahead and strip me! Let everyone see the woman you’ve slept with for seven years…”
The words were cut short again by Ryder’s fierce palm, turning my head violently, the rest of the sentence trapped in my throat.
My ears rang with the impact of the blow.
I let out a bitter laugh.
Just yesterday, I had still harbored fantasies.
Fantasies that Ryder and Valerie were just a family arrangement, that I was Ryder’s true love, that Ryder would divorce Valerie and fulfill his promise to marry me in a month!
But today’s events clearly showed me the truth: I was nothing but Ryder’s plaything!
He had played me for seven whole years.
And now that he was done, on the eve of discarding me, he wanted to deliver a final, fatal blow!
A gasp rippled through the room as a massive shadow loomed over me.
I looked up. A bookshelf against the wall had lost its balance and was toppling towards me.
If it hit me full force, I’d either die or be crippled for life!
Ryder instinctively reached out to me, lying helpless on the floor.
If he just grabbed me, he could pull me out of the shadow of death.
But the instant his fingers brushed my collar, he abruptly changed direction, decisively sweeping Valerie, who was still some distance from the bookshelf, into his arms!
The last sliver of hope in my eyes completely vanished.
I closed my eyes, waiting for death.
The expected pain never came.
Someone blocked me.
My trembling eyelashes fluttered open. The moment I saw that face, the tears I’d held back all afternoon finally streamed down.
“Liam…”
My voice was trembling.
I wasn’t sure if it was from indignity or the terror of a near-death experience.
My gaze drifted over Liam’s shoulder, towards the man and woman nearby.
Valerie looked shaken, Ryder kneeling before her, gently stroking her abdomen, softly reassuring her.
Liam asked nothing. He simply pulled out a handkerchief, wiped my face clean, and led me away.
As we brushed past Ryder, he rose, gently gripping my wrist, attempting to pull me away from Liam.
“Stella, I didn’t save you just now because Valerie is pregnant… You understand, don’t you?”
I offered a numb smile.
Ryder bent lower, his voice even more humble.
“I just need one month, Stella. I know you might have heard rumors lately, but trust me, none of it’s true.”
“I’m already arranging our wedding. Only twenty-nine days left. I’ll fulfill everything I promised you! Just be good during this time, don’t listen to or believe anything anyone says outside, okay?”
I nodded, exhausted.
No matter how much it hurt, how heartbroken I was, it would only last a few more days.
I would wait and see how Ryder intended to wrap up their seven years of illicit affair.
Liam took me home.
Once my emotions had settled, Liam spoke.
“Want to talk about anything, Stella? Like… you and Ryder?”
I shook my head, silent.
Liam stroked my hair.
“If you don’t want to talk, don’t. I’ve already started arranging your study abroad, just like you said yesterday. But… when I send you off, do you want me to erase all your identity information? The Sterling family might control Veridian City, but hiding a person is a small task I can manage.”
I nodded.
“I’ll be gone for a week on a business trip,” Liam said, pulling his suitcase. “You need to be good this week, stay home, don’t go anywhere.”
“The Sterling family isn’t something you can handle. Valerie’s cunning is beyond you, and the old folks in the Reed family have always despised you.”
Liam warned,
“Whatever injustice you face, hold it in until I get home.”
I was obedient.
Before, I’d been bold and reckless in Veridian City, knowing Ryder would back me up.
Back then, Ryder was my secret lover.
Not anymore.
After Liam left, I stayed obediently indoors.
Until Ryder’s call came.
“Stella, you should be calm now. Can we meet? I want to explain everything that’s happened to you face-to-face.”
Ryder’s voice on the phone was tender and loving.
My hand pressed against my chest, feeling my heart pound uncontrollably for a moment.
“Okay.”
Ryder’s voice was delighted.
“I’ll pick you up!”
“Okay.”
Ryder arrived quickly.
As if nothing had happened, he took my hand and helped me into the car.
He leaned over meticulously to fasten my seatbelt, then straightened up and dropped a kiss on my temple.
I felt drowsy the moment I got into the car. After a few sips of the drink Ryder offered me, I quickly drifted into a hazy sleep.
When I opened my eyes, I saw only darkness.
Suffering from nyctophobia, I screamed hysterically!
“Ryder, what are you doing?! Let me out! Turn on the lights!”
I was tied up, thrown on the floor.
Immobilized.
I stared at the profound darkness around me, terrified to the point of nausea.
“Ryder, turn on the lights! I’m begging you, turn on the lights!”
Ryder’s voice came from nearby.
Cold, inhuman.
“Stella, I know you’re afraid of the dark. This is the ‘gentlest’ punishment I could think of for your disobedience.”
“Why did you hide Valerie?”
“Didn’t I say I would definitely marry you next month? Why can’t you just listen, why do you have to take matters into your own hands?”
“Valerie is carrying our Sterling child. This isn’t a joke, don’t make trouble.”
“Tell me where Valerie is, otherwise, Stella, you’ll regret it.”
My face was streaked with tears.
I looked into the boundless darkness.
“Ryder, I already regret it.”
“Please, just let me go, okay? I don’t want you to marry me anymore, I don’t want to wait. The past seven years, that’s on me. Just let me leave. From now on, we’ll be strangers!”
Hearing those three words, “we’ll be strangers,” Ryder’s heart suddenly lurched!
For seven whole years, he hadn’t imagined I would ever suggest leaving him!
He listened to my sobs in the darkness, and a montage of their years together flashed through his mind like a film.
The image finally settled on the wedding dress he’d personally designed for me, set to be completed next month.
Ryder clenched his fists tightly, the pain in his palms making him speak.
“Stella Reed, I will marry you. But before that, I need to know where Valerie is! She’s carrying our Sterling family’s child!”
I couldn’t hear a word Ryder was saying.
I screamed, struggling and squirming on the floor, desperately curling myself into a tiny ball, my face drenched in tears.
Over and over, I repeated the same garbled words.
“Please, Ryder, let me go.”
“I won’t marry you.”
Ryder roared, unable to hold back.
“Stella, I just need to know where Valerie is! I promised I’d marry you, and I will! I know there are misunderstandings between us now, but on our wedding day, I’ll explain everything to you, piece by piece!”
Ryder’s voice ended in an uncontrolled sob, a desperate plea.
“Stella, I’ve never begged anyone for anything in my life… This time, I’m begging you! I just need Valerie’s address!”
I hit my forehead on the floor, crying out.
“I don’t know where Valerie is… I didn’t… Ryder, turn on the lights, please…”
Ryder stood just outside the door.
His hand was on the switch.
Just a light flick would end my torment.
Ryder could feel his palm raw from clenching, warm, sticky blood spreading between his fingers.
He knew why I was afraid of the dark.
When we were kids in the orphanage, to compete for adoption spots, Valerie had locked me in the equipment room for three whole days.
I was only four years old then.
On the third day, I set a small fire in the equipment room to alert the adults, saving myself from dying of thirst and hunger.
“The surveillance footage is clear, Valerie got into your Reed family car, then she disappeared,” Ryder said.
“I know it was wrong of me to hide things about Valerie from you, but I had my reasons, Stella. For the past seven years, you’ve always been so understanding. Just hold on for one more month, please.”
Through my choked sobs, Ryder forced himself to harden his heart.
“I know Valerie has done a lot of things to hurt you in the past, and it’s understandable that you’d want to get revenge when you found an opportunity. But she’s pregnant with a Sterling child. Tell me Valerie’s whereabouts, and there’s still room for negotiation in this matter.”
“Stella Reed, if this blows up to Mr. Sterling, your whole Reed family will be implicated.”
“I know you don’t care about your parents, but what about Liam? Are you willing to see your brother’s future ruined because of your foolish act of jealousy?”
My crying stopped for a moment.
“Liam.”
This seven-year-long, absurd love of mine had not only ruined me but would also drag down the only brother who ever treated me well.
“I really don’t know where Valerie is!”
I suddenly went wild, banging my head against the floor.
“From childhood, hasn’t she framed me enough times? Why won’t any of you believe me, just this once?”
“Ryder, if you don’t believe me, then fine. Getting involved with Young Master Sterling was my mistake, and I’ll pay for it with my life, alright?!”
The impact of my head hitting the ground was truly forceful!
A dull thud, like a shot fired straight into Ryder’s heart.
Ryder flicked on the lights with a ‘snap’!
It was too late.
I lay silently on the ground.
Blood slowly spread from my temple.
Ryder rushed into the hospital, cradling me.
Half of him was covered in my blood.
As he stepped through the hospital doors, I regained consciousness.
My eyes immediately locked onto Ryder’s face. Before he could even utter a word of concern, my hand, weak but determined, slapped him across the face.
“Hypocrite… Get lost!”
I struggled to escape Ryder’s embrace.
Ryder said nothing, only holding me tighter.
His rush towards the emergency room suddenly halted.
I heard Ryder’s already frantic heartbeat quicken even more, so fast I feared it would burst from his chest.
Following Ryder’s gaze, I saw Valerie.
She was standing there perfectly fine, surrounded not only by Sterling family maids and the butler but also by Mr. and Mrs. Reed, my adoptive parents.
There was also an old man I recognized but couldn’t place for a moment.
The old man was about sixty or seventy.
Ryder’s grip suddenly loosened.
In front of everyone, I, whom he had just moments ago held so desperately, was now carelessly dropped onto the ground like trash.
He didn’t even spare me a glance.
The bruises from Ryder’s kick to my back hadn’t faded, and now with this fall, I almost passed out from the pain.
But Ryder merely bypassed me, as if I were a pile of rubbish.
Mr. and Mrs. Reed didn’t even look at their adopted daughter.
Their eyes were solely on their beloved god-daughter, Valerie.
Valerie smiled sweetly, stepping forward to link her arm with Ryder’s.
“Ryder, what’s this all about? Stella is my model for my photo shoot. You’ve gotten her into such a state, where am I going to find another Stella?”
“I couldn’t reach you. Surveillance showed you got into the Reed family car, and I thought Stella had taken you,” Ryder said, wrapping his arm around Valerie’s waist, kissing her earlobe right in front of me.
“So I was just forcing her to tell me your whereabouts?”
Ryder looked at me with disgust.
“She wasn’t being cooperative, so I was a bit rough. But it’s fine, it won’t affect your photo shoot.”
Valerie gave me, struggling to pick myself up from the floor, a knowing, half-smile.
“Ryder, the family cars were all sent for maintenance, so I called Mom and Dad to help drive me to the hospital,” Valerie said, her smile clean and gentle.
“You worried yourself so much? Look at what you’ve put Stella through. It wasn’t necessary.”
Valerie affectionately took my arm, as I was about to go to the treatment room alone, then turned to the others.
“Grandfather, Mom and Dad, Ryder, I’ll go with Stella to get her wounds treated. Stella’s always been sensitive since she was little, she’ll cry and fuss over the smallest injury.”
I forced a numb smile.
Valerie was doing her usual thing, putting me down to highlight her own virtuous character.
I was used to it.
In the treatment room.
A nurse was bandaging the cut on my forehead.
Valerie tilted her head, admiring my pallid face.
“Ryder put you through quite a lot just now, didn’t he? Actually, the family cars weren’t sent for maintenance at all. I deliberately called your parents to pick me up because I wanted you to see how cruel Ryder could be to a ‘used and discarded’ woman like you.”
My brow furrowed.
It hurt.
The nurse’s touch hurt, and Valerie’s words, “used and discarded,” hurt even more.
But I only furrowed my brow.
“Be smart and leave on your own.” Valerie played with her beautiful, silky long curls, looking like a princess from a painting. ”
If you don’t have money, I’ll buy you a plane ticket, wherever you want to go.
Just don’t be so shameless as to stay by Ryder’s side, he’s a married man.”
After my wounds were dressed, I went to the restroom.
I just wanted a place to cry silently for a while.
From the next stall, I heard the sounds of a man and woman kissing.
After the wet, sticky sounds subsided, Ryder’s voice, husky with passion, spoke.
“How was the prenatal check-up? Is our baby doing okay?”
Valerie’s voice was sweet and cloying.
“The doctor said very healthy. Said it must be because Daddy’s sperm quality is excellent.”
Ryder let out a muffled chuckle.
“Baby, I’m not just excellent in sperm quality, am I? What about everywhere else?”
“Since the baby came, how am I supposed to know if you’ve gotten worse in other places?” Valerie giggled.
“Maybe little Ryder is all pent up?”
A zipper sound.
Followed by Ryder’s even deeper, hoarser voice.
“Whether little Ryder is pent up or not, little Valerie, why don’t you try it out for yourself…”
I clapped a hand over my mouth and gagged.
It was sickening.
I couldn’t stand another second in there.
I bolted out of the restroom like my life depended on it, left the hospital, and took a taxi back to Liam’s private estate.
I called Liam.
I wouldn’t wait for Ryder’s promise anymore.
Even if Ryder had lost his mind and actually kept his word, I wouldn’t let him marry me.
He was too dirty.
Liam’s phone rang three times before he picked up.
“What is it, Stella?”
Hearing Liam’s voice, my tears immediately started to fall.
I opened my mouth, a sob catching in my throat.
The moment the words escaped, I heard a hurried voice from Liam’s end.
It was a cool, clear female voice.
“Mr. Reed, the meeting was scheduled five minutes ago. Do you need to cancel?”
Liam quickly pressed me.
“Stella, what’s wrong? Speak to me.”
I silently hung up the phone.
I sent Liam a message.
`[Nothing, accidentally pressed my phone while sleeping.]`
Liam: `[Send me a selfie, let me see.]`
I looked at my red, swollen eyes in the mirror, then found an old picture in my album and sent it.
Liam didn’t reply again.
He must have bought it.
I quickly packed my bags, booked the fastest international flight, and called a private car to the airport.
The driver arrived quickly.
I was alone, dragging two suitcases, a travel bag, and a large backpack.
The driver made no move to help me with my luggage.
I huffed and puffed, loading my own bags into the car, then got in.
The car door locked.
Ryder’s voice came from the driver’s seat.
Gentle, yet laced with bone-chilling coldness.
“Stella, you were so obedient by my side for seven years. Why are you suddenly disobedient now?”
“So much luggage, and heading to the international airport. Where exactly are you planning to escape to?”
“You promised to wait for me for a month. Did you go back on your word?”
“That vow of ‘forever and always’ seven years ago, did you feed it to the dogs?”
Ryder locked me up.
In the Sterling Deer Park Estate, just outside Veridian City.
Before Ryder left, he placed a calendar in my bedroom.
He said, “Start tearing off the pages from today. When twenty-four pages are gone, it’ll be our wedding day.”
Ryder took my phone and instructed the butler and maids that I couldn’t leave the Deer Park Estate or contact anyone.
Other than that, I was free.
I stood on the mountain top of Sterling Deer Park Estate, overlooking the entire manor.
Ryder had built this especially for me.
In my junior year of college, I’d suddenly become obsessed with deer.
I loved their graceful legs, their clean eyes, the soft touch of their fur when they gently nudged their heads against me.
I frequently dragged Ryder to the zoo to feed the fawns.
Until one time, Ryder’s uncle caught us.
Ryder shielded me the whole time, not letting his uncle see my face.
He handled the situation flawlessly, seeing his uncle off.
After that, Ryder didn’t come to school for about a week.
I was understanding back then.
If Ryder didn’t come, I remembered what he’d told me: never contact him first, especially when he was back at the Sterling family home.
The next time I saw Ryder was during final exams week at Veridian City University.
It snowed heavily that day. Ryder’s face was paler than the snow, but he embraced me and said he had a gift for me.
That gift was Sterling Deer Park Estate.
That day, Ryder said that whenever I wanted to see deer again, I could come to *their* Deer Park Estate, for peace and quiet.
I quietly sat down on the hillside, instinctively wrapping my arms around a fawn named Little Sun, holding it affectionately in my lap.
This fawn was only four months old. The night it was born, Ryder and I were staying at Sterling Deer Park Estate.
That night, the estate manager said a doe was having a difficult birth.
Worried, I rushed to see, and later, Ryder and I even helped the doe deliver.
The fawn, Little Sun, had been tainted with human scent at birth, and its mother refused to nurse it. Ryder and I held it and bottle-fed it ourselves.
That fawn was Little Sun.
Afterward, this fawn always liked to follow me.
Footsteps sounded behind me.
I thought it was Ryder.
Only when someone sat beside me did I realize it was Valerie.
This was the first time I’d seen an outsider at Sterling Deer Park Estate.
The thought surfaced, and I paused, then realized that *I* was now the outsider.
I didn’t want to talk to Valerie, nor did I care why she was here. I simply stood up and walked towards a more distant spot.
Little Sun, only a few months old, was very clingy and followed me.
Valerie seemed somewhat jealous. She followed behind me, asking,
“This fawn listens to you so well. How did you train it?”
I ignored her, pulling carrot sticks from my pocket to feed Little Sun.
Valerie mimicked me, pulling a handful of grass to feed it.
The fawn only wanted the carrots in my hand and only allowed me to pet it.
After I finished feeding it, Little Sun nudged my pocket, clearly wanting more.
I smiled, gently pushing the fawn away. “None left for today.”
Valerie impatiently shoved the wild grass in her hand towards the fawn’s mouth.
I couldn’t be bothered to watch Valerie anymore and headed towards the small bamboo house behind the Deer Park Estate.
I needed to rest.
I hadn’t walked far when Valerie’s scream pierced the air!
Followed by the mournful cry of the fawn!
I spun around abruptly!
I saw Little Sun nipping at Valerie’s sleeve, a familiar way it interacted with humans.
But Valerie was clearly terrified. She kicked the fawn, again and again!
Ryder had rushed back from out of town where he was handling matters.
He gave me a cold glance, then went straight to Valerie’s room.
The door wasn’t closed.
Just a wall separating us, I heard everything from next door, clearly.
After they had enough time together, Ryder returned to my bedroom, standing before me.
“Valerie twisted her ankle, she needs to recuperate.”
I looked up, pointing meaningfully at Ryder.
“Didn’t you just help her ‘recuperate’?”
Ryder let out an exasperated chuckle.
“Stella, I’m not kidding. Which deer hurt Valerie this afternoon? Tell me. Valerie needs to recuperate.”
I froze for a few seconds before grasping the full meaning of Ryder’s words!
“Ryder, you’re inhuman! You said this was *my* Deer Park! Which one of these deer didn’t we watch grow up? How could you bring yourself to do it?”
Something flickered in Ryder’s eyes.
His throat worked, a hint of endurance and appeasement in his voice.
“Stella, it’s just a fawn. Valerie wants to try something fresh.”
“Try something fresh?”
I was shaking with rage.
“Ryder, are you even human?!”
As the words burst out, I slapped Ryder across the face!
The sound of the slap faded, and Ryder stared deeply at me.
I met his gaze, head held high, completely unafraid.
“If you touch my fawn, you will regret it.”
I ground out the words through clenched teeth.
Ryder closed his eyes, said nothing more, and walked to the desk, tearing off a page from the calendar.
“It’s already past midnight, Stella. Twenty-three days left until our wedding.”
He walked out of the bedroom.
I had a maid bring me a bottle of wine, drank most of it, and only managed to fall asleep as dawn was breaking.
I woke up when the sun was high in the sky.
A maid knocked on the door.
“Miss Stella, the Master is asking you to join him for a meal.”
I was indeed hungry.
I washed up, changed clothes, and went to the dining room.
Valerie was there too.
I wanted to leave, but then decided it wasn’t worth starving myself.
I sat down with a cold face and served myself a bowl of soup.
Ryder, in front of Valerie, served me some rice.
“You should eat some carbs, even if you’re watching your weight.”
I didn’t take it, but Ryder didn’t seem awkward. He simply picked up a few mouthfuls of greens for me.
“These are grown right here at the Deer Park Estate, better than what you get at the market,” Ryder said.
“I know you’re picky, but you should try these.”
Valerie ate slowly, delicately, as if she didn’t see her husband, married for less than a week, exchanging glances with his secret lover.
Finally, Ryder picked up my soup bowl and put a few pieces of meat into it.
He said softly,
“Eating meat doesn’t make you fat, don’t be so picky.”
It was as if Valerie wasn’t even there.
As if Sterling Deer Park Estate was still *our* Sterling Deer Park Estate.
He was a completely different person from the Ryder who had publicly slapped me just days ago.
I glanced at Valerie, thinking she indeed had some nerve to marry into the Sterling family, at least she could tolerate this.
As I thought this, my stomach rumbled a few more times. I picked up my forks, first ate some greens, then some rice.
Finally, under Ryder’s gentle gaze and Valerie’s knowing half-smile, I ate a piece of meat.
I was truly starving. The Deer Park chef’s cooking was excellent, perfectly suited to my taste.
I didn’t eat gracefully; traces of my past, fighting for food in the orphanage, were visible in my eating habits, unlike Valerie, who was every inch the refined socialite.
After finishing my meal, soup and meat all gone, I stood up to get a second helping.
Ryder immediately rose to serve me soup.
Valerie elegantly wiped her mouth, then slowly, deliberately, spoke.
“I heard this fawn was delivered by you personally, Stella, and you raised it yourself, even bottle-feeding it,” Valerie’s voice was soft and gentle.
“You were even feeding it carrots yesterday. No wonder the meat is so good, so tender.”
My lips and teeth went numb with shock!
I stared blankly at Valerie, as if I hadn’t understood what she was saying.
Valerie continued,
“It was called Little Sun, right? It was more delicious than any deer meat I’ve ever had before, without any of the usual gaminess. Thank you, Stella.”
Valerie added,
“Apparently, deer blood is nourishing, so you can’t kill a deer like a chicken by slitting its throat and letting it bleed out. So, they put Little Sun in a sack in middle school and drowned it alive.”
Valerie said,
“The chef wasn’t experienced, so it took him over ten minutes. He had to hold your fawn underwater in the stream multiple times before it finally died.”
Realizing what I had just eaten, my stomach churned violently with disgust!
I didn’t even have time to turn around. I doubled over in agony, vomiting everything I had just eaten, along with my stomach acid, in one go!
I vomited so violently.
Even after everything in my stomach was gone, the nauseating churning wouldn’t subside. What came up next was yellow-green bile.
Finally, in front of Ryder, I coughed up a mouthful of blood!
I wiped the blood away with the back of my hand, my eyes as fierce and hateful as a ghost’s, my blood-stained fingertip pointing at Ryder’s face.
“You knew, didn’t you? You deliberately encouraged me to eat the meat, didn’t you?”
“Ryder, you’re not human! You knew I treated Little Sun like my child; it *was* my child!”
My voice was raw with anguish.
“If you ever have your own child, would you kill it and eat its flesh?!”
The words were barely out when I vomited another mouthful of blood!
Ryder clearly hadn’t expected me to be so traumatized that I’d vomit blood!
The calm in his eyes finally shattered, giving way to a storm of horror!
Valerie, from behind, added a chilling blow.
“Ryder didn’t just know? If Ryder hadn’t helped, the chef wouldn’t have even caught that animal. It’s too smart. After I kicked it yesterday, it knew to avoid me today. It was Ryder who showed up and lured your Little Sun out…”
I felt pain all over my body.
It spread from my stomach.
My hateful gaze fixed on Ryder.
The next moment, I grabbed a plate and smashed it directly onto Valerie’s head!
Ryder would have been my next target.
But the Deer Park Estate maids reacted quickly.
After I had smashed a plate on Valerie’s head, drawing blood, they immediately rushed forward, shouting to protect “Madam,” and a group of them pinned me down.
I was dragged away.
The last thing I saw was Ryder holding Valerie in his arms, his eyes filled with a lingering fear for Valerie, turned cold and complex as they landed on me.
Ryder gritted his teeth, pointed at me, and ordered everyone.
“Lock this madwoman in the basement! No one is to let her out without my permission!”
As I was being thrown into the basement, I saw Ryder embracing Valerie, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
My lips were still stained with blood, and I let out a laugh, biting back my tears.
The love and affection between Young Master Sterling and Valerie that I’d seen in photos and heard about from others paled in comparison to witnessing it firsthand.
Through the crack in the door, I watched Ryder embrace Valerie and get into the car.
He protected her so carefully.
I thought I would truly be locked in the basement.
But not long after Ryder left with Valerie, an ambulance from the Sterling family’s top private hospital arrived and took me away.
Next came a full body check-up.
I was certain Ryder had instructed these people beforehand; not a single person spoke in front of me during the examination.
I asked a nurse to borrow her phone to contact Liam.
But the nurse just shook her head frantically, clutching the phone in her pocket, saying,
“Madam, please don’t make it hard for me,” as if I was asking for her life.
Hearing the word “Madam,” I remembered how Ryder used to arrange two medical check-ups for me every year.
And when filling out the registration forms, he always put “Ryder Sterling” in the spouse column.
Thinking of this, my eyes ached so much they could barely stay open.
What was once sweet, little tricks couples played to amuse each other, had all become knives flaying my heart.
I never got the check-up results.
After two full days of examinations, I was seamlessly transferred to a five-star hotel under the Sterling family.
An executive suite.
It was my favorite room, overlooking half of Veridian City’s magnificent cityscape.
But what I loved most was the floor-to-ceiling window.
Over the past seven years, Ryder and I had spent countless passionate nights there, night after night.
I looked at the glass, imagining my palm prints still lingered there, along with the marks we’d left behind.
Ryder’s butler, who had been with him since he was a toddler, was the one who personally brought me to the hotel.
As expected, the phone line had been cut.
But on the bedside table, I saw a calendar.
The one from Sterling Deer Park Estate.
Only twenty pages left.
The butler locked the door behind him and instructed,
“Miss Stella, Young Master said he will personally come to pick you up… to take you home when this calendar is finished.”
I numbly thanked him and lay on the bed.
I was so tired, I quickly fell into a deep sleep.
And had a long, drawn-out nightmare.
In the dream, I was back in the orphanage.
Back then, Valerie and I were the two prettiest girls in the orphanage.
The only difference was, my beauty was too bright and bold, while Valerie’s was subtle and gentle.
But even being pretty, girls still weren’t easily adopted, especially at our age, old enough to remember things.
Adopting families were always afraid that we wouldn’t bond with them.
I always thought Valerie was my good friend.
One time, the director casually mentioned that a wealthy businessman would be coming in a few days, looking to adopt a girl.
That night, Valerie tricked me into looking for something in the equipment room, and then locked me inside.
For three whole days.
If I hadn’t found a pair of old reading glasses in the equipment room and lit some old newspapers on fire, I would have died.
My fear of the dark also started then.
But Valerie cried and said she didn’t mean to.
The wealthy businessman who was supposedly coming to adopt a girl never showed up.
But after that, I gradually began to notice things.
I realized Valerie often instigated other children to ostracize me, only for her to then step in as my savior.
I realized Valerie loved making me look foolish, then adding fuel to the fire by spreading those embarrassing stories.
I understood then. Valerie hated me.
When I was eighteen, something happened overnight. I, Stella Reed, the adopted daughter of the Reed family, was branded a slut.
The rumors didn’t even have specific photos, it was all “according to informed sources.”
But it was enough to brand me “promiscuous.”
The Reed family already barely tolerated their adopted daughter, who brought them no honor or benefit, only criticizing my looks.
After that incident, my situation in the Reed family became even more precarious.
At the end of the nightmare, on a New Year’s Eve, after a small argument with one of my cousins, I was kicked out of the house.
And developed a high fever in the snow.
I woke up with a start!
My blank eyes stared ahead for a long, long time before I remembered where I was.
A crisp, pleasant electronic doorbell chime rang.
I looked at the executive suite’s door.
It had just been silently unlocked from the outside.
But no one entered.
I tiptoed out of the room.
The hotel corridor was empty.
But I faintly heard voices.
I instinctively followed the sound.
If I could just find someone, borrow a phone, and contact Liam, he would surely take me home.
Outside one of the suites, through a crack in the door, I heard the commotion inside.
“I hear tonight’s grand finale item is a room key card! How rare is that?”
“A room key card? What’s so exciting about that? But if it’s the finale, does that mean… there’s something interesting in the room?”
“You guessed it, supposedly there’s a beauty in there.”
“A woman? Guys like us, we’re not short on women. Even if it’s an executive suite, what’s so rare about giving us a woman?”
“Young Master Sterling just got married a few days ago, could it be Valerie—”
“Shh! You want to die? You dare to mention the Valerie family heiress’s name? You don’t know how much Young Master Sterling dotes on Valerie!”
“Since Valerie was eighteen, and Mr. Sterling arranged Ryder’s engagement to Valerie, Ryder’s annual birthday ritual has been cruises, parties, fireworks, sports cars. He sends her properties and estates without a second thought.”
“Just spending money isn’t that exciting, but the key is Ryder is willing to put effort into Valerie. Several islands in Southeast Asia are for Valerie’s vacations; the French wine chateau is also Valerie’s favorite; the lavender estate only supplies Valerie; Valerie’s skincare products, perfumes, all custom-made by Young Master Sterling himself…”
“Valerie wasn’t studying abroad? My niece was at the same school and said that during every exam week, Ryder would personally fly to Valerie’s school and tutor her hand-in-hand… Tsk tsk tsk, that’s how a man should love a woman: not just willing to spend money, but, more importantly, willing to spend his heart and time!”
I bit my lip, listening.
Before Valerie and Ryder got married, I had no idea they even knew each other!
Now it seemed, I was just Ryder’s way of passing the time, relieving boredom.
To put it bluntly, I was just a bed warmer!
I was about to leave and look for someone else to borrow a phone from when I heard more chatter.
“I found out what Young Master Sterling’s room key card means tonight!”
“It’s a woman!”
“But not just any woman!”
“It’s Stella Reed, the Reed family’s notoriously wild adopted daughter, who supposedly has a very unique ‘flavor’!”
“Apparently, Stella offended Valerie, and this is Young Master Sterling’s punishment for her!”
“What’s even more exciting is, tonight this room key card isn’t just being sold to one person; the top ten bidders will each get a turn to ‘enjoy’ Stella!”
“Young Master Sterling also said he just took Stella for a full body check-up yesterday, and the results are perfectly clean. If anyone’s worried, he can provide Stella’s health records for the past seven years.”
“Young Master Sterling said Stella was his personal property, and he wouldn’t have ‘auctioned’ her off if she hadn’t offended Valerie so badly. This ‘little firecracker’ needed a lesson he was apparently reluctant to give her personally.”
Boom!
These words exploded in my mind!
Ryder… how could he be so utterly heartless towards me?!
He was utterly inhuman!
My two-day check-up… no wonder I hadn’t received the report. It wasn’t for me at all!
I had actually thought he was worried about me vomiting blood, that there was still some ridiculous spark of our old love!
I couldn’t even imagine what I would face tonight.
I bit my lip, running like a headless chicken down the hotel corridor.
I had to escape!
Someone grabbed my neck from behind.
This person was tall, their arm powerful, and the scent… it was familiar.
It was Ryder’s usual cologne.
The man, choking my neck, roughly dragged me back towards the executive suite I had just fled.
I screamed.
“Ryder, you can’t do this to me! Let me go! I told you I can’t marry you, let me leave, let’s cut all ties, cleanly and completely!”
However, the man holding me showed no emotion.
He pushed me into the executive suite.
Before closing the door, he left me with a muffled blessing.
“Enjoy your night, Stella.”
That voice was Ryder’s.
Though muffled, as if he’d been drinking, I was certain.
The door clicked shut.
At the same time, the large screen in the room lit up.
I saw it was live-streaming tonight’s hotel auction.
And currently on screen was the bidding for the very last item!
I saw the room key card displayed on the auction block, and the men below were practically wild, raising their paddles one after another!
“Ten thousand!”
“I bid fifty thousand!”
“One hundred thousand!”
“One hundred fifty thousand! Can’t go any higher, right? I want to be the first to taste the Reed family’s adopted daughter!”
“One hundred fifty thousand? I bid three hundred thousand! I want to be the first!”
I bit my lip so hard it almost bled, watching those almost madmen, trembling uncontrollably!
I rushed to the phone line, desperately trying to repair it, to call for help.
But it was futile.
The large screen flickered a few times, pausing the live stream of the auction.
It was replaced by a security camera feed.
I saw Ryder.
He was enjoying a candlelit dinner with Valerie.
Valerie clumsily cut her steak, and Ryder smiled indulgently.
He reached out, holding Valerie’s hand, showing her how to apply pressure.
But Valerie still seemed unable to learn, so Ryder simply swapped his plate with hers.
Valerie clearly knew what was happening tonight, and even what I was going through.
Because she suddenly looked up, straight into the camera’s lens.
And gave me an undisguised, malicious smile.
She mouthed—`Enjoy your wild night, Stella.`
I frantically searched for something in the executive suite.
This room, which I knew so intimately, where Ryder and I had spent countless wonderful nights.
I remembered putting a hair removal razor in a certain drawer once, casually.
Since it was a personal item, and this room was considered Ryder’s and my private space, not open to others, the cleaning staff had never touched my things.
The live stream was off. I didn’t know how far the auction outside had progressed.
The hotel clock ticked, a death knell.
Finally, I found what I needed – the delicate hair removal razor.
Tears began to fall, sobs catching in my throat, my hands trembling as I clumsily dismantled the blade.
I was only twenty-five years old. I was still young.
Even though my lover betrayed me and my family had always disapproved of me, I always felt my future was long, and I deserved a very good life.
Now, it seemed my life would end tonight.
I would rather die than be humiliated.
The auction must have ended. Footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Then a card swipe.
The electronic doorbell chimed.
I still couldn’t bring myself to end my life.
Clutching the blade, I fled to the bathroom.
My heart was pounding so hard that all I could hear was my own ragged breathing.
I didn’t hear the man who entered call my name.
Finally, I made up my mind.
I slammed the bathroom door shut and locked it.
Then, I grabbed the blade, aimed it at the faint blue vein on my wrist, and, without hesitation, sliced down hard!
Liam was going crazy.
That day, when he received my cryptic phone call, he knew something was wrong.
A vague unease churned in his gut.
He asked for a selfie, which confirmed I was fine.
But half-way through a meeting, he suddenly realized the background in that selfie was wrong.
It was spring in the picture, but it was deep summer now.
Liam arranged his remaining tasks at lightning speed and drove back to Veridian City like a madman, all through the night.
He didn’t find me at his private villa.
Calls to my phone went unanswered.
But there was surveillance in front of the villa.
Following the footage, he tracked the trail to the Sterling family, and then he remembered the humiliation I had suffered in front of Ryder that day.
Liam spent a fortune to uncover every trace of Ryder and me across Veridian City.
The answer he finally found made his blood run cold, making him wish he could kill Ryder on the spot.
To get revenge for Valerie, Ryder had imprisoned his sister and was auctioning off that hotel room key at a high price.
He threw in a staggering ten million dollars to win that room key.
Becoming the first one to enter.
But he was still too late.
He saw bright red blood seeping from under the bathroom door.
He slammed on the door, screaming his sister’s name, but received no answer.
Liam called the hotel staff, only to be told that the room was Ryder’s private suite, and the hotel had no key.
Liam called Ryder.
Ryder, seeing the unfamiliar number, was discussing business with Valerie.
The steak plates in front of them were empty.
The tenderness in Ryder’s eyes had completely transformed into a businesslike coldness.
He spoke.
“Miss Valerie, I’ve fulfilled your desire for a romantic relationship experience. Shouldn’t you also fulfill your part of the agreement?”
Ryder pulled out the divorce papers.
“We agreed before that the marriage was just a formality to appease Old Man Sterling. Once we had the marriage certificate and announced it to all of Veridian City, giving your child a name, we would divorce.”
Just then, Ryder’s phone rang.
He glanced at the unfamiliar number and hung up immediately.
He refocused on his negotiation with Valerie.
“But Miss Valerie seems to keep breaking her promise.”
“Valerie, my patience has run out. What you did at Sterling Deer Park Estate crossed my line.”
“That day at the Deer Park, if Old Man Sterling’s bodyguards hadn’t been watching, I wouldn’t have let you walk out of there unharmed.”
“Out of respect for Old Man Sterling, I won’t pursue this matter, but you need to be sensible.”
“Sign the papers. It’s time for the divorce.”
Valerie looked at the empty plate in front of her, then at the divorce papers. Her eyes slowly reddened, and she began to sob softly.
She choked out,
“Ryder, seven whole years, even a stone would have warmed up. How can you be so heartless?”
It was a pitiful, heart-wrenching sight, enough to make any man hesitate.
But Ryder’s eyes held only cold indifference.
“From the age of eighteen, every ‘couple activity’ I did with you was under Old Man Sterling’s instruction,” Ryder said, taking a tasteless sip of water, his voice flat. “Every gift ostensibly from me was personally arranged by Old Man Sterling.”
Ryder looked at Valerie with a hint of pity in his cold gaze.
“Valerie, you were never truly marrying me from the start. I was just a tool, pushed out by Old Man Sterling to give your child a good name. We can play the part of a loving couple in public, but if you’ve genuinely fallen for me… Grandfather wouldn’t be pleased.”
His voice was utterly calm, announcing the true nature of Valerie’s relationship with the Sterling family all these years!
Valerie completely lost control!
She grabbed a fork, pointing it at Ryder.
“Ryder, if we divorce, you know what awaits me! Even if the past seven years were an act, do you really have no feelings for me at all?”
Ryder’s phone rang a second time. It was still the same unfamiliar number. He hung up without a thought.
“None.”
His voice was decisive, then he threatened,
“Valerie, I don’t have time for this. Sign the divorce papers quickly. Otherwise, I might overlook the rumors that reached Stella, but if you don’t sign… I will definitely make those who spoke carelessly in front of her pay the price!”
That last sentence was laced with killing intent, making Valerie shiver uncontrollably.
She grabbed the pen, about to sign the divorce papers.
But moments earlier, Ryder’s protective tone towards me clearly echoed in her mind!
Valerie’s suppressed emotions suddenly erupted!
“Ryder, you pity Stella, why can’t you think about me?!”
“We both came from the same orphanage, so why did Stella get to do whatever she wanted after being adopted by the Reed family? She didn’t want to get married, so she didn’t. Even with such a bad reputation, the Reed family just paid lip service, at most locking her out of the house for a few days to reflect!”
“And me?” Valerie shrieked, all traces of a Valerie family heiress gone. “From childhood, no matter my grades, competitions, or manners, if I wasn’t the best, I was met with beatings and scoldings at home! Ryder, you’ve seen the scars on my body from the Valerie family’s whips!”
“When I was sixteen, just because I won a silver medal in a dance competition, my father drove me back to the orphanage, ready to terminate my adoption! I begged him like a dog on the street, practically kowtowing, asking him not to abandon me!”
“The moment I turned eighteen, your grandfather said my birth chart was good, and he wanted me to marry into the Sterling family to ‘brighten his luck’! Your grandfather was already sixty then! My parents knew exactly what ‘brighten his luck’ meant, but for the sake of their partnership with the Sterling family, they personally tied me up and sent me to your grandfather’s… bed!”
“Ryder, no matter how bad Stella’s life was, no matter how much the Reed family disliked her, at least she had a cake and a birthday wish on her eighteenth birthday!”
“And me? I spent my eighteenth birthday in a dirty old man’s bed! For three whole days! Your grandfather didn’t let me off that bed!”
“Your grandfather was worried that if our affair got out, it would damage the Sterling family’s reputation, so he pushed you forward, saying you were my fiancé. Ryder, do you know how desperately I wished, these past seven years, that you truly were my fiancé?!”
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In a high-speed rear-end collision, my fiancée, whom I’d instinctively shielded, pushed open the car door.
She stumbled out, running hysterically towards the other vehicle.
“Liam! Why are you so foolish? Why did you have to chase after me? I won’t marry anyone else, okay? I’ll never leave you again!”
Amidst the wail of sirens, she cradled a blood-soaked Liam onto the ambulance, sobbing uncontrollably.
“There’s no one else in the car! Please, get Liam to the hospital! Really, no one else! I beg you, save Liam, I truly can’t live without him!”
My heart completely died.
Fortunately, in my dying moments, the police, who had stayed behind, found me. That’s how I miraculously clung to life.
But I lost a leg in the process, condemned to rely on a prosthetic for the rest of my days.
Later, she saw my prosthetic, collapsing in tears, begging for my forgiveness.
But I had already given up on her long ago.
“It’s been so long since the accident, why hasn’t his fiancée visited him yet?”
“Unlike the couple next door, the woman hasn’t left his side, staying up all night.”
“*That’s* a fairy-tale romance, next door! I heard the woman almost sacrificed herself for Liam!”
Outside my hospital room, the nurses’ chatter was relentless.
But my heart remained undisturbed, calm as a stagnant pool.
Yes, a fairy-tale romance, indeed.
Even I felt moved by it.
If only the woman wasn’t *my* fiancée, if only she hadn’t abandoned me, knowing I was also dying.
I probably would have been teary-eyed too.
But now, it was fine.
One car accident had shattered my illusions.
Someone who doesn’t love you won’t even spare you a glance, no matter if you give your life.
Chloe, I’m letting go.
I painfully reached for my phone, finding a message from Chloe.
【Asher, where are you? I know you’re fine after the accident, stop pretending! You didn’t even have blood on your head then! Contact the hospital immediately and arrange the best doctors and a private room! This accident with Liam is all your fault!】
I didn’t reply.
She grew impatient.
【Asher! Are you seriously playing games at a time like this? People’s lives are at stake! Are you trying to kill Liam?! If you don’t arrange everything for Liam right away, there’s no point in us getting married!】
I stared at the screen, lost in thought for a long moment.
The day Chloe accepted my proposal, we also had a car accident.
It wasn’t serious; no blood, but I had a minor fracture in my lower leg.
She was heartbroken, insisting I stay in the hospital until I fully recovered, no matter how much I tried to persuade her otherwise.
Every day, she’d rush around buying things for me, finding different ways to cook me nutritious meals.
“So what if there’s no blood? You still fractured a bone! Broken bones take ages to heal! You need to recover completely before you’re allowed to leave!”
Sometimes, I worried she was working too hard.
I tried hiring nurses, arranging for a butler, but she refused them all.
“I don’t trust anyone else. I’m only at peace if I do everything for you myself!”
Back then, I believed love could conquer all obstacles.
I gave her my whole heart, my entire love, without reservation.
It wasn’t until the crash, when she instinctively rushed towards her ex, Liam, that I finally understood.
Love truly can conquer all.
But between Chloe and me?
It wasn’t love at all. It was just my one-sided delusion.
And that, to me, was just too cruel.
Snapping back to reality, I wiped away the faint, dry tear tracks on my face.
Pale-faced, suppressing the last sliver of reluctance and pain in my heart.
I typed out a few blunt words.
*Fine, the wedding is off.*
2.
I didn’t check my phone again. Sitting on the hospital bed, I felt the emptiness where my left leg should be, and my heart felt just as hollow.
As dusk approached, I was listlessly spooning tasteless plain porridge.
The hospital room door burst open without warning.
Before I could even react, Chloe rushed in and slapped me across the face.
It stunned me completely.
“Asher! How pathetic are you?! I couldn’t find you anywhere, turns out you’re here, faking illness next door to Liam’s room? You intentionally didn’t help Liam, didn’t you? Is this really amusing? Do you honestly think I’m stupid? You’re perfectly fine!”
“Liam barely even hit you! You deliberately ‘protected’ me just to make me feel guilty, didn’t you? How can you be so manipulative? And now you’re talking about canceling the wedding? Ha, your schemes are truly pathetic!”
I stared blankly as she raged.
My heart plummeted to rock bottom.
I once thought her yelling was cute, because she was doing it to defend me.
But now, I was the one being screamed at.
An indescribable bitterness swelled inside me.
All that venom, it was finally aimed at *me*.
Exhausted from her tirade, she picked up the still-warm porridge and splashed it directly onto me.
“You, looking like this, truly disgust me!”
I opened my mouth, about to explain.
But Liam suddenly rolled into the doorway in a wheelchair.
His face was ghostly white and slick with cold sweat from the effort.
“I’m so sorry, Asher. I just love Chloe too much. I never meant to hurt you. I even braked hard during the crash. I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault.”
“Asher, you called the police, didn’t you? Yes, I deserve to go to jail for what I did to you. But I beg you, please be good to Chloe, okay?”
With that, he struggled to support himself and, with a thud, knelt before me.
His unhealed wounds began to seep blood, making the sight even more gruesome.
Chloe’s eyes instantly reddened. She rushed to embrace Liam.
Then she spun around, practically screaming at me.
“Asher! Are you only satisfied if Liam dies? How can you be so vicious? You have no heart! You weren’t even hurt, you didn’t lose anything! Why did you call the police?!”
“If you’re going to call the police, then arrest me too! If anything happens to Liam, I will never forgive you! And I definitely won’t marry you!”
I felt a sudden blur.
The pain in my left leg seemed to spread to my chest, making my face deathly pale.
The murmurs outside the door grew louder, most of them condemning me.
But I heard none of it. Through Chloe’s stubborn face, I saw the past.
Once, because of my family’s wealth, I was kidnapped.
It was Chloe who, despite the danger, came looking for me. When the standoff reached an impasse, she bravely offered to take my place as a hostage.
I refused, but she wept hysterically.
“Asher! I can’t live without you! I have to save you! Listen to me, if anything happens to you, I won’t live either!”
She ended up with a scar on her shoulder from that incident.
Whenever she thought back to it, she’d sigh.
“Asher, this is a testament and symbol of our love! I love you, so I’m willing to die with you.”
So sincere, so genuine.
But now, all that love was given to Liam.
How utterly laughable.
I hadn’t even called the police, hadn’t said a word, yet she immediately blamed me.
That wasn’t fair to me…
My consciousness returned. I trembled, speaking calmly.
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”
“I… won’t call the police.”
“But between us, it’s completely over.”
Chloe, I’m done with you.
3.
Once my condition stabilized, I returned home, no longer paying attention to Chloe and Liam.
I changed the lock on my front door, replaced everything she had arranged.
Everything related to her, I packed up and had someone send to her place.
For half a month, I didn’t contact her.
Until our five-year anniversary, when Chloe called me.
“It’s been so long, you should have realized your mistake by now. I’ll come back to you for our five-year anniversary, Asher. Don’t be too dramatic, men should be more magnanimous. I’ve been taking care of Liam these past few days to atone for *your* mistakes!”
I found it amusing, but there wasn’t a ripple in my heart.
I simply murmured, “Okay.”
She didn’t get angry at my coldness; instead, her voice became even softer.
“Asher, once Liam fully recovers, we’ll get married. I won’t lie to you, you can understand, right?”
“After all, we have five years of history together. Otherwise, why would I still remember our anniversary today? I know my tone was a bit harsh before, please don’t be mad at me, okay?”
Five years.
So she still remembered we had five years.
But why did our five years count for so little compared to Liam?
But…
What if?
What if Chloe was telling the truth?
What if she still loved me?
Thinking this, a sudden glimmer of hope flickered in my heart.
Yet, I waited in the restaurant until night fell, but there was no sound from outside.
My phone kept ringing. I picked it up, dazed.
No one spoke on the other end. Just as I was about to hang up, a string of intimate sounds drifted through.
They were the same sounds I’d heard on Chloe’s birthday when she claimed she was bathing a stray dog.
I had suspected, I had gotten angry.
But Chloe couldn’t stand my suspicion and blew up at me.
“Are you sick? I told you I was bathing a dog! Am I supposed to be bathing myself? Can you stop overthinking everything?!”
Worried she’d really be angry, I stopped pressing the issue.
But those familiar intimate sounds, today, clearly echoed through the phone.
Chloe’s delicate moans also streamed through, entering my ears.
“Liam, I love you so much, I really, truly love you. Marrying Asher was just out of pity for him, don’t be mad, okay? You’re the only one I truly love.”
My heart completely shattered.
The last shred of hope was crushed.
It was almost laughable.
Even at this point, I still thought she might change.
So ridiculous.
The person on the other end seemed to revel in it, the sounds growing louder and louder.
Until, finally, it was almost as if they were pressed against the phone.
“Chloe, I love you too…”
I stumbled home in a daze, tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.
But one thing was clear.
This was the last time I would ever go soft on her.
Just as the clock was about to strike midnight, Chloe called me.
Her breathing was a little unsteady; she tried to sound calm.
“Asher, I didn’t mean to be late today, but where are you? Why wouldn’t you wait for me? Are you still sulking? You’re being really childish!”
“Now, I want you here, immediately, within ten minutes. I’ll pretend nothing happened, and the wedding is back on.”
“Liam wasn’t feeling well, so I had to take him to the hospital. Can’t you be less petty? He’s only like this because of you!”
I said nothing, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Only when she grew impatient did I speak, my voice hoarse.
“Yeah, it’s my fault. I’m not coming.”
4.
I followed the doctor’s advice and got a prosthetic leg. Every day, besides physical therapy, I focused on getting used to it.
After that day, Chloe sent me many messages.
I didn’t reply to any of them.
When everything seemed to be going smoothly, I arrived home one day and saw Chloe squatting by the door again.
Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and she instinctively reached to link her arm through mine.
But I moved away.
“Asher! What are you doing? First, you changed the lock code without a word, and now you’re deliberately avoiding me and not replying to my messages? Haven’t you played enough games? I’ve already decided not to be angry! Why are you still acting like this?”
“Oh, I know. You’re still mad because I took care of Liam instead of you? But what’s the big deal? I was atoning for *your* mistake! How could one person take care of two people?”
Yes.
How could one person take care of two people?
Then how could one person love two people at the same time?
Even now.
You still think I’m playing hard to get.
My expression remained unchanged, my eyes devoid of emotion.
I was as indifferent to her as a stranger.
A flicker of panic crossed Chloe’s face, and her voice softened.
“Asher, please stop this. We agreed to go wedding dress shopping today, didn’t we? And I came back to be with you today, didn’t I? What exactly do you want? Do you need me to kneel and apologize?”
The more she spoke, the more self-righteous she became.
By the end, she looked me up and down, a hint of impatience in her eyes.
“Besides, nothing even happened to you! It was only right for me to take care of Liam, wasn’t it? His wounds still haven’t fully healed! Look at you, you’re perfectly fine…”
“Why are you being so demanding? I didn’t even do anything wrong! And you’ve been blowing me off lately, not replying to messages, not calling! What do you want? If you don’t want to get married, just say so!”
Before this incident, we had indeed set today for wedding dress shopping.
I had arranged for stylists, makeup artists, and a photography team.
Because I wanted the best for Chloe, every gown was custom-designed for her.
She had been so touched when she found out.
“One is enough, why so many? Asher, you’re so good to me, I don’t even know how to love you enough.”
It wasn’t until yesterday, when they contacted me to ask what time the shoot was, that I remembered. I simply canceled it.
After all, I couldn’t pretend everything was okay and go through with this wedding.
My thoughts returned to the present. Seeing my silence, Chloe’s anger flared.
“Asher! You’re just taking advantage of the fact that I love you! Do you think I can’t live without you?! I came to you myself, what more do you want?!”
“Liam is waiting for me at home! He can’t manage without me! I only took time out for *your* sake! If his wounds worsen because of this, you’ll be the murderer!”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
The broken bone in my left leg throbbed slightly with the movement, a dull ache.
But, I could bear it.
I stared at her for two seconds, my heart strangely calm.
“Chloe, didn’t we already cancel the wedding?”
“I had someone send all your things back to your place. We’re over.”
“I changed the lock code because I don’t want you anymore, and I don’t love you anymore.”
5.
Panic flickered in Chloe’s eyes.
Her lips moved, but no words came out.
It wasn’t until I turned away with a cold expression, heading home, that she snapped back. She violently grabbed my arm.
“Asher! How can that be?! How can you not love me? Stop joking! You’ve thrown enough tantrums, now calm down, this is really pathetic!”
“Alright, stop playing this ‘make me feel bad’ trick. It was my fault for not getting there on time, okay? You didn’t lose anything, so let’s call it even. Stop fighting, I’m really tired.”
Tired?
Probably tired from being with Liam, right?
Besides, I wasn’t joking.
From the moment she abandoned me time and again, I stopped loving her.
I ignored her, found security to escort her away, and went home alone.
Behind me, Chloe’s disbelieving curses still echoed.
But, none of it mattered.
It was late evening, and I had just managed two hours of sleep after my physical therapy.
Chloe called me again.
Her tone was hostile.
“Asher! You don’t want to be with me anymore, do you? Why did you dump all my things at my house?! You know they’ll get dirty! You can argue, but there’s a limit, okay?! Who has endless time to play these games with you?! You should learn to be as well-behaved as Liam right now!”
I was too tired to keep my eyes open.
Through the phone, not far from her, I heard a soft, gentle male voice.
“Chloe, don’t be angry… Why don’t you move in with me so I can take care of you?”
It was Liam.
But my heart remained untouched, even annoyed.
I spoke in a cold voice.
“My house isn’t a storage unit! Of course your things were sent back to *your* place! It’s not my problem if you weren’t home to receive them immediately! Chloe, we broke up, this isn’t an argument! A good ex should act like they’re dead!”
The other end fell silent for a long time.
Just as I was impatiently about to hang up, Chloe’s weary voice finally came through.
“Asher, I don’t want to argue, but don’t keep bringing up breaking up. We can argue, but don’t escalate it to breaking up, okay? You’re just jealous Liam can be by my side, aren’t you? Why don’t *you* stick to me every day? Don’t *you* have any issues?”
I was almost laughing from pure exasperation.
*I* was bringing up breaking up?
After Liam appeared, wasn’t *she* the one constantly threatening to break up?
I didn’t pick her up from work because I had a fever, and she threatened to break up.
I cooked something that wasn’t to her taste, and she threatened to break up.
Even when I wanted her to lessen her intimate contact with Liam, she would accuse me of not considering her feelings, of being selfish.
“Is all of this *my* fault?”
“Chloe!”
“Why don’t you look at yourself?”
“Aren’t *you* the one who’s been going too far?”
“Asher, can you stop talking in that tone? Chloe’s crying because of you! Aren’t you two a couple? Why don’t you know how to cherish her at all? What kind of man are you?!”
I scoffed.
Listening to Liam’s wailing on the other end, I found it utterly ridiculous.
A homewrecker, lecturing me on how to act?
“Chloe, can you not understand plain English?”
“What?”
She sounded confused.
“I’m telling you to get lost. And Liam, you get lost too! I hope you two scumbag and snake stay together forever!”
With that, I hung up and blocked and deleted all contact information related to both of them.
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The king-sized bed in the hotel room.
I was still basking in the afterglow of Ryder’s touch when his voice, husky with post-intimacy breathlessness, whispered a promise in my ear.
“Stella, just give me one more month. Next month, I’ll propose.”
“Stella, I, Ryder Sterling, swear I’ll give you the most magnificent wedding, make you the most envied bride in the world.”
This was the seventh year of our secret relationship.
No one in all of Veridian City would ever believe that the notoriously aloof heir of the Sterling family and the infamous adopted daughter of the Reed family had been secretly dating for seven years.
I had waited for that promise from the age of eighteen until twenty-five.
My heart suddenly hammered.
Before I could answer, my phone chimed with a special notification.
Ryder reached for my phone, his voice still thick with desire.
“Which wild man is that? Baby, are you really keeping some D-list actor on the side, just like the tabloids say?”
I chuckled, pushing his hand away.
“Just my best friend.”
I tapped on the SnapChat picture Valerie had sent. It was a marriage certificate.
The marriage certificate was dated today.
And the groom? None other than Ryder Sterling, the man I’d been secretly dating for seven years, the man who’d just spent our passionate thirteen rounds with me tonight, and who’d promised to marry me in a month.
I replied “Congrats” to my best friend, Valerie, then turned back to kiss Ryder.
Ryder was an incredible kisser.
His soft, lingering kisses left me breathless, tears welling in my eyes from the pleasant suffocation.
Ryder was still pressing, “Just one more month for me, the very last one, okay?”
“Okay,” I said.
“I’ll wait one more month for you.”
I bit down on Ryder’s lip, hard, not releasing until I tasted blood.
“Ryder, after seven years, this is the very last month I’ll wait for you.”
I casually dodged the lurking paparazzi outside the hotel and slipped into the car sent by the Reed family to pick me up.
My brother, Liam Reed, was driving.
His eyes were shadowed, dark, as he watched me stumble out of the side entrance, barely able to walk straight.
“Which struggling actor was it tonight? Stella, aren’t you satisfied with your already ruined reputation? Are you determined to drag the Reed family name through the mud completely?”
“Look at Valerie! She’s brilliant, plays the piano beautifully, and has an impeccable reputation. When she was eighteen, Mr. Sterling himself had personally visited the Valerie family to arrange a marriage proposal for Valerie – to become the Sterling family’s daughter-in-law, to marry the Sterling heir!”
“I heard the Sterling heir waited for Valerie for seven years, visiting her abroad every year. He kept it up until Valerie finally got her PhD overseas this year.”
“The tabloids caught photos of Ryder proposing to Valerie today, and them leaving City Hall together. They must have gotten married.”
“Ryder must have been impatient, couldn’t even wait for a wedding, just went straight to getting the marriage certificate to make their marriage official…”
“Stella, you and Valerie came from the same orphanage, but look at her…”
The words barely left his lips when Liam slammed on the brakes!
The black Lincoln screeched to a halt. Liam slapped himself across the face.
He didn’t dare look at his sister in the passenger seat, his voice low.
“Stella, I said the wrong thing. I’m sorry.”
I sat rigidly, my face pale, my eyes hollow.
Liam reached for my hand. My fingertips were icy cold.
“Hit me, Stella. I messed up… I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
After a long moment, I finally whispered, “The photos.”
Liam blinked. “What photos?”
“The ones the tabloids took,” I said, my gaze blank, fixed on the darkness ahead.
“She was, after all, my friend from the orphanage and my supposed best friend. I want to see if Valerie and that legendary Sterling heir really make a good match.”
Liam tossed his phone onto my lap.
“See for yourself.”
I unlocked it with my fingerprint and scrolled through the pictures.
Ryder on one knee in a lavender field, kissing Valerie’s finger, adorned with a wedding ring.
Ryder, grinning widely, with his arm around Valerie’s shoulder, standing in front of a wedding dress shop window.
Ryder sweeping Valerie into his arms, walking out of a castle…
Every single picture was taken abroad.
I remembered the past seven years of our secret relationship, every time Ryder mentioned “going abroad for business.”
Twelve trips a year, half a month each time.
Turns out, his “business trips” were all spent romancing Valerie!
I lifted my hand, clutching my chest.
An indescribable ache spread from my heart, agonizing through my entire body.
The pain made me double over.
Liam was startled by my reaction. He snatched the phone from my hand.
“Stella, I’ll never mention Valerie’s name in front of you again! Don’t scare me!”
He was one of the few people in the world who knew that Valerie, my so-called best friend, and I were deeply at odds.
Liam didn’t know the details, but he knew how much his sister loathed Valerie’s name.
I forced a smile.
“Didn’t you tell me to learn from Valerie? I will. Help me arrange it, Liam. Send me abroad to study.”
Liam looked at me, incredulous.
“Are you serious?”
He couldn’t believe his non-biological sister could be so clear-headed.
I smiled.
“If I’m not married off by next month, then yes, I’m serious.”
Liam took me back to his private estate.
“Mom and Dad aren’t happy about the news of Valerie and Ryder getting married today,” Liam said, peeling me some fruit.
“You should stay here for a while.”
I looked at the sliced fruit platter, skewered with toothpicks, and let out a cold laugh.
“Are they still regretting not picking Valerie when they had to choose between us for adoption? Didn’t they practically fall over themselves to be Valerie’s godparents years ago? They might as well change their last name from Reed to Valerie!”
Liam, seeing me looking like I was about to lose it, said nothing and retreated to his study.
He knew me well. Engaging with me now would just make him my personal punching bag.
I checked the time. It was one in the morning.
I called Ryder.
It rang three times before someone finally picked up.
Ryder’s voice was cold, a stark contrast to the intimacy we’d shared hours earlier in the hotel.
“Didn’t I tell you not to call me when I’m home? My family… wouldn’t want to see me associated with a woman like you.”
“A woman like me?”
My voice rose sharply.
“We’ve been secretly together for seven years, Ryder! Do you really believe those tabloid rumors? Believe I’m a promiscuous woman?”
Ryder’s reply was icy.
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”
Perhaps realizing he’d gone too far, he quickly added,
“Don’t cause trouble, Stella. You’ve always been so understanding these past seven years.”
I looked at my empty ring finger, picturing Valerie’s wedding ring.
“Ryder,” I whispered. “Did you really mean it? That you’d marry me in a month?”
His tone softened slightly.
“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”
“Okay.”
I put down my phone, my gaze drawn to the calendar.
Just thirty days to wait.
Thirty days later, either Ryder would keep his promise, or I would vanish from his world forever.
A moment later, rustling sounds came from the receiver.
I realized I hadn’t hung up.
Ryder must have forgotten too.
I heard his voice, chatting with his best friend.
“Ryder, you chased Valerie for seven years, and you finally made it official. Old Man Sterling must be thrilled to see your marriage certificate, right?”
Ryder’s voice was reserved, yet tinged with a faint pride.
“Grandfather has already signed over his shares to me; the paperwork is being processed. Oh, and Valerie’s pregnant. What do you think would be a good gift for her? Do you think she’d like the estate on the west side of town?”
Ryder’s friend lowered his voice.
“Ryder, that Stella girl you’ve been stringing along… when are you going to get rid of her for good?”
Ryder was silent for a moment.
Amidst my violently beating heart, I heard Ryder’s indifferent voice.
“Stella? Oh, next month.”
His friend pressed him.
“You’ve been playing her for seven years straight? Young Master Sterling, can you really bear to let her go?”
Ryder’s voice was tinged with annoyance.
“She’s just an adopted daughter of the Reed family, not particularly favored. What’s there to miss? Valerie and she came from the same orphanage, both adopted, but why is Valerie so much more accomplished, so perfect in every way?”
Ryder’s friend lowered his voice.
“Young Master Sterling, everyone in the circle knows Stella had your ‘tag’ on her for the past seven years. You even had someone smear Stella’s name, ensuring she wouldn’t have any other men around. Now you’re bored with her, how about… you let us have a taste? See how ‘open’ the Reed family’s adopted daughter really is? She’s only ever been with you, so she must be pure.”
Ryder’s chuckling, cursing voice drifted over.
“Fine, she’s been with me for so many years, I won’t let you guys lose out. I’ll find a chance to let you all taste what a ‘little firecracker’ is like…”
The voices faded.
It was then I realized that, at some point, tears were streaming down my face.
I wiped away my tears expressionlessly, then wiped away the blood from my lip where I’d bitten myself.
Looking at my pale reflection in the mirror, I cursed myself for being so weak.
My heart was utterly cold.
The question that had plagued me for seven years finally had an answer today.
How did I, a woman always so proper, suddenly become entangled in countless salacious rumors seven years ago, all fabricated so convincingly, making me an object of scorn in Veridian City?
Making my already precarious position in the Reed family even worse.
It was Ryder, pulling the strings all along.
At that moment, another invitation popped up on my phone.
It was for an afternoon tea.
The host was Valerie.
The time was the following afternoon.
I never received invitations to these kinds of afternoon tea parties for socialites and rich wives in the circle.
My reputation was terrible, I wasn’t favored by my family, and in our social circles, I was implicitly considered to have no social value.
The next day, I went to Valerie’s afternoon tea party.
By the time I arrived, quite a few people were already there. Valerie, surrounded by admiring glances, was clearly the center of attention.
I found a corner and helped myself to food and drinks.
The sound of Ryder’s voice made me crush the delicate mini-cake in my hand.
A chorus of envious voices rose around us.
“Valerie, Young Master Sterling is such a busy man. He often misses board meetings, but he’s actually spending an entire afternoon having tea with us, just for you?”
“Valerie, when you first said you could get Young Master Sterling to come, we thought you were joking.”
“Valerie, you and Young Master Sterling have already gotten your marriage certificate. When’s the wedding?”
“Young Master Sterling, I hear you’ve been looking into wedding venues. Any chance of working together?”
I sat outside the group, my gaze distant, meeting Ryder’s eyes.
Ryder’s lips were still at Valerie’s ear, clearly whispering sweet nothings between husband and wife.
Valerie followed Ryder’s gaze and noticed me too.
A flicker of malicious triumph crossed her eyes.
Valerie walked towards me, outside the crowd, and intimately linked her arm through mine.
I dug my nails into my palm, repeating one phrase to myself—
Just one more month.
Just one more month of Ryder’s promise.
Perhaps… this man who had never broken his word to me, my lover of seven years, would actually keep his promise.
Perhaps he would marry me and take me home.
Just as I was about to reach my limit, Valerie whispered in my ear.
“Stella, do you know how Ryder described you to me?”
“Ryder said you were just a slut. Someone he didn’t even have to spend money on, someone who’d spread her legs for just a few sweet words.”
“Did he promise to marry you in a month?”
“Our wedding is in a month, Stella. Ryder said he’s going to make you look absolutely pathetic that day, to let all of Veridian City see that Stella Reed, the adopted daughter of the Reed family, is a public plaything!”
“Last night, Ryder told me to send you the marriage certificate.”
“He said he was in bed with you at the time, and he just wanted to know if, after seeing him marry me, you’d still willingly let him…”
Valerie didn’t finish the last word, ‘screwed.’
The crisp sound of a slap echoed through the room, and a deafening silence fell over the entire room!
I had just slapped Valerie hard, knocking her to the ground, in front of everyone!
For the first time, Ryder lost his composure publicly.
He quickly rushed forward to help Valerie up. Then he turned, raising his hand high, ready to strike me.
I stared him down, offering him half my face.
Ryder clenched his fist, then let it drop.
“What the hell is wrong with you?!”
He grabbed my collar, lowering his voice.
“This is not where you belong! Now, apologize to Valerie! Tell her you were jealous and lost control! Then go home!”
I laughed.
My smile was seductively charming.
“Jealous of her? Of what?”
I kept my voice low, only audible to the two of us. My words tumbled out at a breathtaking pace.
“Jealous that you were dating me while secretly chasing her for seven years? Jealous that we both came from the orphanage, but you ruined my reputation until I was universally despised, while she was praised as a pristine, untouchable flower? Jealous that you promised to marry me in a month, yet got married to her on the very same day?”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice on that last sentence!
The slap Ryder had held back moments before now landed heavily in front of everyone.
It utterly silenced my last words.
The moment the slap landed, Ryder regretted it.
He had only wanted me to shut up.
But the blow made his palm tingle.
He saw me standing rigidly, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.
Ryder’s voice held an almost imperceptible plea.
“Stella, I’m begging you, don’t make a scene in public! I promised to marry you in a month, and I will! Please, believe me, okay?”
I closed my eyes.
Only twenty-nine days left.
Believe him or not, the pain Ryder could inflict on me only had twenty-nine days left.
“I believe you. Twenty-nine days from now, I’ll be waiting for you to propose at the Reed family home.”
Uttering those words with every ounce of strength I had, I turned to leave.
But Ryder gripped my arm tightly.
“Stella, you haven’t apologized to Valerie. You can’t leave… Today is her day, you need to show her that respect.”
My eyes were cold.
“Apologize to Valerie? Never.”
Ryder stared at my stubborn refusal, then suddenly raised his voice.
“Guards!”
Ryder had his people tie me up.
Right there, in front of all the guests.
“She offended you, Valerie. You can do whatever you want to her,” Ryder told Valerie.
“Do as you please, don’t hold back. I’ll handle the Reed family.”
Valerie looked into Ryder’s eyes, which seemed to hold a smile, yet conveyed no emotion at all.
She pressed him.
“Any way I want?”
Ryder nodded, agreeing.
Valerie broke into a radiant smile, turning to me.
“Stella, I’m entering an international photography competition soon, and I think you’d make a perfect model for me. How about you cooperate and let me take a set of photos of you today?”
A bad feeling bloomed in my gut.
Valerie continued,
“But for this photo series… I need a boudoir model. Stella, if you change your mind, just apologize to me, say you shouldn’t have slapped me, and I’ll ask Ryder to let you go.”
She sounded incredibly generous.
I hated Valerie’s pretense most of all.
She was like this even in the orphanage.
Under five years old, Valerie with her sweet, innocent face would lie shamelessly to everyone, claiming she’d seen me steal cookies from the dining hall.
Later, we were both adopted, she by the Valerie family and I by the Reed family.
Valerie would smile innocently, telling everyone stories about me kissing boys for an egg in the orphanage.
I couldn’t even count how many times Valerie had done things like that.
At first, I tried to explain, but everyone seemed to believe Valerie, the girl with good grades and a sweet face.
As if I, with my overly bright, aggressive looks, was born a villain.
I lifted my chin, staring at everyone.
“Apologize? Valerie, I only regret that slap didn’t kill you. You want to strip me naked? Why don’t you check your new husband’s phone gallery? There are plenty of my…”
Before I could finish, Ryder kicked me!
A searing pain stole my breath, and I choked back the rest of the sentence: “my boudoir photos.”
Ryder didn’t wait for Valerie to speak. He just waved his hand.
“Valerie needs a model, doesn’t she? Strip Stella and keep her that way until Valerie’s finished shooting!”
His voice was cruel.
“After all, Miss Stella Reed’s reputation… from eighteen to twenty-five, has never been good in Veridian City.”
“Taking her clothes off in public today will just let everyone see how much ‘capital’ Miss Stella has for her wild ways!”
My mouth filled with the taste of blood.
I didn’t know if it was from Ryder’s slap or his kick.
I swallowed the bloody saliva, my eyes colder and more hateful than Ryder’s.
“Young Master Sterling, you go ahead and strip me! Let everyone see the woman you’ve slept with for seven years…”
The words were cut short again by Ryder’s fierce palm, turning my head violently, the rest of the sentence trapped in my throat.
My ears rang with the impact of the blow.
I let out a bitter laugh.
Just yesterday, I had still harbored fantasies.
Fantasies that Ryder and Valerie were just a family arrangement, that I was Ryder’s true love, that Ryder would divorce Valerie and fulfill his promise to marry me in a month!
But today’s events clearly showed me the truth: I was nothing but Ryder’s plaything!
He had played me for seven whole years.
And now that he was done, on the eve of discarding me, he wanted to deliver a final, fatal blow!
A gasp rippled through the room as a massive shadow loomed over me.
I looked up. A bookshelf against the wall had lost its balance and was toppling towards me.
If it hit me full force, I’d either die or be crippled for life!
Ryder instinctively reached out to me, lying helpless on the floor.
If he just grabbed me, he could pull me out of the shadow of death.
But the instant his fingers brushed my collar, he abruptly changed direction, decisively sweeping Valerie, who was still some distance from the bookshelf, into his arms!
The last sliver of hope in my eyes completely vanished.
I closed my eyes, waiting for death.
The expected pain never came.
Someone blocked me.
My trembling eyelashes fluttered open.
The moment I saw that face, the tears I’d held back all afternoon finally streamed down.
“Liam…”
My voice was trembling.
I wasn’t sure if it was from indignity or the terror of a near-death experience.
My gaze drifted over Liam’s shoulder, towards the man and woman nearby.
Valerie looked shaken, Ryder kneeling before her, gently stroking her abdomen, softly reassuring her.
Liam asked nothing. He simply pulled out a handkerchief, wiped my face clean, and led me away.
As we brushed past Ryder, he rose, gently gripping my wrist, attempting to pull me away from Liam.
“Stella, I didn’t save you just now because Valerie is pregnant… You understand, don’t you?”
I offered a numb smile.
Ryder bent lower, his voice even more humble.
“I just need one month, Stella. I know you might have heard rumors lately, but trust me, none of it’s true.”
“I’m already arranging our wedding. Only twenty-nine days left. I’ll fulfill everything I promised you! Just be good during this time, don’t listen to or believe anything anyone says outside, okay?”
I nodded, exhausted.
No matter how much it hurt, how heartbroken I was, it would only last a few more days.
I would wait and see how Ryder intended to wrap up their seven years of illicit affair.
Liam took me home.
Once my emotions had settled, Liam spoke.
“Want to talk about anything, Stella? Like… you and Ryder?”
I shook my head, silent.
Liam stroked my hair.
“If you don’t want to talk, don’t. I’ve already started arranging your study abroad, just like you said yesterday. But… when I send you off, do you want me to erase all your identity information? The Sterling family might control Veridian City, but hiding a person is a small task I can manage.”
I nodded.
“I’ll be gone for a week on a business trip,” Liam said, pulling his suitcase. “You need to be good this week, stay home, don’t go anywhere.”
“The Sterling family isn’t something you can handle. Valerie’s cunning is beyond you, and the old folks in the Reed family have always despised you.”
Liam warned,
“Whatever injustice you face, hold it in until I get home.”
I was obedient.
Before, I’d been bold and reckless in Veridian City, knowing Ryder would back me up.
Back then, Ryder was my secret lover.
Not anymore.
After Liam left, I stayed obediently indoors.
Until Ryder’s call came.
“Stella, you should be calm now. Can we meet? I want to explain everything that’s happened to you face-to-face.”
Ryder’s voice on the phone was tender and loving.
My hand pressed against my chest, feeling my heart pound uncontrollably for a moment.
“Okay.”
Ryder’s voice was delighted.
“I’ll pick you up!”
“Okay.”
Ryder arrived quickly.
As if nothing had happened, he took my hand and helped me into the car.
He leaned over meticulously to fasten my seatbelt, then straightened up and dropped a kiss on my temple.
I felt drowsy the moment I got into the car.
After a few sips of the drink Ryder offered me, I quickly drifted into a hazy sleep.
When I opened my eyes, I saw only darkness.
Suffering from nyctophobia, I screamed hysterically!
“Ryder, what are you doing?! Let me out! Turn on the lights!”
I was tied up, thrown on the floor.
Immobilized.
I stared at the profound darkness around me, terrified to the point of nausea.
“Ryder, turn on the lights! I’m begging you, turn on the lights!”
Ryder’s voice came from nearby.
Cold, inhuman.
“Stella, I know you’re afraid of the dark. This is the ‘gentlest’ punishment I could think of for your disobedience.”
“Why did you hide Valerie?”
“Didn’t I say I would definitely marry you next month? Why can’t you just listen, why do you have to take matters into your own hands?”
“Valerie is carrying our Sterling child. This isn’t a joke, don’t make trouble.”
“Tell me where Valerie is, otherwise, Stella, you’ll regret it.”
My face was streaked with tears.
I looked into the boundless darkness.
“Ryder, I already regret it.”
“Please, just let me go, okay? I don’t want you to marry me anymore, I don’t want to wait. The past seven years, that’s on me. Just let me leave. From now on, we’ll be strangers!”
Hearing those three words, “we’ll be strangers,” Ryder’s heart suddenly lurched!
For seven whole years, he hadn’t imagined I would ever suggest leaving him!
He listened to my sobs in the darkness, and a montage of their years together flashed through his mind like a film.
The image finally settled on the wedding dress he’d personally designed for me, set to be completed next month.
Ryder clenched his fists tightly, the pain in his palms making him speak.
“Stella Reed, I will marry you. But before that, I need to know where Valerie is! She’s carrying our Sterling family’s child!”
I couldn’t hear a word Ryder was saying.
I screamed, struggling and squirming on the floor, desperately curling myself into a tiny ball, my face drenched in tears.
Over and over, I repeated the same garbled words.
“Please, Ryder, let me go.”
“I won’t marry you.”
Ryder roared, unable to hold back.
“Stella, I just need to know where Valerie is! I promised I’d marry you, and I will! I know there are misunderstandings between us now, but on our wedding day, I’ll explain everything to you, piece by piece!”
Ryder’s voice ended in an uncontrolled sob, a desperate plea.
“Stella, I’ve never begged anyone for anything in my life… This time, I’m begging you! I just need Valerie’s address!”
I hit my forehead on the floor, crying out.
“I don’t know where Valerie is… I didn’t… Ryder, turn on the lights, please…”
Ryder stood just outside the door.
His hand was on the switch.
Just a light flick would end my torment.
Ryder could feel his palm raw from clenching, warm, sticky blood spreading between his fingers.
He knew why I was afraid of the dark.
When we were kids in the orphanage, to compete for adoption spots, Valerie had locked me in the equipment room for three whole days.
I was only four years old then.
On the third day, I set a small fire in the equipment room to alert the adults, saving myself from dying of thirst and hunger.
“The surveillance footage is clear, Valerie got into your Reed family car, then she disappeared,” Ryder said.
“I know it was wrong of me to hide things about Valerie from you, but I had my reasons, Stella. For the past seven years, you’ve always been so understanding. Just hold on for one more month, please.”
Through my choked sobs, Ryder forced himself to harden his heart.
“I know Valerie has done a lot of things to hurt you in the past, and it’s understandable that you’d want to get revenge when you found an opportunity. But she’s pregnant with a Sterling child. Tell me Valerie’s whereabouts, and there’s still room for negotiation in this matter.”
“Stella Reed, if this blows up to Mr. Sterling, your whole Reed family will be implicated.”
“I know you don’t care about your parents, but what about Liam? Are you willing to see your brother’s future ruined because of your foolish act of jealousy?”
My crying stopped for a moment.
“Liam.”
This seven-year-long, absurd love of mine had not only ruined me but would also drag down the only brother who ever treated me well.
“I really don’t know where Valerie is!”
I suddenly went wild, banging my head against the floor.
“From childhood, hasn’t she framed me enough times? Why won’t any of you believe me, just this once?”
“Ryder, if you don’t believe me, then fine. Getting involved with Young Master Sterling was my mistake, and I’ll pay for it with my life, alright?!”
The impact of my head hitting the ground was truly forceful!
A dull thud, like a shot fired straight into Ryder’s heart.
Ryder flicked on the lights with a ‘snap’!
It was too late.
I lay silently on the ground.
Blood slowly spread from my temple.
Ryder rushed into the hospital, cradling me.
Half of him was covered in my blood.
As he stepped through the hospital doors, I regained consciousness.
My eyes immediately locked onto Ryder’s face. Before he could even utter a word of concern, my hand, weak but determined, slapped him across the face.
“Hypocrite… Get lost!”
I struggled to escape Ryder’s embrace.
Ryder said nothing, only holding me tighter.
His rush towards the emergency room suddenly halted.
I heard Ryder’s already frantic heartbeat quicken even more, so fast I feared it would burst from his chest.
Following Ryder’s gaze, I saw Valerie.
She was standing there perfectly fine, surrounded not only by Sterling family maids and the butler but also by Mr. and Mrs. Reed, my adoptive parents.
There was also an old man I recognized but couldn’t place for a moment.
The old man was about sixty or seventy.
Ryder’s grip suddenly loosened.
In front of everyone, I, whom he had just moments ago held so desperately, was now carelessly dropped onto the ground like trash.
He didn’t even spare me a glance.
The bruises from Ryder’s kick to my back hadn’t faded, and now with this fall, I almost passed out from the pain.
But Ryder merely bypassed me, as if I were a pile of rubbish.
Mr. and Mrs. Reed didn’t even look at their adopted daughter.
Their eyes were solely on their beloved god-daughter, Valerie.
Valerie smiled sweetly, stepping forward to link her arm with Ryder’s.
“Ryder, what’s this all about? Stella is my model for my photo shoot. You’ve gotten her into such a state, where am I going to find another Stella?”
“I couldn’t reach you. Surveillance showed you got into the Reed family car, and I thought Stella had taken you,” Ryder said, wrapping his arm around Valerie’s waist, kissing her earlobe right in front of me.
“So I was just forcing her to tell me your whereabouts?”
Ryder looked at me with disgust.
“She wasn’t being cooperative, so I was a bit rough. But it’s fine, it won’t affect your photo shoot.”
Valerie gave me, struggling to pick myself up from the floor, a knowing, half-smile.
“Ryder, the family cars were all sent for maintenance, so I called Mom and Dad to help drive me to the hospital,” Valerie said, her smile clean and gentle.
“You worried yourself so much? Look at what you’ve put Stella through. It wasn’t necessary.”
Valerie affectionately took my arm, as I was about to go to the treatment room alone, then turned to the others.
“Grandfather, Mom and Dad, Ryder, I’ll go with Stella to get her wounds treated. Stella’s always been sensitive since she was little, she’ll cry and fuss over the smallest injury.”
I forced a numb smile.
Valerie was doing her usual thing, putting me down to highlight her own virtuous character.
I was used to it.
In the treatment room.
A nurse was bandaging the cut on my forehead.
Valerie tilted her head, admiring my pallid face.
“Ryder put you through quite a lot just now, didn’t he? Actually, the family cars weren’t sent for maintenance at all. I deliberately called your parents to pick me up because I wanted you to see how cruel Ryder could be to a ‘used and discarded’ woman like you.”
My brow furrowed.
It hurt.
The nurse’s touch hurt, and Valerie’s words, “used and discarded,” hurt even more.
But I only furrowed my brow.
“Be smart and leave on your own.” Valerie played with her beautiful, silky long curls, looking like a princess from a painting. “If you don’t have money, I’ll buy you a plane ticket, wherever you want to go. Just don’t be so shameless as to stay by Ryder’s side, he’s a married man.”
After my wounds were dressed, I went to the restroom.
I just wanted a place to cry silently for a while.
From the next stall, I heard the sounds of a man and woman kissing.
After the wet, sticky sounds subsided, Ryder’s voice, husky with passion, spoke.
“How was the prenatal check-up? Is our baby doing okay?”
Valerie’s voice was sweet and cloying.
“The doctor said very healthy. Said it must be because Daddy’s sperm quality is excellent.”
Ryder let out a muffled chuckle.
“Baby, I’m not just excellent in sperm quality, am I? What about everywhere else?”
“Since the baby came, how am I supposed to know if you’ve gotten worse in other places?” Valerie giggled.
“Maybe little Ryder is all pent up?”
A zipper sound.
Followed by Ryder’s even deeper, hoarser voice.
“Whether little Ryder is pent up or not, little Valerie, why don’t you try it out for yourself…”
I clapped a hand over my mouth and gagged.
It was sickening.
I couldn’t stand another second in there.
I bolted out of the restroom like my life depended on it, left the hospital, and took a taxi back to Liam’s private estate.
I called Liam.
I wouldn’t wait for Ryder’s promise anymore.
Even if Ryder had lost his mind and actually kept his word, I wouldn’t let him marry me.
He was too dirty.
Liam’s phone rang three times before he picked up.
“What is it, Stella?”
Hearing Liam’s voice, my tears immediately started to fall.
I opened my mouth, a sob catching in my throat.
The moment the words escaped, I heard a hurried voice from Liam’s end.
It was a cool, clear female voice.
“Mr. Reed, the meeting was scheduled five minutes ago. Do you need to cancel?”
Liam quickly pressed me.
“Stella, what’s wrong? Speak to me.”
I silently hung up the phone.
I sent Liam a message.
`[Nothing, accidentally pressed my phone while sleeping.]`
Liam: `[Send me a selfie, let me see.]`
I looked at my red, swollen eyes in the mirror, then found an old picture in my album and sent it.
Liam didn’t reply again.
He must have bought it.
I quickly packed my bags, booked the fastest international flight, and called a private car to the airport.
The driver arrived quickly.
I was alone, dragging two suitcases, a travel bag, and a large backpack.
The driver made no move to help me with my luggage.
I huffed and puffed, loading my own bags into the car, then got in.
The car door locked.
Ryder’s voice came from the driver’s seat.
Gentle, yet laced with bone-chilling coldness.
“Stella, you were so obedient by my side for seven years. Why are you suddenly disobedient now?”
“So much luggage, and heading to the international airport. Where exactly are you planning to escape to?”
“You promised to wait for me for a month. Did you go back on your word?”
“That vow of ‘forever and always’ seven years ago, did you feed it to the dogs?”
Ryder locked me up.
In the Sterling Deer Park Estate, just outside Veridian City.
Before Ryder left, he placed a calendar in my bedroom.
He said, “Start tearing off the pages from today. When twenty-four pages are gone, it’ll be our wedding day.”
Ryder took my phone and instructed the butler and maids that I couldn’t leave the Deer Park Estate or contact anyone.
Other than that, I was free.
I stood on the mountain top of Sterling Deer Park Estate, overlooking the entire manor.
Ryder had built this especially for me.
In my junior year of college, I’d suddenly become obsessed with deer.
I loved their graceful legs, their clean eyes, the soft touch of their fur when they gently nudged their heads against me.
I frequently dragged Ryder to the zoo to feed the fawns.
Until one time, Ryder’s uncle caught us.
Ryder shielded me the whole time, not letting his uncle see my face.
He handled the situation flawlessly, seeing his uncle off.
After that, Ryder didn’t come to school for about a week.
I was understanding back then. If Ryder didn’t come, I remembered what he’d told me:
never contact him first, especially when he was back at the Sterling family home.
The next time I saw Ryder was during final exams week at Veridian City University.
It snowed heavily that day. Ryder’s face was paler than the snow, but he embraced me and said he had a gift for me.
That gift was Sterling Deer Park Estate.
That day, Ryder said that whenever I wanted to see deer again, I could come to *their* Deer Park Estate, for peace and quiet.
I quietly sat down on the hillside, instinctively wrapping my arms around a fawn named Little Sun, holding it affectionately in my lap.
This fawn was only four months old. The night it was born, Ryder and I were staying at Sterling Deer Park Estate.
That night, the estate manager said a doe was having a difficult birth.
Worried, I rushed to see, and later, Ryder and I even helped the doe deliver.
The fawn, Little Sun, had been tainted with human scent at birth, and its mother refused to nurse it. Ryder and I held it and bottle-fed it ourselves.
That fawn was Little Sun.
Afterward, this fawn always liked to follow me.
Footsteps sounded behind me.
I thought it was Ryder.
Only when someone sat beside me did I realize it was Valerie.
This was the first time I’d seen an outsider at Sterling Deer Park Estate.
The thought surfaced, and I paused, then realized that *I* was now the outsider.
I didn’t want to talk to Valerie, nor did I care why she was here.
I simply stood up and walked towards a more distant spot.
Little Sun, only a few months old, was very clingy and followed me.
Valerie seemed somewhat jealous. She followed behind me, asking,
“This fawn listens to you so well. How did you train it?”
I ignored her, pulling carrot sticks from my pocket to feed Little Sun.
Valerie mimicked me, pulling a handful of grass to feed it.
The fawn only wanted the carrots in my hand and only allowed me to pet it.
After I finished feeding it, Little Sun nudged my pocket, clearly wanting more.
I smiled, gently pushing the fawn away. “None left for today.”
Valerie impatiently shoved the wild grass in her hand towards the fawn’s mouth.
I couldn’t be bothered to watch Valerie anymore and headed towards the small bamboo house behind the Deer Park Estate.
I needed to rest.
I hadn’t walked far when Valerie’s scream pierced the air!
Followed by the mournful cry of the fawn!
I spun around abruptly!
I saw Little Sun nipping at Valerie’s sleeve, a familiar way it interacted with humans.
But Valerie was clearly terrified. She kicked the fawn, again and again!
Ryder had rushed back from out of town where he was handling matters.
He gave me a cold glance, then went straight to Valerie’s room.
The door wasn’t closed.
Just a wall separating us, I heard everything from next door, clearly.
After they had enough time together, Ryder returned to my bedroom, standing before me.
“Valerie twisted her ankle, she needs to recuperate.”
I looked up, pointing meaningfully at Ryder.
“Didn’t you just help her ‘recuperate’?”
Ryder let out an exasperated chuckle.
“Stella, I’m not kidding. Which deer hurt Valerie this afternoon? Tell me. Valerie needs to recuperate.”
I froze for a few seconds before grasping the full meaning of Ryder’s words!
“Ryder, you’re inhuman! You said this was *my* Deer Park! Which one of these deer didn’t we watch grow up? How could you bring yourself to do it?”
Something flickered in Ryder’s eyes.
His throat worked, a hint of endurance and appeasement in his voice.
“Stella, it’s just a fawn. Valerie wants to try something fresh.”
“Try something fresh?”
I was shaking with rage.
“Ryder, are you even human?!”
As the words burst out, I slapped Ryder across the face!
The sound of the slap faded, and Ryder stared deeply at me.
I met his gaze, head held high, completely unafraid.
“If you touch my fawn, you will regret it.”
I ground out the words through clenched teeth.
Ryder closed his eyes, said nothing more, and walked to the desk, tearing off a page from the calendar.
“It’s already past midnight, Stella. Twenty-three days left until our wedding.”
He walked out of the bedroom.
I had a maid bring me a bottle of wine, drank most of it, and only managed to fall asleep as dawn was breaking.
I woke up when the sun was high in the sky.
A maid knocked on the door.
“Miss Stella, the Master is asking you to join him for a meal.”
I was indeed hungry.
I washed up, changed clothes, and went to the dining room.
Valerie was there too.
I wanted to leave, but then decided it wasn’t worth starving myself.
I sat down with a cold face and served myself a bowl of soup.
Ryder, in front of Valerie, served me some rice.
“You should eat some carbs, even if you’re watching your weight.”
I didn’t take it, but Ryder didn’t seem awkward.
He simply picked up a few mouthfuls of greens for me.
“These are grown right here at the Deer Park Estate, better than what you get at the market,” Ryder said.
“I know you’re picky, but you should try these.”
Valerie ate slowly, delicately, as if she didn’t see her husband, married for less than a week, exchanging glances with his secret lover.
Finally, Ryder picked up my soup bowl and put a few pieces of meat into it.
He said softly,
“Eating meat doesn’t make you fat, don’t be so picky.”
It was as if Valerie wasn’t even there.
As if Sterling Deer Park Estate was still *our* Sterling Deer Park Estate.
He was a completely different person from the Ryder who had publicly slapped me just days ago.
I glanced at Valerie, thinking she indeed had some nerve to marry into the Sterling family, at least she could tolerate this.
As I thought this, my stomach rumbled a few more times. I picked up my forks, first ate some greens, then some rice.
Finally, under Ryder’s gentle gaze and Valerie’s knowing half-smile, I ate a piece of meat.
I was truly starving. The Deer Park chef’s cooking was excellent, perfectly suited to my taste.
I didn’t eat gracefully; traces of my past, fighting for food in the orphanage, were visible in my eating habits, unlike Valerie, who was every inch the refined socialite.
After finishing my meal, soup and meat all gone, I stood up to get a second helping.
Ryder immediately rose to serve me soup.
Valerie elegantly wiped her mouth, then slowly, deliberately, spoke.
“I heard this fawn was delivered by you personally, Stella, and you raised it yourself, even bottle-feeding it,” Valerie’s voice was soft and gentle.
“You were even feeding it carrots yesterday. No wonder the meat is so good, so tender.”
My lips and teeth went numb with shock!
I stared blankly at Valerie, as if I hadn’t understood what she was saying.
Valerie continued,
“It was called Little Sun, right? It was more delicious than any deer meat I’ve ever had before, without any of the usual gaminess. Thank you, Stella.”
Valerie added,
“Apparently, deer blood is nourishing, so you can’t kill a deer like a chicken by slitting its throat and letting it bleed out. So, they put Little Sun in a sack in middle school and drowned it alive.”
Valerie said,
“The chef wasn’t experienced, so it took him over ten minutes. He had to hold your fawn underwater in the stream multiple times before it finally died.”
Realizing what I had just eaten, my stomach churned violently with disgust!
I didn’t even have time to turn around.
I doubled over in agony, vomiting everything I had just eaten, along with my stomach acid, in one go!
I vomited so violently.
Even after everything in my stomach was gone, the nauseating churning wouldn’t subside. What came up next was yellow-green bile.
🌟 Continue the story here
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