Category: English

In a car accident, my boyfriend sacrificed himself to save my life. But he suffered brain damage and could no longer stand up. Today, that sultry woman was sitting on his lap. “Even though you can’t stand up, you’re still so amazing.” He panted, “Luckily my little friend wasn’t hurt. Otherwise, how could I satisfy you, you little minx…” Lucas Gray said he loved my innocence the most, but then he lusted after his sister-in-law’s sultriness! I turned to find the doctor. “Have you decided? To transplant brain stem cells to him.” “If the surgery fails, you could lose all emotions.” Later I found out. When Lucas Gray grabbed me during the car accident, he was just using me as a human shield. That doesn’t matter anymore, we’re even now. After I became emotionally numb, he fell madly in love with me, begging on his knees for me to come back to him. 01 Carrying a thermos filled with soup I had made for my boyfriend, I approached his hospital room. But I heard unspeakable sounds coming from inside. “I can’t believe that even though you can’t stand up, you’re still so amazing.” Through the crack in the door, I saw Lucas Gray sitting in his wheelchair. That sultry woman was straddling his legs, their bodies intertwined. “Fortunately, my little friend wasn’t injured,” Lucas smirked confidently. “Otherwise, how could I satisfy you, you little minx?” Scarlett Evans giggled coquettishly, “That stupid girlfriend of yours, as dull as dishwater. She’s definitely not as tight as me…” She licked her lips seductively. “I specially flew to the States for surgery, just for you. You’d better appreciate it properly.” Outside the door, I staggered, almost losing my balance. Lucas Gray had once sworn to me that he had ended things with his late brother’s wife. This morning, he suddenly said he wanted to drink pork rib soup. Now I realized it was just to get me out of the way. He had told me countless times that he loved my innocence the most, but then he lusted after his sister-in-law’s sultriness! I closed the door. Throwing the thermos into the trash can, I turned to see the doctor looking at me with a grave expression. “Miss Collins, are you sure you want to transplant your brain stem cells to him?” The attending physician pushed up his glasses. “This area of the brain has a very complex structure.” He looked at me with sympathy, “If the surgery fails, you might lose all emotions.” I nodded. I begged the doctor not to tell Lucas Gray. On the day of the surgery. The nurse raised the razor, her voice filled with pity. “Pretty girl, how long have you been growing this beautiful hair?” I smiled faintly, “Six years.” Six years ago, I had short hair. Because Lucas Gray once said, “I prefer girls with long hair.” Since then, I never cut my hair again. Now, in just a few minutes, it was all shaved off. “You’re willing to undergo such a scary surgery for your boyfriend. Even I feel scared just hearing about it,” the nurse said, putting away her tools with admiration. “He must treat you very well.” Looking at the ugly bald head in the mirror, I remained silent for a long time. It was quite the opposite. I was the one who had given the most. Lucas Gray, will there be a day when you suddenly remember how good I was to you? And then feel full of regret? As the anesthetic needle pierced my vein, I looked at the dazzling surgical lights and slowly closed my eyes. You saved my life in the car accident, so I’ll help you stand up again. From now on, we’re even. 02 After the surgery, the doctor told me that Lucas Gray would recover soon. But for me, this surgery was a failure. I lost the ability to feel emotions. Six years of love turned to ashes. That night. I sent Lucas Gray a message saying I was going home to visit my mother. A few days later, I returned to the hospital room. I saw Scarlett Evans feeding Lucas soup, their lips almost touching. Once upon a time, Lucas Gray had taken care of me like this when I was sick. But in just a few years, everything had changed. Seeing me arrive, Lucas Gray suddenly pushed her away. He stammered nervously, “Ava, Scarlett said the soup was too hot, so she was just cooling it down for me…” I watched as a drop of saliva trickled from the corner of his mouth. I didn’t break down as he had expected. I just nodded calmly: “Mm, I believe you.” I really didn’t care anymore. I came this time to break up with him. At that moment, Scarlett Evans quickly snatched the documents from my hand. They were Lucas Gray’s medical records and treatment information. She casually flipped through them, reading aloud. “New drug trial report… Warning: there may be certain risks.” “Patients participating in this project will be rewarded $10,000 by our institution—” Hearing this, Lucas Gray suddenly propped himself up. His voice was low and trembling. “A-va Col-lins!” “I trusted you so much that I even let you sign the surgery consent form.” His eyes stared at me intensely, as if trying to see through me. “For money, you actually let them use me as a guinea pig?” “I’ve already given you so much money over the years, and you’re still not satisfied!” Hearing him say this, I suddenly realized— Every time Lucas Gray slept with another woman, he would send me a gift. After his last tryst with Scarlett Evans, In less than half an hour, he had his driver bring me the latest Hermès bag. And the spare room at home, Was already full of various gifts he had sent… I bent down to pick up the papers Scarlett had dropped. “If that’s what you think, then this is the answer.” “Let’s break up.” I looked up at him calmly. Lucas Gray took out a black credit card and threw it at my face. “Isn’t this what you’ve been after all along? Money?” A cruel smile spread across his face. “Don’t worry, I won’t let your six years go to waste.” “Take the money and get out!” I didn’t take the card, nor did I offer any explanation. I looked at him deeply one last time, then turned and left. A few days later. I saw Lucas Gray again. It was in a video my best friend forwarded to me. “Isn’t this your boyfriend?! How did he end up on the Forbes Billionaires List? He’s so famous now, did you know?” I texted her back. “I’ve already broken up with him.” Emma quickly sent me a voice message. I heard her speak reluctantly, “Ava, there’s something I’ve never told you—” That day, she came to the hospital to see me. She overheard a conversation between Scarlett Evans and Lucas Gray. “That stupid girl still thinks you saved her” “You actually pulled her over to use as a human shield” “Unfortunately, our Mr. Gray had bad luck and still got injured” Now, my friend’s voice was filled with pain. “But I saw that you two seemed so in love, I wasn’t sure if she was just talking nonsense, so I didn’t say anything…” Thinking back. When I woke up after the accident and cried while thanking Lucas Gray. That unnatural expression that flashed across his face. I sat motionless in the chair for a long time. Gently stroking the ugly scar on my head with my fingers. Now, I knew everything. And I didn’t feel even a bit of heartache. Lucas Gray still doesn’t know. My brain stem cells have already been transplanted into his brain. That tiny piece contains all my love. 03 In the hospital lobby. Unexpectedly, I ran into Lucas Gray, who was also there for a follow-up. He had his arm around Scarlett Evans, staring at me intently. “It’s only been a short while, Ava Collins, and you’ve turned into this ghost-like state.” I replied to him without any emotion. “I’m fine, just getting by.” The surgery’s side effects left me with excruciating daily headaches. I had become so thin I looked like a skeleton, as if I might fall apart at any moment. The day we broke up, Lucas Gray instantly deleted all our social media posts from the past six years. And I could no longer remember. What it felt like to be in love. This handsome couple attracted the attention of passersby. He walked closer to me. “If you need money, you can come work as a maid at my place.” He narrowed his eyes, looking me up and down as if assessing my value. “Better than hiring a stranger—” Lucas Gray turned to look at Scarlett Evans. “Why not hire an ex-girlfriend we know well? Right, baby?” She gave a coquettish smile. “That’s right. Since I’ve been with Lucas, we’ve had to change the bedsheets five or six times a day.” Leaning against Lucas Gray, she deliberately pressed her chest against him. “You have no idea how vigorous he is now that his legs have healed…” My head felt like it was being pierced by countless steel needles. Looks like I’ll need to get more medication. I frowned as I spoke. “I’m not interested in your private life. You can go have sex right now if you want, feel free.” My voice was calm and emotionless. “But please don’t block my way, thank you.” I stepped aside and walked straight ahead. Scarlett Evans was furious with embarrassment. “Ava Collins! You ungrateful bitch, how dare you!” “I wasn’t finished talking, where do you think you’re going!—” She reached out frantically to grab my hair. But she could only pull off my wig. The entire wig fell into her hand. Scarlett Evans was stunned, frozen in place. A girl nearby pointed at me, her face full of naive malice. “Mommy, look! That lady has no hair, she looks like Caillou!” The little girl’s mother quickly covered her mouth, “Shh, don’t talk about others like that.” Everyone around was shocked, staring at me. But I didn’t yell or make a scene. Looking at the wig, Lucas Gray seemed dazed. “Ava, are you sick? Why did you shave all your hair off…” That was the hair Ava Collins had grown for him for six years. Countless nights, he had inhaled the fragrance of her hair as he gently held her in his arms. Now, her head was completely bald. This was the Ava he remembered as being so beautiful— At this moment, Lucas Gray was visibly shaken. “Ava, if you’re in trouble, you can tell me.” “I’m willing to give you any amount of money for treatment.” His heart was full of regret and self-blame for not noticing her condition earlier. Lucas Gray’s anxious expression was reflected in my emotionless pupils. I spoke calmly, “You’re overthinking it.” “The hairdresser said it could sell for $200, so I let him cut it off.” My voice was as cold as a winter wind. Since he thought I was a gold digger, I might as well let him keep thinking that way. After speaking, I turned and left without looking at their complicated expressions. Scarlett Evans swayed her slender waist. She took Lucas Gray’s hand, cooing coquettishly. “Forget about that ugly woman, Lucas. It’s almost your turn to be called.” For some reason, Looking at the alluring beauty before him, Lucas Gray only felt annoyed. At this moment, his mind was filled with images of Ava Collins, refusing to leave. His entire heart was moved by her. What was happening to him?… 04 I had previously quit my good job as a teacher to take care of Lucas Gray. Now it’s really difficult to find a new job. Those debt collectors come to my house every day, cursing and yelling. To pay off the huge medical debt, I took a part-time job as a bar hostess. Wearing a revealing dress, I accompany middle-aged men drinking in the hall. The more the customers drink, the more commission I can earn. But now that I’m emotionally numb, I don’t care about others’ judgmental looks. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do this job at all. Today, A drunk customer mocked me without restraint. “Hey, big-chested girl, bring me a dozen beers!” When I was serving the drinks, he deliberately knocked over a glass, splashing alcohol on my clothes. He glanced at me sideways, waiting for my reaction. Unfortunately for him, I had lost most of my emotions, and my face remained impassive. The old man suddenly grabbed my clothes, his face leering as he reached for my chest. “Oh my, I’m so sorry, beautiful. Let me help you clean that up—” Unexpectedly, “This is my girlfriend! Get lost!” Lucas Gray suddenly appeared, throwing a hard punch. For so many days, Ava Collins’ face had been constantly appearing in his mind. Her trembling shoulders when she cried, her radiant smile, those loving eyes… But he never expected, To see her about to be groped by an old man in a bar. In front of him, Lucas Gray reached out to adjust my exposed neckline. That careful, treasuring manner. In our six years together, it was the first time I had seen him like this. His eyes were slightly red, almost pleading. “Ava, you used to be a teacher, how can you do such a degrading job…” But I sat there unmoved. Like an outsider. He suddenly grabbed my hand, with an uncompromising forcefulness: “Get up, come with me!” The commotion we caused made people around us start to whisper and point. “What kind of drama is this? Trying to save a fallen woman?!” I interrupted him. “Lucas Gray, aren’t you bored?” I glanced at him and pushed him away forcefully. “I still need to work and earn money. I’m really busy. Don’t come looking for me anymore.” This gaze was ice-cold to the bone. He couldn’t see a hint of affection for him in Ava Collins’ eyes. His heart began to ache intensely. Having been a playboy for years, Lucas Gray had seen all kinds of beautiful women. But he had never felt heartache for a woman before… He shook his head, impossible, this must all be an illusion caused by the alcohol! As if to prove that Ava Collins meant nothing to him— His eyes sharpened, “Fine, you want to sell alcohol to make money?” “Waiter, bring me 50 glasses, and you drink them all!” “If you finish them all, I’ll give you $50,000!” Our eyes met, one cold, one hot. Seeing Lucas Gray’s fierce expression, I smiled faintly. “Alright, as you say.” This deal was worth it. With this money, I could pay off all my debts. 30 glasses, 40 glasses… The clear liquid slid down my throat, my stomach churning violently. “Stop fucking drinking!” Lucas Gray reached out to snatch the glass from my hand. “Ava Collins, stop it right now!” But I held onto the glass tightly, pouring the last one into my mouth. My stomach was as swollen as if I were nine months pregnant. Those endless debts… could finally be over. At that moment, My calves began to spasm uncontrollably, and I stumbled forward— I distinctly heard Lucas Gray’s sharp intake of breath. But that hand was ultimately half a step too late. My head hit the coffee table hard, right where I had the surgery. My body convulsed as if electrocuted! I lay on the ground, foaming at the mouth… The sudden turn of events threw the entire hall into chaos. Some people screamed, others hurriedly dialed 91 Emma Thompson, my best friend who had come to check on me, desperately pushed through the crowded people. She snatched me back from Lucas Gray’s arms. “It was Ava who transplanted her brain cells to you!” She slapped him hard: “She’s already barely living like a human. What more do you want? Do you have to take her life too?!!”

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On Valentine’s Day, Mia Parker and I were caught in a dangerous hostage situation. The captor made Lucas choose between us. Without hesitation, he chose to save me. But Mia lost her life as a result. Since then, Lucas has grown increasingly cold towards me. When I ate cake on my birthday, he said: “You can still celebrate your birthday, but Mia will never come back.” When I put on lipstick, he remarked: “You still have the heart to prettify yourself, while Mia’s clothes were torn in her final moments.” Overwhelmed with guilt, I spent a fortune on weekly counseling sessions for Mia’s sake. But later, I discovered: The so-called hostage situation was entirely orchestrated by Lucas. The money I spent became the down payment for their new home together. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I stared at the endless stream of messages. Lucas’s contact name for Mia stabbed at my heart. “Wifey” Those two words felt like a stinging slap, leaving me dizzy and disoriented. It made me feel like a fool for the past two months. Realizing Lucas was about to finish his shower, I quickly wiped away my tears and put his phone back. To hide any signs of crying, I even touched up my makeup with some foundation. But it turned out to be unnecessary. Lucas didn’t notice my tear-stained face. Instead, he mocked: “You still have the heart to put on makeup? What’s the point of looking pretty when Mia can never come back?” I froze, feeling as if my entire body was being crushed by pain. Seeing my lack of response, Lucas impatiently urged: “Let’s go, don’t keep Mia waiting.” My heart ached again, and the tears I had just managed to stop threatened to fall once more. This year’s Valentine’s Day was the most unforgettable day of my life. That day, Mia and I were caught in a hostage situation together. But the captor said: “The ransom can only save one person.” My wrists were bound by rough rope, and my eyes were red from crying countless tears. Mia was terrified too, shaking uncontrollably. Lucas, without hesitation, called out my name. As Lucas’s wife, I should have been happy about his unwavering decision. But later, the captor chose to end it all with Mia, both plunging into the sea. From then on, Mia’s name became my nightmare. Lucas, guilt-ridden for failing to save Mia, grew increasingly distant towards me. He refused to sleep in the same room with me. “Seeing you reminds me of Mia. I’m sorry, but I just can’t handle it.” I couldn’t even show a hint of relaxation in his presence. On my birthday, when I just wanted to eat some cake, Lucas publicly knocked over the cake and accused me: “How can you think about eating cake? Mia died because of you. How can you be so heartless?” But Mia’s death wasn’t my fault at all. I was a victim too.

The cold wind stung my face as I secretly wiped away a tear. Lucas, being tall, took large strides and soon left me behind. “Can’t you walk faster? Don’t you want to spend this money?” Hearing his impatient tone, I swallowed the questions I wanted to ask several times. Two months ago, on the seventh day after Mia’s death, Lucas met a spiritual advisor somewhere. The advisor said: “Mia’s life shouldn’t have ended. Now, due to unfortunate circumstances, her soul is trapped. If no one prays for her, she might have trouble reincarnating.” Hearing this, my heart sank. I secretly glanced at Lucas’s reaction. As expected, he was moved. Lucas, who once told me in college that he was an atheist, believed the advisor’s words. He unhesitatingly took out all his savings to pray for Mia. But because he was unemployed, he didn’t have much money. The advisor had said: “For a soul that died unjustly like Mia’s, you need to ensure weekly prayers for at least half a year.” One thousand dollars each time, I didn’t know how much money this half year would cost. “Mia’s death is partly your responsibility too. You won’t just stand by, will you?” Seeing my hesitation, Lucas complained: “Do you really want to see Mia unable to reincarnate? Aria, people have hearts of flesh. I can’t believe you’re so heartless.” So, I sold all my jewelry. I used my entire monthly salary for the prayers. But Lucas was still unsatisfied. “This money is only enough for a few months. How can it last half a year?” I wasn’t without temper. Mia’s death wasn’t my responsibility either. “Honey, we can’t just think about this. We need to consider our future too, right?” “Besides, I really don’t have any extra money now.” “Do you want me to sell our house?”

Hearing my anger, Lucas softened his tone. He said gently: “Of course we can’t sell this house.” At that time, I really thought he was considering our future. But it wasn’t until I saw his chat history with Mia that I realized. His future didn’t include me at all. This house we bought when we got married was in Lucas’s name. So he didn’t want to sell it. He planned to live there with Mia after getting rid of me. As for the money for Mia’s prayers, he had his eye on the house my parents left me. “Didn’t your parents leave you an old house? Why don’t we… sell that one?” I disagreed. Lucas then became upset, accusing me of being heartless. He started drowning his sorrows in alcohol every day, refusing to come home. During that time, I felt like our family was about to fall apart. Under pressure, I finally agreed and listed the old house online. … “The prayer session is complete. For this time’s payment, let’s do a bank transfer, shall we?” The advisor, like many times before, chanted a bunch of things I couldn’t understand. After about half an hour, the prayer session was considered complete. Lucas immediately nodded, signaling me to pay. I took out my phone, remembering the chat history I had seen. “This woman is so stupid, she believes everything you say?” “I didn’t expect her to be so obedient, doing whatever I tell her to.” “Honey, how long until we can be together for good?” “Just wait a bit longer. Once that old house is sold and we get the money, we’ll have the startup funds for our new home!” Thinking back to those words now, I wasn’t as heartbroken anymore. I just felt disgusted. My love for Lucas had become his tool to exploit me. How ridiculous… Seeing that I hadn’t transferred the money yet, Lucas grew anxious. “Honey, what’s wrong? Hurry up and pay, the advisor is waiting.” “You don’t want Mia to become a wandering ghost, do you?”

“Mia grew up in an orphanage without parents. She finally made it to her twenties, only to die in her prime…” Usually, hearing these words would have made me feel guilty. But now, I only had one thought in my mind: “Serves her right for being an orphan!” I smiled and replied: “I really can’t come up with the money these days. Why don’t you pay for it this time, honey?” Hearing this, Lucas was stunned, his face darkening. “What do you mean? Aria, if you don’t want to pay, just say so. Why lie?” I didn’t know why Lucas was so sure I still had money. So I showed him my SnapChat balance, which I had already transferred out earlier. “I’m not lying, I really don’t have any money left.” “You pay this time, and I’ll give you the money back when the house sells, okay?” Hearing about the money from selling the house, Lucas’s face instantly lit up with a smile. He waved his hand, speaking in an affectionate tone: “Honey, what are you talking about? What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine, right?” Hearing this, I almost laughed out loud. But I managed to hold it in, not revealing anything. When it was time to go back, Lucas suddenly received a phone call. If I wasn’t mistaken, it must have been from Mia. Sure enough, after hanging up, Lucas pretended to be troubled and said: “Honey, one of my buddies got drunk. He needs me to help take him home.” I smiled faintly, thinking of Lucas’s childhood friends. The first time I met them, they called me “sister-in-law.” I thought it was just them being friendly. But later I found out that every time Lucas brought a girl to meet them, They would all jokingly call her “sister-in-law.” Even when Mia and I appeared together at a dinner party, Lucas’s friends made a few teasing remarks: “Lucas, which one should we call sister-in-law now? Haha!”

Thinking about it now, it really is true that birds of a feather flock together. The funny thing is, I actually thought Lucas was different from them. “What about me then?” I looked at Lucas, suddenly curious about how he would answer. This place was far from the city center, and it wasn’t easy to get a taxi. Lucas clearly hadn’t considered this problem and was taken aback for a moment. “Why don’t you… wait here for a bit? I remember seeing a few cars when we came.” The early spring wind in River City was strong, sometimes stinging the face like a slap. Right now, my face felt like it was burning. For a moment, I felt like I had never really known Lucas at all. Where was the Lucas who used to tie my shoelaces, bring me breakfast without being asked, and proposed to me in public without caring about others’ opinions? I tried hard to hide my emotions that were about to break down, my voice trembling slightly: “Can’t you give me a ride? The wind is too strong here, I’ll get cold if I stand for too long.” In the past, if he heard I was cold, Lucas would immediately take off his coat and give it to me. But now, he chose to remain silent. After a while, Lucas spoke with a hint of reluctance: “But my buddy said he’s in the next city district, it’s not on the way.” If a person doesn’t love you, they can think of a thousand reasons to refuse you. The car drove away, kicking up dust that got in my eyes, causing a few tears to fall. I stood in the wind for two hours until a private car passed by. The kind-hearted driver agreed to take me back to the city. The driver was speeding, and while waiting at a red light, I saw that familiar license plate through the window. So even the “not on the way” was a lie. Lucas, is there anything true left in your words? At that moment, overwhelming emotions swept over me, and tears silently slid down my cheeks.

“Stop crying. It’s not worth it for a man.” The female driver handed me a couple of tissues. Though her tone was cold, I could feel her kindness. Actually, in those two hours, more than just this one car had passed by. It’s just that the other drivers were all men. Before I could even ask, some of them would ask with a smirk if I needed a ride. I got scared and quietly moved to the side. Until this female driver appeared. The kindness of a stranger moved me more than Lucas’s cheap and fake love. “Thank you.” I wiped my tears and asked curiously: “How did you know it was because of a man?” The female driver sneered: “Because seeing you so lost reminds me of my past self.” Later, we exchanged names. I told Rachel: “The driver of that white car is my husband, but he’s probably going to see another woman now.” Rachel looked at the direction of the car with disdain and asked: “Do you need me to help you?” … As I had guessed, Lucas was here to see Mia. Using my money, she had checked into the best hotel in River City. Lucas knocked on a room door with familiarity, and then out came the face I would never forget. “Honey, you’re finally here!” Mia was wearing a revealing nightgown that barely covered her thighs. She threw herself into Lucas’s arms and whined: “You still smell like that bitch, it’s so disgusting!” Hearing this, Lucas smiled indulgently: “Then what does Mia suggest we do?” Then, the two exchanged knowing glances. They started kissing passionately while entering the room. “Disgusting!” Rachel cursed, then said firmly: “Sister, I’m definitely going to help you with this! I can’t stand seeing scumbags hurting innocent people!” I thanked her, and then we went to the front desk together. After showing my marriage certificate, the front desk didn’t give us any trouble and immediately pulled up the surveillance footage of the two entering and leaving the hotel together.

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On the day of the company’s annual meeting, Nora brought in a man and announced to everyone that he was the new Vice President. Instantly, all eyes in the company turned towards me. Manager Liam looked at me with a smirk: “Ms. Anderson, Ethan has been with the company for so many years. Why wasn’t he promoted?” Nora casually replied, “Ethan is a cornerstone of the company and performs best at the grassroots level.” I knew Nora was confident that I wouldn’t object or leave her. Seeing the new Vice President, I understood why. He looked just like Nora’s college flame who tragically passed away. Suddenly, I felt drained. I tore off my ID badge and tossed it in front of Nora. “Ms. Anderson, I’m done here.” “Ethan, what do you mean by this?” Nora’s voice carried a hint of displeasure, her brows furrowed. But with many employees present, she had to keep her composure and asked me patiently. I could sense her looming anger. At this moment, everyone in the company looked at me with amusement, some even snickering. They were all waiting for a spectacle. Nora handed my ID badge back, her tone softening slightly. But to me, this was the biggest concession she could give. “Theo is just here in name. Theo and I are old acquaintances. I’m merely having him stay for a while. In time, you can apply for the Vice President position when the opportunity presents itself.” “We’re all adults. There’s no need to throw a tantrum.” However, I was already disillusioned and replied firmly. “No, Ms. Anderson, I’m really done.” Nora’s face turned dark instantly. She seemed unprepared for me to publicly embarrass her. Theo noticed and immediately spoke, his tone carrying a hint of humility and compromise. “Ms. Anderson, Ethan truly is a key figure in the company. With me suddenly being placed here, people might have unspoken reservations. I’m willing to start from the bottom and leave the opportunity to someone more capable.” But hearing Theo’s humble tone irritated Nora even more. She quickly interrupted, “Theo, stop being modest. No one is more suitable for this position than you. My placing you here proves you deserve it. Anyone with objections can come to me.” After Nora’s declaration, my colleagues naturally dared not object, all expressing their support for her decision. Then, Nora impatiently turned to me: “Ethan, I’ve said what I needed to. If you’re willing to work, then work. If not, then leave.” I gave a cold smirk. I always knew she had less patience with me than with others, even less than with a new intern. Before I could respond, Nora continued. “Theo, sit beside me. Let’s officially start the annual meeting and introduce you to the department heads.” Suddenly, I felt like a forgotten fool, standing there, unsure of my place. Yet I could feel the subtle gazes around me, filled with either sympathy or mockery. Without hesitation, I took off my wedding ring and placed it on the conference table, then turned and left. “Ethan! If you walk out of this conference room, don’t bother coming back!” Nora’s voice echoed behind me, laced with anger. I ignored it and walked straight out of the conference room. As soon as I stepped out, a few colleagues came over, pretending to persuade me. They probably already knew everything from some inside source. “Manager Ethan, at our age, isn’t staying employed more important than anything else?” “Middle-aged and unemployed—it’s a tough world out there, especially for someone like you, who’s the technical backbone of the company. With fresh graduates everywhere, who would dare hire you? I’m just being candid, don’t take it personally.” I looked at their insincere faces, their words implying that Nora gave me this job, and without the company or her, I was nothing. I paused briefly, and the meeting was ending behind me. I heard laughter congratulating Nora on getting rid of a “pest,” some even suggesting she kick me out of the marriage too. I looked back at this toxic company and its utterly insincere faces. Feeling only exhaustion, I let out a deep sigh.

I am Nora’s so-called husband. Over the years, this identity has felt like an invisible net, binding me tightly in this relationship, leaving me breathless. Our story began in college, where I was her junior, studying finance alongside her. My father was once a driver for Nora’s family, practically family after years of service. A few years ago, he saved her father in an accident. This act of gratitude led Nora’s father to bind us together before he passed, hoping we would marry. At that time, Nora was still grieving the loss of her long-cherished college love, who also passed in an accident. In those difficult days, I was by her side, helping her out of her darkness bit by bit. Perhaps out of gratitude, or perhaps out of uncertainty about the future, she muddled through and agreed to the marriage. However, we never registered the marriage, nor did we consummate it. Whenever I tried to bring it up, Nora would use the excuse of the company being in a growth phase and outright reject me. I once thought that her agreeing to the marriage meant she had some feelings for me, that my companionship and efforts during those days might have quietly moved her heart. Later, I compromised, turning down many offers from big companies, and joined Nora’s company as a technical manager right after college, initially to help stabilize her company and because I feared chaos after her father’s death, wanting to support her. Revealing our relationship wasn’t my intention, but it turned me into a thorn in my colleagues’ eyes. I worked diligently at the company, attentive at home, hoping my actions would eventually win her over enough to look at me. However, it wasn’t until Theo appeared that I finally understood some hearts are like cold stones, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t warm them. I packed up my things and left the company. As soon as I stepped out of the office building, I pulled out my phone and submitted a resignation application, which the HR manager promptly approved. I could almost envision Nora’s cold smile upon learning about my resignation. But now, none of it mattered. I returned to the house that colleagues gossiped about as a “cohabitation” place. In reality, it was just a rental arrangement. After a final glance at the familiar decorations, I quietly packed my few belongings, ready to leave. On the way to my new place, I suddenly craved a drink and bought a few bottles. I ended up drinking myself into a stupor, lamenting the years I wasted, but also toasting to my newfound freedom. In my haze, I suddenly heard a voice. “Hey, what’s going on? Why are you lying on the floor?” “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?” I rubbed my aching temples, sobered up a bit, and saw a young girl handing me a glass of water. I hesitated, confused. “Who are you?” She seemed surprised by my question, tucked her hair behind her ear, and smiled. “Didn’t the landlord tell you? I’m the previous tenant of this place, just coming to pick up some things I left behind. Hi, I’m Daphne.”

I frowned in response, opened my phone, and sure enough, saw messages and several voice calls from the landlord. I must have been too drunk to notice them. Through our conversation, I learned Daphne had just quit her job too. Watching her youthful, spirited pursuit of freedom, I felt genuine envy. When she learned I had just lost my job and ended a relationship, seeing the mess of empty bottles, she immediately spoke up. “Ethan, how about we go see the ocean together! We hit it off so well, and we’re both newly unemployed, let’s celebrate our freedom!” “I’ve been wanting to go to the beach! My friends don’t want to go with me, so you should come!” I looked at her face, unable to remember the last time I wanted to see the sea. But isn’t life about living for those fleeting moments? Now that I’m unemployed, what’s there to fear? At least I won’t starve. So, we went to the neighboring city to see the ocean. Watching the waves wash over the sand and recede, I felt a rare sense of calm and began talking with her. Daphne was naturally friendly, probably because she was recently a graduate, still lively and unburdened by years of workplace scheming and fatigue. We talked from dawn till dusk, watched the sunset over the sea together, and her youthful dreams amazed me. We decided to visit the neighboring city to see the ocean together. As I watched the waves ebb and flow on the beach, I felt a rare sense of calmness wash over me, prompting me to start a conversation with her. Daphne was naturally sociable and full of life, possibly because she was a recent graduate and hadn’t yet been jaded by the workplace’s stress and competition. We talked from dawn till dusk, watching the sunset over the sea together. Her youthful dreams were truly remarkable and inspiring. “Ethan, I believe people shouldn’t be stuck in the past. When I first saw you, you were sprawled on the couch in the living room, reeking of alcohol. I thought you were trouble, and it scared me.” She fondly recounted the humorous incident of finding me that day, and I laughed along. It suddenly dawned on me that my entire marriage felt like a burden. Since graduation, my life had been monotonous, revolving mostly around work and Nora. During the day, I worked at the company, and at night, I took care of Nora. She never appreciated it, and her unpredictable moods often left me anxious. Nora regretted marrying me soon after our wedding. When I eagerly asked about getting our marriage certificate, she doused my enthusiasm with cold indifference. She maintained our relationship only out of obligation to her father’s last wishes. The house was a shrine to him, cluttered with photo frames that were glaringly intrusive. Whenever I moved anything, even while cleaning, she would explode in anger. The ongoing tension took a mental toll on me. Looking at Daphne’s youthful face, I let out a bitter laugh and started sharing my life story. I’m not someone who easily opens up about my pain. Partly because I’m a grown man and partly because the relationship was so complex, I didn’t know where to begin. I couldn’t even recall my feelings for Nora anymore. But Daphne was patient. She listened to my hesitant story from start to finish. After speaking with her, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. After returning home from our trip, we prepared to part ways. We returned to the apartment, and Daphne began packing her belongings. There was a small appliance that took some time to disassemble. Watching her busy figure, I felt grateful for the conversation we had. Daphne still had her dreams and freedom to pursue. I was just a passerby and friend in her life. But I was thankful she listened and offered advice. Who would have thought that upon entering the apartment, we would find a group of unexpected guests? Leading them was Nora’s bodyguard. He nodded politely at me and spoke. “Mr. Ethan, Miss Nora requests your return.”

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The day I urgently needed a kidney transplant, my wife postponed my surgery to pick up her first love from the airport. To avoid me ruining their reunion, my son yelled that they shouldn’t save his fake dad, and my wife reported me for marital rape. When I was released from prison, she looked at me with disgust: “I bet you faked being sick just to prevent him from coming back, didn’t you?” “If you really want to die, I’ll save you then.” Watching Lily and her perfect little family walk away, my heart finally died. Later, as she wished, I really did die on the operating table. But why did my wife and son dig up half the city’s graves looking for my ashes? Upon my release from prison, I made my first call to Lily. “Lily, it’s snowing outside. Can you come pick me up?” “Ahem…” The cheerful voices on the other end of the line suddenly went quiet when they realized it was me. “You’re out so soon?” “I’m busy. Just take a cab yourself.” The call abruptly ended. I huddled behind a tree, hugging myself tightly. I watched silently as my son happily surrounded Lily and her first love, Jack. So this was what she meant by being busy? Seeing the three of them walking away happily, I wanted to step forward. But my feet seemed rooted to the spot. Even after they were long gone, I still couldn’t take that step. Three years ago, when Lily and I first got together, her first love Jack had insisted on going abroad for a promotion. Seeing the woman I admired left alone with her two-year-old son, I finally gathered the courage to confess my feelings. To my surprise, she agreed. After we got married, I became a stay-at-home husband to take care of Lily and Tommy. I thought our married life would always be this peaceful and uneventful. But Jack’s sudden return shattered that tranquility. Unfortunately, that day I had a kidney attack and was admitted to the hospital. The lead surgeon was none other than my wife, Lily, known as a medical genius. Just as I had been given anesthesia and my side was cut open, Lily received news of Jack’s return. She left. She just abandoned me and left. I lay helplessly on the operating table, watching her leave. Just like now, I didn’t know how to ask her to stay. Clutching my painful incision, I had to walk to the hospital because I couldn’t afford a cab. In prison, rapists were the most despised, so I was often tormented. With each step, I felt like my kidneys were bouncing around inside me. Finally, just as I was about to collapse, I reached the hospital. “Dr. Rose, there’s a patient here! Come quickly!” Dr. Rose? It must be Lily. But she’s with Jack, would she come to save me? I gripped the bed sheets tightly, my Adam’s apple bobbing painfully. I didn’t dare open my eyes, but I hoped she would really come. “Dr. Rose, here’s the patient’s examination report. His kidney has ruptured. We need to notify the family immediately to prepare for surgery.” Lily rushed over, her voice turning cold when she saw it was me. “No need.” The nurse looked confused. “I am the family.” Hearing this, the nurse brightened up. “Then what are we waiting for? The kidney donor will be here soon. Let’s prepare for surgery, Dr. Rose.” Hearing the nurse’s words, Lily remained unmoved. Instead, she kicked the hospital bed. “Had enough pretending? Get up already.” Lily kicked hard. Lying on the bed, I felt my kidneys violently shaking along with it. Just as I was about to speak, I coughed up blood. A flash of surprise crossed Lily’s eyes, quickly replaced by a cold sneer. “Quite the convincing act.” “Come on, is this all because I was busy and didn’t pick you up? Is such a small matter worth making such a big fuss?” Faced with Lily’s questioning, I choked out, “I’m not pretending, Lily. I really feel terrible.” In prison, inmates used me as their punching bag. Whenever they were dissatisfied, they would grab me and beat me. So the pain I’m feeling now is real, not an act. Hearing this, the nurse became anxious. “Dr. Rose, this is the patient’s medical record. Mr. Foster’s condition is extremely urgent. If we don’t treat him soon, his life could be in danger.” Seeing the nurse repeatedly speaking up for me, Lily grew impatient. “It’s bad enough that he’s trying to fool me, but now you’re in on it too?” “Do you not want your performance bonus this month?” Lily crossed her arms, her brows furrowed. “I’ll count to three. If you don’t get up…” Before she could finish, Tommy called. “Mom! Dad’s gone!” “What?!”

Tommy’s voice on the phone sounded panicked and urgent. Lily visibly panicked and was about to rush out the next second. It was the nurse who grabbed her hand for me. “Dr. Rose, where are you going? The patient urgently needs surgery, you can’t leave!” Lily violently shook off the nurse’s hand, completely losing her patience. She pointed at me, her tone ice-cold. “Jack is missing, and you’re still playing these stupid games with me.” “Adam Foster, I’m warning you, if anything happens to Jack, I won’t let you off the hook!” With that, Lily turned and left. I lay on the hospital bed, tears finally streaming down my face. I couldn’t hold back anymore. It had been three years. Jack was the one who abandoned Lily first. Why was he still more important to her than me? Even my son called him “Dad” at every turn. Why? Why was this happening? No, he’s not my son. I’m just a stepfather. Jack is his biological father. But Jack had never raised him for a single day. I was the one who watched him grow up from his first words. I was the one who saw him go from crawling to walking with a baby walker. Why did my wife and son abandon me as soon as Jack came back? Have they forgotten that it was Jack who abandoned them first? My brow furrowed deeply, my heart feeling like it was being stabbed by needles, unable to breathe. The hospital bed was so cold, just like the cement floor in prison. When I coughed up blood, Lily didn’t even spare me a glance. But as soon as she heard Jack’s name, her expression changed completely. I took a deep breath. But the pain in my heart continued to spread. Before I knew it, a large amount of blood gushed from the corner of my mouth. The nurse called Lily. “Dr. Rose, please come back quickly! The patient’s condition is out of control!” “Dr. Rose!” The nurse was frantic. But Lily hung up the phone without a care. I opened my mouth, my face deathly pale. “Give it to me.” Taking the phone, I dialed that number once again. Lily had already abandoned me once for Jack. Was she really going to leave me alone on the operating table again? I couldn’t believe she could be so cruel. “What do you want now? Adam Foster, are you never going to stop?” Faced with Lily’s accusations, the words I had prepared were scattered again. I clenched my fist. “Lily, I’m begging you, you’re the only one who can perform this surgery.” “I’m begging you to save me, please? I’ll really die without it.” “For the sake of our three years of marriage, where I’ve been nothing but devoted to you, please save me?” My voice choked up again towards the end. There was a pause on the other end of the line. A glimmer of hope rekindled in my previously gloomy heart. I knew Lily wouldn’t really be so heartless as to watch me die. I knew she had seen all my dedication over these three years. Just as I was about to speak again, I heard Tommy’s voice from the other end. “Mom! We found Dad, but he’s unconscious. Is Dad going to die?” Hearing my son’s voice, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “Yes, Dad is going to die…” I listened to the sound of Lily running through the phone. Her voice was harsh. “How can you be so vicious? What did Jack ever do to you to deserve such a curse?” My voice was a bit hoarse. “Lily, I didn’t… I was talking about myself. I really am about to die.” I wanted to say more, but Lily cut me off sharply. “Enough! Adam Foster, I’ve tolerated you for far too long!” “If you keep playing these stupid games and targeting Jack, we’re getting a divorce!”

Divorce? The word “divorce” shattered what little rationality I had left. I stared at the phone in shock. All the memories from before flashed before my eyes. When Jack abandoned Lily and Tommy, I drove sixteen hours to pick them up, just to give them a place to stay. Later, when we got married, Lily hugged me and cried, promising to live a good life together. She said meeting me was her greatest fortune, and she would never leave me. But now she wanted to divorce me for Jack? I coughed, blood gushing from my lungs and blurring my vision. I clutched my kidney, my forehead covered in beads of sweat. The pain from my injuries in prison had numbed me. I had completely forgotten that I was still a kidney patient. Now that I was out, it seemed like the pain in my kidneys had come back tenfold, a hundredfold. “It hurts… it hurts so much… cough cough…” “Nurse, I think I can’t breathe. Am I dying?” The nurse was alarmed and quickly called for other doctors. “The patient is showing symptoms of late-stage kidney failure, with respiratory difficulties. We need help here!” I was rushed to the operating room. Without Lily, the medical genius, to perform the surgery, all the hospital could do was help me clear the inflammation. Just as I was about to be pushed into the operating room, Lily appeared. “Help! Someone help! We have a person who’s fainted here!” Lily pushed Jack into the operating room ahead of me. The nurse hurried forward to stop her. “Dr. Rose, this is Mr. Foster’s operating room. He urgently needs to have his inflammation cleared. You can’t do this!” Before the nurse could finish, Lily had already put on her white coat and closed the door of the operating room. This was the last available operating room; all the others were unfortunately occupied. I could only lie on the stretcher, the cold wind in the hospital corridor making my head spin. As my vision blurred, I could hear the cries of adults and children from inside the operating room. “Jack, you’ve already abandoned me once. Are you going to abandon me again?” “Wake up, please. It’s Lily. Please wake up and look at me, okay?” “Dad, don’t leave me. Dad…” I don’t know how much time passed before the green light above the operating room lit up. Jack was wheeled out. “Sorry, Adam. I just tripped and scraped my foot a bit. You don’t mind, do you?” I ignored Jack and struggled to lift my head to look at Lily. “Can you save me now?” Lily looked at me with disgust. “Save you? Aren’t you fine now?” “I think you just pretended to be sick because you didn’t want him to come back, didn’t you?” “If you really want to die, then I’ll save you.” In the end, Lily’s tone was full of contempt. I clutched my chest, gasping for air, tears falling uncontrollably. “Lily Rose, how can you be so heartless after all we’ve been through as husband and wife?” “I’m just asking you this one time to save me. Can’t you grant me this one request?” “Slap!” I held my swollen cheek in disbelief, staring at Lily. “Husband and wife? If Jack hadn’t gone abroad back then, do you think you would have had the chance to marry me?”

For a moment, I didn’t know what to do. Lily had never spoken to me like this before, let alone hit me in front of so many people. My kidney hurt so much, but my heart hurt even more. A crowd of onlookers gathered around us. Not far away, a doctor came running with a box. “Make way! Make way! The kidney donor is here!” “Dr. Rose, the patient’s condition is critical. What are you waiting for?” Lily looked at the box in the doctor’s hands, her expression somewhat dazed. “Is this really the kidney donor?” I nodded. “Lily, I really wasn’t lying to you.” “I’m in so much pain right now, I feel terrible. You’re the only one who can perform the surgery for me.” Lily’s eyes trembled as she saw my pained expression. Just as she was about to check my injuries, Jack let out a hiss of pain. “What’s wrong, Jack?” “It’s nothing, nothing.” “Let me see!” Lily crouched down to carefully examine Jack’s ankle. “It’s all bruised. Why didn’t you tell me?” Lily’s tone was reproachful but full of concern. As long as Jack was around, I would always be the loser. Everyone around us was criticizing Lily for being heartless and unfaithful. But she didn’t seem to care. “Lily, I’m begging you, please save me. I’m really about to die.” Lily forcefully pried open my white-knuckled fingers that were gripping her sleeve. “I want to see if you’ll really die without me. If you don’t die, then let’s get a divorce!” Watching Lily walk away with Jack and Tommy, I felt like my heart had been completely hollowed out. My hands still retained Lily’s warmth. The scent of her perfume lingered around me, but I felt suffocated. “Lily… why won’t you believe me?” I was pushed into the operating room. Without Lily performing the kidney transplant surgery, it was like a race against the Grim Reaper. Whoever could outrun time would win. I lay weakly on the operating table. The surgical lights made it hard for me to open my eyes. In my hazy vision, I saw my reflection, so thin that I could barely recognize myself. Everyone was preparing to save my life. But I felt so cold, constantly curling up my body. My lips, cracked from dehydration, suddenly felt smooth as if moistened. A sweet, metallic taste exploded in my mouth. “Doctor, the patient’s blood system is having problems. We need to transplant the kidney now!” The nurse took out the kidney donor. A foul smell permeated the operating room. “How is this possible?” “The kidney is rotten!” I suddenly woke up from my near-unconscious state. Even the only kidney donor was gone? I laughed bitterly. The blood in my body seemed to flow out uncontrollably. The nurse wanted to seek help from other hospitals for a kidney donor, but I stopped her. “Cough cough… don’t, don’t waste your efforts on me.” “I know I don’t have much time left. Can you help me with one thing?” “Before I die, I want to divorce my wife, Lily Rose. And after I’m gone, please help me bury my ashes. Don’t tell Lily where they are.” The nurse nodded. I struggled to pick up a pen and scrawled three words on the divorce agreement. “Adam Foster.” … In an instant, my soul was pulled away by some force. Just as they pronounced me dead, the door of the operating room was suddenly pushed open. Everyone was stunned. “Dr. Rose?” I floated in mid-air, feeling a bit confused. It made sense though. Lily must have gotten the news so quickly because she came to mock me. From the operating room door to the hospital bed, Lily’s few steps seemed particularly heavy. She trembled as she pulled back the white sheet covering my body. Instead of the expected mockery, I heard a choked sob. “How did this happen? How did Adam die?”

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The Oscar-winning actor married me to spite his first love. For three years, they were caught in a tangled relationship. During filming, they would embrace and kiss, and in interviews, they spoke in suggestive tones. Online, people say I’m just a pathetic substitute. I never got angry. I simply smiled and helped him dispel every rumor. Until one day, I accidentally got pregnant and secretly had an abortion. He was furious and heartbroken, harshly demanding to know why. I gently caressed his brow and replied calmly, “Because I don’t love you.” The one I loved was his deceased brother. Everyone knows Declan married me to make Nora Carter jealous. They broke up before their wedding, and she left the country in a fit of anger. Declan didn’t chase after her; instead, he turned around and married me. I wore a wedding dress that wasn’t meant for me and married a man who didn’t love me. People said that when Nora came back, Declan would discard me. But in the third year of our marriage, Declan seemed to start liking me. He made breakfast for me, coaxed me out of bed, and kissed me when I acted playfully. At our sweetest moments, we were deeply entwined. In the quiet of night, he would softly urge, “Sweetie, give me a child, one just as sweet as you.” We were like a typical loving couple. Until the day I found out I was really pregnant. Before I could tell Declan, Nora came back. That day, they reconciled.

Nora returned on the day of their class reunion. I heard her family went bankrupt, and she was borrowing money from everyone. When Declan walked in with me, he saw a wealthy classmate pressuring Nora to drink. He said for every glass she drank, he’d lend her a hundred thousand. Nora’s eyes watered as she forced a smile and drank it all. When she saw Declan, she panicked, feeling embarrassed, and quickly lowered her head. Someone egged her on, “Nora, if you’re short on cash, ask Declan.” “Given your history, a few nights with him, and he wouldn’t deny you anything.” Declan glanced over coldly and said slowly, “Stop it.” With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he leaned against my shoulder and continued, “Anyone who upsets my wife can shut up and leave.” Everyone laughed, calling me “sister-in-law,” envious of Declan’s affection for me. No one knew that if Nora hadn’t shown up, Declan wouldn’t have been there. Nora glared at me, biting her lip to hold back tears. The man who had forced her to drink kneaded her shoulder and asked, “What now? Looks like Declan doesn’t want you.” “But it’s okay. If he doesn’t, I do.” “If you’re willing to undress and please me in bed, I’ll give you some pocket money, how about that?” Declan stubbed out his cigarette, visibly displeased, his face icy. He still cared. Nora fought back tears and looked up at Declan. She softly said, “I don’t want to.” “In this life, I love only one person. Even if he doesn’t want me, I won’t let anyone else touch me.” Declan suddenly tightened his grip, hurting me. The male classmate, having lost face, laughed and cursed Nora. “You think you’re some pure maiden? Damn, you don’t appreciate the kindness. I’ll definitely sleep with you today.” He dragged Nora outside, Nora drunk and weakly leaning against him, struggling half-heartedly. Declan’s eyes were fixated on Nora. I could tell he was ready to kill for her. Just before they left, Declan couldn’t hold back any longer. He stepped forward, kicked down the man holding Nora, and pinned him to the ground, beating him. With reddened eyes, he cursed, “If you dare touch Nora again, I’ll cut off your filthy hand!” The scene became chaotic. Someone was recording, and I quickly grabbed Declan’s sleeve, trying to stop him. He turned around and coldly asked, “Who do you think you are to interfere?” I froze, lightly releasing my grip. Nora rushed over, hugging him, crying, “Declan, don’t fight for me. If you get hurt, I’ll be heartbroken.” “I was so scared just now that you would really leave me…” Declan didn’t push her away. He held her in his arms, protecting her. Everyone watched as he took Nora away. Leaving me behind.

That night, Declan didn’t come home. Nora tweeted in the early morning, “You said you’d never hold anyone else’s hand again.” The picture showed ten fingers interlocked. The hand in the photo had a red mole on the back—Declan’s. And I was the “someone else” he wouldn’t hold hands with again. Ten minutes later, the tweet was a trending topic. My haters left messages for Nora, “Go, Nora, you and the Oscar-winning actor are a perfect match! You must get back together!” “I’m throwing away my values. I support the Oscar-winning actor cheating! Just can’t stand that scheming witch, Lydia, being happy!” Many were waiting to see me humiliated. Some left messages for Declan, “Bro, that’s not you, right? I’ve been your fan for so long, I know how good your wife is to you. Don’t let her down!” Declan and I were tied to many couple endorsements, with sky-high penalties for breach of contract. A scandal was the last thing we needed. The agent couldn’t reach Declan, so they called me, asking me to find a way to fool the netizens by saying Declan and I were still together. I flipped through the photo album and realized how few pictures I had with Declan. In those few pictures, only I was smiling. Finally, I posted a photo from long ago, of Declan reading under a lamp. The hazy light enveloped him, reminiscent of the person who always appeared in my dreams, making me cry. As soon as the photo was posted, netizens began commenting. “See, Declan’s at home with his wife! Anyone saying our Declan’s cheating, I’ll tear their mouth apart!” Everyone started cursing Nora for being shameless and loving to stir up drama. Until a few minutes later, Declan retweeted Nora’s tweet. Under that hand-holding photo, he said, “It’s me.” He openly admitted they were together, exposing my self-directed clarification. Once again, he abandoned me for Nora. Nora’s fans flooded my Twitter, mocking me, “Pretentious b*tch got slapped in the face, love it, Lydia, you lying b*tch.” “Sister Nora gave you three years, and you still couldn’t win Declan’s heart, you’re useless.” Who said I wanted Declan’s heart? I deleted everything in my phone related to him. I wanted a divorce.

The next morning, the company called me in to handle Declan’s rumor crisis. Unfortunately, I ran into Nora. Declan probably couldn’t bear to leave her alone and brought her along. As soon as she saw me, she apologized, “Lydia, sorry about last night. I got drunk and tweeted nonsense, and Declan joined in, causing you trouble.” “I’ve already told him off. He only thinks of me and not you at all, such a big dummy.” “The things people say online are so harsh, calling you my stand-in. It’s hilarious.” “They don’t know how much I want to thank you for taking care of Declan all these years…” She smiled sweetly at me. I smiled back, “I’m Declan’s wife. A wife taking care of her husband doesn’t need thanks from outsiders.” “But you, being called the other woman last night, don’t take it to heart.” Nora’s expression changed. She glanced me up and down, suddenly fixating on my ring. She smirked, “Lydia, you’re wearing my wedding ring, you should return it to me.” She reached for my hand, and I, annoyed, swung my arm, accidentally hitting her face. Nora suddenly swung her bag at me, the metal scraping my forehead, drawing blood. She used so much force, it made my ears ring. I raised my hand to hit back but someone grabbed my wrist from behind. Declan appeared, coldly warning me, “Lydia, try touching her.” When I turned, he saw the blood on my face, paused, frowned at Nora, and asked, “Did you do this?” Nora, with teary eyes, shook her head, “Declan, she called me the other woman and tried to hit me. I dodged, and my bag accidentally hit her. I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry!” When she cried, Declan’s heart ached. Hearing her, Declan ruffled her hair, praising her. “Anyone hits you, hit back. With me here, you don’t need to apologize to anyone.” I suddenly envied Nora. Actually, I’m quite the crybaby too, but the one who cared for me is gone. Agent Fiona couldn’t take it anymore and pointed at me, yelling at Declan, “This is your wife! Declan, are you blind? Holding onto a green tea witch and not letting go!” “How is Lydia any worse than Nora?” “Did you forget you said you wanted a child with Lydia? Did you forget you said being with Lydia felt like home?” “Now you’re hurting her like this, are you sure you won’t regret it later?” I subconsciously touched my belly. Inside my body was a budding child. Declan chuckled, casually glancing at me, emotionless, speaking calmly. “Lydia, Phoebe, Cora—they all need to step aside.” Perhaps, at one time, Declan’s feelings for me were fleeting and superficial. But now that Nora has returned, he’s ready to love her. I removed the ring from my finger, a ring that was never truly mine, and handed it back to Declan. His smile slowly faded. After a brief pause, he reached out to take it. Aunt Hazel caught my arm, glanced at my stomach, and gave me a meaningful look. “Lydia, don’t be foolish, you’re already…” Nora interrupted, grabbing the ring. She tried it on, but it was a bit tight. Her smile stiffened slightly, and she tossed the ring into the trash. “Forget it. Declan, don’t be upset for my sake. I don’t want a ring that’s been worn by another woman. It’s tainted.” Declan ignored her, keeping his eyes on me as he asked in a serious tone, “What’s going on with you?” I looked at him indifferently, then turned and walked away. Declan, I’m pregnant, but you don’t need to know. 5 Declan is extremely perceptive. Aunt Hazel’s hint was obvious enough; I think he can probably guess most of it. I’ve been on medication for a long time, which isn’t good for the baby’s development. This pregnancy was unexpected, and the doctor suggested I terminate it. I don’t want to be entangled with Declan because of this child. Before the abortion, I moved out to avoid running into him and causing any trouble. Although, Declan probably… doesn’t care at all. He didn’t come looking for me; he’s still living his life as usual. Aunt Hazel sent me a video. It was at an auction where Declan gave Nora a lavish diamond ring; she laughed and threw herself into his arms. A perfect match. Oh right, I almost forgot. Declan said Nora is back. Whether it’s Nora or Nora’s child, they all need to step aside. It’s all fine. 6 The day before the procedure, I suddenly felt very anxious. I remembered the jade pendant my mom got for me before she passed was still in the home safe, so I planned to go get it. When I got home, I found the entry code had been changed. Standing at my own front door, unable to get in, I suddenly felt quite pathetic. I called Declan in anger. But the one who answered was Nora. Her voice was smug as she laughed, “Nora, today’s my birthday. Declan insisted on taking me to watch the meteor shower, so we won’t be home tonight.” “I once told him that couples who make a wish on a shooting star will be together forever. I didn’t expect him to remember; I’m so happy.” “But I can’t give you the code. After all, we’re not home, and it’s not appropriate for someone like you to be in our house…” I hung up immediately, opened the password lock, and entered today’s date. The door opened. The code was Nora’s birthday. Inside, all traces of my life were erased. Our wedding photo on the TV cabinet was replaced by a photo of Declan and Nora. They looked so young. Declan was holding her, both smiling happily. My succulents were thrown out, pots and all. My study had turned into Nora’s piano room. I was stunned for a moment, then rushed into the bedroom and opened the wardrobe. It was filled with a line of sexy lace nightgowns, none of which were mine. The safe was at the bottom. I pressed my fingerprint, my hands shaking, and took out all the jewelry, cash, and documents inside. But I couldn’t find the jade pendant my mom left me. It was the only thing she left me. Nora knew that too. So she threw it away. 7 Nora has always hated me and my mom. When I was in school, my mom worked as a nanny at Declan’s house. Nora came over with her parents, and when they first met, Declan’s parents introduced me, saying I was obedient, sensible, hardworking, and smart. Nora pretended to be friendly, saying she wanted to be friends with me. Behind my back, she said, “So what if she studies well? Even if she gets into a good university, she’ll still work for us.” “Her mom is annoying too, always smiling. What’s a nanny so happy about? Old miser giving birth to a little miser, it’s disgusting.” When my mom picked me up from school and met Nora, she would laugh and call my mom a b*tch in English. My mom, not understanding, would praise her for being pretty and cute, even giving her homemade sweet potato snacks. Nora would turn around and throw them in the trash, mocking my mom, saying, “It smells, even a dog wouldn’t eat it.” My mom was so flustered, her face turned red, and she couldn’t lift her head, which made everyone around laugh. I threw down my backpack and went to pull Nora’s hair. My mom saw me getting hit and rushed to shield me. She got kicked over by Nora’s friend, and suddenly a lot of blood flowed from her. That day, my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Those horrible cancer cells appeared silently, then quietly took my mom’s life. That jade pendant was something my mom secretly prayed for me, bowing step by step up Ling Mountain before she died. She said the Buddha on Ling Mountain was the most powerful one. I held back my tears and asked her why. She smiled and said it was a secret and couldn’t tell me. But I knew she prayed to Buddha when I was seriously ill as a child. She wished to exchange half her lifespan for my health and peace. Later, I got better. The compassionate Buddha took my mom away. After Nora found out, she mocked my mom, saying, “All the poor know is superstition. What’s the use of leaving garbage behind? Better to sell a kidney or liver for some money for her daughter.” 8 At two in the morning, Declan came back with Nora. As they entered, Nora clung to Declan’s neck, purring, “Declan, will you sleep with me tonight? I want to give myself to you…” As she spoke, she leaned in to kiss him, but Declan dodged. I sat on the sofa, watching Nora act shamelessly. Declan’s gaze landed on me. Nora paused, turned back to see me, and smiled provocatively. “Nora, if I’d known you were home, I would have asked Declan to come back earlier.” “We didn’t see any shooting stars tonight. He was afraid I’d be disappointed, so he insisted on taking me to set off fireworks.” “Nora, I’m sorry. If you want to blame someone, blame me, not Declan.” I had a bit of alcohol, feeling drowsy as I stood up and approached her, directly asking, “Where’s my jade pendant?” Nora blinked guiltily, still smiling, “Are you talking about that jade pendant from the safe?” “I accidentally broke it while packing. It didn’t seem valuable, so I threw it away.” My tears fell suddenly. A chill spread through my limbs, and my lips trembled uncontrollably. My mind filled with the afternoon my mom died, holding me tightly and wiping away my tears repeatedly. She told me not to be afraid, that she wouldn’t leave. She said she had already spoken to Buddha. “As long as the jade pendant is here, so is Mom.” I threw the wine glass at Nora, the glass shattered on the marble, and shards cut her leg. She was scared, took two steps back, and hid behind Declan, pitifully crying out, “It hurts.” I grabbed her collar, hysterically asking, “Where did you throw it? Where did you throw it?” Declan came to stop me. I slapped him, cursing, “We haven’t divorced yet. Why did you bring her back? Why did you let her touch my things? Why!” “Are you that desperate to sleep with her? Declan, aren’t you disgusted!” He held me tightly, soothing my hair, overpowering my voice as he said calmly, “Nora, calm down.” “I’ll take you to find your jade pendant, okay?” “Please stop crying. It hurts me to see you cry.” 9 Nora threw away my jade pendant this morning, so it probably hasn’t been processed yet. Declan drove me to the landfill, speeding all the way. He rummaged through the trash with me, not caring about dirt or smell, getting mud all over his hands. From nightfall until dawn, I found nothing. When the sun rose, I suddenly felt utterly helpless. The golden light pierced my eyes. I bit my lip to hold back tears, forcing myself not to cry. An elderly couple at the landfill took pity on me and helped me search. Finally, when I was about to give up hope, the grandma called out, “Dear, come see if this is it?” I stood up abruptly, the world spinning, but I didn’t care. I ran over, pulling on my shoes from the trash pile. Grandma held a sandalwood box, inside were scattered pieces of jade. It was my jade pendant, but it was truly broken. I should be happy, I suppose. At least I found it. I tried to smile, but as soon as my mouth moved, tears fell in large drops. Mom, you said as long as the jade pendant is here, you are too, right? But now it’s broken. Will you still be here? Please don’t leave me. Don’t abandon me. Declan pulled me close, attempting to comfort me, “Don’t worry, I’ll find someone to fix it.” I shook my head, telling him it was fine, unnecessary. A moment later, Declan’s voice hardened, almost gritting his teeth, “Nora, every time you say it’s fine, I swear I want to shake some sense into you. Can you rely on me just once? Is that too much to ask?” I watched him quietly. His phone rang—Nora was calling. He hesitated briefly before answering. On the other end, Nora was sobbing, “Declan, I wanted to come and apologize to Nora properly, but I got lost, and now some guy is following me. I’m terrified…” Declan rushed off, leaving me behind. Just then, I received a message from the hospital, reminding me of my scheduled abortion later that day.

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On the first day of our marriage, my husband’s father, Henry Bailey, asked me to hand over my salary to him every month. I refused without hesitation, not saying another word. However, my husband, Kayden Bailey, stepped in to persuade me. He said, “My dad has always been in charge of the family, so it’s only right that he manages our income. If you need anything, just ask Dad, and he’ll give you the money.” My husband’s mother, Emma Bailey, immediately lashed out, “Why are you even talking to her? We don’t keep freeloaders in this family. If she doesn’t pay up, she can leave!” How ridiculous. Who exactly should be leaving? Don’t they have any self-awareness? The meal wasn’t even finished when Henry, furious, slammed his fork down. The atmosphere suddenly became tense. “Kayden, I really must have been blind to think the woman you insisted on marrying was someone with no respect for elders or basic manners! “If you don’t handle her now, you’ll regret it later!” Henry’s scolding echoed throughout the room. Kayden, clearly overwhelmed by his father’s anger, looked even more anxious. He turned to me with pleading eyes, but I continued eating my pie expressionlessly, though I was boiling with rage inside. Who could have guessed that my usually gentle husband would have such unreasonable parents? We had just been married for a day, and already, his whole family was ganging up on me to hand my salary over to Henry for safekeeping. This was absolutely absurd! My own parents never even suggested such a thing. What did they think they were? Without any hesitation, I refused. “No way!” But to my disappointment, Kayden didn’t take my side. Instead, he tried to calm me down. “Jasmine, please don’t be mad. My parents are just looking out for us. Keeping our money with them is a form of security. “You know we both tend to spend too freely and can’t save. When we need money, we can just ask them for it.” Seeing that I wasn’t responding, he paused, then continued, “My dad has always managed the family, so our income should be under his care. “If you need anything, just ask my dad, and he’ll give you the money.” His words were like pouring gasoline on a fire, and my anger only grew. I mimicked Henry’s earlier action and forcefully threw my fork down, the clatter ringing loudly through the room. I didn’t even care to look at their expressions. I directly confronted Kayden. “What did you say before we got married? “You swore to me and promised my parents that I would be in charge of our finances, and we would make all decisions together. You said your parents would never interfere with our life. “Didn’t you say all of that yourself? Was that all a lie?” I glared at Kayden, but his eyes darted nervously, avoiding mine. The truth was, I didn’t even care about managing our finances. My salary was enough for me to live on, and with the support from my parents, I never intended to ask Kayden to hand over his salary. But now, he and his parents were conspiring to control my finances. Emma, at this point, tore off her gentle façade. She no longer acted kind or friendly, and instead, she started yelling at me. “Who do you think you are? Do you think you can control my son’s money? My son is a master’s graduate, earning two or three thousand dollars a month! Why should you be in charge of that? Just because you’ve got a big mouth? “You tramp, your intentions aren’t so simple, are they? Don’t you know what the proper behavior for a woman is? Now that you’re married to my son. This family is your world! “Do you want to challenge that? In this house, you’re going to follow the rules!” Emma’s words made me see her true colors. The gentle, kind woman who had treated me so well the day before our wedding had now shown her true, vicious side.

Kayden’s face was flushed with embarrassment as he gently tugged at Emma’s sleeve, speaking in a low voice, “Mom, please, just stop. Jasmine is new here, I’ll explain the family rules to her later.” I thought, “Rules?” I raised my head, glancing at the man I had just married, and a cold laugh formed in my chest. How had I been so blind to marry him? My parents had opposed me marrying Kayden at first, but I had been so swept up in love that I couldn’t hear their concerns. Kayden’s parents seemed so humble. They had even visited my family, promising my parents that they would treat me like their own daughter. They played their part so well, and I, naively believing it was love, thought I would have a happy life once I married into their family. But now, it was all a façade, a ploy to get me to marry Kayden. Kayden came from a small town. Henry was a middle-school teacher at a third-rate school, and Emma was a housewife, just scraping by. Meanwhile, I had been raised as the only child in a well-off family in the provincial capital. My father was an executive at a Fortune 500 company, and my mother worked as a civil servant. My parents were giving them so much face by having me marry into their family. It was so obvious. My parents gifted me two million dollars in cash as a wedding gift, bought me a house worth over four million dollars, the one I was living in now, and even gave me two cars, both valued over 50 thousand dollars. Kayden and I each drove one to work. At yesterday’s wedding, my husband’s parents were treated like royalty. The Bailey family’s relatives and friends surrounded them, singing their praises. If people didn’t know the truth, they’d think it was Kayden and Emma who were getting married. I could tell that this was the first time they’d been so flattered. But just one day after the wedding, they started showing their true colors. I tried to calm myself and asked coldly, “Kayden, is this your attitude? Do you think I should hand over my salary to your father?” Kayden looked at me, clearly uncomfortable, his lips trembling as he stammered, “I… I… “Jasmine, listen, I’ll explain everything to you later,” he hurriedly said. Before I could respond, Henry said, his face flushed with anger. “What do you mean your money? Since you’ve married Kayden, everything you have belongs to us now. “Don’t just talk about your salary. Even your wedding gift belongs to us! You should hand it over to me respectfully!” Henry’s shameless remarks left me stunned. How could someone who had been a teacher for decades say something like that? Not only were they after my salary, but they had also set their sights on my wedding gift. The fire inside me blazed as I raised my trembling hands and clapped slowly, mocking them. “I didn’t expect you to be such good schemers! I thought you were a humble, decent family. Now it’s clear you’re just a bunch of wolves in sheep’s clothing!” “What did you say? Who’s a wolf?” Henry roared.

Emma was about to explode, but I ignored her. “Regardless of what happens, neither my salary nor my wedding gift has anything to do with the Bailey family. It’s all mine, and if you’re jealous, go earn your own!” Before they could interrupt, I turned back to Kayden and said, each word cutting through the air. “Think carefully about what happened today. I’m giving you time and an opportunity. Figure out how we’ll live from now on. If you can’t figure it out, we’ll head straight to the courthouse and file for divorce!” Seeing that I wasn’t joking, Kayden panicked. He grabbed my hand and apologized desperately. “Jasmine, I’m sorry. I didn’t handle things well at home. Give me some time, and I’ll talk to my parents.” Emma saw that Kayden’s attitude was shifting and immediately stormed over in anger. “Why are you wasting your time talking to her? We don’t keep freeloaders in this house. If she doesn’t pay up, she can leave!” “Mom, please, just stop talking!” Kayden pleaded. Kayden’s demeanor was tense as he tried to hold me back with one hand while using the other to restrain Emma from continuing her tirade. But the more he tried to pacify her, the more Emma resisted, her voice rising like a storm. “She’s five months pregnant! I don’t believe she’ll leave you! “Don’t let her fool you. If she dares to divorce, with a second marriage and carrying a child from our family, no one else will want her, she’ll be stuck with this used label forever!” I should’ve been angry, but instead, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. Back when Kayden and I were dating in college, he had confided in me about his family situation. His mother, Emma, was also his father’s second wife. She had concealed her past marriage when she married Henry. At first, Henry had no idea. However, since Emma was still somewhat attractive, the two quickly became involved. When Henry found out that Emma had a son from her previous marriage, it was already too late. Emma was pregnant with Kayden by then. She came with her family to confront Henry, who was furious. At first, he refused to marry her, but, as a teacher, he was afraid it would ruin his reputation. Eventually, they married, albeit with lingering resentment. This conflict had never truly been resolved between Henry and Emma. I smirked as I recalled those. “Used goods? You’re calling me that, but let’s be honest, Emma, you’re the used goods here, no doubt about it. “Right, Henry? You’re a proud teacher, but you ended up marrying someone like her. I feel sorry for you.” I deliberately glanced at Henry, my words sharp. The room’s atmosphere shifted immediately. Henry’s face turned from red to black, then to a deep shade of blue. Emma, on the other hand, went berserk, lunging at me and grabbing my hair. Fortunately, Kayden was quick to intervene. Otherwise, I might not have been able to defend myself. In the end, Henry showed signs of losing composure, and, wanting to avoid further embarrassment, he stormed out after yelling a few harsh words. Emma collapsed onto the floor, sobbing in Kayden’s arms. She lamented how hard she had worked raising him, how difficult it had been, only to have her son’s wife insult her now. She wept and even made exaggerated gestures to bang her head against the wall, playing the victim. Kayden, with pity in his eyes, grabbed her and tried to calm her down. As for me, the entire situation felt suffocating. The atmosphere in this house was toxic, and I couldn’t stand to be there for another second. I quickly packed a few clothes and left for my parent’s house. Before I left, I caught Kayden’s gaze. His eyes held a mixture of disappointment and confusion. He didn’t try to stop me from leaving, but I could see he was frustrated. I couldn’t believe it. He was upset with me! It was a weekend, and my parents were both at home. They were surprised to see me walking through the door alone in the middle of the afternoon. “Have you eaten? What happened?” My mother, knowing me well, immediately recognized something was off. I had never faced any real hardship in my life, and as soon as I saw my parents, I couldn’t hold back the tears. They fell uncontrollably as I recounted everything that had happened. “Such a shameless family!” My dad, sitting on the couch, quietly smoked his cigarette. My mom, shaking with anger, slapped the table and scolded me, “Jasmine Arnold, you’re our only daughter! We told you from the start not to get involved with Kayden, but you wouldn’t listen! You even got pregnant before marriage. You nearly drove your father and me insane. Now you see the consequences, don’t you?” My parents had strongly opposed me dating Kayden. I had been too blinded by love to listen to their warnings. All I knew was that Kayden was reliable and kind-hearted. He always took my feelings into consideration. He was the kind of person who, even if he had only 10 dollars left in his pocket, would spend nine of it on me. I was convinced that no one else would love me as much as he did. In the end, my persistence wore my parents down, and they reluctantly accepted him. Looking back, I wished I could slap myself for not listening to their advice. Why didn’t I pay attention to their warnings back then? “Well, what’s the use in talking about it now?” My dad pressed out his cigarette, his voice low and serious as he said, “Jasmine, the Baileys, your husband’s parents, are traditional and care deeply about their reputation, and they are unpredictable and calculating. You’re no match for them. “Then there’s Kayden. He’s a good person, but being honest doesn’t mean he can’t do bad things. “You should see by now that, in Kayden’s heart, you’ll never be more important than his parents. This is just the beginning. Anytime family issues come up, he’ll always choose them over you. Your relationship doesn’t stand a chance when compared to family ties. How long do you think you can hold on?” After I heard my dad’s words, my emotions slowly settled.

I didn’t know what the future would hold, but Kayden’s attitude today was already clear. Maybe I wasn’t that important to him after all. I thought about it, my eyes welling up with tears again. But what about the baby inside me? Was I really going to let him grow up without a father? Besides, this was about Kayden’s parents, not him. Our years of love couldn’t have been fake, could they? I helplessly glanced at my parents sitting beside me, trying to comfort me, but I still couldn’t make up my mind. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and in came Kayden, disheveled and anxious. I had expected him to stay home and work things out with his parents, not to come running after me so soon. That meant, deep down, he really did care about me. A wave of the anger I had been holding back for so long suddenly started to fade. I thought about the five years we had spent together and how we had just gotten married. I hadn’t even had a chance to experience the happiness I’d imagined for our married life. After all we had been through, maybe I shouldn’t give up so easily. At the very least, I would never be able to let it go. Kayden rushed in, greeted my parents briefly, and then sat down next to me. “Jasmine, we’re family. Can you please not hold this against me? “I messed up. I didn’t communicate well. Actually, my parents didn’t mean any harm. Once you get to know them, you’ll see they’re really kind-hearted.” “Today, you shouldn’t have been so unreasonable with my mom.” None of us spoke, waiting for Kayden to finish. But the more I heard, the more upset I became. So, his parents were good people, and I was just a petty, unforgiving person? I turned my head and saw my mom holding back a sigh, rolling her eyes. She was about to speak when my dad raised his hand to stop her. Then he glanced at Kayden, his tone calm yet authoritative, a presence he had earned from decades of leadership experience. “Kayden, it’s normal for young couples to have disagreements. But you two just got married. This should be the sweetest time for you both. And Jasmine is pregnant, so, morally and logically, this shouldn’t have happened.” “Right.” Kayden nodded repeatedly in response to my dad. He was always cautious around him. Not only was my dad, but also his superior’s superior at work. Without my dad, how could Kayden have gotten into such a big company right after graduation, earning two to three thousand dollars a month with no experience? Kayden’s attitude was always respectful, but my dad didn’t soften, continuing, “I have only one precious daughter. I’ve said this before. If anyone causes her even the slightest harm, I will make them pay ten times over, no matter who they are.” When my dad said this, his eyes were full of determination. Kayden visibly shook. In the past, I had thought Kayden’s caution around my parents was simply due to his sincerity and humility. But now, it only irritated me. “I was wrong this time. I didn’t take care of Jasmine properly. I came here to apologize. “I’ll talk to my parents and make sure this doesn’t happen again. I promise I won’t make Jasmine angry anymore.” Kayden was the same as before our marriage; whenever he was questioned, he would promise to treat me better over and over. But now, his promises didn’t seem to mean much. “What are you going to do about it next?”

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During the Christmas break, my husband insisted that I accompany him to a class reunion. By the time we arrived at the hotel, most of the classmates were already there. The parking lot was filled with luxury cars, making our humble domestic car seem rather out of place. As we approached the entrance, I overheard some derogatory comments, “I just don’t get it. Back in school, Logan was quite the big shot, how did he end up with someone like Fiona…” Although the conversation cut off abruptly, the dismissive tone was unmistakable. In the face of such provocation, my husband, who should have stood up for me, was all smiles, chatting with classmates as though I wasn’t even there. After the banquet, the former campus beauty slowly approached and took my husband’s hand. “Fiona, I’m quite interested in your husband. Would you let him go? You can set any condition.” I laughed instead of getting angry. “You might want to rethink that—divorcing me isn’t without consequences.” Had it not been for my husband’s persistent persuasion, I wouldn’t have bothered attending this reunion. I thought it might be nice to reconnect with people from the past, so I took a day off work to be here. Little did I expect that someone would publicly try to take my husband away during the dinner. What was even more chilling was that my husband was agreeable to it. “Oh wow, you’ve become quite eloquent over the years.” “The money is a token of appreciation for taking care of Logan all these years, think of it as compensation.” “Do you really think you can threaten me with talk of jail? Do you know my standing in New York?” Just as I was about to respond, I saw my husband pulling the campus beauty into an embrace. “Qingqing, just take the money; it’s better for everyone.” Watching them hold hands, a cold laugh escaped me. “So, you two have been planning this for a while, huh?” Logan had been calling me repeatedly, urging me to attend today’s reunion. Now I see they planned to make me publicly agree to a divorce. No wonder he hasn’t been close to me since our marriage; he had someone else in mind. As soon as I finished speaking, Logan’s expression changed. “What nonsense! Adeline and I are truly in love!” “If she hadn’t been forced to study abroad back then, we’d be together now.” I was utterly shocked by his words. Everyone at school knew she dumped Logan, and now it’s a mutual love story? I don’t know why they got back together, but at this moment, Logan is still legally my husband. I couldn’t swallow this insult. “Logan, do you realize how serious infidelity in marriage is?” I spoke while looking him straight in the eye, but he couldn’t meet my gaze. Then, the beauty threw herself onto him, looking pitiful, and said: “Stop with the nonsense. You’re just unhappy because the money isn’t enough.” “Name your price. I’m not short on cash!” Facing such a once-glamorous but now somewhat plump campus beauty, I felt like I was watching a joke. “Adeline, let me remind you, if Logan agrees to a divorce today, you both will be facing legal consequences.” Before I finished, Logan anxiously said, “Stop with the scare tactics. What could you possibly do to us?” “Since marrying you, we barely met, who knows what you’ve been up to.” “To be honest, if you hadn’t pursued me back then, don’t expect a penny.” If not for his unique status, I’d have slapped him. Logan’s words drew laughter from the crowd. “See? It’s always said that your abilities determine your partner. A woman like Fiona, lacking background and presence, is destined to lose her husband.” “Right? Dressed so plainly, how dare she show up here.” “When it comes to wealth and influence, the Adeline family’s daughter is generous with money and has strong backing.” Everyone was flattering the former beauty, and no one stood up for me. To them, I was just a clown for their amusement. Such friends and reunions—better to avoid them.

Ignoring their sneers, I intended to leave. But before I could stand, a hand pressed on my shoulder. “Trying to leave? Did you get my permission?” Adeline looked at me with a smug smile and disdain in her eyes. “Fiona, you have two choices today: take the money and divorce, or I’ll beat you until you do.” “Think carefully and choose one.” Hearing Adeline’s words, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you sure you want me to choose?” Adeline, still not realizing the trouble she was in, remained smug. “Of course, as long as you divorce your husband, I promise you’ll have a good life afterward.” Suppressing the anger within, I said slowly: “I can divorce Logan, and I don’t want the money, but…” I paused deliberately. “You must first let me make a call because the divorce isn’t solely my decision.” Adeline laughed heartily after hearing me. “Fiona, you really think you’re someone important, don’t you? Giving you the choice was a courtesy, not a negotiation.” “No matter who you call, you must divorce today, understand?” I detected the threat in her tone but didn’t care, finding it almost amusing. “I’ve already said, I agree to divorce Logan.” “But this needs approval from higher-ups; I can’t decide alone.” Adeline’s face changed, ready to get rough, but Logan stopped her. “Dear, we’re magnanimous, let’s not fuss over this.” “Let her make the call. My heart has long been set on you; nothing others say matters.” Logan thought I was just stalling, looking very pleased with himself. I was about to argue back, but he continued: “Fiona, don’t say I didn’t warn you, no matter who you call, I intend to divorce today.” I believed I was a good wife to Logan after marriage. I handed over my monthly stipend without fail. He never worked or did chores, spending days shopping and playing mahjong. Despite being home only once a year, he was still unsatisfied. At this moment, my last bit of affection for him vanished completely. “Logan, don’t flatter yourself, I never intended to persuade you, I just find it disgusting.” “But you and Adeline, I hope after this call, you won’t regret it.” “Because by then, no one will be able to save you.” I thought about giving her a friendly warning, but some people just don’t appreciate it. Like the campus beauty, Adeline. “Fiona, you’re still putting on airs in front of me, who will regret it?” Adeline was about to continue, but I waved my hand to stop her. “Fine, your words are enough.” Then, I pulled out my phone and called my leader.

“Hello, sir, it’s Fiona.” The person on the other end chuckled upon hearing my voice. “Fiona? Why are you calling now?” “Sir, there’s a situation I need to report.” I briefly explained how Adeline was forcing me to divorce my husband at the reunion. As soon as I finished, I heard the sound of a glass shattering from the other end. “Who’s bold enough to force you into divorce?” Adeline grabbed the phone. “Listen up, I don’t care what your relationship with Fiona is, I want her husband, and no one can stop me.” “You’d better mind your own business, or you’ll end up in trouble too!” The leader paused for a few seconds before speaking. “Are you the one forcing Fiona to divorce?” Adeline, still unaware of who was on the other end, was as arrogant as ever. “That’s right, it’s me.” “Look around New York, anything Adeline wants, she gets.” “A man is nothing; he’s mine, who can stop me?” After saying that, she tossed the phone to the ground and stomped on it several times. It was my first time witnessing such audacity. “Now that you’ve made the call, fulfill your promise.” Logan, holding Adeline with one hand, handed me a divorce agreement with the other. “I’ve got all the paperwork ready, just sign.” Looking at the stack of documents on the table confirmed my suspicions. Logan had been cheating for a while. Facing someone like him, I had no mercy. I signed my name without hesitation and handed it back. Logan looked at me in surprise. “Fiona, what does this mean?” I looked up at him with a cold tone. “What? Isn’t this what you wanted all along?” “Now I’ve granted your wish, signed and stamped, and you’re blaming me?” “Sign it quickly, before Adeline loses interest in you too.” Logan’s face turned red with anger. “Fine! I’ll sign, as if I’d miss you!” He immediately signed the divorce papers. Thus, our five-year marriage finally ended. I signed my name without a second thought and handed the papers back to him. Logan looked at me, eyes wide. “Fiona, what are you doing?” I met his gaze, my voice icy. “What do you mean? Wasn’t it you who wanted this divorce from the beginning?” “Now I’ve given you what you wanted—signed the papers and left my fingerprint—and you’re still blaming me.” “Just sign it already, so Adeline doesn’t leave you too.” Logan flushed with anger. “Fine! I’ll sign it. It’s not like I care about you!” He signed the divorce agreement without hesitation. Our five-year marriage was finally over. Watching him sign, I felt no regret, only a weight lifted off my shoulders. “I’ve signed the papers, and now you’re free. Can I leave?” “Hold on!” Adeline blocked my way, grinning maliciously. “Now that the two of you are done, it’s time for us.” 0

Hearing Adeline, I narrowed my eyes. Her expression darkened. “You were the one who got me expelled from school, weren’t you?” “If it weren’t for you, my father wouldn’t have sent me abroad, and Logan wouldn’t have been forced to marry you.” “Fiona, did you know? I spent three whole years abroad, plotting revenge against that snitch, until Logan told me the truth.” Adeline slammed her hand on the table. “Fiona! I’ve waited for this day for so long!” Even as Adeline’s arrogance filled the room, I maintained a faint smile. “You’re right, I reported you.” “But I don’t think I was wrong. You were always causing trouble, fighting, even breaking someone’s leg.” “For people like you, I report every time without hesitation.” Adeline’s face twisted in rage. “I admire your arrogance.” “Fiona, do you know why I called you back?” “This isn’t just a class reunion. I’m here for revenge.” Adeline snapped her fingers, and a dozen well-built men in black burst into the private booth. They looked ready for a fight. I leaned back, tapping my fingers on the table. “Adeline, this is your last chance. Think it over.” “If you touch me today, you won’t be able to handle the consequences.” “Even if you have the entire Liu family backing you…” The sycophants around us erupted in laughter. “Did you hear that? Fiona thinks the Liu family wouldn’t dare cross her.” “This is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. A nobody challenging the elite Liu family from the capital!” My former classmates quickly took sides, verbally attacking me to curry favor with Adeline. Logan joined in. “Fiona, what are you shouting about? Look in the mirror and see what you’re like.” “Forget Adeline, anyone here could put you in your place.” I took a deep breath and slowly removed my wedding ring. “Logan, from now on, we have nothing to do with each other.” “As for Adeline, she’ll pay for her actions today.” Adeline sneered. “You? Make me pay?” “I’m in charge here. Even if I beat you to death, no one would dare arrest me.” The crowd burst into laughter again. Seeing the familiar faces, I felt a profound sense of disappointment. Is this what they call classmate camaraderie? I was a top student, but I never felt superior. I always answered questions patiently. Now, all I get is mockery and disdain. They don’t deserve to be called “classmates”! Seeing me silent, Adeline thought I was afraid, becoming even more brazen. “Stupid woman, either kowtow and apologize in front of the class, and we’ll let it go.” “Or get your legs broken and crawl out.” My eyes turned cold. “Adeline, you’ve crossed the line too many times. Do you really think you’re untouchable?” Instead of backing down, Adeline got even more arrogant. “Look at the men behind me. Any one of them could knock you down.” “Quit pretending. Even if the king himself came, you’d still have to kneel!” Just then, the booth door opened, and a large man entered. Adeline quickly adjusted her clothes and greeted him with a fawning smile. “Mr. Jack, what brings you here?” Hearing her call him that, everyone turned pale. Logan retreated to a corner. I remained seated, fingers tapping the table. Mr. Jack scanned the room, and everyone fell silent. He spoke slowly, “Whose Porsche is parked outside?”

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My boyfriend was known as a piano prodigy. He sent a video of me practicing violin to the newly transferred rich girl. “So annoying. With this level of skill, she still wants me to accompany her.” Rich girl: “Haha, she looks so stupid. How dare she?” “You’re still going to accompany her? Aren’t you afraid she’ll hold you back?” My boyfriend replied: “It’s really embarrassing.” Later, after I won an award, he knelt down and begged to accompany me. I calmly walked past him and said coldly: “Being in the same space as you makes me feel embarrassed.” My mom died in a car accident on the day of my stage performance, which caused me to develop panic attacks. Whenever I was about to perform on stage, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Because of this, I planned to give up the violin. It was my boyfriend, Lucas Foster, who encouraged me. He said he would always be on stage with me, accompanying me until the day I got better. With his encouragement, I signed up for the school’s talent show. I heard that the first-place winner would get a spot in the national competition. For this, Lucas and I practiced piano and violin concertos every day. With our perfect coordination, I regained confidence and even thought I could win first place. However, on the night before the talent show, I saw the video he sent to Vanessa Summers, the newly transferred rich girl. It was from when I first tried to perform on the street to overcome my panic attacks. This was actually Lucas’s suggestion. He said it was called exposure therapy. While I was playing the violin, he was recording nearby. He said we could review it later, so I would get better each time. In the video, as more and more people gathered to watch, my panic attack started. My face turned pale, I was breathing heavily, and the melody I played was completely out of tune. But Lucas told me I had to persist, to finish playing a song no matter what. Amidst the noisy clamor, I felt like a fish struggling to survive on a chopping board. Finally, I fainted on the roadside due to difficulty breathing. If it weren’t for a doctor in the crowd who performed first aid, I might have died from suffocation. Therefore, that night became a memory I didn’t want to recall. I thought Lucas had deleted the video. I never expected he would keep it and send it to Vanessa. “So annoying, with this level of skill, I still have to accompany her tomorrow.” Vanessa sent a row of laughing emojis. “Haha, she looks so stupid. How dare she? Don’t you agree?” “[Bitter smile jpg] I hope nothing goes wrong, or it would be really embarrassing.”

In a daze, my phone was snatched away. Lucas, who had just tried on his performance outfit, stood behind me with a displeased look and coldly asked, “Why are you looking at my phone?” I was about to explain when I suddenly realized this wasn’t the point. Besides, he never minded me looking at his phone before. “Lucas, why did you send that old video of me when I wasn’t doing well to someone else?” I thought he would explain clearly to me, but instead, his face grew even darker. “Chloe, the performance is tomorrow, and you have to cause trouble now? Do you not want me to accompany you anymore?” He angrily tore off his bow tie and threw it on the ground. “If you don’t want me to accompany you, just say so. No need to find fault with me here. Do whatever you want.” If it were before, I would have picked up the bow tie and put it back on him, then stopped pursuing who was right or wrong. In every argument, I was always the first to give in. But this time, I just coldly replied: “If you don’t want to accompany me, that’s fine. I can perform solo too.” Lucas looked at me in shock. Because he knew best that being able to perform on stage with him had always been my wish. His tone softened, “Vanessa just transferred back from abroad, and the instructor asked me to take care of her more.” “She said she wasn’t confident about her first violin solo after returning to the country, so I sent her that video of you to encourage her.” “If you’re unhappy, I can delete it.” As he spoke, he took out his phone and deleted the video in front of me. But he knew in his heart that what I cared about was far more than just this incident. There were rumors at school that the daughter of Summers Corporation was studying at our arts academy. Everyone guessed that the rich girl was Vanessa. Because she was driven to school in luxury cars every day, and both instructors and school leaders treated her with great respect. To help her get familiar with the campus environment, Lucas had left me to practice alone several times recently. He said we were already working together perfectly and there wouldn’t be any problems. But only I knew that his heart was probably no longer on this talent show.

Seeing my silence, Lucas unusually spoke again, “Chloe, I’m doing this for our future. You should know that getting Summers Corporation to continue sponsoring our overseas studies is just a matter of Vanessa saying a word.” Lucas had told me before that he was a scholarship recipient from Summers Corporation. After he finished, he looked at the canvas bag on my body and asked, “Are you one too?” I thought for a moment and answered, “I guess so.” He was very happy to hear this and held my hand, “Chloe, we must work hard together and meet at the top.” Later, he became a rising star with his extremely high talent. While I was still confined to a small practice room, struggling with panic attacks. Thinking about how Lucas had encouraged me to participate in this talent show, I sighed. Forget it, the show is tomorrow, we should indeed focus on the performance. But I still answered him. “If it’s about studying abroad, you don’t need to worry. Summers Corporation won’t stop sponsoring you.” I had originally hoped that we would make a splash at this show. But on the way to the auditorium, someone came running to tell me that there was an urgent matter and someone was looking for me in the practice room. Lucas took the garment bag and my backpack from my hands, saying he would wait for me in the rest area and told me to hurry back. But when I got to the practice room, it was empty. The door behind me slammed shut with a “bang” and was locked. I urgently wanted to call Lucas, only to realize that my phone was in my bag. I thought Lucas would surely come looking for me if he kept waiting and I didn’t show up, but he didn’t come. By the time the janitor found me, the talent show was already nearing its end. I ran to the auditorium as fast as I could, only to see that the finale that was supposed to belong to Lucas and me had become his duet with Vanessa. On stage, Lucas was wearing a white suit, the angled spotlight making him look otherworldly. Pleasant and lively music flowed from his fingertips. He played the piano while looking up at Vanessa in front of him, his eyes full of undisguised joy. I followed his gaze, and when I saw the dress Vanessa was wearing, my pupils constricted. That was my mother’s dress.

My mother was a world-renowned violinist. After my father had an affair, she resolutely chose to divorce him and then took me abroad to restart her career. When her career was back at its peak, she rushed to attend my first violin performance and got into a car accident on the way. I couldn’t participate in that performance. Instead, I went to the hospital to see her for the last time. On her deathbed, my mother left her last words. “Go back to your father. With his help, you’ll avoid many detours and reach greater heights.” “And those dresses, I want to take them with me. Remember to cremate them all for me.” In the end, I kept one dress, planning to wear it today, hoping it would give me strength. But now, that dress was on Vanessa, the original thin straps had been altered into a strapless design. I rushed over and grabbed Vanessa’s hand. “Why is this dress on you?” The performance came to an abrupt halt, and the audience below started whispering. Vanessa looked at me with a wronged expression, “Sister Chloe, we’re still performing.” Lucas stood up angrily and scolded, “Chloe, what are you doing? Get off the stage.” I pointed at the dress on Vanessa and looked at him coldly, “Explain why my dress is on her.” He came over and questioned me in a low voice, “You have the nerve to ask? Where were you?” “You never showed up, so I called Vanessa to save the day. She came on stage at the last minute without preparing any clothes, so I gave her yours.” “What’s wrong with wearing it?” I looked at him in disbelief. Lucas knew very well that this was my mother’s memento. My mother hated nothing more than others touching her dresses. I ignored Lucas and walked over to Vanessa, commanding coldly, “Take it off.” Vanessa didn’t reply to me, but looked at Lucas with tears in her eyes. Impatient, I grabbed her hand to take her to the backstage dressing room. Vanessa struggled, as if I were some kind of monster, and turned back to shout, “Lucas!” Lucas rushed over and pushed me away forcefully. He used too much strength, and I stumbled and fell to the ground. He seemed not to have expected me to fall, his expression regretful, wanting to help me up. But Vanessa grabbed him, burying her face in his shoulder and crying, “Lucas.” In the end, it was the school security guards who helped me up. Before I left the stage, meeting his gaze, I suddenly remembered the promise he made to me on the day I agreed to be his girlfriend. He said that no matter what happened in the future, he would always stand firmly by my side. Thinking about it now, I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.

Lucas and Vanessa were allowed to restart their performance. I was taken to the backstage dressing room, where the instructor asked me what had happened. After I explained the whole situation, He told me that because it was an unexpected situation, they would give me another chance to perform on stage. While waiting backstage, I listened to Lucas and Vanessa’s duet. During the performance, Vanessa played several wrong notes, all of which were well covered by Lucas’s piano. After the piece ended, I knew they had definitely performed together before. When it was my turn to go on stage, I passed by them. Lucas looked at me with a complicated expression, wanting to take my hand, but I shook him off. Behind him was Vanessa with a smug expression. She glanced at my violin with a smirk, and I immediately had a bad feeling. Sure enough, as soon as I started playing, the strings snapped. An unpleasant, jarring sound echoed throughout the auditorium. Boos rose from all around, along with mockery from those who were already upset about the earlier incident. After all, in their eyes, I had offended the Summers’ daughter. “Is she crazy or what?” “She was already acting weird earlier, and now she comes on stage to embarrass herself.” “How did Lucas ever fall for her?” Amidst those noisy voices, I saw a tall figure stand up and walk out of the auditorium. My first stage performance in life had ended in such a disaster. Back in the dressing room, I received a message from William Summers, the CEO of Summers Corporation. “You said you didn’t need my help, and now you show me this?” I didn’t reply. Because Lucas was waiting there with the dress Vanessa had changed out of. He handed me the crumpled dress that had been altered beyond recognition. “It’s just a dress, was it worth making such a scene on stage? Chloe, what will people think of you now?” I took a deep breath and said to him, “Lucas, let’s break up.” His face darkened. “Chloe, do you know what you’re saying?” “I said, let’s break up.”

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The day Jack Sullivan was admitted to the ICU, I broke up with him, tired of living in constant danger by his side. I left the country and got married. While he was struggling for his life, I didn’t even visit him once. He hated me to the bone. Three years later, his grandfather dragged him back to their hometown to exhume and rebury the remains from an unmarked grave. Jack held a wrist bone in his hand and said coldly, “Rachel Sullivan, why couldn’t it have been you who died?” But he didn’t know. The skeleton he was picking up with his own hands was mine. … July had just arrived when a heavy rainstorm hit, washing away my grave. It rained for several days. As soon as the sky cleared, I saw a figure stumbling towards me, step by step. I sat in front of the tombstone and greeted Grandpa, but I watched as he slowly crouched down, digging at the soil bit by bit with his aged hands, trying to rebury my coffin. “Oh, my poor child! What are we going to do?” he lamented. My heart ached. I wanted to help Grandpa up and tell him it was okay, but my hand passed right through his body. I kept forgetting that I had been dead for three years. As Grandpa continued digging, a sudden clarity flashed in his cloudy eyes. He muttered to himself, “A wet grave won’t do. Rachel won’t rest in peace… We need to exhume the remains and rebury them. Yes, that’s it.” He then shakily pulled out his phone from his pocket. The old man’s fingers were stiff, pausing after each number, but he persevered and dialed his grandson’s number. “Jack, come back quickly! It’s an emergency!” I tried to stop Grandpa when he dialed that familiar number, but as a mere soul, I could do nothing. So I could only clasp my hands together and silently pray that Jack wouldn’t come. “Grandpa, what’s wrong? Don’t worry, I’ll take leave and come right away.” …My last hope died. After hanging up, Grandpa sat dazed for a while, then stood up and stumbled towards home. “Grandpa! You’ve really done it this time! Didn’t we agree to keep it a secret?” I knew Grandpa couldn’t hear me, but I couldn’t help nagging as I followed behind him. Before I knew it, I had followed Grandpa back home. I was both surprised and delighted. For the past three years, I could only move within ten meters of my grave. It had been suffocating. I hovered near Grandpa’s shoulder, as if I were still alive. Over the years, Jack had repeatedly suggested that Grandpa move to the city with him, but each time Grandpa refused. Jack thought Grandpa just couldn’t bear to leave his hometown, but I understood. Grandpa was afraid the little girl he had raised since childhood would be lonely, so he stayed here. The next day, Jack arrived. He looked rushed and disheveled, clearly having traveled in haste. He crouched down to be at eye level with Grandpa, who was sitting, and carefully checked if he had any injuries. “Grandpa, are you alright? What happened? Why did you call me back so urgently?” Grandpa’s gaze was somewhat unfocused, and he spoke haltingly but with obvious anxiety: “Wet grave… not good, move… need to move… exhume!” Exhuming remains, also known as bone washing, refers to the ritual of opening a grave years after burial, collecting the remains, and reburying them. Jack frowned. Having grown up with his grandfather, he naturally understood some of the techniques of exhuming remains, but he didn’t understand. His parents’ ashes were buried in a cemetery after cremation, so whose bones did Grandpa want to exhume? I floated in front of Jack, my hand gently caressing his face. The man before me had grown thinner, darker, with unshaven stubble on his face. “Jack? So this is your home.” I saw a beautiful woman appear at the door, her voice filled with intimacy and dependence. Jack nodded in response and continued questioning Grandpa, “Grandpa, whose bones are we exhuming?” Grandpa’s eyes were still somewhat confused as he spoke unclearly. “It’s… Ra…chel.” My mind went blank, and I froze in place. Then I heard Jack laugh coldly. “Her? Good riddance.”

Jack and I grew up together as family and were also lovers who understood each other’s hearts. But when we parted, it was ugly. In front of everyone, I argued with Jack, saying I was tired of living in constant danger with him, tired of the anxiety-filled life. I said I had found a rich man and was preparing to go abroad to marry him. I had never said such hurtful things before, and naturally, Jack didn’t believe it. He lay in the ICU for a month, constantly mumbling that he wanted to see me when he was conscious, but I never showed up. I even had someone tell him that we were done for good. Finally, he gave up hope. His hatred for me was justified. Meanwhile, Jack thought that since Grandpa had mistaken that grave for Rachel Sullivan’s, he would go check it out to give Grandpa an explanation, so he could quickly return to the police station. I followed behind Jack, afraid he would recognize my remains. His junior, Emily Johnson, also followed behind him. “Jack,” she said coquettishly, “who was that person Grandpa mentioned earlier?” I saw Jack’s footsteps falter. “A liar.” “Is that so? I thought it might be your girlfriend. People at the police station all say… you had a girlfriend you were about to marry before.” “If it were her… I’d hope it really was her buried in that grave.” He muttered softly, but I heard it all. “But why would Grandpa bring up a liar?” Jack was clearly annoyed by topics related to me. “Why keep talking about this?” Emily pouted. “Fine.” Soon, we arrived at my tombstone. Emily looked around, seeing only dense forest. The heavy rain had mercilessly uncovered this piece of land, the soil had slid away, and the grave had collapsed, revealing the place where I had long been resting. The coffin lay there alone, looking somewhat eerie. “Jack, this place is scary.” Jack said impatiently, “Emily, no one asked you to come along. I promised your dad I’d take care of you, but you don’t need to follow me everywhere.” His junior felt a bit hurt by these words and lowered her head, no longer speaking. However, she still followed behind Jack. The path was uneven, and she accidentally twisted her ankle, the pain bringing tears to her eyes. Jack was crouching down to examine the unmarked tombstone. Hearing her soft cry, he stopped and looked back. Seeing the pain on his junior’s face, he sighed. He walked over, bent down, and carried her on his back. “Let’s head back,” Jack said softly. Emily smiled secretly on Jack’s back. “I knew Jack was the best,” she said. Watching them, I remembered when Jack and I were young. When I couldn’t walk on mountain paths, I would pretend to twist my ankle to get Jack to carry me. Every time, he would do this – his face full of impatience, grumbling, “Not again. Why are you so delicate?” But even so, he would still crouch down, turn his back to me, sigh softly, and say, “Come on, get on.” I would climb onto his back with a smile, my arms around his neck. The mountain path was steep, but his steps were so steady it was reassuring. From his back, I could see far into the distance, as if I could see our future. His future might now include a new girl. Reaching this conclusion, my eyes stung. I immediately rubbed my face hard. Rachel! Wake up! You’re already dead! His bride will never be you! Jack didn’t know why, but ever since he arrived here, he had felt uneasy, as if some primordial instinct was warning him. This feeling wasn’t unfamiliar to him. Many times during missions, he had relied on this intuition to escape danger. However, this panic now was more intense and rapid than ever before. Jack suddenly looked back, and I stared at him, momentarily unable to distinguish between dream and reality. For that instant, his gaze seemed to cross the boundary between life and death, seeing my soul… I hurriedly averted my gaze, my heart racing. It’s impossible for him to see me! I remembered when we were young, Jack always boasted about being the world’s bravest man, fearing nothing. But then I discovered he was afraid of ghosts, and I teased him about it for a long time. If he could really see me now, he’d be scared to death. I clutched my chest, cursing myself for becoming so sentimental after becoming a ghost, aching at every little thing.

When Grandpa saw the two return, he put down the rag doll in his hand. “How did it go?” he asked, tightly gripping Jack’s arm. Jack tried to reassure him, “Grandpa, it’s too late today. I’ll bring the tools tomorrow and officially open the coffin then.” Emily stepped forward, flashing a sweet smile, and said ingratiatingly, “Grandpa, you should rest now. I’ll accompany Jack tomorrow and keep an eye on him.” Grandpa looked at her, a flash of confusion in his eyes. He picked up the rag doll again and said softly, “I don’t know you. Where’s Rachel?” “Jack, hurry and bring Rachel back. Don’t let her stay away from home for too long.” Upon hearing these words, Jack’s expression instantly darkened, as if something had stung him. “Don’t mention her anymore, Grandpa.” “It’s too late, she’ll be cold.” “Grandpa! She’s not coming back.” Jack’s chest heaved violently. “You need to coax her properly.” “Grandpa!” He snatched the rag doll from Grandpa’s hand and threw it out the window, his voice trembling as he said, “Grandpa, how many times do I have to tell you? She left with someone else! She doesn’t want us anymore, doesn’t want me!” Startled by Jack’s actions, Grandpa turned and glared at him angrily, “That’s not true! Rachel must be hiding because that rascal Jack upset her. She can’t find her way home. Rachel always listens to me. I’ll wait for her here, she’ll definitely come back.” Jack clenched his jaw tightly. He had tried so hard to forget her, why did everyone keep reminding him that he had been abandoned? Those past events always left behind sharp remnants that cut deep new wounds every time they were mentioned. His eyes were bloodshot from the emotional turmoil. He instinctively reached into his pocket for eye drops but found nothing. Seeing this scene, my heart ached. Don’t argue because of me, it’s not worth it, it’s not worth it! Suddenly, I remembered my childhood promise to protect this family. I was an orphan saved by Jack’s parents, who were both police officers. When I was rescued as a child, I was covered in wounds, so thin it was hard to tell if I was a boy or a girl. The orphanage staff said children like me were hard to adopt. I huddled in a corner, thinking I was about to be abandoned again. But Jack’s parents came over, patted my head, and asked me, “Would you like to live with us?” The feeling at that moment was indescribable. It was like enjoying a warm cup of milk in the bitter cold, finding an umbrella in the rain, or waking up to sunshine on your bed. From then on, I had a family. But I couldn’t do anything in return. Instead, I made Grandpa bury his grandchild and caused them to argue incessantly. The atmosphere remained tense, the stuffiness in the room almost suffocating. Just then, a cheerful voice came from outside. “Jack! Oh my, you came back home in such a hurry without even telling me!” It was Alex Chen, Jack’s and my childhood friend. As soon as Alex entered, he looked around and said with a smile, “It’s been a long time since I’ve been back. This place hasn’t changed at all.” He knew I had passed away, but because he had to keep it from Jack, he never dared to come and pay his respects to me. Jack asked with some surprise, “Why are you here too? Isn’t the hospital busy?” Alex patted Jack’s shoulder and replied, “Well, I heard about the heavy rain back home. I figured I’d take some annual leave and check on Grandpa while I’m at it.” “But what’s going on here? Why is everyone so serious?” Alex asked. Jack briefly explained the situation. After listening, Alex furrowed his brow, looking thoughtful. “Oh, that’s simple. If you’re busy with work, go back to the police station. Leave the exhumation to me. I’ve dealt with more dead bodies than you have.” Alex said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. Jack lowered his eyes and pressed his lips together, noncommittal: “Grandpa seems to care a lot about that body.” “Grandpa’s getting old, maybe he just got confused. Don’t worry, I’ve seen Grandpa exhume remains before. How hard can it be to copy what he does?” Alex patted his chest, putting on a confident air. Jack hesitated for a moment. Alex’s proposal was indeed the best option, but he still felt something was off. Alex didn’t give him time to think: “By the way, aren’t you going to introduce me to…” Jack paused, then introduced, “This is my boss’s daughter, Emily Johnson.” Emily extended her hand, smiling, “Hello, I’m Emily Johnson.” Her hand lingered in the air for a moment, but Alex pretended not to notice her gesture. He turned and patted Jack’s shoulder, his tone teasing: “Jack, you lucky dog. You’ve got a beauty by your side.” Emily awkwardly withdrew her hand, her smile becoming a bit stiff. She was about to explain. But before she could speak, Jack coldly rebuked, “Alex!” Alex shrugged, putting on an indifferent air, and muttered, “I was just joking, don’t take it seriously.” “Alright, alright, everyone go rest now. I’ll sleep with Grandpa tonight, you two can each take a room. There’s a train you can catch together early tomorrow morning.” Alex hurried Jack off to rest. Emily felt a bit disappointed. She had come to make a good impression on Jack’s family, but they had settled everything in just a few words. She couldn’t say anything more and could only silently follow behind. Just then, Jack suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned back, asking as if casually, “After she went to America, did you hear any news about her?” He didn’t mention a name, but Alex knew who Jack was referring to. My heart instantly jumped to my throat. Alex was taken aback for a moment, then replied, “What are you talking about? Didn’t she go to France?”

After Jack left, Alex and I both let out a long sigh of relief. That moment seemed to make the air in the entire room a bit lighter. Alex sat next to Grandpa, cursing under his breath, “This guy’s using his police interrogation tactics on me. Good thing I’m quick-witted.” I sat beside Alex, feeling so tense I was almost faint. My emotions that night had been like a rollercoaster, up and down, unable to calm down. Late at night, the house gradually quieted down. I gazed at the moon outside the window, its silver-white light spilling into the courtyard, making everything seem particularly peaceful. Occasionally, the sound of insects chirping reached my ears, adding a touch of life to this quiet night. I knew that once Jack left tomorrow, it might be our final goodbye. I understood that I should go see him one last time, but I was afraid that if I did, I wouldn’t be able to let go. As I was struggling with this dilemma, I heard a soft creak. Jack gently pushed open the door and walked into the small courtyard. The faint moonlight fell on the ground. Using this dim light, he searched for something. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He crouched down and carefully picked up the rag doll, gently brushing off the dirt. So, he came to find Bebe? Bebe was my rag doll. I took it everywhere with me; I couldn’t sleep without it. Jack stared blankly at the doll, his expression somewhat dazed. He murmured softly to himself, “Did she not want you either?” My heart ached. This doll was my most important companion, and he always knew what it meant to me. Seeing him now, holding Bebe so preciously, tears welled up in my eyes. I knew him too well. He must have started to suspect something. His intuition had always been sharp, especially after he became a police officer. His keen observation and judgment made it even harder to deceive him. I consoled myself that as long as nothing unexpected happened, he would leave tomorrow. Then everything would return to normal, and my secret would remain undiscovered. Early the next morning, just as dawn was breaking, someone knocked on our door. The knocking sound seemed particularly jarring in the quiet morning. My heart suddenly leaped; for some reason, I had an ominous feeling. “Jack, are you there?” Mrs. Thompson from next door stood at the small courtyard gate, knocking and calling out. Jack went over and learned that last night, someone had taken advantage of the darkness to rob the graves around the village. Mrs. Thompson was asking him, as a police officer, to help investigate. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Thompson. I’ll handle it as soon as possible,” Jack reassured her while quickly changing his shoes to go out and taking out his phone to cancel his train ticket. Watching this scene, Alex couldn’t help but try to dissuade him: “Jack, do you really have to go?” Jack coldly retorted: “Can you mimic catching thieves too?” After saying this, he thought for a moment, then turned back to grab the exhumation tools, clearly planning to handle both matters. Alex and Emily volunteered to help, and even Grandpa, who wasn’t fully lucid, insisted on going along. So, a large group of people set off towards my grave. I stood behind them, feeling a bit lost, wondering how things had suddenly developed to this point. When we arrived at the gravesite, we found that my coffin had already been pried open. I shouted internally: “Damn it, who would steal from my grave!” Alex’s reaction was even stronger than mine. His face instantly turned ashen, “Who’s so heartless to steal from the dead!” Jack didn’t say anything. He just glanced at the pried-open coffin, thought for a moment, then silently took out his tools, preparing to start the exhumation. Seeing Jack’s attitude, Alex became somewhat irritated and angrily said, “Jack, what do you call this? They didn’t even spare the dead, it’s completely inhumane!” Jack remained silent, continuing his work, and said calmly, “Why are you so angry? You don’t know the deceased. Or do you?” Alex was suddenly at a loss for words, the anger in his heart seemed to be blocked. Jack continued, “This timing is perfect. Let Grandpa watch us finish so he can be at ease, and then I can go catch the thieves.” Alex didn’t say anything more. At the auspicious hour, the exhumation ritual finally began. Jack first lit three incense sticks for the deceased at the grave, then tapped the wall around the tombstone with a large hammer, signaling to the departed about the upcoming actions. Following tradition, he first grasped the hand of the deceased, indicating “we’re going to get up now.” Jack’s expression froze the moment he saw my hand bones. He kept leaning closer, trying hard to discern something, even holding his breath. Slowly, he rubbed the broken joint with his fingertip. I felt a bit scared. He might recognize me. This hand was missing a joint because of saving Jack.

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To run off into the sunset with his secretary, my husband teamed up with his subordinates to frame me for leaking corporate secrets. “I’m a businessman,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “I don’t need a workaholic who only knows how to bury herself in research. What I need is a woman who can navigate social circles with grace and support me like a real partner.” “Mom,” my son chimed in, his tone sharp and dismissive, “you’re always so busy with work. Miss Lee understands Dad’s needs so much better than you do.” After being blacklisted in the industry, I didn’t collapse under the weight of their betrayal. Instead, I joined a mysterious family as a mentor and, without intending to, became the guiding light for three lost children. I pulled them out of the darkness of self-doubt and watched them shine—one in business, one in art, and one in academia. Seeing them succeed filled my heart with pride. But just as I thought I’d left my old life behind, my son came knocking on my door. “Mom,” he began arrogantly, “with Miss Lee’s help, Dad has expanded into the international market. He’s even working with families as powerful as the Rothschilds.” “They’ve groomed me as the heir to the family business, and now I’m a rising star in the corporate world.” “And Miss Lee? She’s become a top-tier management consultant. Companies are lining up for her advice… But you, you’re still stuck in the past, doing nothing with your life.”

“Still,” he added with a smug smile, “you are my mom. Stick with me, and I’ll make sure you live comfortably.” Ethan—my son—looked me up and down, his gaze cold and appraising, as if I were some outdated piece of furniture instead of his mother. It was the same look he’d always given me. “I remember you used to have a few loyal admirers. They’re big shots now, aren’t they?” “Let’s toss out those old clothes of yours and get you dressed up properly. I’ll make sure you live the good life.” He kept talking, weaving a fantasy of wealth and status, but anyone with half a brain could see through his intentions. He wanted to use his own mother as bait—a trophy mistress to charm the powerful men he needed to further his ambitions. I stared at Ethan coldly, the last shred of maternal warmth I had for him dissolving completely. Back then, it was the same story. I had just developed a breakthrough in renewable energy technology—a key innovation that had the potential to change the industry. The announcement had garnered widespread attention, and I was on the verge of securing massive investments to begin production. But Ethan stepped forward and destroyed everything. “Mom said it’s easy to steal a flawed technology and con a bunch of idiots into investing,” he told everyone with feigned innocence. “Then she can just claim the technology has issues later and keep all the money for herself.” “I can’t let my mom keep doing bad things!” With just a few words, he ruined me. No one bothered to verify the truth of his claims. They ran with the story, praising Ethan for his “childlike honesty” while condemning me as a fraud. The internet exploded with outrage: “How greedy can someone be? Even her own kid couldn’t stand it!” “What a scammer. Why doesn’t she just die? I really thought we’d finally solved the renewable energy crisis!” “When will the government crack down on these con artists? Ordinary people like us can’t keep getting cheated like this!” I confronted Ethan, begging him to tell the truth. “The technology wasn’t stolen! You don’t understand—you’re jeopardizing my research! You’ll ruin opportunities for countless companies to grow and innovate!” But his father, Henry, stepped in, blocking my path. “This is exactly what I hate about you. You prioritize work over everything else. Can’t you be more like Miss Lee? Gentle, graceful, and supportive?” Ethan chimed in, his voice full of disdain. “Other people’s moms are elegant and charming—like goddesses. If you can’t be that for me, I’ll find someone who can.” “I think Miss Lee would make a great mom.” I never could have imagined that the two people I loved most would stab me in the back like this. One wanted a new wife. The other wanted a new mom. And to get what they wanted, they didn’t hesitate to drag me into the depths of ruin. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “Let’s divorce,” I said finally, my voice calm but resolute. “I don’t want anything from you.”

As I got into Ethan’s car, my phone started buzzing nonstop. The three kids I’d mentored called me one after another, asking where I was, if I needed backup, or if I needed someone to “teach a lesson.” Their fierce protectiveness was almost endearing, but I stopped them immediately. I chuckled bitterly and said, “I’m just going to see what kind of ‘good life’ my own son has planned for me. What’s wrong with taking a day off for that?” Ethan glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his expression filled with disdain. To him, I was nothing more than a greedy, washed-up woman who was well past her prime. When we arrived at the Brown family’s estate, the driveway was packed with luxury cars. Ethan led me straight into the grand banquet hall. He pushed me toward a man and flashed an ingratiating smile. “Mr. Quinn, didn’t you mention you needed a date for tonight? What do you think of her?” “This deal is critical for us. You’re the key player here… Please, consider it.” The man was someone I knew—a former college classmate. He’d pursued me relentlessly for four years, only for me to reject him. I’d told him to focus on his studies and build a future for himself, but he’d taken it badly. “You’re just a shallow gold digger,” he’d spat at me back then. “You think I’m not good enough for you? Fine! Just wait—I’ll make sure you can’t even dream of being in my league.” And, well, he’d done it. He’d built an empire in finance and investments. “Brown’s choice of a date suits me perfectly,” he said with a smirk. “I’ll give the investment some serious thought.” I tried to pull away, but Mr. Quinn grabbed my hand and held on tightly. At the party, Henry—my ex-husband—and Miss Lee, his secretary-turned-new-wife, were glued to each other, acting like the perfect power couple. Miss Lee took center stage, presenting her latest corporate management proposal. It included a new incentive mechanism that she claimed would revolutionize efficiency. To impress the crowd, she even arranged a live demonstration, which left many of the attending businesspeople intrigued. But I saw through it immediately. That mechanism had a glaring flaw—it was overly aggressive, disrupting the balance of the workplace. It created exclusivity, sidelining regular employees and sowing chaos within organizations. The next part of the evening was the investment round. Interested investors would have their assistants coordinate and record offers for further negotiation. But the room was silent. No one wanted to take the first risk. Ethan was visibly anxious, glancing repeatedly at Mr. Quinn for a response. Just as Mr. Quinn was about to step forward, I yanked his hand back. I leaned in and whispered, “This project is a disaster waiting to happen. You’ll lose everything, and it’ll put the companies involved at risk of collapse.” I’d kept my voice low, but someone overheard me—a young man I’d once helped fund through school. “She’s just jealous,” he announced loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “What gives you the right to criticize Miss Lee’s work? You’re just bitter because she’s more successful than you.” “And you’re a known fraud, aren’t you? Someone who steals other people’s work has no business judging anyone else.” All eyes turned to me, sharp and cutting. If looks could kill, I’d have been dead a thousand times over. Miss Lee noticed me too. Her smug expression quickly shifted to one of feigned vulnerability, her voice trembling as she said, “I only asked Ethan to bring you here out of kindness, and this is how you treat me?” “You can’t assume everyone is a liar just because you were accused of stealing in the past. Not everyone is like you…” Henry pulled her into his arms, his expression full of reproach as he looked at me. After all these years, his unwavering support for Miss Lee hadn’t changed. Ethan, of course, was on her side as well. “If you keep insulting my mom, then you need to leave.” The three of them stood united, painting me as the villain in their perfect little family. “Miss Lee’s proposals are always brilliant,” someone sneered. “This project has great potential. I’m ready to invest!” The voice belonged to Sarah Yates, a woman who looked at me like I was dirt under her shoe. Her words were laced with venom. “You really think you’re still the old Danielle Hayes? You’re nothing but a fallen phoenix, trampled by everyone. And now you think you can ruin Miss Lee’s event? Pathetic.” “You’re a disgrace. You should just stay in the dirt where you belong, like the insignificant bug you are.” I didn’t understand why Sarah hated me so much. Years ago, I’d met her in a poverty-stricken town while researching a charity project. She’d been cornered by a local thug, begging for help. I’d stepped in, paid off the thug, and taken her with me. I’d even found her a job, helping her get on her own two feet. But when I was falsely accused of stealing, Sarah had stood by and watched. Worse, she’d actively helped Miss Lee fan the flames, leaking my personal information to the public and fueling the online harassment that nearly destroyed me. Sarah’s voice dripped with contempt as she continued, “Just because you helped me once doesn’t make you my savior. If you’d treated me half as well as Miss Lee has, maybe I wouldn’t hate you so much.” “You think giving me a thousand dollars a month was enough? That doesn’t buy designer clothes, doesn’t get me a good apartment. It barely covers a few meals out.” She’d asked me to sign over my house to her, and when I refused, her resentment only grew. Miss Lee had taken full advantage of that, gifting her a few designer outfits and completely winning her over. To prove her loyalty, Sarah had even destroyed key documents I’d needed to clear my name. When I confronted her about it, she’d shrugged, utterly indifferent. “The unloved one is always the third wheel,” she said with a smirk. “Your husband and son don’t love you. Why won’t you just let go of your place? Have some dignity, for once in your life.” I’d seen enough. In the end, everything in this world revolved around self-interest.

With my reputation ruined, no company dared to hire me. My assets were frozen, and I had nowhere to turn. Just as I hit rock bottom, a butler approached me with an offer: they wanted me to become a live-in tutor for the infamous Morgan family. The Morgans were surrounded by sinister rumors—three sons, two dead, and one missing. The two remaining sons had left behind three children. But since no one was willing to take responsibility for them, the kids had grown into wild, uncontrollable troublemakers. No school would accept them. The butler had hired several tutors, but all of them had been scared off by the children’s antics. Their infamy had spread far and wide. The eldest, Mason Morgan, had nearly beaten someone to death in a fight. The second, Miles Morgan, was physically frail but strikingly handsome. He’d been bullied so badly that he almost lost his eyesight. The youngest, Maddie Morgan, was a quiet little girl who had trained in martial arts. She feared no one and could take down anyone who crossed her. On my first day, I wasn’t prepared for what awaited me. The three kids locked me in a dark storage room. But I wasn’t about to let them win. I smashed my way out, dragged each of them one by one, tied them up, and threw them into the same storage room. I left them there for three days without food. When I finally let them out, they were pale and subdued. I looked at their defeated faces and said calmly, “Today’s lesson is simple: respect others, and you respect yourself.” As time passed, I slowly pulled them back from the edge of destruction. Day by day, I began to uncover the truth behind their behavior. Mason had nearly beaten someone to death because that person had mocked the Morgans, saying their family was cursed. He’d laughed that Mason would die soon too, and once the Morgans were gone, their rivals would swallow up their legacy. He’d even joked that Mason’s siblings were so attractive they could be sold for a good price. Miles had almost lost his eyesight because someone told him to get rid of his younger sister—claiming it’d be better for the family fortune if there was one less heir to split the inheritance. Maddie had gone on a rampage because she overheard people plotting to harm her two brothers. They even talked about blinding them. Maddie had snapped and beaten those people so badly they couldn’t walk for weeks. The more time I spent with them, the more I grew to love these kids. Mason had a passion for business, so I taught him the strategies and skills he’d need to succeed. Miles adored art, so I opened his eyes to the beauty and power of creativity. Maddie loved to learn, so I encouraged her curiosity and guided her through every subject she wanted to explore. Our bond grew stronger with each passing day. Eventually, they stopped calling me “teacher” and started calling me “Mom.” A sudden vibration from my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Ethan. “Don’t mess with my mom’s plans. If you ruin things for her, your good days will be over.” “You’re not the Danielle Hayes you used to be. Stay in your lane.” How ironic. He didn’t even bother to call me “Mom” anymore. I stared at the message and let out a cold laugh. What a perfect son I’d raised. When Ethan was little, he’d suffered from a rare blood disorder that left him weak and on the brink of death. For three years, I dedicated myself to researching a cure, pouring everything I had into saving him. Once I’d found a way to treat him, I spent every waking moment nursing him back to health. His survival was my greatest achievement. I could still remember how he used to throw his little arms around me, tears streaming down his face. “Thank you, Mom. Thank you so much.” “Will I ever get strong enough so you don’t have to work so hard anymore?” But those days were long gone. Now, those memories were nothing but smoke, drifting away into the distance, leaving only cold indifference behind.

With Sarah Yates leading the charge to invest, others began to follow suit, one after another. Miss Lee’s assistant was running around frantically, grinning from ear to ear as she juggled all the offers. Henry stepped down from the side stage and walked over to me. His expression was complicated, something between guilt and hesitation. “Why don’t you stay this time?” he said. “You haven’t seen Ethan in years, have you? Maybe this is a chance to reconnect.” Before I could respond, Quinn stepped in front of me, his face darkening with irritation. “What’s this, Henry? Feeling nostalgic? Trying to have it both ways now?” Quinn sneered. “Too bad you’re late. Your son already handed his dear mother over to me.” Henry’s face turned black as thunder. He looked at me with a mix of disbelief and outrage. “I can’t believe you’ve fallen this low,” he spat. “Do you think you’re still some young girl? Selling yourself like this? At your age?” He didn’t bother to lower his voice. Everyone in the room heard him. Miss Lee gasped dramatically, covering her mouth in mock horror. “Danielle, how… how could you degrade yourself like this?” “You went to school for so many years, and this is what you’ve chosen to do? Be someone’s mistress? How could you face your parents?” My parents had been well-known entrepreneurs in the industry, respected for their work even during their years at multinational corporations. Now, the cameras meant for recording the investment pitches turned toward me. Some bold reporters pushed through the crowd, microphones in hand. “Are you Danielle Hayes, the disgraced entrepreneur who disappeared five years ago?” “What gives you the audacity to show your face here again?” “Do you have any conscience? If your project had gone through and you’d successfully scammed investors, do you know how many businesses would have gone under?” “Are you not afraid of karma coming for you?” I smiled and said simply, “No, I’m not.” To them, my calm demeanor was just proof that I was shameless, someone who’d given up all pretense of dignity. A few onlookers had already started live-streaming the scene with their phones. The comment sections were flooded with insults. Most people didn’t even know the full story from five years ago, but as soon as someone explained it, they joined in on the mob. [Livestream Comments:] “This is the most shameless person I’ve ever seen.” “How does she even dare say she’s not afraid of karma? Some people are truly invincible when it comes to being shameless.” “I’m so mad. My brother believed in her project back then. He was hoping it would succeed so he could transition his company… but then it was exposed as plagiarism. He was devastated, and when his company went bankrupt, he still regretted it wasn’t real.” The crowd was growing more agitated, their anger boiling over. Quinn gave my arm a gentle tug, his expression flickering with concern. “Maybe you should leave,” he murmured. “Just give me your contact info, and we can figure out the rest later.” I was surprised by his reaction. I’d expected him to humiliate me, to take advantage of the situation like everyone else. Instead, his face flushed red under my gaze, and he avoided looking directly at me. “I’m just worried some of these people might take things too far. As long as I can find you later, we’ll deal with the rest then…” Before he could finish, the sound of heavy, synchronized footsteps echoed from the entrance. A group of people in official-looking uniforms marched in, their presence commanding immediate attention. Someone in the crowd whispered nervously, “Wait a second, isn’t that the uniform for the financial crime investigation unit? Why are there so many of them here?” The sharpest minds in the room immediately ruled me out as the target of the officials’ visit. Instead, they turned their attention to the star of the evening, Miss Lee. After all, if the officials were here, it had to mean there was something significant enough to catch their attention. Some people even started congratulating her: “Mrs. Brown, your management proposal must have caught the eye of the authorities. This could be your big break!” But in the back of everyone’s mind, one phrase loomed large: corporate audit. People began to sweat, wondering if this would include investigations into previously overlooked violations—illegal loans, financial fraud, who knew what else? Miss Lee, clearly flattered by the attention, couldn’t stop herself from smiling. The idea of working hand-in-hand with the authorities made her momentarily forget her petty schemes against me. She hurried to greet the officials. “Hello, may I ask—” But the man leading the group cut her off.

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