Category: English

My ex-husband died in a tragic accident at sea, and I was branded as a widow-maker. Even my grandfather issued a statement severing ties with me. In my despair and loneliness, I nearly lost my life. The icy sea water chilled me to the bone, but Lucas Lee saved me and gave me love. On our wedding night, I was shocked to realize he was my ex-husband’s brother, but it was too late to change my mind. After three years of trying, I finally got pregnant. He rushed back from across the ocean overnight to celebrate with me. In my fifth month of pregnancy, he conspired with his cousin: “Brother Lucas, can you really keep your promise and switch our babies?” “Of course. From then on, our child will inherit the Gray family’s vast fortune.” “What about your child with her?” “That bastard is lucky to be alive. Two layers of protection couldn’t stop it!” “Send it to an orphanage. Stella Gray is just my brother’s leftovers! The child she bears doesn’t deserve to be in my sight!” Is that so? Then neither the child nor the man needs to stay.

After three years of trying, I finally got pregnant. I had taken so many fertility drugs. Lucas was worried about me and said it didn’t matter if we couldn’t have a child. Little did I know that while I was desperately trying to conceive, he was doing everything he could to prevent it. The day after I found out I was pregnant, Lucas was overjoyed. He even rushed back home overnight to celebrate with me. He had a scratch on his arm that he claimed was from a stray cat, telling me not to worry. Now everything made sense. A month ago, Lucas brought his pregnant cousin Chloe back home. He said Chloe was further along than me and had more experience. My mother-in-law had even thrown Chloe a birthday party at our house. At the time, Chloe was Mrs. Lee’s precious goddaughter, while I had to stand and massage Mrs. Lee’s shoulders. Pregnancy brain made me stupid for three years. I even treated Chloe like a sister and took care of her. I clenched my jaw and fists, a mix of anger and despair nearly suffocating me. I tried to calm myself, steadying my trembling body as I carefully returned to our bedroom. “Stella seems to be asleep. Lucas, I want you,” I heard Chloe say outside. “Chloe, you’re pregnant!” Lucas protested. “You asked me to help you yesterday!” Chloe retorted. Their conversation continued, accompanied by the sound of rustling fabric. Tears instantly filled my eyes. I covered my mouth as if it could stop my body from shaking. What did I mean to him? A wave of nausea hit me. I rushed to the toilet and vomited uncontrollably, as if trying to expel all the blood and tears from my body. I sat back against the wall, gasping for air. Hot tears had already filled my eyes, ready to burst forth. Which pain was worse – being betrayed by my husband or losing him? I had experienced both, yet couldn’t compare. I thought of my late husband, Marcus. You must think I deserve this, right? You said I was heartless and arrogant. But in this marriage, I’ve suffered for so long. I dialed the number for a private hospital. “Ms. Gray, terminating a five-month pregnancy can cause severe damage. You may never be able to conceive again,” the doctor warned. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve made up my mind,” I replied firmly. A child should be born into a loving, happy family. If not, it’s better not to come into this world at all. The lawyer answered quickly, promising to prepare the divorce papers as soon as possible. Of course, that woman had to leave immediately too. Drowsiness overtook me. When I woke up, I found Lucas holding me, his hand resting on my swollen belly. This familiar, warm gesture was just like before. In the past, I would have turned and nestled into his chest, thinking I was embracing love. For a moment, I was confused, but then I smelled a woman’s perfume on him and vomited again. It caught him off guard, even getting on his clothes. Lucas woke up startled but didn’t get angry. Instead, he quickly grabbed a towel to wipe my face and body. He frowned with concern, looking just like before. As always. My heart ached. But it was all fake – his acting was too good. I felt sick again and rushed to the bathroom. He followed urgently, saying, “This little troublemaker! Stella, are you okay? Should we go to the hospital?” My stomach churned again. The physical and emotional pain was overwhelming. My eyes were bloodshot, tears pooling but not falling. How could I have fallen for this deep façade before? If he didn’t love me, why didn’t he just say so? I couldn’t show any signs of suspicion. I had to play along: “There are too many people in the house. The baby and I find it noisy. Can you ask Mrs. Zhang to take Chloe to stay somewhere else?” Lucas indeed showed some impatience. My heart was in my throat. If he had revealed his true face earlier, I wouldn’t have had to keep up this act. But after some thought, he compromised: “Alright, you and the baby are the most important. But Mrs. Liu needs to stay to take care of you. I’d be worried otherwise.” The words I had prepared got stuck in my throat. If I hadn’t found out, how long would he have kept up this charade? Outside the room, I could hear Lucas and Chloe arguing. Chloe even pushed open the door: “Sister-in-law is so clever. Even while pregnant, she can manipulate Lucas into kicking me out!” “Of course, sister-in-law’s baby is precious. Mine is just a bastard without a father!” “They say the grass is always greener, but for Lucas, it’s the opposite.” I clenched my fists, feeling a lump in my throat. Lucas’s face darkened: “Chloe, don’t be unreasonable!” Chloe immediately fell to the ground, clutching her belly and crying: “If you kick me out, where can I go? I can bear the mistreatment, but should my baby suffer too?” Lucas’s face turned grim. Finally, he turned to me: “How about we move to your hillside mansion? The scenery is nice there too.” Unexpectedly, in the end, I was the one who had to leave our marital home. I packed up with Mrs. Liu and left the place where we had lived for four years – three years of getting to know and loving each other, four years of marriage. In these seven years together, can you tell me when your heart changed? As I was packing and moving out, Chloe was happily moving her things into our master bedroom. I’m sure Lucas saw it, but he didn’t stop her. A knot formed in my chest. He made the mistake, yet I found myself reflecting on my own actions. What made this woman so worthy of his care that he would ignore me? Women in love are foolishly worthy of scolding, including myself.

When we moved to the hillside mansion, Lucas didn’t come with us. “Chloe has it tough. I’m going to help her move her old things over. I’ve called the moving company for you,” he said. Every little thing felt like a dull knife cutting into my flesh, breaking my heart. The hillside mansion was where I lived before marriage. As soon as I entered, I saw the large decorative painting Lucas had made. It depicted a newly developed tourist area with cherry blossoms in full bloom. He said he wanted to capture my most beautiful moment. The floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets along the walls were filled with rare items he had collected for me from around the world. Now, they all seemed painfully out of place. “Mrs. Liu, please find someone to lock all of these in the small room,” I instructed. After finishing unpacking, the doorbell rang. It wasn’t Lucas. “Sister-in-law, this place is much more comfortable than your marital home. You must have been wanting to move out for a while!” Chloe said as she entered. I ignored her and continued eating my dinner, though it now tasted like sawdust. “What’s wrong?” Lucas asked as he came in carrying bags. Before I could speak, Chloe quickly said, “Lucas, you were worried she’d be hungry, but she didn’t even wait for you to start eating. Sister-in-law even thanked me. If it weren’t for me, who knows how long she would have stayed in that small house.” I was completely stunned. Then I saw Lucas’s face turn from red to black. The marital home was Lucas’s first major purchase after his career took off. It was proof of his hard work. He hated when people looked down on him. I tried to find words to explain, but Lucas grabbed me forcefully: “Come on, let’s go out to eat!” His grip was strong, and I couldn’t break free. Despite my pregnant belly and slippers, he dragged me out, ignoring my cries of pain until he shoved me into the backseat of the car. He believed Chloe. He was furious. What was left for me to explain? The red marks on my wrist were glaring, bringing a numb pain that spread to my heart. Suddenly, a violent crash rang out, forcing the car to stop. That’s when I realized I was bleeding. The pain intensified. But I heard Chloe cry out: “Lucas, it hurts! Ah! My baby!” Lucas’s forehead was bleeding too. The panic in his voice was real: “Stella, are you okay? Let me help you out!” How could this be? How could he care about me? “Lucas, save me,” Chloe’s words snapped Lucas out of his daze. He swiftly and efficiently carried Chloe out, hailed a cab to the hospital, and never looked back. Though my body was in pain, a smile crept onto my face. Don’t be so conceited, Stella Gray. A kind passerby, unable to bear the sight, took me to the hospital. The concerned doctor frowned and asked, “Where’s your husband?” Coincidentally, a nurse changing shifts was chatting: “Did you see that? If you want a husband, find one like Mr. Lee just now. We told him his wife and child were fine, but he still insisted on having them admitted. He didn’t even care about the blood on his own head.” “Ms. Gray, you need surgery to save the pregnancy. We can’t delay any longer,” the doctor’s words brought my attention back. My body, numb with pain, along with my heart, finally calmed down completely. “No need. I don’t want this child anymore,” I replied.

The surgery was quick. By the time I was settled in the hospital room, my phone was still ringing non-stop. I simply put it on silent. My lower abdomen still had a slight curve, but only I knew the child was gone. I touched my belly, feeling incredibly sad. When Lucas found me, he was extremely anxious. Seeing me touch my belly, he let out a sigh of relief. He instinctively reached out to touch my abdomen, like a caring father. The pain below felt like a knife cutting through me. I avoided his touch: “The baby is gone.” The relieved smile on Lucas’s face froze, which seemed particularly ironic to me. He rushed into the doctor’s office, questioning and angry, then returned dejected. “I’m sorry,” he said. I saw his eyes were slightly red, but I only admired his acting skills. It was too real, real enough to fool even himself. After he left, I called my grandfather to tell him about the miscarriage and my plans for divorce. Grandfather was silent for a while, but finally agreed to my request for a leave of absence from work. As soon as I hung up, Mrs. Lee entered the hospital room and slapped me across the face: “You bring bad luck! Why don’t you just die!” “It’s fortunate Lucas and Chloe are okay, or you’d have to pay with your life!” My already weak body felt even worse. I gritted my teeth and sat up, glaring at her angrily. Mrs. Lee was about to strike again, but Lucas rushed in and stopped her raised hand, scolding her: “Mom! What are you doing?” “The baby is gone. It’s all my fault!” he exclaimed. His protection and acting were like needles to me. Each time it happened, another needle stabbed me. The pain made it hard to breathe. Mrs. Lee grabbed him and berated him outside: “She was your brother’s woman. I’ve tolerated her for too long!” “Do you really want to spend the rest of your life with her?” Lucas, reminded of his brother, immediately filled with hatred: “Of course not. Once I get the Gray family’s assets, I’ll divorce her!” After acting for so long, he seemed a bit reluctant to leave now. No, that’s not it. Lucas said he was working overtime at the company for several days in a row, but he was actually taking care of Chloe. She was completely unharmed, yet she clung to Lucas, asking him to push her wheelchair around the hospital garden. She would look towards the window of my hospital room, and sometimes I could catch her challenging gaze. Chloe had provoked me several times without getting a response. Just before I was to be discharged, she couldn’t resist coming to find me: “Some people can even tolerate their husband’s infidelity.” Who could tolerate that? I sneered, not responding. Should I still try to fight for him? The pain below and my body full of wounds were the answer. “Stella Gray, you think you’re so great just because you have some money? Just you wait!” Chloe huffed as she left. I received a notification of a credit card charge – a $200,000 jewelry purchase. Only then did I remember I was still supporting my mother-in-law. I informed the bank and had the card reported lost and replaced. Coincidentally, the lawyer told me that the analysis of our respective assets was complete, and the divorce agreement could be given to me within three days. Three days. Alright, just three more days. I was just feeling happy about leaving soon when Mrs. Lee’s text message made me feel like I’d fallen into an ice pit. “We’re hosting Chloe’s birthday party at home tomorrow. As her sister-in-law, you can’t be absent.” “It’s not too much to ask you to contribute some money as her sister-in-law, right? $500,000. Remember to transfer it to me.” “Be there at 5 PM sharp. You wouldn’t want tomorrow’s guests to know you brought bad luck to your husband and then married his brother, would you?” Mrs. Lee had been holding this over me for three years. Marcus’s death was already a wound in my heart. The deceased are gone, and I didn’t want to discuss it further with his family.

When Lucas came to pick me up, the doctor refused to discharge me: “Postpartum recovery is crucial. Your husband should understand this.” Lucas showed no concern: “She’s not that delicate.” My bleeding hadn’t stopped, and hearing this from outside the door, I felt my heart grow cold. Once, when I accidentally cut my finger while peeling an apple, he caught my gasp over the phone. He immediately stopped work and rushed home, carefully bandaging my finger: “A wife is meant to be pampered.” How many years has it been since then? On the way back to the family home, I spoke up: “Your mother asked me for $500,000 yesterday. I haven’t given it to her yet.” Lucas had always been unwilling to lose face in front of me. He cleared his throat awkwardly: “I’ll give it to her later.” I nodded and closed my eyes, pretending to doze off. The old house was adorned with red roses, transforming the once simple courtyard into something resembling a wedding venue. Chloe wore a white tulle dress, holding pink roses. When she saw Lucas, a beautiful blush spread across her face. “That must be Lucas’s wife. Why does she have such a gloomy face at her sister-in-law’s birthday? She’s so pale, it’s creepy.” “I heard she had a miscarriage and is still in postpartum recovery. How could she look well?” “Ugh, and she still came? Is she afraid Lucas will dislike her and prefer Chloe?” The coldness in my heart intensified. Unable to hide the pain in my abdomen, I found a place to sit and rest. As soon as I sat down, Mrs. Lee called me over, surrounded by the gossiping women from earlier: “I’ve found a folk remedy that will help you get pregnant again quickly.” The women around her inquired curiously. “From 5:30 until the end of the party, you’ll wash dishes in the kitchen. The more dishes you wash, the more sincere your heart. I’ve bought plenty of extra dishes just for this.” Chloe and Mrs. Lee’s faces showed mocking smiles. From start to finish, it was just a ploy to humiliate me. I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood. The humiliation was unbearable. As I turned to leave, Mrs. Lee suddenly spoke: “Did you all know about Stella’s ex-husband?” I stopped in my tracks, clenching my fists. The pain in my palms reminded me to remember this humiliation. The kitchen was full of servants preparing for the birthday party. They weren’t surprised to see me and collectively sneered. The sink was already piled high with dishes. They pushed me to wash in a basin on the floor. People clearing tables threw oil-stained dishes directly into my basin, splashing dirty water onto my head, face, and clothes. Seeing my miserable state, Chloe covered her mouth and laughed loudly: “Remember to be sincere!” When Lucas passed by with a friend, his friend frowned: “Isn’t that your wife?” I didn’t look up, my hands busy non-stop. I only heard him say: “No, you’re mistaken.” The winter water was freezing, and the pain below persisted. At that moment, I froze. Those words echoed around me like a spell. My heart sank to the depths. Two tears fell straight down, indistinguishable from the oily water. “Hurry up and wash! You’ll be in trouble if you don’t finish!” The curses shattered what was left of my dignity. At the banquet, Lucas presented a gift to Chloe. Chloe blushed shyly, embracing Lucas as if he were her whole world. I stared at the perfect couple, lost in thought. When he proposed, Lucas promised to protect me for life. In our first year of marriage, Mrs. Lee treated me like her own daughter. In our second year, when Mrs. Lee gave me a hard time, he firmly shielded me. In our fourth year of marriage, another woman was carrying his child. My heart turned to ashes, no longer stirred by anything. As the guests began to leave, there were fewer and fewer dishes. Lucas rushed to the kitchen and helped me up. My hands were red from the cold, but I still had the strength to slap him. He didn’t dodge. The sound was crisp. He even held my hand to his chest: “Why are your hands so cold!” That moment of warmth couldn’t thaw my heart. I held my head high, not letting tears fall, and laughed softly: “Lucas, you’re so contradictory.”

I thought I was strong enough, but the moment I finished speaking, tears streamed down my face. As my emotions erupted, Lucas panicked like a child. He held me tightly in his arms, begging softly: “I was wrong, I was wrong. Stella, Stella, let’s start over.” He no longer wanted to deceive himself. He no longer wanted to act. His wife was innocent. Before I could push him away, Chloe appeared and forcefully separated us. She was hysterical, her eyes brimming with tears, as if she were the wronged wife catching her husband in the act: “Lucas, what about us? What about our child?” “Have you forgotten? You never liked her. You dated her, married her, only because she’s the Gray family’s daughter!” “You love me! We’ve been in love for eight years!” “Back then, you saved her only because…!” “Enough, Chloe, you’ve gone mad. I’m calling the driver to take you home right now!” Lucas rushed over to cover her mouth. Shame, anger, fear – for the first time, I saw so many emotions on Lucas’s face. What was there to hide? I already knew all of this. But I never expected that I was the other woman. At this point, I lost all strength. Seven whole years. I never imagined I had fallen into an elaborately designed trap. A man from humble beginnings marrying into wealth for money, abandoning his loyal wife. How cliché. I admit I married the wrong person. I loved the wrong person, and I’ll change that. My heart ached intensely. Marriage is a gamble, and I had lost completely. Lucas finally got Chloe into the car and locked her inside. The driver took Chloe away.

In the instant Lucas turned to run back to me, I saw the hatred in Chloe’s eyes. “Stella, Chloe was talking nonsense. Don’t take it to heart.” “Everything she said was a lie.” “I’ve neglected you too much. For your birthday, how about we go on vacation to England?” Lucas reached for my hand as he spoke, but I dodged, barely managing to stand. The disgust on my face was undisguised. When he looked at me, his breath stopped for a moment. At that moment, Attorney Zhou called: “The agreement has been delivered to your home.” My body, which had been on the verge of collapse from exhaustion, found new strength. I smiled sweetly, suppressing my disgust to hold his hand that I had just avoided: “The Starry Sky development agreement is ready. Let’s go home and sign it.” The Starry Sky development had been Lucas’s passion project for the past year. He wouldn’t suspect anything. Perhaps my acting was convincing, as Lucas’s face showed joy at being accepted by me. Lucas silently reflected on his actions. He vowed to prepare a grand birthday trip for me and fulfill all the promises he had once made. This vision of the future made him sign two documents without noticing anything amiss. The moment the divorce agreement was signed, I was free. From that moment, the Gray family, including its assets, had no connection to Lucas Lee. Lucas finally noticed the changes in the hillside mansion. He suddenly felt uneasy: “Stella, where’s the painting I made for you?” “I sent it for touch-ups.” He reminded me – those things should have been burned long ago. If he could act, so could I. Lucas’s phone kept ringing. After silencing it, his expression turned sour. He spoke up: “Chloe might have some issues. I’ll go check on her and come right back.” I nodded. Lucas thought I was jealous: “If you don’t like it, I won’t go.” I sneered and turned back to the bedroom. Behind me, Chloe’s distinctive ringtone sounded, clear and persistent. Then, the door opened, and he left. Stella Gray, it’s all over now. A tear fell, and my heart ached. I sent the divorce agreement to my grandfather. The rest would need his help to tie up loose ends. I quickly packed my bags and headed to the airport. On his way to find Chloe, Lucas had already planned what to say to her. Five million dollars was all he could give her. Using half of his savings for a new life seemed fair to both of them. Lucas also contacted an overseas travel agency to prepare a grand birthday trip for me. But Chloe clearly wasn’t satisfied. She cried and made a scene. Her emotional outburst even led her to the hospital. Lucas couldn’t make it home, but not wanting me to worry, he called me. He called again and again, but no one answered. For some reason, he felt an overwhelming sense of unease at that moment. He quickly sent his assistant to the hillside mansion. “Mr. Lee, it’s not good. Mrs. Lee is gone!”

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My fiancée, Mia Larson, wanted to travel abroad with her bestie, so I stayed up all night for a whole week to make a super-detailed travel guide for her. Concerned about her safety, I asked her to tell me what she had done every day. Two days after she left, I happened to see the Instagram her childhood sweetheart, Lucas Stewart, posted. In the picture, he and Mia were embracing on a street in Isonia, holding marriage licenses, with deep affection in their eyes as they looked at each other. He posted: [After our 15-year relationship, we finally got married! Sweetheart, thank you for trusting me. We’ll never be apart!] It turned out that the “best friend” she always mentioned was Lucas! No wonder every time I proposed to her, she always said she needed some time. So, she was waiting for the person she truly loved. In that case, I decided to end our relationship so that she could be with her beloved. As my taut body suddenly went limp, I collapsed weakly onto the cold floor. I didn’t know how long I had been lost in thought before I calmed down, took out my phone, and decisively canceled the venue I had arranged to propose to her. A pang of bitterness welled up inside me. This was my fourth time proposing to Mia. The first three times, she always found excuses to turn me down. Although I was frustrated, Mia would always act coy and evade the issue. Back then, I felt so soft-hearted towards her that whenever she acted cute, I couldn’t bear to upset her. But now it seemed that I was so infatuated with her that even after being rejected three times, I still eagerly wanted to propose to her for the fourth time. After hanging up the phone, I got up, walked to the desk, and opened the drawer. Then, without hesitation, I took out the engagement ring and threw it into the trash bin. After that, I sent a message to my friends in the group chat, telling them to come out and that I’d treat them to some drinks. They had come up with quite a few ideas for my proposal this time. Although it had been canceled, I still needed to repay them. We went to a popular bar. As soon as we met, my friends all tried to comfort me. One said, “Zane, you two should talk this through. Don’t do anything rash.” Another said, “Although Mia did go too far this time, is there any misunderstanding?” They all tried to persuade me, not believing for a second that I would break up with Mia. After all, they knew how deeply I had loved her, and marrying her had been my greatest wish. I raised a glass of wine and drained it, then let out a relieved smile and explained to them, “No misunderstanding, guys. Mia and I are about to break up. Today, let’s celebrate my upcoming single life and my escape from this terrible relationship.” Upon hearing this, everyone didn’t take it seriously and stopped persuading me. They all raised their glasses, drained them in one go, and then smilingly caught up on recent events. As everyone became tipsy, my phone rang. It was Mia calling. Stunned, I answered it. Mia asked, “Zane, where are you? My dad’s leg has been hurting really badly these past few days. Take a few days off from work and take care of him.” I let out a scornful laugh. As expected, Mia only ever contacted me when she needed help. As an only child, she had always left all her family matters, big or small, for me to handle. When I was in love with her, I helped her willingly. But now, why should I bear her responsibility? I replied, “I’m not available. Turn to someone else.” Everyone present gaped at me in astonishment. I had never spoken a harsh word to Mia before, but now I was laying it all out on the line, right to her face. Mia was completely infuriated by my words. “Zane, do you even know what you’re saying? I’m outside right now, and you know that. Who else am I supposed to call but you?” Her shrill voice left my friends at a loss, and they all started to meditate. One said, “Zane, maybe you should help her.” “Yeah, are you out of your mind? How dare you talk to her like that?” one of my friends whispered in my ear. They thought Mia and I were fighting. Hearing the voices of my friends, Mia roared impatiently, “Did you go out drinking? How many times have I told you not to drink? I hate men who drink! They reek of alcohol and smell terrible!” I picked up my glass, took a sip, and said nonchalantly, “Are you done? If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.” Then, without a moment’s hesitation, I ended the call. As I looked up, all my friends stared at me in disbelief, astonished by my attitude. I broke the awkward silence and raised my glass, urging them to drink. “What are you all waiting for? Cheers, to my newfound single life!” They were a bit slow to catch on, but once they realized what was happening, they all raised their glasses. It was the first time I truly enjoyed drinking since I had been with Mia.

To prepare thoroughly for the marriage proposal, I took a week off from work. Now that the proposal had been canceled, I decided to go on a road trip. It was the perfect opportunity to clear my head and change my mood. Once I had this idea, I prepared immediately and set off by car. Along the way, I climbed mountains to watch the sunrise and stood by the seaside, gazing at the sunset that painted the sea a tangerine hue. I deleted all my Instagram posts filled with Mia’s photos and uploaded fresh pictures of the beautiful sunset instead. After visiting five cities, I returned home. At that time, I still immersed myself in the memories of the trip, not noticing Mia on the sofa. I was only pulled back to reality when she spoke, “Zane! You’ve really got some nerve now! Instead of taking care of my dad, you went off for a trip! You really have some guts!” With that, she picked up a cushion from the sofa and threw it at me. I picked it up, put it back in its place, and without replying, turned around and went to take a shower in the bathroom. But Mia stormed over and blocked my way, demanding, “Aren’t you going to give me an explanation?” After taking off my jacket, I looked at her in surprise and asked, “What’s there to explain? Your dad is unrelated to me. It’s none of my business.” After draping my jacket over the rack, I sidestepped her. Mia watched with a mocking look on her face as I did that, and then she asked with a hint of amusement, “Did you see Lucas’s post on Instagram? Are you jealous?” She sneered, “Look at you. Can’t you be a little more generous? That marriage license is fake. Lucas just did that to deceive his parents. Otherwise, they would keep pressuring him to find a girlfriend. As his good friend, I just did him a favor.” After Mia explained to me, she looked at me with a petulant expression, waiting for me to apologize for having wronged her due to the misunderstanding. But now, I didn’t care about whether it was true or not as I didn’t love her anymore. “Well,” I casually responded without turning my head and walked straight into the bathroom. Mia’s shouting was completely drowned out by the sound of the running water. I couldn’t hear a word of it. When I finished my shower and returned to the bedroom, Mia was still awake, seeming to be waiting for me. As soon as I entered the room, she spoke to me irritably, “You not going to take care of my dad the other day really hurt his feelings. Tomorrow, you should go and apologize to him, with the latest massage chair as a gift.” Her words made me laugh in frustration. Was he angry just because I didn’t go to take care of him? In that case, he was pretty narrow-minded. I dried my damp hair with a towel and said coldly, “No, I’m not going. I have an important project at work tomorrow.” Mia frowned and looked at me in surprise. “No? My dad is upset, and I’ve even thought of a way for you to make it right. And you refused to visit him?” She folded her arms across her chest and huffed in frustration. “Is the project more important than me? If you don’t go, my dad will never agree to our marriage!” I glanced at her and said indifferently, “Well, let’s drop the idea of getting married.” Mia looked at me in disbelief. “Do you even know what you’re saying?” “Yeah, I’m perfectly clear-headed right now.” Mia’s eyes were filled with disbelief. Seeming speechless with anger, she just cursed and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

I lay in bed, unable to sleep. Bored, I scrolled through Instagram and happened to see a new post from Lucas: [Indeed, people in love do have a special connection. I was thinking of her, and here she came!] In the picture, Mia was snuggled affectionately in Lucas’s arms, with several noticeable red marks on her neck. In the past, I would definitely storm to Lucas’s place with the photo, hysterically demanding an explanation from Mia. But now, looking at the photo, I felt absolutely nothing but disgust. I just liked the photo and commented: [You two are such a perfect match.] After putting down my phone, I suddenly felt sleepy and soon fell asleep. The next day, I was woken up by my alarm clock. After getting up, I washed up and got changed, ready to head out to have breakfast with a colleague before work. Before I could leave, Mia returned, carrying a load of breakfast. “I bought breakfast, all your favorite food. Come on over and eat before you go to work.” After Mia placed the breakfast on the table, I still didn’t budge. Unexpectedly, she came over and tried to hold my hand, but I dodged as if I’d been electrified. It felt strange—I wasn’t used to it. She had never been this nice to me before. Mia frowned, as if complaining, “If you hadn’t ignored me last night, would I have left?” She continued to explain, “And as for the photo you liked, Lucas posted it because of an emergency. His parents suddenly dropped by. I had nowhere else to go, so I ended up at his place.” After hearing her explanation, I stared at the breakfast on the table and suddenly realized Mia was feeling guilty about that post. Then I said nonchalantly, “Oh, it’s fine. You don’t need to explain such a trivial matter to me.” She asked with a hint of confusion, “Are you not upset now?” I chuckled, “Of course not. Didn’t you say you just did him a favor?” Upon hearing this, Mia unconsciously let out a sigh of relief. She then took out her phone and began typing away with a smile. So preoccupied was she that she didn’t even notice when I left without eating the breakfast she had bought. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Mia, who had never bought me breakfast, just did this to test my attitude towards Lucas’ post. She had never truly cared about me after all. I let out a soft sigh, then pushed the matter out of my mind and went to have breakfast with my colleague before heading to the company. Today, the office was unusually abuzz with people eagerly signing up for the overseas project. The project was of exceptional importance, and the one chosen would receive a substantial bonus. Everyone had a strong interest in it, including me. Unexpectedly, when I put down my briefcase, just about to sign up, the manager, Jason Cooper, came to me. “Zane, with your capabilities, you’re more than qualified for this project. I really want you to take it on. Nevertheless, it’s an overseas project and may take five to six years. I wonder if you’re…” Before Jason could finish, I interrupted him, “I’m in. Thank you, Jason, for trusting me with such an important project. I’m honored to take it on.” Jason was my senior in college, and we were close. In private, I called him Jason. He really valued my abilities, so he assigned quite a few projects to me. But back then, if I took on too many projects, I’d have to work overtime. Worried that I couldn’t take care of Mia, I turned down his offer repeatedly. Jason was taken aback by my decisive agreement, but once he came back to reality, he happily patted me on the shoulder and said, “Go for it!” I smiled and nodded in response, and then I got the project materials and started to read them. Extremely determined to secure this project, I often worked late into the night and was so exhausted that I just slept in the office. During this time, Mia called me a few times, but I didn’t feel like explaining things to her. So I just told her I was working overtime in another city. A week later, my proposal was met with great satisfaction from Jason, and I was immediately chosen to take on the project. At that moment, the tension in my entire body suddenly eased. After work, I decided to go home. The apartment was filled with memories of Mia and me, and since I was about to leave the country, I decided to sell it.

By the time I got home, it was already evening. The living room lights were all on, and Mia was lying on the sofa, typing away on her phone with a smile. The moment she saw me, her smile vanished. She put down her phone, sat up, and gave me a cold glance. “Finally, you came back.” I casually placed my briefcase on the sofa. “I came back after finishing my work. Besides, this is my place.” I gave Mia a steady look, then turned to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Mia, surprisingly, came into the kitchen. She spoke softly, “Zane, I’m hungry too. Please prepare more.” I ignored her but prepared more anyway. Perhaps sensing my lack of enthusiasm, Mia started a conversation with me. I had fantasized about this countless times before. I would be so delighted to have my beloved help out in the kitchen. But Mia, with her prideful air, said, “Are you even a man? You want your girlfriend to help out in the kitchen? How utterly disappointing.” I just gave an awkward smile when I heard that and never brought it up again. But later, I saw Mia in the kitchen, busy cooking, many times in Lucas’ Instagram posts, which savagely wrenched my heart. Now, the scene I had fantasized about countless times had come true, but all I felt was irony. I didn’t respond to a single word Mia said. Finally, her rare patience wore thin. She clicked her tongue and said, “Zane! I’ve already explained it to you. Lucas and I were just putting on a show! What else do you want? Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been deliberately staying away these past few days. So who are you putting on this sullen face for now?” Mia glared at me, puffing out her cheeks. I leisurely served some food onto a plate and said indifferently, “I’m not angry and don’t care about what you and Lucas did.” Then, I carried my plate to the dining table and began eating, paying no further attention to her. Mia followed behind and slammed her plate down on the table with a sharp, crisp sound. I couldn’t help but scoff inwardly. In the past, I wouldn’t have let her serve herself food. I would have probably served some food on her plate and placed it on the table, just to please her. She just needed to eat. But now she seemed angry because I didn’t serve her food. Whatever, it was none of my business anymore.

As I didn’t try to appease her this time, Mia gave me the cold shoulder. I didn’t feel like going home, so I just stayed in a hotel. After all, there were only a few days left before I left the country. That evening after work, I was thinking about going to a very popular restaurant nearby for dinner. Then my mom called, inviting me to join a family gathering. Considering that I would be leaving the country for several years, I agreed. When I drove to the restaurant and entered the private room, my relatives were already there. Mia was sitting in front of my mom, looking quite aggrieved. Then my mom gave me a stern look and called me over. She gave me a light slap on the back and said indignantly, “How could you upset Mia? Girls need to be coddled. What do you mean by ignoring her? If it weren’t for Mia complaining to me, how long were you planning to keep her in the cold?” My relatives all widened their eyes in disbelief upon hearing my mom’s words because they all knew that I had loved Mia more than anything and could even sacrifice my life for her. Mia complained to my mom not because she cared about me. She could tolerate me arguing with her frantically, but she couldn’t stand that I was so calm that I had given her the cold shoulder for a week. Seeing me being scolded, Mia put on her usual proud and defiant expression, certain that I would soothe her anger flatteringly. But she was wrong. I just pulled out a chair beside me and sat down. My mom sighed and urged me, “Soothe Mia’s anger, and let’s set your wedding date today.” The relatives, hearing this, nodded in agreement and also tried to persuade me. My mom continued, “Otherwise, when you go abroad in a few days, are you going to have Mia wait for you?” Upon hearing that I was going abroad, the relatives became even more eager in their persuasion. One said, “Yeah, Zane, you and Mia have been together for so many years. It’s time to settle your wedding plans.” Another said, “Otherwise, what should Mia do when you go abroad?”

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My birthday happens to be the anniversary of his first love’s death. The man who always acts so polite and composed in front of others turned into a raging beast, his bloodshot eyes glaring at me as he screamed: “You wretch! Why wasn’t it you who died back then?” Later, I suffered a miscarriage, lost my mother, and was left with no one. I gave him what he wanted—a divorce. But then, he regretted it. In the pouring rain, he knelt at my feet, begging me to come back. I was pregnant. Clutching the ultrasound report in my hand, I felt no joy—only a heavy, sinking despair. This child was a mistake. I walked out of the hospital in a daze, my mind flashing back to that night three months ago. Three years into our marriage, William Blake and I had lived more like strangers than a couple. If he hadn’t gotten drunk that night—mumbling the name of his late first love, Sophie Winters—he would never have touched me. I still remember the way he kissed me so roughly, all while calling out Sophie’s name. The memory stung, and the sharp ringing in my ears forced me to press my hands against them, trying to block it out. My heart ached so much it felt like it was being torn apart. My gaze dropped to the report in my hands. What would William say if he knew I was pregnant? Would he be happy? I let out a bitter laugh and shook my head. No. He’d probably hate me even more—for daring to carry a child when his heart was still fixated on someone who was gone. “Mom, I want that cake!” “You don’t need cake. We’re having dinner at home!” The sound of a mother arguing with her child near a bakery caught my attention, and I stopped in my tracks. Through the glass window, I stared at the rows of beautiful cakes, suddenly remembering that today was my birthday. I used to look forward to my birthday every year. I thought back to our first year of marriage. Out of guilt, William had thrown me a grand birthday party. That night, he stayed until midnight, cutting the cake with me and even singing me a birthday song. Back then, Sophie was still alive. Smiling bitterly, I walked into the bakery, bought myself a cake, and carried it home. At the dining table, I lit the candles on the cake and sat there, waiting for William to return. But by the time the sun set and the clock struck nine, he still wasn’t home. Staring at the cake, I reached out and dipped my finger into the frosting, tasting it. It was sweet, but all I could feel was bitterness. The corner of my mouth twitched into a self-deprecating smile. Click— The sound of the door unlocking made me look up. William walked in, reeking of alcohol. His cheeks were flushed, his white shirt stained with red wine, his hair slightly messy. His eyes were glassy and unfocused. The moment he saw me, his brows furrowed, and his voice was cold: “What are you doing here?” He turned his head and glanced at the cake on the table. His eyes flickered, and I noticed his hands clench into fists. The wedding ring that should’ve been on his finger was gone. “Joanna! You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” He stormed toward me, his voice full of anger. The smell of alcohol was overwhelming, and I instinctively took a step back. With a wave of his hand, he knocked the cake off the table. The loud crash startled me, and I froze, staring at the shattered cake on the floor. It wasn’t just the cake that had been smashed—it felt like my heart had shattered, too. “You knew today was Sophie’s death anniversary! Why did you buy a cake? What were you trying to prove? And to think you used to be her best friend!” “You’re so cruel!” he shouted, his voice filled with venom. “She completely misjudged you. I never should’ve married you!” Maybe it was the alcohol, but his words cut deeper than usual. They were harsher, more honest. Fighting back tears, I replied calmly, “William, today is my birthday.” “So what?” His voice was icy, stabbing straight through me. “She’s dead, and you’re still alive.” “You’ll have countless birthdays, but Sophie will never have another one.” “It’s all my fault. I should’ve never come back for your stupid birthday last year. I should’ve stayed with her.” “It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault…” I let out a hollow laugh as his words echoed in my ears. All because last year, he’d come home to celebrate my birthday, he hadn’t been able to see Sophie one last time before she died. She had died on my birthday, of all days. Clutching my chest as the pain grew unbearable, I placed a hand on my slightly swollen belly, remembering the doctor’s warning: Don’t get upset. Avoid emotional stress. But how could I not? William’s cold eyes bore into me as he sneered: “Joanna, don’t you dare get your hopes up.” “A manipulative woman like you? I could never love you. Ever. If you want to celebrate your birthday, do it somewhere else. Get out of my sight.” With that, he slammed the door and left, leaving me standing there, utterly defeated. But you know what, William? I celebrate my birthday every year just so I can see you. All I wanted was to spend a little more time with you. Taking a deep breath, I looked down at my stomach and whispered to myself: “Joanna, he’ll never love you. He’ll never love your child…” “Ma’am, should I clean this up?” My housekeeper, May, spoke hesitantly, not even daring to breathe too loudly. I froze for a moment before replying, “Yes, clean it up.” I tossed the ultrasound report onto the melted frosting. “And throw this away too.”

I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. Reaching into the drawer, I grabbed a few pills and swallowed them dry before picking up my phone, which had been vibrating non-stop. “Hello?” “Joanna! Finally! I’ve been trying to reach you,” a frantic voice said on the other end. “Your mom suddenly went into shock. Her surgery has to be moved up, but I can’t get in touch with Dr. Blake. Is he home? Can you get him here right away?” My mind went blank. Throwing on a coat, I raced downstairs, searching every room in the house, but William was nowhere to be found. I called him over and over again, even as I jumped into a cab and started going to all the places he might be. Ten calls. No answer. I arrived at the hospital, and a nurse ran up to me, her face full of worry. “Joanna! Where’s Dr. Blake?” My lips trembled, and my face went pale. “He… he’s not here yet?” “Where’s my mom? I want to see her! Take me to her right now!” “Please, someone else can do the surgery!” The nurse hesitated, guilt flashing across her face. “All the other doctors are in surgery right now. Your mom… it all happened so suddenly.” My heart pounded in my chest as dread consumed me. Through the glass of the emergency room, I could see two doctors trying desperately to save my mom. She lay there, completely still, a breathing tube in her mouth. She looked so weak, so fragile—it broke me. Just yesterday, she’d texted me to wish me a happy birthday. Now, tears streamed down my face as I pounded on the glass. “Please! Save her! She’s all I have left!” “Joanna, calm down! Please!” The nurse grabbed me, trying to pull me away. Suddenly, the door to the operating room burst open, and William rushed in, sweat dripping down his face. He was already wearing a surgical cap, moving with urgency as he entered the room. He picked up the scalpel, but before he could make the first incision, the heart monitor let out a terrible, high-pitched sound. Beep— The faint hope I’d been clinging to disappeared in an instant. On the monitor, the once-erratic lines flattened into a single, endless line. That line was the wall that now separated me and my mom forever. “Mom!” I collapsed to the floor, clutching my chest as if the grief would suffocate me. I felt something wet against my left hand, which was resting on the ground. Looking down, I saw bright red blood trailing down my legs and pooling on the floor. “Joanna! Blood—there’s blood!” the nurse screamed. A sharp pain shot through my body, and everything went black.

William Blake, Sophie Winters, and I all met in high school. But unlike me, William and Sophie had known each other since they were kids. Sophie, delicate and perpetually ill, was like porcelain. Everyone thought they were the perfect couple. But their love story didn’t end like the fairy tales. When William graduated from college, Sophie broke up with him. He waited outside her house for several nights, hoping she’d change her mind. But she didn’t. She eventually collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. I’ll never forget the way William clung to her hand, his voice trembling as if he was terrified she would disappear. “Sophie, please don’t leave me. I love you. I went to med school for you. Please, just give me more time—I’ll figure out how to cure you. I promise.” Sophie, struggling to stay awake, gently wiped the tears from his eyes. “William, I know my body. I don’t have much time left.” “I know your parents don’t approve of us. I know they’re pressuring you to get married.” “Promise me… promise me you’ll be with Joanna. I know she likes you.” Hearing my name fall from her lips, I froze. It was as if a deeply buried secret had been dragged into the light. I felt exposed, raw. Panic bubbled inside me, and I wanted nothing more than to disappear. I had never expected Sophie to notice the feelings I had tried so hard to hide. From the moment I met William in high school, I had secretly fallen for him—this boy who didn’t belong to me. I envied Sophie. She had his love, his attention, his unfailing gentleness. In the end, she chose to give him to me. But in doing so, she pushed me into a pit I would never escape from. I can still hear her voice, her trembling words as she held my hand. “Joanna, promise me you’ll love William for me.” There was a pleading look in her eyes, and I thought about the years I had spent quietly yearning for him. So I promised her. “Don’t worry, Sophie. I’ll take care of him.” But I regret it now. I should’ve listened to you, Mom. I should’ve never reached for something that wasn’t mine. It’s my fault. It’s my fault you’re gone.

The sharp smell of alcohol in the air stung my nose as I slowly opened my eyes. Looking around, I realized I was alone in the hospital room. “You’re awake?” The curtain was pulled back, and there he was—William Blake. His face was pale, his exhaustion evident. “Where’s my mom?” I asked calmly, my voice steady, but the question made his pupils tremble. He avoided my gaze and lowered his head. “Where is she? William, where is my mom?” I sat up abruptly, grabbing his shirt collar, my voice breaking as I shouted at him. “Joanna, you need to rest,” he said, his voice soft but heavy. “You need to recover so you can prepare for the funeral. Your mom… she’s gone.” Slap! The sound of my hand striking his face echoed through the room. “William Blake! You’re shameless!” I screamed, tears streaming down my face. “Where were you? I called you ten times! Ten times! Why didn’t you answer? Where the hell were you?” “I…” He opened his mouth but stopped, unable to finish the sentence. Then it hit me, and I laughed bitterly. “You were with her, weren’t you?” His body stiffened, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at me. “You think I don’t know?” I asked, tears blurring my vision. “Do you know what people think of us? They think we’re a happy couple, newly married and in love.” “But I know the truth.” My voice cracked as I continued, “You bought a house for Sophie, didn’t you? You decorated it like it was your dream home with her.” “All those nights you didn’t come home—you were staying there, weren’t you?” “Why, William? Why would you do this to me? You should’ve never married me!” “Give me back my mom! Give her back to me!” I pounded my fists against his chest, sobbing uncontrollably, my cries so loud they drew the attention of the nurses. His bloodshot eyes stayed on me the entire time, and he grabbed my wrists tightly, refusing to let go. “And what about you, Joanna?” he said, his voice low and trembling. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?” “If you had told me…” I let out a hollow laugh, looking up as tears rolled down my cheeks. “And what difference would it have made, William? Did you forget what you said to me yesterday?” “You told me not to have any delusions. Well, I listened to you.” “The baby’s gone,” I said, my voice cold. “Isn’t that better for you?” “You…” His brows furrowed as his grip on my wrist tightened, the pressure leaving red marks on my skin. Finally, he let go, his voice softening. “I’m sorry.” It was the first time I’d ever heard him apologize. “I’m sorry, Joanna. This is all my fault.” I stared down at the damp bedsheets under my knees, refusing to look at him. “I’m tired, William,” I said quietly. “Loving you is exhausting. Let’s get a divorce.”

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I’m known as Jack Wilson’s number one doormat. Jack, the most popular guy in school and a notorious playboy, only keeps me around because I look somewhat like his dream girl, Emma Frost. He chased after Emma for two years, but she always looked down on him and eventually went abroad. Now, Jack uses every opportunity to humiliate me, his substitute. It’s his way of getting revenge on Emma, taking out his frustrations on me. Despite this treatment, I still take care of him and comply with his every whim. He once asked me, “Why are you so good to me? What are you after?” I couldn’t help but laugh. What could I possibly want from him? “I want your heart, of course!” I replied. “My heart? Now that’s asking for too much!” he scoffed. What Jack doesn’t know is that I’m after his actual heart – his physical organ – not his affection for me. I pushed open the door to the bar’s private room, carrying a birthday cake. All eyes turned to me as the noise inside suddenly died down. Jack, with his arm around a girl in a mini skirt, spoke impatiently, “What took you so long to buy a cake? Everyone’s been waiting to celebrate Chloe’s birthday.” I set the cake down on the table and smoothed my wind-tousled hair. “There was some traffic,” I explained. My response was met with a round of mockery from the others. “Jack, man, you’ve got her so well-trained!” “I need to learn your secrets, bro!” Ever since I transferred to Southern University in my junior year to be close to Jack, his friends have called me his doormat. They say I changed schools just for him. They’re right about that part… They also say Jack only agreed to be with me because I look somewhat like Emma Frost. Emma was his dream girl, the one he chased for two years without success before she went abroad. Jack opened the cake box and lit the candles. He pulled Chloe close and told her to make a wish. “I wish Jack would take me to see the ocean,” Chloe said dreamily. Someone teased, “Saying it out loud means it won’t come true!” Chloe turned to Jack with her big, beautiful eyes. “Jack, do you think my wish will come true?” Jack kissed her cheek and glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “Of course it will. We’ll go this Saturday.” He added with a mischievous grin, “We’ll camp on the beach overnight. I’ll bring a tent to set up on the sand.” Chloe shyly kissed Jack in return. Jack then turned to me, sitting in the corner. “Sophia, make sure you buy a tent before Saturday.” “Okay,” I replied. “And get a thick, soft mat too. Chloe’s delicate skin won’t be able to handle lying directly on the ground.” “Alright,” I agreed. The group erupted in laughter. “Now that’s a dedicated doormat! She’ll agree to anything!” “Jack, you’ve got some serious skills!” Chloe nestled into Jack’s arms, embarrassed. I stared at the spot over Jack’s heart. He shouldn’t let Chloe lean there. That’s mine… A sharp pain shot through my chest. I closed my eyes, fighting back tears. The reason I stay by Jack’s side is because I like being close to his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. It’s a soothing remedy for my pain, a comfort during sleepless nights of agony. After they finished singing, the group decided to go for hot pot. I followed behind Jack. When I saw Chloe pour Jack a glass of beer, I quickly took it away. “The doctor said you can’t drink alcohol.” Jack looked up at me, sitting across from him. “If I can’t drink it, then you drink it!” The others chimed in, “Yeah, Jack said so. Drink up!” I didn’t want to drink, but seeing Jack’s displeased expression, I picked up the glass and downed it in one go. I never upset him, not even the slightest bit. The doctor had said his emotions shouldn’t fluctuate too much. Seeing him reach for the spicy broth, I reminded him, “You also can’t eat spicy or stimulating food.” Someone teased, “Jack, she’s already acting like a nagging wife before you’re even married!” Jack raised an eyebrow. “Who said I was going to eat it? Our Chloe loves spicy food.” He picked up a slice of lamb and fed it to Chloe. The group laughed again. “Jack likes hot and sexy girls like Chloe. Much better than the plain and boring type!” The speaker glanced at me as he said this. “Jack’s got great taste, that’s for sure!” …

On Saturday, Zoe and I waited outside the boys’ dormitory with two tents, ready for Jack. Zoe is my roommate and my best friend at Southern University. When I first met her, I felt drawn to her. There was something familiar about her, as if we’d met before. Jack came out of the dorm building with his arm around a petite figure whose face was hidden by a baseball cap. As they got closer, I realized it was a girl. She was even wearing Jack’s baseball jacket. Seeing them, Zoe got angry on my behalf. She confronted Jack, “Who is she? You’re supposed to be taking Sophia to the beach, and now you’re bringing another girl? And she’s so shameless, going into the boys’ dorm!” I regretted not telling Zoe earlier that Jack was bringing Chloe. But this wasn’t even Chloe. The girl glanced at Zoe and snuggled closer to Jack. In a coy voice, she said, “Jack, she’s so mean. I’m scared.” Jack patted her head and snapped back at Zoe, “If Sophia doesn’t mind, why should you care? You’re not even involved. Aren’t you just tagging along uninvited?” I stepped in front of Zoe. “I insisted that Zoe come. You can treat me however you want, but don’t talk to Zoe like that!” Seeing that I was genuinely upset, Jack’s tone softened slightly. “She started it. But fine, I’ll be the bigger person and let it go.” Zoe tried to argue further, but I quickly pulled her away. “Come on, Zoe, let’s go. Just think of it as accompanying me to the beach. Don’t let this ruin your mood.” As we walked away, Zoe said, “I can’t stand to see you treated like this! What’s so great about that two-timing jerk that you have to put up with this?” I replied softly, “He may not be good, but his heart is good…” “Huh?” Zoe looked confused, but I didn’t explain further. Southern University isn’t far from the beach, so we took a taxi. By early evening, the beach was crowded with campers, mostly college students out for fun. I had just finished setting up the two tents when I overheard two girls talking nearby. “Did you hear about that incredibly handsome guy from your school who got into a car accident recently?” “Yeah, he was a genius too, top of his class in every subject!” “Such a tragedy… What was his name again?” “Ethan Sky…” When I heard that name, my blood ran cold. My heart felt like it was being torn apart, and I couldn’t breathe. I watched the sun slowly disappear below the horizon, leaving behind a darkening sky. Just like my world without him – pitch black. I had lost him forever.

I crouched down, hugging my knees, as tears soaked the sand beneath me. I remembered another evening like this when he had built a sandcastle on the beach. He had been so secretive, not letting me see it until it was finished. He had covered my eyes with his hands and led me to the castle. With a dramatic flair, he had announced, “Ta-da! Miss Thompson, behold your future home! One day, I’ll buy a house just like this castle and bring my princess home…” But later, the sea washed away the castle, and he left me too… Zoe returned with firewood and was startled to see me in such a state. She quickly hugged me. “Sophia, what’s wrong? Did those two jerks upset you?” “I’m going to give them a piece of my mind!” she declared, ready to confront Jack and his new girl, who were making out in the distance. I held her back. “No, Zoe, it’s not because of them. I’m not feeling well. Can we go back to school?” We got into a taxi back to campus. Zoe sat with me in the back seat. Knowing I didn’t want to talk about it, she just held me close, gently rubbing my back. It reminded me of how Ethan used to comfort me whenever I was sad… I felt the warmth from her, and surprisingly, the pain in my heart began to ease. Back at our dorm, Zoe gave me her large panda plushie to sleep with, saying it would help me sleep. She meant well, so I couldn’t refuse. I lay in bed, hugging the panda and staring at the ceiling. I thought it would be another sleepless night, like so many before when I longed for Ethan. But somehow, I eventually fell into a deep sleep.

That night, I had a long dream. I dreamed of the sweet memories from when we first met. When I was in kindergarten, new neighbors moved in next door. They had a son a year younger than me. From the day they arrived, I had a little shadow with a runny nose following me around. Every day when I went to kindergarten, he wanted to come too, but the teachers wouldn’t let him in. So he begged his mom to let him go to kindergarten as well. I remember when I first started kindergarten, I cried my heart out every day, missing my mom terribly. But Ethan, from the day he started, never cried. He just happily followed me around. Because he was younger, the teachers gave him special treatment. Whenever he said he wanted to find his “big sister,” they would let him sit next to me. Even though he was in the toddler class, he learned everything we did in the junior class, and he learned it faster than me. He even helped me with the crafts the teacher assigned, so I could finish them. During games, while others paired up one-on-one, we were always a team of two against one… This went on, with him skipping grades to be with me in kindergarten. When I graduated and was about to start elementary school, he still had one more year of kindergarten left. Every day when he went to kindergarten then, he cried his heart out, worrying his mom to no end. His classmates in the senior kindergarten class teased him: “How come you’re still not used to it after three years? We stopped crying in our first year!” Ethan, sniffling, replied, “I got used to having my sister with me for three years in kindergarten. Now I’m all alone, that’s why I’m sad.” Finally, Ethan started elementary school, but this time the teachers wouldn’t let him sit with me in the second-grade classroom. So every break, he’d run to my classroom, bringing me snacks, stickers that little girls liked, and all sorts of little trinkets. He spent all his pocket money on me. My classmates all thought he was my real brother and called him the “sister-doting maniac.” Later, when I started middle school, Ethan’s family had to move away due to his father’s job transfer.

The night before they left, Ethan knocked on my window with a bamboo pole from his family’s small balcony. Our balconies were right next to each other, close enough that we could talk from them. Our families got along well too. My dad would grill kebabs on the balcony and pass some to Ethan. Ethan’s dad would brew tea on a small stove on their balcony and offer a cup to my dad. After Ethan called me out, he handed me a letter. His ears were red as he said, “Wait until I’m gone tomorrow to open it.” I asked why I had to wait until he left to read it. He stammered for a while but couldn’t give me an answer. Seeing he wasn’t saying anything, I thought the conversation was over. I was about to go back inside to continue reading my romance novel. I had just gotten to the part where the heroine runs away pregnant, and I was curious if the clueless hero would be able to find her. As I turned to leave, Ethan called out loudly, “Sophia, wait for me. I’ll definitely come back for you.” I replied, “Okay, don’t come empty-handed.” It was meant as a joke, but he took it seriously. When we met again, he really didn’t come empty-handed. That was on the first day of our freshman year in college. The young man stood under a phoenix tree, holding a large box in both hands. He wore a clean white shirt and jeans. The sunlight filtering through the leaves cast a glow on him. When he saw me approach, his smile was brighter than the sunshine. When Ethan’s family left, I was actually very sad, but I didn’t show it. I didn’t want to make the atmosphere too gloomy, and it wasn’t like we’d never see each other again. I didn’t go down to see them off, but instead watched from the balcony as their car drove further and further away. It felt like a piece of my heart was missing… Ah, I would never again taste Ethan’s mom’s sweet and sour pork ribs, meatballs, fish, or pork loin… Ethan’s mom had tried to teach my mom, but with my mom’s cooking skills, she nearly burned down the kitchen. I went back to my room and opened Ethan’s letter. After reading it, I was angry! I had thought of him as a little brother, but he didn’t see me as a sister. He even wrote about wanting to rightfully call my mom “Mom” in the future! At that time, I was obsessed with romance novels. I imagined men who could sweep me off my feet and pin me against a wall, saying, “Woman, you can’t escape me.” When I thought of Ethan, who was even younger than me, I wondered if his skinny arms could even lift me. In novels, the men were always older, experienced guys falling for younger women. I was still waiting for my mature man to come along. Back then, I never would have imagined that this scrawny boy, who dreamed of calling my mom “Mom,” would one day sacrifice his life to protect me. His departure left me with a pain that cut to the bone. I hated that truck driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel! In my mind, I was back to that day…

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I Have a Special Ability: Resurrection After Death Because of this, I was chosen by a mob boss to be a blood donor for his true love. Even if I died from blood loss, the moment I revived, that needle would pierce my skin again. Whenever I begged for mercy, he would just pin me down firmly and say, “Why are you being so dramatic? You can revive, can’t you? If she dies, I’ll make sure you follow her to the grave!” But what he didn’t know was that I only had 100 lives. If I died one more time, I would never revive again. My soul would scatter forever. In the luxurious bedroom, Lucas Turner pushed me onto the soft bed, gently pressing himself on top of me. Our breaths mingled as his fingers lightly brushed my lips before he leaned in for a deep kiss. My heart was racing. Just as I was about to embrace him, the door was suddenly pushed open by a servant. Lucas was annoyed and about to scold them when he heard the servant say— “Mr. Turner! Miss White is in trouble!” Upon hearing this, the anger on Lucas’s face quickly disappeared. Without caring that I was only wearing a thin piece of clothing, he pulled me up and we left. I didn’t need to guess; I knew he was going to take me to give blood to Lily White again. In the three years I’d been with him, I had given blood to Lily ninety-eight times. If this had happened before, I would have been more than willing, hoping only that Lucas would look at me once more. But now, I was desperately begging for mercy, kneeling on the ground and refusing to go. “Lucas, I can’t give her blood anymore! If I do, I’ll die…” But Lucas wouldn’t listen to me, thinking I was just being dramatic. “Stop being so melodramatic! Can’t you revive anyway? Lily is dying, how can you be so heartless!” I shook my head frantically, tears streaming down my face: “It’s not like that! Actually, I only have 100 lives, and I’ve already died ninety-eight times. Two more times, and I’ll really die…” But Lucas didn’t believe me at all. He shouted at me— “You’ll make up any lie to avoid giving blood to Lily!” I shook my head miserably, trying desperately to explain: “It’s not a lie! I’m really not deceiving you. I don’t have infinite revivals, I only have 100 lives… Please, don’t make me give her blood anymore, okay?” But Lucas ignored my cries and forcibly dragged me upstairs. I was wearing thin clothes, and my whole body ached. It felt like my bones were about to break, but he didn’t care. His steps got faster and faster, only hoping to see Lily White as soon as possible. Then, he threw me roughly onto the operating table and tied me down tightly. He quickly turned to Lily: “Lily, how are you doing?” The personal doctor shook his head: “Mr. Turner, Miss White’s condition is getting worse…” Lily White opened her eyes, her face pale, and said weakly to Lucas: “Lucas, am I going to die?” “Don’t talk nonsense! After this blood transfusion, you’ll be able to get out of bed. Then I’ll take you to the Aegean Sea in Greece, and we’ll watch the ocean together, okay?” Then, he picked up that cold blood-drawing needle and jabbed it into my body. “Ah—” The sharp needle pierced my skin, and blood slowly flowed out through the tube. Every drop was my blood and tears. “Lucas, please, stop! I really will die!” “Miss White, can you please beg for mercy on my behalf? I don’t want to die…” I knew Lily White was awake, but she suddenly pretended to be asleep, not saying a word. I struggled desperately, almost dislodging the needle. Lucas got angry and slapped me hard across the face. “Don’t move! If Lily dies, you’ll be joining her in the afterlife!” I finally stopped struggling. No matter how much it hurt, it couldn’t compare to the pain in my heart. More and more blood flowed out, and my body gradually went limp. My consciousness began to fade. Then, I lost consciousness and died. When I woke up again, I was in Lucas’s arms. He was holding me, and seeing that I was awake, he excitedly picked up a bowl of porridge. “Aria, you’re finally awake. Here, drink some of this to replenish your blood.” He fed me patiently, spoonful by spoonful, as if the demon who had forced me to give blood wasn’t him. Lucas was always like this. As long as it wasn’t about giving blood, he was extremely gentle with me. But as soon as he wanted me to give blood, it was as if he became a different person, ignoring my pain and pleas, with only Lily White in his heart. I turned my face away, no longer looking at him. But he wasn’t angry. He just leaned in and kissed the corner of my mouth. “Be good, Aria. Don’t be upset. Drink your porridge.” I said coldly: “Just leave it there.” But he insisted on feeding me. I was no longer like before, easily coaxed. Instead, I turned my back to him, ignoring him. Lucas got annoyed: “Aria Sanders! Is this necessary? You’re throwing a tantrum just because you gave blood to Lily?” “You weren’t this dramatic before. Besides, can’t you revive? Can’t you be a little more kind-hearted?” His accusations felt like arrows piercing my heart, leaving it riddled with wounds.

Initially, the system gave me 100 lives to win over Lucas Turner. When I first came to this world, I saw Lucas caught in a gunfight, with a bullet flying towards him! I quickly stepped forward to shield him from the bullet. It hit me right in the heart, and everyone thought I would surely die, but I didn’t. Instead, I revived on the spot. Lucas discovered my special ability and took me back with him. At that time, I was secretly delighted: the system gave me 100 lives to win him over, and it seemed I had succeeded using just one! But when he took me back, I realized I had thought too much. Lucas didn’t say another word to me. Instead, he dragged me straight to the operating room and tied me to the bed. And next to me lay Lily White. I struggled in fear, the ropes cutting into my skin and drawing blood. But Lucas gently stroked my head: “Be good, I just need you to help me save someone. It’ll be quick.” Then, that cold blood-drawing needle was jabbed straight into my arm. They then said: “Mr. Turner, this woman’s blood type is exactly the same as Miss White’s!” Lucas’s lips curved into a smile: “Excellent. What are you waiting for? Start drawing blood immediately.” The pain was excruciating. More and more blood was drawn from me, and my consciousness became increasingly hazy. Even though I screamed for them to stop, without Lucas’s order, they didn’t dare to stop, and continued to draw blood mercilessly. Until they had drained me completely, and I died from blood loss. However, in the next second, I miraculously revived. Seeing this, Lucas looked at me excitedly. “From now on, you don’t need to leave. Stay here and be a blood bank for my Lily. What do you want? I can give you anything.” Despite knowing how terrifying this man was, I used all my strength to say— “I want to be with you.” After all, I had to win him over. If I failed, I would never be able to return to my own world. Lucas was stunned for a moment, then looked at the sleeping Lily White. “Alright, but Lily can’t know about our relationship.” After that, Lucas and I got together. For these three years, I used all my efforts to win him over, to love him, and made him fall for me more and more. But no matter how sweet he was with me, his heart that wanted me to give blood to Lily White never changed. Whenever it came to giving blood, no matter how much I begged him, he wouldn’t listen. He would even get angry because of my struggles, hitting and scolding me. My heart finally turned cold. After three years, Lucas still hadn’t fallen in love with me. His affection towards me was only to make me willingly be Lily White’s blood bank. From beginning to end, the one he loved was always Lily White. Not only had I failed to win him over, but I had also lost ninety-nine lives. Now, I only had one life left. If Lily White fell ill again and Lucas drained me of blood, I would no longer revive. I would die completely! No! I have to run! Lucas was still complaining about me, but seeing that I wouldn’t eat anything or pay attention to him, he finally gave in and continued to coax me. I had no choice but to take a sip of porridge and say to him: “I’m fine. Why don’t you go check on Lily?” Hearing this, Lucas finally smiled: “I knew it. My Aria is the kindest and most considerate. I’ll go check on her then. You stay here and eat properly.” I took the porridge and nodded. Lucas was already impatient to see Lily White and didn’t notice my determination to escape. After he left, I immediately took down the curtains and made a rope with them. Then I carefully lowered it along the wall, securing it tightly. Taking advantage of the absence of people outside, I quickly grasped the curtain and slid down. Once down, I hid in the bushes, waiting for the guards to go for their meal so I could run out! Lucas probably wouldn’t notice I had run away. After all, every time I gave blood, he would stay with Lily White all night. However, something was different today. Lucas didn’t stay with Lily White but returned to my room. When he discovered I had run away, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly notified his men to search for me. “If you can’t find her, none of you will live!” I heard his roar and quickly covered my mouth and nose, not daring to make a sound. The servants began searching for me everywhere, even using search dogs. My heart was pounding, and as I watched them getting closer and closer to me, my heart was about to jump out of my throat! However, at the critical moment, the dog suddenly barked towards the gate. They rushed to the gate, and I quickly took the opportunity to escape from the bushes into the house. “What the hell! It’s just a homeless person outside! You stupid dog, why are you barking for no reason!” I ran wildly, not knowing where I was going, but as long as I could find an abandoned room and stay there for the night, I shouldn’t be discovered! I sprinted at full speed, about to run into a room when suddenly, a dart hit my leg. A sharp pain shot through me, and I fell to the ground. Then, Lucas’s legs appeared in front of me. I looked up, and he glared at me angrily. “In this manor, as long as I don’t let someone go, no one can escape.” Then, he grabbed my clothes and forcibly dragged me away. “Weren’t you supposed to be with Lily White? How did you discover I had run away—” He coldly said: “I was planning to stay with her, but her condition suddenly worsened. She needs another blood transfusion, so I quickly came to find you, only to discover you had run away.” “Aria Sanders, if you delay Lily’s treatment, I will kill you!” I panicked, my heart almost stopping! “No! I can’t give her blood again. This time I really will die!” “Please… don’t make me give blood anymore, okay? Please—” I begged frantically, my voice heart-wrenching, echoing throughout the entire manor. But Lucas wasn’t moved at all. He skillfully tied me to the operating table as usual. Then, he was about to pierce my arm with the needle. “No! Lucas Turner! This time I really will die! Please believe me, okay? Please—”

My eyes were full of helplessness and fear, but Lucas’s eyes were cold and emotionless. He ignored my cries and forcefully inserted the needle. “What are you yelling about? You’ve been reviving for three years. How could you possibly die this time? It’s just an excuse because you don’t want to give blood!” “I’m not, I—” I wanted to say more, but he stuffed a bandage into my mouth. “Stop making noise! Lily is already in critical condition. I don’t have the patience to listen to your wailing!” I could only make muffled whimpers, which only earned me a— “Your pleas are useless to me. Don’t waste your energy.” “After this blood transfusion, I’ll take you out to play. Stop making a fuss.” Lucas thought I would calm down after hearing this, but I continued to wail. He got angry and was about to scold me when he was interrupted by a phone call. This call seemed very important, making him stand up. “I have an urgent matter to attend to. I need to go out for a while. Take good care of Lily, and don’t make any mistakes!” Then, without even glancing at me, he slammed the door and left. I kept wailing, but he didn’t look back. Lily White had woken up at some point and started mocking me. “Stop yelling. He only loves me. Even if you scream until your throat bleeds, he won’t let you go.” Although I had no strength left, I still shook my head frantically at her. Lily White instructed the doctor: “You, remove the bandage from her mouth.” The doctor removed the restraint from my mouth, and I could finally speak. “Please, Miss White, tell the doctor to stop. I’m really about to die…” I struggled to beg her humbly. But Lily White just laughed and looked at me as if I were an insect— “Why should I save you? Do you know how jealous I am when I see healthy women like you? I’d rather see you drained, exhausted, and tortured until you’re as sickly as me!” My heart sank: “Lily White, how can you think like that?” “Why not? To tell you the truth, my illness isn’t actually that serious. I don’t really need blood transfusions.” “But I’m still different from normal people. I can’t get pregnant, can’t drink alcohol, can’t do extreme sports, and I have to endure various rejection reactions.” “Why? Why can you do all these things! I feel so unfair, so I started pretending to be sick. Lucas cares about me so much that he specifically has young girls give me blood.” “Seeing you become as sickly as me because of the blood transfusions makes me so happy!” Hearing the truth, I was shocked and terrified. “Lily White! Aren’t you afraid Lucas will find out?” She laughed as if she had heard the biggest joke: “So what if Lucas finds out? Do you think he would believe you? Look at how he treated you just now!” A wave of despair washed over me. Yes, Lucas would never believe me. But even so, I still clung to my last hope and begged her. “Please, let me go. I really will die this time…” Of course, Lily White didn’t believe me either. “What are you pretending for? Everyone knows you’ll revive immediately after you die! Doctor, drain her blood thoroughly! Don’t leave a single drop!” Then, I felt the blood being drawn faster and faster. My pleas became weaker and weaker, and I lost all strength and sensation. An hour later, I closed my eyes forever. Lily White was still not satisfied: “Hmph, dead already? How boring. Take her away!” The doctor undid my restraints, but when he touched my skin, he drew back his hand in shock. “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and take her away!” But the doctor said in shock: “Something’s wrong… This isn’t right. She used to revive immediately after dying, and her body would have the warmth of a living person. But why is she… why is she so cold today!” Lily White didn’t take it seriously: “Tch, it’s probably just too cold. She’s not warming up as quickly.” But the doctor was a professional. He quickly realized the seriousness of the situation and hurriedly used instruments to examine me. No heartbeat, no breathing. All organs had ceased functioning. The doctor finally panicked: “Miss White, it seems she wasn’t lying. This time… she’s really dead!” Lily White sat up in shock: “What did you say? Dead? Really dead?” “Yes, there are no signs of life at all!” “This Aria Sanders really did only have 100 lives!” “What should we do now? Should we tell Mr. Turner?” “What’s there to tell! Drag her body out and burn it!” The doctor hesitated: “Burn it? Shouldn’t we… shouldn’t we at least inform Mr. Turner?” “What’s there to inform? I’m so important to Lucas. My word is as good as his, isn’t it?” The doctor could only nod and drag my body away. As night fell, Lucas finally returned. He first went to Lily White’s room and grasped her hand. “Lily! How are you?” Lily White still had that sickly appearance, falling into his arms. “Cough cough… Lucas, I’m fine. Don’t worry too much about me.” Lucas hugged her lovingly: “How can I not worry about you! I was busy outside earlier, but my mind was full of thoughts of you!” “Lucas, what were you busy with outside? Why is there an injury on your shoulder!” Lily White touched his shoulder worriedly, but he avoided her touch. “It’s nothing, don’t worry. A batch of our goods was hijacked. Without that batch, our brothers might not make it to next year, so I rushed to intercept it.” “I’m sorry I left you because of work, but the situation was really urgent just now…” Lily White quickly said understandingly: “It’s okay, I’m better now. You don’t need to worry about me—” “That’s good.” Lucas then stood up, preparing to go to my room to check on me. Lily White quickly stopped him: “Wait! Lucas—” “What’s wrong?”

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My Sister Ran Away from Her Wedding, So I Was Forced to Marry a Man Who Doesn’t Love Me After the wedding, he treated me terribly, his heart only belonging to my sister, Melody. “Don’t think marrying me will give you an easy life! I’ll only ever love Melody!” My husband’s love was unwavering, all because my sister had saved his life when they were children. Soon after, I became pregnant, but he wanted to cut open my belly to take my son’s blood! Even my own parents came to help, all for the sake of curing my sister’s illness! “It’s your blessing to be able to help cure Melody! Stop struggling, or I won’t be so nice!” “It’s just a little blood! That’s your own sister. Do you want to watch her die?” My heart turned to ashes, and I gave up struggling. But after I died, when my husband discovered the scar on my leg, he went completely insane. 0 “The baby is very healthy. Just make sure to get plenty of rest.” “Thank you, doctor.” I left the examination room with my prenatal checkup report, feeling a small comfort as I read the words confirming my baby’s health. “Young lady, I’ve noticed you always come alone. Where’s your husband? You’re six months pregnant now, it’s dangerous. How can he let you come by yourself?” As I sat in a chair, a nurse who looked like the head nurse suddenly struck up a conversation with me. I lowered my head and smiled self-mockingly, gripping the report tightly. “He’s busy with work. I’m fine on my own. Thank you for your concern.” Hearing this, the head nurse handed me a cup of hot water, grumbling disapprovingly, “Having a baby is a big deal in life. Your husband is being very inconsiderate. You should really talk to him when you get home.” I nodded and thanked her again. Lucas and I weren’t in love at all. To be precise, he despised me, hated me, and wouldn’t even look me in the eye. We were married under unavoidable circumstances because my sister had run away from her wedding. To save face for both families, I was forced to take her place as the sacrifice. When Lucas found out about the switch, he was furious. But the Young family ignored his protests, and he naturally took out his anger and resentment on me. He believed I had forcibly replaced my “evil sister” as his bride, thinking me vicious and hypocritical. Even now that I was pregnant, his attitude hadn’t changed. “Where are you?” I sighed and dialed Lucas’s number. The other end was noisy, clearly at some nightclub. “Make it quick. Don’t ruin my mood.” Lucas’s impatient voice came through, almost hateful. “I had my checkup today, and it looks like it’s about to rain. Could you come pick me up?” I tentatively asked him. He was silent for a few seconds, then laughed coldly. “Aria Snow, don’t think you can use these tricks to make me sympathize with you. Keep dreaming. I’m not coming to get you.” My heart trembled. Although I was used to hearing such words from him, I couldn’t help feeling heartbroken and upset. “Lucas, what are you doing? Come over here!” I was about to say something when I heard a girl’s coquettish voice. It was my sister, Melody. “Nothing, just dealing with a nuisance.” Through the phone, I clearly heard their intimate voices. I felt drained of energy, my hand slowly lowering. So I had always been just a nuisance. Seeing that I wasn’t speaking, Lucas cursed under his breath and hung up. I covered my face and sighed, the checkup report long since crumpled in my hand. My sister Melody was beautiful, especially her eyes, which were bright and captivating to anyone who saw them. She had many suitors, including Lucas. Ever since Lucas met Melody, he insisted she was the one who had saved his life as a child because she wore his necklace. From that moment, he fell hopelessly in love with my sister and immediately decided to marry her. This should have been a good match, but Melody wasn’t one to settle down. She wanted Lucas’s love but didn’t want to be tied down to just one man. So she ran away on their wedding day. Surprisingly, instead of getting angry, Lucas pursued her even more, which only increased his disgust towards me day by day. I vaguely remember that on the wedding day, Lucas rushed into my dressing room and grabbed my wrist. “Where’s Melody? Why is it you! I won’t agree to marry you, you shameless woman! Where have you hidden Melody?” Faced with Lucas’s furious questioning, I spoke softly, “She ran away from the wedding. My parents forced me to marry you to save face for both families.” “Impossible! Get out! You must have done something to sabotage this. Let me tell you, I’ll only ever love Melody. Don’t think you can tear us apart!” Lucas glared at me, his grip on my wrist tightening. The pain made me forcefully pull away, glaring back at him angrily. “Lucas! Do you think I want to marry you? If it weren’t for my father’s reputation, I wouldn’t even look at you. You’d better cooperate today, or don’t blame me for doing something drastic.” I paused for a few seconds, then changed my tone, “Especially to your precious Melody, I…” “Bitch!” Before I could finish, Lucas grabbed my neck and pinned me against the wall, glaring at me fiercely. “If you dare touch her, I’ll make your life a living hell!” He only let go after I struggled for a while. I coughed violently, falling to the ground in a mess. “You’re crazy! If you have the guts, just kill me! We both hate this marriage anyway. Wouldn’t it be better if I disappeared?” I covered my neck, gasping for air, still glaring hatefully at the man towering over me. Lucas sneered and crouched down, looking at me with pity, “You’ve used every trick to marry me. If you really died, how would I have the chance to meet Melody at your house in the future? So stay alive. I want you, this vain woman, to watch with your own eyes as Melody and I fall in love.” With that, Lucas wiped his hands in disgust, stood up, and left the dressing room, leaving me alone to suffer the humiliation. On our wedding night, Lucas didn’t come back. He even threw all my things into the study. After the wedding, Lucas’s attitude towards me remained terrible. He didn’t even want to stay under the same roof with me. He only came home a handful of times each month. I thought we would just continue like this, not interfering with each other’s lives, but then Lucas’s grandfather suddenly wanted a grandson. So Lucas and I were forced to share a bed, compelling ourselves to be intimate. He often blindfolded himself with red silk to avoid looking at me, while I kept my eyes tightly shut, praying for it to be over quickly. A few months later, I became pregnant as hoped. Perhaps it was the love this new life brought me, but I started to hope for a happy married life, to give him a complete family. After all, the child was innocent. When Lucas heard the news, he was stunned at first, his face filled with surprise. He probably never imagined he would become a father one day, especially with a woman he despised. That’s why he never accompanied me to a single prenatal checkup. “Excuse me, do you need any help?” The nurse’s voice brought me back to reality. I quickly wiped away my tears and shook my head. Then I gathered my things and left the hospital. Outside, it was pouring rain. By the time I got home from the hospital, I was completely soaked and looked a mess. “Dad, the baby…” I was about to tell my father that the baby was fine when I saw Lucas and Melody sitting arm in arm on our living room sofa. At that moment, I felt like the rain had drenched my heart completely. “See? You made it home just fine. Why did you have to ask me if I could pick you up? Your act of playing the victim is truly disgusting.” Lucas looked at me mockingly, his expression as if watching a clown perform in a circus. “Why are you back so late, looking like such a mess? Don’t embarrass yourself here!” My stepmother glanced at me with disdain and threw a towel at my face. I clenched my fists, my long-suppressed emotions finally bursting out, “Lucas! I’ve never said anything about you fooling around with Melody before. I’ve been tolerant enough. Just because you can’t marry her, why do you have to take it out on me? If it weren’t for my dad forcing me, do you think you’re such a catch? You don’t deserve me!” “How dare you speak to Lucas like that? No wonder he doesn’t like you. Look at yourself, acting like a shrew. Can’t you learn from Melody?” My dad, hearing the commotion, came out and immediately pointed at me, criticizing. “Then why don’t you let Melody marry him? Save me from having to watch them disgust me every day!” I shouted loudly. Melody quickly came over and held my arm, speaking with difficulty, “Sister, I didn’t mean to run away. I just wasn’t ready. Don’t blame me, and don’t blame Lucas either.” “Melody.” I looked at her with a cold smile. Only I knew what kind of fangs were hidden behind that pure facade. “Do you like Lucas?” I asked directly. “I…” Seemingly not expecting me to ask so directly, Melody’s expression froze, and she bit her lower lip. “Are you sick? Melody is kindly apologizing to you, and that’s your attitude! Her liking me is my business. She doesn’t need to respond. If you dare to speak rudely to her or treat her badly again, see how I’ll deal with you!” Lucas put his arm around Melody’s shoulders, holding the small figure in his arms. The scene looked warm and harmonious, but to me, it was extremely irritating. “If you love her so much, let’s get divorced,” I said. As soon as the words left my mouth, my father slapped me hard across the face. The pain immediately spread across my cheek, stinging fiercely. “Shameless thing, how dare you say such outrageous words! Quickly apologize to Lucas!” I looked at my father in shock. Ever since our family business started declining, he had become obsessed with connecting with the Young family, even willing to sell the small company my mother left behind before she died, and sell me as well. Seeing his previously gritting teeth now turn into this appearance, my heart turned ice cold. “I couldn’t ask for anything better. If it weren’t for your father saying you’re carrying the Young family’s flesh and blood, I would have kicked you far away long ago. Who are you to act so arrogantly here?” Lucas snorted disdainfully, while Melody in his arms wore an expression of watching a show. “Sister, I was young then, please don’t blame me. Now I truly hope you two can be happy,” Melody said. “We won’t be happy together,” Lucas said coldly, glancing at me before taking Melody’s hand. “I’m only happy with you.” Melody giggled shyly, then looked at me pitifully. “Are you blaming me, sister? Do you think I’m the third wheel in your marriage? I don’t want it to be like this either, but Lucas…” Melody choked up a bit, then continued, “Mr. Young has been persistently pursuing me. I couldn’t say anything too impolite. I hope you can understand, sister. I don’t want to ruin your relationship.” Melody spoke convincingly; I had to admire her acting skills. Melody was about to say something else when Lucas stepped in front of her. “Stop wasting words with her. Didn’t you come back to change clothes? My mom is still waiting to go to the movies. Don’t let some trash delay us.” I frowned and turned my head away. “If you’re going to leave, then leave. Don’t disturb my child.” I don’t know if it was my imagination, but when I mentioned the child, Melody clearly showed a hint of jealousy. But it was just for a moment, and she quickly resumed her soft, innocent appearance. Lucas said goodbye to my father and stepmother, then left holding Melody’s hand without looking back. I returned to my room exhausted and took a hot shower. At this point, my relationship with Lucas was getting worse and worse, but at least I had this child to give some comfort to my shattered heart. 0

Soon, the baby was over seven months along. One weekend, just as I had received my prenatal checkup results, I learned that my sister had contracted a rare disease and was coughing up blood non-stop. “What sin has our family committed to deserve this? Why does this have to happen to my daughter?” When I rushed home after receiving the call, my stepmother was kneeling by the bed, weeping bitterly. My father was at a loss, pacing back and forth. Lucas was there too, which didn’t surprise me. I just gave him a brief glance. “What did the doctor say? How long has she had these symptoms?” I walked to Melody’s bedside, bending down carefully while supporting my belly to observe her closely. Her face was pale, her lips purple, and blood was still seeping out. She looked extremely weak. “The doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong. We’ve consulted so many people, but no one knows what this condition is! My poor daughter!” My father pounded the wall in anguish, blaming himself for his inability to help. I turned to look at Lucas. His face was filled with anxiety, his eyes red-rimmed, clearly very concerned about Melody. “You don’t have any solutions either?” I asked Lucas. Although I had my reservations about her, I didn’t want her to die. Lucas shook his head helplessly, clenching his fists and trembling all over. It was the first time I had seen him so distraught. “There is a way!” My stepmother suddenly stood up and shouted, “You’re just afraid to use it! You’re afraid of divine retribution, but my daughter’s life is hanging by a thread. Nothing can stop me from saving her!” My stepmother grabbed my father’s collar like a madwoman, shaking him violently. “Mom… Mom, don’t force Dad. If it were me, I wouldn’t want to use this method either. It’s too cruel,” Melody said weakly from the bed, coughing several times and clutching her chest. “It’s because you’re too kind-hearted! Nothing is more important than your life!” My stepmother finished speaking and suddenly turned to look at me, revealing a crazed smile, like a predator eyeing its prey. It made me very uncomfortable. “What method? At this point, Melody’s life is clearly the most important thing. Just tell us, I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens!” Lucas rushed over in a few quick steps, grabbing my stepmother’s shoulders and asking urgently. “There’s a witch in our hometown. I went to consult her. She said Melody has been possessed, and only the blood from the heart of a fully formed fetus can drive away the evil spirit,” my stepmother said emphatically. As soon as she finished speaking, everyone’s gaze fell on me. I felt a chill run down my spine. “What are you going to do?” When my stepmother mentioned the blood from the fetus’s heart, a glint flashed in her eyes. I immediately became alarmed and used my hands to protect my child. Then, Lucas walked over to me and said words I would never forget in this life.

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In the second year following my divorce, I unexpectedly encountered my ex-wife, Cora, at City Hall. She was accompanied by our daughter and her childhood friend, Logan. They really looked like the perfect family. My daughter ran excitedly to me, wrapping her arms around my leg. “Daddy, Sweetie really misses you.” I gently disengaged her hold and turned to Cora. “Are you here for your marriage certificate? Congratulations and best wishes!” Her smile was awkward. “Actually, I’m here for a divorce.” Then she quickly asked, “Are you getting married?” I waved the document I held. “No, I’m just getting a single status certificate.” 1. I didn’t expect to see Cora again, especially not at City Hall. I had just collected my new single status certificate when I saw Cora walking towards me, her head down. She looked surprised, staring blankly at me. “How have you been over these two years?” I wasn’t one for small talk with my ex, especially given the metaphorical shadow of betrayal that still lingered. I brushed her off as I headed toward the exit. “Not too bad.” She hastened to catch up, gripping my arm. “Are you getting married?” What was her interest in my marital status? Seeing my impatience, Cora released my sleeve and attempted to make conversation. “It’s been two years since we last saw each other.” Indeed, the last time we met was two years ago, here. That day marked the end of our three-year marriage. I negotiated custody of my daughter and left with nothing but the divorce papers. At the entrance, she asked, “When will you come back to pick up your things?” I glanced at the sky and then at her. “How about now?” I took only the key to the old house and the sole photo I had with my father. As I was leaving, Cora, holding our daughter’s hand, stopped me. “Leave the key.” I didn’t stop unlocking the door, replying quietly, “It’s on the table.” Her voice was filled with frustration from behind. “You wanted the divorce. Logan has no family or friends, and he’s depressed. What’s wrong with me spending more time with him? Why do you have an issue with him?” “Even Sweetie knows to give more companionship and warmth.” I glanced back to see my daughter nodding earnestly, while Cora looked at me with disappointment. Under their accusatory stares, I quickly rolled my wheelchair away. Logan had no family or friends, but I had only her and our daughter. I looked at the photo with my father. Now, there was no need to worry about Logan. My wife and daughter were no longer mine. 2. Logan was Cora’s childhood friend; they grew up together. Logan’s father was the Johnson family’s chauffeur. When Cora was seven, she accidentally started the car, and the driver saved her at the cost of his life. Since then, as a repayment for the life-saving debt, Logan became like another child to the Johnson family, eating and living with Cora. During their teenage years, emotions ran high, and the handsome boy and pretty girl became an acknowledged couple, exploring young love. Afterward, Logan was sent to study in India. For years, they maintained contact online, sharing their innermost thoughts. This continued until COVID-19 struck, affecting the real economy, and the Johnson family fell into debt. Around this time, I rescued Cora from a dangerous situation involving some thugs. I stood by Cora through the economic downturn, welcoming a recovery and the birth of our daughter. On our daughter’s second birthday party, Logan suddenly appeared. He looked deeply into Cora’s eyes, expressing how much he missed her and recounting his struggles with COVID-19 and the difficulty of returning home. This day also marked our third wedding anniversary. Cora sobbed in Logan’s arms. What followed was a familiar tragedy. Everything that was mine became his. Cora took Logan for a full medical check-up; his post-COVID symptoms weren’t resolved, and he was diagnosed with severe depression. Cora noticed the scars on Logan’s wrist by accident. “Declan, the doctor said people with self-harming behavior shouldn’t be left alone. They need love and warmth.” Unwilling to give up, I asked, “So?” “He has no other family. I want to bring him home for convenience in taking care of him.” “I have no other family either.” Hearing this, Cora’s face instantly changed. “How can you be so selfish? He’s a patient who needs companionship, and you’re not sick.” She almost said that if I didn’t agree to let Logan live with us, I was unforgivably evil. Seeing this, I didn’t insist further. For months, I was busy with work at the company, while Cora took care of Logan and our daughter at home. I felt like an outsider. One day, while working, a tire fell from a height and struck my leg. As I sat in the ambulance, only one thought crossed my mind: “Finally, I need someone to take care of me.” 3. My injury was sudden but not fatal. Cora didn’t set aside much time for me. By the time I was discharged, she had only visited symbolically twice, each time not exceeding half an hour. My injury wasn’t severe, just a fractured leg. But it takes 100 days for bones and tendons to heal. So I began recuperating under the same roof as Logan. The difference was he stayed in the room next to the master bedroom upstairs, and I stayed in the guest room downstairs. Cora said climbing stairs would be inconvenient with my injured leg. “Declan, you don’t mind, do you? His room is closer, making it easier for me to take care of him. You won’t have to climb up and down.” “I don’t mind.” Out of basic human decency, saving a life is more virtuous than building a seven-story pagoda. As long as you don’t end up in each other’s beds, I don’t mind. Logan would come downstairs to see me every day, especially when Cora was around. One day, while discussing his condition, Logan mentioned gaining weight from the steroids. He seemed down, capturing Cora’s already limited attention. Like a whirlwind, she took Logan and Sweetie out for some exercise. They were a picture-perfect family of three. At dinner, I couldn’t bring myself to eat the take-out Cora had packed for me. It was all Logan’s favorite foods, none of which I could eat. Cora’s face was radiant with pleasure. “Declan, why aren’t you eating? Logan picked this Sichuan restaurant, and it’s really good.” “The doctor advised me against spicy food.” Cora hesitated for a moment. “I just wanted Logan to eat more and recover quickly. You just have a fracture. Eating a little shouldn’t be a problem, right?” I squeezed my chopsticks, glancing at Logan’s provoking expression. “Yeah, it’s fine.” 4. Out of sheer stubbornness, I ate the heavily spiced meal. Even though I guzzled water afterward, my wound still got infected, leading to a high fever. This time, Cora accompanied me to the hospital. I hadn’t even cooled down when Logan came in after me. His depression had flared up, and he had slit his wrists. When Cora rushed to Logan’s VIP room, she forgot to take Sweetie. Half-conscious, I heard my daughter’s sweet, childish voice making a wish. At first, it comforted me—whatever Cora was, my daughter was still mine. “I wish my daddy would die from the fever so Uncle Logan could be my dad.” When someone teased her about why she wanted a new dad, she said, “Uncle Logan is clean, handsome, and smells nice.” My daughter, whom I had cherished, thought I was dirty and smelly and wanted someone else as her dad. While Cora and our daughter accompanied Logan in his VIP room, I was left with a nurse aide in an ordinary ward. From doctors and nurses to family members of other patients, everyone thought they were a family of three. Logan sent me a photo with a taunting remark, “You’re just a greasy mechanic. How can you compete with me?” In the photo, Cora wore a nightgown, curled up in Logan’s arms, sleeping soundly. On the other side, Sweetie was sleeping with her little butt sticking up. I stared at the photo all night, repeatedly confirming it was taken on the bed I had scoured the city to buy for our wedding. Morning came, and with it, a realization. Before I could suggest a divorce, Cora came to me first. Logan’s mom had somehow found out about him and went to the hospital asking for child support. Logan had a breakdown from the stress, so Cora came to me filled with rage. I picked up the evidence she had thrown in my face, the printed chat records of my payments to Logan’s mom. “You knew Logan needed peace. Why did you bring that woman here? Now he wants to commit suicide. Are you happy?” Cora was emotional, hitting my fractured leg as she spoke. “I was just taking care of him and wasn’t going to divorce you. Can’t you understand?” I knew arguing was pointless; she wouldn’t believe me. I took out the printed divorce papers. “Let’s divorce. That way, you can always take care of him.” 5. City Hall is never short on business; people often come in pairs. Cora stood facing me from two meters away. She said, “I tried to find you later, but I couldn’t get in touch.” When we divorced, I only took my father’s photo and the key to the old house. When she was looking for me, I was probably recuperating at the old house. It was only a half-hour drive away, a place she never wanted to step into. Even the photo, if she looked closely, she could recognize it. “Do you need something?” Cora looked at me, hesitating. Finally, she murmured, “Sweetie misses her dad. She says she wants her dad.” I replied indifferently, “Doesn’t she already have a dad? The dad she hoped for—Uncle Logan.” Initially, hearing my daughter wish for my death was like my heart being torn apart. But two years later, I’ve come to terms with it. I didn’t want to reminisce with my ex-wife, especially since I was in a hurry to get to the relocation office. I glanced at my watch. “I’m pressed for time…” Before I could say goodbye, a pink little missile shot over, hugging my leg tightly. “Daddy, you’re here! Sweetie really, really missed you.” It was our daughter. I looked down at her and saw my reflection in her face. I pinched her cheek, slowly moving my leg away. Logan was trailing behind, looking much more haggard than two years ago, but his mouth was still foul. “You’re like a haunting spirit, drawn here by the stench.” From his tone, he thought I was here to cause trouble. Honestly, if I had known they were registering their marriage today, I would’ve postponed picking up the compensation to avoid this. “Congratulations, finally tying the knot.” All three of them stared at me; Cora’s expression was complicated, Sweetie looked confused, and Jasper’s face was nearly etched with resentment. I was utterly confused. Cora bit her lip, holding Sweetie’s hand, and then looked up to meet my eyes. “Do you really not know, or are you pretending…?” Sweetie, being young, chimed in, “Dad, it’s not…” Cora interrupted her, “I’m here for a divorce today.” My mind went blank. I wondered why it took them so long to register if they finally got together. It turns out they were already married. And now, they were splitting up. What happened over these past two years? Sweetie saw my shock and tugged on my sleeve, pouting. “Dad, come home with Mom and me.” I snapped out of it, patted Sweetie’s head but didn’t answer her. After all, she was a daughter I truly loved; I couldn’t bring myself to hurt her. Perhaps my silence gave Cora some hope. “Declan, we…”

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On the wedding day, my chosen bridesmaid fell ill suddenly. Theo quickly arranged for his close friend, Quinn, to fill in. He joked with me, “Quinn is such a klutz; even in a dress, she might not seem very ladylike.” But when he saw Quinn all dressed up, he was taken aback. He instructed the wedding car to pick her up first, then come for me. When I found out, I was upset with him for his poor handling of the situation. He said impatiently, “Quinn is a good friend of mine. Can you please not be so particular?” Fine! I turned the wedding into a breakup scene. “Ella, I’m really sorry. I can’t make it. You’ll need to find a new bridesmaid.” On the wedding day, the first call I received brought bad news. The friend who was supposed to be my bridesmaid had acute gastroenteritis. She was too sick to attend. This unexpected change made my heart sink. I shared the news with Theo while frantically searching for another candidate. But after going through my options, I realized there wasn’t anyone particularly suitable. In my anxiety, Theo messaged me: “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll sort it out.” Shortly after, he video-called me. “Babe, I’ve found someone. Quinn. She was supposed to be one of the guys today, but she’ll step in as your bridesmaid.” Quinn? Hearing her name stirred an inexplicable irritation in me. Quinn was a childhood friend of Theo’s. She was outgoing, treating everyone in their circle like family. Several times, she even hugged Theo in my presence and took sips from his bubble tea. She didn’t care if Theo had just used that straw. I would get visibly upset, but Theo didn’t see the issue. After it happened a few times, I earned the reputation of being the jealous, possessive girlfriend in their circle. The last time, his friends tried to reassure me: “Sis, Quinn is just like that. We don’t see her as anything more than a buddy. It’s just how she is!” What nonsense! I was about to explode! I told Theo, “I can’t stand this. If you continue having no boundaries with Quinn, we’re done!” After that, Theo did make some changes. But Quinn wasn’t happy. She complained about me in their group chat and seized every opportunity to mock me to my face. “Sis, see? I didn’t drink Theo’s bubble tea this time, satisfied?” “Theo, if your wife says drink less, then do it! Don’t upset her again.” “Oh, we’re going out later. Theo, the henpecked one, better head home!” I never let her provocations slide. Theo told her to stop, but I could tell he was uncomfortable. Back to the present, Theo was smiling in the video: “Ha, Quinn is so clumsy; even in a dress, she might not seem very ladylike.”

Time was running out, so I agreed to let Quinn be the bridesmaid. Just after I finished my bridal makeup, my phone rang again. My eyelid twitched. Friend A: “Ella, did you know Theo instructed the wedding car to pick up Quinn first, then come for you?” “And during their video call just now, Theo couldn’t take his eyes off Quinn all dressed up.” “What?” Those words changed my expression. Anger surged, my temples throbbed. I immediately called Theo. “Did you tell the car to pick up Quinn first, then me?” Theo paused before replying, “Isn’t she being your bridesmaid? Of course, she needs to be picked up first.” Is that a reason? I questioned him, “There are a dozen cars. Any of your friends could have gone. Why you?” He seemed at a loss for words. After a few seconds, he reluctantly explained: “Baby, don’t be mad! I’ll be honest. This was Quinn’s condition for being a bridesmaid. I had no choice.” At that moment, it felt like something in my head snapped. I couldn’t help but recall how she always fought for the front seat. The first time was on my birthday when Theo came to pick me up. As I reached the car, I saw Quinn in the front seat. Smiling brightly, she waved at me: “Hey, sis! Mind if I hitch a ride? I get carsick in the back. I’ll give the seat back when we get there.” Acting all carefree and playful. Theo opened the back door, seeing me standing still, he quickly added: “We just ran into each other. I was just giving her a ride. She really does get carsick; otherwise, I wouldn’t let her sit in front!” I was about to speak when Quinn clicked her tongue, playfully pouting: “Theo, you’re really all about your girlfriend now. What, want to kick me out of the car?” “If you dare, I’ll kick you out of the brotherhood group, hmph!” Once Theo was in and buckling up, she suddenly reached to tug his ear. Just touched it and then pulled back, sticking her tongue out: “Oops, Theo’s taken now. I better watch my boundaries.” Ugh! Such a fake act! I confronted Theo over this. He was frustrated: “I told you, there’s nothing between Quinn and me. Why can’t you believe it?” Once or twice, I could ignore it. But with her appearing every now and then, Theo finally realized it was inappropriate. After refusing her a ride two or three times, things improved. I didn’t expect her to pull this stunt on our wedding day! I frowned, “Theo, turn around now. Have someone else pick her up!” He sighed. “I’m already at her place! Ella, Quinn is my buddy. She’s being your bridesmaid today. Can you please just let this go?” Sending the main wedding car for the bridesmaid before the bride? This was clearly his mishandling, yet he blamed me for being petty? Ridiculous.

I hung up the phone abruptly. Theo called back over ten times wanting to apologize, but I didn’t answer. Until he came with a big group of friends. After they got the door opened with a red envelope, Theo, surrounded by his buddies, came to my room. Quinn stood beside him, wearing a pink bridesmaid dress, looking cute and charming. “Baby!” Theo called out sweetly, opening his arms to hug me. I discreetly pushed him away. “Sweetheart, today’s our big day. Be happy, okay?” As he whispered in my ear, Quinn pulled him away. “The groom’s in such a rush! We still have games to play.” Her words were for Theo, but her eyes provocatively glanced at me. While my friends arranged games, Theo and his friends started the wedding games. Unlike the joyous atmosphere, I remained expressionless. Watching Theo actively participating in each game, I felt an indescribable feeling. I’ve liked Theo since college. He was the campus heartthrob, poor but talented, exceptionally hard-working. We officially got together at a class reunion after graduation. By then, he was working at a multinational, envied by many. I, with my parents’ help, had started my own company early on. As outstanding graduates, we became the focus for drinks. He was gentlemanly, helping me block drink after drink, eyes firm and gentle. If it weren’t for the issues with Quinn, he’d make a great husband. Sadly… Today’s events were the last straw. Someone who can’t sort out relationships before marriage can’t be trusted to do so after. Maybe, this wedding shouldn’t go on.

A scream pulled my thoughts back to reality. The wedding games were nearing the end. Theo and his friends were playing the last game, passing cards mouth-to-mouth. They were hugging, laughing, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Just as Theo tilted his head to take the card from the previous buddy, Quinn moved. In a flash, she pushed the buddy behind Theo. Then stepped forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Theo’s neck. Their bodies pressed close, intimately embraced. The room erupted. Everyone’s gaze darted between the three of us. Full of surprise, gossip, and anticipation for the drama. Theo was at a loss, quickly glancing at me. He turned his head slightly, trying to push away and distance himself from Quinn. But Quinn grabbed his face, pulling him close, and kissed him. “Wow!” A louder cheer erupted from the crowd. I widened my eyes, staring dumbfounded at the scene. It felt like those few seconds of passing the card were stretched infinitely, and my heart sank. The game ended amid laughter and cheers. Quinn, as if she won a prize, waved the card, laughing gleefully. Theo pushed her away, looking serious: “That was silly. Who let you play this game?” Quinn pouted, dissatisfied: “I’m both a bridesmaid and a buddy. So what if I play a game?” My best friend, Chloe, seeing my unhappy face, was also furious. She couldn’t help but nudge Quinn, scolding her: “Today is their big day. Why are you causing a scene? You’re really bold!” 5. Quinn blinked her big, innocent eyes, biting her lip in frustration. The atmosphere turned awkwardly silent. One of the groomsmen chuckled to ease the tension, “Hey, it’s just a game. Why get upset?” He turned to me, “Quinn was just trying to lighten the mood. I’m sure you won’t hold it against her, right?” I wasn’t having it, “What? Trying to guilt-trip me?” Theo looked a bit guilty. He rubbed his nose and walked toward me. “Listen, honey: Quinn’s just being her usual playful self. Let’s not take it to heart.” “Quinn, apologize to your sister-in-law already.” Quinn rolled her eyes and blurted out, “Apologize for what? I didn’t do anything wrong!” “Sis, I’ve already told you, there’s nothing between Theo and me. If there were, you’d be looking at a different bride today.” Hiss! The crowd murmured. I sneered, almost ready to slap her. But then I noticed the photographers in the corner and thought of a better idea. Forcing a smile, I said, “Forget it! It’s getting late, and we shouldn’t miss the perfect time.” Surprisingly, everyone seemed shocked at how quickly the matter was settled. Especially Quinn, her mouth wide open in disbelief. Theo sighed in relief. He took my hand with a loving expression. I resisted the urge to pull away and reminded him, “Hurry up and find my wedding shoes, silly.” Theo finally realized and started looking for the shoes. He quickly found them behind the curtain and helped me put them on. With the shoes on, I took Theo’s arm and walked out of the room. Quinn watched from the side, her expression unreadable. I chuckled to myself; the real show was yet to come. 6 The wedding was at the Glorious Hotel. After settling in, Theo and I stood at the entrance to greet our guests. Quinn, being a bridesmaid, naturally stayed close by. But she couldn’t help but inch closer to Theo. Under the pretext of conversation, she moved closer and closer. The two of them stood side by side, occasionally whispering and laughing loudly. To an outsider, it might seem like she was today’s bride. Meanwhile, I observed with a blank expression. Enduring it, waiting… Even the groomsmen couldn’t stand it and signaled Theo to pull Quinn away. But she pushed him aside, “What are you doing, Logan? Got a twitch?” Heh. Playing dumb while fully aware. I didn’t bother with them, and as I turned, I saw a familiar figure approaching. “Hey, Ella!” Ethan waved. He was sharply dressed in a suit, looking quite dashing. “Ethan, I’m so glad you could come.” I beamed brightly, hugging him. “Of course, Miss Ella’s wedding, I had to be here. Plus, I’ve got a big red envelope for you!” Ethan said, helping to straighten my slightly messy veil. His slightly intimate gesture made Theo uncomfortable. He immediately came over, wrapped an arm around my waist, and distanced me from Ethan. Then he asked irritably, “Are you Ella’s friend?” “Hi, I’m Ethan.” Ethan extended his hand to Theo, acting graciously. “I’m Theo, Ella’s husband.” Theo stared at the man in front of him, his eyes filled with hostility. I pretended not to notice and warmly invited Ethan, “Go on in, Chloe’s inside.” “Alright, we’ll chat more later.” Ethan gracefully turned and headed to the banquet hall. Theo noticed I hadn’t looked away and grew increasingly sullen. He tightened his grip on my waist, his jealousy evident. “What’s your relationship with that guy?” “A friend,” I replied nonchalantly. “What kind of friend hugs you in front of me? Remember, you’re my wife!” “Oh, so you know hugging isn’t appropriate?” I shook off his arm and retorted, “Haven’t you and Quinn hugged enough today? Oh, and not just hugged—you kissed too.” That left him speechless. Quinn jumped in to defend, “Sis, Theo and I are just good friends.” “Funny, Ethan and I are just good friends too!” I deliberately dragged out the words, “We’re good friends~”

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After transferring schools, I became a target for the rich boys—just another pawn in their twisted games. They acted like they were interested in me, but behind my back, they made bets about who could take my virginity first. What I thought was love was nothing more than a cruel wager. They shared my photos, my private messages, and even drugged me. Eventually, the whole school mocked me, calling me pathetic, desperate, and trash. I was bullied to death by their fanatical admirers. But when I opened my eyes again, the school’s golden boy grinned at me and said, “Rhea, what a beautiful name. May I take you to dinner?” Dinner? Sure. This time, let’s make it your last meal. It was my first day at St. Augustine Academy—a prestigious private school—and also the day I was reborn. I had originally been a top student at a public high school. But St. Augustine had lured me in with promises of a better future, offering me a full scholarship and, after graduation, a $150,000 bonus. That’s five years’ worth of my parents’ combined salaries. The tuition at St. Augustine was so outrageous that my family couldn’t afford even a single semester, even if we starved ourselves for a decade. But with their offer, I couldn’t resist. I thought transferring here would change my life. And I wasn’t wrong—it did. I became their prey, their entertainment, nothing more than a joke to pass the time. They chatted with me sweetly while secretly spreading my private messages and photos. They even made bets about my “first night.” The entire school looked at me like I was a walking punchline. In the end, I was cornered in a bathroom by a group of jealous girls—fans of the boys who had pretended to like me. They drowned me in a toilet, all while hurling insults: “Pathetic loser.” “Desperate fool.” “Daydreaming nerd.” I died humiliated, staring at the photos and messages they had plastered all over the school. As my life slipped away, all I could think about was how much I hated the ones who had orchestrated it all. I wanted to tear those monsters apart. But my consciousness faded before I could even begin to imagine revenge. And then… I woke up. I came back. If there’s such a thing as divine intervention, this was it. I didn’t have much time to bask in the joy of my second chance before I ran into one of the masterminds: Ethan Monroe. Ethan Monroe—the ever-charming gentleman with a smile so warm it could melt anyone’s defenses. How fitting for the heir to a family that monopolized the country’s energy industry. He had enough “electricity” to toy with anyone he pleased. “You must be the new transfer student,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. I pretended to be naïve, nodding shyly. Ethan glanced at the enrollment form in my hand. “Senior class 1A? What a coincidence—looks like we’re in the same class.” His smile was radiant, the kind of smile that had fooled me in my past life. I had fallen so deeply into the web he spun that I didn’t even realize it was a trap until the very end. What I hadn’t known back then was that none of this was a coincidence. Even my transfer to St. Augustine had been part of their plan. I was their carefully chosen prey. And Ethan? He was one of the ringleaders. I could still hear the mocking voices of his admirers in my mind. They had shown me videos of him—the perfect gentleman, his eyes filled with arrogance and disdain. “It’s too boring around here. Of course, we need someone to play with.” “She’s perfect. So desperate to change her fate. It’s hilarious.” And just like that, I had become their entertainment. As we walked toward the classroom, Ethan started giving me a brief rundown of the school’s history, describing it as a haven for the wealthy and privileged. “These kids don’t need good grades to secure their futures,” he said with a laugh. I wasn’t really listening. My mind was already planning. Ethan waved his hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Rhea Carter. What a beautiful name. May I take you to dinner?” Dinner? Sure. This time, I’ll make it your last supper.

St. Augustine Academy was known for its sky-high tuition fees and rigorous admission process, which naturally kept the student population small. The entire high school division had only about 600 students. Among them, the most famous were Ethan Monroe and his three closest friends. Ethan, the golden boy, was the school’s heartthrob—charming, gentlemanly, and adored by all the girls. Chris Langston, the artsy intellectual, was the principal’s son and had a brooding, poetic vibe that made him stand out. Logan Brooks, the star athlete, had bronzed skin and a muscular build that made hearts race. And finally, Ryan Chase, the senior class valedictorian, was both a top-tier scholar and devastatingly attractive. Together, they were inseparable, and the rest of the school called them the “St. Augustine F4.” In my previous life, all four of them had conveniently “fallen” for me. The rest of my classmates were overly friendly on my first day, going so far as to give me the best seat in the classroom—a spot with a perfect view of the board. But I knew better. These people had treated me as a joke in my past life. My death had been tied to every single one of them. So I played along, smiling politely on the outside while cursing them to hell on the inside. At lunchtime, Ethan led me to his family’s private dining room on campus. The table was overflowing with gourmet dishes, and sitting around it were his three loyal friends. This wasn’t my first time here. In my past life, Ethan had also brought me to this restaurant. I’d stood there awkwardly, unsure of how to act, surrounded by handsome boys and an intimidating spread of international cuisine. I hadn’t dared move a muscle, let alone sit down. The entire meal, I’d been too nervous to speak or eat, instead watching Ethan for cues on what to do. Little did I know, every awkward moment had been caught on camera. They had uploaded the footage to the school’s private online forum, mocking me for my “small-town ignorance,” my inability to use proper table manners, and my so-called “wannabe” behavior. If they wanted a battle of public opinion, fine. Two could play that game. This time, I pulled out my phone and started recording. “Oh my gosh, is this truffle? It looks just like chocolate!” “And this? French foie gras? Isn’t that just… fatty liver?” “I can’t believe how lucky I am to receive such warm treatment from my classmates! Let’s all say thank you to our generous host!” I looked up from my phone, aiming my most innocent smile at Ethan, whose expression had soured into something resembling constipation. “Ethan, you’re so handsome. You wouldn’t mind if I shared this video to help everyone learn a little more about fine dining, would you?” Ethan forced a tight smile, his jaw visibly clenched. “Of course not.” In my past life, my high grades and desire to earn extra money for my family had led me to run a small social media account. Though it hadn’t made much, I’d gained a modest following at school. Ethan and his crew had chosen me as their target because they wanted to tear down the positive, hardworking image I’d built online. Well, if exposure was what they wanted, I’d give it to them—on my terms this time.

In my previous life, I’d been too young and naive to enjoy the luxury of the food in front of me. This time, I glanced at the four boys sitting around me. “No wonder everyone dreams of being a sugar mommy. Turns out spoiling a group of pretty boys feels this good!” The smiles on their faces froze instantly. Feigning surprise, I quickly added, “Oh no, did I just say that out loud? My bad!” “Don’t be shy, everyone! Let’s dig in—pretend we’re all family!” Channeling the spirit of a true host, I didn’t hold back, savoring every dish like a queen. Why let all this good food go to waste by just staring at it? After I’d eaten my fill, Logan Brooks eyed the empty plates in front of me with a mix of shock and admiration. “Rhea, your appetite is impressive. Want to go burn some of that off with me?” I glanced at his deliberately flexed bicep and flashed a bright smile. “Sure! But do you have an eight-pack?” He grinned. “Only six. Is that okay?” I shrugged, pretending to be excited as I raised my phone. “Guess we’ll have to see for ourselves!” But when it came time for Logan to show off his so-called six-pack, he hesitated and awkwardly pulled up his shirt halfway. I took a quick photo, then glanced at it with a raised brow. Wow. Bold of you to brag with… this. Are you not worried about the internet teaching you a lesson? Logan, however, seemed unbothered. He even tried to drag me to the school’s private gym to “show me the joys of fitness.” The gym, of course, was as luxurious as you’d expect from a place like St. Augustine—spotless, fully equipped, and free of the usual sweaty smell. As always, I whipped out my phone, angling it carefully to capture the entire scene before recording Logan as he guided me through the equipment. “Let’s start with pull-ups!” he said confidently. In my past life, I’d been so flustered and nervous that I hadn’t managed to do a single pull-up. Logan had taken the opportunity to “help” by wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting me. We’d been so close, I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. Blushing and weak, I couldn’t muster any strength. The school’s private forum had later exploded with the headline: “Chubby Girl Goes for the Kill”—mocking me mercilessly. Now, Logan stood in the same position, asking, “Need me to show you how it’s done?” I nodded, stretching my wrists and ankles. Fitness was Logan’s comfort zone, and after the embarrassment over his “abs,” he was eager to prove himself. He jumped up, knocked out a few pull-ups, and even flashed a sliver of his stomach. I watched through my phone’s screen, already imagining the views this footage would bring me. When Logan finished, sweat dripping down his face, he turned to me. “Want me to guide you through it?” I waved him off, grabbed the bar, and cranked out a set of pull-ups far more impressive than his. “Oh, by the way,” I said casually as I hopped down, “I used to be a personal trainer.”

St. Augustine Academy had its perks, but there was one thing I struggled with: the teaching methods. “Elite education” and “holistic development” were great buzzwords, but they didn’t exactly suit someone like me, who had transferred from a public school and still relied on grades to chase my dreams. In a classroom full of students who didn’t need to worry about their futures, I was the only one who cared about the upcoming college entrance exams. My desk partner happened to be Ryan Chase, the resident genius of St. Augustine. When he noticed me struggling with a question, he slid his notebook over. “Need help, Rhea?” I glanced at his messy handwriting, then at his face. To be honest, his handwriting was nowhere near as good as his looks. “Rhea, you seem stuck. Let me walk you through it,” he offered, assuming I needed his assistance. “You’re wrong,” I said bluntly. Ryan froze. “Where am I wrong?” “You’re overcomplicating it. If you use these two points instead, it’s faster and easier to understand.” Ryan looked like a deflated balloon, no longer eager to speak. The entire day passed without me learning much of anything. In my past life, this was exactly how it had gone. But back then, I’d let their words sway me. They’d told me grades weren’t everything, that I was already smart enough and should focus on building relationships instead. And like an idiot, I’d believed them. I’d gotten so caught up in their world of idle chatter and social games that I’d forgotten what mattered most: my studies. This time, I wouldn’t fall for it. We weren’t born equal. The heights they’d reached effortlessly were places I’d have to struggle my entire life to even glimpse. So, I created a strict schedule for myself, sticking to the study habits that had served me well before. After finishing my review for the day, I turned my attention to editing the photos and videos I’d taken. In my past life, the cyberbullying from one school had been enough to suffocate me. This time, I’d expand the battlefield. One school wasn’t enough. I wanted the entire internet to join the party. I uploaded the video to my account with the title: “My First Day at St. Augustine: Gourmet Food, Hot Guys, and Abs!” The name “St. Augustine Academy” was a magnet for attention, and the video’s view count skyrocketed, quickly breaking all my previous records. Comments flooded in: “OMG, how did she get so lucky? A transfer student with a $150,000 scholarship?!” “Those abs aren’t that great, though. Why was he bragging?” “Trying to show off but ended up getting schooled by the girl. I wonder how big his ‘emotional damage’ is right now.” “Girl, stay true to yourself! Don’t let the glitz and glam blind you!” Every single view and comment translated to money. Watching the numbers climb, I couldn’t help but smile. For the first time in a long time, I slept peacefully that night. Early the next morning, I got up and started memorizing vocabulary words. I had to admit, St. Augustine Academy lived up to its reputation. The campus was stunning, with a tranquil lake surrounded by lush greenery. I sat on a bench by the water, soaking in the scenery as I studied. Just as I was engrossed in my notes, Ethan Monroe appeared, carrying a perfectly arranged breakfast in his hand. “Rhea, you’re up early,” he said with a smile. I mentally reviewed the words I’d just memorized to make sure I had them locked in before turning to him. Ethan’s custom-tailored uniform accentuated his long legs, and he deliberately angled his face to show off his best side. I glanced at the breakfast tray he was holding—milk, bread, and fruit. “Is that for me?” I asked, pretending to gaze at him with wide, admiring eyes. Ethan nodded and even pulled out a picnic blanket, spreading it neatly on the grass. Once everything was set up, I casually pulled out my phone and started snapping pictures.

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She didn’t care about the consequences—she gave me growth inhibitors without a second thought and even wrapped my chest tightly with bandages to keep me looking small. I thought my life was already miserable enough. But then, she pushed me into an even darker abyss. My mom abruptly ended the livestream, leaving the viewers on the other side confused. “What’s going on? Why did the stream suddenly cut off?” “I wasn’t done watching my sweet little angel!” She turned to me, her face cold and unforgiving, and slapped me hard across the face. “You clumsy idiot! You couldn’t even boil water without burning yourself. Do you want people to figure out what a mess you are with that miserable expression on your face?” Sweat beaded on my forehead as I bit down hard on my pale lips. The burning pain in my foot was unbearable, and my vision started to blur. I grabbed onto her hand, pleading, “Mom, my foot hurts. It really hurts.” She yanked her hand away, her expression indifferent. “You think I care? Do you know how much money I just lost because we had to stop the livestream?” Her voice was a blur of irritation in my ears as the pain overwhelmed me. I couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out. When I woke up, I was in the hospital. My mom was still there, holding up her phone, recording me lying on the hospital bed. She spoke to her audience in a concerned tone: “Sorry for cutting the stream earlier. Little Anna accidentally burned her foot with hot water and fainted. Poor thing is still lying here in the hospital bed…” As expected, the comment section quickly filled with messages of concern and sympathy. “My poor sweet Anna!” “She got burned? Will it leave a scar? She needs to rest and recover!” “Did Anna cry? Even a little splash of hot water makes me scream, let alone something like that!” Reading this, my mom leaned in and pinched the tender skin at my waist, hard. Tears welled up in my eyes instantly, spilling over as I tried to hold back a sob. The comment section exploded again: “Anna’s crying! My heart is breaking for her!” “Don’t cry, sweetie…” My mom sighed dramatically, putting on her best exhausted expression for the camera. “Anna needs to rest now, so we’ll end the livestream here today. Thank you all for your love and support!” She ended the stream and immediately dropped her act. The cold, calculating look returned to her eyes, but there was also a glimmer of satisfaction. She patted my head the way a loving mother might, but her words were anything but comforting. “Not bad, Anna. I didn’t expect this to work so well. Your little hospital stunt really brought in more fans. Good job.” I forced a weak smile, but it probably looked worse than crying. My parents divorced when I was young, and my mom got custody of me. When I was eleven, she stumbled upon a livestream where someone was selling homemade goods. She watched in awe as the influencer raked in money effortlessly. That night, she quit her job. Her new goal? To turn me into a “cooking prodigy” and make me the next viral sensation. At first, I frowned and resisted. But my mom knew how to get what she wanted. Her eyes would fill with tears, and she’d say things like: “Anna, do you have any idea how hard it’s been for me to raise you alone all these years? Do you know how much I’ve suffered?” “This is our big break! If I can make this work, I can finally turn our lives around. If you really care about your mom, you’ll listen to me… won’t you?”

Looking at my mom, I swallowed back the words I wanted to say. And just like that, my high-achieving, soon-to-be middle school self was pulled out of school by my mom, who was absolutely thrilled about her decision. My mind felt hazy. I vaguely remember a doctor standing nearby. “Ma’am, your child is stable now,” the doctor said. “There are other patients waiting for this bed. If you keep occupying it unnecessarily, someone else won’t get the treatment they need…” She was politely trying to convince my mom to discharge me. But my mom wasn’t having it. She planted her hands on her hips, pointed a finger at the doctor, and started yelling. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you seriously kicking a patient out of the hospital? Where’s your compassion? Did you lose your humanity along with your medical ethics?” The doctor frowned at her nonsense but eventually walked away, clearly unwilling to argue further. As soon as the doctor left, my mom smirked, looking smug and victorious. The area around my hospital bed was crowded with fruit baskets and flower arrangements—all sent by my “fans.” She grabbed a plum from one of the baskets and popped it into her mouth. “Pretty nice, huh? Just lying there while I’m out here killing myself for you. Do you know how hard it is for me? Pretending to be you, thanking fans, entertaining visitors? My back’s practically broken!” Then her tone softened as she reached out to stroke my hair. “But it’s all for you, sweetheart. Everything I do is for you. The money we’re earning? It’s all going to be spent on you. You’ll remember how much I’ve done for you, won’t you?” I lowered my gaze, my eyes dull and lifeless. This wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want fans. I didn’t want attention. I just wanted to live a quiet, normal life. As the hype around my injury finally died down, my mom declared it was time to “get back to work.” The hospital staff, probably relieved to see us go, cheerfully sent us off. The moment we got home, my mom tossed a cookbook at me. “Learn this recipe,” she ordered. “Don’t even think about sleeping tonight if you don’t get it right.” I caught the book out of habit. This was nothing new to me. But when I flipped it open, my eyes widened in shock. The recipe was for sweet and sour fish, a dish that requires years of knife skills and precise temperature control to perfect. “Mom, can I learn something else instead?” I asked, my voice trembling. She glared at me, her eyes sharp and unyielding. “Your fans love this stuff. They’re the reason we’re making money. If they want sweet and sour fish, you’ll make sweet and sour fish. Stop complaining!” I clenched the recipe tightly in my hands. If they told me to die, would I have to do that too? That night, I felt like I was losing my mind. Every word in the recipe burned itself into my brain. I moved like a machine, repeating the same motions over and over again. Chopping onions, ginger, and garlic. Scaling fish. Ten, twenty, thirty fish… My hands turned pale from soaking in water for so long. The sharp edges of the fish scales left cuts all over my fingers, blood dripping down onto the cutting board. But I couldn’t stop. My mom stood right next to me, watching my every move like a hawk.

She let out a loud yawn. “You’re so useless. You’re the reason your poor mother can’t get any sleep. God, I’m exhausted…” Her words startled me, and my knife slipped, slicing into my hand. She rushed over immediately, grabbing my hand to inspect the wound. “What were you thinking?! If you cut yourself, how are you supposed to go live tomorrow?” she snapped, her tone sharp but filled with urgency. Then, without hesitation, she brought my bleeding finger to her mouth, sucking on it to stop the bleeding. The night dragged on endlessly. By the time the sky started to lighten, my mom was already setting up the camera. She dabbed a thick layer of foundation on my face, carefully covering the dark circles under my eyes. Then, with a sharp slap to my back, she barked, “Stand up straight! Stop looking like you’re about to keel over!” I forced my heavy eyelids open and plastered on the familiar smile I had perfected over the years. “Hi, everyone! Good morning! Today, I’ll be making sweet and sour fish,” I said cheerfully into the camera. The chat lit up immediately with comments. “What? Anna’s making sweet and sour fish today? That dish is so hard—I’ve tried it a dozen times and still can’t get it right!” Standing off-camera, my mom shot me a warning look, her lips silently mouthing instructions. As I scaled the fish, I responded to the comment with a practiced tone of humility. “Actually, I’m not very good at it either. I just glanced at the recipe last night and thought I’d give it a try today.” By this point, after a sleepless night of chopping, slicing, and practicing, I had the steps down perfectly. But I knew I couldn’t make it look too easy. My mom’s sharp eyes monitored my every move, her lips twitching in a silent threat to keep me in line. An hour and a half later, I finally finished the dish. The comments exploded in praise. “Is Anna secretly a culinary prodigy? She only read the recipe once and made this? Incredible!” “Ugh, when I compare her to my son, I feel like crying. All he knows how to do is eat!” My mom’s face lit up as the compliments poured in. She leaned closer to the screen, practically whispering to herself. “Come on, send gifts. Keep sending gifts…” It was as if the viewers could hear her thoughts. “Let’s encourage Anna! Sending her a few flowers…” One gift turned into two, then ten, then dozens. The money kept rolling in, and my mom’s grin grew wider with every notification. Just as she was basking in her success, one comment popped up on the screen, catching her attention: “I’ve been following Anna for three years now. She’s really grown up into a young lady. Her body’s developing so well…” My mom’s smile froze, her brows furrowing slightly. More comments followed. “True, it’s like watching her grow up before our eyes.” “Yeah, she’s turning into a real beauty…” I felt my face drain of color, my chest tightening in silent panic. Please, just stop. When the livestream finally ended, my mom seemed pleased with the money we’d made, but her expression was darker than usual. She walked toward me with purpose, and I instinctively stepped back, my voice barely audible. “Mom…” She didn’t say a word. Instead, she grabbed the hem of my shirt and yanked it up, exposing my torso to the cold air. I froze, my entire body trembling.

“You didn’t follow my instructions?” I shook my head frantically. “Mom, that waist binder—it was too tight. I couldn’t breathe, so I took it off last night…” Before I could finish explaining, she slapped me hard again. Her eyes burned with anger. “You’re already refusing to listen to me? What will you do in the future?” My mom had decided that I was going to be a “child cooking prodigy” on social media. And for that to work, I had to look the part—I had to stay small, young. She grabbed a roll of bandages and began wrapping them tightly around my chest, layer after suffocating layer, as if she were trying to crush the life out of me. When she was done, she stepped back, looking pleased with the flat result. But then, as if noticing something else, she stood back and measured my height with her hand. “No, no. This won’t do.” She turned and started rummaging frantically through a drawer, eventually pulling out a syringe. Her grin was sharp and menacing as she advanced toward me, backing me into a corner. I sank to the floor, powerless. I didn’t want to stop growing. I didn’t want to be trapped in the body of a child forever. But my protests were useless. My eyes stared blankly as she plunged the growth inhibitor into my arm without hesitation. Every day, I lived as “Anna’s Cooking Adventures,” the account my mom had created for me. My life revolved around kitchen grease and smoke, spending late nights in the kitchen perfecting recipes. I had no freedom. But my mom’s efforts weren’t in vain. My videos caused a sensation online, gaining more and more attention. I became the “perfect child” everyone envied. Comments flooded beneath each video: “With a daughter like this, I could die happy!” “Can we trade kids? I’ll take Anna!” “Anna is officially my future daughter-in-law. Calling dibs now!” “How dare you compete with me? Anna belongs to my family!” As my popularity skyrocketed, a cooking competition show for kids reached out to my mom. When she got the offer, she was ecstatic. She made several announcement videos thanking my fans. “Anna’s going to be on a cooking show! Thank you all for your love and support!” The comments rolled in like a tidal wave: “What? My daughter is going to be on TV? Of course we’ll watch!” “Which channel? I’ll tune in immediately!” That year, I was fifteen. But I found myself standing among a group of eight- and nine-year-olds, competing against them as if I belonged. The night before the show, my mom wasn’t taking any chances. She added even more layers of bandages around my chest and injected me with another round of growth inhibitors. Under the watchful eyes of the audience, I stood out. Among the younger children, my skills and experience shone, and I advanced easily to the finals. The show became a massive hit. The unique concept and drama captivated viewers, and soon, everyone was debating the final rankings. My fans were relentless, clashing with the other contestants’ supporters online. But I had the largest following by far. To most people, my victory was already a foregone conclusion—the other kids were just there to fill the stage. When the night of the finals arrived, I stood under the spotlight, with the audience cheering my name. But during the most critical step of the competition, I lost control of the heat. The dish burned.

And so, despite being the favorite to win, I ended up in last place. “Anna just had a little slip-up this time! She’s been amazing in her livestreams and videos before.” “No one’s perfect. It’s normal for Anna to make mistakes now and then!” My fans rushed to console me, but my mom wasn’t having any of it. The moment the competition ended, she stormed backstage, clearly looking for me. Panic surged through me. If she caught me, I knew I wouldn’t escape unscathed. For the first time, I defied her—I ran. She chased after me, her voice echoing with curses. “You little brat! Just wait until I catch you. You’ll regret this!” As she was about to grab me, a figure suddenly stepped in front of me. My eyes lit up with hope. I collided into the man’s chest, and he immediately crouched to check on me. His voice was deep but gentle. “Are you okay?” My mom, trying to suppress her fury, called out in a cold tone, “Anna, come here.” But I clung tightly to the man’s shirt, my tear-filled eyes pleading with him as I shook my head. Understanding my silent request, the man stood up and positioned himself between me and my mom, blocking her view of me. My mom, now livid, snapped, “Who the hell are you? This is my child. How I handle her is none of your business!” A few onlookers started whispering nearby, and one of them muttered something just loud enough for my mom to hear. “That’s Mr. Thompson—the show’s main investor.” Instantly, my mom’s expression shifted. Her anger vanished, replaced by a forced, ingratiating smile. “Oh, Mr. Thompson! My apologies, I didn’t recognize you! Haha, silly me! So… what did you think of Anna’s performance? Wasn’t she great?” I didn’t catch the rest of what she said because Mr. Thompson gave a subtle signal, and the person who had been whispering earlier gently took my hand and led me away. Around the corner, I turned back just in time to see Mr. Thompson handing my mom a bank card. I didn’t understand what it meant, but after a while, the person escorting me told me it was time to go home. I didn’t want to go back. I sat outside the studio for hours, watching the sky grow darker and darker. But eventually, I gave in to reality and headed home. When I got there, I was surprised—my mom didn’t yell at me or hit me. For the first time, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe it was because of that man? But then, she handed me a card. Written on it was the address and room number of a hotel.

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