Category: English

The night my son had a high fever, I overheard Jack flirting with his secretary, Scarlett, in Spanish on the phone. Jack’s lips curved into a smirk as he said, “Emma’s had a kid. She’s not as tight as you are. Don’t worry, she’s busy taking care of Tommy’s fever. She won’t notice I’m gone.” Scarlett’s coquettish voice came through the speakerphone, “Where should I wait for you, Mr. Harrison?” Jack glanced at me, “The usual hotel. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied tonight.” I held my son close, my fingers trembling with heartache. Jack didn’t know that I had minored in Spanish in college. I understood every word he said to his secretary tonight. Jack put on his coat, turning to leave. I stroked Tommy’s feverish little face, looking at Jack anxiously, “Jack, could you please take Tommy and me to the hospital first?” Jack frowned, “There’s an urgent matter at the company. I can’t delay.” Urgent matter? Urgent to have an affair with Scarlett in bed? I held back my anger, “Tommy’s fever is so high. He could have a seizure at any moment. What urgent matter could be more important than our son’s life?” Before I could finish, he had already slammed the door shut. Looking at my son who had fallen unconscious from the fever, I hesitated for a moment before calling Jack’s brother, “Daniel, Tommy has a high fever that won’t break. Jack said he has an urgent matter at the company tonight. Could you take us to the hospital?” A steady male voice came from the other end of the line, “Of course, I’ll be right there.” I hung up the phone, tears welling in my eyes. I was once the daughter of a wealthy family in New York, growing up alongside the two brothers of the city’s wealthiest family. Both brothers had deep feelings for me. Jack was lively and outgoing, while Daniel was calm and reserved. In my youth, I was captivated by Jack’s sweet talk and went on a private island vacation with him. I often wonder now, if I hadn’t drunk that spiked wine he gave me, would my life be completely different from what it is now? In less than twenty minutes, Daniel arrived. The headlights of his Bentley cut through the thick darkness of the night. He drove steadily, and I could smell the familiar scent of his cologne, a fragrance both silent and domineering. When Tommy’s fever finally broke after receiving IV fluids in a private hospital room, I felt relieved at last. I went out to the corridor and gratefully looked at Daniel, “Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done without you tonight.” He replied softly, “It’s my duty to take care of my nephew. I’ve sent a message to my brother. He’ll be here soon to take you both home.” Under the dim light, his cold, handsome features softened with a touch of tenderness. Suddenly, my eyes welled up with tears. “Why are you crying?” Daniel raised his hand to wipe away the tears on my face, but then, as if realizing something, he quickly withdrew his hand. I shook my head, covering my face. Suddenly, a cold laugh came from behind us. Jack strode towards us, “Emma, Tommy’s fever has broken. Instead of taking our son home to rest, you’re here getting cozy with my brother in the hallway. Hm? What’s this about? Tired of the younger brother and want to play with the older one now?” My face turned pale. Daniel frowned deeply, “Jack, what nonsense are you talking about? Tommy was burning up so badly he passed out. Instead of taking your son to the hospital first, you rushed off to the company. What could possibly be more important than your child?” Scarlett, following behind Jack, her face still flushed with passion, chimed in, “Mr. Harrison recently closed a big deal with Spanish clients. He’s been busy with the contract signing these past few days. Isn’t Mr. Harrison working hard to provide a better life for Tommy and you, Emma?” No one responded to her. Jack pulled me into his arms, looking at Daniel provocatively, “Brother, thank you for tonight. I’m taking my wife and son home now. In the future, unless it’s absolutely necessary, you shouldn’t meet Emma alone. You understand the concept of avoiding suspicion, don’t you?” I struggled out of his grip, my eyes red, “Jack, the doctor said if we had brought Tommy in any later, the fever could have damaged his brain. Can you stop throwing dirt on your brother and me?” Scarlett blinked and giggled. Jack suddenly glared at her, “What are you laughing at? Go home now. Don’t be late for work tomorrow morning, or I’ll dock your attendance bonus.” Scarlett smiled seductively, “Yes, yes, of course. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Mr. Harrison.” As she brushed past me, I caught a whiff of her strong rose perfume. My face immediately changed.

When I was two months pregnant, I had smelled this same scent on Jack’s shirt. Perhaps it was a woman’s keen sixth sense, but even then, I felt that Jack might be having an affair. But Jack was extremely attentive to me at that time. He always informed me about his business dinners, never stayed out all night, and frequently gave me expensive gifts. During his vacations, he would turn off his phone to spend time with me wholeheartedly. He even hired a specialist to give prenatal education classes for our baby. So apart from that perfume, I couldn’t find any evidence of Jack’s infidelity. Looking back now, Jack had mastered the art of “counter-surveillance,” keeping everything perfectly hidden. If it weren’t for overhearing him flirting with Scarlett in Spanish tonight, I might have continued to be deceived, constantly reflecting on what I had done wrong, wondering if my postpartum recovery wasn’t good enough, unable to give him ultimate pleasure at night, causing his mood swings! After returning home, I looked at Tommy’s adorable sleeping face, tears streaming down uncontrollably. Tommy is only three years old this year. I don’t want him to grow up in a broken family at such a young age, nor do I want his childhood to lack a father’s companionship. I’m really afraid that when he grows up, he might say something like, “I don’t need a lot of money, I just want a lot of love.” In wealthy families, pearls and gold may be plentiful, but love and companionship are especially precious. So even though I knew Jack had betrayed me and was having an affair with his young and beautiful secretary Scarlett, I didn’t bring up divorce. But I never expected that my forbearance wouldn’t awaken Jack’s conscience. Instead, it invited Scarlett’s provocation. On Sunday night, Jack actually had Scarlett move into our villa. This was our marital home, where he once stood at the front door, smiling and vowing to love only me for the rest of his life. But now, for another woman, he had forgotten all those vows. As he helped Scarlett carry her suitcase into the guest room, he said to our housekeeper, “Mrs. Johnson, please make some Sichuan dishes tonight. My secretary loves spicy food.” I stood on the second floor, coldly watching them, “Tommy just recovered from his illness. He can’t eat spicy food.” Jack’s eyes flashed with guilt, “Oh right, my son was sick recently. Mrs. Johnson, could you also make some seafood porridge?” Perhaps he knew this situation was inappropriate. That night, he came to my bedroom to explain, “Emma, listen to me. The reason I let Scarlett stay at our house is because this Spanish business is urgent. It’s not unprecedented for a personal secretary to temporarily stay at the CEO’s home. Please understand, this is all for work.” I smiled faintly, “Mm, I understand. Work is important.” Seeing that I wasn’t arguing or making a fuss, Jack kissed my forehead with satisfaction, “Emma, you’re so good. Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll take you and Tommy to Lake Tahoe for a few days.” I watched his back as he left, then took out a tissue to wipe the spot he had kissed. The kiss of an unfaithful person is truly dirty.

Early the next morning, Scarlett was busy in the kitchen, wearing a tight-fitting nightgown that accentuated her slim waist and shapely buttocks. Moments later, she brought milk and sandwiches to the dining table. Jack’s eyes kept lingering on Scarlett. He took a bite of the sandwich, “This is really good. The cheese is melted perfectly.” I looked at the sandwich, feeling no appetite at all. “Tommy, try Aunt Scarlett’s cooking. Is it good?” Scarlett smiled, pointing at the sandwich in front of Tommy. Before I could stop him, Tommy had already grabbed the sandwich and taken a big bite. Suddenly, he started coughing violently, his cheeks turning bright red. “Baby, what’s wrong!” I panicked, picking Tommy up and patting his back to help him breathe. His coughing got worse. I grabbed the sandwich he had eaten and looked at it, only to find it was spread with a large amount of peanut butter! I couldn’t help but scream, “Call 911 quick! Tommy is allergic to peanuts! He can’t eat anything with peanuts in it! He’ll have an anaphylactic reaction!” Standing in front of the emergency room, Jack’s face was grim. Scarlett’s face was pale, her eyes red. She said softly, “Emma, I… I really didn’t know Tommy was allergic to peanuts.” I sighed, “From now on, let’s leave the cooking to Mrs. Johnson.” Scarlett’s tears fell, “It’s all my fault. Emma must be angry with me. Mr. Harrison, I should move back to my apartment.” Jack frowned, “Move back? What for? This wasn’t intentional. You didn’t mean to harm Tommy. Just stay here.” I stared at him in disbelief. Two weeks after the sandwich incident, Jack suddenly called me into his study. Scarlett was there, wiping her tears pitifully. Jack looked at me unhappily, “Emma, can you stop making things difficult for Scarlett?” I laughed bitterly, “When did I ever make things difficult for her?” Jack tapped the desk, “You and Mrs. Smith cleaned the guest room where Scarlett is staying, right?” I nodded. His eyes were full of anger, “The window in Scarlett’s room won’t close properly, and the draft is giving her headaches. She likes spicy food, but when I’m not home, you always have Mrs. Johnson make such bland dishes. She’s not used to it and has lost weight. And can you stop letting Tommy bother her all the time? We don’t want another incident like last time where he ends up in the emergency room!” The truth was, Scarlett had specifically requested a well-ventilated room. The truth was, I had asked Mrs. Johnson to prepare two different flavors for each meal. The truth was, Scarlett often wanted to play with Tommy, and I was afraid she might unintentionally harm him, so I kept Tommy away from her. Now she had turned everything around and blamed me! I silently looked at Jack, not defending myself at all. After all, no matter what “grievances” Scarlett suffered, Jack was willing to stand up for her. No matter what mistakes she made, Jack was happy to find excuses and cover for her. My expression darkened. Suddenly, Scarlett looked at me timidly, “Emma, I’d like to speak with you alone.” The study door was closed, and Scarlett sat on the desk, her eyes seductive, “Emma, let’s be frank. I’m pregnant with Jack’s child.” My expression remained calm, “What do you want?” Scarlett smiled charmingly, “I want the position of the mistress of the house. I hope my child will be an only child, with no one to compete for the family fortune. I want Jack to stop hiding me under the guise of a secretary. Emma, are you willing to give him to me?” So everything had been her machination behind the scenes. For this wealth and status, she had repeatedly distorted facts, played mind games, pretended to be pitiful, and even tried to harm my son with peanut butter. Looking at her confident smile, I felt both ironic and pitiful. Men love the feeling of “stealing”. Having an affair with a mistress under the pressure of the original wife is an intense stimulation for men. If the original wife lets go, the man will quickly lose interest. By then, even a passionate rose-like mistress will become a boring mosquito bite. That night, I prepared two copies of divorce papers, slipping one into the documents Jack was to sign the next day. Early the next morning, I took Tommy on a flight back to my parents’ home in New York. As I left, I smiled at Jack and Scarlett. By the time he discovers the signed divorce papers, I should have already arrived at the New York airport.

“Emma? Why didn’t you tell me you and Tommy were coming back? I could have asked our housekeeper to prepare a table of your favorite dishes,” my mother said with a surprised look as she saw Tommy and me. Our housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson, took Tommy back to the bedroom. I sat down next to my mother, tears suddenly streaming down my face, “Mom, I’m divorcing Jack.” My mother’s expression changed slightly, “He wronged you, didn’t he? Your father and I never approved of Jack. When you insisted on going on that island vacation with him alone, I tried to persuade you for so long, but you wouldn’t listen. You even snuck out with fake IDs. Sigh, we wanted you to marry his brother Daniel back then, but then Tommy came along…” I sniffled and interrupted her, “If it weren’t for Tommy, I would have cut ties with him long ago.” My mother sighed, lovingly patting my head. “He and his secretary…” I choked up, unable to continue. “Emma, men who crave novelty never end up well,” my mother said with a cold smile. At 10 PM, I lay in my childhood bedroom, lost in thought. In our teenage years, Jack was always the one with witty words to make people laugh, while Daniel was like a gentle and silent shadow. I was too young then, always captivated by Jack’s grand promises and sweet talk, forgetting to pay attention to the one who consistently took action. I remember one snowy night in New York when I was playing chess with the two brothers at their house until late. Jack looked at the dancing snowflakes outside the window and yawned, “It’s snowing heavily today, so cold outside — Emma, since our houses are close, could you just wrap your scarf tightly and go home by yourself?” Before I could respond, Daniel silently stood up, put on his coat, ready to brave the snow to send me home. Under the dim streetlight shrouded by wind and snow, Daniel stood there looking at me, his eyes full of endless cherishment and tenderness. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively avoided Daniel’s gaze, rushing towards the gate of my family’s house in a few quick steps. I also recalled the incident during the island vacation with Jack. Unknowingly, I drank the glass of spiked wine Jack handed me, falling drunk into his arms, leading to a night of passion. Afterwards, he apologized pitifully, “Emma, I love you so much that I resorted to this. I just wanted to make you mine before anyone else could. I know my brother has feelings for you too, and I was so afraid he would steal you away.” When the doctor diagnosed me as one month pregnant, Jack caressed my belly with a joyful expression, “That night’s effort wasn’t in vain after all. Now that you’re carrying my child, I can rightfully marry you.” I lowered my gaze, hesitating for a long time before deciding not to tell him about my application to study oil painting abroad. The next day, I quietly canceled that application. After all, at that time, the aunts and sisters around me were all women who sacrificed themselves for love and family. I thought my sacrifice was also necessary. Later, when I married Jack while carrying our one-month-old child, everyone was smiling and applauding in congratulations. Only Daniel stood in the crowd, his expression solemn as he gazed at me from afar. After that, Daniel never got involved with any other woman. He immersed himself in his archaeology career, using his skilled hands to restore many precious and rare artifacts. I took a deep breath and covered my face with my hands. Perhaps, I had loved the wrong person from the very beginning? When I woke up again, I found that Jack had called me twenty-six times. What was he in such a hurry for? I rubbed my temples and called him back, “Hmm?” Jack quickly picked up the phone, his voice hoarse, “Emma, you want to divorce me?!”

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On the day of our divorce, my wife and I were in the same car when we met with an accident. In her final moments, she didn’t whisper my name. Instead, she expressed regret. “If I could do it all over again, I’d choose Ryan Curtis. With him, I felt truly alive…” When we opened our eyes again, we had both been reborn. We found ourselves back on the day I had proposed to her. She glanced at me, quickly pulled her hand away, and ran towards Ryan Curtis. I silently let her go, wanting her to be happy. But later, she came back, begging me for another chance. The moment I was reborn, I found myself back on that Valentine’s Day when I had planned to propose to Emma White. The campus lawn was a sea of flowers, the lights were dazzling, everything was set up like a dream. I looked around, searching for that familiar figure—Emma White. I watched as her eyes gradually changed from confusion to clarity, and then to realization. I knew then that she had been reborn too, with memories of our past life. Including the car accident that took our lives, and her last words to me, “If I could do it all over again…” She glanced at me, her eyes cold as they swept over my face. With a fake smile, she said, “Jack, thank you for everything you’ve prepared, but…” Her gaze fixed on someone in the crowd. I followed her line of sight. There stood Ryan Curtis, dressed in a crisp black suit, his tie perfectly knotted, holding a bouquet of vibrant roses that seemed even more dazzling under the lights. He stood there, as if waiting for an important moment. Although I had a premonition, facing it in reality still felt like a stab to the heart. “Emma…” I called out softly. Just then, Emma did something I never expected. She pulled her hand away from mine and walked towards Ryan without hesitation. At that moment, I felt as if I could hear my own heart breaking, but I also clearly saw the urgency on her face. “Jack, I’m sorry,” Emma’s voice came, cold and determined. “I… I’ve realized that Ryan is the one I truly love. I hope you can understand and let me go.” She held Ryan’s hand tightly. Ryan was stunned at first, then his face lit up with joy. He hugged Emma tightly, “Emma, you’ve finally faced your true feelings. I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

At that moment, I stood in the center of the proposal scene, surrounded by whispers. Emma’s voice was clear and firm. The look in her eyes as she gazed at Ryan was full of tenderness and expectation, a light that once belonged to me. I took a deep breath, “Emma, I respect your decision. From now on, let’s go our separate ways and wish each other well.” As I said these words, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief, as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Ryan smiled smugly, putting his arm around Emma’s shoulders as if declaring his victory to the world. “Emma, I’ll make you happy. In the future, I want to see you cheering for me at every concert; and all those romantic trips, I want to experience them with you.” Emma smiled like a little girl, her eyes sparkling with happiness, “Ryan, as long as I’m with you, I’m willing to do anything.” I turned and left without looking back. The lights in the bar were dim and warm. I had invited my roommates to join me there. “Jack, are you okay?” My roommate Andy patted me on the shoulder, asking with concern. I raised my glass, drained it in one go, and laughed, “I’m fine, really. Don’t look at me like that, I’m actually happy. I finally don’t have to comfort Emma every day.” My roommates exchanged glances, seemingly not quite believing my words. But I knew it was true. Leaving Emma was a relief for me. Thinking back to our past life, Emma and I had been inseparable since childhood. Our parents always joked that we were a match made in heaven, and they had even planned our future for us. We did dream about it too, dating after graduation and then walking down the aisle. “Jack, what do you think our future home will be like?” Back then, her eyes were full of hope for the future. “No matter what it’s like, as long as you’re there, it’s home,” I answered with a smile, fully believing that would be our forever. But what about after marriage? Days passed like flowing water, so bland it was unsettling. She started complaining, saying life lacked color. And I, busy with my career, ignored her changes. Until Ryan Curtis became famous, he shone brightly on stage, easily stealing her heart. She started coming home late, sometimes not coming home at all. When I questioned her, she casually said, “Jack, let’s just do our own thing, that way everyone’s happy.” My heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. “Emma, we have a home,” I tried to salvage things, but she wasn’t listening anymore. “No, we’re just doing our own thing, you don’t need to interfere with my freedom,” she coldly replied. Finally, I proposed divorce, the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life. She was surprised at first, then angry, but finally she laughed, a laugh so sarcastic. “Jack Miller, do you know? Every day with Ryan is happier than all the happiness in the first half of my life combined.” At that moment, I completely gave up. It turned out that our marriage, to her, was nothing but a constraint. And I finally understood that letting go was the greatest salvation for myself.

The bar lights were hazy and dim, alcohol slowly flowing through my veins, bringing waves of dizziness. I stood up, intending to go to the bathroom to sober up, but my feet unconsciously drifted towards the deep end of the corridor. Just then, from the crack of a not-quite-closed private room door, came a familiar yet strange voice. “That Jack Miller guy is so boring, all he knows is work, he has no zest for life at all.” It was Emma’s voice, filled with disdain and disgust. “You understand me, Emma. Compared to him, I’m the one who can truly make you happy.” Ryan’s voice was full of pride. My heart suddenly tightened, and my footsteps involuntarily stopped. How could they be here? And how could they talk about me so recklessly? Out of curiosity, I gently pushed open the half-open door, only to see the room filled with smoke, a group of people sitting around the table, with Emma and Ryan at the center, both wearing ambiguous smiles. Seeing me, the atmosphere in the room instantly froze, all eyes focused on me. Emma’s face turned ugly, she stood up and questioned, “Jack Miller, what are you doing here? Didn’t we break up already? Why are you still here to disturb us?” Seeing this, Ryan’s lips curled into a provocative smile, he stood up, trying to assert his dominance with a kiss. I took a deep breath, trying to keep calm, “I was just passing by, I didn’t mean to disturb you. Besides, I’ve already said, from now on, we go our separate ways.” With that, I turned to leave without lingering. Just then, a figure suddenly crashed into my arms. It was Lily Greene, the daughter of the Greene family from the north side of town, someone I never thought I’d meet here. She was wearing a red spaghetti strap dress, her skin looking even fairer under the bar lights, her eyes hazy with a hint of drunkenness. She looked up at me, a half-smile playing on her lips, “Jack Miller? Did you really break up with Emma White?” I nodded, not saying much. Lily didn’t seem to mind my coldness. She leaned in closer to me and said in a low voice, “Actually, I’ve always liked you. It’s just that you were with Emma before, so I didn’t dare say anything.” I was shocked, but quickly regained my composure. Now, I no longer had the mood to consider these emotional entanglements. I gently pushed her away, saying coolly, “Lily, thank you for your kindness, but right now I just want to be alone.” However, just as I turned to leave, Lily suddenly lost her balance and fell forward. I quickly reached out to steady her, but it was too late. She collapsed onto me, followed by the sound of urgent vomiting. I sighed helplessly, having to temporarily abandon my thoughts of leaving. After thinking for a moment, I realized it wouldn’t be right to leave a girl alone in the bar. I called a driver to take us to a hotel, got a room for Lily, and was about to leave. “Jack, don’t go,” her voice was unclear, but I could hear she was calling me. I looked at her small face, flushed from alcohol, and suddenly felt a strange emotion welling up inside me. I knew her confession now was just an impulse under the influence of alcohol. I should stay calm and not let myself get caught up in it. But when I saw those hazy eyes, that look of closeness and dependence, my heart involuntarily softened. As she tugged at me, I sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at her, my heart full of conflicting emotions. “Jack, I like you,” she mumbled again, then grabbed my hand and placed it on her face. “Don’t go, stay with me, please?” At that moment, I really couldn’t resist her innocent yet slightly coquettish tone.

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My husband’s mistress deliberately burned my daughter to death. Fearing I’d make trouble, he sent me to a mental hospital. On Christmas Eve, Antonio Carlson’s secretary’s daughter, Miria Carlson, set off fireworks and intentionally burned my daughter, Amy Carlson, to death. I tried to call the police, but he smashed my phone. Then he scolded me, “Julia didn’t do it on purpose, why pick on a child?” Afraid I would cause trouble for Evelyn and Julia; Antonio forcefully sent me to the mental hospital. Later, when Julia fell seriously ill and was hospitalized, Antonio worried so much that he turned gray overnight. With no other choice, he finally let me out. “Amy is dead, don’t keep dwelling on the past. “You’re good at medicine, I trust your skill.” I didn’t speak, but a trace of hatred flickered in my eyes. His mistake was thinking he could reason with a mentally ill person. I didn’t like Julia. At such a young age, she lied all the time, was hypocritical and jealous, and often bullied Amy behind my back. Whenever I complained to Antonio, he would always lecture me in return. “You’re too shallow. You look down on Julia because she’s from a single-parent family. “Her mother may be my secretary, but everyone is equal. No one is more important than anyone else, so stop bullying her.” I was furious and frustrated, feeling helpless. Every time Julia bullied Amy, she would always be the first to play the victim. Before Amy even cried, Julia and Evelyn were already acting like they were wronged. This made Antonio feel so sorry for them. He’d even give anything to Evelyn and Julia. Even though Antonio believed Julia was innocent, I still tried to keep Amy away from her. But on Christmas Eve, when I came back from my shift at the hospital, Amy had an accident. Holding Amy’s burnt, disfigured body, I wanted to rip Julia apart. “Miria, Antonio, it wasn’t me. “I warned Amy about playing with fire, but she didn’t listen and even pushed me.” Julia hid behind Evelyn, looking innocent, showing us a scratch on her hand. Her tearful eyes almost broke Antonio’s heart. “Mrs. Carlson, Amy was your precious child, but Julia is my treasure too. “She has no father, she’s naturally timid, and she couldn’t have intentionally set fire to kill.” Evelyn kept Amy hidden behind her. Her shoulders trembled slightly, making it hard not to feel sorry for her. Something in her words must’ve been triggered, Antonio. He immediately grabbed the first-aid kit to treat Julia’s injury. And without missing a beat, he scolded me. “Don’t make baseless accusations. Didn’t you see that Julia was scared by you?” I slammed on the table in anger. I pulled up the footage from the security camera at the door. To prevent Julia from doing something like this again, I had secretly installed a tiny camera outside a few days ago. The footage showed Julia’s actions clearly. Antonio froze. Julia panicked, pinching her own thigh, tears streaming down her face. “It’s not my fault. Amy said her clothes looked better than mine and even called me a kid with no dad. I just wanted to burn her clothes, I never meant to kill her.” “Poor child, I believe you.” Antonio softened his expression, quickly picking her up and comforting her. But when Julia noticed Evelyn’s subtle glance, she understood and pushed him away. She smiled, pretending to be obedient and understanding. “Antonio, I won’t blame Miria. She’s only so heartbroken because of Amy’s death. “Miria, don’t be sad.” Suddenly, Julia turned and jogged over to hug me. A strange smile appeared on her youthful face as she whispered in my ear. “Too bad your surveillance can’t pick up sound. Amy cried so pitifully when she died. From now on, I’m going to take Amy’s place as Antonio’s daughter and enjoy everything she had, including the shares Antonio left for her.” “You wish! “I’ll call the police and have you arrested for your dirty tricks, brat!” Furious, I pushed her away and slapped her hard. “Julia!” Evelyn, holding Julia, screamed in agony. Her eyes burned with resentment as she glared at me. “Mrs. Carlson, I know you look down on us. You blame everything on Julia whenever something happens, but she’s still just a child. You can’t bully her just because we have no one to rely on. “Since Amy’s death, Julia has been feeling guilty and terrified. Didn’t you see how scared she was? Her heart disease almost came back.” I glanced coldly at Julia’s pale face. I sneered and took out my phone to call the police. The next second, Antonio knocked the phone from my hand. He looked at Julia with deep concern. His expression turned dark as he looked at me. “Enough. Amy is already dead. Holding Julia accountable, what’s the point? Will it bring her back? “Besides, Julia didn’t mean to do this. Let it go, show some mercy.”

“She did not mean it? So, Amy deserved to die? “Antonio, Amy was burned to death by her. How could you say such heartless words?” I had never hated him more than at that moment. Ignoring his objections, I picked up the phone and called the police. When the police arrived, I knew it wouldn’t matter. The officer in charge was one of Antonio’s friends. They didn’t give me a chance to speak. After a brief conversation with Antonio, the police left. I completely lost control and began punching and kicking him in frustration. “How could you? Amy is dead, and you’re protecting the real culprit. Amy is watching from heaven; how can you live with peace?” Antonio, knowing he was in the wrong, let me vent my anger. When I finally exhausted myself, he patted me on the shoulder and tried to comfort me. “The mortuary van is here. You should handle Amy’s funeral. Julia’s frightened, so I’ll take her to the hospital for a check-up.” He didn’t hesitate for a second. He walked past Amy’s body, holding Julia, stopping only briefly before walking away with long strides. I stared at his retreating figure in disbelief. Julia and Evelyn turned back to smirk at me. I gritted my teeth in hatred, wanting nothing more than to rush over and take them down with me. But right now, I had to make sure Amy was laid to rest properly. As for the rest, I would deal with them later! By the third day, Amy’s body was about to be cremated. Antonio hadn’t shown up at all, nor did he even call. I held back my anger and called him. “Sorry, babe, Julia’s heart condition is worsening, and Evelyn can’t handle it alone. You’ll have to take care of Amy’s arrangements on your own.” I hung up the phone immediately. I didn’t even have the energy to argue with him. After burying Amy’s ashes, I came home. I noticed Amy’s room had been rummaged through. My anger flared up, and I stormed into the living room, grabbing Julia and demanding loudly, “Did you go into Amy’s room? Did you take her necklace?” As I spoke, I noticed the gemstone bracelet on her wrist. A bad feeling immediately crept into my chest. “Miria, you scared me! Antonio, help!” Julia panicked and tried to cover the bracelet. But my grip on her wrist was firm, and all she could do was helplessly scream. Antonio and Evelyn rushed out of the study, still looking a bit disheveled. When they saw my dark expression, Antonio quickly pulled Julia behind him and started shouting at me. “Miria Carlson, that’s enough! You haven’t even figured out what’s going on, and you’re acting like a madwoman, accusing her. “Amy’s room isn’t even being used. What’s the big deal if Julia went in and played with some things? “You scared her! The fortune-teller said that would harm Amy’s luck, so I had a bracelet made for Julia using Amy’s necklace. It’s for Amy’s own good, to help her gather good fortune for her next life.” Antonio spoke as though it was the most reasonable thing in the world as if I was the one being unreasonable. “That’s nonsense! No one can take Amy’s things!” I snapped. I let my emotions take over, yanking the bracelet off Julia’s wrist in a frenzy. Her wrist turned bright red from my grip. “It hurts, Miria, please stop hitting me!” Julia’s acting was nowhere near as convincing as Evelyn’s. She cried and screamed for a long time, but no tears came. Evelyn, on the other hand, was much more skilled. In front of Antonio, she threw herself against the wall. “I can’t live like this. Mrs. Carlson, if you want someone to pay for Amy’s death, take my life instead.” “Evelyn, don’t do this!” Antonio’s eyes widened in shock. His face turned pale, and he rushed over to hold her. The house was filled with wailing, and all I could feel was my anger burning hotter. “Stop pretending! If you’re going to die, just do it already!” I grabbed a vase, ready to smash it at them. Evelyn and Julia huddled together, clearly terrified. Antonio was quicker than me. He snatched the vase from my hands and swung a wooden chair at my head. “You are crazy!” The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Antonio’s furious face, his teeth gritted as he cursed at me. When I woke up, I found myself strapped to a bed in a psychiatric hospital. The gemstone bracelet was gone. He looked down at me, sighing in helpless resignation. “The only way to ensure Evelyn and Julia’s safety is to lock you up here. Don’t blame me.” I didn’t look at him again until his figure disappeared through the door. I smirked inwardly. I knew he would come back to beg me to get out.

During my time in the psychiatric hospital, I obediently followed all the rules. But secretly, I would spit out my medication. Not only did I avoid suffering, but I also ended up with some unexpected gains. Finally, by the second month, Antonio came. It had been a while since we last saw each other. His hair had turned completely gray, and his face was lined with fine wrinkles and exhaustion. For the first time, he lowered his usual proud stance in front of me, his voice carrying a tone of pleading. “Miria, Julia’s heart disease has worsened. The doctor says she needs open-heart surgery. The risks are extremely high, but you’re the only one who can perform it. “Saving her will bring good fortune. Please, let go of any personal grudges and think of it as helping Amy accumulate some blessings for her next life.” I stayed silent for a long time. Just as Antonio thought I wouldn’t agree and was about to try again, the nurse came in with the medication. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I immediately started trembling, pretending to be terrified and hid behind Antonio. “I agree. Please, tell them to leave. I don’t want to take the medication.” Antonio’s eyes flickered, and a satisfied smile spread across his face. He had no suspicions about me. That same day, he arranged for my discharge. When I got back home, Amy’s room had been redecorated. Everything in it was Julia’s. I suppressed the hatred in my heart, hesitating before speaking. “But I have a psychiatric record. I can’t do the operation right now.” “That’s easy. I’ll have someone get you a new ID. You can use that to operate on Julia. “Just send your personal details to this person, and they’ll handle it.” Seeing that I wasn’t causing a scene, Antonio confidently sent me the contact information for the person who would help me get the new ID. He didn’t know that this would become the biggest regret of his life. In the days leading up to the surgery, I noticed that Antonio had started openly appearing with Evelyn at work. Everyone could see it clearly now. Evelyn had already taken on the role of the company’s lady boss. She used to act like she didn’t, but now, she didn’t bother pretending anymore. Right in front of me, she whispered in Antonio’s ear. “Antonio, I’m still worried. Miria wants Julia dead. Do you really think she will do that for her?” Antonio looked at me thoughtfully when he heard this. On the day of the surgery, not only did he put on his surgical scrubs to watch the procedure, but he also hired several experts to supervise me. Their concerns weren’t unfounded. After all, I hated Julia and wouldn’t think twice about letting her die. But with my psychiatric record, I wasn’t afraid of anything, even if it went all the way to the police. So, I secretly hid a scalpel in my sleeve. When the surgery reached its most critical point, I stabbed Julia’s still-beating heart with all my might… Antonio and the experts froze in shock at my sudden move. But I only made a feint, then continued with the surgery as if nothing had happened. The surgery went smoothly after that. Antonio let out a sigh of relief and smiled at me gratefully. But when it came time to stitch up the wound, Julia died from a heart rupture. “Miria, you must have held a grudge and deliberately killed Julia! I’m calling the police!” As soon as we left the operating room, Evelyn lunged at me with a fierce expression. I quickly grabbed her, pointed to Antonio behind me, and smiled coldly. “It wasn’t me. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him. “I may have wanted Julia dead, but I never had the chance to actually do it, right?” Antonio held Julia’s lifeless body, tears falling from his eyes. He stared at me with a complicated look for a long time, but in the end, he called the police himself. The police set up a special investigation team. Although they found the scalpel in my sleeve, it had no blood on it. And Julia’s autopsy confirmed that the heart rupture wasn’t caused by the scalpel. In the end, I was released without charge. The moment I left the police station, I went straight to the crematorium. Evelyn was sitting alone on a stone bench. Her delicate makeup couldn’t hide the sorrow on her face. I slowly walked over to her and smiled. “Do you know that when Amy died, the anesthesia had just worn off? She even frowned before her heart ruptured. Tell me, how much pain do you think she was in?” “Is it really you?” Evelyn snapped back to reality, her eyes filled with rage and hatred as if they could pierce me. At the same time, Antonio rushed over in a panic. “Something’s wrong. Julia’s body is missing.” When he saw me, he froze for a moment. Then, he grabbed my throat, squeezing tightly. “Miria, it was you, wasn’t it?” “No, it wasn’t me.” I struggled to break free from his grip. Taking deep breaths, I smiled provocatively. “It wasn’t me, but if you don’t look for her, you won’t be able to keep her body anymore.” “What?” At my words, their faces went pale, their eyes widening in fear. Free Point

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## Ever since my wife took over as CEO of the company, she’s been parading around like a boss babe straight out of a Netflix drama. I went along with everything she wanted. She said every boss lady needs a supportive husband, so I quit my job to be a stay-at-home partner. I agreed. She said every CEO needs a right-hand assistant, so she hired her male best friend as her personal secretary. I didn’t object. But then, she decided to take her “boss lady” persona to the next level, playing out those ridiculous tropes from TV dramas—flirting with her male secretary like it was some kind of game. At her birthday party, she even kissed him passionately in front of all her friends. And if that wasn’t humiliating enough, she capped the night with a “loyalty test,” making me catch her cigarette ashes with my bare hands. When I refused to let her sell off company assets for her boy toy’s approval, she called me a leech—living off her success. What she forgot, though, is that the company she’s so proud of? It’s mine. And being CEO? I can do that too.

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” At the birthday party I planned for her, my wife, Elena, drew the card for “Truth or Dare.” Her friends immediately started chanting, demanding she French kiss her male secretary. I, her actual husband, was obviously not okay with this. “Alright, that’s enough. Stop messing around,” I said firmly, trying to keep my tone calm. Her secretary, Liam, wore his usual innocent, harmless expression, but his words were sharp enough to cut. “Aw, come on, Ben. Don’t be such a buzzkill. It’s just a game!” “If you’re such a good sport, why don’t you kiss someone else instead? Maybe her!” I snapped, pointing at a muscular girl with acne who’d been sitting quietly in the corner. The air grew tense. The awkward silence was palpable. Sensing the shift, Liam leaned in and whispered to Elena, “Elena, maybe we should drop it. I don’t want to come between you two.” The moment he said that, my stomach dropped. Ever since she became CEO, Elena couldn’t stand being told she was too soft or easily influenced. Sure enough, in the next moment, she grabbed Liam by the collar and pulled him into a full-on French kiss. For five excruciating minutes. “Woo-hoo!” Her friends cheered, circling them with their phones out, snapping pictures and posting videos to social media. “Look at them! A power couple—beauty and brains!” They didn’t even give me a chance to step in. When Elena and Liam finally pulled apart, their faces were flushed, their lips red and swollen. A string of saliva glistened between them. I shouldered my way through the crowd, grabbed Elena’s arm, and yanked her away. “I told you not to do it! Do you even care about what this looks like for me? What am I to you?” My voice cracked, and I could feel my hands trembling. “Oh, come on, babe. It’s just a silly party game. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?” Elena said dismissively, her tone dripping with condescension. “I’m the CEO. If I listen to my ‘little husband’ all the time, where’s my authority?” She patted my cheek, trying to placate me like I was some sulking child. Then, she went right back to Liam, her face lighting up as they huddled together to play another round of games. I wanted to scream. But in front of all her friends, I swallowed my pride and stayed silent. Someone called out, “Elena, we’ve all heard how good you are at keeping your husband in line. Show us a demonstration!” “Yeah, let’s see the famous ‘CEO husband-management skills!’” I desperately tried to signal to her with my eyes, begging her to stop, but she was way too drunk to notice—or care. “Not to brag,” Elena slurred, “but my Ben always does exactly what I say. If I tell him to go east, he wouldn’t dare go west.” She turned to me, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Ben, kneel down and be Liam’s ashtray!” The room erupted in laughter. “Elena,” I whispered, mortified. “Please, don’t do this.” “Come on, babe. You’re not going to embarrass me in front of everyone, are you?” Her pleading eyes were my undoing. I could never say no to her, no matter how cruel she was. So, I knelt. Liam flicked his ashes into my hands, and everyone howled with delight. But Elena wasn’t done. She swirled wine in her mouth, then leaned down and spit it directly into mine. “Drink it, babe,” she commanded. The crowd roared with laughter, some filming, others clapping drunkenly. I swallowed my humiliation along with the wine. After the party, an old friend pulled me aside. “Ben, what happened to you? You used to have some self-respect. Why do you let her treat you like this?” I smiled bitterly. “Because she promised me she only loves me. Everything else is just an act.” I guess, as the husband of a CEO, I need to learn how to be… generous.

The birthday party had finally ended, and Elena was completely wasted, barely able to sit upright. I drove her home, but the entire ride was filled with her slurring Liam’s name, calling him her “sweet little baby.” Watching her flushed, drunken face in the rearview mirror, I couldn’t help but think back to how things used to be. Once upon a time, it was Elena who had chased after me. I’d never believed in love. How could I? My parents were the perfect cautionary tale. They’d claimed to “love each other to death,” but when either of them found their so-called true love, they divorced faster than anyone could blink. I, their so-called “love child,” became nothing more than a mistake they were desperate to leave behind. After dumping me with the housekeeper, they fled overseas, as if I were some kind of burden holding them back. Ironically, they ended up on the same flight, which tragically crashed en route. They were consumed by fire together, finally achieving their “till death do us part” fantasy. And me? The unwanted stain of their love story? I inherited their billion-dollar fortune. Suddenly, I became the target of every gold digger imaginable. Women swarmed me, hoping to climb their way up to my level. When Elena confessed her feelings to me back then, I didn’t even spare her a glance. She must’ve been out of her mind because, despite my complete indifference, she wouldn’t give up on me. While I wasted my days smoking, drinking, skipping class, and partying, she was always chasing after me, saying she’d save me. When I pretended to be broke, she worked multiple part-time jobs to buy me clothes and cook me meals. When I lied about being sick, she wouldn’t even let me touch cold water, scrubbing my shoes and washing my clothes by hand in the freezing winter. For four years of college, she stood outside my dorm every morning with breakfast, insisting it was for my “sensitive stomach.” After graduation, she saved three months’ worth of wages to buy flowers and a diamond ring, then got down on one knee to propose to me. Little by little, the ice inside me melted. I started to believe in happiness. For the first time, I felt like I could have a family of my own. I thought Elena was my reward from the universe—a gift to heal the scars of my childhood. I told myself that as long as I loved her with all my heart, we’d build a beautiful life together. But reality has a cruel way of pulling the rug out from under you. The moment I transferred the smallest of my companies into her name, she changed. I don’t know when it started, but the diamond necklace I’d given her was replaced by a cheap red heart-shaped pendant. I didn’t think much of it until one day, I noticed Liam wearing the exact same pendant. When I confronted her, she laughed it off, calling me jealous and childish. “Why are you making such a big deal out of nothing?” she’d said. A soft groan pulled me back to the present. Elena had woken up, rubbing her temples and whining about her headache. I shook off my thoughts and immediately got up to make her some hangover soup. I even blew on it to cool it down before handing it to her, worried it might burn her. Instead of gratitude, she spat it right in my face. “Ugh! Are you trying to poison me with this bitter crap?” “Babe, it’s supposed to be bitter—it’s a family recipe. Just one sip, and you’ll feel better in the morning, I promise.” I tried coaxing her, but she pushed the bowl away, sending it flying. The soup splattered all over me, soaking my chest. “Ugh, you’re so useless! Can’t even make a decent bowl of soup. Liam would never do something so pathetic!” Her words cut deep, but I didn’t argue. Fighting with a drunk person never ends well. I cleaned up the mess and watched as she walked out of the bathroom, her cheeks flushed and her skin glowing from the steam. For a moment, I forgot everything—her insults, her indifference, even Liam. All I could think about was how much I wanted us to start a family. I walked over and reached for her, but she shoved me so hard I stumbled back. “Get lost, Ben. Go sleep on the couch.” Defeated, I grabbed a blanket and headed for the living room. Just as I was about to leave, her phone slipped out from under the covers and hit the floor with a soft thud. I bent down to pick it up, and that’s when I saw it. The screen was still lit, open to a text from Liam: “Baby, promise me you’ll stay pure for me, okay?” Before I could say a word, Elena snatched the phone out of my hand, her face pale and panicked. She shoved me out of the bedroom, slamming the door in my face. I stood there in the dark, gripping the blanket tightly, my mind racing.

When I went to confront Elena, I found the bedroom door had been locked from the inside. Frustrated, I banged on the door repeatedly, but all I got in return was her yelling, “It’s the middle of the night! Go to bed already, will you?” No matter how long I stood there, she refused to open the door. I gave up eventually, dragging myself to the couch. Wrapping the blanket over my head, I stared at the ceiling, wondering how my life had ended up like this. Ever since Liam joined the company, Elena had been looking down on me more and more. She mocked me for being weak, for being slow, for not being as handsome as Liam. I tossed and turned for hours before I finally passed out. Before the sun even rose, I was jolted awake by Elena’s piercing scream. “Liam’s been kidnapped! Get up! We need to rescue him!” I sat up on the couch, still groggy, my brain struggling to keep up. Seeing me sitting there like an idiot, Elena grabbed a glass of water and threw it in my face. “Useless! Why did I even marry you?” she snapped before storming off to grab her phone. “Hey, Jane,” she barked at her accountant. “I need you to pull together the company’s finances—how much cash do we have on hand? Wire me $2 million immediately.” I crossed my arms and didn’t bother reminding her that the company definitely didn’t have $2 million. Ever since Elena took over, she’d been playing the role of a “boss lady” straight out of a TV drama. She’d driven out most of the company’s top talent, calling them ugly, outdated, or just plain incompetent. She’d rejected deals because they were “too risky,” “too small,” or “too far away.” One by one, the company’s major projects fell apart, and its reputation in the industry was in shambles. Sure enough, it didn’t take long before Jane called back to report the company’s dire financial situation. Elena flew into a rage. “Where the hell has all the money gone? What am I even paying you people for?!” After chewing out Jane, she immediately started selling off luxury cars, designer watches, even her own stocks. Something about all this didn’t sit right with me. Liam’s family wasn’t poor—if he really had been kidnapped, why weren’t they calling his father instead of Elena? I quietly sent a message to my butler, asking him to investigate. At first, Elena seemed guilty about selling off pieces of my collection, promising to buy me something even better later. But the moment I suggested she think twice before selling the stocks, her expression darkened. “You just want Liam to die, don’t you? What did he ever do to you? Why do you hate him so much?” Her voice was shrill, almost hysterical. She refused to listen to reason. Fine, I thought. Let her do whatever she wants. After all, this company was just a minor piece of my portfolio. While she scrambled to gather the money, I secretly had my people buy back the stocks at half their value. I couldn’t let Elena go alone with that much cash, so despite her glares and protests, I followed her. As soon as I started my car, my phone buzzed. It was the butler, calling to report his findings.

“Liam wasn’t kidnapped,” he said bluntly. “He’s setting her up to scam her out of her money. It’s all a ploy.” I felt a wave of cold anger wash over me. I tried calling Elena, but she wasn’t picking up. I sent a message instead, then floored the gas pedal to catch up to her. When I arrived at the casino, Elena was about to hand over the money. “Wait!” I shouted, running toward her. “Elena, he’s lying to you! Liam was never kidnapped!” I yelled, trying to stop her. The fake kidnappers froze, unsure of what to do. I quickly added, “I’ve already called the police. If you idiots try anything, none of you are getting out of here.” Liam’s expression shifted, but only for a moment. Then, with a smirk, he signaled the “kidnappers” to untie him. “Well, looks like the jig is up,” he said casually, brushing off his clothes like nothing had happened. Turning to Elena, he grinned. “Elena, I wasn’t really kidnapped. Last night, during a game of Truth or Dare, my dare was to stage this whole thing and see if you’d be willing to raise $2 million to save me.” He spread his arms wide, gesturing around the room as the “kidnappers” pulled down the curtains to reveal balloons, flowers, and a giant banner. “Elena, you’ve proven how much you care about me. Now it’s my turn.” Liam dropped to one knee, pulling out a diamond ring the size of a golf ball. “Elena, will you marry me? I promise to love you forever.”

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I suspected my husband might be having an affair. I hired a private investigator to look into it. A week later, the investigator sent me numerous photos. In the pictures, my husband was intimately close with his female secretary. There was even a real-time photo of them in a hotel bed, with the secretary’s long hair entwined around his arm and her red-painted nails clutching my husband’s neck. I picked up my phone and dialed my husband’s number. As the gathering drew to a close, guests gradually departed, leaving me standing alone in the empty living room. Outside, snow was falling heavily and the wind was bitterly cold, while my body felt unusually weak from prolonged fatigue and emotional distress. I picked up my phone and called Jack. “Hey, Jack, the party’s over. Could you come pick me up? The snow’s too heavy for me to drive,” I tried to keep my voice calm. On the other end of the line, Jack’s voice sounded a bit flustered, “Emily, I… I’m a bit tied up right now. I might not be able to make it.” “What’s going on? Didn’t you say you were checking on the progress at the project site today?” I asked deliberately, already knowing the answer but still clinging to a shred of hope. “Ah… yes, there’s an unexpected situation at the site that needs my immediate attention,” he stammered in response. “Alright then, be careful,” I hung up, a self-mocking smile tugging at my lips. The private investigator’s photos were right in front of me. How could he still be at the project site? This was just another lie he had fabricated. I set myself a one-hour time limit. If Jack could make it to pick me up within this time, I’d give him one more chance; if not, I’d end this marriage for good. I sat on the couch, staring blankly at the heavy snow outside the window. One hour passed, then two hours, and even after three hours, Jack still hadn’t shown up. He hadn’t even called to check on me. My heart turned completely cold.

I picked up my phone and dialed that familiar number. After ringing for a long time, Jack’s sleepy voice finally came through. “Hello?” His voice carried a hint of impatience. “Jack, where are you right now?” I tried to keep my tone calm, but the anger inside me was about to consume me. “I’m… I’m still busy. What’s wrong?” His answer was clearly a lie. “Is that so? I’ve been waiting for you for three hours. What exactly are you so busy with?” I asked point-blank, my voice suppressing anger. There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, then he said irritably, “The company has some issues right now. Can’t you understand and just go home by yourself…” I didn’t bother listening to his baseless accusations and hung up. I stood up, grabbed my coat and car keys, deciding to drive home myself. After getting home, when I reopened my phone, a thought flashed through my mind. I registered a new account and quietly infiltrated Sophia and Jack’s social media circles. My fingertips slid across the screen, revealing post after post. Sophia’s timeline was full of sweet moments between her and Jack. Photo after photo showed them smiling so brightly, as if flaunting their happiness to me. The photos of exquisite gifts, with captions brimming with love, made me sick to my stomach. “Darling, this gift is so thoughtful. Thank you for always being there for me,” Sophia posted a picture of a designer handbag. I clicked into the comments section, and sure enough, Jack’s comment was right there: “As long as you like it, I’m willing to buy you the whole world.” Seeing this sentence, I was stunned, my hand involuntarily gripping the phone tightly. This was also a sweet nothing he had once said to me, but now he easily said it to another woman. A wave of indescribable nausea and hurt washed over me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my emotions. I took screenshots of their posts and saved them on my phone as evidence of his betrayal of our marriage.

I managed to rest for a night, but woke up the next day feeling headachy and weak. I wanted to rest a bit more, but was awakened by Jack’s rough knocking on the door. “Emily, are you up? Get up and make me something to eat, and while you’re at it, make some hot soup for Sophia. I’ll take it to her later.” His voice came through the door crack, carrying an unquestionable command. I struggled to sit up, fuming, my voice hoarse from the cold: “Jack, can’t you see I’m sick? Why should I cook for you and her?” He clearly hadn’t expected me to refuse. He pushed open the door and stood in front of me with a displeased look: “What’s wrong with you today? Can’t you even do this small thing? Don’t forget, today is our wedding anniversary!” I laughed coldly. This so-called “anniversary” was probably just another excuse for him to show off his harmonious family life. “Anniversary? You must have gotten the date wrong, or maybe you just don’t care about this day at all. And you want me to serve you and your mistress? Jack, you’ve gone too far!” His face darkened as he angrily walked over: “What nonsense are you talking about? Sophia is just a colleague. She worked late today, so I’m just giving her a ride home. Don’t make a fuss!” “Making a fuss?” I pointed at myself, feeling a wave of sadness, “I’m making a fuss? Look at the ‘surprise’ you gave me!” Saying this, I grabbed the small box he had thrown on the bedside table and smashed it in front of him. He was stunned for a moment, then bent down to pick up the box. When he opened it, his expression became complex. Inside the box lay the pendant I had once loved dearly. “This is… the pendant you’ve always wanted. I bought it especially for you,” he tried to explain, but his voice lacked conviction. “Yes, I’ve always wanted it, but what you bought is the cheap imitation that Sophia wears!” I pointed at the identical pendant around Sophia’s neck in the social media photos. “You think I don’t know? You gave her the real one and gave me a fake! Jack, you’re so calculating!” His face turned ashen as he tried to defend himself. “Enough, Jack,” I cut off his words before he could speak. “You’ve lied to me many times.” I looked straight at him. He was stunned.

Jack hesitated for a moment, then suddenly came over to feel my forehead, trying to change the subject: “Emily, let’s not talk about this now. You’re not well, I’ll take you to the hospital.” I shook my head, trying to resist this sudden “care,” “I don’t need you to worry about me!” But he obviously didn’t heed my refusal, pulling me out of bed with one swift motion. “Listen to me, we’re going now,” his tone was uncompromising, as if I were a puppet in his hands, only able to move according to his will. Sitting in the car, I leaned back in my seat, my gaze inadvertently falling on the leather cushion in the back seat. That cushion used to be my favorite, but now it had an eye-catching cross drawn on it by Sophia. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm: “This cushion…” Jack glanced at me through the rearview mirror, a flash of embarrassment crossing his face, “Oh, that? Sophia accidentally drew on it. She said she’d get you a new one.” I sneered, “Accidentally? More like intentionally.” I didn’t say anything more. I was already tired of this marriage. At the hospital, the process of registration, consultation, and examination… I went through all these procedures in a half-awake state. Just as I was about to leave, Jack’s phone rang. It was his so-called “company call.” I clearly saw the name on the screen – Sophia. He answered the call, deliberately walking to the side and lowering his voice, but even so, I could vaguely hear the words “miss you.” A few minutes later, he hung up and came over to me, saying, “Emily, there’s an urgent matter at the company. I have to go now. You take a cab home, okay? Be careful.” I nodded, neither trying to keep him nor questioning him. Because I knew all of this was just his excuse. He was only going to meet Sophia. Back home, I lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Until the next morning, when a sudden burst of phone ringing broke the silence of the room. It was Jack, inviting me to attend a gathering, saying it was to celebrate the success of a project. I knew this was just another way for him to show off his “successful man” image in front of me. “I don’t want to go,” I refused him directly. “Emily, you must come,” his tone suddenly became firm. “Ryan and Chris will be there. You’re my wife, it’s your responsibility to attend such occasions.” I was silent for a moment, recalling that unpleasant gathering experience. Back then, I was like an outsider, watching them chat and laugh, feeling out of place myself. But this time, it didn’t matter anymore. I was going to get a divorce anyway, so I decided not to back down. The gathering was at a high-end restaurant. As soon as I entered, I saw Jack and Sophia standing together, their smiles so glaring. Seeing me, Sophia immediately came over enthusiastically, but her eyes flashed with provocation. “Oh, sister Emily is here too,” she deliberately raised her voice, as if wanting everyone to know of my presence. “Long time no see, you and Jack are still so in love.” I looked at her coldly, ignoring her provocation. The gathering began, but I was isolated. Sophia and her friends deliberately excluded me, and no one prepared a seat for me. “What’s wrong, no one arranged a seat for you?” A sarcastic female voice rang out. It was one of Sophia’s friends, deliberately raising her voice so that everyone around could hear. I snorted, “Yeah, I don’t know who planned this gathering. They can’t even handle the most basic tasks.” Sophia’s friend’s face stiffened, about to say something more. Ryan, a usually friendly acquaintance, walked over with a hint of apology on his face. “Emily, I’m so sorry, I didn’t notice you didn’t have a seat. Come, sit with me.” I looked at him, about to follow Ryan to his seat, when Sophia stopped me. “Ryan, what’s wrong with you? There are empty seats over there, why squeeze in here?” Sophia deliberately raised her voice, drawing the attention of those around. Ryan looked troubled. He glanced at Sophia, then at me, and finally chose to remain silent. I was fed up inside, thinking I might as well go all out.

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The morning after our wedding, I woke up to the sight of my mother-in-law, Tiara, standing at the foot of our marital bed, looking down at me with unmistakable disdain. “Layla, this house was only loaned to you two for the wedding,” she said, stressing the word “loaned” as though it were some great favors. Groggy and disoriented, I blinked at her, wondering if I’d misheard. Didn’t this house belong to Zac and me? What did she mean by “loaned”? Pushing myself up from the bed, I grabbed my phone and called Zac, who had disappeared early in the morning without a word. At first, Zac hemmed and hawed, his tone evasive. But under my persistent questioning, he finally spilled the truth. “Layla, the house is in my mom’s name. It’s meant for my little brother in the future. I only managed to convince her to let us use it for the wedding by giving her a thousand dollars. “Now that the wedding’s done, it’s time for us to move back to the countryside and live a simple, happy life.” As soon as Zac heard I wanted a divorce, he rushed back to try and talk me out of it. “Don’t be impulsive, Layla. We just got married yesterday. How can you be talking about divorce today?” I was furious, glaring at him as I snapped, “You mean you already showed your true colors the day after the wedding? “Before the wedding, you lied and told me this was your house. Fine, I let that slide. But now you’re telling me it’s actually for Marcus, and you had to pay your mom a thousand dollars just to borrow it for a day?” It wasn’t like I was desperate for Zac to have a house. I had always been financially independent and had a decent job. But I wanted to build a stable family, and if my husband had better financial standing, it would make raising kids easier in the future. Now, however, it was clear that things were different. This house was in Tiara’s name, and technically, both Zac and Marcus should have equal inheritance rights. But Tiara blatantly favored Marcus, and Zac didn’t put up any fight. He was more than willing to hand over everything that should have been his. This wasn’t just about not owning property; Zac was clearly a textbook “submissive to his younger sibling” type. If today they charged a thousand dollars for a day’s use of the house, what’s next? Would Zac have to pay for Marcus’ wedding, car, and future kids? I got married to start a life, not to sell myself as a servant to their family! Zac tried to guilt-trip me, “Layla, you know how hard it was for Mom to raise both me and Marcus on her own. “Marcus didn’t get to enjoy much growing up. It’s just one house. Isn’t it fair to give it to him? “Please don’t make a fuss. The moment I met you, I knew you were a good person, not someone materialistic.” He dared to accuse me of being the one making a fuss? Of being materialistic? Was I supposed to swallow the lies and pretend nothing happened? Wanting fairness and what was rightfully mine made me greedy? I gave Zac one last chance. “Can’t Tiara at least split the house equally between you two?” Before Zac could answer, Tiara, who had been quietly enjoying the show, jumped up and spewed a stream of insults. “Split the house? Dream on! You want my house? Over my dead body!” She continued, “What kind of wife did you marry? I’m still alive, and she’s already eyeing your brother’s things! “If I die, who knows how she’ll bully Marcus! Why don’t you get control of this shameless woman already?” Zac turned purple with embarrassment. After stammering for a moment, he finally went to stand behind Tiara, patting her back to calm her down. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll talk to Layla. She’ll understand!” Watching how they handled things, I knew it was pointless to keep talking. “No need to waste any more time. It’s still early. Let’s head to the city hall.” I was done with the drama. If we couldn’t reach an agreement, there was no point dragging it out. When Zac saw I was serious about the divorce, he dropped the act. “You think you can just leave like that? If you want a divorce, fine, but only if you pay back the wedding gift! Otherwise, I’ll sue you!” Tiara’s eyes lit up. “Exactly! Do you think you can just waltz in and out of our family? Pay back the money!” I couldn’t believe their audacity. “The fifty thousand dollars was all spent on the wedding, wasn’t it? Our messages clearly show that. If you want to sue, go ahead. I’m not afraid!” I wasn’t about to be intimidated. When I agreed to marry Zac after a whirlwind romance, it was only to shed the stigma of being a “leftover woman.” The fifty thousand dollars wasn’t why I said yes, so I hadn’t been paying close attention to the money. When Zac said he was short on cash for the wedding, I had generously transferred the money to him, not bothering to oversee the details. Who would’ve thought they’d have the nerve to turn around and accuse me?

When I brought up the bank transfer records, Zac fell silent instantly. Tiara, however, kept barking. “You greedy little gold digger! The moment you see my son doesn’t own a house, you’re ready to divorce him. Don’t you have any compassion for your husband?” I let out a cold laugh. “The house isn’t in my name, and the fifty-thousand-dollar wedding gift was entirely transferred to Zac. That’s me being greedy?” Tiara wasn’t one to admit defeat, even when she was wrong. She straightened her neck and shouted, “What have you even contributed? And you want the house in your name? Let’s face it. You’re only here because we have a house in the city!” I scoffed. Fine. If they wanted to accuse me of being calculating, I’d show them what it really looked like. “So, I was the bride, right? Where’s the guest ledger? Let’s take a look at the accounts.” The wedding was held in the countryside, with plenty of relatives and friends attending. While the monetary gifts weren’t substantial, they should have totaled at least thirty or forty thousand dollars. And Tiara had kept every penny of it firmly in her grasp. I worked myself to the bone all day during the wedding, only to be kicked out after one night in the city. I didn’t even get to see a dime, and now I’m the one being labeled as greedy? What kind of luck did I have to marry into this family? Zac glared at me with bulging eyes. “Layla! All you talk about is money or a house. Did you marry me just for that?” What else? Did I marry him for being almost forty, without a house or a car? Or was it to follow him back to the countryside and struggle? We couldn’t find common ground, so I immediately packed my bags and called a cab to go back to my parents’ house. But as soon as I got there, I was greeted with looks of disdain from my parents. “What are you doing back here? There’s no place for you in this house!” I expected this. At thirty-five years old, I had been the “problem” child in their eyes, the daughter who couldn’t get married. If not for their relentless pressure to find a husband, I wouldn’t have rushed into this ill-advised, hasty marriage. Suppressing my anger, I recounted everything Zac and his family had done. Instead of siding with me, my parents berated me for not being a good wife. “You’re already at this age. You should be grateful a man even wants you. You can’t be so demanding!” “It’s just a house, isn’t it? You’ve been working for ten years. You and your husband can pool your savings for a down payment and pay off the mortgage gradually,” my mom said, glaring at me in frustration, her finger tapping against my forehead. My dad extinguished his cigarette and chimed in, “I told you a long time ago that women shouldn’t work so hard. But you wouldn’t listen, always chasing your career. “Now you’re thirty-five. All the good men are taken. You’re lucky to find someone who’s never been married. “Listen to me, go back to Zac’s place this afternoon, apologize to Tiara, and stop making trouble.” A wave of despair swept over me. Neither my in-laws nor my own parents considered me family. Dragging my suitcase back to my old room, I discovered my bedding and pillows had already been packed away. I had only been gone for a day… Before I could even argue with my parents, there was a rapid knock on the door. “Oh, Zac, you’re here. Layla just got home too. Young couples have little tiffs all the time. Sit down, talk it out, and everything will be fine!” My mom practically tripped over herself welcoming him, guiding him to the couch, pouring him coffee, and putting on her best hospitable smile. But Zac wasn’t having it. His face was dark as he growled, “There’s nothing to talk about. Your daughter looks down on me. Fine, I can take it. “But that wedding gift? That was borrowed from relatives. If Layla wants a divorce, you must pay it back!” The moment my mom heard it, her demeanor changed. “That wedding gift didn’t come to us! It all went with Layla! How can you expect us to pay it back?” She stormed to my door, banging on it furiously. “Layla, you ungrateful burden! You’re the bane of my existence. Get out here and explain yourself right now!”

When I opened the door, Zac stood there with a smug expression plastered on his face. I knew he wasn’t serious about wanting me to return the wedding gift. He just wanted to use the debt as leverage, keeping me tied to him, obediently playing the role of a dutiful wife-slash-servant for his family. But I wasn’t some helpless lamb ready for slaughter. If he wanted to play dirty, I’d gladly up the ante. Taking my time, I said, “The wedding was held in your hometown, right? If I’m not mistaken, the catering was done by Fabian’s family at the edge of the village?” Zac, confused by my calm response, hesitated. He clearly expected yelling and accusations, not a casual reference to wedding logistics. “What does that have to do with anything?” he snapped, feigning confidence. “Either pay back the money or come home with me!” “You…” Before I could respond, my father chimed in, siding with Zac and scolding me. “Layla! I raised you better than to argue with your husband’s family!” I stared at my father, incredulous, as he turned to Zac and handed him a cigarette. “Zac, take Layla back with you. If she misbehaves, discipline her however you see fit. Hit her, scold her, whatever you need. We won’t interfere.” Buoyed by my father’s support, Zac accepted the cigarette, speaking to me with even more audacity. “You hear that? Even your own parents can’t stand you!” I closed my eyes briefly, then nodded. “Fine. I’ll go back with you.” If my own family wouldn’t back me up and would only hold me back, I’d rather fight this battle alone. As soon as we got out of the car, Zac reached over, trying to wrap his arm around my waist. Disgusted, I dodged. Zac chuckled, brushing off my reaction. “Still shy, huh? If it weren’t for being so tired yesterday, last night would’ve been our wedding night!” Clearly, Zac assumed that my agreeing to return meant I had resigned myself to this life. His tone made that abundantly clear. I glanced at him and asked, “Where’s the expense report for the wedding?” His expression darkened, and he barked, “Why keep bringing that up? It’s over and done with. We’ll pay back the money together and focus on building our future!” Rubbing my neck, I sighed, “Well, if you won’t tell me, I’ll just go to your hometown and investigate myself. “Fabian’s family handled the catering, didn’t they? It wouldn’t take much effort to ask them how much they charged.” The food at the wedding had been mediocre at best. The beef and lamb didn’t even seem fresh. It couldn’t have cost much. As for other wedding expenses, there hadn’t even been a proper emcee. I refused to believe Zac’s modest wedding had burned through the full fifty thousand dollars. Zac stormed off, too angry to keep arguing. Of course, I never expected him to hand over any records. My point wasn’t to make Zac confess; it was to establish a reason for staying in the city. Zac, pushing forty, was floundering at work and eager to retreat to the countryside for a quieter life. But I wasn’t about to throw away my career in the city for his sake. Whenever Zac suggested I move to the countryside with him, no matter how much he tried to romanticize rural life, I’d bring up the finances. That was all it took for Zac and Tiara to glare at me in silent frustration. Eventually, they stopped bringing it up altogether. But I stayed put, waiting for the perfect moment. Zac’s brother’s upcoming wedding. A month later, I made a call to Marcus. “Hey, Marcus, just thought I’d give you a heads-up. Mom might be planning to transfer the house to Zac. “I’m serious. Zac’s mentioned it a few times already. Originally, we were just supposed to borrow the house for the wedding and move back to the countryside. “But it’s been a month now, and Mom’s starting to think she’s been too hard on Zac over the years. She might be trying to make it up to him!”

I was deliberately misleading Marcus. Tiara treated him like the apple of her eye; there was no way she would ever hand over the house to Zac. “Once your wedding is over next month, they might officially transfer the house. You’d better keep an eye on it!” Marcus panicked immediately. He had grown accustomed to everything in this family being his. “I knew it! Zac may seem honest on the surface, but he’s definitely plotting something!” From his tone on the phone, it sounded like Marcus was about to stomp his feet in frustration. I smiled. Look at that. This brother, whom Zac cherished and defended so much, thought so poorly of him. Marcus had dropped out of vocational school and gone to work out of town. With his wedding scheduled for just before the New Year, he wouldn’t be back until then. He was ready to call Tiara and Zac right away to demand an explanation, but I couldn’t let him ruin the fun just yet. “The moment you ask,” I cautioned him, “your mom will just brush you off. If she truly wanted you to have the house, she would’ve transferred it to you as soon as you turned eighteen instead of dragging it out until both of you were married.” “But don’t worry,” I continued with feigned sincerity, “I would never try to take something that rightfully belongs to you. You’re still young, and I feel bad for you.” I quickly sent him a photo of a draft I’d prepared—a voluntary waiver of any claim to the house. “Here, look at this. It’s legally binding. I absolutely won’t try to take the house from you!” Marcus, spoiled and with little understanding of legalities, was quickly duped. “Layla, you’re amazing! My brother’s so lucky to have married such a kind and understanding woman!” Sure. A “good wife” who was willing to sacrifice herself for them? That was how they see me. If I so much as hinted at claiming a share of the house, they’d probably curse me to high heaven. I chuckled sweetly and said, “Oh, stop it. You’re about to get married. What matters most is living a happy life with your wife!” Hearing Marcus’ cheerful laugh on the other end of the line, I smoothly changed the subject. “By the way, have you decided who’ll host your wedding? These days, brides care so much about having a proper ceremony. Zac and I just had a small family gathering with no vows, no ring exchange, none of that special stuff.” I sighed dramatically, “Thinking back, it all feels like something was missing.” Marcus, still trying to process what I’d said, started to get anxious. “I’m not very educated, Layla, and I’m not familiar with all that. Do you think it’s too late to arrange something now? If you don’t mind, could you help me out?”

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In my previous life, my mother suffered a massive hemorrhage after a car accident. I desperately pleaded with my brother to bring my adopted sister to the hospital for a blood transfusion to save her since they both had the rare blood type. But after the transfusion, my sister slipped away in the night and drowned herself in the sea. She left a note accusing our family of treating her like a human blood bank. My brother managed her funeral with an unsettling calm and assured me not to feel guilty. However, on my birthday, he forcibly took me to the hospital rooftop. “You’re so cruel. You caused her depression and even convinced Mom to go along with your act.” “You killed Bella. You should die to make amends for her.” Then he pushed me off the rooftop. I died with unresolved regrets. When I opened my eyes again, it was the day of the car accident. The loud crash brought my drifting consciousness back. I opened my eyes to see my mother shielding me with her body. My eyes immediately welled up with tears. This scene was so heartbreakingly familiar. In my last life, my mom protected me the same way, leading to her severe blood loss. “Mom, are you okay?” “Don’t worry, I’m fine.” But I could clearly see the blood gushing from her abdomen. How could she be okay? I held back my tears, pulled out my phone, and called for an ambulance. Then I pressed on my mom’s wound with trembling hands, trying to slow the bleeding. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my reflection in the shattered car window, a face full of determination. This was unlike the helpless me from before. In my last life, I was so scared and lost, only thinking to call my brother for help. He didn’t believe me at first and took a long time to come and take my mom to the hospital, causing her to miss the optimal rescue time. Although she survived, she was paralyzed from the waist down and had to rely on a wheelchair. The ambulance arrived quickly, and I went with my mom to the hospital. At the hospital, doctors rushed her into surgery. I waited outside, staring intently at the closed door. Before the doctor could say anything, I hurriedly posted a help request online, asking those with the rare blood type to come forward. I couldn’t rely on my brother and adopted sister anymore. The more avenues, the more hope. I still called my brother. “Mom had a car accident. She urgently needs the rare blood type. Bring sister…” “Are you still pretending? Are you so vicious that you can’t let her have a peaceful birthday?” My heart sank. “No, it’s true, Mom, she…” “Shut up! Mom is not seriously injured, and the hospital isn’t short of blood.” His voice was cold on the other end. “This time, I will protect Bella. I won’t let you bully her anymore!” At this moment, the doctor came out. He told me the blood bank’s rare blood type stock was insufficient and the situation was critical. My brother heard it too. He sneered. “Oh, you got other actors to join your show?” I was frantic. “Mom is in a massive hemorrhage now. It’s critical. She urgently needs the rare blood type. Bring sister to the hospital!” My voice was sharp with urgency, almost crying. “Sister, do you like bullying me so much? Can’t you let me have a good birthday?” I heard my adopted sister’s voice on the phone, full of doubt and feigned innocence. My heart sank further. “Still using Mom as an excuse? You just have to stir things up on her birthday.” My brother’s tone was cold and certain, convinced I was deliberately causing trouble. “Brother, I’m really not lying to you.” I was so anxious that tears welled up in my eyes, my voice trembling. “Enough!” my brother roared. “Do you think I’ll be fooled by you like before? You’re always like this, jealous of Bella, trying every way to trouble her. I’ll tell you, I won’t let you succeed again.” He hung up, leaving me holding the phone, listening to the cold busy tone, tears streaming down my face.

I leaned against the hospital wall, overwhelmed by a mixture of despair and anger. Just as I was about to lose hope, a message appeared in our support group chat. “Is it the city hospital? I have a rare blood type, and I’m nearby.” I wiped my tears and quickly responded. “Yes, yes.” “All right, I’m heading over now.” But five minutes later, I received several voice messages. When I listened to them, I heard the furious voice of a middle-aged man. “Are you kidding? Sending out false information just to compete with your sister?” “Do you think people have time for this nonsense? It’s insane.” “…” The rest of the messages were harsh criticisms aimed at me. I felt like I had been plunged into a deep freeze. How could this happen? Why would he… It must be my brother! It has to be him! Then came the scorn and ridicule from others in the group. “What kind of person jokes in a hospital support group?” “Kick her out immediately.” My body trembled uncontrollably. Anger, despair, and helplessness swirled within me, threatening to consume me. I stared at the phone screen, watching the relentless flow of accusations. My nails dug into my palms, yet I felt no pain. I hurriedly replied. “No, the patient is truly experiencing massive hemorrhage.” I also sent the hospital’s medical report. “It’s the city hospital; please believe me.” “I’m begging you, please come and save my mom.” For a moment, the group fell silent. Then different voices began to emerge. “Is anyone near the hospital? Can someone check it out? What if it’s true?” “Yeah, the medical report doesn’t look fake.” The middle-aged man with the rare blood type messaged again. “I’ll head over once more, hoping it’s not a trick.” I finally breathed a sigh of relief and thanked them repeatedly. While waiting for the middle-aged man, I kept searching my contacts for anyone who might help. Even if there’s just a sliver of hope, I wouldn’t give up. But after a series of calls, all I got were disappointing responses. Either they didn’t have the rare blood type, or they were too far away. I could only place my hopes on that middle-aged man. Who would’ve thought, hope would shatter again. He sent another barrage of voice messages. “I swear, I really want to kill someone. Is it fun to deceive me this many times?” I quickly replied, “No, I’m right at the emergency room door. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the doctor. It happened on Wall Street.” “You’re still lying. I just asked the doctor.” The man’s voice grew more agitated. “The doctor told me the Wall Street accident was minor, just superficial injuries, no need for a transfusion.” “No, that doctor is lying to you; he’s deceiving you.” As soon as I sent that message, I was kicked out of the group. I kept trying to rejoin, but the admin denied my requests. I tried several times, all denied. I couldn’t bear it anymore and collapsed, sobbing. That’s when Dr. Blair called. He’s a friend of my brother’s. “Stop causing trouble. I already asked the admin to kick you out.” “Your brother was right; you’ve been spoiled by your mom, resorting to such underhanded tactics just for jealousy.” “Your adopted sister is pitiful; please stop targeting her and let her have a nice birthday.” All my words caught in my throat, and I cried silently.

I was completely in despair until Dr. Blair hung up. Yet, my brother couldn’t let it go. “Alice Johnson, you never change, do you? Still spreading lies in the help group?” “If something happens to Mom, I won’t forgive you or Bella.” My voice, hoarse with resentment, barely managed to come out. On the other end, my brother paused for a moment before letting out a mocking laugh. “Really? After Bella’s birthday, I’ll take her back. This time, I’ll make sure Mom sets you straight.” “You’re so jealous; you should just move out. I don’t feel safe with Bella living under the same roof as you.” I listened numbly, unsure if the voice on the other end was truly my brother’s or some demon wearing his skin. He used to care so deeply for me, his little sister. But everything changed when Bella was adopted. Mom was always busy, jetting around the world for work. My brother took on the role of looking after both me and Bella. Whenever Bella shed a tear, he assumed I was the one bullying her. It happened so often that he began to dislike me more and more. Initially, I tried hard to explain myself. But my efforts only led to harsher scoldings and increased protection for my adopted sister. Now, with Mom’s life hanging in the balance in the operating room, my brother’s thoughts are on Bella’s birthday and pushing me out of the house. My hatred grew stronger. I hated my brother’s inability to see the truth, Bella’s deceitful nature, and my own past weakness… The light in the operating room remained on, each passing second pounding heavily on my heart. Just as I was about to succumb to despair, a call from an unknown number came through. I hesitated but answered it. “Hello, are you looking for someone with a rare blood type to save your mother? I’m a nurse at the city hospital and just saw your message in the group.” “Yes, yes, I’m looking for someone.” My voice was tearful. “Don’t cry, little sister. I found a former patient in the hospital records with a rare blood type. I’ll give you his contact info. Try reaching out to him.” Hearing this was like grabbing a lifeline. I quickly thanked the nurse and dialed the number she gave me. When the call connected, I urgently explained the situation through my tears. The person on the other end was silent for a moment before saying, “I can donate blood, but I need some compensation. After all, donating blood isn’t a small matter.” “I need a million dollars.” I agreed to his demand without hesitation. As long as it saved Mom, I would accept any condition. Ten minutes later, the person willing to donate blood showed up. I hurried with him to find the doctor, only to be suddenly stopped by Dr. Blair. “What are you up to now? Why are you causing a scene in the hospital?” The donor looked at me, confused. I told him to go to the blood center first, “The patient is Eliza. Tell the doctor you’re donating for her.” He nodded, a bit skeptical, and turned to leave. But Dr. Blair tried to stop him again. I wouldn’t let him block my way to saving Mom. Driven by desperation, I lunged at Dr. Blair, hitting him. Like my brother, he was used to hearing only one side. If it weren’t for his interference, Mom could have been saved by now. I hated him. My hateful gaze made Dr. Blair pause, momentarily forgetting to fight back until hospital security guards came to pull me away. More and more people gathered, including the hospital director. “What’s going on?” “Director, she’s the sister of a friend of mine. She’s just throwing a fit at the hospital to spite her family.” I wanted to punch him again, but the guards held me back. “Cora, you’re such a fool. If I wanted to spite them, why wouldn’t I crash Bella’s birthday party instead?”

Cora was momentarily taken aback but then continued with a defiant tone. “Your brother said your aunt had a car accident, and you used that opportunity to bring Bella over for a blood transfusion.” “It’s like you’re making Bella think she’s just a walking blood bank for the family.” “She’s already struggling with depression, and you’re trying to push her over the edge.” I let out a bitter laugh, tears forming in my eyes. I turned to the director and said, “You heard it yourselves. Dr. Blair at your hospital has been endangering patients’ lives and repeatedly obstructing my efforts to save someone.” “My mom was in a car accident and urgently needs a rare blood type, yet he misled the willing donors and even got the group admin to kick me out.” Dr. Blair insisted, “You’re a fraud. It’s not like I just met you yesterday. I’ve been to your house several times, and each time you were mistreating Bella.” The director was more composed. He quickly consulted with other doctors and nurses. A nurse quietly explained, “Director, this young lady’s mom indeed had a car accident with significant blood loss and needs a rare blood type. She’s currently in the emergency room.” Cora turned pale, murmuring, “Impossible, impossible…” The director stopped listening to his excuses and led the way to the emergency room. Cora followed behind. … The red light outside the operating room was still on, a stark reminder that this battle for life wasn’t over yet. I sat on the bench, finally able to catch my breath. Cora was so shocked that he was trembling, looking at me in disbelief. “How could this be… but your brother and Bella…” I ignored him, keeping my eyes fixed on the emergency room door. Cora, overwhelmed and in pain, kicked the trash can and kept trying to call his brother. After a long wait, the call finally connected. “What’s going on?” “Danielle, your mom is really in trouble.” “Heh, so even you were manipulated by Alice Johnson?” Cora punched the wall in frustration, “I’m in big trouble because of you. You’re celebrating your birthday at a time like this.” “Alright, I’m done talking. I’m going to cut Bella’s cake.” “You…” The call ended abruptly. Cora turned to me, looking defeated. His eyes were filled with regret. “Alice, I’m sorry. I was misled by your brother.” “I’ll add you back to the support group, and I’ll help clear your name.” I stared at him intently, “It’s too late. No matter what you do, I will see this through to the end. Your career is over.” “Cora, you’re a disgrace to the medical profession.” Cora froze, his face drained of color. In the past life, Cora wasn’t innocent either. He liked Bella and often aided her in hurting me. It was partly due to his help that my brother lured me to the hospital rooftop in the previous life. Just before I was pushed off, the hospital security happened to pass by. It was Cora who sent the guard away. I want them to face the consequences of their actions. I also want Mom to see the true nature of my brother and Bella. Two hours later, the operating room doors opened. “Congratulations, the surgery was a great success.” I finally smiled through my tears. Mom was moved to a private room, and she slowly woke up around nine in the evening. “Mom.” “Don’t cry, my daughter, as long as you’re okay.” “Mom, about my brother and them…” Mom raised her hand and gently caressed my cheek. “Don’t worry, this time, Mom will protect you.” “I’m sorry, my daughter, for not taking good care of you and letting you suffer for so many years.”

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I sprained my ankle while helping my friend Eloise, who runs a store that sells contraceptives. I agreed to deliver a package for her since it was on my way home. Little did I know, I was delivering condoms that my husband would later use while cheating with another woman. I was still grappling with the shock of discovering my usually gentle and loving husband was unfaithful, when I unearthed another secret. My husband wasn’t just some guy barely scraping by on a $4500 monthly salary, struggling to pay rent. The company he works for is actually a branch of his family’s business. He’s a legitimate rich heir! On New Year’s Day, Eloise called, saying she twisted her ankle and needed me to deliver a package for her. The delivery address was in a luxury neighborhood not far from my home, conveniently on my route. As I was about to leave, I hesitated, looking at the shelves filled with products. Eloise noticed my hesitation and quickly grabbed a few boxes, stuffing them into my bag. “Consider it a reward for helping me out.” Life with Oliver was financially tight. After covering the mortgage, car loan, and utilities, there wasn’t much leftover. We’ve only been married for half a year, and we’re still very much in love, so we go through these quickly. To save money, we usually buy discounted brands. Cheap products aren’t great; they make me uncomfortable. Last night, I realized we were running low. Eloise’s gift was just what I needed. But admitting to a friend that I’m struggling to afford something as basic as condoms was a bit embarrassing. Then Eloise said something that made me uneasy: “This house regularly orders from me, but this time they changed the delivery phone number. When I checked, guess what?” Still embarrassed, I stayed silent, and Eloise lowered her voice, “It’s Oliver’s! Last time I delivered, I saw Oliver’s car downstairs! I thought he was there for business, so I didn’t mention it. But now, thinking about it, you should be cautious. I hope it’s just my imagination.” I checked the order phone number several times. It was indeed my husband’s. But Oliver comes home four nights a week; how could he have the energy to see someone else? Besides, this is a luxury neighborhood, five times the price of ours. How could Oliver, with his $4500 monthly salary, be involved with someone here? I wanted to believe it was a mistake, but when I knocked on the door, I was stunned. I saw a very familiar face—Oliver’s childhood friend, Juniper. But Oliver had told me she went abroad and didn’t know when she’d return. Through the open door, I could see that Juniper’s home was clearly lived in for some time. My mind was racing again, and then I heard a familiar, impatient voice from inside. “Juniper, haven’t you got it yet? Come in, I’ll show you a special trick I just learned. You’ll love it.” The voice was very similar to Oliver’s when he’s being intimate with me. Juniper gave me a knowing smile. “I know who you are.” “But I’m busy now, so if you have questions, save them for next time.” Then she closed the door, shutting out the sounds of intimacy inside. I had no proof, so I couldn’t just burst in. I had to wait for Oliver to come home and keep a close eye on him.

On the way back, I was in a daze, thinking my husband was just an ordinary employee who couldn’t afford such a house. He couldn’t possibly be cheating. But as soon as I reached the entrance of the luxury neighborhood, Oliver’s younger brother, Liam, pulled up in a luxury car right in front of me. He still had that playful grin. “Sister-in-law? Have you finally realized my brother is a rich heir and decided to spend his money to move out of that old place?” Rich heir? The term felt foreign when it hit my ears. To me, Oliver was the kind of guy who compared prices on toilet paper just to save a few cents. Being with him, we stretched every dollar, exhausted after work, yet still set an alarm to rush to the store for discounted groceries. Now someone in a luxury car tells me he’s a rich heir. It feels like a huge joke to me. I met Oliver through a blind date. He was honest, reliable, and caring, so I happily married him. I didn’t think life was hard; buying a house was our shared goal, just like our life together. Besides, Oliver’s passion and affection in bed made me feel he couldn’t do without me. But with everything happening today, I couldn’t help but wonder if his gentleness was real or a facade. Liam, seeing me silent, laughed heartily. “Judging by your look, my brother hasn’t told you the truth, huh?” “But I heard someone was living in the house he bought here. I thought you two talked it out, so I came to congratulate you on the move. Since you didn’t know, who is living in that house?” Liam seemed to know everything, watching me with that playful look. I knew he and Oliver didn’t get along. They almost fought at our wedding. Later, Oliver refused any contact between us, and now Liam had a chance to embarrass him, he wouldn’t let it go. He wanted me to fight with Oliver and make a big scene. But honestly, I could endure hardship with Oliver and work to improve our life. But I can’t tolerate his deceit and cheating. Delivering the condoms for my husband and his mistress myself is ridiculous! I clenched my fists. Liam wasn’t much better, waiting for this moment! I didn’t know how he tracked me down, but I knew causing a scene wouldn’t help. Liam is more cunning and dangerous. I held back my anger and went home, then searched the house for anything about Oliver.

He hid things well, like he was preventing me from discovering he was wealthy. I couldn’t find any evidence! Oliver came home three hours later. He seemed in a good mood, smiling as he hugged me on the couch. “After a year of work, we can finally take a break. Did you buy condoms? We can have a good time. The company was busy at year’s end, we haven’t been intimate. Let’s make up for it today.” My stomach churned, finding his behavior disgusting. I pushed him away and sarcastically asked, “Oliver, you’re probably drained, right? How does it feel cheating with Juniper behind my back?” Oliver’s pupils dilated instantly, then he forced a laugh, “Honey, what are you talking about?” I raised my voice, “I want a divorce! You went to great lengths to pretend to be someone else, making me suffer here while you’re keeping a mistress in a luxury neighborhood. Aren’t you disgusting?” Oliver, frustrated, said, “I did it for you! When we met, you wanted $30 bubble tea. You’re a gold digger! I hid my identity to help you change your ways!” “You being frugal and a good wife is thanks to me! You should be grateful!” “And I wasn’t planning to hide it forever. But you can’t stick to a budget every month. How can I trust you?” “Enough!” I couldn’t listen anymore and shouted, cutting him off, “I was fooled by your facade! Once exposed, you showed your true self?” “Fine, let’s divorce, before City Hall closes for the holidays.” Oliver paced the small living room; he was really angry, a far cry from his usual self. He liked controlling me in bed, guiding me by day, but things had spiraled beyond his control. He couldn’t handle it and said, “Fine! We can divorce! But don’t think of taking any of my money! I’ll generously give you this house.” Generous? I paid most of the down payment, and I’m paying most of the mortgage! I couldn’t believe he said that with a straight face! He expected me to beg, “If a gold digger like you enters my home, who knows what trouble you’d cause? I’ll divorce you eventually!” “Really going through with it?” Eloise sat in front of me, looking awkward. After a night of thinking, I calmed down. “You asked me to deliver the package not just because of your twisted ankle or it being on my way, right?” “What else do you know? Can you tell me now?” Eloise, a friend since childhood, felt guilty as things escalated. “Actually, a few days ago, Liam came to see me.” “Are you really going to get a divorce?” Eloise sat across from me, visibly uncomfortable and unsure. After a night of reflection, I was able to calm myself. “You asked me to help deliver something, but it wasn’t just because of your sprained ankle or because it was on my way, right?” “What else do you know? Can you tell me now?” Eloise, my childhood friend, looked guilty. “Actually, a few days ago, Liam came to see me.” “He told me about Oliver’s infidelity, but I knew with your personality, you wouldn’t believe it without seeing it yourself. So, I helped him stage the scene.” “But I really didn’t know he was a wealthy heir! I only knew he was cheating!” At this point, whether he was cheating or hiding his wealthy background from me no longer matters. Both prove he didn’t truly love me. He was full of deceit. This marriage has to end! I suppressed my anger. “What else do you know? You can tell me everything now.” Eloise shook her head. “That’s all. I’m not really familiar with either of them.” “But Liam coming around suddenly, who knows what he’s up to. You should be careful.” I nodded to show I understood. I have no desire to return to the house Oliver and I bought. I plan to sell it before the divorce and split the proceeds evenly. I won’t take a penny more than what’s mine. Whatever he takes, I can easily get back by visiting home. I’m not bothered at all! Having seen his true colors, I just want to cut ties quickly. No more contact! I’ve decided to stay at Eloise’s place until the divorce is finalized. After reclaiming his rich heir identity, Oliver ditched his beat-up van and flea market clothes. On the day of the divorce, he arrived in luxury attire, driving an extravagant car. In the passenger seat was his childhood sweetheart, Juniper. When Oliver wasn’t looking, Juniper wore a smug expression. I think she’s been waiting for this day for a long time. Oliver is truly blind, having a gold digger like her by his side and not realizing it. From deep within, I genuinely wish them well. May they stay together forever and not harm others. After getting out of the car, he leaned against the door, speaking in a sarcastic tone, “Leaving me will be the biggest mistake of your life. If you could have endured my test, a year later, you’d be enjoying this luxurious life too.” “Blame yourself for being too greedy and impatient. Seeing your recent behavior, I’m more convinced that keeping secrets from you and testing you was the right decision!” I have no idea where his sense of superiority comes from! I rolled my eyes at him, inadvertently revealing my Cartier limited edition earrings. “Who is this country bumpkin?” 4. He noticed them too. “There’s no need to pretend in front of me. I know exactly how much money you have. Wearing fake flea market goods to save face is just embarrassing.” “But for the sake of our marriage, I’ll split the house 60-40 after the divorce.” The house isn’t worth much. In the end, he’s essentially giving me an extra $70,000. Yet, he acts like he’s offering me the world. I’m more disgusted with Oliver than ever! I don’t want to stay with him any longer. “If we’re divorcing, let’s hurry up. I’m in a rush.” My disdain for him was obvious, but he thought I was just being irrational. To prevent him from continuing his act, I didn’t hesitate to turn and walk into City Hall. In less than half an hour, Oliver and I came out again. Juniper couldn’t help but approach us, holding Oliver’s hand and cautiously asking, “Did you get divorced?” After being deceived by Oliver for so long, I had no intention of letting him off easily. So, before he could answer, I quickly said, “No, we didn’t.” Juniper panicked instantly. She went from a delicate flower to furious. “How come you aren’t divorced?! Didn’t you always say you would divorce?!” “Oliver! Are you lying to me? Didn’t you say that after divorcing her, you’d be with me? You even called her a gold digger! Why aren’t you divorced now?!” Then she suddenly thought of something, her voice sharp with disbelief, “You’re not still hung up on this gold digger, are you?!” Oliver, frustrated by her shouting, couldn’t help but raise his voice, “Divorce cooling-off period!” Only then did Juniper calm down, quickly regaining her demure demeanor. She snuggled into Oliver’s arms. “I knew it. How could you still be hung up on her?” “You promised me you’d be with me. You wouldn’t lie to me, right?” She spoke softly, but her eyes were full of desire for possession. This kind of woman is ruthless, but Oliver, the miser, insists she’s the one who can endure hardships with him and withstand tests. If anything happens in the future, it’s no one’s fault but his own. It’s his just desserts! Oliver deliberately flaunted his affection for her in front of me. “That’s right. I’ll give you a grand wedding.” I chuckled coldly. Oliver thought I was jealous and was about to mock me when he saw me get into a luxury car. It’s a limited edition. Just one of its tires could probably buy him a car. Oliver’s eyes sparkled as he rushed over, angrily questioning me, “Where did this come from? You haven’t even properly divorced yet, and you’re already clinging to someone else’s leg!” “You just love sleeping with older men, don’t you? How did I not see that you’re such a cheap gold digger before?” I pried his hand off. “Please show some respect. Do you think everyone is like you, a worthless cheater?” “This car is mine. Don’t think your family is the only wealthy one in the world. It’s utterly ridiculous!” The driver, seeing him blocking me, couldn’t stand it any longer and got out to pull him aside, then escorted me into the car. Under the bewildered gaze of Oliver and Juniper, the car drove me away from there. If Oliver likes to pick fights, then I’ll play along. I am not afraid of trouble. Whatever harm Oliver does to me, I’ll make sure to pay it back! As soon as I got back from City Hall to Eloise’s place, my brother showed up. He had always tried to stop me from marrying Oliver, but I stubbornly believed Oliver was a good person. Though poor, he was hardworking and kind to me. He always acted like he couldn’t live without me. So I was willing to endure hardships with him, willing to leave everything behind and start from scratch with him. Now, with my brother suddenly showing up, I didn’t know how to face him. The person I believed in, the one I chose, deceived me so terribly. If only I had listened to him. I thought my brother would lecture me as before, but he only glanced at the designer bag I was carrying. “Finally willing to use the stuff I bought for you.” I felt awkward. Today, to keep up appearances, I used a lot of the gifts my brother had given me. When I got divorced, I was confidently saying that I could build a big company from scratch on my own. But now, I still have nothing behind me. Yet, he didn’t blame me at all. He just came in and looked around the room. Then he said, “If you don’t want to go home yet, go to the house I bought for you. This place is too small and uncomfortable.” He gave me a way out, and there was no reason to refuse. I agreed, quickly packed my things, sent Eloise a message, and moved out. Who would’ve thought, passing by a luxury neighborhood, I’d see Oliver and Juniper all lovey-dovey at the corner. Juniper sat in front of the car, with Oliver’s arm around her waist, kissing her passionately. My brother, who knew Oliver, impatiently honked several times to urge him. Oliver was startled and probably deflated instantly. Then, with a face full of anger, he looked up and locked eyes with me. Seeing my face, Oliver sneered. “Is this the sugar daddy you’re clinging to?”

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The father and his two sons, originally antagonistic figures, were destined to destroy each other over the heroine. But I intervened and altered their fate. In the end, the elder son took over the family business, while the younger son gained admission to a top university. Yet, at the company’s annual meeting, both brothers implored the Chairman to let their father marry the widowed heroine and make her the family’s Heiress. “Dad and Sister Lydia have already missed over ten years together. Mom, you need to be understanding and generous.” On the day of my husband’s wedding, I didn’t cause a scene. Instead, I summoned the long-silent System. “Confirm departure from this wretched place.” I stood in the rain, the bridge already collapsed, with old love songs playing from the speakers by the roadside until the final note faded away. I leaned forward, letting myself fall into the icy, bone-chilling river. I was a strategist, tasked with saving the antagonist and his family from tearing themselves apart over the heroine. What was tragic was that once the original male lead was gone, my husband and sons were eager to bring the widowed heroine into our home. The System’s voice chimed in: [Master, the mission has failed. Once your physical body in this alternate universe perishes, your real-world body will awaken. However, your time there is running short. Are you sure you want to leave here?] I nodded slightly. With the little time remaining, I just wanted to spend it with my family and friends. But the expected suffocation didn’t come. A strong hand grabbed my arm from behind and pulled me up. “What are you doing? Today is Sister Lydia’s special day, and you’re pulling this stunt?” I turned around to see my stepson, Jasper, panting heavily, his bright eyes aflame with anger. He was one of my targets in this world and later became the most fervent antagonist in the story. He would become obsessed with the heroine, turn against his family, and ultimately become someone everyone shunned. When I became Nolan’s second wife, Jasper was just six years old. His birth mother had passed away, and his father was always busy with work. As a child, he caused trouble in the streets, seeking attention but often ending up bullied. I brought him home, cleaned him up, and planned his future. Jasper wasn’t interested in studying, so I encouraged him, saying a man could achieve great things in business. For the first time, young Jasper had a dream. His eyes reddened, and he asked, “Can I call you Mom? They all laugh at me for not having a Mom, saying I’m a wild child…” With my permission, he hugged me gently. “Mom, when I grow up and make a lot of money, the first thing I’ll do is buy you a big house and give you a good life.” But when he actually achieved his dream, his first request was to make Lydia his new mom. He stopped calling me Mom. He even hated me because Lydia said it was my fault she got kidnapped by bad people and couldn’t come back to see him. The handsome young man in front of me overlapped with the child who used to call me Mom, but his eyes were now filled with coldness. “Stop pretending. You’re just trying to get our attention, right? If you really wanted to die, why choose the road where I’d be coming home from work, perfectly timed?” I was speechless. I just wanted to find a not-too-ugly way to leave, in a place with a nice view. I never expected to run into Jasper. Seeing that I didn’t reply, Jasper mocked, “If you really want to die, find a place further away. Sister Lydia loves this river. She takes walks here when the weather’s nice, so don’t…” He suddenly stopped. I quickly dashed to the other end of the broken bridge and jumped off. Lydia likes this river, right? Then I hope she never comes here again. Every time she does, I hate it more.

My body grew heavier, and in a daze, I heard the instruments ticking in the hospital room. Dad, Mom, wait for me! Your daughter will be home soon! Just when I thought I would succeed, a powerful force dragged me back to the shore. Jasper was soaked, his eyes misty with tears or water, I couldn’t tell. Looking at Jasper, I jokingly teased him, “You don’t want me dead, huh?” Jasper’s face twisted awkwardly, “You’re overthinking it. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me. Even if you want to die, I wouldn’t stop you, but not today! I don’t want Sister Lydia thinking of you and being unhappy on her anniversary!” Of course, it was for Lydia. Seeing I didn’t respond, Jasper dragged me home. “Let’s go back. Today, you can’t die. If you really want to, find a place further away, at least where I won’t see you!” Jasper was strong, and I couldn’t break free. When we reached the Nolan Family’s door, we ran into my biological son, Declan, in this world. He wore a neat suit, looking incredibly handsome. He had rushed back from school, and upon seeing Jasper and me drenched, he gave me a quick glance but greeted Jasper, “Big Brother.” Jasper nodded in response. Declan then remarked, “Why are your clothes wet? Be careful not to catch a cold. Big Brother, change your clothes quickly. Sister Lydia and Dad’s wedding is about to start.” Throughout, he didn’t look at me once, as if I wasn’t his real mom but a stranger on the street. In the original story, Declan was lost by the original character at birth and grew up in an orphanage, developing an extremely gloomy personality. The heroine would be the only light in his life. But now that I’m here, I gave birth to him myself, and I have high hopes for him. In my vision, he and I were connected by blood, not merely characters in a story. He didn’t need me to “strategize” him, he would naturally be on my side. I cherished Declan like my own eyes, afraid he might get lost like in the book. I did everything myself to ensure his safe upbringing. Declan indeed grew up to be a cultured gentleman, unlike the delinquent in the book. He was humble, respectful to his parents, cared for his brothers, and even became a school leader. I never doubted I could handle my own son. But once Lydia appeared, my always considerate Declan turned into a different person. He began doing all the things I disapproved of to show his dissatisfaction and rebellion against me. “Why does Mom always have to go against Sister Lydia? Clearly, Mom is in the wrong!” I never expected that after reading so many books with Declan, all those principles would become weapons he used against me. “Mom is jealous of Sister Lydia, so she let her be kidnapped by bad people, showing no kindness. How can you be my Mom?” At the time, I stood there holding the nourishing soup I had gotten up early to make for him, feeling like I didn’t recognize the son I raised. He knocked the soup from my hands, saying he’d never eat anything I made again. My heart ached beyond words, and I slapped him. His eyes turned on me with hatred. Since then, we haven’t spoken a word to each other. Hearing Declan’s question, Jasper looked uncomfortable. “Just now… she really jumped.” Declan’s handsome brow furrowed slightly, his cold voice devoid of emotion. “Big Brother, don’t be fooled by her. With you there, how could she die? She’s just using women’s tricks, seeking death because Sister Lydia is entering the family. Do you think she could really give up the wealth and prosperity here…” Before Declan finished, I slammed my head against the doorpost. I sighed inwardly, hoping to die with some dignity, but these two boys were too noisy. Hot blood ran down my cheek, and the world went black. Before my consciousness completely faded, I seemed to hear someone scream “Mom” in agony.

When I opened my eyes again, my forehead throbbed. Above me was a modern and luxurious chandelier. I realized I had once again failed to leave this world. Every night, I teetered on the brink of death. This meant my time with my family in the original world was growing shorter. Time was incredibly precious to me. I stared at the chandelier, wondering if I could use it to end everything. Just as I moved, a hand tightly gripped mine. “Cora, stop fooling around, okay? Luckily, you’re weak, so you didn’t hit too hard. Otherwise, you’d have scared the two kids to death.” The speaker was my husband in this world, the company CEO, Nolan. At this moment, his brow was furrowed, his eyes locked on the bandage wrapped around my forehead. His gaze was deep, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking. In the original story, Nolan was the heroine’s most passionate admirer. Unable to attain his love, he eventually turned dark, even betraying the company and harming others to get closer to the heroine. When I first arrived, I drugged Nolan to prevent him from pursuing the heroine, cutting off the source of his later crimes. Nolan woke up wishing he could end me right there. I knew the story inside out, so I was sure the heroine wouldn’t be harmed. In the original story, Nolan was the heroine’s most ardent admirer. Unable to win her love, he eventually succumbed to darkness, even betraying the company and harming others just to be near her. The first thing I did upon entering this world was to incapacitate Nolan with a drug, preventing him from pursuing the heroine and cutting off the source of future crimes. When Nolan woke up, he was furious, wishing he could end me on the spot. I knew the plot of the book inside and out and was confident the heroine would not be harmed. It wasn’t until he saw the heroine and the male lead happily together that Nolan began to let go of his resentment towards me. He tried to understand me, cared for me, and even stood up for me during a difficult time when he mistakenly thought I was being bullied. During those challenging days, our hearts quietly drew closer. Later, I softened my demeanor, managed household affairs for Nolan, cared for the family, and raised the children. Nolan, like any ordinary husband who loves his wife, stayed by my side, promising to be together in the next life. The system informed me that the strategist’s favorability was steadily increasing and that my mission was nearing completion. At that time, my terminal illness in the real world would be cured, and I could choose to pause time in the real world to accompany the Nolan family through this happy life. However, an unexpected change came without warning. One stormy night, the heroine returned alone. She threw herself into Nolan’s arms, weeping and recounting the inhuman torment she had suffered over the years. Usually calm and composed, Nolan was moved to tears. When he learned of my actions that had maliciously hindered him, pushing her into a predicament, the Nolan family was furious. They carefully tended to Lydia at home and ignored me. On Declan’s birthday, I prepared a table full of dishes that the family loved, but no one returned even late into the night. It turned out they were out entertaining a despondent Lydia, just to cheer her up. When I gave birth to Declan, I endured pain all night before delivering. At that time, Nolan promised to celebrate with the children every year because I hadn’t left them. But now, they’ve all broken their promises. When the Nolan family returned, they merely said, “Lydia doesn’t like the dishes you made, so there’s no need to make them again.” Recalling these events, I coldly withdrew my hand from Nolan’s grip and calmly said, “I’m not being unreasonable. I just don’t want to live anymore…” Nolan suddenly became somewhat annoyed, leaning over to hold me tightly. I couldn’t break free, so I just let him. After a moment, he finally spoke, his tone tinged with helplessness. “Cora, stop saying things like that, and don’t use death to threaten me and the kids. Our feelings won’t change, and I’ll discipline the boys. You’re forever the mistress of this house.” Nolan’s words sounded sincere, as if he still loved me as before. But then he cautiously observed my expression and mentioned Lydia. “I’ve already promised, Lydia won’t take your place. You were unfair to her before; now she just wants a place to stay… So, where did you hide her? Tell me, and we can pretend nothing happened and continue living our simple life, okay?” I laughed coldly inside. Lydia has disappeared again? Nolan still thinks I did it? Seeing me laugh, Nolan could no longer feign indifference, his tone becoming urgent. “Cora, stop pretending. I’ve searched, and Lydia’s jewelry is clearly hidden in your room’s closet. Both of you disappeared early this morning… Tell me, where did you hide Lydia?” It seems Lydia can’t wait to drive me away, even using her wedding as a ploy. After all, as the heroine, she craves attention and can’t share a man with another woman. What she wants is to be the only one in the hearts of the Nolan family. I suddenly burst into laughter, “Ha, yes, I did it. Lydia is dead! I’m just jealous of her, so I killed her. Do you want to avenge her? Then kill me unless you can’t bear to.” Nolan would do anything for Lydia. As long as he kills me, I can go home. Nolan was clearly enraged and lost his mind, gripping my neck with his hands. “Cora! How did you become like this… Lydia has suffered enough, why do you keep tormenting her?” In reality, it wasn’t me who changed, but them, the father and sons. I didn’t resist, letting my breath gradually weaken. Finally, everything will end. The door was suddenly pushed open, and Jasper and Declan helped Lydia inside.

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On the day I turned eighteen, I was kidnapped. The kidnappers called Theo, demanding 60 million as ransom. “The notable second son of the Taylor family, surely you wouldn’t hesitate to spare 60 million for a young girlfriend? Such a pretty girl, it’d be a shame if she were to end up a mess!” I lay there with a dislocated shoulder, crying and begging Theo on the phone to save me. But he just asked the kidnappers with chilling indifference, “What makes her worth 60 million?” Enraged, the kidnappers broke three of my fingers. I could never play the piano I loved again. When I saw him again later, I addressed him politely and distantly as “Mr. Theo.” He cornered me in a room, gently caressed my face, and softly coaxed, “Sound, be good. Call me Third Brother like before, okay?” “Sound, we’re in Seaside City now.” As the plane landed with a slight jolt, the nightmare dragged me into an even darker abyss. Thankfully, my assistant woke me up just in time. I seemed to have dreamt about what happened six years ago again. That feeling of fear, helplessness, and despair brought tears to my eyes once more. Seaside City. A place of decadence, filled with schemes and devoid of warmth. If it weren’t for helping Asher secure resources for his new movie, I wouldn’t have returned here. After leaving the airport, the car my assistant arranged hadn’t arrived yet. Just as I was about to hail a taxi, I heard a hesitant voice behind me, “Miss Fiona?” I turned around, freezing in place. It was Uncle Nolan, Theo’s driver since he was fifteen. Behind him was a Phantom. I immediately noticed the familiar license plate: 1108, November 8th, Theo’s birthday. My heart gave a slight tremor. As the car window slowly lowered, that familiar face appeared before me. “Sound?” Theo sat inside, his shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a perfectly sculpted collarbone. He no longer had the sharp arrogance from six years ago but seemed more cool and reserved. Under his slanting brows were deep, captivating eyes. Six years had passed, yet he still looked like a delicate ink painting, sending chills through my body. I never expected to run into him on such an ordinary afternoon. “You’re back?” His expression was appropriate and natural, as if I had just been on a trip. He seemed to forget that six years ago, I was in that cold, damp, filthy room, my arms dislocated, crying and begging him to save me. He used the same indifferent tone to tell those kidnappers, “What makes her worth 60 million?” “Little girlfriend? You’re overthinking it. I, Theo, wouldn’t bother to spend 60 million on someone irrelevant. If you want it, ask the Lewis family.” He knew perfectly well how difficult my situation was with the Lewis family. I yelled into the phone, “Third Brother! Consider this 60 million a loan from you. I’ll pay it back! Please, don’t abandon me!” A few seconds later, I heard him sneer, “You’ve been calling me Third Brother for years, and you really think of yourself as part of the Taylor family? Know your place. Stop bothering me, do as you wish.” The last sentence was directed at the kidnappers. I stared blankly as the call ended. It was my only hope. Theo personally snuffed it out. Later, the furious kidnappers broke three of my finger bones. They even considered assaulting me and sending the video to Theo. Fortunately, the leader remembered Theo mentioning I was from the Lewis family. They hesitated, not daring to offend both the Taylor and Lewis families. In the end, it was Phoebe, whom I always looked down on, who, under Mr. Lewis’s orders, paid to have me released. She untied me, then slapped me hard. “Fiona! You’re such a curse!” In the past, I would’ve hit back. Theo would always stand behind me, calmly telling me to retaliate against anyone who bullied me. He was always my biggest support. But now, I owed the Lewis family 60 million. The person who once said he’d be my support for life didn’t even show up. Phoebe mocked me then, “Just an abandoned child the Lewis family doesn’t want, yet you dare to think you can have the Taylor family’s prince? Who gave you the face?!” I calmly retorted, “Just because I can call him Third Brother, and you can’t.” But Phoebe sneered, “You’re just a diversion in Theo’s boring life. Do you really think you’re that important?” She didn’t know that someone as proud as Theo once knelt on one knee to massage my sprained ankle. Thinking back, the confidence I had then only made me feel more ridiculous now.

“Where to? I’ll take you.” Theo’s cool voice pulled me back to the present. The cold, dull pain from my right hand’s three fingers returned. I hid my trembling hand in my pocket, stepping back to increase the distance from him. “Thank you, Mr. Theo, but there’s no need. I’ve called for a car.” He chuckled softly, his voice resonating like a cello. Theo spoke with some helpless reproach, “Been wild for a few years, and you don’t even call me Third Brother anymore?” My nose tingled. I couldn’t help but mock, “How could I dare to call you Third Brother? Mr. Theo, did you forget six years ago when you told me to know my place? I might not have many skills, but my memory is good. One lesson and I’ll never forget. I even have to thank Mr. Theo for such a vivid lesson. Truly benefited greatly.” I regretted it immediately after saying it. I’d held onto that for years, and he knew it as soon as he heard it. Theo looked up at me, a storm brewing in his eyes. After a while, as my palms began to sweat, he finally spoke softly, “…You sly girl, sharp-tongued.” Then he tapped on the car window, “Uncle Nolan, let’s go.” Watching the car drive away, I finally exhaled. Six years. Over two thousand days and nights, and when he appeared before me again, I was utterly defeated. My assistant cautiously watched my expression, hesitantly asking, “Fiona, I heard you call him Mr. Theo? In Seaside City, with the surname Taylor, could it be…?” Seeing me nod, the assistant’s eyes widened. “I heard that Theo’s investing in Asher’s new movie. Since you know Mr. Theo, why go through the trouble of meeting Nolan?” “I’ll never ask Theo for help!” I sharply interrupted the assistant. She shrank back, “I understand.” The car finally arrived. I composed myself, picking up my suitcase. “Call Mr. Nolan’s secretary and tell her we’ve arrived. Please arrange a meeting with Mr. Nolan.” After instructing the assistant, I leaned back in the car’s rear seat, closing my eyes to rest. Our first confrontation left me exhausted. And of course, someone had to add fuel to the fire. Zane’s call was relentless, like a haunting curse. I sighed, admitting defeat. “Hello? You better have a good reason for calling. I just sat through a four-hour flight and I’m very tired.” She laughed. “More tired than dealing with my Third Brother?” “Where are you hiding, watching the show?” Zane “tsk”ed several times, speaking mysteriously. “Today’s a high-level meeting at Quinn Enterprises. My uncle, father, second brother, and fourth brother are all present. It’s the most important meeting of the year for Third Brother, but he’s constantly checking his watch, distracted. As the head of the group, he was eager to leave halfway. Guess why?” I wouldn’t be naive enough to think it was because of me. “Zane, you know I’m not very curious. I have things to do, see you.” Zane shouted anxiously over the phone, “Hey! Sound! My Third Brother…” I decisively hung up the call. With Zane knowing I was back in Seaside City, there’d be no peace. I had a headache. Things needed to move quickly. If this negotiation went well, Asher could achieve significant career advancement with this movie. Although he always said he didn’t mind staying in the second tier, I felt indebted. Asher had helped me so much over the years. I just wanted to repay him. This time, I finally managed to get a chance to talk to Nolan from StarSource Productions. I had to seize this opportunity. In the end, my assistant and Mr. Nolan’s secretary arranged for us to meet for dinner the day after tomorrow. After placing my luggage at the hotel, I decided to visit the Lewis family. Nolan wasn’t someone easy to fool. To get resources from him, I needed something from the Lewis family to boost my worth.

My name is Fiona Lin. I’ve always known my “Lin” comes from the renowned prominent family in Seaside City. But they’ve never acknowledged me. Until I was ten. The Lewis family suddenly came to Oakridge to find Grandma and take me back. I held Grandma’s hand, crying and refusing to go. Grandma, tears flowing, held me tight with her frail hands. “Sound, go! The Lewis family can give you the best education and let you continue piano lessons. Grandma’s useless, can’t give you anything.” I was taken into the Lewis family’s car, my cries echoing against the window. In the back seat, an older man spoke calmly. “Doesn’t your Grandma have kidney disease and can’t afford dialysis? If you come back with me, I’ll ensure she gets it every week.” Later, I found out he was my grandfather, the head of the Lewis family, a man who thrived on manipulating people’s lives. And I was just a ten-year-old child. I returned with him to the Lewis household. As I stood in the grand hall, people around me pointed and mocked with disdain. “Did she pick that outfit from the trash? Goodness, it even has patches!” “Her shoes are filthy. I can smell the stench from here.” “Born from filth, what else would you expect from the likes of her?” The harshest words came from Phoebe’s mother. She despised me. My mother, a bar pianist, fell in love with my father at first sight, and soon after, I was born. But a family like the Lewis’s would never accept her. My father loved her deeply, so much that he renounced his status as a Lewis to be with her in Oakridge. If only the story ended there. But life is never that serene. Grandpa threatened my father with my mother’s safety, forcing him back to the Lewis family to marry Phoebe’s mother. My mother fell into a deep depression and died shortly after giving birth to me. When my father heard of her passing, he went to her grave in Oakridge and took his own life. At that time, Phoebe’s mother was six months pregnant. In his farewell note, he wrote that he had fulfilled his obligations to the Lewis family. That poor woman went mad, transforming from a graceful lady to a bitter, spiteful woman. She hated my father, hated my mother, and hated me. But they were gone, so she unleashed her hatred on me. Someone had to bear her torment and share her pain. Hatred needs an outlet. Otherwise, how could she combat the solitude that crept into her bones at night? But what was my fault? I was just an infant, my mother gone, my father choosing death over raising me. Where could I vent my grievances? Moreover, she knew full well that my father had my mother and me before her. She also knew my father didn’t love her, yet she followed her family’s arrangement to marry him for an alliance. Life is about choices. No one else is to blame. When Grandpa declared that I would stay with the Lewis family, she lost her last shred of dignity. “Dad! You promised me you’d never give this wretched child a single dime! And now you’re bringing her into our home, isn’t that a slap in the face?” Grandpa coughed heavily, “Declan is at a critical juncture. If it’s discovered that we abandoned our own flesh and blood, how would Declan continue his path?” That’s my Grandpa for you. Every step he takes is calculated and strategic. “Declan, Declan! He’s all you care about! I’ve been a widow in this house for almost ten years! Ten years!” Watching the hysterical woman before me, I quietly picked up my luggage and stood aside. I’m not foolish. Grandma’s dialysis costs depended on the Lewis family. Ten years of hardship taught me to be adaptable. What does it matter if I’m scolded or hated? Grandma’s illness is the most important. In Oakridge, each dialysis session costs five hundred. She needs at least two sessions a week. I don’t have the luxury to turn away from harsh words with flair. In this world, everything has a price. Including pride and dignity. And that’s when Theo entered my life.

Phoebe’s mom hurled the vilest insults at me, calling me a lowly tramp like my mom, saying I should have died with my parents, rotting in the mud. Grandpa couldn’t stop her. I pretended not to hear. Go on, curse all you want. I’m staying with the Lewis family anyway. The more you curse, the longer Grandma lives. Until someone chuckled from the corner of the sofa. Everyone’s eyes turned to him. He stood up lazily, straightening his wrinkled shirt. “Mr. Lewis, your house is quite lively today. I see you have a lot to handle, let’s reschedule our meeting about the land in East City.” Grandpa was startled, having forgotten there was an outsider in the mansion. “Theo, sorry for the oversight. You should head back today; I’ll invite you to the garden for tea another day.” He strode over to me. “Excuse me, your bag is in my way.” Oh, sorry. I obediently moved my luggage aside. He gave me a meaningful look, muttering softly, “Let’s see how long you can keep this up…” Then he turned to Grandpa with a smile, “I heard Declan is about to get promoted. Congratulations in advance. A scandal wouldn’t be good right now. Mr. Lewis, you should keep an eye on your backyard.” Grandpa’s face turned dark as he saw him out. Turning back, he slammed his tiger-head cane on the ground and pointed at Phoebe’s mom, scolding her. “You’re a disgrace! Embarrassing us in front of the Taylor family, get inside!” She wanted to retort but was silenced by Grandpa’s fierce glare, reluctantly taking Phoebe with her. “Wait,” Grandpa stopped her, rubbing his temples tiredly. “I know this is hard on you, but we can’t let anything jeopardize Declan. Haven’t you always wanted that Rongxi Jewelry under my name? I’ll transfer it to you the day after tomorrow.” Her expression softened. “Thank you, Dad.” I secretly rolled my eyes. See, in this world, everything has a price. With that jewelry store, Phoebe’s mom was appeased and would mostly ignore me. But Phoebe never knew when to quit. Even at a young age, she had a knack for making people’s lives difficult. She’d pour water on my bedding, dump my tests in the toilet, and let the Lewis family dog drink from my cup. Once, she tossed an expensive hairpin into my coat pocket and then told Grandpa it was stolen. When they found it in my coat, her face was smug and arrogant. Everyone could see her framing me, but no one would blame her. She told everyone I was a thief. People in their circle all hated me. Except Theo. When Phoebe tried to slander me, he’d laugh, “If I were her, I’d steal money instead of some worthless hairpin. That’d be brainless.” The Taylor and Lewis families had a long-standing relationship. He was very respected in their circle. Phoebe always clung to Theo, but he found her too young to hang out with. His defense of me fueled her resentment. Grandpa enrolled me in top-notch piano lessons, and the teacher was very strict about punctuality. If a student was late, they wouldn’t be accepted, no matter who vouched for them. So when Phoebe got my schedule, she deliberately sabotaged all the car tires at home when I had class. The Lewis mansion was over ten kilometers from the piano teacher’s studio in the city center. I bit my lip, ready to run the distance. Just then, Theo, finishing his business at the Lewis’s, saw me. He called out to me. “You’ll be late even if you run till your legs give out. My car’s by the riverside, I’ll take you.” I turned back, surprised. Phoebe cried, “Third Brother, why do you always help her?” Theo glanced at her, his tone cold, “Third Brother? Who said you could call me that?” She was startled, sobbing quietly. He walked over to me, frowning, “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.” His presence was intimidating; I shrank back, quickly following, thanking him as I went. “Thank you, Mr. Taylor.” “…Stop babbling.” He suddenly spoke from the back seat. “The softest fruit gets squeezed first. Do you want to be trampled forever?” I saw his disapproving eyes in the rearview mirror. Only then did I realize his annoyance was because I didn’t fight back. “Thank you, Mr. Theo.” “…Stop rambling.” Even though he’s only twenty, he’s already experienced in negotiations alongside his father. That’s why I address him as Mr. Theo. It seems like a respectful title, but he still looks displeased. Feeling defeated, I opened the passenger door and got in. From the back seat, he unexpectedly said, “The weakest get trampled on first. Do you want to be walked over your whole life?” I caught his frustrated expression in the rearview mirror. It dawned on me that his annoyance was because I hadn’t stood up for myself earlier.

Once I got involved with Theo, Cora began to dislike me even more. She would deliberately stop the staff from saving me dinner when I practiced piano and would secretly take or tear up my homework. At school, she teamed up with other wealthy kids to bully me, splashing dirty mop water on me and then strutting past with their noses in the air. I complained to Grandpa. But he just shrugged it off, saying, “It’s just Cora being playful. You’re older, you should let her.” He forgot that I’m only a year older. Besides, she has friends to share with, a mother to spoil her, and a grandpa to back her up. I have nothing here. I could only endure it and hope she’d tire of her pranks soon. But continually giving in only encourages a bully. At thirteen, I signed up for the Seaside City Piano Competition. The night before the contest, she shredded the dress I was supposed to wear and poured laxatives into my milk. I caught her in the act. For this competition, I’d practiced until 1 or 2 AM every night. The gold prize came with a reward of 30,000 yuan. I wanted to give it to Grandma. When I saw Cora showing no shame despite being caught, I lost my temper for the first time. I pushed her hard and scolded her, “The Lewis family has raised you with such poor manners!” She was shocked that I dared to retaliate and lunged at me, trying to pull my hair. I grabbed her hands, turned my back, and threw her over my shoulder, slamming her to the ground. In Oakridge, I used to carry dozens of pounds of waste, so dealing with a pampered girl was no challenge. “Cora, is bullying the weak your idea of pride? Do you think I won’t hit you back? I don’t punish you because I pity you for not having a father, just like me! Remember, I owe nothing to your mom or you! From today, I won’t tolerate you anymore. You better behave!” Cora noticed the cup of milk on the table. Milk splashed all over her head and face, leaving her in a mess. She froze for a moment, then covered her face and started crying. I turned to leave. When I looked back, Theo was watching me with interest. “Oh, the new little wildcat finally showed her claws? Pretty sharp ones too.” He’s known for being rebellious and unpredictable. Although he had hinted I should fight back, he’s known Cora for years. Surely, he wouldn’t hit me for her sake. I stiffened and walked past him without looking, trying to keep my face calm. I hoped my composure would intimidate him a bit. As I passed, he chuckled and called out, “Hey, your walk is off.” “…” He crossed his arms and said from behind, “Well done. That’s how you do it. Fight back if someone bullies you.” In the Lewis family, rare acts of kindness came from him. A fleeting sadness crossed his face, disappearing almost instantly. Later, I learned he had a similar childhood. With no one to protect him, he stumbled and grew into someone nobody dared to mess with. “You have to stand tall so everyone looks up to you rather than looking down.” Watching him walk away, it felt like something hit my chest. That night, a brand-new dress appeared in my room. The card read: [Good luck tomorrow, wildcat with the funny walk.] I pressed the card to my heart and had the sweetest sleep. The next day, after the competition, I stood on stage with the gold trophy, enviously watching other winners receive flowers and blessings from family and friends, feeling a sense of loneliness. As I exited the venue, Theo stood at the bottom of the long stairs, smiling and waving at me. “Fiona, come over here to your third brother.” His words left me dazed. Theo was third in the Taylor family. Everyone knew only those he approved of could call him “third brother.” The trunk of his car was filled with flowers. Among them was a small cake. On top, it read [TO: Fiona]. The cake was small, the words scrawled crookedly. Yet, my eyes welled up, and I hugged my trophy, sobbing.

Later, Theo told me back then, he was at a loss. The little wildcat’s sharp claws were intriguing, but when she hid them and showed vulnerability, it made his heart inexplicably nervous. When I received the prize money, Theo took me back to Oakridge. I placed the newspaper-wrapped 30,000 yuan in front of Grandma. She was shocked at the amount, then stuffed it back into my school bag. “Fiona, Grandma has money. You need it more at the Lewis family.” “Grandma, keep it! I’ll earn more in the future! Right, third brother?” Theo smiled warmly. “Yes, Grandma, it’s Fiona’s hard-earned reward from winning the piano competition.” On the way back, I was in high spirits. I hopped all the way from the Seaside City riverside to the Lewis family mansion because I realized I could earn money without relying on them. I’d really grown some skills. A whole 30,000 yuan! If I participated in more competitions, I could soon save enough for Grandma’s kidney transplant. After I taught Cora a lesson, she never troubled me again. She even awkwardly asked if I had piano lessons and if I needed dinner saved for me. The young girl entering puberty started showing some softness. The future held a bit of hope. Lost in my happy thoughts, I didn’t notice and missed a step. Theo caught me. His angelic face was only eight inches away from mine. My heart pounded wildly in my chest. The unfamiliar sensation scared me, and I pushed him away. But as soon as my foot hit the ground, a sharp pain shot through me. I fell. Theo frowned, lifted my ankle, and said, “How old are you? How can you sprain your foot on a road like this?” He knelt, scolding me while carefully removing my sock and gently massaging my ankle. “Bear with it, don’t cry, it will get better.” The skin on my ankle inexplicably heated. I stared blankly at the top of his head and his slightly red ears. A girl’s heart fluttered like cherry blossoms in March, disturbing the spring water. Before I could think, the confession slipped out. “Third brother, I like you.” He rolled his eyes. “Young girl, what do you know about liking?” Liking doesn’t have an age limit. I was certain of my feelings at that moment. I’m not a reserved girl. If I like someone, I’ll say it. At first, he treated it as a joke. Later, he looked at me helplessly. “Fiona, I’m eight years older than you. You’re young and don’t understand real liking.” Again with the age thing. I began to compete with him over this. That year on my birthday, Theo asked what I wished for. I lay on the table, grinning at him. “I wish the third brother would like me too.” He facepalmed speechlessly. Every birthday after that, I would ask him, “Third brother, I’m a year older now. Can you like me?” His silence grew longer each year, but his refusal remained unchanged. “Fiona, you’re still young.” I didn’t mind and blew out the candles, going about my business. I’d grow up someday. By the sixth year, I no longer needed to confess.

I still remember my 18th birthday was a perfectly clear day. Seaside City in June was unbearably hot. The cicadas’ cries marked the start of the SATs. Over the years, thanks to Theo’s special treatment, I slowly became accepted in their circle. His cousin Zane even became a good friend. Except for Cora. Our relationship, which had improved slightly, fractured again as Theo and I grew closer. I knew she had liked Theo since childhood. She scolded me for being so high-profile, saying I’d end up crying one day. I didn’t take it seriously, thinking it was just jealous talk from a girl unable to get what she wanted. But I forgot she’d been in this circle much longer than me. She saw the looming crisis more clearly. Theo had mentioned he’d give me an unforgettable birthday this year. I already had a vague idea of what he planned to do. I’ve known since childhood that she’s had a crush on Theo. She scolded me, saying that someone with my status shouldn’t make such a big deal out of a confession. “Fiona Lin, nobody in our circle dares to treat Theo like that. With your high-profile antics, you’re bound to end up crying one day!” I didn’t pay it any mind, thinking it was just jealousy from a girl who couldn’t have what she wanted. But I forgot that she’d been part of this world much longer than I had and could see the hidden dangers more clearly. Theo had already told me that this year, he was going to make my birthday unforgettable. I had a hunch about what he was planning. Last year, when I confessed, he turned me down with “You’re still young,” but now it had shifted to “Let’s talk when you’re older.” When people mentioned me in his presence, they’d tease him with, “Your Fiona.” He would just smile without further explanation. His behavior seemed to announce one thing: I was no longer just admiring him from afar. So, this year, I started looking forward to my birthday days in advance. On that day, I wore the brightest yellow sundress in my wardrobe, applied a bit of lipstick, and left home in high spirits. Theo had been busy with a deal for his company, Jing’an International, so I didn’t ask him to pick me up. Instead, the Lewis family driver took me to our meeting place. But as soon as the car got onto the Seaside City Bridge, two vans blocked us. The driver slammed on the brakes, nearly throwing me forward. Before I could grasp what was happening, five or six men rushed out of the vans, yanked open my car door, and dragged me out. They looked fierce and menacing, and fear gripped my heart. Then, a handkerchief with a strong medicinal smell covered my face. I heard one of them say, “Grab this girl’s phone and call Theo. See if he wants this gift.” My heart sank. I knew the acquisition he was working on was challenging, and the other party had even roped in some shady characters to deal with him. If my guess was right, they planned to use me to force Theo to abandon the acquisition. “Hey, Fiona—” I managed to call out “third brother” before I completely lost consciousness. When I woke up, it was pitch dark. Several unfamiliar faces were smirking at me. I struggled wildly, my wrists chafed painfully by the ropes. One of them cursed, walked over, pinned me to the ground, and twisted my shoulders harshly. My screams echoed in the dilapidated house. My dislocated arms hung limply, and I lost the strength to struggle. The kidnappers picked up my phone and called Theo again, demanding 60 million in ransom. If he chose to save me, the 60 million shortfall would force him to abandon the acquisition, affecting Jing’an’s future and his business empire. I was lost in thought when I heard a response on the other end of the line. Theo’s voice was distant and cold, “60 million?” Then there was a long, dead silence. My heart turned cold inch by inch. “Third brother…” I murmured. Did I overestimate my importance? Would he really exchange part of his business empire for me? The kidnappers lost patience. “I heard this girl is a piano prodigy? Heh, Mr. Theo, what do you say if a pianist loses her hands?” I saw him press down on my hand and raise a hammer high. It hurt so much. It really did. I curled up, convulsing in pain. The sound of bones breaking and flesh being crushed echoed in my ears. Cold sweat soaked my dress. I screamed in agony. The kidnapper laughed into the phone, “Mr. Theo, does it sound good? If you don’t speak, I’ll hit again!” I cried to Theo on the phone, “Third brother, I beg you to save me! They’ll really cripple my hands!” The kidnapper taunted, “Come on, the prominent second son of the Taylor family, won’t you even spare 60 million for your little girlfriend?” Theo laughed. “Little girlfriend? You’re thinking too much. Everyone knows that we Taylors always marry into the Carter family. If my fiancée hears this, I’ll be in trouble.”

The three kidnappers were stunned. “Boss, did we grab the wrong person?” The leader scowled, “Impossible! I saw the photo. It’s this girl!” “But didn’t Theo just say he’s marrying into the Carter family?” “The Taylors are masters at playing with people’s hearts. You believe him? Theo, if you don’t pay, this girl’s other fingers won’t be safe!” I lay on the ground, waves of excruciating pain washing over me. I couldn’t help but beg him again. “Third brother, consider this 60 million a loan from you. I’ll definitely pay you back! Please, don’t leave me!” Theo was silent for a few seconds, then chuckled. “You’ve been calling me third brother for years, and you really think you’re a Taylor? You don’t even know your place. You’re just a plaything I use to amuse myself when I’m bored, no different from a cat or a dog. 60 million? Are you worth it? Alright, everyone, I have things to do. Do as you please. If you want money, go to the Lewis family. Don’t bother me again.” Listening to the busy tone on the phone, I felt utterly hopeless. After hanging up, the enraged kidnappers broke two more of my finger bones. I curled up in agony, my dress bunched up to my waist. One of them leered, tossing aside the hammer and moving to undress me. “Since this girl isn’t Theo’s woman, I might as well have some fun!” The sound of ripping fabric was clear. His rough fingers trailed across my chest. I was completely desperate. I glared at the man in front of me. Even if I were to die, I would take one down with me! He buried his face in my neck, biting randomly. I turned my head and bit his ear hard. “Ah! You bitch! You want to die!” He punched my chest and stomach, making my vision go dark, but I kept my bite until his ear bled profusely. He finally broke free, then kicked my ribs hard. I heard a crisp crack. The man raised the hammer high, aiming at my head. I closed my eyes. The leader suddenly stopped him. “Wait! What did Theo just say? Go to the Lewis family for money? What does this girl have to do with the Lewis family? We caught her near the Seaside City Bridge, by the Lewis mansion! Girl, are you from the Lewis family?” I spat out blood, my voice faint, “Didn’t you… do any research before kidnapping someone? My grandfather is Mr. Lewis. Can you really afford to offend both the Taylors and the Lewis family?” The kidnapper leader stared at me darkly. After a while, he said, “Keep an eye on her. I’ll make a call.” I breathed a sigh of relief. At least my life was spared for now. I never imagined that, in Theo’s heart, I meant nothing. My hands, my life, he didn’t care at all. I had been in Seaside City for eight years, and he was the one who had given me the most warmth and protection. I trusted him too much. For many years after, I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if Theo had chosen to save me. I would have been eternally grateful to him. My simple affection would have turned into a god-like dependence and love. With the power of the Lewis and Taylor families, they could have found the best doctors in the world to heal my fingers. I would still be the dazzling Fiona Lin. But Theo abandoned me. Once, Phoebe told me I was just a surprise, an interlude in Theo’s otherwise monotonous life. Vibrant, lively, interesting. But that was all. I foolishly hoped he would love me. This was the punishment given by fate. Three broken fingers taught me a harsh truth.

Later, I didn’t know how the kidnappers contacted the Lewis family. When I woke up again, Phoebe had brought several bodyguards to rescue me. The kidnappers were nowhere to be seen. As soon as she saw me, she slapped me hard. “Fiona Lin! You’re such a disaster! Didn’t I warn you not to be so high-profile in this circle? Did you listen?!” She untied my ropes, her tears falling onto me. “I don’t want to be picking up your body next time!” I smiled at Phoebe from the back of a bodyguard. “I owe you my life, sister.” Blood is thicker than water, after all. However, when I returned to the Lewis family, Grandpa just gave me a cold glance and sent me back to Oakridge. “Fiona, everyone knows you’ve been kidnapped for three days. You’re a girl, you know what people will think. Your third uncle has already drawn enough attention because of this case, and it’s not good for the Lewis family. Our family is already in turmoil and can’t afford any more gossip.” Even Phoebe couldn’t stand it. “Grandpa! What gossip could be more important than family health and safety? Besides, sending her away now only confirms those nasty rumors!” “Fiona, everyone knows you were held captive for three days. As a young woman, you’re aware of the assumptions people will make.” “Your uncle has already been under intense scrutiny because of this incident. This is not beneficial for the Lewis family. Our family is already on shaky ground, and we cannot withstand any more rumors.” Phoebe finally couldn’t stay silent. “Grandpa! What rumors could be more important than the safety and well-being of our own family? Plus, sending her away now would only validate those terrible rumors!” His response was a stern reprimand. “What do you kids know? I have my own arrangements. Focus on your studies; that’s what truly matters!” He took a deep breath and turned to me. “Return to Oakridge. With your grandma looking after you, I’ll be more at ease.” I let out a bitter chuckle. I was well aware of Grandpa’s indifference. What I didn’t foresee was that he wouldn’t even bother to help treat my dislocated finger. My belongings were hastily packed and placed by the front gate. Grandpa arranged for two bodyguards to escort me back to Oakridge overnight. I didn’t go straight home. In this condition, I would frighten Grandma. I borrowed a phone from one of the bodyguards and called Asher. Even though he immediately took me to the best hospital in Oakridge, my finger was not treated in time due to the delay. Now, it shakes uncontrollably. It doesn’t significantly impact my daily activities, but it’s not as agile as before. I know that from now on, I can no longer play the piano.

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