Category: English

When the apocalypse descended, my sister and I activated our latent powers. Lily, without hesitation, chose the flashy and powerful lightning ability. However, unable to endure hardship, she ultimately wasted her talent and barely survived in the base. I, on the other hand, relied on my seemingly useless healing ability to amass vast resources and became sought after by various base leaders. Out of kindness, I saved Lily, but she, consumed by jealousy, led me into a horde of zombies. Given a second chance, this time she snatched the healing ability first. “Now it’s my turn to coast through life and have everything. Emma, it’s your turn to suffer,” she smirked. Looking at the dazzling lightning ability now in my possession, I couldn’t help but smile. This was the power I had desperately wished for in my previous life. I awoke from darkness and searing heat. Lily’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she grinned, “Sister dear, now it’s my turn to relax and enjoy the good life.” Seeing the soft green glow in her hands, I finally snapped out of my daze and looked down at the weak electrical currents flickering in my own palms. Both Lily and I had been reborn. In our previous life, Lily had claimed she was too fragile and needed a powerful ability to protect herself. I had compromised and let her choose the lightning ability first. Little did I know she would refuse to fight zombies, unable to endure hardship, and ultimately waste her powerful gift. In the end, she could only perform simple tasks within the base, barely clinging to life. I, however, chose the seemingly useless healing ability, only to become a prized guest of various base leaders. During one encounter, I saved Lily from the brink of death at the hands of zombies. At that time, the down-on-her-luck Lily could only look up at me, protected by others. Blinded by jealousy, she chose to lead me into a horde of zombies, intending for us to perish together. Given this second chance, Lily rushed to claim the healing ability. Before I could react, chaos erupted around us. When the apocalypse first broke out, Lily and I had fortunately escaped to a large supermarket, where we successfully activated our abilities. Resources were plentiful, but people’s hearts were restless. “From now on, everyone must go out and kill zombies. Otherwise, you’ll be permanently expelled from the supermarket,” announced a young man with fair skin and a gentle voice, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. His name was James, a man of both charisma and capability who had swiftly taken control of the supermarket and established strict rules. “Why should we?!” “This isn’t your property, you have no right to kick us out!” voices of dissent rose from the crowd. James smiled, his eyes crinkling, “Because of this.” He raised his hand, and a loud bang echoed through the air. Everyone froze, suddenly silent. Under the pressure of absolute superiority in combat, people slowly made their way out of the supermarket. Lily approached James delicately, speaking in a soft voice, “I’ve developed healing abilities. I can support your team.” James raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming, “Very well, you can join us.” After speaking, he shifted his gaze to me, standing silently to the side. Noticing this, Lily pointed at me with her dainty hand, “That’s my sister. She’s excellent at killing zombies. You should definitely put her on the front lines.” She looked at me, her eyes full of schadenfreude. I, however, responded with a radiant smile. What Lily didn’t know was that in my previous life, I had envied her. I had dreamed of possessing the lightning ability. Instead of relying on healing powers to become someone else’s caged bird.

Perhaps my smile angered Lily. I was assigned to be the first person to kill zombies. In our previous life, when Lily chose the lightning ability, she was also full of confidence. The reason she wasted her talent was that the ability needed to be upgraded. Initially, the lightning ability could only produce weak electrical sparks, at most causing zombies to pause for a second. She had fully believed she could dominate the battlefield with her ability, unstoppable and invincible. Yet during her first zombie encounter, she ended up in a miserable state. In her panic, she discharged electricity wildly, causing numerous casualties among James’ team, earning his resentment. Countless zombies began moving towards us, like beasts drawn by scent. My hand, gripping the knife, trembled slightly. In my previous life, I had been heavily protected and hadn’t directly confronted zombies for a long time. I stared intently at the nearest zombie, focusing all my attention. I activated my ability precisely, the weak electrical shock causing the zombie to pause for a moment. Seizing that second of opportunity, I plunged the knife deep into the zombie’s brain! Blood sprayed out as I quickly withdrew the blade, stabbing again and again. Before another zombie could approach, I finally finished it off. I swiftly discharged another electrical shock, repeating the process with the next zombie. By the end, my hands were too stiff to lift, my entire body covered in blood and gore. With my ability exhausted, I lay numbly on the ground. “You… you’re quite impressive,” James’ clear voice rang out, a smile in his tone. “You, a woman, single-handedly killed ten zombies.” I opened my tired eyes to see Lily’s face twisted with jealousy. She forced a smile, feigning concern, “Emma, you’re amazing, but with all that blood… you weren’t bitten, were you?” A cold glint flashed in my eyes. James’ smile faltered for a moment as he glanced at Lily, quickly resuming his pleasant expression. “You’re right, we should definitely check thoroughly. We absolutely cannot allow any internal threats to our group.” I lay indifferently on the ground. As long as James saw my value, he wouldn’t easily abandon me. But once he labeled me as “useless,” I’d truly be in trouble. Thinking of this, I turned to look at Lily with a knowing smile. “Shouldn’t you be treating the wounded? Why do you have time to chat here?” Anger flashed in Lily’s eyes, but mindful of James’ presence, she obediently went to tend to the injured. As I watched her walk away, my gaze grew increasingly cold. In our previous life, after Lily and I activated our abilities, she immediately abandoned me. So she didn’t know. Although the lightning ability needed upgrading, it could truly become an excellent weapon against zombies in the later stages. The healing ability, however, had a fatal flaw.

“What’s going on?!” “It hurts so much, damn it! Hurry up and heal me!” Lily stood among a group of bloodied and mangled survivors, her face as pale as a sheet of paper. She mumbled incoherently, “What’s happening? Why isn’t it working? I don’t know, I don’t know…” The relatives of the injured berated her, pushing and shoving her around. Finally, one enraged family member slapped her across the face. “To hell with you!” Lily suddenly exploded with emotion, screaming and looking towards me in the crowd. She shouted hysterically, as if possessed, “It’s you! It’s your fault, isn’t it? You did something to me!” She pushed through the layers of people surrounding her. “What’s really going on?! Isn’t this supposed to be a healing ability?!” Lily grabbed my shoulders tightly, shaking me frantically. “My dear sister, this is what you chose,” I said calmly. Her eyes were full of confusion and bewilderment, as if she couldn’t understand why the candy she had snatched was bitter. Because she had been sickly as a child, our family always told me to “let your sister have her way.” So no matter what, she always took the best things for herself, thinking it was her right. James approached to check on the situation, still wearing his gentle smile. “What’s the matter here?” Lily’s body shrank back slightly. She quickly adjusted her expression. Tucking her hair behind her ear, her eyes reddened, looking pitiful as she said, “I think it’s because I’ve only just activated my ability. I haven’t mastered the technique yet, so I can’t heal them.” James frowned in confusion, “Is that so? Well, I suppose that can’t be helped.” He patted Lily’s shoulder understandingly, speaking earnestly, “The injured can’t control their emotions, and their families are agitated with worry.” “If this happens again, I might not be able to protect you,” James said with a smile, though his words carried an inexplicable chill. I couldn’t help but take a deep breath, remembering the coldness in his eyes from my previous life, as if it could cut me into pieces. Lily’s face showed fear. After James left, I moved close to Lily, whispering in her ear like a demon, “You will never be able to heal others.” “This useless ability can only heal yourself.” I looked at Lily with interest, my tone malicious. “Not only that, it will become a target for everyone to fight over. If they can’t have it… they’ll destroy it!” Her face filled with disbelief, the light in her eyes shattering.

“Impossible! It can’t be!” Lily pushed me away frantically, muttering to herself. “You’re lying to me.” “You’re afraid I’ll become like you in your previous life, gaining the favor of all the strong ones. You’re afraid I’ll take the highest position and then take revenge on you!” Lily’s eyes were full of madness and desire, “If it can only heal oneself, how could you have been so sought after in your previous life?” She pointed at me with her bright red nails. “Emma, do you think I’m as stupid as I was in the last life?” “This time, you’re destined to be trampled under my feet.” The madness disappeared from Lily’s face, replaced by a confident smile. She turned away decisively, though her steps weren’t as steady as she’d like. She was probably half-believing, half-doubting. It didn’t matter; regardless of how much she denied it, facts were facts. In my previous life, after multiple attempts and discovering I could only heal myself, I was thunderstruck. The people who had once treated me kindly suddenly changed their attitudes. James pointed a gun at me, still smiling gently: “How will you compensate us for our losses?” “It seems you can only repay with your body.” That cold gaze and tone still haunt me to this day. No one came to save me then; I had to endure it all on my own. This time, it was Lily’s own choice. She only saw the glamorous surface of my position, ignoring the dirty scars behind the power. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. This time, I will never walk that path again. My gaze was clear, my steps determined. For the next few days, I continued to stand at the forefront, killing zombies. After each blood-soaked battle, I could feel my ability growing stronger within me. Lily’s gaze towards me grew increasingly dark and twisted. After one zombie-killing session, I returned to the supermarket. I was greeted by suspicious and disgusted looks from everyone. Lily’s triumphant expression was mixed in among them. James spoke with an apologetic tone, “Someone reported seeing you bitten by a zombie.” “You have two choices: One, be expelled from the supermarket; Two, strip and let everyone inspect you.” In an instant, it felt like that gun barrel was pointed at me again. Someone jeered, “We should all inspect together! Otherwise, I’ll be too scared.” The lewd joke drew many echoes of agreement. “Don’t kick her out, she might seek revenge on us later. Let’s just hold her down and strip her for inspection!” I lowered my eyes. This was the human nature in the apocalypse, unable to withstand even a bit of provocation. Lily’s eyes filled with tears as she cried out, “This is for everyone’s safety, Emma! It’s the apocalypse now, you can’t let your trivial sense of modesty endanger everyone’s lives!” The atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Everyone was shouting frantically, as if I was prey within their grasp. I quietly took a few steps back, only to find myself surrounded. I frowned deeply. This wasn’t good. My mind raced, thinking of ways to escape. I could run towards the stored gasoline and use my remaining ability to threaten them; or I could go all out, use lightning on those guarding the door, and seize the opportunity to escape… No matter what, I would never submit meekly again in this life. Having made up my mind, I raised my bright eyes. But then I heard a loud bang. Followed by the dull thud of a body hitting the ground. “Murder! Someone’s been killed!!!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295457”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #校园School #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn

I Had a Girlfriend in College I had a girlfriend in college. She was gentle and lovely, with clear eyes. I was head over heels for her, wanting to give her the world. One day, I received a friend request. It dawned on me that I might have been cheated on. I confronted my girlfriend, but she denied it vehemently, tears in her eyes. My heart softened, and I believed her, even buying her a new bag to make up. Until my friends told me the truth: she had long been married to a man in his fifties back in her hometown. They were working together to deceive me and swindle my money, causing my company to face frequent troubles. I couldn’t believe it. As my vision blurred, I suddenly found myself in her husband’s body when I opened my eyes again. Still reeling from the shock of being the other man, the harsh sunlight outside the window snapped me back to reality. The soft sensation beneath me startled me. I looked down to find myself sitting on a bed, surrounded by unfamiliar surroundings. “Where am I?” The pain of being cheated on was momentarily forgotten, replaced by confusion. I unconsciously reached up to scratch my neck, surprised by the rough texture. Shocked, I looked down at my hands. They were rough, dark, and calloused. My confusion deepened. “Who am I?” I rushed to a mirror, staring at the unfamiliar “me” reflected back. The man in the mirror was overweight, with a fleshy face and dark skin, looking to be in his fifties. I stared at him, feeling a sense of familiarity. Racking my brain, it suddenly hit me where I’d seen him before. This was Emma’s husband back in her hometown! I had seen him in my friend’s phone. “Holy crap, did I… swap bodies with him?” The situation had gone beyond my comprehension. “Where is he then? Is he in my body?” Just then, a ringtone interrupted my thoughts. I pulled out a phone from my pocket, seeing “Mom” on the caller ID. I answered. Before I could speak, an elderly voice came through, “Richard, Emma’s just playing around with that boy. She’s still yours. Once she’s swindled all his money, the company will be yours too. You can provoke him however you want, it’s fine. We’re just enduring for now, we won’t lose out in the end.” The barrage of words left me dizzy. Hearing my silence, the voice continued, “Richard? Richard? I know you’re upset about Emma seeing another man, but listen to your mother. If we endure now, you can do whatever you want with Emma when she comes back for summer break. I heard that boy’s quite generous with her, let Emma milk him for all he’s worth and bring back some money for you to buy cigarettes.” Only then did I fully grasp the situation. So, not only had I swapped bodies with the older man, but I had also traveled back to the moment he sent me a friend request. “So the company’s troubles were their doing too. Damn it!” I slapped my thigh. “Heaven’s given me this chance. This time, I’ll protect my money and my company.” If I had swapped into his body, he might have swapped into mine. In that case, wouldn’t he empty my bank account?! I had a moment of panic, wishing I hadn’t set up fingerprint payments.

No, wait. What if he hadn’t? I clung to a shred of hope, silently praying that this greedy old man hadn’t swapped into my body. First, I needed to confirm who was in my body. With this realization, I quickly pulled out my phone, found my chat window, and with trembling hands, slowly typed, “Who are you?” “?” The reply came quickly, followed by, “Are you crazy?” It felt so familiar, like my style. Excited, I eagerly typed, “Who was our elementary school teacher?” “Mr. Thompson, of course.” The instant reply, coupled with the fact that I had never discussed this with Emma and had no elementary school classmates’ contacts in my phone, plus the familiar feeling, was conclusive! I was almost certain the person on the other end was me. “Emma is a fraud. Don’t be fooled by her sweet talk!!” I typed furiously, afraid that my younger self might soften and fall for Emma’s tricks again. “She’s already married.” “?” came the reply from the other end, “You’re the fraud. Don’t I know my own girlfriend?” My heart sank at this response. It was over; he must have already confronted Emma, and she had managed to talk her way out of it. I was disappointed in myself. How could I believe everything Emma said? I felt like flying over there to knock some sense into myself. I kept trying, typing frantically, but the other end stopped responding. Frustrated, calling myself an idiot, a sudden idea struck me. I hurriedly rummaged around and found Richard and Emma’s marriage certificate. I took about a hundred photos of the certificate from every possible angle, proving it was as real as gold. Confident, I sent the photos over with a trademark “haha”, thinking, “Now with this iron-clad evidence, you’ve got to believe me.” Before I could celebrate for long, a red exclamation mark appeared on the screen. I had been blocked. Blocked by myself. Okay, I guess I’ve really outdone myself this time, being both a hopeless romantic and a clown. Not giving up, I tried adding him from other accounts, but none were accepted. At this point, with my savings at stake, I didn’t hesitate. I quickly booked a flight, planning to confront Emma and knock some sense into my love-struck self. Fortunately, Richard had also set up fingerprint payments. I booked a first-class ticket. Hehe, it’s the old man’s money, so might as well go all out. After all the trouble he’s caused me, a little compensation isn’t too much to ask, right?

As the plane landed, I once again set foot on familiar ground. On the taxi ride to campus, memories of my time with Emma flooded my mind. I remembered the first time I saw her on campus. She was wearing a white dress that fluttered in the wind, standing in the sunlight, flashing me a sweet smile. I got her WeChat under the pretext of helping her move her luggage. I sent her good morning, good afternoon, and good night messages every day. I spent time and energy making her happy, time and money accompanying her shopping and paying for her. It took me over three months of pursuing her before I dared to confess. When I saw her hesitate, seemingly about to refuse, I quickly told her how much I liked her, swearing to treat her well. Only then did I manage to convince her to be my girlfriend. After we got together, I told her everything, even company secrets without any reservations. We spent what I thought was a sweet and blissful time together. At least, that’s how it seemed to me. Occasionally, she would avoid taking calls in front of me, but I never questioned it, giving her enough privacy. Sometimes when we talked about family topics, she would stammer and refuse to elaborate. I thought it was because of a troubled family background, and feeling sorry for her, I would quickly change the subject. I thought that as long as I gave her my whole heart, we would be together forever. I never expected she would give me such a big surprise. I was the one intruding on their marriage. This realization once again stabbed at my heart. The phone screen reflected Richard’s face. I stared at it, thinking how I, a 6’1″ extremely handsome guy, couldn’t compete with this fifty-year-old man. The thought made my heart ache even more. The driver’s voice snapped me out of my daze. I got out of the car, standing at the university gates, determination in my eyes. Emma, this time I won’t be fooled by you. At this time, my younger self should have just finished Calculus class and be on the way back to the dorm. Relying on my memory, I went to the path he would take and waited for a while before I saw myself. I approached and stopped him. I watched a look of confusion spread across my familiar face. “Can I help you?” Talking to my own face, hearing my own voice, was an indescribably strange feeling. “Jack, I’m the uncle who added you the other day,” I said, knowing I didn’t have much patience and getting straight to the point. Jack’s face flashed with impatience. “I trust my girlfriend. I made it clear last time, please don’t bother us anymore.” Come on, man. I’ve come all this way and you still believe Emma? I facepalmed once again at my past self’s stupidity. Seeing Jack’s firm attitude, I didn’t dare to proceed with my original plan.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295473”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring

The day I stood by Ethan Quinn as he claimed his inheritance from the Quinn family, he made the entire city of Riverton stop and watch. Ethan had bought out every major ad space in the city to propose to me, declaring to the world that I was the only woman he would ever love. People envied me. They said I had married for love. And for a while, I believed it too. But less than a year later, Ethan swallowed up my family’s wealth and waltzed in with his “true love,” Lydia, by his side. He locked me in a basement, leaving me at the mercy of Lydia’s endless humiliation. It wasn’t until the moment I died in that cold, damp darkness that I realized—the love Ethan had proclaimed for me was nothing but a lie. A carefully planned deception from the start. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of Ethan’s grand proposal. “Willow,” Ethan said, kneeling before me. I was surrounded by a sea of flowers, our closest friends, and nearly every influential figure in Riverton. The proposal was nothing short of extravagant. Ethan had spared no expense. This wasn’t just a private moment; it was a city-wide broadcast. Every screen in Riverton was tuned into this “romantic spectacle.” I looked at Ethan, my chest tightening as memories flooded back—memories of suffocating darkness, the metallic stench of damp air, and Lydia’s cruel laughter. The pain from that nightmare felt all too real. My body trembled at the memory, and I couldn’t stop myself from shivering. Ethan’s voice broke through my thoughts, his eyes red with emotion as he spoke. “Willow, I’ve loved you my entire life. You’ve been my light, my only salvation. You stayed with me through the darkest times, when no one else would. You are my happiness, my everything. Please, marry me.” My past and present collided in that instant. I snapped back to reality, stepping away from him as he stared at me in shock. “Ethan,” I said, cutting him off mid-sentence. The surprise on his face was evident as I continued, “We’re not right for each other.” I turned to the lighting technician and signaled for them to stop the romantic effects. Then, I bowed slightly to the gathered crowd, apologizing for the disruption. Facing the live broadcast, I smiled politely and said, “Ethan, I’ve always thought of you as a friend. I’ve never felt anything romantic toward you.” Ethan Quinn wasn’t just any man. He was the illegitimate son of Harold Quinn, the patriarch of the powerful Quinn family. His mother had clawed her way into a life of luxury by giving birth to Ethan after a single night with Harold. But she was never satisfied, always scheming for a way to replace Harold’s wife and claim the family’s fortune. When we were children, Ethan’s mother orchestrated a fake kidnapping to force the Quinn family to acknowledge her son. But her plan backfired. The criminals she hired turned on her, cutting her out of the deal and planning to kill Ethan to keep the ransom money for themselves. It was my father who saved Ethan that day. Risking his own life, my father pulled Ethan out of that nightmare. My parents and I stayed by Ethan’s side, nursing him back to health. For two weeks, we barely left his bedside. Out of pity, my father intervened and convinced the Quinn family to take Ethan in. That’s how Ethan and I grew up together. I thought the bond we formed through those harrowing events would last a lifetime. I stood by Ethan as he fought his way into the Quinn family, earning their respect and ultimately inheriting the family fortune. I believed our love was inevitable, forged through shared struggles and strengthened by time. But I was wrong. Ethan wasn’t my soulmate. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The man I gave my heart to would later destroy my family and claim everything we owned. I still remember that day, one year after our marriage, when Ethan revealed his true colors. He had seized control of both the Quinn and Linwood family assets, solidifying himself as the most powerful man in Riverton. Standing beside him was Lydia, the woman he truly loved. “Willow,” he said, cold and detached. “If your parents hadn’t meddled in my life, I wouldn’t have suffered all those years in the Quinn family.” His words were like knives, cutting into my heart. “To get back at you, I’ve been planning this for years. Look at you now—you’re no longer the Linwood heiress. You’re nothing more than a useless pawn under my control. Do you regret saving me back then?” He gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his venomous gaze. “And just so you know,” he added, his voice dripping with malice, “it was me who set your parents up. The charges that sent them to prison? All my doing. They’ll live out the rest of their days rotting behind bars. You can thank me for that.”

Ethan’s eyes glinted with malice, like a snake tightening around my neck, suffocating me. Beside him, Lydia twisted the knife deeper into my wounds. “I’m already carrying Ethan’s child,” she said, her voice dripping with smugness. “The two of you have been married for years, and yet… no baby, Willow.” “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Lydia’s grin widened, her tone as sweet as arsenic. “It’s because Ethan’s been drugging your food. You’re barren now. A hen that can’t lay eggs. Isn’t that hilarious?” I stared at Ethan—the man I used to share my life with, whose every touch once felt tender—and then at Lydia, whose flat stomach now carried his child. Hate surged through me, so fierce and hot that I thought it might burn me alive. I clenched my teeth so hard I thought they might shatter. “I’ll make sure you both pay for this,” I spat, my voice trembling with rage. But Ethan only laughed as if my words were a joke. Without another word, he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me like a ragdoll to the basement. Ethan knew I was scared of the dark. And so, he locked me in a pitch-black basement, where the damp air clung to my skin and the silence was broken only by the occasional drip of water. Standing in the doorway, he sneered down at me. “From now on, this is where you’ll stay. Take your time reflecting on all the terrible things you’ve done to me.” I’ve been afraid of the dark for as long as I can remember. The moment the door slammed shut, the fear wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket. My chest heaved, and I clawed at the walls, desperate to find something—anything—to hold on to. When the door opened again, I rushed forward, throwing myself at Ethan’s feet. “Please,” I sobbed, clutching at the hem of his pants. “Don’t leave me here. I’ll do anything. Just don’t leave me in the dark.” I begged with every ounce of dignity I had left, lowering myself to a level I never thought possible. Ethan’s only response was laughter—cold, heartless laughter that echoed off the damp walls. “Oh, did I forget to mention something?” he said, crouching down so his face was level with mine. The dim light from the hallway cast shadows over his sharp features, making him look almost inhuman. “Willow,” he drawled, his voice sickeningly soft, “do you remember that time you were locked in the equipment room overnight as a child?” My entire body froze. “That was me,” he said casually. Ice shot through my veins as he continued, his tone almost conversational. “I planned it all. Timed it down to the minute. And then, when I showed up the next morning to ‘rescue’ you…” He smiled, as if savoring the memory. “You thought I was your savior. You fell for me completely after that, didn’t you?” I couldn’t breathe. “You were so easy to manipulate,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “And look at you now. Everything you are, everything you’ve done—it’s all because I made you believe in me. I’ve had you wrapped around my finger this whole time.” The weight of his words crushed me, like a boulder pressing down on my chest. I let go of his pants and scrambled backward, away from him, as though the darkness behind me was less terrifying than the man in front of me. He straightened, his shadow stretching long against the walls. “To me, you’ve always been nothing more than a toy. Something I could control, something I could break,” he said. And then, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him. Now, back in the present, I stood in front of Ethan as he tried desperately to save face. His expression shifted between anger and forced composure, the weight of the crowd’s murmurs pressing down on him. People in the audience were whispering to one another, casting glances at me and then back at Ethan. “Did he do something to upset her?” “Why would she humiliate him like this? He’s nothing without her family’s support.” “Isn’t her family the most powerful in Riverton? If she’s mad at him, he’s finished.” The Linwood name carried weight in this city. As the only daughter of the Linwood family, I had been spoiled and protected my entire life. Everyone in Riverton knew that Ethan’s rise to power had been made possible only because of me. Without the Linwoods, he was nothing. Ethan must have realized this as well. Though his face had darkened, he quickly plastered on a smile and stepped forward, reaching for my hand. “Willow,” he said, his voice soft and full of concern. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” I stepped back, dodging his touch. “I don’t understand,” Ethan said, his forced smile faltering. “You told me once that if I ever proposed, you wanted the whole world to witness it. You wanted everyone to see how happy you were. That’s all I wanted to do—make you happy.” He paused, his voice growing quieter. “If I did something wrong… tell me. I’ll fix it.”

Ethan Quinn remained every bit the perfect boyfriend—patient, charming, and composed. Even after I publicly humiliated him, he kept his head low and tried to appease me, his voice soft and apologetic. The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, and it didn’t take long for people to start blaming me. “Willow really doesn’t know how good she has it. Ethan’s proposal was so heartfelt—what more could she possibly want? If I had someone like Ethan, I’d cherish him forever.” “Exactly! Ethan treats her like a queen. Everyone knows he’d do anything for her. And on top of that, they’ve been childhood friends! Honestly, Willow’s just lucky to have him.” “Maybe she’s fallen for someone else? Why else would she reject him?” “Last week, I saw them on a date. They looked so happy—what could’ve happened?” “Look at Ethan! He’s about to cry. I think Willow’s being completely unreasonable.” The whispers surrounded me like a swarm of bees, but one voice, in particular, cut through the noise. It was a voice I could never forget, one that was burned into my soul after years of torment. I turned, scanning the crowd, and found her—Lydia Wright. She stood quietly among the onlookers, her appearance modest and unassuming. But the jealousy in her eyes was unmistakable, burning so fiercely that it nearly betrayed her facade of innocence. Ignoring Ethan, I walked straight past him and stopped in front of Lydia. Under the confused stares of the crowd, I slipped the engagement ring off my finger and tossed it at her feet. “If you think Ethan is so perfect, then why don’t you take him? You two seem like a match made in heaven.” The diamond caught the sunlight as it arced through the air, landing with a sharp clink on the ground. Lydia’s face flushed bright red, her composure cracking under the weight of my words. I smiled at her, a sharp, knowing smile. In my previous life, Lydia had boasted endlessly about her “unbreakable bond” with Ethan. She once told me, with a smirk on her face: “I’ve loved Ethan since high school.” “I wrote him 99 love letters, each one carefully written by hand. And do you know what he did with them? He kept every single one. He carried them with him everywhere, tucked safely in his briefcase. You never even noticed, did you?” “On the back of the letters, Ethan marked the dates. He always planned to marry me—on the day your family fell from grace.” Now, I looked her dead in the eye and asked, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Didn’t you say you’ve loved Ethan since high school?” Lydia’s face paled. “And didn’t you write him 99 love letters?” I continued, my tone dripping with mockery. “How many was it again? 99, right?” Lydia’s embarrassment turned to rage. She pointed a trembling finger at me and shouted, “Don’t think you can just throw around your status as the Linwood heiress to bully people!” Someone from the crowd stepped forward, touching my arm lightly. “Willow, is there some kind of misunderstanding here?” Ethan rushed over as well, his expression frantic. “Willow, are you rejecting me because of these baseless rumors? That’s all they are—rumors!” He turned toward the crowd, desperate to clear his name. “I don’t even know her! She’s lying. Don’t believe a word she says.” Ethan’s devotion to me was no secret. Everyone in Riverton knew the stories. When I had a high fever that wouldn’t break, Ethan stayed by my bedside for days, barely sleeping until I recovered. When I woke up and casually mentioned craving a bowl of clam chowder from a restaurant in a distant city, Ethan chartered a plane that very day to bring it to me, still warm. On my 18th birthday, someone had made an inappropriate comment toward me at the party. Ethan didn’t hesitate to start a fight right then and there, risking not only his place in the Quinn family but also nearly getting arrested. He told me once, “Willow, I would give my life for you.” To him, I was more important than anything—even himself. Or so he said. But what the world didn’t know, what I hadn’t known until it was too late, was that Ethan’s love was a lie. And so, on the day he proposed, the day he claimed to love me in front of the entire city, I didn’t just reject him—I humiliated him. When he tried to explain himself, insisting that he and Lydia had no connection, I responded by slapping him across the face. The sharp crack of my palm against his cheek silenced the crowd. I didn’t hold back—I put every ounce of anger, betrayal, and hatred into that slap. But even that wasn’t enough. Not compared to the pain he had inflicted on me and my family in my previous life. “You say you have nothing to do with her?” I said, my voice cold and unwavering.

I shook my stinging hand, the sharp pain grounding me as I walked to an unassuming corner of the floral stage. There, I picked up Ethan’s plain, seemingly ordinary briefcase. The live broadcast of this entire debacle was still rolling. Ethan didn’t understand what I was doing. Instead, he hurried after me, his face swollen red from the slap but still managing to look concerned. “Willow, does your hand hurt?” he asked, his tone soft and full of worry. “If I’ve upset you, just tell me,” he continued, his voice trembling with sincerity. “Honestly, if one slap makes you feel better, it’s worth it.” Even now, he kept up his act. But in the next moment, I unzipped his briefcase. Guided by the memory of Lydia’s smug boasts, I found the hidden compartment. Inside, just as she’d described, I pulled out dozens of folded letters. And then I turned to face Ethan. The change in his expression was instant. His ever-gentle, composed mask cracked, his features twisting into something stiff and unnatural. He reached out instinctively, his hand moving toward mine, desperate to snatch the letters away. I sidestepped, and with a single look, my security team stepped forward, forming a wall between us. They pushed Ethan back, keeping him out of reach. Calmly, I unfolded the first letter, holding it up for everyone to see. And then, I read it aloud. “‘Sunny today. I saw you having breakfast with that tramp again. You even took out the trash for her. Ethan, you’re so much better than that. You’re a king, so why lower yourself to be with someone like her? You belong with me.’” The crowd gasped. This was one of Lydia Wright’s so-called love letters. I moved on to the next one. My voice rang clear, cutting through the silence. “‘Ethan, it’s been 1,000 days since I fell in love with you. I dreamed about you again last night. Don’t think it’s improper—how could it be, when it’s you? Please, leave that worthless woman and come to me.’” The words were raw, obsessive, every sentence dripping with malice toward me and longing for Ethan. By the tenth letter, the tone had shifted. “‘Ethan, you kissed me today. I couldn’t believe it. Even if you didn’t say you love me, I’ll take it as a sign that you do.’” The truth was unraveling before everyone’s eyes. Lydia had once bragged to me about their college affair, about how they’d been inseparable. And now, as I read these letters, the puzzle pieces fell into place. The signs had always been there. I had just been too blind in my so-called love to see them. Lydia, unable to hold back anymore, lunged toward me like a wild animal, her hand outstretched to grab the letters. But the crowd recoiled from her, parting like the sea, leaving her isolated and exposed. Ethan’s face had gone pale, his lips pressed into a thin line. I flipped to the back of one of the letters, revealing more incriminating words scrawled in Ethan’s handwriting. “‘Day one with Lydia. For the first time, I feel like I understand what love is. Lydia, wait for me. I’ll take down the Quinn family and the Linwood family. The countdown to marrying you has begun.’” The crowd gasped again, louder this time. I didn’t stop. I read the next one. “‘Lydia, I drugged Willow today. She’ll never be able to have my child. Don’t worry—her body isn’t worthy of carrying my bloodline.’” Even now, my nerves, dulled by hatred and determination, trembled with cold fury. I let the stack of letters fall from my hands, scattering them at Ethan’s feet. The crowd whispered in disbelief. I stared at him, my voice icy and sharp. “Well, Ethan? Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Ethan’s eyes locked on mine, wide with shock and disbelief. For the first time, his mask of calm was completely shattered. “Willow,” he stammered, his voice cracking. “It’s not what it looks like.” He stepped forward, his expression carefully shifting into one of pain and remorse. “Please, believe me,” he said, his voice low and shaky. “It’s really not what you think.” He paused dramatically, taking a deep breath. “I admit it,” he said, his voice trembling just enough to sound sincere. “I made a mistake—a mistake that any man could make.” The crowd murmured again, some buying into his act, others still horrified by the letters. “I don’t love her,” Ethan continued, casting a quick glance at Lydia, whose face was now beet-red with humiliation. “She pursued me relentlessly, and I… I was weak. I gave in. But it didn’t mean anything—it never did.” The man who once told me he loved Lydia more than life itself, the man who spent years plotting his rise to power for her, now discarded her in the face of public scrutiny. She was nothing more than collateral damage to him. “It was her,” Ethan said, his voice growing firmer. “She seduced me.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295489”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring #魔幻Magic #校园School #惊悚Thriller

I found myself trapped in a flood with Sophia Hart, my husband’s first love. My husband, Lucas Reed, a usually calm and steady firefighter, was unusually anxious at this moment. He told me, “There’s not enough room on the boat. You can swim, Ava, but Sophia can’t. I have to save her first.” In a moment of desperation, he forcibly broke my fingers and pushed me into the raging floodwaters. After years of marriage, he didn’t even know I couldn’t swim. The flash flood swept through like a fierce beast. Sophia and I struggled with all our might and finally managed to climb onto a precarious boulder. I turned to Sophia, trying to comfort her, “Don’t be afraid, Sophia. Lucas will definitely come to rescue us.” Sophia just glanced at me contemptuously, a cold smile curling her lips. “Of course he’ll come to save me. As for you… well, that’s another story.” My heart sank, but I still tried to maintain my composure, unwilling to show weakness in front of her. “We’re married. Of course he’ll save me.” Soon, we heard rescue calls in the distance. It was Lucas! He was maneuvering a rescue boat, struggling to get closer to us. A glimmer of hope rose in my heart, until he spoke, “Ava, Sophia can’t swim. There’s not enough room on the rescue boat. You’ll have to find your own way.” “What? I…” Before I could finish, he cut me off. “Jump down and swim to that big rock. Wait for the next wave of rescuers.” Lucas’s tone was uncompromising, as if I were just an insignificant burden. “But I’m pregnant, Lucas. I can’t…” I pleaded, my hands gripping the edge of the rescue boat tightly. “That’s exactly why the boat is unstable!” He yanked hard, almost pulling me into the water. “Didn’t you swim back to shore alone last time? It’s the same this time.” “That was in shallow water, and…” Before I could finish, a sharp pain shot through my fingers. He had forcibly broken my fingers and pushed me into the cold flood waters. “Lucas!” I struggled in the water, shouting his name, but all I got in response was his resolute back and Sophia’s smug smile. “Ava Wilson, you’re always so redundant,” his voice drifted with the wind. I swam desperately towards the big rock, but my body felt heavier and heavier, and my consciousness began to blur. I recalled the moments I shared with Lucas, all those sweet memories and promises, now shattered like bubbles. “Why… why are you doing this to me?” Finally, I gave up struggling and let myself sink into the water. In the last moment before losing consciousness, I took one last look in the direction Lucas had gone, my heart filled with bitterness and resentment.

My soul seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, floating in this cold world. Suddenly, an anxious voice came through the walkie-talkie, “Captain Reed, we still haven’t found Ms. Wilson. Should we continue searching?” Lucas’s cold voice clearly reached my ears through the device: “No need. She might have been taken away by another rescue team. We’re short-handed and can’t waste time.” I was stunned, a chill running through my heart. This was the man I loved deeply, showing no concern for my life or death. The subordinate seemed to want to say something more, but was cut off by Lucas, “Execute the order. Don’t mention this again!” I silently followed him to the hospital. Through the window of the ward, I saw Lucas. He was tenderly watching over Sophia’s bedside, his eyes filled with a gentleness I had never seen before. Sophia sobbed, her voice weak and fearful, “Lucas, I was so scared. I thought I’d never see you again.” Lucas gently patted the back of her hand, his voice dripping with tenderness, “Don’t be afraid, Sophia. I’ll always be by your side, protecting you.” I stood by, watching this scene, my heart breaking. So, his love for me was nothing but an elaborately woven lie. My tears fell silently, unnoticed by anyone. I could only watch helplessly, listening to their conversation, feeling that tenderness that didn’t belong to me. “Lucas, I know I’m willful, but I was really terrified this time,” Sophia’s voice had a hint of coquettishness. Lucas chuckled, his eyes full of doting affection, “Whether you’re willful or coquettish, I love it all. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.” Listening to these words, my heart was filled with bitterness and despair. I closed my eyes, letting the memories of Lucas and me flood my mind. We once had an engagement. I thought it was the beginning of happiness, but I didn’t realize it was the prologue to his coldness. “Lucas, do you remember the day we got engaged?” I asked softly, as if he could hear me, “You said you’d love me forever, but now?” I recalled the complex look he gave me after his brother, Leo, became a vegetative patient. “Lucas, why didn’t you believe me?” These words I could never say out loud, as they had long been drowned in his cold silence. That night, his tenderness when he was drunk made me mistakenly believe it was a true revelation of his inner feelings. “Ava, I’m sorry…” His slurred words, thinking back now, were nothing but an illusion caused by alcohol. A month ago, I went for a prenatal check-up full of anticipation. The sound of the baby’s heartbeat excited me beyond words. I wanted to share this good news with him immediately, but accidentally saw his intimate photo with Sophia on Instagram, with a short but piercing caption – “Finally found you”. At that moment, my heart shattered. “Lucas Reed, how could you do this to me?” I sat alone on the sofa, from dusk to midnight, and then to dawn. Finally, he came back, reeking of alcohol, stumbling. “Lucas, you know I’m pregnant! You and Sophia…” I tried to grasp the last thread of hope, but was ruthlessly pushed away. “Enough, Ava Wilson.” His voice was cold and resolute, “You don’t need to know about me and Sophia.” I was stunned. “Lucas Reed, I understand now. I’ve always been just a substitute for Sophia.” That night, I was completely awakened. I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I could never enter his heart. All his tenderness and care were reserved only for Sophia. “I give up, Lucas Reed,” I said silently in my heart, “I’ll leave and no longer interfere with your pursuit of your true love.” Now, my soul floats in the air, watching him take meticulous care of Sophia. My heart has frozen to the extreme. 4 That cruise party was the biggest turning point in my life. That night, Leo and I accidentally fell into the water. I desperately grabbed onto a piece of driftwood, while Leo… he struggled in the water, gradually drifting away. When I was finally rescued and learned that Leo had become a vegetative patient, my heart shattered. What was even harder to accept was that Lucas actually believed I intentionally didn’t save Leo, just because I “could swim”. The way he looked at me was full of coldness and misunderstanding. “Ava Wilson, why didn’t you save him?” His accusation was like a knife, stabbing deep into my heart. I tried to explain, but each time I opened my mouth, I was cut off by his coldness. Days passed, and I thought time would wash away everything, until that night when he suddenly proposed to me, reeking of alcohol. At that moment, I almost thought we could go back to how we were before. “Ava, marry me,” his voice echoed in my ears, with a hint of tenderness that was hard to detect. But after marriage, his attitude took a sharp turn, becoming as cold as a stranger. After I became pregnant, I was full of anticipation to share this joy with him. However, when I asked him to accompany me for a prenatal check-up, he refused without hesitation. “I don’t have time. Go by yourself,” his tone showed no hesitation or concern. On the day of the check-up, I sat alone on a bench in the hospital, my heart a mix of emotions. When the doctor told me the baby was healthy, I almost laughed through my tears. I couldn’t wait to share this good news with him, but then I saw his intimate photo with Sophia on his Instagram. At that moment, my heart completely froze. “So, I’m not even qualified to be a substitute,” I murmured, tears falling silently. Back home, I waited for him, wanting to get to the bottom of this. When he finally appeared before me, I gathered my courage to confront him, “Lucas, why are you treating me like this when I’m pregnant?” He glanced at me, his eyes showing no guilt or tenderness, only coldness and annoyance. “Ava Wilson, that’s enough. Stop making a fuss,” he pushed me away forcefully, turned around and went back to the room, leaving me alone in the empty living room. I recalled how tenderly he cared for Sophia, in stark contrast to his coldness towards me. “Lucas Reed,” I said softly to myself, “Perhaps if I die, I won’t be an obstacle between you two anymore.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295505”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

My wife, Jacqueline Hampton, was hiding a secret. Her first love, Gerald Andersen, had been in a car accident and urgently needed a kidney transplant. She took me to the hospital for a checkup, claiming it was just a routine exam, but the real reason was to see if I was a match for Gerald. When the results came out, Jacqueline was overjoyed and tricked me into signing a consent form. “Matthew Hampton, it’s just a kidney. You won’t die without it. Why are you being so dramatic? “I promise you, if you help Gerald survive this, I’ll have children with you!” I smirked bitterly, “Children? You’ve got to be kidding. Only my wife can bear my children. Who are you?” “Why the sudden need to take the whole family for a checkup?” I turned to look out the window, my face expressionless, as Jacqueline, holding my hand, awkwardly smiled at me. “I’m just worried about my parents’ health and about you too. You’ve been working late for years, and your health is getting worse. I just want to make sure everything’s okay. “You’re the pillar of our family. If you fall, what will happen to us?” Sitting in the backseat, my parents nodded in agreement with Jacqueline, adding, “Matthew, Jacqueline really cares about you. You should listen to her.” I turned to look into her eyes, and Jacqueline nervously looked down, her grip on my hand tightening. “Darling, do you think I would harm you?” I said nothing, just quietly stared at her. Despite Jacqueline’s calm demeanor, I could tell from her body language that she was lying. Earlier, when I looked out the window, I noticed several cars following us. No legitimate hospital would perform a transplant without the patient’s consent. Judging by the situation, Jacqueline must have gone to a black-market hospital where she could pay to get anything done. I tried calming myself and spoke slowly, “Jacqueline, I know what’s happening. “You brought us to the hospital under the guise of a checkup, but it’s not really a checkup, is it? The real reason is to see if we’re a match for Gerald’s kidney, right?” The mention of Gerald’s name struck Jacqueline like a lightning bolt straight to her heart. In the next moment, I clearly felt a thin layer of sweat forming on her palm. “Matthew, what are you talking about? Since marrying you, I haven’t thought about any other man.” “Really?” I asked, “A week ago, Gerald had a car accident. Didn’t you hear? “I heard he was seriously injured, his kidney was damaged, and without a matching donor, it will fail, and he doesn’t have much time left.” As soon as I finished speaking, Jacqueline let go of my hand, her face filled with guilt. She didn’t argue, and my heart sank. “Matthew, I would never hurt you. Please don’t think that. “This accident was a tragedy. Gerald was just an innocent victim, and I won’t let him suffer, nor will I let you suffer.” I watched her eyes fill with sorrow, and my heart felt like it was being squeezed, aching to the point I could barely breathe. “Gerald is a race car driver. How many families has he ruined over the years by ignoring traffic laws and speeding? “Even this accident was his fault. If not for his family’s connections, he would’ve…” “Matthew!” Jacqueline interrupted me sharply, her eyes red. She looked up at me, her gaze unwavering. “It’s not like that…” “He’s a race car driver. He loves speed. That’s his passion. You can’t say that about him! “Besides, I’m just asking you to get a checkup. Even if you’re a match, donating one kidney won’t affect your normal life. “Please, just do it for me. Help him, and I’ll have children with you!” Jacqueline looked at me with pleading eyes. What I hadn’t expected was that the woman who once refused to have a child with me, terrified of how her body might change, was now using it as a bargaining chip to make demands in exchange for Gerald’s recovery. “Jacqueline, you never used to say things like this,” I said, my voice filled with disappointment. Jacqueline must have sensed it because she clutched the sleeve of my shirt tightly. From the moment she had me get into the car, I knew Gerald was the one who truly mattered to her. No matter how much I did, how much I sacrificed, it could never compare to him. For the next few hours, I didn’t say a word. The car behind us stayed too close, and my parents were still in Jacqueline’s hands. There was no way to escape. Regardless of what the test results showed, my marriage with Jacqueline was already over. The driver brought us to a rundown iron gate. The moment we got out of the car, a group of people surrounded us. “We’ll take him first. Remember to pay the balance,” one of them said. Jacqueline stood there, silent. My parents were trapped inside the car, and if I dared to resist, there was a real chance I’d end up dead. The only hope left was that the test results wouldn’t match Gerald’s. I was quickly taken to an underground operating room, where the environment was dirty and chaotic. From the medical box next to me, which was filled with medical cotton swabs, I could even hear the squeaky sounds of mice. As the doctor took my blood, he glanced at me and couldn’t help but mock, “I’ve been in this business for years, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone send their husband here. “She is ruthless. Afraid you might run, so she brought your parents along.” I didn’t respond. Every word from the doctor felt like a knife cutting into me. When the thick needle went into my skin, my face turned pale from the pain. About two hours later, the test results came out. My kidney matched Gerald’s perfectly. Hearing this, Jacqueline was ecstatic. She eagerly grabbed the doctor’s hand, urging them to take my kidney. I stared at the woman who had been by my side for five years, and at that moment, my heart completely broke.

“Jacqueline! After all these years, Matthew has been good to you, and this is how you repay him?” At that moment, my mother suddenly rushed out of the car, but the bodyguards inside yanked her by the hair and stopped her from moving. “Let go of my mom!” I shouted in panic, but my cries were useless. My hands and feet were bound, and they dragged me toward the underground operating room. From start to finish, Jacqueline stood aside, cold and indifferent. “Matthew, I’m sorry. If your kidney didn’t match, I wouldn’t make things difficult for you. But now the doctor says your kidney can save Gerald, and I can’t let him die in front of me. “The surgery will be quick. Don’t worry. I’ve asked the doctor. Even if you lose a kidney, it won’t kill you! “Honey, don’t blame me. I love you so much. Once Gerald’s out of danger, I’ll fulfill all your wishes.” As I heard Jacqueline’s words, my heart ached like never before. “No need. Once Gerald is out of danger, we’ll get a divorce.” As soon as I said this, Jacqueline froze. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she stood there in front of me. “Honey, I know you’re angry. I made this decision on my own, but I had no other choice. “Don’t say things in anger. We’ll live a good life together once Gerald and you are both well. “You always wanted kids, right? I’ll have them for you. You can have as many as you want. Is that okay?” Jacqueline’s voice grew more frantic, her hands trembling as she clutched mine. The doctor, standing nearby, hurried us along. “Are we going to do this surgery or not?” “Yes! Of course!” Jacqueline didn’t hesitate for a second. A few minutes later, I was dragged into the operating room. The anesthesia the doctor gave me didn’t seem to be enough. I could clearly feel a knife cutting through my skin, layer by layer. They were using their fingers, stirring around in my belly. I wanted to scream, but my body was too weak, no strength at all. For a moment, I even felt like my illness had reached its end. I didn’t wake up until three days later. I woke up in pain. Since Jacqueline had used improper means to take my kidney, she didn’t let me stay in the hospital for fear that her actions would be exposed. Only the doctor who performed the surgery came to see me regularly, changing my bandages on schedule. The servants brought me food during the day for the past few days, and the doctor checked my wound at night. Jacqueline didn’t show up once. I lay in bed, looking at the crooked scar on my stomach. The stitches were ugly, and there was no skill involved at all. Suddenly, my phone rang. I picked it up and saw a message from Gerald. [How’s your health? Jacqueline told me you volunteered to donate a kidney to save me.] [When I woke up, I wanted to come see you first, but Jacqueline wouldn’t allow it. She insisted I wait until I’m fully recovered before I get out of bed.] [Since Jacqueline isn’t with you these days, you need to take care of yourself. I’ll take good care of her for you.] Gerald even sent a photo of Jacqueline sleeping in his hospital bed. Actually, this wasn’t the first time I had received a photo like this. The first time was a year ago when Jacqueline’s company was working with Gerald’s. At the time, her boss somehow found out that Jacqueline and Gerald were close, so he sent her to handle the cooperation talks. Jacqueline came home late every day during that period. Gerald would send me a photo of her sleeping, taken from the side, every night. At first, I tried to fool myself, telling myself she must have been so tired from work. I started driving her to and from work every day. But Jacqueline got mad at me, saying I didn’t trust her. That was the first time we had the biggest argument in our five years of marriage. She was so angry that she moved into the company. In the end, I had to beg her to come home. Thinking back on it, I let out a bitter smile. It was the same old trick. Maybe it seemed fresh the first time, but it lost its effect when it was used too many times. I blocked Gerald without a second thought, then slammed my phone onto the nightstand. I was just about to lie down and sleep when Jacqueline called me. “Matthew, there’s a limit to how much you can fool around. It’s just a kidney, you won’t die without it. Why are you being so dramatic?”

I was stunned by Jacqueline’s harsh words. I couldn’t understand why she was so angry. “Gerald just wanted to thank you. Why did you block him? “You better unblock him and apologize. Then we can just forget about it.” I almost laughed at her unreasonable tantrum. She took my kidney, he showed off pictures of Jacqueline sleeping next to him, and now they wanted me to apologize. It was completely backward! “Why should I apologize? Gerald sent me a photo of you late at night, and I blocked him. What’s wrong with that? “Do you think I shouldn’t have blocked him? Should I have gone over to ask him if he’s dating you now, like some fool?” “Matthew!” Jacqueline was incredibly angry with me at my words. Even though we were talking on the phone, I could feel her rage clearly. “Do you even know what you’re saying? “I know you’re still upset. I stayed at the hospital taking care of Gerald and didn’t go back to give you time to calm down. I’ve told you many times that I’m your wife, and I would never betray you! “Gerald and I are just friends!” If it weren’t for Gerald’s parents strongly opposing their relationship back then, thinking Jacqueline’s family background didn’t match his, maybe they would have been together already. For all these years, Jacqueline often hid alone in the study, secretly scrolling through her phone, reading every piece of news about Gerald. I couldn’t understand. Why did she marry me if she was so unwilling to let go of Gerald? “Friends? Jacqueline, do you really believe that?” There was silence over the phone for a long moment. I guessed that silence was the answer. “It doesn’t matter.” No matter how hard one side tried, a marriage without any feelings couldn’t be sustained. Maybe because I was silent for too long after she said, “It doesn’t matter,” Jacqueline couldn’t hold back any longer. “We can’t resolve this over the phone. I’ll come back and talk to you face-to-face. “Matthew, please don’t be mad at me. I wanted to live a good life with you from the moment I married you. Do you remember what I said to you before the surgery? “I know it’s been five years, and you’ve always wanted a child of your own. Once your wound heals, I’ll make that wish come true.” Jacqueline’s tone even carried a hint of excitement. It was as if, by agreeing to have a child for my family, she expected me to be grateful and forgive all her actions. Five years! Five whole years of effort and companionship! Hearing her say those words made me feel completely disgusted. How disgusting! “Child? Jacqueline, you’ve got it all wrong. Only my wife can give me a child. Who do you think you are? “Do you even deserve to say that?” Free Point

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295522”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #狼人Werewolf

When my father passed away, his best friend took me in. For over twenty years, the two sons of the Hayes family protected me and treated me like their own sister. Their care and affection for me were the envy of everyone around us. But when I finally wanted to settle down and start my own family, they both turned their backs on me. The older brother, Nathan Hayes, said, “A man has to build his career before thinking about marriage.” The younger brother, Ethan Hayes, laughed and added, “Come on, we were just messing around. You didn’t take it seriously, did you?” But at my graduation party, both of them proposed—not to me, but to Jessa, the adopted daughter of the Hayes family. Worse yet, to make her happy, they forced me, knowing I was allergic to cream, to eat an entire cake. As I gasped for air, suffocating from an asthma attack, they stood beside her, laughing and mocking me for “pretending to be dramatic.” That was the moment I realized I was done. The day I was discharged from the hospital, I sent a text to my mother. “Mom, I’ve made up my mind. I’m ready to move abroad and marry the man from the Cole family.”

Just as I finished my discharge paperwork, my phone wouldn’t stop ringing. “Leah, where are you?!” Nathan’s angry voice thundered through the receiver. “You think you can just avoid coming home and pretend nothing happened? If you’ve got the guts to leave, don’t bother coming back—ever!” Before I could respond, Ethan’s voice followed, sharp and accusatory. “This is your fault! You’re the one who made Jessa feel so guilty. She’s already self-conscious because of her status as an adopted daughter, and now, thanks to you, she’s been crying nonstop!” I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My swollen eyes, red and puffy, looked like they’d been punched. I could barely open them. I was always a sensitive child, and after being sent to live with the Hayes family, I’d become even more timid—like a frightened bird. Over the years, the Hayes brothers had done so much to make me feel at home. I remembered the first time I sat at their dinner table. I was too scared to touch the food, so Nathan would pile the best dishes onto my plate, coaxing me to eat. Ethan, too, would share his favorite snacks with me and invite me to play with his toys. For years, wherever I went, they were always nearby, protecting me. But when Jessa entered the picture, everything changed. Suddenly, I wasn’t the one they cared about anymore. I didn’t say a word. I hung up the phone and sent a message to my mother. “Mom, I’ve thought it through. I want to leave. I’ll marry the man from the Cole family.”

A moment later, my phone buzzed with a reply. “Leah, marriage isn’t something to take lightly. Are you sure about this?” My parents divorced when I was very young. My mother moved abroad, while I stayed with my father. When my father passed away, he entrusted me to the Hayes family. My mother returned to take me with her, but by then, I’d already grown attached to Nathan and Ethan. I refused to leave. Heartbroken, she left again but never stopped calling to check on me year after year. This year, she told me she’d found a good match for me—a man from the Cole family, a powerful and influential family abroad. She hoped I’d marry him and join her overseas. But more than her desire to have me close, I knew she truly cared about my happiness. Even though she wanted her only daughter to be by her side, she always left the choice up to me. For so long, I believed Nathan and Ethan truly cared for me, that I could eventually choose one of them to spend my life with. Now I realized their kindness had never been love—it was pity. I should’ve known my place from the start. I opened my phone, ready to book a flight to Atherton—the fictional country my mother now called home. But before I could finish, a message from Jessa popped up. “Leah, I’m not trying to take what’s yours. Nathan and Ethan insisted on giving it to me.” “They said you’re too old for this stuff anyway. Pink’s too youthful for you, don’t you think? At your age, pastel colors don’t suit you anymore.” Attached was a picture of her sitting in my room. She was wearing a pink dress and matching accessories—things Nathan and Ethan had spent a fortune on last year, promising they’d be my graduation gift. On her hand, she wore two pink diamond rings. I stared at the photo, my face expressionless. Then I blocked her and sent another text to my mother. “Mom, I’m serious. I don’t want to stay here anymore.” This hospital stay had forced me to see a therapist. The doctor told me I was showing signs of mild depression. She strongly recommended I leave this toxic environment before things got worse. If I stayed, I would only spiral further, sinking into hopelessness. I was only in my twenties. I had no intention of spending the rest of my life wasting away in the Hayes family’s shadow. My mother replied quickly: “Alright. I respect your decision.” “When you come to Atherton, I promise I’ll make sure my precious girl is happy.” Perhaps sensing my pain, she sent one last message: “Before you leave, make sure to say goodbye to Mr. Hayes.” I stepped out of the hospital. The drizzle outside soaked through my clothes as I stood there, staring at the gray sky. My college diploma wouldn’t arrive for another week. I’d use that time to say goodbye to everything—and everyone—here. It was time to move on.

I took a cab back to the Hayes estate. The moment I stepped into the yard, I was knocked to the ground by a massive dog. “Oh no, Leah! I’m so sorry,” Jessa said, standing nearby with a faint smile. But she made no move to pull the dog away as it tore at my clothes. It wasn’t until I started coughing uncontrollably that she finally called the dog back to her side, feigning innocence. Shaking, I got to my feet. My chest burned as I realized the garden I had lovingly tended for years was utterly destroyed—trampled beyond recognition. A giant dog crate now sat where the flowers used to bloom. Dog hair floated in the air, triggering my allergies. I fumbled through my bag for my medication, swallowed it, and leaned against a wall, gasping for breath. Nathan and Ethan Hayes were standing nearby, watching the entire scene unfold. They exchanged a glance, their expressions filled with disdain. “Leah, I thought you had more pride than this,” Nathan sneered. “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back? Yet here you are, crawling home.” Ethan laughed, his voice sharp and cruel. “Where else would she go? She’s got no father, no family, no home. This place is the only roof over her head.” Their words cut through me like a blade. I thought back to the first days after my father’s death, when I’d come to live with the Hayes family. I was a scared, lonely child, crying myself to sleep every night. Nathan had been the one to comfort me, sitting beside me and wiping away my tears. “Leah, don’t cry,” he’d said, his voice warm and reassuring. “From now on, my dad is your dad. My home is your home.” Ethan had treated me like a treasure, giving me the best room in the old family house—the one with the perfect view of the garden. He told everyone, without a hint of embarrassment, that I’d one day be the only mistress of the Hayes family. But all of that changed the moment Jessa arrived. Jessa wasn’t just any girl. She was the Hayes family’s foster daughter, sponsored by their father through college. When she moved into the estate during her first year of university, she became the center of attention. She wasn’t content with simply winning over Nathan and Ethan. She went out of her way to make my life miserable. At first, I didn’t take it seriously. I thought of her as a younger sister and brushed off her antics. But then she smashed the porcelain doll my father had given me before he died. Furious, I confronted her. I demanded to know why she’d done it. Before she could answer, Ethan stepped between us and shoved me back. “It’s just a doll. If it’s broken, then it’s broken. Why are you making such a fuss?” he said coldly. “Jessa’s had a hard life. She deserves kindness, not this spoiled behavior from you.” Nathan chimed in, his tone dripping with mockery. “She’s only eighteen, Leah. You’re nearly thirty. Can’t you act your age? You’re embarrassing yourself.” I stared at the shattered pieces of porcelain on the floor, realizing for the first time how distant and unrecognizable they had become. From that moment on, everything changed. I was no longer the girl they cared for. Jessa became their priority, their princess. The household staff followed suit, treating her as though she were the true lady of the house. I was left behind, fading into the background, a shadow of who I used to be. And now, I had nothing left to hold on to. I tried to head upstairs to pack my things, but before I could make it to my room, I saw all my belongings being thrown down from the second floor. Startled, I looked up to see Ethan standing at the balcony, his arm wrapped protectively around Jessa. He smirked, his voice dripping with scorn. “Leah, stop pretending to be something you’re not. You’re just a stray dog we took in out of pity. Jessa’s the only real princess of this house.” “And from now on,” he added, “you’ll move into the storage room. I won’t be giving you a position in the company either. Let’s see how long it takes you to learn your lesson.” Nathan, standing nearby, picked up the porcelain doll I’d painstakingly glued back together and smashed it against the wall again, laughing as the pieces scattered. “Leah,” he said mockingly, “if you ever cause trouble for Jessa again, next time it won’t just be the doll I break.” Looking at the broken pieces on the floor, I felt… nothing. The old me would’ve screamed, cried, and demanded answers. I would’ve fought to make them see how much they were hurting me. But now, I just wanted to let it go. Squatting down, I carefully gathered the shattered fragments into my hands. “You win,” I said softly. “I’ll leave as soon as I can.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295538”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #魔幻Magic

My wife brought home a half-eaten cake, claiming she bought it especially for me. If I hadn’t seen her male assistant post a screenshot of a transfer for “1314” (meaning “forever”), I might have believed her. I casually replied, “Work comes first.” Next thing I knew, I was blocked. My wife even called to berate me: “I’ve never met such a petty man!” As I rubbed my aching abdomen, I thought to myself, “Do whatever you want. I’m done playing this game.” Amber was walking through the door just as I was tossing a takeout box into the trash. Recently diagnosed with early-stage liver cancer, I had been strictly advised by my doctor to stick to a bland diet this month. But I couldn’t resist the temptation. Today marked the fifth anniversary of my marriage to Amber. I had checked out of the hospital early, eagerly booked a hotel, hoping to celebrate properly with her. After waiting all day for a message, if it weren’t for Jack’s boastful social media post and Amber’s accusatory phone call, I’d probably still be waiting at the hotel. As soon as she entered, Amber noticed the empty dining table and immediately frowned. “No home-cooked meal today?” she asked. I nodded casually, my eyes glued to my phone screen. I deliberately said, “I thought you’d already eaten out.” In the past, no matter how late or tired I was, I would always come home early and cook different delicious meals for her. Back then, if she even slightly frowned, I’d feel like the sky was falling. Now, thinking back, it’s laughable how I humiliated myself completely, only to receive no love in return. Oblivious to my change in attitude, Amber placed a cake in front of me, saying she bought it specially because I mentioned wanting something sweet. But one look told me the cake had clearly been tampered with. It was full of dents, and all the fruit toppings had been picked off. I glanced at it and continued playing with my phone. Seeing my cold reaction, she grew upset. “Ryan, what’s your problem? I brought this especially for you, and you’re giving me the cold shoulder? When will this end?” “I don’t want something that’s been touched by others. It’s disgusting,” I said coldly. Her phone rang. I didn’t need to guess who it was. She looked up at me, her eyes cold with a hint of barely noticeable joy. Then, impatiently, she said, “Fine, fine, fine. I’ll go buy you another one, okay? I’m so tired from work, and I come home to this cold face of yours. It’s like I owe you something!” With that, she turned to leave. Remembering I had left the hospital in a hurry without my medication, I said I’d go along. Hearing this, she jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “You want to follow me just to buy a cake? Are you sick? Are you trying to keep me on a leash?” I sighed and explained I just needed to stop by the pharmacy. Only then did she relent, but not before ordering me to get her a blueberry cake before getting in the car. At the pharmacy, I got out. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes, and her tone softened a bit. “Wait for me here after you’re done. I’ll pick you up.” With that, the car sped away, splashing muddy water all over me. I irritably wiped it off. I waited and waited outside the pharmacy. The rain got heavier, and my body was frozen stiff, but there was no sign of her. Thunder rumbled, startling me. Just as I was about to call a cab, the downpour began. I was instantly soaked to the bone. Remembering the doctor’s words, I fought through the pain and ran to a convenience store to buy an umbrella, but it was too late. My abdomen started to cramp severely, and I crouched on the ground, curled up in pain. Thankfully, a kind passerby helped me home. Otherwise, I might have needed an ambulance. I had just gotten home, dried off, and taken my medication when Amber stormed in, slamming the door so hard it shook the walls. “Why didn’t you tell me you came back? I’ve been driving around in the rain looking for you for an hour! Did you do this on purpose? Do you think it’s funny?”

My hand froze midair as I was putting down my water glass, a look of bewilderment on my face. She had blocked my number herself, and now she was blaming me for not contacting her? I had waited for two hours and just got home, and she claimed she’d been looking for me for an hour? Enough is enough. I didn’t have the energy to expose her little game. My face darkened as I coldly said, “If you wanted me to contact you, you should have unblocked me first.” Hearing this, she pressed her lips together, suppressing her anger. She put a rain-soaked matcha cake without its box in front of me. “It’s too late, and the box is gone. I barely found a place that still had any,” she explained. I stared at the cake, feeling nothing but exhaustion, numb to her lame excuses. My phone screen lit up at that moment. Jack had posted another update, a photo of a blueberry cake with a sickeningly sweet caption. I wanted to smirk, but found I didn’t even have the energy for that. A thousand words condensed into one sentence: “Thanks for the effort. You can throw it away.” Her face instantly turned ashen, her eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. “Are you crazy? I went through all this trouble to get this for you, and you just want to throw it away?” she yelled. “You’re making a fool out of me! It’s just a bonus for an employee, why are you making such a big deal out of it? I’m the boss, can’t I make my own decisions? And don’t think I’ve forgotten about you insulting people in private messages!” She grew more agitated as she spoke. I rubbed my aching head, too tired to argue. “It’s not what you think. I don’t have the energy or time for that. At that time, I was…” Before I could finish, she roughly cut me off. “Enough! Stop talking! It’s always like this. You’re in your mid-thirties, but you’re still as jealous as when you were young. There are so many handsome guys in this world, are you going to be jealous of all of them? You’ve lost your mind!” Her words cut into my heart like knives. In the past, I would always argue with her over these little things, begging her to love only me. But now, I’ve woken up. Between adults, what’s the point of love that needs to be questioned? I sighed, “If that’s how you want to see it, there’s nothing I can do.” With that, I got up and walked towards the bedroom. She ignored me, threw the cake in the trash, and started scrolling through her phone, occasionally letting out suppressed laughter. She went to the bathroom to make a call, and I took the opportunity to pack up my bedding, preparing to move to the guest room. Just as I was leaving, I bumped into her. She looked annoyed, staring at the bedding in my hands, and finally exploded: “What’s the meaning of this? You want to sleep separately?” “I didn’t complain about your alcohol breath, and this is how you act? Looking at you now makes me sick!” she said viciously, “Don’t come looking for me if you can’t sleep tonight!” I ignored her and went straight to the guest room, locking the door behind me. In the past, I couldn’t sleep when she came home late, constantly calling and texting her. She responded by giving me a bottle of sleeping pills the next day. Now, I sleep soundly without any medication. It turns out, those hurdles we thought we couldn’t overcome, when we look back, aren’t such a big deal after all. I’ve found a reliable divorce lawyer and am ready to start a new life. Meanwhile, Amber’s company account was buzzing with celebration videos. In the video, she stood next to Jack, a perfect match. The jewelry around her neck was the anniversary gift I gave her last year. This year’s gift, I’ve already returned, along with those unrealistic expectations.

I was about to turn off my phone when Amber’s call suddenly came through, her voice tinged with excitement: “I’ve sent you the address. I’ll pick you up later. There’s a surprise for you.” A sarcastic smile tugged at my lips. I’ve had quite enough of her “surprises.” Before I could say no, she had already hung up. It’s strange indeed that she remembered to unblock me right before the divorce. I had just finished taking my medicine when Amber’s car roared to a stop downstairs. After receiving her message, I went out in my loungewear. As soon as I got in the car, Amber’s smile froze upon seeing my scruffy face, as if she had swallowed a fly. “Why didn’t you shave or change your clothes? You’re embarrassing me. Are you deliberately trying to upset me?” Her tone was full of reproach. At that moment, Jack poked his head out from the passenger seat, dressed in a flashy suit, looking innocent: “Oh, I’m sorry, bro-in-law. I forgot to notify you… and couldn’t get through on the phone.” I shrugged and smiled, “It’s fine. A man’s dignity isn’t built on a woman’s approval.” I deliberately glanced at Jack, “Besides, with such a capable secretary, Amber’s reputation is already secure.” Amber was left speechless by my retort. I couldn’t be bothered with her and sat directly in the back seat. Throughout the journey, Jack chattered non-stop about the birthday party and how impressive Amber was. His tone was full of boasting and provocation towards me. I couldn’t care less and treated him like thin air. At the hotel, Jack naturally walked to Amber’s side, while I followed behind. At the elevator, the company staff were waiting. As soon as they saw Amber and Jack, the atmosphere became awkward. Mike quickly came forward to smooth things over. As soon as Mike saw me enter, he enthusiastically greeted me: “Oh, Ryan, you’re finally here! We couldn’t have landed this project without your skills! The entire company owes you a debt of gratitude today!” Hearing this warmed my heart, and I smiled, waving my hand: “Mike, you’re too kind. All this ‘bro’ talk feels strange. Who knows, when I return from abroad, I might bring back a new title, but that’s still up in the air.” I responded with a smile, knowing he was trying to help me. But as soon as I said this, Amber’s face changed. She suddenly turned and stared at me: “What do you mean abroad? You’re going overseas? How come I don’t know about this? Did I agree to this?” That look in her eyes, as if I were a stranger who had suddenly appeared. I smiled calmly, offering no explanation. In my mind, I thought: This divorce is definitely happening.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295554”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller

On the day my wife, Wendy Carr, gave birth to her ex-boyfriend’s child, who was serving time in prison, her family was on high alert, fearing I might show up to cause trouble. But even as the child was born after a difficult labor, I never appeared. When Wendy was wheeled out of the delivery room, lying on the hospital bed, her eyes instinctively searched the crowd for my face. “Wendy, don’t worry. We’ve taken care of everything. That man won’t be able to come here.” Her mother reassured her, patting her chest confidently. “That’s right. I was terrified he’d bring bad luck to my little nephew,” her brother chimed in. Wendy nodded, then turned to look at the baby beside her, a joyful smile lighting up her face. She never understood why I couldn’t see her perspective. She only wanted to ensure her first love had no regrets. She even thought to herself that if I treated the child well, she might agree to let me raise the child together with her. But this time, I had already accepted an assignment from the organization. Soon, I would depart for the capital of Drakonia, Virelia, to join an international criminal investigation task force. This journey held an uncertain future.

Wendy suffered severe blood loss during childbirth. Yet less than a week after being admitted to the hospital, Jerry Brudos’ mother was already urging her to go home. For the past month, I have been attending meetings at work to coordinate some major international cases. Today was my first chance to take a break. Dragging my exhausted body home, I felt something was off the moment I stepped through the door. In the living room, Wendy’s parents were gathered around her and the baby, their faces full of affection and love. Jerry’s mother, Daisy Brudos, was also there. The group looked so harmonious that I suddenly felt like an outsider in my own home. “Oh, my little darling, you’re so adorable! Come on, say hi! Good baby!” Wendy’s mother, Elodie Britton, gushed over the child, her entire face radiating fondness. When they noticed my return, the warmth on their faces instantly turned awkward. Wendy’s face was pale and bloodless. She cast me a faint glance before lowering her head to play with the baby. “What bad timing. Coming home now of all times!” Wendy’s father, Richard Britton, lit a cigarette, gave me a once-over from head to toe, and let out a cold snort. Looking at these people before me, I couldn’t believe it. Before our marriage, they were so pleased with me. Once, my relationship with Wendy was pure and beautiful. I had attended the police academy in college while she studied education at a neighboring school. That was when fate set its wheels in motion. We met, got to know each other, and fell in love, with no conflicts ever arising between us. I wasn’t much of a talker, while Wendy was vibrant and cheerful, like a little songbird. After the death of my parents, I rarely experienced strong emotional waves. Wendy was like a beam of light piercing into my dim world. We married without any obstacles. Her parents liked me too, often praising my stable and promising job. Our love remained strong, though Wendy was always hesitant when it came to intimacy. I respected all her wishes, so our marriage remained unconsummated. I never doubted her because our love felt so genuine. Perhaps it was also because I spent much time away from home, leaving our marriage as fresh as when it began. When I was assigned to a six-month closed training program for a cross-border crime task force, we had to part ways. As we said goodbye, her eyes shimmered with tears as she held my hand tightly. “Promise me you’ll come back safe. I’ll always be waiting for you,” she said. I gently wiped away her tears, pursing my lips, unsure of how to respond. Elodie, too, couldn’t stop crying. She clung to my sleeve, urging me to take care of myself. At that moment, I silently resolved to request a transfer after training, opting not to join the mission. I wanted to stay home and protect my family. To be honest, during that half-year of training, there wasn’t a moment when Wendy wasn’t on my mind. Sometimes, I was even a little distracted. On the last day of training, I drove home eagerly. But when I flung open the door, the scene before me left me stunned. In the living room, Wendy and an unfamiliar man were sitting at the dining table. The man had his arm wrapped intimately around her shoulder. Both froze when they saw me. Wendy quickly shrugged off the man’s arm, her expression flustered. “Who is he?” My voice was icy, and I didn’t even bother to set down my luggage as I stared at the man. Wendy’s eyes darted nervously as she stammered, “This… this is Jerry, my friend. He’s just staying here for a few days.” The smiles on Richard’s and Elodie’s faces vanished instantly. Richard frowned deeply, shooting me a disdainful glance. “Why are you back now of all times?” he muttered. Elodie’s expression soured, and she grumbled, “What a useless man. It might as well have died out there. Such a buzzkill.” Jerry stood up as well, smirking at me with a hint of arrogance. I didn’t press further, but as my gaze fell on Wendy, I noticed her subconsciously touching her belly. It was slightly swollen, already showing signs of pregnancy. My heart sank into a bottomless abyss, and an ominous feeling overtook me. That night, Wendy brought me a glass of milk, smiling as she said, “You must be exhausted after such long training. Here, drink some milk and get a good rest.” I took the glass but caught a fleeting glimpse of nervousness in her eyes. Pretending to drink a few sips, I casually set the glass aside. Sure enough, in the middle of the night, Wendy tiptoed out of bed and crept out the door. I followed her quietly, watching as she entered another room. Inside, Jerry’s hushed voice could be heard. “Baby, what took you so long?” Fury surged within me. I moved closer and overheard Wendy’s playful voice saying, “Be gentle. Don’t forget about the baby.” It felt like a hammer had struck my heart. Everything was now painfully clear. Before this, she had always rejected my advances. Yet in my absence, she had carried another man’s child.

I suppressed the surge of anger in my heart and decided to keep my composure and continue observing. In the days that followed, their brazenness grew worse, as if I were nothing more than a ghost in my own home. During the day, Jerry would boldly sit next to Wendy. Their hands often intertwined, their gazes filled with affection and flirtation. Once, while the whole family was gathered around the dining table, Jerry forked a piece of meat and fed it directly to Wendy. She ate it without the slightest embarrassment, even giggling as she wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. Richard, Elodie, and Jerry’s mother all acted as though nothing had happened. Whenever I questioned them, Richard and Elodie would dismiss me with the excuse that Jerry and Wendy were just friends. They would accuse me of neglecting the family, pointing out that Jerry had been the one helping with everything over the past six months, while I was off chasing my career. They called me ungrateful. Perhaps it was guilt over my frequent absence that kept me silent. But this time, I could no longer suppress my fury. I slammed my fork on the table with a resounding crack. “Wendy! What exactly do you think you’re doing? “Is this what friends do? Do they end up in bed together? “There’s already a child! How long have I endured this? And you’re still hiding it from me?” They knew I had discovered the truth. Richard shot up from his seat, jabbing his finger at my nose and shouting, “What are you yelling about? Look at yourself! Always busy with that worthless job of yours! How much do you even make? “What can you offer Wendy? Jerry can give her a comfortable life. Can you?” Elodie chimed in, “Exactly! You’re useless. After all these years, you haven’t given Wendy any sort of good life. “Jerry is a hundred times better than you. He knows how to take care of Wendy and make money.” My whole body trembled with rage. I glared at them and growled, “Are you seriously saying this with a straight face? “How much have I sacrificed for this family, and you refuse to see it? Now you’re siding with an outsider to attack me!” “Sacrifice? What sacrifice?” Richard sneered, “Jerry makes more on one business deal than you do in an entire year. “What do you have to compare with him? Wendy was unlucky in ending up with someone like you!” His words stabbed into my heart like a dagger. I laughed bitterly and turned to Elodie. “You’re really ready to accept that bastard’s child as one of your own? “Your daughter cheated on me, and you have the gall to defend her?” Elodie’s face darkened. “Don’t you dare talk about my grandchild like that! “That child is flesh and blood from Wendy! No matter what, it’s family, and there’s no way we’ll ever get rid of it.” Wendy stood up just then, about to say something, when a knock came at the door. A group of police officers stormed in, flashing their badges. They pinned Jerry to the floor and hauled him away. Jerry’s arrogant expression instantly dissolved into terror. He struggled and screamed, “What are you arresting me for? “It’s you! You set me up, you bastard!” Wendy panicked, shrieking at me, “Did you do this? “How could you be so heartless? If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive you!” Richard and Elodie were even more furious. Richard rushed toward me, jabbing his finger so close to my eye I could barely see past it. “You cruel son of a bitch! How dare you get Jerry arrested? “If something happens to him, we’ll fight you to the death!” Elodie wailed, “You heartless man! How could you do something so wicked? Use your connections and get Jerry out of this mess, or Wendy and the baby will be ruined!” The lead officer spoke firmly, “He’s involved in fraud, and we have solid evidence. We’re arresting him according to the law.” Wendy froze, her face a mask of disbelief. Richard and Elodie refused to back down. Richard turned to the officer and shouted, “You’ve got the wrong man! Jerry is a good kid. There’s no way he did this. Someone’s framing him!” Elodie echoed, “Yes! Someone must be out to get him. You can’t punish an innocent man!” I pulled out my own badge. The lead officer glanced at the initials on my bag and saluted me. After getting a brief rundown on Jerry’s crimes, I learned he had been involved in fraud for quite some time, making off with millions of dollars. The evidence was indisputable. I tried to calm Wendy and her parents. But Wendy flung herself at me, clawing and hitting. “You’re lying! Jerry is a good man. You’re just jealous! You framed him! “If you don’t help him, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!” Richard trembled with fury, pointing his finger in my face again. “Don’t pretend to be a good guy! You just can’t stand to see Wendy happy. “If you don’t get Jerry out of this, I’ll raise hell at your workplace and make sure you lose your job!” Elodie chimed in, “Exactly! You heartless man! Wendy must have been blind to marry you. If you don’t help, this isn’t over!” Just as I was about to respond, I received an urgent call summoning me to a meeting, bringing the confrontation to a temporary halt. Memories swirled in my mind as I gazed at Wendy, cradling the child in her arms. I stayed silent for a long moment.

She didn’t bother looking up, casting a disdainful glance my way. “In a few days, you’ll come with me to a class reunion. You’ll say you’re my bodyguard. “Look at how tanned you’ve gotten from all that training, like a lump of coal. How can I bring you along? You’ll embarrass me.” For someone like me, who trained outdoors every day, getting tanned was completely normal. I looked at Wendy, barely able to believe she could make such a ridiculous demand. Still, to let her face reality once and for all, and to put an end to this failed marriage, I silently nodded in agreement. On the day of the reunion, Wendy dressed to the nines in luxurious designer clothes. Holding our child in her arms, she glanced at me impatiently, her eyes filled with disdain. In a sharp tone, she said, “Keep up. Don’t dawdle and embarrass me. “Remember, you’re just a bodyguard. Keep your mouth shut. “You’re lucky I even let you come.” I remained silent, my expression calm, though inside, my emotions were surging like a storm. I followed her into the venue. As soon as we entered, the classmates’ eyes immediately turned to us. They first noticed the adorable, doll-like child in Wendy’s arms, then her glamorous appearance. Their gazes brimmed with curiosity and envy. A female classmate was the first to speak. “Wendy, it’s been years! You’ve really changed. Your child is so big now! Where’s the father?” Wendy lifted her chin with pride, her eyes glinting with vanity. She deliberately lowered her voice, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. “The child’s father is a bit busy and couldn’t make it. “But you all probably know him, Jerry. He’s in business, and he’s pretty capable.” The room buzzed with exclamations as the classmates surrounded her with praise. “Wendy, you’ve really got it made! Married into a wealthy family, huh?” “Exactly! You’ve got to take care of us in the future!” Basking in their flattery, Wendy’s head tilted slightly upward, her expression filled with arrogance. She sneered and said sharply, “Oh, you all need to work harder. Not everyone’s as lucky as me, stumbling into a life like this. “Some people, no matter how much they struggle, will amount to nothing.” Just as she reveled in her smugness, the phones of her classmates began pinging with notifications one after another. They checked their phones in confusion, their expressions growing increasingly strange. Wendy noticed the shift and frowned. “What’s going on?” No one answered her. They only looked at her with an odd mix of shock and disdain. I knew exactly what was happening. The evidence of her infidelity, which I had anonymously sent to each classmate, was finally making an impact. The photos and chat records were being displayed on their screens, one by one. Finally, a classmate couldn’t hold back and asked, “Wendy, what’s this all about? Are these things true?” Wendy’s face turned ashen in an instant. Her lips trembled, and she looked around in panic. She screamed, “This is a setup! Someone’s framing me! It’s all fake, completely fake!” But the murmurs among the classmates grew louder. “I can’t believe she’s this kind of person.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295570”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

My wife’s assistant, Chris Green, suddenly posted a tweet saying that he no longer wanted to continue this unclear relationship. Yolanda Bowers, my usually indifferent wife, suddenly looked panicked. She rushed home and said to me. “Chris has really made a big mess this time. Let’s pretend to divorce for now. You can go back to your hometown for a couple of days, and when you come back, we can remarry, okay? “Don’t worry, it’s just a fake divorce. You, Matthew Castro, are still my true husband!” Seeing the urgency in her face, I nodded. But what she didn’t know was that my fate had already been tied to hers by the system. If I divorced her, I would leave this world forever and would never see her again. After I agreed, Yolanda took me straight to the courthouse. I remembered the last time I told her I wanted a snack. She took a few minutes to get it from the snack cupboard. At the courthouse, she held my hand tightly and said, “Matthew, trust me. Just seven days. I just need to calm him down for seven days, and then we can remarry, okay? “Once I’ve sorted things out with him, you can have anything you want!” I numbly nodded. She smiled brightly and pulled out divorce gifts. The things I liked were laid out in front of me, but I didn’t want to look at them anymore. These were just her tools to get rid of me and be with her assistant. I didn’t accept them. I quietly walked out of the courthouse. Her lovers had never stopped, even after we got married. Her assistant always changed, but it was always a handsome young guy. I had argued with her, even begged her, but after she soothed me, she would still act as she pleased. Eventually, I stopped caring. It was her nature, and no matter what, she wouldn’t change. As long as she still considered me her husband, I could bear it. But this time, her assistant seemed different from the others. It seemed like she had really fallen for this young guy who had just graduated. She would spend lavishly just to make him happy, leave me at home while she traveled with him, and ignore my calls just to avoid upsetting Chris. Now, to make Chris happy, she even came home and begged me for a fake divorce, planning to hold a grand wedding for Chris. Her heart had long since stopped being with me. I walked side by side with her out of the courthouse, and Chris had been waiting outside for a while. As soon as he saw us come out, he hurried over to Yolanda. “Yolanda, you’re finally out! I’ve been waiting for you forever. Let’s go!” He ignored the dark look on Yolanda’s face and quickly turned to bow to me. “Thank you, Matthew. It’s because you left that I got this chance. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Yolanda!” Chris seemed ready to say more, but Yolanda stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. “Shut up! Didn’t I tell you to stay in the car and not come out? “If you ever pull this again, just leave!” Chris looked down, covering his face, his expression filled with grievance and anger. “Yolanda, haven’t you two divorced? Why are you still protecting him like this?” Yolanda pressed her hand on Chris’ face and shoved him away. “I’ve warned you about this already. Don’t make me say it again!” Chris seemed to feel Yolanda’s anger. He turned and left, his voice choking and trembling. Yolanda looked at him for a moment, reaching out as if to comfort him. But then she pulled back. She stood in front of me as if protecting me. Once, Yolanda promised that no matter how she acted with others, she would never bring trouble to me. But now, she was panicking. When Yolanda looked at me again, her face turned pale and flustered. She spoke carefully. “Matthew, I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect him to run over like that. “It’s probably my fault for spoiling him too much lately. I’ll make sure to teach him a lesson.” I shook my head to signal that it was fine. It was not like I haven’t seen more upsetting scenes, so this wasn’t something I cared about anymore. I spoke to Yolanda. “Since he’s here, you should go be with him. You don’t need to worry about me. “I’ll just take a cab back, pack my things, and head to another place.” Yolanda froze for a moment, then slowly regained her composure. “Matthew, if you want to go anywhere, I’ll pay for it. Just go and enjoy yourself.” I nodded without saying a word and continued walking toward the door. After leaving the courthouse, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in my mind. “Matthew, the system has detected that you are divorced and separated from Yolanda. The mission is complete! “In seven days, you will pass away from illness and leave this world!”

Eight years ago, while reading a novel at home, I accidentally traveled to this world. I was bound to a companion system and ended up by Yolanda’s side. The system told me I needed to accompany Yolanda for eight years or help her achieve success and happiness. In those eight years, Yolanda’s happiness had long reached its peak, and with my help, her company thrived, eventually becoming worth over one hundred million dollars. But despite completing the mission early, I didn’t leave. During those eight years, I truly fell in love with Yolanda. I couldn’t bring myself to leave her. The system had told me I only needed to stay with her for eight years, and then I could remain in this world. I thought I would stay by her side until the end of my life. But, with only seven days left until the eight years were up, Yolanda suddenly filed for divorce. On the final day of the eight years, I would be sent back to my original world. With seven days left, I checked into a hotel for the time being. On my way back, I noticed billboards everywhere, filled with pictures of Yolanda and Chris, looking all sweet and happy. Even the news was full of stories about Yolanda and Chris preparing to get married and hold a grand wedding. I watched the two of them in their wedding attire, full of happiness, and it suddenly hit me. No wonder Yolanda was in such a rush to get a divorce. She was preparing a surprise for her assistant. I remembered when I first arrived. I followed the system’s mission and found Yolanda, and when she saw me, she instantly fell in love with me. From that day on, she vowed that I would be the love of her life. To be with me, she said she would do anything. And she kept that promise. She cared for me in every possible way, and every detail of my life had Yolanda’s touch. Back then, I truly felt she saw me as the only person in her life. Yolanda’s family didn’t want her to marry someone like me, a man with nothing. To get their approval for our marriage, she starved herself for three days and nights, and only then did her parents agree. At the wedding, she held my hand and swore to the heavens. “I, Yolanda, will love Matthew for life, forever and always!” But she didn’t keep that promise. I had just lay down when, without warning, blood suddenly surged up my throat. Seeing the blood on the sheets, I rushed to the hospital. It seemed that the illness the system planned for me over these seven days was going to be hard to endure. Surprisingly, the hospital couldn’t figure out what was wrong and just gave me some painkillers before sending me home. I couldn’t help but wonder how Yolanda would look when I finally passed away. The expression on her face would surely be something to behold. Of course, before I die, there was one more thing I need to do. I want to tell her parents to rest well and not to mourn for me. In this strange foreign world, they were the only ones who still treated me like family. Since my condition was beyond saving, I felt it was time they knew. Before I even reached Yolanda’s father’s house, I saw through the window that Yolanda had Chris behind her, glaring angrily. “Mom, Dad, Matthew has been busy lately, so I brought my assistant to visit you. You don’t need to throw the gifts!” Yolanda’s father pointed at her and cursed. “How could you! I’ve told you. I only accept Matthew as your husband! “Tell that damn Chris to get out! Get out of here now!” Yolanda’s mother was even more furious, clutching her chest as her face turned pale. “Your father’s right. Take him and leave! “Yolanda, Matthew has never wronged you!” Watching this scene, I felt a slight warmth in my heart. It was once Yolanda’s parents who refused to let me marry her, only agreeing after she starved for three days and nights. Later, to earn their approval, I often visited, cooked for them, and looked after their health. They slowly began to treat me like their own son. “I already discussed it with Matthew, and he agreed. “I’m not asking you to accept him. I just wanted him to meet you. Is that too much to ask? “Chris, let’s go!” Yolanda’s face turned red with anger, and she pulled Chris toward the door. This scene was almost identical to when she fought for me, back when she would do anything for me. But now, things have changed. I placed my medical report at the door and prepared to leave. Just as I was about to step out, Yolanda suddenly saw me, her expression paling instantly. “Matthew?”

Yolanda’s eyes flickered with panic. She probably didn’t expect to run into me here. But I just left the report at the door, turned around, and walked out without saying another word. It wasn’t until I was almost home that I received a message from Yolanda. [Matthew, I only brought Chris home today to introduce him to my parents.] [He kept insisting on a wedding, so I just let him meet my parents.] [But don’t worry, it’s just a fake wedding. You’re still my husband!] She typed quickly, as though she had been waiting to say this for a while, and the words came pouring out. This message certainly came later than the idea of a wedding. I didn’t know how long she had been planning the wedding with Chris. I also didn’t know how long I had stopped being her husband in her heart. All I knew was that in five days, I would never have to see Yolanda again. I wandered aimlessly down the street, my feet instinctively carrying me toward the café where Yolanda and I used to go on dates. Everything inside the café felt so familiar. But now, the two people sitting at the bar drinking coffee were Yolanda and Chris. He held a glass of wine, his arm around her. Both of them flushed, their eyes full of desire. “Come on, Yolanda, let’s drink another toast.” A toast? I stared at the two of them, my mind scrambling to remember this gesture. The memory shot back to our wedding day when Yolanda looked at me in her pure white wedding dress, her eyes full of love and gratitude. But after that day, we never had the desire to share a toast. I had tried countless times, but all I got in return was rejection. Yolanda refused to drink even a single glass of wine in front of me, but with Chris, she drank glass after glass. The two of them were completely engrossed in their interaction, not noticing me sitting nearby, but the coffee shop owner did. His gaze shifted between me and the couple, confusion and shock filling his eyes. Maybe, to others, we appeared like a happy couple, but only I knew how torturous this marriage really was. Chris followed the owner’s gaze and immediately furrowed his brow when he saw me. He set down his drink and walked over, his voice tinged with frustration. “Matthew, I just asked Yolanda to spend a few days with me. You don’t have to act like this! “I swear, I’m not trying to take Yolanda away from you. Please, just let us have a few more days together. Just a few, I beg you! “After that, I won’t bother you two anymore!” Yolanda, seeing me, had the flush of alcohol and desire fade from her face in an instant. “Chris, be a bit more polite to Matthew. Stop making a scene!” Hearing Yolanda’s words, Chris looked down and quietly returned to the bar, sipping his drink. Yolanda’s brow furrowed tightly as she gripped my hand a little too forcefully. “Honey, I’ve told you. He won’t shake your place in my heart. You’ll always be my husband! “After this fake marriage is over, we can remarry, okay? “But right now, just leave us alone. Don’t show up here again, alright?” Her voice grew louder and more desperate, almost turning into a scream. I wasn’t angry, nor was I pleading. Just like when she told me she wanted a fake divorce, I quietly nodded and turned to leave. Yolanda still wanted to say something, but seeing my silent demeanor, she opened her mouth and couldn’t get a word out. The greatest sorrow was when one’s heart died. When one gave up on someone, even the desire to be angry at them vanished. For the next few days, I stayed home, as the condition the system gave me kept me bedridden. Then, I received a message from Chris. [Matthew, today is the wedding between Yolanda and me. Are you coming?]

My legs were weak from the system’s condition, making walking difficult. I had to use a cane to get to their wedding. I couldn’t really describe my feelings about attending their wedding, but I thought it would be interesting if I collapsed in front of them. Most of the people at the wedding were Yolanda’s friends and family, and as an outsider in this world, I had no one to talk to. In this world, Yolanda was my everything. The guests looked at me with various expressions, some mocking, some pitying, others with disdain. I had seen too many of those looks already, and I had become immune to them. The internet was flooded with news about their wedding, and as Yolanda’s ex-husband, I was being discussed by countless netizens. I walked slowly through the wedding venue, taking in the surroundings. The couple stood in front of an arch of flowers, greeting their guests, all of whom had once blessed Yolanda and me. I couldn’t help but wonder how they would mock me today. I gave a self-deprecating smile. This was all my own doing. Behind the wedding stage, there was a deep blue lake with fluffy, cotton-like clouds drifting above it. The lawn was covered with Chris’ favorite white roses, and countless blooms surrounded Yolanda, who stood there in a beautiful wedding dress. When Yolanda married me, our wedding was simple. We were poor back then and had nothing. Yolanda had told me that she wanted a wedding like this. I promised her that once we had enough money, I would give her the perfect wedding she had always dreamed of. But we had just started making money, and before I could fulfill my promise, she was about to marry another man. Everything here was exactly what Chris liked, and everything here was bought with the money that Yolanda and I had earned together. Yolanda walked slowly toward Chris in her wedding dress, her face glowing with a happy smile as she looked at him. “Chris! You don’t know how many times I’ve imagined this moment!” Tears of joy welled up in Yolanda’s eyes as she gazed at him with deep affection. “Chris, marrying you has always been my dream, and today, I’ve finally made my dream come true! “My love!” Chris, too, shed tears, but his eyes were filled with ambition and smugness. “Yolanda, the moment I first met you, I fell hopelessly in love with you. Marrying you has been my dream for life!” After sharing their feelings, they embraced each other tightly. The crowd cheered, offering their blessings for the couple to be together forever. Eleven years ago, they had done the same for me. The atmosphere was filled with excitement, everyone eager to offer their well wishes to the newlyweds. I sat in the audience, watching the beautiful scene unfold, tears streaming down my face. Suddenly, Chris spotted me from the stage. He probably didn’t expect that I would actually show up, and a sly grin appeared on his face. He tapped the microphone to quiet the crowd and fixed his gaze on me. “I owe a lot to one person for being able to marry Yolanda.” All eyes turned to me as they had already read about me in the gossip columns. Everyone knew I was Yolanda’s ex-husband. They were all waiting to see what I would say, what kind of spectacle I would make at my ex-wife’s wedding. I looked toward Yolanda, but all I saw on her face was panic and unease. She quickly grabbed the microphone from Chris’ hand and whispered something in his ear, but her words were still loud enough for everyone to hear. “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you not to provoke Matthew?” She turned around and looked at me, her eyes pleading. After being married to her for so many years, I knew exactly what that look meant. It was a silent plea for me not to say anything that would embarrass her. After all, she had planned this wedding for so long, and she didn’t want anything to ruin it. I gave a self-deprecating smile. I had taken care of her for so long, but she couldn’t even spare me the last shred of sympathy. She knew full well that I would be ridiculed when I stepped onto that stage. Amidst the boos and applause, I made my way to the stage and grabbed the microphone.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295586”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #励志Inspiring

Nine months into my pregnancy, my husband’s first love, Evelyn, moved into our house under some pretext. Every time she saw me, she would clutch her chest, feigning heartache. My husband, Alexander, was convinced that I was deliberately flaunting my pregnancy to upset Evelyn. “Evelyn is too weak to bear children! You’re constantly showing off your baby bump in front of her to provoke her! Looks like you won’t learn your lesson unless I teach you one!” He ordered his men to lock me in the long-abandoned attic and forbade anyone from bringing me food. I struggled and begged, telling him that the ultrasound showed the twins were too large, and the doctor had advised me to be admitted to the hospital today for delivery. But he laughed as if he had heard a joke, his voice as cold as ice shards: “Your due date isn’t for another three days! Stop playing the victim! Go to the attic and reflect on your actions! This is what you get for upsetting Evelyn!” My contractions were so painful that I broke my nails clawing at the door, but no one came to open it. My agonizing screams echoed in the attic for a long time. Until I was lying in a pool of blood, with the unformed fetuses still stuck in the bloody hole between my legs. Three days later, Alexander, sipping a bowl of rice porridge that didn’t suit his taste, said: “Tell Lily to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then apologize to Evelyn. If her attitude is sincere, send her to the hospital to give birth.” No one dared to respond. Because the blood from the attic had already spread to the second step of the stairs. …

“Why isn’t that jealous woman Lily wailing anymore?” “Sir… could something have happened to Mrs. Frost? Last night, her screams were heart-wrenching, she sounded like she was in terrible pain…” Alexander took a sip of porridge, snorting dismissively. “No one knows Lily better than I do. She’s just putting on an act! This time I must teach her a lesson so she won’t dare to provoke Evelyn again!” The butler glanced towards the attic, hesitating before speaking: “But Mrs. Frost is carrying twins, and the doctor said she needed to be admitted to the hospital early…” Alexander paused mid-sip, his expression softening slightly. “Is that so?” He stirred his porridge for a while, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: “Fine, tell Lily to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then get over here and apologize to Evelyn! Today is her due date, if her apology is sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital.” Alexander heated up a cup of milk and walked into the guest room. On the bed, Evelyn’s breathing was steady, the blanket had slipped down to her shoulders, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her chest. Alexander’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared at her for a long moment before reluctantly tearing his gaze away. He bent down and placed a kiss on her lips. Evelyn slowly opened her eyes, stretching languidly, and pouted coyly: “Brother Alex~ You’re bullying me again~” Alexander parted his legs to let Evelyn sit in his lap, his fingers idly massaging her waist. “Who could resist when you sleep like that?” Evelyn buried her head in Alexander’s chest, letting out a few contented murmurs. “But, sister Lily is working hard carrying your child. We’re both women, I can’t let you betray her when she’s at her most vulnerable!” Suddenly, as if remembering something, she looked up anxiously: “Last night, sister Lily was screaming so loudly, is she going into labor? Sigh… Even though it hurts to hear sister Lily in such pain, I’m envious! Being able to carry Brother Alex’s baby, even if childbirth is painful, it would be sweet happiness for me.” Sweet happiness? By now, I had already become a ghost floating beside them. On the attic floor, red blood had spread across the entire room. On the walls were deep scratches I had made in my intense pain, with bits of fingernails and flesh still clinging to them.

Not to mention how I had torn myself apart down there trying to give birth to the children. When I pulled out the first child, it was already not breathing. Blood gushed from the gaping wound between my legs, and the second child became stuck in the torn, bloody hole. With blood matting my hair, I held the blood-covered fetus, my eyes wide open as I stopped breathing. I wonder how Alexander will react when he sees this scene? But for now, he was only focused on holding Evelyn close. His voice was full of guilt and self-reproach: “It’s my fault! I shouldn’t have let the pregnant Lily appear in front of you and make you sad! I swear, this is the last time that woman will carry a child for me! You won’t see any more pregnant women in this house in the future.” “You don’t know, Lily even lied to me to try to soften my heart, saying she was afraid the babies were too big and might cause a difficult delivery, and that the doctor recommended immediate hospitalization.” “She can survive in the wilderness for three days and nights without food, yet she tells me she’s afraid of giving birth!” My heart ached, almost unable to breathe. A pregnant woman’s constitution is far different from a normal person’s, let alone the fact that from the day I became pregnant with twins, the discomforts of pregnancy had nearly exhausted me. Several times, due to my poor pregnancy constitution, I had even been hospitalized to prevent miscarriage. When I was first locked in the attic, I begged and pleaded with him to let me out. Because if I was really locked up for three days, it would surely result in three deaths! But Alexander, right in front of me, loudly instructed the butler: “Go! Throw the key into a stinking river, and don’t let anyone secretly open the door for Lily! After three days, I want her to kneel and apologize to Evelyn!” To survive, I tore down the wall paintings, piercing my hands with blood, and to pry open the attic window, my nails were forcibly broken off. Enduring the excruciating pain, I mustered my strength to climb out of the window onto the rain gutter outside, gripping the tiles tightly with my hands, inching along bit by bit, trying to jump to another room to escape. But then. In the garden below, Alexander was forcefully holding Evelyn in a deep embrace, kissing her passionately. The two were kissing so recklessly, it looked like things were about to get out of hand. Evelyn suddenly pushed Alexander away, looked up towards the attic, and let out a piercing scream. Alexander raised his head, saw me desperately trying to escape, and flew into a rage. He was convinced that I had deliberately appeared in front of Evelyn again. He ordered someone to bring a crane, and personally operated it, using the shovel to press against my belly, forcibly ramming me back into the attic. Intense pain shot through my abdomen, and blood seemed to flow endlessly from between my legs. In the end, my eyes were wide open, holding the blood-covered children in my arms. And that’s how I stopped breathing. Alexander brought the cup of warm milk to Evelyn’s lips. “I’ve already sent someone to bring Lily over to apologize to you. If she’s sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital. If not, she can give birth in the attic!” Evelyn sipped the milk in small mouthfuls, but still choked a little, coughing with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful and delicate. “Brother Alex, you can’t treat sister Lily like this. Childbirth is very dangerous for women!” Alexander sighed, looking at the girl in his arms with doting eyes: “You’re just too kind-hearted, that’s why you get bullied by women like Lily! Lily is a survival expert, she can survive for three days without food or water in the wild! You, on the other hand, little one, are so delicate you choke on a sip of milk.” He gently tapped her nose: “And you talk about childbirth being dangerous as if you’ve given birth before!” Evelyn’s eyes flashed with panic for a moment, but she quickly lowered her head, her voice tinged with grievance: “Only Brother Alex… can see through the fragile heart beneath Evelyn’s strong exterior…” She looked up again, her eyes misty, her lips bitten to a glossy sheen. She hooked her arms around Alexander’s neck, deliberately pressing her chest against his heart.

Alexander could no longer resist, kissing her with heavy breaths as Evelyn softly murmured. Their lips entwined fiercely, and they began to hungrily demand more from each other’s bodies. But at the last moment, Evelyn suddenly pushed away the heavily panting man: “We can’t, you’re a married man now, and sister Lily is carrying your child. Evelyn doesn’t want to be a homewrecker!” Alexander’s eyes were burning with desire, his voice hoarse: “Alright, I, Alexander, will never betray Evelyn’s true heart! Wait for me a little longer! Only when I’m clean and free will I be worthy of touching someone as pure as you!” With that, he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, as if cherishing a priceless treasure. A flash of triumph gleamed in Evelyn’s eyes. Alexander couldn’t see it, but I could. Not wanting to be a homewrecker? I found it ridiculous, laughable! Then what about the many times she came to me, brazenly saying that even though I was pregnant, I was just paving the way for her, and that even the children I gave birth to would call her “mom” in the future? What does that count as? Using the poor excuse of being sick with no one to take care of her to move into my home. Openly flirting with Alexander at the dinner table, to the point where even the house cook couldn’t stand it and made a few sarcastic remarks about her. She immediately tattled to Alexander, saying the cook didn’t wash the ingredients properly, causing her to get gastroenteritis, and demanded the cook be fired. At that time, I had no appetite due to my pregnancy, and only the food made by this cook suited my taste. Out of hospitality, I approached her and offered to hire another chef to cook for her, but she slapped me across the face. “It doesn’t matter if the food tastes good or not, what matters is knowing who the real mistress of the house is! Lily, I just want to tell you, there’s only one Mrs. Frost, and that’s me, Evelyn!” To prove that she would be Mrs. Frost, she curled up in Alexander’s arms like a kitten, whimpering and sobbing. Crying that she was unfortunate, that she couldn’t bear children for him in this lifetime. And seeing me with my pregnant belly every day inevitably made her feel lost and heartbroken. “I’ve already tried my best to avoid sister Lily, but I still can’t help running into her every day! I should move out! Evelyn can’t live in such pain every day, it’s making me so unhappy!” Alexander lost control of his emotions in an instant, his face turning cold as he rushed over and slapped me to the ground. “You know very well that Evelyn gets upset just by seeing pregnant women, yet you still parade around with your big belly in front of her every day! What are you trying to do!” “Such a vicious woman! You don’t deserve to be a mother! Today I’m going to lock you in the attic! Let you have a taste of suffering!” Several bodyguards grabbed my limbs and threw me into the dust-covered attic. “The doctor told me to go to the hospital today for delivery! If I go to the hospital, she won’t see me either!” I desperately clung to the doorframe, pleading tearfully. Alexander sneered: “If you’re going to lie, at least get your facts straight. Your due date isn’t for another three days!” He no longer listened to any of my protests and slammed the door shut. My fingers were caught in the door, the sudden, piercing pain making me curl up and retract my fingers, unable to say anything more. Alexander looked on with satisfaction and locked the attic door. And now, as the two of them were still passionately entangled, the butler came running, out of breath and panicked: “Madam… Madam is gone!” “Gone?!” Alexander suddenly raised his head, looking annoyed at having his mood disturbed. The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying fearfully: “The attic is full of blood… Madam… she…” He dared not continue. Alexander straightened his rumpled shirt. “What blood? Oh, she’s probably just spotting, is she going into labor? Send her to the hospital.”

The butler swallowed hard and forced himself to continue: “Madam… she’s not breathing…” There was a hint of panic in Alexander’s voice, but just as I tried to listen more closely, his tone became harsh again. “Acting! She’s still acting! I want to see how long she can keep this up!” “She’s survived in much harsher conditions in the wilderness, she can hold her breath underwater for over ten minutes! She’s just trying to fool you all because you don’t have any medical knowledge! She’s holding her breath to scare you! Call my private doctor, I want to expose her tricks in person!” The butler’s eyes widened, “Mr. Frost, Madam’s children are…” “Who do you listen to?!” Alexander impatiently interrupted him. “Am I the one paying your salary or is that woman?” “Yes… I’ll go call the doctor right away…” The butler sighed helplessly before leaving. Evelyn softly pressed herself against Alexander. “Brother Alex, don’t be angry. Anger is bad for your health.” “That woman Lily is just good at winning people over! It’s only been a few years, and she’s already acting like she runs this house!” Alexander’s words were like a slap, waking me from my delusions. In just three short years, he had already forgotten his promises from the past. On our wedding day, Alexander had looked at me with eyes full of love and said, “This is your home now, and from now on, you’ll be the only mistress of this house.” Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Just moments ago, I had foolishly imagined that if Alexander knew I had died from complications during childbirth, He might feel a bit of regret and guilt… How ridiculous I am now, and how stupid I was then. I actually believed Alexander when he said he would love me forever. Back then, Alexander and Evelyn were childhood sweethearts in an arranged marriage between prominent families. But Evelyn unexpectedly discovered that due to health reasons, she couldn’t conceive naturally. So she left for a foreign country without looking back, cutting off all contact with Alexander. She kept saying that as the sole heir to the Frost family, she couldn’t bear to marry Alexander and end his bloodline. To forget the pain of their breakup, Alexander joined a wilderness exploration team. And I happened to be the team leader. Later, when he proposed to me, he said I was brave and strong, the embodiment of all that was good in the world. I was his guiding light in his darkest times, the one he knew instantly was his soulmate. After we got married, he felt that wilderness exploration was too dangerous. So he asked me to quit my job and stay at home to prepare for pregnancy, to give the Frost family an heir. But during those days when Alexander had broken up with Evelyn, he had been drinking heavily and staying up late, which had severely weakened his body. Under the pressure from the Frost elders to produce an heir, I worked on improving his health while actively trying to get pregnant. Finally, in the third year of our marriage, I successfully became pregnant with twins. The Frost elders were so delighted that they immediately held a press conference, declaring that the children I would give birth to would be the sole heirs to the Frost Group. It was at this time that Evelyn returned to the country. And she brought back a statement: “I have no interest in inheriting the company. As long as I can be with Alex, Evelyn will be satisfied for this lifetime.” Alexander began staying out all night, his white shirts stained with indelible red lipstick marks. I decisively brought up divorce, but Alexander said the children in my womb were the heirs to the Frost Group, and he wouldn’t let me go. He also said Evelyn was sick and needed someone to take care of her, so he brought her to live in our home. And because Evelyn couldn’t have children and couldn’t bear to see pregnant women with big bellies, he locked me, who was about to reach my due date, in the abandoned attic. Alexander truly deserves to rot in hell! The doctor arrived quickly. As Alexander’s personal friend, Dr. James had always been in charge of Alexander’s health management. Alexander followed behind Dr. James with his arms crossed, fuming, “Lily, let’s see how much longer you can keep up this act!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295602”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic