Category: English

The first thing I did after my rebirth was bind my daughter Zoey Morgan to a pain-exchange system with a pig that was about to die from illness. I did this because in my previous life, Zoey was born with a disease that made her skin as fragile as paper. Her entire body was covered in festering, oozing sores, and even her throat was filled with blisters. She cried in agony all night long from the pain. Back then, I quit my job and spent every day changing Zoey’s bandages, helping her eat, drink, and use the bathroom. Watching her lie in that hospital bed, suffering so much she didn’t want to live, broke my heart so completely I nearly cried myself blind. Until one day, my husband Alexander Morgan told me he’d found a pain-exchange system that could save Zoey. However, this system could only be bound to women. To save Zoey, I didn’t hesitate to bind with the system and transferred all her festering wounds onto my own body. But just as I was celebrating Zoey’s return to health, Alexander brought a woman named Bella Chavez right in front of me. He said, “The person I’ve always loved is Bella. If it weren’t for Zoey being sick and needing you to bind with the exchange system, do you think I would’ve even looked at you, let alone married you? Only bindable to women? That was all a lie I told you, you fool.” I was absolutely shocked, but I still dragged my disease-ridden body to protect Zoey, terrified that Alexander’s mistress might hurt her. But Zoey kicked me to the ground in disgust and stood alongside Alexander’s mistress. She said, “Someone with rotting, oozing skin like you thinks she deserves to be my mom? You still don’t know, do you? Your real daughter was thrown away by Dad the night she was born and replaced with me. To make you willingly bind with my system, I had to stomach calling you ‘Mom’ for over ten years.” Later, they abandoned me in an old house and left me to starve to death. Before I died, maggots crawled all over my entire body. But when I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment when Alexander was trying to convince me to bind with Zoey’s pain-exchange system. ***** That familiar voice rang in my ears: “Abigail, this pain-exchange system took me so much effort to find. This is our only way to save Zoey. It’s just that you’ll have to suffer for it.” Abigail Sanchez is my name. Alexander looked at me with fake, anxious eyes, waiting for me to nod in agreement. Looking at his hypocritical act filled me with rage. This was exactly how he’d been in my previous life. When Zoey’s critical condition landed her in the ICU, Alexander pretended to be so anxious he had a brain hemorrhage and was also hospitalized. Before going into surgery, while I was panicking, he suggested I bind with the pain-exchange system, saying it was the only way to save Zoey. Back then, to restore Zoey’s health, I bound with the system. But what was the result? I let out a cold laugh, looked at Alexander, and asked, “Zoey isn’t just my child. What gives you the right to make me bind with the system?” Alexander hadn’t expected me to refuse. After all, to care for Zoey, I’d even quit my great job as a company manager, and I usually treated Zoey like my life itself, unable to bear seeing her suffer even a little. But he quickly regained his composure and pulled out his prepared excuse: “You and Zoey are both the people I love most. I can’t bear to see either of you suffer. Do you think I want you to bind with it? It’s just that this damn system can only bind to women. I have no choice.” I said coldly, “Really? Such an advanced system would also favor men over women? Maybe it’s lying to you.” I walked to Alexander’s hospital bed and snatched the vial of blood from his hands, preparing to drip it into his mouth. The binding procedure for the pain-exchange system was simple—you just had to drink blood from near Zoey’s heart. Alexander’s face went pale with terror, and for a moment he forgot to dodge. It wasn’t until I grabbed his chin, ready to force-feed him the blood, that he suddenly rolled off the bed and frantically wiped his mouth, terrified of actually drinking Zoey’s blood. “Are you trying to kill me?” Alexander said angrily. I looked at him mockingly: “What are you afraid of? Didn’t you say this system can only bind to women?” Alexander’s face was ashen as he stammered, “I’m afraid of wasting Zoey’s blood. Zoey’s body is very weak. Her blood is precious.” Afraid I might cause more trouble, Alexander quickly scolded me: “I’ve never seen a mother like you. Zoey is lying in that hospital bed barely hanging on. Faced with the only chance to save her, you still have the heart to mess around. I think you’re deliberately trying to kill her. “I’ve long felt that you don’t care about Zoey or this family. Do you think Zoey is holding you back? Have you been wanting to find another man and have a healthy child? “Anyway, Zoey’s disease can’t be cured. If you as her mother don’t want to save her, I won’t care anymore either. When she dies from her illness, I’ll divorce you, you vicious woman. If you want to have more children, go ahead. My daughter and I won’t burden you.” In the past, when I was successful in my career, Alexander had used this kind of psychological manipulation on me. Back then, my heart felt sour and guilty, thinking I really hadn’t done enough, so I gave up my good job and quit to care for Zoey. Because of her illness, Zoey often threw tantrums. After screaming at me each time, she would hug me and cry while apologizing, saying in her sweet voice, “In this world, I love Mommy the most.” I was psychologically controlled by her sweet poison for over ten years, and I cared for her for over ten years. Thinking about it now, I realize they were both equally selfish and cruel. Alexander urgently pressed me: “Hey, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and bind with the system! Do you really want to watch Zoey die from her illness?” His voice pulled me back from my wandering thoughts. I looked at him and gave him a gentle smile: “Alright. I’ll go bind with it right now.” Alexander had just handed me the blood vial when he was wheeled into the operating room. He didn’t watch me drink Zoey’s blood, so he wouldn’t know that I immediately took the vial to a pig farm on the outskirts of town. I asked the pig farm owner, “Do you have any pigs here that are about to die from illness?”

I had just left the pig farm when I received a call from Zoey. She was crying on the phone, saying she missed me and asking if I could come back to be with her. Zoey said over the phone: “Mom, I feel so awful. Can you please come back and see me? I’m sorry, Mom. I know you’re already exhausted, and I shouldn’t be bothering you like this. But I really miss you so much. I don’t want to be separated from you. “Mom, I’m in so much pain. Am I going to die? But I haven’t been able to take care of you yet. I really don’t want to die. I want to stay with you forever and make you happy.” Hearing these heartbreakingly mature words, I took a deep breath, feeling a sharp pain in my chest like needles piercing my heart. I had raised Zoey for over ten years. She was born without intact skin, and even the slightest movement could cause her body to fester and ooze pus. I had always taken careful care of her. When she was little and couldn’t drink milk, I fed her drop by drop with a straw. As she grew older and cried in pain every day, I applied medicine to her wounds over and over again. Seeing how hard I worked, Zoey would touch my face with her tiny hands, saying she felt sorry for me and swearing that she would treat me well in the future so I wouldn’t have to work so hard anymore. I had loved and protected her with all my might. But why did I end up raising someone who didn’t know how to be grateful? Fortunately, from now on, I would never have to endure her bad temper again or suffer for her sake. When I arrived at the hospital, there was another woman standing by Zoey’s bedside. I immediately recognized her as Alexander’s mistress and Zoey’s biological mother, Bella. Seeing me walk in, Zoey, who had just been chatting happily with Bella, immediately pushed Bella away and looked at me with a few tears in her eyes. She said: “Mom, you’re finally here. Dad said you don’t care about me and don’t take good care of me, so he specifically found a woman. He also said that if you don’t work harder to find a way to cure my illness, he’ll divorce you and let Ms. Chavez be my mom. “I don’t want anyone else to be my mom. Besides, I believe you’ll definitely find a way to cure my illness. After all, you’re the person who loves me most in the world.” If this had been before, I would have been moved by Zoey’s understanding while thanking Bella for helping, just like every time in my previous life, being manipulated by these three terrible people. But this time, I just smiled coldly. I said: “Fine. Anyway, you’ve already bound to the exchange system, so you won’t need me anymore. You can let whoever you want be your mom.” Hearing my words, Zoey’s eyes widened with excitement. She asked: “Really? You really helped me bind to the system? All these disgusting ulcers and green pus on my body will transfer to you?” After saying this, Zoey seemed to realize she was too excited, so she coughed and then put on a frail appearance. She said: “All these years, you haven’t worked at all, eating my dad’s food, drinking what he provides—you might as well have been sucking his blood. If you hadn’t refused to earn money, Dad wouldn’t have been so exhausted that he had a brain hemorrhage this time. “Mom, I don’t mean anything by it. I’m also very grateful that you’ve taken care of me all these years. It’s just that I think Dad is very pitiful. I feel sorry for him.” I almost burst out laughing from anger. Alexander was pitiful? When I married Alexander, I already had a successful career and achievements. The house and car were both bought with my own money before marriage. For the following ten-plus years, I had been living off my previous savings and never asked Alexander for a single cent. But what about Alexander? He took away my healthy biological daughter and abandoned her, forcing me to quit my job to take care of the child he had with his mistress. All these years, he never took care of Zoey for even a single day. I had been too tolerant and generous with them, so much so that they ate my food, used my things, and still scolded me, saying I was spending their money. I looked at Zoey coldly and said: “The system just got bound, and you’re already feeling sorry for your dad who never did anything? Aren’t you afraid that in the end, your illness won’t be cured and you’ll be crying and begging me to take care of you?” Zoey and Bella exchanged glances, then both burst into laughter. Zoey, who had always been obedient and understanding, now seemed like a completely different person. She looked at me with a mocking expression and said: “Beg you? Don’t be ridiculous! Once the system is bound, the illness on my body will gradually transfer to yours. Me beg you? When the time comes, you’ll be the one begging me! “Mom, the person Dad likes isn’t you at all. He’s been with you all these years—that’s already more than you deserve. Why don’t you just help Dad and Ms. Chavez be together?” Bella, who had been silent until now, also said mockingly: “If you don’t divorce Alexander, he’ll be your primary guardian. When you’ve transferred all of Zoey’s illness and can only lie in bed, he won’t care about you at all—he’ll just let you die in agony. “If you don’t want to die, you’d better divorce quickly and not take any assets with you. Leave all that money to Zoey as compensation.”

I honestly have no idea what I’m supposed to compensate Zoey for. And I certainly won’t give up everything I’ve worked so hard for just to walk away with nothing. However, after binding with the system, Zoey seems convinced she’s guaranteed to win. Despite her body still being covered in festering wounds, she acts as if she’s already recovered, rushing to discharge herself from the hospital and running around having fun with her rotting skin. Bella and Alexander have stopped hiding their relationship too. Bella moved directly into Alexander’s hospital room. The two of them act like husband and wife, living it up in the ward. They’re too busy enjoying themselves to care about Zoey. As a result, on her first day out of the hospital, Zoey crashed while street racing and tore up another large patch of skin. In the past, I would have frantically applied medicine to Zoey’s wounds and never allowed her to do such dangerous things. But now, if she wants to kill herself, I’m not going to stop her. Soon enough, Zoey was covered in injuries again and back in the hospital. What I didn’t expect was that Alexander and Bella would have the nerve to come asking me for money. Alexander said, “Zoey isn’t just my child. She needs a huge sum for medical expenses now that she’s hospitalized. You need to figure out how to come up with the money.” I looked at Alexander in amazement and said, “I already helped Zoey bind with the system. I’ve done more than enough for her. What gives you the right to demand I pay her medical bills too? Besides, she deserves every one of those injuries.” After hearing my words, Alexander rolled his eyes. “You’re her mother. Isn’t it your duty to sacrifice for her? What kind of mother keeps score of how much she’s given her daughter? Abigail, if you’re going to be this selfish, let’s get divorced!” Before I could get excited about the prospect of divorce, Alexander quickly added, “Zoey says she wants to live with me. Don’t think you’ll get custody of her. And you won’t get a single cent either. Otherwise, I won’t let you see Zoey for the rest of your life.” Alexander thought this would scare me. After all, for the past dozen Christmases, my love for Zoey had run deep. But I just looked at him coldly and said, “Are you living in the house I bought before marriage and driving the car I bought before marriage, and now you’re so smug you’ve forgotten what a useless person you are? You think I won’t get a single cent? Fine by me. We don’t have any joint assets anyway.” Alexander was stunned, his expression turning ugly. He said, “You want to take back the car and house? I don’t agree. Abigail, Zoey’s condition just improved and she needs to recuperate. Do you really have the heart to make her suffer?” Now he’s trying to guilt-trip me? I almost laughed from anger and said, “You don’t seriously think Zoey can survive just because she bound with the system, do you? What right does someone so heartless and ungrateful have to live?” But as soon as I finished speaking, a slap landed hard across my face. Turns out Zoey had arrived at some point. Her previously obedient demeanor had completely vanished, replaced by eyes full of hatred and venom as she glared at me. She said, “I’m ungrateful? I’ve been forcing myself to call you mom for over a dozen Christmases despite how disgusting it makes me feel. I’m practically the kindest person in the world.” As Zoey spoke, she grabbed a fruit knife from the table and pressed it against my throat. She said, “Let me tell you something. I’m still a minor. Even if I stab you to death right now, I won’t get the death penalty. If you’re smart, you’ll hand over the car and house to me right now. Otherwise, after you’re dead, I’ll inherit them anyway.” The knife tip was sharp. Blood dripped down my neck drop by drop. My heart pounded violently from fear, but not because I was afraid of dying. It was because I saw that the festering, oozing wounds on Zoey’s body had completely disappeared. Her skin had become smooth and delicate all over, clearly showing she had recovered her health. A terrible premonition immediately rose in my heart. I quickly looked down at my arm and discovered that ulcerated wounds had suddenly appeared on my skin. But I never bound with any system. Zoey should have died from her illness long ago. What went wrong? Why did Zoey suddenly recover? Why are wounds appearing on my body? Did the disease transfer system malfunction? Could it be that once again I can’t change my fate, and I’m still destined to die for Zoey’s sake?

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Nanny Lily Bell held a bottle of PQQ collagen drink, her face showing a mix of surprise and gratitude. She said, “Mrs. Gibson, PQQ collagen drinks are great for beauty and skincare—they make your skin look better. At my age, drinking it wouldn’t do much good. You should have it instead.” With that, she handed me the PQQ collagen drink. Looking at her expectant expression, a wave of fear washed over me. In my previous life, after drinking that bottle of PQQ collagen drink, I began feeling weak and exhausted. And from that point on, no matter what skincare products I used, all the benefits would transfer to Lily. I suspected she had added some unknown substance to that drink. In this life, I wouldn’t dare touch PQQ collagen drinks again. I pushed it right back to Lily: “You drink it.” After watching Lily finish the drink, I returned to my bedroom to test my suspicions and applied some skincare products to my face. Before long, spots immediately appeared on my face. These spots were in exactly the same positions as the original spots on Lily’s face. Sure enough, even after being reborn, what was meant to happen still hadn’t changed. I remembered how in my previous life, the more skincare products I used, the more spots appeared on my face, and the deeper my wrinkles became, making me look twenty years older. Filled with terror, I quickly threw away all my skincare products. Seeing this, Lily looked heartbroken and said, “Mrs. Gibson, such good stuff—why are you throwing it away? This brand is really expensive. If you don’t want it, could you give it to me? I can’t afford to buy these things. I usually can’t bear to use any skincare products.” After saying this, she retrieved the skincare products from the trash and held them in her arms like treasures. Seeing this scene, a suspicion formed in my mind. I immediately took out a bottle of lotion and applied it to her face. I wanted to see if the spots that had just appeared on my face would disappear. Unfortunately, the spots on my face became even more pronounced. Lily happily patted her cheeks and said, “Expensive things really are different. Look, my skin has become tighter and softer.” Through the mirror, I saw a flash of malicious light in her eyes. At that moment, my husband Harrison Gibson emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He glanced coldly at Lily and said to me with an unfriendly tone, “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you not to let the nanny into the bedroom when I’m home?” Looking at his impatient face, I suddenly remembered that in my previous life, he was the one who brought Lily back. He had said at the time that Lily was a gold-standard nanny who had worked for the Patterson family for many years. Later, when the Patterson family was moving abroad, they recommended Lily to him. Lily was efficient in her work, and the meals she prepared suited both Harrison’s and my tastes perfectly. As soon as she arrived, she organized the entire villa from top to bottom, so I had been quite satisfied with her initially. But three days later, I gradually began noticing something strange. Whenever I started my skincare routine, inexplicable spots would appear on my face, and fine lines would develop around my eyes and cheeks. In contrast, Lily’s face, which had originally been covered with age spots, became increasingly smooth, and the wrinkles on her face disappeared. I had a daily habit of morning runs. But after a week, my figure became increasingly bloated, with excess fat accumulating around my waist. Meanwhile, Lily’s figure became more and more slender, radiating vitality. I suppressed my panic and went to a beauty salon for spot removal. After the beautician removed the device from my face, she suddenly screamed. Not only had large patches of spots appeared on my face, but my entire face had become loose and wrinkled. I then went to a massage parlor for body treatments. Instead of improvement, stretch marks and C-section scars appeared on my waist. Lily’s face became smooth and delicate, and you could even see the hint of abs on her stomach. That evening, after seeing my appearance and body, Harrison kicked me out of bed. I told him that Lily was strange, but he just sneered. He said, “Everyone says women suddenly age when they reach a certain age. You’re not even thirty and you’re aging this fast—how dare you blame a nanny for it?” The next morning, Harrison kept staring at Lily’s body, never looking away. I was furious and fired Lily. But from that point on, I stopped menstruating. After going to the hospital for tests, the doctor found that I not only had menopausal symptoms but had also developed diabetes and high blood pressure. Harrison not only mocked my appearance but also openly brought women back to the villa to spend the night. I was so angry that I had a sudden stroke and collapsed on the floor, begging him to take me to the hospital. But he didn’t even glance at me, embracing the woman he’d brought home as they entered our bedroom. By the time someone found me the next day, it was too late. I died on the way to the hospital. Now that I’m living again, I must uncover the truth and absolutely will not repeat the same mistakes.

I avoided Harrison and went to the study. I opened my phone and, sure enough, saw Lily livestreaming. In my previous life, she did the same thing—broadcasting her daily life as a nanny in a wealthy household to her online followers. Moreover, she claimed she wanted to learn skincare from the wealthy and challenged herself to “reverse aging in 30 days,” transforming from 40 back to 20. At the time, viewers were cracking up, flooding the comments with: [You’d have to be reborn for that to work.] [If you can turn back to 20 in 30 days, then I can turn back into a kindergartener.] When I saw her livestream back then, I didn’t think much of it, assuming she just wanted to start an account to earn some extra income. But I never expected that later, Lily would actually become visibly younger at an alarming rate. Lily gradually gained fame online, accumulating hundreds of thousands of followers. Everyone kept asking how she managed to do it. Some people even investigated and discovered that Harrison and I were her employers. By that time, my transformation was already dramatic. However, as the head of Mclean Group, many business events were scheduled in advance, so I had no choice but to attend. Netizens found photos of me at these events and compared them with Lily. [Lily, is this what you call learning skincare from the wealthy? You’ve clearly transferred the rich woman’s youth to yourself!] [I remember the Mclean Group heiress used to be gorgeous. It was because of her face that Mclean Group’s stock kept rising. How did she end up looking like this?] Mclean Group was in the skincare and cosmetics business. When the company’s head suddenly aged, Mclean Group’s stock price plummeted overnight. Now, I watched as Lily displayed the skincare products she’d taken from me in front of the camera, claiming they were gifts from me. Then, she announced her “30-day reverse aging challenge” once again. I felt a deep sense of dread because from the day she entered the villa to the day I died in my previous life was exactly 30 days. I created a burner account and left a comment among all the mocking ones: [Becoming young in just 30 days seems impossible, right? Do you have some other method? Tell me about it. I can pay whatever you want.] Lily smiled slightly, then slowly applied those skincare products to her face. She said, “I don’t have any other methods. I just watch what Mrs. Gibson does and copy her. As long as you put your heart into it, you’ll see results.” In just that short time, more spots appeared on my face. Moreover, my carefully maintained eye area began showing fine lines. I immediately looked at Lily in the livestream and noticed her face had become noticeably more delicate. Viewers started discussing: [I think I’m seeing things. Look at her skin—is it getting better?] [It really is getting better! Her spots are fading and her wrinkles are getting shallower.] [She must have beauty filters on.] Lily immediately moved her face closer to the camera. She said, “I don’t. And I’m completely makeup-free right now.” Looking at her increasingly youthful face, I was terrified. This was clearly an exchange! She was trading her aging for my youth. A thought suddenly popped into my head. What if I stopped taking care of myself and deliberately made myself ugly? Would that prevent her from exchanging with me? So I started using harsh skincare products. My skin quickly became red, swollen, and terrible-looking. I also stopped exercising and ate high-calorie foods every day, rapidly becoming bloated. I carefully observed Lily’s changes. As it turned out, there was no difference from my previous life—she continued becoming younger. My terrible skin and bloated figure had no effect on her whatsoever. When Harrison returned from his business trip and saw my appearance, he was shocked. He said with disgust, “Isabella, the Gibson Group anniversary celebration is in a few days. If you keep looking like this, don’t bother coming. The Gibson family finds you embarrassing.” Isabella Mclean is my name. Hearing his words, Lily secretly smiled but pretended to be concerned, saying, “Mrs. Gibson, maybe you should go to a beauty salon? “Also, you’ve been eating so much junk food—Mr. Gibson must be unhappy about it. “Without a beautiful face and sexy figure, how can a woman keep a man’s heart?” I let out a cold laugh, then turned and went back to the study. I called my assistant Mia Brown and said, “Cancel all my upcoming business activities, then help me investigate someone.”

I canceled all my business activities and did nothing but stay home, refusing to leave the house. Even so, the spots on my face kept getting darker, my hair loss accelerated, and wrinkles had spread across my entire face. What was even more terrifying was that due to my physical weakness and blurred vision, I had no choice but to go to the hospital for tests. After reviewing my test results, the doctor said in shock that I had developed progeria, was showing early symptoms of diabetes, and had developed presbyopia. The doctor said, “Ms. Mclean, your condition is very rare. You may need further testing.” But I knew perfectly well that no amount of testing would help unless I solved the root problem. Since I hadn’t made any public appearances, rumors were already circulating in high society that the CEO of Mclean Group had contracted some strange disease. Meanwhile, Lily’s increasingly youthful face had gained her account tens of thousands more followers. During her livestreams, she wore yoga clothes and appeared makeup-free, her skin glowing and her figure perfect. She looked decades younger than before. 【This is incredible. Lily, how did you manage this?】 【At this rate, in less than 30 days, you’ll look like you’re in your twenties.】 【If she gets any younger, she’ll turn into a teenager.】 Lily smugly read the comments, swaying her hips as she thanked everyone. I was horrified to discover stretch marks appearing on my stomach and thighs. At the same time, clumps of hair were falling onto my shoulders. Right then, Lily was receiving tons of gifts during her livestream. She laughed and said, “Thank you. Thank you all.” When someone asked how she’d gotten younger, she replied, “How did I do it? Maybe I’m just lucky.” Looking at the handful of brittle hair in my palm, I froze. I couldn’t take it anymore! Like a madwoman, I burst into Lily’s room and grabbed her arm. I shrieked, “Tell me! What method did you use to transfer all your ailments to me?” Lily’s screams brought Harrison running. Seeing my appearance, he looked disgusted as he pulled me away from Lily. He said, “What’s gotten into you? Look at yourself right now.” I roared, “Harrison, look at me, then look at her! She’s only been here for ten days. Do you really think there’s nothing wrong with this?” Harrison glanced at Lily and noticed her smooth skin. She wore a sports bra, revealing her toned, smooth abs. Her legs looked long and straight in her yoga pants. A flash of admiration crossed Harrison’s eyes. Seeing this, I could only sneer inwardly. Sure enough, his true nature was showing. Lily suddenly burst into tears and said, “Mr. Gibson, I clean the house and cook every day without making any mistakes. I really don’t know why Mrs. Gibson is treating me this way. It’s not my fault that Mrs. Gibson has gotten ugly and fat.” She looked up at me through her tears and said, “Mrs. Gibson, have you been under too much stress lately? Is that why you’re taking it out on me? It’s okay. We’re just your punching bags anyway.” After hearing Lily’s words, Harrison pushed me to the ground with even more disgust. “Where’s your dignity as the lady of the Gibson house? You’re worse than a maid!” My face went pale. Though Harrison and I had an arranged marriage, we’d known each other since childhood and had some feelings for each other. On our wedding day, he had sworn in front of everyone. He said that no matter what happened in the future, he would stand by my side without hesitation. Now, looking at his face—identical to my previous life and filled with the same disgust—I said coldly, “Harrison, think carefully. Do you really want to stand against me for someone like her?” Given the business interests between our families, Harrison fell silent. He clearly understood what was at stake. But suddenly, Lily stood up and said through her tears, “Since Mrs. Gibson doesn’t like me, I’ll quit. I’ll leave right now and never appear before you again. Is that okay?” She ran off crying, and my heart began to panic inexplicably.   In my previous life, it was after I fired Lily that my aging began to accelerate. There was something I could never understand. Lily was only in her forties, yet I ended up looking like someone in their sixties or seventies. Why was that? I had just managed to suppress the panic in my heart when something terrifying happened. I suddenly felt something in my mouth. When I spat it out, I saw two teeth. At that moment, I couldn’t care about anything else and hurriedly sent Lily a message, asking her to come back. I didn’t know where Lily was living now, but she was still livestreaming. The scene of me bursting into her room earlier had already been broadcast. Nearly ten thousand people were watching her stream. [Those who came later didn’t see that explosive scene. The CEO of McLean Group went crazy just because the housekeeper became beautiful.] [Are you sure that was Isabella? I don’t think so. That was clearly an overweight middle-aged woman.] After receiving my message, Lily smugly displayed it in front of the camera. She said, “Do you see? My employer is begging me to come back now.” Lily’s words triggered a flood of comments. [Don’t go back, Lily. I’ll send you more gifts. You don’t need that salary.] [I feel like Lily’s employer isn’t mentally stable. For safety’s sake, you shouldn’t go back.] Lily said smugly to the camera, “Mrs. Gibson, did you hear that? Everyone’s worried about me and telling me not to go back. “If you want to know why I became beautiful and young, then beg me. Maybe I’ll tell you. Didn’t you say before that you’d pay any amount?” So she knew I’d been watching her livestream all along. I was stunned, remembering the information Mia had investigated, and sent Lily a message. The message read: [You’re from Rusike Village, aren’t you? You never worked as a housekeeper for the Patterson family. I heard your husband died under very strange circumstances. Do you want me to continue investigating?] Lily calmly read my message, then sighed in front of the camera. She said, “My employer sent another message begging me to come back. It seems she really can’t live without me. I’ll take pity on her and go back tomorrow.” Hearing this, I clenched my fists, but felt an inexplicable sense of relief. But the next day, I heard intimate sounds between a man and woman coming from the master bedroom next door. Fighting my nausea, I walked to the bedroom door. When I saw who was inside, I froze. The woman beneath Harrison, her face flushed with pleasure, was Lily, now even younger. Torn pieces of a dress were scattered on the floor, along with used condoms. That dress was one I had custom-made for Gibson Group’s anniversary celebration. No wonder my good friend Renata Gomes had messaged asking where I was and why Harrison had brought a strange woman to the anniversary gala. Seeing me, Lily showed no embarrassment at all. She smiled and said, “Mrs. Gibson, I’m Lily’s daughter, Bruna Bell. My mother went back to her hometown, so she asked me to help with housekeeping for a few days.” Harrison angrily grabbed the water glass from the nightstand and threw it at me, shouting, “Who gave you permission to come in? Get out! “I’ve already contacted a nursing home. You’re moving in tomorrow.” He slammed the door shut in my face. Through the crack, I could see Lily’s vicious and triumphant expression. My chest suddenly felt a dull pain, and I slowly collapsed to the floor. In my despair, I saw Renata running toward me in panic. The necklace around her neck swayed before my eyes. I suddenly widened my eyes, thinking of something. I said to Renata, “Renata, take me out of here quickly.” Renata said, “Okay. Let’s go to the hospital!” I said urgently, “No. We’re not going to the hospital. Take me to that place we went to last month.” A day later, I calmly opened Lily’s livestream and saw her wearing my diamond necklace around her neck. She smiled and said, “Do I look beautiful? This is a birthday gift from Mr. Gibson.” Suddenly, she screamed and immediately turned off the livestream. But I saw it clearly—a dark spot had suddenly appeared on her delicate face. I let out a heavy sigh of relief. At the same time, Harrison called angrily, asking, “Isabella, what did you do to Bruna?”

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My name is Harley Foster. Titus Gibson, heir to the Gibson family fortune, dotes on Malia Foster and assigned his best bodyguard to protect her—that bodyguard is my husband, Spencer Griffin. That day, Malia deliberately pushed me down the stairs. My son Liam Griffin merely glared at her, and Titus used that as an excuse to force Spencer to tie Liam and me up in an abandoned warehouse. Spencer clenched his fists, tears in his eyes as he said, “Mr. Gibson said only if I do this myself will you understand how serious this is.” He beat my pregnant body until I was covered in blood, causing me to miscarry on the spot. Liam, who already suffered from leukemia, developed a high fever from an infected wound and fell into a coma. After the punishment ended, Spencer carried us to the hospital with red-rimmed eyes. In my hazy consciousness, I heard a conversation outside the hospital room. “Mr. Gibson, you’ve been hiding your identity, caring for Mrs. Gibson’s sister under the guise of being a bodyguard, and pretending to be forced into harming her, causing her miscarriage and Liam’s coma. If she knew the truth, she’d be devastated.” After a moment of silence, Spencer spoke: “She’ll never know. Even if she did, a woman with no one to love or care for her could never leave me. Malia is my benefactor. Anyone who hurts her, even my wife and son, must pay the price.” A tear slid down my cheek. So it had all been a lie from the very beginning. The conversation outside continued as waves of pain crashed over me. This wasn’t the first time Spencer had used Titus as an excuse to harm Liam and me in order to protect Malia. In my delirium, memories flooded back. ***** I was the real daughter the Foster family had found. But this family never truly accepted me. Their hearts always favored my sister Malia, who had stolen everything from me. Throughout college, she repeatedly had others humiliate me. Someone would sneer as they shoved my head into a toilet, men’s hands tearing at my clothes. Just when I despaired, Spencer appeared. Just like years ago at the orphanage, he shielded me and drove everyone away. I saw him as my salvation, believing there was still one person in this world who truly loved me. So I built a family with him despite his poverty. When Liam was born and diagnosed with leukemia, Spencer never complained, just silently took on more work, running around day and night. Life was hard but happy, until the day Titus made him Malia’s bodyguard. The day he was to start protecting Malia, I grabbed his arm, my face pale: “Don’t go, Spencer. I can dance to earn money. Please don’t become Malia’s bodyguard. You know what she’s like…” He clenched his fists, his eyes conflicted, finally interrupting me softly: “Harley, stop dwelling on the past. Malia has changed. Besides, this job pays well—with the money, we can treat Liam’s illness.” Looking at frail Liam in his hospital bed, I let go of his arm. I watched helplessly as the one person who had ever loved me turned to protect Malia, who had stolen my family and hurt me. Even worse, to protect Malia, he actually hurt me. The first time, because I didn’t smile when I saw Malia, she cried pitifully and asked if I still resented her for taking my parents away. Titus immediately ordered Spencer to tear my mouth. The second time, at a dance performance when someone publicly praised my dancing, Titus commanded Spencer to sever my Achilles tendons. The ninety-sixth time, Malia accidentally shattered my mother’s urn, and the fragments cut her hand. Titus made Spencer take a knife and personally carve one hundred wounds into my body. Now, this was the ninety-seventh time. My mother was the only person in this world who was ever kind to me. The day her urn shattered, I wanted to take her away from this house, but I happened to run into Malia. She caressed her swollen belly and whispered in my ear: “The child in my womb isn’t Mr. Gibson’s at all—it’s Spencer’s. Everything you want will belong to me.” I stared at her belly, eyes widening, then looked at Spencer standing nearby with reddened eyes. Before I could speak, Malia suddenly screamed. Spencer instantly rushed forward, forcefully shoving me aside to hold her tightly in his arms. I stumbled toward the staircase, and Malia seized the moment to push me. As I fell, I saw her lips silently mouth: “Who do you think he’ll believe—me or you?”

As I fell through the air, watching Spencer anxiously lean down to check if Malia was hurt, I suddenly found it almost laughable. I lay on the ground, covered in blood, in so much pain I could barely move. Liam pressed his hands tightly against my bleeding wounds, crying out to Spencer: “Dad! Save Mom! Save the baby in Mom’s belly!” But Spencer only covered the tiny cut on Malia’s hand, looking at me with disappointment: “Harley, was it worth it? To frame Malia, you didn’t even care about the child in your womb?” He turned his head and said coldly: “I’m Malia’s bodyguard. I have to ensure her safety first. Once the doctor confirms she’s fine, then I’ll deal with you.” In that moment, my eyes welled up with tears. Today wasn’t even his work day. Liam clenched his teeth, watching helplessly as his father carried Malia away, hatred burning in his eyes. Malia trembled slightly, shrinking into Spencer’s arms, saying timidly: “Spencer, I’m so scared. Liam is glaring at me.” Because of those words, Liam and I were punished again. When I woke up, Liam, who suffered from leukemia, and I had been tied up in an abandoned warehouse. Spencer stood before me, his fists trembling slightly: “Harley, why do you always have it out for Malia? You falsely accused her of bullying you, but she’s already forgiven you. She never meant to compete with you for your parents’ attention, so why do you keep targeting her? You even made Liam look at her that way! Malia is timid—that look scared her so much she couldn’t sleep all night!” The pain from falling down the stairs hadn’t subsided. I turned my head to see Liam beside me breathing rapidly, red blotches spreading across his body, and my heart sank. Fighting through the excruciating pain, I struggled to kneel up, my voice hoarse as I pleaded: “Spencer, please tell Mr. Gibson to spare Liam! He has leukemia—if his wounds get infected, it could be fatal. Please, it’s all my fault. Don’t drag him into this!” Blood seeped from my wounds again. Spencer looked down at me, covered in blood, then at Liam, who was nearly suffocating. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. But moments later, he clenched his fists, his eyes reddening as he steeled himself: “Mr. Gibson said only if I do this myself and hit hard enough will you understand how serious this is. To pay for Liam’s medical bills, I have no choice.” Every time he hurt me to protect Malia, he used the same excuse. But this time, watching Liam hanging by a thread, I no longer believed him. Warm liquid trickled down my legs—I knew the baby was gone. He had beaten me until I miscarried. Spencer walked step by step toward Liam, who was now burning with fever and convulsing. I lay in a pool of blood, consciousness fading, my lips trembling as I squeezed out one last plea: “Liam really will die. Please, Spencer.” He turned back, his eyes bloodshot: “Harley, stop targeting Malia. Otherwise, next time, Mr. Gibson will want your and Liam’s lives.” In the last moment before losing consciousness, I saw Liam with a bacterial infection, bleeding uncontrollably. ***** I don’t know how much time passed before voices outside the hospital room reached me again. “Mr. Gibson, Liam’s injuries are too severe, and with his leukemia, the bleeding won’t stop. Are you really going to make him donate bone marrow to Malia’s unborn child tomorrow? He won’t survive it.” Spencer’s voice carried a hint of tenderness: “I’ll have them use medication to keep him alive. The Gibson family fortune will eventually go to Malia’s child. That child has been diagnosed with leukemia, and I won’t allow anything to go wrong. As for Liam, being a half-dead living corpse is enough. That way, he’ll never be able to compete with Malia’s child for the inheritance.” My mind was reeling. So Malia’s child really was his. He had not only hidden his identity and pretended to be forced into hurting us, but from the very beginning, he never intended to save our son. Just then, the heart monitor beside me began beeping shrilly. The hospital room door burst open as Spencer rushed in, frantically grabbing my hand and shouting for a doctor.

I struggled to open my eyes, finally awakening slowly that afternoon. Spencer sat by the bedside, unshaven with bloodshot eyes. The young nurse couldn’t help but sigh as she changed my dressing: “Your husband is so good to you. He hasn’t eaten or slept for three whole days and nights watching over you. If you hadn’t woken up, I was afraid he’d starve to death right here.” I forced the corners of my mouth into a bitter smile. He’s good to me? My injuries were caused by his own hands! Spencer held my hand, gently stroking it. “I’m sorry, honey. We lost the baby. I really had no choice at the time—Mr. Gibson forced me to do it. If I hadn’t acted, someone else would have. Besides, you and Liam did target Malia first, so you were in the wrong. Please don’t hurt her anymore.” He paused, and a hint of joy actually appeared on his face. “Oh! Mr. Gibson found someone willing to donate bone marrow to Liam! He’s already agreed, and they’ll perform the bone marrow transplant surgery on Liam first thing tomorrow morning.” My heart plummeted, my face instantly turning pale as I asked with reddened eyes: “Is someone else donating bone marrow to Liam? Or are you saying Liam has to donate his bone marrow to someone else?” Panic flashed in Spencer’s eyes as he reached out to stroke my hair. “What are you talking about? Of course someone else is donating to Liam. Liam has leukemia—how could he possibly donate bone marrow? That would be a death sentence.” But those words pierced my heart like needles. So you do know that making Liam donate bone marrow to someone else would be killing him. That night, I quietly pulled out my IV needle and, supporting my weak body, slowly made my way to Liam’s room. I wanted to take him away, but standing outside the sterile room’s glass window, watching his small body filled with tubes and his weak breathing, I suddenly didn’t know where I could take him. As if sensing my presence, Liam slowly opened his eyes. He used all his strength to try to smile at me, but just as the corners of his mouth lifted slightly, they fell back down helplessly. I quickly covered my mouth and turned away, not wanting him to see the tears streaming down my face. With trembling hands, I pulled out my phone and dialed Spencer’s number. It took three attempts before someone finally answered. His slightly impatient voice came through: “Harley, I’m Malia’s bodyguard right now, and I’m working. Didn’t I tell you not to call during work hours? What if someone tries to hurt Malia while I’m distracted?” I looked toward Spencer in the distance, gently feeding Malia, and bitterness welled up in my heart. So feeding her is also part of a bodyguard’s duties? Looking at Liam’s tiny body, my voice choked: “Please don’t make Liam donate bone marrow to someone else, okay? He’ll die. He’s your son.” There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, then came a light chuckle: “Stop overthinking. Liam’s surgery tomorrow will go smoothly.” Before I could respond, the call was disconnected. The next second, Malia called, and I instinctively answered. Her voice was soft and sweet, tinged with concern: “Spencer, are you really going to have Liam donate bone marrow to the baby in my belly? But Liam has leukemia—can he handle it?” In the room, Spencer’s hand gently covered her abdomen: “Yes, the child in your belly will be healthy. As for Liam, with Mr. Gibson’s medical team there, he’ll be fine.” The call ended. I stood there as my tears finally broke free, silently streaming down my face.   My knuckles turned white as I gripped my phone, fingers trembling slightly from the force. After taking a deep breath, I dialed that long-buried number. That night, a Maybach silently pulled up outside the hospital. I was pushing Liam’s hospital bed, preparing to leave, when Spencer blocked my path at the end of the corridor with his men. This was the ninety-eighth time. I shielded Liam protectively, but Spencer’s face was cold as he yanked me aside. “Harley, haven’t you caused enough trouble? Mr. Gibson wants to treat Liam. Taking him away now—are you trying to kill him?” My eyes blazing red, I jerked my hand free. “Who’s really trying to kill him? Extracting Liam’s bone marrow to donate to the baby in Malia’s belly will kill him! You know he’ll die!” A flicker of reluctance crossed Spencer’s eyes, and his tone softened as he tried to coax me: “What are you talking about? Mr. Gibson said himself that he’s going to treat Liam. Harley, don’t overthink this, okay?” Just then, Malia walked over clutching her belly, her face pale. “Spencer, I’m in so much pain. Is the baby’s leukemia acting up? Am I going to miscarry?” Spencer immediately panicked, rushing to support her and carefully settling her onto a hospital bed. He pulled out his phone, pretending to receive a message, then coldly ordered: “Notify the medical team. Mr. Gibson just gave word—proceed with the bone marrow transplant surgery immediately.” I stood frozen, staring at him in disbelief. Before he’d even finished speaking, his men swarmed forward, reaching for Liam’s bed. I clutched Liam tightly, refusing to let go. “Spencer, please! Malia, I’m begging you both to spare Liam!” A flash of struggle and heartache crossed Spencer’s eyes, but ultimately he leaned down, trying to pry my fingers loose. “Harley, stop making a scene. Liam will be fine. Be good.” I’d rather die than let go. Finally, he sighed: “Harley, don’t blame me for this.” His face turned cold as he broke my fingers. My agonized screams didn’t stop him—he forcibly tore Liam from my arms. With my broken fingers, I crawled after him, grabbing at Spencer’s pant leg, pleading desperately, only to be kicked away. Liam and Malia were wheeled into the operating room. I pounded on the operating room doors, trying to claw them open with my fingers, but even with my hands covered in blood, it was useless. When the surgery ended, Spencer gently wheeled Malia away, his eyes full of tender concern. I stumbled into the empty operating room and found Liam on the cold metal table. With his leukemia causing clotting disorders, the surgical table beneath him was soaked in blood. The doctors silently shook their heads and left. I knelt beside the table, holding Liam’s still-warm body, but no sound would come from my throat. For the ninety-ninth time, Spencer had killed our son for Malia’s sake. I held Liam’s cold body, sitting motionless in the operating room. When dawn broke, I stood up like a puppet and walked out step by step. That’s when Malia blocked my path with a smile: “Actually, the baby in my belly doesn’t have leukemia at all. I just said it casually—I never expected Mr. Gibson would really give me your son’s bone marrow.” With Liam dead, I had nothing left to hold back. I used every ounce of strength to slap her hard across the face. I was about to hit her again when Spencer shoved me away violently. Liam’s body fell to the floor, and I frantically crawled to his side to pick him up. Spencer’s face was ice-cold: “Harley, haven’t you caused enough trouble? You hurt Malia last time and got punished for it—didn’t you learn your lesson? I already told you Liam would be fine. Look at yourself now—what kind of behavior is this?” I didn’t look at him, just numbly checked Liam’s body for injuries from the fall. Spencer seemed to sense something, a flash of heartache crossing his eyes, but his words remained brutally cold: “Harley, apologize to Malia. Otherwise, when Mr. Gibson finds out, he won’t spare you or Liam. When that happens, I won’t be able to protect you either.” I slowly raised my head and burst into laughter: “Mr. Gibson? You are Mr. Gibson, aren’t you? Stop pretending—Liam is already dead. What more do you want?”

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  On a luxurious cruise ship, a notorious ex-crime lord, who’d gone straight, was marrying his beloved. 99 other women, stand-ins for his bride, were treated like mere playthings and distributed to his men. Only I remained, unwanted and alone, chilling on the deck, my heart set on dying. I had been thrust into this world, and I’d poured everything I had into saving four male leads, who’d been driven to madness by the story’s true heroine. But I failed. The System said I could return to my real world for three precious days to say goodbye to Grandma if I died here. Without a second thought, I plunged into the icy water. Release. It was finally here. But as consciousness faded, I saw someone swimming desperately towards me… ***** Guests swarmed around the crime lord’s bride, their celebratory chatter meaningless to me. I easily found a secluded spot. My broken leg screamed in protest, each movement a tearing agony as I hoisted myself over the railing. What was a little pain, if it meant seeing Grandma? With a relieved smile, I resolutely jumped. In the frigid embrace of the ocean, I looked back on fifteen years of absurd existence. I had been thrust into this world with a mission: to save the male leads driven to madness by the heroine. If I could successfully save just one of them, I could escape a fatal car accident in my real world. But in the end, I failed all four. Every time Maggie, the world’s chosen heroine, reappeared, all my efforts at redemption were instantly erased. Seawater flooded my nose and mouth. I thought I could finally find release. But then, a strong arm clamped around me, holding me tight. Through the haze, I saw his frantically worried face. Then, I completely blacked out. When I woke up, my throat burned. Staring at the unfamiliar white ceiling, I knew I hadn’t died. Why was even dying so difficult?! I turned my head and saw an exceptionally handsome face. His gaze was downcast, his expression utterly blank. He looked like a marble statue, or an ancient deity stepped out of a forgotten legend. Wait, wasn’t this Sean? One of my targets. The Sean who once told me, “Without you, I would have already fallen into hell.” As if possessed, I reached out and touched the blessed wooden bracelet I’d gotten for him years ago, still on his wrist. His eyes snapped open, a sharp gaze piercing me. “Venus, what game are you playing now?” I pulled my hand back as if burned, my heart seizing in my chest. He thought I was trying to manipulate him again, to win his pity. But he’d forgotten. Fifteen years ago, it was Maggie, the woman he deeply loved, who framed him, destroying his family. He’d plunged into utter despair, retreating from the world. It was *I* who stayed by his side, day and night, tirelessly caring for him, shielding him from all the ruthless debt collectors, helping him rebuild his life bit by bit. He’d once held me tight and said he wouldn’t exist without me. But now, his eyes held nothing but disgust and contempt for me. All my sacrifices, in his eyes, were utterly worthless. Sean spoke with chilling indifference: “Maggie has always been frail.” “And she’s been busy all day. She’s not feeling well now and needs your blood.” The doctor nearby tried to interject, “Miss Venus just fell into the water, she’s very weak…” “She’s perfectly fine. She’s got a thick skin, a little blood is nothing,” He brutally cut off the doctor. “This is the only way she can help Maggie. She should be grateful.” I stared at Sean, a bitter taste spreading through my heart. “If you love her so much, why aren’t you by her side?” “Watching her marry Tom, becoming his hidden shadow… are you truly content with that?” The System said he was going to turn dark, that I needed to save him. But this pathetic, self-sacrificing devotion for love… how was this “turning dark”? “Maggie is different,” His features softened instantly. “Back in the orphanage, she was the only one who gave me warmth.” “That kindness, I’ll never forget it.”

  The orphanage again. I looked at him, my mind a blank. Right, the System had said it. Maggie was the destined heroine of this world. She and the four male leads shared a supposedly beautiful childhood in that orphanage. Even if she later left them bruised and battered, all it took was her return, a few tears, and a few soft words, and everything anyone else had done for them seemed to reset to zero. After they were done draining my blood, my vision swam, threatening to black out completely. I was on the verge of losing consciousness, my mind drifting: If I just sleep now… Will I finally return to my world and see Grandma? Grandma, Venus misses you so much… Late that night, I woke up again, feeling a little stronger. Damn it, I still couldn’t die. Even death was this difficult. I looked around, recognizing this as Sean’s secluded retreat. Then I remembered the rumors: the remote trails behind the retreat were rumored to be infested with venomous snakes… Without hesitation, I stumbled towards the back trails. My broken leg made my steps agonizingly slow, but I pushed on, utterly resolute. Just as a venomous snake was about to strike, I was violently pulled back. “Venus! Are you insane?!” It was Sean! How was he here *again*?! He gripped my arm, his strength so immense I thought my bones would shatter. His face was contorted with a mixture of panic and fury I’d never seen before. “Are you trying to die, huh?!” He growled, complex emotions swirling in his eyes. “First jumping off the cruise, now provoking venomous snakes! Are you *that* desperate for my attention?!” “Attention?” I yanked my arm from his grasp, a cold laugh escaping my lips. “If I die, I won’t be in your way anymore, and I won’t threaten Maggie, the woman you hold so dear, will I?” “You should be happy!” I shoved him away, turning back towards the snake. Death. I *had* to die here today! He grabbed me again, and my arm scraped against a rock, a sharp sting. “Stop trying to play the victim!” He roughly seized my hand, his voice thick with impatience. “Go put some ointment on that wound!” As he forcibly dragged me back, I saw the bracelet on his wrist again. It reminded me of the lucky charm Grandma gave me. Good thing I hadn’t given *that* to this ungrateful bastard back then. I was going home to Grandma now, and I needed to take it with me. While they weren’t paying attention, I quietly slipped away. That lucky charm, Grandma had embroidered it herself. The stitches were meticulously neat, depicting beautifully embroidered lovebirds, a symbol of enduring happiness, imbued with her deepest blessings for me. Grandma had always hoped I’d find a good husband and live a life of peace and happiness. I used to naively think that if I could successfully save any of them, I’d give that lucky charm, imbued with Grandma’s heartfelt wishes, to him, letting her witness my happiness. But alas, none of them deserved it. I returned to my uncle Richard’s house to get the charm. But I found him staring blankly at a portrait of Maggie. Richard, a decorated veteran, who’d been confined to a wheelchair. He willingly served as Maggie’s personal security, only to be brutally humiliated by her. She even manipulated him, causing him to become permanently disabled. It was I who stayed by his side, day after day, helping him with his physical therapy, encouraging him to stand again. I cooked for him every day. He initially resented my presence, but later, he grew protective, doting on me, forbidding me from cooking. He lovingly prepared every single meal for me. But then Maggie came back, and with a sudden, casual mention of a dog fur allergy, He didn’t hesitate to throw the little dog we’d raised together for so long, who we treated like family, from a tall building. That little dog was a gift from him, bought after he finally accepted me. We had promised to rely on each other. It had accompanied us through so many happy times. But because of Maggie’s dismissive comment, he ended its life without a single blink. I used to fear such abandonment. Now, I craved it. I ignored my uncle and walked straight into my room. Only to find it completely empty. “Where are my things?”

  I fought down my fury, asking Richard in a cold voice. “Maggie didn’t want any of your things here, so I cleared them out,” Richard said, his voice distant. “I’ll find you somewhere else to live.” Cleared out? He made it sound so simple. “Just like you got rid of that innocent little dog, are you trying to get rid of me?” I let out a cold, hollow laugh. From start to finish, I was always the extra one. “You…” I cut him off, my voice trembling with emotion. “You can do whatever you want with everything else, I don’t care. I just want that box!” Inside was Grandma’s lucky charm, my only connection to her! “What do you want it for?” Richard’s face instantly darkened, his eyes turning wary and harsh. He thought I was going to use the contents of the box to stir up trouble with Tom again. “You’ll never be as kind and wonderful as Maggie!” “Tom would never like a manipulative, vile woman like you!” “I’m warning you, I will *never* let you ruin Maggie’s wedding!” Kind? In his eyes, only the heroine of this world was truly kind. I had once told Richard about that box. Under the moonlight, he’d said, with a hint of jealousy, that he’d keep it safe for me until I found my true love. I’d also said that if I could ever be with him, I’d give him the box. Back then, his expression was serious and loving, filling me with hope. Now, he was warning me with the most vicious words: “You stay put! Don’t you dare try to cause any more trouble for Maggie!” “If you don’t tell me where the box is, I’ll go tell Maggie right now exactly what kind of filthy, hidden thoughts you have about her!” I intentionally provoked him. Richard was indeed completely enraged. He retrieved the box from a corner and violently threw it to the ground. The box shattered, and the lucky charm fell out. He snatched up the charm and brutally tore it to shreds, the pieces scattering across the floor. “Venus, you’re so ungrateful! I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget today!” I looked at the shredded lucky charm, my heart twisting in agony. This was the man I had poured everything into caring for. His inherent ruthlessness had never disappeared! Good. His cruelty was exactly what I needed to end my life, to see Grandma sooner. I clutched the torn pieces of the charm tightly in my hand, looking at Richard’s enraged face, and smiled. “We’re completely even now.” With that, before he could react, I lunged, smashing into his previously injured leg. The pain from my broken leg made me stumble, but I put all my remaining strength into the impact. Excruciating pain instantly flared, and I coughed up blood, my vision blurring. I knew it was his sore spot, the scar left by Maggie. I deliberately provoked him, wanting only to finish this quickly and leave this world. Richard froze, stunned that I would do such a thing. His face flashed with shock, self-reproach, and pain, as he looked at me helplessly. But soon, these emotions were replaced by fury. “Venus! You couldn’t seduce Tom, so now you’re trying to seduce *me*?! You have no shame!” I was fading fast, my consciousness blurring, but I saw Sean had arrived too. When I woke again, I found myself in a dark, damp basement. “Didn’t Sean take me away? How did I end up here?” As I wondered, Maggie stood before me, a triumphant look on her face. “Venus, you’re in such a wretched state, and you still can’t leave them alone?” Maggie looked down at me from above, mocking, “Do you really think a pathetic wretch like you can compete with me?” Before I could even process what she was saying, she suddenly leaned close to my ear and whispered, “I’ll show you today.” “All your struggles and efforts are nothing but a futile joke.” “But, seeing how pitiful you are, I’ll give you a fair chance to compete.” I grew even more confused. Just as I was about to demand an explanation, I heard sounds of a struggle outside. Then, the door burst open, and Tom rushed in, yelling frantically: “Maggie, are you okay?!”   He immediately saw Maggie and me tied together, connected to a complex device, and his face instantly turned grave. I understood at once: this was Maggie’s self-orchestrated kidnapping! The device connected to two ropes, each tied to Maggie and me. The other end of the ropes connected to two syringes filled with venom. Once the device activated, both ropes would tighten simultaneously. One would snap, pulling its syringe into the person it was tied to. Meaning, Tom could only choose one of us to save. Maggie looked at Tom, feigning vulnerability. “Tom, save me…” I looked at Tom, my heart a desolate void. Tom, the formidable crime lord… he was once such a proud man. But Maggie had left him utterly broken. When he was at his lowest, before being acknowledged by his family in the underworld, Maggie brought people to humiliate him, forcing him to eat dog food and live in a dog kennel. He endured endless torment. When he finally returned to his family, his personality had warped, becoming ruthless, cruel, and unapproachable. I had placed my last hope in him, wanting to save him. As his exclusive sparring partner, I silently endured his relentless torment, staying by his side, never leaving. One day, he beat me black and blue. I turned to leave, utterly desperate. But he suddenly pulled me back from behind, holding me tightly in his arms. His deep voice rumbled in my ear: “Where are you going?” “Stay here.” My ear rested against his chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat, thinking my redemption efforts had finally paid off. I thought he, having been hurt the most, would be the most resistant to Maggie’s allure. But I was wrong, so terribly wrong. In the end, he was the one who remained devoted to Maggie, refusing to marry anyone else, even holding such a grand wedding for her. And all the suffering I’d endured by his side, helping him transition his empire into legitimate ventures, had become a colossal joke. To prevent Maggie from discovering our past, he found 99 other women, stand-ins for her. As if to prove I wasn’t special, wasn’t unique. He was just so desperate for Maggie that he found so many women who resembled her. To prove his loyalty to her, he even sacrificed me to his sworn enemy. I was tortured for a day and a night, and the tiny life growing inside me was lost. Tom looked at the intricate device, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Seeing this, Maggie immediately feigned weakness again. “Tom, save her. She was with you for a long time when you weren’t around…” “I’m content marrying you now, I couldn’t ask for more.” She then brought up old memories from the orphanage, each word hitting Tom where it hurt the most. Tom’s heart ached. He turned to me, furious. “Venus, aren’t you satisfied? Must you cause such a scene! You saw Maggie and I were getting married, so you deliberately set up this scheme, only to be kidnapped yourself. Are you happy now?!” Just then, Sean and Richard also rushed in. Seeing Maggie in danger, they both grew anxious, vehemently accusing me of being manipulative and bringing this on myself. I looked at them, their past gentleness and promises now turned into icy accusations and condemnations. I’d given everything, only to be met with their disgust and scorn. Why did it come to this? My heart felt as if it was being torn apart; I couldn’t breathe from the pain. I didn’t want to waste any more time. I scoffed directly: “You were all manipulated like puppets by Maggie, and now you’re fawning over her like desperate dogs! How pathetic! I must have been blind!” “You idiots! You were all played by that bitch Maggie, wrapped around her little finger!” “And now you’re still fawning over her like a bunch of tail-wagging dogs, completely devoted!” “It’s the most pathetic joke in the world!” “I, Venus, must have been blind to ever think of saving you ungrateful bastards!” Tom was indeed enraged. His eyes turned bloodshot, veins throbbing on his forehead. With the three men’s unspoken coordination, Richard quickly subdued the kidnappers, and Sean immediately shielded Maggie. Tom, meanwhile, lunged at me, savagely plunging his dagger into my shoulder!   Agony ripped through me, blood instantly staining my clothes. I looked at his bloodshot eyes, filled with madness and hatred. “I never wronged you. Why do you hate me so much?”

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“Dad, if I tell everyone that Mom and Mr. Peterson are together, can Aunt Jessica become my mom?” I jolted awake in the middle of the night, hearing those words after getting up to use the restroom. Aunt Jessica, as Leo called her, was our new tutor. A while ago, Leo had whined about wanting a tutor, and David had been surprisingly enthusiastic about finding one for him. The tutor, Jessica Miller, graduated from a prestigious business college, studied abroad, and used to be an executive at a well-known company. Her resume was incredibly impressive. That someone with such a background would agree to take on a simple tutoring job for us was a bit of a surprise, but seeing how well she got along with my son, I didn’t think much of it. Jessica told me, “Stella, I don’t have many friends or family here. I don’t really care about the salary; just providing me a place to live is enough.” Back then, I had no idea she was David’s first love. Before we got married, I knew David had a first love. He said they dated in college, but she dumped him and went abroad because she thought he was poor. He claimed he hated her guts. When we got married, he knelt on one knee in front of me, eyes red. “Stella, you’re the only one who truly cares for me. I, David Miller, will only love you in this life. If I break this vow, may I suffer a terrible fate!” His family was poor, and his relatives and friends barely acknowledged him. I was the one who stood by him, helping him build his career until he became a regional manager for a major Asian company, earning millions a year. “Leo, if you do exactly what Dad tells you, your mom won’t be able to boss you around anymore. Aren’t you excited?” “I am!” Jessica sat in my husband’s lap, gently stroking my son’s head. This whole idea was Jessica’s. David wanted a divorce but was afraid I’d take his money, so he planned to frame me for cheating and make me leave with nothing. After Leo fell asleep. My husband and Jessica sat on Leo’s study desk, kissing passionately. Their clothes were half-undone, their explorations deep. I could hear their heavy breathing through the monitor. I calmly recorded the video and sent it to my lawyer. “Is this enough to make him leave with nothing?” He had no idea that I was just as afraid of him taking my massive fortune. My family was incredibly wealthy. My parents owned properties all across the country; I could just lie around and collect rent, with more money than I could ever spend. When I first met David, he had a deep resentment towards wealth. He said his first love abandoned him for money to go abroad, and he’d hated rich people ever since. So, I never dared to tell him the truth: I was filthy rich! To match his lifestyle, I wore bargain-bin clothes every day and bought cheap produce at the supermarket. He had a fragile ego. He’d lost his job and spent his days at home drinking, complaining that no one recognized his talent. To protect his pride, I secretly approached Mr. Sullivan, offering to lower his rent by thirty percent, on the condition that he give David a chance. Mr. Sullivan immediately called David personally and offered him a job. On his first day of work, he bought a big cake, kissed me like I was the most precious thing, and promised to earn lots of money to support Leo and me. Now, for a few miserable millions, he was conspiring with his mistress to frame me for cheating. He was pathetic. If he’d paid any attention to me, he’d have seen the dozens of keys on my nightstand. The next day. As David was leaving, he leaned in to kiss me. I pretended to look down, avoiding it. He paused, then chuckled. “Honey, I’ll pick you up after work tonight. Dress up nicely.” It was my birthday today. He’d been talking about a big surprise for me for two weeks. If I hadn’t witnessed last night’s scene, I wouldn’t have known that his so-called surprise was actually a trap for me. I gave him a sweet smile. “Okay.” You want to watch a show? You just don’t know whose show it’ll be. “Leo, come here.” Jessica lifted Leo from the dining table and said in an overly sweet voice, “Say goodbye to Mom.”

Leo obediently told me, “Bye, Mom.” Then Leo took Jessica’s hand and left with David. Leo used to hate going to school. He’d refuse to wake up, refuse to eat breakfast, crying and throwing tantrums no matter how patiently I tried to coax him. Jessica told me, “Stella, I have to go out every day anyway. Why don’t I just drop Leo off at school on my way?” Leo listened to her and went to school obediently, which saved me a lot of trouble. Then a few days later, David said, “It’s on my way to work, I’ll drive you both.” From then on, they all left together. I ate my toast, watching Jessica and David holding Leo’s hand, get into the car. Jessica sat in the passenger seat, laughing and talking to my husband, while my son sat quietly in the back, swinging his feet, looking very happy. Soon after, Sam sent me a surveillance video. David didn’t take Leo to school. Instead, he dropped Leo and Jessica off at a large shopping mall. Jessica browsed luxury goods, buying clothes and bags. She took Leo to the children’s play area on the first floor, bought him a pile of fried foods and sodas, and let him sit there and eat by himself. When Leo was little, he was mischievous and had half his spleen removed due to an injury. The doctors said his diet needed to be bland, so I never allowed him to eat these things. He’d thrown tantrums a few times, protesting with hunger strikes, but after a few days of starving, he’d learned his lesson. He saw my firm stance and didn’t dare to act up again. I called Leo’s teacher. “Ms. Davies, did Leo not come to school today?” “Leo’s mom, Leo has been absent for several days. Leo’s dad called to say his grandmother had passed away. We were afraid of upsetting you, so we didn’t call to confirm.” Ha. David even dared to lie about my parents now. My parents looked down on David, that poor guy. They’d objected to our marriage, even saying I dressed like a beggar every day. They never brought David to their home. For holiday dinners, they’d book a restaurant that suited his status. If it weren’t for Leo, they wouldn’t even bother to see David. All these years, I’d asked them to keep a low profile, and it truly hadn’t been exposed. Now David was successful, and he secretly looked down on my parents. “My mother is perfectly fine. He must have misremembered; it was his mother who passed away. Please don’t tell Leo’s dad about my call today.” Ms. Davies hung up, flustered. The luxury items Jessica bought were for a woman. I knew that woman too: Ashley Davies, my next-door neighbor. But the man on her arm wasn’t her husband, Blake, but a young, strong guy. No wonder Jessica wanted to frame me for having an affair with a neighbor. It turned out Ashley was already cheating. Ashley and Jessica instantly clicked, deciding to frame me for an affair with Ashley’s husband, so Ashley could get a divorce and her share of the property legitimately. After they separated, Ashley and the young guy went to a hotel. I immediately sent the room number to Ashley’s husband. Want to watch my show? That’s probably not going to happen. I sipped my tea, leisurely watching Jessica frantically making calls outside. She was probably calling Ashley. The banquet was about to start, and she needed Ashley to bring her husband over to continue her plan. From what I knew, Blake was a boxer, an international boxing champion. By this time, Ashley might be getting a beating.

I put on a beautiful gown, taking the rare effort to do my hair and makeup. “Honey, aren’t we leaving yet? What are we waiting for?” David quickly glanced at Jessica, then smiled and replied, “Okay, let’s go.” Jessica forced a smile. “Stella, I have something to take care of. I’ll come later.” They were so obvious. Was I blind before? I got into the car. The passenger seat was pulled far back. “Honey, has anyone been in the passenger seat?” David’s face paled. “Maybe Leo was playing there earlier.” Leo lied without batting an eye. “I reclined it to sleep earlier.” He didn’t know that I had already removed the memory card from the car. David and Jessica hadn’t been able to resist having a moment in the passenger seat. And my son was in the back seat, playing games. David had booked a fancy ballroom. All the backdrops were adorned with our wedding photos, our family portraits. He pushed a five-tier cake to the center of the stage, looking deeply into my eyes. “Honey, thank you for being with me for the past ten years, building everything from scratch. My achievements today are thanks to your silent dedication all these years. In the future, let’s walk happily together! We’ll have many more decades, growing old together, I love you!” The audience erupted in applause. He really spared no expense. This banquet invited all his company employees to witness our love. The more he pretended to love me, the more impactful it would be when he publicly exposed my supposed affair. Knowing his true colors, everything he did sickened me. Leo brought a glass of juice to me. “Happy birthday, Mom.” He was obedient, well-behaved. To outsiders, I was so happy, with a loving husband and a dutiful son. Only I knew that the juice had been drugged. David and I used to be so in love. When I first met him, it was summer break. I went back to my parents’ old house in the countryside to look after it. He was a tenant there. In that whole building, his electricity bill was always the highest. He’d stay up all night studying, with his lights on. Back then, I thought this young man was hardworking and ambitious. He was also handsome, refined, and looked very honest. I’d run into him several times a day. He’d come downstairs in an ill-fitting suit to throw out the trash. Later, he told me he fell for me at first sight, saying I was cute, and that he did all that to get my attention. He certainly did get my attention. He was good-looking, had excellent grades, and always brought me a sweet treat when he returned. He said my smile was sweeter than any dessert. My family was wealthy, but I hadn’t pursued much education. I had no resistance to a man like him. My parents wanted to send me abroad for study, but I refused. I willingly fell into his gentle trap. But looking back now, after we got together, he stopped paying rent, and I often gave him money to support his graduate studies. He hated rich people, but he spent my money. He held my hand and said, “Stella, when I make money, I’ll build you a big house.” He always thought my family only owned that one old, run-down house in the countryside. Later, he did fulfill his promise, buying a three-bedroom apartment in a big city. This made me happier than when my mom gave me two luxury properties in major cities. I actually thought about telling him how rich my family was, but he started coming home less often, citing work. After Leo was born, my focus shifted entirely to him. He often caught colds or fevers. To take care of Leo, I barely slept four hours a night. Seeing my son, whom I had painstakingly raised, hand me a drugged drink still hurt me deeply.

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I spent ten whole years with Marcus, going from absolutely nothing to carving out a place in high society. During our toughest times, he’d say: “You went through hell and back with me, Hazel. I, Marcus, will never let you down. I love you, only you.” But later, it was the same Marcus who told his friends: “I’ve been with Hazel for ten years. I’ve wanted a divorce for ages, but I couldn’t bear to leave the kid. There’s no such thing as young love anymore, we couldn’t stand the sight of each other.” He even got into a massive brawl over a struggling college student caught in a messy situation, making a scene that couldn’t be controlled. I showed up with the bail money and got him out of the precinct. But he retorted, his voice tinged with anger, “Hazel, have you forgotten? You’re someone who clawed their way out of the mud yourself. How can you look down on her now?” I gave a small, bitter laugh. “Now I not only look down on her, Marcus, I look down on you too. Let’s get a divorce.”

“Is this Ms. Hazel? This is the city police department. Your husband, Marcus, has been detained for fighting, and we need you to come handle it.” After hanging up, my mind went blank. The silence around me was only broken by the frantic thumping of my own heart. Driving from home to the city police department usually took about ten minutes, but now, I didn’t want to drive. I settled Lily with Mrs. Gable, slipped into soft, comfortable sneakers, and spent a full half-hour walking there. With each step, I measured the distance that had grown between Marcus and me. Inside the police station, Marcus was handcuffed, with a wild, aggressive look in his eyes, radiating hostility. He wasn’t badly hurt, just a minor scrape on his forehead. But the other guy he’d beaten was bruised and swollen, clearly Marcus had really gone for it, like he meant to cause serious damage. I’d only seen Marcus like this once before, back in his teenage years. In middle school, I got a fever, and the doctor gave me a penicillin shot, which triggered an anaphylactic shock. No skin test was performed, which was medical malpractice. The clinic doctor knew he was in the wrong and offered to treat me for free. My mother didn’t hesitate for a second. She just abandoned me at that private little clinic. The doctor used the excuse of a physical exam to pull my school uniform up to my chest. His eyes lingered, assessing, then his hands clamped down on me. “I’ll give you a massage to ease your palpitations. It’ll help you breathe better.” He pressed down on me hard. I wanted to fight back, but I had no strength, only tears streaming down my face. I thought, this time, I surely wouldn’t survive. Just as despair set in, Marcus kicked open the clinic door. He doused the doctor’s head with scalding soup, then lunged at him. Marcus was tall, over six feet, but skinny, barely 130 pounds. Yet his eyes were bloodshot, and he laid into the doctor with murderous intent. Punch after punch landed. When the doctor collapsed, I ripped the IV needle from my arm, grabbed Marcus, and we ran out. “Don’t stop me! I’m going to kill that animal!” I hugged Marcus, my voice trembling. “Please, don’t do anything rash, Marcus. I only have you.” He gently ran his fingers through my hair, his nose streaming with blood. “Hazel, don’t be scared. I’ll always protect you.” I remember Marcus, with his slender shoulders, protecting me countless times. When my mother beat me with a leather strap, he held me tight, shielding me, taking the heaviest blows himself. When I was bullied, cornered in an alley by a few thugs from outside school, he’d charge in, brandishing a knife, ready to take on five guys by himself, just to keep me safe. Even if he got beaten black and blue, he’d use his blood-stained hands to gently wipe away my tears. “Hazel, don’t be scared. As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you.” Marcus was like a beam of light, illuminating my dark, suffocating world and warming me for so long. He once told me, “In this life, I’ll only protect you.” But now, he was fighting for another girl. A raw ache in my chest, a prickling pain that took my breath away.

The other guy’s constant yelling snapped me back to reality. “He *must* apologize and pay compensation, or he’s going to jail!” Marcus pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, his eyes sharp as blades. “You keep running your mouth, and I’ll send you straight to hell!” If he hadn’t been handcuffed, he’d surely have lunged at them again. I calmly negotiated the compensation with the other party. Marcus paced back and forth inside like a caged beast, visibly agitated. I successfully settled the matter for a hundred thousand dollars, securing their agreement. Once everything was handled, Marcus’s handcuffs were removed, and he was released. Before I could even speak, a girl in a uniform from a local club rushed out of the interrogation room. She ran to Marcus, her eyes brimming with tears. “I’m so sorry, I got you into this mess. You shouldn’t have bothered with me.” I recognized this girl. Her name was Willow, a college student Marcus had been sponsoring. Last year, I noticed their chats becoming more frequent. At first, Marcus didn’t pay much attention to this poor student; he simply had his secretary wire her money on time. Later, Willow managed to get Marcus’s contact information and started sharing her daily life with him. Willow would be overjoyed by a delicious piece of cake, happily snapping photos to show Marcus – not just the cake, but also her radiant smile. Marcus would glance at them coldly, a look of disdain on his face. “It’s just a piece of cake. Why be so happy about it? I found her so fake.” Willow would also send photos of herself in a dazzling outfit, gracefully dancing on stage during school cultural performances. Marcus responded for the first time then, but when he faced me, he feigned indifference. “Kids nowadays are so lucky to go to college. If you could’ve gone to college, Hazel, you’d have guys lining up around the block, I wouldn’t have stood a chance.” But he didn’t even realize that as he spoke to me, his eyes kept returning to the photos on his phone. In fact, every time he mentioned Willow, he was smiling. Most of the time, Willow had an intense desire to share everything with Marcus, and she’d always subtly ask him little questions, hoping for the older brother’s patient answers. Marcus would grumble, yet he’d always respond to her without fail. How could I not see through a young girl’s little schemes? I snatched Marcus’s phone, my voice full of annoyance. “Can you please stop talking about Willow in front of me?” He grinned playfully, flashing his charming canine teeth, and asked, “My sweet Hazel, are you getting jealous?” He teased me while deleting Willow’s contact information. It wasn’t until a few days later that I saw Willow’s social media post. “Who says a crush is a moth to a flame? Our feelings are mutual, a destined path. You opened your arms, and I stumbled towards you.” The caption was accompanied by a photo of intertwined hands. That mole, starkly visible on the hand, burned my eyes. It was Marcus’s right hand. My left hand had an identical mole. Marcus used to say it was proof of our love. Forever and always. But he lied. I thought, this time, Marcus had truly fallen for Willow.

Marcus grew impatient. “Didn’t I tell you not to work there? I’m spending so much money sending you to college, and you’re putting yourself in such a dangerous situation?” Willow lowered her head, biting her thin lip. “My mom is sick and needs a lot of money. But I didn’t want to ask you for it, I was afraid you’d misunderstand, think I was only approaching you for your money. I… I just want to earn money myself to pay for my mom’s treatment.” She grew more agitated, beginning to sob. When she looked up, her face was streaked with tears. As soon as she cried, Marcus’s heart softened. His voice softened, and he gently ruffled her hair. “But did you ever think, in that kind of situation, if I hadn’t shown up in time, you could have been taken advantage of?” “But you did come, didn’t you? I knew you couldn’t leave me alone.” Willow sounded a little smug. I couldn’t listen anymore. Fighting back my discomfort, I slowly spoke. “Marcus, let’s go home. Lily is waiting for you.” Marcus’s eyes darkened. Before he could speak, Willow hooked her arm through his and pleaded, “Please stay with me today, okay? I told my mom I’d bring my boyfriend to see her today. Just pretend with me, please. She doesn’t have many days left.” Then, she turned to me, her voice almost begging. “Hazel, you understand, don’t you?” I didn’t look at her. Instead, I asked Marcus again, despite my efforts to stay calm, my voice trembled. “Come home with me, please?” Marcus frowned. “Didn’t you hear Willow say her mom is dying? Can’t you stop being so petty and jealous? Have some sympathy, please?” “Just listen to me, go home first, be a good girl.” Willow stood by, a faint smile playing on her lips. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Marcus, how long are you going to keep helping her? You’re paying her tuition, showering her with concern, and now you’re going to pretend to be her boyfriend? How far exactly are you willing to go?” “She has so many male classmates, why does she only ask *you*? Are you two planning to turn this fake relationship into a real one? Or have you already?” Marcus froze, apparently not expecting me to say that. He’d thought he’d hidden it well enough. “Hazel, don’t make a scene. Willow is going through so much alone. Why can’t you try to understand her? I remember you weren’t like this before, you used to be so kind.” I gave a cold laugh. “Yes, I was kind. But I wasn’t so kind that I’d hand over my husband to another woman.” “I’m so sorry, Hazel. Don’t blame Marcus. I won’t let him go, okay? Don’t be angry with him, he looks so pathetic when you yell at him.” Willow pouted, with big, teary eyes that looked utterly heartbroken. Just one glance, and Marcus’s face softened with concern. He frowned deeply, shielding her behind him. My tears were invisible to him, but Willow’s tears landed right on his heart. I scoffed, my voice laced with mockery. “Oh, the classic ‘dead dad, dying mom, poor helpless me’ routine? Her tragic backstory just keeps stacking up, it’s a masterclass in manipulation, and you’re too blind to see it.” “Marcus, are you really going to throw away our ten years of shared history for a girl like that?” Marcus froze, then retorted angrily, “Hazel, have you forgotten? You’re someone who clawed their way out of the mud yourself. How can you look down on her now?” I gave a small, bitter laugh. “Now I not only look down on her, Marcus, I look down on you too. Let’s get a divorce.” Marcus’s voice was hoarse. “Hazel, don’t make a scene. Just go home and wait for me, okay?” I stood there, coldly watching him. He practically shoved Willow into his car, then drove off without a backward glance.

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The engagement ring Liam bought for me, three days later, was on the ring finger of Brittany, his ‘dream girl,’ as he knelt before her at her birthday party. Only, the ring was a little loose. Brittany bent her finger, and with a soft “clink,” it dropped to the floor. In the video, Liam awkwardly tried to cover it up, quickly picking it up. He then spouted nauseating sweet nothings in front of everyone: “Brittany, I’m still waiting for you. Will you come back to me?” He cried, shedding those pathetic, fake tears that were supposed to be heartfelt but just looked ridiculous. My awful friends, always eager for drama, sent me several more videos, along with a message: “LOL, your ‘dream guy’ of eight years is acting like such a simp now.” The words were steeped in sarcasm and mockery, as if tearing open my already tattered heart and harshly pouring salt into the wound. He was right. The boy I loved with all my being was someone else’s simp. I’d loved him for how many years? He’d been simping for her for just as long. That ring was my last hope for our relationship. Now, it feels like all my efforts just paved the way for someone else. With a soft sigh, my tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. I coolly and quickly messaged my friend back: “We’re not close.”

Liam was basically my childhood friend. He was reserved, steady, and exactly what I thought I wanted in a boyfriend. Chasing him for eight years had been a relentless struggle. Until three nights ago. He came home smelling of alcohol, and uncharacteristically, he hugged me tightly, whispering in my ear, “Let’s get engaged. We’ll pick out a ring tomorrow.” To say I wasn’t thrilled would be a lie. My tears fell, defiant and unstoppable. Liam was unusually affectionate that night. His usual rough passion was replaced by a tender intimacy. Until Liam’s ragged breaths stopped at my neck, his warm exhalations constant, his lips continuously murmuring those two words. “Brittany… Brittany…” My heart instantly jolted. My previously yielding body stiffened, my eyes wide. He was… he was mistaking me for Brittany. During our most intimate moments, the man I loved called out another woman’s name. What could be more insulting? His love was fake, his affection was fake. In his eyes, I was ultimately nothing compared to a sliver of Brittany’s affection. I was just a placeholder for his frustration. That night, I spent it in tears, a cold, biting emptiness within me. The next day, Liam looked perfectly fine, ignoring my emotions. He went about his usual routine, showering and getting dressed. Before leaving, he leaned close to me, a big smile on his face: “Chloe, come find me after work. We’ll go pick out the ring together.” With that, he planted a loving kiss on my forehead. Looking at Liam, he was still the man I deeply adored. Time seemed to be exceptionally kind to him, refusing to leave even the slightest mark. Once we were engaged, Liam would finally settle down, right? It meant he was trying to let go of his ‘dream girl,’ right? I desperately tried to reassure myself, pulling myself together, attempting to conjure a faint smile on my pale face. But, reality always strikes without warning. Watching the video of the lovestruck Liam, and the ring on Brittany’s ring finger, it all seemed so ridiculous to me. That ring was custom-made, registered under Liam’s ID. A man could only customize one in his lifetime. I still remember how Liam half-bent over the counter, meticulously choosing it, constantly adjusting it with the salesperson. He looked so genuinely devoted. At one point, because of the price, I even tried to haggle with the salesperson. But Liam was surprisingly quick to say, “No need, just wrap it up.” Now, I realize why he was so quick. It wasn’t meant for me at all. I packed his bags, reminiscing about everything with Liam. Except, it was *his* bags I was packing. The apartment was mine. He’d been freeloading off me for years, never paying a cent for internet, electricity, or heating. He was taking advantage of me. It was time for him to go! I simply gathered Liam’s belongings into a cardboard box and tossed it by the door. Including the Brown Bear plushie he’d bought me for 22 bucks at a street stall five years ago on my birthday. People are so strange. When you’re deeply in love, even discarded items can feel like treasures. Once you’re disgusted, even cherished things become an eyesore. Liam didn’t send me a single message. Instead, that terrible friend of mine sent dozens, probably all mocking me. I ignored them as usual. Then, I sent Liam a message: “Engagement canceled. We’re done!” SnapChat blocked, deleted; phone blocked, deleted. I even changed my SnapChat privacy settings so no one could add me. If I was going to be heartless, I’d go all the way. It was Wednesday, a regular workday. As a seasoned corporate drone, the high pressure and fast pace of work were suffocating, leaving no free time for moping. The office was unusually lively and busy today. My colleague and best friend, Maya, saw me, smoothly wheeled her chair over, and handed me a beautifully wrapped gift box. “These are wedding favors from someone in the Operations department. Everyone gets one.” She slyly gestured towards her phone, giving me a ‘you know what this means’ look that said I needed to see something ASAP. Maya and I were college classmates, and we started working at the same company, in the Marketing department, right after graduation. We were lifelong besties, the kind you share everything with. Naturally, she knew all about the emotional mess between me, Liam, and Brittany. I opened my phone. Maya had sent me a few photos. Zooming in, I saw Brittany with an unfamiliar man. They were getting into a Porsche together, acting very affectionate. The man looked much older, with a receding hairline and a slightly greasy look. Maya gossiped that he was a total nouveau riche type, a flashy millionaire who’d recently inherited a massive fortune, complete with multiple properties. She’d accidentally snapped the photos leaving work last night. The implication was clear: Brittany was a total gold-digger, pretending to be innocent and stringing Liam along, but in reality, she was fickle and greedy, always chasing money. “Liam’s such a damn idiot, can’t tell a good person from a bad one,” Maya muttered, defending me. I smiled, turned off my phone, and handed Maya the work materials I’d prepared last night. “Don’t think about it. Let’s just get to work.” In the past, I might have been ecstatic. Liam had just declared his undying love the night before, and the next day, his beloved found a sugar daddy. It would have been hilariously absurd. Now… Forget it. Whether they lived or died, what did it matter to me? The company recently landed a huge case from our biggest client, and almost everyone in the Marketing department was working overtime, snatching a few minutes of rest during lunch. Coincidentally, during a few minutes in the restroom, I ran into Brittany. In college, Brittany was a year below me in the same major. Liam first met her at a departmental exchange seminar when he came to find me. Liam told me he’d never liked anyone so much before, begging me in a desperately pleading tone to help him, or he’d regret it forever. At the time, believing in selfless love, I gave Liam Brittany’s contact information. A few days later, I saw them announce their relationship on social media.

That was fast! Now, Brittany and I worked at the same company. She’d joined two years after me. I was on the fifth floor in Marketing, she was on the second floor in Sales. To come all the way up to my floor just to find me in the restroom… her motive was clear. Brittany saw me, and her previously calm expression instantly turned contemptuous, her features becoming arrogant. The moment I stepped into the restroom, she forcefully shoved me back out. “I was here first! Get out!” she sneered, full of mockery and arrogance. I couldn’t be bothered to argue; after all, some people just aren’t worth my time. But then she brought up the ring. “Liam gave me a ring at my birthday party yesterday,” she said, as if she’d planned it, pulling it out of her pocket, a twisted look on her face. “Too bad it’s too loose, I can’t wear it. Maybe I’ll give it to you…” “Even though the quality is pretty bad, it’s just right for you…” Brittany was showing off to me. It wasn’t the first time over the years. I remained calm, about to retort, when I heard a sarcastic voice from the doorway: “Did someone eat sh*t in this bathroom today? It stinks!” It was Maya. She said this while rushing over to Brittany, scrunching her nose and sniffing hard, then looking at me in mock surprise: “Chloe, that’s the smell! So manipulative and disgusting!” Brittany looked furious enough to hit someone. I grabbed her wrist, my eyes sharp. “Thinking of laying a hand on me? Do you even have the right? If you don’t know how to act like a decent human, then your senior will teach you a lesson.” Then I leaned close to her ear and sweetly whispered, “Oh, and that ring? It’s trash. Manipulative b*tches and trash are a perfect match.” Her wrist was red from my grip, but I had no intention of letting go. Being kind to your enemies is being cruel to yourself. Brittany, always accustomed to arrogance, never expected me to treat her this way. She desperately tried to break free, cursing me as a thug and a malicious b*tch. I just thought, being the good girl is exhausting. Sometimes, it’s actually kinda fun to be a little ruthless. Maya huffed twice, then hooked her arm through mine and marched out, head held high. “I’ve been sick of her for ages! That felt amazing, so damn satisfying!” “Two-timing Liam, and also getting played by some old man. She really has no standards, does she?” I gave a helpless laugh, then quipped, “I have no standards either. But I just picked up trash!” Brittany must have been upset and called Liam to complain. As soon as work ended, I saw Liam blocking me at the company entrance, his face grim. “Chloe, what’s the meaning of this?” Liam’s expression was terrible, his strong fingers gripping my arm tightly, causing me a pang of pain. I scoffed, finding it almost laughable how ‘devoted’ Liam was, ready to jump through hoops for Brittany. And how ridiculous I was for ever loving someone like that. Eight years. A full eight years. “I have nothing to say to you. We’re not close.” My voice was cold, completely devoid of the initial joy and excitement I used to feel seeing him. That ring was the absolute last straw for me. Liam’s brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes tired. He even had a faint stubble, something unheard of for the usually fastidious Liam. He must have been really struggling. His grip was still tight, and I grew increasingly annoyed. It felt like any last shred of dignity between us was gone. “Liam, we’re adults. You have the right to pursue your happiness, and so do I!” “I admit, you gave me hope. But what’s more painful than the despair after hope? If you don’t love me, why force it?” I spoke with biting resentment, as if indicting him for eight years of unspoken pain and frustration. Eight years of chasing him. I had considered Liam the light of my life. Even after Brittany came into the picture, I tried to maintain a facade of dignity and respect. On Liam’s birthday, I happily brought a homemade cake to his dorm building, only to see him and Brittany in a passionate, lingering kiss. He was smiling brightly, leaning over her, his head gently touching her forehead, their arms wrapped around each other, totally inseparable. Brittany saw me, and with a sickeningly sweet smile, she naturally took the cake from my hands. “Wow, Liam always said Chloe makes the best cakes! I’m so lucky today. Unlike me, I’m so clumsy, I can’t make anything!” I’ve forgotten everything else. I only remember Liam’s doting gaze on Brittany, and how he gently patted her head. He didn’t thank me, instead he looked at Brittany and said, “If you like it, I’ll have Chloe make it for you every day.” The jealousy was real, and so was the humiliation. Liam basically treated me like his personal assistant, always available at his beck and call. I never wanted to live like that again. Liam never in a million years expected me to say such things.

His face was pale, his usually bright eyes dimmed, his gaze fixed on me, devoid of life. His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something, but no words came out. The standoff lasted a few minutes, until Brittany emerged from the company building. “Liam, you came to pick me up!” Brittany’s voice was sweet and shrill, as if she wanted everyone around to hear. Was she staking her claim? It was laughable. Brittany saw me, and her face instantly clouded over. She slumped against Liam’s shoulder, dramatically raising a hand to pretend to wipe away tears. “Liam, Chloe was so mean today. She said the ring you gave me wasn’t pretty, that it was trash… I’m so upset. That was your thoughtful gift…” In that moment, I realized how utterly clueless Brittany was. She knew it was a gift from Liam, but she had no idea it was originally meant to be *my* engagement ring. At the mention of the ring, Liam suddenly looked up, as if realizing something. His previously sharp, fixed gaze softened. “Chloe-belle…” Liam’s lips trembled. “I… I…” He used to only call me ‘Chloe-belle’ when things were passionate between us. I used to revel in it for days. Now, it just sounded jarring. If it weren’t for those videos last night, I’d probably still be lost in the illusion of a beautiful marriage. A thought crossed my mind: “Liam… you really thought I was a complete fool.” Brittany tried to continue her provocation, but seeing Liam unresponsive, she instantly grew anxious, tugging at his arm and sleeve, desperately clinging to him for comfort. I turned to leave, just as a black Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen smoothly pulled up to the curb. At the same time, the passenger window slowly rolled down, and a two-liter bottle of green tea was forcefully tossed from the window. It had clearly been thrown with intent, just barely missing Brittany. What a shame. Amidst Brittany’s cursing shriek and Liam’s stunned silence, Maya, wearing dark sunglasses, barked commandingly from the driver’s seat: “Get in!” After only a brief hesitation, I cheerfully responded, “Coming!” and eagerly hopped into the car. I buckled my seatbelt, and with a roaring throttle, we sped off. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I saw Brittany stomping her feet in a fit of rage. And Liam… Was he looking at me? Sitting in the passenger seat, as a corporate drone for years, a high-end car like a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen was a dream I could only admire from afar. But now, with the dream temporarily realized, I found myself unable to truly feel happy. Was Liam sad or regretful just now? Pfft, the thought itself made me realize I was wrong. Eight years. If Liam had been genuinely kind to me for even a moment, things wouldn’t have ended up like this. He had been so heartless towards me, why should I feel pity for him based on a single glance? I absolutely couldn’t go soft this time. Shifting my thoughts, Maya’s car was playing our favorite rock song, “Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies” by Beyond. As the music crescendoed, while stopped at a red light, Maya couldn’t help but get all pumped up, yelling, “Manipulative women and pathetic men belong together! Brittany’s manipulative act makes me sick! Ugh!” She vowed that if Brittany ever bothered me again, she’d make her pay, and begging on her knees wouldn’t be enough. Watching Maya’s excitement, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. My earlier annoyance dissipated considerably. “Hey, tell me the truth, did you rent this car? Huh?” I leaned over, a teasing, half-flattering grin on my face. “Did you know I was upset, so you deliberately rented it to make a scene for me?” Brittany loved to travel. Liam once rented a regular Mercedes for a road trip. That single week cost almost ten thousand dollars. Let alone a high-end Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen like this. I tried to lean in for a big smooch on Maya’s cheek. How could I not love a sister like this? However, “Cough, cough…” Maya saw my impulsiveness and quickly dodged in the opposite direction, pointing behind me… Was someone in the back? I looked at her, then at the back, utterly confused, and instantly froze. “Hi, Chloe!” A clear voice, tinged with youthful hormones, emerged. I followed the sound with my gaze, from bottom to top. The owner of the voice wore loose sweatpants and a light grey hoodie. In contrast to his casual attire, his features were sharply defined, a golden ratio, with a straight nose and thin lips. Our eyes met, sparkling like stars in a flowing galaxy. “H-hi.” I awkwardly replied, instantly turning to sit rigidly in the passenger seat, clutching my seatbelt, swallowing a noticeably loud gulp. From the moment I got in the car until now, I hadn’t sensed the slightest presence of a third person! Maya looked at me, and the guy in the back subtly turned his head, also looking at me. Me: “…” A subtle tension filled the air, my heart pounding erratically. While the car was stopped, I desperately tried to signal with my eyes, contorting my features as if to say, “What the hell is going on? Who is this guy? You better explain yourself, right now!” Maya ignored me and kept driving.

Until we smoothly pulled over to the side of the road ahead, she coolly took off her sunglasses and told me the truth. “Chloe, I’m rich! This is the boyfriend I found for you, Finn. Are you satisfied?” I instantly zoned out. The amount of information was too much; my brain couldn’t keep up. I hadn’t even fully recovered from the Liam situation, and now I had a boyfriend? More importantly, I didn’t even know this guy! Rich?! So this Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen!!! Then, as Maya gave her “tearful” explanation, it clicked. Maya’s family were local residents, and they’d recently inherited a small fortune when their old neighborhood was bought out. As an only child, she impulsively bought a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen as a reward for all her years as a corporate drone. And I, Chloe Davies, as the rich girl’s best friend, couldn’t possibly mope around over some scumbag. So she specifically found me a handsome guy… to make up for it… You know, *that* kind of making up for it. The photos Maya sent me this morning of Brittany and that old man were from last night. On her way home, she just happened to pass by, and just happened to see them. In a moment of excitement, she quickly took the photos. Since they were all from the same neighborhood, they knew each other well enough. A quick inquiry would reveal everything. “Chloe, maybe…” Maya’s eyebrows subtly arched, a knowing, unrestrained smile playing on her lips. I knew Maya wanted to teach those two a lesson, to get revenge for me. I didn’t refuse, but I didn’t condone it either. Maya was straightforward and fiercely loyal. If she acted impulsively and caused any other trouble that implicated her, it simply wouldn’t be worth it. Bad people eventually get what’s coming to them. The cause of one life is the effect of the next. Brittany was two-timing; she was digging her own grave. If she didn’t know how to act, someone else would teach her. Why should I dirty my hands? As for Liam, he was just a familiar stranger now. There was nothing left to cling to. I asked Maya to drop me off at the nearest subway station. I didn’t want to go home so quickly; I wanted to walk alone and clear my head. As for my “little boyfriend” Finn, haha, as a regular corporate drone, I can’t handle that kind of attention. I gave Maya a mischievous look. My meaning was definitely what she’d like to hear. With that, I got out of the car, waved goodbye to Finn in the backseat, and walked away. My eight-year relationship with Liam had been a roundabout journey, and we ultimately ended up going our separate ways. It had also drained me of all my initial enthusiasm and innocence for love. I no longer dared to give my whole heart. The Chloe I once was is gone. And the Chloe of the future certainly won’t be that way again. Because I’m too scared to anymore. Today’s weather seemed to reflect my mood, fickle and unpredictable. Before I even got home, a gentle rain began to fall. There was a large chain grocery store near my apartment. In the past, after work, Liam and I would always go grocery shopping together. Every time he walked beside me, and I gently held his arm, it felt like a preview of our future life. Wherever he was, that was my home. I pushed a small shopping cart through the aisles, picking out items from the shelves. Although it felt like something was missing, this feeling made me feel especially secure. In the fruit section, the refrigerated display cases held a variety of fruits, along with pre-packaged portions of blue cheese. It was almost fate. Liam’s least favorite food was blue cheese, while I was a fervent fan. Because I liked him, I even changed my true preference, later making up a lame excuse: “I’m allergic to blue cheese!” How many people claim allergies, when deep down, it’s just a compromise for the person they love. The rain stopped. I carried a small bag of groceries home. It wasn’t much, but it felt like I was filling the void left by eight years of my emotional life. Back at home, Liam’s things were still by the door. He hadn’t been back. As I took out my keys to open the door, urgent footsteps sounded behind me. The next second, a familiar scent and warmth enveloped me. “Chloe-belle, I was wrong. Please forgive me, okay?” Liam’s voice was urgent and pleading, ending with a choked sob. He was begging me, begging me not to leave him. “Why did you delete me? Do you know how worried I was? I was going crazy!” His strong, broad hands gripped my shoulders, pressing down hard, draining most of my strength. I struggled fiercely, desperate to break free from his embrace. “Liam, let go! You’re hurting me! You’re a jerk!” The grocery bag slipped from my hands, falling heavily to the floor. Liam, like a madman, aggressively attacked me with his kisses. If before, his kisses had been filled with romance and deep affection, now, every touch only made me feel utterly disgusted. “Liam, you’re crazy, get off me! Get—” I roared through tears, my eyes bloodshot, my collar pulled askew, my neck red and swollen. “Let go!” A strange yet familiar voice cut through the air, strong and resolute. Before I could react, a strong, firm hand roughly yanked Liam off me. The next second, with a thud, Liam crashed into the wall, then fell heavily to the ground. A tall figure inexplicably appeared before me. Under the dim, flickering hallway light, I strained to make out his face. It was Finn! He hadn’t left after all.

In my confusion, he took off his jacket and wrapped it tightly around me, gesturing for me to go inside, indicating he would handle this. In the alternating light and shadow, I subconsciously looked up. His brows were furrowed, his expression stern, but his eyes were utterly clear. He stood before me, like a sturdy oak against a storm, telling me firmly, “Don’t be afraid. I’ve got you!” Suddenly, I felt a powerful force pushing through me, like a parched soul finally getting a drink of water. This was a feeling I had never experienced in my eight years with Liam. I composed myself, trying to calm my racing thoughts. It was time for Liam and me to finally put an end to this. “Just go. I don’t want to see you anymore.” Finn, sensing the mood, picked up the grocery bag from the floor and went inside, not lingering to hear the rest. “Liam, I don’t love you anymore. Yesterday, when I saw you put that ring on Brittany’s finger, in that moment, my heart completely died.” “You stole my last bit of hope and dreams for love, leaving me too afraid to ever love again.” Liam slowly picked himself up from the ground, blood even trickling from the corner of his mouth. He leaned weakly against the wall, pale and drained, silently watching me. “We’re adults. We need to take responsibility for our actions. Don’t come looking for me again. We’re… done.” In that moment, my heart felt strangely calm, like a still spring pond, without a ripple. No tears in my eyes, no pain in my heart. Perhaps this was what it felt like to no longer love. Liam, on the other hand, stumbled closer, grabbing my hands tightly, begging bitterly: “Chloe-belle, I messed up. Yesterday, I was drunk, it was an impulse. I… I… I like you.” “Listen to me, I… I truly don’t like Brittany anymore. You’re the one I like, Chloe-belle!” “If I didn’t like you, why would I have gotten engaged to you, why would I marry you, Chloe-belle…” Liam choked out his explanation, his brows tightly furrowed, tears tracing clear paths down his face. I had waited eight years for Liam to say he liked me. In the past, I would have excitedly thrown myself into his arms, clinging to him, wanting to tell the whole world that I, Chloe Davies, was the happiest girl alive. But all of this came too late, far too late. Even if a wounded heart heals, it’s still covered in scars. Peel back that fragile outer shell, and all you see are wounds. “Liam, just go! Like this Brown Bear, we can never go back.” With that, I swiftly pulled my hands free, without hesitation, and turned to go home. The last flicker of affection I had for Liam vanished with the heavy “thud” of the door closing. Liam’s knocking on the door continued, irritating me. I glanced towards the kitchen. Finn was wearing an apron, and I could hear the faucet running as he washed something. “Why are you still here?” I asked coldly. He seemed to pause, his practiced movements stopping. He pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped his hands. “I’ll leave after I make you something to eat.” Finn’s voice was clear, with a faint, mesmerizing hint of a soft murmur. I hung his jacket on the hanger by the door, then went to my bedroom to change clothes. While I was there, I called Maya. On the other end of the line, I heard a noisy crowd and blaring music. She was probably at a bar. Maya didn’t say anything; she must not have seen my call and answered by mistake. I hung up, then sat on the sofa, hunched over, pressing the heel of my hand hard into my forehead, my breathing heavy. Liam was still knocking, but the sound was softer, the frequency slower. After a while, the knocking stopped. I heard the sound of a cardboard box being moved outside the door. He must have left. Finn came from the kitchen, carrying a bowl of noodle soup. It had greens, ham, and a perfectly fried soft-boiled egg. “Eat up. I hope it’s to your taste.” He thoughtfully touched the side of the bowl to check if it was too hot, then placed the forks to my left. I’m left-handed, and he actually knew that. Maya must have told him. After all the commotion today, I was indeed a little hungry. I politely thanked him, picked up my forks, and started eating small bites, chatting with him as I did. Finn was a student in the sports department at my alma mater, a year younger than me. After graduation, he tried his hand at entrepreneurship and now worked as a full-time coach at a Taekwondo club near the company. So, he was a junior. I remembered Maya once had a crazy obsession with Taekwondo, joining a class on a whim and even dragging me along a few times. “Chloe, once I get my Taekwondo black belt, I’d like to see anyone try to bully you. I’ll just kick them away!” she’d say, hitting the air with muffled thuds. “Have we met before?” I put down my forks, forcing a smile, looking directly at him.

Finn radiated youthful energy. His casual, athletic attire perfectly highlighted his sculpted physique. Compared to the endless procession of identical suits I saw every day, he was a breath of fresh air. His eyelashes fluttered, and his clear eyes suddenly lit up. He nodded firmly. “Yup.” My thoughts drifted back four years, to my birthday. Coincidentally, I had won first prize in an internet innovation competition. Liam called me, saying he’d celebrate my birthday with me. At that time, Liam and Brittany were having problems, and Brittany had unilaterally broken up with him. Seeing my chance, I secretly vowed to win Liam over, to make him realize how much I liked and loved him. I wore clothes in Liam’s favorite style, put on exquisite makeup, and booked a window seat at his favorite restaurant. I even secretly worked three months of part-time jobs to buy a pair of couple’s rings, engraved with Liam’s and my initials. “If I just took the initiative, would Liam agree?” I clutched the ring in my hand, my heart pounding like a drum, a mix of excitement and anxiety that left me restless. But the weather had other plans. A summer downpour came exceptionally hard. I waited for Liam from 6 PM until 10 PM. Finn was the one I met then. He worked part-time at this restaurant. Near closing time, he changed out of his uniform and walked over in a black T-shirt. He looked a bit short and slender back then. Finn patiently refilled my tea, politely asking, “Miss, your friend still hasn’t arrived? Would you like me to stay with you?” I looked at the antique clock hanging on the restaurant wall. It was nearly eleven. I shook my head, thanked him, stood up, and left. I called Liam, but his phone went from unanswered to switched off. He didn’t reply to any messages, as if he’d vanished. The next day, Liam finally got in touch, belatedly explaining, “Brittany twisted her ankle and needs someone to take care of her.” He also told me, “She’s terrified of thunder; she can’t be without me.” I pretended to be nonchalant, blowing my nose hard with a tissue, trying to hold back tears. “It’s fine, it’s fine.” … Finn thoughtfully pulled some tissues from the box and handed them to me, his voice gentle. “Chloe, don’t be sad. You have me.” His words were both intimate and sincere, making me look up at Finn, momentarily flustered. The Finn before me now was no longer the slender, slightly frail young man I first met. He was tall and handsome, every gesture exuding elegance and politeness. Any teenage girl who saw him would cast admiring glances. Time seemed to stand still for several seconds. “Finn, thank you for tonight. It’s late, you should head home now.” I issued the dismissal, distractedly getting up to retrieve his jacket from the hanger by the door. As an adult, I clearly understood Finn’s intentions. A chance encounter years ago, and now this meeting? How could it be a coincidence? Maya was just playing matchmaker. Currently, I was physically and emotionally exhausted, with no extra energy for another relationship. Liam was like this, and Finn was no different. Finn’s composed features tightened, his bright eyes looking a little hurt. He stood up, taking his jacket from my hands, a hint of reluctance in his voice. “Are you going to be okay alone? Maybe I could…” “No, I’ll be fine. If he comes back, I’ll call the police!” I cut him off before he could finish. Finn left, but not before adding me on SnapChat. Ten minutes later, he sent me a message: “Chloe, contact me anytime if you need anything. I’ll be there.” I didn’t pay much attention, nor did I reply. The warmth between people can only withstand so much hot-and-cold indifference from one side. If I was harsh now, Finn would probably give up quickly, right? The next day at work, as I was putting together a presentation, Maya poked her head out like a nosy dog, whispering conspiratorially, “Chloe, about last night…” I playfully swatted her head with my file. “Can your mind just be normal for once? You’re so dirty!” I got up to print my documents. Maya pouted, then trotted after me, still pestering. “Girl, Finn is such a great guy, are you really not interested?” She threw up her hands, an incredulous and bewildered expression on her face. I sighed, flashing my signature eight-tooth smile. “Girl, if you think he’s so great, you go for it. If you two get married, I’ll definitely give you a huge cash gift!” You can’t hit a smiling face. Maya huffed in annoyance, scoffed, and turned back to her desk.

But before I could even try to smooth things over, the elevator chimed, and the sharp, rapid click-clack of high heels on the floor echoed through the office. A furious, unfamiliar middle-aged woman in a red dress stormed in, cursing. “I’m going to teach you a lesson, you little vixen! You’ve gone too far, daring to mess with my daughter!” Another woman’s shriek and struggle followed: “Let go of me! Let go! I’ll call security!” The two women were pulling and tugging, full of fury, crashing into the adjacent Operations department. The company printer was just around the corner from the elevators. My movements, as I organized my documents, instantly stopped. That woman… she looked so much like Brittany! No, not like. It *was* her! Many corporate drones, witnessing the scene, couldn’t possibly focus on work. Chairs slid back, and groups of three to five surged towards the Operations department. Maya, naturally, was no exception, dragging me along to join the commotion. The middle-aged woman’s face was livid. Her hand never released Brittany’s hair, and her screams grew louder. “Everyone, you have to hear me out!” “Yes, this young woman, of all things, decided to become a home-wrecker and destroy someone else’s family!” “My daughter, Ashley, who works in the Operations department, just got married recently. My daughter and I even packed the wedding favors for everyone ourselves!” “Who would’ve thought this snake would seduce my son-in-law and even try to convince my daughter to divorce him and leave with nothing!” “Is there no shame in the world for a woman like you, huh?!” The middle-aged woman was screaming violently. Being a full size larger than Brittany, she easily shoved Brittany to the floor. I’d had brief interactions with Ashley during company team-building events. At that time, she and her fiancé had been together for eight years, going from school uniforms to a wedding dress. It had been such a challenging journey. When she mentioned getting married soon, she shed tears of excited joy. My heart sank. Eight years. Again, eight years… What a coincidence. Was this Brittany’s special hobby? Haha. Ashley, at her desk, watched her mother stand up for her, and instantly burst into tears. She took off her sunglasses, and many colleagues gasped. Maya grabbed my sleeve, startled, almost shouting, “Chloe, look, quickly, look…” I was truly shocked. Ashley had a massive bruise near her eye. She had clearly been hit. Her husband cheated on her, and she was being abused at home, yet she had to endure the humiliation and come to work. How much pain must she be in? The company manager and security guards rushed over, and the entire office erupted into chaos. Brittany’s chiffon blouse was disheveled, her face showed faint red handprints, and her neck and arms were scratched with red marks from nails. She struggled violently, trying to fight back, screaming, “I didn’t! Your man was seducing me!” Ashley couldn’t take it anymore. She delivered a vicious slap directly to Brittany’s face. “Brittany, don’t think everyone’s an idiot! I haven’t even mentioned your affair with that old man from the neighborhood!” Brittany froze, and so did everyone else… More than a few colleagues started murmuring. “There’s more?” “I can’t believe Brittany’s like this.” “She’s in sales, and I heard she barely does any work but always has the highest numbers. So, it’s all just shady dealings, isn’t it?” Brittany panicked, forcing herself to stand up. “You’re full of sh*t! If you say that again, I’ll sue you for defamation!” Ashley’s mother stood with her hands on her hips, indignantly pointing a finger at Brittany and yelling again, “Let’s go, let’s go! I don’t believe there’s no justice in this world!” Maya was practically jumping for joy, practically itching to expose all of Brittany’s dirty laundry and deliver a fatal blow. The company manager stepped in, urging everyone to keep the peace. This was a workplace, and he sternly ordered us casual observers to disperse and get back to work! As I left, my gaze accidentally met Brittany’s frantic eyes. I lowered my gaze and smiled. I smiled at her stupidity, at her digging her own grave. But what I didn’t expect was for Liam to show up. I met Liam at the coffee shop downstairs from the company. He looked haggard and much more tired. His hair hadn’t been styled in a long time, and his tie was crooked.

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The class reunion was in full swing when Chloe Miller, our former prom queen, threw a question out to the girls. “After ten years of marriage, what would you do if you found out your husband was cheating?” Most of them declared, “Divorce!” Chloe’s gaze landed on me. I scoffed, a bold statement ready on my lips: “Me? Scarlett Hayes? I’d rather be a widow than a divorcee, any day!” Everyone laughed, but Chloe’s face utterly changed, her eyes holding a strange glint. Seven days earlier, Chloe called me, suggesting a middle school reunion. It had been nearly twenty years since we graduated, and the thought of seeing everyone again gave me a little thrill. I have a bad habit: excitement often leads to insomnia. That first night, I tossed and turned, unable to find sleep. My husband, Victor Sterling, groggily reached back and pulled me close. “Honey, what’s wrong?” “Chloe said she’s organizing a middle school reunion. I’m just a little excited, can’t sleep.” “Silly goose,” he murmured, gently patting my back as if I were our daughter. “Let’s count sheep together.” Lulled by his comforting presence, I slowly drifted off. It’s no exaggeration to say my husband was the most gentle, understanding man in the world. And then, at the class reunion, Chloe, our former prom queen, asked the women a question. “After ten years of marriage, what would you do if you found out your husband was cheating?” Most of them declared, “Divorce!” Chloe looked directly at me. I proclaimed with utter confidence, “Me? Scarlett Hayes? I’d rather be a widow than a divorcee, any day!” Everyone laughed, but Chloe’s face drained of color, her eyes holding a strange, unsettling expression. I brushed it off, thinking it was just a lighthearted moment at the party, and I had absolute faith in Victor. But all evening, Chloe’s eyes kept drifting my way. The moment I met her gaze, she’d quickly look away. Later, when I went to the restroom, I cornered her inside. “Chloe, we’ve known each other for years. If there’s something on your mind, just say it.” Chloe forced a laugh and denied it. I might have been out of the game for a while, but I could spot cheap tricks a mile away. “Spill it!” Chloe’s eyes locked onto mine, and she spoke earnestly. “You have to promise me you’ll stay calm!” A shiver of an ominous premonition ran down my spine, but I took a deep breath and nodded. Chloe pulled out her phone and opened her photo album. It felt like my brain had just detonated. A bomb went off in my head. Those photos were of Victor with different women. If they were just ordinary photos, I wouldn’t have cared; I’m not the jealous type. But Victor’s pose with each woman was far too intimate, even more affectionate than he was with me. And his eyes—they were practically oozing with flirtation. “These… you…?” Seeing my confusion, Chloe gave a bitter laugh and pulled up one particular photo. “Look.” It was a picture of Chloe and Victor together. I was about to explode. That homewrecker had the nerve to be so brazen? “He told me he was single!” Chloe quickly interjected. “That bastard completely conned me!” “Why would I believe you?” Chloe then showed me her SnapChat conversations with Victor. Flirty. Suggestive. And there was money involved. “He told me he was single, took over a hundred thousand dollars from me! I was totally in the dark, fantasizing about marrying him and starting a family, until one day Valerie sent me a picture of his family. That’s when I realized I’d been duped.” “Who’s Valerie?” My head was spinning. “Another woman that scumbag fooled.” Rage, confusion. One Chloe wasn’t enough, now there was a Valerie too? I made an excuse and left the reunion early. I had to go home and confront Victor. What was going on? What had he been doing behind my back? How many women was he entangled with?! Chloe chased after me. “Scarlett, don’t do anything rash!” Rash? If she weren’t an old classmate I hadn’t seen in years, I swear, I wanted to slap her silly! “Scarlett!” Chloe grabbed my arm, and I violently yanked it away. “Get your hands off me, don’t contaminate me!” Chloe’s eyes immediately welled up. Oh, so now she’s playing the innocent victim? Give me a break! I hopped into a taxi and sped away. As I wrestled with how to confront Victor, how to unleash the anger boiling within me, my phone rang. It was Victor. That scumbag had the audacity to call me? I answered, about to unleash a tirade, but then my daughter’s soft voice came through. “Mommy, what time are you coming home? I miss you.” My nose stung, and tears threatened to fall. After ten years of marriage, I’d finally managed to get pregnant and have our daughter. My five-year-old Lily was the apple of my eye. If Victor and I blew up, what would happen to Lily? If Victor was prepared, I might not even get custody of her. I remembered my earlier flippant remark: “I’d rather be widowed than divorced!” I swallowed hard, forcing the rising tears back down. I wouldn’t let Victor walk away unscathed. For this devil of a bastard, only hell awaited him! Back home, Victor was as solicitous as ever, fetching my slippers and running a bath. Normally, I’d have been touched and given him a quick kiss. But now, looking at him, I felt a wave of nausea. Turns out, this handsome man was just a pretty face with rotten insides. “Honey, did you drink too much?” Seeing my pale face, Victor didn’t seem suspicious. It was true; my straightforward nature was an open book to him. Given his two-faced behavior—chasing women outside while being a devoted husband at home—I’d been completely outmaneuvered. As a woman, facing her husband’s infidelity, it was impossible not to feel panicked, confused, and furious. But what could I do now? The only thing I could do was force myself to calm down! I had already lost so much; I couldn’t afford to lose everything! Playing along with his comment, I pretended to be drunk.

I stumbled into the bathroom, forced a few retches, and then let the tears I’d been holding back finally stream out. “I need a shower.” I pushed Victor out of the bathroom, turned on the shower, and cried my heart out. I carried Lily back to her room, and she quickly fell into a deep sleep. Victor quietly opened the door, carefully tucked us in, and then softly left. Everything had happened so suddenly that for a moment, I truly believed Victor had cheated. But as I calmed down, and Victor was so gentle and attentive, I started to question the authenticity of those photos. Chloe and I hadn’t seen each other in over ten years. If she knew Victor was my husband, why would she so publicly organize this reunion? And then, so openly tell me she was sleeping with my husband? I suspected she had another agenda! Was her goal to push me out so she could take my place? It was highly probable! Chloe called again, saying she wanted to talk. I replied, “I don’t want to talk. If you think this will stir up trouble in my marriage, I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong person!” There was a long silence on the other end, then the call disconnected. I sneered. Did she think being pretty meant she could do whatever she wanted? Beauty isn’t brains! Ridiculous. To my surprise, Chloe wasn’t giving up. She actually came to my office to find me. “Scarlett!” Chloe grabbed me without a word and pulled me towards her car. “What do you want?” I exclaimed, frustrated. “Is it fun to break up someone else’s family?” Chloe didn’t say much. She just drove me straight to an unfamiliar place. It was a place of flashing lights and throbbing music. Since getting married, I’d never been to such a place, especially after having Lily. My life revolved around work, home, and later, taking my daughter to daycare. I believed a married woman should be a dedicated wife and mother. Chloe seemed to be a regular here. She expertly led me to a secluded corner. “There’s a show about to start here. I hope you’ll watch it calmly.” It certainly was a show. I watched with my own eyes as Victor walked in, intimately intertwined with a woman. Their every gesture reeked of flirtation. “That’s Valerie,” Chloe whispered, her eyes fixed on me. “According to our investigation, besides you, his wife, he has two other girlfriends: me and Valerie.” Watching Victor’s brazen behavior, then remembering his gentle attentiveness at home… My mind was a complete mess. Should I believe Chloe, or should I believe Victor was innocent? The three women eventually sat down together. There was me, Scarlett Hayes, Victor’s wife and a business manager at a private company. Chloe, the owner of a chain of beauty salons, who’d been defrauded not just emotionally and physically, but financially too. And Valerie, a rich heiress with inheritance rights to two private hospitals, who had suffered the same fate as Chloe. The atmosphere was incredibly awkward. Chloe asked me again what I planned to do. I was Victor’s legal wife. If I was willing to forgive him, they would withdraw and try to salvage my marriage. “We’re old classmates, Scarlett!” Chloe said earnestly. “I want you to be happy, otherwise I wouldn’t have told you so directly.” A pang of sadness. My marriage needed the help of the other women to survive. “We can step aside,” Valerie offered. “But can you guarantee that scumbag will finally settle down? Be a faithful husband?” Who could guarantee that? No one! Even if I tried to salvage this marriage, could I truly go back to enjoying Victor’s care and affection as before? Could I ever again share a bed, without reservation, with a man whose mind and body felt so sullied? I couldn’t! But if I chose divorce, what would I get? The company I worked for—its legal entity and owner were listed under Victor’s Aunt Mildred. But the real owner, the one unlisted, was Victor. All these years, I’d worked my tail off, bringing in business, thinking it was *our* family business. Now I realized Victor had been meticulously planning against me all along. The house was in both our names. But even if I got half the property, what then? A divorce would mean unemployment for me. Ten years of hard work, all for nothing. Homeless, because Victor had the capital to buy out my half of the property rights. The worst outcome: I’d lose my daughter, whom I’d fought so hard to have. In short, divorce would leave me with absolutely nothing! 2 I remained silent. At this moment, I felt like the biggest loser. Chloe and Valerie were smart women; they understood my predicament perfectly. Chloe gently squeezed my hand. “Scarlett, don’t worry. We’ll teach that bastard a lesson, together!” My demands weren’t greedy; I just wanted to reclaim what was mine. Like the profits I’d earned for the company over the years. Valerie laughed, calling me a pushover. “If it were me, I’d take back ten times as much!” I offered a faint smile. This was the difference between being married and being single. Their relationships with Victor could be resolved with a simple breakup. But I had to consider my daughter. So, I didn’t want to burn all my bridges and potentially jeopardize my chances of securing full custody of my daughter. They say three women make a drama, and our show was just getting started. The company’s legal owner and boss was Victor’s Aunt Mildred. This meant that if Victor and I divorced, the company would have absolutely nothing to do with me. Yet, over the past decade, the profits I’d generated for the company were in the tens of millions, if not hundreds. Walking away with nothing wasn’t my style. As the company’s business manager, and the de facto boss’s wife, I knew all the business operations and finances inside and out. Of course, the most crucial thing was not to let Victor suspect anything. So, I had Chloe anonymously report the company for tax evasion. Sure enough, the IRS soon arrived to investigate. While this caused a lot of trouble for the company, it was the only way I could think of to get Aunt Mildred to step aside. Victor’s Aunt Mildred was a seemingly shrewd middle-aged woman. She had a stable nursing job of her own. And she received monthly consulting fees, plus year-end profit shares from the company, stuffing her pockets faster than anyone. But when trouble struck, she was also faster to flee than anyone. Tax evasion could be a big deal or a small one. If you had a good attitude and voluntarily paid back taxes and fines, it might blow over. But for someone like Aunt Mildred, getting money out of her pocket was like pulling teeth. The truth was, these taxes didn’t even have to come directly from her. But Aunt Mildred received profit shares based on the company’s earnings. Once the taxes and fines were paid, she’d indirectly lose a significant portion of her bonus. Would she ever agree to that? Of course, I knew she wouldn’t. Otherwise, our anonymous tip would have been for nothing. Now, with the IRS investigators coming in daily, she, as the boss and legal owner, naturally had to be present. But she played dumb, claiming to know nothing. So, she tried to push me forward, saying I was the real boss and she was just a figurehead. How could she say such a thing? The IRS agents’ faces immediately darkened. They asked me what was going on. “I—I’m just an employee!” I explained frantically. Aunt Mildred wouldn’t have it. She pointed at me and yelled, “This company was actually opened by her husband! He didn’t want to use his own name, so he used mine. He promised me back then that if anything went wrong, he wouldn’t drag me into it! Now he wants to push it all on me? Dream on!” The investigators told me to call Victor immediately. I cried as I called Victor, saying the company was in trouble and he needed to come quickly. As soon as Victor walked through the door, Aunt Mildred grabbed his clothes and started wailing. “Oh, Victor, Victor! I wondered why you didn’t register the company under your own name, or your wife’s name! Turns out you two were scheming to trick your poor aunt!” “You gave me such a measly consulting fee every month, and then just shut me up with a year-end bonus! You two are really something, evading taxes, living the high life, feasting and celebrating, what a ‘great’ nephew you are!” She wailed and then collapsed onto the floor, gasping dramatically. Victor’s face was as black as thunder. I stood to the side, looking utterly bewildered, but if I wasn’t trying so hard, I might have burst out laughing. Victor finally managed to coax Aunt Mildred away, only to face a barrage of questions from the IRS agents. His handsome face was twisted into a grotesque mask. After seeing the investigators off, Victor sat in the office, staring blankly ahead, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “If I find out who reported this company, I’ll make sure she dies a miserable death!” Who reported it wasn’t important; what mattered was that I couldn’t let Aunt Mildred stay in the company any longer.

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My dad wanted to test my wife’s work ethic, so he arranged for me to conduct a surprise inspection of the company she managed. I figured it would just be a formality. But the moment I walked in, I saw a young, baby-faced college student staring blankly at a paper shredder. “Wow, this machine is so cool!” He picked up a contract from a nearby desk, looking ready to feed it in. A colleague next to him gasped, his face draining of color, and quickly stopped him: “Oh my god, Leo, what are you doing? Weren’t you playing games in the office? Why are you out here?” The guy just grinned. “Heh heh, just a little thirsty.” No sooner had he said it than his hand, holding a cup, wobbled. The entire cup of water accidentally splashed onto the main power switch. The whole company plunged into darkness, and the office erupted in cries of despair. I grabbed a young intern nearby and asked him who on earth hired this idiot. The intern immediately made a shushing gesture. “Keep it down, man. He’s, like, Ms. Hayes’s partner. Rumor has it, this whole company actually belongs to *him*.” “Are you new here? You’ll get used to it in a few days. He usually just plays games in Ms. Hayes’s office and doesn’t bother us much.” My head started to throb. He’s Ms. Hayes’s partner? Then what in the world am *I*? I pulled out my phone and called my dad. “Dad, no need for the inspection. Tell Ellie to come to the office with the divorce papers.”

Dad sent me to the company to evaluate Ellie. He said it was a routine check, told me not to stress, just to get familiar with the business. I thought it was just a formality. I reported my identity as an inspector from headquarters to the front desk, and she respectfully swiped me through the security gate. The moment I stepped into the office area, I saw a man. He was dressed neatly, in a college-style white shirt, squatting in front of the paper shredder, his face full of curiosity. “Wow, this machine is so cool! Can it eat anything?” He said, casually picking up a file from a nearby desk. On the cover of that file, “MERGER AGREEMENT” was boldly written in red. Without a second thought, he tried to feed the contract into the shredder. A spectacled colleague next to him instantly went pale. He lunged forward, practically tackling the man, snatching the contract away just in time. “Oh my god, Leo, what are you doing? Weren’t you playing games in the office?” His voice was strained with terror. “Why are you out here? We need this contract this afternoon!” The man was bumped, but didn’t seem annoyed at all. Instead, he flashed a wide grin and rattled his empty cup. “Got tired of gaming, so I’m a bit thirsty.” The colleague let out a shaky breath, hugging the contract tightly as if his life depended on it. He lowered his voice, pleading. “Then please, go get some water! I beg you, go drink it in your office, okay? Doesn’t Ms. Hayes’s office have a private water cooler?” The man scratched his nose. “The water in there doesn’t taste good. I want the water out here.” He said, not bothering with the colleague’s nearly tearful expression, and turned towards the breakroom. My head started to throb watching this scene unfold. I pulled a young intern standing nearby. “Who is that?” The intern glanced at me, then quickly at the man’s retreating back, his eyes full of apprehension. He put a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture. “Keep it down, sir.” He leaned closer to my ear, his voice barely a whisper. “He’s our Ms. Hayes’s husband, Leo Maxwell.” My heart lurched. Ellie’s recent strange behaviors suddenly made perfect sense. The intern continued. “I heard this whole company belongs to him, so he’s the real boss here.” “You must be new, right? You’ll get used to it in a few days.” He sighed, a weariness on his face that didn’t match his age. “He usually just stays in Ms. Hayes’s private office, playing games and watching shows. He doesn’t usually interact with us.” “Ms. Hayes must be out for a meeting today, and nobody’s around to entertain him, so he came out to stretch his legs.” My mind buzzed as I listened to him. He’s Ms. Hayes’s husband. So what am *I*? The intern noticed my expression and asked with concern. “Sir, are you okay? You look awful.” I shook my head and forced a smile. “I’m fine, just a little surprised.” “To think there are people like that in the company… quite an eye-opener.” The intern gave a bitter smile and shrugged. “You’ll get used to it. He never really *does* anything. We just bear with it and pray he gets bored and goes back to her office soon.” I didn’t say anything else. He never really *does* anything? If that contract had been shredded, a multi-million dollar project would have been stalled. Who would bear the losses? I watched Leo’s back as he emerged from the breakroom, humming a tune. I pulled out my phone, intending to call my dad directly. But after a moment’s thought, I put it back. Leaving like this would be too easy for Ellie. Dad sent me here to evaluate her competence. And now, it seemed her competence, and her character, were deeply flawed. I wanted to see just how ridiculous this company had become under her management. I straightened my clothes and walked to the front desk. “Hello, I’m Alexander Vance, from headquarters, here for a project review.” “Please arrange a temporary workstation for me, preferably somewhere quiet.” “Also, this inspection is internal. I don’t want Ms. Hayes to know I’m here.” The front desk staff nodded respectfully. I walked into the office area, found a corner spot, and my gaze fell on Leo, not far away. He was holding a cup of water, curiously studying the fire alarm on the wall, seemingly contemplating whether to press the red button.

Ellie wasn’t in that morning. Leo had probably gotten bored of playing games in her office. He ambled out of the General Manager’s office again. He roamed around the office area. One moment, he’d poke at a colleague’s newly finished design sketch. The next, he’d tap another colleague’s keyboard, typing out a string of gibberish. Everyone was furious but dared not speak. They’d hold their breath when he approached, and quickly check their work for damage once he left. He wandered over to the water dispenser. He was probably thirsty again, picking up a disposable cup to get some water. Either he lost his grip, or he did it on purpose. His hand shook. The full cup of water, precisely and unerringly, splashed entirely onto the wall next to the water dispenser. Right there, was the main power switch for the entire office. There was a loud *sizzle*, accompanied by a shower of blinding electrical sparks. The lights in the entire office instantly went out. Everyone’s computer screens, in unison, went black. A few seconds later, the office erupted in thunderous wails and desperate curses. “My code! I’ve been writing code all morning! I haven’t saved it yet!” “My design draft! The client has called eight times, it’s just the final step!” “My report! It’s due at 2 PM! It’s over, everything’s ruined!” David, the head of the technical department, rushed out of his office first, hearing the commotion. He saw Leo, who had caused the mess and was standing there with an innocent look, his face instantly turning ashen. His lips moved, his fists clenched then unclenched, and he ultimately swallowed his words. Leo, however, spoke first, his voice full of dissatisfaction. “What’s going on?” “This switch quality is too poor, isn’t it? It broke just from a little water. Why is everything in our company so shoddy?” His talent for playing the victim and blaming the company for his own blunder was truly breathtaking. Mr. Henderson, the administrative manager, also hurried over. He first looked at the chaotic, smoke-emitting power switch, then at Leo. He immediately put on a deferential smile. “Mr. Maxwell, are you hurt? Did it scare you?” “It’s not your fault, it must be the aging wiring. We’ll handle it right away. I’ll get someone to replace it with a new, waterproof one immediately!” “Please go back to your office to rest. We’ll take care of things here.” Leo pouted, seemingly dissatisfied with this outcome, but said nothing more and turned back into Ellie’s office. Only then did Mr. Henderson wipe the cold sweat from his forehead and begin directing the technical department to fix things. As he passed me, I called out to him. “Mr. Henderson, does this kind of thing happen often?” The manager glanced at me, recognized me as being from headquarters, and a bitter expression crossed his face. He pulled me into the stairwell of the fire escape, lowering his voice. “You’re an inspector, aren’t you? Some things I shouldn’t say, but today’s incident…” He sighed, continuing. “To be honest, he’s the apple of Ms. Hayes’s eye. We dare not do anything.” “Ms. Hayes is out of town for a meeting today, so no one can control him.” “Normally, when Ms. Hayes is around, she can at least keep him cooped up in her office…” His face was filled with helplessness and despair. “Last time, he also accidentally knocked over a cup of coffee.” “That coffee, by sheer bad luck, spilled right onto our core server.” “All the company’s data got corrupted. The tech department worked overtime for a week straight to recover it. All our work for that week was completely wasted!” “And what happened then?” I asked. “In the end, Ms. Hayes said our tech department was negligent in supervision, and the server’s placement had security risks. She docked our entire department’s quarterly bonuses.” “She said it was to teach us a lesson.” My heart sank, bit by bit. This was Ellie Hayes’s management style. Indulging an idiot to run rampant in the company, then making all the hardworking employees pay for his foolishness. Ellie, you’re really something. Just then, the General Manager’s office door opened again. Leo poked his head out and shouted. “So boring! Why isn’t the power back on yet? My phone’s almost dead! Are there any snacks in the breakroom?” No one answered him. The entire office area was engulfed in an extreme, suffocating silence.

As soon as the engineering department restored the power, Dad called. He asked me to get a crucial set of data from the marketing department. He said this file was needed for the group’s board meeting that afternoon, and I absolutely had to handle it personally, without any mishaps. I took a USB drive, copied the data from the marketing director, and went to the print room. I had just finished organizing the file, clipping the papers together, when the print room door was pushed open. Leo sauntered in, holding a can of soda. He immediately spotted the stapler next to my hand, his eyes lighting up. “Hey, can I borrow this? My snack bag came open.” He said, reaching out to grab it as if it were his right. Instinctively, I moved the file and stapler back, avoiding his hand. All the files here involved company secrets. His hand grasped empty air, and his body lurched forward from inertia. His foot caught on a cable. The soda can in his hand flew out. The brown liquid arced in the air, a precise parabola, and splashed, without missing, all over the confidential files I had just printed. The thick stack of A4 papers was instantly soaked through with soda, becoming a sticky mess. I stared at the ruined files, unable to maintain my detached composure any longer. I looked up, my gaze locking onto Leo’s face. He showed no remorse whatsoever. Instead, he seemed annoyed that I hadn’t lent him the stapler. My voice was icy. “Can you take responsibility for the loss of this file?” Leo was probably speaking to a company employee with such a questioning tone for the first time. He froze for a moment. Then, anger flared on his face. “How dare you speak to me like that?” “Do you even know who I am?” He puffed out his chest, looking completely justified. “I’m Ms. Hayes’s husband!” I looked at him, feeling absolutely nothing inside, even a little amused. “Oh?” I calmly retorted. “Ms. Hayes’s partner can just destroy company property at will? You can disregard company rules and regulations?” My retort clearly challenged his authority. He became enraged, pointing a finger at my nose. “Of course, I can!” “This company is all Ellie’s, so it’s *mine*! I can do whatever I want!” “Who do you think you are? Some new hire, trying to lecture *me*?” Colleagues who heard the commotion started gathering around. They saw the scene and were too terrified to even breathe. A few administrative staff members subtly tugged at my sleeve, their eyes pleading, urging me to apologize quickly. I didn’t move. I just watched him calmly. Seeing me unfazed, Leo felt he was losing face in front of everyone. He pulled out his phone, a smug, cold smile on his face. “Fine, you want to be tough, huh? You think I can’t handle you?” “I’ll have *your* boss tell you who I am, and who *you* are!” He directly FaceTimed Ellie. The call connected quickly. He held the phone screen towards himself, ready for Ellie to back him up. The moment the video call connected, Leo’s voice immediately turned aggressive. He spoke into the camera, his voice full of righteous indignation: “Ellie, how do you even run this company? A new hire dared to bully me!”

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Born into the Kingston family, I had my pick of men, yet I ended up marrying Liam Hayes, a man who might as well have been mute. The first year of our marriage, I was home alone one night, burning up with fever. I managed to send ten desperate voice messages to Liam on FaceTime, begging him to come home. Not a single reply. The second year, I was robbed on a foreign street, nearly having my throat slit. I called Liam, who was at a nearby conference, for help. Twenty calls, all unanswered. The fifth year, my car’s central control system malfunctioned on the highway. I was pregnant and suffered a massive hemorrhage, my life hanging by a thread. The surgeons desperately needed a guardian’s signature. I called him, but all I heard was the endless ringing. In despair, I signed the surgical consent form myself. On the operating table, I silently felt my child slipping away, bit by painful bit. That was it. My heart finally gave up on him. The moment I was off the operating table, I stormed into Liam’s office with a hammer and smashed his phone to pieces. “If you can’t read messages or answer calls, what’s the point of keeping it!” Liam stood calmly to the side, letting me rage. Until a specially set message tone rang from his shattered phone, only to be instantly silenced by my hammer. A flicker of emotion finally crossed his calm face. He quickly grabbed his car keys and rushed downstairs. Furious, I hailed a cab and followed his car closely. Half an hour later, his car pulled into a high-end apartment complex. Under the bright sun, I saw a woman, pale and visibly pregnant, carefully stepping out of the building. From her profile, she looked young and pretty.

Liam rushed forward. After listening to her tearful complaints, he carefully scooped her up into his arms. “The baby will be fine, don’t be scared…” His low, comforting voice reached my ears. I clutched the car window, squeezing so hard my nails broke, tiny streaks of blood welling up. I never knew that my husband of five years, with whom I shared a life day in and day out, would respond so promptly to a SnapChat message. That he would show such worry, such tenderness. That he would have… another woman, and a child. I trembled all over, tears streaming down my face from a bitter laugh. It had to be this day, the day I lost my own child, that I witnessed all of this firsthand. I stumbled home in a daze and collapsed onto the bed. The child I lost came to me in a dream, calling me “Mommy,” repeating “I’m sorry” over and over. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my wrist. The child vanished, replaced by Liam’s utterly cold face. “Zara lost her baby because you threw a fit and smashed my phone. I didn’t see her message in time to make arrangements.” The calmer his tone, the tighter his grip. My wrist felt like it was about to shatter. I let out a laugh. “Dead? Good. Why should your child live when mine is gone!” Liam stared at me, his face turning terrifying. After a long silence, he climbed onto the bed and began to strip my clothes, almost maniacally saying, “You owe her a child. Get pregnant and miscarry to pay her back.” “Liam Hayes!” I shrieked, my heart numb with pain. I talked about *my* child, *our* child, but he… didn’t hear me. It turned out his world, even face-to-face, was closed off to me. He was always ‘read,’ but never ‘replied’! I struggled desperately, my fingers brushing against the fruit knife on the nightstand. I grabbed it and plunged it into his chest. I hated him. I wanted him dead! But Liam didn’t die, only suffered a minor injury. I visited him in the hospital with my lawyer. He was in an online meeting with a client, not even sparing me a glance— He never tolerated interruptions during work. His phone on the nightstand suddenly chimed with that special message alert. Liam picked it up, glanced at it, paused the meeting, and typed out a long reply. I caught a glimpse of the chat name: Zara Miller. My heart instantly turned cold, an overwhelming emptiness settling in. So, Liam *could* be prompt with replies, even if it meant interrupting an important international meeting. They chatted for a full ten minutes before the meeting resumed. Another hour passed, and the meeting ended. I finally spoke, “Let’s get a divorce. You’re the one at fault, so you’ll have to compensate me generously in the property division.” Liam looked up at me, his cold eyes slightly surprised. “Zara’s child isn’t mine. I’ve never been physically intimate with her, and I never will be.” Then he changed tack: “But I’ll do everything I can for her. You’d better not try anything against her.” That guarded look pierced my heart. “How long have you two… why…” “A year.” Liam ignored the second question, pulling out a photo of Zara from his wallet and handing it to me. Then, without looking at me, he signed the divorce papers. “I hope to really see you at the registry in a month.” He said it with a hint of sarcasm. I didn’t react, just stared at his wallet, almost burning a hole through it with my gaze. My photo had never been in there. After a long moment, I tore my gaze from his wallet and looked at Zara’s face. After a brief愣神, I took a deep breath. “You will.” Liam didn’t believe I would actually go through with the divorce. Perhaps he was used to my pursuit. After all, I had endured five years of marriage where I sent ten thousand messages and he gave zero replies. But this time, I was truly awake. Turning around, I walked to the door. Liam frowned and called out to me. “That villa in the South District you liked? I’ve transferred it to Zara. It has a forest oxygen bar, which will be good for her recovery after giving birth.” My hand clenched into a fist, my nails digging deeply into my palm. “I told you, didn’t I? That house was the first gift I intended for our baby, even though… she’s gone now.” There was no response from behind me. I looked back. Liam was typing on his phone, his attention already elsewhere. Hah. I quickly left the hospital room, as if putting distance between myself and this place could also distance me from this failed relationship. Fleeing to my car, I pulled out that photo again, my fingers trembling uncontrollably. It was uncanny. Zara Miller looked *so much* like Daisy Stone, Liam Hayes’s deceased first love. The woman Liam truly wanted to marry. Five years ago, the Hayes family faced a financial crisis. Only the Kingston family extended an olive branch. The condition was to form a marital alliance, strengthening the bond between our families. My father had long seen my affection for Liam, so he intended to help his daughter find happiness. Our families met immediately. I looked at Liam boldly, my eyes full of stars. But when he spoke, he said he wanted to marry Daisy Stone, my stepmother’s daughter. That’s when I learned they were in love. Family came first. There was no need to risk investing in the Hayes family for a stepdaughter. My father decisively withdrew the marriage proposal and advised me to give up on Liam. “Sweetheart, a good marriage is built on mutual affection. Otherwise, you’ll only suffer.” I had initially given up the idea.

But Liam, desperate to save his family, contacted me privately to express his intention to marry. He only took me out for dinner once, and I was completely lost, tossing my father’s words aside. I confidently believed that his change of heart meant he had feelings for me, and with my beauty and good nature, he would eventually fall in love with me. Our wedding, supported by my father’s wealth, was grand. It should have been a day filled with bubbling happiness whenever I recalled it. Unfortunately, before the banquet ended, news of Daisy Stone’s suicide arrived, abruptly ending all joy. My memory of that day is only of Liam rushing out of the wedding hall, my stepmother’s wails, countless whispers, and my father’s heartbroken gaze. Their honeymoon was canceled. Everything was in disarray. For the first six months of our marriage, Liam simply didn’t reply to messages, claiming he preferred phone calls. Six months later, the Hayes family’s fortunes rose, unstoppable. Then, he stopped answering calls altogether. He was like a black hole; I poured all my joys and sorrows into him, but not even an echo came back. I broke down, confronted him, and demanded to know why. Liam showed me SnapChat messages from our wedding day. It turned out Daisy had messaged him before she took her own life, but I had dragged him away to toast guests, making him miss the chance to save her. He hated himself, and he hated me. Now he found a substitute who resembled her by eighty percent, channeling all his emotions into her, treating her a hundred times better than me. I snapped out of my memories, crumpled the photo, and tossed it away. I looked at my reflection in the rearview mirror— My face was ashen, my hair frizzy and disheveled. I looked like a madwoman. For five years, I clung to Liam, unwilling to let go. The less he responded, the more messages I sent, as if possessed, desperate to force a single reply from him. Yet, all I did was torture myself. Countless breakdowns, fits of rage, followed by solitary moments of calm and healing. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t called in five years. “Is the promise from five years ago still valid?” When I got married, a man had tried to dissuade me three times. I talked about love; he talked about sex. “Liam is too rigid. Trust me, he’ll be just as boring in bed. What you need is a fire.” I laughed, “Who’s the fire? You?” He raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying. “Aria, I bet you two will break up within five years. If I win, consider me first.” “I’m still single, so, of course, it counts.” His familiar voice on the other end brought me back to reality. “I’m divorcing in a month. I don’t need love, I just need a man to have some fun with for a while, to let loose.” He burst out laughing. “Alright, sweetheart! I’ll play along!” I hung up, went home, tidied myself up, and prepared for my mother’s death anniversary the next day. Every year, my father took my mother’s death anniversary very seriously. The next day, when my father and I met, he looked displeased not seeing Liam with me. “He can’t make it again? Can’t spare even an hour?” I stepped forward and linked my arm through his, forcing a lighthearted smile. “Dad, we’re getting a divorce. I initiated it.” “It doesn’t matter whether he comes or not!” My father stared at me for a long moment, then gently patted my head. “Cut your losses. My daughter did the right thing.” We lit incense before my mother’s portrait, then went to the kitchen to cook her favorite homemade dishes. Just as we finished setting the table, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes stormed in, and Mrs. Hayes, without a word, slapped me hard across the face. “Mr. Kingston! Look at the good daughter you raised! She stabbed my son and put him in the hospital, and she hasn’t even gone to care for him! Is that how a wife behaves?!” I snapped back to reality, stepped forward to shield my enraged father, and without hesitation, slapped Mrs. Hayes back. Then I snatched my phone and called Liam. It rang once, then connected. *That* was fast. I sneered, “Your parents are making a scene at my house. Get over here and get them out. Today’s my mom’s death anniversary!” Liam’s voice was as calm as ever: “I… can’t leave the hospital right now.” “Liam honey~ Which sofa do you think would look better in the villa you gave me? Come sit and help me decide.” Zara’s sugary voice came from the background. I gripped the phone tightly, about to speak, when I heard Liam say, “You can’t eat anything cold right now.” Then, the call disconnected. I stood there, staring blankly, like a statue. Mrs. Hayes scoffed, “You hit his mother, and you expect him to side with you? Dream on! Not to mention, you’ve never won his heart in these five years.” With that, she arrogantly swept the entire table of dishes—that my father and I hadn’t even had a chance to “offer” to Mother—onto the floor. The shattered dishes knocked over Mother’s portrait, and it broke. I came to my senses, held my trembling father back, and looked at my in-laws, whom I had respectfully treated for five years. “I tolerated you before because I cared about Liam. Now, I don’t even care about him, let alone you!” Leaving that statement hanging, I grabbed two bodyguards, a man and a woman, and drove straight to Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’s house. The two bodyguards ensured I wasn’t disturbed. I personally took a baseball bat and started smashing things from the living room, all the way to Mrs. Hayes’s favorite walk-in closet. Amidst Mrs. Hayes’s frantic screams over her precious jewelry, Liam strode in and grabbed my arm. “Haven’t you had enough?” I panted, looked up at him, and smiled. “Oh, you have time now? You got here so fast, less than fifteen minutes.” I forcefully pushed him away, dropped the bat, and walked towards the door. A figure stood by the door, peeking in. Seeing me, she quickly said, “I’m so sorry, it was my fault for delaying Liam. He didn’t mean to ignore you…” Zara’s carefully crafted ‘innocent’ act. I couldn’t be bothered to engage. As I brushed past, she retreated, apologizing profusely, and then sat down hard on the floor. “Oh… my stomach hurts so much…” “Zara.” Liam rushed over to support her, lightly bumping into me. This slight force shouldn’t have been enough to make me fall, but my lower abdomen suddenly cramped, the pain was excruciating.

My vision went black, and I instantly fell to my knees. Sweat pouring down my face, I braced myself on the floor and looked up. Just a yard away, Liam had scooped Zara into his arms, his posture tender and doting. Zara’s face was flushed, well-cared for by Liam; there was no sign of pain. Hearing the thud as I fell, Liam frowned. “Are you trying to fake an injury to frame Zara, planning to blame her first?” Mrs. Hayes let out a snicker. I wanted to laugh too. I, a young lady cherished by my father, how did I let this marriage degrade me so? I bit my lip, bracing myself against the door frame, slowly rising to my feet. Mrs. Hayes watched with cold eyes. “Zara has a gentle nature. She suits Liam well.” “Indeed,” I nodded, gasping, “A family that relies on my Kingston family’s money to recover but shows no gratitude, only deserves a cheap trick you could buy for a few bucks, someone only fit to be *your* kind of daughter-in-law.” “Silence!” Liam took two steps forward, his voice sharp. Zara hooked her foot, using the forward momentum to kick me hard. I swayed, stumbling several times, clutching the door frame to avoid falling again. My lower abdomen ached fiercely, and the footprint on my chest hurt just as much. I stared blankly at the gray mark; it was like a brand of humiliation, completely shattering this marriage. Liam had lost his composure, a rare sight. Unfortunately, it was all for a woman who worked in a shady massage parlor. I had investigated. It was this low-class woman who made Liam anxious, worried, and impulsive. And now, she was even riding high, using his influence to walk all over me. I slowly raised my gaze, cold sweat running into my eyes, blurring Liam’s face. He looked nothing like the man who once made my heart pound. Perhaps, both of them were now unrecognizable. “Go clean yourself up before you come down. I married a lady, not a lunatic.” Liam said flatly. “Liam Hayes,” I tilted my head and smiled, “Why didn’t you just die?” I lunged forward, plunging the utility knife in my hand into his chest. This was the second time he’d been stabbed, and it took Liam a long time to react. His parents wrestled me away, but he just stared blankly into my eyes, his voice unsteady: “You… you really want me dead?” My eyes were bloodshot. The “yes” caught in my throat was cut off by Mrs. Hayes’s shriek. “She’s bleeding so much!” Everyone looked in the direction I was pointing—a large patch of crimson had spread across my dress, darkest at my upper thigh. “Aria!” Liam, oblivious to his own wound, shot up and rushed over, embracing me. His voice held a panic I’d never heard before. “What’s wrong with you? You… get the car! Get the car!” My eyes had lost focus, but my hand gripped the hallway railing tightly, refusing to let go. My voice was barely a whisper: “Bodyguard… take me, take me to the hospital… bodyguard… housekeeper…” “I’ll take you! You’ll be fine, you’ll be fine…” Liam fumbled to pry my hand off, but couldn’t. “I don’t believe you!” I suddenly shrieked, “You wouldn’t be that kind! You’ve never cared about me… you wouldn’t… Bodyguard! Bodyguard! Help me!” Only when I clasped Chloe’s hand did I finally faint. Liam carried me, running all the way to the car, his hand gently cradling my head. Over the years, he was used to me glaring at him, always ready for a fight. He had never seen me so frail. Sweat and blood soaked me through. My once taut bowstring had withered into a thin piece of wood, ready to snap with a slight squeeze. Liam pressed his face against my cold one, repeating “You’ll be fine,” “You’ll be fine”… I didn’t know if he was saying it to me, or to himself. I woke up when it was dark. “Miss Kingston, how do you feel? Should I call the doctor?” Chloe rushed forward to ask. Only Mason and she were in the room. “Where’s Liam?” My voice was faint. “Zara Miller… was hospitalized. Mr. Hayes went to the room next door an hour ago.” She paused, then continued, “Your father called. I told him you were out with friends.” “Good job.” I took out my phone, found a video I always kept in my album, and sent it to my father—a clip of me drinking at a bar, to reassure him. Exiting the chat, I saw a new friend request. As soon as I accepted it, “Zara” sent a flurry of pictures. ‘The day I miscarried, Liam stayed by my bedside the whole time, just like this, sleeping slumped over.’ ‘That night, I called him, heartbroken about losing the baby. He came right away to comfort me, still in his hospital gown.’ ‘Just now, I said my stomach felt uncomfortable, and he fed me porridge and peeled fruit. Miss Kingston, do you know how skilled your husband is at peeling fruit with a knife?’ I looked at the photo of the perfectly peeled apple skin, thin and even, showing his excellent knife work. *No, I don’t,* I thought. ‘It’s fine if you look down on me, Miss Kingston. Liam looking up to me is enough. Seeing you almost die from a hemorrhage is pretty pitiful, so I told Liam to come check on you.’ A minute later, Liam indeed came into the room. He looked at me, his deep eyes holding an emotion I couldn’t decipher. Just then, the attending physician came in. Liam asked, “Why did Aria… hemorrhage so badly?” The doctor looked at him in surprise. Just as he was about to say, “After her miscarriage, she didn’t recover properly,” I spoke, cutting him off. “I know my own body, no need to ask.”

Liam sat by the hospital bed, watched me for a long moment, then gently took my hand. “I had the chef at home make some porridge. Want some?” I managed a strange smile. “Sure.” Liam opened the thermos, scooped out a small bowl, and brought a spoonful to my lips. Zara’s exact same porridge. Zara’s exact same caring gesture. I slapped his hand away, knocking the entire bowl to the floor. I slowly and meticulously wiped my hand with a tissue. “My apologies, but I hate red dates, and I hate sweet porridge.” “My chef has worked for five years and still doesn’t know my taste. Your effort was wasted, fire him.” Liam called someone to clean up, his emotions steady. “What would you like to eat? I’ll have the chef make it.” I didn’t want to talk. Liam called the chef, asking about my preferences, then listed dishes one by one, watching for any reaction from me. “Shrimp porridge. That’s it.” He finally said. I said coldly, “My accident has nothing to do with your Hayes family. You can go. No need to waste your time here. We’re already divorced, anyway!” Liam didn’t listen. He went to the bathroom, wet a towel, and came back to wipe my hands and face. Before, I begged him to come, and he didn’t hear. Now, I ordered him to leave, and he still didn’t hear. I threw the water glass at him. “Get out!” Liam’s shirt was soaked, but he didn’t even look. He moved everything from the nightstand within my reach. “Keep throwing. Once you’re done, keep cleaning yourself. You’re sticky with sweat, you’ll be uncomfortable.” I kept throwing things at him. When everything was thrown, Liam picked them up and motioned for me to continue. The third time, I couldn’t throw anymore, letting him wipe my body like he was caring for a paralyzed elder. After he fed me the porridge, Liam’s phone chimed with that special alert. He stood up. “Zara is still in her post-miscarriage recovery and isn’t feeling well. I’ll go check on her.” He didn’t return all night. In the morning, my friend, the doctor, came to check on me, asking why I had hidden the miscarriage from Liam last night. “When he brought you in for emergency care, his chest wound was covered in blood. Everyone advised him to get it bandaged, but he wouldn’t listen. He only went after you were out of the emergency room. Aria, if you had seen how distraught he was, you’d know he absolutely cares about you.” “I know. I was slightly conscious then, I felt it.” I looked out the window, the sunlight stinging my eyes, making me squint. “That’s why I’m scared. Scared that if he knew and felt a little pity for me, I’d fall for him again. My bottom line for him is… incredibly low.” But a human life stood between them. Liam would never be able to cross that chasm and truly connect with me. The illness took a heavy toll on me. I stayed in the hospital for five days, then recuperated at home for a full week. Those five days, Liam, uncharacteristically, pushed aside his work to care for me. For the following week, he was on a business trip. But from the provocative videos and pictures Zara sent me, I knew he had taken her along. Liam always hated mixing business with pleasure. When we first got married, I wanted to accompany him on business trips to help him with his daily life, but he refused, saying I was too much of a free spirit. Now, I wondered how many times he had broken his own rules for Zara. ‘I told him I’d never been to Shanghai, so Liam brought me along. Your husband is so thoughtful.’ ‘He took me to a revolving restaurant and Disneyland, promising to show me an even bigger world in the future.’ ‘He took all these pictures of me. I love taking photos so much; we took them for two whole hours. Your husband is so patient, and his photography skills are amazing!’ I had never enjoyed any of these, not even once. I didn’t know his heart was so soft, so accommodating; I didn’t know he was such a good photographer… How ridiculous. I was learning about my own husband from another woman. I typed a reply: ‘Why no bed pictures? Don’t you want to sleep with him?’ The other end went instantly silent. I tossed my phone aside and called the housekeeper. “Pack all of Liam’s belongings into boxes.” This was our marital home, bought by my father. I personally decorated it when I was full of happy illusions about love. In a week, we would be divorced. Liam was the one who should leave. Returning from his business trip, Liam sensed a change in the house. But I liked to rearrange the decor, so he didn’t pay much attention, handing me a gift. “My work is temporarily finished. I can spend three days with you. Where do you want to go? A change of scenery would be good for your health.” I was astonished. All these years, he had never proactively offered to spend time with me. Many travel itineraries I had eagerly planned were canceled, day after day, due to his “busy work schedule.” The refusal was already on my lips, but then vivid images of all the plans I had carefully made flashed in my mind. That was the accumulated resentment of five years. After a long pause, I said: “Let’s drive to the beach. I love the sand.” Let this terrible marriage have a somewhat dignified farewell. I opened the gift box and took out the LV cashmere shawl. Even though the color didn’t match my taste at all, I graciously put it on. Liam drove the sports car as I requested. Halfway there, his phone chimed with that special message alert. ‘Liam, I twisted my ankle, it hurts so much.’ Liam immediately called Zara and simultaneously changed the navigation—he actually had my location on a couple’s app. I stared intently at the app. I checked online; it was indeed a couple’s app. At this point, did it even matter if they were physically intimate?

My head throbbed. I rolled down the window, letting the wind rush in to carry away the sudden surge of emotions. “Liam Hayes, I ask for nothing from you. You offered to take me on this trip, you should follow through.” “Turning back will take two hours. Do you expect me to sit in a car all morning?! My body can’t handle it, you arrange someone else—” “I don’t trust anyone else.” Liam calmly interrupted me. I was utterly speechless, my eyes welling up slightly. A twisted ankle, and he said he didn’t trust anyone else. So what were all those years I endured alone—the high fever, the fear of almost being slit, the car accident…? Did it mean I was tough, capable of surviving without anyone’s care? “Liam, I’m sorry to bother you again.” The car picked up Zara, and Liam helped her in. I glanced over inadvertently and froze— Zara had an identical shawl draped over her shoulder, only its color scheme was much prettier than mine, exactly my style. “Liam Hayes, who chose the shawl for me?” I asked, enunciating each word. Zara said, “Miss Kingston, don’t you like yours? There were only two left at the counter then. I thought you, being older, might prefer a more mature style, so I picked the younger color first.” She looked apologetic. “Shall we swap?” I couldn’t be bothered with her. My gaze was fixed on Liam. “You gave me the leftovers? Am I, Aria Kingston, a garbage bin?!” I ripped off the shawl and threw it out the car window. Zara looked as if she was too scared to speak. Liam gently patted her shoulder. “It’s fine.” He buckled her seatbelt, then got into the driver’s seat, saying indifferently, “It’s just a different color. You make such a big deal out of everything, no wonder you’re always unhappy.” After a long silence, I scoffed. “So you *do* see that I’m unhappy.” He saw, but he never cared. The car changed course and headed to the hospital. By the time Zara emerged after getting a plaster cast, the entire morning was gone, and my planned trip was still at square one. “Let’s have lunch first. Zara is hungry, and you probably are too.” Liam said to me, his gaze shifting to Zara in the back seat. “Do you want Thai food or Xinjiang cuisine?” Zara smiled, asking in an affectedly innocent tone, “Liam, how do you remember I like these two cuisines? You’re amazing!” Liam offered a slight smile. “If you put your mind to it, it’s not hard to remember.” That smile was like a curved blade, carving a deep gash in my heart. Zara continued, “And what do I like to drink, do you remember?” “Fresh orange juice.” “What’s my favorite fruit?” “Durian.” “My favorite way to cook ribs?” “Braised.” “What does Miss Kingston like to eat?” Liam, who had answered effortlessly, stumbled. I said coldly, “If you want to be all lovey-dovey, go get a hotel room. Don’t be disgusting and flirt in my car.” Liam frowned. “Do you only have such sordid thoughts in your head? Zara is like a sister to me.” Zara’s eyes reddened. “Miss Kingston, I’m sorry if I caused a misunderstanding. I… I won’t say anything else. Liam, please pull over and drop me off. I’m not that hungry, actually.” Liam gave me a reproachful look and decisively said: “It’s lunchtime. We’re all eating together.” I folded my arms. “Fine. I want French cuisine.” This time, Liam didn’t object, indulging me. He drove the car to the restaurant entrance but didn’t get out. “Zara isn’t used to French cuisine, and her foot is injured, so she needs someone to look after her. I’ll eat Xinjiang food with her and pick you up afterward.” Before I could speak, the car glided forward and drove off. I watched the tail lights under the scorching sun, standing there for a long while. That car was a birthday gift I bought for Liam in our first year of marriage. I still remembered my excitement and hope that he would be surprised. But Liam had only glanced at it and never driven it. Today was his first time. I waited five years for that dream to come true, only for him to drive off, leaving me behind with another woman. So, no thank you, Liam Hayes. I won’t always wait for you. I don’t *have* to wait for you. After lunch, I called a cab and my bodyguards, heading to the beach alone. My itinerary and hotel were already booked; I didn’t want to waste them. During this time, Liam called three times in total, which was a lot for him. I didn’t answer any of them. The first day, I did all the activities I wanted, went to all the places I desired, and found quite a bit of enjoyment. The second day, as I walked along the beach, I unexpectedly ran into Zara. Liam stood beside her, carrying bags of food, and was using a tissue to wipe her mouth. Seeing me, his movements paused. “When did you arrive? Why didn’t you leave a message? Zara and I looked for you for a long time yesterday. She’s still recovering from her miscarriage and twisted her ankle, so she’s exhausted—” And what about me? I was tossed around in the car for over five hours yesterday because of her. Was *I* not exhausted? I suppressed these meaningless arguments, turned around expressionlessly, and walked towards the sea, leaving them behind. Zara jogged to catch up, her lowered voice dripping with smugness. “Miss Kingston, you’re really boring. No matter how much time you waste on Liam, his heart will only ever be with me.” I chuckled. “Only with you? You’ve been with him this long and you still don’t know you’re just a substitute?” Watching Zara’s face drain of color didn’t actually feel that satisfying. I idly kicked the seawater when suddenly a force yanked me forward, and my feet lost purchase— Below me was an underwater cliff, bottomless and black! “Miss Kingston, your high-and-mighty attitude is really annoying. I heard Liam say you’re not a great swimmer. I wonder if this will teach you a lesson~” Zara let go of me and swam away gracefully. The water at the cliff was icy cold, and I was only a mediocre swimmer to begin with. I panicked instantly. I choked on several gulps of water, struggling to paddle towards the shore, but a current pulled me further and further away. Panic-stricken cries came from nearby; it turned out the same rip current had also caught Zara. But she was much stronger; at least she could breathe normally. In the churning waves, I saw Liam. He was rushing towards us, swimming so fast, so fiercely. I instinctively grabbed his arm, tilting my face out of the water to catch a breath. But my hand was violently shaken off and pushed away. Before I could even gasp, I plunged back into the sea. The suffocating sensation rapidly spread through my entire body. This time, I had no strength left to struggle. I could only watch helplessly as Liam steadily swam Zara to safety nearby. Darkness rushed in, and I slowly sank into the deep sea… “Miss Kingston? Miss Kingston? How do you feel?” I coughed up a mouthful of seawater, opening my eyes to find myself lying on the beach, with my two soaked bodyguards beside me. I gripped Chloe’s hand tightly, staring motionless at the azure sky above, until my eyes stung and a tear slipped from the corner.

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