Category: English

At the World Climbing Championships, as I was accused of doping, my girlfriend Emma was by my childhood rival’s side, personally placing the gold medal around his neck. “Alex, don’t blame me. Winning the World Championships was Jake’s only dream. With you out of the picture, he finally had a chance.” “But don’t worry, even if you’re banned from competing, I won’t break up with you!” Emma loosened her grip on my hand as I was wheeled into the emergency room. Little did she know, I was severely allergic to the doping substance, and the rescue efforts would ultimately fail. She was even more unaware that our conversation had been faithfully preserved by recording equipment. The moment that recording was made public would be when her mask of hypocrisy was finally torn off! As I took my last breath in the emergency room, a thunderous cheer erupted outside. The doctor looked at the flatline on the heart monitor and removed his mask. “Resuscitation failed.” I watched my cold, lifeless body, my gaze penetrating the wall to fall on the award podium. Jake, still in his climbing gear, stood in front of Emma, basking in the crowd’s cheers as he received the gold medal he had longed for. “Jake, you’ve finally achieved your dream,” Emma said softly. My girlfriend, who had coldly watched me enter the operating room just half an hour ago, now stood beside Jake, arm in arm, her expression tender. The World Climbing Champion and the interviewing reporter stood shoulder to shoulder, cameras flashing below to capture this moment. Seeing the undisguised joy in Emma’s eyes, my heart suddenly ached. Was this the same expression she wore when she slipped the doping substance into my energy drink? For five years, she had always prepared my nutrition shakes and energy drinks before every climb. So when I drank that fatal concoction, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. Now that I think about it, it was all premeditated. “Alex, can’t you let Jake win just this once? You’ve already achieved a grand slam, you don’t need this World Championship gold medal!” Before the competition, Emma had gripped my arm tightly, demanding an answer. Even though I had experienced Emma’s favoritism towards Jake countless times, hearing these words still pained me deeply. I patiently explained to her. “Emma, the spirit of competitive sports doesn’t allow me to cheat. I know you and Jake are close, I can give up commercial resources, but I will never cheat in a competition!” Hearing this, Emma’s expression flickered. Finally, as if she had made up her mind, she handed me the energy drink she had prepared. “Then do your best.” I didn’t think much of it and drank it all. But as the competition began, I collapsed due to an adverse reaction. As I was lifted onto a stretcher, I immediately realized the reason. “Emma, did you want Jake to win so badly? You’d go this far for him?” Faced with my accusing gaze, Emma’s expression flashed with panic. “Alex, don’t blame me. Winning the World Championships was Jake’s only dream. With you out of the picture, he finally had a chance.” My heart turned ice cold. Everything from the past suddenly connected in my mind. So her attentiveness before this competition was all out of guilt. I struggled to sit up, wanting to question her, but Emma coldly shook off my hand. “It’s just the most common performance enhancer, why are you acting like this? Are you trying to scare someone by pretending you’re dying?” Performance enhancer? I suddenly froze. If an athlete was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs during a competition, they would face a ban, potentially ruining their entire career. Emma was a climbing columnist; she knew full well the consequences of doing this! To let Jake win, she was even willing to destroy me! Seeing my pale face, Emma’s expression softened slightly, and she said in a low voice. “But don’t worry, even if you’re banned from competing, I won’t break up with you!” I looked up at her and smiled bitterly. Yes, I had wanted to marry her. In fact, I had already planned to propose to her on live global broadcast after winning the final. After five years together, I wanted to use my gold medal, my dream, to make a lifelong commitment to the woman I loved. But what I never expected was… She would go this far for Jake… As the emergency room doors closed, I felt the suffocation in my airways, vaguely realizing that I might never have the chance to say those words to her again. While the crowd cheered on the podium, doctors and nurses were casually chatting in the cold operating room. “I didn’t expect Jake to win. I thought it would be Alex, after all, he’s won the World Championships three times in a row.” “In terms of skill, Alex is definitely stronger.” “What skill? The skill of using performance-enhancing drugs? I can’t believe I used to like Alex. It turns out it was all from drugs, how disgusting!” “Yeah, I bet his previous achievements were fake too! Poor Jake, being overshadowed by a cheater for so many years.” “I guess it’s karma. Who would have thought Alex would use banned substances and end up dying from an allergic reaction…” Hearing these words, I desperately wanted to explain to them. No, it’s not like that! Every one of my achievements was genuine, my love for climbing was never fake. But they could no longer hear my voice… Finally, the doctor waved his hand, stopping the slander against me. “Notify the family. Due to a severe allergic reaction to the components in the performance enhancer, the patient has died.” My heart suddenly leapt. Learning of my death, would Emma feel even a hint of regret…

Emma was a reporter; I met her during a climbing interview. There weren’t many girls interested in climbing, so I paid extra attention to her. After we got together, she mentioned that she became interested in climbing because of someone she cared about. At the time, I thought it was a confession of her feelings for me, but I later learned… The perpetual runner-up on our team, always overshadowed by me, was Emma’s childhood friend. Every competition she attended wasn’t to support me, but to capture glimpses of someone else! Seeing Jake frequently appear in her camera, I swallowed all my bitterness. In our five years together, surely she had some genuine feelings for me? During the holidays, she agreed for the first time to accompany me home to meet my parents. I was overjoyed, thinking our relationship had finally seen a glimmer of hope, and planned to propose to her after winning the World Championships. But I never expected that what I would receive was betrayal. Now, under the gaze of numerous cameras, Emma was interviewing Jake with her microphone. “How do you feel about winning the World Championship this time, Jake?” Jake gripped the trophy tightly, his gaze lingering on her face, his tone intimate. “I’m most grateful to the person who has always been by my side. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to win this championship.” Under his gaze, Emma’s face reddened slightly. People nearby noticed something, and teased, “I heard that reporter Emma and Jake have known each other since childhood. They seem to have a pretty good relationship.” With these words, Emma’s face turned even redder. Someone quickly interjected, “Don’t be ridiculous, Emma has a boyfriend, it’s Alex.” At this moment, people finally remembered my absence. “Where’s Alex? He said he wasn’t feeling well before the competition, why haven’t we seen him?” “I heard he was sent to the medical room. They’re testing him now, seems like he used performance-enhancing drugs before the competition.” At the mention of performance-enhancing drugs, everyone in the front row exploded. “Performance-enhancing drugs? Is that true?” “He’s always been so skilled, why would he use such methods? It’s impossible, right?” Camera shutters clicked incessantly. Jake’s expression changed slightly, and he sighed in front of the cameras. “Actually, I can understand Alex sometimes. For top athletes like us, even the slightest change in condition can affect our performance. Alex cares most about winning and losing, so a momentary lapse of judgment is understandable.” With his words, the tide turned. He seemed to be speaking up for me, but in reality, he was indirectly confirming the rumors. However, among the reporters present, there were many of my fans who didn’t believe Jake’s words. They turned to Emma and asked, “Emma, you’re Alex’s girlfriend. Tell us, what’s really wrong with Alex? Is he just feeling unwell, or did an old injury flare up?” “Yeah, we can’t casually accuse someone of using performance-enhancing drugs. It could ruin an athlete’s career!” Emma bit her lip, her expression flashing with difficulty. Just as she was about to speak, Jake grabbed her hand and said gently, “Emma, I know you’re conflicted and in pain, but they need to know the truth.” I saw Emma’s eyes tremble. She took a deep breath, which was her small gesture when she had made up her mind to do something. “Yes, Alex was found to have used performance-enhancing drugs.” As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd below erupted. Many people didn’t believe I would do such a thing, but some were more convinced by Emma’s identity. “Emma is a climbing columnist. As a reporter, she wouldn’t lie!” “Yeah, and she’s been with Alex for five years. I heard they were about to get married. Who would slander their own boyfriend!” “I was really blind before, how could I have liked such a cheater with no sportsmanship!” Amidst the commotion, a group of people carrying flowers and ribbons rushed into the venue. Seeing the hot air balloon rising in the air and the flowers falling everywhere, the arena fell silent. A man in formal attire hurriedly walked over and stood in front of Emma. “Are you Miss Emma? Mr. Alex said you love lilies of the valley, so we specially air-freighted the freshest ones from Finland. We hope you like this proposal.” “Proposal? You’re saying Alex wanted to propose to me?” Emma was stunned, her face tightening slightly. The man nodded, looking around curiously. “Is Mr. Alex here? We called him before we came, but he didn’t answer.” I smiled bitterly. He didn’t know. That call, I would never be able to answer again. This proposal would never be completed. Just as Emma was hesitating whether to reveal the truth, I saw the coach push through the crowd and throw the flowers on the ground. “You don’t need to hesitate! Alex is already dead, there’s no need for this proposal anymore!”

Emma’s pupils constricted as she grabbed the coach’s sleeve. “What do you mean?” The coach, red-eyed, shook off her hand. “What do I mean? You know very well! I never thought you could be so heartless. The biggest regret of Alex’s life was falling in love with a viper like you!” He pushed through the crowd, picked up my backpack that had fallen to the ground earlier, and left. Having known the coach for ten years, he had always treated me like a son. Learning of my death, he must be the most heartbroken person. Seeing the coach’s hunched figure, I felt a pang in my heart. Emma finally came to her senses. She looked at the flowers and cake in front of her, her expression wavering for a moment. She lifted her leg to walk towards the medical room, but was stopped by Jake. “My championship interview isn’t over yet. Where are you going?” Emma pursed her lips: “I’m going to check on Alex. We can do the interview later.” Hearing this, Jake’s face turned cold for a moment, then he softened his expression and said in a low voice. “What could be wrong with Alex? It’s just performance-enhancing drugs. These drugs only cause a brief excitement, they don’t harm the body much.” He glanced at the media, his voice getting even lower, with a hint of guilt. “Didn’t we try it before? Besides, Alex is in such good shape, he doesn’t even catch colds. How could he suddenly need emergency care?” Emma’s expression was conflicted for a while, then slowly calmed down. “You’re right. When I saw him go into emergency care earlier, I thought he was acting. I didn’t expect he would even get his coach to play along.” As she spoke, she became more convinced she had discovered the truth, and snorted coldly. “I almost fell for it! He probably thinks the news about the performance-enhancing drugs is too embarrassing, so he’s pretending to be sick to avoid appearing in front of the media, right?” Jake carefully observed her expression before finally relaxing. “It’s good that you understand. Shall we do the interview now?” Emma’s eyes flickered, scanning the well-prepared proposal scene and the wedding planner, then said coldly. “Tell Alex to stop playing these silly games!” “I said I wouldn’t break up with him, and I won’t go back on my word. If he behaves himself, I might agree to the proposal.” “If he’s still pretending to be dead after the interview, then let’s just break up completely!” She didn’t hesitate anymore, stepping over the bouquet of flowers on the ground, crushing my heart in the process. At the interview area, many people were already waiting. For years, I had always been the champion of climbing competitions, with Jake always waiting on the sidelines. Now, he had finally stepped on my corpse to claim the championship. During the interview, someone mentioned me. “What’s your opinion on the news of Alex’s death due to performance-enhancing drugs?” At these words, both Emma and Jake were stunned. Then, Jake’s eyes flashed with wild joy. From now on, the mountain pressing down on him had finally disappeared. Emma, however, looked like she had lost her soul. She tightly grabbed the reporter’s sleeve. “What did you say? Alex is dead?” The reporter looked at her curiously. “Aren’t you Alex’s girlfriend? Don’t you know? He passed away during the award ceremony just now.” “I heard it was a severe allergic reaction to the performance-enhancing drugs. They couldn’t save him.” Emma stared at the reporter, her face as white as paper. “How is that possible? How could he die?” “You’re all lying to me, right? Did Alex put you up to this?” She suddenly became agitated, startling everyone. Jake quickly tried to calm her, pulling her into his arms. “Alex’s death was an accident, Emma. Don’t get upset.” I saw a flash of panic in Jake’s eyes, afraid Emma might say something she shouldn’t in her agitation. The people around also started to comfort her. “Don’t be sad, he’s not worth it.” “Yeah, he brought this on himself. You should be glad you’re free from him.” I smiled bitterly, watching everyone treat Emma as the victim, freely disparaging me. In front of the cameras, Jake couldn’t say much, but the hand on Emma’s shoulder tightened slightly. “Emma, you’ve always known how I feel. No matter what, I’ll always be by your side.” Meeting his gaze, Emma bit her lip and said softly, her voice trembling. “Yes, it was all an accident. He made the mistake himself…” “You’re lying!” A voice suddenly rang out from the crowd, tearing through the turbulent atmosphere. The coach, clutching my backpack, his eyes bloodshot, stared at Emma. “I have a recording. Alex’s death is directly related to you!”

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# I deliberately smashed the glass doors of a shopping mall and turned myself in to the police. My wife, furious, stormed in after me, yelling, “Why would you turn yourself in? This is something we could’ve fixed with money!” I shrugged, raising my hands as the officers cuffed me and led me into custody. Why? Because in my last life, her so-called soulmate—her childhood friend—came crawling back to her after his business failed. He staged a car accident, killed someone, and pinned the blame on me. All for the sake of stealing my multi-million-dollar fortune. What followed was a nightmare. The victim’s family and the media hounded me relentlessly, convinced I was the one behind the crime. Every piece of evidence—every surveillance video—showed my face. Even my wife insisted I’d done it, claiming I acted out of revenge and an unhinged desire to lash out at the world. In the end, I was stabbed to death by the victim’s family in front of a crowd. And then, I woke up. I was back on the day her soulmate staged the accident.

“Zach Sullivan, why are you doing this? It’s just money—we can pay for the damages! Why are you turning yourself in? Are you insane?” My wife, Hannah, was rushing toward me, her face flushed with anger. I simply raised my hands as the officer cuffed me. “Hannah, when you make a mistake, you own up to it. I caused damage and scared a lot of people. I need to reflect on my actions.” Hannah immediately pulled out a wad of cash, thrusting it toward the officer. “We have money—take it! Just don’t arrest my husband!” The officer frowned, clearly unimpressed. “Ma’am, mistakes have consequences. He’s coming with us.” “Take him away.” Hannah trembled with rage, but no matter how much she begged or argued, I stuck to my decision—I was going to take responsibility. Because of my “good attitude,” I was only sentenced to seven days in custody for reflection. Seven days where I couldn’t leave the detention center. Seven days of freedom from her. And for the first time in a long time, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace. In my last life, my wife had a “true love” named Liam Reed—her childhood sweetheart, the one she never quite let go of. The moment Liam showed up in town, it was like her heart was pulled in his direction. She was never home, always disappearing to meet him. One night, after another fight, I finally snapped. “If you go see Liam one more time, we’re done. I’ll file for divorce.” She didn’t even hesitate. She slammed the door and didn’t come home that night. The next day, Liam caused a catastrophe. Driving recklessly, he hit and killed a woman—an eight-months-pregnant woman. It was a horrific accident. I begged him to turn himself in, to take responsibility and compensate the victim’s family. But Liam just smirked. “Who said I did it? It wasn’t me—it was you.” At first, I thought it was some kind of sick joke. But when I checked the car’s dashcam footage and nearby surveillance cameras, all of them showed my face. I was framed. No one believed me—not even my wife. She told everyone that I’d become unhinged because of our failing marriage and decided to take my anger out on the world. The media ran wild with the story, painting me as a monster. I tried desperately to defend myself, but when the victim’s family finally found me, their grief turned into rage. One of them stabbed me on the spot. As I lay bleeding to death, I couldn’t understand why this was happening. Why had Liam gone to such lengths to destroy me? This time, I wasn’t going to let history repeat itself. I’d already taken the first step—putting myself in custody, far away from Liam’s schemes.

Seven days later, I walked out of the detention center. Breathing in the cool morning air under the soft glow of the rising sun, I felt a rare sense of relief. This time, I had spent the entire seven days locked up, completely avoiding any of the disasters from my past life—or so I thought. I had barely taken a few steps when someone grabbed my arm, their eyes bloodshot, and began shouting at the top of their lungs. “It’s him! This bastard killed my pregnant daughter!” A crowd of reporters, who had clearly been waiting outside, rushed forward. Microphones and cameras were shoved in my face as questions flew from every direction. “Zach Sullivan, are you here to confess to the hit-and-run?” “Why did you kill an innocent pregnant woman?” Photographers snapped pictures relentlessly, the flashing lights blinding me. Passersby on the street heard the commotion and started gathering. Once they recognized me, they began whispering, their voices sharp and accusing. “Isn’t he the guy from the news? The one who ran over that pregnant lady and fled?” “Yeah, that’s him! What a monster—he killed two lives in one blow!” “People like him don’t deserve to live!” I stood there, eyebrows furrowed, my mind racing. What the hell was going on? I had been in detention for the past seven days—how could this possibly involve me? “You’ve got it all wrong!” I shouted. “There’s no way I’d run over a pregnant woman!” But the victim’s father, still gripping my arm, grew even more furious. His face twisted with rage, and if I hadn’t been stronger, his fists might have already landed on me. One of the reporters shoved their phone in my face, showing me a video. My heart sank. My pupils dilated as the footage played. It was dashcam footage. In it, I was behind the wheel, grinning maniacally. The car sped up, heading straight for a pregnant woman on the sidewalk. I watched as the car hit her, sending her flying. In the video, my face was clear as day. My voice rang out, exaggerated and mocking, filled with cruel amusement: “Oops, sorry! Guess today’s just not your lucky day!” Then, the video showed my wife, Hannah, rushing over and yanking me out of the driver’s seat. “Zach Sullivan! What the hell are you doing? How could you do something so reckless?” The footage continued. In it, I shoved Hannah roughly to the ground, got back in the car, and drove off. The video ended there. My face darkened as I processed what I had just seen. This was exactly what had happened in my past life. But I had been in the detention center for seven days. How could this have happened again? “You still think you can explain this away?” The victim’s father was trembling with rage, veins bulging on his forehead. My arm began to ache under his grip. The crowd around us was growing more hostile by the second, their anger palpable. “It’s him! There’s no doubt about it!” “What kind of monster runs over a pregnant woman and then drives off laughing?” “I heard he didn’t just hit her—he reversed and ran over her several more times!” “Yeah, they said she might’ve survived the first hit, but after that, there was no chance. This guy deserves to rot in hell!” Sweat dripped down my forehead as I tried to explain. “I’ve been in detention for the past seven days! How could I have done this?” The victim’s father lunged at me, his head slamming into mine. “The man in the video is clearly you! If it wasn’t you, who else could it be?” I stumbled back, my forehead throbbing in pain. “It’s Liam Reed!” I shouted desperately. “He’s my wife’s so-called soulmate. He’s the one who did it, not me—he’s framing me!” Before I could say more, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. “Zach Sullivan, enough already! Do you really think hiding in the detention center would solve anything?” Hannah was standing in front of me, her expression livid. I glared at her, disbelief coursing through me. Before I could respond, a sharp pain shot through my back. I stumbled forward—someone had kicked me hard in the waist. I turned around to see him: Liam Reed. “Zach, how much longer are you going to keep lying?” Liam sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

“It wasn’t me! Why would I confess to something I didn’t do?” I gritted my teeth, suppressing the pain, and shouted with all my strength. Hannah, my wife, slapped me hard across the face. “Zach Sullivan, what have you become?” she snapped. “If you’ve done something wrong, own up to it! What are you, a child? Stop trying to dodge responsibility!” I swallowed my rising anger and tried to explain again. “I told you—it wasn’t me! The fact that you’re so desperate to frame me shows you’re hiding something!” Liam Reed, standing smugly nearby, delivered another vicious kick to my side. “Zach, the evidence is overwhelming, and you’re still denying it?” he sneered. “People like you don’t deserve fair trials. You should just be executed on the spot!” His words struck a nerve with the reporters, who immediately turned their cameras toward him. Liam’s righteous performance was exactly what they wanted to hear—someone condemning me, a supposed monster who ran over a pregnant woman, killing her and her unborn child. The crowd erupted. “Execute him right here!” “Why waste time with a trial? He deserves to rot in hell for what he’s done!” “Do you know how many lives he destroyed? Two lives gone in an instant!” As the mob grew angrier, a man with bloodshot eyes suddenly pushed his way through the crowd. In his hand was a knife. The sight of the blade sent shivers through the crowd. People stepped back cautiously, unsure of what he might do. The man’s voice cracked with rage as he pointed the knife at me. “Zach Sullivan, you bastard! Give me back my wife! Give me back my child!” This was the husband of the pregnant woman who had been killed. The man who had been eagerly awaiting the birth of his child, only to lose everything in one horrific moment. Now, he had only one thought in his mind: an eye for an eye. He raised the knife high, ready to plunge it into my chest. I was pinned to the ground, powerless to move. Cold sweat dripped down my face as my mind raced. Was this how it would end—again? I had been given a second chance at life, but was I doomed to meet the same fate? I clenched my fists, struggling with everything I had, but it was no use. Just as I was about to give up, a baton swung through the air, knocking the knife out of the man’s hand. A young police officer stepped in, shouting, “What the hell are you all doing? Everyone, step back!” Hannah and Liam immediately took a step back, clearly startled. But the victim’s family wasn’t ready to let go. They tackled me to the ground again, their grief and fury reaching a boiling point. “Officer, save me!” I shouted desperately. Hannah sighed dramatically and muttered, “Zach, even the police are here now. Just confess already.” From behind her, Liam chimed in, his voice filled with false indignation. “That’s right! The police wouldn’t be here if you weren’t guilty. Stop lying!” The officer frowned and turned to me. “What’s going on here, Zach? You just got out of detention. How are you already involved in something like this?” The victim’s husband screamed, his voice raw with grief. “It’s him! He killed my wife and child! Two lives, gone in an instant! Please, officer, we need justice!” The crowd roared in agreement, their anger building again. “He’s a monster! He deserves the death penalty!” “Yeah! He drove over her again and again—how could anyone do that?” The officer’s expression darkened. “Hold on,” he said firmly. “Yesterday? Zach has been in custody for the past seven days. There’s no way he could’ve done this.” The crowd fell silent for a moment, stunned by the revelation. “What? That’s impossible!” the victim’s husband stammered. Liam’s face twitched slightly, and he quickly ducked into the crowd, raising his voice in a shrill tone to redirect their anger. “Officer, are you seriously trying to cover for a murderer?” he shouted. Hannah immediately caught on, her voice sharp and cutting. “That’s right! I’m his wife, and I can testify that Zach is guilty! Are you seriously going to let him get away with this?” The crowd surged forward again, emboldened by her words. Cameras and microphones turned toward the officer, capturing his every move. The officer hesitated, frowning as he took a small step back. Hannah’s voice grew louder, more piercing. “Officer, don’t tell me you’ve been bribed by Zach Sullivan! He’s rich—he thinks he can do whatever he wants!” The crowd’s anger reached a fever pitch. The victim’s family pinned me to the ground, their hands trembling with rage. It felt like they would tear me apart at any moment. The officer’s face hardened. “That’s enough! We don’t take bribes. If you don’t believe me, you can come to the station and check the records yourself!” Hearing this, the crowd began to waver. For a moment, the chaos seemed to subside. But then, Hannah and Liam exchanged a glance. Hannah suddenly shouted, “We have more evidence!” My heart sank. With a triumphant gleam in her eyes, she stepped forward, glaring at me. “Zach, you thought you could bribe the police and get away with it? Think again! Look who we brought here!” She stepped aside, and an elderly man slowly walked out from behind her. He approached me, his expression stern and filled with righteous fury. Pointing a trembling finger at me, he declared loudly, “It’s him! He’s the one who killed that poor woman and her child!” I froze, my mind reeling. “Dad?” I whispered in disbelief.

I stared at my dad in disbelief, my entire body trembling as my breathing became shallow and rapid. How could this be happening? Why was my dad pointing his finger at me? Did he really see something? But I’d spent the past seven days in detention. I hadn’t done anything! No, it couldn’t be—it was impossible! What the hell was going on? The crowd erupted again. “That’s Zach Sullivan’s dad?” “Even his own father is stepping forward to accuse him! He’s definitely guilty! What else is there to say?” The bystanders became even more agitated, their voices growing louder and more hostile. “Zach, stop pretending! You selfish, heartless bastard, how much longer are you going to keep up this act?” Hannah shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. I yelled back at the top of my lungs, “I didn’t do it! Why should I confess to a crime I didn’t commit?” A thought suddenly struck me. “That’s right—I’ve been in the detention center for the past seven days! I want the surveillance footage! It’ll prove my innocence!” I turned to the officer behind me, who looked just as confused as I felt. He knew I’d been in custody for the last week. But now, with the crowd so certain of my guilt, with the video evidence and my father’s testimony, doubt clouded his expression. As the crowd grew more unruly, the officer quickly pulled out his phone and made a call. “I’ve sent someone to retrieve the footage. Everyone, calm down!” The officer’s reassurances did little to quell the mob, but after a few tense minutes, another officer arrived with the surveillance tapes from the detention center. If the previous video had been fabricated, the detention center’s cameras couldn’t be faked. I glanced at Hannah and Liam. I had intentionally stayed in detention for this very reason—I’d been waiting for this moment. Let’s see how they explain themselves now. Hannah’s expression faltered, a flicker of unease crossing her face. Liam, who had been loudly shouting moments ago, suddenly furrowed his brow. The officer inserted the footage and began fast-forwarding through it. Sure enough, the video clearly showed me inside the detention center, behaving just as I should. “Now what do you have to say, Hannah?” I demanded, my voice rising with anger. Hannah hesitated, unable to respond. But Liam suddenly shouted, “Wait! Something’s not right!” He pointed at a section of the footage. “Look! That person leaving the detention center… doesn’t that look like Zach?” The grainy footage showed a figure in a yellow coat walking out of the detention center. Though the image was blurry, the coat was identical to the one I’d been wearing when I was detained. I froze. Hannah’s lips curled into a triumphant smile. “Zach, are you seriously going to deny that’s you? You must’ve bribed someone to let you out! You left to commit the crime and then snuck back in—didn’t you?” Her words sent the crowd into another frenzy, and they turned their attention to the officers. “What’s going on here? You said you weren’t covering for him, so who’s that in the footage?” The officer, visibly flustered, glanced at me. He remembered my yellow coat—it was hard to forget. I’d chosen it specifically because it stood out. I stared at the screen, my scalp tingling as a cold chill ran down my spine. “That’s not me,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’ve been here the entire time! It’s impossible for me to have left, even for a second!” Hannah, sensing the shift in momentum, doubled down. “Zach, you’re a disgusting excuse for a human being. You killed a pregnant woman and her child, and now you’re trying to worm your way out of it?” Liam, emboldened by the crowd, screeched, “Yeah! You’re a piece of trash who thinks money can solve everything. You deserve to burn for this!” The victim’s family, already overwhelmed with grief and anger, had reached their breaking point. One of them quietly picked up the knife that had fallen to the ground earlier. His eyes burned with hatred as he stared at me. If the officers so much as blinked, I knew he’d plunge that knife straight into my chest. “Damn it, it really is him! What’s the point of all this talking? He’s guilty!” “He must’ve bribed one of the guards to let him out for a few hours. He committed the crime and then snuck back in like nothing happened!” The victim’s husband, knife in hand, pushed past the officers protecting me. “Give me back my wife and child, you bastard!” he roared, lunging toward me. Another family member followed close behind, their fury blinding them to reason. I was frozen in place, panic surging through me. There was no way to escape. But then, just as I thought it was all over, a voice rang out behind me. “Stop right there! I can prove Zach Sullivan is innocent!” Hearing those words, I finally exhaled, relief washing over me. The person I’d been waiting for had arrived.

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I caught my wife’s assistant cutting corners on the project. When he realized I’d found out, he tried to silence me by pushing me off a construction building. My wife, always the law-abiding one, actually tried to cover for him. She erased all the evidence, and when she held my hand by my hospital bed, she pleaded with me. “Edgar told me he was just scared and panicked. He didn’t really mean to hurt you. “You’re fine, right? So, for my sake, let’s just pretend this never happened. Please?” I nodded, handing her a document. All she had to do was sign it, and I’d let everything go. She thought it was the project approval form and signed it with a smile, praising me for being more understanding. She promised me that once things calmed down, we’d have a child and live a happy life. What she didn’t know was that she had just signed our divorce papers. “Don’t worry, Edgar, we’ll vouch for you. Philip fell on his own.” A voice rang out from outside the room. I glanced at my wife, Eva, who was sitting by my bed, as her assistant, Edgar, entered with the construction crew. Before they even stepped inside, I could hear the flattery echoing through the hallway. “Edgar, you and Ms. Biles should really set a wedding date soon. Look at how her suitors are causing such a fuss. Don’t you think it’s time to put an end to their foolishness?” “Exactly. Look at Philip. He’s a useless mess, and he dares to have feelings for Ms. Biles?” Edgar’s voice came through, lighthearted but firm. “Alright, alright, we’re here to visit the patient. Let’s keep it down. “That said, Eva and I will be setting our wedding date soon. We’ll be sending out invitations, so be sure to join us for the celebration.” The teasing and cheers outside were deafening. I glanced up at Eva, who was peeling an apple for me, her expression unchanged. “Ms. Biles, you’re getting married? Congratulations,” I said mockingly. Eva shot me a reproachful glance. She was just about to speak when Edgar and the crew walked in. She swallowed her words, clearly unwilling to contradict Edgar in front of everyone. After all, she’d rather keep the fact that we had been married for seven years a secret. She stood by, letting them mock me without intervention, simply a passive observer. Edgar, basking in the adulation, couldn’t help but sneak a few smug glances at me. “Philip, I’ll send you an invitation. You should come.” At that moment, every eye turned toward me. Edgar was five years younger than I was, yet these people were treating him like he was a figure of authority. It was enough to make me laugh. I smiled, my expression calm. “Sure, when’s the wedding? I’ll be there.” For the first time, Edgar was at a loss for words. As he fumbled for a response, Eva couldn’t hold back anymore. “Enough! Stop it. Don’t forget why you’re here, Edgar. Apologize to Philip.” Edgar, usually indulged by Eva, sulked, clearly displeased by her sharp tone. He crossed his arms, muttering in resentment. Eva’s rare show of protection made me feel… nothing. Because I knew she wasn’t defending me out of guilt. She was just afraid that I might press charges against Edgar for attempted murder, and she was putting on a show for my benefit. Just as Eva was about to demand an apology from him, the workers outside interrupted, their voices rising in protest. “Philip, you have no shame! You’re the one who tried to seduce Ms. Biles and deliberately fell down the stairs to cause trouble between them. Now you have the nerve to ask Edgar to apologize?” “Yeah, you’ve ruined everything. You’re the one who caused the delay in the project. We rely on this work for a living. You owe us money!” “Exactly! You must compensate us. You knew exactly where to fall. Otherwise, how did you survive such a high fall?” The workers shouted at me, demanding compensation, but I couldn’t bring myself to laugh. They all knew it was Edgar who pushed me. I was lucky I landed on the scaffolding, or I would’ve been dead. And yet here they were, twisting the truth right in front of me. The one who was shouting the loudest, I knew him well. His daughter was critically ill and needed money for treatment. Last month, he came to me, asking for an advance on his salary. I told him the company didn’t have a policy for advances, but I still gave him five thousand of my own money. Now, seeing him groveling before Edgar, I didn’t blame him because only he had the decency to tell me the truth. When I woke up from the coma, the first thing I did was report Edgar for attempted murder. But when the police arrived, everyone had changed their story. They all said I jumped on my own. Eva even had a fake medical record made up, labeling me with a delusional disorder. I couldn’t believe it. I screamed, asking them why they were betraying me when I had always treated them kindly. No one answered. They just said that my fate was my own doing, that I deserved it. Only that man, with guilt in his eyes, pulled me aside and whispered the truth. Eva gave each of them a large sum of money to silence them. To save his daughter’s life, he could only accept it. Now, when I saw him accusing me furiously, I thought about how he had persuaded me the other day. “Mr. Duncan, Edgar is Ms. Biles’ boyfriend, and he’s going to be the future head of the company. “We’re just ordinary people. How can we fight against them? “You should just accept the money and settle it. That way, everyone can move on.” I was silent for a long time, but I didn’t tell him that I was Eva’s husband. Her first pot of gold came from me. The company’s success relied on my connections, and I willingly gave up my position as CEO for her. Now, the woman I had slept beside for seven years was using our shared wealth to protect the man who tried to kill me. She was even pretending to be loving, trying to convince me to drop the charges. Once the workers had finished their tirade, Eva feigned authority and dismissed everyone, citing that I needed rest. She shooed Edgar out with a curt wave, and the promised apology was swept under the rug. I had to admit that Eva really doted on Edgar. No matter how badly he messed up, she would always go to great lengths to cover for him. She was even afraid he’d be upset about apologizing. Once everyone had left, Eva turned to me, her voice soft and tender. She urged me to rest, adding with a hint of guilt, “I’ve been neglecting you because of work. I’ll make more time for you from now on.” Her gentle demeanor almost fooled me. If I didn’t know the truth, I might have been swayed. But now, I had no illusions left. I wasn’t just going to divorce her. I was going to make sure she and Edgar paid for what they did.

Not long after she spoke, Edgar stormed back in, fuming with anger as he slammed the door open. “Philip, you’re despicable! You went behind my back and exposed everything online! Now everyone’s calling me a murderer!” He said this with a frantic glance at Eva. “Eva, what if the police start investigating again?” Eva furrowed her brows and shot a reproachful glance at me, her tone filled with complaint. “This is such a small matter. We should’ve dealt with it privately. Why did you have to make it public? Now, the company’s stock price has plummeted. Are you satisfied now?” Watching Eva’s expression change so suddenly, I couldn’t help but chuckle. She wasn’t blaming Edgar, the one who had pushed me, but she was blaming me, the victim? Edgar, emboldened, continued to complain boldly in front of me, “Philip, the company is, after all, ours as a couple. I was just trying to help save costs for you guys. But in the end, I’m stuck in the middle. “Eva, I’m really hurt.” He spoke in such a sanctimonious tone, but I knew full well that the money they “saved” through improper methods had all ended up in Edgar’s pocket. And Eva, frequently transferring money to him under the guise of him having a hard time, had even allocated company bonuses to him as though they were her own. Now, seeing Edgar spout lies in front of me, Eva, who knew the truth, didn’t expose him. Instead, she gently comforted him. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle this.” Then, I watched her make a call to the PR department, instructing them step by step to spread rumors about me. They accused me of being a bad seed, claiming that everything I did was out of jealousy. My purpose was to smear Edgar’s name. She even claimed that the police had already investigated and denied murder. She deftly ordered everything to be done, and only then did she realize I was watching her. But there was no panic in her eyes. There was only calmness. She said, “Edgar is still young. You wouldn’t want him to ruin his career, right?” I looked at her with a sneer. “So, you’re willing to sacrifice my reputation for his career?” The promises Eva once made, vowing to love me forever when we first got together, now felt like a joke. But Eva didn’t get angry. She still gazed at me with affectionate eyes, yet her words pierced through me like ice. “Darling, I’m doing this for the good of the company. You should understand. “Besides, I’m doing it right in front of you, which means I have nothing to hide.” Edgar chimed in, grinning, “Yeah, with Eva’s skills, if she wanted to frame you without anyone knowing, it’d be easy. “Philip, just admit to the false charges at the press conference for Eva’s sake.” Eva’s eyes lit up as she nodded eagerly. “Edgar, you’re so smart. If the person involved clears things up on-site, the netizens won’t have much to say.” With that, she turned to me with a composed look. “Darling, since you’re the one who exposed all this, it’s only fair for you to take responsibility and clean up the mess, don’t you think?” Everyone knew that if I admitted to these fabricated charges, I’d be subjected to terrifying online attacks. Yet, the wife I had loved for seven years, knowing full well the truth, had pushed me into this abyss. As I looked back on the past, remembering all the good times, I could feel my heart freeze with each passing second. I nodded reluctantly, suppressing my disgust. At the press conference, I would personally give them the “gift” they so deserved.

Today was the day I was discharged from the hospital, and Eva came to pick me up. The entire way home, Edgar drove, telling jokes in his usual humorous style, making Eva laugh uncontrollably. Once we reached the neighborhood, Edgar, under the pretense of helping with the bags, followed us upstairs. As soon as the door opened, he shoved me aside, put on a pair of men’s slippers, and seeing only women’s slippers left in the shoe cabinet, he feigned innocence, saying, “Sorry, Philip. While you were sick, I was temporarily staying here to take care of a heartbroken Eva. “I was going to tidy up, but I accidentally threw away your slippers. Hope you don’t mind.” He apologized, but his face was full of smugness as if waiting for me to get jealous and cause a scene. But I didn’t take it to heart. “It’s fine. It’s just a pair of slippers. If it’s lost, then it’s lost.” I didn’t even care about the slippers. After all, I had already lost everything else. I put on the disposable slippers meant for guests and walked into the house. The changes inside were stark. The most noticeable was that the photos of Eva and me had all been replaced with pictures of her and Edgar. Even the wall that used to display our wedding photos was now filled with photos of them at the amusement park, their oversized selfies. Eva’s previously calm expression instantly turned sour. Edgar quickly apologized, “Sorry, Eva. You told me to put these away, but I rushed out and forgot.” Eva glared at him and warned, “What nonsense are you talking about? When did I ever say you could put these up? Take them down, now!” Edgar pretended to be wronged as he took the photos down, but his eyes met mine with a provocative look. I ignored their little drama and walked over to the fish tank. I noticed the goldfish we’d kept for seven years, the one that witnessed the love between Eva and me, was gone. But I didn’t mind too much. Goldfish could only live for about four to seven years, maybe up to 10 at most. It had lived long enough. However, before I could say a word, Edgar quickly scampered over to apologize again. “Sorry, my cat got a little too playful. I wasn’t paying attention, and it ate your goldfish. “How much was it? I’ll compensate you.” I took a closer look and noticed a lot of cat toys scattered around the house, and there was cat hair on the floor. Eva coughed dismissively and said, “It’s fine. The fish was probably close to dying anyway. Giving it to the cat for a feast just completes the circle.” She used to cherish that fish so much, but now, she didn’t even care that it was dead. Edgar awkwardly added, “Eva, you’re allergic to cat hair, and yet you let me keep a cat here. I really can’t thank you enough.” Eva waved him off, saying it didn’t bother her. She didn’t even realize that Edgar was deliberately showing off how well she treated him. I saw through it, but I couldn’t be bothered. After tomorrow’s press conference, everything would be over. The entire evening, Edgar kept showing off how much Eva pampered him, and I pretended not to notice. Eva probably thought I wasn’t jealous anymore. Early the next morning, she picked out a nice outfit for me and tied my tie for me. “Sorry for making you go through this today.” I waved my hand. “It’s fine. It’s all for the company.” Eva smiled contentedly and sent Edgar to start the car. By the time the three of us arrived at the press conference, reporters had already gathered in a crowd. She deliberately kept some distance from me, then stepped onto the stage. “Today, I brought Mr. Philip Duncan with me. He has already apologized to us and expressed his deep regret for falsely accusing Edgar. “Nobody’s perfect. I hope everyone can show him some understanding.” She finished, then stepped back to push me onto the stage. Suddenly, we saw some police officers approaching from a distance. Eva and Edgar immediately became flustered and asked, “Who called the police?” I quietly reassured her, “Don’t worry. I invited the officers to come and clarify everything. It’ll make the scene feel more realistic.” Upon hearing this, she relaxed and praised me for being so smart, then immediately invited the officers to approach. The police were about to ask the reporters to leave, but Eva waved her hand. “Officers, just tell them the truth.” The police pulled out handcuffs and immediately cuffed both Eva and Edgar. “You are both under suspicion of deliberately attempting to murder Philip Duncan. Please come with us.” At this moment, Eva couldn’t hold her composure anymore. She no longer cared about our secret marriage and immediately shouted at the police. “What nonsense are you talking about? Didn’t you already investigate? He fell on his own. “Besides, he is my husband. How could I ever want to kill him?” She then shot me a look and winked. “Darling, you need to clear this up. Tell them it was all just a misunderstanding.” I coldly pulled out a divorce agreement. “Eva, we’re already divorced. Just cut your act and admit your guilt.”

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Jacqueline once again missed my birthday party for assistant Eric Burch, which led me, Lawrence Gentry, to voluntarily apply for a three-year overseas assignment. She casually came across the application form and scoffed at it without much thought. “Trying to make me jealous with these tricks again? Can you stop acting like a child? You’re an adult, for heaven’s sake. “I’ve told you before, we have nothing between us. I’m just worried that Eric, a fresh graduate, might feel out of place, so I’m going to keep him company. “I’ll come and keep you company in a few days.” She tore the application form up and tossed it in the trash, then suggested that we take wedding photos as compensation for her absence. But it was already too late. On the day of the shoot, I was already sitting on a plane heading abroad. However, I heard that Jacqueline, usually cold and distant, went a little crazy. Dressed in a wedding gown, she hysterically screamed my name over and over at the airport. “Lawrence, I can’t believe you’re still playing these petty tricks. If it weren’t for Debra Hanna from HR telling me about this, I might have actually believed it. “Don’t you know? Someone who really wants to leave wouldn’t make it such a public spectacle.” Jacqueline snorted, then tore up the overseas assignment application form in a few quick moves and threw it into the trash without even blinking. I remained silent, but inwardly, I found it a bit amusing. Tearing it up didn’t matter to me. It had already been submitted. She had signed it herself last night. But at the time, she had been out dining with Eric, probably not paying attention. When she was with Eric, she was always completely absorbed in him. Debra from HR was just a kind soul, and she was probably trying to help by informing her of this. She probably thought I was trying to threaten her, but that wasn’t the case. At the time, she wanted me to stay in the city with her, so I missed out on many overseas opportunities. Now that her heart belonged to someone else, I wasn’t planning to waste away by her side anymore. Just as I was about to speak, there was a knock on the door. Jacqueline ignored me and turned to open it. “Jacqueline.” Eric smiled, standing in the doorway, and greeted her. Then his gaze shifted to me, and his smile grew wider. “Oh, Lawrence is here too. Sorry, I would’ve stayed downstairs if I’d known. Didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.” His tone seemed sincere, but I could hear the underlying provocation. After all, once I discovered the unusual relationship between Jacqueline and him, I confronted her many times. But every time, she shrugged it off and continued as if nothing had happened. The worst incident was when she spent the night with Eric. I couldn’t take it anymore and asked her about it. Jacqueline slapped me hard and called me dirty-minded, demanding that I publicly apologize to both her and Eric. That was the moment I finally gave up on her. I stopped caring, but she and Eric thought I had just matured and treated the whole thing as a rebellious phase of mine. I ignored them and turned to go back to my room. But Jacqueline, unusually, stopped me and softly said, “Eric’s parents are coming in a couple of days. He’s worried his room might be too shabby, so I’m going to help him get it ready. “You know, these young guys can’t take care of themselves. If I can help, I will.” I was a bit surprised. It took me a moment to realize that Jacqueline was trying to explain herself to me. She used to never do that. I would always have to ask her, and she’d get annoyed with me for being so curious. But now, I no longer cared about what they were going to do. “Oh.” I nodded. I originally wanted to remind her to stay safe, but then I realized she wouldn’t listen even if I did. So, I swallowed the words back down. “Lawrence, why don’t you come with us? It’d make us feel better.” Eric spoke up at that moment. I looked at the smile on his face, clearly knowing he was doing it on purpose. He had suggested this before. But every time he did, it only made Jacqueline dislike me more. Even though I didn’t care about her opinion anymore, I wasn’t going to make things uncomfortable for myself before leaving. Just as I was about to refuse, unexpectedly, Jacqueline paused for a while and nodded. Eric’s smile faltered for a moment. But it didn’t last long. His smile returned, even brighter than before. “Alright then,” Jacqueline said. “At least you can help carry some things. We bought so much. Eric might not be able to carry it all.” I found it amusing, with a sense of realization. “No, I have things to do later. You guys go ahead.” I answered softly, my tone devoid of any emotion. Jacqueline didn’t care, giving me a disdainful glance before saying, “I gave you a chance, but you disappointed me,” then she left with Eric. Eric looked smug, waving at me as he left. “Lawrence, I’ll leave with Jacqueline.” His words were clearly annoying to me. But Jacqueline seemed completely unaware, resting her arm on his shoulder. She laughed lightly with him, asking how he was going to take her out for a meal after she had helped him so much. Their closeness no longer stirred anything in me. I had known since Eric joined the company that this day would eventually come. Back then, Jacqueline made an exception to hire him and brought him as her assistant. Over the past two years, he had made many mistakes and caused the company to lose millions of dollars, yet every time, Jacqueline would point the blame at me without hesitation. I couldn’t hold back any longer and argued with her, but she remained unshaken. “Lawrence, don’t you think he’s a lot like the old you? “You worked so hard to get to your position, now that you see a young guy just like you, shouldn’t you help him out?” It wasn’t until later that I realized, after that moment, that no matter what I said, it was all in vain. Jacqueline’s heart had already changed. My phone rang. I checked it and saw a message from HR. [The list for overseas assignments is confirmed. Please come to your post in three days.]

Along with the message came a list of instructions. I read through everything carefully, then started packing up my things at home. Since I had to leave anyway, it was better to handle it myself than let Jacqueline and Eric throw everything out. I took out the custom-made guitar I hadn’t touched in years, tested the strings, and found it still in perfect condition. Jacqueline knew I loved playing instruments. We actually got close because of a performance at a university event. Back then, I would often play songs she liked for her, and we would travel together, strolling through the mountains and fields. But as time passed, reality became harsher, and the pressure of life grew. Jacqueline no longer wanted to hear me play, so I put everything away and focused on work. Later on, our life became more comfortable, but she drifted farther and farther away from me. I once invited her to travel with me, but she was clearly annoyed. “Lawrence, how old are you? Can you stop acting like a child? Focus on your career, okay?” But later, I found out that she and Eric, using business trips as an excuse, went to arcades to play claw machines, to internet cafés to game, and even went boating on the lake. So it wasn’t that she thought we were too old. She just thought I was too old. I dug out all my old instruments and contacted a friend who had always wanted them. When he heard I was giving them to him, he was surprised. “Seriously? You wouldn’t even sell them to me for a high price before. What made you change your mind?” I gave a simple explanation. “I’m going abroad. These things are too much to take with me.” “Going abroad?” He was shocked. “Are you going with Jacqueline?” “No, just me.” I briefly told him about my overseas assignment, but my friend was still a bit confused. In the end, he said he wanted to meet up for a meal and catch up. I didn’t turn him down. After hanging up, I continued sorting through my things at home. Jacqueline had always wanted to take down the photo wall. She disliked the childish couple figurines, the couple sofa, the matching couple rings… Before I knew it, it was already evening. Even though I didn’t have many things, after living here for five years, I still didn’t manage to finish in just one afternoon. Jacqueline still hadn’t returned. I didn’t cook dinner and wait for her like I used to, asking when she’d be home. Instead, I took my things and went to meet my friends. There were three or four of them, and we hadn’t seen each other in nearly a year. They were all shocked when they saw me. “Are you losing weight? You look even thinner than the last time we saw you.” I smiled but didn’t explain. After a few drinks, everyone loosened up, and the conversation flowed. When the topic of my departure came up, one of my drunken friends angrily spoke up in my defense. “Lawrence, I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a long time. You should’ve left Jacqueline ages ago. Just look at you now. How much has she tortured you? “If she hadn’t taken your research, you’d be way better off now. Your company doesn’t even have her position anymore! All of us have been telling you, but you wouldn’t listen.” The other friends quickly tried to quiet him down. “He’s drunk. Don’t take it personally,” one of them said, covering his mouth while explaining to me. I understood why he was reacting this way. After all, I used to defend Jacqueline without question. We hadn’t seen each other in so long because they had once criticized Jacqueline in front of me. At that time, I didn’t believe it and left angrily. But it was also that moment that made me realize how badly Jacqueline had been playing me. “It’s alright. Jacqueline and I are about to split.” Saying that I raised my glass amidst everyone’s shocked stares. “Thanks to you guys for trying to convince me. I’ll drink to that.” At first, my friends were worried I was hurt and tried to say more, but when they saw my calm expression, they finally relaxed. After the gathering, I returned home and was about to unlock the door when it suddenly opened from the inside. Jacqueline stood there, leaning against the wall, looking a little off.

“Did you go out for drinks? “I called you so many times. Why didn’t you answer?” I took out my phone and realized Jacqueline had tried to call me several times. I guessed the place was probably too noisy earlier, so I hadn’t heard the calls. I told her the truth, and her expression softened a little, but she was still a bit annoyed as she muttered. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you? “Come back and make me something to eat. I’m starving.” I was a bit surprised. Whenever she went out with Eric before, she would always say she’d be back soon, but every time, they ended up eating out together. I’d wait until it was late until the meal that I’d carefully made had gone cold, then reheated it, only for it to get cold again. Eating the cold food made my heart feel just as cold. But when I expressed my frustration, she would get impatient. “Why are you waiting for me? I’m not a kid. Can’t I take care of myself?” I snapped back to reality and smiled faintly. “You’re not a kid. If you’re hungry, just figure it out yourself.” “I figure it out myself? Then what do I need you for?” Jacqueline scoffed, retorting. But maybe because she had fun this afternoon, she didn’t really care about my words. “Fine, since you were drinking, I won’t make you cook a full meal. “Just make some soup to warm up my stomach. “Eric’s stomach problems are acting up again. He took medicine but it didn’t help. I remember the soup you made before worked really well. Can you make some for him now?” It was only then that I realized why she had come back. Her stomach had been bad for a while, and I had taken a class to learn how to make warming soups for her. I even experimented with improving the taste so she would want to eat. I had intended to take care of her, but now, I had become nothing more than a free caretaker, making soup for another man. I couldn’t help but sneer. “I can’t make it. “If he’s sick, he should see a doctor. What if something goes wrong? Who’s going to take responsibility?” I used to make lunch for Jacqueline every day, but eventually, she started sharing it with Eric. That afternoon, when Eric wasn’t feeling well, it was obvious it was because he had stayed up too late, but Jacqueline blamed me. She said the food I made wasn’t clean and docked my pay to give it to Eric instead. Jacqueline seemed to recall this, and her face became a bit awkward. She was about to say something, but I walked past her and went into the bedroom. Jacqueline quickly followed me. “Lawrence, I get it. Are you mad about what happened this afternoon with me and Eric? “Just say what you need to say. Why are you being so sarcastic?” It was always the same. Whenever she couldn’t argue with me, she’d accuse me of overthinking and complain that I didn’t communicate with her. But I had talked to her seriously many times, yet each time, she would explode, think I was being unreasonable, and then refuse to continue the conversation. Seeing that she was about to enter the room, I locked the bedroom door. That completely annoyed Jacqueline, and she started banging on the door. “Jacqueline, stop making a scene. Just go to bed.” After saying that, I ignored her, washed up, and went to bed. In the middle of the night, I woke up feeling thirsty. When I got up to get some water, I noticed my phone screen was lit up. I unlocked it and saw several messages from Eric. [Lawrence, Jacqueline’s at my place. She came to take care of me because my stomach was acting up.] Then there were a few pictures. The background was Eric’s rental place, and Jacqueline was wearing pajamas and an apron, standing in the kitchen with a focused look on her face. It was only then that I realized Jacqueline hadn’t been resting in the bedroom. Instead, she went to take care of Eric in the middle of the night. I felt a pang of heartache. I’d never asked her to cook for me, but now, she was willingly doing it for another man. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. And I knew exactly what Eric was doing. He was trying to provoke me. This kind of thing had happened too many times before. It didn’t really matter anymore. After two days, I would no longer have anything to do with them. I turned off my phone and went back to sleep, soon drifting off into a dreamless slumber. The next morning when I woke up, Jacqueline had already gone home. She was sitting on the couch, holding a tablet, looking a little tired after staying up all night. Back when she used to stay up talking with Eric, she would look just as worn out. I wanted to ask if she was okay, but she’d gotten angry and snapped at me for nitpicking. I didn’t feel like getting into an argument, so I ignored it, washed up, and casually greeted her as usual. She seemed distracted, muttering to herself. “Why does it feel like something’s missing around here?” I didn’t respond. The things that were lost were things she never really cared about before. So, she noticed something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what. I didn’t pay it any mind and was about to leave when Jacqueline suddenly called out to me. “Lawrence, why is there a ticket charge in your account’s payment details?” It dawned on me then. The tablet was logged into my account so she could see some of my purchases. I paused, about to say something, but just then, the phone rang. Jacqueline glanced at the caller ID, her eyes lit up, and she got up to go to the bedroom to answer it, no longer concerned about me. I let out a scoff, but I was already used to it. A few minutes later, she came back out of the bedroom, grabbed her coat from the hanger, and spoke to me in a commanding tone. “Eric’s parents are here. I need to go pick them up. When you get to the office, help us ask for some time off.” I smiled faintly. “I’m not going to the office today. “I’ll be dispatched abroad tomorrow, and that flight ticket is for tomorrow.”

She froze for a moment, her hands still on her shoes. After a beat, she seemed to realize something, then suddenly laughed. “What are you talking about? I’ve already withdrawn your transfer request. You’re not going anywhere.” I was about to explain, but her tone suddenly turned cold. “Lawrence, you were doing fine a while ago. What happened? Why are you acting up now? “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do. Once was enough, but if you keep having trouble like this, I’m going to get fed up. “Well, I have to admit, this time you’ve been convincing. You even went ahead and bought a plane ticket to fool me.” I didn’t say anything more. She didn’t believe I would leave, so no matter what I said, she wouldn’t believe it. If that was the case, then there was no point in arguing. I stayed silent, but in Jacqueline’s eyes, my silence looked like guilt. She was more convinced than ever that I was doing this on purpose. With a cold snort, she grabbed her bag and was about to leave. After walking a couple of steps, she suddenly seemed to remember something, stopped, and turned back to look at me. With a resigned sigh, she said, “Lawrence, I know why you’re acting like this, but I really have to go this time. I promised Eric the other day, and I can’t break my word. “Be good and stop causing trouble, okay? “After today, I’ll listen to you and cut back on my contact with him. “By the way, you wanted to get married, right? Once all this is settled, I’ll go with you to take wedding photos, and we can talk about the wedding details. How about it?” As she spoke, she reached out and gently patted my head as if trying to calm a well-behaved puppy. I found it a bit funny. She said she couldn’t break her promises, but for Eric, she’d canceled on me more than once, leaving me waiting by myself. She said she’d reduce contact with Eric, but that agreement was made a long time ago. Yet, she still broke her word more than once. Every time, her ace in the hole was taking wedding photos with me. I kept believing her, time after time, and getting disappointed again and again. She thought this method of controlling me, like a dog with a carrot and stick, worked perfectly for me. But what she didn’t know was it was only because I still had hope in her. Now, after not loving her anymore, I suddenly realized how laughable all those promises had been from the very beginning. But I didn’t expose the truth. I just nodded. “Okay.” Jacqueline was pleased, smiling brightly. “Lawrence, it looks like you finally understand that threatening me won’t get you anywhere. “Only if we both try to understand each other can we go further together. “Stay home and wait for me. I’m making an appointment now. Tomorrow, we’ll go take wedding photos.” With that, she turned and headed downstairs. I watched Jacqueline’s back as she disappeared around the corner, then went back to my room and threw everything I didn’t need into the trash can downstairs. Soon, the room was spotless, with no trace left of my presence. As soon as Jacqueline returned, she would discover the truth. But she didn’t. All night long, Jacqueline sent me photos of herself with Eric and his parents. She sent pictures of the scenery and of the restaurants they went to together. She said some of the places had great views, perfect for wedding photos. I didn’t understand what she was trying to do. But I still went along with it. Anyway, it was the last time. I probably wouldn’t hear from her again. The next morning, after replying to Jacqueline and telling her to get some rest, I grabbed my suitcase and took a taxi to the airport. Just as I was about to board the plane, I received a call from the wedding company, confirming the wedding photo shoot schedule. It turned out Jacqueline was serious this time. But I didn’t want to do it anymore. “I’m sorry, but the shoot is canceled.” After apologizing, I hung up. I took one last look at the city I’d lived in for five years. This time, I didn’t hesitate. I walked up the stairs to the plane. From now on, Jacqueline and I would have no future together. I just wondered, when she found out that she was the one left waiting this time, what kind of expression she would have.

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“Julia, stay with me. You’re the only one I want, alright?” That was the only romantic thing Jack ever said to me. I had admired him for years as a younger classmate. Among all the women Jack had been with, I was the one who obeyed him the most. I genuinely loved him, but that didn’t matter to him. He was always indifferent, dismissive, and contemptuous toward me. My love for him faded, and I moved on. But then Jack changed completely; he went off the deep end. He accused, “Julia, you looked down on me from the beginning…” The fields where we first met were filled with blooming starry flowers, yet he never understood their significance. Deep down, Jack had no respect for women, including me. His father was the chairman of a leading corporation, and his mother owned the largest pharmaceutical company in the city. After Jack was born, they each went their separate ways, indulging in affairs. This environment influenced Jack profoundly. I, too, was inexplicably drawn to him, captivated by a mysterious allure. When my first feelings of love emerged, I couldn’t resist him. Whenever he was drunk, he would hold me and say, “Julia, you’re different…” I heard those words countless times. I had met his first love, who was just like the women his father pursued. Young Jack spent lavishly on her at nightclubs every night. After a week of their affair, she vanished from the scene, and I never saw her with Jack again. Out of curiosity, I asked my best friend’s brother, who owned a nightclub. He told me that Jack’s first love wanted to climb the social ladder for someone she truly loved. She frequented nightclubs, seeking out inexperienced rich kids, and Jack’s reputation as a playboy made him her target. While she moved from bed to bed every night for her beloved, that man got engaged to a wealthy young lady. When the truth came out, she was discarded like an old shoe by the man she loved. On my way home, I thought for a long time about many things and ultimately didn’t know whether she felt deep affection or was just obsessed. Perhaps it was her way of expressing love… Back home, I recalled what my friend Bob said. He asked, “Is Jack treating you well?” I was at a loss for words. Was he treating me well… “Julia, you’d be better off just going after Jack’s money,” Bob sighed and gently patted my head. For money? Just for money? I don’t think I can do that. “Julia, I want to see you.” Jack’s message popped up on my phone. Without hesitation, I took a cab to the address he sent. It was a lovers’ hotel. When I knocked on the door, a large bouquet of starry flowers greeted me, followed by Jack’s handsome face, smiling like a memory from the past. The first time I was captivated by him, it was just like this. I met Jack when I was 18, and I stayed with him for five years. I was timid and introverted, orphaned and raised by my uncle. My aunt treated me well, but my uncle looked down on me. Luckily, my uncle was henpecked, so I grew up fine. I became best friends with my neighbor, Rose. When my aunt was away on business trips, I’d often stay over at their place, and over time, I got to know Bob. He was gentle, always looking at me with kind eyes. Unlike Jack’s gaze, which was full of feigned affection… Yet, despite everything, I still fell for Jack. A message from my uncle’s friend said my uncle was drunk and needed to be picked up before someone else took advantage. Despite my uncle not liking me, he raised me for many years, and my aunt was abroad on business. I hurriedly took a cab there. I slowly pushed open the private room door. “Oh! A college student? You’re in for a treat today.” My uncle sat in the middle, not the least bit drunk, while the pot-bellied man beside him laughed, looking at me with lustful eyes. I realized I had been tricked and fearfully looked at my uncle.

“She’s just a waste of money, a parasite. Anyone who wants her can have her. Just have fun, brothers.” Hearing my uncle’s words, I turned and ran out, but this was the innermost room. Without the bartender from earlier, I couldn’t leave. With a crash, I felt dizzy, blood on my forehead, and fell to the ground. My palms were pierced by shattered glass. “Run, why don’t you!” The pot-bellied man’s blurry figure appeared before me. It was over. It was really over this time. Tears streamed down my face, my vision blurred, and the pain was so intense I couldn’t stand. “Get lost!” Before fainting, I heard a pleasant voice and saw a blurry figure… I woke up in a hotel bed, my forehead and hands bandaged. “You’re awake.” It was the first time I met Jack. His youthful face was clean, with handsome and bold features. I was momentarily at a loss. “Did you save me?” The boy looked at me for a while, then glanced away and nodded. I quickly thanked him. He didn’t look at me or speak. Did he want money? But he didn’t seem like he needed it. “Snapchat, maybe?” I asked softly. He looked at me, but his gaze was no longer the same. Now it was full of disgust and disdain. I looked down, feeling helpless. That look was just like my uncle’s. “Jack.” He threw his phone in front of me, his voice cold. “Julia.” I quickly added him on Snapchat, noticing his dark profile picture. “Julia, the name suits you, acting all innocent.” He raised an eyebrow, his tone casual. I looked up in shock, seeing a mischievous smile on his face. “Automatic transfer of ten thousand dollars.” The mechanical voice came from Jack’s phone, for the medical and hotel expenses I just sent. This hotel looked expensive, and I only had twelve thousand left in my account. “What does this mean?” “Medical fees and hotel expenses.” “Did you add me on Snapchat for this?” Jack’s handsome brows furrowed, disbelief in his voice. I slowly got out of bed, my head finally feeling better. Seeing me silent, Jack suddenly pulled me, his expression dark and uncertain. He looked at me with hesitation before finally speaking. “Julia, stay with me, and from now on, I’ll only want you, alright?” At the time, I thought it was a question, but it turned out to be a statement. He was notifying me, not asking or negotiating. And yet, I inexplicably nodded and agreed. But there was no joy in his eyes. It seemed as simple as saying, “Let’s have breakfast.” After that, I left my uncle’s house and was placed in a villa by Jack. Rather than respect, it felt more like disdain and contempt. He never touched me. But for anniversaries, birthdays, and every holiday, he always gave me gifts, never missing one. He frequented the nightclubs every night without exception. Yet I fell for him. I wondered if asking certain questions would mean losing even what little we had. I never spent the money he sent to my account. I continued working part-time at the flower shop with my best friend. I didn’t tell Jack any of this, afraid he would look down on me even more. To someone like him, a privileged young man, I feared being seen as a blemish…

“Hey, it’s my birthday today. Can you spend some time with me?” I read the message that popped up on Jack’s phone and watched him head to the bathroom. The baby’s breath on the table caught my eye, and I let out a rueful smile. Julia, you’ve got to wake up and let go. Did you really think Jack loved you? The sound of running water stopped. I closed my eyes, wiped away my tears, and looked at Jack in his bathrobe. My heart felt a pang of sorrow. His eyes remained the same—aloof, cold, with a smile that never reached them. It felt so insincere. Who was he trying to fool with this act? Me? Well, he was quite the performer. After all, I’ve been with him for five years. “What’s up with you?” Jack looked puzzled after I stared at him for a while. I slowly removed my top, leaving only my undergarments and a thin white dress. “Jack, what do you really think of me?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck. It was the first time we were this close—close enough for me to feel his heartbeat. “Julia, what’s going on?” Jack grabbed my arm, a mix of urgency and a hint of panic in his eyes. “Why are you giving me so much money? What do you want?” “Just stay by my side. I’ve got things to do today, so I can’t have dinner with you.” With that, Jack left. Right. I slumped to the floor, knowing from the start it was all in my head, yet I still walked straight into humiliation. I took off my clothes and took a shower. It should’ve ended sooner. “Hey, look, Jack’s spending his birthday with that girl,” Rose messaged me on WhatsApp. I scrolled down and saw it was from Lily, one of Jack’s flings. I looked at myself in the mirror and slapped myself hard three times. It was time to wake up completely. I’ve always been the one to blame for my own downfall, delusion, and consequences. “Rose, I’m tired. I don’t want to like him anymore.” After sending that message, I dressed in a daze. As I left, I caught sight of the baby’s breath on the table, its beauty almost blinding. Back at the villa, the couple’s slippers at the door were my doing. Overall, all the double items in the house were my doing. The first time he used them, he didn’t say he disliked them. I liked to deceive myself into thinking he liked me. I looked at the cold, empty house and let out a bitter laugh. I thought, it’s okay. I’ll leave soon too. Give it more time, and I’ll surely forget him. Everyone will be happy. Letting go of Jack means letting go of myself too. I picked up the photo album from the bedside table. It was full of photos I secretly took of Jack. In one, he smiled unintentionally, a young man at the peak of his youth, running with vigor. There was also a photo of the first time he gave me baby’s breath. Memories flooded back, and I seemed to smell the fresh scent of the baby’s breath and the sweet mountain breeze. A gentle breeze brushed Jack’s face as he awkwardly took the bouquet from behind and shoved it into my hands. “Jack, can I take a photo?” It was the first time I asked him for something. He hesitated but then nodded awkwardly. I quickly took the photo, fearing he might change his mind. As I reached for the flowers, he tossed them aside. “I have something to do. You should go back.” With that, Jack left. I slowly walked back, holding the bouquet of baby’s breath he’d thrown on the ground.

The last warmth I had with Jack was when he clung to me after getting drunk, like a rascal. But I cherished even this little warmth. Love pierced my heart—this phrase, I really seemed to feel it. But Jack completely forgot his vow. Lily, his childhood friend, had been with him longer than I had. His friends often called her “sister-in-law.” Jack never denied it, only said Lily was special to him. Jack started saying I was being unreasonable, and his tone grew impatient. I was holding the anniversary gift I planned to give Jack, thinking we’d talk today since he hadn’t cheated. Suppressing my heartache, I was about to call him when I unexpectedly saw him and his mom get out of a car. A young girl was holding Jack’s arm, and when she stumbled, Jack quickly held her tight. That girl was no one else but Lily, Jack’s childhood friend. So their relationship wasn’t just rumors. I dialed Jack’s number and watched him carefully support Lily into the restaurant. He didn’t answer at first, but soon called back. “What’s up, Julia? I was in a meeting and couldn’t answer.” Jack’s voice was as cold as ever, not even bothering to add a hint of warmth to his lie. I forced a smile and said slowly, “I’ll pick you up from work. I’m off now.” “No need, it’ll take a while here. I’m quite busy. You should go home and rest.” Busy? What exactly are you busy with? My heart ached. “Alright.” I hung up. The phone rang again, this time it was from Jack’s mother. She started scolding right away: “Julia, stay away from my son. Lily’s back, and they’re planning to get married. They’ve already picked out rings.” The line went dead with a beep. Rings? I suddenly remembered the ring Jack had hidden in the bedside table a few days ago. Why was he being so secretive? I went to my friend’s house, feeling lost. Rose gently rubbed my head and said softly, “Julia, if you’re tired, let it go. He’s Jack, a reckless wanderer.” “I thought even if he was a wanderer, he would come back for me. He said he’s only for me.” I cried so hard my stomach churned, feeling nauseous, dry-heaving with nothing coming out. The next time I saw Jack was the following evening. He was in the kitchen, cooking soup. My heart suddenly felt warm, hoping he might explain things to me. But after a long while, as he poured the soup into a thermos, I watched him. He seemed a bit flustered and spoke softly, “My friend isn’t feeling well. I’m taking this over. You order some takeout for yourself, okay? Don’t worry, it’s a guy.” I threw the gift I was holding into the trash, smiled, and looked at him. At that moment, I was completely exhausted. “It’s obviously for your childhood friend Lily. Why lie to me?” “If you’ve fallen for someone else, just tell me. I can let you both be together.” “Jack, your past vows, the vow that you only want me, don’t worry about it. I just hope you’re with the person you like.” “I, Julia, am not that cheap. I just thought you turned back for me.” “Just take it as me being delusional, alright?” For the first time, Jack’s indifferent face showed panic. “Julia, I said I only want you. Don’t overthink.” That rare panic. I avoided his embrace. “Jack, I’ll ask once. What’s the deal between you and Lily?” As he was about to reply, I added softly, “Don’t lie again, or else… we’ll never see each other again.” The air suddenly went silent, and we could only hear each other’s breathing.

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Every time before Sophia goes “camping”, she always serves me a hearty meal the night before. I know she has a big appetite. To accommodate her, I work hard all night, trying my best to satisfy all her special preferences. But the next day, she still takes three or five boxes of trial-sized products from the bedside table. I’m not a fool. I know what this means. But I thought she was just playing around, and everything would still revolve around our family. Until she maxed out my credit card to buy six-figure camping equipment for her “best friend”. I finally couldn’t take it anymore… At 1 AM, Sophia still hadn’t returned. On SnapChat, Sophia’s avatar was still gray, with her last message lingering from the evening: “James, I’m going camping in the suburbs with Lucas. My phone might not have signal, don’t worry.” This was already her tenth night out this month, and each time, the excuse was camping. Ten times in a month. Well done, Sophia, you really take me for a fool. I laughed coldly as I tore up our wedding photo. Sophia and I met on a blind date. I pursued her for a whole year before she agreed to marry me. At our wedding, she said she wanted to be with me forever. I believed her. I gave her everything I could, including the freedom she wanted. But ever since Lucas came to this city, everything changed. Lucas was Sophia’s childhood friend. At first, they just hiked and watched movies together, but later it developed into business trips, travels, and even overnight stays. Whenever I asked about it, she always brushed it off saying: “We’re just friends, you’re overthinking.” When I asked too often, she impatiently said: “Can’t you be less petty? I’ve told you we’re just friends. If you don’t even have this much trust, how are we going to live together in the future?” Lucas would always stand with his hands in his pockets, smiling nonchalantly and saying: “Bro, don’t be so narrow-minded. Sophia and I grew up together, we’re like siblings. There’s definitely nothing between us, don’t be so dramatic.” I’m being dramatic? Looking at his pretentious face, I wanted to punch him right there. I remembered the last dinner party when Lucas directly held Sophia in his arms, feeding her as if no one else was around. Do siblings act like that? I was sitting right across from them, feeling like an outsider, awkward and embarrassed. My phone rang. It was Sophia. “James, my phone died while camping, I just charged it. It’s raining outside, so I’m staying at Lucas’s place to avoid the rain. I’ll be back in the morning.” Sophia’s voice sounded coy and tired. No messages for 8 whole hours, was it really just simple camping? I looked at the drawer where another ten boxes of trial-sized products were missing, my heart churning. “Oh.” I tried hard to control my emotions, appearing calm on the surface while gritting my teeth inside. “You must be tired from playing. Get some rest.” “Okay, honey. Love you.” Sophia’s sweet voice made me feel nauseous. At 7 AM, Sophia came back with her usual smile, holding coffee and bagels: “It was too late last night, I didn’t want to wake you, so I just crashed at Lucas’s place. You don’t mind, right?” “I don’t mind.” I answered calmly. Of course I mind, but what’s the use? Some people are just despicable, their vile habits ingrained to the bone. The next day was Lucas’s birthday, and Sophia insisted on hosting a birthday party for him at our house. “Lucas, happy birthday!” Sophia’s eyes curved into crescents as she handed Lucas an exquisitely wrapped gift box. “See if you like it.” Lucas smiled as he took the gift: “I like everything you give me, Sophia.” He opened the gift right in front of me. It was a men’s watch. Forcing back my anger, I smiled insincerely and said: “Sophia, you’re so good to your ‘dear brother’. This watch must have cost a lot, right?” Sophia glanced at me impatiently: “What, do I need your permission to give my friend a gift?” I was instantly filled with rage, slamming the table and shouting, hoping to awaken some conscience in her. Giving gifts is fine, but why are you using my money?! Sophia, you only make $3000 a month, yet you’re always splurging. I’m the one supporting this family! Yesterday you spent six figures buying him camping equipment, and now you’ve bought him a watch worth over a hundred thousand?! I’ve had my eye on that watch for a long time, but I gritted my teeth and didn’t buy it because of the mortgage! Now, it’s on that bastard Lucas’s wrist?! Great, just great! After dinner, I sat alone on the balcony smoking, playing with the lighter in my hand, lighting it and extinguishing it repeatedly, my heart sinking bit by bit. Sophia was video chatting with Lucas in the bedroom. Snippets of their conversation drifted out, things like “let’s try something new tomorrow” and “I want to see you right now” – disgusting talk. I laughed coldly. She just got back and now she’s going “camping” with her “dear brother” again? She hung up the phone and walked to the balcony with her usual fake smile: “James, you’re not angry today, are you?” I blew out a smoke ring and said calmly: “No, I’m not.” She came over and snuggled into my arms, cooing: “I knew you were the best.” I stroked her hair gently, laughing coldly in my heart. Getting angry with someone like you? Not worth it.

The next night, I went out drinking with some colleagues and didn’t return home until dawn. Sophia’s calls kept coming, but I turned off my phone, finally getting a taste of making her wait for me. I returned home slightly drunk, and surprisingly, Sophia was sitting in the living room waiting for me. She tried to come over and support me, but I pushed her away. “Don’t touch me!” I staggered along the wall back to the bedroom and fell face-first into the bed. “James! Get up right now!” Sophia’s shrill voice exploded next to my ear. “You stink of alcohol. You’re getting into bed without showering?” I suddenly opened my eyes, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her close. “Sophia, since when did you care about me so much? In the past, when I came home drunk, didn’t you wish I’d just die outside?” Sophia was frightened by my gaze and stammered: “I… I was just worried about you.” “Worried about me?” I sneered. You’re just worried about dirtying your sheets! I flung her hand away. “Sophia, I’m not your servant, nor am I your punching bag! If you dare to boss me around again, get out!” Sophia was stunned. She probably never thought that I, who had always been so docile, would rebel. I couldn’t be bothered to look at her again and turned over to sleep. After that day, Sophia’s attitude seemed to improve a bit. She prepared loving breakfasts for me every morning, sent me many messages during work hours, and occasionally bought small gifts. Her attitude seemed to have changed. This weekend, Sophia said she wanted to go to the mall and asked me to wait for her there, saying she’d come after work. I arrived early and sat idly by the fountain in the center of the mall, watching the crowds come and go. At that moment, I saw Sophia and Lucas walking in side by side, their behavior intimate, laughing and talking, seemingly not noticing me. Lucas even had his hand on my wife’s neck, their faces almost touching. Sophia didn’t resist, allowing him to hold her. “Have you been waiting long, honey?” Seeming to have noticed me, Sophia broke away from his arm and walked towards me. Lucas looked a bit surprised as Sophia pulled away from him, but he still strode over. He stood in front of me, raising an eyebrow and said: “Sorry, bro, didn’t mean to interrupt your couple time. I just got off work too and ran into Sophia on the way. I know this area well, so I came along with her. You don’t mind, right?” As he spoke, he casually raised his right hand, revealing the new watch on his wrist. It was the birthday gift from Sophia. “It’s fine, the more the merrier.” My tone was calm, showing no sign of discomfort. “You’re so good, honey!” Hearing my agreement, Sophia smiled coyly. “Let’s go buy some clothes for Lucas first, he hasn’t had any new clothes recently.” She said, pulling Lucas towards the men’s clothing section. Store after store, Sophia enthusiastically picked out clothes – shirts, suits, jackets… Lucas was like a clothes hanger, letting her do as she pleased, a smug smile on his face. “How about this one? I think it suits you well.” Sophia held up a light gray cashmere sweater, comparing it against Lucas’s body. “Hmm, not bad. Let’s get this one.” Lucas nodded, his smile confident. “And this tie too, let’s get it as well.” Sophia picked up a dark blue tie, matching it with the sweater, nodding in satisfaction. In just an hour, Lucas’s shopping cart was full of bags big and small, but Sophia showed no signs of stopping. “Sophia, why don’t you buy something for James too?” Lucas turned to look at me, raising his eyebrows, speaking with deep meaning. “Him? He has plenty of clothes at home, no need to buy more, he has enough to wear.” Sophia waved her hand dismissively, her gaze falling on a new leather jacket. “Lucas, this leather jacket looks so cool, try it on?” Sophia linked arms with Lucas, the two walking intimately in front, chatting and laughing, while I felt like an outsider. I looked at the two of them, finding it all ridiculous, a playful smile tugging at my lips. At that moment, a woman in a red bodycon dress with a charming aura spotted me from afar. She walked over gracefully in her high heels.

“Sorry I’m late,” she smiled, her gaze falling on me with a hint of amusement. I watched her approach, ignoring Sophia’s displeased expression, and said gently, “It’s alright, Emma. We haven’t been here long either.” Sophia scrutinized Emma, her face darkening, “Honey, who is this?” I introduced calmly, “This is Emma, my senior from university.” Turning to Emma, I said, “Emma, this is my wife, Sophia, and this is… my wife’s friend, Lucas.” Sophia didn’t extend her hand, her expression even more unpleasant. Emma directly linked arms with me and said, “Hello everyone, I’m James’s college classmate. James is a great guy, we were very close in college, and I’ve always seen him as a little brother.” Hearing this, Sophia’s face darkened further, and she let go of Lucas’s arm. For the rest of the shopping trip, Sophia was clearly distracted. I didn’t pay attention to her, instead walking directly into a jewelry store. Sophia and Lucas followed. Under the lights, a dazzling array of gold jewelry sparkled. My gaze locked onto an intricately crafted gold bracelet with several small diamonds embedded in it, shimmering brilliantly under the lights. “Emma, today is your birthday. This is for you,” I picked up the bracelet and handed it to Emma. Emma covered her mouth in surprise, “This… it’s too expensive, I can’t accept it.” “Take it, it’s just a birthday gift,” I smiled, placing the bracelet on Emma’s wrist. “It suits you well.” The price tag on the bracelet clearly read “$24,000”. Seeing the price, Sophia’s face instantly turned sour. “Hmph, quite generous, aren’t you?” she said sarcastically, her tone bitter. She walked to the side, pretending to look at other jewelry, seemingly wanting to pick something for herself. I ignored her and directly led Emma out of the jewelry store. I thought I heard her grinding her teeth behind me. After leaving the jewelry store, the atmosphere became even more awkward. Sophia’s hostility towards Emma was obvious: “Miss Emma seems very close to James. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you two were a couple.” She glanced at me reproachfully. Emma responded calmly, “James is a good person, he takes care of all his friends. Don’t misunderstand, sister.” She leaned closer to Sophia and whispered, “Let me tell you a secret, James was very popular with girls in the past. Everyone used to say he was handsome, capable, and considerate.” I blushed hearing these words about myself. Sophia forced a smile, “Is that so? Seems like I have good taste.” Emma pointed at Lucas and teased, “Of course, but compared to this gentleman beside you, James is still a bit lacking. Look at him, his eyes haven’t left you since we came in.” Her words were too direct, and Lucas felt a bit awkward, coughing twice, “No, no, Miss Emma, you’re too kind.” After shopping, Emma left first. Lucas turned to Sophia and asked, “It’s still early, why don’t we go somewhere to sit for a while?” Sophia refused, “No, we have something to do. We’re going home first.” He raised an eyebrow, seeming a bit surprised. Sophia pulled me away hurriedly. As soon as we got to the car, she started questioning me: “Who exactly is that Emma?” “Just a friend, a college classmate.” “Just a friend and you give her such an expensive gift!” “It’s her birthday, of course I should give her a gift! Besides, didn’t you give Lucas gifts too?” She was momentarily speechless.

Sophia was sullen the whole way home. Once home, she threw her bag on the sofa without a word, kicked off her high heels, and leaned against the sofa with her arms crossed, glaring at me coldly. In the past, when she acted like this, I would have certainly tried to appease her with kind words, hanging up her bag and giving her a shoulder massage. But today, I coldly watched her performance and walked straight to the bathroom to wash up. “Stop right there!” she shouted shrilly, grabbing my arm. “What’s going on between you and that Emma?” I shook off her hand, my tone icy: “Do I need to report my relationships to you?” “What kind of attitude is this?” She glared at me, fuming. “She calls you James, so intimately, and you give her such an expensive bracelet. Do you think I’m an idiot?” I sneered, “What, you’re allowed to be all warm and caring with Lucas, but I can’t catch up with an old friend?” “Lucas is my friend, it’s just normal social etiquette! What about you? You give her gifts, she looks at you lovingly, you two exchange glances, do you dare say there’s nothing between you?” She pressed on, her voice sharp enough to pierce my eardrums. “What’s between Emma and me is none of your business. As for you, you’re in no position to question me when things are so unclear between you and Lucas,” I retorted unwaveringly, my tone mocking. “Don’t forget, who was it clinging to him in the mall, not wanting to let go, remember?” Her face flushed red then pale, but she couldn’t say a word. Seeing her like this, I felt a wave of irritation. “Sophia,” I said flatly, but still with a hint of coldness. “Don’t do unto others what you don’t want done unto you. If you don’t have evidence, don’t make wild speculations about others. My relationship with Emma is open and aboveboard, unlike some people…” I paused deliberately, looking at her flushed face, and said word by word: “Who have a guilty conscience.”

Sophia has been giving me the cold shoulder for the past couple of days. This is her usual tactic, playing the victim and waiting for me to apologize first. In the past, I would always give in, but now I’m tired of it. I remember last winter when I had a bad cold, feeling weak all over with a splitting headache. I lay in bed, weakly calling her, hoping she could buy some cold medicine for me. Her tone was cold on the phone, saying she had to work overtime and couldn’t get away. I had to drag myself to the hospital alone. While getting an IV, I was idly scrolling through social media when I saw her post, tagged at the most expensive restaurant in New York. In the photo, she and Lucas were sitting face to face, both holding coffee cups, seemingly celebrating something, looking quite happy. The caption read: “So glad to have you.” And a while ago, when Lucas just slightly sprained his ankle, she was anxious like an ant on a hot pan, dropping all her work to take care of him for a whole week. Making tea, serving water, cooking chicken soup – I realized then that she’s not incapable of caring for others. She’s just incapable of caring for me. At that moment, I clearly understood that in her heart, I would never measure up to Lucas. This time, I won’t be the first to back down. Sophia’s cold war lasted a whole week. On the weekend, as usual, Sophia’s parents called us to come home for dinner. The meal tasted like chewing wax. Sophia had a sour face throughout and barely touched her chopsticks. Her mother reproached her somewhat complainingly: “Sophia, are you throwing a tantrum again? James gave up his job in New York to stay here for you, why are you always quarreling with him?” I smiled bitterly. Yes, for her, I gave up that high-paying job at a big company in New York, gave up my dreams, to stay in this unfamiliar city, just to be closer to her. Seemingly remembering something, her expression softened a bit. The doorbell rang abruptly, breaking the suffocating silence. Sophia’s mother went to open the door excitedly: “Oh, it’s Lucas! Come in quickly! You knew Sophia was coming back today, so you came to see her, right?” Lucas walked in smiling, greeting Sophia’s parents familiarly, as if this was his home. After sitting down, his gaze naturally fell on Sophia: “Sophia, want to go watch a movie tonight? That new one you’ve been wanting to see.” Sophia glanced at me furtively, her eyes somewhat evasive. I didn’t say anything. So she said stiffly: “No, we have plans tonight.” Lucas didn’t seem surprised. He turned to look at me, feigning enthusiasm: “James, why don’t you come too? We’re all friends, let’s have some fun together.” I could clearly see the smugness and showing off in his eyes. He didn’t care at all whether I was there or not, he just wanted to display his “care” for Sophia in front of me. Sophia’s parents also joined in persuading: “Go together, it’s good for young people to hang out.” I looked at them all chiming in, as if I were the outsider in this family. I stood up, grabbing my coat: “You all go ahead, I’m a bit tired, I’ll head back first.” “Honey!” Sophia called out to me, her eyes flickering, “Drive safely, I’ll be home early.” Huh, another perfunctory line. I smiled self-mockingly, turned and left, leaving them to continue their “family gathering”. Sophia didn’t come home all night again. I lay on the empty double bed, staring at the ceiling, laughing sardonically. On our wedding anniversary, she also came back this late, carrying a branded handbag, reeking of strong perfume, saying she had been entertaining clients. Huh, which client needs entertaining until 3 AM?

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Chapter One My husband casually sprinkled a handful of green onions into my soup, and that’s when I decided to ask for a divorce. His chopsticks froze mid-air, his expression baffled. “What? Why?” I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat, lowering my gaze as I scrolled through his secretary’s Instagram. “Offhandedly, she mentions a craving, and you personally fly to D.C. to consult with a pastry chef about the perfect flavor for her dessert.” I locked my phone screen and began picking the green onions out of the soup, my movements deliberate and irritated. “We dated for two years, married for three, and you still don’t remember—I don’t eat green onions.” Years later, when my daughter was already two, he was still asking around, trying to find out where I’d gone. He frowned, slamming his chopsticks onto the table with a sharp crack. “Stop being so dramatic. You’ve never made a fuss about green onions before.” Some things, if you repeat them too many times, just lose their meaning. Over time, you stop fighting and start compromising. But that day, I realized I was done. I was done with retreating. Done with compromising. Done with a life that felt smaller and smaller with every concession. I didn’t argue. I just grabbed my bag and stood up to leave. His face darkened, and he grabbed my wrist in frustration, his grip firm enough to knock over the soup bowl sitting precariously on the edge of the table. The scalding liquid splashed directly onto the back of my hand, the burn so sudden and intense I didn’t even have time to cry out. But instead of concern, he crossed his arms and glared at me like I was the one who had ruined dinner. “Why do you always have to make a scene?” he snapped. Before I could respond, a sharp-eyed waitress rushed over, gently pulling me away. She guided me to the back, where she ran cool water over my red and swollen skin. Then, carefully, she applied burn ointment to the affected area. The icy coolness of the ointment seeped into my skin and, strangely, deep into my chest. She hesitated, as if debating whether to say something. Finally, she couldn’t hold back and asked in a low voice, “That guy just now… was he your husband or boyfriend?” My gaze turned cold, and I shook my head lightly. “Neither.” “Good,” she said with a sigh of relief. “Because no decent man would just stand there watching while his woman gets hurt, let alone blame her for it afterward.” Her words broke through a fog I hadn’t realized I’d been living in. For years, I had buried myself in the dust, bending over backward to please a man who never truly saw me. In doing so, I had lost sight of myself. Later, Gavin stood by the door, his fingers flying over his phone, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. But as soon as he noticed me approaching, his expression shifted. The smile vanished, replaced by that all-too-familiar look of annoyance. It was the same look he always gave me, the one that said he was waiting for me to apologize first. I ignored him completely, walking past him as I opened an app on my phone and scheduled an appointment with a burn specialist at the nearest hospital. He caught up to me, his pace hurried. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, his eyes flicked to my phone screen and saw the appointment confirmation. His expression wavered, guilt flashing briefly in his eyes. “I… I’ll drive you,” he offered, his tone awkward. Before I could object, he pressed his hand on my shoulder and ushered me into the car. He leaned over to fasten my seatbelt, and the cloying scent of his cologne—or was it perfume?—wafted over me. The smell made my stomach churn violently. I pushed him away, gagging, my face flushed red as I fought the urge to vomit. He frowned, his voice tinged with concern. “Did you eat something bad? Don’t worry, we’ll get to the hospital soon.” As the car started, a piercing ringtone shattered the silence. Gavin glanced at the screen, hesitated for a moment, and then declined the call. But whoever was on the other end was persistent, calling again and again, the ringtone shrill and insistent in the cramped space of the car. I pressed my fingers to my temple, trying to ease the headache building behind my eyes. “Answer it.” He shot me a quick, conflicted look before slipping on his Bluetooth headset and answering in a low voice. The conversation was short, but his tone was careful, almost nervous. When he hung up, he pulled the car over to the curb and turned to me with an apologetic expression. “The hospital is just up ahead. Can you go in by yourself? I… I can’t keep driving forward from here.” I glanced at him, unimpressed. “Sure.” He blinked, surprised by my curt response. “You’re not going to ask where I’m going?” I unbuckled my seatbelt, my movements slow and deliberate. “Why would I care? Where you go has nothing to do with me.” Chapter Two The doctor sternly reminded me to come back every three days to change the bandages. “The burn covers a large area,” he warned. “If the wound isn’t properly cared for, it could get infected. And if that happens, we’ll have to remove the dead tissue and start the healing process all over again. Trust me, you don’t want that.” He also advised me to avoid spicy or irritating foods while I healed. Pulling out my phone, I opened the notes app to jot down his instructions. As I finished typing, a notification popped up—a new post from Hannah. “The mosquitoes in the garden are driving me crazy. Thank goodness someone brought me some herbal cream just in time,” she captioned. The photo showed her lounging on a couch, her long, pale legs draped across Gavin’s lap. He was leaning over, his expression gentle and focused as he applied the cream to her skin. My chest tightened, and without warning, warm tears spilled onto the back of my hand. The doctor’s previously firm tone softened slightly. “Make sure to protect the wound,” he said quietly. “If it gets worse, cleaning out the infected tissue will hurt like hell. You’ll regret it later.” I forced a small, polite smile, picked up my medication, and walked out of the hospital. The streets were eerily quiet in the early hours of the morning. The cold white glow of the streetlights felt harsh against the shadows. The burning on the back of my hand was growing worse with every step. Meanwhile, the man responsible for it was somewhere else, wrapped up in warmth and affection that wasn’t mine. Anger and humiliation boiled over, and before I could stop myself, I dialed Gavin’s number. He declined the call immediately. I tried again. Declined again. After several rounds of silent back-and-forth, he finally answered, his voice low and laced with irritation. “What now? What are you freaking out about this time?” I tilted my head back to look at the full moon hanging in the cold night sky. My voice was calm, detached. “Come pick me up. I’m at the hospital.” “Are you serious?” A woman’s soft laugh rang faintly in the background, followed by the sharp, mocking sound of a call being cut off. The cold autumn wind bit through my thin coat, and I clutched it tighter around myself as my vision blurred. For a moment, I was no longer standing in the middle of an empty street. I was eighteen again, sitting on a swing next to my best friend. She had been crying, her voice trembling with frustration as she vented about her boyfriend’s lack of boundaries with other girls—and how he never took her concerns seriously, no matter how desperately she tried to get through to him. I had leaned back on the swing, letting the golden sunlight of a summer afternoon filter through the leaves above us. My voice had been soft but firm as I said, “If someone ever takes my love for granted, I’ll walk away without a second thought. No regrets.” A cold gust of wind snapped me back to reality. I sighed, my breath visible in the frigid air. Sorry, eighteen-year-old Stella. Thirty-year-old me has let you down. My phone was open to a text message draft. The divorce papers were already attached, ready to be sent. But my thumb hovered over the send button, unable to press it. Suddenly, a tall, familiar figure stepped into the glow of the streetlight, blocking its harsh brightness. I looked up instinctively. Gavin stood there, his face partially obscured by the shadows, but I could still make out the features I had once found so comforting. For a fleeting moment, he reminded me of the boy who had once treated me like his whole world. But then my gaze shifted to his rumpled shirt, the mismatched buttons, and the faint lipstick smudge on his collar. Whatever fragile hope I had left shattered into dust. My hands clenched into fists, my body cold and stiff. “Let’s go home. What are you just standing there for?” Gavin grabbed my wrist, his tone impatient as he tried to pull me along. When I caught sight of the faint red marks on his neck, the anger I had been trying to suppress erupted all at once. I yanked my hand from his grip, my breathing ragged as I stared at him. I wanted to scream, to demand answers, to ask him how he could betray me so blatantly and still act like I was the one causing trouble. But all the words I wanted to say got caught in my throat. “What now?” he snapped, his brows furrowed in frustration. “I came all the way here to pick you up, and now you’re acting up again?” His audacity was almost laughable. How could he cheat so openly and still have the nerve to question me? The words “I want a divorce” pounded in my head, over and over, louder and louder. I was just about to say it when the passenger door of his car suddenly swung open. Chapter Three A pair of long, pale legs stepped out of the car. Hannah, sitting in the passenger seat, leaned her head out with a bright smile. “Stella, come on, get in! It’s freezing out here.” Something inside me seemed to shatter with a deafening crash. My fingers tingled as numbness spread through them. Slowly, I turned my head to look at Gavin. His expression flickered with a trace of panic, but he quickly regained his composure. “I was just giving her a ride home. It’s on the way.” Hannah chimed in cheerfully, picking up the thread of his excuse. “Oh, Gavin’s the best! Ever since he found out how hard it is to get a ride from my place in the suburbs, he’s been picking me up and dropping me off for months now.” She glanced shyly at Gavin, as if suddenly realizing how intimate her words sounded. The “suburbs” she mentioned were on the far east side of town—12 kilometers from our house. If traffic was heavy during rush hour, the trip could take nearly 50 minutes out of the way. So, this was his idea of “on the way.” This was what he’d been doing during all those early mornings and late nights. This was the real reason he had refused me so many times when I’d asked him for a ride. Like that one time when I was doubled over in pain from menstrual cramps, struggling to deliver samples to a demanding client who’d called me a dozen times. He’d grabbed his keys and stormed out, tossing over his shoulder, “This family doesn’t rely on your paycheck anyway.” Or the night it poured rain, and I stood shivering at the subway entrance, feverish and soaked, staring helplessly at the flooded streets. He wasn’t there for me that night either. No, he was probably driving Hannah home, laughing and chatting with her about whatever trivial nonsense they found amusing. “Oops!” Hannah’s sudden squeal yanked me out of my thoughts. “What’s this? It poked my hand.” She reached into the side of her seat and pulled out a small, pink nameplate shaped like a paperclip. “‘Princess Piggy’s Seat,’” she read aloud, snorting with laughter. She held it up like it was some ridiculous trinket. “Who’s ‘Princess Piggy’? How childish.” My chest tightened. That nameplate—my nameplate—was something Gavin and I had bought together at a night market back in college. I could still remember the way the colorful lights of the market reflected in his eyes, making them sparkle like stars. He had pinned it to the seat with such care, smiling as he said, “From now on, this will always be Stella’s special seat.” It used to sit proudly in the most visible spot on the passenger seat. But at some point, he must have decided it was an eyesore and moved it to a hidden corner, out of sight. Yet here it was now, uncovered and exposed. “It’s all faded,” Hannah said dismissively, tossing it lightly from one hand to the other. “Gavin, I’ll buy you a new one next time.” As she said this, her gaze landed on me. Her eyes sparkled with thinly-veiled triumph, her words dripping with mockery. With a casual flick of her wrist, she tossed the nameplate out of the car. It spun in the air before landing in the muddy gutter on the side of the road, filthy and discarded. Gavin took a step forward instinctively, as if to retrieve it. But then he hesitated, freezing in place. He turned back toward me, his brows furrowed, his lips parting as though he wanted to say something. But no words came. “Stella, your bracelet is so pretty,” Hannah said suddenly, her eyes fixating on my wrist. The small crystal charms jingled softly as I shifted my arm. “The little bells on it are adorable.” Without a word, I let out a cold laugh, unhooking the bracelet from my wrist. I tossed it toward her with a casual flick of my hand. The bells clinked against each other as it landed in her lap. “If you like it, you can have it,” I said, my tone detached. “I’m tired of wearing it anyway.” The bracelet wasn’t just any piece of jewelry. It was something Gavin had bought for me when he was just 17, working a grueling summer job. Back then, he had accidentally fractured his hand while working, and his boss had offered him compensation. Instead of going to the hospital right away, he’d gone straight to the mall, rushing to buy me this bracelet—the one I’d admired in the store window so many times. “Stella, close your eyes,” he’d said breathlessly, his face flushed and damp with sweat. He must have sprinted all the way to find me. When I opened my eyes, the bracelet was already on my wrist. “Stella,” he’d said, his voice trembling with emotion, “I swear I’ll treat you like a princess for the rest of my life.” Chapter Four Promises only hold weight when love is still alive. Gavin’s expression darkened instantly, fury flashing in his eyes. He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist tightly. “Stella, what the hell do you mean by this? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten—” My gaze was ice-cold as I pried his pale, clenched fingers off my wrist one by one. Each movement felt like driving a knife deeper into my chest. “I did,” I said slowly, each word deliberate. “I forgot.” Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and walked away. Even as I got farther and farther, I could feel his burning stare on my back. When I hailed a cab, he ran toward me, his expression frantic and desperate. “It’s not safe for you to take a cab this late. Let me drive you home,” he said, his voice unsteady. I didn’t respond. The only sound he got in return was the slam of the car door as I shut it in his face. Through the rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of him standing frozen on the sidewalk, watching as the cab pulled away. I whispered to myself, “I don’t need you anymore.” Scrolling through my contacts, I hesitated for a moment before dialing Aria. Aria had moved to New Zealand after her messy breakup, eventually starting her own immigration consultancy. When I first began to notice Gavin acting differently, I’d called her late at night, my voice breaking as I tried to keep my tears in check. “Why?” I had asked her, over and over again. She had stayed silent for a long time before finally asking, “Do you remember what you said on the swings all those years ago?” Now, gripping my phone, I took a deep breath and said, “I’ve made up my mind. I’m coming to see you tomorrow.” I could hear the excitement in her voice, barely concealed. “Finally! I’ve been waiting for this. When I bought this little house, I made sure to save you a room.” After we hung up, I felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off my chest. I rolled the window down, letting in the crisp night air. The faint scent of gardenias drifted in, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of freedom. Stella, you’re free again. Gavin arrived home almost at the same time I did. It seemed like, for once, he hadn’t taken the long way around. He grabbed my wrist again, his eyes slightly red, his voice hoarse. “Stella, my stomach hurts.” This was his usual tactic—playing weak. It was almost laughable. Giving me the chance to take care of him was his way of offering me a way to mend things. Normally, I’d have rushed to find the first-aid kit or headed straight to the kitchen to make him something warm to eat. But this time, I didn’t even spare him a glance. “Hmm,” I muttered indifferently before heading to the guest room. A few minutes later, I heard him knocking on the door. He waited for what felt like forever, but when no response came, the sound eventually stopped. The next morning, he intercepted me before I could leave. His tone was oddly gentle, almost coaxing. “Come with me today. It’s my mom’s birthday. Let’s go together, okay?” His family had never liked me. To them, I was nothing more than an orphan with no background—a woman completely unworthy of the heir to a billion-dollar company. Before and after the wedding, I was excluded from every family gathering. At first, I envied the warmth of their family dinners and begged Gavin to help smooth things over. But he had only glanced at his watch, his expression indifferent, and said, “You’ve been on your own your whole life. Why bother trying to fit in with a family now? It’s unnecessary.” Remembering those words, I let out a bitter laugh and brushed his hand off me. “I’m busy.” His face darkened instantly, his jaw clenching. He slammed his fist into the wall beside him. “Stella, enough already,” he snapped. “Do you have any idea how much I’ve put up with since last night? Fine, you’re busy. Just make sure you keep that same energy. Don’t come crawling back to me like a pathetic dog later.” He shot me a furious glare, shoved past me, and stormed out the door. Moments later, I heard the roar of his car as he sped away. Unbothered, I called for a ride to the airport. As I sat in the terminal waiting for my flight, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. The notifications were coming from the Rhodes family group chat. Someone had posted pictures of Gavin at the birthday party. Hannah was wearing a stunning designer gown and had her arm linked tightly through his. She smiled demurely at the camera, her cheeks flushed, leaning close to whisper something in his ear. The Rhodes family members, who had never accepted me, were practically falling over themselves in the chat. “Now this is the kind of woman the Rhodes family needs—classy and elegant.” “Gavin’s date tonight is stunning. I wish she were my sister-in-law already!” I smirked, amused by the audacity. Calmly, I uploaded a PDF of the finalized divorce agreement to the group chat. Then, I added a message: “Consider this my wedding gift. And here’s $20 for the party.” I left the group chat before they could even react. Then, I turned off my phone. The flight to New Zealand was direct. When I landed and turned my phone back on, it vibrated so violently in my hand that I almost dropped it. Hundreds of missed calls from Gavin. Text after text filled my screen: “Stella, you’ve got it all wrong.” “Stella, please don’t ignore me. Let me explain.” “Stella, where are you? I’m coming to get you. Just wait for me.”

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During college, I broke the heart of the richest, most sought-after heiress around. Three years later, my apartment’s pipes burst in the middle of the night, so I crashed at my friend’s place. In the dark, I stumbled into the guest bedroom, only to end up lying next to her. She smirked with a wicked grin, “What’s this? Rekindle an old affair?” Panic hit me like a freight train, and I tried to bolt, but she grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “What’s wrong? You think you can just leave after showing up?” In my dream, there was warmth in my arms, soft and sweet. Just as my heart began to race and I was about to make my move, a sharp pain jolted through my ear. I shot awake, only to be met with the very pair of bright eyes that had haunted my dreams for years. Below them, her lips moved, teasing and cold. “Elias, it’s been so long, and now you sneak into my room? What’s this? Rekindle an old affair?” Panicked, I pulled my ear free and jumped out of bed, my face a kaleidoscope of red and pale. It was Cassandra Brooks, my ex-girlfriend. What the hell was I doing in bed with her? Her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she wore nothing but a thin, nearly transparent camisole. Her curves were impossible to ignore. I stammered, “Why… why are you here?” “I should be asking you that.” Guilt weighed me down as I tried to make a quick escape, but she grabbed my wrist, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “What’s wrong? You think you can just leave after showing up?” How the hell was I supposed to know that after my apartment’s pipes burst, crashing at my buddy’s place in the middle of the night would land me in bed next to her? The commotion must have woken the owner of the house. Logan Bennett shuffled toward us in his pajamas, his voice cutting through the hallway before he even stepped in. “What the hell are you yelling about in the middle of the night?” When he finally saw me, his eyes went wide with disbelief. “Holy shit! What are you doing here?” I let out a helpless laugh. “My pipes burst, so I came to crash here.” Logan pulled me aside, his expression shifting into one of exaggerated amusement. “She’s my cousin. Don’t tell me… you two just spent the night together?” I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. Of all the people in the world, Cassandra Brooks was the last person I wanted to see. She was the girl I had once loved with all my heart, but fate had never been on our side.

Back in college, Cassandra was the untouchable goddess of our school. The first time I saw her at a club event, it was love at first sight. I heard she was a rich girl, one of those people who had their heads in the clouds and their feet nowhere near the ground. But then, one day, fate gave me a chance. She sprained her ankle in the locker room and hobbled out, her face pale and slick with sweat. I happened to walk by, and without a second thought, I scooped her up and carried her to the infirmary. From that day on, we became friends. I soon discovered that behind her aloof exterior, she was surprisingly down-to-earth. She had a habit of forgetting things, always losing track of her belongings. She would text me constantly, asking me to pick up this or bring her that. “You’re the most attentive guy in the world,” she once told me. “You know all my favorite things and always cheer me up. Are you sure you don’t have a girlfriend? You seem way too experienced for this.” I laughed. “Nope. You’re the first.” Her eyes sparkled as she reached out and held my hand for the first time. As we spent more time together, I realized why people called her a goddess. It wasn’t just her beauty. She was the queen of her elite social circle, effortlessly charming, and always in control. But she confided in me, saying she hated the pretentiousness of her world and found my simplicity refreshing. It made me happy. I introduced her to the joys of a more grounded life. Whenever I earned a little extra money from helping my professor with research, I would take her out to eat at food stalls and hole-in-the-wall diners. Sometimes, she would offer to pay, but I always refused. “Paying the bill is a man’s responsibility,” I told her. I couldn’t give her the luxurious life she was used to, but I gave her everything I could. Those days felt like heaven. But our love was fragile. Ordinary. The kind of love that couldn’t withstand a storm.

One day, Adrian Cross, a guy from another department, showed up out of nowhere. “I’m Cassandra’s fiancé,” he said. “Stay away from her.” I stared at him in shock. “She’s never told me she’s engaged.” “It’s an arrangement between our families. You think you can be her boyfriend? What can you offer her? Drag her down?” I didn’t believe him, and we argued. He smirked arrogantly. “Let me show you her world.” He had me disguise myself, and then he took me to a lavish villa. There she was, perfectly poised with immaculate makeup, her hair swept up elegantly. She wore a custom gown that highlighted her beauty, moving through the crowd like royalty. She was the hostess, exuding grace and confidence as she charmed every guest. Adrian turned to me with a sneer. “Look at her. She’s a queen, and you’re nothing but a nobody. She doesn’t need a guy who takes her to street food stalls. She needs someone who can stand beside her, shoulder to shoulder.” I glanced down at my sneakers and jeans, feeling completely out of place. But I clenched my jaw and said, “She likes me just the way I am.” Adrian laughed, a cruel, mocking sound. “Sure. She likes a lot of guys like you. Check her phone if you don’t believe me. The contacts in her phone are categorized. Our circle is one group, and you… you’re in another.” The next day, I couldn’t resist. When Cassandra left to use the restroom, I took a peek at her phone. Sure enough, I found myself listed as a code and a number, grouped with several others. When she returned, I asked her directly. “Am I boring you?” She blinked in surprise. “Boring? No way. I love spending time with you. You make me feel relaxed. I don’t have to pretend around you.” “Do you feel that way about anyone else?” She tilted her head, considering. “Well, there are a few others, I guess.” My heart sank. “And in your future, is there a place for me?” “Of course,” she said with a teasing smile. “You’ll come to work with me at my family’s company. There’s this trendy term now, ‘live-in son-in-law.’ What do you think?” She looked at me playfully as if it were all a harmless joke. But it wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to stand as her equal. One night, after we finished a movie, something inside me gave out. “Let’s break up,” I said. Her eyes widened in disbelief, but her pride quickly took over. “Fine. But don’t come crawling back later.” She texted me after that, but I blocked her. And just like that, three years passed. I heard she moved abroad.

Logan’s jaw practically hit the floor. “So, you and Cassandra, huh? No wonder she was so down for a while back then. She wouldn’t talk to anyone, just locked herself in her room for weeks.” I couldn’t imagine her being sad over me. Her phone had listed seven or eight people in the same group as me, each with their own impersonal code. I was just one of many. “Getting dumped always stings. That’s nothing new,” I muttered, brushing it off. The next day, I had to go to work and figure out who could fix my apartment’s busted pipes. In the morning, I left quickly, not wanting to cross paths with her again. I worked as a project manager at an IT company, and we had a major meeting scheduled with a corporate client. When my team and I arrived at the client’s headquarters, the person greeting us was none other than Cassandra. My scalp tingled, and I fought the urge to bolt. There was no escaping this. “The timeline for this project is tight,” she said, her tone cool but professional. “The workload is heavy, and many of the deliverables will require in-person meetings with me.” I nodded. “We’ve secured the bid, so we’ll give it our all.” She turned her gaze directly on me. “Elias, could you step into my office? I’d like to discuss some details privately.” I followed her, trying to steady my nerves. Her office was sleek and modern, with a stark elegance that didn’t quite match the soft, gentle image I remembered. The tailored suit she wore, though, fit her perfectly, accentuating her poise and commanding presence. We went over the project specifics, and I responded to each point. Then she asked a question out of nowhere. “With such a demanding project, won’t your girlfriend mind you working late nights?” I shook my head, unsure why she cared. And then, for reasons I couldn’t explain, I blurted out, “Will your boyfriend mind you pulling late nights with us?” She leaned back in her chair, speaking slowly. “My boyfriend? He’s temperamental, a bit spoiled.” The words stung. I figured she meant Adrian, and the thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. “Then maybe you shouldn’t stay too late,” I said awkwardly. “We can update you on any issues in the morning.” She didn’t reply, just stared at me for a moment before getting up and sitting down next to me.

I scooted away, trying to keep my distance. She reached out and grabbed my sleeve. “Why did you block me? If we can’t be lovers, can’t we at least be friends?” Her words twisted something inside me. Did she really think I had a choice? She leaned in closer, her breath brushing against my face, carrying a faint, familiar fragrance. ” Elias, I…” Cassandra started, but before she could finish, a knock on the door interrupted us. Adrian walked in and said, “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know you had a guest.” He stopped abruptly when he saw me. Then he turned to me, his eyes narrowing. “Well, well, if it isn’t Elias. Long time no see. I hear you’re a project manager now. Congrats.” The sight of him dredged up old memories, filling my chest with a sour jealousy that I struggled to suppress. He strolled over to Cassandra and casually slipped an arm around her waist. “What do you feel like eating tonight?” he asked her, his tone intimate. “I’ve already made reservations.” Then he glanced at me, smirking. “Care to join us?” I stood abruptly, gathering my things. “Thanks, but I already have plans. My girlfriend’s waiting for me.” I nodded stiffly. “Excuse me.” Cassandra froze, her expression unreadable, as I walked out under Adrian’s mocking gaze. My chest felt tight, and my long-buried emotions shattered into pieces. The girlfriend I mentioned wasn’t real. I was referring to Elena West, a former classmate who had pursued me relentlessly during college. Back then, I had rejected her. Years later, we reconnected when her family’s company partnered with ours on a project. During those months, she had organized countless dinners under the guise of client relations, always trying to get me drunk. Her predatory gaze made me uneasy, and I instinctively kept my distance. But at that moment, I needed her name as a shield.

I hadn’t expected this project to be with Brooks Enterprises or that Cassandra would now be running the company. I did everything I could to avoid her. Unless she explicitly summoned me, I stayed away. Even when she called for me, I always brought a colleague along to share the responsibility of presenting updates. I noticed Adrian in her office several times. He was relaxed, at home there. Sometimes, even during serious project discussions, Adrian would linger, casually listening or throwing in the occasional comment. The company rumor mill painted the two of them as a power couple, their relationship practically common knowledge. One night, when everyone else had left, I stayed behind, stuck debugging a particularly stubborn section of code. I was so absorbed in my work that I didn’t hear the footsteps approaching. A hand appeared in my peripheral vision, holding a cup of coffee. Startled, I turned too quickly and accidentally knocked the cup over, spilling its contents all over Cassandra. Panicking, I grabbed a napkin and started dabbing at the stain. But the moment my hand brushed against her, I froze. The fabric was thin, and beneath it, the sensation was soft and warm. Realizing what I was doing, I yanked my hand away and stood stiffly to the side, waiting for her inevitable reprimand. Cassandra sighed, “Go buy me something to change into.” I dashed downstairs to a 24-hour convenience store and bought her a blouse and a pair of pants. After a moment’s hesitation, I also picked up a set of undergarments. I had noticed the coffee had soaked through. When I handed her the bag, she stepped closer, pinning me against the desk. “You still remember my size?” she asked, her voice low and teasing. “Haven’t you noticed how I’ve changed over the years?” I turned my face away, my thoughts in chaos. “You’ve kept in great shape,” I mumbled. “But I did buy the top a size bigger.” When she emerged after changing, she looked like the girl I used to know, the one who had shared street food with me on warm college nights. She opened her mouth to say something, but my phone buzzed with a call that couldn’t wait. I answered quickly. “Yeah, I’m on my way.” I turned to her, holding up my phone apologetically. “I’ve got an emergency at home. Gotta run. See you.” Without waiting for her response, I grabbed my things and bolted out the door. The call was from my neighbor. Apparently, the repair on my pipes hadn’t worked, and water had leaked into his apartment. I had no choice but to return home shut off the water supply entirely, and accept the harsh reality. Just as the repairman had warned, it might be time for a full renovation. Once again, I turned to my buddy Logan for help. “You can crash at my place. I’ll be out on business trips all week,” he said. I hesitated for a moment before asking, “Cassandra isn’t staying there, is she?”

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At the company gala, my fiancée clung to her first love—the so-called “golden boy” of her past—and smugly demanded I step aside. “Starting today, all your client accounts will be transferred to him,” she announced with a condescending smile. “And as for you, there’s an opening in the janitorial department. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.” The room fell silent. All eyes were on me, waiting for the inevitable—me groveling, begging her to reconsider, swallowing my pride for her sake. But what they didn’t realize was this: without me, those clients would vanish overnight, and the company? It would crumble within weeks. I let out a cold, detached laugh and turned on my heel, walking away without a word. By the end of the night, I’d already signed with her biggest rival—the one person she hated the most. You see, I’m not satisfied with just watching her company fail. I’m here to destroy everything she thought she could take from me. For five years, Chloe Hill and I had built something together—both a company and what I thought was a relationship. She always said, “Once the company is stable, we’ll get married.” I believed her. So I worked like a madman, day and night, entertaining clients, closing deals, and doing everything in my power to build the life she wanted. The life we wanted. And it worked. The company grew steadily, year after year. With our largest shipment yet arriving soon, I was already planning how to propose. Tonight was supposed to be the company’s celebration party. Chloe had smiled at me that morning, tying my tie with her usual grace. “Don’t forget to come back early for the party,” she said, her voice soft and full of warmth. I promised I would. But when the shipment arrived late, I had no choice but to go handle it myself. This was the biggest deal our company had ever secured, and I couldn’t afford even the smallest mistake. For two weeks, I’d barely left the office, sleeping on the couch, eating cheap takeout, and working myself to the bone to make sure this deal went smoothly. By the time I finished, it was nearly 10 PM. Exhausted but eager to see Chloe, I drove straight to the hotel where the celebration was being held. But as I approached the door to the private room, laughter and voices drifted out, freezing me in my tracks. “You mean Daniel Brooks?” Chloe’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, followed by a laugh that made my stomach turn. “Marry him? Are you serious? What a joke.” My hand hovered over the doorknob, my entire body going cold. “He’s just a pathetic loser who works himself to death for me,” she sneered. “I only keep him around to do the grunt work.” Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. “All he does is drink and schmooze with clients. No romance, no charm. He’s nothing like my baby—someone who actually knows how to treat me.” A man’s voice broke in, low and suggestive. “Come here, babe. Let hubby take care of you.” Then came the unmistakable sound of kissing. My mind went blank. That voice—it was Jacob Scott, the new assistant Chloe had recently hired. She’d told me he was an old college friend and insisted he’d be a great addition to the team. I’d trusted her. Jacob had been nothing but polite to me, always staying late at the office, bringing her coffee, and helping with her workload. I’d even praised him for his diligence. But now, it was all clear. He wasn’t staying late to work—he was staying late to be with her. These two had been sneaking around right under my nose. “You’re the only one I trust with the clients,” Chloe purred, her voice like nails on a chalkboard. “Now that the company is big enough, there’s no need to keep him around anymore.” Jacob hesitated. “What if he takes the clients with him?” Chloe laughed dismissively. “This is my company. He’s just an employee. If he tries to leave, I’ll make sure he never works in this industry again. What does he think, that the company can’t survive without him?” The sound of glasses clinking and laughter filled the room. “Ms. Hill and Jacob are such a great match,” someone chimed in, their voice full of fake enthusiasm. “Daniel’s just some desperate loser—he should be grateful to step aside.” Another voice added, “Honestly, Jacob’s the real deal. That guy? He’s just a placeholder.” Jacob chuckled, and I heard him say, “This seat was always mine. Just like Chloe has always been mine.” Chloe giggled, her voice dripping with flirtation. “Oh, stop. You know I’ve always been yours. Even back in college…” Her words trailed off into playful laughter, and my blood boiled. I stood frozen, my mind replaying the last six months. Chloe had been “traveling for business” more often than ever, always coming home smelling of a different perfume. On the nights she stayed in, she was distant, always claiming she was tired. And the times she was affectionate? Now I wondered how much of that was just her scrubbing away the scent of another man. Every tender word, every night spent together—it all felt like a knife twisting in my chest. I wasn’t Chloe’s boyfriend. I was her workhorse, her stepping stone, her fool. Inside, Chloe’s voice turned sweet again, but it wasn’t for me. “Jacob, you’re the only one who knows how to treat me right.” My stomach churned. So she could act playful and vulnerable—just not for me. For me, she’d always played the strong, independent businesswoman. Five years. Five years of my life wasted on a woman who saw me as nothing more than a means to an end. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. For a moment, I thought about walking away, but something inside me snapped. I wouldn’t let her get away with this. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door. The laughter stopped immediately.

Chloe was wearing a backless gown tonight, and Jacob’s hand was resting on her bare back, sliding up and down. The two of them stood so close, their faces practically touching, exuding a level of intimacy that made me want to vomit. When Chloe saw me, her expression flickered with annoyance, but she quickly regained her composure, slipping back into her usual air of superiority. “Oh, you’re here? Why didn’t you call to let me know?” she asked, pushing Jacob aside and smoothing her dress with feigned elegance. “Sorry,” I replied coldly, my eyes fixed on the red marks on her neck. “I was in a rush and forgot.” She glanced at me with thinly veiled contempt. “Why are you so late? Seriously, you spent all night dealing with one shipment? What’s wrong with you lately?” I let out a bitter laugh and replied with an icy tone, “Yeah, good thing I didn’t come back later—otherwise, I might’ve caught you two in a hotel room.” Chloe’s face froze, her expression darkening in an instant. “What are you implying?” she snapped. “Jacob and I are just friends. Don’t you dare make baseless accusations!” “Just friends?” I said, my gaze dropping to her swollen lips. “Then what, exactly, is his hand doing? Just being friendly?” Her voice rose sharply, clearly rattled. “Daniel, don’t push your luck! We’re not even married. Who I spend time with is none of your business!” “Funny,” I said, my voice low and cutting. “I thought we were building a life together. Guess I was wrong.” At this point, Jacob decided to insert himself into the conversation, stepping forward like some kind of knight in shining armor. “Daniel,” he said, puffing out his chest, “are you seriously questioning Chloe’s character right now? As her boyfriend, shouldn’t you trust her?” Looking at the two of them, smiling and backing each other up, I felt a wave of nausea rise in my chest. I clenched my jaw and said coldly, “Oh, so you do remember she’s my girlfriend, huh?” Chloe tilted her head, her expression smug. “If you’re so unhappy with me, then it’s perfect timing. I have an announcement to make.” She paused for dramatic effect, her voice dripping with mockery. “Starting today, Jacob will be taking over your responsibilities.” The room fell silent. Everyone’s eyes darted between us, waiting to see my reaction. “And you?” she continued, her tone casual but cruel. “You’ll handle the small accounts from now on. Unless, of course, you feel that’s beneath you. If so, the janitorial team could always use an extra hand.” I stared at her, my expression unreadable. The audacity of this woman. She had no idea how much I’d sacrificed to build her company. Every major client, every deal, every connection—I’d earned them through endless nights of drinking, networking, and suffering through grueling hangovers. I’d worked myself to the brink of collapse just to make this business successful. And now, she thought she could replace me with this clown? Did she really think any of those clients cared about her? Chloe raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying herself. “What, nothing to say? Feeling a little betrayed, maybe?” I watched as Jacob leaned down, planting smug little kisses on Chloe’s lips in front of the entire room. The other employees whispered among themselves, eager to see how I would react. Chloe probably thought I’d beg her to reconsider, that I’d grovel for my job and her affection. She thought she’d won. But what she didn’t realize was that without me, Hill Group would collapse like a house of cards. I shook my head and let out a dry laugh. If they wanted to play dirty, I’d show them how the game was really played. Reaching into my pocket, I felt the engagement ring box I’d been carrying for weeks. With a bitter smile, I tightened my grip on it and turned on my heel, walking away without a word. As I left, Chloe called out after me, her voice dripping with mockery. “What, leaving already? Don’t you want to talk about your new role?” I didn’t even look back. The moment I got into my car, I floored the gas pedal and headed straight to the office. There was no time to waste. Sitting at my desk, I opened my laptop and began contacting our clients. My fingers trembled with rage as I typed, my mind racing with plans to dismantle everything Chloe thought she had under control. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down, gulping down a bitter cup of coffee. Five years. Five years of loyalty, sacrifice, and love—and for what? At least now I knew the truth.

I spent the night at the office. Yesterday had been a whirlwind—I closed several major deals and contacted a long list of clients. By the time I was done, it was already past midnight. I stopped by my apartment to pack a few things before heading back to the office. That place wasn’t home anymore, and sleeping at my desk felt like the better option. “Daniel!” I was jolted awake by someone shaking me roughly. Groggy, I opened my eyes to find Chloe’s perfectly made-up face staring down at me. Her makeup was flawless, but the hickey on her neck was impossible to miss, even under the thick layer of concealer she’d used to try and hide it. Her movements were so aggressive that a few early-arriving coworkers were already sneaking glances in our direction. She slammed a crumpled piece of paper onto my desk, her face twisted with anger, though she forced a saccharine smile a second later. “Daniel, what is this?” she asked, her voice unnervingly sweet. “You moved out in the middle of the night? And now you’re handing me a resignation letter without even saying a word? What’s going on with you?” I glanced at the wrinkled resignation letter on the desk and let out a bitter laugh. “You’re asking me? Weren’t you the one who told me to leave?” Her expression wavered for a moment, but she quickly plastered on a fake look of concern. “I was just upset yesterday,” she said, softening her tone. “You shouldn’t have accused me of being inappropriate with someone else. Let’s talk about this calmly, okay?” She reached out to touch my face, the same tender gesture that used to melt my heart. But now, it only made my stomach churn. I turned my head away, dodging her hand. “Chloe, you can drop the act,” I said coldly. “After the little show you put on last night, don’t bother pretending to be innocent.” I shoved her hand aside. “We’re done.” Her face turned bright red, anger and humiliation flashing across her expression. “What nonsense are you spewing?” she hissed. Just then, the elevator doors opened. Jacob strolled out, followed by a few clients. Ah, so that’s why Chloe was suddenly putting on this performance. She wasn’t here to patch things up—she was here to squeeze every last bit of value out of me before I walked out the door for good. “Well, speak of the devil,” I said with a cold laugh, eyeing Jacob. “Chloe was just telling me how disappointed she is with your… performance.” The room fell into a heavy silence. Coworkers whispered among themselves, while the clients behind Jacob raised their eyebrows in interest. Jacob’s face turned crimson, but he forced a smile, trying to maintain his composure. “Mr. Brooks, please don’t joke like that… Ms. Hill and I have nothing but a professional relationship.” He was dressed to impress, wearing a tailored suit and enough hair gel to make his head shine under the fluorescent lights. He looked like he belonged in a cheap cologne ad, not in a boardroom. “Professional?” I smirked. “Didn’t sound so professional last night when you were bragging about your relationship at the party.” The office erupted into murmurs. “Everyone shut up!” Chloe snapped, her voice cutting through the chaos. She turned back to me, her face livid. “Daniel, I came here to talk things through, and you’re making a scene! I’m trying to be reasonable, but you’re being impossible!” “Reasonable?” I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. “Did you forget the things you said while you were draped all over Jacob last night? Should I remind you?” Jacob’s face went pale as he motioned for his assistant to guide the clients into a nearby conference room. “Daniel, Chloe is still your girlfriend,” Jacob said, his tone stiff. “You shouldn’t humiliate her like this.” Looking at the two of them standing side by side, their united front only made me feel colder inside. Chloe’s face twisted with rage as she pointed a finger at me. “You ungrateful bastard! I’m trying to help you, and this is how you repay me? Do you even have a shred of decency left?” Her voice was shrill, her eyes filled with nothing but disgust. The warmth she used to fake so well was completely gone. I let out a humorless laugh. “Careful, Jacob,” I said, locking eyes with him. “The same woman who’s throwing me aside today will do the same to you tomorrow. You’re just a placeholder, a temporary distraction.” “Daniel, you’re asking for it!” Chloe shrieked, her voice echoing through the office. She raised her hand to slap me, but I dodged in time. Her nails caught the side of my face, leaving a few shallow scratches. The sting was sharp, but I didn’t flinch. Missing her target only made her angrier. She lunged at me again, completely abandoning the polished image she’d always tried to maintain in front of others. Jacob quickly grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her to stop her from clawing at me again. “Chloe, calm down. Don’t let him get under your skin.” I brushed off my suit and stood, smirking at the two of them. “If I’m worthless, what does that make the two of you?” “Get out, Daniel!” Chloe screamed, her voice cracking. “You’re nothing but a parasite! Do you hear me? I’ll ruin you! I’ll make sure you never work again!” I adjusted my tie and straightened my jacket, taking my time before replying. “Chloe,” I said, my voice calm but cutting, “you really think your little company would’ve made it this far without me? Without the clients I brought in?” Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, her whole body trembling with rage. “You think I need you?” she spat. “Take a few clients if you want—I don’t care. Hill Group will be fine without you!” “Is that so?” I said with a cold smile. “We’ll see about that.” “You touch even one of my clients, and I’ll make sure you regret it!” I laughed, shaking my head. Chloe really thought she was untouchable. I turned and walked toward the elevator, ignoring her shrill screams behind me. “You’ll come crawling back, Daniel! You’ll beg me to take you back!” Without looking back, I raised a middle finger as the elevator doors slid shut. The sunlight outside was blinding, but I didn’t mind. Pulling out my phone, I scrolled to a familiar name in my contacts. It was time to call Mila Morgan. If Chloe wanted a war, I was more than ready to give her one.

At the coffee shop, Mila sat across from me, her every movement polished and deliberate. She held her coffee cup with the kind of grace that made it seem like an accessory, not a necessity. Her sharp, assessing gaze flicked to me every so often, as though she were measuring my worth. She’d been trying to recruit me for years. But I’d always turned her down—because of Chloe. “It’s a rare treat to finally get you here,” Mila said with a soft laugh, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness. “I thought you’d spend the rest of your life burning yourself out for Chloe.” I stirred the coffee in front of me, watching the ripples swirl as I answered flatly, “She kicked me out. The details are messy, and frankly, I don’t want to waste my energy explaining. Ask around—you’ll figure it out soon enough.” Mila’s company wasn’t just big—it was the biggest player in the industry locally. Everyone knew her family had money and connections, and if she wanted something, she usually got it. The fact that she’d reached out to me for this meeting was already making waves in our professional circles. “So,” she said casually, setting her cup down, “I take it you’re bringing Chloe’s clients with you in this… transition?” I smirked. “You’re sharp, Ms. Morgan. Yes, I’ve got over 80% of her major accounts in my pocket.” Mila chuckled at that, leaning back in her chair as though savoring my words. “Well, I imagine Chloe’s losing her mind right about now.” “She’s about a month away from crawling back to me,” I said with quiet confidence, lifting my coffee cup. “But by then, it’ll be too late. I’m not just taking her clients—I’m going to make sure she’s finished in this industry.” Mila’s eyes gleamed with interest at my boldness, a flicker of admiration crossing her expression. She rested her chin in her hand, studying me with a newfound curiosity. “You’re more decisive than I expected.” “I’ll make it worth your while,” she said, extending her hand with a polished smile. “I’ll give you a general manager position and triple your current salary. I like your style.” I shook her hand briefly but didn’t let her finish. “There’s one more thing I need from you.” Her perfectly shaped brow arched slightly. “Oh?” “When the time comes,” I said firmly, “I want you to help me expose Chloe and Jacob’s little ‘arrangement.’ Once the scandal hits, you can swoop in and buy her company for pennies on the dollar.” Mila’s lips curved into a slow smile. The idea clearly appealed to her. “Interesting,” she murmured, tapping a manicured finger against her chin. “You’re giving me a perfect opportunity to crush a competitor. But…” Her gaze turned thoughtful, almost mischievous. “How do you know I won’t do the same to you someday?” I met her eyes directly, my tone steady and unflinching. “Because I trust you.” The sunlight streaming through the window caught the angles of her face, highlighting her sharp features and the faintly satisfied look in her eyes. “Fair enough,” she said after a pause, raising her coffee cup toward me. “To a fruitful partnership.” I clinked my cup against hers, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. If Chloe only knew what her betrayal had set in motion, I wondered if she’d still be lying in Jacob’s bed right now—or if she’d already be regretting every choice she’d made.

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After my breakup, I had a one-night stand with a stranger—his presence was terrifying. I couldn’t bear the thought of carrying the child of a monster. But then, everything changed when I uncovered an astonishing truth. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air as I sat in the cold, white-walled office. My hands were clenched tightly on my lap, nails digging into my palms. The doctor walked in, her face soft, her smile almost too kind for what she was about to say. “Congratulations, Leila,” she began, her voice gentle. “You’re pregnant.” The words hit me like a thunderclap. My chest tightened, and the room felt suddenly smaller. Pregnant? No. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now. Not like this. The memory came crashing down like a tidal wave, sweeping the air from my lungs. George. He broke up with me. “It’s not you, Leila. It’s me. I just… I can’t do this anymore.” I could still see the cold resolve in his eyes, the finality in his tone. I grabbed my coat and stumbled out of my apartment, desperate for an escape. The streets blurred as I made my way to the nearest bar, my head spinning with anger and heartbreak. Inside, the dim lights cast shadows over the faces of strangers. I slid onto a barstool, slamming my purse down. “Whiskey. Straight,” I said, my voice trembling. The bartender raised an eyebrow but poured the drink without a word. I’m an orphan—no parents, no siblings, nothing. The one person I ever loved, truly loved, was George. But now… now I have no one. I downed the first glass, then another. Each burn in my throat felt like it might numb the ache in my chest. A man sitting nearby leaned over. “Rough night?” he asked, his voice smooth but tinged with curiosity. “Mind your own business,” I snapped, waving at the bartender for another drink. But he didn’t take the hint. “Sometimes it helps to talk about it.” I turned to him, my eyes blazing. “What do you know about it? Have you ever had your heart ripped out and stomped on?” He chuckled softly, holding up his hands in surrender. “Fair point. Just thought you could use some company.” I didn’t answer. I just kept drinking, sinking deeper into the haze. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a strange bed. The light filtering through the curtains was blinding, and my head pounded like a drum. Panic shot through me as I looked around. A hotel room. “What the hell…”

I started the day hunched over the toilet bowl, my stomach twisting like a wrung-out rag. “Fantastic,” I muttered hoarsely, wiping my mouth. “Another perfect morning.” The mirror above the sink was no help. My hair hung limp, my eyes dull with exhaustion, and dark circles loomed like permanent shadows. If pregnancy came with a glow, mine must’ve been on back order. After splashing cold water on my face, I trudged into the kitchen and reached for my pack of cigarettes on the counter. One drag—just one—might help me feel normal again. “Seriously?” Leila’s voice cut through the silence. She was leaning against the fridge, arms crossed, her eyebrows raised. “Leila, don’t start,” I sighed, shaking a cigarette loose. Before I could light it, she snatched it from my hand. “What the hell?” I snapped, glaring at her. “What the hell, indeed!” she fired back, waving a piece of paper in her other hand—the pregnancy report. I froze. “Where did you get that?” “It was on the bathroom sink, genius,” she said, her voice softening. “And I hate to break it to you, mama bear, but smoking’s officially off the table.” “Leila…” My voice cracked, and I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. She stepped closer, placing the cigarette and the report on the counter. “Look, I know this is a lot. I know it’s scary. But you’re not doing this alone. I’m here, even if it means wrestling cigarettes out of your hand every morning.” I reached for the cigarette pack on the counter, only for Leila to slap my hand away. “Seriously?” I groaned, clutching my stinging fingers. “One cigarette won’t hurt the baby.” Leila’s eyes narrowed as she snatched the pack and held it up like evidence in a courtroom. “One leads to two, and two leads to you chain-smoking like a chimney. Nope. Not happening.” “Leila, give it back.” “Not a chance.” She spun on her heel and tossed the pack into the trash. “You’re unbelievable!” I snapped. Cigarettes had been my escape since I was sixteen. They’d carried me through the stress of college, through assignments, and sleepless nights. This felt like an attack on my sanity. “You’re pregnant, not invincible,” she shot back, crossing her arms. “If you want a bad habit, you can start drinking herbal tea. It’s safe and soothing.” I rolled my eyes. “What’s next? Are you going to cut off my Wi-Fi so I don’t stay up too late?” Her face turned serious. “Funny you mention that. Last night, you were on your laptop at 4 a.m., and don’t think I didn’t notice.” I groaned. “Leila, I’m finishing my dissertation. I need to graduate.” “You also need to sleep, or do you want a baby born exhausted from the womb?” she countered, her tone sharp. “Fine!” I threw my hands up. “You win. No smoking, early bedtime, and chamomile tea for life. Anything else?” Leila smirked, but her expression softened as she grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge. “Now that we’re clear on that, have you thought about… him?”

My chest tightened. I knew exactly who she meant, but the last thing I wanted was this conversation. “I don’t even know where to start, Leila,” I admitted quietly. “We didn’t exchange numbers. I don’t even know his last name.” Her eyebrows shot up. “You’re telling me you had a one-night stand and didn’t get his number?” I winced. “It was… a complicated night.” Leila grabbed her coat, determination blazing in her eyes. “Alright, we’re going to the hotel. We’ll find him.” I shook my head. “He doesn’t live there. He said he was staying for a week—just passing through.” She froze, then snapped her fingers. “The bar. Someone there might know him.” “Leila, this is ridiculous,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “What’s ridiculous,” she shot back, “is you acting like this isn’t a big deal. You’re having his baby.” “I know that!” I snapped, my voice cracking. “You think I’m not scared out of my mind? I don’t even know where to start!” Leila softened, stepping closer. “Then let me help. But you can’t shut down on me, okay?” I nodded weakly, barely able to meet her eyes. Then she frowned, a new thought dawning. “Wait. What’s his name?” I froze. “Don’t tell me…” Her eyes widened. “You don’t know his name.” I swallowed hard. “Are you serious?” she hissed. “You don’t even know the name of the guy whose kid you’re carrying?” “It was one night!” I shot back. “I didn’t think—” “Clearly,” she interrupted, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Okay. No judgment. But we’re finding him. Name or no name.” “And if we don’t?” I whispered. Her expression softened, but her tone stayed firm. “Then we’ll deal with it. Together.” “W-What?” I stammered, staring at Leila in disbelief. “You found him?” She grinned, leaning against the doorframe like she’d won the lottery. “Found your baby daddy. You’re welcome.” My chest tightened. “How?” She smirked. “Went back to the bar. Bartender remembered him—apparently, he’s a regular.” I blinked, heart racing. “You just… asked?” Leila shrugged, but her smugness was impossible to miss. “I might’ve flirted a little. Maybe bought him a round. Details don’t matter.” I crossed my arms. “Leila…” “Relax!” she interrupted, pulling a napkin from her pocket. “Look.” I stared at the name scribbled on it: Mark Adonis. Below it, a phone number. My hands trembled as I took it. “Call him,” Leila said firmly. “Now?” My voice wavered, every instinct screaming to delay. “Yes, now,” she snapped, her gaze sharp. “He deserves to know. And so do you.” I gripped the napkin, my pulse roaring in my ears. There was no running from this anymore. I felt my breath quicken as I unlocked my phone, staring at the keypad. This was it. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last. I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling as I dialed his number. The phone rang. Once. Twice. I swore I could hear my own pulse in my ears. By the fifth ring, I could feel the cold sweat gathering on the back of my neck. This was the moment. Seven. Eight. The line cut to voicemail. “It’s gone to voicemail,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. A strange relief washed over me. Leila shot up from the bed. “Leave a message! Now!” I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the button to end the call. But Leila’s frantic gestures pushed me forward. I put the phone back to my ear, the beep almost echoing in the silence. “Uh, hi,” I stuttered, my throat dry. “It’s Elena… we met a few months ago at the bar.” Leila glared at me, silently urging me to keep going. “I—I need to talk to you about something. It’s important. Please call me back.” I rushed the last words out, my voice shaking. “Shit! What do I do?” I hissed, waving my phone in front of Leila. “What does this mean?” Leila’s eyes widened in shock, and she grabbed the phone from my hand, accepting the call before I could blink. She slammed the phone on speaker, leaning in close. “Talk,” she hissed under her breath. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I stared at the screen. What the hell was I supposed to say? “Hello?” A deep, gravelly voice answered after a few seconds of agonizing silence. I froze, looking at Leila, who was now gesturing wildly for me to speak. I couldn’t find my words. “Hello?” His voice grew impatient.

“Hi.” My voice cracked as I squeaked out the word. “Hi,” I repeated, louder this time, though my nerves rattled. “Elena? What do you need to talk about?” His tone was direct, almost demanding. I swallowed hard. “I—I think we should meet. This can’t be said over the phone.” There was a long pause. “Alright,” he finally said. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Where?” I blinked, surprised by how easily he agreed. I hadn’t expected this. I ran a hand through my hair. “Uh… my place?” I offered weakly, though I could tell Leila was stifling a laugh. She shot me a look and mouthed café before nodding towards the door. He chuckled lightly. “Fine. Two o’clock. Does that work?” I nodded quickly, heart pounding. “Yeah, perfect.” “See you then,” he said before hanging up. I exhaled sharply, eyes closing as anxiety clenched my chest. Tomorrow. It had to be done. Leila’s voice cut through my thoughts. “He sounds hot.” I snapped my eyes open. “He is.” I couldn’t help but remember how he looked at me that night—powerful, magnetic. I’d been drawn to him instantly. Leila smirked. “He thinks you’re after a repeat of that night.” I groaned. “No. It’s not like that.” She mimicked his voice dramatically, “My place,” before bursting into laughter. “Not funny,” I muttered, but she was still laughing. At the coffee bar

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