Category: English

My brother married a crybaby. If I stayed over for an extra meal, she would cry. She’d say, “This family only cares about their daughter and doesn’t give a damn about their daughter-in-law!” When I bought a house with my own money, she cried again. She’d say, “How could she, just a girl, afford a house? Your parents must have helped her!” Then she went even further, spreading rumors that I was some rich man’s mistress and slept my way to the top. It wasn’t until my brother got kicked out trying to defend her that she finally had nothing left to cry about. “How could your sister, just a girl, afford such a nice house all on her own? Your parents must have secretly given her money!” Delilah’s voice was sharp, dripping with suspicion. “Babe, you’re overthinking it. My parents already told me, they didn’t give her a dime,” Eliot replied, trying to calm her down. “You thick-headed fool! Do you think they’d admit it if they did? That would just make them look biased!” I had been on my way to call Eliot and Delilah for dinner when I accidentally overheard their conversation. What was so wrong about buying a house? I bought it with my own hard-earned money. And even if my parents had chipped in, so what? I’m their daughter, isn’t it normal for parents to help their own kids? Is that a crime now? I didn’t interrupt them. Something made me stand there and keep listening. I heard Delilah’s voice, bitter and angry, “I don’t care. If your parents had the money to buy Sienna a house, then they better do the same for us. You’re their son, after all, and they’ll need you to take care of them when they’re old. A daughter will get married off eventually, and she’ll be someone else’s problem.” Eliot’s voice softened, clearly not agreeing with her. “You’re thinking too much, Delilah. Sienna’s my sister. And our house is already big enough. We don’t need to waste money like that.” Delilah wanted to keep arguing, but Eliot cut her off. “Enough! Today’s about Sienna moving into her new place. Stop bringing up this nonsense.” As I heard Eliot’s footsteps approaching, I quickly turned and slipped away. Even though Delilah was always a bit unreasonable, at least my brother still had my back. When we all sat down for dinner, Delilah still looked sour, acting like she was owed something. Eliot gave her several warning looks, but she didn’t tone it down. My mom couldn’t take it anymore. After the other relatives left, she pulled Eliot and Delilah aside for a talk. “I know what’s going through your head. You think we gave Sienna the money for her house and you’re feeling upset about it, right?” Delilah thought she had figured everything out and immediately launched into a tirade. “Isn’t that exactly what happened? How could a young girl earn enough money to buy a house? Honestly, Marjorie, Gerald, you’ve been so unfair! Eliot and I are the ones who’ll take care of you when you’re older. Your money should be spent on us, not her!” “Sienna’s going to get married and leave the family anyway. Why buy her a house? That’s just going to benefit some other guy. Honestly, you two are way too clueless.” “Eliot, you coward! You won’t speak up, so I have to!” My brother tugged on Delilah’s arm, telling her to stop, but she just went off even more. My mom slammed her hand down on the table, her voice cold, “Don’t anyone stop her. Let her talk.” Anyone who knew my mom could tell she was on the verge of blowing up. Delilah shrank back a little, her tone not as strong as before. “Did I say something wrong?” When Delilah first married into the family, my parents bent over backward to make sure she felt welcome. They sold their old house and, with their savings, bought a beautiful Victorian-style home in Savannah. And they asked Delilah what she wanted. If she didn’t want to live with them, they would’ve bought her and Eliot a nice three-bedroom house. If she liked big houses, they could all live in the Victorian home together, and my mom could help take care of future kids. The choice was Delilah’s, and my parents had always made it clear that I’d always have a place in their home, whether I got married or not. At first, Delilah was sweet and warm, always so kind to me. I was thrilled—I thought I’d hit the jackpot with such a wonderful sister-in-law. No issues between us at all. But after just six months, her true colors started to show. It began with her constantly nudging my mom to set me up on dates. “Sienna’s not getting any younger, it’s time for her to settle down,” she’d say. My mom made her stance clear: if I didn’t want to get married, it was fine. Even if I never married, they’d support me. That must have been the breaking point. From then on, Delilah saw me as a threat to her interests.

Things only escalated from there. Delilah became convinced that my parents were secretly giving me money. Whenever I bought a new makeup product or handbag, she was the first to make a snide comment. “Oh, Sienna, what did you buy this time? It must have cost a fortune! You know, I’d never splurge like that. It’s so much easier to be single—you can spend without a care!” “Is that designer? Must have set you back a few thousand dollars. You know, instead of wasting money on these things, you could buy some health supplements for your parents.” At first, when Delilah hadn’t fully shown her true self, I used to buy her gifts whenever I got something for myself. A nice bag, some makeup, I always made sure to include her. But to her, my generosity was just proof that I was freeloading off my parents, spending their money. What she didn’t know was that my brother’s business only took off because of my support behind the scenes. To avoid putting my parents and Eliot in an awkward position, I bought my own place and moved out. I thought I was doing everyone a favor by giving them space, but somehow, Delilah twisted that, too. My mom shot Eliot a cold look, her silence speaking volumes: This is the wife you chose? “Eliot! Say something!” Delilah barked, clearly frustrated that my brother hadn’t defended her. “Don’t you want to know how much your parents gave Sienna for her house?” Just when I thought Eliot would stand up for me, he hesitated, then moved to Delilah’s side. That’s when I understood. No wonder Delilah felt so bold—Eliot was quietly enabling her the whole time. I felt like I’d swallowed a stone. It sat heavy in my chest, impossible to spit out, and equally impossible to keep down. “Eliot, do you agree with Delilah? Do you think I shouldn’t have spent our family’s money?” I looked my brother dead in the eye, waiting for his answer. What Delilah thought of me didn’t matter—I couldn’t care less. But Eliot? He was my brother, my flesh and blood. We grew up together. As kids, if I ever got hurt, he’d be the first to grab a stick and defend me. He knew better than anyone what I had been through. But now, he couldn’t even look at me. Still, he spoke. “Sienna, don’t misunderstand. I’m not upset about Mom and Dad giving you money for the house. You’re my sister. If you’d asked me for help, I’d have given it to you, no question. But we’re family. Mom and Dad gave you that money, so Delilah and I have a right to know how much, don’t we?” Hearing that, even my usually silent dad turned dark with anger. “Eliot! Don’t forget—you wouldn’t have what you do today without Sienna’s help!” Don’t let my dad’s quiet nature fool you—when he speaks up, it’s serious. Eliot instantly fell silent. But Delilah, being Delilah, wasn’t about to back down. “Well, Eliot said we have a right to know…” “Fine. You want to know? I’ll tell you.” My mom’s voice was cutting. “Sienna bought that house with her own money, every last penny. Not only did we not give her anything, but she even gave us $10,000. Satisfied now?” Delilah’s eyes widened in disbelief. Hearing about the $10,000, they practically lit up. Her entire demeanor changed in an instant. She latched onto my arm, playing the role of the caring sister-in-law. “Oh my, Marjorie, Gerald, what are you saying? That’s not what we meant at all. We were just worried about you not having enough to take care of yourselves, that’s all.” Her behavior was so shameless I had to pull my arm away. “Well, if there’s nothing else, it’s getting late. You two should head home.” Eliot gave me a sheepish smile. I could tell he wanted to apologize but didn’t have the guts to say it. In that moment, I realized something I hadn’t before: even between siblings, there can be distance, and sometimes that distance can be hard to bridge.

At first, I thought that putting some space between us would help. We might not be as close as we used to be, but we could still be family. I underestimated how dangerous jealousy can be. It wasn’t long before I started noticing the way my neighbors looked at me—disdainful, judging, whispering behind my back. Several times, I tried to greet them while walking my dog, but they would turn away, avoiding me like I had some sort of disease. Then one day, I checked the Oak Hills Subdivision Group Chat and finally understood what was going on. It all started with a faceless account stirring up rumors. “Did you hear about the owner of 609? People say she’s some rich old man’s mistress. How else could someone that young afford a house like that?” “Seriously? She seemed like such a nice girl. How could she do something like that?” “Tsk, tsk, girls these days. No shame at all.” “You’d better keep an eye on your husbands, ladies. If she sets her sights on one of them, it’s game over.” I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. What kind of nonsense were they spouting? I tried adding the person who had started the rumors, but they left the group chat as soon as they’d done the damage. Meanwhile, the others kept gossiping, acting like they knew everything about my life. They even said the man supposedly “keeping” me was in his seventies. At that point, I had enough. I took screenshots of everything—over a dozen messages—and posted them back into the group, tagging each person who had spread the lies. “Slandering someone is illegal. Expect a lawyer’s letter soon!” After that, most of the people went silent. Some who had been lurking in the chat tried to play peacemaker. “Oh, come on, 609. People were just joking around. No need to take it so seriously.” “Exactly. We all live in the same neighborhood. Let’s just apologize and move on.” I typed furiously in response, “Funny how you all are acting like good Samaritans now. Where were you when these people were slandering me?” Finally, one of my upstairs neighbors couldn’t hold back any longer and tagged me in the chat. “@609, what do you mean by slander? This came straight from your own family. Do you think we’d just make this up?” My family? I instantly thought of Delilah. But even so, it seemed too ridiculous. Why would she do that? At that moment, I wanted to rush over and confront her, but without any evidence, what could I do? I took a deep breath, gathered all the screenshots, and headed to the Atlanta PD – West Precinct. Let the police handle this. When I explained the situation at the station, the officers took it seriously and immediately opened a case. That same night, the neighborhood was in an uproar. Everyone who had participated in the slander was brought in for questioning. The panic was real. One by one, they all tried to distance themselves, passing the blame around until eventually, everything pointed back to Delilah. Some of the neighbors still had the nerve to defend themselves. “Whose family would say such things if they weren’t true? She must have done something to deserve it.” I still couldn’t understand why Delilah would spread such vicious lies about me. I had already moved out, just like she wanted. What more did she want? I was trembling with rage. And then I thought about the faceless account that had started it all. The police traced the IP address back to one place—my parents’ house. They asked me if I wanted to continue pressing charges. I understood that for many, family is reason enough to let things slide. But I didn’t hesitate. “Of course I want to press charges,” I said firmly.

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I was diagnosed with chronic endometriosis, and the doctor said that getting pregnant might ease the symptoms; otherwise, a hysterectomy might be my only option. But ever since Ethan regained his sight, he’s barely touched me. He just gives me a quick kiss on the forehead, saying he’s too tired. I tried to be understanding, figuring he must be worn out from work at Sunset Therapeutics. But then, one night, after he turned over, facing away, I heard him mumble: “You know, maybe you should go to Revive Aesthetics and ask about that laser scar removal thing, see if they can do anything.” I froze. It had been so long since I’d felt that sting of shame, flushing my face hot and cold. But more than shame, I was in shock. Was Ethan… repulsed by my face? My name’s Grace Holloway, and I’m 28 years old. My husband, Ethan Rivers, is a blind massage therapist, three years younger than me. We met through a matchmaker service. I had been burned in a house fire, leaving a scar that stretches down the side of my cheek and neck—a deep, twisting mark that used to make me shudder. I delayed marriage because of it. My parents, traditional as they were, finally encouraged me to use Matchmaker Services and meet Ethan. The matchmaker, thrilled, had told us our names were a match made in poetry. Ethan and Grace—it sounded like a pair meant to be together. “Just think,” she whispered to me, “he’s blind. He can’t even see your scars, so he won’t mind.” Ethan didn’t know about my scars. That made him even more accepting when he heard my background and circumstances. He was gentle and kind, and he had a way with the guitar, playing in the lobby while I’d sing for our clients, my voice unexpectedly clear and ringing. Our regulars even joked we were “the perfect harmony.” Life had closed doors for each of us, but meeting filled what had been missing. To most people, we were both tragic and enviable at the same time, as though we’d each found our soulmate despite fate’s challenges. Ethan hadn’t been blind since birth; an accident in a factory left his eyes permanently damaged from severe light exposure. For years, despite no medical progress, I’d still take him from doctor to doctor, hoping someone could help. After he lost his sight, Ethan learned the art of massage, and I left my job to support him, running the business side of Sunset Therapeutics. “Grace, I love you. I’d give anything to see your face…though I know I never will.” He used to touch my face, tracing my features with gentle fingers, that soft smile of his almost sorrowful. With no family left, I knew I was his only support in the world. Holding his hand to my cheek, I secretly made a promise to myself: I would do everything possible to restore his sight. Maggie, my best friend, warned me in quiet moments that Ethan’s good looks were bound to spell trouble if he ever regained his vision. Sometimes, I worried she might be right. But I’d forget it every time I saw Ethan’s daily struggle. All I wanted was his happiness and peace. One day, as I served him his favorite food—a bit of fried tuna eye, cooked just the way he liked it—I told him softly, “If you could see again, that’d be wonderful. But even if not, isn’t our life good as it is? Being able to see would just be icing on the cake.” Ethan nodded, shyly. He always relied on me without question, never starting a fight. Maybe it was all the prayers, or the endless doctor visits, or maybe even the fish eyes he’d been eating. Because, one day, he could see again. It happened when he accurately reached for a toothpaste tube that had fallen to the floor. Overwhelmed, I waved my hand in front of him. “Ethan, you can really see me?” I was in the kitchen, cooking while wearing a mask to avoid the fumes, as we hadn’t gotten a proper exhaust installed yet to save money. He rubbed his eyes, his excitement spilling into a loud shout. Then he asked me to remove my mask, eager to see me for the first time. “Grace, you don’t know how I’ve dreamed of this moment. Your voice is so sweet…you must be beautiful, I…” I froze, holding onto my mask. It hit me then how terrified I was of him seeing my face. The structure of my features was fine enough, but time had eroded whatever youth I’d once had. And of course, there was that long scar running along my cheek. Before I could think, he’d pulled off my mask, impatient. “Honey!” The ugly scar was exposed in the smoky kitchen air, and time seemed to freeze. My heart sank as I saw, in Ethan’s clear blue eyes, an unmistakable flicker of disappointment. Didn’t he know I’d once been beautiful too? Ignoring the tears prickling my eyes, I turned back to the stove, where the tuna eyes had burned, black and sticky at the bottom of the pan. They looked horribly unappetizing. “Don’t worry about it, honey,” Ethan murmured, wrapping his arms around me from behind and burying his face into my neck. “I still love you. Don’t doubt it.” The tears spilled over then, feeling both relieved and vulnerable in his embrace. Gathering my courage, I told him about my health condition. The doctor had recently diagnosed me with chronic endometriosis, a common issue, he’d said, for women. Getting pregnant might relieve the symptoms; otherwise, surgery might be the only option. The surgery was mostly effective, though it would nearly eliminate my chance of ever having kids. Embarrassed, I explained, “With you being blind all this time, we always used protection. We just didn’t plan on a baby.” There was a hint of longing in my voice, a hope I’d buried until now. I had once prepared myself to be childless my whole life, solely focused on supporting Ethan. He only nodded, barely smiling, though I saw his gaze linger on my scar. In the days that followed, he was more attentive, even helping with the housework. I began trying everything to get pregnant—lying with my legs up against the wall for half an hour each night, drinking herbal teas I could barely stomach. Ethan adjusted quickly to his new life, as if he had never lost his sight at all. But slowly, I began to notice something was off. It all started one evening after a familiar client had come by. Her name was Brittany Monroe. She was around twenty, beautiful, and striking, especially with her exaggerated curves. During one chat, she’d casually mentioned her breast enhancement. “In my line of work, you know, it’s all about looks and body. You have to look the part to work in public relations.” She’d said it without a thought, despite my scarred face. She had chronic back pain and often visited our massage parlor. This time was different though—Ethan could finally see her. It happened to be my ovulation period, and that night, I turned off the lights and tried to reach for him, gently caressing his shoulders. “Ethan…” But he wouldn’t touch me, only kissing my forehead and saying he was too tired. I thought it was because he was overworked, and I understood, nodding my agreement. Then I heard him, turning over, muttering: “You know, maybe you should check in with Revive Aesthetics, see if that laser scar removal thing can do anything.” I was stunned. I hadn’t felt that shame in so long—it flooded my face hot and cold. But above all, I was shocked. Was Ethan repulsed by my face?

Ethan’s vision returned, and he was soon back in his social circles, fitting in as if he’d never left. I, however, became more withdrawn, changing from lively to quiet and distant. I even spent a painful amount on a custom prosthetic skin cover, applying adhesive every day to hide the scar. Every removal hurt like fire, but I didn’t regret it if it helped him see me as a bit more acceptable. “Grace, you’ve got a bit of a people-pleasing problem, don’t you?” Maggie chastised me, exasperated at my blindness to the situation. I stayed calm, as usual. “It’s okay. He’s just excited about seeing again—it’s bound to take some adjustment. Once I get pregnant, things will settle down.” I’d believed that having a baby would bind him to us, keep him from straying. Then, things began to spiral out of control, shattering every last defense I’d held up in our marriage. Ethan stopped showing up at Sunset Therapeutics as often, saying he didn’t want to “fake being blind” anymore. At home, he slipped into his old habits, going back to doing nothing around the house, and soon became glued to his phone and video games. I reminded him that staring at a screen wasn’t good for his newly healed eyes, but he only snapped back at me: “Don’t bother me! I finally get to see, and I want to take in all the beauty I missed. Let me enjoy it.” Beauty, indeed, and not just the beauty of nature. I pursed my lips. He didn’t know I was aware that each night, he’d scroll through social media, liking videos of attractive women. Seeing him prefer those women on a screen over his own wife lying next to him was a wound that bled fresh each time. That evening, as I was heading out, I mentioned offhandedly that Frank Hall and Brittany Monroe would be at the massage parlor, so I’d be going there in person. The moment he heard those names, Ethan suddenly seemed energized, getting on his bike and speeding off ahead of me. Surprised, I raised an eyebrow. He mumbled something about wanting fishing tips from Frank. I nodded, saying nothing, then headed inside to clean the massage tools. Ethan did talk to Frank about fishing tips for a bit, thanking him for all the fish he’d brought over the years. Then I heard the chime of the shop’s door. “Oh, wow, it’s pouring rain out there—I forgot my umbrella. So hot and sticky out,” came Brittany’s voice. She was our regular, the PR girl. Last time, Ethan still pretended to be blind while massaging her. But here he was, acting blind again. “Guess we’re getting a little rain blessing,” he laughed. She giggled, her perfume drifting through the shop as she replied, “Well, if this is rain’s gift, then you can give me my massage.” My instincts kicked in, and I peered through the crack in the door. Brittany was radiant, with designer clothes and flawless makeup. While I doubted she’d fall for Ethan, it wasn’t impossible that he’d fall for her looks. “Ethan, I have to run an errand. I’ll be back soon. Please take care of Brittany’s session,” I told him. Our only other employee had called in sick, so he was alone with her. Ethan didn’t even blink at me as I left. His face seemed flushed, his usual pale complexion touched with red. “Sure thing, honey.” When I left, I made sure to close the door and adjust the blinds, leaving nothing to chance. What he didn’t know was that I’d followed Maggie’s advice and installed a tiny camera to watch the shop’s main area. After leaving, I made my way to a nearby café, where I opened the video feed on my phone. There she was, easing off her black stockings, shrugging out of her jacket to reveal her waistline, and lying down on the massage table. I held my breath, unable to tear my eyes away from the screen. They started talking, laughing, and I saw Ethan remove his gloves, applying the massage oil with his bare hands. Usually, we required gloves for hygiene purposes. Then, my heart stopped at what I saw next. What began as a straightforward massage quickly turned into something more. I could see the blush rising on his face. Brittany moaned softly, “It’s so hot in here. Why don’t you turn on the fan?” I silently willed him to turn on the fan—there were two ceiling fans in the small shop. But he just told her, “The fan’s broken.” Though it wasn’t summer yet, the humidity was still intense, and I was dripping sweat sitting in the café. Brittany muttered, “Oh,” looking visibly uncomfortable in the heat. Then she asked, “Can you actually see?” Ethan shook his head, playing innocent. “No, ma’am. I’m as blind as ever.” “Good, because this heat is killing me.” And then, as I watched, speechless, Brittany casually unbuttoned her blouse, exposing herself to the “blind” massage therapist.

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Title: After My Rebirth, I Danced on the Fake Daughter’s Head At the family reunion, Rebecca Reynolds held my hand, her eyes brimming with tears, “I’m so sorry for taking your life. Don’t worry, the inheritance will all be yours from now on.” I squeezed her hand back, pulling out a document renouncing my rights to the inheritance. “Okay, in that case, go ahead and sign this, Rebecca.” Before the fake daughter could object, I laid down on the floor, flailing my arms and legs, pulling my hair, scratching my neck, screaming, crying, rolling around. Eventually, I faked a seizure, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. I am the real daughter of the Reynolds family who was lost for years. Since I was little, I knew Mom didn’t love me. No matter how obedient and sensible I was, she always found a reason to hit me. Later, when the Reynolds family found me, I realized it’s because I was not their biological daughter. I thought the Reynolds family was my salvation. But my life ended tragically abroad instead. My miserable past life taught me one thing: Look out for number one. You can’t rely on anyone but yourself. Rebecca, now in shock, didn’t dare to move. She hurriedly signed the document in a panic, leaving her handprint. I stood up, brushed the dust off my clothes, and flashed a perfect flight attendant smile. “Thank you for your cooperation.” Turns out, acting crazy works wonders. So why did I spend my past life tiptoeing around, trying to please everyone? Acting wild really paid off this time! I handed the signed document to the lawyer. Some things are best left to professionals. People can change their minds, but the law doesn’t. This time around, you can keep the love, I’ll take the money. Seems fair to me.

The next day, my parents came to my apartment. My biological dad, Douglas Reynolds, carefully spoke up, “Can I take a look at the document Rebecca signed yesterday?” In this life, I didn’t go back to live with them. Instead, I chose a riverside apartment on my own. Last time, their happy family life made me feel like I was just a clown, coveting what wasn’t mine. No point forcing myself into a space where I clearly don’t fit in. It would only disgust everyone, including myself. I smiled, “Nope.” My bio mom, Darcy Reynolds, was caught off guard by my blunt refusal and scolded me with a stern face. “How can you be so heartless? Sure, you’re our biological daughter and the whole mix-up isn’t Rebecca’s fault, but your actions have been pretty harsh.” Last time around, I listened to them, didn’t compete with Rebecca. Yet, all they thought of me was a dropout who embarrassed them. They never really looked at me, not even the housekeeper hesitated to bully me either. Meanwhile, Rebecca thrived under their love, like she was some cherished princess. Was my fate just destined to be so miserable? Seeing my silence, Douglas’s face darkened. “Your mom and I are still alive and kicking, and you’re already scheming over the inheritance. How can you be so cold-blooded?” Listening to their accusations, I silently counted down in my mind. Three seconds later, I stood up, acting possessed. I flailed my hands around, running crazily around the living room. “Who took away my mom and dad? Suffering alone for eighteen years wasn’t bad enough? Now even my parents have been taken over?!?!” “Oh God, please give me back my mom and dad!” My parents were freaked out by my performance and didn’t dare to bring up the document again.

Just like in my past life, Rebecca suggested that I go to school with her, under the guise of “sister bonding.” But having dropped out in middle school, it was impossible to keep up with her in senior year. No surprise, I consistently ranked last in every exam. I’d never heard of the fancy brands, arts, or countries people talked about. Eventually, everyone started to hate me, saying I didn’t belong in the Reynolds family’s prestigious life. Rebecca used my misfortune to highlight her excellence. Over time, people knew the Reynolds family had a daughter who didn’t belong. To save face, they sent me abroad. This time, I won’t let them step all over me again. When Rebecca, smiling brightly, introduced us as twins to her friends, I slammed my hand on the table, lifted her bangs, held her chubby cheeks, and peeled off her double eyelid tape. “Open your eyes wide and take a good look. Do we look like twins?” The surrounding students were frightened by my fierce expression. “Speak! Do we? Who’s prettier?” “No, we don’t look alike… You, you look prettier.” I turned to Rebecca, “So, tell me, what’s our real relationship?” She held back tears, refusing to speak. Instantly, I flipped the desk in front of her and started acting crazed again. “Oh, the heavens! This ugly girl dares to say we’re twins. It’s a crime! I’m the real daughter, but she doesn’t let go of my place. Is she trying to take over my destiny? Heaven, help! I can’t live like this!!!” With everyone’s eyes on her, Rebecca covered her face and ran off. I calmly sat back down, grinning eerily. Word spread fast throughout the high school; Rebecca was the fake daughter. After that, she never returned.

That evening, the Reynolds parents brought Rebecca to my apartment. “How dare you tell people at school that Rebecca isn’t our real daughter? What do you gain from it?” “Well, everyone now knows that I’m the rightful heir to the Reynolds legacy, so, watch out.” Douglas, furious, jabbed his finger at my head, “I’m still alive, and I’ll decide who gets to be the heir!” I smirked. “Got bubbles in your brain, old man? Is this house yours? Do you own any company shares? What right does a freeloading gold digger have to bark orders here?” Darcy and Rebecca were shocked speechless. They usually tiptoed around Douglas’s fragile ego, always pampering him. Pamper someone long enough, and they’ll start believing it. Seeing Douglas tremble with anger, I continued to poke his sore spot. “Everything here belongs to the Reynolds family, including what you use. Don’t forget, my grandpa holds the reins. He’s the one who decides who inherits, not you. Got it?” “Respect me, and maybe I’ll let you have some scraps. If not, once I take over, I’ll kick you out.” Douglas threw his shoe at me, “You ungrateful brat! I’ll rip your mouth off your face!” I dodged easily and turned to Darcy, “Your husband is attacking your own daughter and you’re just standing there? Is this your way of making up for losing me for eighteen years? I’m your blood, and you still prioritize a leeching husband over your own kid?” Darcy stood there unmoved. “Your dad is teaching you a lesson. That’s his right.” Seeing the neighbors crowded around our door with their phones out, Douglas was forced to back down to save face. Through these incidents, Rebecca learned the hard way not to confront me directly. She started to create scenarios at school to paint me as a bully and gain sympathy, making the students hate me. What could I do? I just played along—questioning her, empathizing with her, becoming her, and finally proving her right. “Hey sis, don’t you like me?” “Drop the fake sister act, it’s annoying.” “Sis, I brought you some snacks.” “Afraid you poisoned them.” With both our efforts, everyone soon saw Rebecca as the selfless, kind one who gave up her inheritance to care for her troubled little sister. And me, Jennifer, as the arrogant, blood-related bully who was hell-bent on tormenting poor Rebecca. Sisterly bond? Funny.

One day, Rebecca didn’t come home, leaving my parents pacing in the living room, sending one search party after another with no news. It was only early in the morning when the school’s security found Rebecca locked in the equipment room. Freezing, she ran into her parents’ arms. “Maybe my sister was just playing a prank. Mom, Dad, don’t blame her.” No way was it just a prank on my part. I found out she was planning to frame me, so I locked the equipment room and turned off the heating for good measure. “Enjoy the winter chill, Rebecca,” I thought. Douglas came at me with a slap, “How could you be so evil? Apologize to your sister right now.” I rubbed my swollen cheek. Walking up to my mom, I yanked Rebecca out of her arms and slapped her twice. Dad’s debt, paid by his daughter, buy one get one free. “Say, which eye of yours saw me lock you up, Rebecca?” Terrified, Rebecca cried out. “Jennifer! Stop! Mom is so disappointed in you.” Laughable. Like I care. I put on a fearless expression, tightening my grip on Rebecca’s hair and pinching her behind her back. Rebecca yelped in pain, “Stop! Stop! I’ll tell the truth… It was my own fault. Boohoo…” “Why did you lock yourself up? No lying.” I pinched her harder. “Uh, because… I wanted to frame you.” I let her go, and she bolted like a scared cat. I turned to Douglas, “Hear that? You should control your ‘perfect’ daughter better and stop spreading lies.” In the office, teachers whispered about me. “Humph! Some people falsely accuse me and won’t let me clear myself up.” “Oh dear Lord, they didn’t even check the cameras. They want me dead!” I crawled on the ground evilly and then pretended to faint. For a few days, rumors about me harming Rebecca spread everywhere. I found my homework torn up, my water bottle filled with paper bits. Childish stuff. But no biggie for me. After using the bathroom one lunchtime, I found the door locked from the outside, with giggles filtering in. Bring it on. I stepped back and kicked the door open. Grabbing a mop, I swished it around in the toilet and started flinging it at them. Rebecca and her crew recoiled in horror as I aimed for their faces. Long spear dipped in filth, whoever’s in the way gets hit. Soon enough, they were covered in nasty stains. “Jennifer, you witch! This isn’t over—” gag They retreated, and Rebecca lunged at me. I swung the mop, knocking her down, while she winced in pain. I leaned against the door, blocking their path to the classroom. “No dirty things allowed in school.” At that moment, the teacher arrived. “Jennifer, this behavior is intolerable! Apologize to your classmates and write a 3,000-word reflection.” I scoffed, still in the doorway. “Pay attention when the teacher talks to you. Show some respect. Reynolds family must be ashamed of having a daughter like you.” “Respect for you? A corrupt teacher who plays favorites and sucks up to the principal? You sort students into tiers, using scholarships and awards as bribes. Today marks your last day on the job.” The teacher, furious, “How dare you!” “Oh, spare me. Return all the bribes you took and hope for leniency.” He had often taken gifts from Rebecca in the past, turning a blind eye to my suffering. Those who had been discriminated against for their poor family backgrounds now looked at me with newfound respect. Awkward but satisfying. The next day, we got a new teacher who devoted himself entirely to preparing us for college entrance exams. The poisonous atmosphere lifted, and the study environment became much fresher. 5 That weekend, the Reynolds family sent a driver to bring me back for dinner. I knew right away it was going to be a trap. I made sure to wear something comfortable, an outfit that allowed for easy movement. Couldn’t let clothes hinder my performance. Barely had I sat down and taken a few bites before Douglas started lecturing me. Same old accusations — selfish, rude, vulgar. Then he demanded that I hand over the inheritance renunciation agreement Rebecca had signed previously. “You weren’t with me and your mom growing up, so you’ve picked up some bad habits. But if you behave and change, you’ll still be our good daughter, and we won’t treat you poorly.” I looked at Darcy, my biological mother. “Mom hopes you can get along with Rebecca.” Some people really will neglect their own children for the sake of some undeserving man. I stood up and shattered my plate on the ground. “What a joke. When have you ever treated me fairly? Have you even asked about the kind of life I lived? I wanted to get along, but Rebecca kept targeting me. And every time, it was her who started it. Have you once, even once, stood up for me?” “Jennifer, don’t slander me. Mom, Dad, you can ask around at school. I’ve always wanted to get along…” Before Rebecca could finish, I grabbed a plate of food and dumped it on her head. “Shut up!” Douglas shouted, “Jennifer, how dare you hit someone in front of your parents!” He called in a couple of security guards to pin me down. I might be feisty, but I’m no match against two grown men. “I’ll beat this rebellious daughter of mine to death today.” Douglas picked up a stick and started hitting me. The pain made sweat bead on my forehead. Darcy didn’t intervene; she was busy wiping food off Rebecca’s head. Rebecca played the innocent, sobbing while comforting her parents that she was okay. The whole scene was ridiculous. I held back my tears. Compared to my previous life, this was nothing. After a few strikes, Douglas paused, mistaking my lack of resistance for submission. Slumped on the floor, I saw my chance. I grabbed the stick and struck Douglas straight on the head with all my strength. Douglas crumpled to the ground, unable to get up. The security guards were stunned, and Darcy screamed. She rushed over and slapped me. “Jennifer, you’re not my daughter anymore.” Fine by me; I didn’t want them as my parents either. The mansion was in chaos, and when someone tried to make a call, I raised the stick. “Who’s calling?” The maid froze, probably because I actually meant business.

From then on, the Reynolds family cut off all contact with me. Rebecca would go out of her way to avoid me at school. I heard Douglas had been in the hospital for a few days. Only a few days? I must have gone easy on him. They canceled my credit cards and took back the apartment. They even sent a lawyer with a document severing parental ties. I gladly signed it. Let them enjoy their small victory for now. For my eighteenth birthday, the Reynolds threw a huge party for Rebecca, not bothering to invite me. No big deal. I have legs, don’t I? I put on a stylish new dress and arrived fashionably late. Rebecca looked like she’d seen a ghost. “You’re not welcome here. Get lost.” Douglas soon arrived. “You signed the severance papers. Get out.” “So your family needs to get out of my house. I don’t like strangers here.” Douglas raised his hand to hit me, but my security guards stepped in — I’d brought a dozen of them this time, all well-trained. I walked right up to the stage and took the mic from the host. “Hello, everyone. I’m Jennifer, the rightful heir to the Reynolds family. Moving forward, I’ll be taking over Reynolds Corp.” Guests, many high-profile business associates of the Reynolds, started whispering amongst themselves. Douglas tried to disrupt me, but my guards held him back. I dropped another bombshell. “The board has decided to remove Douglas from all positions at Reynolds Corp and will pursue legal action for any crimes he committed while in office.” Douglas, furious, started screaming insults at me. “You little brat! Without your grandpa, you’re nothing. You think you can push me out? I’ve been with Reynolds for twenty years! Who do you think gave you this power?” “I did.”

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In a luxurious hotel, a couple was carried out, stuck together like conjoined twins, and loaded into an ambulance. And all of this was orchestrated by me. When I calmly called my husband, he was desperately trying to control his pain. “Honey, I’m in a meeting.” I gently reminded him, “Since you two love each other so much, why don’t you stay together forever?” I first noticed something was off with Frank when I was on a business trip to South Korea. He posted a photo on Instagram with the caption: “Clear skies, gentle breeze, the Maldives sea is especially blue today.” He was on his annual leave while I was away, visiting the Maldives he had been dreaming of. The photo was a group shot with his colleagues and friends. The seemingly ordinary group photo caught my attention for an unusual detail. My husband was originally wearing a pair of swim trunks I had given him, but they had mysteriously disappeared in the group photo, replaced by a new pair. After some searching, I found a dining photo he posted five days earlier, where half of a woman’s bottom was in the frame, wearing the exact same swim trunks. They were even pinned with a safety pin due to being too large. Could my husband be cheating? To verify my suspicion, I asked him about it when he returned. Instead of stammering, he smoothly told me that he had lost the trunks. “Honey, this is so embarrassing. You know those trunks? Guess what? While I was swimming in the sea, I didn’t tie the drawstring tight enough, and they got washed away!” He slapped his thigh as he spoke, using a tone as if he was telling a funny story, which he often did to joke with me before. But now, I coldly watched his performance. This day was our fifth wedding anniversary, which he had completely forgotten. Seeing that he hadn’t made me laugh, he fell silent and voluntarily put his arm around my shoulder. “Honey, I’ll take better care of the things you give me in the future. Don’t be angry, okay?” He pouted and made a face at me, something I used to love when we were dating. But now, looking at Frank’s greasy face, I suddenly felt a wave of regret. When he was pursuing me, he was the least attractive among all my suitors, but he had a gentle temperament and his career was on par with mine. I thought choosing an unattractive man would ensure loyalty and faithfulness. I didn’t expect that men’s inherent flaws have nothing to do with looks. That afternoon, the company notified me of overtime work. I went to the underground parking lot to get my car. My husband and I each had a car, but mine was being serviced at the dealership, so I took his. Relying on a woman’s keen sixth sense, I detected an unusual signal – the passenger seat had been moved, reclined at least 15 degrees more than usual. Someone had sat in our private car. We bought this comfortable Mercedes SUV when we decided to try for a baby, thinking of our future child’s comfort. I have a sensitive nose, and a faint fishy smell in the air subtly reminded me: they had made love in this car. And to make it convenient, they had adjusted the seat angle. My eyes scanned the car seat, and sure enough, I found a small section of black fabric peeking out from the gap in the passenger armrest. I pulled it out – it was a pair of panties, with particularly sexy and eye-catching lace trim. I tucked away this evidence, pretending nothing had happened. A few days later, a bikini was stuffed in the same place. I coldly gripped it, but this time I noticed something different. I caught a faint whiff of perfume on the bikini. It was a new light fragrance from LV’s early summer collection, which I had tried on by chance while shopping at the mall. For this clue, I specifically met with many suspicious individuals, including my husband’s female colleagues and classmates. Finally, I discovered that only my goddaughter, Mia, wore the exact same scent. When she saw me, she was as affectionate as ever, snuggling up to my arm. “Godmother, did you miss me? I’ve been looking for a job recently. When should we have dinner together?” It was then that I noticed the once skinny high school girl I first met had grown into a tall, curvaceous young woman. I heard she had even undergone breast augmentation surgery earlier this year to enhance her beauty. Judging by the size, it should be about the same as the bikini I found. Mia was a student we had sponsored for four years, and she had just graduated from university. In my eyes, she was excellent in both character and studies, and should have been able to find a better future. Could it be that she was also confused, thinking she could climb the social ladder and transform from a sparrow to a phoenix by being my husband’s mistress?

I deliberately teased her with a smile: “You’ve become even prettier in the few months we haven’t seen each other. Those breast enhancement pills really work well, your figure is even more amazing now.” She seemed a bit embarrassed, coyly pushing me away, “Oh, godmother, you’re so naughty~” Mia’s lips flashed a hint of cunning, but she proudly told me: “Yes, I used breast enhancement pills. You can see the results yourself, godmother. A celebrity figure.” I nodded silently, thinking this was probably the ideal body type that men love most in adult films. Men are all visual creatures. Who could resist a pure and busty college girl? Compared to her, my well-maintained figure from years of Pilates seemed so ordinary. “Let’s have dinner together sometime.” “Sure!” She nodded excitedly, constantly praising my good taste, saying that the clothes and bags I matched were particularly stylish. It was then that I noticed the gemstone ring on her finger and the luxury brand clothes she was wearing. It seemed she had been doing well recently. “Godmother, you’re becoming more and more charming. Uncle Frank must love you very much. This is called the charm of a mature woman!” Mia, being a business major, was indeed skilled in both flattery techniques and tone. After returning home, I expressionlessly threw away all the car accessories and replaced them with a new set. Coincidentally, Frank had just returned from “working overtime.” Seeing that I had prepared a late-night snack, he gave me a hug and said with a smile: “Honey, you’re so considerate. Thank you for your hard work.” His suit was spotless, with a deliberate attempt to cover up with chewing gum and men’s cologne, making me even more suspicious. At that moment, I really wanted to sarcastically ask him: “You’re back? Have you showered? Is the smell of women still on you?” But I held back. Years of workplace experience had taught me the importance of restraint and calmness. I still smiled and replied, “Okay, honey. I picked up your documents from the security guard and put them on the computer desk.” “Thank you, honey.” That night, he seemed eager to be intimate with me. I pretended to go along with it but noticed that his enthusiasm was actually low. So that’s it. After having an affair outside, he naturally lacked energy. So I directly said I was tired and would just browse my phone for a while before sleeping. He sneakily came closer to me and patted his shoulder confidently, “Do you want to lean on my shoulder for a bit?” I turned my back to him without responding, but my lips moved silently: I don’t want to rest my head where another woman has placed her legs. “By the way, I ran into Mia today. She said she wants to have lunch with us the day after tomorrow,” I probed. “She’s really grown into a beauty now, quite the transformation.” Frank seemed to hesitate for a moment but still answered calmly, revealing nothing. “Hmm, I haven’t seen her in a long time either.” I smirked, thinking I’d like to see how long you two can keep up this act. The next day at noon, Frank and I took time off and invited our goddaughter to a Chinese hot pot restaurant for a “reunion.” Mia wore a low-cut black cocktail dress that accentuated her fair skin, creating a striking visual contrast that made her look both alluring and delicate. While ordering, Frank casually instructed: “Waiter, we need a split pot. Mia is on her period these days and can’t eat anything too spicy.” Seeing my displeased expression, Mia quickly tried to smooth things over with a smile, “Don’t misunderstand, I just told Uncle Frank about my period earlier.” Only then did Frank realize his mistake and hurriedly said, “Yes, honey, your stomach isn’t good, so you shouldn’t eat anything too spicy either.” Love or lack thereof can easily be seen in the details. That night, I deliberately got myself drunk, but actually secretly spit all the alcohol into a trash can under the table. Seeing that he couldn’t move me, Frank gently covered me with his jacket and quietly sent me to a room upstairs in the hotel. I didn’t sleep at all that night. The jacket covering me had a faint scent of perfume, seemingly mocking me for his lack of love. The next day, I lied about items being stolen from the car and contacted the property management to check the surveillance footage in the underground parking lot. Sure enough, I found that they had left home by car in the morning. The car wasn’t enough, they dared to bring the mistress into our home now, right? If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I might have still liked this goddaughter of ours, being fooled by my husband’s sweet words.

I spent a hefty sum to hire a private investigator to look into Mia. After marrying Frank, we managed our salaries separately, so he didn’t know how much savings I had. In fact, I had earned quite a bit through investments over the years. Originally, I planned to buy an apartment in the city center for our child after getting pregnant, which would be convenient for schooling. Now it seems that won’t be necessary. A few days later, the private investigator came to tell me, “There was a famous socialite at the University of Cambridge, and that was Mia. Fellow students said they often saw her going out to dinner with various men…” No wonder Mia could afford LV perfume and was dressed in designer brands when I saw her last time, even though she had just graduated and hadn’t found a job yet. “According to her classmates, she was previously expelled from school due to her private life issues, and she even tried to seduce the vice-chancellor, but failed.” “Moreover, Mia’s academic performance was actually at the bottom of the class, teetering on the edge of being asked to leave.” When I heard the private investigator say these things, my heart was bleeding. When we chose to sponsor her, she was still a thin, sallow-faced little girl, but her eyes sparkled with determination. Because of her good grades, she once earnestly told me that she believed “knowledge can change destiny.” She would sweetly call me “godmother,” and dance happily when she first wore the new dress I bought for her… I never expected that after struggling to get into the University of Cambridge and seeing the world, her values would change to believe that being a rich man’s mistress was better than studying. I heard that her current profession is modeling, and her next step is to enter the entertainment industry to make money, which explains the plastic surgery and breast augmentation. I remembered that Frank’s work was related to the entertainment industry. She probably wanted to enter the entertainment industry through Frank, and then dump him to hook up with other wealthy men. After all, what face does a girl who was so promiscuous in school have left to give up? Besides this, the private investigator also gave me a fund flow statement, which was Frank’s payment details. We manage our finances separately, and most of his income comes from salary and stocks. Another part is clearly shown on the bill – nearly 100,000 yuan spent on Mia! How long have they been together? And he’s already spent so much money! I asked the private investigator for one thing: a listening device that could be installed in the car. He hesitated and reminded me that eavesdropping is illegal, and evidence obtained through eavesdropping would not be accepted by the court. I said I knew that and wouldn’t use it as evidence. I just wanted to see if this pair of scumbags was really that disgusting. He then nodded and handed the device to me. A few days later, I used the excuse of a business trip to not return home. Sure enough, I discovered activity in the car. It seems they really like this SUV. “I want a hug,” Mia’s seductive voice came through the earphones. “My sweet baby, did you miss me today?” This was Frank’s naughty laugh, very different from his usual reserved and mature professional demeanor. “I did, you’re so bad.” The rest was just the sound of the seats creaking. Listening to those sounds, I smirked and clenched my fists, then immediately dialed Frank’s number without hesitation. He hung up several times, but seeing my urgent calls, he was forced to answer. “Hello, honey, where are you?” I asked. “Honey, I… ah… I’m in a meeting,” he tried to keep his voice calm and gentle. But I could still hear the sound of a zipper being pulled down, as well as his suppressed gasps. You know, I’m only eight years older than Mia, just turned thirty this year, and I take good care of myself. I don’t look old at all. Frank is average-looking, and his overall financial situation is not as good as mine. When we first got together, relatives and friends jokingly called us “Beauty and the Beast.” Many men wanted to pursue me. Since Frank doesn’t cherish what he has, he deserves to be abandoned by me. I smirked. Since they like being naked so much, I’ll grant their wish!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294598”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantsy #狼人werewolf #擦边Steamy #励志Inspiring #现实主义Realistic #校园School #后宫Harem #重生Reborn

After Saving the Obsessive CEO, I Embarked on My Journey Abroad With my studies completed, I secretly returned home, eager to surprise him. However, I was shocked to hear from a friend about the rumors spreading in my absence. They said I had died in a car accident. When I saw Xavier Cooper again, he was furiously kicking a girl in the stomach. His breathing was heavy, his voice filled with restrained fury. “Haven’t I told you all already? No one can ever replace her!” I stood at the entrance of the Cooper Estate, completely dumbfounded. I looked around, blinking in disbelief. Has it really been only a few years? How has he managed to move into an entire estate? I glanced at the driver again, confirming for the second time if this was really Xavier Cooper’s place. Only when he nodded did I gather the courage to step forward. As I approached the large house, I noticed two maids standing by the door. One of them was Fiona, someone I had known since childhood. I was just about to greet her with a smile when she looked at me without any surprise, her expression unchanged. Before I could speak, Fiona rolled her eyes and beckoned me closer. “Oh, seriously, aren’t you all tired of this game yet? Every day, another replacement shows up. Master Cooper has made it clear – he’d never marry anyone but Miss Lucy. Now that Miss Lucy is dead, all these lookalikes just keep coming in. It’s exhausting.” She gave me a quick glance, her eyes narrowing in surprise. Before I could ask her anything, she nudged the other maid beside her and whispered, “Look, this one really resembles her. Eighty or ninety percent at least. Maybe this time the Master will finally take an interest.” “Enough already,” the other maid muttered, disinterested, “it’s not for us to decide whether he likes her or not. Just take her inside.” Fiona, clearly bored, waved at me to follow her into the house. The large, dark door loomed in front of me, sending an ominous shiver down my spine. Sweat dampened my grip on the handle of my suitcase. Fiona turned back to me with a hint of annoyance in her voice. “What are you standing around for? Come on. Why on earth are you dragging a suitcase? Don’t tell me you think the Master would actually fall for you?” I ignored her taunts because my mind was racing. What on earth was going on? What happened in the years I’ve been away?

Fiona led me into a room that resembled a bedroom. But honestly, it was as big as a regular living room. It was dark, everything coated in a greyish mist like it hadn’t been touched in a while. I was just squinting to make out the details when the door slammed shut behind me. I jumped, rushing to the door, only to find it locked from the outside. I swallowed hard. The bad feeling in my gut was quickly turning into full-blown panic. Suddenly, the silence of the room was shattered by a heavy thud, followed by a woman’s desperate cries. “Mr. Cooper, please spare me! I was a fool to try and pretend to be Miss Lucy. I won’t do it again, I swear!” My eyes adjusted to the dark, and I could make out two shadows. A tall, broad-shouldered man stood over a woman who was kneeling at his feet, pleading desperately. But he didn’t give her time to beg. With one swift kick, he knocked her to the ground. I flinched as something flew past me. The woman clutched her face, but Xavier wasn’t finished. He kept kicking her, each strike landing with a thud. “You think you can impersonate Lucy?” he spat. “She’s a thousand, no, a million times better than any of you. And don’t think I don’t know what you’re after. I’ve warned you all before.” His kicks grew harder, fiercer. The woman’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. She stretched out her hand toward me, as if pleading for help. Paralyzed by fear, I sank to the floor, clasping my hands over my mouth to keep myself from screaming. Unfortunately, it didn’t matter. Xavier had already noticed me. He kicked the woman aside and began striding towards me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I scrambled towards the door. Xavier looked down at me with disdain. “Well? Who sent you this time? You’ve got a pretty weak stomach for a spy.” The word spy caught my attention, but I didn’t have time to think about it. Survival came first. My back hit the wall, my last escape route cut off. He walked over, humming a little tune like a cat playing with its prey. I pressed against the wall, desperately thinking of a way to save myself. Clearly, in the years I’ve been away, Xavier had completely lost it. He’s become some kind of sadistic lunatic. My brain, already slow under pressure, completely shut down. I stared blankly as he reached me, trapping me against the wall. I felt his gaze sweep over me, cold and heavy. He leaned in, and I instinctively shrank away, but before I could beg, his strong hands wrapped around my throat. His grip was tight, and within seconds I couldn’t breathe. I tried to twist my neck free, but his hold only grew stronger. He leaned in close, his breath icy against my ear. “Let’s see just how much you look like her, shall we?” I turned my head away, avoiding his gaze, but he laughed coldly. Grabbing my chin, he forced me to face him. Our eyes met. For a moment, everything was silent. His long eyelashes trembled, his lips pale and quivering. There was a strange glimmer in his dark eyes, almost as if he was about to cry. Then, after a moment, he shook his head, muttering to himself. “You look just like her. But…you can’t be her.” His eyes filled with a complicated emotion as he stared at me. He pressed his lips together, deep in thought. The grip around my throat loosened slightly. “I’ll give you one chance,” he said, his voice cold and detached. “Tell me who sent you, and I might just spare you. But don’t ever show your face here again.” I had no idea what he was talking about. Who sent me? No one sent me. I came here on my own. He released my throat, expecting me to speak. I coughed a few times and then blurted out that I truly didn’t know what he was talking about. Xavier’s anger flared once more. His grip tightened again, his eyes flashing with danger. “Speak. Who sent you? My patience is running out.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I cried. “No one sent me. Are you deaf?” Tears began to roll down my face as I spoke. Xavier’s expression faltered for a moment, but he steeled himself, tightening his hold once again. Everything was growing dark. Just then, a thought flashed through my mind—his weakness. Did it still work? Using every ounce of strength I had left, I jabbed my thumb into the space between his second and third ribs. I remembered that spot well. He got that scar while protecting me from a human trafficker.

I jabbed as hard as I could. Xavier hissed in pain, his grip loosening for just a moment. I gasped for air, finally able to breathe again. Taking advantage of the moment, I struggled to get up, trying to make a break for the door. But before I could move far, his hand shot out and grabbed me by the wrist. My heart sank. This was it. I’d hurt him, and now he was going to kill me for real. I turned to face him, expecting to see pure rage on his face. But instead, his expression was one of pure confusion, as if he couldn’t quite understand what had just happened. He gingerly touched the small scar on his rib, his eyes wide with shock. “How… how do you know about this?” His voice cracked, his tone more frantic than ever. “Who told you about this? Do you… do you know Lucy?” Xavier’s gaze turned desperate, and he reached for me again, his voice trembling as he begged. “Tell me where she is! Please, I’ll give you anything. A million… ten million… no, a hundred million pounds! I’ll give you one hundred million, just tell me where Lucy is!” I stared at him, completely stunned. He was losing it. After hesitating for a moment, I forced myself to speak, my voice coming out more awkward than I’d hoped. “I am Lucy Ward, remember? It’s been a long time. Five years, actually. You’ve upgraded to an estate since then, huh? By the way, about that one hundred million pounds… is that offer still good?” Xavier froze, blinking at me as if he couldn’t process what I’d just said. He looked me up and down several times before slowly opening his mouth and reciting the words we had jokingly agreed upon all those years ago. “One… two… three… four… five.” I couldn’t help but respond, my voice weak. “And Cooper is… five foot five.” We had made that joke when we were younger, back when he really was just five foot five. Now, though, in just five years, he’d grown so tall I couldn’t even reach his shoulder. Xavier’s lips quivered, and then, with a sudden burst of movement, he slapped himself hard across the face. “I’m not dreaming, am I?” His voice trembled. “It’s really you. Lucy, you’re alive.” The look in his eyes sent a wave of unease through me. Surely he wouldn’t try to use the dream excuse to get out of paying the one hundred million, right? I quickly spoke up. “No, you’re definitely not dreaming, so don’t even think about backing out on the one hundred million you promised.” Xavier’s mouth twitched slightly, then he lifted my hand, resting his head against it. “One hundred million isn’t nearly enough. How about this—I’ll give you myself instead. I’m worth five billion.” I stared at him in disbelief. Five billion? Was it really that easy? Before I could fully process his words, he scooped me up effortlessly, lifting me into the air. I was stunned, staring at his face, which was now much too close to mine. His warm breath tickled my cheek, making my thoughts sluggish. I snapped back to reality and began to struggle. “What are you doing? Put me down right now!” Xavier smirked, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Lulu, since I’m offering myself to you, shouldn’t you give me something in return?” Without another word, he carried me toward the bed. Realizing his intentions, I started thrashing in his arms, but before I could stop him, he had already thrown me onto the mattress. He climbed on top of me, beginning to undo his shirt.

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After losing passion with my husband, I asked my best friend to help me relax. Little did I know, she would take me to a very different kind of club, and that night became an unforgettable turning point in my life… Yesterday, my husband Tom Bennett and I had a huge argument. The reason? His inappropriate closeness with a colleague. Tom works as an executive at Harper & Sons, a young and successful man, tall and handsome. Naturally, there are plenty of women with ulterior motives around him. This isn’t the first time we’ve fought over this. Yesterday, on a whim, I decided to surprise him at work with lunch. I walked in just in time to see a curvy woman leaning over his shoulder under the pretext of delivering documents, her low-cut blouse leaving little to the imagination. Rage bubbled up inside me, and we ended up having a fight right there in his office. Needless to say, it didn’t end well. That night, Tom didn’t come home. Every time we have a fight, he uses this tactic. I was shaking with anger and had no one to turn to. On a sudden impulse, I decided to visit my best friend, Rania Collins. Little did I know that this decision would change my life. Rania and I are very close, and we know each other’s door codes. I called her first, but there was no answer. Thinking she must have gone to bed early, I decided to head over anyway. When I arrived, I let myself in easily with her door code. But as I walked into the living room, I was met with the unmistakable sounds of passion coming from her bedroom. I was puzzled. Isn’t her husband, Lee, supposed to be away on a year-long business trip? How could he be back so soon? Then a strange thought crossed my mind. Rania was cheating! Without even thinking, I walked to her bedroom door, which was slightly ajar. Through the crack, I saw two bodies entwined. The man’s body was young and muscular, his strong arms gripping Rania’s slim waist tightly. Her smooth, pale skin was pressed against his dark, toned physique, their bodies colliding with such intensity that I stood there, red-faced and frozen. Rania was indeed cheating! And with a younger man! It was the kind of thing I only ever fantasized about in my lonelier moments. But beneath my embarrassment, I realized something more. I was envious. After all these years of marriage, I had never truly experienced pleasure as a woman. Our marital life had always been rushed and unfulfilling. Deep down, I too had longed for a young, strong man who could release the tension I’d been carrying for so long. Just as I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard the bathroom door creak open behind me. A voice of surprise called out. “Who’s there?” My mind snapped back to reality. The sounds in the bedroom immediately stopped, and both Rania and the man turned to look at me. … “I… I didn’t mean to… I tried calling, but you didn’t answer, so I…” I stammered, embarrassed, trying to explain to Rania. But to my surprise, she waved it off nonchalantly, dismissing the two young men in the room before casually pulling me over to the sofa for a chat. “Another fight with Tom?” She didn’t seem fazed at all. Relieved that she wasn’t bothered by me seeing her earlier, I let out a deep breath and started pouring out my frustrations. But after hearing everything, she simply rolled her eyes at me in annoyance. “He’s out there flirting with other women. Why don’t you just find someone else?” I was shocked by her words. Then, without hesitation, she started telling me about the two young men from earlier. She said they were personal trainers. I’d heard of that sort of thing—personal trainers who, in reality, offered more than just fitness coaching. So naturally, I declined. But Rania wasn’t the least bit concerned. Instead, she casually showed me a video she had taken. In the video, she was lying on a soft hotel bed. At her feet, several shirtless, muscular men were kissing her legs… As her moans grew louder in the video, I looked away, blushing. … It was impossible not to feel tempted. But as an educated adult, I struggled to reconcile such morally questionable behavior. “I can’t… I’m married. What if Tom finds out…” “You’re still worried about Tom? Has he ever considered your feelings?” Rania interrupted, clearly frustrated, and pulled me up from the sofa. “Emily, I can’t stand your hesitation. You’re coming out with me right now!” That very night, I reluctantly put on the outfit Rania had chosen for me, and she took me to a club in Croydon Central.

Rania gave her name at the front desk, and we were escorted to a private lounge. The lighting was soft and suggestive, the decor luxurious—like a five-star hotel. In the dim glow of the large TV screen, I could make out several oversized sofas that looked more like beds, and three men dressed in minimal clothing. As soon as they saw us, they approached with warm smiles, politely taking our bags. “Good evening, ladies.” Their physiques were impressive, clearly the result of years of training. Their faces were handsome too, obviously carefully selected. I guess that was the specialty of this place. They wore only tight shorts, showing off their broad shoulders and firm abs. Seeing their bodies and the outlines beneath their shorts made me blush uncontrollably. Youth is truly something special. Rania had been quietly watching my reactions, and when she saw my flushed face, she smiled in satisfaction. “Oh, stop with the theatrics and get on with helping this lovely lady relax.” She gave me a playful push toward one of the men, winking suggestively. “Don’t be shy. You’re here now, so just let loose. No point wasting time over an unfaithful husband. From now on, you can both do your own thing!” “And what about you, Rania?” As she spoke, a dark-haired man came forward, grinning at her. His skin was a deep tan, and I recognized him immediately as the man I had seen in Rania’s bedroom earlier. His name was Luke Evans, according to Rania. Luke wrapped his arm around Rania’s neck and asked, “The usual?” “Of course, the usual.” Rania wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes filled with desire. “I didn’t quite get enough earlier. Let’s pick up where we left off.” “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied tonight.” Without a second thought, they started kissing passionately. Rania boldly pushed Luke onto the sofa and began undressing, her body moving sensuously. She’s really fearless. Luke was clearly aroused, his eyes dark with desire as he grabbed her, pulling her underneath him. The two of them had no qualms about engaging in their passion right in front of us, and soon the lounge was filled with the sounds of their pleasure. As their intensity grew, Rania’s legs stiffened, and her moans became uncontrollable. I could feel the man in front of me breathing heavily, his body reacting to the scene. “Aren’t you getting more excited with an audience?” “You seem to be too. I’ve never seen you so into it…” Though I’d been married for years, our physical relationship had always been…ordinary. Watching this explicit scene unfold in front of me, hearing the sounds of their bodies colliding, made my breath hitch. This was going too far… Rania, now flushed and delirious, turned her head towards me, panting as she whispered, “See, darling? There’s nothing to be afraid of. After all, Tom cheated on you first. Don’t you deserve to do the same?” With that, she wrapped her legs tightly around Luke’s waist. “Darling, let’s go to the back room. I want to try the new toys.” “Whatever you want, babe.” Luke lifted her into his arms, giving a knowing look to the young man beside me, and the three of them disappeared into the adjacent room. Soon, Rania’s excited voice could be heard through the walls. Hearing the noises from the other room, the man holding me, Ryan James, couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “Would you like to relax here first? Or shall we head straight in?” As he spoke, his hands slid naturally onto my hips, the heat of his body sending a shiver down my spine. “I… I don’t know.” I lowered my head, too nervous to meet his gaze. Ryan chuckled softly at my hesitation. “You’re so sweet. It’s your first time here, right? You must be shy. How about we go straight to the private room?” Even a fool could understand the implication behind his words, and once again, my face flushed. But this time, I didn’t resist. “Alright.”

The private room was set up with an intimate ambiance. Soft, golden lighting illuminated the round, canopied bed in the center of the room. Across from it was a large mirror, tall enough to reflect everything that happened on the bed. A few lace lingerie pieces were laid out on the bed. This kind of sensuality was something Tom had never introduced into our marriage. As I imagined what was about to happen, my heart pounded with anticipation. Noticing this, Ryan smiled and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re nervous, aren’t you? No need to be. Just think of me as your boyfriend.” I turned around and threw my arms around him, letting myself melt into his embrace. His body was firm and muscular, reminding me of my first love, the nervous excitement of touching someone so fit. Since getting married, I hadn’t felt this youthful energy, this rush of adrenaline, from being with a man. “So, you like my chest muscles, huh?” Ryan whispered teasingly in my ear, planting a soft kiss on my neck. “But I’ve got some pretty solid abs too. Want to feel them? Or maybe… somewhere else?” His voice grew more seductive, and his breath on my neck sent shivers through me. His hands started to roam, caressing my body with a deliberate slowness that made me feel like I was about to lose control. I felt overwhelmed, not knowing how to respond. My brain was screaming that this was wrong, that I was married, but my body had a mind of its own. My heart was pounding, my thoughts spinning as Ryan’s hands continued to explore. “But… I’m married,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Isn’t this… isn’t this wrong?” Even as I said the words, I could feel my resolve crumbling. I had already come this far. The memory of Tom’s distant, cold face flashed in my mind, making it hard to concentrate. My head was a mess of emotions, confusion, and guilt. “Is your husband good to you?” Ryan asked suddenly, his tone a bit more serious as his hand slipped to one of my more sensitive spots. I gasped at the sensation. My mind flashed to Tom’s indifference, the way he barely paid attention to me anymore, treating me like an afterthought. “I… I don’t know,” I replied, my voice faltering. “You do know, Emily,” Ryan said softly, “if he was treating you right, you wouldn’t be here. Would you?” His words hit me hard. In that moment, something inside me snapped. I began to cry softly, the tears falling against Ryan’s chest. Years of loneliness, frustration, and unmet desires seemed to pour out all at once. “Let me help you relax,” he whispered. “You’re so tense.” “…Okay,” I whispered, finally letting go of the last bit of resistance. I let him undress me, piece by piece, until there was nothing between us. His hands moved across my body, but instead of easing my tension, they only heightened the desire I had been suppressing for so long. It wasn’t long before I was lost in the sensation, everything else fading away as Ryan took me deeper into the moment. Just when I thought I had fully surrendered, I heard voices from the next room. It was Luke and Rania. “Babe, can you put this on?” I heard Luke’s voice through the thin walls. “I want to try the largest size.” Moments later, Rania’s voice followed, breathy and excited, “Yes, do it! I can’t wait.” I couldn’t believe it—they were using toys in there. I had known Rania was adventurous, but this was beyond anything I had imagined. She had always been more open-minded than I was. After all, she had spent years studying abroad, dating men from all sorts of backgrounds, including her ex, a blonde, blue-eyed European. Her open attitude toward sex didn’t surprise me, but the level of their play did. The sounds from the room were impossible to ignore. Rania’s moans, mixed with Luke’s gruff commands, filled the air. The wall between us was so thin, it felt like we were in the same room. Meanwhile, Ryan’s hands continued their work, and before long, I could feel my own body responding. The combination of his touch and the sounds from next door soon had me trembling.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I turned and kissed Ryan deeply, pulling him closer. The tension, the guilt, the uncertainty—it all melted away as I let myself fully indulge in the moment. We became a tangle of limbs, lost in each other, and soon, I was completely consumed by my desire. Just like Rania, I had given in. Ryan was incredibly experienced. His moves were smooth and confident, his hands knowing exactly where to touch. His stamina was something I hadn’t experienced in years. At first, I was able to keep up with him, even take the lead now and then. But when he reached over and pulled out a blindfold and some toys from the bedside drawer, I knew I was out of my league. The things he had were on another level. I started to panic, trying to back away, but he was too strong. His body was overpowering, and soon, I was under him again, my mind surrendering to the overwhelming sensations. “Don’t think about anything, Emily,” he whispered in my ear. “Just enjoy.” Eventually, I lost track of time, and everything became a blur. Ryan was relentless, and before I knew it, I had lost all sense of reality. At some point, I felt him lift me up, and I opened my eyes, realizing he was carrying me out of the room. “Where… where are we going?” I asked, still dazed and confused. He didn’t answer. Instead, I felt a sudden chill on my back, and I realized he had placed me on a cold surface. I looked around and saw that he had carried me out of the private room and into the main lounge area. I was lying on a large table, right in front of the glass window looking out into the corridor. Ryan didn’t stop. He positioned himself over me again, a playful smirk on his face. “Exciting, isn’t it, Emily?” he asked. I bit my lip, too overwhelmed to answer, as my body gave in once again to the intensity of the moment. “I wish my husband was half as passionate as you…” I admitted, my voice trembling. Hearing that seemed to fuel Ryan even more. His grip on me tightened, and soon, I was swept up in another wave of pleasure, oblivious to everything around us. But just as I was about to reach my peak, I heard footsteps approaching. I turned my head to see Rania and Luke entering the room. They had clearly finished, their faces flushed and satisfied. Rania’s hair was tousled, and her smile was one of pure contentment. To my surprise, they weren’t the only ones. In the other corners of the room, more couples were entangled in their own pleasures. The lounge was now filled with the sound of multiple people, all lost in their own world. My gaze locked on Rania, who was now completely caught up with Luke, their bodies moving together again. Compared to Ryan, Luke was more intense, more aggressive. Watching them, I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to be with Luke instead. He had been eyeing me earlier, and I knew he was attracted to me. The way his eyes lingered on me when I first walked into the lounge had sent a thrill through me. He looked like a predator eyeing his prey. And although I seemed reserved on the outside, I secretly longed for something more intense. Tom had never been able to satisfy me like that. But as soon as the thought crossed my mind, I pushed it away. No—I couldn’t let myself go that far. However, Ryan, who had noticed the way I was staring at Rania and Luke, paused. He leaned in closer, whispering in my ear, “Do you want to try something new?” “What do you mean?” I asked, suddenly alert. Ryan’s eyes met Luke’s across the room, and without a word, they exchanged a knowing glance. I immediately knew what they were suggesting. But this was too much. I couldn’t possibly… could I? I turned to Rania, hoping she would intervene, but instead, she seemed excited by the idea. She even encouraged them to go ahead and start. “Come on, Emily,” she coaxed. “You’re already here. Why not live a little?” I hesitated, my mind a whirlwind of fear and temptation. And after a few moments of gentle persuasion, I found myself agreeing, drawn deeper into the dangerous thrill of the night.

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Just one month after my parents’ unexpected passing, my husband proposed a fake divorce. He claimed he was fighting for an inheritance and didn’t want me to get caught up in it. To protect my safety, he said we’d remarry once he secured the inheritance. I agreed on the surface but laughed coldly inside. He thought I didn’t know, but he and his mistress had already planned everything on his backup phone. There was no inheritance – what he really wanted was the $2 million my parents had left me! At 1:30 AM, after sorting through my parents’ belongings, I returned to our apartment complex. Seeing the lights on in our unit, I felt a warmth in my heart. During this difficult time, even though I tried to stay strong on the outside, I longed for a moment to quietly lean on someone for support. “Yale, I thought you said you’d be away on a business trip for a week. Why are you back already?” I asked as I opened the door, spotting Yale sitting in the armchair by the floor-to-ceiling window, playing on his phone. He seemed to be looking at something amusing, his smile growing wider. Hearing my voice, he locked his phone and walked over, taking the suitcase from my hand. “The trip was originally planned for three days, but something came up at the company, so I came back early,” he explained. “You probably haven’t eaten yet. There’s a sandwich I brought back on the table. Eat up, and then I need to talk to you about something.” “I’m not hungry. What did you want to tell me?” I grabbed a glass of warm water and sat on the living room couch, waiting for him to put my things away in the bedroom. After setting down the suitcase, Yale sat next to me and pulled me into his arms. “Honey, I need to go back home to fight for my family inheritance.” Leaning against his chest, feeling the warmth he provided, I asked, “Do you need my help?” Yale straightened my posture and looked into my eyes intently. “No need, I can handle it myself. But to protect your safety and prevent other competitors from using you to threaten me, I need to pretend to divorce you for a while.” Hearing this, I was stunned. I shifted away from him slightly. Confused, I asked directly, “Pretend to divorce? What do you mean? Do we really need to get divorced?” “Honey, listen to me. The divorce would just be for show. We’d only get the divorce certificate, but we’d still live together,” Yale explained. “Abby, you have to trust me. I swear on our eight years together, as soon as I get the inheritance, we’ll remarry immediately. I promise.” Yale held my hands, his eyes full of sincerity. “Let’s forget about it. We don’t need that money anyway,” I said. Yale’s after-tax monthly income was $1,000, and I made $1,500. It wasn’t a lot, but we lived in an apartment my parents had bought for me before our marriage, and my car was also a gift from my dad. When they were alive, my parents often helped us out financially. Besides Yale’s monthly car payment of $450 and $200 he sent to his parents, we didn’t have many big expenses. “Plus, after my parents passed away, the inheritance I received is enough for us to live comfortably just from the interest in the bank. You don’t need to do this,” I added. Yale lowered his head and remained silent for about three or four minutes before speaking again: “Abby, you know that my parents married against my family’s wishes years ago, which led to them living in poverty all these years. They’ve always felt guilty that they couldn’t buy us anything when we got married. Now that there’s finally a chance to divide the family assets, they just want to help us out a bit.” “The neighbors keep saying that they finally had me, only for me to become a live-in son-in-law to a rich family. They feel like they can’t hold their heads up high.” “Abby, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault for not being capable enough, making you and my parents lose face.” I opened my mouth to speak but didn’t know what to say. Should I tell him his parents wouldn’t feel guilty about him being a live-in son-in-law? After all, they often asked me for money behind Yale’s back. Or should I say that I wouldn’t feel ashamed because of him? Even when others teased him, no matter how much I argued in his defense, it was still his pride that got hurt. “Honey, can you give me some time to think about it?” Considering his feelings, I lowered my head.

Yale and I were college classmates. I majored in nursing, while he studied accounting. We shouldn’t have had any connection, but a friend of mine in the kickboxing club was his classmate. That’s how we met. He pursued me for a whole year after that, and I was moved by his sincerity and agreed to be with him. I had told him that I wanted to return to my hometown after graduation. As an only child, I couldn’t move far away. He joked that I shouldn’t worry, he could move in with my family. When we graduated, he received an offer from a prestigious company, and I became a nurse at a hospital. In our fourth year of working, we naturally held our wedding ceremony. After knowing each other for nine years, perhaps I should trust him. Yale went on another business trip. After considering for a week, I decided to agree to his request for a “fake divorce.” Thinking that he would return from his trip tomorrow afternoon, which happened to be my day off, I rarely felt motivated to do a deep clean of our home. We had a housekeeper who regularly cleaned the house, but Yale and I cleaned the study ourselves because it contained company documents. While cleaning, I noticed Yale’s backup phone sitting on the desk next to a potted plant, in danger of falling if bumped. I knew this backup phone was the one he usually used for gaming. Afraid it might fall and break, I picked up the phone intending to put it in the drawer. Then I remembered the game he had recommended to me recently, so I set down the cleaning cloth and decided to take a break. As I was logging into the game, a SnapChat message popped up. I meant to swipe it away, but accidentally opened it instead. Looking at the dense, intimate chat history, I finally understood. He didn’t want a “fake divorce” – he wanted a real one. If I were the protagonist in a tragic novel, I might ask on Twitter: “My parents passed away unexpectedly just a month ago, and I discovered my husband is cheating. Do I not deserve love?” Unfortunately, I’m not. So after the initial anger and heartbreak, I quickly pulled myself together. I ordered a new phone of the same model as Yale’s backup phone, smashed it into two pieces, and placed it on the computer desk along with the fallen potted plant. I opened my phone’s camera, recorded a video of the scene, and sent it to Yale with the message: “Honey, I’m so sorry. While cleaning, I accidentally knocked over the potted plant and your phone fell to the ground. Was there any important data on your phone? I’ll take it for repair right away, but I don’t know if the data can be recovered. I’m really sorry, honey.” I cleaned up the remains of the potted plant and the new phone, then took the intact backup phone to see my best friend, Summer. Summer is my childhood friend who studied law and opened her own law firm after graduation. Since he wants a divorce, let’s make sure he leaves with nothing. As I was driving, Yale replied to my message. He told me to just throw away the broken phone, saying there was no important data on it. He asked me not to feel guilty and said he would bring me a gift when he returned from his business trip. I don’t know when the person sleeping next to me became so shameless, or perhaps he had always been shameless and just hid it well before.

After reading the chat history, Summer cursed loudly in her office. If she wasn’t worried about alerting Yale, she would have called him directly to curse him out. As for me, perhaps the shock was too great, and my body activated its self-protection mechanism, allowing me to deal with the situation calmly. Summer hugged me in anguish, hoping I would cry and not keep it all bottled up inside. But I really couldn’t cry. Seeing her cry so miserably, without her usual polished city woman look, I felt Yale truly deserved to die. Leaving him with nothing was too lenient; he should be beaten up. I hired a private investigator to follow Yale, hoping to find something that could ruin his reputation. I called Yale and told him that Summer was going through some issues, so I needed to stay with her for a couple of days. I agreed to the divorce and said we’d discuss the details when he got home. I moved into Summer’s place. Summer held back her anger, and I suppressed my disgust as we stayed up late reviewing all the chat histories and transfer records from Yale’s SnapChat account. Fortunately, our efforts paid off. In Yale’s conversations with the other woman, there were descriptions of him accepting bribes from business partners. I felt a surge of excitement. I knew Yale was finished! On the third day, when I returned home after work, Yale was already busy in the kitchen wearing an apron. Who would have thought that a man with such a down-to-earth, family-oriented image would start cheating just six months into our marriage with a recent college graduate from his company? “Abby, go wash your hands first. Dinner will be ready soon,” Yale called out from the kitchen without turning around when he heard the door open. “Okay.” I washed my hands and sat at the dining table, trying to compose myself. Before seeing him, I could still remain calm. But face-to-face, my anger surged, and I just wanted to tear off his mask. After dinner, Yale brought over a divorce agreement. “Abby, we need to make this look real, so I’ve drawn up a divorce agreement. But don’t worry, it’s just for show,” Yale explained nervously as he watched me flip through the contents. He had the audacity to split my parents’ inheritance with me?! “Honey, why did you include my parents’ inheritance in this? Isn’t that a mistake?” I glared at him, wanting to kill him on the spot! “Sweetheart, your parents passed away without leaving a will, so legally this is considered marital property. Most of our assets are from before our marriage, so if we don’t split this $2 million inheritance, people might get suspicious. Don’t worry, it’s just on paper. All of this is yours, and I’ll transfer it back to you as soon as we remarry,” Yale hurriedly came over to embrace me, expressing his sincerity. Hah, believing he’d return the money was as likely as believing a meat bun stolen by a vicious dog would come back intact.

“Honey, you’re not planning to turn this fake divorce into a real one and take the money, are you?” I pulled away from him and continued flipping through the agreement. Yale moved closer and patted my hand. “Honey, what do I need to do for you to trust me? How about I transfer my car to your name?” I rolled my eyes, thinking to myself that who knows if the car would be seized when his ill-gotten gains are confiscated. Pretending to go along with it, I said, “Honey, I believe you. After all, you swore on our eight years together. If you can’t keep that promise, you’d be ruined and deserve a miserable death, right?” I noticed his body stiffen for a moment, though he quickly recovered. “Honey, I can sign the agreement, but we’ve always had such a good relationship. People won’t believe we’re suddenly getting divorced, will they?” I nestled into Yale’s arms and spoke softly. “There’s no way around it, the timing is tight,” Yale said, stroking my hair. Disgusted, I sat up straight and pouted at him, “Honey, I have a good idea.” “How about this: we’ll have a fight later, and I’ll accuse you of having an affair. Then I’ll beat you up a bit. I’ve trained in kickboxing and have medical knowledge, so I’ll avoid vital areas.” “When the neighbors hear us fighting, they’ll definitely call the police. Since we’re married, and it’s not a severe case of domestic violence, the police will just give a warning. You can say you forgive me. If we do this two or three times, everyone will sympathize with you, and they’ll understand when you ask for a divorce.” How wonderful to be able to beat him up openly. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Yale hesitated. “Then let’s forget about the divorce. Otherwise, people will start rumors if I get divorced right after my parents passed away,” I turned away, ignoring him. “Don’t be angry, we’ll do it your way,” Yale quickly pulled me close to comfort me. “Okay, let’s go to the entrance. We’re about to start. Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you.” I led Yale to the foyer and began shouting. “Yale, do you have any conscience? My parents just passed away, and you want to divorce me!” “When my parents were alive, they even gave you money to help support your parents back home, and you dare to cheat on me so soon after we got married! You’ve lost your heart to a dog!” “Yale, people like you deserve to be ruined!” I shouted out all my true feelings and vented my anger through physical force. Yale yelped and cried out, and every time he tried to explain, I silenced him with my fists. The neighbors who watched the commotion kindly called the police and stood at the stairway trying to persuade me to talk things out calmly. I chased Yale from the entrance to the hallway and back into the apartment. When I stopped, his face was bruised and swollen, looking quite pitiful. “Honey, I’m sorry. There were too many people watching, so I couldn’t go easy on you. Otherwise, they might have thought we were just acting. Are you okay?” I apologized while tending to Yale’s wounds. Yale was groaning in pain, even flinching as I applied medicine. “Honey, I’m so sorry. Why don’t you slap me twice? It breaks my heart to see you like this.” My tears fell on cue – the Academy owes me an Oscar. Yale was about to scold me, but seeing me cry so heartbrokenly, he quickly came over to comfort me. “Abby, it’s okay. It doesn’t hurt that much. You did this for me, don’t cry.” Seeing Yale grimacing in pain while trying to comfort me, I felt a pang in my heart. Yale, this is just the interest on your deception.

The police arrived quickly, but since Yale and I had already reconciled, they just gave us a warning and left after we explained the situation. “Honey, let’s not get divorced. How could I bring myself to hit you again next time…” I cried, my eyes red and swollen. “Huh? There’s going to be a next time?” Yale’s eyes widened. “At least twice, right? Otherwise, how will people believe us after just once? Honey, let’s forget about it. Let’s just live our life together. You know I don’t mind that you don’t earn much,” I secretly provoked Yale, afraid he might not want to be hit again. “Fine, I’ve already been hit once, so one more time is okay. But that’s really the last time, alright?” he said. It seems the temptation of the inheritance and the other woman was quite strong if he was willing to be beaten again. After this injury, Yale stayed home for a week to recover. The injuries weren’t severe, but his bruised face made him too embarrassed to go out. I also took good care of him, attending to his needs. You have to fatten the pig before slaughtering it, right? Meanwhile, the private investigator uncovered some news: Yale’s family had no plans to divide any inheritance. Instead, his younger brother owed a large sum to loan sharks!

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My wife and her “male best friend” were fooling around in a car out in the suburbs when a truck came out of nowhere, sending them crashing down a hill. The doctor said, “If you want to save her leg, you need to come up with $30,000 for the surgery.” Hearing that, I, a grown man, broke down in tears. “My wife is the best dancer in this city! She makes a living and her reputation with those legs!” “If she loses them, she won’t want to live!” “So please, when you amputate, just be gentle, okay?” When I arrived at the hospital, I quickly tried to wipe the grin off my face that I’d had since the drive over. I rushed to the bedside, dropped to my knees, and started crying my heart out. “Emily, what were you thinking?” “If you’re going to have an affair, at least pick a safer spot! I wouldn’t have cared as long as you’re safe!” “Please, don’t think you owe me anything just because you did something so… disgraceful. Don’t go and do anything drastic, alright?” Even the nurse nearby was moved, probably not used to seeing such a “devoted” man. But the doctor pulled me aside and said firmly, “Quit stalling. You need to raise the money. Her leg can still be saved.” I stood up right away. “Right, I’ll get on it. I’ll call my mother-in-law.” I dialed Linda’s number. “Mom! Send me $30,000! Annie needs it for surgery!” “What kind of surgery needs 30 grand? Do I look stupid? I’m not giving you a penny! You’re useless! Get lost!” “But Mom, it’s serious…” “Serious my ass! I’ll deal with the next hand! You’re busted!” Click — she hung up. Everyone in the room heard her loud and clear, thanks to my phone’s speaker mode. The last beep beep sound of the disconnected call echoed through the room. I struggled to keep the smirk off my face and looked at the doctor helplessly. “I’m sorry, Doc. I’ve got no money.” “My wife cherishes those legs more than anything.” “So when you amputate, just… be careful, okay?” The doctor nodded toward my wife’s lover and asked, “What about him? Are we saving him?” “Of course! My wife really likes him. She can live with prosthetic legs, but if he dies, well, there’s no replacement for that. You have to save him!” I wiped my tears and added, “But, you know, I don’t think I’m really in a position to sign his consent form.” The doctor rolled his eyes and pushed my wife into the operating room. The nurse shot me a sympathetic glance before following. As soon as they disappeared, I sent a message to Jim, my father-in-law: “Annie’s leg is gone. Mom refused to help. This is unbearable.”

By the time Linda arrived at the hospital, Annie had already been wheeled out of surgery. “Annie! My baby, what happened to you?” “Mom, Annie just got out of surgery,” I whispered, “you should keep your voice down. It’s not good for her.” Linda shot me a look filled with venom. “Why wasn’t it you in the crash? How can you stand there, you worthless man? Annie’s in this mess because she married a loser like you!” “If you’re so capable, why don’t you get the money for her treatment?” I raised my hands. “Mom, I asked you for money, remember? You wouldn’t give it to me. Something about ‘beating the hand?’” Linda suddenly remembered and sprang up, her face flushed with rage, spraying spit everywhere. “You liar! You’ve never told the truth in your life!” Before she could finish, I played the recording from my phone. “Mom, Annie needs money for her leg…” “Money, my ass! Busted!” There was an awkward silence in the ER. “Mom, after my business went under, you took all the money we had left. Without your help, how could I save her?” “I told you about the situation first thing. You’re really going to act like it’s not your fault?” “You… you did this on purpose, didn’t you?!” Linda’s face turned bright red as she lunged at me, but two quick-thinking nurses stepped in to hold her back. One of them scowled, “Can you keep it down? The patient needs rest! What kind of mother are you, anyway?” After my earlier emotional performance, the nurses had clearly become my biggest fans. They glared at Linda like they couldn’t believe such a good man had to deal with someone like her. Linda sneered, “What, are you two his girlfriends? Standing up for him like that? Where’s your shame?” “Who are you calling shameless?” “You! You’re the shameless one!” “Say that again, I dare you!” Just as things were about to get physical, a weak voice came from the hospital bed. “Mom…” My wife was awake.

Linda rushed to the bed and took Annie’s hand. “Annie, are you okay? Are you still in pain? Mom’s here now.” Wiping her tears, she turned to me and spat, “You just had to marry a deadbeat like him! If he hadn’t crashed the car, would you have had to Uber to your student’s house for lessons?” “My student… wait, what about Brandon? Is he okay?” “Brandon? Who’s that?” Linda asked, confused. I stepped in helpfully. “He’s the one who was driving Annie to her lesson. I heard they were pulled out of the wreck pretty easily since neither of them were wearing clothes.” “You!” Linda’s hand trembled as she pointed at me. “How dare you humiliate my daughter like that! I swear, I’ll make sure you regret ever opening that mouth of yours!” “Enough! I want to see Brandon!” Annie tried to throw the blanket off, but underneath, her legs were gone. “My legs! Where are my legs?” Annie screamed, her voice filled with despair. I quickly covered my face, pretending to weep. I didn’t want them to see how happy I was. “Annie’s legs, where are they?” Linda shrieked, frantically searching the bed. Annie, meanwhile, started smashing everything in sight. “I knew it! You did this to her, didn’t you?” Annie’s bloodshot eyes locked onto me, filled with accusation. I waved my hands. “Annie, when you were unconscious, I already explained the situation to Mom. The doctors heard it all, too.” “You know the state of our finances. After the business failed, you told Mom I wasn’t cut out for it, and she took control of everything. All the money is with her!” “When they said they needed $30,000 for the surgery, I had to ask her for it. She refused. She’s the one who didn’t save you. Not me! I couldn’t get the money!” I played the recording again, and that damning busted echoed through the room. Annie’s face turned dark, and she glared at Linda. Anyone could tell Linda had spent more time playing cards than taking care of the family. She’d taken all the money under the guise of ‘saving it for Annie,’ and now, Annie’s chance for recovery was gone. Linda dropped to her knees, wailing. “Annie, you’re my flesh and blood! How could I not care? It’s your husband, this good-for-nothing, lying to both of us!” “Enough!” Annie was shaking with rage. She pointed at her mother. “Get out!” “How can you talk to me like that, sweetie?” Just then, Jim barged into the room, out of breath. “Annie!” “Dad…” Jim’s eyes fell on the empty space where Annie’s legs used to be, and his face froze. He’d spent years bragging about his daughter’s talent, how many awards she’d won. His comfortable life was all thanks to the income she brought in with those legs of hers. All the city officials who’d sent their kids to Annie for dance lessons, those gifts and favors they’d received—everything was over now. Her legs were gone, and so was everything else. “Jim, thank God you’re here! You’ve got to stop Adam! He’s ruining our family!” Linda cried. Slap! Jim smacked Linda across the face, hard.

My name is Adam Cooper. I used to be a successful business owner, a rising star in the tech world. Five years ago, I met Annie at a dinner party. She was still in college. I had dropped out of high school to start my business. I was totally mesmerized by her—smart, cultured, and beautiful. She seemed so innocent, like a delicate flower. I fell head over heels for her. I thought she was the most talented, gentle, and pure woman I’d ever met. I pursued her relentlessly. Her family didn’t want her to go to art school. They wanted to use the money to put her brother, Tyler, through college. The night she found out, she came to me crying. We had a few drinks and ended up sleeping together. From that moment on, I paid for her to stay in school. Basically, I became her sugar daddy. She went on to win awards, became a state-level dance teacher, and eventually married me. At first, I thought her parents were just petty and tightfisted, but out of respect for Annie, I tolerated them. But then I realized—Annie wasn’t any better than they were. She was just better at hiding it. When my company was struggling, I found out I’d been blackballed. One of my competitors got drunk and spilled the beans. “You know why everyone’s out to get you, right?” “Because you stole the big boss’s side chick!” That night, I checked her phone and found out she was still seeing other men—one of them was even her student! She had sent him photos and videos, driving him crazy. Every time she went to his house for “lessons,” it wasn’t about books. It was about something else entirely. She never acted that way around me. Furious, I was about to confront her when the hospital called… “That bitch! It’s all because of you!” Jim growled at Linda. Linda was still seeing stars from the slap, but she managed to sit on the floor, wailing. “Oh God, I can’t take this anymore!” She wasn’t exactly a refined woman—more of a backwoods type who always resorted to drama and screaming when things went south. “How the hell did this car accident happen?” Jim was livid, his voice a mix of anger and desperation. “Who was driving the car? Who caused this mess? Annie’s lost her legs, and now I’m going to find the bastard responsible and tear his arms off!” “Yeah, Annie! You need to tell us who was driving that car! We’ll sue them for all they’ve got!” Linda added, still hoping to get some kind of payout. I watched Annie’s face flush red, her lips pressed tight. She couldn’t even bring herself to speak. I clapped my hands together, unable to hide my amusement. “If Annie doesn’t want to tell you, I will.”

“Jim, Linda, you both know Annie is a truly dedicated teacher, always looking after her students, right? She goes above and beyond, making sure they have everything they need. Well, this time, she decided to help one of them… a little too much.” Jim was starting to lose his patience. “Just get to the point!” I paused for effect, raising my eyebrows. “That is the point, Jim. Annie took her student, Brandon, into the car for a little, shall we say, extra tutoring session. They were getting real close when that truck came out of nowhere.” “You’re saying what, exactly?” Jim barked. “That our sweet, innocent Annie was… well, let’s just say, ‘educating’ her student in the back seat when they got hit.” “You’re lying! You filthy liar!” Jim roared, swinging his arm, trying to punch me. I dodged him easily, and he nearly stumbled into the bed. “He’s been spewing lies from the moment he got here! He’s just jealous that Annie’s more successful than he ever was. Marrying our daughter was the best thing that ever happened to this scumbag!” Linda joined in, her voice shrill and furious. “Yeah! Annie’s pure and kind! If she ever did something like that, I’ll jump out of this window right now!” Jim added, pounding his chest like a righteous man. Jim and Linda were so worked up, they could hardly see straight. They couldn’t believe their precious daughter could be anything but perfect. I watched them closely. They had always been a family that valued their son over their daughter. Annie’s brother, Tyler, had been kicked out of college for fighting, and now both parents relied on Annie’s dance career to fund their cushy lifestyle. No matter how much money I made, I was never good enough for them. They pretended I didn’t exist when things were good, but when things went bad, they all turned to Annie to bail them out. When my business was doing well, I didn’t let it get to me. I figured, hey, it’s family. But after my company crashed, they treated me like a stray dog. Tyler used to offer to park my car; now, when I go to dinner, I can feel the disdain rolling off of him in waves. That’s what this family is: opportunistic parasites. “Who here is Annie Cooper?” a stern voice called from the doorway. Jim and Linda’s ranting came to a halt as two police officers stepped into the room. “Officers! Finally! Arrest this lying scumbag! He’s been slandering our daughter this whole time, and he’s the one responsible for her accident! He’s the reason she lost her legs!” Linda screamed, jumping up and pointing at me like I was public enemy number one. The officers didn’t bother acknowledging her theatrics. They walked straight up to Annie’s bed and pulled out a stack of photos. “Mrs. Cooper, we’ve got surveillance footage from the crash site. Is this you?” One of the officers held up a photograph.

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After three years of secret marriage to movie star Olivia, I gave up hope. I released albums, acted in TV shows, and appeared on variety programs. My career was on fire. Later, Olivia cornered me in my car and demanded to know why I wouldn’t acknowledge her status. I asked her back: “What status?” Olivia was trending again. A blurry photo showed two people holding hands and running in the rain. I would have called it beautiful if the woman wasn’t my wife. And if I hadn’t recognized the man as my wife’s ex-boyfriend. I switched to my main Instagram account and commented: “What a handsome couple.” Soon after, some of my old fans from my reality show days welcomed me back. One fan with the username “WillCrashWallsForBrother” caught my attention with their reply: “Isn’t Olivia my brother’s girlfriend? How could she do this to him!” This comment immediately sparked hundreds of question marks from others. Confused, I replied to them: “She’s not.” Indeed, she wasn’t my girlfriend – she was my wife. “WillCrashWallsForBrother” stopped replying publicly and sent me a private message instead: “Brother, did you break up with Olivia? That’s great! I never liked her. She was always flirting around despite having such a good boyfriend like you. She’s pure trash! What are your plans now? If you don’t mind, why not join our family’s Pinnacle Entertainment? You’re so talented, with great musical sense, good looks, and a nice personality. You’ll definitely become famous! Plus, my sister… I really like you, brother!” They rattled off a long string of messages, not waiting for my reply. They even said they had already contacted a manager for me, just waiting for my agreement. I chuckled, thinking it was a prank. I just replied “Thank you for your support” and logged off. After all, Pinnacle Entertainment was the biggest entertainment company. They had countless A-list celebrities and swept awards across all categories. It was the place everyone in showbiz was dying to join. And I was just a nobody who debuted through a reality show years ago, only to immediately retire. I didn’t even have 10,000 Instagram followers. I picked up my polished bass guitar and started tuning it. Twang— “What I want is tomorrow, it can’t fit in an email, memories stranded by time, should we still meet…” “Just forget it, just let go, in those rejected emails, in those days waiting for dawn, I only have myself, not yet doubting…” With a pencil in one hand and plucking strings with the other, I immersed myself in my own world. By the time it was completely dark outside, I finally put down my pencil and massaged my shoulders, taking a deep breath. For three years, I never gave up on music for a moment. Whenever I had free time, I wrote songs, composed, and practiced singing. Music accompanied me through three years of lonely waiting. When I checked my phone again, Olivia’s manager Mei had called me over 30 times. But Olivia herself hadn’t contacted me at all. That’s right – even though we were married, I couldn’t even call her directly. We could only communicate via email as a married couple. Because she didn’t want me to enter her life in the slightest. It turned out my reply this morning had led people to dig up the connection between Olivia and me. “Rising movie star suspected of secret marriage, yet spotted strolling in rain with internet celebrity.” In an instant, Olivia became the target of criticism. The Instagram comment sections of both our accounts were filled with fans arguing. Although I had few fans, my status as the victim led many bystanders to speak up for me. I was puzzled – they were actually pretty nice. Mei called again. I answered but didn’t put the phone to my ear. “Jack! What are you doing?! You don’t reply to emails, you don’t answer calls. Do you know how swamped I am here? Now, immediately, delete that comment! And post a statement saying you have no relationship with Olivia!” The other end was furious, her tone condescending, as if I had to do what she said or else. Although I hadn’t meant to cause this, I wasn’t some pushover anyone could bully. “If Olivia has anything to say, she’ll tell me herself. Who are you?” “I’m Olivia’s manager! I can make decisions about everything for her! Do as I say quickly!” “Oh really? Then how come you couldn’t decide when Olivia married me?” I sneered and hung up the phone, then opened my email. I deleted the pile of emails from Mei without reading them. Olivia still hadn’t contacted me. I counted the emails between us. I had sent her the most – over 20,000 in my inbox, excluding the ones I had deleted early on. Most of the time she didn’t reply. When she did, it was just simple “Mm”, “Okay”, “Fine”, “Whatever”. A new email notification popped up from Olivia. “Jack, just listen to her. I’m sorry.” I smiled bitterly and sent a tentative reply: “Let’s get divorced.” While waiting for her response, I made a bet with myself.

“Okay.” Something crumbled inside me. I wanted to laugh, but found I couldn’t even force a smile. Slowly, something slid down my face. In the three years I’d been married to Olivia, I’d gone from being full of love to feeling numb and cold. I knew she married me to prove to Mei that she wasn’t a puppet, that she didn’t want to be controlled. I knew she married me because I resembled the person she loved but couldn’t have. But I still married her. Because I liked her – the person who gave me a coat during my darkest time. Even though I was very reluctant to leave the stage. I logged into Instagram, deleted my previous comment, and posted a statement confirming I had no relationship with Olivia. How could two people who hadn’t appeared together once in three years possibly be married? The trending topic cooled down and disappeared at an extremely fast speed, as if someone had pressed a retract button. Mei was quite capable. I sighed, about to log off, when that fan “WillCrashWallsForBrother” sent another private message. “Brother, you’re online! Come on, join us! As a fan, I really don’t want to see you buried. You should be shining on stage! Are you worried we’re not legitimate? Wait, I’ll have someone call you. Make sure to answer!” I was infected by this person’s lively mood, and felt a glimmer of anticipation growing inside me. No call came. For a long time. Just as I was dozing off waiting, my phone finally rang. I eagerly answered and put it to my ear, nearly blowing out my eardrum. Mei snapped “Smart choice” and hung up. I threw my phone away and cursed. Early the next morning, as dawn was just breaking, my phone rang again at an ungodly hour. “Hello? Brother, this is ‘WillCrashWallsForBrother’ from Instagram. It was too late last night after I contacted Aunt Kim, so I didn’t call you. Quick, check Pinnacle Entertainment’s official Twitter now!” A clear, sweet female voice came through, instantly soothing my grumpiness at being woken up. I opened Instagram and found Pinnacle Entertainment in my new followers list. I clicked on their profile. The pinned post read: “Welcome brother @Jack to Pinnacle Entertainment.” Top industry manager Kim Ming commented below: “Nice to meet you, looking forward to working together @Jack”. It was the official account! I was so excited I lost my words, my hands shaking as I held my phone. I rolled around on the bed in joy. “Brother? Brother? Are you still there? Aunt Kim wants you to add her contact info.” “Oh, oh okay, got it. What’s your name?” I snapped back to reality, trying to calm my excitement. “I’m Lily! Brother, I originally contacted someone else to manage you, but my sister insisted on Aunt Kim… Aunt Kim is just a bit serious, don’t be scared. I’ll protect you!” After finishing the call with Lily, I specifically searched for information on Pinnacle Entertainment’s owner. Surname Lin, in his 50s, happily married with one son. I felt slightly relieved. You can’t blame me for being so cautious. I had been badly burned during my reality show days and didn’t want to get involved in any shady business again. Kim Ming asked me to post on Instagram responding to Pinnacle, confirming I had officially joined and would release a new song within a week. “I don’t care who you were before or what you did. Now that you’re with me, your career comes first. If anything happens, come to me immediately. I can solve everything. Don’t try to be clever on your own.” Kim Ming handed me a stack of documents right off the bat, speaking coldly before disappearing. She was indeed serious, but that was exactly what I needed. I didn’t want to be held back by love anymore. I wanted to become a huge star, the center of attention. Standing in a recording studio again after three years, my heart was racing. I didn’t know what lay ahead, but I was certain that every step I took from now on would not be in vain.

“I start to put you behind me, trying to return to the time before you, I stand at the other end of time, smiling goodbye, actually not in love…” Kim Ming handed me some water, nodding slightly – a rare show of approval from the usually stern woman. My nervous heart felt reassured, but her next words sent it racing again. “It’s passable. But I demand the best. This only proves your talent is still there. The company will promote your new song. For the next three months, you’ll be filming a drama.” “Acting? I…” “You’ll have an award-winning actress guiding you, what are you afraid of? Don’t be timid. If you want to stand on stage, don’t hesitate. Opportunities don’t wait for anyone.” Kim Ming patted my shoulder, cutting me off impatiently. “You’re right.” That competitive spirit inside me was instantly ignited. Compared to love, putting in effort for my career was much more likely to pay off. Then, Kim Ming waved her hand. A sweet-looking girl with a bun hairstyle ran in from outside, smiling and winking at me. “This is Lily Lin, the assistant the company arranged for you. You can go to her for anything from now on. I have other business, so I’ll be leaving.” Lily circled around me several times, her eyes sparkling. She immediately latched onto my arm. “Brother, I’m Lily! The one who’s ‘WillCrashWallsForBrother’! Brother, you were so great just now. I cried listening to you. You wrote it so well! I have a feeling this song will definitely be a hit!” I burst out laughing, my nervousness around strangers dissipating. “Well, thank you in advance then.” “Hehe, just give me a signed copy of your single album when it comes out. Oh right, you start filming tomorrow. It’s in a pretty remote location. Do you want to go home and pack first?” Back home, I couldn’t help opening my email again. Even though I knew Olivia would never initiate contact, I still felt a spark of hope. I loved her so much that letting go would be a gradual process of detachment. To my surprise, Olivia had actually sent me an email! My heart started racing. I opened it: “Jack, how did you join Pinnacle? And Kim Ming is managing you? Since that’s the case, can you help Ethan? You know how much Ethan wants to enter showbiz, but Mei won’t let me help him. Ethan is a good kid, he can’t keep wasting himself as an internet celebrity. Besides, we owe him.” Ethan Song, Olivia’s ex-boyfriend. An internet celebrity who had been on the same reality show as me. She sent me more words for his sake than she had in the past three years. My excitement died instantly. “He has plenty of ways to get in if he wants. I’m not Pinnacle’s owner, I can’t help him. And I don’t owe him anything.” This time the great Olivia replied quickly, not with her usual “I’m busy, don’t contact me unless it’s important.” “Jack, how can you talk like that! You know how dirty the entertainment industry is. Ethan is so timid, what’s wrong with protecting him a bit? If you don’t help him, we’ll have nothing more to say to each other. Who knows how you managed to get into Pinnacle anyway!” “Olivia, are you serious?” I felt sick to my stomach. For three years, I had guarded this empty house, hoping time and again, only to be disappointed time and again. But I had never felt as disgusted as I did now. She said she was busy with work. She was a movie star after all, I understood. She said she had to play along with others for show. She was a movie star after all, I understood. But she absolutely should not have tried to manipulate me morally or make assumptions about me. You’re a big star, are you? I’ll make you fall from grace.

During the three months of filming, I turned off my phone and focused solely on learning from the award-winning actress, oblivious to the outside world. “Your gaze – it needs desire. You’re trying to climb the ranks, not commit murder. Why so cold!” “Your movements – don’t be so stiff. You’re trying to seduce the female lead. Be alluring, have that relaxed feeling of being in control. You’re not playing a corpse!” “Thank your face, or I’d be scolding you to tears!” … Thanks to the actress’s uncompromising standards for acting, I was berated constantly and had to reshoot countless times before barely passing muster. Lily pouted for a long while nearby. When “Cut!” was finally called, she jogged over. “Brother, I didn’t know beforehand that the female lead was my sister. Otherwise I wouldn’t have let her guide you. My sister is a demon king, even stricter than Aunt Kim. With her around, I don’t dare say a word.” Lily looked around furtively before whispering in my ear, sticking her tongue out at the actress afterwards. I put on the down jacket she handed me, smiling as I ruffled her round face teasingly. “Not protecting me anymore?” Lily shook her head vigorously like a rattle drum, denying it repeatedly. “No no, Brother, just you wait. I’ll get revenge for you!” “I’m just kidding. I’m grateful the award-winning actress is willing to guide a nobody like me! I really feel like I’ve learned so much.” I demonstrated the seductive moves I had just learned for Lily, draping one arm over her shoulder and stroking her hair bun with the other. Lily burst out laughing. The actress waved me over, indicating I should come look at something. “You, come watch this. Isn’t your little gesture here a bit off? Wouldn’t touching the ear be better?” “You need to immerse yourself in the character’s emotions, let the character guide your actions.” For three months, I was run ragged on set. Besides the award-winning actress playing the female lead, the rest were also veteran actors – all heavyweights in the industry. So to better hone my acting skills, I not only focused on my own scenes, but also carefully observed others’ performances. Even though I was only playing a bit part with less than three minutes of screen time total. Finally, filming wrapped. Kim Ming came to pick me up. I clutched my notebook filled with three months of notes like a precious treasure, grinning stupidly in the car from time to time. “Good news and even better news. Which do you want to hear first?” Kim Ming glanced at me in the rearview mirror as she drove. “The good news?” “Getting even an ‘acceptable’ from Linda Lin is pretty good. Your acting has improved. I dare to give you this S-class production I have on hand now.” “Then what’s the even better news?” My expectations soared. I set down my notebook and listened attentively. “You’re famous! To be precise, your song ‘Email’ is a hit! Why don’t you check Instagram?” “Actually, for me right now, the S-class production is the better news. Haha, but they’re both good news.” After spending time together, I discovered Kim Ming was someone who valued ability above all else. As long as I did my job well, she was quite pleasant to work with. So I felt comfortable joking around with her now. I happily turned on my phone and logged into Instagram, but my face instantly went pale when I saw the trending topics. Kim Ming noticed something was wrong and turned to ask what happened. I was about to speak when Lily called. “Brother, have you… logged into Instagram yet? Don’t be afraid, it’s okay. It’ll be dealt with quickly. You don’t need to do anything. Is Aunt Kim with you? Go home first, don’t come to the company.” The usually bubbly Lily was carefully trying to soothe me while calmly arranging things. Kim Ming took the phone and inquired about the situation. “It’s nothing major, we’re already handling it. I’m just worried it’s Brother’s first time facing such malice, he might feel upset. Aunt Kim, please take care of him for me.” Then Lily hung up. I scrolled through my phone screen, tears falling without me realizing. “#The truth behind a male singer’s reality show debut!” “#Is ‘Email’ about love or transactions?” I was instantly transported back to that dark night. Three years ago, Ethan Song and I were the twin stars of the stage. He was the lead vocalist, I was the bassist. One night, Ethan asked me to go with him to meet some big shots. He said just meeting those people once would guarantee our debut. I went. But I didn’t expect it was a trap, a trap specifically set for Ethan. And I was forced to take Ethan’s place. Those people made me drink bottle after bottle, grabbing my hair to stop me from leaving. I huddled in the corner, secretly hiding a fruit knife up my sleeve. Someone approached me. I shook my dizzy head and stabbed out with the knife. It was a suit jacket. I vaguely heard those people rush over, calling her “Miss Yang”. At that time, Olivia had just won an award for playing a female mob boss. When I sobered up, I cut ties with Ethan and threatened him to leave the industry using evidence of his dealings with those people. Fearing the so-called evidence I had, Ethan never dared enter showbiz. But as time passed, Ethan was getting restless again. The post had over a million views. The comment section was a mess. “So white and sexy!” “Ugh, I’d pay anything for ears that haven’t heard ‘Email’. Wuwuwu—” “Why did you do this to me! I just became a fan and now this happens! Ahhhhh—” I clicked to open the photos, but got a message saying they had been deleted. At the same time, Pinnacle Entertainment posted supporting me, along with a police report they had filed. To my surprise, Linda Lin, who rarely used social media, also spoke up for me. “Stupid but resilient @Jack. Looking forward to having you in the new drama.” I felt a warmth in my heart and replied to Linda. “Stupid people have stupid luck @Linda @PinnacleEnt” I was about to dig up the evidence of Ethan’s dealings with those people, but Pinnacle had already released it. It was even more complete and explosive than what I had. In an instant, public opinion online did a 180. “I knew it. Someone who could write a song as good as ‘Email’ couldn’t do those things.” “Case closed, folks. Jack is still the only good guy in showbiz!” “Haters speak up! Let’s hear you now!” … Kim Ming tossed me some tissues, smiling. “It’s nothing. The internet is like this – some people like you, some hate you. No need to pay them any attention. Remember, never put others’ opinions before your own, at least not until you become powerful enough.” I clutched the tissues tightly and opened the email Olivia had sent.

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My daughter is dead, and my wife is on vacation abroad with my son. I called her to ask her to come back for our daughter’s funeral, but she flat-out refused. On the phone, she insulted our daughter, saying that something worthless like her dying was no big deal. After saying goodbye to my daughter for the last time, I jumped from the building. The police called my wife to come and identify my body. She was leaning against a man, saying, “Why didn’t you die sooner? You’re just giving me more trouble.” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back before my daughter died. This time, I would send them both to hell! “Chris, Mommy is taking you to Europe. Are you happy?” Sarah asked as she packed her suitcase in the bedroom, and our son ran in. Chris, only six years old, nodded his head. I stood at the door, watching this warm scene, and couldn’t help but feel a deep anger boiling inside me. That’s right, I was reborn. After seeing my wife leave with another man, I returned to the time before my daughter’s death. “What are you doing?! Standing there like a ghost?” Sarah was startled when she saw me. I had been taking care of our daughter, Lily, at the hospital for so long that my dark circles were severe. So, it was no wonder she was scared. I smiled and suddenly thought, if I showed up while Sarah was with that man, she would probably faint from shock. “What’s so funny?” Sarah snapped. “You’re being creepy.” I put on a serious face and asked her, “Do you really have to take a vacation right now? The doctor said Lily doesn’t have much time left.” Sarah refused me. “If she’s dead, she’s dead. Going to the hospital won’t bring her back, will it?” She said the same thing in my previous life. I slapped her, and she immediately took Chris and ran away. I didn’t know where they went. The next evening, when I returned home, all her luggage was gone. Looking back now, she probably went to find that man. This time, I didn’t hit her; I just walked away silently. Chris ran after me, asking, “Dad, what’s wrong with Lily? I haven’t seen her in so long. I miss her.” I stroked Chris’s head. “Do you want to see your sister?” Chris nodded. I knew Lily and Chris had always had a good relationship. In my previous life, before Lily died, she kept asking why Chris didn’t come to see her. This time, I picked up Chris. “Daddy will take you to see your sister right now, okay?” Chris nodded obediently. As we reached the entrance, Sarah came rushing out. “You can’t take Chris!” I was putting shoes on Chris. “Why not? Lily is Chris’s sister, and he wants to see her. You, as his mother, don’t want to go, but why can’t he?” Sarah said, “There are so many viruses in the hospital. What if Chris gets sick?” “I’ll take full responsibility!” I declared, and then I carried Chris out the door. Sarah rushed over, trying to grab Chris from my arms. “I told you not to take Chris!” “Get away!” I shouted at her. After ten years of marriage, I had never raised my voice at Sarah before, and she froze in shock. I added, “The viruses in Europe aren’t any less than in the hospital.” With that, I took Chris to the hospital. Lily was still asleep. I could only take Chris to the door to look at her. Chris started crying and asked, “Dad, what’s wrong with Lily? She has so many tubes on her.” I comforted him, “She’s just sick, Chris. It’s okay. How about I record a video for you to talk to her? When she wakes up, I can show it to her. She misses you too.” Chris nodded repeatedly. After recording for over ten minutes, Chris cried himself to sleep in my arms. I took a strand of Chris’s hair, planning to get a paternity test. Sarah’s attitude toward Lily and Chris was completely opposite. I now seriously doubted that Chris was my biological son. If he were truly mine, Sarah would hate him. I felt guilty toward Lily because of me; she never got to see her mother before she died. Poor child, suffering because of the conflict between Sarah and me.

I took Chris home, grabbed some clothes, and prepared some food before returning to the hospital. In the living room, Sarah was checking Chris’s body as if she was afraid I would hurt him. I couldn’t help but say, “Sarah, Chris is my child too. I won’t hurt him. You may hate me, but there’s no need for this.” Sarah ignored me and shot me a glance. I was used to it as I grabbed my things and left the house. At the hospital, Lily was still unconscious. My heart ached for that little girl. God, why did I have to be reborn at this stage, watching my child suffer and die again? The doctor issued another critical condition notice. After several days, Lily finally woke up. “Dad, where are Mom and Chris?” she asked. I couldn’t bear to tell her the truth, so I said they were busy. Lily looked disappointed but bravely held back her tears. “Okay, when will they be done? Can you call them to come see me? I haven’t seen them in so long. I really miss Mom and Chris.” I couldn’t help but wipe my tears away and pulled out my phone. “Chris came to see you while you were sleeping, but he was very considerate and didn’t want to wake you. Here, look.” I showed her the video, and she smiled. But I only felt heartbroken. Luckily, Lily didn’t ask, “Where’s Mom?” I didn’t know how to answer that. Ultimately, Lily left me, and I arranged her funeral just like I did in my previous life. I then called Sarah on an international line. “Lily is gone. Bring Chris back for the funeral.” Sarah was indifferent. “She’s gone; it doesn’t matter. She was a burden anyway. Chris and I are having fun, can’t you just stop ruining it?” I couldn’t take it anymore. “Lily is also your daughter! Do you even realize what you’re saying as a mother? Don’t you have a heart?” Sarah got angry that I dared to yell at her. “David Lin, you really have some nerve! Don’t call me again; I don’t want to hear from you or Chris.” I ignored her and said, “Put Chris on the phone. I need to talk to him.” Sarah refused. “Don’t you dare tell my son such bad news; get lost!” She hung up on me. I called her several times, but she didn’t pick up. I guessed she had blocked me. I changed my number and called her again. “Sarah, if you come back tomorrow, we’ll get a divorce. Otherwise, you’ll never leave me; I’ll haunt you and never let you go.” Sarah hung up. I knew this time she would definitely come back. From the day I married her, Sarah wanted to divorce me. We met through a matchmaking service; she was a teacher, and I had started my own test-prep company. My parents were very satisfied with Sarah, thinking she was a rare good daughter-in-law. As we spent time together, we got closer, and eventually, we discussed marriage. I thought Sarah wanted to marry me; she seemed happy on our dates and smiled at our wedding. Even after marriage, as we grew more discordant and argued more frequently, I still thought it was my fault. Surely I had done something to upset her. Until the education budget cuts shut down my test-prep company, my income sharply declined. Sarah’s insults towards me increased; she called me a loser and said she regretted marrying me. I thought about divorce, but we had two children, and I wanted to provide them with a complete family. My parents also disagreed; they were convinced that there was no better woman than Sarah in the world. But only I knew what kind of person she was. I had hired a private investigator long ago to look into Sarah and that man. Sarah’s trip to Europe was with him.

When Sarah returned, she threw her suitcase on the floor with a loud thud. I looked up from the couch at the entrance. “You’re back?” “David Lin, stop pretending and acting all high and mighty,” Sarah said as she turned on the living room lights and walked over, sitting at a distance from me. She asked, “Where’s the divorce papers?” I looked at her, remaining silent. Sarah scoffed, “You’re not thinking of just going to the courthouse to get a divorce, are you? What about the assets? You really don’t want to give me a dime?” I also scoffed. She had the nerve to mention money when I had spent all of it on Lily’s medical bills. Oh right, and on Sarah’s vacation to Europe with that man. “All the money is gone,” I said flatly. Sarah got up and yelled at me, “You really are a loser!” I didn’t care and asked her, “Where’s Chris? You’re not leaving him alone in Europe, are you?” “Chris is somewhere else. I won’t let you see him; I can’t let him be influenced by you. What if he turns out like you, a loser?” I asked Sarah, “Am I a loser?” Sarah rolled her eyes at me. I continued, “After we got married, you said teaching was too exhausting, so I let you stay home as a full-time mom. But what have you done?” “I buy groceries, I cook, I clean with a robot vacuum, and I occasionally hire a cleaning service. What about you? You just go out and spend money.” “Who’s the loser here, you or me? Can’t you look in the mirror?” Sarah countered, “I didn’t realize you harbored so much resentment against me. But I’m the one raising the kids.” “Hahaha,” I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I laughed for a long time before I looked at her again and continued, “Lily was sick for a year. Did you ever take care of her? She’s dead now, and you wouldn’t even come back to see her unless I forced you with a divorce!” “Sarah, you have no heart.” Sarah hated me, and she hated Lily too. She simply said, “Stop talking nonsense; I came here to get a divorce.” I pulled out a document from behind me and threw it in front of her. When she saw the A4 paper, she quickly picked it up, but her expression turned pale when she read it. “What do you mean by this?” she questioned. I clapped my hands, as if to applaud her. “Who is Chris’s father?” Sarah fell silent; if Chris wasn’t my child, then she had cheated on me. Legally, she wouldn’t get a dime. Mark was waiting to divorce her so they could go abroad together. I watched her face turn pale and pressed her further, “Sarah, who were you cheating on me with?” “You think that if I show this to your parents and mine, they’ll just accept it?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294696”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantsy #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #校园School #擦边Steamy