Category: English

Seven years into my marriage, I discovered my husband had a six-year-old son. I hid behind the kindergarten slide, watching Alexander bend down to pick up a little boy, laughing and playing with him. “Daddy, you haven’t visited me in ages.” My husband ruffled the boy’s hair. “Be good, Leo. Daddy’s busy with work, but you have to listen to your mommy, okay?” My world imploded. I froze, my mind going utterly blank. Daddy? Mommy? The two figures, one large, one small, shared a striking seven-tenths resemblance. Everything screamed that the man who’d sworn to love me for eternity had been cheating on me all along! We had grown up together, our love a story whispered through the years. I’d taken a knife for him, a wound that cost me our unborn child and left me infertile forever. Back then, Alexander had knelt beside me, his eyes red-rimmed, saying, “I don’t care about children, Eleanor. I only need you!” His trembling voice still echoed in my ears, but the scene before me now ground those vows into dust! I stumbled backward, my heart feeling like it was being sliced into a thousand pieces by a sharp blade, bleeding profusely. I couldn’t bear to look anymore. I was terrified I’d rush over and confront Alexander, even more terrified I’d make a pathetic fool of myself, weeping and despised. I turned and fled. Outside the kindergarten, my best friend, Serena, had been waiting for me. Seeing my pale face, she rushed out of the car. “Ellie, what happened? Max said you forgot something and went back to get it. What’s going on?” Max was Serena’s son. She had insisted I accompany her to his parent-teacher conference today. My face was ashen, tears welling in my eyes. “Serena, help me find someone.” “Who?” “Alexander…” My throat tightened, and I spoke in a hoarse voice. “He has a son.”

【Baby, I won’t be back for another week. Do you miss me?】 I stared at the message from Alexander, tears streaming down my face like a broken dam. Every July, he’d go on a two-week “business trip” to inspect overseas branches. For six whole years, I had never once doubted him. But reality had just slapped me hard across the face, mocking my utter stupidity. Alexander wasn’t on a business trip; he was off with his mistress and his illegitimate child! If not for this unexpected incident today, I would still be completely in the dark. I scrolled through the photos on my phone, torturing myself. Outside, the rain poured, and occasional flashes of lightning illuminated my paper-white face. Perhaps, I should have seen this coming. The Harrington family, with its deep-rooted legacy, would never accept an infertile woman as the mother of their heirs. Unless… they had planned everything all along! So what role did Alexander, the man who supposedly loved me so deeply, play in all this? My heart twisted in agony. Alexander and I had grown up together. Everyone always said we were destined to be together forever. When I was eight, I fell from a tree while playing. He instinctively shielded me, breaking his arm, yet he just smiled and said it didn’t hurt a bit. At twelve, I got my first period and stained my dress. Even though he knew what it was, he was so scared he cried and swore he’d die with me. At eighteen, he secretly participated in an underground race, barely surviving to win a ring and propose to me. He said, “Eleanor, I’ll love you for all my life.” The love of a young man, pure and fervent, had long since captured my heart. Later, just before our wedding, his enemies kidnapped me. I was held for three days and three nights, found barely clinging to life. Alexander broke three ribs saving me, and it was then that I took a knife intended for him, losing my ability to have children. When Mrs. Harrington learned of this, she tried to break us apart. But Alexander, despite his injuries, knelt for three days in the family chapel, refusing food, declaring, “I’d rather lose the Harrington legacy than live without Eleanor!” That’s what finally forced his mother to relent. After his recovery, we quickly married. All of high society had once celebrated our epic, undeniable love. Yet, in the end, he still betrayed me. My phone rang. The screen displayed “Husband,” a word that now felt so utterly sarcastic. I numbly pressed answer. His gentle voice came through: “Baby, are you eating well at home alone? Do you miss me?” Normally, I would be drowning in the sweetness of his love, eager to respond. But now… I was afraid if I spoke, the sob in my throat would betray me. “Baby? Is something wrong? Don’t be scared, I’ll come back to you right now!” Alexander’s voice was anxious. He immediately got up, intending to return. But I couldn’t bear to see him now. “I’m fine.” I tried my best to control myself, but my voice was horribly hoarse. “I’m fine. Work is important, don’t come back. I just have a bit of a cold.” It was the first time I had ever lied to Alexander. He seemed oblivious, his attention drawn away by something, but he still worriedly reiterated a few instructions: “Then get some rest soon. Remember to call me, don’t make me worry.” I softly “hmm-ed” in agreement. Just as I was about to hang up, I heard a woman’s seductive whisper from his end: “Alex, Leo’s asleep. We can…” I keenly sensed Alexander’s breathing grow heavier, and then the call abruptly ended. I gripped my phone, my knuckles white, unable to suppress the chill seeping into my heart. He and that woman, they were together… I couldn’t bear to think about it! I started to whimper uncontrollably, a sound beyond my ability to suppress, like a huge hand clutching my heart, a pain so unbearable it could be fatal. I had thought, perhaps, Alexander was forced into this because of the child. But now, it was clear he was a willing participant! Serena, sensing something was wrong, immediately pushed the door open, only to see me looking utterly defeated, as if all life had drained from me. Usually so impulsive, she hesitated to approach. “Ellie, he’s not worth it.” Tears dripped onto the photos, making a soft pattering sound. Serena’s heart ached for me. She pulled me into a fierce hug, cursing through gritted teeth, “Ellie, Alexander is a piece of trash! He swore all those sweet words when he proposed, and now he dares to keep a mistress and child behind your back!” I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall freely, my mind already made up… The next morning, the rain had cleared, and the sun shone. I hadn’t slept a wink. I had spent the entire night thinking. I had seen love in its purest form; how could I tolerate a heart that had changed? I was Eleanor who deeply loved Alexander, but I was also Eleanor Hayes, the proud eldest daughter of the Hayes family. I couldn’t stand even a speck of dirt in my eye, especially not in love. With that thought, I called my father. “Dad, I remember the Hayes Group wanted to expand its business in the UK. Serena’s husband is from British royalty, and I’m bringing Max back in half a month. I’d like to go with them and take a look.” Mr. Hayes was puzzled. “Did Alexander ask you to inquire?” “No, this time I want to go myself.” I forced a bitter smile. Everyone assumed Alexander and I were one entity, even my own father. Mr. Hayes was surprised. His daughter had always been inseparable from that Harrington boy; why this sudden urge to go somewhere so far? “Ellie, did Alexander do something to you?” Mr. Hayes’s tone immediately became serious. I pursed my lips, eventually choosing to keep it hidden for now. “Dad, please don’t ask for now. I’ll tell you everything after I get to the UK.” The Hayes and Harrington families had been close for generations, their ties growing even stronger through our marriage. I didn’t want the Hayes Group to suffer any damage because of me. Mr. Hayes couldn’t argue with me and finally agreed. “Alright, then. Come to Hayes Group later today to familiarize yourself with the relevant matters.”

I nodded, hung up the phone, and got up to wash. Looking at myself in the mirror, my eyes swollen like walnuts, a bitter taste filled my mouth. The lawyer had already drafted the divorce papers and sent them over, but I still hadn’t figured out how to tell Alexander. After so many years of shared history, it wasn’t easy to simply let go. I used makeup to cover the traces of my tears, changed into a sharp business suit, and left the room. Downstairs, Serena was having breakfast with her son. My appearance yesterday must have given Max quite a scare. “Auntie’s awake!” Max, with his little legs, scampered over to me, taking my hand and blowing on it. “Mommy said Auntie’s heart hurt yesterday, so if I blow on it, it won’t hurt anymore!” Six-year-olds were truly innocent. I stroked his cheek. “Good boy, Max. Auntie doesn’t hurt anymore. Go find Mommy.” Max nodded innocently, then happily ran into Serena’s arms. I remembered Alexander and that child’s joyous laughter yesterday. I thought, if our child had still been alive, they would probably be a bit older than Leo. I took a deep breath, forcing down the bitterness in my heart, quickly said goodbye, and left. But as I stepped out of the villa, I saw a figure standing beside a Maybach not far away. Alexander looked exhausted, lightly biting on a cigarette, smoke swirling around him, making him appear indistinct. I was startled. The information stated that both Cassandra and her son’s birthdays were in July. Cassandra’s birthday was over, but the son’s was yet to come. Why would he suddenly be back? As if my gaze was too intense, he belatedly turned a searching look towards me, but the moment he saw it was me, his previously dull eyes suddenly lit up. He strode over to me, pulling me into his arms. His embrace was still warm, but at that moment, it felt so hot it made me tremble. “Is your cold better? I heard your voice wasn’t right, so I rushed back last night.” “I came home and found you gone. I figured you must be here with Serena.” Alexander’s voice was full of concern, and his expression didn’t seem faked. To this day, I still didn’t understand why the man who loved me to the bone would so comfortably have an affair and a child with another woman. My lips trembled slightly. I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the pain in my throat. I wanted to question him, but in the end, I just said numbly, “I’m fine. I was just about to go home.” Alexander sighed in relief. “Next time you’re sick, remember to tell me, or I’ll worry myself to death.” His voice was gentle and low, creating a momentary illusion of peaceful serenity. But in my peripheral vision, I saw a slender figure not far away. Cassandra stood under a tree, talking on her phone. The next second, Alexander’s phone rang… He glanced down at his phone, his face showing a troubled expression. “Something urgent came up at the office. I need to go deal with it.” My breath caught. I wasn’t blind. I’d seen the name flash across the screen: Cassandra. The bitterness in my heart was overflowing. I forced myself to speak, my voice tinged with a sour ache. “Alright, you go ahead. Company matters are important.” Alexander’s eyes held a hint of guilt. He kissed my forehead before getting into the car and rushing off. As soon as Alexander drove away, Cassandra hung up her phone. She swayed her hips as she approached. “Miss Hayes, hello. I’m Cassandra. I’m…” She trailed off, seeing my tightly pursed lips, and a knowing look crossed her face. “It seems Miss Hayes already knows about Leo and me. Then just wait for the show.” I hailed a taxi and followed Cassandra. At the hospital, I stood outside the patient room, watching everything unfold inside, feeling a sharp pain tear through my heart. I bit down hard on my lip, not daring to make a sound. Inside, Alexander’s son was on an IV drip, his small face pale and drawn, looking terribly pitiful. Alexander was frantic, pacing back and forth in the room, letting out a furious rant. “What are you all doing?! You can’t even cure a child’s fever!” The busy doctor beside him, I recognized as Alexander’s good friend, Dr. Ben Carter. “Your son has a cold and a fever because he caught a chill. If you can’t take care of him yourself, don’t you dare yell at my colleagues!” “Alexander, I really don’t know what you’re thinking. Didn’t you say you’d pay that woman off and get rid of her after she had the child? Now you dare to call me for a simple cold? What if Eleanor finds out?” After a long silence, Alexander’s voice came, tinged with fatigue and helplessness. “What can I do? A mother’s heart is tied to her child. Every time I tried to send Cassandra away, Leo would cry endlessly. I can’t just let the child keep crying, can I?” “Hmph, is it the child you can’t bear to part with, or her? You know the answer yourself!” Dr. Ben Carter scoffed. Hearing this, Alexander grew even more irritated. He rubbed his throbbing forehead forcefully. “Don’t talk nonsense. I will only love Eleanor my entire life. But the Harrington family can’t be without an heir. You absolutely must keep this from Eleanor. I don’t want to hurt her.” “As for Cassandra, she did bear me a child, and I can’t treat her badly.” It was only then that Cassandra pushed the door open, her face tear-streaked like a weeping willow. “Alex, it’s all my fault for not taking good care of Leo. He got a fever after you left last night and kept crying for you. I was afraid of disturbing you and your wife, so I didn’t say anything sooner…” Alexander stroked the child’s feverish face, sighed, and his heart softened. He pulled the woman into his arms to comfort her. “Don’t cry, Cassandra. I’m not blaming you. Leo is our child; it’s me who’s an unfit father.” Cassandra tugged at Alexander’s shirt, her fingers brushing across his chest. “Alex, I know I can’t compare to Miss Hayes, but I just can’t bear to see our child suffer…” Alexander’s brows furrowed. “Who dares to make my son suffer?! You, on the other hand, need to take care of yourself. Look at your face, all tear-streaked.” He raised a hand and gently wiped a tear from her eye, their intimate pose piercing my heart. I squeezed my hands tightly, letting my fingernails dig into my palms, leaving crescent-shaped red marks. I felt no pain at all. Or perhaps, any physical pain was nothing compared to the heartache. The pouring rain started again, and I left the hospital like that. I walked numbly in the rain, letting it drench me.

Rainwater streamed down my face, blurring my vision, but it couldn’t wash away the overwhelming feeling of shame and humiliation in my heart. By the time I reached Hayes Group, my ankles were already raw and bleeding from my high heels, a vivid red mess. The receptionist gasped in shock at my appearance and rushed forward to help me. “Miss Hayes! What happened to you? Do you need me to call Mr. Harrington? If he sees you like this, he’ll be heartbroken again.” My heart ached numbly. Yes, everyone assumed Alexander loved me, without exception. But they didn’t know how much deceit and betrayal was woven into that ‘love.’ I gently pushed away her helping hand, my voice hoarse. “I’m fine. It just started raining suddenly on the way. Please buy me a clean change of clothes and bring them here.” I handed her my black card, then locked myself in the nearest meeting room. The door closed, and I could no longer control my agonizing sobs. I had thought that after seeing those photos, I was already immune to reality. But seeing that family of three appear before me, the deepest scar in my heart was repeatedly ripped open, a bloody, raw wound. My heartbroken wails echoed through the large conference room. I wanted so badly to ask Alexander why he was the one who made grand vows back then, and why he was also the one now sharing intimate moments and a child with another woman… It wasn’t until a knock on the door that I snapped out of my sorrow. The person at the door had already left, leaving a new set of clothes and the black card, along with a cup of hot water. Under the cup was a handwritten note: “Miss Hayes, don’t worry, I didn’t contact Mr. Harrington. I know you’re afraid he’d worry.” A mix of emotions swirled within me. In the end, I tore the card into pieces and threw it into the trash. I took the clothes into the washroom to change. A moment later, I was back to being Eleanor Hayes, the formidable heiress. Nothing could scare me. I walked in my heels to the CEO’s office, and that’s where I stayed, working tirelessly all day. Throughout the day, Alexander sent me many messages, but I didn’t read or reply to any of them. It wasn’t until evening that I dragged my exhausted body back to the villa, planning to pack my bags and leave tomorrow morning. But as I opened the door, childish laughter drifted from the living room, and Cassandra stood right before my eyes! The woman was wearing a maid’s uniform from the Harrington family estate, and not far away, a little boy was making a mess in the living room. Seeing me enter, Cassandra stood up from beside Alexander, smiling gracefully and gently. “Madam is back. I’m the maid sent from the family estate to look after young Master Leo.” I instinctively bit my lip, even my breathing felt difficult. How *dare* Alexander? How *dare* he bring these two into our home! Seeing my expression change, Alexander quickly explained, “Baby, I messaged you this afternoon, you probably didn’t see it. Leo is a child Mom brought back from an orphanage. She said he had a special connection to our family.” All the heartbreak had already been vented in that empty conference room. Now, only a surging anger filled my chest. These people were treating me like an utter fool! “Alexander, are you deliberately trying to hurt me?” My voice trembled slightly, clearly furious. Hearing this, Alexander frowned slightly, surprised by my strong resistance. He hastily explained, “Baby, don’t be angry! You know the Harrington family needs an heir, and I saw how much you grieved for our lost child, so I agreed to Mom’s request.” “If you don’t like him, I’ll send him away immediately!” Everyone knew Alexander loved me deeply; my well-being was always his top priority. Just like now, if I didn’t like him, he would even send away his own biological son. But this kind of “favoritism” filled me with an inexplicable disgust! I was about to speak and clear the air, but the child, Leo, pursed his lips and burst into loud sobs. “You’re a bad woman! Daddy, why are you with this bad woman? Don’t you want Leo anymore?” The child’s cries were piercing, giving Alexander a splitting headache. He immediately snapped, “Leo, who taught you such disrespectful things?!” “Are you all dead?! Get young Master Leo back to his room right away!” Several maids rushed forward, flustered, and took the wailing Leo back to his room. Cassandra also seemed panicked, repeatedly apologizing. “Mr. Harrington, it’s all my fault. Please don’t blame young Master Leo.” As she spoke, she cast a lingering, tender look at Alexander, a look of grievance enough to make any man’s heart ache. Alexander sighed, his tone softening slightly. “I’m not blaming him. He’s just a child; what does he know? You go take care of him.” I took all of this in, my heart growing colder. I pulled away from Alexander and walked straight upstairs, closing the door on him who had followed. Alexander stood outside the door, incredibly frustrated, but still patiently tried to soothe me. “Baby, it’s all my fault. I’ll send that child away first thing tomorrow morning.” “You don’t have to let me in. Just get some good rest. We can talk about everything tomorrow.” I leaned against the door, sitting on the floor, listening to his receding footsteps. My heart was long past aching, numb and unresponsive. What was the point of sending him away? Blood is thicker than water, and those ties can never truly be severed. Ultimately, I was the one who needed to leave! I didn’t reply, locking the door. Alone, I slumped against the cold door, listening to his footsteps fade, no longer able to hold myself up, sliding to the floor. I just felt so incredibly tired, physically and emotionally drained. I don’t know how long passed, but my phone chimed. I numbly slid open the screen and saw a friend request from a stranger. It was Cassandra. 【Mrs. Harrington, if you kick Mr. Harrington out of your room, don’t blame him for coming to mine.】 My pupils constricted. I got up and walked out of the bedroom, immediately spotting a faint light from the study at the end of the second floor.

The door was ajar. Through the crack, I heard a woman’s seductive voice: “Alex, you’re hurting me?” The man grunted, his tone laced with a hint of ruthlessness: “Afraid of pain, yet you still lured me here? You truly can’t behave, even with a child.” Suddenly, a chill ran through me, like falling into an icy chasm. All the blood in my veins turned cold. I hadn’t expected Alexander to be so impatient! The sounds from inside continued. Cassandra suppressed a moan: “Alex, I just saw you were upset after Madam kicked you out, so I wanted to make you happy on her behalf.” “Don’t make excuses for your own wild behavior. Remember, if you want Leo to stay in this family, don’t you dare upset my wife.” I couldn’t listen anymore. I didn’t even know how I managed to leave. Back in my room, I immediately rushed into the bathroom, leaning over the sink, throwing up bile. Until a cramping pain seized my stomach, I slowly straightened up, looking at my pathetic self in the mirror. My tears had long since run dry. I was Eleanor Hayes, the proud heiress of the Hayes family, I should be better than this. I don’t know how long I stayed in the bathroom. It wasn’t until the sky began to lighten that I slowly got up and lay back on the bed. This time, *I* was the one who didn’t want him. The next morning, when I went downstairs, I saw Cassandra standing by the dining table, arranging tableware. After a night of effort, she had successfully changed out of the maid’s uniform and was wearing a figure-hugging, elegant dress that showed off her curves. Her face had a faint resemblance to mine. No wonder Alexander had picked her.

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I had just helped my daughter, Daisy, try on a dress when the boutique assistant stopped us. “Excuse me, ma’am, but this is one of our exclusive display pieces. It’s not for general sale.” I paused, then pointed to another dress in the window. “What about that one? Can I see it in my daughter’s size?” The assistant sighed, crossing her arms with an air of impatience. “That one is $12,000. Are you sure you want to try it on?” “Our store policy states that if you try on an item and don’t purchase it, there’s a $3,000 service fee.” Her blatant rudeness actually made me laugh. “Is that a rule set by your boss?” She rolled her eyes. “Our boss doesn’t have time for such trivial matters. I’ve seen plenty of cheapskates like you.” “Always coming in here just to snap pics for your SnapChat feed, right?” I didn’t waste another second arguing. Turning, I began to lead Daisy away. But suddenly, she called over the security guards who blocked our path. Then she pulled out a card reader. “That’ll be $3,000 for the service fee.” I couldn’t help but laugh, pulling out my phone right there and then, dialing my younger brother, Marcus, the General Manager of the mall. “Suite 103, Tower A. Have them evicted today. I’m not leasing this space anymore.”

I hung up, then turned to face the perfectly coiffed assistant. She clearly didn’t take my call seriously. Instead, she crossed her arms and scoffed. “Oh, please, keep up the dramatics,” she said sarcastically. “These days, people will do anything to avoid paying their bills.” “Kick us out of the mall? Do you even know who our boss is? Do you have any idea how much our annual lease and revenue are?” The two security guards behind her also sneered, convinced I was bluffing, trying to wriggle out of paying that $3,000. A few customers nearby had been drawn by the commotion, craning their necks to watch. Daisy’s tiny hand gripped my skirt, her little face etched with distress. It was her birthday today, and I’d brought her here specifically to buy her favorite princess dress. I never imagined we’d run into such a nightmare. I patted her back reassuringly. As I looked up, I spotted a framed photo on the wall behind the assistant. In the picture, a flashily dressed woman was intimately holding a man’s arm. I recognized the man: my ex-husband, Alexander. And the woman? Valerie, the owner of this very store. A woman who had only managed to secure this prime retail space in such an upscale mall thanks to Alexander. The last flicker of warmth in my heart died. So, old acquaintances. “I’ll say it again. Move.” The assistant was momentarily stunned by my gaze, but then her face flushed with rage. “Move? You can leave once you’ve paid!” She suddenly raised her voice, pointing a finger at my nose. “Don’t think putting on a show will scare me! You’re paying that three grand today, whether you like it or not!” “Otherwise, I’ll call the police and report you for fraudulent behavior and disturbing our business!” No sooner had she finished speaking than Valerie, clad in a designer suit, stormed out of the back, her heels clicking loudly. “What’s all the fuss about? Don’t you know I’m entertaining a VIP client in there?” It was Valerie. The moment she saw me, her impatient expression morphed into surprise. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t Mrs. Sterling… oh, my mistake…” She deliberately drew out her words, covering her mouth with her hand as she snickered. “It’s Ms. Sterling now, isn’t it?” “What? After ditching Alex, you can’t even cough up a measly three grand for a service fee?” Her voice was cutting and venomous, gleefully parading my misfortune for everyone to see. The surrounding murmurs instantly grew louder. “Oh, so it’s Alex Sterling’s ex-wife. That explains it.” “I heard she was kicked out by the Sterling family, left penniless. How tragic.” “And with a kid to boot, how pitiful.” The curious glances of the onlookers immediately shifted to a mix of pity and scorn. Daisy was terrified by the commotion, her small face pale, her eyes welling up with tears. A sharp pang went through my heart. I pulled her into a tight hug. Seeing this, the assistant’s smug expression only deepened. She immediately leaned in to Valerie, eager to complain. “Cousin, it’s her! She tried on our crown jewel and now she’s trying to wriggle out of paying for it!” Valerie nodded with satisfaction, then walked up to me, lowering her voice. “Eleanor Sterling, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” “You’re not Mrs. Sterling anymore. No one’s got your back.” “Be smart, pay up, and get out of here with your little burden.” “Otherwise, I’ll make sure you don’t even set foot outside this mall today.” I looked at her face and suddenly smiled. “Is that so? I’d like to see you try and stop me from walking out that door today.” My calm indifference infuriated Valerie completely. “Fine, *fine*!” Her face crimson with fury, she gritted her teeth. “You think I’m joking?” She abruptly stepped back, shouting at the two security guards. “Hold them! No one leaves until they pay!” Following their boss’s command, the two security guards immediately stepped forward, blocking our path on either side, their attitudes even more aggressive than before. The onlookers, seeing the situation escalate, didn’t disperse. Instead, they crowded in even tighter, many even pulling out their phones to record.

“Oh my God, what’s going on? Is this some kind of forced purchase?” “That woman is so pitiful, and she has a child with her.” “Shhh, keep your voice down, didn’t you hear?” “That’s Alex Sterling’s ex-wife. The store owner seems to have a *special* relationship with Alex. We should probably stay out of it.” Amidst the whispers, there was some sympathy, but more often, fear and indifference. My daughter was badly frightened. Her small body trembled in my arms, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls. “Mommy, I’m scared…” “Don’t be scared, Daisy. Mommy’s here.” I gently comforted my daughter, the suppressed rage in my chest churning violently. I hadn’t wanted to make a scene in front of my daughter, but they had crossed my line. Valerie, watching my predicament, smiled triumphantly. “Everyone, I apologize for the spectacle today.” “This woman, relying on the fact that she was once Mrs. Sterling, thinks she can just freeload wherever she goes.” “We’re a small business, we can’t afford this.” “Since she refuses to pay, we have no choice but to follow policy and call mall security to handle this.” With that, she pulled out her phone and called mall security, dramatically portraying me as a deranged woman attempting to steal. She was certain that by invoking Alex’s name, mall management would side with her. I watched her blatant lies with a cold eye. Then I took out my own phone, found a number that had been gathering dust in my contacts for ages, and sent two quick texts. “Five minutes. Bring legal and security to Suite 103, Tower A, Zenith Mall.” “Notify all properties owned by the Zenith Group to permanently blacklist Valerie.” After sending the messages, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and waited calmly. Valerie, having finished her call, was even more confident. She walked up to me, gloating. “Eleanor Sterling, I suggest you get on your knees and beg me now, while you still have the chance.” “When mall security arrives, it won’t just be $3,000 we’re talking about.” “When word gets out that you’re a thief, let’s see how you’ll ever show your face again.” The assistant chimed in, fanning the flames: “Exactly!” “Who does she think she is now? Still daring to throw her weight around in our store? Delusional!” Just then, Valerie’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, and her triumphant smile instantly turned fawning. She deliberately put it on speaker, just to make sure everyone heard. “Hello, Alex, darling~” Her voice was so sweet and syrupy it could curdle milk. From the other end of the line, Alex’s voice came through, edged with impatience: “Valerie, what are you up to now?” “Mall management called me, saying you’re causing a scene?” Valerie immediately started complaining pitifully: “Alex, you *have* to back me up! It’s your ex-wife, Eleanor Sterling.” “She came to my store to cause trouble, tried on clothes without paying, and even tried to hit me!” “I really had no choice but to…” “Eleanor Sterling?” Alex’s voice held a trace of surprise, then turned cold. “Where is she?” “Right outside my store, sir! Please hurry, she’s practically tearing my shop apart!” Valerie said, exaggerating wildly. “Got it. I’ll be right there.” Alex said, then hung up the phone. Valerie’s posture became even more arrogant, her eyes full of the triumph of a victor. “Hear that? Alex is on his way!” Valerie’s words were a shot of confidence, solidifying the onlookers’ resolve to stay and watch the show.

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To end the war, I voluntarily offered myself in marriage to Draven Kael, the formidable leader of the Beast Tribe. My husband, a whirlwind of raw, untamed power, pinned me to the grasslands. For what felt like an eternity, he overwhelmed me, until I simply faded into unconsciousness. I truly believed Draven loved me. But later, it was *he* who led a hundred thousand beast warriors in the assault on my home. He grabbed my head, forcing me to watch as my family was torn apart and my kingdom fell. Draven smiled, but his eyes held no emotion: “Seraphina Thorne, did you truly believe your captivating beauty could sway nations, that you could actually capture my heart?” “How many of my people did you slaughter? You send *one* of you, *you*, and dare to think it would erase our blood debt!” Eventually, Draven unified the lands, and took a favored wife. I was held captive, without status or recognition. Every time I attempted suicide, he would exhume a corpse from the burial grounds and destroy it before my eyes. “You are not allowed to die without my command!” I stopped struggling. After all, only three days remained until the poison I’d consumed years ago, to save him, would finally claim my life.

It was his wife’s birthday banquet, and Draven made an exception, allowing me to attend. My eyes burned with unshed tears as I watched the woman on the raised platform, adorned in a feathered phoenix coronet – a cherished heirloom of my mother’s. “Audacious slave! Bow before the Chieftain and his Lady!” Someone brutally kicked me. My knees slammed against the ground, and my forehead touched the dirt as I numbly performed the bow. Draven didn’t allow me to rise. His face impassive, he said, “Seraphina, you are a good half hour late. Was this a deliberate slight against Celeste?” “I deserve death.” I bowed again, my forehead hitting the stone floor with a sickening thud. I offered no defense, no explanation that my legs, still weak from my confinement, meant the walk took over four hours. A flicker of scorn crossed Draven’s face. “You’ve certainly learned your lesson, haven’t you?” The last time I was disobedient, he had me locked in a beast cage, and half my blood was drained to quench the thirst of his animals. When I was on the verge of death, he would turn around and order rare elixirs and treasures to be found, just barely keeping me alive. “My dear sister, please rise. After all, you were once noble-born. Even if your kingdom is gone, why still consider yourself a common wretch?” Celeste Sterling herself helped me up, her sweet words a cruel knife twisting into my most painful wounds. Noticing the wolf-fang bracelet wrapped around my wrist, a flash of covetous surprise lit her eyes. She said she adored it and wanted it as a birthday gift. I glanced at Draven. He showed no reaction. This was a gift from Draven years ago, an ancestral treasure of his tribe. Each wolf fang was a potent medicinal ingredient, imbued with an exotic scent that never faded. Long-term wear was said to soothe pain and prolong life. I had been frail and sickly since childhood. When he gave it to me, he said he wished me a lifetime of peace and health. “If Lady Celeste desires it, how could a mere slave refuse?” I unclasped it from my wrist and placed it in Celeste’s hand. As I averted my gaze, I faintly heard the sound of an overturned wine chalice from the platform. Celeste toyed with the wolf-fang bracelet, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. “Oh, right. I recall my sister was once known as a dancer whose movements once captivated the entire capital. Perhaps you could favor us with a performance tonight?” I numbly endured the malicious, spectating stares from the banquet guests. There were the Beast Tribe’s war chiefs. And there were the traitors who had once conspired from within, throwing open the gates of the Thorne Kingdom. But I had no right to refuse. A bowl of scalding hot soup was thrown at me, instantly searing my skin and stripping away a layer. “What are you standing around for, stunned? You’re lucky to even be alive! Get on with it!” As if immune to the pain, I rose on my toes. I transformed myself into a mere dancer for their amusement. The wild, untamed spirit of the plains meant inhibitions were often shed. The rowdy men, still unsatisfied, began to clamor for me to strip. Draven’s gaze, cold and deep, was fixed on me from afar, a silent acquiescence. I bit my lip, then began to unfasten my sash. My clothes clung to my burnt flesh, tearing away, leaving raw, bloody patches. One by one, I shed my garments in this very place that once held countless beautiful memories of my past. The tears still fell. I wasn’t allowed to stop until the banquet finally concluded. Draven, reeking of wine, approached me. His icy fingertips brushed against the damp streaks on my face, wiping away a single tear. But his voice was utterly devoid of feeling: “Seraphina, are you intentionally trying to gain sympathy from me?” “No, my Lord. I wouldn’t dare.” But as the words left my lips, the illness within me flared again. I coughed up blood right in front of him, feeling as though every organ in my body would be expelled. Draven recoiled in disgust, a sneer on his face. “I’ve seen your sickly pretense for ten years, haven’t you put on enough of an act?” I once believed he despised my delicacy and weakness. Yet, over the years, he had been exceptionally kind to Celeste. Celeste only needed to furrow her brow slightly, and the royal physicians would be kneeling at her door, awaiting her command. The insidious virus gnawed at me. My body trembled, and cold sweat beaded on my forehead. Before I lost consciousness, I thought I saw a flicker of panic in Draven’s eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, “Seraphina, I won’t let you die easily. You *must* live to atone!” But my atonement… it wouldn’t be finished. In two more days, I would surely die. The next morning, I woke to find my burns had been treated. I vaguely realized this wasn’t my usual desolate chambers. Then I remembered. This was where Father used to hold my brother and me, teaching us to read and write. Mother would bring us freshly made food. I couldn’t even recall what her dishes tasted like anymore. “You’re awake.” Draven approached, his face expressionless. He gripped my chin, forcing a bowl of intensely bitter blood tonic down my throat. His strength was immense. I choked, my eyes watering. “Seraphina, don’t look at me with such pitiful eyes.” Draven let out a cold laugh. “Even if your hands are clean and untouched by my people’s blood, as long as you were born here, you are not innocent.” The day my kingdom fell, he had everyone here slaughtered. Even the formed child in my womb, his own flesh and blood, he hadn’t spared. He had left only me alive. I didn’t understand… was this love, or hate? It must be hate.

That’s why, later, he made me soak in cold water all night long. He wanted me to lose my ability to bear children entirely. He didn’t want me to give him a child. He found me disgusting. I wiped the medicinal liquid from the corner of my mouth. Before I could speak, a joyous report came from outside. “Chieftain! Lady Celeste has been examined by the imperial physician—she is with child!” Draven’s expression froze for a moment, then his voice became excited: “Are you serious? Celeste is pregnant?” My gaze remained blank, watching the elation of impending fatherhood bloom on his face. Perhaps the virus was gnawing at me again. My hand instinctively clutched my chest. It ached so fiercely there. I had originally hoped that when the poison took full effect, I would just quietly die. But Draven insisted I go serve Celeste at this very moment. He knew exactly how to inflict the most cruel torment. He wanted me to witness, with my own eyes, another woman bearing his children. While our child, ripped from my womb by his own hands, remained buried on the back hill—a solitary grave, not even worthy of a tombstone. Celeste smiled at me, a soft, gentle smile. “The Chieftain sent you to serve me. I can’t really make you do strenuous work, so please just clean this place thoroughly.” I picked up the broom, looking at the peach blossoms. Others glared at me openly, their voices harsh. “Leaving her in the desolate chambers to slowly die is already merciful. Our Lady is truly kind, even calling her ‘sister’.” “What golden child, born of privilege? She’s clearly worse than the lowest servant. The Chieftain abandoned her long ago. If I were her, I’d be too ashamed to live.” Red rashes slowly began to appear on my skin, an allergic reaction. I gasped for breath, and suddenly felt a warm liquid trickle from my nose. I reached up to touch it, and froze. “Ah!” Celeste saw my blood-covered face and was immediately overwhelmed with shock. Draven rushed in at the news. Without a word, he slapped me. The force of it sent me sprawling to the ground, scattering a flurry of peach petals. I began to cough. “Celeste cannot stand the smell of blood right now! Are you deliberately trying to harm her?!” His eyes were as cold as ice blades. “Just because your child died, you want revenge on others? Seraphina, have you forgotten the consequences of disobedience?” How could I forget? Enduring the itching on my skin and the pain in my lungs, I knelt on the ground, admitting my mistake. “It’s my fault, it’s my fault. Please, Chieftain, spare my life…” “My mother’s remains have already been destroyed by you, and my father’s and brother’s graves have been burned clean. Chieftain, I have nothing left.” Draven crouched down, lifting my chin. He smirked, “Who says you have nothing left?” “Isn’t there still one buried on the back hill?” I clutched his hand desperately, my eyes bloodshot. “Please, I beg you, Draven…” “Don’t do that. You can’t do that.” I couldn’t recall how long it had been since I had called him by his name. Draven’s eyes were downcast, turbulent emotions churning within them. I couldn’t decipher them, only sensing that he hesitated. I continued to kowtow, pleading. *Thump! Thump! Thump!* Until the ground was stained a vivid crimson, more brilliant than the peach blossoms. Blood flowed from my nose, I coughed up blood from my mouth, and even bloody tears streamed from my eyes… Draven finally realized that the amount of blood I had lost these past two days seemed… excessive. He frowned, asking those nearby, “Was she doing any heavy labor in this courtyard earlier that would cause this?” “Reporting, Chieftain. Lady Celeste, in her kindness, only had her do light cleaning tasks. Everyone can attest to it.” Draven immediately released me, letting out a series of cold laughs. “Seraphina, you’re having another one of your fits, aren’t you?” “You’ve had this strange illness for so many years now. Since you won’t die from it, you might as well suffer through it!” I watched him step over me, entering the palace without a backward glance. I let out a very soft breath. I curled into a ball, unmoving, until night fell, and peach blossoms covered me completely. Candlelight glowed within the palace, and Celeste’s delicate voice faintly reached my ears. “Oh, Chieftain, you mustn’t. I’m with child, you know.” “You’re awful… If the Chieftain desires me so much, you must promise to be gentle, okay?” Silhouettes danced on the paper screens. I watched their intimate night in silence. I suddenly remembered the night Draven and I were married. There was no formal ceremony, no rituals. He simply pinned me to the grasslands, under the open sky, fierce and wild. I had thought it was the custom of his tribe, and swallowed all my grievances. But at his later coronation as Emperor, I finally understood. He treated Celeste with such tenderness and respect. Dawn was breaking. This was my last day. Draven, I am dying. The one you hate will soon be utterly extinguished. Congratulations. The main door suddenly burst open. The man walked out, looking down at me. “I told you to serve Celeste. Is *this* how you slack off?”

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**Chapter 1** Five years of dating, and my lawyer boyfriend had canceled our wedding 52 times. The first time, his female intern messed up some paperwork at the firm, and he rushed back, leaving me stranded on the beach for an entire day. The second time, in the middle of the ceremony, he learned that the same intern was being harassed by another lawyer. He left to help her, abandoning me to become the laughingstock of our guests. After that, no matter when or where I planned the wedding, Chloe always seemed to find some trouble that only he could solve. Finally, my heart turned into a barren wasteland, utterly devoid of hope. That was the day I finally decided to break free. But the day I moved out of Newport, he went insane, searching for me everywhere. … Today was the fifty-second time Daniel and I were supposed to get married. This time, I hadn’t invited anyone outside of our immediate families. I was burning up with a fever, yet I was the one confirming details with the wedding director. He didn’t even spare me a glance, let alone a word of concern. Instead, in the groom’s dressing room, he was meticulously massaging Chloe’s ankle. She’d apparently twisted it rushing over. My parents saw him and just shook their heads, their eyes full of pity for me. “Look at how many times you’ve put yourself through this, Ellie! Has he ever truly cared about your feelings?” Everyone knew how much this wedding meant to me, how desperately I wanted it to finally be perfect. But as the ceremony time drew near, Daniel, who should have been standing at the altar, canceled our wedding yet again. I bolted out, desperation clawing at my throat, but he caught my arm, his grip firm and unyielding. “Chloe’s ankle isn’t getting any better, I need to take her to the hospital.” “Let’s just cancel this wedding too. Next time, I promise, next time I won’t leave halfway through.” With that, he forcefully pulled his hand from mine, helped Chloe into the passenger seat, and sped away. Five years of dating. This was the fifty-second time he’d canceled our wedding because of Chloe. In the past, I would have erupted into a furious argument, demanding to know why he always had to leave in the middle of our wedding. But this time, I stood quietly, a gentle smile playing on my lips. “It’s okay, Chloe’s ankle really can’t wait.” Daniel paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, as if my easy agreement had caught him off guard. “It’s best that you understand. I’ll bring you a strawberry cake from your favorite place tonight.” I simply hummed in response, watching him roll up the window and drive off instantly. The moment his car was out of sight, my smile vanished. He’d forgotten. I hated strawberries. I hated cake. The person who loved strawberry cake wasn’t me. A long time ago, he’d bought one to cheer me up. Not wanting to disappoint him, I’d forced myself to take a bite, stifling my nausea. Later, I told him how much I disliked strawberries and cake. He’d immediately pulled out his phone, making a note in his memo app, vowing he’d never forget. Just one year later, “never” had already passed. The scorching sun overhead burned my skin, but my heart remained frozen solid. I let out a bitter laugh. After announcing the wedding cancellation, I publicly shredded the wedding dress I’d worn for fifty-two rehearsals. I knew then that five years of a relationship should be shredded along with it. **Chapter 2** In the end, my parents stayed behind to persuade me. “How about you come back to New York City with us, sweetie?” This wasn’t the first time they’d tried to convince me to return. I slumped onto a chair, looking up into my parents’ hopeful eyes. They were the founders of the largest law firm in New York City. It was their influence that led me to pursue a career in law. Originally, they had planned for me to gain experience at their firm after I grew up. But I met Daniel during grad school and followed him to Newport. He came from humble beginnings, and he absolutely hated it when anyone mentioned my affluent family background. So, for five years, I had never told him about my family’s true standing, letting him believe I, too, was from a modest background. Over those five years, I grew from a junior lawyer to a well-known one. Daniel and I won the firm’s annual bonus three years in a row; everyone joked that we were “the firm’s golden couple.” Our lives were getting better and better. I thought he wouldn’t mind now, but I never found the right moment to tell him. Lost in thought, I sighed. Ultimately, there wouldn’t be a need to tell him anymore. “Okay, I promise.” My parents’ eyes lit up. They tightly clasped my hands. “Good girl, your mom and dad will book your flight. We won’t let you suffer here any longer!” After settling my parents, I returned home. The entire house was as desolate as ever. I casually cooked a bowl of noodles and then opened Ins, only to see Chloe’s latest update. The picture showed her in a figure-hugging tracksuit, posing intimately with Daniel in a series of selfies. “Tricked my mentor into playing ball with me when he was supposed to be getting married! He was a little annoyed, but I told him we’d have dinner at my place later, and he cheered right up, hee hee.” Seeing that post, I involuntarily gagged. I knew he wouldn’t be coming home tonight, just like all the times before. Thankfully, we hadn’t legally tied the knot. Now, I wouldn’t have to compromise myself anymore. The next morning, I packed my luggage and headed to the law firm to resign. Given my excellent performance, my boss was trying to persuade me to stay. As we were talking, Daniel walked in, carrying some files. My eyes flickered to him, catching sight of a hickey on his neck and a distinct peach scent clinging to him. He’d clearly had a wild, indulgent night. He used to despise me leaving any marks on him, claiming it affected his professional image. So, even in moments of passion, I’d try my best to restrain myself, or just grip the bedsheets. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be marked; he just didn’t want *my* marks. Not from me. As soon as he entered, my boss sighed and spoke. “Perfect timing. You can talk some sense into your girlfriend. She’s resigning. Did you two have a fight?” “It has nothing to do with him.” “You’re resigning?” Both voices spoke at once. In my peripheral vision, I saw his eyes fixed on me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “See? You *were* angry about me canceling the wedding yesterday, weren’t you?” My boss, sensing the tension, discreetly left, giving us space. The moment the door closed, he stepped closer, confronting me. “I already told you, Chloe hurt her ankle, that’s why I canceled. Why are you being so petty?” I tried to keep my voice calm, looking up and lying. “I’m not angry. I’m resigning because I’m tired. I want to go on vacation and get some rest.” He crossed his arms, frowning in confusion. “If you want a vacation, just take your annual leave. Resigning so suddenly will make people think you have a problem with Chloe. How is a young girl like her supposed to work at the firm if you do that?” He’d forgotten. I’d used up all my annual leave this year, wasted on every single wedding he’d canceled. But all he worried about was what Chloe would do at the firm. A profound sadness washed over me. I redirected my gaze to the hickey on his neck, saying nothing. He noticed, instinctively covering his neck. “It’s just a mosquito bite, don’t overthink it.” I was somewhat surprised. He wasn’t arguing with me; he was actually trying to explain himself. But it was such a clumsy excuse. The old me might have actually believed it. I nodded, still silent. Daniel exhaled, relieved, assuming my anger had subsided. He smiled, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “That’s more like it. Being magnanimous is what makes a great lawyer.” “Don’t bother with resigning. How about I take you to Moonlight Restaurant tonight? Consider it my apology.” I remained silent. He took my quietness as acceptance. The intention I’d had to properly say goodbye to him was now suppressed. I no longer wanted to tell him about my move to New York City. “Mentor!” Chloe burst through the door without knocking. Daniel flinched, immediately letting go of me. Chloe smiled apologetically. “Oh, sorry to interrupt your date, Mentor and big sister! But I really can’t help it, I just don’t understand this case at all…” Daniel turned away from me without a second glance, walking straight to Chloe, taking the files from her hand, and bending down to patiently ask her what she didn’t understand. Chloe deliberately leaned in intimately. The two of them whispered together right in front of me, forming a world of their own, shutting me out completely. Then, Chloe linked arms with Daniel and led him out. As she closed the door, she glanced back at me, a triumphant, challenging smile on her face. Bang. The empty room echoed only with my breathing. The next second, the elegant bracelet he’d given me on our one-year anniversary, the one he’d said symbolized a lifetime of completeness and harmony for us, slipped from my wrist and shattered into countless pieces on the floor. There was no discernible reason for it to fall. I stood in silence for a long moment. Then, ignoring the sharp sting as shards bit into my skin, I carefully gathered the fragments, along with the last vestiges of my lingering affection for him, and threw them all into the trash. **Chapter 3** After firmly submitting my resignation to my boss, I went back to my desk to hand over my remaining work. Maya, the colleague I was handing over to, was usually quite close to me and seemed genuinely sad when she heard the news. “Ellie, are you really leaving?” she asked, her voice tinged with regret. “If you go, then I’ll be stuck watching those two disgusting people flaunt their affair in front of me every single day!” Following her gaze, I saw Daniel explaining a case to Chloe. Chloe seemed a little upset, perhaps Daniel had mildly scolded her. To cheer her up, Daniel conjured a Cartier bracelet from somewhere. She immediately beamed and slipped it onto her wrist. It was only then that her eyes met mine, and she stood up, flustered. “Ellie, there’s nothing going on between my mentor and me! This is just a regular bracelet!” Her words instantly drew everyone’s attention, their eyes flitting between her and me. Five years of dating, and Daniel had never given me anything expensive. And just like Daniel, everyone thought I was so naive, straight from the sticks, that I wouldn’t even recognize a designer brand. They all felt sorry for me. Even Maya, standing beside me, seethed with indignation on my behalf. “You two are still together, aren’t you? They’re practically playing you for a fool!” I pressed her hand, shaking my head repeatedly, signaling her not to start an argument. Then I looked back at Chloe. “That bracelet is beautiful. It suits you well.” Chloe, not seeing me lose my temper, seemed a little unwilling to let it go and continued. “No, really, Ellie, it’s just a normal bracelet. Please don’t be angry.” I just found it baffling. Angry? There was no need. I had plenty of bracelets like that, though they were all back home in New York City. Daniel heard her and stood up, frowning as he admonished me. “Ellie, don’t be so dramatic.” I sighed, shaking my head. “I’m really not angry. You two should stop making wild assumptions about me.” My tone was calm, which seemed to surprise Daniel. He then snorted. “You’d better not be.” He pulled Chloe down to sit beside him. Maya couldn’t help but ask me. “Are you just going to let them off the hook?” I shrugged, continuing to organize my files. “Yeah, well, as far as I’m concerned, I’ve already broken up with him, unilaterally.” Fifty-two canceled weddings. Not a single successful one. I was utterly exhausted. After work, Daniel, for once, came over to my desk to help me pack up. “Let’s go. I made an 8 o’clock reservation at Moonlight Restaurant. We’ll get there just in time.” Then his eyes drifted to my bare wrist. He froze, a hint of panic in his voice as he asked. “Where’s the bracelet I gave you?” “I was worried about breaking it, so I took it off and put it away at home.” He visibly relaxed, smiling at me. “You used to wear it every day. Why the sudden urge to keep it safe now?” Before I could come up with another lie, Chloe jogged over and stopped beside us. “Mentor, I’m all packed up!” Daniel’s attention was immediately drawn to her. He nodded, gesturing for her to wait in the car. I watched Chloe walk directly to the passenger seat and settle in. In five years of dating, I had never once sat in that seat. He always said that seat was reserved for his future wife, the woman who would truly be his partner. Meeting Chloe’s provocative gaze, I lowered my head, offering no response. My heart was utterly devoid of any ripples. At the restaurant, Daniel and Chloe sat on the same side, ordering their meals without once asking for my opinion. I was content to be left alone, propping my head up and gazing out at the scenery. After all, it would be hard for me to see it again after tomorrow. When the food arrived, Daniel surprisingly peeled a whole bowl of shrimp for me and placed it in front of me. “The shrimp at this restaurant is pretty good.” I looked up, meeting his somewhat gentle smile. I hadn’t expected him to still be considerate of me at a time like this. Chloe couldn’t resist interjecting, trying to take credit. “I’m the one who recommended it to Mentor! Last time we came here together, he ate three whole plates!” Daniel’s cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. “Chloe, how could you tell your *wife* about that funny little story…” Chloe giggled, covering her mouth, then looked at me, feigning awkwardness. “Oh, sorry, Ellie, please don’t let this little embarrassment ruin Mentor’s image in your mind, okay?” The two of them dissolved into laughter again, right in front of me. I looked at the bowl of shrimp meat, suddenly finding it utterly bland. I forced myself to eat one bite, suppressing my revulsion, then pushed the bowl back. “I don’t like it. You can have it.” Their playful banter finally stopped. Daniel carefully asked me. “Are you upset?” I shook my head. “No. This shrimp tastes too fishy. I’m not used to it.” *Just like you two—utterly disgusting.* After dinner, Daniel drove a seemingly drunk Chloe home. I was the one who had to lock our door after they left. Watching them drive away, I immediately hailed a cab for the airport. On SnapChat, Daniel was still messaging me, planning our next wedding. Perhaps feeling guilty, he volunteered to plan and organize this one himself. “Don’t worry, this time the wedding will definitely happen. No one will be able to bother us!” I replied expressionlessly. “Okay.” I knew it was impossible. This wedding would be canceled without reason, just like all the others. As I was about to board the plane, he sent another message. “Chloe drank too much and has a stomachache. I won’t be coming home tonight. You should be careful by yourself at home.” I scoffed, already knowing it. “It’s fine if you stay at her place. I’ve already packed my bags and left. From now on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other.” “Daniel, goodbye forever.” After sending him that final message, I immediately blocked and deleted him. Once on the plane, I looked out at Newport, still sparkling brightly, growing smaller and smaller beneath me. On the other end, Daniel was absolutely dumbfounded.

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I was hiding in my best friend Chloe’s closet, planning to surprise her for her birthday. “Creak…” The bedroom door opened, and the lights flickered on. I was just about to push the closet door open, ready to give her a shock. But the moment my hand nudged the door, pushing it open just a crack, Chloe’s head *rolled* right to my feet! Her long hair covered most of her face, leaving only her eyes exposed. Her wide, unseeing eyes swiveled towards my hiding spot, as if still alive. Her mouth seemed to be trying to say something, but all strength had left her. Terrified, I quickly pulled my hand back, but the closet door wouldn’t close. I heard footsteps approaching, and in sheer horror, I held my breath, not daring to make a sound. The next second, the closet door was yanked open! Chloe and I were best friends. Just yesterday, we’d been apartment hunting, talking about moving in together. Chloe had been in a bad mood for days, arguing with her landlord about the rent. Today was her birthday. I’d told her I was going back to my hometown, but in reality, I was already waiting at her place. Curled up in her closet, I was brimming with excitement, waiting for her to come into the bedroom, eager to surprise her. But the moment I heard a noise and prepared to jump out, I saw my best friend’s severed head. The gruesome sight chilled me to the bone! Her hair covered most of her face, but her eyes were wide open, bloodshot and staring. Right up to her last breath, her eyes were fixed on me! I held my breath in terror, my mind a blank slate, but my body moved on instinct. I instinctively slammed the open closet door shut. Just as I was regretting my impulsive action, I heard soft footsteps slowly approaching. I froze in terror, not even daring to breathe. The footsteps stopped right in front of the closet. I could even hear the strained, ragged breathing clearly. “Creak…” The closet door was opened! I squeezed my eyes shut, my limbs stiff as a board. In other words, I was waiting to die. But then, the next second. “Creak…” The closet door was closed again. The footsteps slowly receded, and the bedroom lights were turned off, as if nothing had happened. It suddenly hit me: the killer hadn’t noticed me because of the plushie costume I was wearing. I’d bought a giant teddy bear for Chloe at the supermarket. When I got home, I’d taken out the stuffing and climbed inside. Back then, I was fantasizing about the look on her face when a huge teddy bear suddenly popped out of the closet. Now, it had become my lifeline! It wasn’t until I heard the front door click shut that my heart finally stopped hammering in my chest. I was about to shed the heavy costume when I faintly heard the “Happy Birthday” song playing in the living room! That was… that was the music box I’d placed next to the cake on the living room table! He must have seen the cake I left on the table. So he never left the apartment! My fear had spread to my limbs, making my hands and feet tremble uncontrollably. But then, everything outside went silent. Apart from my own ragged breathing, I couldn’t hear a single sound. Maybe my nerves were just on edge. I peered through the crack in the closet door. A sliver of moonlight reflected in Chloe’s eyes from the window, making it feel like she was still watching me. The sight sent shivers down my spine.

Just as I was trying to calm myself, forcing my eyes shut, my phone suddenly rang. “Ding-a-ling…” A sharp, urgent phone ring pierced the silence. My nerves snapped taut again. This was it. My ringing phone was right there, on the bed, directly opposite me. “Creak…” The bedroom door opened again. This time, the footsteps were a little more hurried. The phone stopped ringing. He didn’t turn on the light when he came in this time, seeming to walk straight towards the bed without hesitation. I listened intently to every footstep, unable to control the sound of my swallowing. And then, he stopped right in front of me. The faint moonlight from the window cast his rough silhouette, but I couldn’t make out any details. I was praying he wouldn’t find me when I suddenly felt something warm moving closer to my side. My heart leaped. Before I could even react, I heard footsteps heading towards me again. He had turned around! The sound of his feet on the floor magnified in my ears, like a speaker blaring right next to me. My nerves were stretched to their breaking point. The air in the closet was already stale, and after being in this plushie costume for so long, I was drenched in sweat. Just as he stood in front of the closet, about to open the door again. “Knock, knock, knock…” The front door was knocked. It felt like a lifeline, and time stood still. Aside from the knocking, I couldn’t hear a single sound. After what felt like an eternity, the footsteps that were heading towards me changed direction. “Click.” He turned on the bedroom light, put his phone back on the bed, and left. I strained to see the phone screen. It was the delivery guy. [I’ll pick it up later, just leave it outside.] That was the delivery app’s chat screen. Sure enough, the knocking at the door stopped. It was then, through the crack in the closet, that I saw Chloe’s head suddenly contort. The hair that had covered her face now fell away, fully exposing it. Blood, like crimson paint, smeared her entire face, and her eyes looked utterly grotesque. She suddenly started to bounce up and down. My heart lurched. Had she become something… *undead*? Sweat dripped down my face, but quickly, through the crack, I saw a hand grabbing her hair and dragging her towards the door. Though I was still terrified, a wave of relief washed over me. “Phew…” I calmed myself down again, trying to listen for any movement outside. But this time, I heard no footsteps. The room was eerily quiet. It wasn’t until I heard the front door lock again that I regained my senses. However, the next second, when I looked back at the closet, I saw a pair of blood-red eyes staring intently at me.

“Ah!” After several attempts to steady my nerves, I finally broke down. A strong pair of arms pulled me into an embrace: “Shhh… Don’t scream, don’t scream, he hasn’t gone far!” I turned my head to look at the man in front of me. It was Mr. Davies, the landlord. I stared at him in horror. Could *this* man be…? “Calm down first. I was hiding right next to you earlier.” He explained frantically. I suddenly remembered the warm presence beside me. Was it him hiding next to me all this time? “Ashley, take off that plushie costume first. We need to talk properly.” Mr. Davies’s face looked as if he was about to cry. “I thought I was done for today. I never expected you to be here.” His voice trembled as he spoke, and his legs began to shake. “I just wanted to scare Chloe today. She always lagged on rent, and nothing I said worked. I just wanted to teach her a lesson.” “But, but who would have thought something like this would happen today.” The forty-year-old man burst into tears. “The moment I hid in this closet, I saw you, dressed as a teddy bear, sneak in. When I wanted to get out, just like you, I saw that head on the floor!” He finished, burying his face in his hands, his fingers unconsciously stiffening. “Did you see who it was?” I asked urgently. He shook his head. “I came in almost at the same time as you. From inside the closet, I couldn’t tell who that person was.” “Call the police!” I decisively pulled my phone from my pocket. It was then I noticed several missed calls from Julian, my boyfriend. I was suddenly grateful my phone was on silent mode, otherwise, I definitely wouldn’t have escaped tonight. A hand pressed down on mine. “Don’t call the police. If we do, we’ll be the prime suspects, and he’ll quickly find out we were in this apartment.” Hearing his words, I hesitated. The horrific sight of Chloe’s death was still vivid in my mind. Thinking of this, my hand involuntarily trembled. “Then what do we do? The police will investigate soon and ask where we were.” My heart was racing with anxiety, but I also felt Mr. Davies had a point. “It’s fine. We both go home now. We just tell the police you were at my place, that we were together.” He looked at me with an extremely serious expression. “No, Julian will misunderstand.” “Is your life more important, or your love life? Didn’t you see how terrifyingly Chloe died?” Mr. Davies’s eyes welled up again after he said that. A forty-year-old man now looked as small and helpless as a child. I glanced at my phone and deleted all the missed calls. Yes, I couldn’t be a suspect. I needed to catch the killer.

Mr. Davies was a man of misfortune. His wife had died years ago, and his child no longer wanted to stay with him. He lived alone in this large house. The first thing Mr. Davies did when we got back to his place was take a shower. The man was both timid and a germaphobe. I placed the deflated teddy bear in his living room. That crumpled plushie gave me a disturbing feeling. On his wall hung a family portrait; a family of three smiling happily. Just as I was about to examine the people in the photo more closely, my phone screen lit up. I looked down. It was Leo calling. Leo was Chloe’s boyfriend. His call right now felt like an interrogation. I placed my phone on the coffee table, watching the screen go dark automatically. Just as I was about to catch my breath, the screen lit up again. It was my boyfriend, Julian. He’d practically blown up my phone tonight. The messages on my phone irritated me, so I simply turned it off. “Want some fruit?” Mr. Davies emerged from the bathroom, carrying a fruit platter. “No, thanks.” I waved him off. He seemed to have composed himself. “The police will ask questions tomorrow. Have you thought about what to say?” He sat beside me, no longer flustered, but much more meticulous in his thoughts. I shook my head. What could I say? A man and a woman spending a night together, what else could it sound like? He seemed to sense my awkwardness, but then said, “What happened tonight, only we can know. Don’t tell anyone else.” I glanced at him. I knew who he was referring to. His implication was that the killer might be Leo or Julian. But I thought that was impossible. Leo and Chloe’s relationship was so good it made me jealous. She often said he was the best man in the world. As for Julian, it was even less likely. He barely had any interaction with Chloe. The only person who had recently been in conflict with Chloe was the man sitting in front of me. I looked at his harmless face, and a shiver of fear ran down my spine. “What are you thinking about?” His question made me jump. “N-nothing…” No, it couldn’t be him either. There was a third person present at the scene. I hugged my arms tightly. For some reason, despite the warm weather, I felt a sudden chill. “Do you know if Chloe had issues with anyone else?” He spoke cautiously. I looked up at him, the words I wanted to say ultimately swallowed back. “It couldn’t be just me she had issues with, could it?” Mr. Davies’s face paled. He quickly explained, “I only urged her to pay the rent or move out. I never meant to kill her.” Then, as if to prove his point, “If I killed her over rent, how would I ever rent out my apartment again?” He was right. If it was truly about rent, it would be a huge loss. Everyone would soon know someone died in that apartment. But if that were the case, I was completely lost. The police found me around noon. It was Leo, Chloe’s boyfriend, who had reported her missing. He couldn’t get in touch with Chloe, so he called the authorities. However, when the police investigated Chloe’s apartment, everything was so clean, as if no one had ever been there. A sudden cold sweat prickled my back. Because the birthday cake on the living room table was definitely still there when we left yesterday! “Where were you yesterday?” Facing the detective’s questions, I remained calm. “I was with Mr. Davies all day yesterday. He can confirm it.” “What did you say?” Julian stopped at the staircase, unable to believe what he’d just heard. The police officer glanced at me, cleverly guessing our relationship.

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Setlla’s POV Every year, on the day college entrance exam results were released, the top scorer in our city would mysteriously commit suicide. The higher their score, the more horrific their death. In that case, the police formed a special task force to investigate, but no matter what they did, they couldn’t figure out why it kept happening. As fear spread among students, some even deliberately scored lower just to avoid becoming the top scorer. But not me. I studied harder than anyone else and ended up with a perfect score, the highest in our city’s history. Because three years ago, my sister was the top scorer, and I watched her die with my own eyes. So, I was going to make them pay for her. —— My dad died the year I was born. Since then, Mom raised me and my sister all on her own. She took on every kind of dirty, exhausting job just to keep us fed and in school. A lot of men offered to marry her, saying if she agreed, they’d help raise us. But Mom always turned them down. She was afraid we’d suffer if she remarried. Because of her, my sister and I studied hard as we wanted to give her a better life. Three years ago was my sister’s turn to take the college entrance exam. By then, the suicides of past top scorers had already become a terrifying pattern, and everyone knew about it. All the top students were anxious, afraid they’d score too high and meet the same fate. I remember warning my sister, begging her to aim lower, so she wouldn’t be the top scorer. But she just smiled at me and said, “I’ve worked this hard for years so you and Mom could have a better life. I’m not going to throw that away. Don’t worry, I won’t follow their leads.” “And besides,” she added, “I think all those suicides were just coincidences. I want to break the curse. I’m going to be the top scorer this year.” And she did it. She only made a few mistakes, making her the top of the city. But on the very day her score came out, my sister, who swore she would never take her own life, jumped off the rooftop without hesitation. She didn’t say a word before she died. Just looked at Mom with this strange, heavy stare, then stepped off the edge. She landed headfirst. The scene was brutal. Clutched in her hand was a bloodstained note with one sentence on it. [Setlla, whatever you do, don’t become the top scorer.] I held her broken body in my arms, screaming in agony. But Mom, who loved my sister very much, just stood there, watching with not a single tear in her eyes. I asked her why she didn’t cry. Her voice was cold and flat as she replied, “She wanted to be the top scorer. She had no one to point fingers at.” I didn’t understand. Mom used to fall apart if my sister got sick. But now, seeing her own daughter die like that, she barely reacted. I couldn’t forget the way my sister looked at Mom right before she jumped. Something about that look haunted me. It made me wonder if Mom had something to do with her death. But why would she? And how could my sister, who loved her life so much, suddenly decide to die? So, for the past three years, I studied harder than anyone else just to take this college entrance exam. This time, I was stepping into the same trap to uncover the truth behind the mystery. On the day the results were released, I walked into the kitchen where Mom was rinsing rice for dinner. “Mom, if I die… would you cry?” I asked. She paused, just for a second. Then turned to look at me, confused. “What kind of question is that?” I waited a beat, then said seriously, “I’ve already estimated my score. If I’m right, I’ll be this year’s top scorer.” I watched the light in her eyes fade visibly as if something inside her shut down. With barely a flicker of emotion, she looked at me and said, “Oh. Congratulations.”

Setlla’s POV Two words. Short and calm. Like she was talking about the weather, completely emotionless. I stared at her hard, trying to find even the slightest crack in her expression. But she just went back to rinsing the rice like nothing had happened. Right then, the early morning light reflected off her cold, distant eyes. Seeing that, a sharp pain shot through my heart. I still remember that winter when I was five. It was Christmas, and I suddenly came down with a high fever. My whole body was shaking, the fever wouldn’t break. It was ten below zero that day, and snow was everywhere, so Mom couldn’t get a taxi. Left with no choice, she carried me in her arms, running ten kilometers through thick snow all by herself. By the time we reached the hospital, her lips were purple from the cold, and her feet were bloody from being sliced open by sharp ice. But she didn’t seem to feel any of it. She only cared about getting me help. The doctors told her there was nothing they could do. But she dropped to her knees right there in the ER hallway, begging them, over and over, crying and bowing until they agreed to try again. That was the mom I knew. The woman who always put mine and my sister’s lives before her own. So why now? Why was she so cold and indifferent? I didn’t say another word. I just waited. When the results came out, it was exactly what I expected. A perfect score. The highest in our city’s history. News spread fast. First, the city, then the whole internet. Everyone was talking about me. [She must be insane! Everyone else was scared enough to hold back their scores, and she went and got a perfect one? Doesn’t she know all the previous top scorers ended up dead?] [I go to school with her. Her sister was the top scorer three years ago, and she died horribly! There’s no way she doesn’t know about it!] [Then what is she thinking? Is she trying to die? Seriously?] [I heard their mom raised both girls by herself, worked multiple jobs a day. The older sister died three years ago, and now the younger one scores full marks? How’s the mom supposed to survive losing both kids?] Some people were shocked by my score. Some felt sorry for my mom, thinking she’d have to bury another daughter. Others called me selfish, saying I was courting death and dragging my mom through more pain. While the world debated, I quietly started a livestream from my bedroom. I locked the door, adjusted the camera so the whole room was visible, and hit “go live.” Within minutes, the stream exploded. Hundreds of thousands of people tuned in, comments flying so fast they filled the screen. [Is this really the girl who scored full marks? Why does she look so calm?] [She’s livestreaming? Seriously? She must be fearless!] [Do you even care about your mom, who raised you alone?] [Your sister’s already gone. What if something happens to you too? How’s your mom supposed to go on?] [You’re so ungrateful! Is your test score really worth more than your life or your mother’s?] Criticism came hard and fast. People called me unfilial and selfish. They pitied my mom, saying she sacrificed everything for us, only to be left alone in grief again. But through it all, I sat still and spoke slowly, like I was telling a story. “Like everyone’s saying, yes, my mom raised me and my sister all by herself. It wasn’t easy. We’ve been through hard times—hunger, cold, loneliness. Every day was a struggle. But my sister was always so strong. So full of life. She used to tell me all the time to cherish my life and live it well.”

Setlla’s POV “She always said, ‘As long as you’re alive, life will get better.’ She also promised that, through her own hard work, she’d give Mom and me a better life. But three years ago, she took her own life.” As I spoke, I held up a folded piece of paper. “This,” I said slowly, facing the camera, “is the note she was clutching in her hand when she died. It has just one sentence written on it, read, ‘Setlla, whatever you do, don’t become the top scorer.’” Heaving a deep breath, I continued, “I’ve kept this letter safe for three years and studied it over and over. Sure, the handwriting matches hers exactly, and the police confirmed that the only fingerprints on it were hers. But I’m certain she didn’t write it. Someone forged her handwriting and left this fake suicide note to cover up the truth. My sister didn’t take her own life. She was murdered.” As soon as those words escaped my mouth, all of the viewers were astonished. The chat was instantly flooded with questions and disbelief. [No way! I thought all the top scorers died by suicide?] [If the handwriting and fingerprints match, how can you say it’s fake?] [I was there when your sister jumped! I saw it with my own eyes!] [Are you sure you’re not just confused?] The comment feed scrolled so fast it was impossible to keep up—shock, denial, suspicion, all mixed together. But I didn’t stop. My voice stayed steady and my words clear as I added, “My sister never called me by my whole name. Not in real life, not in letters. She always used my nickname. Yes, she jumped. But it wasn’t her choice. She was forced. For the past three years, I’ve been digging into every case of past top scorers who supposedly ‘killed themselves.’ And I can say this with confidence: none of their deaths makes sense. This whole thing is a lie. All of them were murdered.” Again, the chat went wild. [This is insane. I’ve got chills all over!] [Who the hell would do this? And why? What kind of monster targets kids who ace their exams?!] As their shock bombarded the stream, I looked directly into the camera, voice firm and unwavering. “I know none of them actually killed themselves. But I could never find proof. Whoever’s behind this is a master at hiding the truth. So this time, I gave it everything I had. I became the top scorer just to get close to the truth.” With bravery, I announced, “They say the higher your score, the more brutal your death, right? Well, today, I’m livestreaming this moment because I want everyone to witness it with me. To see whether I’ll die or not.” There was no fear in my voice, only purpose. My face also said it all that I was ready to risk everything. At this moment, my words shook people to the core. Everything they thought they knew was unraveling. Viewership exploded, and more and more people joined the stream every second. The whole country was watching. Even the police were watching. And once they realized what was happening, they jumped into action. Sirens began to echo down the street, growing louder as they neared my building. And then something changed. The chat, which had been filled with debate and speculation, suddenly shifted to a single frantic message flooding the screen. [Look behind you!] [Behind you!] [There’s someone behind you!] Reading that, I quickly turned around. And what I saw would haunt me for the rest of my life.

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The day Jacob Clark won the Nobel Prize, I was lying in my rental apartment, enduring the agony that stomach cancer brought me. During the interview, the reporter asked Jacob to call someone he could never forget. Without any hesitation, Jacob immediately dialed my number. After the call connected, he only asked me one question: “Evelyn, you broke up with me because you thought I had no future. Do you regret it now?” Evelyn Collins is my name. Looking at the IV tube inserted in my body, I smiled. “Jacob, you’re a great scientist now. Could you lend me $500,000?” Jacob immediately hung up the phone. Afterward, Jacob sneered at the interview camera: “Now, I don’t remember that person anymore.” But he didn’t know that when he had his car accident, I gave him everything I had, including one of my kidneys. ***** I thought that would be the end of it. But the moment the TV screen went dark, $1 million appeared in my bank account. At the same time, I received a text message: 【Consider those few Christmases we spent together as something I paid for. That’s all you’re worth.】 I smiled bitterly and turned off my phone screen. As long as the money came through, that was fine. As for everything else, I couldn’t change it. I dragged my heavy body out of the rental apartment to pay the rent I’d been behind on for a Christmas. But as soon as I reached the street, I was drawn to the crowd ahead. Jacob was surrounded by everyone, still wearing that cold smile on his face. He looked as if nothing in the world could stir even the slightest emotion in him. However, the girl standing beside him, Sadie Gomez, who was smiling at him, was an exception. When Jacob and I were still dating, Sadie, as his junior, often stayed by his side. The two of them were very intimate, going in and out of places together. Everyone thought they were the perfect match. Who would remember my existence? Now that I had left Jacob, they could finally be together openly. That was a good thing too. I smiled and turned to leave. But Sadie still recognized me. She called out excitedly: “Evelyn, what are you doing here too?” As soon as Sadie finished speaking, everyone’s eyes focused on me. Jacob noticed me too. He didn’t hide the disgust in his eyes and asked: “What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?” Stalking? With my current physical condition, it was a miracle I could even leave the house. Where would I find the energy to stalk him? I coughed a few times, then looked at Jacob’s luxury car parked by the roadside. I couldn’t help but reach out and touch it: “Jacob, could I sit in your car?” Jacob became even more disgusted with me. He couldn’t help but take a step back, as if saying one more word to me would make him sick. “Evelyn, where did that innocent, kind person you used to be go? How did you become like this?” That innocent, kind person I used to be had naturally disappeared along with my healthy self. When someone’s very survival becomes questionable, where would they find the extra energy to maintain their original appearance? I shook my head helplessly: “Don’t you have someone more innocent than me by your side now? What do you still need me for?” Jacob fell silent for a few seconds, while Sadie beside him had already linked her arm with his. “Jacob, is Evelyn still blaming me? But you and I were truly innocent back then.” Then, without waiting for my answer, Sadie looked at me with red eyes, as if she was about to cry: “Evelyn, if you have any complaints, just take them out on me. Don’t resent Jacob. This car is Jacob’s birthday gift to me. If you like it, I’ll give it to you, as long as it makes you happy.” Sadie was so considerate. Too bad it was me who stayed with Jacob through the hard times. I lived in basements with him. During our poorest days, we shared a single pizza between us and drank tap water together. We couldn’t even afford to see a doctor. When I had a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, I could only buy cheap drugstore medicine to bring it down. Just when we were at our most desperate, Jacob’s paper won an international award. I thought our hard days were finally coming to an end. Jacob was valued by our professor Caroline Wilson and was going to be sent abroad to compete. But then I received notice from the doctor that Jacob had late-stage kidney cancer. That day, I sat in the audience, watching Jacob give his speech on stage. I made a decision. I was going to donate one of my kidneys to him.

Since I’d already made the decision to donate my kidney, there was no point dwelling on it anymore. Now that Jacob had a bright future ahead of him, my sacrifice hadn’t been in vain. Though he didn’t know the truth about what happened that Christmas, just seeing him doing well was enough for me. I remained silent, but Jacob assumed I was acting irrationally out of jealousy over him and Sadie. Worried I might do something to hurt Sadie, he fixed me with a sharp stare and protectively pulled her behind him. Jacob said, “Evelyn, you’re the one who couldn’t handle the hardship and abandoned me when I needed you most. It’s too late for regrets now. As long as Sadie’s happy, I’d give her not just a luxury car, but everything I have.” Sadie smiled shyly and snuggled against Jacob’s chest. The two of them were clearly devoted to each other and seemed like a perfect match. Still, my heart ached uncontrollably. I said, “Then I wish you both all the happiness in the world. I have things to take care of, so I’ll be going now.” Seeing me about to leave, Sadie looked somewhat anxious. She said, “Evelyn, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Oh!” Sadie suddenly fell backward. To everyone watching, it looked like I had pushed her. Jacob immediately rushed forward to catch Sadie, then turned back to glare at me furiously. He said, “How can you be so vicious? Sadie was just trying to help you out of pity, and you actually hurt her!” I was stunned. It had been so long since I’d faced such baseless accusations. For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. All I could say was, “No. I really didn’t push her.” During our argument, the IV tube I was carrying became visible. Jacob reacted quickly, immediately pulling the tube from my grasp. He asked, “Are you sick?” I felt so ashamed that my face turned red, and I tried to hide the IV tube. But Sadie gripped my hand tightly. She said, “Evelyn, we understand you need money. But you can’t use these deceptive tricks. Your health has always been perfectly fine.” Jacob, who had shown me a moment of sympathy, immediately looked disgusted again. He said, “Evelyn, you’re really scheming! If Sadie hadn’t warned me, I almost would have fallen for your act.” I frantically snatched the IV tube back from Jacob and hung my head in panic. I said, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” I was like a stray dog now—where was that spirited, determined woman who had first gotten together with Jacob? Sadie smiled smugly, though she still tried to calm Jacob down. She said, “Don’t be angry with Evelyn anymore. She must be doing this because she’s in such desperate straits.” Compared to Sadie’s gentle demeanor, I appeared even more malicious. Jacob’s eyes were full of adoration for Sadie. He said, “You’re just too kind-hearted, which is why she keeps deceiving you.” Sadie seemed like she wanted to say a few more words in my defense, but Jacob didn’t give her the chance. The two of them left, leaving me surrounded by the crowd. I stood there numbly, listening to their mockery. One woman said, “Women who only care about money never end up well. She abandoned Mr. Clark when he was at his lowest point. Now she’s getting exactly what she deserves!” Another woman said, “Mr. Clark and his wife are so devoted to each other. She’s probably trying to become his mistress—how shameless!” I didn’t argue back at all, just quietly walked away from the crowd. Watching Jacob’s luxury car drive farther and farther away, I seemed to see that young man I had loved desperately for so many years, smiling at me. I thought to myself, “Jacob, do you know that part of your body belongs to me?”

After donating my kidney to Jacob, my already weakened body developed severe rejection reactions. The subsequent treatment and recovery would cost a lot of money. Jacob’s career was finally taking off—how could I drag him back into poverty because of my illness? I didn’t want to stay by his side too long and risk him discovering my physical condition. So I had to make up an excuse, telling him I couldn’t handle the hardships anymore and had found a man who could give me a better life. I wanted to break up with him. On the day we broke up, Jacob begged me desperately not to leave. He couldn’t believe that the woman who had stood by him when he had nothing, who had struggled alongside him, would leave him for such a ridiculous reason. Though my heart ached so much I could barely breathe, I steeled myself and walked away. Only if I left could Jacob focus on developing his career. That way, my illness wouldn’t burden him. Just as I was about to disappear from his sight, Jacob suddenly looked up at me. He asked, “Evelyn, if I succeed in the future, will you regret this?” My steps faltered for a moment, then I masked the pain in my eyes. I said, “No.” I thought to myself, “As long as you’re okay, I’ll never regret anything I’ve done.” But I would never get the chance to tell him those words. I huddled in my cold rental room, looking at the blood seeping beneath me. I knew clearly in my heart that even if I paid for medical treatment now, my body was beyond saving. Maybe this was for the best. If I died, Jacob probably wouldn’t hate me so much anymore. When people are about to die, they tend to remember the past. That day, looking at my extremely thin, pale reflection in the mirror, I suddenly felt an urge to visit the school where Jacob and I had once studied together. The school’s exterior hadn’t changed much. But the person who used to be by my side was no longer there. I slowly shuffled forward when I suddenly heard commotion behind me. Someone said, “Mr. Clark, as an honorary alumnus, your photo should certainly be displayed in the school. It’s just that in all your school photos, Evelyn is always beside you. What should we do about this?” After that livestream incident, almost everyone knew about the conflict between Jacob and me. The school administration, afraid of offending Jacob, left the decision about how to handle the photos up to him. In every single photo, I stood beside Jacob. Sometimes I smiled gently while looking at him. Sometimes I was laughing. More often, I simply stood quietly by his side. Jacob stared at my familiar face in the photos and froze for a moment. Seeing his silence, the school administrator assumed he was extremely annoyed by me and quickly reached out to take the photos back. He said, “I’ll have these photos destroyed immediately. Not a single one will be circulated.” But just as the administrator’s hand was about to touch the photos, Jacob suddenly put them in his pocket. He said, “No need. It’s just a photo. I’m not that petty.” Deep down, he still couldn’t bring himself to be completely heartless. Even though our relationship had changed, those happy times we shared had been real. Seeing this scene, I sighed. Let this photo be my final gift to him. Just as I was about to leave, a playful couple suddenly ran past behind me. They were so focused on each other that they accidentally knocked me to the ground. The couple immediately panicked and apologized to me. I wanted to say I was fine, but my body was in excruciating pain. I couldn’t even stand up. The commotion quickly caught Jacob’s attention. When Jacob’s gaze fell on me lying on the ground, his body trembled violently. He instinctively leaned forward, wanting to help me up. But in the end, his rationality overcame his emotions. Jacob pulled back his outstretched hand and said coldly, “Evelyn, you’re really shameless. You’ve been following me this whole time. Don’t you find it annoying?” Jacob stood at the center of the crowd, basking in flowers and thunderous applause. Meanwhile, I was covered in dirt, the only stain on his pristine life. I knew I shouldn’t be here. Silently, I picked myself up from the ground, wanting to leave. But Jacob had no intention of letting me off easily. He signaled for the people around him to block my path. “Evelyn, people can’t be too greedy. I’ve already given you plenty of money, yet you’re still not satisfied. No wonder you’ve become what you are now—you deserve it.” Sadie, standing beside Jacob, was already upset that he wanted to keep our photos together. Now, she finally found an outlet for her frustration. She quickly grabbed my arm: “Evelyn, didn’t I already transfer a million dollars to you privately? Why are you still bothering Jacob and me? Do you need me to divorce him before you’ll be happy?” Tears welled up in Sadie’s eyes, making her look pitiful and vulnerable. Jacob frowned deeply: “Not only do you ask me for money, but now you’re harassing my wife. It seems I need to teach you a proper lesson, or you’ll keep clinging to me.” He pulled out his phone and dialed the police. “There’s a beggar here committing fraud, and she’s even trying to extort my wife. Please send someone to take her away immediately.” Jacob’s eyes were filled with undisguised disgust. I couldn’t help but tremble all over. No, I couldn’t go with the police. Time was running out. Caroline and I had arranged to meet at school one last time. She was one of the few people who knew the truth about what happened at Christmas. Given my current physical condition, if I were thrown in jail, I would likely die there. I couldn’t go. Absolutely couldn’t go. Panicked with fear, I clutched my head and tried to run, but the crowd surrounded me. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, so I looked at Jacob pleadingly. “I didn’t mean to appear in front of you. I didn’t ask her for money either. Please believe me.” Jacob thought I had done too many bad things and was afraid to go to the police station. The more I pleaded, the more disappointed he became. “You keep lying. Would Sadie lie to me? Evelyn, making mistakes isn’t scary—what’s scary is becoming a liar who can’t tell the truth.” The smugness in Sadie’s eyes became more and more obvious, though she hid it well in front of Jacob. “Jacob, why don’t we give Evelyn one more chance? If she’s willing to admit her mistakes, it shows she’s truly repentant.” I was stunned. She wanted me to admit fault at the busy school entrance, crushing the last bit of my dignity? Seeing me standing motionless, the people around began urging me on. A woman said: “What are you standing there for? Mrs. Clark is being kind and giving you a chance—hurry up and apologize!” A man added: “Exactly! Otherwise, just the fraud charge alone will keep you in prison until you die!” My already foggy mind became even more confused. The blazing sun hung high overhead, making me dizzy and blurring my vision. At that moment, only one thought remained in my mind: “It’s okay, I’m going to die soon anyway.” Like a robot, I moved my body and bowed my head before everyone. “I’m sorry, I was wrong. I’m shameless and have no dignity. I shouldn’t have appeared in front of you. Please let me go.” I bit my lower lip hard, drawing blood. Jacob hadn’t expected me to actually apologize. After all, I used to be so proud—I would rather die than bow my head. His expression grew increasingly ugly. The laughter of the onlookers sounded particularly grating in his ears. “All of you, shut up!” Jacob roared. Just then, I couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground. At the same time, Caroline, with her white hair, came running toward me from the school gate. When she saw Jacob, Caroline was both anxious and furious, delivering a hard slap across his face. “You fool! Evelyn’s body is severely compromised from donating a kidney to you. How could you treat her like this?”

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When I was eighteen, I met my father Grayson Cameron’s student Bennett Brooks, and we had our first intimate encounter. We’ve been together for ten years. This marks my ninety-ninth time hoping to marry him. But just then, I overheard his conversation with a colleague. The colleague asked: “Bennett, that girl is already twenty-eight. Don’t you plan on taking responsibility for her?” Bennett replied coldly: “There’s a ten-year age gap between us. I’m just following Grayson’s wishes to look after her a bit more. I don’t have any other feelings for her.” Not long after, he got engaged to a girl around my age. This time, I won’t cause a scene. From several candidates, I drew lots and selected Aiden Hunter, a teacher at the academy, and quickly set a wedding date. On my wedding day, the usually composed Professor Bennett actually burst into the ceremony, begging me not to marry Aiden. ***** When I was eighteen, Grayson called his most promising student Bennett into the study at home to discuss something important. That day, Bennett wore a well-fitted shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, standing straight with an outstanding demeanor. I was hiding nearby, peeking, when Grayson called me into the study. With a serious expression, he said: “I have to leave for ten years. What worries me most is my daughter.” Grayson placed my hand in Bennett’s, tears welling in his eyes. He said: “She only has me as family. Could I ask you to take good care of her?” I looked back and forth between them in confusion, my heart racing with panic. I asked: “Dad, what are you talking about? Where are you going?” Grayson sighed. He said: “The country has assigned me to conduct research. I won’t be able to contact family or return home for ten years.” I stood there, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Bennett held my hand firmly, his voice gentle yet resolute. He said: “Don’t be afraid. Grayson has been good to me. From now on, you’ll be like my little sister. I’ll take good care of you.” The entire room fell silent, with only the sound of wind rustling through book pages. I suddenly remembered that when I was five, my mother Ayla Cameron had also left me for similar reasons. Later, due to a laboratory explosion, Ayla was severely injured and couldn’t be saved. All I saw in the end was a handful of her ashes and three letters—one she had written for each year. Ayla’s colleague told me her final words. She said: “I know the current experiments are dangerous. I only regret that my daughter has grown up without her mother’s company. But national affairs are more important. I can only say ‘I’m sorry’ to her.” Ayla never saw me again, and I never saw her one last time. Now, Grayson would be gone for ten years. In the tenth year of my relationship with Bennett, Grayson faced a similar situation. However, this time, there was hope that Grayson could be rescued. At twenty-eight, this marked my ninety-ninth time hoping to marry Bennett. When no one else was around, I gripped Bennett’s hand tightly. I said trembling: “Bennett, I want to marry you.” Bennett sat upright beside me, slowly pulling his hand away. His tone seemed unnatural: “Adeline, now isn’t the right time for us to get married.” Adeline Cameron is my name. I cried out anxiously: “But!” What Grayson wanted most now was for me to get married. So whenever this topic came up, I became anxious. Just then, someone passed by nearby. Bennett immediately withdrew the hand he was about to use to pat my head. He said: “Don’t worry. Grayson will be fine.” Bennett rejected me once again. Even after seeing more and more people in the hallway, he quietly distanced himself from me. My heart suddenly ached sharply, and tears began to fall. After ten years, I still wasn’t used to his coldness toward me in front of others. I gripped my skirt tightly, lowering my head in grievance. The kiss marks he’d left on my waist last night were still there. Perhaps seeing how heartbroken I was, Bennett, standing a step away from me, sent me a message: [Don’t worry. I will definitely marry you.]

Afterward, Bennett quietly slipped a spaghetti package into my hand. He said, “You should eat something. The surgery will take a while longer.” Bennett thought I was just throwing a tantrum. Like before, he habitually offered me something small to cheer me up. This method always worked. But deep down, I knew Bennett would never marry me. Just two days ago, when I went to visit Bennett, I overheard his conversation with a colleague outside his office. His colleague asked, “Bennett, that girl is already twenty-eight. Don’t you plan to take responsibility for her?” Bennett replied indifferently, “To me, she’s my sister. We’re ten years apart, and there won’t be any feelings beyond sibling affection.” I clenched my trembling hands tightly, then carefully and quickly fled. That night at midnight, Bennett felt intimate desire for me. Holding onto the thought of “one last time,” I complied. I cried, but he only thought it was because I was in pain. Bennett doesn’t understand me, just like now—he still doesn’t understand me. I sat alone all night. Finally, at dawn, I received the good news that Grayson’s emergency surgery was successful. However, he still needed to be observed for some time. After Bennett and I settled Grayson in properly, we discovered a stranger had come to the hospital room. “Bennett!” A very pretty girl with bright eyes poked her head in. Upon seeing her, Bennett immediately panicked and let go of my hand. Before I could react, the girl opened the door and threw herself into his arms. She said, “Your mom asked us to come home for lunch. I didn’t expect to run into you here.” This girl had actually met Bennett’s parents. Bennett and I had been together for ten years, yet I didn’t even know what his parents looked like. The girl continued, “Your mom said she wants to discuss our engagement with us.” Looking at this girl who was about my age, I was stunned. I asked, “What?” The girl showed a surprised expression, looked me up and down several times, then tightly linked arms with Bennett. Then she smiled and said, “You must be the sister Bennett talks about, right? I’m Emma Roberts. In a month, Bennett and I will be engaged. Didn’t he tell you?” For a long while, I couldn’t find words to speak. I just stared at Bennett, hoping he could give me an explanation. But Emma stepped forward and took my hand. She continued, “Although I’m still a year younger than you, since you’re Bennett’s sister, that makes you my sister too. If you need anything in the future, just let me know.” Despite having the same age gap with Bennett, she could openly be with him and get engaged, while I could only be called “sister.” Bennett turned his head away, saying nothing. I coldly pulled my hand away from Emma’s. I said, “That won’t be necessary. My father only has one daughter—no sons. So I don’t have a brother. Please leave and stop disturbing my father’s rest.” After saying this, I turned and sat beside Grayson, ignoring them completely. Bennett still wanted to say something to me, but Emma pulled him back. Emma said, “Your father does need rest. We won’t disturb you anymore. Goodbye.” Her tone was affectionate, as if she didn’t mind my attitude at all. But I still remembered the look she gave me—one of scrutiny and smugness. At that moment, I really wanted to confront Bennett. But after they left, looking at Grayson who still hadn’t opened his eyes, my heart gradually calmed down. I had been entangled with Bennett for ten years. I didn’t want to continue this entanglement anymore. Ayla was gone. Grayson’s greatest wish was to see me marry a good man and not spend my life alone. I decided to make my choice by drawing lots. I wrote the names of the five candidates Grayson had previously selected for me on pieces of paper, then crumpled them into balls. After shaking my hands, one paper ball fell out. Seeing the name on the paper ball, I was stunned.

The name on the paper was actually Aiden. Among the five men Grayson had chosen for me, Aiden was the one I understood least. He was Bennett’s colleague at the same school, and he was notorious for being careless and half-hearted about his work as a teacher. Before turning eighteen, Aiden was constantly getting into fights, skipping classes, and dating around. As an adult, he spent money recklessly and nearly beat someone to death. Thanks to his prominent family background, he was able to settle that matter privately. To help him get his life together, Aiden’s family spent a fortune to arrange for him to become a teacher at the academy. However, he lacked real talent or knowledge. Students who actually wanted to learn refused to attend his classes, and many openly criticized him. The other four candidates were completely different. Some were self-made entrepreneurs who were honest and decent, while others were humble, polite, and had stable jobs. Not only did they have great personalities, but they were also quite handsome. However, when standing next to Aiden, their good looks paled in comparison. But Aiden’s family was the only one that owed Grayson a favor. Besides, his parents were good people. Even if I really did marry Aiden, I wouldn’t suffer too much. With this thought, I felt relieved and headed to Aiden’s house with gifts. When I explained my purpose and mentioned Grayson’s serious illness, Aiden’s mother, Cora Hunter, was both sad and happy. She asked, “Are you really willing to marry Aiden? He’s such a troublemaker. Did he do something bad to you?” I felt helpless and shook my head repeatedly. I said, “No. I’m doing this willingly.” As I handed over the gifts, Cora became so emotional that tears streamed down her face. She immediately removed the gold chain from her neck and put it around mine. She said, “Sweet child, I don’t have anything else nice to give you right now. Please make do with this for now.” My cheeks instantly turned red. I said, “Cora, don’t you need to ask Aiden what he thinks?” “No need!” Cora said with a smile. She continued, “Whether he’s willing or not, I’ve always hoped you could be my daughter. Just think of it as marrying me instead.” I laughed. Over the years, Cora had indeed been very kind to me. I knew she genuinely liked me. We quickly settled on a preliminary wedding timeline. We’d get engaged in a month, then hold the wedding ceremony six months later. Cora said she would inform Aiden about this. After arranging everything, I prepared to return to the hospital room to continue watching over Grayson. When I got back, I discovered he was already awake. The moment he saw me, Grayson smiled and said, “My dear daughter.” My eyes immediately welled up with tears. I ran over and threw myself into his arms, calling out, “Dad!” After ten whole years, I had finally seen him again. Grayson gently stroked my head with his hand. I could feel that his movements were much slower than before. Ten years had passed so quickly, and he had aged considerably. We talked for a long time. Afterward, Grayson asked me, “You’re twenty-eight now. Do you have a boy you like? I’m old and sick. What will happen if no one takes care of you?” I nodded and said directly, “I do have a boy I like, Dad. And he’s actually one of the candidates you selected for me before.” “Are you telling the truth?” Two voices spoke simultaneously. One filled with surprise, the other trembling with disbelief. I turned to look and saw Bennett, who had just opened the door to come in, staring at me intently with a panicked expression.   After a while longer, disappointment flickered in Bennett’s eyes. He shook his head, as if trying to stop me from continuing. His expression was like someone watching a child about to get into trouble. But I wasn’t a child anymore. As for my relationship with him, if it wasn’t necessary, I would bury these feelings forever in my heart and let them slowly fade away. I pulled out the gold chain from around my neck to show Grayson. “Look,” I said, “I even received a gift from his mother.” Bennett, who had just relaxed, froze in place, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He studied my expression carefully. After a moment, he finally regained his composure. Bennett probably thought I was deceiving Grayson. Grayson asked me with a smile, “If that’s the case, whose son is he? How come you’ve never mentioned him to me before?” My face instantly turned red. Then I lowered my head and said, “Anyway, you’ll definitely like him. He and I have been together for a while now. Our relationship is stable, which is why I finally dared to tell you.” Bennett’s face immediately darkened. But Grayson laughed. “Well,” he said, “my child has grown up and has little secrets now. You actually waited until you were about to get engaged to tell me.” Then Grayson turned to Bennett, who had just walked in, and teased him. “Bennett, you’re here too? Look at your sister. She’s been hiding her relationship from me, only willing to tell me when she’s ready to get engaged. But that’s okay. I trust your judgment. As long as you approve of him, he must be a good man.” Grayson gently patted my hand to show his encouragement. Bennett stood to the side, only able to force a happy expression. “Yes,” he said. “The person she chose must be good.” Since Grayson had always insisted we call each other brother and sister, he naturally didn’t know the true nature of my relationship with Bennett. But after hearing “sister” several times in a row, Bennett was reaching his breaking point. While I went outside to get Grayson’s medicine, Bennett grabbed my hand and quickly pulled me toward the empty stairwell. This was the first time he had ever held my hand in front of everyone. After all these years, Bennett had always been composed in his actions. But this time, he roughly pressed me against the wall. He questioned me in an icy tone: “Your father just recovered, and you have to lie to him now? What’s the point of forcing me like this? What are you going to do when you can’t produce an engagement party?” I looked up at him calmly. “What does this have to do with you?” I asked. Bennett frowned. He looked at me and sighed softly. “How does this have nothing to do with me?” he said. “Besides knowing me, do you know any other men? You even lied to your father about having a candidate. Where is this candidate?” I looked at Bennett quietly. He was still the same as before, scolding a misbehaving child from the position of an elder. I suddenly realized how quickly ten years had passed, and Bennett was already 38 years old. His youthful, handsome appearance from years ago was long gone, and his face now showed the marks of middle age. In that instant, I seemed unable to find the excitement I once felt when I was with him. Perhaps it was because I had felt insecure for these ten years. We constantly argued and gave each other the cold shoulder. My desire to get married had been extinguished by him time and time again. No matter how intense my love had been initially, it would slowly disappear. Watching Bennett’s mouth as he kept talking, I said calmly, “But I never said I wanted to get engaged to you. What are you so anxious about?” Bennett’s expression changed instantly, and he froze in place.

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In my past life, on the day my sister and I attended the Witch Covenant’s mate selection ceremony, I saved a fallen vampire prince. To repay his debt, the prince immediately announced upon returning to his clan that I would become his future bride. A year later, I gave birth to a pure-blood heir, the only successor in the entire vampire race. The prince was overjoyed. On the day of his coronation as regent, he completed the blood contract with me, making me his eternal companion and queen. From then on, I was revered by all races. Meanwhile, my sister chose to marry a powerful werewolf leader, only to become the most insignificant among his many lovers. Her jealousy drove her to madness. During a witch’s full moon festival, she pushed me off a cliff, leaving me to die from the fall. When I opened my eyes again, my sister was already running toward where the vampire prince had fallen on the day of the mate selection ceremony. I knew she had been reborn too. But she didn’t know that becoming the prince’s bride was easy. Winning his heart and bearing his child, however, was nearly impossible. …… A witch’s power stems from desire—this is an ancient law inscribed in our bloodline. Once a witch comes of age, the powerful magic within becomes restless, craving union with a strong partner to achieve balance. Otherwise, the long nights would be consumed by uncontrolled magic turning against us. The covenant elders, fearing we might indulge recklessly and invite unnecessary trouble, decreed that our first task upon coming of age was to select suitable partners, strengthening relationships with other races through marriage. Today we had just arrived at the altar, not yet having time to properly observe the various males before us. The girl beside me gently nudged me: “On our way here, I saw your sister Ella running frantically toward the Shadow Forest. No one could stop her. Isn’t she participating in the ceremony?” At these words, I immediately understood. It seemed I wasn’t the only one reborn—my dear sister had apparently returned from the previous life as well. Her urgent rush toward the Shadow Forest was likely for her dream of royal glory and wealth. Before I could respond, a fierce wind suddenly arose outside, and dark clouds gathered in the sky. In an instant, darkness fell. Several magnificent black-gold carriages pulled by nightmare beasts descended from above, and vampire emissaries appeared before us, announcing the prince’s decree. My heart sank. Having experienced this before, I knew this was Prince Alexander coming to claim his “savior” as his bride. In my past life, my sister had deliberately made things difficult for me, sending me to the Shadow Forest to gather moonflowers for her. Unexpectedly, through a twist of fate, I stumbled upon a man who had been ambushed by enemies and lay unconscious on the ground. Originally, I intended to use a witch’s life energy to revive him while satisfying my most primal desires. To my surprise, upon awakening, he gave me the vampire regent’s signet ring. Not only did he reveal his identity as a vampire prince, but he also directly announced through bloodline communication that I would be his future companion. Our Witch Covenant held neither high nor low status—we had never received such honor. Naturally, I had no choice in the matter. My fate was decided within a few words. Though vampires are lords of the night, they harbor unknown secrets. To nurture a pure-blood heir, the mother must use her own life essence as nourishment for the fetus to absorb. The vampire bloodline power is particularly domineering—ordinary females from other races simply cannot withstand it. Most die from life force depletion after a few months of pregnancy, taking both lives. But by chance, I survived. I directly gave birth to the only pure-blood heir of this vampire generation. The vampire regent was overjoyed and immediately formed an eternal blood contract with me. Decades later, when Alexander inherited the regent’s position, I naturally became his only queen, enjoying endless wealth and glory. Meanwhile, my sister, who had chosen the werewolf leader, discovered he was promiscuous with many lovers. She could never become his sole “moon companion.” Seeing him only once a month—how could that satisfy her nature as a witch? She washed her face with tears daily, living in unbearable pain. Finally, on the day of the witch’s full moon festival, she lured me to a cliff’s edge and pushed me over. I’ll never forget that dying despair. Suddenly, surrounded by covenant elders, Alexander appeared before everyone holding my sister’s hand, his face full of affection: “Ella is kind-hearted. She saved me in the forest. From now on, she is my chosen bride.” Following protocol, I knelt down. My sister looked down at the crowd with barely concealed triumph. However, where she couldn’t see, the corners of my mouth curved slightly upward. Dear sister, since you’re so eager to die, I suppose I’ll have to grant your wish. }}}###

The vampire prince’s wedding was a hundred times more important than our mate selection ceremony. My sister and I, along with several witch companions, were brought to the vampire’s Shadow Castle, forbidden to leave even a single step, to focus entirely on preparing everything for my sister’s pre-wedding arrangements. Stroking the blood crystal necklace that Alex had specially sent over, I felt nothing in my heart. Though beautiful, this thing was nothing more than a death charm in my eyes. In my previous life, the rewards I received were a hundred times more magnificent than my sister’s. Every word and action of mine was even imitated by other women across the continent. But behind it all, only I knew how much I suffered trying to give birth to the child in my womb. Before I could examine it closely, a maid from my sister’s side hurried over to me: “Miss Lila, Her future Highness requests your presence.” She wants to see me? At this time, shouldn’t my sister be preparing her wedding dress? Why would she think of her insignificant sister? Though I still had some doubts, she was now the prince’s publicly acknowledged fiancée, and I had no power to resist her words. As soon as I reached my sister’s room, I saw Alex with his shirt open, looking completely satisfied as he walked out from inside. I quickly lowered my head. He didn’t even glance at me. His scent was all too familiar—that unique aroma vampires emit after passion, a mixture of blood and roses. I knew my sister had already slept with him. There was no helping it. After witches come of age, they often lose control of themselves. Once they touch a man they desire, they can’t help but draw closer—this was our fatal weakness. My sister lay half-reclined on the bed with a smile, covered only by a thin silk sheet that did nothing to conceal her alluring figure. Seeing me enter, her expression instantly darkened. She slowly extended one finger, pointing at the embroidery pattern on the table: “You embroidered this? Very good.” I didn’t dare move. Since childhood, she had beaten and scolded me at will—why would she be so kind as to praise me now? Moreover, thinking of how she had pushed me from the precipice in my previous life, my heart began beating uncontrollably. Seeing I didn’t move, she suddenly sat up from the bed. She grabbed the silver candlestick beside her and hurled it viciously at my head. Blood blurred my vision as I forced down my inner rage and knelt on the ground. She seemed quite satisfied with my reaction and spoke lazily: “I brought you all here to watch carefully how I obtained all of this step by step. You’d better put away those restless thoughts and stop hovering around the prince, or else…” I looked up to meet my sister’s gaze: “As you wish, Your Highness.” She was momentarily shocked by the calmness in my eyes, then walked over and grabbed my hair: “Lila, do you think I don’t know that you’ve been reborn too?” Hearing the word “reborn,” a flash of darkness crossed my eyes. She snorted coldly and threw the embroidery pattern in my face: “You grew up in the witch’s forest—how could you embroider the blood rose emblem that only the vampire queen can use? You still dare to lie to me!” I sighed softly and stood up from the ground, supporting my forehead: “Sister, I never wanted to compete with you, and I absolutely won’t appear before the prince.” But she just laughed mockingly, her fingers caressing my face: “Do you think I would lose to an ugly girl like you? Even if you wanted to compete, you couldn’t beat me.” I fell silent. Some things I didn’t fight for because I wanted to live longer. Only fools would obsess over such beautiful poison. }}}###

The Blood Clan truly lived up to their reputation as distinguished ancient nobility—even a simple engagement ceremony was conducted with such grandeur. Not only did many mysterious supernatural beings attend the ceremony, but they also brought numerous treasures as gifts, showing tremendous respect for their dignity. My sister appeared in a bright red wedding dress, her face flushed as she held Alex’s hand, making her entrance under everyone’s expectant gaze. She had finally achieved the position she’d always dreamed of, and her happiness was written all over her face. When she saw me, she even tilted her head provocatively and silently mouthed two words: “Useless.” Well, I am useless. But she was about to step into hell—I wondered who was more pitiful. Her smile didn’t last long, though. Alex pressed a goblet into her hands: “Drink this, and our engagement will be officially sealed under the witness of all the elders.” My sister eagerly took it, ready to drain it in one gulp, when a sharp metallic scent wafted from the cup. She turned pale with shock and instinctively threw the goblet away: “Why is there holy silver powder in this wine!” Holy silver was the bane of our witch magic. Even grand wizards who had practiced for a thousand years couldn’t withstand the power of a cup of holy silver wine. One sip wouldn’t kill you, but it would temporarily dispel your magic and leave you bedridden for months in agony. In my previous life, I faced the same situation, but I never thought to refuse. I knew my life was worthless compared to the Blood Clan’s reputation. If I embarrassed Alex in front of everyone, our relationship would forever remain purely transactional. I forced myself to drink it, and throughout the entire ceremony, my head was spinning. But he didn’t care about my feelings at all. After all, in his eyes, I was just a tool for repaying debts and bearing offspring. Who cares about a tool’s emotions? But my sister clearly didn’t understand the situation. She pouted and threw herself into Alex’s arms, acting coquettish: “I don’t want to drink this!” She didn’t notice that Alex’s expression had darkened. Given all the guests present, he still tried to coax her patiently: “Ella, this is an ancient Blood Clan tradition. Don’t be willful in front of so many people.” Logically, when the noble Blood Prince himself said this, my sister should have backed down. But as if oblivious to the approaching danger, she continued to refuse: “I hate this stupid tradition! We witches despise holy silver the most—I never want to see it again!” This statement completely enraged the Blood Clan elders present. They viewed drinking their partner’s bane as a symbol of loyalty and conquest. My sister’s words were tantamount to slapping them in the face. Sure enough, several Blood Clan nobles began quietly complaining that the bride didn’t know proper etiquette, even questioning Alex’s judgment. When these murmurs reached Alex’s ears, his patience was completely exhausted, and his voice carried icy fury: “I’ll say this one more time—drink it.” My sister was terrified, never expecting him to treat her this way. She quickly picked up the holy silver wine and drained it in one gulp. But it was too late—everyone’s mood had already been ruined. After completing the ceremony, Alex stormed off without even sparing her a glance. My sister stood there bewildered. Just yesterday they had been so affectionate—how could they turn against each other over a cup of holy silver wine? I let out a cold laugh. She was too naive. Nothing was more important than the Blood Clan’s dignity. A bride meant to be decorative actually thought she could influence the prince’s will. This was just the beginning—her “good days” were yet to come. }}}###

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398251”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #Rebirth #Sister #WitchWizard #Werewolf #queen

“Lucia, are you really going to Chicago to handle the family business? The situation there is complicated. If you leave, what about Vincent’s arrangements?” At the mention of Vincent’s name, Lucia Moretti’s movements paused for a moment. Countless intimate memories flashed through her mind, like invisible hands gripping her heart tightly, bringing waves of sharp pain. After a moment of silence, she took a sip of bourbon from her glass and reaffirmed her earlier decision. “My people are watching him. Don’t ask too many questions, just go prepare. The private jet will be waiting at the usual place in two weeks.” “…Yes, Lucia. I’ll arrange it immediately.” After hanging up, Lucia leaned back into the leather sofa, her gaze falling on the entertainment news headline. “Gallo Group Spends Big on Hollywood Investment, Veteran Actors Support Newcomer Scarlett. With Such Massive Backing, What’s This Newcomer’s Real Background?” Online discussions about Gallo Group’s crossover move were heated, with many speculating about Scarlett’s relationship with the conglomerate. “Is this woman an illegitimate daughter of the Gallo family? Otherwise, why would Gallo, a financial empire that never touches entertainment, personally pave the way for an unknown newcomer?” “Not necessarily an illegitimate daughter, but possibly a kept mistress. A beauty like Scarlett fits perfectly with what those family bosses and rich heirs prefer.” This comment quickly received numerous likes. Lucia also gave it a thumbs up with her anonymous account. Because she knew better than anyone that this comment was completely accurate. Scarlett was indeed popular with wealthy young men, and Gallo Group’s big move was orchestrated by Vincent, the man she’d been with for seven years. To make Scarlett a star, Vincent—who was always ruthlessly cold in business—was investing so recklessly. This realization plunged Lucia into silence once again. She wearily turned off the screen and closed her eyes with a frown. Before she knew it, the bourbon in her glass had reached the bottom. After finishing the last sip, Lucia slowly opened her eyes and casually placed the glass on the table. She thought their relationship had probably reached its end. Or rather, their meeting had been a mistake from the very beginning. … Lucia had met Vincent seven years ago. At that time, as a top enforcer for the Moretti family, she was waiting in a Colombian bar for a traitor to appear. There, she saw Vincent, like a lost little beast. The young, handsome boy stared with clear eyes, curiously yet fearfully taking in the bar’s mixed crowd. So surprised was he that his mouth hung slightly open, as if he’d forgotten how to breathe. It was in that instant that Lucia became interested in him. Their eyes met in the dim lighting. When their gazes locked, Vincent’s eyes trembled slightly, and he unconsciously took a few steps toward Lucia. Only when he was about to bump into the table in front of her did he suddenly snap back to reality. He hurriedly looked away, not daring to meet her eyes again. Lucia found it somewhat amusing. A naive kid who looked like a clueless college student actually dared to come to such a place to broaden his horizons—wasn’t he afraid of getting torn apart? She was about to approach him with a warning when her long-awaited target appeared. Lucia had to refocus on her work. When she returned to the bar after efficiently handling her task, Vincent was nowhere to be seen. A pang of regret crossed her heart, immediately replaced by self-mocking acceptance. Lucia thought she must have been crazy to think that boy would wait for her in the same spot. She shook her head and prepared to leave, but someone gently tapped her shoulder from behind. In a split second, Lucia spun around sharply, and the boy’s handsome face came into view. He lowered his head somewhat shyly, his voice trembling with nervousness. “You… hello, I… may I get to know you?” A pure-hearted kid who probably hadn’t even held a woman’s hand dared to approach her, this thorny black rose. Lucia sneered inwardly. But he had actually waited in that spot, willing to gamble on whether she would return. In that moment, Lucia’s heart, silent for so many years, trembled gently. Less than half an hour after news of Scarlett being promoted by Gallo Group spread online, Vincent’s call came through. His voice was as clear and pleasant as always, carrying that gentle tone that seemed almost pleading—one reserved just for her. “Lucia, don’t believe any of that nonsense online. The company’s backing that newcomer is just a business strategy, nothing more.” “Today marks our seven-year anniversary. I’ll wrap up company matters as quickly as possible, then we’ll go out for lunch and catch a movie this afternoon, okay? We haven’t had a proper date in ages!” Without waiting for Lucia’s response, Vincent had already begun planning with anticipation. “There’s a remastered version of an old film playing recently. I’ve been wanting to watch it with you for a while, but I’ve been swamped. Since today’s our anniversary, let’s go see it together, Lucia?” “And… Valenti’s has a new head chef who’s supposed to be amazing. I had my assistant reserve a private dining room.” “After dinner and the movie, we could…” Vincent rambled on, and Lucia listened patiently throughout. Until she heard knocking from his end, followed by a sweet, coquettish female voice interrupting: “Mr. Gallo, I was hoping to invite you to lunch…” The rest was muffled—Vincent must have covered the phone. A few seconds later, his somewhat nervous voice returned: “Lucia, that was just… my assistant reporting on work. Let’s not talk now. Just head straight to Valenti’s at noon and wait for me. I’ll see you there.” With that, he hastily hung up, leaving only the cold dial tone. In that moment, Lucia realized with crystal clarity that the little beast she’d kept by her side and nurtured for seven years had truly grown up. He’d matured enough to lie to her face without batting an eye. She walked into her study and retrieved the seven-year anniversary gift she’d prepared long ago. It was a photo album she’d made by hand, documenting every moment she and Vincent had shared over these seven years. In the past, Vincent always liked holding her in his arms, stroking her long hair while complaining: “Lucia, why is it always me talking and you listening? You speak so little that sometimes I wonder if you even care about me.” As he spoke, he would reach out with both hands and gently pinch her cheeks. “Lucia, smile. You’re so beautiful—why don’t you smile more often?” Having grown up in a mafia family, Lucia had long been accustomed to hiding her emotions and rarely expressed her feelings directly. But since being with Vincent, she’d changed in many ways—half willingly, half reluctantly—gradually becoming more like what he wanted her to be. She opened the album and saw herself beaming in the photos. In one candid shot, her lips were caught mid-motion, saying “I love you” to Vincent. Without realizing it, Lucia was no longer the cold, ruthless enforcer of the Moretti family she once was. The thought made her heart ache. Seven years ago, Vincent had been drawn to her like a moth to flame, chasing her across the globe. He’d accompanied her through gunfire, walked with her through the mud of slums, witnessed humanity’s darkest moments alongside her, and weathered countless storms together. Eventually, Lucia couldn’t bear to let this young master, who should have been living comfortably in New York, continue risking his life following her around. She withdrew from the family’s core operations team and returned to New York with him, settling into a life under the sun. Lucia gave Vincent everything. When his father suddenly died and the family business was threatened, she stepped forward, using the Moretti family’s resources and her own savings to help Vincent stabilize the situation and establish Gallo Group as the perfect front. Every time Vincent was on the verge of breaking down, Lucia was there beside him, shielding him from storms and giving him space to breathe and recover. Vincent was like a sapling Lucia had planted with her own hands, growing from tender youth to maturity, eventually becoming a towering tree. But no matter how decisive and commanding Vincent was as president of Gallo Group in public, at home he still clung to Lucia just like before, depending on her. Seven years, day after day. Just this year, Lucia had even prepared to marry him, notifying all her overseas friends and planning a grand wedding. Then she discovered Vincent’s affair. He’d forgotten to log out of his tablet, leaving his chat history with Scarlett on the screen. Scarlett: Vincent, thank you for everything you’ve done for me. My agent treats me with such respect now. Vincent: Good girl. If you run into any trouble, just tell me and I’ll handle it. Scarlett: Thank you, Vincent. Tonight I’ll wear that little bunny outfit you like and wait for you! Vincent: Make sure my little bunny is all clean and ready to be devoured. … Those few short lines pierced Lucia’s heart. Just then, Vincent sent her a message: “Lucia, are you at the restaurant yet? Go ahead and order—I’ll be right there!” The contrast was absurd. The pure, innocent young man who’d been so clean and devoted in front of her had become someone else’s reliable “big shot” behind her back. How ironic, how laughable. Since he enjoyed being pursued by female celebrities, she’d let him enjoy it forever. As for her—she would turn and walk away. }}}###

Even though she left late, Lucia still arrived at the restaurant before Vincent. She ordered his favorite dishes and waited in the private dining room for over an hour before Vincent finally showed up with an apologetic expression. “Lucia, I’m sorry. A few old guys from the family suddenly called me over, which delayed me. I kept you waiting so long—you must be starving! Let’s eat quickly.” After Vincent sat down and saw the table full of his favorite dishes, he smiled sweetly at Lucia. “You’re the best, Lucia. You always remember what I like. I really can’t live without you—being with you makes me so happy.” The dishes had been kept warm the whole time. He skillfully picked up his fork, cut the best piece of steak, and naturally placed it on Lucia’s plate first. “You eat first. Be careful, it’s hot.” Throughout the meal, whenever Lucia’s wine glass was empty, Vincent would stop eating and refill it for her. After dinner, he also took care of helping her with her coat and tidying up, not letting her lift a finger. As Vincent put it: “You protect me in big things, I take care of you in small things. We’re a perfect match.” These had been their habits for seven years, but now, feeling Vincent’s attentiveness, Lucia couldn’t feel even a trace of happiness. In fact, every time he acted so considerate in front of her, she would think of his chat records with Scarlett. At the movie theater, Vincent didn’t book the entire venue, wanting to have a date with Lucia like an ordinary couple. Lucia didn’t mind either way, so she naturally wouldn’t refuse. They bought popcorn and Coke and followed Vincent into the theater. They had bought couple seats. When they sat down, two girls nearby looked at them in surprise and whispered to each other. “Oh my God, are those two celebrities? The guy is so handsome and tall, and the woman is so elegant and beautiful—they look like they walked out of a movie!” “Their interaction is so sweet! When they walked over, the guy always stayed half a step behind to protect her, and when she looked back at him, her eyes were full of tenderness and familiarity. So sweet!” Vincent heard this and smiled happily. Under the girls’ gaze, he leaned close to Lucia and suddenly kissed her. Suppressed excited squeals came from nearby. Vincent’s eyes crinkled with laughter as he gently traced his index finger in Lucia’s palm. “Lucia, they all say we’re sweet. I think so too—every moment with you is incredibly sweet.” Lucia met his bright eyes and reached out to touch his hair, saying nothing. The movie Vincent chose was somewhat dull, running three and a half hours long. During the screening, Lucia noticed that Vincent wasn’t paying attention. He kept looking down at his phone, and in the dark environment, the screen’s glow was particularly glaring as it lit up and dimmed repeatedly. Perhaps sensing that the atmosphere around Lucia had grown tense, Vincent nervously traced her palm again. “Lucia, it’s from the company—they keep sending messages. Don’t worry, I’ve already told them I’m spending the afternoon on a date with you and asked them to stop bothering me.” He claimed it was the company, but Lucia knew that from the morning call that was hung up to the afternoon’s constant messages, what was really disrupting them was never the company, but Scarlett. But she didn’t make an issue of it. Under Vincent’s nervous gaze, she simply ruffled his hair like she used to. “It’s fine. Let’s watch the movie.” Vincent immediately relaxed, sitting up straight with relief. Seeing Lucia turn to look at the screen, he quickly typed a message on his phone. “From now until tomorrow, don’t send me any more messages. Shut up!” Lucia caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye. After the message was sent, the other person immediately replied with a crying emoji. Then came another message: “Vincent, you don’t love me anymore. You only think about being with that woman—you don’t have me in your heart at all.” Vincent paused after seeing this, hesitated for a few seconds, and didn’t reply. Lucia thought he could finally focus and spend this last anniversary with her properly. But unexpectedly, after five or six minutes, Vincent restlessly picked up his phone again. His fingers quickly tapped on the screen: “I really don’t have time today. Be good, baby. Daddy will make it up to you tomorrow.” As soon as he sent it, Scarlett replied instantly. “Love you Daddy, you really do love me the most!” Vincent’s expression relaxed, and he replied with a smile: “Daddy loves you too. Wait for me tomorrow like a good girl.” After sending this, he carefully looked up and observed that Lucia was sitting upright with her eyes fixed on the screen ahead, assuming she was completely unaware. He thought he had pulled the wool over her eyes. But Lucia, who had witnessed everything, felt her heart riddled with holes, her chest tight with pain. After the movie ended, Vincent accompanied Lucia to the Coney Island amusement park, where he won her a giant stuffed bear at a shooting booth. On the way back, Vincent chatted excitedly about the day’s fun moments, circling around Lucia like an energetic puppy. But no matter how he tried to amuse her, Lucia remained listless. Vincent sensed something was wrong and looked at her nervously, asking cautiously, “Lucia, are you unhappy? Why aren’t you saying anything?” The concern in his eyes was utterly sincere, that worry almost spilling over from his handsome gaze. Just like every time before, whenever Lucia showed the slightest coldness, Vincent would notice immediately and then try every way to cheer her up. This time was no exception. Ignoring the driver in front, he leaned close to Lucia, took her hand and pressed it gently against his face. “Lucia, if you’re unhappy, you must tell me. I’ll always be here with you, to make you happy.” Lucia followed his movement and looked down, staring intently at his face. Seven years had passed, yet time had left few traces on Vincent’s face. He was still young and handsome, like a boy who had just walked out of college. The dependence on his face toward her didn’t seem fake, that intense love almost melting enough to melt anyone. But this was the very man she had personally helped rise to power, who was secretly keeping a starlet behind her back. Thinking of Vincent’s two completely different faces, Lucia couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Even her words of comfort came out perfunctory. “It’s nothing, there’s some trouble in Chicago that needs handling. I’m just thinking about business.” Vincent breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at her with some uncertainty: “Lucia, it’s really just business? You promise you’re not hiding anything else from me?” Lucia ruffled his hair, “What else could there be? I promised you I’d tell you if something was wrong, that I wouldn’t shoulder everything alone anymore. Don’t worry.” Only then did Vincent regain his energy, hugging her arm and chattering away again. After returning to the Long Island estate, Vincent went to shower on his own, coming out loosely wrapped in a bathrobe that revealed his well-defined abs. His tall frame embraced Lucia from behind, kissing her ear and making a suggestive invitation. “Lucia, today is our seven-year anniversary, tonight we…” Lucia instinctively leaned back into his warm chest. She was too familiar with his body and scent. Almost without any foreplay, her body had already responded to him, craving his kisses and embrace. But the next second, she thought of those explicit messages between Vincent and Scarlett. Her body’s passion instantly faded. Lucia calmly pushed him away and spoke indifferently: “Vincent, do you feel tired?” Vincent was stunned, “Lucia, what are you talking about?” Seeing he didn’t respond, Lucia continued asking: “In front of me, you always have to watch my moods, suppress yourself, play that role of someone who needs protection. Vincent Gallo, are you tired?” Perhaps Lucia’s tone was too serious. Vincent froze instantly, then was overwhelmed by crushing nervousness and panic. “Lu… Lucia, how could I be tired? As long as I’m with you, I’ll never be tired!” “Don’t say things like that anymore. We’ve been through so much, it wasn’t easy getting to where we are today… Being with you only brings happiness, no exhaustion…” Vincent spoke at breakneck speed, as if slowing down even a second would make Lucia disappear from before him. Tears streamed down his face as he buried his head in Lucia’s chest, his voice both aggrieved and choked. “Lucia, don’t ask me if I’m tired anymore. In front of you, I’m willing to forever be that boy who needs you, forever.” Watching Vincent desperately making promises, Lucia remained silent for a long time, finally sighing without saying anything. She gently stroked his back, “Sleep now, don’t overthink.” Vincent sobbed himself to sleep in her arms. Even in his dreams, he held tightly to Lucia’s arm, like a frightened beast clinging desperately to its last support, refusing to let go even in sleep. In the latter half of the night, Vincent slept peacefully, even wearing a relaxed smile on his face. But Lucia remained awake all night. Early the next morning, Vincent was awakened by the ringing of his phone. Still not fully awake, he instinctively hit the speakerphone button. A sultry female voice came through from the other end, and he jolted awake, quickly pressing mute. Meeting Lucia’s penetrating gaze that seemed to see right through everything, Vincent’s face flashed with panic as he explained awkwardly, “It’s one of my men with urgent business to report. I’ll step out to take it.” Lucia didn’t stop him, letting him rush out of the bedroom without even putting on his slippers. She knew perfectly well that the caller wasn’t one of his subordinates, but Scarlett, whom Vincent had promised to “compensate” yesterday. After all, in these seven years together, aside from the recently appeared Scarlett, Vincent had never kept any secrets from her. She could freely enter and exit his office, his encrypted phone was never password-protected around her, and he had even given her contact information for all his trusted associates. One of his confidants had once complained privately, “Vincent, don’t you think Lucia’s being too controlling? What kind of family boss lives like you do, with zero personal space?” Lucia happened to overhear that comment. Just as she was wondering if she really was being too demanding, she heard Vincent laugh and shake his head. “I don’t think so. Besides, it’s not that she wants to control me—I’m the one who chose to lay everything bare for her to see.” His subordinates all thought he’d lost his mind. But Vincent just smiled sweetly, saying it was an understanding between him and Lucia that outsiders wouldn’t get. “Lucia, I need to go to the office. I won’t be able to have lunch together.” Vincent quickly got dressed, dropped that line, and hurried off without waiting for Lucia’s response. Watching the door slam shut, Lucia let out a silent, mocking laugh. His words from back then still echoed in her ears, but the man who spoke them had already changed. Since Vincent wanted his freedom, she wouldn’t stay for him any longer. Lucia spent the entire day packing her belongings around the estate. They’d been together too long—seven years of living side by side had intertwined their lives and possessions until they were inseparable. But now, she had to personally peel apart everything that had once been so tightly bound together. Entertainment news popped up on her phone about Scarlett joining a film production. Right after that, Vincent called. “Lucia, the company’s new film investment is starting production, and as the major investor, I need to go discuss the follow-up with the director and producers. Since this is our first venture into Hollywood, I need to oversee it personally.” Halfway through, his tone became cautiously probing: “The crew is in Los Angeles, so I probably won’t be coming home for the next few days.” To Vincent’s surprise, Lucia agreed without hesitation. “Alright, go ahead.” After saying that, she hung up without even giving Vincent time to respond. Vincent stared down at the darkened screen, somewhat dazed. An inexplicable sense of panic rose in his chest, as if something important was about to spiral out of control. Just then, Scarlett walked over with a smile, looking completely pleased with herself. “Vincent, thank you for being willing to come with me to the set. The director and everyone are being so much nicer to me now.” She took his hand, stroking it suggestively. “The hotel suite the production arranged is amazing. Tonight we can…” One of Vincent’s lieutenants approached, and seeing Scarlett’s actions, gave Vincent a knowing smile before turning to leave. “Sir, it’s rare to find such an understanding young lady. You should…” Hearing his subordinate’s flippant tone, Vincent’s brow twitched sharply, and he jerked his hand away from Scarlett’s as if electrocuted. His expression turned ice-cold. “I’ve warned you all to respect Lucia. Her position can never be replaced by anyone. Stop making assumptions, or I’ll consider replacing you.” After reprimanding his subordinate, he turned to Scarlett. He wanted to refuse, but seeing her on the verge of tears, Vincent softened again. He sighed, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Next time I won’t indulge you like this, you disobedient little minx.” Scarlett’s face immediately lit up with an obedient smile as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Don’t worry, Daddy. I promise I’ll be good. Let me take real good care of you tonight~” }}}###

What Vincent didn’t know was that on the very night he was being intimate with Scarlett in Los Angeles, Lucia received a multimedia message from an unknown number. The message contained only one photo. In the picture, Scarlett was beaming as she leaned against Vincent’s chest, wearing a revealing nightgown with her bare shoulders exposed. Vincent wasn’t resisting—he held a wine glass in one hand while his other arm wrapped around her waist, a faint smile playing on his lips. Below the photo was a line of text: “Miss Moretti, after seven years with Vincent, you should be able to feel that his heart is no longer with you. Be smart and bow out gracefully.” Lucia knew this was Scarlett’s provocation, trying to get the “old flame” to disappear quickly so the “new woman” could take her place. She stared coldly at Vincent in the photo for a long time, a frigid smile curving her lips. Sweet words were indeed the most unreliable things in the world. Just the night before, Vincent had held her with bloodshot eyes, crying as he promised to be with her forever, saying he could never leave her. The very next evening, he was calmly embracing another woman. She didn’t reply to Scarlett or call Vincent to confront him. She simply quickened her pace in packing her belongings. For the entire following week, Vincent remained in Los Angeles. He would text Lucia as usual, sharing his daily life, sending her photos from the film set, even photographing roadside wildflowers to send to her. It seemed intimate and unchanged from before. But they both knew everything was different. In the past, when Vincent traveled for work, he couldn’t sleep without talking to her for at least a day. But this time, he never initiated a single phone call. After discovering that Lucia hadn’t called him either, Vincent pretended not to notice, and they both tacitly maintained a superficial calm. Finally, on the morning of the eighth day, Vincent called excitedly. “Lucia, I’ve finished everything here and I’m ready to come back! Let’s go out for dinner tonight—I’m craving that French restaurant downtown.” Lucia looked at her nearly empty walk-in closet and nodded with downcast eyes. That evening, Vincent went straight from his private jet to the restaurant. The moment he saw Lucia in the private dining room, he rushed over and buried his head in her shoulder. “Lucia, I missed you so much. We’ve never been apart this long.” He nuzzled against her neck, thinking he was being affectionate, not realizing that from this angle, Lucia could clearly see a telltale hickey on the back of his neck. Against his pale skin, that dark red mark stung her eyes. Lucia’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. After sitting down, she asked casually, “Are the mosquitoes in Los Angeles particularly vicious?” Vincent froze with a confused expression, and she reached up to gently touch the back of his neck. “There’s a red mark here.” Vincent’s knife and fork clattered to the floor. Despite the air conditioning running at full blast in the private room, Lucia could clearly see beads of cold sweat forming on Vincent’s forehead. The air fell silent for several seconds. Vincent spoke somewhat stiffly: “Yeah, that’s right. There are lots of bugs in California—probably got bitten without noticing.” Lucia didn’t expose his clumsy lie, simply replacing his utensils with clean ones. “Let’s eat.” Throughout the meal, Vincent was clearly distracted. The lively atmosphere that once filled their dinner table was gone, and they finished eating in silence. Back home, Vincent took the initiative to shower, then lay in bed waiting for Lucia. When she emerged from the bathroom with steam still clinging to her skin, he reached out to untie the sash of her silk robe, trying to kiss her in a placating manner. The room began to heat up with tension. The next second, a jarring phone ringtone shattered the mood. Lucia glanced at the phone on the nightstand, where “Scarlett” flashed across the screen. She pulled away, avoiding Vincent’s kiss, and looked at him with indifferent eyes: “The phone keeps ringing. Aren’t you going to answer it?” Before Vincent could reach for it, the ringing stopped. He breathed a sigh of relief as if he’d been granted a reprieve. Just as he was about to say something, the phone rang again. And this time, it was the special ringtone Vincent had set for Scarlett. Now Vincent could no longer maintain his composure. He fumbled for the phone and headed outside, not forgetting to turn back and explain: “Lucia, there might be an emergency with the family. I’ll step out to take this and be right back.” He deliberately put on an annoyed expression as he answered the phone: “I know, can’t whatever it is wait until tomorrow… Fine, I’ll get there as soon as I can.” Vincent ran back barefoot, threw on his jacket, and headed for the door. “Lucia, there’s an emergency meeting I have to attend personally. If it runs too late, I won’t come back—I’ll stay overnight at the downtown apartment.” “Tomorrow, I promise I’ll make it up to you properly.” It wasn’t until he was about to leave that he noticed Lucia hadn’t said a word the entire time, just quietly watching him. When their eyes met and he looked into her deep gaze, Vincent’s heart skipped a panicked beat. Something felt off. Lucia’s look made him inexplicably anxious. But soon, Lucia smiled naturally, waving him off and telling him to hurry so he wouldn’t delay important business. Vincent hesitated for a few seconds, repeatedly confirming she seemed normal before hastily closing the front door. Lucia watched him leave, not missing the flash of relief in his eyes as he turned away. She curved her lips slightly, then reached up to remove the necklace Vincent had given her—the one she’d worn for seven years—and placed it on the table. Since she’d decided to leave, she would leave everything behind, returning it all to him exactly as it was. After Vincent left that time, he didn’t return for a very long time. He seemed to be deliberately avoiding her, sending no messages, making no calls, as if pretending nothing had happened would make it so. In all their seven years together, Lucia had never experienced such profound silence. She looked at the photo of the two of them together, gently caressing Vincent’s face in the picture with her fingertip, then smiled as she tore away her half of the photograph. The floor was covered with picture frames, and she treated every photo the same way. After handling the last photo together, she twisted her stiff, aching neck and realized dawn had already broken. It turned out they had so many photos together that it took an entire night to completely clear them all out. Lucia lit the fireplace and threw all the photo fragments into the flames. As the fire blazed up, she noticed several unread messages—provocative texts from Scarlett. “Bet you didn’t see this coming—Vincent isn’t at some meeting, he’s here having a candlelit dinner with me. He even complimented my steak.” The message was followed by several intimate photos. Lucia didn’t even lift an eyelid as she casually deleted the messages. She began calling people to come over and replace all the dark-toned furniture and curtains that reflected her personal style throughout the estate, switching them out for the bright, modern aesthetic that Vincent preferred. Over the next few days, she personally worked to completely transform the home into something that belonged to Vincent alone. Standing at the entrance, seeing that not a trace of her remained in the house, Lucia smiled with satisfaction. Just then, Vincent called. Perhaps overwhelmed by guilt, or unable to bear the pressure of their cold war any longer, he was the first to give in. His voice carried a note of grievance: “Lucia, I’ve been away for so long, and you haven’t called me even once. Don’t you love me anymore?” Lucia smiled softly but said nothing. Hearing her low chuckle, Vincent’s heart instantly clenched with unease. “Lu… Lucia… what are you laughing about?” Looking at the completely transformed home before her, Lucia said with a cryptic smile, “A while back was our seven-year anniversary, and I sent you a gift. Did you look at it? Besides that, I prepared another surprise for you.” Vincent paused: “The gift… I’ve been so busy lately, I haven’t opened it yet. I’ll look at it as soon as I get home tonight!” “Lucia, what do you want for dinner? I’ll buy ingredients—it’s been so long since I cooked for you…” “No need,” Lucia interrupted coolly. She was planning to tell him that her people would come for her tonight. After this, there would be no “after” for them. But there were people talking constantly around Vincent. He glanced helplessly at the chattering Scarlett and said apologetically, “Lucia, it’s a bit noisy here. Let’s talk when I get home—I’ll be back soon anyway.” With that, he hurriedly hung up. Lucia looked down at the darkened screen and laughed softly. Dinner together tonight? No need. All her luggage had already been moved out. Lucia stood outside the estate and took one last look back. The warm light glowing from inside matched his preferred style perfectly. That was good. The thunderous roar of rotor blades echoed overhead as a black helicopter circled down through the night sky. The helicopter landed on the estate’s helipad, and Lucia walked toward it without hesitation. At the same time, Vincent, having bought fresh ingredients, was driving his Ferrari back home, just entering the estate’s main gate. He glanced up casually and saw the helicopter bearing the Moretti family crest, his eyes instantly widening. The next second, he caught sight of Lucia boarding the helicopter. The gas pedal slammed to the floor, the sports car roared, and he raced frantically toward the estate. Panic flooded his mind, as if something vital was being torn away from him, his heart pounding so violently it felt ready to burst from his chest. But he was still a step too late. When he rushed up to the rooftop helipad like a madman, he could only watch helplessly as the black helicopter roared overhead and disappeared into New York’s glittering night sky… }}}###

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