Category: English

On my wedding day, my fiancé and my younger sister Nancy were caught doing the dirty in the private lounge. I immediately became a laughing stock, until my childhood friend Frank Kelvin publicly proposed to me, defending my honor. After we got married, he was the perfect husband… except for his performance in the bedroom. It was like his heart was never in it. I only managed to get pregnant after going for IVF this year. After that, he became even more protective of me. I once believed he was my sanctuary… until I overheard his conversation with his friend. “You’re ruthless, Frank. Setlla’s so good to you. How could you swap out her egg with Nancy’s just because Nancy is too afraid of the pain to give birth? “The baby’s due in two months. What do you plan to do then?” Frank was silent for a bit, then he sighed. “I’ll give Nancy the baby once it’s born. It’s one of her greatest wishes, after all. “As for Setlla, I’ll tell her the baby died. “I’ll make it up to her by staying with her for the rest of her life.” So that was how it was. He only protected me so gently for her sake. I turned around and immediately made a surgery appointment. I was throwing away this filthy baby… and this false marriage. ****** “Aren’t you worried Setlla will discover the truth?” Frank Kelvin was quiet for a moment before saying, “She won’t find out.” “Are you sure?” “She trusts me.” His tone was certain. “She won’t suspect a thing if I’m the one telling her.” After another short silence, his friend said, “As long as you don’t regret it.” Frank chuckled lightly. “I won’t.” So that was how it was. I stood outside the door, my nails digging into my flesh. It hurt so much, but I was going numb. I had only come here to bring him some clothes. It was getting cold, and I was worried he was not wearing enough layers. Now, however, I felt like my heart was being sliced open. A cold wind blew through my chest. I stumbled home, too exhausted to even turn on the lights. My knees buckled and I collapsed onto the couch, curled up and shivering. I felt nauseous and dizzy. Tears spilled from my eyes soundlessly, but I did not have the energy to wipe them away. The door knob clicked. He was back. I heard the sound of his leather shoes approaching. He walked up to the couch and bent down slightly, his voice gentle and worried. “Why didn’t you turn on the lights? The maid said you haven’t eaten. Are you feeling sick again?” He reached out to push the hair out of my face, his eyes filled with concern. “Setlla, what’s the matter?” He then crouched down, putting his hand over mine. His tone was gentle. “If you don’t eat, it’s bad for the baby.” I looked straight into his tender gaze. So love could be entirely an act. Four years ago, my fiancé and my younger sister were caught having an affair at my wedding. My parents forced me to hand over my fiancé, saying family protected each other. They could not afford to lose face in public, so they declared that Nancy Huxley was the bride that day. Back then, Frank had publicly proposed to me. At the time, I thought he was my savior. After we got married, I stood behind him and silently supported him the whole time. I used my market acumen to help him invest and expand his business. Within a few short years, his company went from a nameless startup to one of the rising stars in the investment industry. When we went for IVF to conceive this year, everything seemed to be perfect. He hugged me and said this baby was the gift he had been looking forward to for years. His smile was so tender I could almost drown in it.

Turned out it was just another trick. He was not the only one who could act. I blinked and curved my lips into a smile. “I’m fine. I’m just a little tired.” My voice was soft and slightly tired, as though nothing was amiss. He heaved a sigh of relief and comforted me gently. “Okay. Sleep early tonight.” Why not? I could play this game before the surgery. After that, the curtains would fall on this charade. The next morning, Frank took me to a prenatal checkup. He asked questions about every little detail. Even the doctor laughed and praised him. “You have a great husband. Not many men are this responsible these days.” Frank held my hand, his gaze gentle. “I’ve been looking forward to this baby forever. Of course I’ll take good care of them.” When we walked out of the consultation room, we bumped into my sister Nancy. She wore a loose-fitting dress, and a smug look flashed across her eyes when she saw us. I smirked inwardly when I saw her round belly. No wonder she said she had coincidentally fallen pregnant at the same time as me. She had been waiting for me the entire time. She approached me with a grin and a lighthearted tone. “When are you due, Setlla?” She even held out her hand to touch my stomach. My gaze cold, I smacked her hand aside. “What was that for?” Anger flashed across Nancy’s face. Before she could continue, however, I lowered my head and held my stomach, saying weakly, “My stomach… kinda hurts…” Her words caught in her throat, and her expression instantly stiffened. Frank immediately held my arm, his tone nervous. “Was it because the checkup took too long? Do you want to go back and rest?” His tone was filled with concern, but I could see that his gaze stayed on Nancy, wordlessly consoling her. I lowered my lashes, saying softly, “I’ll head to the washroom.” He frowned and tried to follow me, but I waved him aside. “No need. Wait for me here.” He hesitated but eventually nodded. “Alright, be careful.” I went into the washroom, but the moment I closed the door, I saw him hurry off. As I thought, he had gone to comfort Nancy. I followed him sneakily, standing a short distance away as I watched him soothe her patiently. Nancy frowned and pouted. “Did you fall for her or something? She was so rude to me, but you didn’t even defend me! Tell me honestly, did you feel bad for her?” Frank sighed helplessly. “I did it for the baby. After all, she’s…” Without finishing that sentence, he took a beautiful jewelry box from his pocket and pulled out a brand new bracelet from inside. His tone was gentle as he put it on her wrist. “This is the bracelet you wanted last time. I got it for you.” Nancy’s expression softened. She smirked and said smugly, “I earned a ton on the stock you recommended last time. Do you have any other recommendations?” I stood rooted to the spot, scoffing at the scene unfolding before me. Frank was using everything I gave him to win her heart. I turned around and left, then took out my phone and made a call. “Hello? I want to confirm my appointment tomorrow. Alright, I’ll be there on time.” The familiar footsteps behind me came to a sudden stop. “Tomorrow?” Frank sounded confused. “Where are you going tomorrow?” I turned around and met his gaze with a smile. “I made an appointment for a pregnancy photoshoot. Let’s take some family photos as keepsakes.”

His expression stiffened, and he hesitated. I purposely raised a brow, my tone light. “What’s the matter? You don’t want to go with me?” He could not quite meet my gaze. “No, I’m just… worried you’ll be too tired. Besides, I have a meeting tomorrow at work. How about another day?” I looked at him and chuckled, my tone soft and considerate. “It’s fine. Your work comes first. I can go alone.” He seemed to heave a sigh of relief. He rubbed my head with a smile, his tone indulgent. “What would I do without such a wonderful wife like you?” On the day of the surgery, Frank suddenly pulled out a small bracelet and put it on my wrist before leaving for work. “This is for you.” His tone was gentle as usual. I looked down at it. It was the free gift that came with the bracelet he bought for Nancy. My fingers curled into fists slightly, but I looked up at him with a smile. “Thanks. I love it.” His lips curved as he rubbed my hair, saying softly, “You’re always so sweet, Setlla.” Before going for the surgery, I decided to drop by my maiden home to visit my parents. Just as I was about to head inside, however, I heard the voices inside clearly. Nancy was complaining with a pout, “Why is Setlla always so arrogant? She even hit my hand yesterday!” My mother comforted her softly. “Just tolerate that for now, alright? We eventually gave you her fiancé when you wanted him, didn’t we? This time as well, you just need to be patient.” My father sighed helplessly. “Don’t make a fuss, okay? You finally married the guy you wanted. If your in-Kelvins find out how you’re getting this baby, they’ll get mad again, and Frank will be in trouble.” Frank hastily comforted her, his tone gentle but determined. “Don’t worry, Nancy. I brought the prenatal checkup from yesterday. Everything’s fine. We just need to wait until the baby is born.” He paused and continued, “Mom and Dad, you don’t have to worry about me either. I’ll do anything for Nancy.” My fingertips were cold. All the blood in my body froze over. So they all knew. So this was all part of their plan. So I was nothing more than their pawn from the very start. Not long later, the butler brought over some tea. Frank opened the door to take the cups, but his eyes locked onto something on the floor. There were pearls scattered across the doorway, and a bracelet lay broken. It was the one he had put on my wrist. He immediately went pale, forgetting to breathe. He rushed to the door and looked around, his gaze panicked. After that, he blew up my phone. The moment the call went through, he said anxiously, “Setlla, where are you? I can explain—” I did not reply. His voice grew even more panicked. “Setlla, what happened? Where are you?!” Just then, he heard a nurse saying on the other side— “Setlla Huxley? Please sign this agreement before the surgery.” Frank felt like he was being choked. His breath caught, and he instantly lost it. “A surgery? Where are you? What surgery?!” He practically roared into the phone, his voice unprecedentedly panicked. I looked at the screen calmly, drawing my finger across it lightly. I hung up… then turned off my phone.   I sat on the hospital bed, my hands rubbing the sheets subconsciously. My best friend Anna was making some arrangements over the phone. A few seconds later, she ended the call and looked at me. “Everything’s in place.” Her tone was steady as ever. “It’s all according to plan.” I nodded calmly. “Good.” The doctor came into my room, holding my chart. His expression was solemn. “Miss Huxley, let me check again before the surgery—” He flipped through my chart and looked at me solemnly. “The baby is quite far along, so we’ll have to induce labor. This could affect your future… Are you sure?” I did not hesitate for even a second. “I’m sure.” He paused before asking, “Do you have any family with you?” Family? I scoffed. The family who claimed to love me and care for me were all lying to me, planning to give away the baby once it was born. I looked up slowly and told the doctor in a frighteningly calm voice, “I don’t have any family. They’re all dead.” The doctor glanced at me. He wanted to say something, but then he sighed and nodded at the nurse. “Prepare the operation theater.” The door closed slowly, and the world went silent. The only sound left was the beep of the ECG. This was the first decision I made for myself. It was fine. My life would become even better without them. After the surgery, back in my room, I heard Anna’s voice in my ear before I was even fully awake. “Frank kept calling me. I gave him a different address, but he’ll find out soon.” The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Anna’s worried gaze. Her tone was careful. “How do you feel?” I paused and instinctively touched my stomach. It was flat. My fingers paused on the empty belly, as though confirming something… or searching for something. Anna hesitated when she saw my movements and asked cautiously, “Do you… regret it?” I did not reply, my fingers slowly digging into my palms until it began to hurt. Regret? Never. All I felt was… hatred. I hated them for tricking me, and hated myself for taking this long to notice. Fortunately, it was not too late. I did not let them get their way. I looked up with a cold smile. “I don’t regret it at all.” I then reached for the documents I had prepared on my bedside table. My voice was hoarse but clear. “I already signed them.” Anna took the papers and read through them, her gaze serious. “Divorce papers?” I nodded slightly. “Send them out right away.” She did not ask any more questions. “Alright.” She then paused before continuing, “The stocks you invested in with my account have made it big. I’ll transfer the money back to you right now.” I lowered my gaze, my tone calm. “Alright.” After a second, I chuckled, my gaze ice cold. “Don’t let them know. I’ll make them pay, slowly, once I recover.” The next day, I heard panicked footsteps at the door. I closed my eyes and let out a breath, my fingers digging into the sheets. They found me, after all. The door flew open, Frank taking the lead. When he saw me in the hospital bed, all the blood drained from his face. There was no hiding the panic in his eyes. “Setlla! How could you be so rash? You misunderstood, I can explain—” He ran toward me, his tone rushed.

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“Matt, are you really going to divorce Houston and study abroad?” In the quiet living room, Matt looked at Mrs. Houston’s shocked face across from him and nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Houston. As you know, I wasn’t the one who was supposed to marry her in the first place. For Houston, I was just an unexpected stand-in, a substitute when the real groom didn’t show up. Now that he’s back, she’s been so happy lately. It’s time for me to go.” Outside, a light snow was falling, creating a beautiful winter scene. He smiled lightly. “Studying abroad has always been my dream anyway.” ****** Mrs. Houston looked at the young man before her, remembering Houston’s wedding three years ago. Justin, who was supposed to be the groom, had fled abroad at the last minute. Just as Houston stood awkwardly on stage, red-eyed and unsure what to do, Matt had put on an ill-fitting suit and slowly walked up. He apologetically took the microphone and addressed all the guests: “I’m so sorry, there was traffic on the way. I’m late.” With that act, he had saved Houston’s dignity and the Houston family’s reputation. Mrs. Houston let out a long sigh, then asked uncertainly, “Will Houston agree to the divorce?” Matt shook his head with a smile. “I already got her to sign the divorce papers.” Two weeks ago, he had given her the divorce agreement. At the time, Houston was in a rush to finish work and meet Justin. She had signed without even looking and left. Now, in just seven more days, he would be able to get the official divorce certificate. He would be free. After all, the Houston family had a three-generation military background and couldn’t go abroad. So once he left the country, he and Houston would never have to see each other again. Just as Mrs. Houston was about to speak, a gentle female voice came from behind them. “Matt, what are you chatting about with Mom?” Matt turned around to see Houston, whom he hadn’t seen in days, walking towards them in a black evening gown that occasionally revealed her long legs. “…Houston.” Seeing her daughter approach, Mrs. Houston was about to step forward to scold her. “Why are you here?” With a mix of surprise and reassurance, Matt stood up, giving Mrs. Houston a pleading look to interrupt her. “I missed you, so I came by to pick you up,” Houston said, her eyes looking a bit guilty. In truth, she had come on purpose after finding out Matt’s whereabouts. After saying goodbye to the worried Mrs. Houston, the couple took their bags and left the Houston family home. On the way back, heavy rain pounded on the car windows, while inside was completely silent. Houston remained quiet for a long time before finally speaking. “Matt.” “Justin and I are really over. He just got back to the country and had heart surgery a few years ago, so his health isn’t good. As an old… friend, I just went to help him get settled. I hope you can understand.” Matt stared out the rain-blurred window and nodded. If only he hadn’t seen how Houston had dropped everything and excitedly rushed to meet Justin the day he returned. If only he hadn’t noticed Houston selling the watch she had used for years and replacing it with a cheap bracelet Justin had given her. If only… There were too many “if onlys.” Matt no longer had any expectations or trust left. A soft sigh filled the car. Faced with this husband she had married by chance years ago, Houston wanted to explain further. But thinking of her own actions over the past two weeks, she ultimately chose to change the subject. “Matt, what was that document you had me sign two weeks ago?” As soon as she finished speaking, Matt turned to look at Houston, his eyes showing three parts surprise and seven parts bitter amusement. She was only now remembering to ask about that? Then again, ever since Justin came back, everything else in her life had faded into the background. How could she be expected to care about anything else? Matt was about to speak when Houston’s phone suddenly rang. Seeing the name displayed on the car screen, Houston’s face instantly tensed up. “It’s fine, go ahead and answer. It might be something important,” Matt said, looking out the window with an indifferent expression that made Houston suddenly feel afraid. But she still answered the call, with the car’s speakers automatically broadcasting the conversation. “Houston, I miss you so much. It hurts. Can we meet?” Hearing the whiny tone on the other end, Houston’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel. Her expression also suddenly turned cold. “Justin, I’m married now. I’ve told you many times, don’t talk to me like that!” There was a moment of silence on the other end before Justin replied, “But Houston, I was supposed to be the groom at that wedding.” The car suddenly screeched to a halt in the middle of the road, the tires making a huge noise as they skidded on the pavement. In their three years of marriage, this was the first time Matt had seen Houston lose control. She shouted at the screen: “But you left! You abandoned me and left!” The phone went completely silent. A moment later, Justin’s voice came back sounding choked up: “I’m sorry. I was sick at the time and didn’t want you to worry. I had no idea it would have such serious consequences.” “Ah! Houston! My heart hurts so much. It’s okay, just let me die like this. Then I won’t bother you anymore, and you can live happily with my substitute.” Soon, there was no more sound from the other end. Houston instantly panicked. She immediately looked at Matt. Matt spoke up first: “It’s fine, I’ll take a taxi home. You go check on him. Don’t let anything really happen.” Houston still felt somewhat guilty and said softly, “I’m not going to see him. I just remembered there’s an urgent matter at the company, so I need to stop by there.” “I’ll come back to be with you after I finish.” Matt nodded and opened the car door to get out. Watching her car speed away, Matt stood in the rain holding an umbrella, his eyes darkening. A moment later, he gave a bitter smile and started walking towards home, over ten miles away. Three years. It was time to end it. Three years ago, he had put on that ill-fitting suit and married a woman who could barely remember his name. Friends and relatives privately said Matt was pitiful, just a stand-in for his wife’s true love. But in the three years since, they had shared romantic moments together and dreamed of the future. Matt had thought he had melted the heart of this so-called ice queen. But now, Matt clearly knew he had been wrong. If that was the case, he should return to where he truly belonged and give back this position as Mr. Houston. It would fulfill Houston’s wishes. And free himself as well. Lightning split the night sky, followed closely by torrential rain that swept through like a tidal wave. It also washed away the last of Matt’s feelings for Houston.   Matt slept alone that night. By noon the next day, Houston still hadn’t returned. When he woke up, it was still raining outside. Matt stayed at home, calmly deleting all the posts about their married life from his social media accounts. Just as he finished cleaning everything up, he saw that Justin, who had been threatening to die yesterday, had suddenly posted on social media: “What’s it like to be doted on by your ex-girlfriend?” He included a grid of nine photos. In the first, the usually cold and indifferent Houston was in his arms, feeding him porridge. In the second, the normally aloof Houston was sitting by his bedside, holding his hand. In the third, the usually proud Houston was kneeling in front of him, her eyes full of concern as she helped him take medicine. The fourth showed a pile of luxury goods, each worth millions. Justin had captioned it: “Thanks to Houston’s connections, I’m not angry or upset anymore.” In the photos, the handsome man smiled sweetly, looking like the happiest prince on a phone call. The comment section was full of envious remarks: “Left and experienced hardships, returned and it’s still true love. Justin, did you save the galaxy in your past life?” “No way! It must have been at least ten galaxies. Justin, how did you manage to make your ex still so devoted to you?” Besides the envy, there were naturally some who wanted to mock Matt. Matt just glanced over them briefly, a few comments catching his eye: “I wonder how Mr. Robin feels seeing all this?” “What could a mere substitute feel? Did he really think that by stepping in to save face as the groom, he could win the heart of the Houston family’s princess? He’s probably dying of jealousy right now. Want to bet how many minutes before this lapdog shows up?” “I bet 10 minutes!” “I bet 5 minutes!” “I bet 1 minute! He’s probably already downstairs. I’ll stake my new Lamborghini on it!” Many people eagerly joined in the betting, with the stakes getting higher and higher. But Matt just smiled resignedly. He would soon no longer be “Mr. Houston” in others’ eyes, so why chase after a woman who didn’t belong to him? So Matt quickly typed out a response on his phone: “I bet he won’t show up for a lifetime.” His words stirred up a storm, with many people immediately messaging to ask if he was joking. Matt simply turned off his phone and stopped looking at any messages. Instead, he turned to make himself a bowl of noodles. Just then, the phone suddenly rang. Matt didn’t answer, but the calls kept coming non-stop for five or six minutes before finally stopping. But soon after, the housekeeper Mrs. Bruce came in holding her own phone, looking troubled. “Sir, the young miss wants you to answer the phone.” Only then did Matt pick up the phone and answer. “Matt, it’s all a misunderstanding. I already made Justin delete those posts. Don’t overthink it. He was feeling very unwell yesterday, that’s why I didn’t come home. Nothing happened between us.” Houston’s anxious voice came through the phone. The moment she saw Matt’s comment, she had panicked. Matt looked at the noodles he had made and calmly said, “I made noodles. Are you coming home to eat?” Houston was stunned for a moment before replying, “I’m glad you’re not angry. You can eat the noodles yourself. Justin’s heart is hurting again, so I’m taking him to the hospital for a check-up. Don’t worry, we’re really just frie-” Before she could finish, Justin’s panicked voice came through on the other end. “Houston, where are you? I can’t see you. Did I lose you again? My heart feels so anxious.” The call was abruptly hung up, leaving only Houston’s urgent voice addressing the other end: “Justin, I’m right here. You didn’t lose me.” Looking at the ended call, Matt sent Houston a message: “That document you asked about yesterday is in the glove compartment on your side.” “Open it and you’ll see what it is.” It wasn’t until two hours later that Houston finally replied with one sentence: “No need. Whatever you had me sign, I’m sure it’s not to harm me.” This meant she wouldn’t look at it. Of course. Right now she just wanted to be by Justin’s side. Why would she bother looking at anything unrelated to Justin? Even though that divorce agreement was right within her reach. In the afternoon, Matt drove to follow a truck delivering supplies to the orphanage where he grew up. Matt had been an orphan since childhood, raised here. Seeing Matt arrive, the children were all very excited, running up to cling to him and share their experiences. After spending time with the kids, he went to the director’s office to say goodbye. “Mama Director, I’m going abroad for further studies.” The director was very happy. Matt had been a top student in physics at Tsinghua University, but had suddenly given up studying abroad for a flash marriage. She had been regretful about it for a long time. “Matt, that’s wonderful news.” The director held Matt’s hand, smiling with satisfaction. But then she thought of something and her expression turned worried. “But… you going abroad to study means you and Houston will be in a long-distance relationship. That can be very difficult.” Matt looked out the window at a few children playing and running around, shaking his head with a light smile. “It’s not a long-distance relationship. We’re getting divorced.” “Because… Justin came back.” The director was stunned at first, then let out a long sigh, feeling both regretful and relieved. “I guess I wasn’t wrong in my initial assessment. This marriage of yours was never going to last long. You see, once a person still has someone else in their heart, no matter how loving things seem on the surface, it’s all fake. As soon as that person comes back, the marriage is over. So it’s good that you’re divorcing.” She held Matt’s hand sympathetically, comforting him softly. Matt smiled back and hugged the director. Yes, it was good that it was ending.   After returning from the orphanage, Matt went to the civil affairs bureau and learned that in five more days he could finalize the divorce. Only then did he go home to pack his luggage. It was then that he realized his clothes filled several entire closets. Inside were also various expensive watches, sports car keys, and other priceless gifts from Houston. In truth, during their three years of marriage, Houston had always been good to him, constantly giving him black credit cards, houses, cars, and more. But he had never touched any of it. Because every time Houston gave him gifts, Matt would see the shadow of someone else in her reddened eyes. To be precise, Houston’s kindness to him was all stolen from Justin, who had temporarily exited the stage. He used to think that with time, Houston would see his true heart. But reality proved that what didn’t belong to him would eventually have to be returned. Matt sorted out some of his own belongings, then took all the gifts he had given Houston over the years and sold them for scrap. Over the years, to make her happy, he had carefully prepared many gifts for her. She had never even glanced at them. The only watch she ever wore was quickly replaced by a cheap bracelet from Justin after he returned. Seeing all these gifts tossed aside with a thick layer of dust on them, Matt smiled bitterly again. If Houston truly loved him, where did all this dust come from? Watching the junk truck drive away, he was about to return to the villa when he heard a horn honk behind him. Matt turned to see a flashy Ferrari stop in front of him. A girl in a red dress stepped out of the car with a showy air. It was his sister-in-law Jenny. Jenny frowned at the departing junk truck, then snorted disdainfully. “As expected of an orphan with no parents. Even cardboard boxes have to be sold for money. Acting like our Houston family is going bankrupt or something.” Matt didn’t even look at her, turning to leave. Jenny’s mocking smile turned to anger. She stepped forward to grab him. “Matt!” Ever since Matt had entered their Houston family, he had always been very humble and tried to please everyone. He had never given her the cold shoulder like this before. Today he actually dared to turn his back on her. A fire of rage instantly rose in Jenny’s heart. “Hey orphan! Are you deaf? I’m talking to you!” Matt turned back and pulled off her hand, his eyes flashing with annoyance. Jenny had always disliked him, feeling that someone of his background was completely unworthy of entering their prestigious Houston family. So for three years after the wedding, she had constantly targeted him, saying things like the breakfast he made wasn’t fully cooked, or stepping on the clothes he had washed to dirty them. But now that he was leaving, he didn’t want to tolerate her anymore. Jenny was about to continue making a scene, but seemed to think of something. The corners of her mouth curved up into a sneer. “Someone like you should sell more junk. After all, now that my sister’s true love Justin is back, you can get lost, you so-called stand-in.” As she finished speaking, a man in a white suit, dressed quite elegantly, stepped out from behind her. This was Matt’s first time seeing Justin in person. A pair of almond-shaped eyes brimming with charm, messy black hair casually swept back, porcelain white skin paired with the fitted white suit – just standing there exuded an aura of nobility. No wonder Houston had been so obsessed with him for all these years. But that suit, those accessories – Matt found them somewhat familiar. Wasn’t this style of dress exactly the same as what was in his own closet? In that moment, Matt fully understood. He really had just been a stand-in all along. Justin looked Matt up and down, as if seeing a cheap version of himself, full of disdain and mockery. But this expression was quickly hidden away when Houston’s car pulled in behind them. He immediately put on a pitiful face and said, “Jenny, don’t talk about Mr. Robin like that. He’s your brother-in-law now. What if he gets angry and kicks me out?” Just as he finished speaking, Houston’s panicked voice came from behind. “What’s going on? Who’s kicking who out?!” Houston hurried over. Her gaze fell on Justin standing there unharmed, and she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief before turning to address Matt. “Matt, Justin’s house has been empty for years and needs to be renovated. So could he stay with us for a few days?” Matt looked at Houston without speaking. In the silence, Justin’s expression became very uneasy and a bit pitiful. “Houston, maybe I should just leave. After all, it was my fault for not showing up at the wedding. Now you have a new husband, and Mr. Robin doesn’t seem to welcome me.” Houston looked at Matt, her face hesitating. Justin let out a long sigh, turning away dejectedly. Jenny immediately reached out to stop him. “Justin! Why are you leaving?! If anyone should go, it’s him. The real man of this house should be-” “Shut up, Jenny!” Houston snapped angrily. “Who said you could talk to Matt like that? He’s my husband and your brother-in-law. Apologize to him right now or get out!” Jenny’s eyes instantly reddened at this. Seeing the scene, Matt finally spoke up, the corners of his mouth curving into a smile. “It’s fine, you don’t need to scold Jenny. I didn’t refuse. Mr. Ford, please make yourself at home here.” After all, in five more days, this home would belong to Justin. There was no need to ruin the sisters’ relationship over an outsider like himself. With that, Matt turned and walked into the villa. “Hey orphan! Who said you could speak for me?! Am I wrong?! If my sister wasn’t the Houston family’s princess, would you have stepped up as the groom?!” Jenny’s defiant voice came from behind, followed by Houston’s scolding and Justin’s placating words. Hearing Jenny’s words, complex emotions surged in Matt’s eyes. This was his eighth year of loving Houston. He still remembered the scene when he first fell in love at first sight with her in the dance studio. She was wearing a ballet dress, her graceful movements making her look just like a proud yet noble and beautiful white swan. In that moment, his heart was captivated. But she was the Houston family’s princess, the darling of high society. As an orphan, Matt knew their backgrounds were worlds apart. But in the end, when he saw Houston red-eyed and at a loss standing on that stage, Matt instinctively went up. That feeling had nothing to do with status or benefits. He simply didn’t want to see the girl he liked cry. Seemingly afraid Justin would still leave, Houston immediately instructed the servants to move his luggage into the largest guest room. Jenny instantly strutted over to Matt, her nose in the air. “What are you standing around for? Go make dinner. Oh, and Justin can’t eat spicy food, so make it bland.” Hearing this, Justin’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he looked Matt up and down again. “I’ve heard Mr. Robin’s cooking is quite good. Then today I’ll have to trouble-” Before he could finish, Houston came down from the guest room upstairs. “Jenny, that’s enough! How many times have I told you, we have servants. Why do you always make Matt cook for you?” Justin’s expression soured, his glance towards Matt filled with hatred. But when Houston walked over, Justin immediately put on a different face, smiling. “I’ll cook today. I learned a lot of skills abroad these past years and have been wanting to make something for you all to try.” As he said this, Justin was looking at Houston. Houston’s eyes suddenly had a moment of haziness, but when she saw Matt standing quietly to the side, she still shook her head and said, “No need. Your health isn’t good. Let the servants-” Jenny latched onto her, grabbing Houston’s hand and saying, “Sis, just let Justin cook for us. He worked so hard to learn.” Houston seemed to think of something and finally nodded. “Alright, but don’t tire yourself out.” Matt watched all of this without saying a word, just standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at the garden. Seeing Matt so quiet, Houston suddenly felt an increasing sense of panic. After a long silence, she walked to Matt’s side and softly said, “Matt, if you don’t like Justin staying here, I’ll send him back after this meal.” “No need. Let him stay if he wants.” Matt turned to look at Houston. “That document, have you looked at it?” Mentioning the document again, Houston’s brow furrowed slightly. “I haven’t looked yet. Didn’t I say I trust you? Do I really need to look at it?” Did she need to or not? Matt didn’t know. The signature was already there anyway. But thinking of their three years together… Matt was about to speak when Justin suddenly came over carrying a pot of hot soup. He glanced at Matt standing like a stranger beside Houston, his eyes flashing with intense jealousy. Then, pretending to stumble, he rushed forward towards Matt in a panic, spilling the entire pot of soup. “Watch out!”

“Watch out!” Seeing the hot soup flying towards him, Matt instinctively pulled Houston into his arms to protect her. Then he watched helplessly as a huge pot of scalding chicken broth poured all over him. “Ahh!” In an instant, Matt was drenched in soup, his skin immediately turning bright red from the burns. The searing pain nearly made him pass out. “Matt!” Houston pushed Matt away, her eyes full of panic. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you to the hospital right away!” He looked up at her, the pain spreading through his whole body. He used all his strength but couldn’t say a word. Then he looked at Justin. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Robin. Are you alright? Houston, thank goodness Mr. Robin protected you.” Seeing Justin’s fake panic and the satisfaction hidden in his eyes, Matt immediately realized what had happened and said shakily: “You did that on purpose?” Hearing this, Justin was stunned for a moment, then tears started falling from the grown man’s eyes. “Mr. Robin, what are you saying? How could I do that on purpose? I know you feel insecure and prejudiced against me. It’s my fault for making you get burned!” “But you can’t slander me like this.” Seeing Justin cry, Jenny resolutely stepped in front of him and angrily said: “Matt! That’s enough! So what if you got a little burn? Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Justin worked hard to cook for us, he’s tired enough already! Besides…” Jenny looked at Houston, whose eyes were now filled with doubt and anger, and raised her chin to continue, “Besides, my sister was right there. Even if Justin wanted to hurt someone, he’d never hurt my sister, right?” As soon as she finished speaking, the doubt in Houston’s eyes instantly disappeared. She looked at Matt with furrowed brows and said disappointedly, “That’s right, Matt. Justin wouldn’t hurt anyone, least of all me. Please don’t overthink things, okay?” Hearing these words, Matt felt countless emotions rushing to his head, tears welling up in his eyes. Houston sighed, her voice becoming calm. “Matt, let’s go to the hospital, alright?” Matt knew that no matter what else he said, Houston wouldn’t believe him now. He was about to nod when- “Oh no, Justin, you’re hurt so badly!” Jenny cried out. Houston’s attention immediately shifted. She rushed over to Justin in a panic. His snow-white arm had some small blisters, looking quite “severe” indeed. Justin put his arm behind his back, shaking his head with red-rimmed eyes. “I’m fine. Mr. Robin looks much worse. You should take him to the hospital first.” He had barely finished speaking when Houston turned back towards Matt. Justin immediately put on an agonized expression. “Ah! Houston! My heart hurts so much. It must be the shock of Mr. Robin accusing me just now. Ah, Houston…” Justin collapsed, grabbing Houston’s hand as she tried to support him. He gasped weakly, “Houston, am I dying? Will I never see you again?” Jenny stomped her foot anxiously. “Sis! Justin’s heart condition is bad. Let’s get him to the hospital quickly!” “I-I’m fine…” Justin continued gasping pitifully. But this act undoubtedly made Houston’s heart ache. She could no longer think about the disheveled Matt. She helped Justin up and headed for the door. Just before leaving, she seemed to remember something and turned back to Matt with a guilty look. “Justin’s heart is weak. I’m afraid something might happen to him. The hospital isn’t far from here.” “…Matt, you can take a taxi to the hospital yourself.” It wasn’t until their three figures had disappeared from view that Matt came back to his senses, inhaling sharply through clenched teeth as he fought against the pain. Seeing how severely he was injured yet left behind, the servants quickly ran over with painkillers and alcohol. But Matt’s burns were too severe. Even after taking the painkillers, he still had to lean against the wall for support, enduring the pain as he slowly made his way towards the hospital. With each step, he moved further and further away from the place he had called “home.”   At the hospital, the doctor used cotton swabs to carefully press down the blistered areas while asking Matt with concern why he was so severely burned yet had no family accompanying him. Matt inhaled sharply from the pain. Two other doctors passed by the doorway, chatting. “Miss Houston really dotes on her husband. Just a few small blisters and she booked the entire floor, getting all the dermatology specialists to consult.” “I know, right? Those few blisters would have mostly healed on their own if he’d come in a bit later. If only I could find a caring woman like that who loved me.” “Haha, dream on. Women like that only come along once in a blue moon.” Once in a blue moon? Matt smiled bitterly. Abandoning her severely injured husband to go take care of someone with minor injuries – she truly was a one-in-a-million good woman. Matt’s injuries were too severe. He needed to stay in the hospital for a few days. Three days later, Matt was finally discharged, his body still wrapped in bandages. As soon as he turned on his phone, countless missed calls and messages popped up, filling the screen. They were all from Houston. This had never happened since Justin’s return. While Matt was still in a daze, Jenny called. As soon as he answered, her shrill voice came through. “Matt, you’ve got some nerve! Where have you been for three days? Did you do it on purpose?! Can’t compete with Justin so you’re pulling this kind of stunt? Do you know my sister’s been going crazy looking for you?! Don’t think this will get her attention. Dream on! The position of Houston son-in-law will always belong to Justin!” After finishing her tirade, Jenny hung up. Matt just furrowed his brow. Had he heard wrong? Houston had been frantically searching for him? How was that possible? Wasn’t she busy taking care of Justin? Why would she look for him? But when Matt looked at the 999 missed calls on his phone, it did seem to show Houston’s urgency in trying to reach him. Filled with confusion, Matt returned home. As soon as he entered the gate, the servants rushed over looking immensely relieved. Several of them were on the verge of tears as they spoke. “Sir, you’re finally back. The young miss has been going crazy looking for you…” Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. “Matt!” Houston anxiously ran over. In the three days apart, the usually glamorous woman looked rather haggard, especially the dark circles under her eyes. “I was in the hospital. The same one where you were taking care of Justin.” Hearing this, Houston sighed. “About last time, I didn’t mean to abandon you. It’s just that after Justin’s surgery, the doctors said he needed to stay calm and not get agitated, or something could happen. I’ve been used to taking care of him since we were kids, so that’s why I took him to the hospital first.” “And you didn’t object at the time either. Since you were at the hospital, why didn’t you tell me or answer my calls? You’re my husband. Don’t you know I’d be worried? Can you not do this again next time?” By the end, there was a hint of accusation in her tone. But Matt just looked at her calmly, not responding. Because in two more days, he would be gone. So there wouldn’t be a next time. For some reason, seeing Matt’s calmness, Houston suddenly felt panicked as she recalled Matt’s behavior these past few days. She stepped forward and took Matt’s hand, sighing, “Actually, Justin really didn’t mean to hurt you last time. Since you don’t want him staying here, I’ve already had him move out. Can you stop being upset over this little thing from now on?” Houston stared directly at Matt, hoping to see a trace of being moved in his eyes. But Matt had no reaction. He removed Houston’s hand and turned to go upstairs. As soon as he entered the room, he saw an expensive watch placed on the bed. He looked up questioningly at Houston who had followed behind. Houston sighed. “Matt, this is my way of making it up to you. You won’t be angry anymore now, right?” Matt looked at the watch in the box, worth millions, a complex look flashing in his eyes. Three years. A full three years. They had shared a bed, had happy times together. In her eyes, was he really the type of person to fake being angry and hurt just for compensation? Suddenly, he recalled the gifts Houston had carefully prepared for Justin in her social media posts. A mocking feeling welled up, but he quickly suppressed it. Forget it. If she didn’t understand, there was no point in explaining. Seeing no smile appear on Matt’s face, Houston didn’t think much of it, just assuming he didn’t like it. “Matt, if you don’t like these, once I’m done dealing with Justin’s situation, I’ll take you to an auction to pick out the most expensive one for you…” Houston hadn’t finished speaking when Jenny and Justin’s voices came from outside the door. “Justin, I told you my sister loves you so much, she’d never really make you move out. It’s all that Matt’s fault. I’ll scold him for you later. You’ll move back in, right?” As they spoke, the two brazenly walked into Matt and Houston’s bedroom. Then upon seeing the watch set on the bed, Jenny exclaimed in delight: “Oh my god, sis! Justin just mentioned to me that he really liked these watch models. I can’t believe you actually bought them!” She looked at Justin beside her, her eyes full of envy. Hearing this, Justin’s face instantly reddened, then he shot a smug look at Matt. Seeing that Houston didn’t immediately deny it, but instead looked hesitant, Matt didn’t even think before picking up the box and handing it to Justin. “If it’s meant for you, then take it.” With one sentence, he made the choice for Houston, resolving her dilemma. At this moment, Houston looked at Matt in shock. Seeing how generous he was being, the unease in Houston’s heart grew stronger. She wanted to object, but seeing how happy Justin looked, she closed her mouth. She thought to herself, it’s fine, next week is our wedding anniversary. She could make it up to Matt then. Surely she was overthinking things. He was just jealous and sulking. Matt loved Houston so much. How could he possibly leave?

Another day passed. There was just one day left before the divorce cooling-off period ended and Matt would receive the divorce certificate. Thinking that he could finally leave, he began mailing his luggage abroad. Halfway through packing, Houston called from the office, asking him to attend a high society party at the Houston family mansion. Matt wanted to refuse. With just one day left, their legal marriage was about to end. But thinking of how Mrs. Houston had taken care of him over the years, and that this was the last day after all, Matt wanted to find a chance to speak with Houston alone and explain things clearly. Though the marriage had begun in confusion, Matt wanted to end it with clarity. In the bustling Houston family estate, everywhere was brightly lit, with elites gathered, clinking glasses. But as soon as he entered, Matt didn’t see Houston. After asking around, he learned from an old Houston family servant that Houston was in a house to the north. Matt immediately headed in that direction. The door to the house was slightly ajar, with some suggestive sounds coming from inside. Matt suddenly felt a wave of nausea. His body trembled as he slowly peered through the door crack. Instantly, a jarring scene entered his eyes. On the sofa, Justin was roughly and urgently pulling at Houston’s evening gown while pinning her down. His large hands gripped Houston’s waist as he trailed kisses from her collarbone downwards. Houston tilted her head back with closed eyes, frowning. She seemed somewhat resistant, but didn’t push him away. Her expression was conflicted. “Houston! Promise me you won’t leave me.” Justin murmured. Houston’s eyes suddenly snapped open as she forcefully shoved him away. “Justin! What the hell is wrong with you?! I’m married! Why did you come back now? What exactly do you take me for? Something you can toss aside and pick up again whenever you feel like it? Do you know how afraid I am of being alone again?!” Houston was furious, but Justin wouldn’t listen. He stubbornly moved forward and embraced her waist again, pressing their bodies together. “Houston! I was wrong!” “Justin! Get lost!” Over and over, relentlessly. Finally, Houston gave in and surrendered. This time she didn’t let Justin come embrace her. She forcefully pulled Justin to her and bit down hard on his lip. Then their lips and tongues intertwined, inseparable. Moments later, the two finally parted. Justin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smirked triumphantly. Then he tilted up Houston’s chin. “So, do you still love me?” Matt watched from outside, feeling as if countless knives were stabbing his heart. Houston stood frozen for a long while. Eventually, she raised her head and looked at him with eyes full of restrained love. Her tone was one of surrender. The next moment, her red lips moved: “Yes!” With that, Justin’s eyes filled with smug satisfaction. He pulled her in for another kiss, then asked, “So, will you divorce that Matt and marry me?” Houston’s entire body suddenly went rigid. Abruptly, she recalled that wedding years ago that she couldn’t bear to remember. She thought of the figure who had resolutely stood up and walked steadily to her side amidst all the strange looks. “…I.” Houston turned her head, about to answer. But in that instant, she saw a pair of grief-stricken eyes gazing at her through the slowly opening door. All at once, darkness descended in Houston’s mind. Matt stood outside, calmly looking at her, tears streaming down his face. “—Matt!”   Matt couldn’t bear to watch anymore. He also didn’t want to know the answer. He turned and walked away. But the faster he walked, the more that scene replayed in his mind. Three years ago, they went on a honeymoon to a tropical island. Just because it was his first time at the beach and he glanced a second too long at some women in bikinis, Houston’s face instantly darkened. She dragged him back to the presidential suite and didn’t let him leave for seven whole days. After seven days, when they ran out of strawberry-flavored supplies, they moved on. When the bed and sofa broke, they used the floor. She held him in her arms again and again, eyes red with jealousy: “Matt, I have everything they have. Don’t look at other women. Don’t leave me.” He had to swear over and over before her jealousy finally subsided. Afterwards, Matt’s waist was sore for days, and she teased him about it for weeks. From that day on, he never dared to look at another woman again. But in his heart, he was overjoyed at Houston’s jealousy. Now, Matt finally understood. Her jealousy didn’t come from love. She was just afraid of being alone, afraid of standing helplessly on that stage again, not knowing what to do. He had thought that after deciding to leave, his heart would no longer be moved. Now… Matt felt suffocated with pain. He just wanted to get away from this place as quickly as possible. Never to see her again. Passing through the bustling area of the Houston mansion, Matt took a deep breath. He was preparing to make his way through the crowd and leave. “Matt.” A voice suddenly came from behind. The familiar tone made Matt stop in his tracks. Matt looked at the speaker, wanting to call her “Mom” but suddenly remembering something. In the end, he respectfully addressed her as “Mrs. Houston.” Hearing Matt’s form of address, Mrs. Houston sighed but didn’t say anything. She just handed Matt a new ID card. “Matt, I’ve taken care of all the procedures for you to emigrate and study abroad. From now on, the name Matt Xu will no longer be associated with you. You’ll have a completely new identity. Is there anything else you need me to do?” Matt looked at the stack of documents in his hand, feeling a great sense of relief. Perhaps thinking of the scene in that small house earlier. Or perhaps thinking of the brand new life and identity awaiting him, Matt’s hand began to tremble. Mrs. Houston noticed Matt’s emotional state and asked with concern, “Matt, what’s wrong?” Matt took a deep breath to hold back his tears. He put the documents in his pocket and shook his head. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Houston. I’m very grateful for your care all these years and for doing this for me now. I just have one request, please promise me.” Matt struggled to control his emotions and said softly, “My whereabouts and location – please, please don’t tell Houston.” Matt and Houston should never meet again in this lifetime. Hearing this, Mrs. Houston looked at him in shock. “Did something happen between you two again?” Because just a few days ago, when talking about Houston, Matt would still smile. But now, Mrs. Houston could only see extreme disappointment and grief in his eyes. What could have happened in just a few days? Thinking of this, Mrs. Houston looked Matt up and down carefully. Her sharp eyes finally noticed the burn marks on Matt’s neck, partially concealed by makeup, and the bandages peeking out from his wrists. Mrs. Houston was stunned. Worry evident in her voice, she exclaimed, “Matt! What happened to cause those injuries?!” Matt pulled down his sleeves to cover the bandages on his wrists. He looked at Mrs. Houston solemnly: “Mrs. Houston! Please don’t ask anything. Just promise me what I asked earlier. I just want to leave quickly without causing any more trouble.” Matt didn’t tell Mrs. Houston about what happened in the small house. Since he was leaving, never to return, what was the point in saying anything? Or even if he did say something, what good would it do? Her true love had returned. Even if he left, she probably wouldn’t care. Matt smiled. “Mrs. Houston, thank you for taking care of the immigration paperwork. I’ll be going now.” He had barely finished speaking when a female voice suddenly came from behind them. Matt turned around and found himself looking into Jenny’s deep, panicked eyes. “What immigration?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398237”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #MaleLead #FirstLove #regret #TrueLove

My boyfriend Eman Foster lost his memory after a car accident, forgetting everything about me, Audrey Moore. Every day I cried until my eyes were red and swollen, praying he would remember our past. Yet he tenderly took his first love Emilia Sanders’ hand and told me that Emilia was the only true love of his life. On the day of his wedding to Emilia, I stood before him in a wedding dress, asking him one last time if he could remember me. However, his noble and stern face was filled with disdain as he said coldly, “Audrey, do you know how disgusting it is that you keep pestering me like this?” I was dragged out by security amid everyone’s mocking laughter. Completely heartbroken, I chose to go abroad to pursue scientific research. I thought I would never cross paths with him again in this lifetime. But on the very day I left, he recovered all his memories. ***** [Today is Eman and my wedding. I hope you can attend.] Looking at the words on the invitation, I smiled bitterly. The groom was Eman, the bride was Emilia. But who could have imagined that just a month ago, Eman was still my boyfriend. Because of a sudden car accident, he lost his memory. He forgot me, but somehow only remembered that Emilia was his first love whom he loved but couldn’t have. I stayed at the hospital caring for him day and night for seven whole days. But the first thing he did when he woke up was call Emilia to tell her he had always loved her deeply. For the past month, I’ve been like a fool, doing everything I could to awaken his memory. I desperately recreated all the familiar scenes from our past, even begged Eman’s parents to explain our relationship to him. In the end, all I got was Eman’s cold warning: “If you continue using these despicable tactics to disturb my girlfriend and my life, I’ll consider taking legal action against you.” I asked the doctor in anguish, “Is this kind of memory loss really irreversible?” The doctor just shook his head regretfully, telling me everything was up to fate. But we had loved each other for three whole years, sharing over a thousand days and nights together. How could I just let go? We had already met each other’s parents, gotten engaged, and even chosen our wedding dress. Yet he personally told me he was going to marry someone else. How could I find peace with that? I clutched my head in pain, trying to convince myself this was all just an illusion. But my phone kept vibrating, constantly reminding me of reality’s existence. I mechanically opened the chat window to find a screen full of congratulatory messages. To announce his love for Emilia to everyone, Eman had made a grand spectacle of telling everyone around him about the wedding—everyone except me, his ex-girlfriend. I had apparently become an unspeakable stain in his life, something to be avoided at all costs. If Emilia hadn’t personally sent me that invitation, I wouldn’t have even known they were getting married today. The bridal shop clerk called: “Miss, the wedding dress you and your husband custom-ordered last month is ready. Is it convenient for you to pick it up now?” I held the phone in a daze for a long time. Just as I was about to refuse, I remembered that it was the wedding dress Eman had personally chosen for me. In my moment of near despair, a glimmer of hope quietly emerged. If I wore this wedding dress to see him, would he remember me again?   The answer was no. When I walked into the wedding hall, the pastor was reading the vows to the bride and groom. Seeing me dressed up in full wedding attire, people around me cast puzzled and strange looks in my direction. A flicker of panic crossed Emilia’s face, but after noticing Eman’s increasingly cold expression, her eyes turned mocking. I stopped in front of Eman, and before I could even speak, he furiously tore off my veil and threw it hard on the ground. He said, “Audrey, do you know that today is the most important day of my life? You deliberately dressed like this to disgust me, didn’t you? “Or are you still clinging to those unrealistic fantasies, thinking I’m still your boyfriend? “Well, let me tell you—that will never happen in this lifetime!” I was so stung by these vicious words that I couldn’t speak. I wanted to explain, but suddenly realized that in everyone else’s eyes, I looked like a homewrecker trying to break up someone’s marriage. Eman waved his hand, and several security guards immediately stepped forward to forcibly escort me away. As I struggled, I saw Eman tenderly pull Emilia into his arms, gently comforting her. I finally understood that Eman would never remember me again, and would never love me again. Wearing the heavy wedding dress, I was thrown out of the hotel. Because of Eman’s rough handling earlier, my hair was disheveled and messy. Winter had just passed, and though it should have been the warm spring season with blooming flowers, fine snow began to fall outside. I sat on a stone bench by the roadside and couldn’t help but burst into tears. Only when I was exhausted from crying did I notice a black umbrella above my head. The man holding the umbrella asked nervously and awkwardly, “Miss, do you need help?” I mechanically shook my head, but still managed to croak out a thank you. Hearing my voice, he seemed startled. He frantically shoved the umbrella into my hands, threw down a coat, and fled in panic. I sighed helplessly. The grief I had just suppressed began to spread again. Looking so pathetic now, even strangers avoided me. My phone had automatically shut down from the cold temperature on the road. After returning home and plugging it in, I discovered my phone screen was full of messages from others. Friends called one after another. [Audrey, what’s this about Emilia saying you interfered with her and Eman’s marriage? Isn’t Eman your boyfriend?] [The video of you crashing the wedding has been posted online, and everyone’s cursing you out. Please text me back!] I collapsed exhausted on the sofa, but when I saw these messages, I was surprisingly calm. After collecting myself, I replied to my friend: [We broke up a month ago.] My friend was shocked. [But didn’t you two get engaged before? This…] I replied: [It’s all in the past. I’ll clarify this matter.] I found Eman’s post on Twitter, and the comment section was already flooded with people cursing me out. I left a comment below apologizing and explaining that for the past month, it had all been my wishful thinking trying to win him back. [I hereby solemnly declare that I will never disturb Eman and Emilia’s life in any way from now on.] After typing out this statement word by word, I deactivated my social media accounts. This way, I could at least face my former lover with a clear conscience. My friend called frantically asking, “Do you know how much cyberbullying you’ll face by doing this? “Emilia is already a somewhat famous influencer. Don’t you know how terrifying influencer fans can be?” I just smiled and answered, “I know.” I was afraid of cyberbullying too. But what I feared more was the version of myself that I could never get back.

When news broke that I, the mistress, had voluntarily apologized, the internet exploded with outrage. Netizens launched a crusade to “bring me down,” even starting to doxx my personal information. I anxiously scrolled through wave after wave of vicious comments. I’d already switched phone cards several times, yet I kept receiving malicious texts from unknown numbers—one wave after another, impossible to defend against. Just when I was nearly drowning in despair, my advisor Alivia Graham called me. I answered the phone with dread, expecting Alivia to condemn me like everyone else, to tell me I wasn’t worthy of being her student. But to my surprise, Alivia’s voice was filled with concern and heartache from the moment she spoke. She said, “Audrey, I know what kind of person you are. We all saw how things were when you and Eman were dating. That bastard doesn’t deserve your tears over what he’s done now. “I’m only going to ask you one thing—if you’re willing, I’ll take you to Germany to our research lab immediately. You can focus on your research and forget about that bastard Eman.” I listened to Alivia’s words with overwhelming gratitude and agreed without hesitation. Her excitement was immediate: “Wonderful! Having a brilliant student like you who speaks four languages fluently will be a tremendous asset to our lab and our country! I’ll start processing your visa right now—we leave in three days.” After hanging up, my anxious heart finally began to settle. Just as she said, even though my reputation had hit rock bottom, once I left this place, those cyberbullies would never find me again. With this thought, I unconsciously quickened my packing, and my mood began to lift. When I came across photos Eman and I had taken together, a flash of nostalgia crossed my heart, but ultimately, I packed them all into a large suitcase. I was methodically organizing my belongings, working with renewed energy, when I suddenly heard the sound of a key turning in the lock. My heart jumped as I looked toward the door with alarm, instinctively grabbing a wooden stick nearby. Emilia walked in, and seeing the scattered items throughout the room, a flash of jealousy crossed her eyes. She waved her hand lightly, and several burly men immediately barged in behind her. I instantly sensed danger and quickly hid my phone behind my back, secretly pressing the power button five times. My voice trembling, I asked her, “What do you want, coming to my home?” Emilia dangled the keys in her hand, her smile suddenly turning twisted: “You’re pretty good at handling this situation, aren’t you? Apologize and then delete your account like that’s the end of it, making those people online turn around and attack me instead. “Audrey, do you think running away to another country will solve everything? Today, as Eman’s girlfriend, I’m going to teach you a proper lesson!” I looked up in terror: “I already apologized and admitted that I interfered with your relationship. The cyberbullying I’ve endured these past few days has been just as bad as yours…” But Emilia standing before me had bloodshot eyes, like an unhinged maniac who couldn’t hear a word I said. The men beside her suddenly pinned me to the ground. My phone slipped from my hand and was crushed underfoot. Her high heels pressed down hard on my hand, grinding back and forth against the floor. The pain nearly made me lose my voice. She then smashed the picture frames from my suitcase one by one. I was dragged and pressed into the scattered glass shards, my face streaked with blood, my heart desperately hoping someone would come to save me. Time crawled by, and the entire room was filled with nothing but my screams. Emilia pulled out her phone and took several photos of my face, her expression full of smug satisfaction: “I’ve cleared out this entire building. No matter how loud you scream, no one’s coming to save you. “Oh, and do you know who gave me the keys to this place?” I trembled as I opened my eyes to look at her. She said, “It was Eman.”   My eyes filled with tears, blood and tears streaming down together as my body felt both numb and agonizing. Just as those thugs began tearing at my clothes, the door was suddenly kicked open with tremendous force. A group of uniformed police officers rushed in, quickly taking control of everyone at the scene. I was pulled into a familiar embrace, hearing his anguished roar. “Call an ambulance! Ambulance!” “Audrey… you have to hold on…” But his voice gradually faded until I couldn’t hear anything clearly anymore. When I woke up again, only Alivia sat beside my hospital bed. Tears streaming down her face, she said, “Sweet child, we’re leaving the country tonight. I’ve already applied for a special talent subsidy from the government for you. Once we get to Germany, they’ll treat you with the best medicine available.” I vaguely remembered the man who had held me. Just as I tried to speak, I felt a sharp, stabbing pain in my throat. Alivia gripped my only intact left hand tightly, her face filled with grief and anger as she told me, “Those bastards shoved glass shards down your throat. If Caleb hadn’t arrived in time, the doctor said your voice would have been completely destroyed.” Caleb… I silently memorized this name in my heart, vowing to properly thank him someday. Just then, the hospital room door was pushed open. I stared in surprise at the familiar features of the man walking in. Finally, I remembered—he was the guy who had brought me an umbrella that day but got scared away. When Alivia saw him, her furrowed brow finally relaxed. She said, “Audrey, I don’t know if you still remember him? This is Caleb Gardner, a student one year below you, and now my most outstanding student. I used to have you guide him in experiments all the time.” Only then did I understand where that sense of familiarity came from. Caleb rubbed his hands together awkwardly, but when he saw my face covered in bandages, his eyes filled with heartache. The doctor said I couldn’t eat for 24 hours after surgery, couldn’t even drink water, and could only survive on a few bottles of nutritional IV fluids. Although Emilia had broken my right hand, fortunately I was left-handed and could still continue doing experiments. I gestured a few times in the air with my left hand, and Alivia immediately understood, bringing over a notebook. I wrote on the paper: [Thank you, Caleb.] The man in front of me instantly turned red to his ears. I wrote another sentence: [What happened to those people?] Caleb immediately became serious again: “Don’t worry, those people have been detained by the police. Since you’re classified as national special talent, they’ll definitely receive heavy sentences.” “As for that woman who caused you to lose your voice,” a flash of ruthlessness crossed Caleb’s eyes, “her family paid five million dollars in bail and got her released temporarily. But don’t worry, we’ll make sure she pays the price she deserves.” The incident of a national-level special talent being beaten by criminals and suffering eighth-degree disability was reported by Alivia, causing outrage among high-ranking officials. To protect our safety, the government specially dispatched a military unit to escort our transfer. While waiting for the private jet, Caleb was worried I’d be bored and specifically turned on the TV for me to watch some news. The anchor had just finished introducing the nation’s latest scientific research achievements when an explosive headline suddenly popped up: [Breaking News: Million-Follower Beauty Influencer Revealed as Mistress] Before I could take a closer look, Caleb hurried in, wheeling me away: “Your injuries haven’t healed yet, you should limit screen time.” Only then did I realize that as a national-level special talent, my eyes were crucial, so I quickly closed them to rest. By the time the plane landed, I had completely forgotten about that news story. No matter how severe the injuries, they all need time to heal. Even with consultations from world-class specialists, my right hand and vocal cords couldn’t recover in the short term. But fortunately, my left hand and eyes were uninjured. As soon as the doctor allowed me to work, I threw myself non-stop into translating cutting-edge scientific research papers from various countries. Only in this kind of high-intensity work could I temporarily forget the pain of the past. However, I didn’t know that I thought I would never think of Eman again. But fate had to play a huge joke on me.

By the time Eman and his entourage rushed to New York Hospital, I had already boarded a flight to Germany. The elderly gentleman in the hospital bed was startled by the sudden intrusion of unfamiliar young people. Eman asked with his last glimmer of hope: “Excuse me, do you happen to know where the patient who was previously in this room went?” However, the old man suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, and all that greeted Eman was incoherent mumbling. After making numerous inquiries at the nurses’ station to no avail, Eman received the answer: the hospital had never admitted anyone by my name. After using his personal connections to access the admission records, Eman’s anxious heart finally settled. He thought: “Just as I suspected, this woman is still the same, always playing these games.” Yet he felt inexplicably restless and irritated. Even though he knew Audrey was deceiving him, why did his heart suddenly feel hollow and empty? Walking out of the hospital entrance, he dismissed his bodyguards and drove aimlessly by himself. Before he knew it, his car had stopped beside a familiar residential building. A feeling both familiar and strange compelled him to walk upstairs. He stopped in front of a door covered with police seals. That familiar atmosphere made him instinctively reach for his keys, wanting to open this door. Only then did he realize with shock: this was Audrey’s home. He broke out in a cold sweat, unable to believe it. Why was he so familiar with the route here? He even remembered every landmark along the way clearly. As if he had walked this path countless times before. When he had first discovered this key on himself, he thought it was one of Audrey’s pranks and casually tossed it aside. When Emilia asked about it, he didn’t think much of it and simply gave it to her. At this moment, something resembling the truth churned in his mind. Just as his head was splitting with pain, some memory fragments suddenly flashed. He couldn’t recall the circumstances of those scenes, but the person in the images was crystal clear. Every gesture, every smile—all identical to Audrey. He desperately tried to grasp these memory fragments, but in the end, his mind remained blank. He drove home in panic, and as soon as he entered, he urgently grabbed Emilia and asked: “That key I gave you the other day—where did you put it?” Emilia had just been released from the police station, and the key had long been confiscated by the authorities. Her heart skipped a beat, and her eyes darted away: “Eman, what do you want that key for? You’re not thinking of seeing that crazy woman Audrey again, are you?” Eman frowned: “It’s Audrey’s property after all. I should return it to her.” He had never noticed before that even though Emilia was supposed to be his girlfriend, whenever she spoke about Audrey, she always carried an inexplicable hostility. Emilia bit her lip: “I accidentally lost it. Why do you keep thinking about that key? Do you think I’m lying to you again? Do you think Audrey is your real fiancée?” Her tone mixed coquettishness with complaint. In the past, whenever she spoke like this, Eman would immediately drop any topic related to Audrey. But today’s Eman seemed like a different person. Seeing Emilia’s stubborn refusal to tell him, he walked straight into her room and began searching. Emilia rushed over to stop him, but how could a woman’s strength match that of a strong man? She was roughly pushed aside, fell to the ground, and began sobbing softly while enduring the pain. But Eman paid her no attention and continued ransacking the room, even dumping out the contents of the trash can. Just as Eman was about to reach the bottom layer of the closet, Emilia could no longer bear the pain and rushed forward to block him desperately. However, Eman seemed already certain of something and stubbornly pushed her away. Beneath layers of clothing, a criminal judgment document was revealed. 【Defendant: Emilia Sanders, female, 28 years old, suspected of intentional assault causing eighth-degree disability to the victim, criminally detained on February 26th…】 【Victim: Audrey Moore, female, 26 years old.】

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On my fifth wedding anniversary, the gift I received was a phone call from a law firm. “Hello, is this Mrs. Vance? This is Sterling Legal. We have a client filing a complaint, alleging your husband, Aaron Vance, is involved in the unlawful detention of a young woman. We need you to come in and help us clarify the situation.” My heart sank, my fingers instantly turning to ice. I had a dreadful suspicion of what this was about, but I still grabbed my scarf and hurried out the door. The law office was brightly lit, and my eyes immediately found the young woman surrounded by people. The girl pouted, her face a mask of indignation. “What’s wrong with you all? Why haven’t you sued him and had him arrested yet? He held me captive in the presidential suite of a hotel for seven days and seven nights! I couldn’t even get out of bed! What else would you call that besides unlawful detention?” The girl’s voice was sugary sweet, laced with a clear, coquettish whine and… a distinct hint of bragging. The senior lawyers nearby exchanged weary glances, a collective ‘Here we go again’ etched on their faces. A new intern lawyer, clearly taking her seriously, looked indignant. “This, this is simply outrageous! Team Leader, shouldn’t we file a lawsuit immediately?” An older lawyer quickly pulled him aside, lowering his voice. “What are you talking about?! That’s Aaron Vance! Aaron Vance, one of the wealthiest men in the city!” “So what if he’s rich? Does that mean he’s above the law?” The intern lawyer stubbornly retorted. “Above the law, my foot!” The old lawyer practically wanted to clap a hand over his mouth. “It’s just Mr. Vance and Seraphina’s little game! Their playful charade, understand? This Seraphina, she’s here every other week. Last time, she claimed Mr. Vance bought her so many diamond necklaces worth millions she couldn’t wear them all, and it kept her awake at night with stress. The time before that, she said he booked out an entire rose garden just for her, which gave her a terrible pollen allergy… This isn’t a complaint; it’s just her twisted way of flaunting their relationship!” The intern lawyer stared, wide-eyed and dumbfounded, taking a long moment to find his voice. “But, but Mr. Vance isn’t single, is he? I just notified his wife…” At his words, the other lawyers’ faces instantly morphed into an indescribably complex expression. The old lawyer was about to speak when a sudden, palpable shift in the atmosphere rippled through the room, followed by a low murmur of commotion near the entrance. Everyone looked over— Aaron Vance had arrived. Bodyguards in dark suits cleared the path, and he walked in the center, clad in a perfectly tailored designer suit that accentuated his tall, imposing figure. His eyes were cold and sharp, and he exuded a powerful aura that warned everyone to keep their distance. But the moment he saw the girl who’d filed the complaint, his gaze softened instantly. He walked over in a few swift steps, then shockingly, knelt directly in front of Seraphina, looking up at her with a low, doting voice. “My queen, what are you causing trouble about now?” Seeing him, Seraphina’s eyes reddened. She pounded her small fists on his shoulder, wailing and accusing, “You know perfectly well what I’m causing trouble about! You… you wanted me for a whole seven days! I kept saying no, no, but you wouldn’t let me go… *sobs*…” The surrounding lawyers awkwardly averted their gazes. Aaron sighed, a sound of indulgent resignation. He reached out, gently wiping away Seraphina’s tears with his thumb. “My fault, my queen. I just… I like you too much to control myself. But Seraphina, you weren’t exactly complaining, were you?” Seraphina’s face instantly flushed crimson, a mix of embarrassment and indignant fury. “You… you can’t say that!” “Alright, alright, I won’t say it.” Aaron chuckled, coaxing her. As if by magic, he produced a velvet box from behind his back. “Look, do you like it?” Seraphina opened the box, her eyes instantly lighting up. It was the ‘Tears of the Deep Sea’ blue diamond necklace, the one I had longed for, frighteningly expensive. She gasped, covering her mouth in surprise. “Oh my god! How did you know I wanted this?” “Is there anything about you I don’t know?” Aaron said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to remember her every preference. A flash of triumph flickered in Seraphina’s eyes, but she quickly remembered she was supposed to be “angry.” She snorted and turned her head. “Don’t think that just because of this, I’ll forgive you!” Aaron, ever so patient, asked, “Then what will it take for my little queen to stop being angry? Or… should I really go to jail for a few days?” With that, he actually stood up, making as if to walk towards the lawyers. Seraphina immediately panicked, throwing her arms around his waist. “No! You’re not going!” I buried my face in his chest, my voice muffled and tearful. “How can you be so good to me… I was going to have you arrested, and you’re still spoiling me like this… *sniffles*…” Aaron gently stroked my hair, his voice unbelievably tender. “Because I like you, my little queen.” Seraphina broke into a smile through her tears, looking up to kiss his chin. “I won’t make trouble anymore. Let’s go home.” “Good, let’s go home.” He took my hand and turned. It was in that very moment of turning that his gaze swept across the corner of the room, then suddenly froze. I stood there, my face ashen. Aaron’s eyes subtly darkened, a flicker of an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher, but it quickly settled back into calm. “Why are you here?” Seraphina interjected quickly, “I asked the lawyers to call me. You’re not mad at me, are you?” Aaron glanced at me, then said blandly, “No.” The old lawyer beside him patted the intern’s shoulder, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, but perfectly audible to everyone. “See? So what if she’s his wife? Everyone knows Mrs. Vance is nothing more than a trophy wife.” The words “trophy wife” felt like two poisoned daggers, savagely plunging into my heart, then cruelly twisting. Yes, for five years, I had been nothing but a prop, a pathetic bystander witnessing how deeply he loved another. But who remembered that five years ago, Aaron Vance had also held me in the palm of his hand? Back then, I was Chloe Vance’s best friend, Aaron’s sister. I practically lived at the Vance estate. Aaron Vance was the undisputed top tier of high society—brilliant, aloof, and impossibly elegant. He kept everyone at arm’s length. At first, I was terrified of him, always feeling like a scared rabbit whenever I saw him. But then I discovered that ice-cold CEO seemed to treat me differently, as if I held some special key to his guarded world. He would remember my favorite desserts and have the house staff prepare them in advance; when I accidentally shattered his antique vase, his first reaction was to check if my hand was cut; when I had a fever, he canceled important meetings and stayed by my side all night. I, in my foolishness, told Chloe, “Your brother isn’t so scary after all.” Chloe laughed at me. “You idiot, my brother likes you! He doesn’t even bother to look at anyone else.” I was shocked and flustered, but soon after, Aaron began a passionate yet gentle pursuit of me. A man like him, once he put his heart into it, was almost impossible for any woman to resist, especially since I had already fallen for him without realizing it. For three years, he spoiled me rotten. The whole world knew that Aaron Vance, the golden boy of the Vance family, had a darling, and that darling was me. It was only natural that we married. At our wedding, he held my hand and swore to Father Michael, “I will love only her for the rest of my life.” I thought we would be happy forever. Until shortly after our wedding, Chloe and I went out, and we encountered a few drunken thugs. Chloe shoved me behind her, her voice urgent, “Aria, run! Go get help! I’ll hold them off!” I refused, but Chloe pushed me hard. I ran desperately, thinking I needed to find someone to come back and save her quickly. But the more I ran, the tighter my chest felt. A sudden, metallic taste flooded my mouth. Without warning, I coughed up a mouthful of blood, then my vision blurred to black. I knew nothing else. I woke up in a hospital, receiving two pieces of devastating news: First, the doctor told me I had cancer. Second, the police informed me that Chloe had been… assaulted and murdered by those thugs. Her body was found the next morning, in a horrific state. My world instantly crumbled. And Aaron Vance’s world crumbled too. He had lost his beloved sister. After immense grief came endless rage and hatred. His eyes red, he demanded, his voice trembling and desperate, “Why? Why did you leave her and run first? Why didn’t you go find help after you ran? Do you know how horribly Chloe died?! Aria, tell me why!” I looked at his tormented face, my heart twisting in agony. I wanted to explain, to say I had collapsed from vomiting blood, that it wasn’t intentional. But what good would an explanation do? Chloe wouldn’t come back. If he knew his beloved wife was also dying, losing two loved ones in one night, would he completely fall apart? So, I chose silence, swallowing all explanations and grievances. And my silence, in Aaron’s eyes, became an admission, a cold-blooded act, proof of my cowardly escape. He plummeted from heaven to hell, all his love instantly transforming into bone-deep hatred. To torment me, he stopped coming home, treating me with icy disdain. Finally, he even brought Seraphina Hayes into our lives, a college student who bore a seven or eight-tenths resemblance to me. He showered Seraphina with all the affection, tenderness, and indulgence he had once given me, but tenfold. I knew he was doing it on purpose. He wanted me to witness, day after day, how he transferred every ounce of his love, without reservation, to another woman who was merely a poor imitation of me. He wanted me to suffer an agonizing torment, like a slow death by a thousand cuts. I was indeed in excruciating pain. But he didn’t know these days were almost over for me. Not long ago, I went for a follow-up check-up alone. The doctor looked at the report and said gravely, “The tumor has spread comprehensively… Ms. Miller, you have, at most, two weeks left.” Soon, I would leave him completely, to join Chloe. *** I walked out of the law office in a daze. Just then, a familiar black Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of me. The window rolled down, revealing Seraphina’s pretty face and Aaron’s stern profile. “Ms. Miller, it’s quite remote here, you won’t find a taxi. Get in, we’ll give you a ride home.” Seraphina’s tone was warm, but a subtle hint of triumph gleamed in her eyes. I shook my head, refusing. “No, thank you…” “I told you to get in, so get in.” Aaron’s icy voice cut me off. “Are you deaf? Did you not hear me?” His cutting words were like an ice pick piercing my heart. I clenched my fingers, but in the end, I silently pulled open the car door and got into the back seat. Seraphina volunteered, “Aaron, I just got my driver’s license. Let me drive for a bit, please? Pretty please?” Aaron raised an eyebrow, his voice indulgent. “Alright, but be careful.” He personally fastened her seatbelt, then sat in the front passenger seat. The car started, Seraphina driving a little awkwardly. Aaron showed no impatience at all, patiently guiding her the entire time, his gaze so tender it could drown a person. “Oh, this brake feels a bit stiff…” Seraphina complained coyly. “Really? Let me see.” Aaron even leaned over to check, his profile almost brushing Seraphina’s leg. Sitting in the back seat, I watched the dazzling scene unfold before me, my heart felt like it was tightly gripped by an invisible hand, hurting so much I couldn’t breathe. Once, all his tenderness and attention had been exclusively mine. Just then, a stray cat suddenly darted out in front of the car! “Ah!” Seraphina screamed in fright. In her panic, she mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, flooring it! The car, like a runaway train, suddenly accelerated, violently crashing through the guardrail by the roadside and plunging directly towards the river below! The sensation of falling overwhelmed me! “Seraphina!” In that split second, I clearly saw Aaron’s first reaction: he lunged towards the driver’s seat, shielding Seraphina with his entire body! He didn’t even… turn to look at me once. Icy river water rushed into the car from all sides, a suffocating embrace that swallowed me whole. My heart, in that moment, hurt to its extreme, and grew utterly cold. Before, whenever danger struck, he would always rush to me first. But now… Before darkness swallowed my consciousness, the last thing I saw was his back, tightly clutching Seraphina, as they struggled to surface. When I regained consciousness, it was to the pungent smell of disinfectant in a hospital. I heard Aaron’s voice, thick with suppressed anger, from outside the room. He seemed to be questioning Dr. Miller. “I just fell into the water! Why has she been unconscious for so long without waking up? Do you even know how to treat patients?!” Dr. Miller cautiously replied, “Mr. Vance, please calm down. Ms. Miller’s unconsciousness isn’t solely due to drowning… According to the comprehensive report we just received… she has late-stage malignant…” Mid-sentence, a nurse rushed over. “Mr. Vance, Seraphina is awake and has been asking for you.” Aaron was about to speak, but the next second, his eyes met mine on the hospital bed. The concern that had briefly flickered on his face due to my prolonged unconsciousness instantly froze, vanishing without a trace. He grunted, not even sparing me another glance, turning resolutely and striding towards the other end of the corridor. I watched his determined back, my heart felt like a piece had been carved out, and icy winds howled through the emptiness. It was better that he didn’t know about my impending death. With the hatred he held for me now, even if he knew I was dying, he would probably only scoff and call it karma. The day I was discharged, the sun was blindingly bright. Aaron, of course, didn’t come to pick me up. He was with a startled Seraphina, vacationing at a private island resort. Returning to the cold, empty mansion that was supposed to be “home,” I silently began to prepare for my passing. I first went to a vintage photo studio. “Miss, are you… sure you want to take a portrait for your funeral?” The old photographer pushed his spectacles up, confirming three times, his eyes full of disbelief and regret. I nodded calmly, forcing a faint smile. “Yes, I’m sure.” The lens captured my pale, yet still delicate face. But the eyes that once sparkled with starlight now held only the dead ashes of despair. Next, I went to choose an urn. There was a dazzling array of urns, made of various materials, all quite expensive. I finally chose the simplest, most unadorned white ceramic jar. Its smooth, cool touch felt just like my heart at that moment. Finally, I went to Evergreen Cemetery. I wanted to be buried next to Chloe. We used to joke that when we grew old, we’d live in a nursing home together, dance in the park, and even after death, we’d be neighbors, still playing mahjong underground. I found Chloe Vance’s tombstone. The girl in the photo smiled like a blossoming flower, forever frozen in her prime. I slowly knelt, my fingertips gently wiping away the dust from the photo, a lump forming in my throat.

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On Valentine’s Day, my best friend Cassidy and I decided to do something absurd: rummage through public bins by the waterfront. I didn’t expect to find anything, but then, my fingers closed around a platinum diamond ring. Staring at the ring, an exact replica of the one on my own left ring finger, I immediately FaceTimed my husband, Benjamin. “Where’s your ring? Let me see it.” Ben’s expression faltered for a second, then he raised his left hand, a helpless smile playing on his lips. “Alice, this is our wedding ring. Do you honestly think I’d lose it? See? It’s right here, safe and sound on my finger.” I smiled and ended the call, then glanced at the inside of the ring I held. Our initials, along with our wedding date, were still clearly engraved there. Clutching the ring tightly, I drove straight to Ben’s office. … The university where Ben worked was a top-tier institution. His private office was right next to his lab. I’d visited him there a few times before. But this time, he wasn’t there. Inside, a young woman with a ponytail was sitting at his desk. Seraphina Hayes, one of Ben’s students. She looked startled when she saw me, but the next second, a sweet, gentle smile replaced her surprise. “Dr. Sterling, are you looking for Professor Carter? He’s already gone home.” I looked around the room, getting straight to the point. “If he’s not here, how did you get in?” Seraphina remained calm, explaining frankly, “Professor Carter allowed it.” “Our team has been rushing a research project in the lab lately. He said anyone who didn’t have time to go home could come here to rest. It just so happens that I’m the only one here today.” What a perfectly convenient “coincidence.” Her seemingly innocent composure only made me feel like the paranoid one for even asking. It wasn’t that I was overly suspicious; it was that I knew Ben too well. He never allowed anyone to step foot into his private space. When he wasn’t there, even I wasn’t allowed in that office. Now, someone had become an exception. Seeing me standing still, Seraphina reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Dr. Sterling, why don’t you give Professor Carter a call and see where he is?” The ring on her left ring finger caught my eye. A few small white diamonds framed a brilliant blue diamond, making it sparkle with a unique light. Back when I was trying to convince Ben to wear a wedding ring, I chose the most basic, simple design. But I still wanted the ring to have a special touch, so I specifically replaced one of the white diamonds with a blue one. Blue was Ben’s lucky color. This ring was my custom design. I held my hand up to her, “What a coincidence, our rings are identical.” Her hand flinched, and she subconsciously used her other hand to cover the ring. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Did you get yours custom-made too?” Her face went pale. She lowered her gaze, biting her lip, and didn’t utter a sound. Her reaction told me everything I needed to know. Any more talk would be a waste of time. I turned and walked out. Back in my car, I took a deep breath to calm myself before calling Cassidy. She answered immediately, asking, “So, what happened? Did he lose his ring and not dare to tell you, then order a new custom one?” I thought I was calm enough, but my voice still trembled uncontrollably. “Cassidy, I need your help. Look into Benjamin’s student, Seraphina Hayes, and Benjamin’s movements for the past three months.” As the best investigative journalist in the business, she understood immediately what was happening. “That scumbag! Alice, wait for my call. I’ll expose him down to his very core.” On the drive home, I imagined a thousand different scenarios of what might happen next. What I didn’t expect was to find Ben waiting for me with a table full of food. He was busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron. When he saw me, he smiled gently. “Honey, you’re home? Go wash up, dinner’s ready.” In seven years of marriage, Ben had only cooked for me once, during our honeymoon phase. Before, seeing this table laden with all my favorite dishes might have touched me. But now, my stomach churned, and I just felt sick. He didn’t notice my icy expression. With his back to me, he spoke casually, “Did you come to the office looking for me earlier? Why didn’t you call? You wouldn’t have wasted a trip.” A cold, sarcastic smile touched my lips. They’d obviously coordinated their stories. Suppressing the nausea, I sat at the table and asked him, my voice flat, “What made you decide to cook tonight?” “It’s Valentine’s Day. I wanted to celebrate with my wife. No need for complicated reasons. Everywhere else would be crowded, so I thought we could have a quiet night in.” No sooner had he finished speaking than his phone, lying on the table, lit up silently. A message with a peach emoji avatar. I subtly tapped to open the photo. It was Seraphina, in Ben’s office, wearing a bunny girl lingerie set, posing suggestively. The next message immediately followed: “Your little peach is ready and waiting for you, hubby.” My fingers tightened around my phone. I looked at the contact listed simply as “Collaborator” and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Ben finally finished, and going through the motions, he poured me some red wine. “Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!” His eyes kept glancing at his phone. Finally, he couldn’t resist picking it up to check. I expressionlessly picked at the food in front of me, looking at the ring on his hand, feeling only mockery. Suddenly, he abruptly stood up, saying to me in a rushed, anxious voice, “Honey, something came up at the lab. I might have to go check it out.” “You go ahead and eat. Don’t wait for me.” Before I could react, he leaned down, kissed my cheek, and hurried out. I scoffed at his retreating back. To sneak off for his little ‘rendezvous,’ he’d become a professional actor. I was just pulling out a disinfecting wipe to vigorously scrub my face when Cassidy’s message came through. “Those rotten cheaters! Alice, get ready to file for divorce. I’ll dig up more evidence for you. We’re going to completely ruin those two bastards.” She sent me their travel records for the past three months, hotel booking confirmations, and all of Seraphina’s social media accounts. Seraphina’s Twitter account had only been created three months ago, named “Mr. C’s Little Peach.” The first photo and text post, dated June 14th, was a set of exquisite wedding photos. The caption read, “To forever with Mr. C.” Among the few comments, someone asked why the groom’s face was blurred. She coyly replied that her husband preferred to keep a low profile and didn’t like being in the spotlight. Even with his face blurred, I recognized Ben’s physique at a glance. So, the wedding photos I’d always asked him to retake with me? He’d already taken them — with someone else. Swallowing the nausea rising in my throat, I clicked open each post, one by one. The subsequent posts documented their honeymoon trip. The time was mid-June, and the location was Tahiti, a place I had already meticulously planned to visit with Ben. They checked off every single spot I had planned to visit, and tried surfing, windsurfing, and snorkeling – all the activities I had intended for us. In the photos, Seraphina was wearing a bikini, smiling brightly. “Thank you, Mr. C, for fully planning this honeymoon trip for me. Your little peach is so happy.” At that time, Ben had told me he was attending a seminar with a collaborator. I let out a cold laugh. So *this* was the kind of collaborator he meant. I was stunned by their shamelessness. Just then, Seraphina posted an update in real-time. The photo showed two hands, adorned with diamond rings, intertwined. “Getting our custom wedding rings today, on Valentine’s Day. So, Mr. C, I guess we truly are destined.” Even though I had mentally prepared myself, each post was like a sharp knife, slicing open my heart and leaving it bleeding. Immediately, someone commented below the post: “OMG, so cute! Manifesting this for myself one day!”

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My older brother, Julian, desperate for the family inheritance, framed me for plagiarizing his jewelry design. I was expelled from school, disowned by my parents, and left to fend for myself on the streets. After graduation, Julian smoothly secured the inheritance. He then broke up with Caleb Sterling, the head of the powerful Sterling family, and moved abroad. “My younger brother likes you, and as an older brother, I shouldn’t take what my younger brother wants, so… I’m giving you back to him.” Julian used me as his excuse for the breakup. He even told Caleb that I had always been in love with him. Caleb hated me. He forced me to marry him, treating me like a stand-in, a plaything, unleashing all his rage on me. Under his prolonged torment, my scent gland was severely damaged, but he didn’t care. My parents acted as if I didn’t exist. Not until I was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Then, they begged me not to forget them. In the two years I was married to Caleb, I managed my heats solely with suppressants. But his ruts? He always sought me out to vent his frustrations. Julian wanted to break up with Caleb but didn’t want to offend the Sterling family. So he used me as a shield. He said, “My younger brother likes you, and as an older brother, I shouldn’t take what my younger brother wants, so… I’m giving you back to him.” That’s why Caleb believed I had meticulously planned their breakup. He forced me to marry him, tormenting me day and night. This torment happened countless times, yet I could never get used to it. I cried, tears blurring my vision, begging him to be gentler. But he sneered, humiliating me viciously, “Does it hurt? When you plagiarized Julian’s jewelry design, when you made Julian break up with me, did you ever imagine this day would come? And you still have the nerve to cry? That’s f***ing disgusting!” “I didn’t! It hurts so much…” I shook my head. I didn’t plagiarize Julian Blackwood’s jewelry design; it was *my* own design. I didn’t force him to break up with you either! None of this was my doing! I had explained it countless times, but Caleb Sterling never believed me… During my junior year of college, the school held a jewelry design competition. My parents declared that whoever, my brother or I, won the competition would inherit the family estate. To outsiders, it seemed like fair competition, but only I knew that my parents favored my brother. Since I was a child, barely forming my first memories, Mom always said I was just an accident, that she only ever planned to have Julian. If it weren’t for that accident, I would never have been born into this world. They favored Julian in everything, never considering my feelings. If Julian got even a minor scratch, they’d panic and rush him to the hospital. But if I scraped my knee and cried in pain, they’d just casually tell me, “Don’t be such a baby.” At Julian’s birthday parties, the outpouring of well wishes and the room full of gifts were things I could only dream of. … Bathed in their love and attention, Julian excelled academically and grew more outgoing. Meanwhile, due to my parents’ utter neglect, I gradually became silent and insecure, turning into what teachers and my parents called a troublemaker. Later, after Julian displayed an extraordinary talent for playing the piano, he forever became my parents’ pride and joy. In college, Caleb Sterling, the Alpha I’d loved for eight years, confessed his feelings to my brother. It seemed everything I cherished always ended up belonging to Julian. I only felt a pang of wistful admiration, never jealousy.

The day of the jewelry design competition, I didn’t even want to participate. But Julian approached me, urging me to join, saying it would be a fair competition. I gave in to his wishes and participated in the competition that would decide my future. But an accident happened. During the jewelry design presentation, my work and Julian’s were identical, even the name was the same: “Deep Sea Pearl.” I never expected Julian had already stolen my design sketches, just waiting for this moment. He threw the sketches into public view, accusing me of plagiarizing his work. My heart plummeted into an icy abyss. Countless mocking stares fell upon me. I was utterly humiliated in front of all the teachers, students, and my parents, losing the competition amidst their laughter. On the distant podium, Julian looked down at me, his lips forming a clear, silent word: “You lost.” Yes, I lost, losing everything. I wanted to run, but before I could even take a step, a bucket of icy water came splashing down from above. It was Julian’s friends. “A plagiarizing scum like him thinks he can compete? Noah Blackwood, don’t you have any shame?” Laughter erupted from the third-floor balcony. I looked up at their hypocritical smiles, feeling utterly sickened. Julian Blackwood would betray and frame his own brother just to get the family inheritance. This was the “brother” I’d called mine for twenty years. How utterly pathetic… I let out a cold, hollow laugh, my body trembling with sorrow.

After the competition, I stumbled home, utterly humiliated, only to be met with a barrage of curses from my parents. “Our Blackwood family has been in the jewelry business for generations, and we value integrity above all else!” “You actually plagiarized in the competition, and it was your own brother’s design! Aren’t you utterly mortified?!” Integrity? Who was really lacking integrity? I thought with a bitter laugh. “Mom, it wasn’t me…” I tried desperately to explain. “Julian copied *my* design, it was *him*! Not me!” “You still dare to argue! Julian has always been sensible, pure-hearted, how could he possibly do such a thing?” Dad, who had been silent, grabbed the ashtray from the table and hurled it at me. I dodged it, narrowly. I watched them comfort Julian, and suddenly I didn’t want to explain anymore. It was pointless; they wouldn’t believe me anyway. They only believed Julian. “We truly regret ever having you as a son!” Mom shrieked, pointing towards the front door. “Get out! Get out of here right now!” I said nothing more, turning to leave this suffocating place without hesitation, desperate to escape. As I stepped out the front door, I heard Julian fake-cry, “Mom, Dad, please don’t send Noah away. Maybe he was just confused for a moment…” “What nonsense are you talking about? He should have left ages ago,” Mom’s voice softened instantly. “My darling won the competition, what do you want to eat tonight? Mom will cook it for you.” Watching the ‘happy family’ of three, my heart began to ache. That didn’t belong to me. It never had. The school expelled me. My life, just like that, was ruined. A sharp sting. Caleb Sterling released me after he was done venting. The room was a disaster zone. I curled up on the bed, trembling uncontrollably. “Disgusting,” he sneered, looking at me with cold disdain. “Your scent is getting more and more repulsive!” My face was pale with pain. I just lay there, silently crying. He let go of me, dressed, and left. My scent gland was severely damaged. The doctor had warned me last month that if I kept using suppressants without an Alpha’s pheromones, I would completely lose all sense of pheromones. The final outcome would be a surgical removal of my scent gland, leaving me permanently disabled. I begged Caleb for just a little of his pheromones, even a tiny bit, but he said it was what I deserved. He also said he wouldn’t mark an Omega he didn’t love. I didn’t know how much longer my scent gland could hold out…

I showered and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. How did I end up in the Sterling family? After I was kicked out of my home and expelled from school, with no diploma, the only job I could find was working as a dishwasher at a diner. Being an Omega, and having a delicate appearance, I was constantly harassed. The head chef was a sleazy Alpha who always tried to grope me when no one was around. I chose to endure it, swallowing all my grievances, because I needed money, I needed to survive, and I needed to keep my newly opened jewelry design studio afloat. But one day, the chef got drunk and cornered me in the kitchen. He reached out and tore at my clothes. I fought back with all my might but was brutally slapped. My ears rang. The next day, the owner heard about my fight with the chef. He sided with the chef, gave me a month’s pay, and fired me. I used the money to see a doctor about my ear. The doctor told me my left ear was completely deaf. I didn’t care. As long as the other ear could hear, it was fine. The doctor also told me I had early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. “It’s quite rare for someone your age, but with consistent treatment, we might be able to slow its progression.” “Long-term psychological stress… can damage the hippocampus… increasing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s…” The doctor’s words echoed in my mind. I looked at the treatment sheet with words like “cognitive impairment” and “memory loss,” then tore the paper to shreds and threw it in the trash. Maybe forgetting everyone would be a blessing. Maybe then it wouldn’t hurt so much. When I left the hospital, I ran into Caleb Sterling. Julian Blackwood had smoothly secured the inheritance after graduation, broke up with Caleb, and moved abroad. Julian wanted to get rid of Caleb but didn’t want to offend the Sterling family. So he used me as an excuse, making himself look completely innocent. He even told Caleb that I had always been in love with him. “You said you loved me, didn’t you?” He grabbed my chin, his fingers digging in. “Then I’ll grant your wish.” I was forcibly married into the Sterling family. Every night, he would degrade me, over and over again. I don’t know how I endured those nights. I struggled, I tried to escape, but all it ever earned me was even harsher torment. To make things easier on myself, I had to obey him. I shifted my gaze from the ceiling, turned off the bedside lamp, and lay on my side, forcing myself to stop thinking about it all… In our two years of marriage, Caleb Sterling never knew my left ear was deaf, and I never intended to tell him. Telling him would probably just lead to another round of mockery…

Caleb Sterling didn’t hire a housekeeper for me, so I had to buy groceries and cook every day. The next day, on my way home from the studio with groceries, a necklace in a display window caught my eye. The plaque below it read: “Deep Sea Pearl,” Designer: Julian Blackwood. My breath hitched. That was *my* “Deep Sea Pearl” design from college. My fingers trembled as I pressed them against the glass. “Well, well, if it isn’t the Blackwood family’s outcast son?” “Hit rock bottom, have you? Looking at Julian’s designs, are we?” I turned around to see a few of Julian Blackwood’s Alpha friends walking towards me. They blocked my path. “Get lost,” I said, my gaze icy. “A plagiarizing scum still acting tough?” The moment he spoke, the group, without another word, grabbed me and started dragging me towards the restroom. I struggled with all my might, but an Omega’s strength is no match for an Alpha’s, especially when it’s several Alphas. In the chaos, my gaze fell upon a black Maybach parked by the roadside. The window was half-down, and Caleb Sterling was sitting inside, watching everything with a cold, expressionless face. I looked to him for help, but he simply rolled up the window. Of course. He didn’t love me. Why would he save me? They dragged me into the restroom, and the door slammed shut. They stripped me naked. They recorded me from every humiliating angle. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they had their fill and left. I cleaned myself up in the restroom before coming out. The Maybach was gone. I returned home. Laughter drifted from the living room. Caleb Sterling was having a party with friends. He truly didn’t care that I had been abused. I didn’t dare look up at Caleb Sterling. I just wanted to escape to my room as quickly as possible. Just as I was about to go upstairs, I heard a pained yet familiar sound from behind me. I turned to look. An Alpha was holding up his phone, and the flashing images on the screen made me tremble.

The video on the screen was of me, stripped naked… And sitting on the sofa right now were the same Alphas who had humiliated me in the restroom just two hours ago. It hit me then: Julian Blackwood’s friends were naturally Caleb Sterling’s friends too. They were all in on it together… “Haha, look at this angle!” Zack, the red-haired Alpha, laughed, his finger swiping across the screen. “Young Master Blackwood’s face is even more ‘expressive’ than during his heats!” “Mr. Sterling really got himself a *prize*!” “Pretty, isn’t it?” Only when the video finished playing did Caleb Sterling look up at me. “Noah Blackwood, you brought this all upon yourself.” I stood there, speechless, because I had no idea what to say. “What’s wrong, cat got your tongue?” Caleb Sterling’s gaze was like ice. I didn’t answer him, instead biting my lower lip until I tasted blood. My nose started to sting. No, I couldn’t cry. Definitely not in front of these people. But the traitorous tears still fell. Caleb Sterling walked closer, reaching out to touch my face. “Crying?” He wiped away my tears with his thumb. “Get lost!” I slapped his hand away and stumbled, almost falling, as I ran up the stairs. Caleb Sterling’s enraged shouts echoed behind me, but I didn’t care to hear it. Sometimes I wished I were deaf in both ears. If I were completely deaf, I wouldn’t have to listen to their insults anymore. I burst into the bedroom, locked the door, and slid down onto the floor. Another sharp sting flared from the scent gland on my neck, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Noah Blackwood, you’re so pathetic. No one loves you… I sobbed uncontrollably. Caleb Sterling, the Alpha I had loved for eight years, maybe I truly loved the wrong Alpha. The one he loved had always been Julian Blackwood. He could humiliate me over and over again for Julian. Completely disregarding my feelings… Everyone loved Julian Blackwood, and in their eyes, I was nothing more than an insignificant insect. When will this miserable life finally end…

After my scent gland re-examination at the hospital, I circled the villa complex again and again. I couldn’t find the Sterling family villa… I realized my memory was truly fading, bit by bit. I ran the route through my mind countless times, but I couldn’t remember how to get there. I could only keep running forward, unable to stop myself. At a turn, I was surrounded by a group of Alphas. I never imagined Caleb Sterling would post my video in the Alpha Hunting Club’s SnapChat group. How could he be so utterly heartless? A cocktail of Alpha pheromones assaulted me, and my scent gland couldn’t bear the intensity. I struggled to reach for my medicine, but an Alpha snatched it away. “Scent gland repair medicine? Guess Mr. Sterling’s Omega is a defective model after all.” My face was pale. I reached out, trying to grab it back. The Alpha sneered, then casually tossed the medicine bottle to his companion behind him. “Scent gland damaged? Need a few Alphas to help you out?” He finished, then reached out and ripped off the cotton gauze from the back of my neck, exposing my swollen, red scent gland. “No! Let go!” I struggled, desperate. Just as he was about to bite down on my scent gland, Caleb Sterling walked right into view. The Alpha froze. Caleb Sterling’s gaze coldly swept over my disheveled self. “Beg me. Just ask, and I’ll save you, and I’ll pull the video.” I bit down on my teeth, glaring at him, saying nothing. I looked at his face, feeling it was both familiar and strange. For a moment, I couldn’t remember who he was. Could I trust him? Could I ask him for help? “Unwilling?” Caleb Sterling chuckled softly. “Then stay here. Who knows, maybe more Alphas will come to enjoy watching you lose control.” A shiver ran through me. I desperately wanted to go to him. He was *my* Alpha, but he didn’t love me. He loved my brother. And for his sake, he tormented me every single day. He loved, absolutely *loved*, seeing me grovel and beg. I knew I had no other choice now. “Please…” I grabbed his coat sleeve, pleading, “Please, take me away.”

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I brought in three hundred million dollars in revenue for the company, yet my husband Max’s private financial advisor, hired for a million, slammed a stack of invoices onto my desk. Her voice dripped with the haughty tone of a madam of the house as she interrogated me: “The gifts for clients, Wish has them for half the price. Why did you buy them for double?” “Were you eating abalone and lobster with clients? Why did one meal cost a thousand dollars?” “This business trip? You filed twenty thousand dollars in expenses. That’s way above the average employee.” Every single word was a blatant accusation that I was taking kickbacks. I argued back, defending myself fiercely. But she wouldn’t give up, going so far as to publicly demand I strip naked for an inspection. I actually laughed, a cold, bitter sound. I immediately called Max to confront him. He, however, snapped impatiently, “What are you getting all worked up about?! She’s a senior financial advisor, everything she does is for the company. Just listen to her! Don’t think securing one big deal makes you indispensable!” “Learn from her, how she manages finances so carefully. You just throw money around! That’s *my* money you’re spending! If you keep being so wasteful, we’re done!” Then he hung up on me. I knew then, this man was no longer worth my efforts. I simply smiled, a quiet, almost serene smile. “Since you’re so capable, then you handle everything from now on. I’m out.” Seven days later, the company’s major clients all ended up vomiting and having diarrhea at the annual gala. Every single one was rushed to the hospital with severe food poisoning. The entire financial district was in shock. 1、 Cassie’s accusations against me were so loud, the whole office could hear her. Everyone shot me sneering glances. Cassie smugly lifted her chin at me. “Manager Hayes, Max has already spoken. Please cooperate with my work.” “If you haven’t taken any kickbacks, why not just let me inspect you in front of everyone? What’s the big deal?” “Why are you refusing to cooperate? Isn’t that just proof you’re hiding something?” My colleagues chimed in, one after another: “Yeah, Manager Hayes, if you’ve got nothing to hide, just cooperate with Cassie and let her check, right?” “It’s just taking off your clothes, right? Nobody here is dying to see *your* body, okay?” “Besides, you’re a company manager, shouldn’t you lead by example? If even you refuse to be inspected, then everyone below you will follow suit. The company will be hollowed out by parasites!” I was so infuriated by these people, I actually laughed. I remembered how Max used to ignore everything about the company. It was *me* who led them from the ground up, bringing them to where we were now. Who here hadn’t been promoted by me? But now, they were just bandwagon jumpers, subtly calling me a parasite! If I actually let Cassie force me to strip naked in front of everyone for her inspection, how would our partners look at me? I crossed my arms, a cold smirk on my face. “What gives you the right to make me stand here and strip for *your* inspection?” Cassie was stunned into silence by my retort, then her face flushed with fury as she was about to snap back at me. But then she saw someone standing behind me, and her expression instantly melted into one of extreme victimhood. “Manager Hayes is right, after all, I’m just a lowly financial advisor. How can I compare to you?” “If I can’t help Max with the company’s financial matters, then what’s the point of me being here?” “I shouldn’t let Max down. I’ll just resign and leave.” As she spoke, she reached for the resignation letter to sign her name. I’d sensed something was off the moment Cassie’s face changed. And sure enough, just as she picked up the pen, a large hand stopped her. “Enough. I hired you as my private financial advisor because I valued your financial acumen.” “You’re in charge of all the company’s finances. Let’s see who dares to question that!” I hadn’t expected Max to ditch his client dinner and rush back to the company, just to support Cassie. He spoke softly, coaxing Cassie until she finally broke into a tearful smile, whimpering, “But Manager Hayes is still Max’s wife…” Max reached out and wiped away a tear from her eye. “Business is business, no personal feelings. What if she is my legal wife?” “If she won’t cooperate with your work, then it’s her fault.” As he finished speaking, Max, who had just rushed back, finally deigned to glance at me. He frowned, his voice icy. “Seraphina Hayes, she just wants to verify the invoices to see if you’re taking kickbacks. Why aren’t you cooperating?” 2、 Listening to Max’s indifferent and distant tone, a pang of pain shot through my heart. It used to be his calm, professional demeanor – keeping business and personal matters separate – that I found most appealing. Outside the home, I was his subordinate; inside, I was his wife. But seeing Max openly side with Cassie, disregarding right and wrong in front of everyone, made me realize that even *that* cool, detached man was capable of showering someone with his complete favoritism. It just wasn’t me. I managed a bitter laugh. “Cassie rejected all my submitted invoices, accusing me of taking kickbacks, and demanded I strip naked for her inspection in front of everyone. She’s a senior financial advisor; she knows such a procedure is completely improper. She’s targeting me! Can’t you see that?” Max’s brows furrowed even deeper after hearing my words. He asked, dismissively, “That’s it?” I was stunned. “What do you mean, ‘that’s it’?” Max wearily rubbed his temples, looking utterly exasperated. “You called me just to complain about something so trivial?” “Cassie is a top financial advisor whom I hired at a high salary. Everything she does is to make the company better.” “As a company manager, you should lead by example and actively cooperate with her work!” Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, looking at me with profound disappointment. “Seraphina Hayes, weren’t you always the most level-headed one? When it comes to company assets, I treat everyone equally. Stop throwing a tantrum!” Max’s words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head in the dead of winter. I felt instantly plunged into an ice cave, my heart chilling to the core. Something that could ruin my reputation, something that might make me unable to hold my head up for the rest of my life, was, in Max’s mouth, just me being childish and petty? I had fought for him, for this company, for a full seven years. I signed countless deals. I personally built a nameless startup into one of the top companies in the region. At my busiest, I practically lived at the office for a month straight, drinking so much at client dinners that I developed stomach ulcers. To understand clients’ preferences and give them gifts they’d truly like, I even worked part-time at bars and as a caddy at golf courses. Everyone laughed, saying I cared more about money than my own life. But now, with Cassie falsely accusing me of taking kickbacks, Max wouldn’t even say he believed me. Suddenly, I felt ridiculous. I had wasted seven years of my life for nothing. A man like this simply wasn’t worth any more of my effort. With the rose-tinted glasses off, even Max’s face seemed repulsive to me now. I shrugged, making a show of backing down. “You slander me, I won’t accept it.” “Whoever questions me, let them provide the evidence.” Hearing that, Cassie’s face grew even more aggrieved. “You won’t take off your clothes, so how can we know if you’re hiding company property? Otherwise, how do you explain your expenses being higher than everyone else’s?” “You’re just making excuses to avoid cooperating, if you look down on me, just say so! If Max didn’t insist I manage the company and be his financial overseer, I wouldn’t be this stressed!” Seeing Cassie’s distress, Max immediately delivered his cold judgment: “Cassie’s words are my words.” “All of Seraphina Hayes’ duties are suspended until her name is cleared.” I spread my hands, looking resigned. “Fine, whatever you say. Then I quit.” Max reached out to take my hand, but I avoided his touch. He only thought it was a small tantrum after my supposed ‘backing down,’ and paid it no mind. Instead, he looked somewhat pleased. “It’s good that you’re so understanding. With you as an example, the whole company won’t develop bad habits in the future!” Max thought I had seen sense. He had no idea I was planning to let go. Both him and the company — I wanted neither of them anymore. 3、 News of my suspension spread quickly. Max immediately put Cassie in my position. On the very day of the announcement, he publicly endorsed her in front of all the employees. “From now on, Cassie will be the company’s second-in-command, Vice President Pierce.” “Before, Manager Hayes used to spend millions on the annual gala. Now it’s up to Cassie. She’s a senior financial advisor, excellent at being thrifty. You all follow her lead!” When I first joined Max’s startup, I started from the bottom. Serving coffee, fetching takeout, cleaning. Max saw my hard work, but he never once said a word in my defense. I dedicated years to the company, only to end up as a manager. Meanwhile, Cassie, having done nothing, went from a senior financial advisor hired at a million-dollar annual salary to Vice President. Max even personally backed her up, worried that someone might not be convinced. The more I thought about it, the more I felt those seven years of my life had been utterly wasted. But it was good that I had already decided to move on. Without hesitation, I accepted the partnership offer from Julian Vance, Max’s long-time rival. That same afternoon, I brought a pile of documents that needed Max’s signature to the company. Even though it was publicly announced that I was just taking a temporary break. Everyone seemed to assume I wouldn’t be coming back. My office had already been taken over by Cassie. The minimalist decor had been completely ripped out, replaced with Cassie’s favorite sky-blue. Even the photos of me and my partners on the wall were gone, replaced by intimate photos of her and Max, faces pressed together. Cassie looked at me, her face barely concealing her triumph. “Manager Hayes, what are you doing here?” “The investigation isn’t over yet, you’ll probably have to ‘rest’ for a while longer.” “I’ve taken over your previous work. Don’t worry, I’ll do an even better job than you.” I couldn’t be bothered to engage her and went straight to Max. The documents I brought were for him to approve before being handed over to Cassie. Max was about to review them carefully when he received an internal call from Cassie. “Max, I think I’m feeling a little dizzy.” “After you’re done with Manager Hayes, could you take me to the hospital?” Immediately, Max didn’t even bother to flip through the rest of the documents. He quickly signed his name at the bottom. He rushed to leave, but then turned and saw me still standing in his office with the documents, quietly watching him go. For some reason, Max felt a flicker of unease. He softened his voice, trying to reassure me. “Once this period is over, I’ll bring you back.” “Cassie is just temporarily covering your duties. You’ll still be the company manager then.” I smiled, saying nothing in response. Max, however, assumed I had agreed. He left without looking back. He didn’t see me pull out the one document I actually needed from that pile. It was boldly titled – “Resignation Letter.” 4、 Cassie, with her new position, immediately started making drastic changes. Not only did she cancel all employee benefits, but she also demanded that all future expenses had to be approved by her. Nutritious eighty-eight dollar meals were replaced by eight-dollar greasy takeout boxes. The usual endless afternoon tea and snacks were completely cut. She claimed to be saving on water bills, requiring each person to only use the company restroom once a day. The toilet paper usage couldn’t exceed two finger-widths. Then she declared she was saving electricity, and even during the hottest summer days, she demanded the air conditioning not be on for more than fifteen minutes a day. Everyone was utterly miserable, but Cassie wasn’t done yet. She even asked Max to cut everyone’s salaries in half. Max listened to her every whim. He had always felt that the salaries I had set were too high, and every payday, he’d felt a pang of pain. Now, with Cassie coming in and saving him so much money, he was overjoyed. He immediately bought her a million-dollar jewelry set. Cassie became even more brazen. She began preparing for the company’s annual gala, three days away. The gala was supposed to be a golden opportunity to showcase the company’s financial strength, lavish benefits on partners, and foster future collaborations. But Cassie merely glanced at the gift list I had originally prepared, then tore it to shreds. She scoffed, “It’s just a small annual gala, why make such a fuss and waste so much money?” “With Manager Hayes’ spending habits, no wonder the company wasn’t making money!” “Listen to me! Forget Australian and Boston lobsters! Swap them all for dead shrimp from the market, ten dollars for three pounds! And marinate them raw, nobody will taste the difference!” “And that ’82 Lafite? Change it to regular wine, the kind they sell at my local grocery store!” “Designer watches, necklaces — return all the genuine ones we bought before and just find a knock-off on Wish, right?” Everyone was shocked by Cassie’s outrageous directives. Someone even tried to dissuade her. “Vice President Pierce, is this really a good idea?” But Cassie’s eyes flared. “Are *you* Vice President or am *I* Vice President? Didn’t you hear what Max said?” “He said everything is to follow *my* plan! If you want to work, then work. If not, get out!” “There are plenty of people lining up for this offer!” When Chloe, my former assistant, secretly told me all the things Cassie was doing, I laughed uncontrollably, practically counting down the minutes until the annual gala! I couldn’t wait to see her publicly embarrass Max! 5、 On the day of the annual gala, though I wasn’t there in person, Cassie specifically sent me messages to gloat. 【Manager Hayes, looks like the company doesn’t really need you after all.】

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My husband’s kept woman was in a car accident and desperately needed a liver transplant. The only match? My own mother. The day Declan Hayes forced my mother onto the operating table, I knelt, sobbing uncontrollably, my forehead bleeding from hitting the ground, begging him. But he had me locked away in solitary confinement. Three days later, the surgery was a success. Declan stood before me, impeccably dressed in a suit, his eyes as cold as if I were a stranger. “The surgery went well. I’ve arranged for someone to look after your mother.” “I’ll be at the hospital with Serena these next few days. I won’t be coming home.” I gazed at the man who once would have gone through hell and high water for me, all my tears dried up. Before he turned away, I finally managed to ask, my voice raspy, “Declan, you used to love me so much. Why did you suddenly stop?” He paused, his back still to me. “We’re just in a marriage of convenience. When did I ever love you?” The moment the door clicked shut, I slid down the wall to the floor, my tears gushing uncontrollably. Never loved me? How could he have never loved me? In my previous life, he had loved me to death. That’s right, I’d been reborn. In my last life, the Davies and Hayes families had an arranged marriage, and I married Declan Hayes. Back then, he adored me, indulging my every whim. If I wanted the stars, he wouldn’t just offer the moon. If I casually mentioned I liked a million-dollar piece of jewelry, it would appear on my vanity the very next day. When I was sick, he’d stay awake all night, sitting by my bedside… But I detested him. Because the man I loved was my childhood sweetheart, Julian Vance. Forced by my parents to marry Declan, I resisted the marriage to an extreme. I refused to share a bed with him, wouldn’t accompany him to banquets, and even frequented clubs, seeking out male models, deliberately trying to embarrass him. Finally, manipulated by Julian, I eloped with him. But I never expected… Julian didn’t love me at all. His elaborate efforts to win my heart were only because the Vance family had a long-standing feud with the Hayes family. He’d long seen that Declan secretly loved me and concocted a plan to control Declan using me. He kidnapped me, threatening Declan with my life. “Declan Hayes, send me one of your fingers every day, or I’ll kill her.” Declan said nothing, but every day he cut off a finger and sent it to Julian. On the tenth day, when the last bloody finger, still bearing his wedding ring, arrived, I broke. Unwilling to let Declan continue his foolish sacrifice, I took my own life, biting through my tongue. After I died, my soul floated in the air. I watched as Declan, usually so dignified and composed, went mad upon seeing my lifeless body. He rushed to avenge me, personally breaking every single one of Julian Vance’s bones. Listening to Julian’s screams, Declan’s eyes held only a dead emptiness. Finally, he abandoned his billions in fortune, abandoned the entire Hayes Corporation, and perished in a blaze, clutching my corpse. Amidst the raging flames, he reverently and passionately kissed my lips, whispering, “Clara, if there’s a next life… would you just love me once?” As the fire consumed him, I floated in the air, crying my heart out. In that moment, I finally glimpsed the full depth of his devotion. I opened my eyes again and found myself reborn, in the first year of my marriage to Declan. I was overjoyed, tears streaming down my face. This time, I swore I would truly love Declan. So, I deleted all of Julian Vance’s contact information, made breakfast for Declan every day, waited up for him until late at night, my entire world revolving around him. But he had changed. He was no longer gentle with me, no longer came home every day. He was distant and cold, and he even had a kept woman on the side. Now, he was even forcibly putting my mother on the operating table to save that woman’s life. After Declan left, I slumped onto the cold floor, my tears completely spent. Fine! If he no longer loved me in this life, then I would let go and set him free completely. I stumbled to my feet, dragging my exhausted body to the hospital. When I pushed open the door, my mother was still in a deep sleep, her face terrifyingly pale. Her breathing beneath the oxygen mask was faint but even. I stood by the bed, looking at her frail body, wrapped in a patient gown, my throat feeling as if something was lodged there. “Clara.” I spun around abruptly, seeing my father, Mr. Davies, standing at the doorway, looking disheveled. His suit jacket was crumpled, his tie askew, clearly having rushed back from abroad. “Dad…” My voice choked. My knees buckled, and I sank to the floor. “I’m so sorry… it’s all because of me…” Mr. Davies rushed over, pulling me up immediately. “Nonsense! The floor’s so cold, why are you kneeling?!” His hands were rough and warm, but trembling slightly. “It’s not your fault. How could this be your fault?” I lowered my head, tears splashing onto the floor. Mr. Davies sighed, gently patting my back. “Declan was the one who actively proposed, saying he’d secretly loved you for years…” His voice was filled with confusion. “How did things suddenly turn out like this?” Yes, everyone knew he loved me. But in this life, why had he suddenly changed? “Dad,” I took a deep breath. “I’ve made up my mind. I want a divorce from Declan.” “Our family business is gradually shifting abroad anyway. If that’s the case… let’s all leave this place.” Mr. Davies fell silent. His gaze shifted between me and my mother on the hospital bed. After a long moment, he finally spoke. “Do you truly no longer love him?” My nails dug deep into my palms, blood seeping from between my fingers, yet I felt no pain. “The way he treated Mom…” My voice was as light as a falling leaf, trembling and breaking in the air. “How can I… continue to love him?” Mr. Davies was silent for another moment, then let out a heavy sigh, as if making a difficult decision. “If that’s what you want, we’ll leave.” He patted my shoulder. “Go and handle the paperwork. I’ll take care of things here.” My eyes red, I nodded and turned to leave the hospital room. The immigration procedures went smoothly. As I walked out the main doors, the sunlight stung my eyes. I stood by the roadside, a sense of unreality washing over me. It was finally coming to an end. Just then, I heard the screech of tires. “Look out—!” Before I could even turn around, a massive impact sent me flying. I woke up to a sharp, searing pain. The moment I opened my eyes, Declan’s stern face was inches from mine. He looked down at me, his disgust unconcealed. “Clara, are you doing this on purpose?” “You saw Serena get into a car accident, and now you’re copying her?” He sneered, his voice as if it were laced with ice. “Let me tell you, we’re just in a marriage of convenience. We have no feelings for each other. No matter how much you try to imitate her, it’s futile. I don’t have time to look after you.” I opened my mouth, about to explain, when the hospital room door suddenly burst open. “Mr. Hayes, the porridge you requested.” His assistant respectfully handed him a takeout container. Declan took it casually, lifted the lid, and his brow instantly furrowed. “Why is it seafood porridge?” His voice carried obvious displeasure. “I’m allergic to seafood. Go buy another one.” That sentence was like a thunderbolt, striking me right in the brain. Seafood allergy… In my previous life, it was in their second year of marriage that I accidentally ate seafood and almost went into shock, and that was how he found out. But now… They had only been married for one year. I recalled his strange behavior recently— His sudden aloofness, his inexplicable favoritism towards Serena, and that cold statement, “When did I ever love you?”… A preposterous thought suddenly surged, and I trembled all over. “Declan Hayes…” My voice was barely a whisper. “Are you… also reborn?” Declan frowned. “Reborn? What are you talking about?” I stared into his eyes. “Then how do you know I’m allergic to seafood?” “Your parents came to see me a while ago,” he said, his expression completely normal, not even a flutter of his eyelashes. “They asked me to treat you better. They also gave me a notebook with your preferences and dietary restrictions. I glanced through it before I threw it out.” His explanation was watertight, and it stung my heart. Was I overthinking it? The nurse suddenly pushed the door open. “Mr. Hayes, Miss Serena is awake and looking for you.” Hearing this, Declan left without a backward glance, not even sparing me a look.

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I was twenty when I married Asher Blackwood, a man who was almost like a brother to my father, despite their age difference. He was eight years my senior, a notorious, ice-cold magnate in our circles. Ruthless in business, famously aloof with women, yet with me, he was impossibly gentle. He’d give orders to deliver multi-million-dollar jewels to me the very next day, just because I’d casually mentioned, “That necklace is pretty.” He’d drop multi-million-dollar deals to personally brew me ginger tea when my period cramps had me curled up in bed, patiently spoon-feeding it to me until it was all gone. In moments of passion, he’d grip my waist, his voice husky as he called me ‘baby,’ whispering how ‘good’ I was, how I drove him wild. Even all his social media handles were ‘For Elise.’ I always thought it was in memory of that day we first met, when I played that very piece on the piano. Until the day I found an old photo album in his study. The album was filled with pictures of the same girl, who looked seven parts like me, smiling by a piano. On the back of the photos, it read— “For Elise, my dearest Seraphina.” … After discovering the truth, I did only two things. First, I underwent an abortion for the five-month-old baby I carried. A five-month-old baby, who had already begun to kick inside me. On the operating table, I clenched my jaw, fighting back the tears, but when the nurse asked, “Would you like to see the baby?” I collapsed, shaking my head violently. Second, I drafted a divorce agreement. Then, I called Asher Blackwood. Before, he would answer my calls instantly, his voice soft as he asked, “What’s wrong, baby?” But this time, I had to call twenty-three times before he finally picked up. A cacophony of voices erupted from the other end, followed by his friends’ teasing: “How potent is a first love, really? The moment Seraphina came back, Asher just dumped his five-month pregnant wife at home.” “Well, what do you expect? She’s just a stand-in! You should’ve seen how much Asher loved Seraphina back then. He almost drank himself to death after they broke up and never forgot her. He just sweet-talked a young woman into being a replacement.” “And the girl was still clueless, clinging to Asher constantly. Last time I saw him kissing her, her clinginess was so intense it was almost sickeningly sweet. If I had a sweet, gentle woman like that at home, I’d have forgotten Seraphina long ago.” “Ugh, who knew Asher, cold as he seems, is actually a hopeless romantic? He only ever loved Seraphina. Look, Seraphina just casually complained her feet hurt in heels, and he’s already carrying her to buy flats…” I clutched my phone, tears silently streaming down my face. Then, the other end of the line suddenly fell silent. “Who picked up my call?” Asher Blackwood’s voice cut through the air. “Huh? No idea, probably pressed by accident…” Footsteps echoed from the other end, and soon the background noise returned to quiet. When he spoke again, Asher Blackwood’s dangerously gentle voice, the one I had drowned in, flowed through the receiver: “What’s wrong, baby? Can’t sleep because of the thunder?” “Daddy has a business dinner, I’ll be back later to tuck you and baby in, okay?” I took a deep breath: “I’m calling to ask you to sign the div—” Before I could finish, a woman’s voice chimed in: “Asher, my feet hurt…” He paused, then quickly said to me, “Be a good girl, go to sleep. Daddy will be back to be with you later.” Then, the call disconnected. I laughed, wiping away all my tears, and looked up at the table. Two “gifts” lay there, both for Asher Blackwood. A divorce agreement, and a gift box containing the baby they’d induced. Those who break honest hearts deserve to feel every shard of pain. I might be young, but I wouldn’t stand for such deceit. I would never keep someone who betrayed me. I love with my whole heart, and I can walk away when it’s broken. I don’t know how long I sat there, but I finally stood up, placing the gift box with the baby inside the refrigerator. Just then, sounds echoed from the villa’s main entrance. “Baby, why aren’t you asleep yet?” Asher Blackwood walked in, taking off his suit jacket, his tie loosely around his neck. “Looking for something in the fridge? Hungry?” I didn’t answer, just watched him silently. He seemed unaccustomed to my coldness. He pulled out an exquisite bento box from behind him, his eyes softening. “I scoured the entire city for these. Haven’t you been craving them lately?” He carefully arranged the pastries, one by one. They were all my favorites during my morning sickness these past few months. Before, I would have thrown myself into his arms and kissed him. But now, I only felt a bitter irony. “Why are you standing there silently? Is the baby bothering you again?” As he spoke, his hand reached for my stomach. I blocked his hand, offering him a document: “Sign it.” He froze, about to open it, when his phone suddenly rang. I saw the caller ID: Seraphina. He answered. After a few words from the other end, his expression subtly changed. He hung up the phone without another glance at me, quickly signing the document. Then, he grabbed his car keys, ready to leave. “Baby, I have an urgent matter to handle. Get some sleep.” At the door, he added gently, “From now on, just buy whatever you want directly. No need to ask me to sign. We’re husband and wife; what’s mine is yours.” I clutched the signed divorce agreement, a faint, bitter smile touching my lips. “Asher Blackwood, we won’t be husband and wife for much longer.” That night, I had a very long dream. In it, I was seeing Asher Blackwood for the first time. I was eighteen that year, accompanying my father to the Blackwood family’s gala. He stood by the piano in a crisp black suit, long fingers holding a champagne flute, his features etched like a painting. It was love at first sight. Later, I boldly stole a kiss. He paused, then chuckled softly. “Little girl, that’s not how you kiss.” Then he cupped the back of my head, showing me what a real kiss felt like. That kiss was so long, so utterly consuming, that I couldn’t breathe. Even now, remembering it felt like a fleeting, beautiful dream. When I woke up, my pillow was soaked. Daylight had broken. After a long while, I picked up my phone and called my dad. “Dad, I’m divorced,” my voice was hoarse. “Once I get the divorce certificate, I’ll come abroad to be with you and Mom.” “Did Asher Blackwood bully you?” My dad’s voice immediately rose. “No,” I gazed out at the brightening sky. “I just don’t love him anymore.” In truth, Asher Blackwood never loved me. And I, I wouldn’t love him anymore either. I didn’t voice that thought, feeling like I’d swallowed a piece of shattered glass, letting it carve through my heart until it bled. After hanging up, a friend request popped up on SnapChat. On a whim, I accepted. The person immediately sent a video. In the clip, Asher Blackwood was dozing on a sofa, his brows furrowed, murmuring a name: “Seraphina…” Following the video, a long message arrived: “I’m Seraphina, Asher’s first love. I can’t believe that after all these years, even after he got married, he still hasn’t forgotten me. When I came back today, I noticed he still has my nickname tattooed on his inner wrist. All our old photos, his diaries, they’re perfectly preserved. See, he’s still calling my name in his sleep, probably dreaming of our past. After all, those were his unforgettable first love memories.” I stared at the long message, my heart aching to the point of numbness. I only replied with one sentence: “What do you want?” It took a long time for her to reply: “Nothing. Just want to take back what’s mine. He’s about to wake up. Don’t you believe me? If I just say I had a nightmare, he’ll stay with me for the next five days and won’t contact you once?” I didn’t reply again. Ten minutes later, Asher Blackwood’s message came through: “Baby, I have an urgent project that requires a five-day business trip. My assistant will stay with you; call him if you need anything. Take good care of yourself and the baby.” I stared at the screen and suddenly laughed. I laughed and laughed until tears splashed onto my phone screen. For the next five days, Asher Blackwood was indeed out of contact. But Seraphina’s messages kept coming. Asher Blackwood walking with her on the beach, taking her to watch the sunset from a mountaintop, driving her around the countryside… Seraphina messaged: “These are all places we used to visit when we were dating.” I read every single message, and then I suddenly remembered Asher Blackwood had taken me to those same places. Back then, I thought he was being romantic. Now I understood he was just revisiting old haunts, seeing another woman through my reflection. On the evening of the fifth day, I started packing. The jewelry Asher Blackwood had given me, the bags, the clothes… Everything connected to him was packed into cardboard boxes and tossed into the storage room. When Asher Blackwood finally rushed home, dusty and tired, he saw a wardrobe half empty. He visibly froze. “Baby, what are you doing?” I didn’t even look up. “Nothing. Just throwing away some useless things.” Asher Blackwood didn’t think much of it, just smiled and handed me a gift—a limited-edition illustrated book set. Last month, I’d casually mentioned wanting to collect them; I hadn’t expected him to remember. “Baby,” he naturally pulled me into his arms, his large hand stroking my belly. “Are your morning sickness symptoms still severe? Tomorrow’s your prenatal check-up, I’ll go with you.” “No need,” I pulled away from his embrace. “No need, ever again.” Asher Blackwood finally sensed something was wrong. “What do you mean, no need? Are you feeling unwell lately?” A maid interjected, “Madam hasn’t had much appetite these past few days, she’s barely eaten anything.” Asher Blackwood immediately loosened his tie. “I’ll go buy groceries and cook for you. All your favorites. Come on, sweetie, you have to eat a little.” As he turned, he didn’t forget to instruct, “Make sure to take good care of my wife. Don’t let anything happen to her.” The maids whispered enviously, “Sir is so good to Madam…” “You should find a husband who’s older and knows how to dote on you…” I listened quietly, a flicker of self-mockery in my eyes. I once believed I had found the best love in the world. But now I understood it was nothing more than a meticulously crafted stand-in game. No sooner had Asher Blackwood left than the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find a woman standing there, holding an exquisite pastry box. “Hello, I’m Seraphina, the Seraphina who sent you messages.” Seraphina smiled, a gentle yet challenging glint in her eyes. “Asher has been taking such good care of me lately, so I made some pastries to thank him. A guest at your door, surely you wouldn’t turn me away?” Before I could answer, she walked in uninvited and began to tour the house. Passing through the garden, Seraphina stopped. “These roses are all my favorite varieties. I can’t believe Asher is still growing them.” My fingertips trembled. I remembered Asher Blackwood personally tending to these flowers every morning, never letting anyone else touch them. I had once thought it was his charming eccentricity. By the pond, several turtles basked lazily in the sun. “Oh, they’re still alive!” Seraphina exclaimed, surprised. “I raised these when I was little. I left them when I went abroad and thought they’d be long dead by now.” I remembered Asher Blackwood’s unwavering routine of feeding those turtles like clockwork, and my chest tightened. In the living room, Seraphina’s gaze swept over the dolls in the display cabinet. “These are all my favorite collectibles.” Then she looked around. “The furniture style is also my preferred Scandinavian minimalist.” I followed behind her, each step feeling like I was walking on razor blades. This house, where I had lived for two years, suddenly felt utterly foreign. In the bedroom, Seraphina ran her hand over the suits and ties in the closet. “These were all gifts from me. He’s kept them so perfectly.” I remembered ironing these clothes with my own hands every day, and my throat felt like it was blocked. It turned out he never let me touch them, not because he was a neat freak, but because they were all Seraphina’s memories. Finally, Seraphina stopped in front of our wedding photos. “What a coincidence,” she said, tilting her head with a smile. “Asher and I used to talk about taking three themed sets: desert, ocean, forest. I can’t believe you chose those three too.” My face instantly went pale. During our wedding shoot, Asher Blackwood had insisted on these three themes. I had thought it was because he loved the romance of nature. “What are you doing here?” Asher Blackwood’s voice suddenly came from the doorway. He strode in quickly, his expression displeased. Seraphina immediately put on a sweet smile. “I made some pastries and came to bring you some. Your lovely wife so enthusiastically invited me in as a guest and even said she’d keep me for dinner.” Asher Blackwood’s brow relaxed slightly. He turned to me. “This is Seraphina, my childhood neighbor, we grew up like siblings. I was abroad before, and she just returned recently, so you haven’t met her.” I watched him silently. Childhood neighbor? Like siblings? He had kept their relationship so well hidden. And Seraphina played along. “Yes, Asher always looked after me since we were little. When I was a picky eater, he specifically learned to cook for me. His legendary beef wellington, the exquisite seafood risotto, the perfectly roasted lamb… all my absolute favorites.” My fingers dug into my palms. These were all the dishes Asher Blackwood cooked most often. I had naively believed it was because I liked them. I couldn’t force a smile, so I excused myself, claiming to feel unwell, and went upstairs. But soon after, Seraphina knocked, holding a bowl of medicine. “Asher brewed this prenatal tonic and asked me to bring it up,” she said with an innocent smile. “Drink it while it’s warm.” I took the bowl. The herbal smell was pungent. “Oh, by the way…” Seraphina suddenly asked, “Are your baby’s names also, by chance, Jashua for a boy and Nia for a girl? Those are the names Asher and I had decided on before.” My hand trembled, nearly spilling the bowl. Those were the exact names Asher Blackwood had chosen when I first got pregnant. So, even our child was to be a remembrance for Seraphina? My heart suddenly gave a violent wrench. Before I could even react— “Oops!” Seraphina suddenly “accidentally” knocked over the bowl. The scalding liquid splashed onto my arm, instantly turning it red and blistering. I gasped in pain, ignoring Seraphina’s apologies, my face pale as I prepared to go downstairs for ointment. But as I passed the staircase, I was suddenly shoved hard from behind. “Ah!” I tumbled down the stairs, landing heavily on the first-floor landing. Blood spread from beneath me, staining the beige carpet. The next second, Seraphina tumbled down after me. In the kitchen, Asher Blackwood was just about to open the refrigerator. Hearing the noise, he immediately rushed out. Seeing the scene, his pupils instantly constricted. “Seraphina!” He flew to catch the stumbling Seraphina, anxiously checking her ankle. “Are you okay?” “I… I’m fine,” Seraphina said weakly. “Quick, check on Willow…” Asher Blackwood finally looked at me, lying in a pool of blood, but Seraphina suddenly “fainted” in his arms. “Seraphina!” His usually steady voice was laced with frantic urgency. He scooped Seraphina up, striding quickly out, not even sparing me another glance. I watched their retreating figures, my consciousness gradually blurring. In the last moment before darkness consumed me, I thought I saw the refrigerator door slightly ajar, revealing a corner of the “gift” box inside… When I woke again, the harsh white light made me squint uncomfortably. A doctor was examining me. Asher Blackwood stood beside her, his expression grim. “How’s the baby?” he asked the doctor. The doctor looked up, surprised. “Baby? Ms. Hayes’s baby wasn’t… wasn’t it aborted already?” I quickly knocked over the water glass on the bedside table. The sound of shattering glass instantly drew Asher Blackwood’s attention. He ignored the doctor, hurrying to my bedside, his brows etched with worry and tenderness. “Baby, you’re awake? Are you hurting anywhere?” I gently shook my head, my gaze flicking over his shoulder to see the doctor’s hesitant expression. Asher Blackwood finally relaxed, then turned to the doctor. “Doctor, what did you just say? I didn’t hear you clearly.” He felt as though he had missed something important. The doctor was about to speak, but I gave a barely perceptible shake of my head. The doctor understood, sighing and simply saying, “The patient needs more rest,” before leaving the VIP room. Suddenly, only Asher Blackwood and I remained in the VIP room. Asher Blackwood’s eyes were full of heartache. He reached out to touch my face, but I turned my head away. He seemed to understand, immediately coaxing and apologizing. “I’m so sorry, Willow. It’s my fault. I didn’t realize you also fell down the stairs. I thought…” “Thank goodness you and the baby are both okay. Otherwise, I would never forgive myself.” “I promise this will never happen again. Please don’t be mad at me, okay, hmm?” I looked into his eyes, and they held what appeared to be genuine remorse. In that moment, I found it incredibly ironic. Every word he spoke was so sweet, but which of them was true, and which a lie? “I’m tired.” I pulled my hand away, closing my eyes, unwilling to play this tiresome game with him. During my hospitalization, Asher Blackwood stayed by my side constantly. He personally炖汤 (stewed soup) for me, spoon-feeding me every mouthful; he accompanied me to every check-up, noting every one of the doctor’s instructions; if I stirred slightly in the night, he would immediately wake to ask what I needed. Even the nurses said they’d never seen such a caring husband. But I remained silent, often staring out the window in a daze. Asher Blackwood thought it was prenatal hormone changes causing my low mood and became even more meticulous in his care. On the day I was discharged, Asher Blackwood had prepared a grand surprise. He took me to the most exclusive restaurant, booking out an entire floor just so I could dine in peace. After dinner, he accompanied me to every luxury store. Anything I glanced at for too long, he immediately bought. As night fell, brilliant fireworks suddenly erupted over the river, forming the words “I LOVE YOU.” “Do you like it?” Asher Blackwood wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my head. “I prepared this especially for you.” Gazing at the fireworks painting the sky, I was momentarily transported back to how things used to be. Back then, Asher Blackwood would also go to such lengths to make me happy, making me feel like the most fortunate person in the world. But as my hand unconsciously brushed my flat stomach, all illusions shattered instantly. “What’s wrong?” Asher Blackwood sensed my stiffness and turned me to face him. “You’ve been unhappy lately, and I’m worried.” He cupped my face, his thumb gently stroking my cheek. “Should we get a therapist to see you? Prenatal depression is common; you don’t have to carry this alone. You can tell me anything on your mind.” I looked into his sincere eyes and suddenly asked, “If I’m willing to be completely honest with you, can you be one hundred percent honest with me?” Asher Blackwood paused, then chuckled. “Of course, baby. We’re husband and wife; honesty is natural between us.” I took a deep breath. “Then tell me, I heard you had a first love you really adored, and you never really got over her for many years after you broke up.” I stared directly into his eyes: “Have you let her go now?” Asher Blackwood’s expression instantly froze. His fingers tightened, knuckles turning white, but in an instant, he recovered, offering me a gentle smile. “I let her go ages ago. We cut off contact after the breakup, and we won’t be seeing each other again.” A bitter taste filled my mouth. He lied so skillfully, without even a flicker in his expression. He reached out to touch my face, and I instinctively turned my head away. The gesture made his brows furrow slightly. This wasn’t the first time I’d refused his touch. “Who told you all this?” His tone suddenly grew serious. “Is this why you’ve been unhappy lately?” I was about to speak when his phone’s piercing ringtone suddenly sounded. Asher Blackwood glanced at the caller ID, paused for a few seconds, then still chose to answer. As soon as he picked up, Seraphina’s tearful voice came through the receiver: “Asher! There are some thugs following me, I’m so scared…” Asher Blackwood’s face drastically changed. “Send me your location.” He grabbed his jacket, ready to leave, without even a glance at me. “Baby, something important at work came up. You can take a taxi home later.” I didn’t go home. On a whim, I hailed a taxi and followed him. In a dimly lit alley, I saw Asher Blackwood shielding Seraphina behind him, facing four or five thugs armed with sticks alone. He was like a changed man, striking fiercely, every punch landing hard, completely unlike his usual composed and restrained demeanor. One thug, bleeding from his head, suddenly pulled out a knife and lunged at Seraphina— “Seraphina!” Asher Blackwood lunged forward without hesitation, using his body to shield Seraphina. The blade plunged into his chest, blood instantly staining his white shirt. “Asher!” Seraphina clung to him as he fell, crying hysterically. “Don’t be scared…” he whispered weakly but gently in Seraphina’s arms. “I promised… I’d protect you forever… I meant it…” I stood at the alley entrance, my heart feeling as if a piece had been brutally carved out. Outside the operating room, Seraphina was crying her eyes out, a picture of absolute devastation. “He used to be like this… he almost died racing for me once… when I got into a car accident, he gave me so much blood he passed out…” I leaned against the wall, listening silently. So, a man as calm and steady as Asher Blackwood could also go mad for love, to the point of risking his life. It just was never for me. “The knife was just a millimeter away from his heart,” the nurse said, pushing open the door. “Is Ms. Seraphina here? We need a family member to sign for the surgery.” Seraphina shook her head, crying. “I’m not family… his wife is over there.” The nurse looked at me in surprise. “But the patient kept calling ‘Seraphina.’ And when he dictated his will just now, he said all his assets should go to Ms. Seraphina…” The nurse realized her slip and stopped awkwardly. I smiled. Under the nurse’s pitying gaze, I signed the papers and turned to leave.

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It was the third year of my marriage to Julian Blackwood when my marriage certificate, a faded old paper, accidentally got drenched in coffee. I barely noticed it until I went to the County Clerk’s office to get a new copy. The clerk behind the computer typed for a few seconds, then looked up at me, a strange expression on her face. “Ma’am, your marital status shows as single.” I froze, thinking I’d misheard. “That’s impossible. My husband and I got married right here three years ago.” She checked again, her expression turning even stranger. “The system confirms you’re unmarried. But Mr. Julian Blackwood… he’s marked as married.” I blinked. “His spouse is listed as another lady, Seraphina Hayes. Do you know who I am?” My mind went blank, a deafening ringing in my ears. Everyone knew I was his first love, his “dream girl,” the one he’d protected so fiercely since childhood. And Seraphina Hayes? She was just a stand-in, a replacement he found when I was abroad, because he supposedly missed me so much. … I clutched the coffee-stained, fake marriage certificate, my mind a hazy mess as I got into my car. My phone suddenly buzzed twice. A message from Julian popped up. “Babe, I blew off a multi-billion dollar deal and bought your favorite roses and strawberry cupcakes. Just wanted to come home early to you. I miss you so much. Do you miss me?” I stared at the message, then suddenly burst out laughing. Laughter turned to tears, streaming down my face. For three years, he’d asked me that every day, showering me with affection. But all this time… he’d secretly been legally married to someone else. I remembered when we were kids. Julian once climbed a ten-foot tree to get my kite down, fell, broke his right arm, but still smiled, handing me the kite. “Don’t cry, baby. It doesn’t hurt.” I remembered my fifteenth birthday. He stood outside my house all night in the pouring rain, just so he could be the first to wish me “Happy Birthday” when I woke up. I remembered my eighteenth birthday. He booked an entire amusement park, and under a sky full of fireworks, he knelt on one knee and asked, “Aubrey, when I turn twenty-two, will you marry me?” I remembered when I left for college abroad. He pinned me against the airport wall, his eyes red, voice trembling. “Two years. I’m only giving you two years. The moment it’s up, I’m coming to drag you back.” Those two years overseas, he’d video call me almost every day. Once, I was swamped with a paper and didn’t answer for three days. When I finally called back, I found out he’d drunk himself into the hospital. His eyes were bloodshot on the screen. “Babe, I can’t live without you.” I’d always soothe him. “I’ll be back soon, just wait a little longer.” The day I returned home, I didn’t tell Julian, wanting to surprise him. But when I pushed open the door to a private club suite, I saw him passionately kissing a girl. Her profile was a striking resemblance to mine. My bag **clattered** to the floor. I turned and walked out. Julian chased after me like a madman. I wouldn’t answer his calls, so he kept sending SnapChat messages. I wouldn’t see him, so he stood outside my house in the rain, explaining over and over. “It’s not what you think!” “You wouldn’t let me visit you all these years, I missed you too much, that’s why I found a stand-in…” “I swear, it was just hugging and kissing. Nothing else!” “Aubrey, I messed up, but I really loved you to the point of madness…” Finally, after he stood in the rain for three days and nights, collapsed with high fever and pneumonia, and refused to leave the hospital, my heart softened, and I forgave him. After that, he was as good to me as he’d always been. Until after we got married, when I found out his new assistant was Seraphina Hayes. The “stand-in” he said he’d sent away. He explained again, “Her parents weren’t well and had trouble adjusting to life away from the city. They cried and begged her to come back.” “I had no idea it was her when I interviewed for the assistant role.” “She’s good at her job, went through all the selections. I can’t just fire her.” So I tolerated it again. And I kept tolerating it, until I became the biggest joke of all. By the time my car pulled into the gated community, my tears had dried. I took a deep breath, about to push the door open, when I heard Julian and his friend talking in the living room. “I just went to the hospital. Seraphina’s fine, just a scratch. You can relax here with me.” Julian leaned back on the sofa, two buttons of his black shirt undone, his long legs crossed. He frowned and extinguished the cigarette in his friend’s hand. His voice was low and cold. “How many times have I told you? No smoking in my house. Aubrey hates the smell of smoke.” “Alright, alright, you big softie,” his friend teased, laughing. “But I really don’t get it. You clearly love Aubrey so much, why did you have to marry Seraphina back then? Honestly, wasn’t she more than just a stand-in?” The air was silent for a few seconds. Then, Julian’s low voice drifted through— “What if she was?” “I used to think she was just a stand-in, that I wouldn’t need her once Aubrey came back.” “But after I sent her away, I dreamt of her almost every night.” “Eventually, I couldn’t stand not having her around, so I brought her back as my assistant.” “I can’t live without Aubrey, but Seraphina… I can’t let her go either.” “Aubrey gets my open affection, Seraphina can only be in the shadows. What’s wrong with giving her a name, a status, as compensation?” His friend sighed. “Aren’t you afraid Aubrey finds out? Knowing her, if she ever did, she wouldn’t look back even if you died in front of her.” Julian paused, his throat bobbing. “Then she’ll never know.” I stood outside the door, my blood turning to ice. I thought I’d collapse in tears, but not a single one would fall. This was what true agony felt like. My heart felt like a piece had been brutally carved out, yet it still had to beat.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298779”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic