Category: English

He crashed his car and lost his memory the day he chased after the woman he’d always loved. That same day, his mother and I made a deal. She offered a billion dollars. I’d take care of him, marry him, and give him heirs. For five years, we built a happy life. So happy that I forgot it began as a transaction. I let myself believe we were truly, madly in love. Then he saw a photograph of her. And he remembered everything. The day I got the positive pregnancy test, I watched him pull that woman into his arms and kiss her with deep affection. Jade POV It was my fifth year as Julian Hayes’s wife. The moment I confirmed his memory had returned, I called my employer. “Your divorce from Julian will be finalized within a month. I’ll send you the visa paperwork along with it.” My grip tightened on the phone. “Understood, Mrs. Hayes. Thank you.” A slight hesitation from the other end. “Are you certain? You truly want to divorce him?” My eyes closed, long lashes brushing against my skin. “Our agreement was clear. I may leave once I’m carrying his child.” “Very well. Once the child is born abroad, our arrangement will be concluded in full.” Not long after the call ended, my phone buzzed with a transfer notification. A billion dollars. And it wasn’t even the final payment. It was enough for lifetimes. Suddenly, a deep voice came from behind me. “Who was that?” My heart clenched. I turned. Julian stood in the doorway of our bedroom, having entered without a sound. He was impeccably dressed in a suit, tall and handsome, exuding an air of effortless sophistication and raw power. I managed a smooth, practiced smile. “Just a friend.” His gaze dropped to my hand.. “What’s that?” “Our five-year anniversary itinerary.” I folded the positive pregnancy test I’d been clutching and held it out to him. “Want to see it?” Julian didn’t move. His eyes, fixed on mine, were a turbulent, unreadable storm. “Cancel the anniversary plans. I don’t have the time.” But just half a month ago, he’d cleared his entire schedule for it. Ten days ago, we were still sweetly planning how we’d celebrate. His phone suddenly rang. Julian saw the caller ID, and his usually sharp eyes softened, a tenderness I hadn’t seen in days blooming within them. “I have to go out for something. Don’t wait for me for dinner tonight.” With that, he answered his phone and strode out, leaving me behind. Watching his retreating back, my heart felt like it was being pricked by countless tiny needles, a suffocating, unbearable pain. Julian and I had been inseparable, a loving couple for five years. Until five days ago, when everything changed. I don’t know where he got Isabella Stone’s photo, but upon seeing her face, he recovered from his five years of amnesia, remembering his first love. I’d vaguely heard that he and Isabella were once a perfect match. But five years ago, Isabella’s family went camping with Julian’s father. They were accidentally kidnapped by an anti-social, wealth-hating extremist. To save their own lives, Isabella’s family betrayed Mr. Hayes’s identity as Emerald City’s wealthiest man, leading to him being brutally murdered and dismembered by the extremist. The Hayes family was furious, unleashing their full power to ensure the perpetrators suffered a fate ten times worse. Isabella’s parents also quietly died in prison. Only Isabella was protected by Julian. And the day Isabella was forcibly sent abroad by Mrs. Hayes, Julian frantically chased after her, ending up in a car crash. When he woke up, he’d forgotten everything. That’s when Mrs. Hayes found me, and they made their deal. At the time, I didn’t know the inside story and even laughed, thinking Mrs. Hayes was desperate for grandchildren. Mrs. Hayes had said, “You don’t understand how deeply Isabella is ingrained in Julian’s heart. Any woman can marry into the Hayes family and bear a Hayes child, except her.” Over the years, to prevent Julian from ever getting involved with Isabella again, Mrs. Hayes had acted with ruthless efficiency, not only erasing all traces of Isabella’s existence but also making it clear in their social circles. Anyone in Emerald City who dared to mention Isabella again would be crossing the Hayes family. But after five years of peace, Julian still recovered his memory. After remembering everything, he almost immediately flew abroad. Just yesterday, I found out I was pregnant and heard he was returning. I eagerly rushed to the airport to meet him, only to see him walking out of the VIP lounge hand-in-hand with a woman. I drove after them, only to discover Julian hadn’t just brought Isabella back from abroad, but had settled her in a secluded villa he owned. Seeing him carefully hide Isabella away, my heart plummeted to my stomach. Right then, I knew it was time for me to leave.

Jade POV I packed up everything Julian had given me over the past five years. Except for the designer bags and sparkling jewelry, I told Maria to throw everything else away. Maria picked up a glass jar filled with paper stars and asked, “Ms. Miller, are these to be thrown away too?” Those colorful paper stars were ones I’d taught Julian to fold when he was hospitalized after his car crash. I remembered him then, newly amnesiac, with a volatile and erratic temper, no one could get close to him. The moment I pushed open his hospital room door, he’ threw a cup at me, hitting my forehead and breaking the skin, telling me to get out. Blood streamed down my forehead, but I wasn’t angry or upset. Instead, my gaze was soft as I asked if he’d hurt his hand. With the most gentle patience, I taught him to fold paper stars, accompanied him during his physical therapy, massaged his head when he had headaches, told him stories when he couldn’t sleep, and personally cooked him nutritious meals, ensuring no two were the same for a week straight. I attended to every little detail, never once complaining, finally earning his acceptance and affection. I still remember the day he was discharged. Julian knelt before me, holding a jar full of paper stars. “I told myself I’d fold one star for every bit more I loved you. Once the jar was full, I’d propose.” “Now it’s full, Jade. Will you marry me?” His words were sincere and profound, his eyes overflowing with a tender devotion that felt boundless. Our five years of marriage had been wonderfully happy, like a dream. But now, it was time for the dream to end. I softly told Maria, “Just throw them all away.” “Alright.” The call came just as I’d settled in for the night. It was Mr. Peterson, the butler. “Mrs. Hayes’s having Mr. Hayes disciplined. Severely. Please come and intervene!” I dressed and rushed back to the Hayes estate. From Mr. Peterson, I learned that Julian had tried to sneak Isabella back, but had failed to keep it from Mrs. Hayes. She had Isabella seized. Julian had raced home to plead for her. Mrs. Hayes was furious. “How dare you bring that woman back? Do you have no respect for your father’s memory?” “It was Isabella’s parents who harmed Dad. They’ve already paid the price. Isabella is innocent.” “Innocent? The daughter of the people who killed your father? She bears some of the blame too! Protecting her like this, you’re not only disrespecting your father but also Jade, who has stood by you all these years!” Julian frowned for a moment, his expression complicated, but his words were entirely in defense of Isabella. “Isabella has suffered enough these past few years abroad. I can’t abandon her.” Mrs. Hayes’s voice was sharp, her eyes blazing. “Are you saying you intend to protect her no matter what?” “If you still refuse to let Isabella go, then let me atone for her. I’m willing to accept any punishment, I only ask that you release her and don’t trouble her further.” I never imagined he would go this far for Isabella. His words stunned me, and Mrs. Hayes nearly fainted from rage. “Don’t you know, Jade… she…” “Mom!” Just as Mrs. Hayes was about to blurt out the fact of my pregnancy, my face changed dramatically, and I quickly interrupted her. I walked over, forcing a strained smile to soothe her. “We can talk this over. Please don’t be angry. It’s not worth ruining your health.” If Julian were to find out I was pregnant, the memory-recovered Julian probably wouldn’t let this child be born. Mrs. Hayes must have realized this too. She swallowed her words and angrily demanded of Julian, “Are you truly willing to accept punishment for Isabella?” Julian’s answer was swift and unyielding. “Yes.” “Fine then, I’ll grant your wish!” The Hayes family’s punishments were severe. He endured it in near-silence, teeth gritted, breath a ragged hiss, until the blood loss dragged him into unconsciousness. Throughout the ordeal, he gritted his teeth, not uttering a single sound, until he was barely clinging to life, losing consciousness from blood loss. After, they rushed the unconscious Julian to the hospital. Despite my pregnancy, I stayed by his bedside day and night, taking care of him. The peace shattered the next afternoon. The door to his room flew open without warning. The moment I turned, a sharp, unexpected slap landed across my face. Isabella stood there, fury incarnate. “You! You’re his wife! You were there! How could you just stand there and watch? How could you let them beat him within an inch of his life without saying a word? What kind of monster are you?!”

Jade POV I barely hesitated, raising my hand and slapping her back. “If it weren’t for you, would he have been punished? What right do you have to question me for not pleading for him?” Unexpectedly, Isabella was stunned that I’d hit her back, then became even angrier. “Jade, Julian has been so good to you these past few years. Is this how you repay him?” “What do you want me to do?” I wanted to plead for him, but he willingly accepted the punishment for the daughter of the woman who killed his own father. How could I possibly utter a single word of appeal? Isabella accused me furiously. “I never realized you were so cold-blooded. You don’t deserve to be with him!” I sneered. “I don’t deserve to be with him, but you, the daughter of his enemy, do?” “Enough!” Julian had woken up at some point. Isabella’s eyes immediately welled up, and she burst into tears, throwing herself into his arms. “Julian, you’re finally awake! Do you know how much you scared me?” Julian gently patted her back, his voice soft and low. “Did my mom bother you again?” Isabella shook her head, still crying. “After you accepted the punishment, Mrs. Hayes had her people release me.” Julian let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good.” Mrs. Hayes must have released Isabella because she didn’t want to completely alienate her only son and heir for her sake. Julian allowed Isabella to cling to his battered body. The scene looked like a loving couple, while I felt like an outsider, out of place and unwelcome. A heavy, suffocating feeling settled in my chest, and I felt a piercing, burning pain from the Datura tattoo on my ankle. So I quietly turned and left the hospital room. Julian stayed in the hospital for several days, and Isabella remained by his side for all of them. I knew better than to intrude on them at the hospital. I hired a nurse and had Maria deliver his meals three times a day. Maria also updated me on his recovery. One day, while I was engrossed in my sketches, Mrs. Hayes called. Mrs. Hayes asked about the baby. “The doctor said everything’s fine, no issues.” “You need to make sure you’re getting enough nutrition. Let me know immediately if anything changes.” “Okay.” Mrs. Hayes was silent for a moment. “Julian is being discharged today. Aren’t you going to pick him up?” My gaze fell, and the tattoo on my ankle seemed to throb faintly again. I pressed my lips together. “With Isabella there, I’d just be in the way. Besides, we’re getting divorced soon.” Mrs. Hayes sighed. “Jade, I’ve seen your and Julian’s feelings for each other over these years. If you’re willing to stay by his side, I can assure you, no one will be able to touch your position as Mrs. Hayes.” But no one could guarantee that Julian’s heart wouldn’t belong to Isabella. “Mrs. Hayes, our original agreement was simply for me to bear his child, take the money, and leave. That’s all.” To the world, I called her “Mom.” In private, I maintained a wall of polite distance-she remained “Mrs. Hayes.” I used the formality as a mantra, a reminder: This began as a transaction. Don’t get lost in the role. But after five years, I had gotten lost. Profoundly so. I had begun to imagine a real life, a real future with him. No one knew that my agreement with Mrs. Hayes wasn’t just about the money. I had actually met Julian when I was very young. Many years ago, he’d taken up residence in my heart. But as it turned out, what wasn’t mine would never truly be mine. After hanging up with Mrs. Hayes, I put down my pen and drove out of the villa. I found a tattoo parlor on the side of the road. The owner looked at the tattoo on my ankle. “This flower is beautifully and carefully done. Are you sure you want to remove it?” I said flatly, “Remove it.” “Alright. It’s going to hurt a bit, so bear with it.” I looked at the tattoo on my ankle. Julian had learned the art for me, etching a black datura onto my skin himself during our first married year. He’d asked what I wanted. I’d said a black datura. Julian had looked puzzled. “Why this flower? Does it mean something to you?” I’d smiled. “No. I just like it.” He never knew its meaning: a wandering love, a desperate passion that sees its own end clearly. Just like my love for him. Now the dream was over. My love for him was fading, wilting like the datura blossom vanishing from my skin. I left the tattoo parlor, the ghost of the needle’s sting still on my arm. I hadn’t even reached my car when a Bentley glided to the curb. The door opened, and Julian stepped out. He looked quite surprised. “Jade? What are you doing here?”

Jade POV As soon as he asked, Julian seemed to remember something, and his handsome face clouded over. “Are you following me?” I was about to say no. Isabella got out of the car. “I think it’s just a coincidence. Ms. Miller wouldn’t stoop to following us.” “It is a coincidence. I’ll be going now, you two carry on.” I turned to leave, but Isabella grabbed my arm. “We haven’t formally met. Since we’ve run into each other, why don’t you join us for a meal, Ms. Miller?” She turned to the tall, imposing man beside her. “Julian, you don’t mind if I invite Ms. Miller, do you?” Julian’s eyes flickered with a complex expression for a few seconds, but ultimately, he didn’t refuse her suggestion. I was led into the restaurant. After we ordered, Isabella smiled at me. “Ms. Miller, you might not know, but Julian and I started dating in college. Many of our friends envied our relationship.” “These past few years, even though I was far away abroad due to unavoidable circumstances, I’ve heard things about you and Julian.” “Ms. Miller, I’m very grateful that you took such good care of Julian these past few years.” Seeing her openly grasp Julian’s hand, I immediately understood. Isabella had invited me to this meal to stake her claim. I noticed Julian made no move to pull his hand away. I wasn’t surprised, yet my heart still ached as if tiny ants were gnawing at it. I didn’t reply, instead making an excuse to go to the restroom. When I came out of the restroom, I saw Julian, tall and imposing, leaning against the wall. His eyes were murky. “Jade, Isabella and I-” “You don’t need to explain. I understand.” I tried to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist. “I know this isn’t fair to you, but she suffered so much alone abroad these past few years. If I hadn’t brought her back, she wouldn’t have survived out there.” A bitter ache tightened in my chest, forcing my gaze up to his. “Do you truly believe the Hayes would ever accept her?” He knew the answer. The Hayes would never accept Isabella. His lips thinned. “You will remain my wife. I won’t divorce you over this. But my heart…” But his heart was no longer mine. I thought of the past five years, how he’d rejected all flirtatious advances from other women for me, openly declaring I was his one and only, both in public and private. He remembered my every preference, my annual birthday, and every single one of our anniversaries. Even things I’d forgotten myself, he would meticulously remember for me. Yet that profound, devoted love was no longer exclusively mine. I forced a smile. “Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary.” “Jade…” “Just one more anniversary with me.” One last time. Because there would never be another. Let this be our final toast to what we once were. Julian was silent for a moment, then agreed. He released my hand, and I walked out of the restroom first, returning to our table. Julian and I leaving our seats one after the other had already displeased Isabella. Isabella watched me coldly. “What did you say to Julian?” I replied coolly, “None of your business.” “Jade, can’t you see by now? Julian loves me. I should be his wife! You’re just a thief who took advantage of his amnesia to steal five years of his affection for me!” Facing Isabella’s almost twisted fury, I sneered, “A thief is still better than the daughter of his enemy, isn’t she?” “Then I’ll make you see clearly whether it’s you, the thief, who matters more to him, or me, the daughter of his enemy!” Isabella exploded. She seized my wrists and slammed my palms down onto the red-hot stove burner. I didn’t even have time to react. A white-hot, violent agony shot up my arms and seared itself into my mind. Out of the corner of my watering eyes, I saw Julian rush over. Sensing him, Isabella instantly released me. With deliberate, chilling calm, she pressed her own hand onto the burner. A sharp, theatrical scream tore from her. “Isabella!” Julian was at her side in an instant. He saw her scalded hand, scooped her into his arms, and rushed out. “Julian-” I wanted to call out to him, but he was already gone. He never once looked back at me, even though my burns were far worse. Cold sweat drenched me. The pain ripped through every nerve, and soon, I fainted.

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Late that night, exhausted after a surgery, I saw my phone light up with a notification. It was from my intern. “I’m getting married tomorrow. Everyone must come!” Too tired to argue, I replied. “Congratulations. Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment.” But my intern threatened me. “You dare refuse? My fiancé is a major investor in this hospital. One word from me, and your career here is over. But if you show up tomorrow and work the serving line, I might reconsider.” Then, she flooded the entire hospital staff chat with wedding photos. I froze. The groom in the photos was my husband. The man I had lifted from nothing. The man I had built a life for. And here he was, throwing a wedding for his mistress? I immediately replied in the group chat. “Sweetie, I’ll be at your wedding tomorrow, right on time. I’ve prepared a grand gift just for you!” I arrived home to an empty house. It seemed my husband, Daniel Hayes, was still busy with his wedding preparations. When we first met, he was a broke college student. The investor he’d become existed only because of my family’s money. I smirked and called Mr. Jenkins, our butler. “Freeze all assets under Daniel’s name. Cancel every credit card. And prepare a grand gift for me. Have it delivered to the hotel hosting the wedding tomorrow.” The next morning, as I was walking out the door, a text from Daniel came through. “You’ve been working so many surgeries lately, you must be exhausted, my love. I’ll bring you a gift when I return from my business trip.” He played the role of the caring husband as usual. I replied. “Sure, I’ve got a little surprise for you too.” At the wedding reception, my intern, Tiffany Miller, held court in her white gown, glowing with triumph as she held court before our hospital colleagues. “My husband is the biggest investor in our hospital. I promise he’ll give everyone a raise soon.” Someone spotted me and immediately mocked. “Well, look who finally showed up. Dr. Reed, weren’t you too busy to attend?” A nurse beside her, eager to curry favor, tittered. “Oh, I heard she came to work. As part of the serving staff for Tiffany.” I couldn’t be bothered with these pathetic clowns. But when Tiffany saw my haute couture Chanel dress, her eyes flared with jealousy. “Fake designer? This is what you should be wearing!” She threw a grease-stained server uniform at me. Before I could react, she lunged, tearing at my collar, a sneer twisting her lips. “Old hag, nobody wants to see your body anyway, why don’t you just strip and change right here in front of everyone!” My strap instantly loosened, a large patch of skin exposed to the air. Gasps filled the room, and several leering, disgusting gazes immediately latched onto me. I shoved her away, clutching my dress. Then I grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the massive gift box. A foul, rotting smell drifted from it. I opened it slowly, deliberately. Inside were rotten cucumbers, black-spotted, soft and shriveled. Tiffany’s face instantly turned ashen. “Rachel Reed!” I replied. “Don’t you love used, rotten cucumbers? Here are 365 of them. One for every day of the year. That should be plenty to satisfy you.” Tiffany erupted in a furious scream. “Rachel! What are you saying? Who wants rotten cucumbers? You came here today just to start a fight!” “You’re just an old hag dumped by a man, jealous that I’m young, beautiful, and marrying well!” “I’m telling you, my husband will be here any minute, and with one word, he can get you fired from the hospital!” Tiffany was trembling with rage, lunging at me, trying to slap my face. I sidestepped, a cold smirk playing on my lips. “We’ll see who gets fired.” Tiffany exploded. “You bitch! You lunatic!” “You’re just jealous I snagged a rich man like Mr. Hayes, so you’re resorting to these pathetic tricks just to get attention!” I rolled my eyes. Her voice was grating on my nerves. “Tiffany, let me just confirm something. Are you absolutely sure you want to marry this man?” She lifted her chin, a picture of arrogant triumph. “Obviously. My Daniel is the hospital’s primary investor. Billions. The kind of wealth a doctor like you could never earn in your lifetime. Money comes easy to him.” “Marrying him makes me the rightful Mrs. Hayes, someone all of you will have to look up to!” A chorus of eager agreement rose from her clique. “Tiffany was born for this life. Unlike some, who at her age are still gold-digging!” “Dr. Reed, after this spectacle, how do you plan to stay in the department?” “Offending the investor’s wife? Your career here is finished.”

How utterly laughable. They accuse me of gold-digging? I wonder what expressions they’d wear if they knew I was the silent capital behind Daniel’s empire. My sole dream, since I was a child, has been to heal. This hospital was my father’s graduation gift. A place built for my ideals, a sanctuary where I could practice medicine without distractions. Daniel? What kind of investor was he? He was nothing more than a stray I could kick out anytime. Tiffany, seeing my silence, thought I was scared, and her smugness grew. She pulled out her phone, dialed a number, and deliberately put it on speakerphone. “Honey, where are you? I’m being bullied, hurry up and come!” “That Rachel from our department, she came to our wedding and caused a huge scene!” Daniel’s voice on the other end immediately panicked. “What? Rachel? Baby, don’t worry, I’ll be right there! Please, don’t let there be any conflict!” After hanging up, Tiffany’s chin lifted even higher. “Did you hear that? My husband is coming right now! Rachel, you’re dead today!” “Not only will you be kicked out of the hospital, but I’ll make sure you can’t work in the entire medical field!” The colleagues started whispering and pointing at me. “Oh no, she really pissed Daniel off now.” “Dr. Reed usually seems so smart, why is she so impulsive today?” “She’s in her thirties, acting like a teenager, jealous over a guy! What makes her think she can compare to Tiffany?” Tiffany looked at me provocatively. “Rachel, I’m giving you one last chance. For the sake of our time as colleagues, get down on your knees and apologize to me right now.” “And eat these damn rotten cucumbers, and I might consider asking my husband not to kick you out of the hospital.” “Otherwise, you’ll really pay for this!” I took a step forward, looking directly into her eyes. “You want me to kneel to you?” “Do you really think you’re worthy?” The next second, I yanked the marriage license from my bag and flung it at her face. “Open your eyes. The man you call your billionaire husband, Daniel, is legally married to me.” “You, you’re nothing but a mistress!”

The document hit Tiffany’s face, then fluttered to the floor. Tiffany froze for a heartbeat, then burst into exaggerated laughter. “Hah! Rachel, are you so desperate for a man you’ve gone insane?” “You actually forged it? Pathetic!” She snatched it up, her eyes skating over the text without truly seeing. “Fantasizing about my husband? Have you no dignity.” “I’d heard rumors about unhinged female doctors at this hospital. I never imagined it was you!” “Knowing my husband is an investor, you’ve completely lost all shame! What, are you going to drop your pants and spread your legs the moment you see him in person?” She turned to the surrounding guests and colleagues. “Everyone, judge for yourselves! This woman, just because she’s a senior in the department, is forging documents and spreading rumors that my husband is hers! Isn’t that ridiculous?” A doctor who usually flattered Tiffany immediately stepped forward. “Dr. Reed, we’ve known each other for years, how did we never realize you were so vile?” “Daniel is a powerful man! How could he ever be interested in an old hag like you! I advise you to leave now! Don’t make a fool of yourself here!” A group of people immediately started pushing and shoving me. “Get out! Don’t soil Tiffany’s wedding!” “You ungrateful, cheap whore!” I stumbled from the push, my lower back directly hitting the corner of a table. The exhaustion from ten hours of high-intensity surgery made my vision swim. I leaned against the wall, barely able to stand. Tiffany turned and splashed a glass of champagne in my face. “Hurry up and kneel to admit your mistake! I’ll be merciful and let you keep the job of waiting tables here at the wedding!” Just then, an unexpected person appeared. “Rachel, what are you doing here?”

I turned around, and froze. It was my mentor, Professor Peterson, a titan in the medical field. Ignoring the champagne on my face, I rushed to greet him. “Professor, what brings you here?” My mentor was the person I respected most. He had written my recommendation letter when I went abroad for advanced studies. He was like a father and a mentor to me. Professor Peterson patted my hand and sighed. “I heard a junior colleague was celebrating her marriage. I thought I’d come to offer my congratulations.” “I never imagined…” His gaze swept over the rotten cucumbers and Tiffany, who glared with resentment, and his brow furrowed. Tiffany immediately rushed over, sobbing. “Professor, you have to help me! She’s using her seniority to bully me!” Professor Peterson was known for protecting his own, especially the younger doctors in his department. “Rachel, what’s going on? Even if there’s a conflict, you shouldn’t be causing a scene at someone’s wedding.” Before I could explain, Tiffany twisted the truth. “Professor, Rachel is a total lunatic! She’s after my husband and came here to throw a fit and cause a scene! She even sent rotten cucumbers to insult me!” The colleagues around her also echoed her, twisting the truth. Professor Peterson listened to their words, his expression filled with disappointment towards me. “Rachel, you’re a cornerstone of our department, a role model for younger doctors. How could you do something so inappropriate?” “Quickly, apologize to her and take those things away.” A chill spread through my heart. Even my most respected mentor, without knowing the full truth, chose to believe Tiffany, the one who seemed like the victim. Tiffany then stepped forward, slamming a wine bottle directly onto my head. “You’re destroying our happiness. Don’t you know that brings bad karma, Dr. Reed?” “Daniel’s baby in my belly is three months old! It’s too late for you to try and get into his bed now!” Tiffany and her colleagues forced my head down to the ground. Glass fragments from the bottle instantly cut my face. But I just burst out laughing. How utterly hilarious! Pregnant? I pulled out my phone, ignoring the pain in my face, and sent a message to Mr. Jenkins. Tiffany froze, surprised by my laughter. I seized the opportunity to push her away and get back up. My eyes swept over the assembled crowd before locking onto Tiffany’s belly. “Since you want this child so badly, and you’re so desperate to be Mrs. Hayes…” “Then I’ll give you another grand gift.” Tiffany panicked. “What are you doing? What is this?” Seconds later, the hotel’s large screen lit up. Tiffany’s face paled the instant she saw what was on it. Daniel, who had just arrived, froze, his eyes locked on the screen.

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A wolf is a wolf. No matter how well it disguises itself as an innocent little rabbit, one day the mask will come off. If I had known he would grow up to devour me completely, I should have hardened my heart back then and let him fend for himself. We met at the orphanage, and after that, he just stuck to me. Looking at the guy seven years younger than me, I got a headache. Maybe I should just ditch him. I had no reason to sacrifice my whole life for some kid. But Jake, sitting on the couch, seemed to read my mind. His gloomy eyes suddenly turned red. He yanked me close, wrapped his arms around my waist, buried his head in my chest, and started sobbing quietly. “Are you leaving me too?” At fifteen, Jake was already taller than me. His hands behind my waist felt like red-hot iron, burning me all over. “Jake…” This brat even rubbed against my chest a few times. A jolt of electricity shot through me, making my whole body tingle. “Fine, fine! One more mouth to feed. I’ll take care of you for three more years. Once you’re an adult, you’re on your own!” Back then, I was too busy worrying about our future to notice the sly smile on Jake’s face buried in my softness.

“Emily, why aren’t you up yet? Didn’t you say yesterday you had something early today?” Jake was already waking me up first thing in the morning. Half-asleep, I snapped my eyes open the second he opened the door, quickly wrapping myself tight in the blanket, only my head poking out as I gave him an awkward smile. “I’m about to get up. You go out first.” Jake shot me a searching look. My heart was pounding. They say women hit their prime at thirty, and it’s true. I’m thirty now, living with Jake all these years, never finding the right boyfriend. Adults have needs. Last night, I took care of things in bed. At the height of it, my panties had vanished somewhere. Right now, I was completely bare under the covers. Him staring at me like that stirred something strange inside. It hit me suddenly: Jake had grown up. He was a full-grown man. “Why’s your face red? What are you getting up so early for?” Jake’s handsome face got closer and closer. My heart hammered. I gripped the blanket edge tight and closed my eyes. Warmth touched my forehead, breath brushing my face, tickling. I opened my eyes. My gaze landed on his straight nose and thin lips. He was pressing his forehead to mine. “No fever.” He was just checking my temperature. I let out a breath, but a little disappointment crept in too. “I’ve got a blind date. You always used to say you were too young for me to date anyone. Now you’re twenty-three. It’s not too much for me to find someone, right?” Jake’s face, about to pull away, came back. His strong arms braced on either side of my pillow. I watched his Adam’s apple bob. That clean, woody cologne only he wore filled my nose. This position was exactly like the one I’d seen in a video yesterday… Just the thought sent a warm rush straight to my core. Something threatened to spill out. I squeezed my thighs together in shame, avoiding his eyes. After a long pause, his low, husky voice sounded by my ear. “Breakfast is ready.” Jake left my room. I threw off the blanket, panting from the heat. Even after getting dressed, I still couldn’t find those soaked panties from last night. No big deal. Probably stuck in some crevice. They didn’t grow legs and walk out. I did careful makeup, picked a light blue sweater dress that hugged my figure, slipped on sheer nude stockings, and fixed my loose wavy hair. In the mirror, the pretty woman struggled with her necklace. “Jake, help me.” He stepped behind me, pinning me between the sink and his body. His fingers were cool from washing his hands. They brushed my hair aside, grazed my neck, then took the necklace ends from me. The touch made me shiver. “Hold still.” He murmured near my ear, so close that one turn of my head and I could kiss those thin lips… I zoned out watching him in the mirror, focused on fastening the clasp. “Done.” His hands rested on my shoulders. We smiled at our reflection together. We were so close. Leaning against his chest, I felt his strong heartbeat. The boy who once barely reached my height had quietly become a man. Standing together, we looked like a couple in love. Staring at us, I lost myself…

“Miss Emily?” Someone pulled me out of my daydream. The guy across the table looked annoyed. “Sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night. What did you say?” “I said we’re not getting any younger. My mom wants you to marry into our family soon and give her a couple grandsons. Sure, you’re very pretty, Miss Emily, but with your background and age, you’re not likely to find anyone better. Think it over and let me know. I’ve got another date to get to. Bye.” He rambled on, then got up and left. I even paid for his coffee. What a loser. Fuming, I called my best friend. We did spa treatments, caught a movie, had a candlelit dinner. Thinking of that jerk, I snapped a few cute pics and posted on social media: [Thanks babe, heading to the bar next. Such a full, happy day! xoxo~] At the bar, we clinked glasses. She asked my plans. “What plans? Keep dating, I guess. Lately I’ve been desperate. I need a strong, fit guy!” “Strong and fit? Isn’t Jake right there? Only seven years apart. You’ve known him forever—safe choice…” She teased me about Jake, but her words rippled through my calm heart like a stone dropped in a lake. Suddenly I really wanted to see him. I ditched my friend and took a cab home. The house was dark. I tripped over shoes at the entryway and nearly fell, landing in warm, solid arms. Buzzed from drinks, I ran my hands all over Jake. Had he been working out secretly? I felt abs. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven… A low groan escaped him. He caught my wandering hands. His breathing grew heavy in my ear. Maybe my alcohol rubbed off on him, because he gripped my waist and kissed me wildly, like he wanted to swallow me whole. “Jake…” Why did I start this? I raised him! He’s young and hot-blooded. I can’t mess up. With the last of my morals, I pushed him away. But he pinned me against the door, one hand holding both of mine above my head. “Who’s your ‘babe’? Who’d you go to the bar with tonight?” In the dark, I couldn’t see his face, but anger laced his voice. He’d never spoken to me like that. A thought hit me—could Jake actually like me? Alcohol slowed my brain. I didn’t know how to handle us, so I closed my eyes and pretended to pass out. He sighed helplessly, scooped me up gently, and laid me in bed. He didn’t do anything else, but before leaving, he brushed a light kiss on my lips. My eyelids grew heavy. I drifted off and, unsurprisingly, dreamed of Jake. Little Jake always trailed me calling “Sis, sis.” Grown-up Jake only called my name in that deep, sexy voice: “Emily.” When had he stopped calling me sis?

Next morning my head throbbed. Coming out of my room, I saw Jake had breakfast ready on the table. “Up? Eat. All your favorites.” He acted so normal I wondered if last night was just my fantasy. “Our Jake’s so domestic. Some lucky girl’s gonna snag you.” I teased, testing him. He went quiet. Awkwardness filled the air. I sat and sipped oatmeal silently. “Emily, since I’m so great, how about you take me?” My heart jumped. I couldn’t look up, nearly burying my face in the bowl. “What are you saying? I’m seven years older…” “So what?” He cut me off, pulled out the chair beside me, and sat. That nice woody scent filled my nose again. “Emily, I’ve liked you for a long time. If other guys are okay, why not me?” His sudden confession left me flustered and annoyed. His gaze burned too hot, making my cheeks blaze. But I couldn’t accept this yet. We both needed space. I made an excuse about work and fled the house, staying away four whole days. After living together over ten years, Jake knew me. He gave me time, didn’t push. Those four days I went on more dates, thinking a boyfriend would make him back off. But the guys were worse than ever—ugly and full of themselves. Compared to them, I started considering Jake’s offer. At least he was handsome, young, energetic, and could satisfy me. Days were painful with bad dates. Nights were torture. Staying at my friend’s, I heard her and her husband every night through the wall. They tried to keep quiet because of me, but the muffled sounds crawled into my ears anyway. The guilty thrill of listening only made it worse… I couldn’t stay there. I had to go home. To avoid awkwardness, I picked midnight. I crept in like a thief, quietly opening and closing the door. Then a familiar voice hit me. “Oh baby, I love you so much. I’ve wanted to do this to you forever…” Jake sounded pleased yet tormented, mixed with rhythmic heavy breathing that struck my nerves. Heat flooded me. My panties soaked through. My body wanted him, but anger burned hotter. He claimed to like me, yet four days apart and he brought another woman home? Furious, I stormed barefoot to his room. The door was ajar. Through the crack, I saw him. Naked on the bed, right hand stroking himself steadily, left hand holding fabric to his nose, inhaling deep. Eyes closed, brows furrowed, face twisted in an expression I’d never seen. He kissed the cloth. In the dim light, I recognized it. My body grew even wetter. Those were the panties I lost days ago! How did Jake have them? He was… “Ah…” “Emily, I love you…” His voice rose. His hand sped up. A white arc shot through the air. He finished, panting hard, eyes opening. Our gazes locked. I should have left, stopped watching. But my legs stayed rooted. My eyes couldn’t leave his body. First time seeing a grown man’s body in real life—strong, beautiful. I imagined being held by it. Jake grabbed his robe, put it on, opened the door, and stood before me. He towered a full head over me, blocking the light. I looked up at his shadowed face. My heart pounded again. I always knew he was gorgeous. After staring at him so long, how could I settle for the losers out there? Suddenly he pulled me into a tight embrace, bending to rest his head on my shoulder and neck. Hot breath tickled me. I squirmed. He held tighter, like reclaiming lost treasure. I thought I felt wetness on my shoulder. I reached up and rubbed his hair like when he was little. “Jake, I’m home.”

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I knew my true identity: the real heiress of an elite family. So I hurried to find my parents After the DNA test, Mom and Dad immediately announced my return to the public. Even Seraphina, the adopted daughter, didn’t make things difficult for me; instead, she tried everything to help me blend into our new upscale life quickly. But I was still unsatisfied, constantly stirring up trouble and making our home uncomfortable. Finally, after I hit the nanny, Mom couldn’t hold back anymore. Her voice cracked, “What exactly do you want?!” I pointed at Mrs. Davis. “She keeps comparing me to your other daughter. Says I’m an ugly duckling.” Then, I turned my finger to Seraphina. “Since I’m back, why are you still keeping her around?” Mom and Dad exchanged glances, trying to reason with me. “It wasn’t Seraphina’s fault that the babies were switched.” Yes, it wasn’t her fault. But was it my fault? “I refuse to live with her. It’s either her or me—one of us has to go!” “Stella, you…” Mom reached out, trying to grab me, probably hoping to say something soft and smooth things over like she used to. But I batted her hand away without a second thought, glaring at her fiercely. Dad immediately scolded me. “What kind of attitude is that?” “Is that how you treat your mother? So disrespectful?” I clutched my hair, screaming hysterically. “She’s not my mom, and you’re not my dad!” “You two are Seraphina’s parents! What am I? Just some random person who popped up out of nowhere? You probably wish I’d just died out there, didn’t you?!” As I yelled, my peripheral vision caught sight of the catalyst for this outburst. A box of strawberries that looked… less than fresh. Almost rotten. I snatched the strawberries from the table and hurled them to the floor. Then, I stomped on them with my shoes, crushing them until juice splattered everywhere. “With me and your precious daughter in this house, one is a princess, and the other is a beggar!” “She wants strawberries, and the nanny gives her the freshest, the best.” “I want them, and I’m only worthy of eating ones that have been sitting for a week, already going bad.” “When have you ever treated me like your own? Why does no one here respect me?” I always knew what the nannies whispered about behind my back. But I held it in. After all, what they said was true. If I kept causing trouble, I’d probably just earn the family’s annoyance. But the more I tolerated, the more they just sneered. “Someone who’s unloved? What good things could *she* possibly get to eat?” “These strawberries cost a thousand dollars for just five or six. Even rotten, she’s lucky to have them.” That’s when I finally realized the “delicious” big strawberries I’d been happily eating. They were actually Seraphina’s leftovers, the “trash” she didn’t want because she didn’t like them anymore. Why? I was the *real* daughter of this family! I screamed and cried relentlessly. But Mom and Dad just tried to calm me. “We’ll fire her immediately. If you want strawberries, we’ll take you to buy the best, the freshest ones right now.” Seraphina bit her lower lip, her voice surprisingly calm. “I didn’t know about any of this.” “I…” She said, trying to approach me. But I pushed her away without thinking. “You thief, why are you pretending to be a good person? You stole my life for so long, and you’re still putting on airs?” Seraphina fell to the floor, her head hitting the corner of the table, and blood started gushing. I froze in shock. Seeing this, Mom collapsed to the ground, utterly weak. Dad’s face showed clear anguish. Watching that scene, my hatred surged even more. Without a second thought, I bolted towards the balcony, straddling the railing…

They pulled me back. Mom and Dad grabbed hold of me. But I kept struggling, trying to throw myself off. “Let go of me! Either I die, or she’s out!” Only one thought consumed my mind. Get rid of Seraphina. Get rid of this thief, this robber who stole everything from me. Mom was crying uncontrollably. Yet, she still wouldn’t concede, wouldn’t agree to make Seraphina move out. It was Seraphina herself, clutching her bleeding head, who walked to the balcony and slowly knelt before me. “I’m so sorry. I’ll leave right now.” “I’m so sorry for taking your place for so long.” She looked pathetic. Blood streamed down her face, making her appear utterly disheveled. It was a blatant display of misery. But I knew she wasn’t faking it. She had always wanted to move out. It was Mom and Dad who wouldn’t let her. This time, Dad didn’t try to stop her; he just sighed helplessly. And Mom and Seraphina embraced, weeping together! That very night, Seraphina vanished from the house. A huge weight lifted off my chest, and a secret thrill coursed through me. Even when the nannies looked at me with strange eyes, I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. Instead, right in front of them, I took every single strawberry from the fridge and tossed them into the trash. “Strawberries are what I hate most.” “From now on, I forbid any trace of strawberries in this house. No, not just strawberries—anything connected to Seraphina is gone!” The nannies in the mansion didn’t dare to defy me anymore. They cleared out Seraphina’s belongings at top speed. This made me feel incredibly triumphant. After all, ever since I returned to this elite family. They had always looked at me with mocking eyes. Whispering behind my back about how I wasn’t as good as Seraphina. Whatever Seraphina told them to do, they did. For me, they just brushed me off! After I got rid of Seraphina, I felt great for a while. But then I saw how unhappy Mom and Dad were, and a slow unease crept into my heart. So, I tried to imitate Seraphina’s behavior, hoping to please them. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with trying to be like Seraphina. If I had grown up in this house, those things would have been *my* duties, not hers. I thought I could replace Seraphina. And I worked tirelessly towards it. Whether it was making coffee just the way Dad liked it. Or arranging flowers, Mom’s favorite pastime. Plus, all my regular lessons. I slept less than six hours every night. But all of it was just an illusion. And what shattered that pathetic fantasy was a house purchase agreement… Ever since I returned to this elite family, I’d gained many “enemies.” Those other socialites looked down on me, constantly mocking me. Seraphina’s rival, Veronica, was the worst of them. She’d sneer, “Though I’ve always hated Seraphina’s high-and-mighty act, compared to someone as low-class as you, dragging down our standards…” “I’d rather have her as the heiress.” I’d always been furious. So, after I drove Seraphina away. When Veronica came to provoke me again, I gloated about Seraphina being gone. “No matter what, fake is fake.” “Is some illegitimate child really better than the real thing?” But she just laughed and told me another truth. My parents had bought Seraphina a luxurious penthouse apartment. And whenever they said they were busy with business trips and wouldn’t be home overnight, they were actually at that apartment, spending time with Seraphina. “Idiot, you think you drove Seraphina away?” “But all you did was give her a huge apartment for free. That place is worth tens of millions!” “Do *you* have that?” “Oh right, your parents are gone; they’ve started a new family elsewhere.”

I didn’t believe it. But reason told me it was highly likely to be true. When I found the purchase agreement in my Dad’s study, clearly marked with Seraphina’s name. My rationality completely exploded. And I immediately went to their door, like I was catching them cheating. When Seraphina opened the door, I pushed past her first, storming into the apartment. Sure enough, Mom and Dad, who had told me they were out of town on a business trip, were right there. It was so cozy. My elegant biological mother was wearing an apron, holding a steaming dish. My father was at the table, reading the news. But when they saw me, their faces instantly paled. I ground my teeth together, a grating sound. “Did I interrupt your little family get-together?” A crushing wave of injustice washed over me. “Tens of millions for a house? How generous!” “Didn’t you say she’d go back to where she belonged?” Dad coughed heavily several times, then spoke to me with a very serious expression. “We had no choice.” “You lived in that place for over a decade. You know what it was like.” “If Seraphina went back, it would be no different from falling into hell!” Hell? I sneered. “That’s because she was *born* in hell.” “Like I give a damn?” “I know you think I’m not as graceful, gentle, or kind as her.” “I’m crass, petty, selfish, and have all the flaws of someone who suddenly got rich.” “But did I ever have a chance to grow up like her?” My foster parents, Seraphina’s biological parents. They were the laziest couple in the entire village. They wouldn’t work, wouldn’t earn money. They lived entirely off their elders’ money. When their children grew up, they’d leech off them even more. At four years old, I was already learning from my older foster sister how to collect recyclables to earn money for food. When I got a bit older, I went out to work, tirelessly doing handicrafts day and night. I often had to argue bitterly with people over a few dollars. I couldn’t afford to lose even a penny. I was sixteen this year, but my height was barely five feet. Even my periods had only just started. The family doctor said I was severely malnourished, and my body was severely weakened. I probably won’t grow any taller in this lifetime. “You feel sorry for her. So why don’t you feel sorry for me? That place you call hell, I lived there for sixteen years!” Even if Seraphina were sent back, she would still have a better life than I did. After all, my parents wouldn’t just leave her with nothing. And Seraphina was already grown; she’d just have to tough it out for two more years, get into college, and then she could escape those parents. Seraphina bit her lower lip, repeatedly saying “I’m sorry” to me. Mom finally couldn’t take it anymore. “What more do you want?!” “Yes, yes, you’ve suffered. You’ve been wronged.” “But whose fault is it?” “Do you think I *wanted* my own child to suffer out there? Do you think I *wanted* to raise someone else’s child?” “God played a cruel joke, letting you come out of my womb only to suffer a harsh life. Maybe I gave birth to the wrong child back then? Maybe Seraphina was destined for a good life, and you were destined…” She trailed off, her lips trembling. And I finished her sentence, asking, “Born worthless, right?”

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Five years into our marriage, Clara still didn’t love me. One day, we were arguing in the car, and I didn’t notice the truck speeding towards us. Before she died, she told me, guilt clouding her eyes: “I’m sorry, Fitzgerald. I tried to love you, but I just can’t forget him. We can only be friends, never lovers.” Blood from her forehead dripped onto my face. “Fitzgerald, in our next life, please let him and me be together, okay?” When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn. Given a second chance, I decisively called off our engagement, ready to let her be with my brother. But one question kept nagging at me. My brother, he died at birth. Who exactly did Clara love? “You’re giving up your engagement?” My father looked like he thought he’d misheard me. “You’ve loved her your whole life. When you were a baby, you didn’t reach for the books your mom and I prepared for you, you reached for Clara!” I lowered my gaze. “That was just when I was little…” My dad wasn’t one to force me. He watched me for a moment, then sighed. “Alright, perhaps it’s for the best. After all, you’re not the only boy in the Miller family. Your cousin, they’re still willing to accept it.” “Dad, could we offer it to my cousin?” “You don’t have a younger cousin.” My dad’s eyes widened. “You’re the youngest of your generation.” Huh? I’d always assumed the ‘brother’ Clara mentioned was some distant relative I didn’t know. “However, there is someone younger than you.” My dad sighed again. “But, you know…” I looked down. Yes, besides the brother who died at birth, I had no other siblings. “Dad, I want to choose my own bride. For now, please don’t tell the Jenkins family I’m breaking off the engagement.” With a heavy heart, I left home and headed straight to the cemetery, my mind a mess. My brother was buried there, beside my mother. I first laid flowers for Mom. Then I placed a shaved ice, some jelly, and a bag of chips in front of the smaller tombstone. Staring at the gravestone, which didn’t even have a photo: “Good brother, can you help your big brother find the ‘brother’ Clara talks about, okay?” After spending some time with my brother, I turned to leave. Another Maybach pulled up beside my car. Clara stepped out, a bouquet of flowers in her hand. Our eyes met, and we both froze. So many words rushed to my mind, but I didn’t know where to start. I took a deep breath. I wanted to ask if she was here to see my brother. Then I noticed the carnations in her hand. It suddenly dawned on me that today was also Mother’s Day. “Are you… here to see my aunt?” She scoffed, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. “Yes, I’m about to marry you, so of course, I have to come and tell her…” She stared at me. “…this good news.” She bit out those last words. My fists clenched, I fought back the sting in my eyes. “Don’t worry. If your loved one were still alive, I would absolutely help you both!” “Fitzgerald Miller!” Aside from my past life, this was the first time she had ever snapped at me. “Don’t talk nonsense.” My eyes red, I looked at her. “I’m serious!” “Fitzgerald Miller.” She brushed past me. “I haven’t even blamed you for taking his place, and you shouldn’t wish death upon him. “He was right, you really have become a cruel person.” I froze. Clara had already walked into the cemetery. I quietly turned and watched her kneel before my mother’s tombstone. That bowed back had once shielded me from the twisted metal of the car. “Mom, I’m getting married. Just wanted to tell you. “It’s to Fitzgerald Miller. “You always said your biggest wish was for me to marry someone I truly loved. “But, I’m going back on that. “I don’t love him. “He’s stubborn and won’t marry anyone but me. I’m afraid he might really hurt himself. “I know you liked Fitzgerald, and I don’t dislike him either, but love isn’t something I can force. “When the right person appears, one look is all it takes. “I’ll see him one last time at the investment summit in two days. This life, this is it.” Clara walked out of the cemetery. I was still standing where I was. “Clara, take me to the summit.” She paused, surprised. “Let me meet my ‘brother.’ I’ll make things clear with him.” I stared into her eyes. “Then, I’ll give you to him.”

Clara didn’t show the surprise I’d imagined. Instead, her face darkened. “You’re treating our engagement like a joke?” She took a step closer to me, looking up. “You were the one who insisted on marrying me, and now the whole world knows I’m marrying you, and you want to back out? What will people think of me?” “But…” “No ‘buts’.” Before getting into her car, she gave me a cold look. “If you really wanted to break it off, you wouldn’t have waited until today.” “I…” She didn’t wait for my explanation. The Maybach quickly disappeared from my sight. She knew me well. Backing out wasn’t my style. But all of that was before. Before I was reborn. Before I knew the fervent love she held for that ‘brother’ of mine. Clara, we were simply not meant to be. I learned that with my life. I truly wanted to help you, to repay your life-saving grace from my past. I sent her a message, begging her to give us both a chance. She didn’t reply. Only her sister relayed a message to me: “She said there will be decades together after the wedding, no need for pointless talk.” I had no choice. But two days later, a Maybach stopped at my door. Her face slowly appeared from behind the lowered window. “Get in.” I didn’t hesitate. It was a grand gala. The moment Clara and I appeared, we commanded everyone’s attention. The news of the two most powerful families in the social circle uniting had already spread far and wide. Clara stiffly accepted everyone’s congratulations. Her smile was tinged with bitterness, yet she never left my side. She was so conflicted. Loyal and passionate to her love, yet she also possessed an intense sense of responsibility towards her status. With everyone knowing she was my fiancée, She wouldn’t just abandon me here and openly seek out another man. And in my previous life, that very sense of responsibility was what I hated most. It allowed me to cling to the illusion that she might still love me. Then, when she used her life to save mine, to fulfill her wish, I vomited blood from the pain. “Clara, you don’t have to stay with me. Go meet whoever you want.” Her gaze was vacant, fixed on something ahead. “I’m going to the restroom.” With that, she left me. And she did indeed go to the restroom. No excuse to meet anyone. I recalled the direction she had been staring at. My gaze followed. A man in a black suit, his back to me, was chatting with some friends. He seemed to sense my gaze. He turned his head. Our eyes met. My breath caught. How could there be someone in this world who looked so much like me!

He froze too, for a moment. He sized me up and down. Then a dismissive, cold smirk touched his lips. He turned and walked away, his back to me. I hurried after him. “Wait! Excuse me, wait!” The man walked faster. “Wait… Ah!” My foot slipped, and I fell heavily to my knees. I tried to get up, but the entire floor was shaking. It wasn’t that I’d lost my footing. It was the building that was shaking! “Why is there a timer here!” “Oh no! It’s a bomb!” I ignored the panic around me because the man was already heading upstairs. “Wait!” I stumbled after him, my feet scrambling on the shaking floor. A creaking sound came from above. Screams erupted around me. “Don’t run! It’s going to fall on you!” “The chandelier’s broken!” But my eyes were fixed on that man. “Wait! I just want to ask you two questions!” “Fitzgerald Miller!” A massive impact threw me sideways. Clara, holding me, rolled several times across the cracking floor. The chandelier shattered exactly where I had been standing, leaving a huge crater in the granite floor. Before I could speak, the violent shaking made Clara’s nerves fray. Without a word, she dragged me out. Once we were outside the building, she collapsed to her knees. I rushed to support her. Blood dripped from her forehead. She lay in my arms, gritting her teeth. “Are you insane?” In that moment, I felt like I was back in my past life. She had knelt over me, her body so frail, yet shielding me from the twisted steel. But even then, she refused to let me touch her. “Clara…” “Fire! Put out the fire! Someone’s still inside!” The screams of survivors interrupted our conversation. Clara’s body stiffened. Ignoring her exhaustion, she pushed me away and stumbled to her feet. She frantically scanned the crowd of people who had escaped, her eyes searching back and forth. Her eyes instantly turned red. Then she turned and sprinted towards the burning building. “Clara Jenkins!” I tried to follow, but security guards held me back tightly. Clara’s figure disappeared into the inferno. I heard my own voice, almost a scream of despair. “Clara!” The crackling of construction materials in the fire threatened to consume my sanity. A security guard tried to reassure me. “We’ll stop Ms. Jenkins. The building is sealed off. She can’t get in.” “Sealed off…” My eyes were red. “Can anyone inside still get out?” “In… this situation, anyone who didn’t get out… they’re likely gone.” My legs gave out. The security guard held me firmly. That meant… that man, too… “Fitzgerald Miller!” Hearing that voice, my eyes lit up. Clara, her face streaked with ash and blood on her forehead, marched towards me. “Clara! You…” SLAP! A stinging slap landed hard on my face. It brutally cut off my “Are you okay?” “It was you, wasn’t it? You deliberately followed me here just to get him killed!” Even after five years of conflict in my previous life, She had never laid a hand on me. Nor had she ever, like now, pushed past so many security guards just to rush at me. I held my face, looking at her like she was a stranger. “How can you possibly think that?” “Hmph, your father works in specialized security. Out of everyone at the conference today, you’re the only one who could get a bomb like that!” My eyes immediately welled up. “What’s more…” She pushed past the security guard, taking sarcastic steps closer to me. “You usually get furious if I so much as speak to another man. How could you suddenly agree to meet him and offer to give up our engagement?” “Clara…” A bitter laugh escaped me. Her eyes were redder than mine. “I was so stupid. I actually thought you would help us. “I even brought you, the murderer, here myself. Ha… haha…” Her laughter grew more bitter. She slapped herself hard across the face. “Now there’s no one else between us. I’m stuck with you for life. Are you happy?” “Clara!” My eyes burned with tears. But she didn’t spare me another glance. She turned. Stumbled away. And walked further and further. Blood trickled from her sleeve, leaving a trail on the ground where she’d walked. That was from when she’d been cut by the chandelier while saving me.

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Five months into my pregnancy, I was still working. Just before signing a major contract, the new intern, Amber, handed me a cup of almond tea. I have a severe almond allergy. I went into anaphylactic shock on the spot. When I woke up, I had lost the $30 million contract and the baby I was carrying. I never imagined my husband, Damien, the CEO, would only fine the intern $300, then turn to fire me: “Celeste, Amber didn’t mean it. I’ve already fined her $300. You’ve had a miscarriage, you’re not fit for work. Go home and recover.” “Is our child only worth $300?” I sneered. Then I noticed two fresh scratch marks on Damien’s backside, and it all clicked. The moment he closed the bathroom door, I called his biggest rival, Devin. When we first started the company, we were dirt poor. I worked myself so hard back then, doctors told me it would be difficult for me to conceive. That’s why I was so careful after I got pregnant. I had planned to take maternity leave right after this $30 million deal was signed. But I never expected to miscarry. I remembered telling everyone at a company gathering about my almond allergy. Amber was there. But now, with tears in her eyes, she claimed: “I truly had no idea you were allergic to almonds.” Damien shielded her behind him. “You can’t blame her entirely. Couldn’t you tell if there were almonds in the tea yourself? A $300 fine is enough.” Amber continued to sob: “Celeste, you have such a rich husband in Damien. $300 might be nothing to you. But for me, it’s a box of my father’s medicine. I have to work three days to save that much.” With that, Amber burst into tears and ran out. My husband, of course, chased after her. I stood in the office, a bitter smile on my face. I had taken pity on her during her interview and hired her, never imagining I had fostered a viper who was now sinking its fangs into me. Just then, my phone chimed. It was a SnapChat video from Amber. The screen showed Damien tenderly kissing away her tears. “It’s just $300, don’t cry. I’ll transfer three million to you later, okay?” Amber, eyes red, playfully punched his chest. “No! What do you mean by five million? Is this payment for making me your mistress? I’m not that cheap; I don’t want to be a mistress…” Damien grabbed her hands, tossing her onto the bed before telling her: “You’re not a mistress. You’re my lover.” The screen then went black, leaving only their muffled moans. A sharp pang shot through my heart. Amber was his lover? What did that make me, his wife who’d stood by him for seven years, building his company from the ground up? When we first got married, Damien’s engagement ring was an aluminum can tab. He knelt, promising me: “Celeste, I’ll love and protect you for life. Once I’m rich, I’ll buy you the most beautiful ring.” Now, he was successful, but his vows were long forgotten. I choked back my tears, drafted the divorce papers, and signed them.

After being discharged from the hospital, I drove back to the office to pack my things and process my resignation. In my drawer, I kept a bracelet my mother wore, the only memento she left me. I pushed open the door, only to find Amber sitting happily at my desk, applying makeup—even using *my* cosmetics! Seeing me, she sneered: “Damien said this office is mine now. Some old women are just useless, can’t hold onto a baby, a man, or a job.” Her words stung, my eyes reddening. I reached out to slap her, but a large hand grabbed mine. Amber immediately pouted, tears streaming down her face. “Damien, Celeste told me to get out, said I made her seat dirty.” Damien stepped in front of her, explaining: “You’re going home anyway. Just let her have this office. Perfect, it’ll make her work hard to make up for the losses you caused last time.” I let out a cold laugh. Was this a punishment or a reward? Amber was just an intern; she had no e-commerce experience, let alone live streaming. How could she possibly take over my position? But I was too tired to argue. I just wanted to leave quickly. As soon as I opened the drawer, my mother’s necklace was gone. I asked Amber: “Where did you put the jewelry box that was in here?” She spoke dismissively: “Oh, that old box? I threw it away. It’s probably at the dump by now. Looked like it was only worth ten bucks, I’ll pay you back.” I slapped her directly across the face: “That was my mother’s only memento! No amount of money can ever replace it!” I was the one heartbroken, yet Amber ran off crying, covering her face. “It’s your fault for not keeping it safe, and now you’re blaming me? I bet you just want to drive me away. I have to pay for my dad’s medical bills, and you just want me to lose this job. You’re trying to kill me! I’ll just go kill myself now!” Amber rushed out crying. Damien’s brow furrowed, and he instinctively started to follow her. Trembling, I called out to him from behind: “You can go after her, but sign my resignation letter first.” But he didn’t stop, just glanced at me coldly. “Celeste, when did you become so petty? Are you really going to force Amber to her death? It’s just a bracelet. I’ll buy you a better one.” With that, Damien walked out without hesitation. I tightly clutched my resignation application and went to HR. The employee in charge looked troubled. “Celeste, without Mr. Damien’s signature, your resignation won’t be effective unless you pay the penalty for breach of contract.” I didn’t hesitate. I immediately called Sterling Corporation, his rival company: “You’ve been trying to poach me, haven’t you? I’ll participate in the live selling competition for you in three days. But you have to pay my termination fee.”

After I hung up, Damien had already coaxed Amber back. The termination fee from Sterling Corporation was due in three days, and then I could leave. I ignored them both, quietly returning to my office to pack my things. But no sooner had I sat down than Amber strutted in, her head held high, sweeping my belongings directly off the desk. “Celeste, I’m the streamer now, and Damien said this office belongs to me too. You’re just a junior employee in charge of samples, your spot is over there.” I followed her pointed finger. Beside the trash can was a new workstation, its desk so narrow it was hard to even rest a hand on it. Amber leaned in close to my ear, her voice dripping with provocation: “Damien said you were old and ugly, unlike me, young and beautiful. He wants to look at *me* more, to ‘cleanse his eyes’ of you.” I looked through the glass partition at Damien, my nails digging deep into my palms, yet I felt no pain. He had once specially designed these two unique offices, separated only by a transparent glass wall, just so he could glance at me more during work. He used to say I was his motivation to strive harder. Now, he was making me give even this up to someone else. I tilted my head back, refusing to let the tears fall, and uncharacteristically, didn’t object. I silently walked out. Damien, watching from next door, frowned deeply. He knew perfectly well how much I loved this office, how I’d lean on the desk and watch him after every stream. He had been prepared for me to throw a fit, but my quiet acceptance filled him with a sudden panic. For the first time during working hours, he approached me, explaining: “I’m just doing this to supervise her work, to help her pay back the $30 million as quickly as possible. That’s why I let her temporarily move into your office. Once she pays it back, I’ll make her move out. Celeste, I know you’re upset about losing the baby. How about I take you shopping to get your mind off things?” Thinking about the jewelry I still needed for the awards ceremony tomorrow, I didn’t refuse. I got into his Maybach, treating it as a convenient ride. Soon, I spotted a beautiful sapphire necklace. To my surprise, the sales associate approached me, looking apologetic, to say it had already been purchased. Disappointed, I settled for another one. But as I scrolled through my Ins feed in the car, I saw Amber’s latest post. The picture was none other than the sapphire necklace I had just admired, with the caption: “Damien has such good taste! I’ll wear this to meet our new business partners later.” Before I could react, the passenger door opened, revealing a meticulously dressed Amber. Damien glanced at me, stating matter-of-factly: “You’re Amber’s assistant now. Sit in the back. We’re going to meet the partners together.” So, his initiative was just to have me help Amber pick out a necklace. I forced a bitter smile and moved to the back seat. Then, I watched Amber expertly pull a compact from the car pocket to touch up her makeup. Inside, I vaguely glimpsed an opened box of condoms. I looked away, my heart numb. I thought I couldn’t feel pain anymore, but then, in the private dining room, Amber gave a coy smile as a business partner raised a glass to her. “Oh, I can’t drink right now.” The partner curiously asked, “Why not?” She placed a hand on her stomach, revealing a diamond bracelet on her wrist, and looked directly at Damien, making no effort to hide it. “Because I’m pregnant, and my husband bought me this diamond bracelet especially.” Seeing that bracelet, I let out a cold laugh. He had promised me an engagement ring, a bracelet – he’d bought me nothing. Now, he was so generous with his lover. No wonder he wasn’t sad when I miscarried. They already had a baby together. Amber’s face was alight with smug triumph as she watched my pale complexion, but she still wasn’t done with me. “Even though I can’t drink, Celeste can. Why don’t you let her drink on my behalf? Damien, what do you say?”

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After the divorce, he barged into my home with a knife in his hand. He said, “You think getting divorced means you can get rid of me?” “I’m telling you right now—you’ll never escape me for the rest of your life.” In that moment, I finally realized— he had never seen me as a person. I was nothing more than something he had lost control of and was determined to take back. What he didn’t know was this: it was nothing but a trap I had set, meant to get rid of him once and for all. 0 Lucas and I had fallen in love naturally. We worked for the same company but in different departments. One day, we met while collaborating on the same project. That was when Lucas fell for me, head over heels. He went out of his way to win my affection. At 28, I wasn’t getting any younger, and my parents were pressing me to settle down. They even threatened to set me up with someone if I didn’t bring home a boyfriend for the holidays. Lucas, tall and broad-shouldered with a bright, charming demeanor, had exactly the look that melted my heart. It didn’t take long for me to agree to date him. We dated for two years, meeting each other’s families during that time. Eventually, under pressure from both sides, we tied the knot. This year marked our first New Year’s as a married couple. As a daughter living away from home, I couldn’t help but yearn to spend the holidays with my parents. So I suggested to Lucas that we visit his family first, then head to my parents’ place in Oakridge on December 31. Initially, Lucas wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but my persistent coaxing won him over. To sweeten the deal, I bought him the gaming console he’d been eyeing for months but had been too frugal to buy. Once he had that console, a grin never left his face. With the plans finalized, I threw myself into getting everything ready for the trip. Finally, on December 24, we packed up the car and drove to Dry Creek, KY, where Lucas’s family lived. His parents and sisters were delighted to see us, especially since I had thoughtfully prepared expensive gifts for everyone. The first few days at their house were pleasant. Then came December 31. I didn’t want to risk getting stuck in a traffic jam, so on December 30, I loaded everything we’d need for my parents’ house into the car. That night, I encouraged Lucas to get a good night’s rest so we could hit the road early. The thought of reuniting with my family after six months filled me with so much joy that I couldn’t sleep. The alarm rang early, and I sprang out of bed. Lucas was still asleep, so I gently woke him up. “Babe, I’m going to wash up. You should get up too, freshen up, and we’ll grab a quick bite before heading out.” I was too excited to notice the odd expression flickering across his face. After washing up and getting dressed, I waited for a long while, but Lucas didn’t come out. By the time I checked the clock, it was already 9:30 a.m. Worried about holiday traffic, I went back to the bedroom to wake him. When I opened the door, I found Lucas burrowed under the covers, snoring so loudly it could shake the walls. Peeling back the blanket, I saw the dark circles under his eyes and remembered how hard he’d worked preparing for the holidays. Feeling a twinge of guilt, I decided we could leave after lunch. Quietly, I tucked him back in and left the room. In the yard, I called my parents to let them know we’d be late and went to the kitchen to prepare lunch. 0

After lunch, I began urging Lucas to start driving me back to my parents’ place. “Everything’s packed. You just need to drive,” I said, grabbing his arm and leading him toward the car. “It’s a long trip, but you can drive the first leg. When we get to a rest area, we’ll swap, and I’ll take over. That way, we won’t get too tired, and we might even make it in time for dinner!” I was so caught up in my excitement that I didn’t notice the growing irritation on Lucas’s face. As we approached the yard gate, he suddenly pulled his arm away and bellowed, “I’m not going!” The force of his words stunned me. I froze for a moment, staring at him in disbelief. “What did you say?” I stammered. His face was etched with frustration. Without sparing me a glance, he repeated, “I said, I’m not going,” and turned to walk back into the house. I hurried after him, grabbing his arm again. “Lucas Mills! What do you mean, you’re not going? You promised we’d spend New Year’s at my parents’ house! What’s this all about?” He yanked his arm free and snapped, “I said I’m not going because I don’t feel like it. Can’t you understand that?” He stormed off, leaving me standing there, stunned by his blunt dismissal. As I watched him walk away, realization hit me like a ton of bricks. The promise to spend New Year’s Eve with my family had been a lie. He had lured me to Dry Creek, far from my parents in Oakridge, knowing I’d be trapped. Without the car keys, and with the holiday rush making it impossible to buy a bus ticket, I had no way of leaving. It was all a calculated move to ensure that I had no choice but to stay here for New Year’s. Fury welled up inside me. I charged toward him and kicked him hard in the leg. “Lucas Mills! You planned this, didn’t you? You never intended to visit my parents, did you? You lied to me!” Lucas winced but quickly switched tactics, his tone softening as he tried to pacify me. “Maya, think about it. You’re my wife now. You do as I say. We’re staying here.” I let out a bitter laugh. “That’s not how my family works! My parents, my brother, and my sister all want me to come home. Just because your family doesn’t want their daughters back doesn’t mean mine feels the same way!” Seeing that I wasn’t backing down, Lucas tried again, his voice turning cold. “Maya, if you leave, what will people here think? What will they say about me? About my parents? Can’t you just give me this one year? Stay here, for my sake.” “Your sake?” I snapped, glaring at him. “Your reputation? That’s what this is about? You agreed to go, and now you’re backing out. You’re disgusting!” Lucas’s expression darkened, but he admitted, “If I hadn’t agreed, you would’ve argued endlessly. So yeah, I said yes to keep you quiet.” I stared at him, dumbfounded. “Are you seriously trying to pin this on me?!” I demanded. To my shock, he nodded. “Well, yeah. Who else am I supposed to blame, Maya?” A laugh bubbled out of me, bitter and furious. “Lucas Mills, you have the nerve to blame me for your lies? You’re unbelievable!” Before I could say more, a commotion drew my attention. Lucas’s parents, Patricia and Robert, along with his sisters, Chloe and Hailey, poured out of the house. Their expressions ranged from smug satisfaction to thinly veiled disdain. Clearly, they’d overheard the argument. Lucas’s ego couldn’t take the hit. His face twisted in anger, and before I could react, he slapped me across the face. The force of the blow left me reeling, tears springing to my eyes. “You coward!” I yelled, clutching my stinging cheek. Furious, I raised my hand to strike back, but he grabbed my wrist and twisted it sharply. Pain shot through my arm. Before I could cry out, a heavy blow landed on my head. The world spun, and my vision blurred. The fireplace poker he’d swung at me clattered to the ground as I crumpled. The moment I hit the dirt, his kicks and punches started raining down. “You don’t listen!” he shouted. “You had to keep pushing me!” “You’re desperate to go back to Oakridge? Why? Got a lover waiting for you?” “You’re nothing but trouble!” I curled into a ball, shielding my head with my hands, trying to endure the relentless assault. Amid the chaos, I heard his family’s voices, loud and gleeful. “Teach her a lesson, Lucas! She needs to learn to obey!” Patricia crowed. “Don’t hit her too hard, son. You don’t want her too bruised for tonight,” Robert added, laughing cruelly. “She needs this,” Chloe chimed in. “Who does she think she is, trying to go back to her parents’ house?” “Hit her harder, Lucas!” Hailey yelled. “If she’s still moving, you’re not doing it right!” Their taunts echoed around me as I lay there, battered and broken. It was in that moment I realized the full extent of the nightmare I’d walked into. This family wasn’t just cruel—they were monsters. I tried to push myself up, to fight back, but the dizziness overwhelmed me. The first blow to my head must have caused a concussion. My vision swam, and darkness crept in. As my consciousness slipped away, I heard their laughter, loud and unrelenting, as they returned to the house. I was left alone in the yard, discarded like trash. 0

The winter wind bit into my skin like icy needles, making every part of me ache. The cold night air howled through the yard as I slowly opened my eyes. It was a moonless, star-filled night. I was still lying in the corner of the Mills’ yard, abandoned and forgotten. Inside the house, Lucas’s family was gathered, enjoying their New Year’s Eve dinner and watching the ball drop on TV. The pain radiating from my body brought me fully back to my senses. I tried to move, wincing as I propped myself up against the corner of the wall. The sting in my head and the bruises on my body were made worse by the bitter wind cutting through my clothes. I was cold to my core—inside and out. That’s when everything became clear. The Mills weren’t just cruel. They were monsters. They had stood by as Lucas beat me, egging him on, as if my suffering were a spectator sport. This was their way of showing me my place. In their eyes, now that I was married to Lucas, I belonged to him—and by extension, to them. If I dared to resist their rules, they’d punish me however they wanted. I wasn’t a wife to them. I was their servant, their obedient daughter-in-law, their personal ATM. I looked through the window at their cheerful gathering. Holding onto the wall for support, I moved as silently as possible. Fortunately, Lucas’s bedroom was far enough from the dining room that they couldn’t hear me. I crept into his room, my fingers trembling as I rummaged through his clothes. Finally, I felt the cold metal of the car keys in his pocket. With the keys secured, I grabbed my phone and purse. In the dark, I slipped back out of the bedroom and toward the main gate. Luckily, the gate wasn’t fully shut, just left slightly ajar. I nudged it open just enough to squeeze through, keeping as quiet as possible. Once outside, I ran. I ran as fast as my battered body would allow, heading for the community parking lot where all the neighbors parked their cars. The moonlight guided me, and the pain in my body spurred me on. When I finally reached the car, I climbed in and locked the doors. My hands shook as I inserted the key into the ignition. For the first time all night, I allowed myself a small sigh of relief. I pulled myself together and started driving, leaving Dry Creek and the Mills far behind. On the way, I called my parents. Through tears and sobs, I recounted everything that had happened. On the other end of the line, my dad’s furious voice shouted curses while my mom and siblings exclaimed in outrage. They told me to head straight for my house in Knoxville, where I’d be safe, and assured me they’d come the next day with the whole family to confront the Mills. By the time I reached my house, I was emotionally and physically drained. I barely managed to crawl into bed before sleep claimed me, the tension finally leaving my body. 0

I woke up to the smell of food—a warm, comforting scent that coaxed me from sleep. When I opened my eyes, my mom was sitting by my bedside, holding a bowl of my favorite chicken and rice soup. “Maya, you’re awake,” she said gently, setting the bowl on the nightstand and helping me sit up. Her eyes filled with worry as she brushed a hand over my forehead. “Eat a little, sweetie, and then get some more rest,” she said softly. I nodded, taking the bowl and sipping the soup. Its warmth spread through me, easing the chill in my soul. I had just finished eating when a loud shout echoed from the living room. “I’ll kill his sorry ass!” It was my dad. A loud slap of a hand hitting the table followed. I quickly got dressed and went downstairs with my mom. The living room was packed with family members, all of whom had rushed over after hearing what happened. My dad, his temper blazing as usual, had already been yelling for a solid ten minutes, supported by my uncles. When I entered the room, everyone turned to look at me, their faces filled with anger and concern. My uncles pulled out their phones, calling their kids and urging them to bring more people over for support. My sister and cousins hurried over to help me to the couch. As women, they understood my pain on a deeper level, and their expressions mirrored my own outrage and sorrow. Soon, the house was overflowing with family members, especially my brothers and male cousins, who came ready to back me up. Everyone turned to me, asking what I wanted to do next. “Maya, whatever you decide, we’re with you,” my cousin Ryan said firmly. “Yeah, Maya! This is outrageous! Who just beats someone like that?” another chimed in. The room buzzed with voices, all discussing how to handle the Mills and get justice for me. My parents were the most decisive of all. “Maya, you need to divorce that bastard,” my dad said firmly. “We’ll support you,” my mom added. “We’re not too old to work, and we’ve got good pensions. We can take care of you, no problem.” My siblings chimed in, agreeing wholeheartedly. “Maya, I’ll send you money every month if it comes to that,” Nathan promised. “Same here,” Chloe added. “Whatever you need, we’ll make it happen.” “Divorce him, Maya,” they said in unison. They handed me their credit cards without hesitation. “Here, use these. Buy whatever you need,” Chloe insisted. I leaned back on the couch, their unwavering support filling me with newfound resolve. “You don’t need to worry. I’m divorcing him, no question about it. And I’ll make sure to get every cent I deserve from that scumbag!” My determination reassured them, and they began making plans to confront Lucas’s family. Just as we were about to leave, my phone rang. It was Lucas. I smirked, put him on speaker, and answered. “What do you want, Lucas?” “Maya Reyes! Where the hell are you?!” he bellowed. “Where are my car keys? Where’s the car? Did you seriously steal my car? You’d better get your ass back here, or I’ll break your legs!” Everyone in the room fell silent, listening as he ranted. “It’s just New Year’s! You’re throwing a fit because I wouldn’t take you home? You know wives are supposed to stay with their husband’s family for the holidays!” “And don’t make a big deal about me hitting you. That’s just how things are! A wife needs to be taught a lesson now and then!” “You didn’t die, did you? Didn’t break any bones? So what’s the problem? You should be thanking me for teaching you a lesson!” “Get your ass back here and start cooking dinner. Everyone’s waiting for you!” Before he could hang up, my dad snatched the phone. “So hitting my daughter was for her own good, huh? Should I come over and ‘teach’ you a lesson by breaking a few bones?” “Why don’t you go clean a toilet with that dirty mouth of yours instead of talking about my daughter?” “Though I suppose it’s hard for you to tell the difference between your brain and your gut. They’re both full of crap!” Lucas was left stammering, completely out of comebacks. “D-Dad, it’s not like that… Maya must’ve exaggerated. You’re misunderstanding the situation…” Before he could continue, my mom grabbed the phone. “My daughter doesn’t lie, you spineless coward. You’d better prepare yourself!” She slammed the phone down and pulled us all toward the door.

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I decided to give up applying to the same university as Ethan and chose the school of my own dreams. My parents were surprised—I had finally come to my senses. Only I knew that in my previous life, I had chased him to the train station; my parents followed me and died in a car accident on the way home. I was forced into marriage, gave birth, dropped out of school, and spent twenty years carrying the entire family alone. In the end, my husband smashed my head with his own hands. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment of decision. This time, I will no longer be bound by the past, nor will I save his life. The day I changed my college application, my dad walked into the study, glanced at me, and nodded approvingly. “Good. With your Stanford acceptance, you should attend a top university! Stop chasing after that Carter boy. What’s so great about him anyway?” My mom, hearing this from the kitchen, rushed in and pulled my dad away, giving him a stern look. I watched my parents leave, smiling, but suddenly felt a lump in my throat. In my previous life, I had run out late at night to find Ethan at the train station. My parents, searching for me, were killed by a drunk truck driver. I never got to see them one last time. Fighting back tears, I moved the mouse and clicked the confirm button to change my college application without hesitation.

In my previous life, Ethan, my childhood sweetheart, suddenly announced he wanted to become a singer and pursue his dreams in New York. But before that, he had always said being with me and attending the same college was his dream. I had even wasted my Ivy League admission to apply to the same average state college as him. But two days before the acceptance letters arrived, he suddenly said he was going to New York to chase his dreams. His sick parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carter, came knocking on our door in the middle of the night, begging me to help find their son. In my previous life, I went. My parents, worried about me, followed and ended up in a car accident. Ethan was later found by me. When he heard his parents say that my parents’ deaths were his fault, they insisted he had to make it up to me. So they forced Ethan to get engaged to me, planning for us to marry right after college graduation. But I got pregnant in my sophomore year and had to take a break from school. We hastily got married, I went through pregnancy and childbirth, and took care of the baby. Two years flew by, and just as I was excitedly planning to return to school, his parents fell seriously ill and came to stay with us for treatment. Ethan said to me: “They’re my parents, they need help now. We’re family. It’s what you do.” As for himself, he always claimed work was too busy, that he needed to make money for “our future,” pushing the full burden of caring for his parents and our child onto me. At the time, to save Ethan’s face, I didn’t mention that his monthly salary of $3,500 wasn’t even enough to cover the children’s formula and normal household expenses. Later, I had to sell our old house to pay for his parents’ medical bills and raise our two children. But while I gave up my education and struggled to manage the whole family, he was out making a bunch of fair-weather friends with his meager $3,500 salary. What little money he had left, he spent on making music, claiming he was fulfilling his dream. Crushed by the pressure of family life and after several failed attempts at communication, we started having huge fights. Things got so bad that our marriage counselor even suggested a trial separation, and Ethan’s boss had warned him that his personal issues were affecting the team. He began calling me bitter and narrow-minded, saying if it wasn’t for me forcing him to come back, he would have already become a big star in New York. He even accused me of using my parents’ death to emotionally blackmail him into marrying me. I didn’t hold back either, calling him delusional, saying his terrible voice made his dream of becoming a singer nothing but a pipe dream! When he brought up my parents’ death, I went crazy, lunging at him to shut him up, only to be violently pushed away. After that, Ethan deliberately started staying away from home. His parents, unable to see their son, blamed everything on me, complaining that I was immature and petty, only knowing how to anger their son. They completely forgot how they had begged me to find their son in the first place. In this miserable life, I gritted my teeth and tightened my belt to do odd jobs and earn money to support the family. But the children I had worked so hard to raise were never close to me, instead being affectionate towards the irresponsible Ethan. I thought the children would understand when they grew up, but I waited for over twenty years, until they were married with families of their own. But they competed to have Ethan live with them, while remaining cold and distant towards me. “Mom, you controlled us too much in the past. We don’t want to hear your lectures anymore.” “Dad’s youthful dreams were stifled by you. Now that he’s older, we want to take him to New York to chase his dreams again.” “Grandpa and Grandma were right. You just want everyone to live according to your plans. You’re so selfish!” I never expected my children to say such things. Devastated, I returned home to find Ethan smugly packing his bags, gloating that he was about to leave me for a better life. After dedicating over twenty years to this family, all I was left with was a reputation for being selfish and controlling. Why did Ethan get to be so carefree? Never taking care of the family or responsibilities, yet ending up as the open-minded father in our children’s eyes? I rushed forward and pushed Ethan. He was stunned for a moment, then immediately grabbed a vase and smashed it towards me. “Damn you, you dare to lay hands on me? I’ll beat you to death…” So our deaths were actually the consequence of our mutual assault. As we both fell to the ground, I was still praying in my heart: if there’s a next life, please don’t let me meet Ethan again.

The day I was reborn happened to be the day I changed my college application. Seeing my parents still by my side, I was determined not to get involved with anything related to Ethan again. After the college entrance exam, parties came one after another. I had just finished a gathering with close classmates when I saw Ethan in the distance, laughing and chatting with his buddies. “I heard Ethan isn’t going to college. He’s going to New York to be a singer!” “Wow, isn’t that the trendy thing now, chasing dreams in the big city? If he becomes a big star, should we ask for some autographed photos now to keep as investments?” “Chloe, didn’t you grow up with Ethan? Did you know he was going to New York?” My friend nudged me, and my gaze happened to meet Ethan’s as he turned his head. With just that one look, I was certain that Ethan had also been reborn. “I don’t know. I have something to do. I’m leaving first.” I turned away without a second thought. If he wants to go to New York, let him go. What does his life have to do with me?

As the day of Ethan’s departure drew near, I whined to my parents about missing Grandma and wanting them to take me to see the new pony at her place. My parents always doted on me, so they packed up without hesitation and took me out. Just then, Mrs. Carter opened her door and was surprised to see us leaving. “Going out?” My dad nodded with a smile, “The kid misses her grandma, so we’re going for a few days.” Mrs. Carter smiled and nodded, watching us leave. I pretended to be nonchalant, but in reality, I was clenching my fists tightly in hatred, trying not to let my emotions show. It was laughable how in my previous life, I thought Mrs. Carter truly cared for me. It wasn’t until later that I realized her intentions were never pure from the beginning. She had long had her eye on our house, which was why she worked so hard to bring Ethan and me together after my parents passed away. Back then, having lost my parents, I was crying every day. The gentle and good-natured Mrs. Carter took care of me daily, making me let down all my defenses. Add to that my feelings for Ethan, and I naturally agreed. Little did I know that they had been planning this all along. I took a deep breath, hiding the slight trembling caused by my anger, and started chatting with my parents about Grandma’s new pony, while catching a glimpse of Ethan hurrying away out of the corner of my eye. Ethan must have realized that I had also been reborn, so he had to move up his plan to run away and chase his dreams. My parents and I had just arrived at Grandma’s house and were enjoying dinner when Mom received a call from Mrs. Carter. “Ethan is insisting on going to New York to be a singer. He’s not going to college anymore. Now he’s acting like it’s a matter of life and death, and his father and I can’t talk him out of it… Could you ask Chloe to come back and try to persuade him? After all, the two kids are close, and Ethan listens to Chloe!” The script was almost identical to my previous life. Mom looked at me, a bit troubled. After all, it wasn’t easy to go back at this time from the countryside. I calmly put down my fork and took the phone from Mom’s hand. “Mrs. Carter, this is Ethan’s own decision. I have no right to interfere, and even if I did, he would resent me for it. I think you should respect his choice!” I hung up decisively, not forgetting to block Mrs. Carter’s number. My swift series of actions left even my parents stunned. Grandma was the first to speak up, telling them to continue eating, muttering that other people’s business is their own karma, and we shouldn’t interfere. I thought Grandma’s words couldn’t be more right! After dinner, I was crouching in the yard, petting the dog’s soft head, when my parents came over. “Chloe, what’s been going on with you lately…” Mom hesitated, “It feels like you’re different somehow.” Dad didn’t say anything, but he looked at me with concern. Their gaze made my nose tingle, and as I wiped my eyes, I realized there were actually tears. “Mom, Dad, let me tell you something. I had a dream.” I lied about having a dream and told them everything that happened in my previous life. When they learned that after their deaths, I had been manipulated by the Carter family all along, Dad’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. They always believed me, especially since I said the story began with Ethan wanting to go to New York and Mrs. Carter begging me to find him. They also understood why I suddenly wanted to come to Grandma’s house and why I adamantly refused to go find Ethan. “Oh, my dear child, my precious baby.” My mom was always easily moved to tears. Even though she knew it was just a dream, she quickly hugged me, her tears falling on my head one by one, feeling incredibly sorry for me. Dad lit a cigarette nearby and made a decision. “Chloe having this dream might mean that the Carter family is bad luck for us. I’ve decided, we’ll move as soon as we get back! Get far away from them.” I didn’t expect my parents to support me to this extent. My nose tingled, and I nodded tearfully. At the same time, I hugged Mom tighter, feeling her warmth. We stayed in the countryside for half a month, and I noticeably tanned quite a bit. When we left, Grandma packed a car full of food for us. We still had to live in the old house for a while before moving. As soon as we arrived at our front door, Mrs. Carter quickly opened her door. With red, teary eyes, she looked at us, unable to hide the traces of resentment in her gaze.

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My husband brought his mistress home for the night. Finding our son an inconvenience, he locked him inside an airtight closet. Twelve hours later, the child’s fingernails were torn, bones exposed, and he died alone in the dark. When I called his father to come back and identify the body, he laughed on the phone and said, “You’ll really make up any lie, won’t you?” I was on a business trip overseas when I got a call from Amanda, our housekeeper. She told me something had happened to my son and urged me to come home immediately. I booked the nearest flight, rushing frantically to the hospital. All I saw was the red light glowing above the operating room door. Soon, the light went out, and the doctor emerged, his voice heavy with sorrow as he looked at us. “Please accept our deepest condolences. We did everything we could.” I felt utterly frozen, my fingertips numb, a sudden acid reflux rising in my stomach, and my heart felt like it was clutched by a giant hand. I fought to stay conscious, my fingernails digging deep into my palms. Mr. and Mrs. Carter, Ethan’s parents, who had rushed back from out of town, saw the scene. They were furious, demanding to know from Amanda what had happened. Amanda, seeing my pale face, quickly stepped forward to support me, then began to explain to Mr. and Mrs. Carter. “Mr. Carter brought Ms. Miller home to stay. Little Liam accidentally snagged her stockings while playing with his toy plane, so Mr. Carter locked Liam in the closet.” My mind went blank with a loud buzz, and my legs gave out, sending me to my knees. Our house had a custom-built, solid wood closet. It was heavy and airtight. According to Amanda, Liam had been locked inside for at least a dozen hours. “That animal! Chloe, call him! Tell him to get back here!” I fumbled for my phone, my trembling fingers hitting the wrong buttons several times. When the call connected, Ethan’s impatient voice answered. “Why are you calling? Are you looking for another fight?” My voice was hollow. “Our son… he’s dead.” Ethan on the other end scoffed. “You’ll really say any lie to stop me from being with Madison, won’t you?” Before I could speak, I heard Madison Miller’s voice in the background. “Ethan, did you book the hotel?” I heard Ethan’s doting voice. “All set. This time, no one unimportant will ruin our trip.” Madison whined playfully. “Last time, your family kept calling and bothering us. That won’t happen again, right?” “Don’t worry, I’ll block her number soon.” Madison’s tinkling laugh carried through the phone, her voice syrupy sweet. “My stockings got ruined yesterday. You’ll have to make it up to me today, big time.”

Beside me, Mrs. Carter’s lips trembled with rage. She snatched the phone from my hand. “Do you even know what happened to your son?! You’re still out there with that hussy!” Ethan’s voice was cold, filled with impatience. “So he was locked up for a bit. What’s the big deal? If Chloe hadn’t corrupted our son, making him intentionally target Madison, why would I have punished him?” “Mom, can you stop being so ridiculous? I married her back just as you wanted. What more do you want?” Mr. Carter’s face turned crimson with anger. He roared, “You get back here right now!” But from the other end, I heard Madison’s tearful voice. “Ethan, is it your family causing trouble again?” Ethan sighed impatiently. “Dad, Mom, please stop this nonsense. Madison and I will be back after our trip.” The call disconnected. I felt completely hollowed out, staring despairingly at Mr. and Mrs. Carter. “Liam is gone. I have nothing left. Let me go.” Just then, the police arrived, having received a call. They took us to the station. Soon, the autopsy results came out. “The deceased’s cause of death was asphyxiation in a confined space. His fingernails were torn off, flesh ripped, and bones exposed. This indicates extreme struggle and attempts to break free before death.” “We’ve taken the house’s housekeeper in for questioning. Now, please tell us what you know.” After ensuring we weren’t deliberately abusing the child, the police’s attitude softened considerably. Amanda, who had been summoned, was in tears. “Mr. Carter was the one who locked the child in the closet. And to prevent us from letting the child out, he sent all of us away.” “I was worried about Liam, so after Mr. Carter left, I immediately rushed back to let him out.” “When I opened the closet, there was blood everywhere, and the child’s face was blue.” I couldn’t imagine what Liam had endured in that closet. He must have been so scared and in so much pain. He must have been screaming for his mom to save him in his last moments.

For a moment, the world spun around me, my head buzzing, and my body felt like dead weight, collapsing onto the police station chair. Mrs. Carter, seeing my state, couldn’t bear it and pulled me into her embrace. Finally, Mr. Carter spoke. “Chloe, it’s our fault. Our family failed to raise Ethan properly.” I covered my face with my hands, large tears rolling down my cheeks, and I sobbed, gut-wrenching cries tearing from my throat. Fifteen years ago, my parents died, leaving behind a vast inheritance. My relatives swarmed me, like vultures circling prey. At that time, Ethan and I were practically childhood sweethearts. Mr. and Mrs. Carter stepped in, helping me secure my parents’ legacy. The day Mr. and Mrs. Carter brought me home, Ethan held my hand, his eyes filled with love and a firm determination to protect me. He had promised then that he would be good to me forever, that he would always protect me. But after our son was born, he grew increasingly distant and busy. Until I saw him, the man who claimed to be in a meeting, with his arm around Madison Miller, splurging cash at the mall. I screamed, demanding to know why he was doing this to me, but he just shoved me away in disgust, looking down on me with contempt. “Enough. Look at yourself. You don’t hold a candle to Madison.” In that moment, I suddenly understood that all the love we once shared had vanished like smoke. Yet, a sliver of hope lingered in my heart. I quietly stayed home, caring for our child, managing Ethan’s life, hoping that one day he would change his mind. But this time, for Madison Miller, he actually laid hands on his own child. Mr. Carter lowered his head, his face etched with sorrow, his voice choked. “Our child was killed by him. How could our family produce such an animal?” “Tomorrow, after Liam’s cremation, if you wish to leave, take his ashes with you. Our family has wronged you greatly.” I struggled to my feet, bowing deeply to Mr. and Mrs. Carter. “Thank you for your help all those years ago. I’m taking Liam and leaving this place. I won’t be coming back. Please take good care of yourselves.”

Back home, Ethan’s call came in. “Chloe Hayes, how long are you going to keep up this act? Tell Dad to unblock my cards!” Ethan heard my silence and roared impatiently. “Have you had enough yet?! If you keep this up, we’re getting a divorce. Madison already has my child anyway. You can just take that dead weight of yours and get out of the Carter family!” My voice was calm, numb. “The child is dead.” He scoffed dismissively. “Are you going to claim I killed him, too?” “You’ll really say anything to break up Madison and me.” He hung up, the phone beeping. At the same time, Mr. Bennett, the lawyer Mr. Carter sent, handed me the divorce papers. I signed my name without the slightest hesitation, my mind replaying Liam’s voice. It was Father’s Day. Liam had clumsily made Ethan a handmade card, but Ethan never came home. To this day, I still remember Liam’s disappointed eyes. “Mommy, does Daddy not like me?” “Why does Daddy never play with me or hug me? All the kids in my class get hugs from their Daddies.” I was physically and mentally exhausted. I curled up on Liam’s small bed, the one he slept in before, and fell asleep. The next day, Liam’s body was sent for cremation. As the incinerator hummed, I felt my own heart being burned into a handful of ashes. The staff handed me a delicate ceramic urn. The child who had just recently called me “Mommy” in his sweet, baby voice was now nothing but a cold urn. Mr. and Mrs. Carter wiped their tears, looking as if they had aged ten years overnight. They gently caressed the urn. “After you bury Liam, could you please tell us the address? He is our grandson, after all.” I nodded, my voice choked with emotion. “I only have one request: don’t tell Ethan where Liam is buried.”

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My name is Liu Xuan, and my girlfriend and I had been in a long-distance relationship for a while. One night, we were on a video call, as usual, to relieve some tension. After everything was done, I realized my headphones had died ages ago. Qing Qing’s voice had been playing on speaker the whole time. I’d always assumed my roommate was just another regular guy like me, a slob perhaps. But I was wrong… she turned out to be a stunning young woman. It was a silent night. I lay on my bed, Qing Qing’s frequent moans echoing in my ears. Qing Qing and I were in a long-distance relationship. With our demanding jobs, sometimes we wouldn’t see each other for months. Since she became sexually active, Qing Qing had a high sex drive, and I couldn’t always be there to satisfy her. So, I bought her a sex toy. She used it two or three times a week. Each time, she’d video call me before starting. I’d watch her face slowly flush, sweat glistening on her skin, and in less than five minutes, she’d start to twitch and tremble. Sometimes, when she was really in the zone, she’d even have to wash her soaked sheets in the middle of the night. Tonight, she was moaning softly into my ear again. As the climax washed over her, I saw her pale feet gripping the sheets tightly on the video. “Liu Xuan, slow down, I can’t take much more.” The remote was in my hand, letting me control the frequency and intensity based on her reactions. Suddenly, a smudge appeared on my phone screen. I knew exactly what she meant and turned off the remote. “Liu Xuan, I’m going to go wash the sheets.” Qing Qing’s hair was plastered to her temples, her eyes hazy, her slightly parted tongue a deep red. I’d been uncomfortable all night, and her reaction only made me more aroused, ready to burst. It was only when I took off my headphones that I realized they’d died a while ago. Had Qing Qing’s voice really been… playing out loud? If I lived alone, it wouldn’t matter. But the problem was, I lived in a shared apartment. My new roommate had only just moved in next door, and I hadn’t even met her yet. I ran a hand through my hair, planning to head to the bathroom to take care of things. I rented a two-bedroom apartment with one living room and one bathroom, which I shared with my roommate. Maybe she was busy with work, but the bathroom still had nothing of hers in it. As I got closer, I saw a light glowing from inside the bathroom. I glanced at my roommate’s door; it was tightly locked. So, it probably wasn’t her. Maybe I’d left my power bank in there earlier. Thinking this, I pressed the doorknob and pushed the door open. The sight that greeted me froze me in place. A woman was squatting on the floor, using her phone’s flashlight, struggling to express milk from her chest. Hearing the door open, she jumped, falling backward onto the floor. Her bare breasts, nipples exposed, faced me directly, still leaking milk. “Why didn’t you knock?” she scowled, glaring at me as she hastily tried to cover herself. I slammed the door shut, stunned, and could only stammer apologies. “I’m so sorry, ma’am, I saw your room door was closed, I didn’t think…” Before I could finish, her soft, sweet voice cut me off from inside. “Shut up.” Her gentle voice, laced with a sultry edge, sent shivers down my spine. This night was definitely going to be sleepless. She looked like a young mother who had just given birth. But why wasn’t she living with her husband? Why was she staying in a co-ed shared apartment?

The next morning, I squeezed onto the rush-hour subway. Just as the doors were about to close, a beautiful woman boarded and stood right in front of me. We locked eyes for a moment, then both instinctively looked away. It was my roommate! Thinking of last night’s utterly humiliating and steamy scene, I lowered my head slightly, trying to make myself as inconspicuous as possible. But the morning subway was impossibly crowded. She only came up to my neck, and the soft curve of her chest kept brushing against my stomach with every lurch of the train, igniting a fire in me. As if that wasn’t enough, my gorgeous roommate was wearing a professional miniskirt, and her smooth legs occasionally brushed against my calves, sending a tingling sensation through me. I tried to squeeze further back, but there was a large Black man standing behind me. His fierce gaze swept over me, and I didn’t dare even twitch. “Hey, roommate, maybe you could stand back a bit? I feel like I’m practically molesting you in this position.” She slowly looked up, frowned, glared at me, then turned her gaze elsewhere. Who would’ve thought that this cool, aloof woman I saw in public could have such a soft, sweet voice, dripping with that captivating charm, when she told me to shut up last night? My eyes darted around, trying to distract myself from the insistent pressure against my abdomen. Suddenly, I noticed a man furtively taking out his phone, positioning it under my roommate’s skirt. I couldn’t just stand by when I saw injustice, especially when it was my own roommate. “Excuse me!” I said, then quickly turned, shielding my roommate in my arms, my back facing the pervert. My beautiful roommate seemed oblivious to what was happening, her innocent eyes looking up at me. I leaned down, whispered into her ear, “Someone was trying to take an upskirt photo of you just now. I apologize if my actions offended you.” She flinched like a startled deer, shrinking further into my embrace. It was adorable. After we got off at our stop, I was about to say goodbye, but to my surprise, she followed me off the train. There was only one major company near this station. Could it be… my beautiful roommate worked at the same company as me? I assessed her outfit. She looked like she could be our company’s receptionist. Honestly, having a receptionist like her would definitely make coming to work more pleasant every day. We walked past the front desk, and just as I thought she’d wave goodbye, she got into the same elevator as me. “Could you press the tenth floor, please?” Her sweet voice chimed, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Wait, the tenth floor? I was on the tenth floor too, and the tenth floor only housed the design department, no other departments. She couldn’t be the cleaner for our design department, could she? That would be such a waste of talent. I returned to my workstation and sat down. Looking back, my beautiful roommate had just walked into the Chief Designer’s office!

Considering what happened in the bathroom last night, I wondered if she was there to argue with our Chief Designer, Mr. Li. I couldn’t believe that Mr. Li, who was usually so generous with us, could be so petty with his own girlfriend. I shook my head, hoping my beautiful roommate wouldn’t expose what I saw last night. If she did, I’d probably be out of a job. Not long after, Mr. Li emerged with my roommate. He clapped his hands, signaling for us to look at him. “Everyone, I’d like to formally introduce you to someone. This is our new Chief Designer, appointed from outside the company, Jiaojiao Tu. Please welcome Chief Tu.” I couldn’t believe it. My jaw nearly hit the desk. My beautiful roommate, from this day forward, was my direct boss? Last night’s incident felt like a death sentence for me. I probably wouldn’t have a place in this company anymore. Jiaojiao, in the office, had completely shed her sweetness. Her eyes were sharp, cold, and ruthless as she scanned over us. Suddenly, her gaze landed on me. It was completely different from the look she gave me on the subway. A chill ran down my spine. “Liu Xuan, bring your design draft to my office personally in half an hour.” I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but the way she emphasized “personally” felt particularly pointed. After Jiaojiao went back into her office,Lu from the cubicle next to me whispered, “Liu Xuan, did you already piss off our new hot boss?” My guilty conscience made me glance at the Chief Designer’s office. Was I really being targeted by my boss because of last night’s steamy encounter? “I don’t know,” I muttered. “Why don’t you take it for me? I’m terrified.” As I spoke, I frantically dug out the design draft I’d finished last week from my computer. Thank goodness I’d completed it early, otherwise I probably would’ve been fired. Jiaojiao’s office door was ajar. After I knocked, she told me to come in. “Close the door,” she said, her voice a stark contrast to her public persona. It really threw me off. I gently closed the door, then meekly asked, “Is that really okay?” What if people started to gossip? She glanced at me while reviewing my design draft. “You talk too much.” I silently watched the woman sitting before me. She had so many secrets. A beautiful boss suddenly appointed from outside, who also happened to be my roommate? Her salary should easily cover a much better apartment. Why would she choose to live in a shared apartment? Time slowly ticked by. These few minutes felt like an execution. Throughout, Jiaojiao kept subtly touching her chest with her wrist, seemingly uncomfortable. She was wearing a shirt for work, and her post-pregnancy body had changed. The buttons on her chest were practically straining. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” I asked with concern. Had I really touched something I shouldn’t have on the subway? The more Jiaojiao remained silent, the more anxious I became. “Did I hurt you when I turned around?” A hint of embarrassment flickered across her face, but her reply was exceptionally cold. “Mind your own business.” I pursed my lips, silently looking elsewhere. When she seemed to be done reviewing the draft, I cautiously shifted in my seat. “If there are no issues, I’ll head out now?” The moment my hand touched the doorknob, Jiaojiao called out, “Wait.” I spun around, finding her standing right behind me. If I hadn’t stopped in time, she might have kissed me. “Could you help me with something?” At that moment, she transformed back into that seductive kitten, her soft, pleading charm irresistible to any man. I’ve always been a good guy, and I figured it couldn’t be anything too difficult. I agreed without hesitation. “Chief Tu, just tell me.” “I’m still nursing, and I’m a bit uncomfortable. Pumping on my own is a little slow. Could you lend me a hand?”

Did I hear that right? Was there really such a good thing happening to me? I stood frozen, stammering, “So… should I use my hands or my mouth?” The woman in front of me looked as if she’d heard the most outrageous joke, recoiling three steps back. Her voice, still sweet and delicate, came back, “What are you talking about? I was asking if you could run an errand for me, to buy an electric breast pump.” Jiaojiao’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, whether from physical discomfort or from being shocked by my words, I couldn’t tell. Seeing me not move, she urged me again, “Hurry up! Otherwise, I’ll send this design draft back and make you redraw it.” For a designer, that was a huge punishment. “Why me? Can’t you just call a delivery service?” I felt it was incredibly awkward for me, a grown man, to buy something like that for my boss and roommate. Her tone was tinged with annoyance. “Are you stupid? That would only make people more suspicious! Imagine how embarrassing it would be if a delivery guy spread rumors.” Without thinking, I blurted out the thought in my mind, “You’re not afraid of being embarrassed in front of me?” Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at me. “You already saw my body last night. What’s there to be shy about now?” Alright, I was convinced by her logic. I eagerly trotted off to buy what she needed. To throw people off, Jiaojiao even put on an act, seeing me off at the office door. “Liu Xuan, deliver this document to the designated location. Don’t make any mistakes.” Jiaojiao handed me a large bag. It was actually empty, meant to carry the item back later, to trick our colleagues. After I took care of all that, I returned to my workstation, panting. But images kept flashing through my mind, completely out of place. I wondered what kind of scene was unfolding in Jiaojiao’s office. Last night’s steamy visuals kept replaying in my head, impossible to shake off. After work, the atmosphere between Jiaojiao and me became even stranger at home. I finished work earlier than her, so I purposely went to the grocery store, bought plenty of food, and headed home. By the time she returned, I had already prepared a full dinner. The exhaustion on her face erased all traces of her ruthless office demeanor. She was just a delicate, small woman. She leaned against the door, taking off her high heels. Her miniskirt was already short, and as she lifted her leg, the view inside was completely exposed. I quickly glanced away, as if I’d seen something incredibly tempting, and immediately shifted my gaze. I stammered, “Chief Tu, I made some dinner. I was wondering if you’d like to join me?” Shuffling in her slippers, she walked towards me, took a casual look at the food on the table, and said, “Count me in.” “Alright!” I happily went into the kitchen to grab utensils. I figured I was one step ahead, having already ingratiated myself with Chief Tu. Jiaojiao sat across from me. During dinner, I couldn’t tell if she was just scratching an itch or what, but she kept subtly brushing against my calf. I desperately tried to shrink back, but she seemed completely unaware, following my movements. Unable to take it anymore, I grabbed her ankle. Jiaojiao let out a surprised yelp. The soft whimper made my ears burn. In my flustered state, I let go. But to my complete shock, Jiaojiao then! She brazenly placed her foot between my legs, hitting me right in the groin. “Ch… Chief Tu, you, you, you.” I desperately tried to suppress my desire, not wanting her to notice. Jiaojiao rested her chin in her hand, looking at me with intense affection, her gaze practically dripping with desire. “That night, I actually heard everything.”

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