Category: English

The power went out at home, and my mom’s adopted daughter was trapped in the dark for five minutes. My mom, who knew I had claustrophobia, locked me in the small, empty room. “You know full well that Erica is terrified of the dark, and yet you deliberately tripped the circuit breaker to scare her! I must teach you a lesson!” I begged my mom through tears, but she responded with a merciless slap. “What claustrophobia? You’re just faking it, you little liar!” Later that night, I sensed someone had entered the house. I quickly called my mom, who was a well-known criminal psychologist, and begged her for help, only to be harshly scolded. “You’re pretending again just to get my attention, aren’t you? “A criminal? Fine! Let him kill you, then! Don’t bother me!” Just as she wished, I was brutally murdered and buried in the flowerbed she loved most. After my death, my soul was trapped inside the body of a cat. All I could do was circle around my mom. Five days later, the police brought in a mutilated corpse and asked her to provide a psychological profile of the killer… “The victim is female, aged between 16 and 20, and the time of death is within the last three days. “Based on the initial examination of the dismembered body, it appears the victim was… skinned, and heavy objects like hammers were used to inflict blunt force trauma, causing multiple fractures. “The victim likely underwent a horrific and inhumane torture before death…” Upon hearing the medical examiner’s preliminary assessment, all the officers in the room sucked in a sharp breath. Even some of the younger female officers, upon hearing the cruel details of the murder, were brought to tears. My mom, who had rushed over upon being notified, also looked grim as she listened. When she arrived, Oscar greeted her. “Martha, you’re here. Can you help with the sketch?” “Of course. It’s my responsibility.” Mom walked directly to my dismembered body, turning to Oscar to ask, “How many cases has this been?” “This is the fifth, but this time… the killer is especially brutal…” As a renowned criminal psychologist, my mom entered the crime scene and gazed silently at the shattered bones on the ground. A tiny spark of hope rose in my chest. Would she recognize me? Seeing her remain transfixed, staring at the body in silence, Oscar grew anxious and asked, “Any progress? Can you make a sketch of the victim?” My mom sighed, sounding somewhat helpless. “Oscar, even with my abilities, I still need a skull to work with.” The next instant, her expression grew serious. “We need to find the skull quickly. As long as the body hasn’t started to decompose, I can reconstruct the victim’s features as best as possible.” The skull! I knew where the skull was! I rushed to my mom’s side, mewing and tugging at her pants, leading her toward the flowerbed. Mom looked at me in confusion, but it was Oscar who spoke first. “Let’s follow her. They say animals have a sense of these things.” They followed me skeptically to the flowerbed, and when Mom saw it, she froze for a moment. Oscar, seeing me stop, took a shovel and started digging. “There it is…” Oscar muttered aloud when he uncovered the skull, now covered in maggots. Mom picked me up and gave me the first smile I had seen in twelve years. “Thank you, Officer Kitty.” That smile, so rare and warm, made my heart ache. If my mom knew that the cat’s body contained my soul, she would probably disinfect her hands with formalin right away. Oscar, still furious at the gruesome discovery, muttered angrily, “What kind of monster could do this?” Mom’s eyes softened with pity as she looked at the remains. “Such a young life… ending so horribly. If her family finds out, they’ll be heartbroken.” Heartbroken? If my mom knew of my death, she would probably celebrate it with immense joy.

Oscar surveyed the neighborhood and couldn’t help but give my mom a heads-up. “I’ve noticed that the spots where the bodies were buried are very close to where Zoe lives. Maybe you should call her and tell her to stay safe.” Upon hearing my name, a flash of disgust crossed my mom’s face, and she tightened her grip around me. “Don’t mention her in front of me! How could anything happen to her?” Oscar paused mid-drag on his cigarette, letting out a sigh. “It’s been so many years since that incident. You should’ve let it go by now. No matter what, Zoe’s still your biological daughter. Even as an outsider, seeing how you’ve treated her over these years breaks my heart.” When the past was brought up, my mom’s eyes immediately filled with tears. “If it wasn’t for her lying about having a stomachache, Jack wouldn’t have died! Erica’s parents wouldn’t have died, either! “It’s all because of her lies. She killed them! Unless she dies, I will never forgive her in this lifetime!” Twelve years had passed, and no matter how much I explained, she still saw me as the murderer. I lied, and my lies killed Dad and Erica’s parents. She sent me to the countryside, adopted Erica, and gave all her love to her. If it hadn’t been for my grandmother and my dad’s friends helping me secretly over the years, I would have died a long time ago. Held in her arms, I couldn’t stop trembling. “Mom, I’m already dead. Can you forgive me now?” I asked quietly. Noticing the shaking in my arms, my mom immediately tried to comfort me. “Don’t be scared, little kitty. I wasn’t talking about you.” My skull, now covered in maggots, made it impossible to continue the sketch. So, mom took me back to the car. The moment she sat in the car, her phone rang. “Martha, have you heard from Zoe recently? She hasn’t called me in days, and I can’t get through to her. Do you think something happened to her?” Grandma’s voice was filled with worry and anxiety. But as soon as Mom heard it, she furrowed her brow. “How would I know? That girl’s as tough as nails! If she’s not dead, don’t bother me with her problems!” Grandma tried to say something else, but Mom hung up the phone harshly. Oscar, standing beside the car, spoke in a concerned tone. “Zoe’s not that kind of person. You should at least try calling her.” Mom sneered. “She’s nothing but trouble. She’ll never be the one to suffer!” With that, she opened our chat box and sent multiple voice messages to me. “Zoe! Still playing the disappearing act, huh? You better call your grandma back right now, or I’ll have you thrown out of the house!” She didn’t even notice that I, who always messaged her daily, hadn’t sent a single message in days. The special ringtone she had set for Erica suddenly played, and her angry expression softened immediately. “Erica, don’t worry. I will be home soon. “Hungry? Well, order takeout. I will be back in a bit.” Mom drove us to a flower shop, grabbed an entire bouquet of sunflowers, then ran over to a nearby bakery to grab a strawberry cake, smiling as she returned to the car. Cake… I’d love to have some, but since that incident, I haven’t been able to eat cake again. When we arrived home, Mom carried the cake in one hand and the flowers in the other, pushing open the door. Erica immediately ran to her and hugged her tightly, not letting go. Mom wasn’t impatient at all, but instead gently soothed Erica in a loving tone. Watching their affectionate interaction, my heart twisted with bitterness. Before I was six, I was my mom’s treasure, too. She’d buy me beautiful princess dresses, make me little cakes, and stay by my side all night when I had a fever. She’d stand up for me when I was bullied. But sadly, all of that came to an abrupt halt on my sixth birthday.

After Mom adopted Erica, I became the unwanted presence in the family, someone who was hidden away. I started living cautiously, walking on eggshells. The room had to be given to Erica, all the pretty dresses were hers, and even the nice stationery no longer belonged to me. I took on all the household chores. Washing dishes, doing laundry, and cleaning floors. Anything I could do to win Mom’s favor, I did. When Mom had a fever in the middle of the night, it was me who used a damp towel to try to cool her down. That night, when she woke up and saw my hands, red from the cold as I tried to bring down her fever in the dead of winter, I felt that maybe Mom’s attitude had softened. But the next day, Erica came down with a high fever. “You’re such a liar. It was Erica who stayed by my side last night, but you stole her credit when she fell asleep! “Your lie killed your father and Erica’s parents, and now you’re still lying! Zoe, how could I have a daughter like you? “Get out of my house!” Erica, weakly leaning on Mom’s shoulder, spoke up for me in a soft voice. “Mom, don’t blame Zoe. She probably stayed up to take care of you, too.” But when Mom looked at me, her gaze only grew more filled with disgust. Erica flashed me a smug expression. I clumsily tried to prove that I had taken care of Mom all night, but Mom locked me in the storage room as punishment. “Still lying? Go in there and think about what you’ve done!” From that day on, I developed claustrophobia. When Grandma came to visit, I was locked in the dark room, trembling uncontrollably. When Grandma found me, she brought me to Mom, who was comforting Erica as she got an injection. Mom just sneered. “Mom, Zoe is a liar. She lied and got Jack killed back then, and now she’s lying about having claustrophobia? “She’s just trying to steal my attention, pretending she’s afraid of the dark because Erica is. “Zoe, don’t you dare lie to me. I can see right through you!” Even in the final moments of my life, as I made my last phone call, she called me a liar. The moment she hung up the phone, the murderer on the other side of the wall laughed and opened the storage room door. “Found you, little mouse.” The excruciating pain lasted all through the night. I watched the killer’s savage grin as he peeled off my skin and snapped my bones. When I woke up again, I had become a cat. For the past few days, Mom had been taking me with her to work. In her office, I had a little space of my own. The space I’d never been allowed to enter as her daughter, I could now move around freely in as a cat. As Mom carefully reviewed the latest information from the police, Grandma barged in. “Martha! Is Zoe here with you? I haven’t heard from her in days. I went to her house, but she wasn’t there either.” Hearing my name, Mom instantly became furious. Her brows furrowed. “This is my office. What’s with barging in like this? “Are you acting for her now? Is that troublemaker the one who told you to do this? Don’t worry, she’s fine. “How could a wicked liar like her ever die?” Grandma’s panic lessened a little, but the worry was still there. “Has Zoe contacted you recently? After what happened, she’s probably terrified.” Mom gave Grandma a dismissive reassurance. “Mom, don’t worry. Zoe’s fine. How could anything happen to her? “Troublemakers live forever. She’s probably going to outlive all of us.” Grandma looked at her with helplessness in her eyes. “Martha, I know you’re angry with Zoe for lying all those years ago, but how could Zoe have known… “It’s been so many years now. You should let it go…” Mom suddenly stood up, her anger flaring. “I can’t let it go! If she hadn’t lied, Jack wouldn’t have died! Erica wouldn’t be an orphan!” She grabbed her phone and sent me a voice message. “Zoe, who the hell are you hanging out with now?” “If you don’t come back, just go to hell!” “I’ll tell you now. I don’t have a daughter like you! My daughter is Erica!” Congratulations, Mom. You got your wish. Hearing her words, Grandma started crying uncontrollably. “Martha, how could you even say that? “You treat other people’s children like treasures, but Zoe is your real daughter! “Tell me, how long has it been since Zoe last contacted you?” Mom glanced at her phone, her voice dripping with disdain. “Mom, don’t worry. She once ran away from home and went to stay with some guy from school. “She’s fine. Someone like her can’t get into any trouble. “She’s probably just trying to get attention. Once I find her, I’ll make sure to teach her a lesson!” She was about to dial my number when she received a call from Oscar. “Martha? The identity of the victim has been confirmed…” Oscar’s voice was filled with concern, unsure of how to break the news. “Really? That’s good news, right? Has the family been contacted?” “Martha, my condolences.” My mom was confused. She chuckled, then asked with a mocking tone, “Condolences? What’s there to mourn? Nothing happened to my family…” But when she looked up and saw Grandma’s tear-streaked face, something clicked. Her face slowly began to lose its color, turning pale.

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While traveling abroad with my family, a sudden flood hit. My fiancé, Eddie, immediately picked up my sister, Kyla, and ran out. My parents didn’t even think to check on me, but they remembered to take the little parrot they’d just bought for Kyla. They flew back home that night and didn’t forget to share the news in the family group chat, celebrating their narrow escape. But they had forgotten something. Their eldest daughter was still stranded in the flood, with no one to help. When I woke up, I made a resolute decision and called my mentor. “Professor, I’ve decided to join you as a doctor with Doctors Without Borders. I’m never coming back.” Half a month later, I returned home, covered in scars. Inside, the house was filled with laughter. Colorful ribbons and presents littered the floor, a clear sign of the family’s recent celebration. I saw it in the family chat. Relatives and friends had gathered to celebrate their survival. When Eddie saw me, a flash of guilt passed through his eyes. During the flood, his first priority had been to save Kyla, completely disregarding that I was his fiancée. And my parents’ expressions were no better. They thought of everything while escaping, even remembering the parrot they bought for Kyla, but they forgot about their own daughter. Eddie approached me hesitantly and said, “Sophie, are you okay? The situation was so urgent. Kyla couldn’t move on her own, so I had to save her first.” He reached out as if to pat my head just like he used to. I subtly avoided his touch, looking at him coldly. Mom’s eyes reddened slightly as she pulled me into a tight hug. “Sophie, you’ve been through so much. Your dad and I never meant to leave you behind.” Since Kyla had returned home, I hadn’t felt the warmth of Mom’s embrace in so long. I would have been moved before, but now, I just took a couple of steps back, keeping my distance. My mother seemed hurt. At that moment, Kyla hobbled over, wrapping her arms around Mom sympathetically. “Sophie, how could you treat Mom like that when she’s so worried about you? “I know you’re angry because Dad and Mom focused on saving me, but you shouldn’t embarrass them in front of everyone! “Sophie, I don’t blame you for what happened when I got lost. So, please don’t blame Mom and Dad. It’s all my fault… If only they hadn’t taken me in…” Kyla cried so hard that it made Dad go from guilt to anger. “Sophie, what do you mean? Are you trying to make everyone think your mom and I didn’t care about you? “You two are sisters! When you caused your sister to go missing and get abducted, shouldn’t you be the one trying to make up for it now? Of course, we had to save Kyla first! “I thought you would have learned your lesson after all these years, but you’re still as vicious as ever!” Eddie also stepped in, shielding Kyla behind him and joining Dad in scolding me. “Sophie, this is enough! Kyla has already suffered so much because of you. You owe her, and now you’re making things harder for her and your parents!” I stared at them in disbelief. These people were my own parents and my fiancé, the person I trusted most. I had been swept away by the flood, my body battered by branches and rocks, and dozens of cuts across my skin. I barely managed to grab hold of a tree in the raging water, stranded on it for a whole day and night before finally being rescued. When I woke up, the first thing I wanted to do was let my family know I was safe. But when I opened the family group chat, there was a message celebrating their safe return: [Really a close call. Thank goodness we were all together.] The dozen photos they posted were like daggers to my heart. My parents, my sister, and my fiancé, all huddled together, looking like the closest family. While I was stuck in a foreign land, nearly dead, my body was covered in deep scars. The doctors said if I had been any later, I would have lost my hand. For a clinical doctor, those hands were everything. I nearly died in this disaster, and when I barely escaped, my own father blamed me for being vicious. Even Eddie, who had promised to always stand by my side, was now against me. I suddenly had no desire to explain myself. I turned and went back to my room. Kyla, still pretending to be sympathetic, continued to argue for me. “Dad, Eddie, don’t blame Sophie. She didn’t mean it.” Dad sneered. “Kyla, you’re still too understanding. Why was it you who got abducted instead of Sophie?” I slammed the door behind me, collapsing on the floor. Since Kyla had returned, she had made vague accusations that I had intentionally let her get lost. Ever since, I had no place in this family. My parents ignored my protests and gave my princess room to Kyla. I was pushed into the small converted storage room. Whenever Kyla cried, they would stop listening to me. I should have gotten used to their attitude by now. My mentor sent me a message saying everything was ready. I could leave whenever I wanted to. My parents didn’t know that, while in the hospital abroad, I had already made the call to my mentor. “Professor, I’ve decided to join you as a doctor with Doctors Without Borders. I’m never coming back.”

The next morning, Mom came to my room with a few gifts, clearly leftovers picked out by Kyla. Her tone was soft, but there was a clear undertone of reproach. “Sophie, can’t you be more sensible? Why didn’t you tell us in advance that you’re coming home? And why are you being so cold toward your dad? We may not have taken care of you, but you can’t hold that against us…” Before she could finish, I pulled open the curtains, and the bright sunlight shone down on me. I was wearing a thin nightgown, and that’s when Mom noticed the scars covering my body. Only then did she realize what I had gone through. Her hands trembled as she reached out to touch my scars, but I coldly pulled away. Eddie entered the room just in time to see it. “Sophie, you’ve been hurt so badly? Why didn’t you say anything…” I looked at them coldly. What did they mean, “Why didn’t I say anything?” They were so consumed with Kyla that they didn’t even notice me. Kyla had suffered so much at the hands of the traffickers that she was malnourished and weak. Every time she had even the slightest cold, the whole family had to rush her to the hospital. Meanwhile, when I had acute gastroenteritis and was on the verge of fainting, they ignored me, only focusing on taking Kyla to the hospital for a mild fever. It was a kind neighbor who saw me and called for an ambulance. But when they saw me in the hospital, they thought I was just pretending to be sick, trying to compete for attention. Perhaps my cold gaze gave them some hint of discomfort, a fleeting panic crossing their faces. After all, since Kyla was brought back, I had always been humbled in front of my parents, constantly trying to please them, fearing they might abandon me. Eddie, flustered, grabbed my hand and noticed that the engagement ring was missing from my finger. “Sophie, where’s your ring?” I shrugged casually. “It was washed away in the flood.” A flicker of disappointment crossed his face, but he quickly smiled again. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll buy you a better one!” “No need.” I had personally thrown it into a drain while I was abroad. Once, Eddie had been my only support, and I had cherished everything he gave me. Back when my parents had rejected me, I met the gentle and kind Eddie in college. He treated me well and believed that I hadn’t intentionally abandoned Kyla. But somewhere along the way, he had taken Kyla’s side. He told me Kyla had suffered so much, and I needed to be more understanding, to give her and my parents more consideration. So, I no longer needed him. I didn’t care for him anymore.

Soon, it was mine and Kyla’s birthday. To be precise, it was just Kyla’s birthday. Although we shared the same birthday, it was on her seventh birthday that she went missing at an amusement park. She was lost for ten years, and my parents searched for her for all those years. Finally, she was found at the age of seventeen. But the first thing she said when she came home was, “If it weren’t for Sophie abandoning me, I wouldn’t have gotten lost and been kidnapped.” That day, for the first time, my parents looked at me with disappointment. Dad didn’t listen to my explanation and slapped me hard across the face. Since then, I had no place in this family. Now, my parents celebrated only Kyla’s birthday. They, along with Eddie, surrounded Kyla, who was wearing a delicate dress, and gathered around the cake, lighting candles and singing the birthday song while waiting for her to make a wish. No one noticed me in the corner. Even the housekeeper said, “Sophie, you might want to avoid appearing in front of your parents, since if it weren’t for you, Kyla wouldn’t have gone missing for so many years.” Kyla made her wish and, under the soft candlelight, quickly pecked Eddie on the cheek. My parents didn’t stop her. Instead, they looked on with satisfaction. They had always known Kyla had feelings for Eddie. When I first brought Eddie home, Kyla had fallen for him at first sight, crying and throwing a tantrum. Mom had also urged me several times. “Kyla is your sister. She’s suffered so much, and it’s all because of you. You should make it up to her.” Back then, I had stubbornly refused, and Eddie had declared in front of my parents that he would love only me for the rest of his life. But now, he looked down at Kyla, who was smiling serenely, with eyes full of affection. After blowing out the candles, Kyla handed me a small piece of cake. I reached out to take it, but she pulled her hand back just before I grabbed it, and the sticky cream splattered all over me. Kyla’s eyes welled up with tears. “Sophie, don’t you like me? You even made my birthday cake fall to the ground…” My parents’ faces immediately darkened. I knew they would soon start lecturing me on how thoughtless I was and start listing all my wrongdoings. Before they could say anything, I grabbed Kyla’s hand, removed the bracelet from my wrist, and placed it on hers. With sincerity, I said, “Kyla, this bracelet was a gift from Eddie’s mother. She said that anyone who wears it becomes part of their family. Since you like Eddie, you can have him. Consider it your birthday gift from me.” Kyla blinked, a flash of joy crossing her eyes. My parents were pleased. After all, they had told me many times to let Kyla and Eddie be together. Mom smiled widely and no longer scolded me for dropping the cake. She hurriedly said, “Sophie, my dear, you’ve finally come around. When your birthday comes, your dad and I will make sure to celebrate it properly!” I smiled faintly and said, “I share the same birthday as Kyla.” For a moment, my parents looked embarrassed, realizing their mistake. Eddie, who had just figured out what was going on, rushed over and grabbed my hand angrily. “Sophie, what do you mean? I’m your fiancé! You want to give me away to another woman?” I yanked my hand out of his grip. “You remember that you’re my fiancé? Then when you were messing around with my sister, did you ever remember your place? Since you couldn’t say it, I’ll say it for you.” I glanced at Kyla, who was standing behind Eddie, her eyes welling with tears. “If you say one more word, my dear sister might just faint!” Hearing that, they all rushed to support Kyla. I looked at the scene with a sneer and walked away without a second glance.

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After confessing to the police for a crime I didn’t commit, my fiancé rushed over, seething with anger. “Why would you confess if you didn’t steal anything?” I shrugged, resigned, ready to accept whatever consequences came my way. In my past life… My fiancé’s childhood friend, Angela, returned from abroad and caused a stir wherever she went. She first shoplifted, then ate without paying at restaurants, and finally ran a red light while driving and killed someone. When the mall manager, the restaurant owner, and the victim’s family all came after me, I was confused. Why were they accusing me of Angela’s misdeeds? It wasn’t until they blamed me, in front of the police, for stealing, dining and dashing, and causing a hit-and-run that I realized they had mistaken me for Angela. But we didn’t even look alike! I requested that they check the security footage. The footage revealed that the person who committed those evil deeds was indeed me. There was no way to deny it. The footage couldn’t lie. I was stabbed to death on the spot by the angry family of the victim. But even in death, I couldn’t understand why all of Angela’s crimes had ended up being pinned on me. Then, I opened my eyes again and found myself back on the day Angela shoplifted… “Perla, what on earth are you doing? You didn’t do anything wrong. Why are you confessing to the police that you stole something?” I looked up at the familiar face of my boyfriend, Karl, his expression full of frustration. I gazed at him, completely innocent. “Karl, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.” I said flatly, “Admitting fault and correcting it is a fundamental moral trait for every citizen. How can you be encouraging me to change my statement?” The police officer, listening to this exchange, shot Karl a disapproving look. He tapped the table sharply and said, “Sir, your mindset is quite inappropriate. “Perla’s theft of the bread from the store is on the security footage, and she’s confessed to it. With concrete evidence like that, how could you try to guide her into avoiding responsibility?” Karl’s nose flared in disbelief as he stared at me, pounding on the glass of the holding room in anger. “Perla! Have you lost your mind? “You’ve got millions of dollars, and you’re stealing a cheap loaf of bread? What on earth is wrong with you?” No matter how much he raged, I ignored him, my head bowed. Karl was overwhelmed by rage. “Perla, I’m asking you one more time. Are you coming with me? “I’m warning you. My parents will never let a woman with a criminal record marry into our family!” But in the face of his threat, I could only shake my head with tears in my eyes. “Karl, even if you say that, I can’t leave. “If your parents refuse to let me marry you just because I’m willing to admit my mistakes, then perhaps we’re not supposed to be together.” Karl was completely disgusted by my words, and his desire to argue with me vanished entirely. He glared at me, turned, and walked away in frustration. As I watched him go, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. In my past life, after Angela returned to the country, Karl’s heart was completely consumed by her. After ten years of knowing Karl, I had always been the joke in their shadow. Though Karl and I were on the brink of getting engaged, seeing him so focused on Angela, I knew I couldn’t be the one to hold him back. I decided to step aside and let him have her. But just when I was about to let go, Angela was exposed for her theft, her unpaid meals, and even running over someone while driving and fleeing the scene. In an attempt to help, I told Karl to encourage Angela to turn herself in, hoping it would lead to a more lenient punishment. But Karl had looked at me like I was crazy, saying, “What are you talking about, Perla? You’re the one who committed those crimes, not Angela!”

I wanted to ask Karl what he meant. But soon, the mall manager, the restaurant owner, and the victim’s family had all found me and accused me of stealing, dining and dashing, and causing a hit-and-run. I thought they had mistaken me for someone else because Angela and I didn’t even look alike. I tried to explain calmly, but then the three victims pulled out security footage. Sure enough, the person committing those crimes on the footage was me. I had no words left to say, and the victim’s family, devastated by the loss of their only son, went into a complete breakdown. In a fit of rage, they stabbed me repeatedly. Even after I died, I couldn’t understand why all the security footage clearly showed that it was me committing the crimes. One faulty camera could be blamed, but it was far harder to manipulate multiple surveillance systems. So, what had gone wrong? Reborn into this life, I was determined to get to the bottom of the truth! I was locked up at the police station for three days. After those three days, the police lectured me and then let me go. The moment I got my phone back, I immediately searched for news that had happened in my past life. As expected, I saw Angela once again involved in every one of the same bad deeds. But this time, instead of panicking like I did before, I remained calm. After all, I had already been locked up in the police station for three days. There was no way the person in the footage could still be me. However, to my surprise, as soon as I stepped out of the police station, while I was buying food from a food stand, a group of people stormed toward me. The man at the front raised his hand, trying to slap me. “Perla! Finally found you!” he yelled. “You ran a red light and killed my son! I want you to pay with your life!” Other voices echoed around him. “You stole luxury items from our store and broke public property in the mall. You won’t get away without paying us back!” “You dined without paying at our restaurant. It was 8,888 dollars. Pay up!” Some of the victims, afraid I might deny it, even set up cameras and started broadcasting live. “Everyone, take a look! This is the deadbeat Perla! She owes us money and even killed someone!” Faced with all the accusations, a question flickered in my mind. I had been locked up in the police station for three days. Why did these people still come after me? But this time, unlike the panic I felt in my past life, I remained incredibly composed in front of these victims. With calm confidence, I said, “You’ve got the wrong person. The one who did all of this is Angela, not me. If you don’t believe me, check the security footage.” One of the victims sneered. “We knew you’d say that. In case you deny everything when we hand you over to the police, we’ve already prepared for this.” They pulled out the same security footage I had seen before. And once again, the footage showed… me.

The screen was flooded with a barrage of comments. [With such a big world, there’s no shortage of crazy people. Never seen anyone so shameless.] [Not only is she shamelessly denying the bad things she did, but she’s also framing someone else. Why doesn’t she just die?] My heart sank a little. Before I was locked up, I had anticipated that Karl and Angela wouldn’t give up and would try to pin the blame on me. But I never thought the worst-case scenario would actually happen. The way I lowered my head in silence only made me appear guilty, like someone caught in a lie. A shopkeeper from the restaurant waved the receipt right in front of my face. “You filthy woman! You ate in my restaurant without paying, and then you threw plates around! How can someone like you even exist? “The bill is 8,888 dollars for the meal, plus 2,000 dollars for the damage to the tableware and lost business. That’s a total of 10,888 dollars!” The mall manager, followed by staff from the luxury goods counter, stepped forward with frowns. “You took a luxury bag from our store. That bag alone costs a hundred thousand dollars, and with the accessories, it’s worth 300 thousand dollars. Add to that the damage to the public facilities… you owe us 400 thousand dollars in total!” The victim’s family, whose son had been killed, were even more agitated. One of them pointed a finger at my nose and yelled, “The police station is right there! If you don’t give us an explanation, I’ll call the police and have them arrest you. I’ll make sure you get the death sentence!” I took a deep breath. “I really didn’t do any of these things you’re accusing me of. The person who did this is Angela. I know her. She’s my ex-fiancé’s childhood friend. If you don’t believe me, I can bring her here to confront you. Also, I’ve been in the police station for the past three days, so…” Before I could finish, Karl and his childhood sweetheart, Angela, arrived in a hurry, interrupting me. The moment Karl saw me, he slapped me hard across the face. “Perla! I’m calling off our engagement!” He glared at me with disgust. “I knew you’d be released today, so Angela kindly offered to come pick you up. And now you’re slandering her? “You did something wrong and still won’t admit it! I don’t want someone like you as my fiancée. You don’t deserve to be part of my family!” Angela looked at me with teary eyes. Her voice quivered as she said, “Perla, I know you’ve never liked me because I’m Karl’s childhood sweetheart. “In the past, when you broke plates and blamed it on me, or when you hit the neighbor’s kid and said I did it, I endured it all just to protect your relationship with Karl. I always kept quiet, even though it hurt, because I didn’t want to ruin anything between you two! “But you can’t do this… you can’t accuse me of things that could cost someone their life!” With that, she pushed Karl away and took several steps back, distancing herself from him. “Karl, if being your childhood friend means I have to keep enduring these false accusations and being blamed for things I didn’t do, then maybe we shouldn’t even be friends anymore. “I can’t take it anymore. It’s exhausting to be blamed for something I didn’t do. I’ve had enough of apologizing when I’m innocent and even being hit sometimes. I just can’t handle being treated like this anymore.” Her words sent a ripple through the crowd. The looks of the people around me instantly shifted from confusion to condemnation and anger. Some even bent down to pick up stones and threw them at me with force. I didn’t manage to dodge in time, and a stone grazed my cheek, drawing blood. For a moment, the crowd fell silent, and the live stream paused. But after that brief moment of stillness, they raised their fists again, shouting for an explanation. At that moment, the police finally noticed the commotion and sent a team of officers to check things out. When the lead officer, Tyson, saw me, he was momentarily stunned. “Perla, why aren’t you going home? What are you doing here?”

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My best friend decided to steal my life, pretending to be the CEO of my company. She started throwing money around like it was nothing, buying homes for all these so-called “longtime employees” in the city center. Suddenly, she became the boss everyone adored. And as if that wasn’t enough, she swooped in and took my husband, too. Now, even my son called her mom. So, when I got falsely accused of having bipolar disorder, not a single person spoke up for me. My kid didn’t even remember me as his real mother, and everything my parents left me was stolen by her. I ended up dying in a mental hospital, my body decaying from some horrible disease. But then, I woke up. And when I opened my eyes, I was back to the day my so-called best friend was happily spending my money on those employees. She was surrounded by a crowd, grinning from ear to ear. “Ms. Norris is so beautiful and kind! She not only takes care of us, but she even gives out bonuses and is starting a foundation to buy us homes! I’d work for her till the end of my life!” I didn’t even flinch. I just quietly went online and changed the password to the bank account she’d been draining. This time around, I wasn’t letting her or my idiot of a husband get away with it. I was going to make them taste their own medicine. “I’m so lucky to work for Ms. Norris. I’d do anything for this company!” “I can’t believe Ms. Norris is giving us homes. She’s the best!” “Ms. Norris, please, come up! Everyone’s waiting for you!” Everything was spinning, and the noise around me became deafening. When I opened my eyes, I saw Katrina Bentley surrounded by a group of employees, getting ready to take the stage. What was going on? I looked down at myself in disbelief. My skin wasn’t falling apart, and my legs weren’t broken. I was still trying to process it when one of the employees shoved me aside, barely looking at me. “Hey, isn’t this the maid from Ms. Norris’ house? What are you doing here? Go wait outside and don’t cause any trouble.” The sharp pain in my shoulder brought me back to reality. I wasn’t dreaming. I had really gone back in time. Katrina, noticing me, shot me an annoyed look. “What are you doing here? Trying to mess things up? Can’t you be any dumber? Don’t forget what I told you to do later.” In my last life, after I had my baby, I was a mess physically. I barely showed up at the company, so Katrina suggested she attend events for me. I thought she was being kind, letting me rest. But no. She was slowly taking over, plotting to steal my place, my fortune, and my life. “Fine, I’ll go back to my office,” I muttered, walking straight in. I didn’t waste a second and changed the password to my bank account. “Katrina, you can have your little spotlight for now. But just wait, your time’s coming,” I thought.

The day when I finally left confinement, the rain came down in buckets. Katrina showed up at my doorstep, drenched to the bone, begging me to take her in. She said her parents were planning to sell her to some fool in the village for a dowry of 200 thousand dollars, and now I was the only one who could save her. She didn’t care if it meant becoming a maid at my house. She just needed a way out. Katrina was my best friend. How could I let her fall into that mess? So, I let her stay. I even gave her parents two million dollars to settle things for good. Since she was studying medicine, I asked her to help me with my health. In the beginning, my husband was always traveling, and with her around, I felt a lot better emotionally. I never actually made her do maid work, though. Instead, I gave her a card to spend however she wanted. But over time, things started feeling off. The servants at home began ignoring my orders. Even something as simple as wanting a snack would have to go through Katrina first. My husband started taking Katrina with him on business trips, and then my son, who had just started speaking, called her “Mom” before he called me. My husband told me Katrina was my best friend and that he’d asked the servants to go through her for anything, so I could take my time to recover. As for our son, he was too young and didn’t understand a thing, so it was normal for him to call her “Mom.” I was his biological mother, and that was never going to change. I believed him. When Katrina saw I was getting suspicious, she acted all hurt and said she was thinking of leaving. I figured I was just being paranoid, so I apologized to her and agreed to her suggestion of attending some company events in my place. The company was my parents’ legacy, and as the CEO, I had to show up at these events. But I couldn’t, since I was sick, so having her step in seemed like a good idea. Back then, I thought I was the happiest woman alive. My kid was well-behaved, my husband loved me, and my best friend was so thoughtful. But over time, my health kept deteriorating, and Katrina started more openly suggesting she go on business trips with my husband. The breaking point came when I forgot to take the medicine that she had prepared for me. That was when I found out about their affair. When they realized they couldn’t cover it up anymore, they worked together to have me committed to a psychiatric hospital. I still remember the agony before I died, my skin rotting away, the pain unbearable. Katrina, in her high heels, had pressed them into my face, cursing, “Hailey, if you kept pretending to be deaf and dumb, I might’ve spared you and let you rot away in this mental hospital. But you had to go and make things worse!” I shuddered, remembering the pain. But maybe fate had another plan because this time… I had a second chance.

I sat in the CEO’s office, my phone buzzing nonstop with messages from Katrina. [Hailey, are you out of your mind? Why did you change the password? The staff is watching!] [Send me the new password NOW! Hailey, are you just trying to embarrass me?] [Hailey! You ungrateful brat! Don’t forget who’s been taking care of your health all this time!] I couldn’t help but laugh at the dozens of messages on my phone. Who exactly was being ungrateful here? She said she was helping with my health, but in reality, she was probably trying to poison me. The foundation Katrina wanted to set up was supposed to help buy properties for key employees, and I didn’t have a problem with that. But as I looked at the name list, I couldn’t hold back my laughter. Key employees? More like the usual group of old timers who just stuck around her like parasites. Not a single person who actually helped my parents build the company was on that list. “Move!” Katrina collapsed, and someone had to carry her into the office. That someone was my husband, Nobert Vance. “Hailey! What are you waiting for? Katrina’s passed out!” He yelled at me. Then, the employee who had shoved me earlier stormed in, indignant. “How dare you sit in the CEO’s chair! Get over here right now! Can’t you see Ms. Norris passed out? “Mr. Vance, Ms. Norris is such a kind-hearted person, that’s why she’s so tolerant of her maids. You should talk some senses into her,” the employee added. Only then did Nobert bother to put Katrina on the couch, but his gaze avoided mine. I kicked my feet up on the desk, “So I’m the maid, and she’s Ms. Norris, right? Is that it, my dear husband?” Before Nobert could say anything, Katrina woke up, “Of course not! Hailey, everything’s a mess today because I fainted. I’ll explain everything to you later. Can you go home now? Don’t forget to take your psychiatric meds.” “Yeah, you really picked the worst time to act out. Katrina’s been more than patient with you,” Nobert chimed in. The employee shot me a look of disdain. “So, it’s the meds you’re missing, huh? No wonder you dared to sit in Ms. Norris’ seat. Mr. Vance is your husband? Who do you think you are? Shameless.” “Enough,” Katrina interjected, her face pale but ready to defend me. “I’ve always been the best friend to Hailey, even when she’s sick. I’ll never give up on her.” Looking at her, I couldn’t help but think how foolish I was in my past life to not notice how these two toxic people were slowly destroying me. It seemed like the employee wanted to show off in front of Katrina. After giving her a quick glance, she came over and tried to grab me. “Ms. Norris has been kind enough to you by not telling everyone that you’re her maid. You better get out of here and go take care of her!” I turned and slapped her across the face.

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After my family went bankrupt, my parents insisted it was time for me to learn independence. They sat me down, did the math, and declared that raising me for over two decades had cost them five million dollars. Naively, I believed them when they reassured me they didn’t actually expect me to pay it back and signed the promissory note. To ease their burden, I handed over my bank card, worked long hours during the day, and took on extra shifts at night. I told myself I was doing it so they could live more comfortably. But when I was diagnosed with a tumor and asked them for 100 thousand dollars to cover my treatment, they refused without hesitation. “All the money in your account went toward repaying debts,” my mother said flatly. “You’re still young; it’s probably just a misdiagnosis.” As I hung up, my phone lit up with a notification. Claudia had forgotten to block me from seeing her latest post. A brand-new luxury bracelet, worth tens of thousands, gleamed in the picture. Stacks of property deeds and car keys lay beneath it. The caption read: [Thank you, Mom and Dad, for the best graduation gift ever!] I laughed. So it had all been a lie. The bankruptcy, the debt, the burden of my existence. Only their exploitation of me had been real. ***** I stumbled home in a daze. The house was empty. The lights were off. Darkness swallowed every corner of the tiny apartment I rented. A string of unread messages waited for me on my phone. Mom: [Your father and I have plans tonight, so we won’t be home for dinner.] Claudia: [Going out with friends. Won’t be home.] But her social media told a different story. [Graduation party at the villa! Love you, Mom and Dad!] I turned off my phone and collapsed onto the worn-out sofa. This was the place I had rented for them. The location wasn’t great, but it was cheap. Two bedrooms, one for my parents, one for Claudia. I slept on the couch. A cheap couch, carrying the persistent smell of mold, just like my life. No wonder they despised it here. A dull ache throbbed in my skull. Nausea crawled up my throat. I staggered to the bathroom, clutching the toilet as I emptied the meager contents of my stomach. It was worse than any night of heavy drinking, worse than any work exhaustion I’d ever experienced. If this continued, I might really die. For a brief moment, my mind cleared. I reached for my phone, desperate to call for help. Before I could dial, my mother’s name flashed on the screen. I hesitated, then answered. “Mom, I…” She cut me off before I could finish. “Christie, don’t forget to pick up some cupcakes from that shop on the south side. Your sister’s been craving them. “Oh, and the water and electricity bills are due. Make sure you take care of them tomorrow.” Her tone was casual as if nothing was wrong. After all, these were indeed my duty. A tightness gripped my chest. “Mom, I’m sick. I feel terrible. Can you—” Can you save me? I wanted to tell her about the tumor and the surgery I needed. I wanted to beg her to call for an ambulance. I was still young. I didn’t want to die. But she had no patience for me. A scoff crackled through the receiver. “Oh, quit pretending. If you didn’t want to go, you could’ve just said so.” Her voice sharpened. “Is this because of the money? Are you really that petty? After everything we’ve done for you, you can’t even be grateful?” She hung up before I could say another word. My phone slipped from my fingers, landing with a dull thud on the floor. My body followed. Consciousness slipped away. I thought that was the end. But then, a sudden splash of ice-cold water shocked me awake. I gasped, shivering and disoriented, just in time for a stinging slap across my face. The sound echoed through the bathroom, snapping my foggy mind into painful clarity. My cheek burned. My eyes fluttered open to see my parents standing over me, fury burning in their faces. Behind them, Claudia stood with red-rimmed eyes, feigning distress. But when our gazes met, she smirked wickedly. Then, she spoke, her voice dripping with sweet malice. “Mom, Dad, look at her wrist. Isn’t that my missing bracelet?”

“Christie, how could you steal from your sister? “We were actually foolish enough to worry about you when we saw you lying on the ground! “Putting on a show, huh? Don’t even think about getting our money by faking illness! You brat!” My father’s furious gaze bored into me. His anger was a living thing, bristling and violent. Before I could respond, he raised his belt and brought it down hard. A sharp, stinging pain tore across my arm. I gasped, a cry escaping my lips. My mother seemed a bit distressed. “Christie, how could you do that? “Just return the bracelet, apologize to your sister, and your father will let this go.” They didn’t even give me a chance to explain. How ridiculous. “I didn’t take it.” I shook my head, my voice steady. “I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do.” Their faces darkened. My father’s belt lashed down again, harder this time. Pain bloomed across my skin. A red mark was now visible on my arm. Claudia, standing by my mother’s side, played her role flawlessly. “Maybe Christie had her reasons,” she said, her voice soft. “She did ask for money yesterday, didn’t she? Maybe she really is short of money. That’s why she took my bracelet…” My father’s rage only grew as he cut her off. “Short of money? Impossible. “Christie, did you get yourself involved with some lowlifes? Is that why you suddenly need money?” I saw the disdain and suspicion in his eyes and felt myself sinking. They didn’t just distrust me. They despised me. How could my own father ask such a question? Clenching my fists, I lifted my wrist, showing off the diamond-studded bracelet. “I have a question for you as well. If we’re so ‘bankrupt,’ how can Claudia afford this?” Why did my entire family keep me away from the truth? Why was I the only one who suffered? My face was probably too pitiful to look at. My father took a step back, his grip on the belt loosening. He looked at me, his face filled with guilt. My mother’s expression also faltered. They had almost forgotten their own lies. Such an expensive bracelet shouldn’t belong to a family that had gone bankrupt. My parents fell silent. They didn’t know how to explain. Claudia recovered first. Her voice wavered just enough to sound genuine. “It’s fake, Christie. “I love it so much, so Dad and Mom bought me a fake one as graduation gift.” My parents latched onto the excuse like drowning men grasping at straws. “Yes, just a cheap imitation,” my mother added quickly. “Claudia’s your sister. Why are you so bitter?” “Regardless,” my father said, voice regaining its strength, “you stole. And that’s your fault.” They clung to this pathetic lie, using it to regain their footing and once again turn their accusations on me. No one noticed my pale face or my unsteady stance. No one cared about the redness and bruises on my cheeks and body. Even now, they refused to tell me the truth. I felt like a balloon stretched to its limit, on the verge of bursting. “I’ll say it again. I didn’t take her bracelet!” But the look in my parents’ eyes made it painfully clear—they didn’t believe me. “Still denying it?” My father roared. “Our family has never had a thief! No matter how poor we are now, we won’t resort to stealing! “Christie, looks like we have to teach you a lesson today!” Ignoring my struggles, they grabbed my arm and, despite my weakened state, dragged me onto the balcony. The door locked behind me with a decisive click.

The balcony of the rental apartment was half-exposed to the elements. It was late autumn, and the temperature had long since dropped. I must have been unconscious for an entire day. The sky had darkened once again. A gust of cold wind swept through, making me shiver uncontrollably. When I came home yesterday, I had left my coat on the rack. Now, all I had on was a thin sweatshirt, completely inadequate against the biting chill. I pounded on the balcony door, desperate for them to let me in. Inside, my parents and Claudia clearly heard the knocking. But they only spared me a cold glance before turning back to the cupcakes I bought. Laughing and chatting, they sat together, sharing the treat. I watched them through the glass, helpless. I hadn’t had a single drop of water since I passed out last night. My stomach twisted painfully, made worse by how violently I had thrown up before. Claudia took the cake Dad handed her and, with a smug grin, deliberately waved it in my direction. She looked ready to burst with glee. This was her favorite snack. Even though the shop was miles away, my parents had gone out of their way to bring it back for her. I couldn’t recall them ever doing something like that for me. Probably because they never had. Because even I had no idea what my favorite food was. All my life, my parents had drilled a single rule into me—never fight with my sister over what she liked. If I did, they said, I’d be selfish. And no one liked selfish people. I had been terrified of that, scared they would dislike me if I was deemed selfish. At first, I did as they wished, always yielding, always giving up what I wanted. But as time passed, after countless times of stepping aside, it simply stopped mattering. Something was good? Something was bad? I liked something? I didn’t? It made no difference. If they gave it to me, fine. If they didn’t, that was fine, too. I once overheard them saying I was becoming dull, emotionless. I had wondered if there was something wrong with me, but I never found an answer. Until now. Until I saw Claudia’s triumphant smirk. It wasn’t just about giving up the things she liked. They had taught me to give up myself. I stopped knocking. I didn’t want to watch their picture-perfect little family any longer. I turned away and looked outside. This neighborhood was old and rundown, but the rent was cheap, so nearly every unit was occupied. I crouched down, watching as one window after another lit up, the smell of home-cooked meals wafting through the air. For the first time, I realized how much I resembled a tiny boat. A small, directionless vessel, drifting aimlessly on an endless sea. Inside, my parents grew furious when they saw me turn away. The cakes were rich and heavy; the three of them couldn’t finish them all. They had planned to let me in if I caved and apologized. But they never expected me to be this stubborn. Dad lost his appetite. Mom also found the food tasteless. Only Claudia was still eating, though her stomach was small. After two more bites, even she stopped. She glanced at Dad, then at Mom. “Should we save some for her?” Dad scoffed, “Save it for her? I’d rather feed it to a dog!” “That rotten attitude! Who does she think she got it from? She did something wrong and won’t even apologize!” The more Mom thought about it, the angrier she became. Then, she swept the cakes into the trash. “She doesn’t deserve them. Let’s go to bed. “Claudia, don’t bother with your sister. Let her reflect on herself.” Claudia hesitated for a moment before nodding. Once they were gone, she strolled up to the balcony with a grin. “Sis, you’re so pathetic.” She sneered in a whisper before skipping back to her room. I never turned around. But I heard every single word, clear as day. My fingers brushed over my chest. I should have felt hurt. Once upon a time, I had loved them so much. I had longed for their approval. Back then, nothing made me happier than seeing them smile on payday. Now, I only felt one thing. Claudia was right. I really was pathetic.   By now, I had finally come to understand. Those moments when Claudia accidentally forgot to block me from seeing her social media posts weren’t accidents. She did it on purpose to taunt me. While I worked myself to the bone, desperately trying to earn our parents’ approval, setting myself on fire just to keep this family warm, she only saw me as a joke. Because she was the one they truly cherished. She didn’t have to lift a finger, yet our parents would always give her the very best. I had to admit it—I was jealous. What I had spent my whole life chasing, she got with nothing more than a flick of her hand. The night had fully settled in, and with it, the temperature plummeted. I felt frozen to the bone. One by one, the windows that had glowed warmly moments ago began to darken, and soon, the entire neighborhood was swallowed by the night. I curled up in the corner of the balcony, trying to preserve what little warmth I had left. Hunger gnawed at me, the cold seeped deeper into my skin, and a dull, throbbing pain crept back into my head. I knew I needed my medication. If I didn’t take it soon, I might pass out again, just like last night. Once, I had been lucky enough to wake up. But luck wasn’t something I could count on forever. But the pills were in the pocket of my coat. My coat was inside, and I was locked out here, with no way to get to it. Even my phone had died, shutting off completely. “When it rains, it pours,” I thought bitterly. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. Nothing was more important than staying alive. Even if it meant lowering my head and admitting to something I hadn’t done. Raising my hand once more, I started knocking. In the dead of night, the sound was jarringly loud. I had no idea how long I knocked, long enough for my knuckles to swell. Even the neighbors poked their heads out, shouting at me to stop, calling me crazy. But the door to my parents’ room never opened. I wasn’t sure which hurt more—the throbbing in my hand or the pounding in my skull. I bit my lip, vision blurring with tears. It hurt. God, it hurt so much. I lifted my gaze, staring at that tightly shut door. And at last, I understood. No one was coming to save me, not even the people who were supposed to love me most. So I made a choice. I shuffled toward the edge of the balcony. Taking a deep breath, I clenched my teeth and swung a leg over the railing. Then, I jumped.

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I found out my son’s wife was having an affair behind my son’s back. I confronted her, but she turned the tables on me. I told my son everything. However, she cried and accused me of bullying her. “Ever since I married into this family, you’ve always hated me. If I’d known you’d slander me like this, I might as well be dead.” She threatened to hang herself to prove her innocence, but my son stopped her. “Mom, how could you say something like that about my wife? You’re my mother!” In his fury, my son moved out with her, leaving me behind. Later, I fell gravely ill. I reached out to my son, begging him to come see me. But instead, my own flesh and blood stood there, watching as Esther ripped out my oxygen tube. As I gasped for air, I heard her smug voice. “You old hag, thanks to you accusing me of cheating, Barry and I can inherit your wealth so much faster! “Next time, when you slander someone, make sure you have evidence. Do you think you can just accuse people without a shred of proof?” I suffocated to death, and afterward, my son and daughter-in-law lived it up on my fortune. But fate wasn’t done with me yet. I opened my eyes again, finding myself back on the day Esther had betrayed me. This time, I was prepared. I swapped out the lubricant in the house for super glue. You wanted proof? Well, I would make sure to provide it. “Mom, it’s time. Go buy the groceries before everything good gets snatched up. “The crabs from the East District market are excellent. Go get them!” Esther Brooks, my daughter-in-law, sat on the couch and engrossed in her phone, urging me to leave. I cast a subtle glance at her, a smile playing at my lips, then grabbed my basket and headed out the door. The East District market was five miles away from where I lived. Round trip, it would take about two hours. But I went at my own pace. Because I had been given a second chance. I knew Esther was deliberately trying to get rid of me. In my previous life, she’d used the same excuse to get me out of the house to buy groceries. When I came back early, I found her in bed with a man. I was furious. I confronted Esther and called Barry Lawson, my son, to come home. I told him everything I’d seen with my own eyes. But Esther denied it, crying and claiming I was just slandering her. “Mom, I know you’ve never liked me, but you can’t tarnish my reputation! “Since your family can’t accept me, I’d rather die!” Love-struck, my son Barry fell for her sob story. He believed her, moved out with Esther, and even threatened to sever ties with me. Later, when I fell seriously ill, I called Barry, desperate for him to visit me. But when he came, he stood by, watching as Esther pulled the oxygen tube from my face. In my final moments, I heard her voice, dripping with satisfaction. “Old hag, you really did me a favor. If you hadn’t accused me of cheating, Barry and I wouldn’t have been able to inherit your wealth so quickly! “And next time you try to slander someone, don’t forget to bring some proof. You think just saying it is enough to ruin someone’s life?” Barry, cold as ever, added, “Mom, Esther is the one I’m going to be with for the rest of my life.” After I died, my son and Esther reveled in my fortune, wasting it all while I lay dead. But fate had other plans. I opened my eyes again, back to the day I had discovered her betrayal.

I was carefully selecting my groceries when the sound of a notification interrupted me. I glanced at my phone, and the surveillance footage popped up. It was of Esther, wearing a revealing lace nightgown, passionately kissing a man who looked a bit overweight. That man was none other than Esther’s first love, Edgar Smith. When I had been reborn, I made sure to install cameras around the house, all for this very moment. The two of them kissed so deeply they seemed to forget the world around them, rolling from the living room all the way into the bedroom. Esther was pinned beneath Edgar, her face flushed. Edgar, clearly enjoying the sight, smirked and teased her. “You really know how to play the game, bringing your lover home!” “This is so thrilling!” He laughed, giving her waist a firm squeeze. Esther wriggled beneath him, her legs wrapping around his waist as she coyly responded, “Barry’s such a bore. You’re way more exciting than him!” Edgar raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. “Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out?” Esther casually brushed Edgar’s clothes aside and scoffed, “Barry’s just my lapdog. He loves me so much and will never suspect a thing.” She let out a mocking laugh, continuing, “That old hag’s gone to the market to buy groceries. She won’t be back for a while, so make yourself at home. Do whatever you want.” I could hardly believe what I was hearing. I was both enraged and amused. At first, I had opposed Barry marrying Esther, but he’d threatened to sever all ties with me if I didn’t accept her. After my husband passed away, it was just Barry and me, and we’d supported each other through thick and thin. I couldn’t bring myself to lose him, so in the end, I gave in. Because Barry loved Esther, I grew to care for her as if she were my own daughter. But in the end, my kindness toward Esther led me to a tragic death in my past life. The bitterness and anger inside me grew as I watched the two of them on the screen. I cursed them in my mind, rage bubbling up inside me. And Edgar, hearing Esther’s words, became even bolder. “Then I’ll just help him out and… fulfill his duty, haha!” he said, eager. He hurriedly stripped off his clothes, then started tugging at Esther’s lace nightgown, a wicked grin spreading across his face. He even grabbed a bottle of lubricant from the bedside table, opening it roughly and pouring it out without a second thought. I couldn’t bring myself to watch any longer, but a satisfied smile curled on my lips. I quickly dialed Barry, who was still working late at the office. “Today’s your and Esther’s anniversary. I bought all your favorite dishes, including king crabs. Don’t work overtime, okay? Come home and have dinner with us.” Barry agreed immediately, reminding me to make sure I got Esther’s favorite foods, his love for her evident in every word he said. Little did he know, the woman he had fought so hard to marry didn’t just disrespect him; she was cheating with her old flame. No sooner had Barry hung up than Esther’s call came through. As soon as I answered, she rushed to speak. “Mom, don’t come home just yet!”

I could sense the unnatural tone in her voice and, intrigued, I decided to play along and ask her what was going on. “What’s wrong, Esther?” Esther hesitated before mumbling, “The, the dog made a mess at home, fur all over the place. I need to clean it up first.” I didn’t respond right away. Esther must have thought I’d agree and leave her to handle it. But instead, I spoke gently. “Oh, I thought it was something serious! Don’t worry, I’ll be right over to help you clean up.” Esther froze, clearly thrown off guard. She knew I didn’t like dog making a mess in the house, so she was using that as an excuse to keep me away. She clearly hadn’t expected me to say this. After a beat, she tried to persuade me again. “Mom, it’s really no big deal. I can handle it. I don’t want you to see it and get upset.” I wasn’t giving in. “It’s no trouble at all, dear. Besides, it’s your and Barry’s anniversary today. I have to get back to cook. I’ll grab a cab and be right there!” “Mom! I told you not to come back! Forget about the anniversary!” Esther, growing frantic, was nearly in tears. I could even hear Edgar, whispering something in the background, probably cursing me, but I didn’t care in the slightest. Listening to her desperate attempts to keep me away, I couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Then, I said, “What are you talking about? Of course, I’m coming. I wouldn’t dream of neglecting you!” With that, I grabbed the groceries and hailed a cab. Esther must have heard the sound of the cab over the phone, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. She burst into tears. “Mom, the truth is, something happened at home. Please, please don’t come back!” I played along. “What’s happened, Esther? Don’t worry, just tell me. What’s going on?” Esther took a deep breath as if she had come up with a new excuse. Then, she said, “Mom, there was a gas leak and a fire at the house! You can’t come home! Find somewhere safe to wait!” Upon hearing the mention of a fire, I immediately feigned panic, responding, “I’ll call the fire department right now!” I also signaled the cab driver to speed up, ensuring Esther would hear it, then promptly hung up. I knew she was lying, so I didn’t bother calling the fire department. I just wanted to scare her. But I did call Barry, telling him there was a fire at home and that Esther was trapped inside. When Barry heard this, he couldn’t sit still any longer. His voice was shaky, full of panic. “Mom, how could you leave Esther there alone? What if something happens to her? How could I live with myself? “You must have left the gas on when you went out! How could you be so careless? Or did you do it on purpose, trying to hurt Esther?!” He slammed his laptop shut, rushing off in a panic to come back. Hearing Barry accuse me so recklessly, I felt heartbroken. I had raised him from the ground up, and yet, in his eyes, I was now the villain, someone capable of such a heinous act.   When I arrived at the entrance of the neighborhood, Barry was already there, rushing toward me. He shot me a sharp glare before sprinting into the complex. I pretended to jog behind him, but when we reached the building, there was no sign of a fire or any firefighters. Barry’s panic only grew. He grabbed me by the arm and demanded, “Didn’t you say Esther was trapped in the fire?” I looked up at him with an innocent expression. “Esther told me not to come home and said there was a fire, so I called you right away. I had no idea what was going on.” Barry’s eyes flickered with doubt, but then he seemed to recall the kitchen was at the back of the apartment, and maybe the front view wouldn’t give him a clear picture. He quickly pulled me along to the elevator, and we rushed upstairs. When we reached the door, everything seemed normal. The door was locked from inside, and we couldn’t open it. Barry’s anxiety spiked even more. His eyes reddened with frustration. He began pounding on the door with a fire extinguisher, shouting Esther’s name at the top of his lungs. The noise was so loud that neighbors started gathering in the hallway to see what was going on. Barry hammered on the door for a long time, but the lock remained unyielding. He immediately called the property management to send someone to unlock it. While we waited, Barry leaned against the door and, in front of all the onlookers, started blaming me. “Mom, this is all your fault for insisting on buying this fancy door. Now, Esther’s trapped inside! Are you happy now?” I didn’t answer, keeping my eyes fixed on his. Barry, seeing my lack of concern for Esther, shot me an angry, accusing stare. “Your daughter-in-law is dying inside, and you don’t even have one word of concern for her? How can you be so heartless?” Some of our neighbors, who knew me well and understood my feelings toward Esther, stepped in to defend me. “Barry, you know your mom better than anyone. Don’t let your frustration turn into something you’ll regret!” “Yeah, she’s the one who raised you. Don’t be so harsh on her!” Even the neighbors were defending me, while my own son continued to lay blame on me. Despite having been through death before, this scene still tugged at my heart. I fought to suppress the pain and reminded myself, over and over, that it wasn’t worth feeling hurt over this ungrateful son. Barry glared at me with fury, and I returned his gaze coldly. Just as the tension between us reached its peak, the security guard arrived with the locksmith. The locksmith fiddled with the door for a while, but eventually, he managed to unlock it. As soon as the door opened, Barry bolted inside like a rocket. I, along with some of the confused neighbors, followed close behind. “Esther! Esther!” “Ah!!” The two exclamations rang out at the same time. I looked up and froze, seeing my son standing in the living room, dazed. The people behind me gasped and murmured. Esther, completely naked, was pinned beneath her lover, Edgar. The two were still locked in an intimate embrace, their bodies tangled together in the most compromising way.

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The poor student I sponsored stole my family. She drugged my water, turning me into a manic-depressive, unable to control my temper, and I ended up shouting at my parents in a rage. She smeared my character, claiming I was evil at heart, bullying classmates at school, and even pushed her down the stairs at home. As a result, my entire family despised me. My mother said I was evil, and my father said I wasn’t his daughter, choosing to adopt the poor student instead. I was thrown out into the icy cold, and when my manic episode hit, I ran naked in a frenzy to the rooftop, jumping off in a suicidal attempt. But then, I was given a second chance. I was reborn with the ability to hear people’s thoughts. At the dinner table, I revealed Ashley’s thoughts to my parents. “That bitch Monica has been on meds for three years, and now she’s finally lost it! “They still don’t know that Monica’s brother, Parker, isn’t really their son. He’s actually Lena’s child… “Once we kill these two off, the Ford family will be ours!” “Mom, Dad, next week’s adoption ceremony for Ashley needs to be grand. We should invite all the prominent people in town. Can’t let our new member feel neglected.” “Exactly, darling. I’ve already arranged for Ashley to have a custom outfit, one that costs a million dollars. And I’ve invited a bunch of high society ladies. Ashley can’t be embarrassed; she’s part of our family now.” Opening my eyes, I found myself sitting at the marble dining table, where my parents were planning the adoption ceremony for Ashley, the poor student I sponsored. My dad finally made a decision. “We should change your name too. From now on, you’re part of our family. How about we pick a beautiful name for you?” Ashley smiled sweetly at him, “It’s all up to you.” Shocked and angry, I dropped the fork in my hand. “Monica, what’s wrong with you? If you’re not happy, then leave the table!” My dad turned his face, and his expression went from kind to cold. I looked around in disbelief. I was reborn! I was actually reborn into the moment when my parents decided to adopt Ashley. Ashley had been a poor student sponsored by our family. In my past life, both of her parents had passed away, and our family, feeling sorry for her, had been helping with her tuition and living expenses. We gave her the best of everything. While other kids were using cheap phones, she had the latest iPhone and other Apple products. My brother convinced my parents to let Ashley move into our house and transfer to my school. Now, she had lived with us for three years. She seemed to treat me nicely on the outside, but secretly, she tore up my books and even used a knife to hurt me. When my parents found out, she hid behind them, acting all wronged, saying, “It’s nothing. Monica didn’t mean it. I’m fine.” My mom slapped me twice across the face. When I showed them the cuts that Ashley had given me, my dad looked at me with contempt. “You violent psycho. Self-harm and then blame Ashley? This is so disappointing!” “That artery’s right here. Make sure you cut the right place next time,” my older brother, who was a doctor, mocked me while pressing down on the scar. At school, Ashley and a group of bullies had no hesitation in tormenting me, and because I had a history of manic-depression, my parents never believed me when I tried to tell them. The night before the adoption ceremony, Ashley even rolled down the stairs herself, pretending that I had pushed her. My condition worsened, and I snapped, going up to hit her. My parents were utterly disappointed. My mom yelled that I was an evil monster and that she regretted giving birth to me. My dad disowned me from the Ford family, and they embraced Ashley like she was their real daughter. Thrown out into the freezing snow, I ran up to the rooftop during a manic episode and ended my life by jumping off. After I died, I found out Ashley had been drugging my water every day. I wasn’t sick at all. She had made me manic-depressive! Coming back to my senses, Ashley looked at me with feigned concern. “Monica’s freaking out, huh? No matter how much she panics, it’s too late. I’ll soon be the lady of the house!” Her lips didn’t move, but I heard her thoughts clearly.

I was stunned. After being reborn, I found that I now had the ability to hear people’s thoughts. And I could even choose to make those thoughts public. Ashley’s mocking and cursing thoughts came pouring in relentlessly. “What’s with that attitude? If you’re not eating, just leave!” My mother scolded me harshly. I turned around and headed back to my room, my mind already devising a plan. The next morning, the maid, Lena, brought me a glass of milk. “Miss, why aren’t you drinking? It’s still warm.” Lena’s eyes gleamed with something malicious as she smiled at me. I took the milk and slammed the door shut with a loud bang, almost catching her hand. Lena’s face darkened, and she muttered curses to herself for a long while before walking away. Since I knew the milk had been drugged, there was no way I was drinking it. I poured the milk into a flowerpot, and just then, there was a knock on the door. Ashley stood outside, wearing an innocent smile. She entered the room and shut the door behind her. She glanced at the empty milk cup, a satisfied smile crossing her face. She said to me, “I’m going to be part of this family now. You won’t be upset, right? “And don’t hurt yourself just because you’re sad.” With that, she put on an innocent grin and pulled out a small knife. Then, she swung it toward my arm. I sneered. She had drugged me to make me manic-depressive? Well, I was now a real maniac! I slapped Ashley hard, leaving her dazed. She was always the one hitting me; she never imagined I’d actually dare to strike her back. “You… you dare hit me? I’ll tell Dad and Mom…” I delivered another heavy slap, and her cheek immediately swelled up. I didn’t hold back. With each resounding slap, her face quickly became a swollen mess. Ashley had no strength to fight back. She just glared at me with pure malice in her eyes. “Don’t take it personally,” I said, tossing my hand casually, then forced a smile. “I’m just a manic-depressive, you know? Hitting someone when I’m having an episode is totally normal, right?” In my past life, I had been constantly suppressing my emotions. When I had an episode, I’d lock myself in my room and suffer alone. This time, I wouldn’t restrain myself. “Besides, do you really think my parents treat you as their daughter? You’re just a poor student they’ve taken in. They’ve already reached their limit by adopting you. Mom and Dad said all the company shares belong to me!” Ashley clutched her swollen face, her eyes filled with deep resentment. She remained silent as she went downstairs. Sure enough, the moment I entered the living room, my dad slammed a glass onto the floor. “You jealous brat! What did you do to Ashley?” Mom hugged Ashley and cried, “I’d rather not have a daughter like Monica. Ashley, I’m so sorry.” Ashley pressed her hand to her swollen cheek, biting her lip, and said, “I know Monica is upset with me. I don’t blame her…” However, her thoughts were filled with curses. I immediately broadcasted her thoughts. “Why hasn’t that bitch Monica died yet? I’m going to scar her face! “That old hag always cry and hug me. So disgusting! “Just wait, I’ll make sure Monica gets kicked out of this family. I’ll be their only daughter!” Mom, who had been holding Ashley and crying, suddenly stopped, her face frozen in shock as she looked at Ashley. “Why is this old hag glaring at me? Look at her wrinkles; it’s terrifying!” Mom’s eyelid twitched, and she pushed Ashley away, her arms dropping. Ashley quickly shifted her gaze to Dad, whose expression was changing rapidly. “That stupid man just keeps throwing things around. Why can’t he give me a few million in compensation? If he could offer me company shares, that’s even better!” Dad’s face shifted from shock to displeasure. No one wanted a daughter who was already eyeing the company’s assets before even being formally adopted. The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and my parents’ expressions darkened as they looked at Ashley, their gazes now sharp.

They never expected that the sweet and gentle girl that Ashley always presented herself as would hide such malice inside. The strange atmosphere was shattered when my brother, Parker, walked in from outside. When he saw Ashley’s swollen cheek, a flicker of anger passed through his eyes. Without asking a single question, he strode toward me and kicked me hard. “Ashley is your sister! How could you be so cruel?!” If that kick had connected properly, I would’ve likely had internal injuries. But I reacted quickly, dodging, and with one swift move, I tripped Parker, sending him crashing to the ground. He climbed up, his face red with anger, and tried to strike me again, but was stopped by a stern yell from our parents. In the end, our family barely ate anything before scattering in haste. As I thought back on Parker’s attitude toward me, suspicion began to rise in my mind. Ever since I was a child, Parker had always been indifferent toward me. I had assumed he was just cold and distant, but toward Ashley, he was nothing but gentle and patient. It almost seemed as though Ashley was his true family, and I was just an insignificant stranger. Even bringing Ashley into the house and adopting her had been Parker’s ideas. With that thought, I dialed a number. Then, I prepared to head out. As I reached the corner of the stairs, I saw that Ashley’s cheek had noticeably swollen less, and she was glaring at me with venom. “Did you give Mom and Dad some kind of mind-altering drug?” She took two steps back, positioning herself near the edge of the stairs, almost on the verge of falling. In my past life, Ashley had fallen down the stairs in this exact same spot. I had watched her tumble down helplessly, stretching out my hand in an attempt to catch her. But just at that moment, my parents had walked in and assumed I had pushed her. From that point on, they hated me more than ever, treating me like I didn’t exist. Seeing that I wasn’t approaching her, Ashley seemed a bit anxious. She continued to spew venomous curses. “Once I become the Ford family’s daughter, I’ll make sure Mom and Dad kick you out of the house. “Then you can live in the school’s bathroom. How does that sound? You seemed to be fine there before.” I remained motionless, quietly watching her. A flicker of confusion flashed in Ashley’s eyes. Bipolar disorder was easy to trigger, and in the past, she would just need to provoke me a little, and I’d end up arguing with her. This time, I was completely silent. Just then, footsteps approached. Ashley gritted her teeth, then deliberately threw herself down the stairs. “Ahhh!!!” Her shrill scream echoed through the house. My parents and brother immediately dropped their papers and rushed up, helping Ashley, whose mouth was now bleeding. “Ashley, are you okay? We need to call a doctor!” “It’s not Monica’s fault, I was too careless…” Ashley grimaced, her voice filled with feigned pain. “Monica! Did you push Ashley?!” Mom pointed at me, screaming in accusation. I remained expressionless and chose to publicly reveal Ashley’s thoughts. “Well, at least my fake injury worked. Now Dad and that old hag will be completely disappointed in Monica.” Mom’s cry caught in her throat. She glanced down at Ashley, and her face immediately turned livid. “Stop touching me, you old prick! Your disgusting, stinky hands are revolting! If I weren’t pretending, I’d never let you near me!” Dad suddenly stood up, and with a loud thud, Ashley’s head hit the ground. “Damn you, old man! Just wait until you’re bedridden! I’ll slap you senseless! “And Monica… Why didn’t she go crazy? Did the drug not work enough, or did she develop a resistance to it?” Mom and Dad froze, their faces rapidly shifting from confusion to shock.

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On the thirtieth day of the zombie outbreak, there was no sign of anyone alive in town. A note came from upstairs which read, “”Hello, I’ve been observing you for quite a long time.”

When Kreson Airlines flight US1082 successfully made its emergency landing, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. But only Jonna Smith knew that she and Edmund Cane would never be the same. Edmund, who loved her deeply, had pushed her out when the armed kidnappers threatened everyone. He held Katherine Smith tightly in his arms and said firmly, “You’re her sister, Jonna. You have to protect her with your life.” Jonna trembled slightly but said nothing. A few days later, she left Kreson Airlines. As soon as the plane landed, Katherine, hiding in Edmund’s arms, refused to come out. She extended her little finger, which had been scratched, and cried out in pain. Seeing her tears, Edmund felt like his heart was shattering. He turned to Jonna, who was walking toward them, and angrily pointed at her. “Why didn’t you protect your sister? Are you happy now that she’s hurt? “No wonder your parents said you’re an ungrateful brat!” His harsh words and the venom in his tone made it seem as if Jonna were a murderer, not his wife. Jonna followed his gaze and saw Katherine’s little finger bleeding slightly. A wave of absurdity washed over her. He didn’t see the blood soaking her hair and face, nor did he see her blood-stained uniform. All he saw was Katherine. The tenderness and affection in his eyes were so overwhelming that it could make anyone believe in true love. If Edmund weren’t her husband, she would’ve applauded and given them her blessing. At that moment, her adoptive parents’ call came in, as timely as ever. There was no concern or inquiries as the familiar sharpness rang through the phone. “You little brat! If anything happens to Katherine, we won’t let you off. “We’ve raised you for years, and now you actually abandoned her in danger! Do you have no shame?” The woman’s voice, filled with sharpness and coldness, struck Jonna’s ears like invisible needles, causing her to wince. But she had long since grown accustomed to such baseless accusations and reproaches. Her existence had always been in service of Katherine. Katherine was the flower in the greenhouse, and Jonna was the leaf that sheltered it. Whenever Katherine cried, it was Jonna who was punished. She, the adopted daughter of the Smith family, was nothing more than a tool to care for her. Then came Edmund, pulling her out of the family’s mire, offering her warmth and protection. But three years into their marriage, Edmund’s protection had extended to Katherine, leaving no place for her. As she stared at the dark screen, she suppressed the bitter feeling in her chest and let out a sigh. In comparison to all these silent accusations and verbal abuse, she was more grateful that today’s accident hadn’t resulted in any fatalities. Otherwise, two hundred lives would’ve gone up in smoke. Perhaps it was the reminder from nearby colleagues that made Edmund realize his harsh tone. He paused, trying to soften his words. “Jonna, I’m sorry for what I said earlier… Don’t take it seriously. “I was just worried…” “You were worried that I wouldn’t be able to explain to my adoptive parents if Katherine got hurt. I understand.” Jonna’s voice was soft as if she completely understood his concerns. She looked at him and even smiled faintly. But inside, her heart felt like it was being torn, so painful and bitter that even her eyes burned with the sting of it. Edmund was about to say something but faltered. He opened and closed his mouth several times, finally falling silent. He didn’t notice Jonna’s smile which hid nothing but self-mockery and sorrow. As he rushed off, cradling the tearful Katherine in his arms toward the infirmary, he completely ignored the bloodied Jonna standing behind him. Watching him hurry away, Jonna couldn’t tell whether she felt colder or more hurt at that moment.

At some point, Katherine had surpassed her, becoming the one Edmund cared for most. His way of calling her changed from Katherine to Katie, while Jonna was still addressed the same way. Whenever she asked him about it, he would snap back impatiently, and his eyes were full of disapproval. “You’re her sister, and are you worried about how you’re called?” “No wonder Adam and Beth don’t care about you. Now, I finally get it.” He couldn’t see Katherine’s provocation and insults toward Jonna, but somehow, all the blame was placed on Jonna. He had forgotten the five years they had spent together, day in and day out, and how his eyes were always on someone else. Forgot it. Jonna bit her lip, and the sharp pain from the wound on her forehead cleared her mind just a little. She looked around, and the mocking gazes from the people around her hit her all at once. “Poor Jonna. She may be a captain, but what’s the use? She can’t even keep her own man or control her sister.” “She gave up her future for a man, transferring from the control center to civil aviation.” “In the end, her sister swooped in and stole her man. It’s hilarious.” Hearing their words, Jonna tried to smile but failed. The bitterness in her chest spread throughout her entire body. She couldn’t laugh. She had to swallow the pain in her limbs, using all her strength to widen her eyes and keep her tears from falling. She lifted her foot with difficulty and took one step at a time toward the infirmary. To those around her, she seemed even more pitiful than before. As she entered, Katherine’s soft and coquettish voice filled the air. “Edmund, my feet hurt. Can you rub them for me, please…” To Jonna’s shock, Edmund, who was notoriously obsessive about cleanliness, immediately crouched down and began rubbing her feet. He even gently said, “Your feet smell incredible. Does it feel good?” But just a few nights ago, when Jonna had asked him to help her grab her slippers, he had snapped, “Jonna, you’re an adult, and you’re not disabled. Don’t make me touch those filthy things.” The two voices overlapped at that moment, merging into one. Jonna felt an overwhelming bitterness while her eyes filled with tears. She lowered her gaze and bit her lip hard. With Katherine, he could be patient and accommodating, and even the stench of her feet became fragrant. But with Jonna, his habit was to control her and consider her filthy. At that moment, the sight of them exchanging smiles pierced her heart. Jonna’s fingers nearly crushed as she clenched her hands. The veins on her hands stood out as she fought the urge to escape. But in her haste, she accidentally pushed open the door to the infirmary. “Jonna, you’re here. Edmund’s massaging my feet. “You must be able to enjoy this kind of service at home too, right?” Katherine’s smile was sweet and innocent, but the smugness in her eyes couldn’t be hidden. Edmund, seeing Jonna, immediately panicked. He rushed over to help her to the bed. But as soon as he got closer, Jonna instinctively took several steps back. The thought of him using the same hands that had just touched Katherine’s feet to touch her made her feel as if she had swallowed hundreds of flies. It was utterly repulsed. She quickly turned to Dr. Rogers. “My forehead is hurting, and I’m feeling dizzy and nauseous. Could you take a look?” Edmund’s hand froze for a moment before he slowly withdrew it. He looked at her forehead as if he had just noticed her injury. “Why are you so careless? You didn’t even take care of yourself on the plane. You know you’re hurt. I would’ve been heartbroken if I had known.” As he spoke, his eyes softened with a tenderness that seemed to say he cared for her deeply. Jonna almost laughed in anger, and her nails dug into her flesh without her noticing. The wound, bleeding profusely, was visible to everyone else, but he couldn’t even see it. Just moments ago, he had scolded her for not protecting Katherine on the plane, and now he was blaming her for not taking care of herself. The same man wore two completely different faces. But no matter what he said now, Jonna wasn’t listening anymore. It all went in one ear and out the other. She no longer wanted to take it seriously. “I hit my head when protecting Katherine. So, should I just stop looking out for her from now on?”

“No way!” Edmund instinctively rejected her, but when he met Jonna’s almost amused look, he realized his reaction was too sharp and awkwardly forced a laugh. Katherine couldn’t stand being ignored and chimed in, “Jonna wouldn’t dare neglect me. Don’t worry, Edmund.” Her certainty, contrasted with Edmund’s unease, was evident to Jonna. But this time, deep inside, she quietly said, “No.” Dr. Rogers finished treating Jonna’s wound, set up an IV, and advised her to rest. Then she started complaining to her assistant, “I don’t know what Mr. Cane is thinking. His wife is hurt, and yet he’s fussing over his wife’s sister…” “Yeah, when I was giving Jonna her IV, I even heard her stomach growling…” Their entire conversation reached Jonna’s ears. She didn’t react. What could she say? Edmund was busy bringing Katherine delicious food and even gum to pass the time. And when he saw Jonna, he sheepishly apologized. “Jonna, sorry, I rushed off earlier and forgot your food…” The guilt in his eyes was real, but Jonna understood one thing. Edmund’s heart was no longer with her. It was completely occupied by Katherine. “Jonna, don’t worry. I’ll go get you something else…” Edmund hurriedly turned to leave but was stopped by Katherine. “Edmund, I haven’t had the soup you bought yet. Leave it for Jonna. “She has hurt her head, so she should eat something light. This soup is perfect for her.” Edmund shot her a disapproving glance, and his tone dripped with affection. “That’s nonsense. I bought this soup for you. I can’t just give it to someone else.” Even though Jonna had already grown numb to it all, hearing those words still made her heart lurch painfully. Someone else? So, she had always been “someone else.” They were the family. With those words, Edmund turned to leave, even shutting the door behind him because Katherine said she was afraid of coldness. At home, Edmund never closed doors. Whenever Jonna politely asked him to do so, she was met with sarcastic comments. “We’re at home. What’s with all the fuss… “At work, you’re the captain. But here, I’m your husband. Don’t even think about bossing me around.” Jonna’s stomach growled again, and Katherine glanced at her with mockery in her eyes. “Jonna, stop being so stubborn.” “Just have the soup. You’ve eaten my leftovers more than once, anyway.” Katherine’s beautiful face twisted with malice. She looked at Jonna as if she were a beggar with nowhere to go. Jonna shook her head, speaking in a tone so calm it was almost indifferent, “You can keep the soup. Edmund will bring me food later.” Katherine scoffed as if she had just heard a joke. Then, she sneered, “Believe it or not, if I call Edmund, you won’t get a single bite of anything.” With that, she pulled out her phone and dialed Edmund’s number. Jonna sharply caught a glimpse of the contact’s name. Instead of “Edmund,” it was actually “Honey.”   Just as Jonna was staring at the screen, Edmund’s voice came through. “Katie, what’s wrong?” “Edmund, I finished my soup. Can you take me home? The infirmary smells terrible…” Even through the speaker, Jonna could hear the amusement in Edmund’s tone. “Sure, wait by the north gate of the airport, I’ll come pick you up right away.” Katherine, with a smile in the corner of her eye, deliberately asked, “What about Jonna? She hasn’t eaten yet.” Edmund paused for a moment, then replied, and his tone was irritated, “Don’t worry. She’s a grown woman. If she’s really hungry, she’ll order takeout.” The two of them continued to have a sticky-sweet conversation for a few more minutes before hanging up. At that moment, Edmund seemed to forget that the woman in the infirmary, covered in blood and receiving an IV, was his wife. The last shred of hope in Jonna’s heart shattered, and a chill ran through her body. “See that?” Katherine asked proudly, like a little girl who had just snatched a toy, and her eyes were full of arrogance. Jonna didn’t say anything. She silently turned away, avoiding Katherine’s gaze. Soon, tears soaked her pillow. Shivering, she pulled out her phone and typed a message to her former superior, Enric Swain: [Captain Swain, I’d like to return to the base. Is that possible?] Enric immediately called her back, and his voice was so loud. In the background, she could hear the sound of a plane propeller. He sounded surprised. “Sure! Of course, I’d love that!” But then his voice faltered with a hint of confusion. “Wasn’t I hearing that you were going to be promoted to flight instructor? What happened…” Enric seemed to sense her sadness through the phone and didn’t press further. Instead, he added, “If you want to join me, you should talk to your husband. After all, it’s not easy to build a family.” “Okay,” Jonna replied, knowing that Enric was acting out of kindness. The two exchanged a few more words before hanging up. She stared blankly at the cold white ceiling, and her mind raced. She had already turned down the flight instructor promotion Enric mentioned. Since last year, Jonna had been promoted to captain, and she had received a lot of disdain from her fellow pilots. Even Edmund’s gaze towards her had grown colder. Many of her colleagues said that if it weren’t for her, that promotion should have belonged to Edmund. Guilt filled her heart. Jonna tried to overlook Edmund’s indifference, thinking it was just a phase. She thought once he cooled down, he would come back to her. Until now, when she finally saw the truth. It seemed that drunken night the things he had said were all true. “Why do you need to show off so much? “You were the best during training. At work, you still have to compete with me for the top spot… “Can you just get lost? Get far away and never show up in front of me again!” Jonna squeezed her phone tightly, and her knuckles turned white. Her other hand pressed hard against her eyes as she sobbed softly. Tears slid slowly through her fingers, spreading across the white sheets, as muffled sobs echoed through the silent infirmary. At this moment, Jonna sounded like a small animal licking its wounds. She remembered how Edmund used to look at her with such intense affection. What had changed? Wasn’t it he who once rushed into the school infirmary, carrying her after she had been injured on the field, staying by her side all night and refusing to leave? Wasn’t it he who clumsily learned how to cook, burning a pot, but still proudly serving her two dishes? In every previous training exercise, she was the one Edmund protected, the one he loved. Why had everything changed? He had vowed to love her forever, but in just three years, all of his love had been given to someone else. Huh! Edmund’s “forever” was so short. That night, after finishing her IV, Jonna returned home and saw a message from Enric: [I’ve already talked to your boss. In three days, I’ll send someone to pick you up.] [Okay.]   [Your husband… What about him? You’re leaving for at least three years. You two should really talk before you go.] Enric was genuinely concerned about her family. He didn’t want her to end up with any unnecessary tension because of work. Jonna instinctively thought of telling him that she and Edmund were getting a divorce, but the words caught in her throat. Enric, too, had gone through a divorce, and that made her hesitate. She swallowed the words down and simply replied: [Okay.] By the time she closed her phone, it was already at nine in the evening, but Edmund still hadn’t come home. She sent him a message, and an hour later, she received a cold reply: [I’m at Adam and Beth’s home. Do you want to come over?] Before she could respond, another message came in, as usual, vague and indirect: [Never mind. Don’t bother coming. If you do, no one can enjoy this meal.” Jonna froze, and her fingers hovered over the keyboard. After a long pause, she smiled bitterly. He wasn’t wrong. She was just a foster daughter of the Smith family, and her presence hardly meant anything. They only considered Edmund and Katherine their real family. After washing up, she turned off the lights and curled up in bed, motionless. The shock on the plane and the blood loss had left her utterly exhausted. Perhaps it was the decision she had made earlier that had lifted the heavy weight off her chest, allowing her to sleep soundly. The next morning, she was surprisingly refreshed. At the office, she saw Katherine handing out bags of apple chips while chatting away. “That robber was so terrifying! Thank goodness, the special forces rescued us. My heart is still racing! Here, have some snacks to calm your nerves.” The company had always been mostly female, and Katherine had mastered the art of using little tactics to win people over. Though the snacks weren’t worth much, they were effective. There were always people eager to back her up every time she stirred up trouble. When she turned and saw Jonna, Katherine’s eyes narrowed with a knowing smile. “Especially Jonna,” she said slowly, “She was so brave yesterday, playing the hostage for me. I’m really grateful, so all these snacks are for you. Consider them a little token of thanks.” Jonna’s gaze swept over the apple chips, but she didn’t react. Her expression was cold and unreadable. Katherine immediately pouted, and her eyes reddened, as she plaintively asked, “Are you still mad at me for yesterday? Don’t be angry, okay? “It wasn’t what I wanted. Edmund said you knew self-defense… Please don’t be upset with me.” The colleagues glanced at each other, exchanging knowing looks, before chiming in with supportive remarks, “Jonna is way too petty, still holding a grudge after all this time.” “Exactly. If it wasn’t for the Smith family, she wouldn’t even have a place to stay.” Jonna kept her lips pressed tight, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The wound on her forehead throbbed with dull pain again. She had always been the one to make compromises for Katherine, but it was never enough. No matter how much she gave, Katherine, like a bottomless pit, was never satisfied. In the past, Edmund would have stepped in to defend her, but now… As Jonna thought of him, he walked into the room, still dressed in the same outfit from yesterday. She immediately pressed her lips together, and a moment later, a bitter thought crossed her mind. It didn’t matter anymore. Who he was with or where he went didn’t concern her. “What’s going on? So lively in here?” Edmund asked as he walked over. When Katherine saw him, her eyes lit up, and she quickly launched into her story. “Jonna refuses my apology, and now she’s turning down my snacks, too.” Edmund glanced at the apple chips and paused for a moment, and his gaze shifted slightly. Jonna’s heart skipped a beat. No one knew she was allergic to apples, but Edmund knew it all too well. Just as she expected him to call out her allergy, Edmund glanced at her coldly with a subtle disapproval in his expression. “You’re her sister,” he said with a hint of reprimand, “Family should stick together. Don’t make things difficult for her. Just eat the snacks.”   As soon as Edmund finished speaking, he even carefully tore open the package and held the apple chips up to her mouth. Jonna stared at the apples right in front of her, and something inside her heart collapsed completely. Her nose burned, and she could feel the tears rising in her eyes. Three years ago, during training at the base, she had accidentally drunk a glass of apple juice. The pain was so intense that she collapsed to the ground, and her skin was covered in painful welts. Edmund had held her in his arms, and his eyes were red with panic, shouting hoarsely, “Doctor, help!” But now, Edmund was the one offering her the apple chips, telling her to eat them. She closed her eyes, swallowing the sharp pain that sliced through her heart. Steadying herself, she looked at him, and her voice was barely audible. “Are you sure you want me to eat this?” Edmund said nothing, but his cold eyes locked onto hers. Though he hadn’t said a word, it felt as though he had said everything. Jonna forced herself to hold back the shivers crawling up her spine. The fear began to seep through her veins, crawling like insects. She took a deep breath, and her fingers trembled as she reached out to take the chip and bite into it. Edmund muttered as if trying to justify his actions, “You’re an adult now, and your immunity is stronger. One apple slice won’t hurt.” His voice wasn’t loud, but to Jonna’s ears, it was the most biting sarcasm. When he loved her, she was precious. Now, when he no longer cared, she was just a pile of trash. At that moment, a knock echoed from the door. “Jonna, I need you to sign this.” Jonna forced herself to ignore the growing itch and picked up the pen, signing her name decisively. Edmund glanced at her from the side, asking, “What are you signing?” Jonna turned around, and her eyes locking onto Edmund’s, and replied softly, “The police report from yesterday.” At the mention of yesterday, Edmund’s face briefly flashed with guilt. He averted his gaze before turning and walking away. Katherine, seeing that her intended drama had achieved its purpose, followed him out. Jonna didn’t want her allergic reaction to be witnessed by her harsh colleagues, so she slowly made her way out. But by this point, her face had turned ghostly pale. Her pale lips had already been bitten, and blood trickled from the small wound, mingling with the sharp, metallic taste in her mouth. Yet she was oblivious to the pain as she clenched her jaw, her hands trembling, as though they might shatter into pieces. The pain mixed with an insidious itch spreading across her body. She gasped for breath, feeling as though her lungs were about to collapse. Just as she was about to take another step, her legs gave way, and she tumbled down the stairs, unable to rise again. She curled into herself, holding onto the last thread of hope, and dialed Edmund’s number. When the call connected, however, what came through was the sound of heavy, labored breathing, laced with intimacy. She shuddered violently, trying to scream for help, but it felt as though her chest had been blocked with stones. No words could escape. “Edmund… help me…” But the response wasn’t what she hoped for. Instead, it was Katherine’s breathy urging. “Honey… harder…” The muffled groan of a man followed, and each sound crashed through Jonna’s ears like thunder. The world around her seemed to shatter.   She swallowed the metallic taste in her throat and ended the call. The next second, the phone slipped from her hand and Jonna lost consciousness. When she woke up again, she found herself lying in the infirmary. Dr. Rogers sighed helplessly when she saw her consciousness returning, “Captain Smith, the wound on your head hasn’t healed yet, and now you’ve had a severe allergic reaction. Even the toughest person can’t handle that. “You might as well stay here… Seeing you like this, I felt sad for you.” Jonna’s pale lips moved slightly, but she didn’t say a word, looking like a lifeless doll. The sounds of the man and woman’s breathy exchanges echoed in her mind over and over again. She shut her eyes tightly as if trying to block out the noise. Dr. Rogers, sensing her discomfort, wisely chose not to speak further. She hooked her up to an IV drip and handed her several packets of medicine. The cold wind was biting as nightfall approached. Jonna dragged herself home, stumbling with every step. As soon as she entered the door, Edmund was standing in the living room, his face as cold as ice. He immediately started scolding her, “Don’t call me whenever you want. It’s bad to take personal calls during work hours. “I’m the captain, so I should set an example. If there’s anything, we can discuss it at home.” His brows furrowed, and his tone was self-righteous, and Jonna nearly gagged from the hypocrisy. He couldn’t take personal calls at work, but he had no problem engaging in intimate moments with someone else. She really wanted to ask him. What example did he want to set? Was it the example of messy relationships or crossing boundaries with his wife’s sister? But Jonna was beyond exhausted, physically and mentally. She didn’t want to waste any more breath on him. At that moment, Edmund’s phone rang, and he answered in a flash, “Katie, what’s up? I’m listening.” In the blink of an eye, his cold demeanor had vanished, replaced with a voice dripping with indulgence. It was too easy to tell who the woman he actually loved was. Jonna stood there dazed for a moment, shaking her head as though she could shake off the bitterness that had built up inside her. After Edmund hung up, he casually mentioned, “The colleagues on the flight crew want us to join them for a camping trip and fireworks show. I’ve already agreed for both of us.” Jonna opened her mouth, ready to refuse, but he added another sentence, “Don’t think just because you’re the captain you can ignore everyone else. You still have to consider your colleagues.” Her quiet “I’m not feeling well” got stuck in her throat. She rubbed her temple and slowly nodded. It was fine. She was leaving anyway. She might as well treat it like a dinner gathering. By the time they arrived at the destination, a group of flight attendants and Dr. Rogers from the infirmary were already there. Some were setting off fireworks, while others sat around a bonfire, drinking. Katherine, as usual, was in full motion. When she saw Edmund, her eyes lit up, and she coquettishly tugged at his sleeve, urging him to go set off fireworks with her. A colleague nearby teased, “I think Captain Cane and Katherine make a perfect pair. He’s handsome, and she’s pretty. It’s definitely better than pairing up with a poker face.” When those words left their mouth, a few stifled chuckles could be heard. Katherine, clearly overjoyed, tried to act coy. “Don’t be ridiculous. Captain Cane is Jonna’s husband… How could we be a match?” “You two look great together. Anyway, you’re his wife’s sister. It’s better to keep it within the family, right?” The group chattered on, and just as they turned around, they spotted Jonna. The lively scene immediately fell silent.   Jonna stood there as if she hadn’t heard anything. It didn’t matter to her at all. The “poker face” label had stopped hurting her a long time ago. Katherine, however, couldn’t stand Jonna’s aloof indifference. She stepped forward and grabbed her arm. “Come on, Jonna. Let’s go to set off fireworks together.” “You guys go ahead. I just want to sit for a bit.” Katherine’s face visibly darkened, and her eyes reddened as she looked down. Her voice carried a touch of vulnerability. “Jonna, why do you always reject me? You won’t eat the snacks I give you, and you won’t set off fireworks with me… “Is it because I took away Mom and Dad’s love? I can apologize if you want… Just don’t ignore me.” The colleagues around them eagerly fanned the flames. “Captain Smith just loves to throw tantrums. It’s one thing to act cold toward us, but now she’s putting on airs in front of Katherine.” Edmund, who had been listening nearby, frowned in displeasure. The next moment, Dr. Rogers scoffed and said loudly, “She’s still recovering from the wound on her forehead and is in the middle of a severe allergic reaction. “She’s supposed to be resting at home. But not only are you guys not letting her rest, you won’t even let her sit down to catch her breath.” With that, Dr. Rogers draped her shawl over Jonna’s shoulders as if to shield her from the chill in the air. The crowd exchanged glances, unsure how to react. Edmund cleared his throat, and his expression softened just a little. But a hint of irritation still lingered in his voice. “You should’ve told me you were feeling unwell back at home… You’re just too proud for your own good.” Jonna didn’t want to listen to his meaningless words. She silently shifted her gaze away. Even outsiders could see her pain and helplessness. But her husband? He could only find fault and place blame. Edmund didn’t push the issue further, settling down beside her. Katherine, still clearly unsatisfied, shot Jonna a resentful glare. “Edmund, I’m afraid of fire…” She pouted, making her meaning clear. But Edmund hesitated, and his gaze darted toward her briefly. In the end, Jonna gave in. “Go ahead. Your Katie is still waiting for you.” Edmund choked on his words, and a forced smile was on his face. “I’ll be right back. Wait for me.” His rushed departure and the urgency in his steps made it clear that Jonna’s pain and hurt were nothing compared to Katherine’s little pout. And Jonna? She would never wait for him again. Dr. Rogers seemed to sense her down mood. He gently comforted her while trying to engage her in conversation. “I heard from the higher-ups that the company is going to reward you for this incident,” she said. “They’re even preparing a media report. You’re about to be famous. “Impressive. You’re the only female captain in the country with this kind of honor. Edmund will surely be smiling from ear to ear.” Dr. Rogers smiled warmly, and her face lighted up. But when Jonna heard this, she only gave a faint smile, and her eyes betrayed no emotion. She had joined the airline for Edmund to stay by his side, never considering anything else. But life didn’t always go according to plan. She could never have what she wanted. Looking up at the dazzling stars in the sky, she couldn’t help but smile faintly, as though something had been released within her. Maybe as some sort of compensation, after the fireworks display, Edmund handed her his jacket. “It’s cold. Be careful not to catch a cold.” But Jonna didn’t move. She clearly remembered that the jacket had been draped over Katherine’s shoulders earlier. It was just like Edmund’s heart, broken in two. It had been tainted, and she no longer wanted it. She didn’t take the jacket, nor did she speak. Instead, she turned around and went home. The next day, as soon as Jonna returned to the office at the terminal, a message came through in the group chat: [Everyone, come to the conference hall.] She hurriedly tidied herself up and rushed to the meeting room, where Mr. Taylor, the head of the flight operations, greeted her with a smile. Turning around, he announced loudly, “As of today, Kreson Airlines has received 100 passengers’ thank-you letters. Jonna’s actions during the last incident greatly boosted the company’s reputation, and she is hereby named the Outstanding Captain of Kreson Airlines.” The next moment, applause broke out across the room. But Edmund, seated in the front row, raised his hand and shouted, “I object!” His objection echoed loudly in the otherwise silent conference room, and Mr. Taylor shot him a cold glance, remaining silent. Edmund hesitated for a moment and then met Katherine’s gaze. After a long pause, as if gaining the courage to speak, he declared with firm conviction, “Katherine was also held hostage by the criminals that day. Why doesn’t she deserve the honor?” The room went quiet. And then, hushed whispers began to ripple through the crowd. “The honor went to his wife. Why is he objecting…”   Mr. Taylor overheard the comment and repeated it aloud. He walked over slowly and confronted Edmund directly. “You pushed Jonna out as a hostage before the kidnapper could even reach Katherine. “How dare she object? Even if she dares, do you have to play the hero?” “Edmund.” Mr. Taylor’s voice grew louder. “Don’t forget. The one who gets rewarded is your wife.” Each word was sharp, and Edmund grew pale as Mr. Taylor spoke. Jonna noticed his clenched fists. The veins on his hands were bulged. Normally, when he was being reprimanded, she’d rush to defend him. But this time, she stayed quiet. She just watched with her arms crossed. “Edmund.” Mr. Taylor pressed. “Don’t forget why Jonna came to Kreson Airlines.” That last sentence seemed to hit Edmund hard. His face turned red, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words. Katherine tried to speak up, but Mr. Taylor snapped, “Enough! I don’t want to hear another word. This meeting is over!” The room emptied quickly, the tension lingering in the air. Edmund stood in front of Jonna, looking like he was about to crumble. “Why didn’t you help me out? You left me hanging like that…” Jonna gave him a small and ironic smile. She met his gaze. “Didn’t you tell me before not to interrupt when you’re talking to the higher-ups?” Edmund froze for a moment, then his face tensed with frustration. “I don’t know, Jonna. You’ve been acting weird lately… What’s going on?” Jonna couldn’t even maintain her polite smile. “You’ve been acting weird, too. You’re way more enthusiastic with Katherine than you ever are with me.” Edmund paused, struggling to come up with an excuse. “It’s not me, all right? It’s Adam and Beth. They asked me to help smooth things over…” But he couldn’t bring himself to say anything else when he met Jonna’s piercing gaze. “Edmund,” Jonna asked, and her voice was suddenly sharp, “What were you thinking when you pushed me out there? “Did you ever think I might die?” The words hit him hard. He froze, trying to find something to say, but Jonna cut him off. She handed him a document and flipped it to the last page. “Sign here,” she said flatly. “What’s this?” Edmund asked, and his voice was hesitant. “The commendation form. You wanted to get credit for Katherine’s actions, right? I’ve already signed mine. Now, it’s your turn.” As soon as he heard Katherine’s name, he didn’t hesitate. He signed his name without even looking at the form. Jonna watched him do it, and the dull ache in her chest grew. When it came to Katherine, it was like nothing else mattered to him. Jonna had already decided to let go, but the pain still lingered, quietly eating away at her. She shut her eyes for a moment, then spoke, and her voice was steady but final. “Edmund, let’s get a divorce.”

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My name was Juliet Jones. When I won the eighty-million-dollar jackpot, I excitedly went home to tell my husband, Eden Bernal, the good news, but I saw flames flickering from our window. I quickly took out my phone to call the police, but saw my husband, who should have been on duty as a firefighter, excitedly calling his mother, Jessica Smith‌. “Mom, our plan worked! I glanced at the charred person on the bed. She was wearing the pearl necklace I gave her. That bitch is dead. I can finally marry Serena!” But the person on the bed was not me. It was his dream lover, Serena Bright, whom he had long wanted to marry. “Great news, Mom! Serena will marry me soon. If it weren’t for that bitch’s money, I wouldn’t have chosen her back in the day. “After this fire, the money is ours. She was burned beyond recognition, with her skin falling off on the bed. I almost vomited just looking at it. It’s a pity she died while sleeping and didn’t suffer much. It would have been better if she was awake. Serena has followed me for years without any status. It was too hard for her. Only the bitch suffers the most could I vent my anger.” Serena was our neighbor living next door. She claimed to be Eden’s junior schoolmate and often visited our home. I had seen her sneak into my bedroom to wear my intimate clothing when she came over, and she enjoyed wearing the jewelry Eden had given me. I felt dissatisfied and complained to Eden, but instead, he accused me of being petty. He not only replaced our door with a fingerprint lock but also specially called Serena to record her fingerprint. I once felt ashamed for overanalyzing their relationship, but now I realized Eden had been cheating on me with Serena all along, treating me like a fool. Eden’s excited smile quickly turned to sorrow at the sight of the firefighters arriving. He was heartbroken, kneeling at the bottom of the apartment building, screaming hoarsely, “My wife is still inside. My wife is still inside! Let me go in and save her!” His colleagues held him back with great effort, not letting him move. He fixed a hateful stare at them. “Why are you stopping me from saving my wife? She’s carrying my child.” Eden’s eyes were bloodshot, and his throat was hoarse from shouting loudly. His colleague sighed helplessly, “Eden, the fire is too intense. Going in would mean death. Trust us. We will do our best to rescue her.” Eden then lay on the ground, curling up, looking as if he was about to faint from crying. Once the fire calmed down a bit, the firefighters put out the blaze and carried out the badly burned figure from inside. I was about to walk over when I noticed Serena’s phone on the floor of the hallway, likely dropped when the firefighters carried her out. Eden was crying over Serena’s body, showing that he wished to die along with “me.” Just then, Serena’s finger twitched. One of Eden’s colleagues exclaimed in surprise, “She’s still alive. There’s still breath! Quickly, get her to the hospital.” He patted Eden’s shoulder with a smile. “Eden, you’re really lucky. She’s savable! It seems that Death doesn’t want her yet.” Eden’s sorrowful expression froze, forcing out a smile even uglier than crying, and then he followed his colleagues to lift the charred Serena into the ambulance. At that moment, Serena’s phone buzzed in my hand. I hesitated and entered Eden’s birthday, successfully unlocking it. There was a message from someone saved as “Honey”: [Serena, that bitch Juliet actually didn’t die in the fire. I need to follow her to the hospital. Don’t worry. She won’t live long. Soon, she won’t be able to interfere with us being together openly.] I felt disgusted but wanted to see what tricks Eden had up his sleeve. So, I bought a sun-shielding mask and a thick coat to cover my face. Once I disguised myself so that no one could recognize me, I took a taxi to the hospital and found Serena’s ICU. The other firefighters and onlookers had dispersed, and the scene in the ward was laid bare. Serena lay on the hospital bed with a respirator covering her face, and her entire body was tightly wrapped in bandages. The doctor sighed as he spoke with Eden about Serena’s condition, “She has seventy-five percent of her body burned. Most of her bodily systems are severely damaged, and her vocal cords are completely destroyed. She almost lost her life. We can only provide conservative treatment and see if she has the will to survive. The total treatment cost may exceed one million dollars. You need to be prepared.” When Eden heard about the enormous medical expenses, his eyes widened in shock. “You expect me to spend a million dollars to treat her, huh? She doesn’t deserve it!” Noticing the doctor’s strange look, he quickly cleared his throat, frowning sadly. “I have no choice. I’m just a worker. I really can’t come up with a million dollars. My poor wife!” The doctor shook his head and said, “Make a decision soon. Your wife is carrying a child.”

After the doctor left, Eden turned and slapped Serena hard enough to almost knock off her breathing mask. “Hey, if you think I would spend over a million dollars to treat you, then you are totally wrong.” I noticed the fluctuations on the monitoring equipment and knew that Serena must have regained consciousness. Sure enough, Serena opened her eyes in front of Eden. When she saw him, she instinctively tried to move, struggling desperately but found herself tightly bound in bandages, unable to move at all. She could hardly bear the intense pain from her burns, and tears streamed down her face as she looked at Eden, whimpering helplessly. Seeing her swaying, Eden pressed down hard on her bandaged arm. Eden’s grip was certainly not light. I even saw yellow tissue fluid seeping through the bandages where he held her. Serena cried out in pain, but it did not soften Eden’s heart at all. Instead, he slapped her even harder. Eden laughed like a demon as he removed Serena’s breathing mask. Once her face turned bright red from struggling to breathe, he put it back on her. Once she adjusted to breathing, Eden took the mask off again and again. Serena widened her eyes in agony, unable to comprehend why Eden was treating her this way. She twisted her body desperately, signaling Eden to look at her abdomen with her eyes. I also noticed a slight bulge in Serena’s belly. Eden paused for a moment as he removed the respirator, and his hand rested on Serena’s stomach. Then, He spoke, “I know you’re pregnant. So what? The doctor who examined you told me it’s a girl. Since you won’t be able to survive, you might as well go die with your worthless daughter.” His fingers lightly traced over Serena’s belly, and for a moment, his gaze softened. “Do you know, Juliet? Serena is also carrying my child, a son. I don’t want them to wait any longer. If someone should be blamed, it’s you for getting in the way. “Even if you’re lucky enough to survive, you will be useless. I will divorce you and let Serena take your place. If you die, that’s just your bad luck.” His gaze suddenly turned vicious. In the next second, under Serena’s terrified stare, Eden pressed down hard on her belly again and again, increasing his strength each time. Serena gasped in pain. She struggled with all her might, trying to say she was Serena, but it was no use. I watched as Serena’s strength dwindled until she rolled her eyes back and fainted. Beneath her, a pool of fresh blood slowly spread out, and the monitor began to alarm. Next, Eden looked terrified, frantically pressing the nurse’s call button beside the bed. “My wife is bleeding! She’s losing a lot of blood!” Just after escaping from the gates of hell, Serena was once again taken into the operating room. I took the opportunity to rush to the stairwell, retching repeatedly. I clutched my clothing tightly, with my eyes bloodshot. Eden was heartless enough to not spare even his own child. If it were me lying on that hospital bed, I couldn’t even fathom what I would go through. By the time Serena was brought out of the emergency room again, it was already afternoon. I sat on a bench outside Serena’s room, watching the scene inside. Eden did not expect “me” to survive such torment. He sat inside the room with a dark expression on his face. I couldn’t help but feel desolate for myself. I had spent eight years with him, yet it couldn’t compare to Serena’s mere year of companionship. I thought, “In his eyes, Serena was a treasure, while I was dirt, but I loved him wholeheartedly. Did that mean I deserved to die?” Lost in thought, a person brushed past my shoulder and walked straight into the room. That was Eden’s mother, Jessica Smith‌. She squinted her eyes and turned back to look me up and down.

I felt a shiver run down my spine. Had I disguised myself so well that she still recognized me? Fortunately, she only spat on the ground and cursed fiercely. “Don’t stand there watching. Get lost.” I sighed in relief, turned around, and left, preparing to gather evidence for an appeal. At that moment, Jessica’s voice filled with glee reached my ears again. I paused and looked back. Jessica was beaming with excitement, holding Eden’s hand. “I checked it out. You are a heroic firefighter, and reporters will come to interview you. You should tell them how miserable Juliet is, so they can get people to donate.” Eden impatiently shook off Jessica’s hand. “Does that mean I would become a beggar? How much can we raise this way? Aren’t those watching the live-stream just a bunch of poor folks?” Jessica raised a finger. “I calculated it. At least one million dollars. No matter what, that would be enough for a down payment on a house for my grandson.” Eden paused for a moment, and then his gaze sparkled with greed. “One million dollars? Is there really that much?” “Of course! One million dollars is actually on the low end.” Seeing Eden and Jessica reveling in their plans inside the hospital room made me feel disappointed and heartbroken. They wouldn’t rest until they had fully exploited me. Jessica had been blinded by money and began counting prices excitedly. “And also, Juliet’s dumb father left her hundreds of thousands of dollars, so we could even get a new car for the family.” Eden joined in the scheming. “We also bought that bitch insurance, and we could get compensation, too.” I clenched my fists outside the hospital room. If I were lying on that hospital bed, hearing my husband and Jessica discuss how to exploit me while I was on the brink of death, I would undoubtedly feel worse than dead. I put away my recording pen and was just about to get up and leave when I saw reporters rushing into the hospital room with cameras. The leading reporter aimed the microphone at Eden. Eden was disheveled, with bloodshot eyes, slumped on the ground looking utterly defeated. “Investigations say that the cause of the fire was insufficient fire safety measures in the building, with flammable materials piled up in evacuation areas like the stairwell. I was on duty outside, and by the time I got home, my wife had already…” At this point, Eden covered his face and cried. The reporter turned the camera toward Serena on the hospital bed. “I’m just an ordinary firefighter, earning a low salary, and I simply can’t afford my wife’s medical bills. But my wife is still carrying my child…” An indignant reporter stepped forward and said, “You need to get the insurance company to compensate. You’re a hero who risks his life for the people, so your wife and child must be protected.” Jessica had been waiting for this statement. She immediately jumped out, throwing a tantrum on the floor. “Poor Juliet! This isn’t over! They must compensate us five hundred thousand dollars… No, one million dollars!” The onlookers whispered among themselves, “One million dollars is too much. The homeowner has some responsibility for piling up flammable materials in the stairwell. How can the insurance company cover it all?” “Yeah, the insurance company will suffer a huge loss.” Upon hearing this, Eden’s eyes turned red as he glared fiercely at the two people. “Does that mean Juliet deserves to suffer? She’s been married to me for three years, and I haven’t given her a good life yet. Our child isn’t even born. Given that, isn’t that amount of money too much?” The two people blushed at his words. The reporters recorded the entire scene. Eden’s persona as a loving husband and responsible heroic firefighter began to form. Many netizens were moved by Eden’s performance and willingly opened their wallets to donate to him. In just fifteen minutes, the donations reached three hundred thousand dollars. Eden was stunned, and his eyes were wide with disbelief, getting more engrossed in his act. Jessica stopped crying and smiled broadly to thank the donors. I couldn’t bear to watch their sordid performance any longer and wanted to turn around and leave with my recording pen. But Jessica suddenly rushed forward and tightly grabbed my coat, ripping off my mask. “You little sneak. I know you!”

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