Category: English

Three days before Christmas, I didn’t close the window tight enough, and my sister, Willow, caught a cold. My parents immediately kicked me out, ordering me to go into the woods in the middle of the night to chop down a Christmas tree. Meanwhile, Mom and Dad hovered around Willow, asking her endless questions and fussing over her. I didn’t cry, didn’t argue. I just grabbed the saw and walked into the biting wind and snow, heading for the woods. I didn’t find a Christmas tree, but I found a man. His leg was horribly stuck between two rocks, bloody and terrifying. When he saw me approach, he rasped, “Little girl, just get me out of here, and I’ll grant you anything you wish.” I stared blankly, my eyes focusing. “Really? Then I want you to be my dad.” The words had barely left my lips when I realized the man in front of me had passed out. After thinking it over, I pulled him free anyway. I hoisted his unconscious body, limping my way back home. Just as I was about to tell my parents what had happened, my dad’s slap was my welcome. “Where’s your Christmas tree? Christmas is almost here! How are we supposed to celebrate without one?” Mom frowned, her eyes sweeping over me like I was something disgusting she’d found on her shoe. “Who is this man? Why did you bring him back?” I pursed my lips, wanting to explain. In this weather, he could freeze to death if left outside for one night, let alone with those injuries. Willow, however, suddenly skipped over, spotting a bracelet on the man’s wrist. “Wow, that bracelet is so pretty! I want it!” Willow was the family’s little princess; whatever she asked for, Mom and Dad would agree. Sure enough, Mom reached out to unfasten the injured man’s bracelet. “Ugh, why won’t this thing come off?” “Never mind. Let him stay here for the night. Once he wakes up, we’ll just ask him for it. After all, *we* saved him.” Willow clapped her hands happily. “Yay! I’ll have a new bracelet tomorrow! Riley, remember to give Max the leftover steak from dinner tonight!” Max was our dog. I hadn’t even eaten dinner yet, but Willow wanted to give my share to the dog! At that moment, Willow and Dad were helping bandage the man’s wounds. Then she suddenly turned to me and said, “Oh, right, Riley, you haven’t eaten, have you? But Max hasn’t eaten either…” Just then, Grandma Elsie snapped, “She doesn’t need to eat! She can’t even get a Christmas tree right, what good is she? Right then, the man we’d rescued finally regained consciousness and slowly opened his eyes. Willow looked at his wrist and said petulantly, “I saved you, so you have to repay me. I want that bracelet.” Without hesitation, the man took off the bracelet and placed it on Willow’s soft, pale hand. “I’m Matteus Blackwood. My friends and I had an accident while on vacation. Thank you for saving my life.” I stared intently at my “adopted” dad, hoping he’d recognize that *I* was the one who saved him. But his gaze remained solely on Willow, completely missing me. My hands, clenched tightly at my sides, slowly relaxed. It was always like this. Mom and Dad, and Grandma Elsie too. Everyone only loved innocent, lively Willow, who was like a doll. No one ever liked quiet, plain me. Willow got her bracelet and skipped off to walk Max. Dad looked at the man impatiently. “Well, if that’s the case, then hurry and have your friends come pick you up. It’s almost Christmas, you’re just being a burden.” “My apologies, I can’t reach my friends.” Matteus said awkwardly. Eventually, he promised to transfer money to my parents once he returned home, and that’s how he temporarily stayed with us. Grandma Elsie rolled her eyes at me from the side. “It’s all your fault. You couldn’t find a Christmas tree, and instead, you brought trouble into the house.” Grandma Elsie threw a dishrag right in my face. “Get out there and wash the dishes.”

I quietly dished out a bowl of mushroom soup for Matteus. I was a little reluctant; it was supposed to be my dinner tonight. That night, my parents made Matteus sleep in the storage room. He didn’t know that the storage room was actually my room. Matteus looked surprised when he asked me, “This is your room? Are you their daughter? How come you don’t even have a bed?” In the dim light, I didn’t answer his question. Matteus rubbed his temples, a hint of distaste on his face as he lay down on the floor. I curled up tighter, hugging myself, trying to stay warm. To be honest, I regretted it a little. I’d saved him hoping to finally have a dad who loved me, but my “adopted” dad didn’t even remember me. Of course, compared to cute, pretty Willow, I was dirty and thin. Since I didn’t get a good dad, maybe next time, the heavens would send me a mom. Drifting in and out of consciousness, I finally fell asleep. Around five in the morning, I woke up naturally. “You’re awake? Up so early?” Matteus, behind me, looked at me curiously. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he hadn’t slept all night. “Yeah, I have to chop wood, shovel snow, feed Max, lots of chores to do.” “Before Mom and Dad wake up, I also have to cook breakfast. Don’t worry, I’ll save a portion for you first.” Without waiting for his reaction, I turned and walked out the door. It was almost dawn; I needed to get today’s Christmas tree branches chopped. Otherwise, Grandma Elsie would hit me again. Trudging through the thick snow, I moved with difficulty. The beam of my flashlight swept over the deep snow, landing on a dark shadow behind a tree. I remained calm, expertly shielding the light. There were always strange creatures scurrying around in the backwoods; sometimes, if I was unlucky, I’d encounter a wild boar. But I was used to it; I didn’t get scared. Just as I was about to turn and slip away, a faint call came from behind me: “Is anyone there? Hello? Please don’t let me freeze to death out here.” Only then did I realize it was a woman. Could it be… the universe sent me a mom? The woman and I met each other’s gaze. She had gorgeous wavy hair and blinked her big eyes at me. “Where did this kid come from? Am I hallucinating from the cold?” “Are you in trouble? Do you want to come back with me?” I boldly asked. Seeing the woman nod frantically, I let her follow me. On the way back, I learned her name was Seraphina Thorne, and she was also here on vacation. She had gotten separated from her friends, and heavy snow had blocked the roads. Her car was stuck in the snow, so she couldn’t drive down the mountain to find help, which was how she’d stumbled upon me. Reaching our doorstep, I stopped. “I can let you stay, but you have to be my mom and take me away.” Seraphina froze. She looked at my tattered cotton coat and my basket full of branches, then asked, “Do you live here alone?” My eyes welled up. “No, Dad, Mom, Grandma Elsie, and Willow, they’re all here.” Seraphina sighed. “Little one, if you already have a mom, then I can’t be your mom. Your own mom would be sad.” I clenched the hem of my coat, shaking my head. “If you don’t want to, that’s fine. Come with me, but be careful not to let them see you, or they’ll kick you out.” I said, leading her to the storage room. The moment I pushed the door open, Matteus’s gaze snapped over, instantly freezing. Seraphina rolled her eyes. Matteus’s mouth twitched. “What a coincidence.” They knew each other. Later, I brought breakfast to the storage room. Seraphina’s eyes fell on the lingering red mark on my face, and she gasped in surprise, “Someone hit you?” I pretended not to hear, placing a few slices of bread on the table. “Breakfast, you two share it. I’m going to do chores.” Seraphina quickly grabbed my arm. “What about you? Aren’t you eating?” “I already ate,” I lied, but my stomach uncooperatively rumbled. “She didn’t eat last night either,” Matteus sighed, looking at me with pity. “Do your family abuse you?” Seraphina frowned. They were about to say more when Grandma Elsie’s shriek came from outside: “Riley! Where did you disappear to, get over here and do your chores!” I quickly went into the yard, and Grandma Elsie shoved a knife into my hand, telling me, “Kill this chicken.” The knife slipped, slicing my hand, and then slit the chicken’s throat, spraying blood all over my face. Grandma Elsie didn’t even acknowledge the cut on my hand; instead, she cursed me. “You can’t even do this simple thing right. Are you deliberately trying to make me angry?! No lunch for you today!”

I stumbled back into the storage room, dazed. My whole body trembled as if plunged into an ice bath. Seraphina had heard the commotion outside and had been peeking through the door crack. She rushed to bandage my hand, her expression frantic. When she grasped my wrist, she visibly flinched. My arm was so thin, just bone. And my outstretched hands were dark and calloused, covered in rough skin and festering frostbite. From outside, I heard my parents’ and Willow’s conversation: “The snow is so pretty, I want to take pictures!” “Okay, okay, but baby, you need to dress warmly so you don’t catch a cold.” “Where’s Riley? She grew up in the mountains, let her guide us.” “Why bother with her? That child isn’t close to us, it’s awkward to have her around.” Seraphina’s face fell. “Those are your parents?” “I guess so,” I mumbled, then mechanically walked back out. After repeating the day’s chores, I didn’t forget to sneak some food for the two in the storage room. That night, Seraphina refused to sleep on the bed with Matteus. Instead, she lay down on the floor with me. She felt my forehead and found it burning hot. She quickly took off her down jacket and wrapped it around me. An unprecedented scent and warmth enveloped me. I froze for a moment, and then tears fell first. I instinctively wanted to call her “Mom,” but I held back. Perhaps it was the fever, but my heart felt warm that night. When I woke up the next day, it was already bright outside. Grandma Elsie was yelling in the yard, and I scrambled to my feet out of habit. “I overslept, no, I—” Seraphina and Matteus also heard the commotion and tried to stop me. But they watched as I staggered out, falling right in front of Grandma Elsie. “You worthless piece of garbage, getting lazier and lazier, aren’t you?” She gave a mocking laugh, tugging my hair and dragging me over. With one hand, she snatched up the snow shovel nearby and slammed it hard onto my back. I gasped, doubled over in pain, breathing heavily. “I’m so bored, Grandma Elsie, I want to build a snowman.” Willow, beside her, acted as if she hadn’t seen Grandma Elsie’s furious beating. A sly look crossed her face, and she pointed at me. “Let Riley be the snowman.” She scooped up a ball of snow and smeared it on my face. Then she innocently called out to Mom and Dad, “Mom and Dad, come play!” My parents walked over, completely ignoring me, barely clinging to life on the ground, and dotingly helped Willow put on her gloves. “Be careful, sweetie, don’t catch a cold.” Willow giggled, shoveling snow and piling it on top of me. Icy snowflakes slid down my collar. My face was pale with cold, and I couldn’t stop trembling. But my parents’ scolding reached my ears: “It’s just a little snow, can’t you cooperate with your sister?” Suddenly, a voice cut in: “You don’t want to raise this child, do you? I’ll take her. How much do you want? Name your price.”

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When Adam Hayes broke up with his first love, Seraphina, she slapped him in public. “You’re a pathetic, broke loser! We were never meant to be!” I saw his handsome face, his earnest eyes, and decided to date him myself. So what if he was poor? Money was the one thing I had plenty of. We married. An Ivy League grad, he started a company with my backing. Seven years later, he took it public. He’d always say, “My love, you’re an angel sent from heaven to save me.” Today, as I held our daughter and fed her, a message came in from the HR manager at Adam’s company. Adam had just hired his ex-girlfriend, Seraphina, as his assistant. The message hit me. I paused for a single, sharp second, then texted Adam. “You hired Seraphina Miller. The woman who slapped you and called you trash in front of everyone. And now you’re bringing her into your office?” His reply was instant. “It was a business decision. The previous assistant quit, and Seraphina aced every test. You know I don’t mix work with personal feelings.” When I didn’t answer, two more texts followed in quick succession. “Don’t stress over this. You need your rest after having Celeste.” “Send me a picture. I miss my girls.” For a moment, staring at his words, I almost believed him. The realization hit me a second later. He was deflecting. That familiar, icy pang returned to my chest. “You want a picture?” I typed, my fingers cold. “Fire Seraphina. Now.” He went silent. It wasn’t until 4 PM that Adam finally replied. “Sorry, I was in a meeting.” The tears came then, hot and immediate. A woman’s intuition is never just intuition. I opened a new chat with Adam’s HR manager. “Send me Seraphina’s resume.” I own forty-nine percent of Hayes Capital. I have a right to see every employee’s record. The HR manager sent Seraphina’s file half an hour later. A quick scan painted a clear, pathetic picture. After breaking up with Adam, she got laid off. Then she’d bounced through several companies since, with each job ending in a layoff or a bankruptcy. Once, she’d been a Wall Street star, connected and envied. No wonder she’d left Adam in the dust back then. She’d been in a different galaxy. But a gold digger like her begged for an assistant job from the man she’d discarded? No way this wasn’t a play. So that very day, I hired a private investigator to dig up everything. Her life, her debts, her secrets. My instincts were right. Seraphina hadn’t just come back. She’d come back with an agenda. The day before she started at Adam’s company, Seraphina dumped her sales-rep boyfriend. She even posted it anonymously on Ins: “My ex’s company just went public. Leaving him seven years ago was the biggest mistake of my life. He’s married now, with a newborn. I’m dying of regret. How do I get him back?” The post blew up. Hundreds of comments poured in, most telling her not to wreck a family. But a few voices cut through the noise. “If he ever really loved you, he’d take you back in a heartbeat. Men are simple. They always want the one they lost!” “Why work a 9-to-5? Even as his mistress, you’d clear six figures a year.” “His wife just had a baby. She’s exhausted, distracted. This is your moment!” To each of these, Seraphina replied: “Thanks for your support!” After reading the post, I immediately printed it out. When Adam came home that night, I calmly handed him all of Seraphina’s information. “This is what my private investigator found on Seraphina. You might want to take a look.”

To my surprise, he didn’t even look at the documents. His brow furrowed in immediate irritation. “Why are you investigating her? How many times, Aurora? Seraphina is just an assistant. She means nothing.” “If she means nothing,” I shot back, “fire her. I won’t have a ‘nothing’ woman casting a shadow over my marriage. Remember who funded this company of yours.” At that, Adam snapped. “There it is. The golden ticket. Do you have to hold it over my head every day? You think being my savior gives you the right to control my every move.” I didn’t back down. “My line is infidelity, Adam. Fire her. Or I will.” Adam shook with rage. He ripped off his tie, glaring at me as if I were the enemy. “Fine, you win. I’ll fire her tomorrow.” Then he kicked the table, turned, and stormed upstairs without another look. The moment he disappeared, the tears I’d held back finally fell. Then my body gave out, and I collapsed into the sofa. Seraphina had only been at the company for a few days, yet Adam was already a stranger. That night, he didn’t come to our bedroom. He slept in the guest room. It was a stark break from his old routine. Every night, his first stop was our room for a kiss-first for Celeste, then for me. And he would gently say to me, “My love, you must be exhausted.” Then he’d hold Celeste in his arms. “Our precious girl is just too adorable.” Now, because I’d dared to look into Seraphina, he wouldn’t even look at our daughter. He wouldn’t even come home to our room. My heart ached for Adam all night, and even in the middle of the night, my C-section incision throbbed faintly. Celeste also cried non-stop all night for some unknown reason. Rachel, the nanny, didn’t sleep a wink that night because of Celeste and me. But Adam never came to check on us. Still, the outcome was positive. Early the next morning, I received a call from HR, telling me that Adam had fired Seraphina. I let out a long sigh of relief. By mid-afternoon, I SnapChatted Adam, asking him to come home for dinner. I told him I’d asked Rachel to make his favorite paella. I desperately wanted to mend things between Adam and me, and I was genuinely convinced that Adam had just momentarily lost his way in our marriage. I even thought Seraphina was insignificant. But to my surprise, Adam didn’t reply to my message until eight o’clock that night. My brow furrowed, and I called Adam, but it went straight to voicemail. It wasn’t until 11 PM that he finally messaged me. “Sleeping at a hotel tonight. Not coming home.”

Reading that message, my fingers clutched the phone tightly, and my C-section incision started throbbing again. My fingers trembling, I called Mike, Adam’s driver, to ask where Adam had gone. In the past, I never questioned Adam’s whereabouts because he’d always tell me himself. But now, a bitter smile played on my lips. Especially when Mike hesitantly told me that Adam had left the company at 10 AM. A sharp pain shot through my heart. 10 AM was the exact time Seraphina left the company. My fingers trembled as I started checking Adam’s credit card statements. Seeing that Adam had booked two presidential suites at a five-star hotel near the company at 11 AM, I completely collapsed to the floor. Just then, Rachel, the nanny, brought me some warm milk. With red eyes, I asked her, “Rachel, should I go look for Adam?” Rachel looked at me hesitantly. “Mrs. Hayes, maybe you should back off a bit, give Mr. Hayes some space? Men have their pride, after all.” A bitter smile appeared on my lips. “Back off? But what if ‘backing off a bit’ means Adam actually cheats, and then there’s no turning back for us? Celeste is only three months old; she hasn’t even learned to say ‘Daddy’ yet. Am I really going to get a divorce?” “And if Seraphina were just an ordinary woman, I might be able to find a way to get rid of her. But it’s clear Adam can’t bear to let her go, and Seraphina definitely has her sights set on him.” And then, I finally broke. For days, I’d armored myself in cold, aggressive logic to face the Seraphina problem. But inside, my heart was a pincushion.Even if I could force myself to be gentle now, would it bring Adam back? No. The unattainable always shines brightest. In the crushing silence of that realization, Celeste spiked a fever in the dead of night. The family doctor came at once. After a brief examination, he told me to take Celeste to the hospital right away. She likely had pneumonia. Guilt, hot and sharp, ripped through me, and the tears I’d held back for days finally fell. For two days, I’d been so consumed by Adam that I’d let Celeste fade into the background. The night before, she’d cried without end. I hadn’t noticed. Pain and regret tore through me like a sharp blade. I called Adam, again and again. No answer. Finally, a text arrived. “Don’t contact me. I need space.” Then his phone went dead! At that exact moment, Celeste’s crying stopped. Shallow, desperate gasps took its place, like a fish flopping on the sand. “No, no, no, NO!”

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“You’re a man, who did this to you?!” My parents screamed, their voices frantic. I looked at them and a laugh unexpectedly escaped my lips. “The kidnappers.” My parents and Cassie froze, their faces draining of color. I continued softly, “Don’t you remember? The kidnappers demanded a ransom. You only offered to save your other precious son, saying I needed to learn a lesson.” My mother collapsed onto the sofa. “That’s impossible… We just wanted you to learn a lesson, to tell you to stop bullying Leo. I never… We never thought…” I walked over to my mother, bending down to look at her. “You never thought the kidnappers would humiliate me like that, did you?” Without waiting for her reply, I rolled up the sleeve of my left arm. A winding scar, like a centipede, coiled across my skin, stretching all the way to my elbow. “Knife wounds, burns, fractures.” I pointed at each mark. “They broke two of my ribs and burned seven cigarette marks onto my back. I had all these when I came home. Why did none of you ever ask me about them?” My mother opened her mouth, but I cut her off. “You didn’t come to rescue me. You just took Leo.” “You didn’t come for a day, then two days, then a whole month…” “Do you really think the kidnappers would still believe they could get a ransom?” Well, it’s too late now. I’m going to die.

The next day, I was heading to the hospital for surgery when I coincidentally ran into Mr. and Mrs. Hayes and Cassie. Leo’s stomach issues had flared up again, and the whole family was rushing to be with him. I went to the doctor’s office and confirmed my surgery time. As I walked out, Cassie spotted me and grabbed my arm. Behind her, Leo’s eyes were sharp and accusatory. “What are you doing at the hospital? Leo’s stomach is acting up because you haven’t been eating or drinking. What else are you trying to do?” Cassie demanded, her carefully applied makeup unable to hide the harshness in her brow. I waved her off. “I don’t have time for this.” To me, the Hayes family was as distant as strangers passing on the street. Once I decided I was no longer a Hayes, I would sever all emotional ties with them, just like… my own parents did to me. Perhaps, deep down, I did have the same cold blood as the Hayes. I shook Cassie off and turned to leave. I used to always watch the backs of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes and Cassie. Now, finally, I didn’t have to. The biopsy results came back: Stage 4 brain tumor. Surgery was no longer an option. The old injury on my left arm, however, required another debridement surgery – the infection left by the kidnappers had turned cancerous. There was no way I was keeping that arm. When I came off the operating table, I felt like I’d lost half my life. I slept for two days, but it felt like just a shallow nap. If death was like this, perhaps it wouldn’t be too hard to accept. The doctor said the debridement surgery was successful, but the cancer cells had already spread. I knew my time was even shorter. A month later, I was discharged. The doctor urged me to continue chemotherapy. That’s when I got a call from Leo. He said if I was leaving the Hayes family, I should do it cleanly. He asked me to meet him at a coffee shop to return my belongings. Twenty minutes later, I arrived at the coffee shop. Leo was already impatiently waiting. I was surprised to see Cassie there too. She scrutinized me from head to toe. I’d lost so much weight in the past month that my hospital gown hung loosely on my skeletal frame. My eyes were deeply bruised from the constant pain. “Alex, look at you. How can you even compare to Leo? You’ve completely disgraced the Hayes family,” Cassie said. I didn’t reply, just picked up my bag, preparing to leave. Cassie called out, a look of disbelief on her face. It was probably because of my blatant disregard. For four years, I had constantly tried to please her. When had she ever been treated with such indifference by me? Seeing her silent, I reached for the glass door of the coffee shop to open it. Cassie tried to grab me, but accidentally tugged on my hair. My short, dark brown wig came off. Cassie and Leo stared, stunned. “Why did you shave your head?!”

“Are you insane? You’re throwing away your image completely?” Cassie continued, glancing at the equally shocked faces of the other customers in the coffee shop. Leo, too, asked with a sneer, “Alex, what’s this stunt now? Other people make grand sacrifices, and you’re doing this? Are you shaving your head to make some profound statement?” Leo’s words cut like knives. I laughed. “Don’t you know what ‘starting over’ means?” I extended my hand to Cassie. “Give me back my wig.” Cassie clutched my wig, speechless, just staring at me. It was Leo who snatched it from her and tossed it into my lap. I calmly put on the wig. After all, a skeletal man with a shaved head isn’t exactly a sight for sore eyes on the street. “Leo, you really don’t have to be so scared. I’m not coming back to the Hayes family,” I said with a smile. “Not in this lifetime, and certainly not in the next.” “I’m not scared! Mom, Dad, and Cassie only love me!” Leo cried out, furious, his usually handsome face twisted with rage. Before my chemotherapy appointment, I went to pick out my burial plot, right next to my foster parents. In my next life, I wanted to be their biological son. This life had been too painful. In my next life, I only wanted to live the way I did before I was 17. To my surprise, the sales manager at the cemetery was Chloe, the neighbor from my foster parents’ old house. She didn’t ask too many questions, nor did she offer forced comfort. She’d probably seen enough of life and death. Her initial shock was probably just because it was her first time meeting the user of a burial plot in person. Chloe seriously explained all the arrangements, even helping me choose a good, affordable urn. Chloe walked with me towards my parents’ graves. “Dad, Mom…” I missed them so much. I quickened my pace up the steps, all 108 of them. Standing before their familiar tombstone, I was pierced by the sight before my eyes, and my vision blurred! There, on the tombstone, crude letters written in foul-smelling dog’s blood screamed. I rushed forward, charging towards the grave… [ALEX IS A BASTARD, AND THE PARENTS WHO RAISED HIM ARE ANIMALS!] I dropped to my knees, frantically scrubbing with my sleeve. As I wiped, I apologized, “Dad, Mom, I’m so sorry… Your son is unfilial, I’ve dragged you down even in heaven, you can’t even rest in peace…” “I’m useless, how could this happen…” “I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry!” My hands were raw and chafed from scrubbing. My light-colored clothes were stained red and dirty. Chloe returned from the office with a bucket of water and a rag, helping me clean. The rain grew heavier. I was soaked to the bone. Chloe struggled to drag and support me down the mountain. I was the biological son the Hayes family had searched for. But when I returned at 17, there was already an adopted son, Leo, the same age as me. Leo, who had soaked up all the Hayes’ love. In the four years since my return, no one seemed to remember to change my surname back to Hayes. I continued to use the name my foster parents gave me, Alex Miller. My foster parents had been wonderful to me. Unable to have children, they felt finding me was a blessing from heaven, vowing to cherish me as their treasure. But when my DNA was uploaded online after a school blood drive, my biological parents, separated from me for 13 years, found me. My foster parents still let me go. They believed I could get better educational resources with the Hayes, at least no longer needing to work part-time to help support myself. But now, I was dying. Brain tumor, late stage. To see my foster parents, who loved me so deeply, insulted like this… I felt like my insides were being brutally squeezed and twisted.

They don’t love me, and I don’t want to love them anymore. I just want to live for myself at the end of my life. Tomorrow is my chemotherapy, but why did I have to see my beloved foster parents suffer such an insult? My foster mother passed away when I was 12, and my foster father died in an accident last year. Can’t even the dead leave in peace? My childhood memories of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were hazy. I only remembered Cassie, five years older than me, taking me to an amusement park. She told me to wait while she went to buy me ice cream. I waited from morning until night, but Cassie never came back. In the end, it was a cleaning lady at the amusement park, my foster mother, who found me and took me home. On my first day back at the Hayes mansion, Leo cried to me, “I don’t want anything. I know I’ve taken your place all these years, but now I just want to be with Mom, Dad, and Cassie. Please, Alex, don’t make me leave.” What did Cassie, who had lost me that day, do? She pushed me away fiercely. “Leo, no one will make you leave, and no one dares to. You are my brother, my only brother,” Cassie said, hugging Leo tightly and glaring at me. It was as if I were some unforgivable villain, trying to break up their family. My biological mother, her eyes red-rimmed, looked at Leo and choked out to me, “Alex, when you went missing back then, Mom went crazy. So your father brought Leo home. Leo was the one who stayed with Mom through all the days and nights without you.” The moment I turned to look at Leo, he gave me a defiant smirk. “Mom, let’s not talk about all that for now. Let Alex stay in my room tonight. The guest room isn’t ready yet.” Leo emphasized the words “guest room.” “Oh, no, that won’t do, Leo. You’re particular about your bed. Changing rooms will make you sleep badly,” my mother quickly said, then immediately remembered I was still there and abruptly stopped herself. For the next four years, I lived in the guest room next to the maid’s quarters on the first floor and never moved. No more thinking about it. I can’t think about it anymore.

The first round of chemotherapy was so painful that cold sweat plastered itself to my face, dripping down. I was in agonizing pain. The doctor asked if I had any family with me, but I said nothing. But when I saw Chloe waiting outside the operating room, I felt a flicker of relief. I wasn’t alone. I was too lonely. I needed someone to be with me, at least for this final journey. I needed someone to bury me. Because of the chemotherapy, I couldn’t eat anything and dry-heaved every day. Even the rich and bland meals Chloe brought me were impossible to stomach. “Eat a little more, otherwise, when you’re cremated, there’ll be so little left, it won’t even cover the bottom of the urn. What a waste,” Chloe said. After every meal, Chloe would push me to the hospital garden for a walk. Silverwood had already entered winter, with heavy snow blanketing everything, and the sun couldn’t ward off the cold. “Let’s go back to the room. It’s too cold.” I gazed at the grey sky and asked Chloe, “Why couldn’t I reach you when I came back to the Hayes family?” Chloe’s eyes reddened. She didn’t speak. I sighed deeply. Had I said the wrong thing? Chloe turned her face away, her shoulders trembling slightly. Back in the hospital room, I lay in bed reading when Leo called me. “Alex, where are you?” Leo’s voice was agitated and urgent. “Can you come home? Cassie is being beaten to death by Mom and Dad.” Leo didn’t wait for me to speak, then started crying again. “It’s all your fault! Mom and Dad are blaming Cassie for saying you needed to learn a lesson. Cassie’s being hit all because of you.” I was speechless. “Why should I go?” “Why won’t you come back? It’s all because of you! Don’t you love Cassie most of all? Can you bear to see her beaten?” “Mr. Leo, I’ve already left the Hayes family. Haven’t you always wanted to be the only son of the Hayes? Why are you asking me to come back now?” I couldn’t believe Leo had the nerve to call me. I hung up and then blocked and deleted everyone from the Hayes family. But I didn’t expect Cassie to show up at the hospital. I was in the hospital lobby, basking in the sun by the floor-to-ceiling windows, enjoying a rare good day. Cassie stood in the shadows, asking, “Why didn’t you tell the family you were sick?” “Ms. Hayes, your family is truly ridiculous. Why do you always forget that I’ve cut ties with you? My name is Miller, yours is Hayes. What is there for us to talk about?” The sunlight made me squint. Hearing me say my name was Miller, Cassie’s face paled slightly, but she patiently asked, “What illness do you have?” I pointed to the sign on the wall. “Oncology. What else could it be, stomach problems?” “Alex, are you planning to fake your death this time to gain Mom and Dad’s sympathy?” “Get out!” I roared at Cassie. I had run out of patience for the Hayes family. My only wish while still alive was never to see any of them again. Was that really so difficult? Chloe pushed me back to my room, blocking Cassie. “How dare you stop me? I’m his sister! I told you back then, you weren’t good enough for Alex. Why are you still showing up?” Cassie shoved Chloe.

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At the end of the year, the company organized a team retreat to Hawaii as a reward for its employees. But right before we were supposed to leave, my female superior, Jessica, told me I wasn’t allowed to go. “There are limited spots for this retreat, someone has to stay behind and cover,” she said, a saccharine smile playing on her lips. “Your husband is the VP, Sarah. Do you really care about one trip?” Twenty-plus people were in the conference room, and not a single one spoke up. I stared at her. Five years. My performance had been number one every single year, yet my name never appeared on any commendation list. I knew Jessica was deliberately trying to suppress me. “Fine.” I nodded. “I won’t go.” Jessica froze for a second. She probably hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. I pulled out my phone. The HR manager from our rival company had called me thirty times. I’d initially rejected them, but now, I decided to call back. I stood up. “But Jessica, are you sure about this?” The conference room fell silent for three seconds. Jessica’s smile faltered, her face stiffening. “Sarah Miller, what do you mean?” “Nothing.” I walked toward the door. “I’m going to cover.” I turned and left the conference room. Whispers erupted behind me, but I didn’t look back. At the end of the hallway, the elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside. The moment the doors closed, I saw Jessica standing at the conference room entrance, her face a thundercloud. I pressed the button for the first floor. My phone vibrated. It was my husband, David. “Honey, don’t be mad. Jessica is just looking out for the company.” I stared at the message, not replying. Another one popped up: “I’ll make it up to you when I get back from the team-building trip. How about Bora Bora?” Bora Bora. They were going to Hawaii, a trip costing about twenty-eight thousand per person. He’d “compensate” me with Bora Bora. I walked to the break room and poured myself a glass of water. My phone rang again. It was my colleague, Lisa Chen. “Sarah, are you crazy? Your husband’s the VP! Why don’t you just ask him to say something?” I didn’t reply. She sent another message: “Ugh, but I guess it makes sense. What good is your performance? You only get by because your husband helps you at work.” I stared at that message for five long seconds. “Thanks to my husband.” My thirty-two million in annual sales, *that* was thanks to my husband? I put down my glass and looked out the window. The sky was as gray and heavy as my heart. The company’s WhatsApp group buzzed with team-building notifications and the list of staff staying behind. I saw my name listed alongside three interns and said nothing. Lisa immediately followed up with a laughing emoji. I exited the group chat and opened the contract details for Zenith Corp. The renewal was next week—a twelve-million-dollar order, right smack in the middle of the team-building trip. I smirked. Jessica sure knew how to pick her timing. Chloe, the receptionist, saw me and hesitated. “Ms. Miller, are you really not going?” “No.” “But…” She lowered her voice. “You’re the *only one* not going from the whole company.” I just smiled. “Someone has to cover.” She looked like she wanted to say more but held back. I knew what she wanted to say. Out of thirty-two people in the company, twenty-eight were going to Hawaii. Besides me, three interns were staying behind. Three interns. I was in my fifth year, a Sales Manager, with annual sales of thirty-two million. And I was on duty with interns. At 5:30 PM, people started trickling out. I was still at my desk. David came out of his office and walked over to me. “Honey, done for the day? Want to head home together?” I looked up at him. “Do you know about the team retreat?” He paused. “I know.” “And you didn’t say anything to help me?” He sighed heavily. “Honey, Jessica’s the Sales Director. Even though I’m the VP, sales falls under her. It’s not my place to interfere.” I just stared at him. “For three years, my performance has been number one.” “I know.” “Half of Jessica’s sales are from *my* clients.” “I… know.” “You *know*?” I stood up. “You knew she was taking credit for my work, and you stayed silent. You knew she was pushing me out, and you stayed silent. Now she’s got me on shift with interns, and you’re *still* silent?” “Sarah…” “David, you’re my husband.” He opened his mouth, but no words came out. I picked up my bag. “I’m going home by myself.” “Honey!” I didn’t stop. The moment the elevator doors closed, I saw him standing there, his face a roadmap of conflict. The parking garage was quiet. I got into my car and started the engine. My phone rang. David: “Honey, please don’t be angry. I’ll explain everything when I get home.” I didn’t reply. I’d been married to David for three years. He was a VP, and I was just a manager. Everyone thought I’d married above my station. Including Jessica. The first day she met me, she’d said: “Oh, so you’re David Miller’s wife? Work hard under me, don’t embarrass your husband.” Back then, I was a new hire, with zero sales. Now I had thirty-two million in sales, and she still looked at me with that same disdain. When I got home, David wasn’t back yet. I changed my clothes and sat on the couch, lost in thought. The doorbell rang. It was Mrs. Miller, David’s mom. “David told me you’re in a bad mood?” “No, I’m not.” “What’s all this fuss about team-building trips? You’re just an office drone at that company, what difference does it make if you go or not?” I looked at her. “Mom, I’m a Sales Manager, not an office drone.” “Manager, drone, whatever. You’re still working for someone else.” She waved her hand dismissively. “You just focus on what’s important: taking good care of David and giving me a grandson.” I took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen. I opened the fridge; it was completely bare. “Mom, where are all the groceries?” “Oh, I took them.” Her voice floated in from the living room. “Emily’s pregnant, she needs the nutrition.” My hand, gripping the fridge door, tightened. Three years. Three years of marriage, and David’s mom never once looked at me as an equal. She thought I’d married above my station, that I wasn’t good enough for her son. I closed the fridge door. I walked to the window, looking out at the night. It was time to take action. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Hello, is this Ms. Amanda Stone, HR Director at Ascend Solutions?” “It is. Who’s calling?” “This is Sarah Miller from Nexus Innovations. The new position you offered, I’m willing to consider it.” Amanda on the other end seemed surprised, but quickly regained her professional composure. “Ms. Miller, hello. I know who you are. Ascend Solutions is very interested in you. If it’s convenient, we can meet to discuss further.” “Alright. Tomorrow at 3 PM. Please send me the address.” I hung up the phone and looked out the window.

The next day, I went to work as usual. The atmosphere in the office was a little strange. Passing by the break room, I heard people chatting inside. “Did you hear? Sarah isn’t going on the team retreat.” “She’s not going? Jessica isn’t letting her go.” “Why not?” “What else? Her husband’s the VP. Jessica’s probably afraid she’ll steal her thunder.” “Pfft, with her sales numbers, *she’ll* steal thunder?” “You don’t know? Her sales are actually…” The voices suddenly stopped. I pushed the door open and walked in. The two female colleagues’ faces changed, and they quickly grabbed their cups and left. I poured myself a coffee, saying nothing. My phone vibrated. It was Jessica. “Sarah, my office, now.” I put down my cup and walked over. Jessica sat behind her desk, a smile on her face. “Sit.” I sat down. “No issues with the team retreat, right?” “None.” She nodded. “Good. Oh, and the Zenith Corp contract is up for renewal next week. Get all the materials ready; I’ll handle the negotiation myself.” I looked at her. “Zenith is my client.” “It’s the *company’s* client,” she corrected me, her smile fading slightly. “You’re just the liaison.” “Mr. Edwards only deals with me.” “Mr. Edwards deals with *deals*,” she countered, her eyes holding no warmth. “Sarah, you’ve been at this company for five years. You should understand one thing: clients belong to the company, not to you personally.” I said nothing. She continued, “You do your job covering. I’ll take care of Zenith.” I stood up. “Jessica, are you *sure* you want to handle this yourself?” She raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” “Nothing.” I turned to leave. At the door, I paused. “Jessica, Zenith Corp’s annual order is twelve million dollars, accounting for 35% of the company’s revenue.” “I know.” “Good that you know.” I pushed the door open and stepped out. Behind me, Jessica’s voice rang out: “Sarah, you better not be trying anything funny.” I didn’t look back.

At lunchtime, I skipped the cafeteria and went to a coffee shop downstairs by myself. Amanda was already there. She looked like a very capable woman. “Ms. Miller, hello.” She handed me a file. “Here’s the detailed information about Ascend Solutions. Take a look.” I opened it and read carefully. Regional Sales Director for the East Coast, an annual salary of fifty thousand dollars, plus commission. “Amanda,” I said, using her first name, “I wanted to ask, if I bring my clients with me, would the company be open to that?” She smiled. “Ms. Miller, Ascend Solutions is hiring you precisely because of your client base. Especially Zenith Corp.” “So, for Zenith…” “If you can bring the Zenith order with you, the company will give you an additional bonus.” She paused. “However, you’ll need to handle it cleanly, avoiding any legal complications.” I nodded. “I understand.” “How long will you need to consider, Ms. Miller?” I looked at her. “Amanda, I have one condition.” “Go ahead.” “I need my start date to be in a week.” She thought for a moment. “That works. It’ll be right after the team retreat ends.” “Then it’s settled.” I returned to the office that afternoon and went straight to the fire escape, dialing Mr. Edwards. “Mr. Edwards, it’s me, Sarah Miller.” “Sarah, what’s up?” “Regarding the renewal next week, the company might be replacing me with Director Jessica Reed to liaison.” “Jessica? Never heard of her.” Mr. Edwards’ tone was blunt. “Sarah, I work with your company *because* of you. If they change my contact, there’s no deal.” “Mr. Edwards, I understand.” I paused. “What if… I’m no longer with this company?” Silence on the other end for a few seconds. “You’re leaving?” “Yes. An opportunity came up.” Mr. Edwards laughed. “Then the contract here, I’ll follow you. I deal with *you*, Sarah Miller. When’s a good time to firm up the details?” “Great. Thank you, Mr. Edwards.” A twelve-million-dollar order, and I could take it with a single phone call. A huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Back at my desk, Lisa leaned over. “Sarah, were you just in Jessica’s office?” “Yeah.” “What did you guys talk about?” “Nothing.” She scoffed. “Don’t be ungrateful. Jessica putting you on duty means she trusts you.” I turned to look at her. “Lisa, what were your sales last year?” She froze. “What’s it to you?” “I think it was around three point eight million, right?” Her face changed. “My sales were thirty-two million.” I turned back to my computer. “That’s over eight times yours.” Her face flushed crimson. “You… What’s so great about you! It’s all because of your husband!” I ignored her. She huffed and turned away. At closing time, David came to find me. “Honey, dinner together?” “No, I have plans.” “What plans?” “Work stuff.” I picked up my bag. “You go eat by yourself.” “Sarah…” I didn’t stop, walking into the elevator. I arrived at the agreed-upon coffee shop with Amanda and signed the letter of intent. Everything went smoothly. Stepping out of the coffee shop, the evening breeze blew on my face—a little chilly, but very refreshing. I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Mr. Edwards: “Mr. Edwards, it’s confirmed. Please proceed with the plan and call Jessica Reed next Monday.” He quickly replied: “No problem. Waiting for your good news.”

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When my biological parents came to take me home, I looked reluctant. “I’ve heard that real daughters never win against the fake ones and end up suffering terribly. I’d rather not go back.” Hearing this, they rushed to comfort me. “Don’t be silly, Veronica is so gentle and kind. You’re sure to get along wonderfully with her.” I nodded, then pulled out my phone. “To prevent her from harming me, you need to understand the tricks fake daughters use. Here are a hundred web series about fake daughters causing trouble. Once you’ve watched them, I’ll come home with you.” After watching all hundred episodes, Mom and Dad were astounded. “Those are just made-up stories. Veronica would never act like that.” I remained noncommittal, pulling out an agreement. “Then sign this. Every time I’m harmed, you’ll have to compensate me. $5,000 for false accusations, $10,000 for minor injuries, and serious injuries we’ll negotiate.” Mom and Dad were convinced I was overthinking it and signed without hesitation. But they were quickly proven wrong. Less than half an hour after I arrived home, Veronica announced her necklace was missing. Her eyes were red, as if I had truly wronged her. “Eleanor, that platinum necklace was a birthday gift from Mom and Dad! Please give it back to me! I know you’re their real daughter, you can take anything else you want, just please give me back the necklace…” Mom and Dad immediately frowned, looking ready to grill me. I pulled out my phone with a straight face, opened one of the web series, and handed it to them. “See, the plot where someone frames another for theft is right here.” They froze, swallowing the accusations they were about to make, forcing awkward smiles. “Veronica, look again. Eleanor wouldn’t take your things.” Veronica looked genuinely stunned, probably not expecting Mom and Dad to side with me. “Are you all saying I’m lying? I get it now. Eleanor is back, so you don’t want me anymore. Why should I even stay here?” She sprang up abruptly and bolted for the door. I swiped through the clip. “Pretending to run away from home—that’s in here too.” Veronica froze, then burst into even louder sobs, vanishing into the night. “Veronica! It’s dangerous outside, come back!” Dad panicked and chased after her, even losing a shoe. Mom’s eyes welled up, and she couldn’t help but scold me. “Veronica is… you two are both my darlings, can’t you be a little nicer to her?” I felt confused. “She’s the one not being nice to me. She said I stole her necklace…” Before I could finish, Mom cut me off. “Veronica feels insecure right now. As the older one, you need to be more understanding and tolerant.” “Are you implying I should just take the blame for stealing?” Mom sighed. “Regardless, when she comes back, just apologize to her. She’s never experienced such unfairness growing up; I don’t know how upset she must be.” “Plenty of these shows have plots where the innocent one has to apologize to the wrongdoer.” Mom’s expression stiffened, and she didn’t dare say another word. I didn’t forget the agreement, silently opening my payment app. “$5,000 for false accusation. Please transfer the payment.”

I heard Dad found Veronica under a bridge. She was drenched from the heavy rain, her face deathly pale. After Dad carried her back, she threw herself onto the bed, thrashing and wailing. “Leave me alone! You all love Eleanor and don’t love me anymore…” Mom’s heart ached, and she burst into tears, quickly wrapping Veronica in a large towel, coaxing her in a hushed tone to change clothes. Dad kept checking her forehead, worried she might have a fever. “Veronica, sweetie, stop fussing. What’s a necklace worth? I’ll get you a whole diamond set, okay?” “No matter if Eleanor is here or not, you’ll always be Mom and Dad’s precious darling.” Hearing this, Veronica burst into tears. “Don’t lie to me…” Mom hugged her tightly, also crying uncontrollably. I understood then. So, those web series actually got it right. When there’s favoritism, blood ties don’t mean much. Luckily, I was prepared, otherwise, I don’t know how heartbroken I would have been. Dad saw me sitting quietly by myself, not showing any intention to help, and his face darkened as he snapped. “We’re a family! Are you just going to watch Veronica suffer like this?” I shrugged. “What do you want me to do?” “Go to the kitchen and bring the hot herbal tea the housekeeper brewed.” It was a small task, just doing a good deed. I went to the kitchen without a word and brought the herbal tea to Veronica’s lips. She was about to take a sip when, out of Mom and Dad’s sight, she shot me a defiant glare. Oh, here we go. Classic fake daughter move from those shows, right on cue. I remained calm, wanting to see what Veronica was planning. Sure enough, she nudged the bowl’s rim with her index finger, and the steaming hot tea splashed all over her. “It’s so hot! You burned me! Eleanor, you…” Veronica’s face showed a mix of shock and pain, as if in disbelief. Dad rushed over and shoved me aside. “Eleanor! Are you out of your mind? How could you do that to Veronica!” I slammed into the corner unexpectedly, and a huge bump quickly formed on my forehead. He looked like he wanted to hit me again, but Mom quickly grabbed his arm, her tone stern. “Eleanor, you really messed up. Apologize to Veronica!” I didn’t say a word. Instead, I pulled up a video clip, fast-forwarding to a scene where the fake daughter plays innocent to stir up trouble between the parents and the real one. “You watched it, and you already forgot? Your memory is terrible.” “This…” Mom and Dad exchanged glances, not daring to mention an apology again. They were busy getting burn cream and new pajamas for Veronica, and no one noticed the red, swollen bump on my forehead. After they finished fussing, my payment app pinged with another $10,000. Perfect. On my first day home, I’d already collected $15,000.

Feeling guilty about what happened, Mom and Dad showered me with concern for the next three days. Veronica also seemed like a changed person, calling me Eleanor this and Eleanor that, treating me incredibly well. Mom and Dad praised her with relief: “Veronica has matured. This is our good child.” Given her excellent behavior, Mom and Dad bought her a pile of luxury goods. On the fourth day, my younger brother, Sam, returned from his school trip. He excitedly showed off the gifts he’d bought for everyone. “Dad’s lighter, Mom’s perfume, Veronica’s silk scarf—I remembered what you all liked!” Everyone received beautifully wrapped gifts, except for me. Seeing the four of them happily together, I discreetly prepared to go back to my room. It was only when Mom noticed me leaving that she gasped: “Sam, didn’t you buy Eleanor a gift?” Sam pouted, “I only have Veronica.” Just then, Grandpa George, who had just walked in, heard this, and his blood pressure shot through the roof. The old man, who valued blood ties above all else, grabbed Sam’s ear. “You brat! Who taught you to talk like that? Eleanor is your real sister! Veronica was just raised here out of convenience; she’s an outsider! You don’t know who’s family? I’ll beat you!” The word “outsider” deeply stung Veronica. She didn’t dare argue with Grandpa George, only glaring at me, her eyes filled with resentment and hatred. Sam cried loudly from the pain. “I don’t know what an ‘outsider’ is, I only acknowledge Veronica!” Grandpa George twisted his ear even harder. Hearing their son’s ear-splitting cries, Mom and Dad were heartbroken, desperately begging Grandpa George to let go. “Please calm down, we’ll educate Sam properly…” “Hmph!” Grandpa George also couldn’t bear to let him cry further. He pulled me to the sofa. Looking around, he quickly figured out what was going on. “You’re the only one without a gift? Good, good, how could you do such a thing? Eleanor, I’ve got your back! The Sterling family’s heirloom jewelry? I’m only leaving it to you. No one else gets a share!” Veronica’s face crumpled in a show of hurt, tears welling in her eyes. Mom cautiously spoke up. “Veronica, shouldn’t she also…” Grandpa George refused decisively. “My possessions are only for members of the Sterling family. Some people have impure hearts; it’s better to send them away early.” Even with all her brazenness, Veronica couldn’t stay. She ran back to her room, tears streaming down her face. Dad blamed Grandpa George: “You spoke too harshly. I watched Veronica grow up; I know what kind of person she is better than you do.” “Idiot!” Grandpa George sneered. “How did I ever raise such a fool like you?”

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I Died in an Extreme Heatwave My husband locked the basement door, his mistress standing behind him. And my own son sealed the last air vent with his own hands. I woke up reborn, seven days before the apocalypse. He forced me to sign the divorce papers. This time, I didn’t fight for a thing. I just took all the water, all the food, every means of survival. —and watched them devour each other in hell. After dying from dehydration during the heatwave, I returned to the day my husband asked for a divorce. “Olivia is pregnant! I’m warning you, stop clinging!” Daniel shouted at me, his spit flying. His childhood sweetheart, Olivia, hid behind him, offering candies to my son. As I felt the cool air from the air conditioning, the suffocating sensation of being burned alive during the heatwave dissipated. I took deep breaths of fresh air. Looking at Daniel’s menacing face, I suppressed my growing hatred and agreed to the divorce without hesitation. He was taken aback, not expecting me to relent so easily, and looked at me suspiciously: “Really? You’re not planning anything, are you?” I glanced at the calendar on my phone—only seven days until the heat apocalypse. Time was short. “We either go to City Hall now, or I walk away. Your choice, Daniel.” My son, with a disdainful look, urged: “Who cares if she’s planning something? This old woman isn’t fit to be my mom!” “You need to divorce her so I can recognize Olivia as my mom!” Olivia gave Daniel a shy, coy look. Daniel shivered and eagerly drove us to City Hall. On the way, Daniel was grinning foolishly, while my son didn’t even glance at me, nestled in Olivia’s arms, full of attachment. I fought the urge to drive the car off the overpass with the three of them inside. In the last life, when the heatwave hit, Daniel and Olivia locked me in the basement, leaving me to suffer and die from the heat. This time, I swore they would pay for their blood debts.

When dividing the assets, I only took my savings card, which had 400,000 yuan. Daniel couldn’t help but boast, “Look how good I am to you. You’ve freeloaded for so many years, and I never asked for rent.” Internally, I was full of scorn, controlling the urge to slap him. “Since you were so sensible and agreed to divorce, I’ll give you an extra 100,000, so you don’t end up scavenging on the streets.” I gladly accepted the 100,000 yuan Daniel transferred. You can have issues with fools, but never with money. Besides, I knew Daniel was quite wealthy now. Three days ago, he won a thirty million lottery prize. He wanted to live with Olivia before claiming the prize, so he schemed to divorce me. In my past life, I had no idea. I thought I had a decent husband and a third-grade son, so I tried to protect my family as much as possible. Until I saw Olivia posting intimate photos with Daniel on my Snapchat feed, with the caption: “After years apart, after life’s twists and turns, it’s still you.” Daniel’s smiling face in the photo was a stark contrast to his usual impatient demeanor. I thought of how the whole family treated me after Olivia returned: Daniel mocked me for always asking for money and having no self-respect. My elementary school son despised me for not letting him play video games or eat snacks, calling me a “bad woman.” In the previous life, I rushed to the scene, gave Olivia a slap, and called her a “homewrecking sl*t,” only to be locked in the basement by them. One slap couldn’t make up for the pain of being roasted alive! I wanted them to die a hundred, a thousand times more painfully than I did! After leaving City Hall, I watched as my son jumped into Olivia’s arms. Daniel joyfully led them both away, the family of three laughing like they were on top of the world. Laugh now, but soon you won’t be able to.

Back home, I immediately began planning how to purchase supplies to protect myself. Halfway through my plan, Daniel returned with our son. Seeing his smug, satisfied expression, I guessed he had claimed the thirty million. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with the two of them and continued drawing and writing on my tablet. My son ran over, shouting, “I want to go to Miami with Dad. Hurry up and pack our things!” “I’m not your nanny. Find someone else to do it.” My son angrily threw a water cup at me, “You’re my mom; you have to do everything for me! Or I’ll have Dad hit you.” The shattered glass cut my leg. Looking at my son’s righteous expression, I felt like killing this little brat. Before having him, I was a high-ranking executive. But because he couldn’t be left alone, I became a stay-at-home mom for ten years. In the last life, when the heatwave hit, they lived comfortably off the resources I stockpiled, while I was left to die in the basement. I begged my son for a way out. But to please Olivia, he blocked the basement vent, letting me pass out. I didn’t die instantly. I watched them take a cleaver to me, heard them greedily shout: “Get a bowl to catch it! We can drink the blood!” “She’s over 100 pounds, enough for us to drink for a while!” My son jumped first to bite into my vein. Take a step back, and the sea will be vast. But the more I endured, the angrier I got. I slapped my son, swelling his cheek. He tried to bite me, yelling for me to go back to the countryside. I glanced at Daniel, who was watching the drama, and calmly said: “If you don’t control the kid, I won’t get the marriage certificate in thirty days.” Only then did Daniel intervene, “You gave birth to him. What’s wrong with packing his clothes?” “Did I reproduce asexually?” Daniel couldn’t out-argue me, so he awkwardly packed some short sleeves and shorts, dragging our son, who made faces at me, out the door. He pretended to be affectionate, asking me to stay for a while. I didn’t agree. The city apartment would soon lose water and power in the apocalypse, not only becoming useless but also making us targets for neighbors. This time, let it be the Smith family’s grave!

Once Daniel and my son left, I wasted no time rummaging through the basement. During the three special years, I developed a habit of hoarding supplies. I had stored quite a bit of food in the basement. This time, I’m taking everything! Twenty cases of bottled water? In the heatwave, water is most precious—must take! Seven bags of rice, flour, and oil? I went through hell to get these into the basement, so I’m taking them home! The vegetables growing on the balcony? They’re my hard work; no way I’m leaving them for those jerks! Light summer clothes and quilts…wear clothes and cover with quilts in the heat? I packed them into the donation box downstairs, leaving only long sleeves and thick quilts for the Smiths. I also picked up a hammer from the toolbox and gave the air conditioner a few whacks. The already-broken unit let out a few whimpers. I hope the three of them have good endurance, wearing long sleeves at 149 degrees Fahrenheit, with nothing to eat or drink, and still thrive. While emptying the house, I spotted the familiar cleaver. My son loves meat, so I used it to chop bones. But in the past life, it became the tool they used to dismember me and drink my blood. After a moment’s pause, I took it from the cabinet and placed it on the counter. Finally, I looked around the seemingly unchanged house, now empty of supplies. I ordered several surveillance cameras, installing them in hidden spots. Once everything was done, it was past 2 PM. I didn’t care about the heat outside and quickly drove back to my hometown with my things. I’m an orphan. My parents died when I was in high school, leaving me a plot of land. The villagers were kind, pooling together to support me through college. Before giving birth, I worked hard despite Daniel’s objections, building a three-story villa in my hometown. On the day it was completed, I went door-to-door, bowing and repaying the money. When the foundation was laid, most villagers helped. They used the best materials and installed eight solar panels. To avoid potential wild animals from the mountains, they even set up an electric fence around the house. Afraid I’d neglect it for long periods, the villagers planted vegetables and dug a well, maintaining it often. Even though it was 95 degrees Fahrenheit, I stood in the garden full of fruits, laughing out loud. Thanks to my stubbornness back then, this well-equipped countryside villa by the mountains is my strongest support against the heat apocalypse and my hope for rescuing villagers. With a week left until the apocalypse, I began checking the villa’s hardware. I contacted workers to install a water filtration system and bought several home-use large batteries and power banks. Even if the solar panels broke, I could manage with self-generated power. Enough cooling sources were needed. Though the house came with a complete ventilation system, I bought seven or eight stand fans, pairing them with humidifiers to ensure comfort during the apocalypse. With just a week left until the apocalypse, I began assessing the condition of my cottage’s hardware. I reached out to workers to set up a water filtration system and purchased several large home batteries and power banks. This way, even if the solar panels fail, I can still rely on alternative power sources. I also need sufficient cooling options. Although my house is equipped with a complete ventilation AC system, I wasn’t completely reassured, so I bought seven or eight stand fans and matching humidifiers to ensure I can stay cool even after the world ends. The home freezers weren’t enough. I bought an entire row of commercial freezers from the shelves, placing three on each floor of the basement. Thankfully, my house is spacious enough, so storing all this equipment didn’t make it feel cramped. After reviewing my home’s layout, I ordered five extra-large water barrels, four home fish tanks, a row of breeding cages, and a set of indoor gardening tools. I arranged for the workers to deliver these the next day. After purchasing all these items, I found myself out of money. I didn’t hesitate and quickly downloaded loan apps on my phone, borrowing nearly a million from them. By the time the water filtration system was installed, it was already late at night. I hastily ate a meal and lay in bed to rest, preparing for the challenges ahead. The next day, I started stocking up on essentials. Not knowing how long the extreme heat apocalypse would last, I bought items focusing on quantity rather than cost.

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After landing a huge project for the company, I received a ring from my boyfriend. Excited, I posted it on Ins, thinking he was finally going to make our relationship official. But then, his newly hired assistant slapped me, sending my workstation crashing down. “You’re a director, for crying out loud! Stealing a gift my husband gave me? Have some shame!” My boyfriend didn’t just stand there; he agreed, saying I was unworthy of the position. Right there, in front of everyone, he announced that his assistant would take over the big project I’d just secured. That’s when it hit me. He wasn’t going to make us official. It was her. Suddenly, everyone in the office was holding up their phones, enjoying the drama. But I wasn’t angry. Instead, I just smiled, pushing my ID badge into the assistant’s hands. “Oh, so you’re the CEO’s secret weapon, his capable lady? Consider this director position my apology gift. May you two live a long, happy life together.” My colleagues stared, shocked by my bizarre behavior. Liam, my closest co-worker, grabbed my arm, whispering, “Don’t be impulsive, Harper. A lost project is just a lost project; we can land another.” But he didn’t know the full story. I wasn’t being impulsive at all. Yesterday, walking past Julian’s office, I’d overheard his assistant, Chloe, clinging to him. “Julian, I want to make something of myself. Give me this new project you’ve landed. I promise I’ll do a great job and make you proud.” Back then, I just brushed it off. Julian and I had been in a secret relationship for seven years. I’d turned down offers from big corporations to help him build this company from the ground up. I’d secured ninety percent of all the company’s projects. He knew better than anyone how tough the journey had been, and he was always so principled. There was no way he’d ever mess with something as important as a project. Plus, he absolutely despised opportunists, having had a project stolen from him by a suck-up once before. So, when I saw the ring Julian gave me today, I thought he’d finally realized I was the best for him, that he was ready to settle down and marry me. I never expected Chloe to twist the narrative, painting me as a thief and completely humiliating me. And I certainly didn’t expect Julian to abandon all his principles for Chloe, who’d only been working here for a few months. If that’s how it was, there was nothing left for me in this dump of a company. Julian still had no idea I’d seen through their childish little scheme. He probably thought I was just jealous. He frowned at me. “What’s with the snarky comments?” Ever since Chloe showed up, he’d looked at me with this strange prejudice. This time, I didn’t waste my breath. I simply said, “Don’t overthink it, Julian. I really did give it to her.” Both him, and the job. I gave them both to her. I wasn’t planning on sticking around, but just as I was about to leave, Julian, his face cold, dragged me into his office. The office wasn’t big, and the walls weren’t soundproof. The moment he closed the door, the employees outside, eager for more drama, started buttering up Chloe, chatting excitedly about when she and Julian would get married and have kids. Chloe, feigning shyness, replied, “That depends on Julian. He hasn’t officially proposed yet.” She was playing the part of his official girlfriend perfectly, and with Julian’s silent approval, everyone believed her. Julian, hearing this, paused mid-pour with a glass of water. A flicker of guilt crossed his face. He usually acted so dominant, but now, he softened his tone, a rare occurrence, and tried to explain. “Chloe’s just a kid; she doesn’t know any better. She probably said that just for fun. Don’t take it to heart.” “She has relatives at the client company. We wouldn’t have landed this project if it weren’t for her.” I shot him a withering look. Unbelievable! Thunder Corporation, our client, had a professional tech department. They didn’t need outsourcing, which was why they’d initially rejected our collaboration. It was me who wouldn’t give up. I begged and pleaded, sending thoughtful gifts, just to get a meeting with their representative. He generously gave me thirty seconds, and I seized that opportunity to pitch our product. Seeing my expertise, he tried to poach me with a high salary. When that didn’t work, he finally agreed to work with us. I’d pulled all-nighters, traveled everywhere for this project, and he saw none of it. Chloe made one casual remark, and he believed her. If he’d used even a tiny bit of common sense, he’d realize that if Chloe truly had such powerful connections, she wouldn’t be working as an assistant in this small, struggling company. Or maybe he knew all along and was just pretending to be naive. Seeing my prolonged silence, Julian looked down for a moment, then stood up to make me a cup of coffee. He leaned close to my ear, whispering, “It’s all an act with her. You’re the only one I’ll ever marry.” In the past, whenever we fought, his soft voice and promises would always make me forgive him, no matter what. So, he probably thought it would be the same this time. He waved his hand dismissively. “Just go back to work. I’ve got the project covered.” But what he didn’t know was, I didn’t want him anymore. I scraped my chair back and stood up. “No need to go through all that trouble. I’m leaving.” With that, I pulled out a resignation form, filled it out quickly, and without a moment’s hesitation, turned and walked out of the office.

Seeing me go, Chloe rushed to block my path, feigning distress. “Harper, I know you’re an industry expert. You’re right, I don’t deserve this Head of Tech position. Here, take it back.” She grabbed the ID badge and tried to shove it into my hands. I simply pushed her away gently, but she stumbled backward, knocking over a chair and sending a computer crashing to the floor, startling everyone. Chloe got up, brushing off the concerned colleagues with a dismissive wave, saying she was fine. Julian, disturbed by the commotion, sprinted over. After making sure Chloe was okay, he glared at me, a frown on his face. “Harper, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you’re an old employee.” Hearing him, my colleagues, who’d been watching, immediately chimed in. “That’s right, Harper. Change is good for the company. You shouldn’t bully new people just because you’ve been here a long time.” And the worst of it came from Leo, my apprentice, whom I’d personally mentored. “So what if you’ve landed a few projects? You think you’re the boss now?” “Are you addicted to forming cliques? You even look down on a genius like Chloe?” We’d worked together for years. I was the top salesperson. Everyone used to greet me respectfully. Now, they were all staring at me with schadenfreude, practically wishing me gone. Whatever. Let them say what they want. I wasn’t sticking around to entertain them. I walked out of the company without a word. Julian jogged after me. Once we were away from prying eyes, he rubbed his forehead and said, “You’ve just been too stressed lately. I’ll approve some time off for you. Take a break.” “Today is our seven-year anniversary. Wait for me at home, I’ve got a surprise planned.” Just as he finished speaking, the elevator arrived. I stepped in without saying a word. Back home, I made myself something to eat. I didn’t wait for him specifically, and he didn’t come back until it was dark. I put on my shoes, got ready to meet the client representative, but on my way, I bumped into a colleague. This guy, somewhat slow on the uptake, hadn’t distanced himself from me like the others. He greeted me warmly. “Harper, are you going to the promotion party Julian is throwing for Chloe? Let’s go together, we can split the ride fare!” He happily mumbled about not having to squeeze onto the subway, but I shook my head. “No.” He looked at me awkwardly. “Julian didn’t invite you?” I nodded curtly and walked away. I faintly heard him grumbling, “Julian always plays favorites,” but I didn’t look back. He didn’t play favorites. He just favored Chloe. He’d do anything for Chloe, and breaking plans with me wasn’t new. Once, when I was hospitalized with pneumonia, he said he’d come visit after his meeting. I waited until dawn, but he only arrived late, claiming he was working late, when in reality, he was with Chloe, watching a movie. Another time, we’d planned a couple’s photoshoot. I waited in my dress until the studio closed, and he showed up leisurely, claiming he was delayed by work, but he was actually taking Chloe shopping for new clothes. The list of such incidents was endless. Every time I questioned him, he’d act like “work is most important” and scold me. This kind of relationship was exhausting. At the coffee shop, the client representative looked at the progress report I handed in and exclaimed, “Harper, are you really not considering a jump? I could offer you ten times your salary.” This time, I didn’t refuse. The client representative happily told me we could negotiate any terms. After discussing the benefits package, I returned home. Julian was already sitting on the sofa, waiting for me with takeout. He’d stood me up again. Usually, he’d offer a million excuses, but this time he said nothing. After a moment of silence, he pushed the container towards me. “You must be tired today, too. Don’t bother cooking. Just heat this up; it’s still good.” I glanced down. Inside the plastic container, various dishes were piled together without any aesthetic appeal—some stir-fried, some boiled, and even a soggy piece of what looked like day-old cake floating in soup. Clearly, it was just leftovers, haphazardly packed. He didn’t even bother separating them, just crammed them into one big container. The sight alone was nauseating. I waved him off. “No thanks, I’ve already eaten.” Julian looked at me deeply. Usually so cold, he now reached out, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I’m sorry. She just got promoted, and as her boss, I had to acknowledge it somehow.” “I know you felt wronged today. Let’s go register our marriage this weekend.” I scoffed internally. He made it sound so good. When I was promoted to director, I excitedly offered to host my own promotion party. But I waited anxiously in the private room, the waiters reheated the food five times, and not a single colleague dared to show up until the restaurant closed. I sent message after message, but they all went unanswered. A kind colleague discreetly asked if I’d somehow offended the CEO. I was baffled at the time, only finding out later. While I was out of the office, he’d coldly reprimanded every colleague who said they were coming to my party. “Do you have too little work? Are you just idling around?” “All you do is think about eating, drinking, and having fun? Is this company paying you wastes to sit around? You might as well just quit!” The memory made me pull his restless hand from my waist. I spoke coldly. “No need. Julian, we’re done.”

The atmosphere in the room froze instantly. Julian gasped, his suppressed emotions finally exploding. “I did all this for the company’s development! Other girlfriends would be thrilled, why can’t you get it, Harper?” I ignored his twisted logic. He, however, continued to ramble on, as usual, about the importance of the company’s growth, promising me a place once the company went public. My ears were bleeding from his lectures. I raised a hand to cut him off. “No need. I’m packing my things and leaving right now.” Julian had wielded his authority as a boss for so many years; this was the first time he’d ever been interrupted. His face flushed with anger. He glared at me for a long time before snorting. “Fine! Then I’ll leave!” He slammed the door shut as he left. I didn’t chase after him. I quietly packed my belongings. The client had arranged a free, luxurious single staff apartment for me, ready for immediate move-in. Just as I finished packing and called the moving company, I coincidentally saw Chloe dropping Julian off at his place. They were walking hand-in-hand, laughing and chatting. Julian had shed his usual cold, distant CEO persona, looking down at Chloe with utmost tenderness, completely smitten. Chloe noticed me first and deliberately squeezed his hand tighter. Julian sensed something was off, followed her gaze, and quickly released her hand. He walked towards me, instinctively starting to explain, but when he saw me loading my things into the car, he paused, then changed his question. “It’s so late. Where are you going?” Was he blind? Didn’t he see the huge “Moving Company” logo on the truck? I was about to continue moving my stuff. But Julian blocked my path and suddenly shoved a bag of clothes he was carrying into my hands. Seeing me unresponsive, he pulled out a shirt and held it up against me. “I know you’ve been busy and haven’t had time to shop. I just picked this up for you when I passed by the mall.” For me? This designer shirt was clearly not my size. A receipt peeking out from the bag showed Julian’s credit card number and a price of over ten thousand dollars. He hadn’t “just picked it up for me.” He’d specifically taken Chloe to the store to choose it! He sure was generous. Just two days ago, I bought a two-hundred-dollar shirt and asked him if it looked good. He coldly lectured me for over an hour, calling me wasteful, rambling about how hard it was to make money, and saying that strong ability was more important than fancy clothes. And now? Now making money was easy, huh? My hands in my pockets, I looked at them coldly. “No thanks. As they say, ‘clothes make the man, saddles make the horse, and a bell makes a dog run happily.’ Keep such expensive clothes for Director Chloe.” Chloe, who had been holding the clothes, froze for a moment. When she realized what I’d said, she furiously threw the clothes down. “How dare you insult me?” Her eyes red, she glared at me, charging forward to strike. I didn’t move. One slap sent her sprawling to the ground. “Not just that. I dare to hit you, too.” Chloe’s slender limbs were like matchsticks. The only reason she’d managed to hit me earlier was because I was caught off guard. Now, I’d returned the favor. Julian cried out, clutching Chloe protectively in his arms. “Harper! Let’s talk this out! Why would you hit her?” “If you want to leave, then leave! Don’t you dare come back!” He didn’t need to say it. I wasn’t planning on coming back. I turned and got into the moving truck, speeding off towards my new life.

After leaving, I joined Thunder Corporation directly, entrusted with a vital role. Stepping into Julian’s company again, this time as the client, I was welcomed by the receptionist. As I reached the office area, I saw Chloe, wearing the director’s ID badge, bustling between employee workstations, looking very important. “Make this logo a bit bigger, but also a bit smaller at the same time.” “I told you to adjust the black, but not pure black. I meant that iridescent black, like a raven’s wing.” “After looking at everything, the first version is still better overall. But I like the font from the seventh version, and the color from the sixteenth… Finish it today and send it to me.” The workstations were filled with resentment. Someone couldn’t help but talk back. “This design was already approved by the client. The main problem now is program stability.” Chloe snorted. “The client is just a nouveau riche. What does he know about true art?” “I’m the director, you listen to me. With my superior aesthetic, the client will definitely be satisfied, and maybe even happy enough to give us more money.” Please! Their company was developing a new system to provide convenience for users, not to host an online art exhibition! And besides, with those garish, hard-to-read fonts, were they trying to boost business for eye doctors? The fact that Chloe, with her level of competence, was given such importance explained why the company’s performance was plummeting. The program crashed as soon as it ran, and the quality was a total joke. Some colleagues noticed me. Their former hostile gazes had turned into pleading looks. As for Leo, my apprentice who’d spoken such harsh words, he’d already been kicked out of the core creative team, relegated to buying coffee and running errands with his own money. Chloe glanced at me with disdain. “I guess I’ll have to suggest to Julian that we add a security position. Otherwise, any riff-raff can just walk into the company.” Mia, the receptionist, bowed slightly, about to remind her to watch her words, that I was here representing the client. The next second, Julian strode past me, his leather shoes clicking. Assuming I was here to apologize, he scoffed. “Well, well! If it isn’t Director Harper! Realized it’s hard to find work out there, did you? Thinking of coming back?” Chloe snickered, feigning kindness. “I think highly of Harper’s abilities. I believe we could give her a manager position. If she works hard under me, she’ll surely achieve something great soon enough.” Julian crossed his arms, looking at me with contempt. “Manager? She doesn’t deserve it!” “Coming back isn’t impossible, but she’ll have to start from scratch as a basic employee, with half the salary and all performance bonuses cut.” The other colleagues gasped, quickly distancing themselves from me, afraid of catching bad luck. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Julian still had no idea that I’d transformed into his client, no longer the obedient tag-along he could order around. Julian raised an eyebrow, curious. “What’s so funny?” I quietly pulled a contract from my briefcase and slapped it onto the desk. “Let’s reintroduce ourselves. I am Harper James, Head of Technology at Thunder Corporation.” “And I’m here to inform you…” “Project suspended. Contract terminated!”

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For ten years, I built my life around Julian Evans, a man six years my junior. He hated condoms, but promised he’d marry me the day I got pregnant. On Christmas Eve, I held a positive pregnancy test, planning to surprise him. Instead, I saw him wrapped around a younger girl outside a bar, kissing her passionately. His friends laughed and cheered them on. “Julian’s got good taste! Chloe is so young and hot!” “You should’ve seen it. When Julian brought up marriage, that desperate Stella practically launched herself at him.” “Even if Stella did get knocked up, she’d be nothing next to Chloe. Am I right?” I clutched the pregnancy test in my hand, my fingers digging in, my knuckles white. I could barely breathe. Julian chuckled dismissively. “Are you kidding? Who’d be stupid enough to marry his old practice girl?” “Julian’s only with that old lady because she’s loaded and does whatever he says. The age thing? That was never a factor.” “Can’t even imagine her in bed. It’s gotta be stale.” I stood rooted to the spot, the blood in my veins turning to ice. Old woman. Sugar mama. I’d never thought those words would come from Julian. Not from his mouth. “Big night, Julian! Aren’t you spending Christmas Eve with Chloe?” My phone screen lit up. A text message from Julian popped up. “Working late. Don’t wait up.” I stared at the words, a sick, cold dread tightening around my chest. My pale face stared back from the dark screen. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes tonight, I would never have believed that every “working late” was a lie. Julian pulled the girl onto his lap, his hand gripping the back of her head as he kissed her like he was drowning. “Stella’s pathetic,” someone cut in. “Just end it. Dragging it out is crueler.” Julian pulled back, lighting a cigarette. The rising smoke blurred his expression. “She loved me for ten years. She helped me build this from nothing. She gave me her youth.If I dump her now, she’ll break. Just give it a little more time.” A ringing filled my ears. I hurled the pregnancy test into the trash, grabbed a bottle, and charged at their booth. The glass exploded against Julian’s skull. Shards rained down as a dark line of blood snaked from his temple. I blinked. Then the tears came, hot and sudden, against my will. Julian went rigid. He shoved Chloe Miller off his lap as if shocked by a live wire. “Baby, what are you… what are you doing here?” Chloe glanced at me sideways, a smirk tugging at her lips. “It was just a joke, Stella. Don’t tell me you’re that petty?” Julian’s face darkened. “Shut up!” Ignoring the blood on his face, he gently wiped away my tears. His voice softened. “It was all just a game, don’t take it seriously.” “Don’t cry, I’ll take you home to celebrate Christmas Eve right now, okay?” Chloe, teary-eyed, tugged on his arm. “What about me?” “She ruined our Christmas Eve! Typical old hag, always sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong!” Julian turned his back, shrugging dismissively, his fingers flying across his phone in his guy’s SnapChat group. “Can’t help it. Older women are just petty and hot-headed.” “I’ll go back and handle her.” I turned and walked away. My chest ached, numb. My mother’s words suddenly echoed clearly in my mind. “Stella, was it really worth giving up your family fortune for a man who had nothing?” “If he truly loved you, he would have married you already. Why wait until now?” “Listen to your mom, come back and agree to the arranged marriage.” I wiped away my tears, pulled out my phone, and called my mother. “Mom, I was wrong. I’ll come back soon. The marriage… I’ll do whatever you say.”

Half an hour later, Julian found me on the rooftop. He always knew. Whenever we fought, I’d hide up here, letting the cold wind clear my head, forcing myself to calm down. He rushed over like a madman, pulling me away from the edge of the stairs. We stumbled, falling to the ground. His embrace was warm, but my heart was utterly cold. Without a word, a torrent of accusations rained down on me. “Stella, are you out of your mind?!” “It was just a joke! Did you really have to try and jump?” I froze. “What?” He reined in his anger, his voice softening. “Good thing you’re okay…” He sighed, pulling me to my feet and holding me tight. “My silly girl, how could I ever think you’re old? I’ve just been so busy lately… Once this period is over, we’ll get married.” “Besides, in my heart, you’ll always be my eighteen-year-old princess.” As he said this, his face held a rare tenderness. It was as if the humiliating scene at the bar had never happened. I suddenly couldn’t tell which side was the real him. But none of it mattered anymore. Suddenly, he pulled a cake from behind him. “Today marks ten years since we got together.” “The first year I started the company, I got taken for everything. Everyone laughed. They said I deserved it. But you never left. You believed in me when I had nothing.” “Without you, I would have given up.” “Money was so tight back then, but I always got you the cake.” “No matter how hard it got, I couldn’t let my little princess go without.” “Stella, you’re my life. Thank God…we made it.” His voice was low, hoarse, with a barely perceptible catch. So, he remembered. He remembered all those dark, cold winters in that damp basement, with me by his side, when he couldn’t see the light. He had everything now. And the first thing he wanted was to replace me. “Make a wish.” he said, his eyes bright with expectation. I met his gaze, my voice level. “Let’s break up.” Splat. The cake hit the floor. The two little frosting figures, once nestled side by side, split cleanly apart. Just like us. The tenderness in his face cracked, then fell away completely-shock flooding in, chased instantly by a scalding rage. “Stella, you better not regret this!” He turned and stormed downstairs, heading home. He trashed the apartment we’d decorated together as our future home. He ripped up our photos, smashed the clay figurines we’d made together… The final crash was him slamming the door shut as he stormed out. Thirty minutes later, Julian, who almost never posted on Ins, updated his story for the first time ever. “Clothes are best new, and so are women.” The photo showed him and Chloe locked in a passionate kiss beneath a sky full of fireworks. I forced out a cold laugh. Casually, I liked it and commented, “Congrats.” A friend request popped up on my phone. I recognized Chloe’s profile picture immediately. “Thanks for giving him back to me.” Julian called right away, his voice harsh. “What do you mean?” “Exactly what it sounds like. Congrats on getting back together.” “You’re the one who broke up with me. Don’t come crying back, begging me to return!” Julian’s voice returned to its usual nonchalant tone. He probably thought I was just playing games, and casually hung up. I had naively thought that even if the whole world turned against me, he wouldn’t. But the truth was, I had been so utterly wrong.

Looking around the house that once held so much promise, it suddenly felt foreign. This was never my home. That night, I tossed and turned in the messy apartment, unable to sleep. That year, Julian worked six jobs a day, just to get us out of that dark, dismal basement. Now, we could afford the most luxurious homes, but some things could never be bought back. For ten whole years, I’d been used to revolving my entire life around him, giving him everything I had. And now, it was time to let go. Tears streaming down my face, I burned all our photos. All the keepsakes holding our memories went into the trash too. I pulled out my phone and booked an abortion for the next day. But in the hospital hallway, I ran into Julian and Chloe. Unlike before, there was no hysteria this time. I pretended not to see them, not caring why they were there. Julian walked over, sneering. “Didn’t we agree it was over? What’s this? Stalking me now?” “You flatter yourself.” I didn’t bother to look up. “Stella, just say the word, beg me, and I’ll come back.” A cold laughter burst out of me at his nonchalant expression. Those words. He’d said the exact same thing five years ago, the day I caught him. The day I caught Julian cheating was my birthday, and also the day I had my first miscarriage. I had hidden the ultrasound photo inside a gift box. I’d booked a hotel room, decorated it with care, dreaming of a perfect surprise. But when I opened the door to our floor, I saw him with another woman, heading into the room next door. In that moment, I charged forward like a madwoman. I grabbed her hair, slapping her hard several times. Then I repeatedly punched Julian’s chest, breaking down in tears. “Why?! Why are you doing this to me?!” He frowned, pushing me away. “Enough! Acting like a lunatic, aren’t you ashamed?” “Can you stop being so dramatic?” “What successful man doesn’t have a few women on the side?” He wanted me to kneel and beg him. Looking at his cold face, I panicked completely. I was so insecure, terrified of losing him, and even more terrified of my child growing up without a father. In the end, I spoke in a hushed, pleading voice. “I’m pregnant…” “Just cut ties with her, and I can pretend none of this ever happened.” A sinister flicker crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by a gentle expression. He helped me back home, doting on me, preparing nutritious meals. But that night, without any warning, I miscarried. We both thought it was because I was too weak, compounded by extreme emotional distress. He held me tight, kneeling on the floor, crying as he apologized. “I’m so sorry, Stella, it’s all my fault…” “I’ve already ended things with her.” “I swear, I’ll only ever be good to you, never again.” I was so stupid to believe him. Thinking back, that woman was Chloe all along! For five years, they were never truly apart! The hospital announcement called my name, pulling me from my memories. I turned to leave, Julian’s disdainful voice trailing behind me. “Let’s see how long you can keep up that tough act!” I swallowed all my tears and lay on the operating table. I wondered if the baby would have looked like me. But now, there was nothing… When I walked out of the hospital, my face was utterly devoid of color. I opened my phone, and a car surveillance video popped up.

In the video, two intertwined figures were eagerly tearing at each other’s clothes. “If I got pregnant, would you drug me to miscarry, just like you did to Stella?” Chloe pressed a finger to Julian’s lips. “How could she ever compare to you? Old and boring. You’re my sweetheart.” “If it wasn’t for her status as a Hayes heiress, how could I have endured that old hag for so many years?” “Once we’re married in a few days, we’ll figure out how to completely ruin her health. Then everything from the Hayes family will be ours.” Julian eagerly pinned her hands behind her back, his movements growing more intense. Heavy breathing filled my ears, mingled with the sounds of their bodies colliding. Tears fell uncontrollably onto the phone screen. My throat felt constricted, unable to make a sound. So, my first miscarriage was never an accident. Julian didn’t just want my support; he wanted to take everything from me, to essentially inherit my family’s fortune and discard me! I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, trembling as I saved the video. Soon after, the police station called. “Miss Hayes, a vehicle registered to you is involved in an assault. We need you to come in for questioning.” I rushed to the police station. The front of my Bentley was utterly wrecked. It was my 30th birthday gift to myself, truly special. The police said the person hit was still in the hospital. Chloe, snuggled into Julian’s embrace, tearfully recounted her story to the officers. “I really didn’t mean to hit anyone. We were… in the car at the time. I panicked and accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.” “Besides, this isn’t even my car.” All my rage exploded. I clenched my fists and lunged, slapping Chloe hard across the face. “Ah!” Her head snapped to the side, a bright red handprint blooming on her cheek. Julian ignored my pale face, immediately shielding Chloe behind him. His face grim, he grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the police station. “Stella, are you insane?! This is a police station! How dare you hit Chloe!” “What were you two doing in my car?” I stared straight at him. His eyes flickered away, but Chloe’s sobbing instantly ignited his fury. “It’s just an old car! How many years have you had it? Why are you still treating it like a treasure?” “Stella, you’re older, you should be more mature! More magnanimous!” “The girl was publicly humiliated. You’d be smart to take the fall for her, after all, it’s your car!” I raised my hand and slapped him. “Julian, you bastard!” I could barely believe those words came from his mouth. He once said, “I’ll never let you suffer even the slightest grievance.” “I’ll give you the best future, promise you the most magnificent wedding.” The vows had long rotted away. The young man who once loved me like his own life was long dead. He froze for a second, then his tone grew even colder: “I’ll get you a top lawyer. You’ll only be in jail for a few days anyway.” “Chloe isn’t like you. She’s so timid; if she went in, she wouldn’t want to live once she got out.” “Dream on!” I shrieked, my voice raw, and turned to leave. “Stop her!” “Don’t let her get away!” Julian’s bodyguards rushed over, twisted my arms behind my back, and pinned me to the cold ground. Smack! Smack! Julian’s hand came down twice, hard. The blows cracked against my cheek, and I tasted blood at the corner of my mouth. A sharp, pulling pain tore through my lower abdomen, locking my body in a violent tremble. I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, glaring at him. Julian calmly wiped my blood from his hand. “I told you not to touch her!” Before I could move, he seized my wrist, forced my thumb down, and pressed my print onto the statement. “When you get out, we’ll get married.” I watched Julian walk away with Chloe, tears and blood streaking down my face. My fists clenched until my nails bit into my own palms. I threw my head back and laughed, a raw, ugly sound ripped from my throat. It turned into a cough, and I tasted blood. A whole week crawled by before Julian finally remembered I existed. He stood outside the police station, bouquet and diamond ring in hand. He waited from dawn till dusk, but I never showed. A passing officer informed him. “Don’t you know? Miss Hayes was picked up by her fiancé days ago.” Julian froze. Then his phone buzzed, the screen lighting up with a news alert. His pupils shrank to pinpoints. For the very first time, raw, gut-wrenching fear flooded his eyes!

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Five years into my marriage with Clara, my company went public. And I bought her a million-dollar sports car for her birthday. But she just tossed the car keys onto the table, eyes narrowed in accusation. “A million dollars? How could you be so reckless?” She linked her arm through Leo’s, the financially struggling university student she sponsored. “Leo survives on less than five hundred a month. Imagine the good that money could have done for him.” I frowned. “I earned every cent. You’re my wife. I wanted to give you something spectacular.” “And what?” I added, my voice dropping. “Should I sponsor every struggling student in the city? Is that my job now?” Seeing my lack of remorse, Clara lost it. She demanded I hand over all my bank cards. “We’ve been married five years, and I’ve never questioned your spending. But from this moment on, you don’t spend a single dollar without my approval.” Then, I turned and handed the car keys to Chloe, Clara’s best friend. “Your birthday’s next month. Consider this an early gift.”

Chloe froze, her eyes darting nervously toward Clara. Clara stood with her arms crossed, a statue of cold disapproval. “Why are you looking at me? If he gave it to you, it’s yours. Keep it.” Chloe hesitated, trying to gently dissuade Clara with a smile. “Liam’s just joking, Clara. You know him.” A chorus of nervous agreement rose around the table. “Come on, Clara, it’s your birthday! Let’s not let anything ruin the mood.” “The cake! Liam special-ordered it from that place you love.” Clara cut through the chatter, her tone final. “No cake. Leo has a crucial interview tomorrow. I’m taking him back to prepare.” A heavy silence fell. Every pair of eyes at the table shifted to me. They all knew how much I’d done for Clara. Five years of marriage, I worked relentlessly, all to give her a better life. So why was she still treating me like this? Did she really value Leo, that struggling student, more than me? “Clara, everyone’s here for you,” Chloe tried again. “Don’t spoil the night. Liam planned this for a month. You’re the guest of honor. You can’t leave him like this.” Clara looked at me. A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes. She was actually hesitating. A bitter laugh tore through me. Leo smiled. “Clara, you should stay. My interview tomorrow is nothing.” “”Nothing?” Clara’s expression sharpened. “It’s your first interview. It shapes your entire future. How could I not make sure it’s perfect?” Seeing my face darken, Chloe laughed lightly. “When Clara sponsors someone, she sees it through.” See it through? Watching Clara’s undisguised worry for Leo felt like a fist squeezing my lungs. I couldn’t breathe. Leo was her charity case. Her “project.” Of course she felt responsible for him. And I? I was her husband. The man she’d vowed to build a life with. Shouldn’t she feel responsible for me? She left anyway. Just as she reached the door, she turned back.. “Oh. Hand over the keys to that new sports car. Leo needs something to drive.” I laughed then. A short, hollow sound. I shoved the keys directly into Chloe’s hand. “Sorry, I already gave the car to Chloe.” I said, my voice flat. “And if memory serves, the funds you’ve funneled to Leo over the years could have bought him a fleet of his own. He doesn’t need mine.”

Clara’s face twisted. “Leo has no money. If you don’t want to give him the car, just say so. Don’t hide behind Chloe.” “Fine,” I said. “I don’t want to give it to him. And I don’t believe he’s broke.” “You’ve sent him $30,000 a month for four years. That’s 1.44 million. You claim his rent and expenses are under $500. So, Leo…where did it all go?” Leo’s face paled. “Where did it go?” Clara’s voice was ice. “Not everyone is like you, throwing money around while forgetting their family. Every dollar I gave Leo, he sent home. He used it to build a better life for his parents and his village. He understands responsibility. He thinks of others.” “You only ever think of yourself.” Only thinks of myself? Clara’s words hit me like a punch to the chest, knocking the air from my lungs. So this was her verdict after all my years, all my sacrifices. Selfish. It was ridiculous! It was ironic! I took a deep breath, looking at the new Chanel clothes Leo was wearing, the Patek Philippe watch on his wrist, a mocking curve forming on my lips. “Is that so?” “Of course, he-” Leo quickly cut her off. “Clara, it’s your birthday today. We’ve already missed out on celebrating because of me. Please, don’t fight with Liam because of me again.” Then he looked at me. “Liam, every mistake is mine. Blame me, just please don’t be angry with Clara because of me.” “What mistake have you made?” Clara pulled Leo behind her, her gaze at me chillingly indifferent. “Liam, you really should learn more from Leo.” With that, she pulled Leo and walked away. Watching her leave, I almost lost my footing. I leaned heavily on the table to keep from falling. Chloe rushed to support me, expressing her displeasure at Clara. “Clara was out of line. How could she say such things?” “I’m going to make her apologize to you.” I stopped Chloe, who was about to chase after her, and shook my head with a bitter smile. “Forget it.” At that moment, a thought came to mind. Those who don’t love you can’t see your worth, and certainly not your efforts. I looked at Chloe and the others. “The guest of honor might be gone, but we’ll still have fun. Let’s just pretend nothing happened.” Even though I said that, the atmosphere had clearly shifted. After a strained while, everyone gradually dispersed. Since I’d had quite a bit to drink, Chloe offered to drive me home. I accepted. On the way, she said, “Liam, Clara wasn’t trying to hurt you. You’ve known her for years, you know what she’s like.” I shook my head. It was precisely because I knew Clara that my heart ached even more. She wasn’t like this before, but ever since she started sponsoring Leo, she changed. Every time we had a gathering, she would bring Leo along. And every time, Leo would say something inappropriate. “A plate of fruit costs fifty dollars? So expensive. You guys are really rich.” “This wine is too expensive. It pains me to drink it. I’ll just stick to water.” “My family is poor, I can’t afford such fancy places. Don’t make fun of me.” He always played the victim, as if we were flaunting our wealth in front of him. And every time, Clara would step forward to defend him. “Don’t pick on Leo, he’s shy.” “He said he’s not drinking, why are you forcing him? If you want to drink, I’ll drink with you.” “Leo, just be yourself. Let’s see who dares to laugh at you.” Scene after scene flashed in my mind. I leaned back wearily against the seat, slowly closing my eyes. “Sigh!” Chloe’s sigh filled the car.

Chloe dropped me off at my doorstep and handed me the car keys. “Talk things out with Clara. You’ve been married for five years, it’s not worth…” I cut her off, pressing the car keys back into her hand. “I already said it was a gift for you. How can I take it back now?” “But…” Suddenly, the door opened, and Clara walked out with a smiling Leo. Chloe’s unfinished words caught in her throat. Clara saw my hand still clasped with Chloe’s, and her smile instantly vanished. She demanded coldly, “What are you two doing?” Chloe hastily pulled her hand back. “Clara, don’t misunderstand, we…” “I wasn’t asking you. I was asking him.” Clara’s gaze was fixed on me. My attention, however, was entirely drawn to Leo beside her – specifically, the tie around his neck. It was my tie! The first gift Clara ever gave me after we started dating. A sharp pain pierced my eyes. I spoke in a hoarse voice, “That tie looks familiar. I think it’s mine.” Clara replied dismissively, “It is yours, but don’t you think it suits Leo perfectly?” I lowered my head, a self-deprecating laugh escaping me. “It certainly does!” If the tie suited him, did the person wearing it also suit her? Chloe glanced at me, then anxiously turned to Clara. “Clara, how could you give Liam’s tie to Leo? Don’t you know you shouldn’t just give away ties like that?” “What’s the big deal?” Clara shrugged. “It’s just a tie. Liam doesn’t wear it often anyway. And don’t you think Leo looks really handsome in it?” “Clara!” Chloe was about to say more, but I stopped her. I smiled at Clara. “Yes, he looks very handsome. Your taste is as good as ever.” Polished. Borrowed. A carp might glitter in borrowed scales, but it would never be a dragon. The attempt was almost pathetic! “Of course it is,” Clara said, preening. “Oh, and Liam,” she added. “I’ll be helping Leo with his final prep tonight. Don’t wait up.” I went very still. My wife, not coming home, for another man? On her birthday. The air grew thick. “You’re serious,” I said, my voice low and dangerously calm. “When am I not?” With a dismissive wave, she hooked her arm through Leo’s. “No time to waste. Let’s go.” “See you later, Liam!” Leo said over his shoulder. The glance he threw me wasn’t a smile but a trophy held aloft. I held his gaze until they were gone, my own smile not wavering. Then I turned to Chloe. “Find out which company he’s interviewing with tomorrow.” Chloe studied my face. “What are you going to do?” I smiled. “Just a quality check. Let’s see what my wife’s four-year investment has actually produced.”

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After eighteen years in the slums, my sister’s billionaire father came to claim her. The day she left, Serena-the sister I’d never gotten along with-insisted on taking me with her to that better life. Everyone was jealous. They thought I’d finally escaped this place. But I refused. My parents stared at me, caught between fury and despair. “We’re handing you a future, and you’re throwing it away? You want to rot here forever?” Even our relatives saw a chance. “If she won’t go, just send my Chloe instead!” I didn’t budge. “I’m not going.” I knew what awaited there was danger. My repeated refusals drew a frost over Mr. Sterling’s expression. A man of his stature didn’t beg. He certainly didn’t beg a poor, unrelated girl. He crossed his arms. “Ungrateful,” he spat, the word hanging in the air like a verdict. Seeing his anger, Mrs. Davies trembled. She stepped forward and slapped my shoulder, her voice a low, furious hiss. “What is wrong with you? People would kill for this chance, and you say no? Are you insane? What is so good about this dump that you must stay?” I kept my head down, silent, as they yelled and hit me. This rundown place truly was awful. We scraped by, working through scorching summers and braving winter blizzards to tend the livestock. But I still wanted to stay. At least… Mr. Davies gritted his teeth and shoved me. “You have to go! This isn’t up to you. If you go, it’ll ease the burden on this family. Your mother and I won’t have to break our backs paying for your education anymore!” “Lily, stop being stubborn! This is for your own good.” Tears filled my eyes. I knew they meant well. They wanted a better life for me. But I still shook my head, my voice thick. “I can’t!” My aunt Rachel saw her chance. She pushed her daughter Chloe forward, her shrewd eyes darting between us. “Since Lily won’t go, why not Chloe? She’s every bit as good!” Before Mr. Sterling could respond, Serena frowned and cut in. “No! I only want Lily to come with me!” Anyone else might have seen a devoted sister. But I, shrank back into the corner, broke into a cold sweat.

Normally, Rachel would have yelled in Serena’s face for using that tone. But things were different now. Serena was the billionaire’s daughter, her status transformed. Rachel was too busy currying favor to protest. She edged closer, her voice sycophantic. “Serena, just take Chloe. She’s hardworking. She’ll look after you. Far better than that lazy Lily!” As she spoke, a look of pure disgust landed on me. I didn’t feel angry. If anything, a quiet relief settled in. Serena dismissed the idea without a second thought. “No, I only want Lily with me!” With that, she intimately linked her arm through mine. It felt like a cold, slimy snake coiling around me, suffocating me. “Lily, please come with me. It’s such an amazing chance to change your life. Why do you keep refusing me?” She blinked, a probing look in her eyes as she stared at me. I yanked my hand away as if she burned me, stumbling back a few steps before I regained my composure and spoke. “I’m not going. Find someone else, or just go by yourself.” She put on a wounded expression, her eyes welling up, looking incredibly hurt. “No, Mom and Dad always taught us to share. Now that I have a good life, I keep thinking of you, and you just keep refusing me.” “Did I do something wrong to upset you? I’m sorry, okay? Just come with me.” “You can try it for a while. If you don’t like it, you can come back, okay?” Rachel watched me, her eyes thick with an envy so potent I could taste it. She wished Serena had asked her. I cleared my throat, firm. “I’m not going. My life is here. I wouldn’t belong there.” Serena’s composure shattered. “What life?! Slaving at dawn, pinching cents for a flicker of light at night, wearing rags until they fall apart! What is worth clinging to here?” “Lily, look around! Every girl here is married off the moment she’s of age. Is that what you want? To be sold to some stranger twice your age?” Every accusation struck a deep, familiar chord. I didn’t want this life. It was a grinding, colorless struggle. But I feared the mansion more than the hardship. A gilded cage was still a cage. I would not go. I sighed, taking a long moment before speaking slowly. “I’ve said it many times. I just don’t want to go. No matter how good the life is, I don’t want to go. How many times do I have to tell you before you understand?” My parents shot me a look of furious disappointment, practically gnashing their teeth as they asked me. “Then why don’t you want to go? Tell us, what’s so special about this place that you’re so attached to it?” I rubbed my red eyes, hesitating repeatedly before swallowing the truth, knowing no one would ever believe me. I could only find another excuse to give them. “I want to stay here with you, okay? If you both leave, who will take care of you if you get sick?” Mr. Sterling’s expression finally softened, and he cleared his throat. “That’s not a problem. We can take your parents with us to live a good life. Consider it our way of repaying you for raising Serena all these years.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me dazed. My parents instantly grinned from ear to ear. “R-really? We can go too?” Mr. Sterling nodded, but a flicker of inexplicable disdain was hidden deep in his eyes. Seeing this, my parents slapped their hands together and turned to me, smiling. “Lily, now our whole family can go. You can rest easy now, right?” Serena unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, a genuine smile on her face, and chimed in. “So Lily was worried about this. You should have said something earlier! Taking care of Mom and Dad is my responsibility too; I would never abandon them.” But I couldn’t smile. I only wished I had found a different excuse, I’d fallen right into their trap. Serena started pulling my parents towards the car. I rushed forward to stop them. “No, you can’t go!” Serena’s smile froze on her face. She looked at me in surprise, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. “Lily, didn’t you say if Mom and Dad went, you would too?” “Why are you disagreeing now? What else do you want?” I ignored her, just grabbing my parents’ hands and pulling them back. “Don’t go, and I won’t go either. Can’t we just stay in the slums?” My parents stared, confused. “Lily, what is this? You just agreed to go if we went.” “We said yes. Now you’re stopping us?” Serena clasped her hands, tears glistening in her eyes as she approached me. Her voice trembled with hurt. “If you don’t want to go, fine. But why would you take this chance from Mom and Dad? Why are you being so selfish?” “I only want what’s best for all of us, and you’ve blocked me at every turn! Why?” I gritted my teeth, fury burning in my chest. If my parents went alone, I’d never have a moment’s peace. This was Serena’s new strategy. If I wouldn’t go, she’d take my parents instead. She had me completely cornered, certain that if my parents went, I would follow. Her act of being so devoted to my well-being made me seem ungrateful in the eyes of the other relatives. They stood by, arms crossed, loudly mocking me. “Lily was just never meant for a good life. I say she should just find a man and get married.” “I know, right? If something like this happened to me, I’d say yes in a heartbeat. She’s such an idiot.” “Serena, if she won’t go, fine, just take us! We all want a good life!” Serena ignored them, her eyes meeting mine, with a hint of scrutiny. I quickly masked the fear in my eyes, not wanting her to notice anything amiss. Mr. Davies yanked his hand from mine, gasping for breath as he angrily questioned me. “Lily, what are you doing?! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!” Mrs. Davies’ face was ashen. “Lily, my patience is wearing thin. You won’t go, and you won’t let us go. Are you crazy?!” I was furious and desperate. The truth sat bitter and heavy on my tongue, but I couldn’t force it out. All I could do was cry and repeat myself, a broken record of desperation. “I don’t want to go! And you can’t go, either!” “If we go… if we go there, it will-” “It’ll what?” Serena cut in, her smile sharp and probing. I flinched. The words shriveled in my throat. I turned my face away, sealing my lips in a tight, final line. My mother raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face, then made her final decision. “Alright, I’ve decided. Our whole family is going. Lily, stop messing around!” The tension drained from Serena’s face, and a relaxed smile appeared.

But I couldn’t just stand by and watch my parents go to the billionaire’s house. Without a word, I rushed to the balcony, swung one leg over the railing, and threatened to kill myself. “None of you are allowed to go! If you go, I’ll jump from here!” My parents were startled by my actions. But the person even more agitated than my parents was Mr. Sterling. He quickly raised a hand to stop me. “Lily, don’t be impulsive, don’t be impulsive! Let’s talk this through!” I didn’t look at him, only stared at my parents, demanding they change their minds. “Mom, Dad, promise me we won’t go, okay? If Serena wants to go, let her go by herself, okay?” My parents looked hesitant, even starting to wonder. “Is this kid possessed?” A profound sense of helplessness welled up in my heart. My voice rose to a shout. “If you don’t promise me, I’ll jump from here right now!” With that, I leaned further out, my whole body hanging precariously from the balcony. One gust of wind and I’d be gone. My parents were still deliberating, truly unable to understand why I would refuse a good life and insist on staying in this poor place. After a long time, my tears nearly dried, my parents finally nodded. “Fine, if she doesn’t want to go, then we won’t. We’re not meant for that kind of life.” My strength gave out, and I crumpled to the floor. Mr. Sterling looked at me with a complex expression for a long time before speaking. “Since she’s unwilling to go, I won’t force it. Serena, let’s go home.” Serena was the first to object. She shrieked, her voice hoarse. “No! Lily has to come with me!” Her face twisted as she rushed over to me, frantically shaking my shoulders. “Lily, why won’t you go? You don’t want a good life, are you crazy?!” Her nails dug deep into my shoulder, and I gasped from the pain. Mr. Sterling spoke up, displeased, his voice carrying a hint of authority. “Serena, that’s enough!” His words acted like a tranquilizer. She froze. A fine tremor ran through her body. She released me, her grip going slack. Her eyes were red-rimmed, still burning with defiance. “Why? Are you insane? You’re throwing away a fortune, a future.” To an outsider, it might have looked like genuine concern. My parents stepped forward, patting Serena’s shoulder soothingly, forcing a smile. “Serena, if Lily doesn’t want to go, fine. Just remember to take care of yourself when we’re not around.” Serena shoved them away, her voice rising to a shout. “Don’t tell me what to do! I offered you a way out and you threw it in my face! You’ve brought this on yourselves!” My parents opened their mouths, then closed them, the words dying into a helpless sigh. Serena stood abruptly, shot me a venomous glare, and let her new father lead her away. A wave of relief finally broke across my face. But my parents couldn’t smile. They looked at me with disappointment, before turning back to their work. The day’s turmoil left me drained. I collapsed into bed, fell into a deep sleep, only to wake up staring at the roof of a car. My eyes snapped open. My parents’ voices cut through clearly. “Thank goodness Serena had the foresight to drug her. Once Once Lily wakes up in that mansion, she’ll never want to leave. Just stubborn, that girl!”

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