Category: English

My appendix burst. I woke up from surgery at the hospital, only to find the baby in my belly was gone. Chloe, Liam’s childhood friend, was giggling gleefully nearby. “I took care of the little bastard in your womb for you. No need to thank me.” I called the police right then and there. The next second, Liam rushed over from work, shielding Chloe in his arms. “Alright, so the wild seed in your belly is gone, it’s gone. If you make such a scene, what about Chloe’s future?” My report was immediately shut down. Three days later, I was back in the hospital with an infection. It turned out they found a used condom inside me during the examination. Chloe pouted, explaining: “Maybe I just forgot to take it out after the surgery a few days ago. You’re still alive, aren’t you?” Liam warned me coldly, “Chloe is still a rookie doctor, don’t make such a big deal out of it.” I stared at Chloe, who was behind Liam, her face etched with provocation. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart, suffocating me. “How did a condom end up in the operating room? She did this on purpose! Liam, don’t you know, that baby—” I hadn’t even finished when Liam impatiently cut me off. His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression unconsciously betraying his disgust and disdain for me. “She’s always been a troublemaker since she was little, can’t you just let her off this once?” “As for the baby in your belly, Chloe was just afraid I’d be mocked, so she decided to help you get rid of it. Don’t pursue this any further, Cassidy. My patience has limits.” Liam’s gaze held a warning. Just one look sent a chill through me. Three months ago, Chloe and I were kidnapped by his business rival. Liam came alone, but he only rescued Chloe. I was left in the abandoned factory and only rescued by the police three days later. Liam had hugged me, full of guilt. “I’m sorry, Cassidy. Chloe was kidnapped as a child, I couldn’t let her go through that trauma again, or she’d go insane.” Later, I was diagnosed with pregnancy, but Liam always thought it was the kidnapper’s child. I slapped the paternity test results on his face. He didn’t even look at it, rubbing his temples with an expression that said he couldn’t do anything about me. “No matter whose child it is, I’ll treat it as my own, Cassidy. You don’t need to bribe doctors to fake this and lie to me. Chloe told me everything… how you seduced those men in there to survive. I don’t blame you… Can we just drop this, please?” I had argued and yelled, confronted Chloe face-to-face, saying she was lying. But Liam didn’t believe me. He even thought I was trying to humiliate Chloe. A bitter, unnameable taste welled up in my throat. I looked deeply at Liam. “That baby was yours, Liam. I wouldn’t joke about something like this.” Liam hesitated, then tentatively began to speak. “The baby…” But Chloe suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me, begging and kowtowing like a madwoman. “Cassidy, if you say I’m lying, then I’m lying. Just as long as you and Liam are okay.” “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken your baby without permission.” Her eyes, wide and pathetic, sought Liam’s. “Liam, I lied to you. Cassidy didn’t seduce anyone in there, and those men didn’t touch her. It was all my fault. Please, you two, don’t argue…” “I’ll resign myself. I’ll turn myself in. I’ll go to jail…” She cried for a long time, but not a single tear fell. Yet, Liam completely panicked. He scooped Chloe up in his arms, carefully comforting her. “This has nothing to do with you. You’re tired after several hours of surgery. I’ll take you to rest.” “Don’t worry, I’m here. Nothing will happen to you.” Then, his eyes turned icy as he looked at me. “Enough. You’re trying to pin this baby on me, aren’t you? Just to amplify Chloe’s guilt and pressure me?” “Even if it was my child, it’s gone now, so what? Besides, it’s not mine.” “Cassidy, if you cause any more trouble, don’t blame me for using my own methods to make you understand.” He walked away with Chloe, without a backward glance. I stood there, the cold seeping into my body, shivering uncontrollably. Seven years we’d been together, and Liam had always spoiled me, giving me whatever I wanted. But ever since Chloe came back, she had virtually replaced me. I, a woman who had just undergone surgery and was left standing here as punishment, wasn’t even worth one of Chloe’s feigned tears. This was the eighteenth time he had abandoned me for Chloe. I didn’t want to humble myself anymore. As soon as the anesthesia wore off, I collapsed onto the floor. I gritted my teeth and dialed my dad’s number. “Dad, send me some people.” “Tonight. And yes, two more doctors.” Since he wouldn’t deal with Chloe, I would deal with them my way.

That night, using my dad’s influence, I uploaded all the evidence against Chloe online. Liam might have pressured local authorities, but he couldn’t control the power of public opinion. I was lying in my hospital bed when the door to my room was kicked open. Chloe stormed in, full of fury. “Cassidy, you bitch! What kind of nonsense are you spreading online?!” With Liam gone, she didn’t even bother to keep up her act. I winked at the people behind me. Good thing my dad’s people were quick and sharp. Just one look, and they knew what to do. A few of them grabbed Chloe and tied her up. There wasn’t a hint of panic in Chloe’s eyes. Instead, she looked at me with smug confidence, a provocative smirk on her lips. “Cassidy, what are you trying to pull? Do you dare touch me?” “If you touch me today, tomorrow I’ll make Liam divorce you!” “If it weren’t for his grandfather stubbornly refusing to let us be together back then, do you think you would have married into the Sterling family? You’re just a pawn Liam used to declare war on his grandfather. Do you really think he loves you?” My face went pale, my heart skipped a few beats, then a tearing pain shot through me. It was true that when Liam and I first got together, his grandfather had threatened him. Liam, who had always been so dutiful, openly brought me to various events, which was practically a declaration of war against his grandfather. I had even asked Liam if he regretted it. His eyes held a complex mix of emotions I couldn’t decipher, as if he was looking through me at someone else. He sighed and ruffled my hair. ” Cassidy, I just… I don’t want to regret it again, so this time I’ll definitely hold onto you.” At the time, completely lost in love, I hadn’t noticed the oddness of the word “again.” Turns out, he was using me to compensate for the regret of missing out on Chloe all those years ago. A wave of intense nausea surged in my stomach, threatening to erupt from my throat. Seeing my face gradually turn ashen, Chloe’s face was filled with delight. “If you’re smart, just get lost. I’ve seen plenty of greedy, vain women like you. Don’t you understand why Liam tacitly allowed me to get rid of your baby? A slut like you doesn’t deserve to carry his child.” “Oh, and you should thank me. When you were kidnapped, Liam originally planned to let you die in there. If I hadn’t been afraid of a fatality and told Liam to call the police to save you, you’d still be locked up and tortured right now.” Her last sentence burned away all my reason. An endless hatred, like a wildfire, consumed me. I dug my nails into my palms, the pain bringing me a moment of clarity. “I will grant your wishes.” “But that baby was innocent, Chloe. You messed with the wrong person.” I stood up, slowly walked closer, and gripped her chin. “Since that mouth talks so much, let’s stitch it up.” Chloe finally panicked. She struggled violently. “You wouldn’t dare?! You’re just an orphan! Liam won’t let you get away with this!” I laughed. “Yes, I’m an orphan. So I should just let you bully me?” After my dad cheated, I believed my only family was my mom. When my mom passed away, I became an orphan. My dad was a terrible husband, but at least he showed a glimmer of being a father. When Liam and I were together, he secretly called me, saying I could use his influence so Liam’s grandfather wouldn’t oppose us. I refused. Unexpectedly, in the end, I still had to rely on his power. Not wanting to say more to her, the two doctors my dad had sent picked up needles and thread and began stitching Chloe’s mouth. Blood stained her white dress. Her ear-splitting screams eventually turned into weak whimpers. I had them lock her in the operating room. “You spent four hours on my surgery. I’m giving you double back.” “Crank up the AC. She’s not coming out for eight hours.”

Early the next morning, I returned to Liam’s mansion. My phone chimed with a text from one of my dad’s people. [Mission accomplished, Miss. We’re out.] The door opened. Liam rushed over to embrace me. “I told you I’d pick you up. Why did you discharge yourself?” He guided me to the dining table. “I made your favorite sea cucumber soup. Hurry and have some.” “Chloe went too far this time, I’ve already lectured her. She said she knows she was wrong, so please don’t hold it against her anymore.” I listened to his lies with a blank face. Chloe was locked in an operating room last night. How would she have had time to contact him or be lectured? I glanced at the gift box on the coffee table. “What’s that?” Liam’s face stiffened, his expression a bit unnatural. “Nothing, just a small gift from a client.” Suddenly, my phone vibrated twice. Someone had spoken in Liam’s old friends’ group chat. [Liam, what do you think of this Flame Pearl set from the Caribbean? My intel’s right, isn’t it? Chloe likes it, right?] [Bullshit. Liam flew to the auction house in the Caribbean overnight to buy it to cheer Chloe up. Of course she likes it! I think Liam still can’t forget Chloe, sigh.] [OMG, you sent that to the wrong chat!] The next second, the three messages above were withdrawn. Seeing he couldn’t hide it, Liam reluctantly pulled a necklace from his pocket. “Actually, I flew there to buy you a gift. They just like to stir things up, don’t listen to them.” I glanced at the quality of the necklace, a bitter taste filling my mouth. This necklace looked more like a freebie for the Flame Pearl set, not even a tenth of its price. Liam pushed the necklace towards me like he was presenting a treasure. I vaguely saw the twenty-year-old Liam. Back then, after challenging his grandfather and being cut off financially, he worked tirelessly day and night at clubs and convenience stores, just to buy me a pair of earrings that cost two hundred and thirty dollars. His eyes had been overflowing with love, red-rimmed, afraid he was short-changing me. “Someday, I’ll buy you even more expensive and luxurious jewelry, Cassidy. I promise.” But now, his eyes held nothing but the clear, numb look of someone going through the motions. Just then, the door to Liam’s mansion burst open, and Chloe stumbled in, looking disheveled. The dried blood at the corners of her mouth was visible, the stitches already removed, but needle marks could still be seen on her upper and lower lips. “Liam, save me!” Liam’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. He even lost a slipper as he rushed forward to support Chloe. Chloe’s eyes burned with intense hatred, her gaze venomous as she looked at me. “She had my mouth stitched up! And she locked me in a freezing room all night!” “Liam, divorce her, please? She’s going to kill me, my mouth hurts so much…” “She even made a presentation about it and posted it online! Now the director wants me out of the hospital, my life is ruined, I don’t want to live…” Without a second thought, Liam turned and slapped me across the face. His eyes gathered a storm, as if he wanted to tear me apart. “Cassidy, are you insane?” “Didn’t I warn you not to touch her?”

Years ago, when he faced his grandfather, he had also protected me with his entire being, standing in front of me. A surge of unbearable bitterness rose in my chest, and my eyes involuntarily reddened. My voice choked, and I looked at Liam with a hollow laugh. “She took my baby, depriving me of my right to be a mother. The doctors said I might never have another child. Stitching her mouth was the lightest punishment I could give her.” “Liam, why do you believe everything she says? Who exactly is your wife?” I stared at him stubbornly, trying to find a trace of tenderness or guilt on his face. But there was none. His voice was thick with suppressed fury. “Cassidy, you’re still overreacting.” “Chloe spent so many years studying medicine, and you casually ruined her future. You are truly malicious. Chloe was right; I’ve spoiled you too much these past years.” He waved his hand, summoning the bodyguards from the yard. The bodyguards gripped my hands tightly, pressing me to the ground. Liam averted his gaze, as if even looking at me was too disgusting. He gently embraced Chloe, as if holding a lost and rediscovered treasure, every movement conveying profound care. “Chloe, tell me, how should we get even?” Chloe’s eyes gleamed with triumph as she swept over my pale face. “Bring that wild seed here. We’ll offer it as a sacrifice in front of her.” My eyes widened in disbelief, brimming with fury. “Liam, are you crazy?! That’s our baby!” Liam’s voice was cold. “As long as Chloe is happy. Cassidy, this is the price for hurting her.” Amidst my hysterical screams, Chloe had someone send the corpse of my already-formed baby from the hospital. She threw him into a brazier right in front of me. Flames, like venomous snakes, instantly devoured him. “No!” The pungent smell of burning flesh assaulted my senses. I felt as though I was being torn apart, my soul seemingly dislocated. Chloe still felt unsatisfied. “Strip off her clothes and draw a bitch on her back!” Liam frowned, a hint of displeasure in his tone. “Chloe.” Chloe, however, didn’t hold back. She shook his arm. “Liam, my mouth hurts! I won’t be able to eat anything hot for weeks!” Liam could only look at her with helpless indulgence. “Just this once, don’t take it too far.” I closed my eyes in resignation, my heart filled with desolation. No matter how I begged, how I screamed like a madwoman, the needle still pricked my back with cruel precision. Blood droplets oozed out relentlessly. Chloe’s eyes held triumph, and her hand movements grew harsher. I lay pathetically on the ground, naked, enduring the lewd and mocking gazes of the surrounding bodyguards. Eventually, I passed out from the pain. From the corner of my eye, I caught a fleeting glimpse of pain in Liam’s eyes, but it vanished quickly. When I woke up, I was still on the cold floor, the words “MOTHER DOG” crudely carved into my back. I gritted my teeth and once again dialed my dad’s number. “Dad, I want a divorce from Liam.” Three hours later, I left the signed divorce agreement and a pregnancy test report, then drove away from Liam’s mansion in my dad’s car.

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My Fiancée Summer wanted to fire me and hand my Vice President position to Brandon, the male assistant whose corruption I’d exposed to her. Facing my furious questions, Summer looked utterly annoyed. “You slandered a colleague and still expect a promotion? Get out!” Brandon, of course, piled on. “Are you just retaliating because I’m close to Summer? She reminds me so much of my late sister, I just feel a connection with her! What did I do wrong?!” I walked out of the office, glancing down at a text from my mom. “After you left, Rosamund didn’t break off the engagement. She’s been waiting for you. Come back.” I replied with a single word: “Okay.” “Julian, what happened?” My mom paused for a moment in the chat box, then suddenly asked, surprised. “You always loved that woman, didn’t you? You defied the family for her, even hid your identity… why the sudden change of heart?” Mentioning the past, a sharp pang shot through my heart, and my eyes stung. Summer had no idea that my family was also one of the most prominent and influential dynasties. After high school, my family suddenly arranged a marriage for me. An arranged marriage, I’d always expected it, and I was perfectly fine with the idea. But no one could have predicted that the woman my father picked for me was the most notorious woman in our circle: Rosamund Hayes, the eldest daughter of the powerful Hayes family. I was eighteen, she was twenty-eight. To me, she was far too old. Rumor had it, her previous fiancé hadn’t just died in an accident—she’d murdered him for his fortune! Hearing that, I was naturally dead set against the marriage. I fought with my father repeatedly, but it was no use. So, I left home decisively and ended up on the streets. I dared not use my credit cards and had no cash. Used to a life of luxury, I had zero street smarts and was practically starving on the streets. That’s when Summer appeared, timidly offering me a sandwich. She rented a place for me, taught me how an ordinary person survives in this world. We fell in love, inevitably. During countless intimate nights, her eyes hazy with desire, she’d confess to me. “Julian, I truly want to marry you right now.” But ever since Brandon joined the company we founded… Ever since that day in the elevator when he helped her pick up scattered documents and, without thinking, called her “sister.” Summer changed. The tender moments we used to share at home, no matter how busy or exhausting work was, simply vanished. She’d claim heavy workload, needing to work late, often returning home deep in the night. But what she didn’t know was this. Many times, I stood beneath the office building. Peering through the dim, hazy light, watching two figures desperately entwined in her office. My fists clenched white, my face twisted in a silent snarl. But every time I confronted her, I was met with increasingly impatient excuses and annoyance. “He’s just a friend. Julian, I never realized how paranoid you are. Don’t you trust me? Do you really think I’d betray you? He looks so much like my late brother, you know that’s a wound for me, why can’t you understand?” “But what you’re doing has crossed a boundary!” I yelled, punching the wall. “Don’t say anymore… I feel like Brandon understands me better than you ever will.” Each time, she’d run out, crying, avoiding the argument. Only to return later, seeking reconciliation. And I, always soft-hearted, always forgave her. Not long ago, I discovered Brandon was taking kickbacks from the company’s suppliers, severely hindering our growth. After much effort, I finally gathered concrete evidence, enough to prove everything he’d done. But my report only led to me being stripped of my position and publicly torn apart. Brandon was promoted to Vice President, taking my place! When my mother learned everything, she simply said one thing. “Rosamund said she’s coming to pick you up.”

Inside the conference room. Brandon gripped Summer’s hand tightly, but his eyes kept darting to me. “Ms. Summer, I’ve only been with the company for six months. How can I possibly be promoted to Vice President?” “Mr. Crawford’s eyes clearly say I don’t deserve it. I think I should just give him back the position.” My fiancée’s face was expressionless, her voice cold. “Integrity is more important than ability!” “Ability can be cultivated, but integrity cannot!” The surrounding colleagues chimed in with accusations. “Mr. Crawford really is out of line. Assistant Brandon was wrongly accused, and he proved his innocence. I heard he even used significant influence, contacting the Crawfords of the West Coast to help the company cover its losses. Otherwise, Mr. Crawford would be in jail.” “Exactly! And he hasn’t even said a word of thanks. So ungrateful.” The company’s deficit, caused by Brandon, was actually fixed because I contacted my mother for help. Brandon had merely claimed he knew someone who could “pull strings” with my family, the Crawfords, to resolve the issue. Summer chose to believe him. And with that, even the subordinates I’d once managed had turned against me. My gaze swept over their indignant faces. I’d always looked out for them, but facing this blatant distortion of truth, not a single person spoke up for me. It was as if they’d forgotten that many times, when their performance fell short, it was my connections that helped them. My eyes finally settled on my fiancée, and I asked calmly. “You’re accusing me of taking kickbacks, calling me a criminal, and stripping me of my position.” “You condemned me without even giving me a chance to explain, deciding I was guilty.” “But Summer, honestly, for seven years, have I, Julian Crawford, ever been that kind of person?” “Have I ever done anything remotely similar?!” Summer stiffened, opening her mouth as if to speak. “I…” But in the end, no words came out. Her gaze involuntarily flickered away from my sharp stare. Those subordinates who had just been accusing me now looked down. I surveyed the room, then suddenly let out a laugh. Turning, I walked towards the door, my steps steady, without a trace of hesitation. Summer panicked, quickly standing to follow me. “Julian…” I turned back to look at her, a glimmer of hope in my eyes. Seven years of emotions, I couldn’t just let them go. If she was willing to be open, willing to face the problem, willing to trust me. We could still fix everything… Just then, Brandon suddenly cried out. “Don’t let Julian fool you! Over a hundred suppliers personally said Julian took kickbacks, and I even investigated and gathered evidence. Summer, are you… are you doubting me…?” Summer stiffened, her face instantly hardening. When she looked at me again, only icy fury remained. “Julian, apologize to Brandon properly!” “Otherwise, don’t bother coming back to the company.” I let out a disappointed laugh, a wrenching pain twisting inside me, a bitter ache swelling and bursting in my chest. Seven years of being lovers! In the end, she didn’t trust me. These suppliers were all secretly helped by my family, the Crawfords. Brandon, using my name, took kickbacks and engaged in shady dealings. They all thought it was my instruction, furious but dared not speak. And when I left home, I had alienated Rosamund, that “vicious” woman. I feared that revealing my connection to the Crawford family would invite her retaliation. So, I’d always kept it a secret. Even so, I never imagined Summer would one day lose faith in me. My mind involuntarily flashed back. To our date at the mall, after we’d become official. We’d already paid for clothes at a boutique. But the store owner chased us out, insisting I’d stolen the clothes and demanded ten times the price in compensation. Summer was furious, indignantly calling for the mall manager. She made him personally check the surveillance cameras, proving my innocence. Afterward, she puffed out her chest, playfully and proudly patting it as she swore. “No matter what, I’ll never let anyone wrongly accuse or hurt you!” But now, she herself had wrongly accused me. “Ms. Summer, I quit.” “From now on, whatever happens to this company, don’t come looking for Julian Crawford!”

Everyone present froze, their faces filled with disbelief. Summer’s face was utterly pale. They all knew this company was my life’s work, my greatest priority. Only because Summer had told me that the day the company went public would be the day we registered our marriage. Countless days and nights, I worked tirelessly, drinking myself sick for a single deal. All for that promise. And now, I was actively choosing to resign. Summer’s face was dark with anger. She yelled at me, as if trying to hide the fear in her heart. “Julian, what exactly are you doing?!” “This is clearly your fault; you almost caused a huge problem for the company.” “I’m stripping you of your position, making you reflect – am I wrong to do that?” I pushed away her outstretched hand, determined to leave. “Ms. Summer, everything you did was perfectly right.” Her face grew even more anxious. “Then what do you mean by leaving?” I stopped, glanced at Summer, then at Brandon, who was secretly smirking to the side. Brandon immediately stopped smiling, pretending to be utterly terrified. “Mr. Crawford, is it because of me?” “If you’re upset, you can just say it. You’re more important to the company, there’s no need to use this to threaten Summer.” “I won’t make Summer sad. I’ll leave.” With that, he made a show of walking out, looking incredibly wronged. Summer immediately pushed me away and rushed to pull Brandon back. “Brandon, what have you done wrong? You’re not the one who should leave!” Summer’s face turned completely cold, her teeth clenched as she glared at me. Even though I was merely walking out, in her eyes, I seemed to have committed an unforgivable sin. “Is this your objective? Relying on your abilities to cause trouble in the company and force my hand?” Whenever something like this happened, whenever Brandon acted up. Summer’s attitude towards me would completely change. My eyes filled with desolation, and I turned to leave. Summer shouted after me. “Julian, if you take one more step out of this conference room, you’re fired!” I paused, my heart breaking as I looked at her. Then, I walked out the door. Summer grabbed something from the table and hurled it, roaring. “No one stop him! Let him go!” “Does he really think the company can’t function without him?!” When I reached my office, witnessing the sight before me, I let out a pathetic laugh. Everything that had belonged to me in the office had been replaced. My personal belongings were gone, replaced by Brandon’s items. I tragically realized that even if I hadn’t been slandered. Summer had already planned to remove me as VP and promote Brandon. But when I looked down and saw an item on the floor. My eyes nearly burst from their sockets, my ears rang, and my blood boiled! My grandmother’s jade necklace, which she had repeatedly instructed me to safeguard before she passed away! It was my grandmother’s last relic, and the symbol of my identity as the Young Master of the Crawford family. Normally, I kept it locked in my office safe, never allowing anyone to touch it! But now, it lay shattered into a thousand pieces. Suddenly, Brandon’s voice, filled with feigned terror and a hint of a sob, came from behind me. “Mr. Crawford… I’m so sorry. I broke it by accident.” “Ms. Summer told me to move into this office yesterday. I thought it looked a bit dirty, so I wanted to clean it up.” “Who knew that jade necklace was so fragile? I accidentally dropped and broke it. How much does it cost? I’ll pay you, okay?” Turning around, there was Brandon, a look of pure triumph on his face. There was no hint of guilt in his expression, only a faint, knowing smile, and an undeniable sneer in his eyes. My office was cleaned by professional janitors every day; he had no business meddling! I clenched my fists and demanded. “My jade necklace was always locked in the safe. Does the safe need to be cleaned too?”

Brandon pretended to be slow on the uptake, speaking with feigned innocence. “I don’t know, Mr. Crawford. Maybe you just left it out…” I stared at the obvious pry marks on the safe, fury blazing in my heart. I grabbed him by the collar, dragged him to the safe, and forced him to look closely. “You didn’t do this?!” Brandon’s smile clearly indicated he’d done it deliberately. Yet, his face was contorted into a mask of terror, even begging through fake tears. “Mr. Crawford, please don’t hit me. I really didn’t mean it.” “Just tell me how much it costs. I’ll pay you, won’t that be enough?” But at that very moment, hurried footsteps sounded from behind. Before I could react, a powerful force shoved me, sending my head crashing against the corner of the desk, the pain excruciating. “Brandon, Brandon, are you okay?!” Summer had appeared, her eyes filled with extreme concern for Brandon. The sound of my head hitting the desk corner had been loud. I refused to believe she hadn’t heard it. And I hadn’t even touched Brandon; he was perfectly unharmed. Yet, Summer’s eyes only saw him. But once, Summer was the kind of person who’d rush me to the hospital if I just cut my finger while cooking! Slap! Summer, seething with anger, turned and, without a word, slapped me! The stinging pain on my face was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. “Julian, haven’t you caused enough trouble?” “Are you still trying to hit people in public?!” I let out a bitter laugh, my eyes fixed on the shattered jade necklace on the floor. Summer followed my gaze, her pupils constricting! I had told her countless times how important this jade necklace was to me, a symbol of our family’s legacy. I’d even planned to give it to her, my future wife, as a wedding gift. But now, it lay in pieces. Summer frowned, speaking again, her tone considerably softer. “Julian, I know that jade necklace is very important to you!” “But Brandon didn’t do it on purpose. He’s already apologized to you, what more do you want?” “Didn’t you say this jade necklace would eventually be mine?” “So, it’s just my item that broke. I choose to forgive Brandon, you don’t need to be angry anymore. Apologize to him.” I laughed in exasperation, filled with bitter indignation. To defend Brandon, Summer would stoop to such shameless words. I forced myself to stand, meeting Summer’s eyes directly. “I forgot to tell you, this jade necklace isn’t yours today, and it never will be.” Summer frowned, clear impatience in her eyes. “What do you mean, Julian?” “How much further are you going to take this tantrum?” I smiled with a sense of liberation. “Summer, we’re breaking up!” Summer stiffened, and another slap landed. “Julian! Just because you’re jealous and petty, you’re breaking up with me?!” “Do you know how much Brandon has helped this company? What right do you, a criminal, have to be upset?!” “He helped solve the mess you made and even got the Crawfords to partner with our company!” “The Crawfords of the West Coast! Julian, that’s the Crawford family, one of the top hundred in the world!” I stepped back, dodging her, and calmly spoke the truth. “Summer, Brandon has been lying to you this entire time.” “I am actually the young master of the Crawford family. All these years, I’ve been the one instructing the Crawfords to secretly support the company.” “Brandon was merely riding on my family’s coattails, pretending to have influence.” But my honest words were met with Summer’s deeply disappointed gaze. Brandon, meanwhile, laughed openly. “Hahaha, Mr. Crawford, just because your last name is Crawford doesn’t mean you’re part of the Crawford family.” “By that logic, if my last name is Brandon, can I just find a rich family named Brandon and declare myself their heir?!” Summer’s face completely hardened. “I never thought you could be so childish, even coming up with such an obvious lie.” “Oh, and I forgot to tell you, the Crawfords have just sent someone to inspect the company; they’ll be here any minute!” “You said you’re one of the Crawfords? Go ahead, prove it to me!” The very next second after Summer’s furious outburst. A panicked shout from an employee echoed from outside the door. “Ms. Summer! The Crawfords are here!” “The person leading them… she specifically asked to see Mr. Crawford.” Summer frowned deeply, glancing at me, puzzled. “Did she say why?” The employee stammered in reply. “She did… She said she’s here to pick up her husband and take him home.”

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I’d just arrived home when two emails bloomed on my laptop screen. One was a pink slip from my company. The other was a job offer from the State Human Resources Department. I planned to deal with them after my shower. But when I stepped out, I heard my husband, Mark, talking excitedly on the phone in the living room. “Get over here, babe! I nailed the state job! And my wife finally got the ax! Talk about a double win!” Less than ten minutes later, Susan, Mark’s assistant, was at our door with a cake. Mark put his arm around her and flipped a bank card onto the table in front of me. “Eleanor, let’s be real. You were aging out anyway. There’s five grand in there. Call it a severance package. You can move out tomorrow.” Susan nuzzled into his side. “Yeah, now that you’re jobless, you can finally be a full-time housewife. Oh, wait. I forgot. I’m the lady of the house now!” I watched their little performance, almost bursting out laughing. Poor Mark. He thought I was the one who got fired.

Mark and Susan lifted the cake box lid together. The sweet smell of buttercream wafted out, with a line of frosting: “Congratulations on Your Promotion, Mark!” Susan cut a slice and offered it to me with a smirk. “You’ll need the sugar. Trust me, your life’s about to get real bitter.” I didn’t take it. I just stared at her. Mark grabbed the cake, took a huge bite, then hauled Susan into his arms. “Don’t mind her. She’s yesterday’s news. Washed up. Doesn’t deserve a taste of our success.” He shot me a look of pure contempt. “I told you, Eleanor. Keep up or get left behind. You chose to get left behind.” He swallowed, puffing out his chest. “But hey, don’t take it too hard. I’m starting at the state house next week. Governor’s office in a few years, mark my words.” “You? A jobless ex-wife is a liability. Dead weight. We’re not even playing the same game anymore.” Susan echoed him from his embrace. “Exactly, Mark’s destined for great things. You’re nowhere near his league.” Mark seemed pleased. He pulled out a document and slapped it on the table in front of me. “The divorce agreement. Sign it.” I picked it up and skimmed through it. The terms were ridiculous. It demanded I move out with nothing but the clothes on my back, and voluntarily sign away all marital assets. Susan peered over. “What are you waiting for? Just sign it! You’ll get five grand if you do. Otherwise, if it goes to court, with the connections he’s about to have, you won’t get a dime.” I put the agreement down and looked at Mark. “This house is in my name. I bought it before we got married.” Mark froze for a second, then scoffed. “In your name? Have you lost your mind? What makes a jobless woman think she can stand against me?” I looked at Mark’s contorted face and leaned back slightly. “I’m not refusing. It’s just… today has been too much. I can’t process this right now. Give me until tomorrow. One night to think.” The ruthlessness on Mark’s face instantly morphed into smug satisfaction. “Fine. I’ll give you one more night.” Then, he lowered his head and kissed Susan passionately, right in front of me. After their kiss, Mark wrapped an arm around Susan’s waist and swaggered towards the door. “Come on, babe, let’s get out of this depressing place. We’ll celebrate at a hotel tonight.” “Okay, Mark. I’ll make it a night to remember.” The door slammed shut, leaving behind the mess they’d made in the living room, and that untouched cake.

At eight the next morning, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Mark. “Are your things packed? Don’t make me come back and throw them out.” His words were filled with impatience. I didn’t reply. I tossed my phone aside and pulled down several large suitcases from the top of the closet. But instead of packing my things, I took out all of Mark’s belongings and stuffed them into two full suitcases. After that, I checked the time, got dressed, grabbed my printed resignation letter, and headed to the company to complete my departure. As soon as I walked into the company lobby on the first floor, I ran right into Mark and Susan. They were arm-in-arm, looking very cozy. Mark immediately spotted the folder in my hand, with the words “Resignation Letter” peeking out. He instantly raised his voice, in front of several colleagues. “Didn’t you get fired? Why are you even bothering with a resignation letter?” A few clueless colleagues started pointing at me and whispering. I could hear their hushed gossip. “So Eleanor got laid off, how pitiful.” “Yeah, I heard her husband got a state government job. The gap between them just got even bigger.” Mark was clearly relishing the attention. He walked up to me, pretending to be magnanimous, and patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry too much. Even if you don’t have a job, I won’t abandon you. Remember to keep that five thousand dollars safe.” I coolly moved aside, avoiding his hand, and walked straight towards the elevator. But my disregard seemed to infuriate him.

Mark shouted from behind me. “Attention, everyone! I’m leaving the company. I’ve accepted a position with the state government. Consider this my first step into public office. My goal? Governor’s mansion within the year!” A ripple of obligatory, sycophantic praise washed over the floor. “Incredible, Mark!” “Don’t forget us when you make it big!” Mark puffed out his chest, basking in the hollow adulation, his smugness practically radiating. I stepped into the elevator, shutting out the farce outside. In the HR office, the manager was incredibly polite, quickly processing all my departure paperwork. “Eleanor, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.” As I finished up and walked out, I saw Mark swaggering towards the department VP’s office. He didn’t bother to knock. He just pushed the door open and walked in. I stood a short distance away and could clearly see what was happening inside. Mark slammed his resignation letter onto the VP’s desk. He was full of vigor, chin held high. “I’m here to resign.” The VP was looking down at a document, which happened to be the company’s termination notice for Mark. The VP paused, then looked up, a surprised expression on his face. “Mark! Well, congratulations! Don’t worry, I’ll approve your resignation request right away, absolutely no delays!” Mark had no idea that the VP was just happy to save a large severance package. “Thank you, then.” He walked out of the VP’s office, completely satisfied. Then he pulled out his phone, snapped a pic of the office building, and posted it on Ins. “Out with the old! New career chapter unlocked!” Finally, he called my family and friends, telling them he was hosting a celebratory dinner tonight at the city’s most expensive restaurant. “Eleanor, you should come too tonight. See for yourself just how big the gap between us really is.”

That night, I didn’t go to Mark’s celebration dinner. Instead, I stayed home and watched a movie. Around ten o’clock, I heard a key turning in the lock, followed by Mark’s drunken shouts. The door was abruptly shoved open, and Mark and Susan stumbled in, both flushed. Behind them were two movers. “Eleanor! Why aren’t you gone yet?!” Mark yelled, pointing at my nose the moment he stepped inside. Susan fanned the flames. “Exactly, why are you still clinging on here? Mark’s home doesn’t welcome you.” I didn’t say a word. I just picked up the house deed from the table. I opened it to the page with my name, showing it to them. “Look closely. The homeowner is me! The purchase date is before our marriage registration date. This house is my personal pre-marital property and has nothing to do with you. Now, you’re the one who needs to leave.” Susan was the first to react, letting out a shriek. “You’re lying! That’s impossible!” “You manipulative witch! You must have been plotting to steal Mark’s money all along!” I ignored her, handing them a revised divorce agreement. “This is the new agreement. I agree to divorce, with assets divided according to law.” Mark snatched the agreement, tearing it to shreds. “You want me to leave? No way!” He turned to the two bewildered movers and roared, “What are you waiting for?! Get this woman out of here!” The two movers exchanged glances, and one of them awkwardly spoke up. “Sir, the deed clearly shows this lady’s name. This is a domestic dispute, we can’t get involved. It’s illegal.” Mark was furious. “I’ll pay you double!” The two workers shook their heads. “Sir, this isn’t about money.” Mark, seething with anger, yelled, “Fine! Eleanor, just you wait! You can live your whole life in this dump! “I start my job with the state government tomorrow! I’ll have plenty of ways to kick you out after that!” He hurled that threat, then dragged Susan and his suitcases out, slamming the door behind him. The next day, Mark donned a brand-new suit, his hair slicked back. He arrived at the state government building, looking radiant and ready to report for duty. He walked up to the reception desk, flashing a confident smile at the staff. “Hello, I’m Mark, the new hire. I’m here to complete my onboarding.” The receptionist smiled and nodded, picking up a list in front of her. She searched the list for a long time, her brow slowly furrowing. She looked up at Mark with a puzzled expression. “I’m sorry, sir, your name isn’t on our hiring list.” Mark’s confident smile froze. “That’s impossible! Check again, maybe there’s a system error? You must have made a mistake. My name is Mark, I’m the one who got this job.” The receptionist still wore a professional smile, but her tone had a hint of detachment. “I’ve already double-checked, Sir. We have only one new hire onboarding today: Ms. Eleanor.” She said, lifting her chin slightly in my direction. “Well, Ms. Eleanor is over there filling out her forms. Perhaps you’d like to ask her yourself?” Mark turned his head, his gaze landing on me. I was sitting at a nearby desk, filling out my onboarding forms. I looked up and gave him a faint smile. One moment he was full of swagger, the next his face was ashen, his lips trembling. He rushed over to me like a madman, slamming his hands onto the table. “How could it be you?! Weren’t you fired from your company?! This job was mine! It was mine!” His roar drew the attention of everyone in the lobby. I wasn’t intimidated by his outburst. I calmly picked up my phone, unlocked it, and opened my photos. I turned my laptop screen to face him. On it were two emails, side by side. “Look closely.” “Email one: From my HR. To you. Subject: Termination Notice.” My finger tapped the screen. “Email two: From the State HR Department. To me. Subject: Formal Offer of Employment.” “Figure it out yet, Mark?” Mark’s eyes were glued to the phone screen. The color drained from his face at a visible rate, turning to a ghastly gray. He read it once, then again, as if he didn’t recognize the words. Then, he sharply looked up, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at me. “It was you! You stole my job offer! You tampered with it!” He started screaming incoherently. “You faked emails! You sabotaged my political future! You evil woman!” Mark reached out to grab my phone, but I easily dodged him. His emotions completely collapsed. He yelled hysterically in the lobby, like a total lunatic. “Everyone look! This woman has a viper’s heart! She’ll stop at nothing to steal my job!” His wild behavior finally attracted the attention of security. Two uniformed security guards quickly walked over, grabbing Mark’s arms from either side. “Sir, please calm down. Do not disrupt the peace here!” Mark continued to struggle, ceaselessly cursing at me. “Let go of me! Do you know who I am? I’m the one who was hired! She’s the one who pulled a trick! Eleanor! You bitch! I won’t let you get away with this!” The security guards ignored Mark’s shouts, lifted him, and dragged him towards the state government building entrance. Mark’s brand new suit got wrinkled in the struggle, and one of his leather shoes fell off. He was dragged out like a stray dog, utterly pathetic. I watched Mark being dragged away until he disappeared outside the main door. Then, I turned back to the desk. Picked up my pen. And with a hand that didn’t shake, I continued filling out my onboarding paperwork. In the box marked “Marital Status,” I checked “Divorced” without hesitation.

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Perceiving Channing’s recent coldness, I agreed to his somewhat kinky request. In the car, let’s do something exciting… I changed into the sexy lingerie I’d bought and even took an aphrodisiac before getting into the car. As the car drove towards a secluded spot, my body grew hotter and hotter. Just then, Channing’s phone rang abruptly. On the other end, his intern’s voice choked. “Mr. Blackwood, a man is following me… I’m so scared.” “Protect yourself, I’m on my way!” Channing replied, his voice tense. The next second, the car screeched to a halt. Channing yanked me out of the car, leaving me stranded by the roadside. I desperately grabbed him. “Channing, I took an aphrodisiac…” Before I could finish, he slammed the car door shut and sped away. I collapsed miserably onto the ground, my heart aching to the point of numbness. Channing didn’t know, this was the last chance I was giving him. The medication in my system grew more potent. I forced myself to get up, intending to go to the hospital. But I hadn’t walked far when I heard voices behind me. “Is that a woman up ahead?” “Well, well, boys, looks like we’re in for a treat tonight.” My heart skipped a beat, and I quickened my pace. But my feverish body still slowed me down. I didn’t get far before they caught up. Several burly men with scarred faces surrounded me, and my heart hammered against my ribs. My nails dug deep into my flesh as I forced myself to calm down. “What… what do you want? My husband will be here any second.” The man leading them eyed me up and down, then sneered. “Who are you trying to fool? You think you look like you’re out with your husband dressed like that?” They stared at my barely-there lingerie with lewd smiles. Humiliation burned my eyes, and I bit down hard on my tongue. “Dressed so provocatively, she must be trying to hook us up.” “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s satisfy her.” The men rushed forward, tearing at my clothes. I screamed in terror. “Don’t touch me! My husband is the CEO of Blackwood Enterprises! If you lay a hand on me, he won’t let you get away with it!” “I can give you money, just let me go!” My words startled the men, and they exchanged skeptical glances. The leader scrutinized me. “If you’re a CEO’s wife, a million dollars shouldn’t be too much, right?” “Fine, I’ll give it to you.” Without thinking, I agreed immediately. But when I tried to transfer the money, it showed insufficient funds. I froze, only then remembering that Channing had frozen my bank account last week because I’d bought a bracelet Chloe liked. The man saw the message and instantly slapped me, knocking me to the ground. “Is this your ‘CEO’s wife’? You don’t even have a million, and you dare to lie to me?” Ignoring my ringing ears and swollen cheek, I quickly spoke. “I really am! Believe me! I can call my husband and have him transfer the money to you!” “You better not be playing games.” Under their menacing gazes, I called Channing. Inside, I desperately prayed he would answer. But, he hung up eighteen times in a row. The men’s eyes grew increasingly hostile. Just as my heart turned to ash, the next second, the call suddenly connected! But before I could speak, Channing’s impatient voice came through. “I have something important to deal with here. Don’t bother me unless it’s urgent.” With that, the call was ruthlessly cut off. The men sneered and instantly pounced, my clothes ripped to shreds in an instant. My body was burning like fire, but my heart felt as if it were submerged in ice water. I struggled and screamed with all my might. “You dare touch me, you’ll regret it!” “Pfft! Still dreaming, huh?” The man pinning me down spat at me, then shoved his phone in front of my face. “See for yourself. Mr. Blackwood is with his wife right now. Don’t you dare impersonate her shamelessly.” I watched the video: Channing carefully holding Chloe, calling every doctor in the hospital to examine her. The worry and deep affection in his eyes were an intensity I had never seen before. My heart was completely torn to pieces.

I felt like my soul had been ripped out. I stopped struggling, letting them do whatever they wanted. A single, cold tear slipped from my eye. I don’t know how much time passed, but suddenly, the person on top of me screamed in horror. “Blood… she, she’s bleeding so much!” The men scrambled away, terrified. I lay on the ground like a broken doll. Using my last ounce of strength, I called for an ambulance before collapsing into darkness. When I opened my eyes again, I heard the doctor’s voice. “I’m sorry, your baby couldn’t be saved.” I looked down at my lower abdomen, tears gushing out uncontrollably. In five years of marriage with Channing, I had always longed for this child. But I never imagined… I closed my eyes, but the tears seemed endless. After a long while, I took out my phone, my voice hoarse. “Help me draft a divorce agreement.” Hanging up, I put the ashes of our baby into a small box and returned home, utterly exhausted. It was night when I arrived. As I walked in, I saw Channing and Chloe eating at the dining table. They were sitting very close, Channing even blowing on the soup and spoon-feeding her one tiny bit at a time. I had never received such treatment. Seeing me, Channing’s movements stiffened for a second, then he frowned and spoke. “Why are you only just getting back now?” In over twenty-four hours, he hadn’t made a single call or sent a single message. Now, his first words were an interrogation. I forced a sarcastic smile, but my eyes uncontrollably welled up. It wasn’t out of lingering affection for him, but hate for myself for only seeing things clearly now. Just then, Chloe stood up in a panic. “Mrs. Blackwood, you’re back… Ugh!” The next second, she winced, as if enduring immense pain. Channing’s expression instantly changed. “Does it hurt a lot? Sit down quickly, don’t move.” Chloe’s eyes glistened with tears, and she bit her lip, speaking fragilely. “It’s okay, I’m not hurting.” Not wanting to witness their loving scene, I turned and went straight into the bedroom. After carefully placing the urn on the bedside table, I went into the bathroom and scrubbed my body over and over again. Not just to wash away the traces of that humiliation, but also to erase all memories of Channing. After a long time, I wiped the water from my face and made a call. “Elijah, you don’t need to go easy on Channing’s company anymore. I’ve decided to divorce him.” The voice on the other end instantly turned dangerous. “He hurt you?” I didn’t say much, only: “I’ve booked a flight to go abroad in seven days. Regardless, thank you for your help these past few years.” In these seven days, I would make Channing sign the divorce agreement. Then, I would leave this place forever.

After hanging up, Channing had entered without me noticing. “Whose call was that?” I answered without emotion. “The bank’s.” Channing seemed to remember freezing my bank account, and his expression flickered with a hint of awkwardness. “That incident last time was a lesson for you. I’ll have my assistant reactivate it tomorrow.” A lesson? I almost laughed. I had spotted the bracelet first, and was about to pay when Chloe suddenly came over, wanting to snatch it. Based on first-come, first-served, I had no reason to yield to her, so I simply swiped my card and bought it. But the next day, Channing froze all my cards, and that bracelet was on Chloe’s wrist. I didn’t know where I went wrong. Perhaps, my mistake was being blind. My eyes stung, and I clenched my palms tightly to suppress the overwhelming emotions. If not for that incident, last night, because of that million dollars… Channing was enraged by my soft laugh. A few seconds later, he must have thought of something, and his expression softened again. “Chloe sprained her ankle, and she’s still shaken up, so it’s not convenient for her to live alone. So, I’ve temporarily had her move in.” “You know, Chloe is my benefactor.” Benefactor, always a benefactor. Chloe was his savior, and I was just the woman who could be ignored. I closed my eyes and gave a hoarse assent, not asking a single question. Channing looked at me, seeming somewhat surprised that I agreed so easily. But the next second, Chloe’s voice drew all his attention away. “Ah—!” Channing turned and left without a moment’s hesitation. I watched his retreating figure, realizing he no longer resembled the man from seven years ago. Two years of dating, five years of marriage; Channing and I had finally reached the end. That night, I lay half-asleep, my hand on the urn beside the bed. Tears soaked my pillowcase, weeping for the child who never got to be born, or for a marriage that had long since soured. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain jolted me awake. I snapped my eyes open and saw Chloe standing by my bed. The moonlight illuminated a malicious smile on her lips, like a venomous snake lurking. The next second, she raised her hand, and a sharp needle instantly pierced my flesh. “Ah!” Bone-deep pain surged through me, and I cried out, my face losing all color from the agony. Chloe immediately clamped her hand over my mouth, while her other hand kept stabbing needles into me. “Die, just die!” I struggled wildly. The next second, the needle plunged violently into my lower abdomen. “Ugh!!!” A desperate scream was stifled in my throat. My vision swam with black spots from the pain, and I barely had the strength to resist. But a powerful will to live erupted with unprecedented force. I fiercely pushed her away, and Chloe fell to the ground. I opened my mouth to call for help, but she spoke first. “Scarlett, did those men treat you well yesterday?” My eyes widened instantly. A horrifying thought leaped to mind. “It was you… you sent those men?” My voice trembled. Nightmarish memories flooded over me like a tide. “You looked so wanton in that video yesterday. Have you watched it yourself?” Chloe slowly got up from the floor, speaking with malicious glee. “I have all those videos. I advise you not to cross me.” “Today was just a lesson. You’d better hand over the position of Mrs. Blackwood soon, otherwise…”

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My secret crush, Julian, knew exactly what to say. He claimed the SATs were stressing him out and my body would “inspire” him. And just like that, I was his casual hookup for a year. When I asked him when we’d go public, he’d always say. “Why mess with a good thing? I’m not into labels, I like my freedom.” So I waited. Just like an idiot. On the day the popular Serena confessed her feelings to him, Julian asked to meet me. “Help me pick out some flowers. They’re for Serena. She’ll probably like your taste.” That’s when I knew. I was the only one who felt like a “label” to him. Serena never did. Julian couldn’t hide the smile on his face when Serena came up. I’d known him for years, but I’d never seen him look like that before. I mumbled a reply, terrified that if I said too much, he’d hear my voice shake. “Aurora,”he said, his tone deliberately loud and mocking. “You’re not about to cry, are you?” My hands trembled, clutching the hem of my shirt. He knew me too well. He could read every emotion from the slightest flicker in my eyes. I couldn’t lie to him. But for once, I had to try. “Just stressed. Tired.” I managed. “Perfect. Come to the flower shop with me then. Think of it as relaxing.” Relaxing. My heart gave a little flutter at the word. He always used it as an excuse to get me into bed with him. His voice held an undeniable pleasure. “You’re both girls. Whatever you pick, Serena’s bound to love it.” Serena was the most popular girl in our class-gorgeous, with a long line of guys after her. But I never knew Julian was interested in her, too. So what was I, then? A joke? “Julian, what about me?” I bit my lip, unable to stop myself from asking. He fell silent for a few seconds, his face darkening. When he spoke, his expression was serious. “Aurora, don’t tell me you took this seriously. You’re my friend, we grew up together. Sex is just about mutual needs, isn’t it?” His tone was calm, but every word felt like a stab to the heart. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, his smile mischievous. “You’ve lived with my family for so many years, everyone sees you like my little sister. If we actually dated, people would definitely talk. It would be weird.” His words were like a bucket of ice water, chilling me to the bone. I stared at the ground, determined not to let my tears fall. “Oh, I just remembered, I made plans to see a movie with a friend. I can’t go pick out flowers with you.” With that, I hurried away.

I thought Julian saw me as his girlfriend. We rode Ferris wheels together, watched sunsets together. He took me to Norway to see the Northern Lights. He’d kiss me deeply as the sun rose, whispering romantic vows. Julian called me his sister. But every time he took me out for an overnight stay, in the heat of the moment, he’d call me “baby.” Turns out, in Julian’s eyes, it was all just a game. And I was the only one who fell for it, from beginning to end. The ringing phone shattered my thoughts. “Aurora, have you been crying?”Aunt Caroline heard the strangeness in my voice. I snapped out of my memories instantly. My reflection in the mirror showed a face streaked with tears. I quickly wiped them away. “Just stressed lately, and caught a bit of a cold.” She finally sighed in relief. “Remember to take your medicine. If you really feel unwell, have Julian take you to the doctor.” I nodded along to everything she said. Mentioning Julian, Aunt Caroline seemed to remember something. “Oh, Aurora, did you tell him you’re moving abroad after your exams next month? This time, he won’t try to stop you again, will he?” The year my parents died, Aunt Caroline planned to take me abroad. But Julian held onto my sleeve, begging me to stay. He promised his house had plenty of room, that his home would be my home, and he’d be my family. His words moved me, and I turned down Aunt Caroline. Now, considering my future, Aunt Caroline had invited me to move abroad and live with her again. I had planned to tell Julian about it today. I’d even written a whole page of heartfelt notes a week ago, ready to give him. “Don’t worry, Aunt Caroline, we’re all grown up now. We won’t be as impulsive as we were as kids.” “What about you, though, Aurora? Will you miss him?” Every time I talked to Aunt Caroline, Julian would always come up somehow. She knew my teenage crush was painfully obvious. Aunt Caroline had been living abroad for many years, and our relatives had mostly kept their distance from me, an orphan. This time, when I left, I probably wouldn’t be coming back. The thought that time would heal everything brought a sense of peace. “I’ve already contacted a famous painter in Europe. Besides my studies, I’ll have plenty of time to spend with you.”

After school, Chloe suddenly gasped. “Aurora, check the university’s online forum!” Before I could react, the content on her phone was right in front of my eyes. In the video, Julian was holding a bouquet, kneeling on one knee. “How could I let a girl propose? Serena, will you be my girlfriend?” He looked nervous and shy, drawing screams from the surrounding crowd, who praised him for being romantic and charming. But just last night, he’d used dinner as an excuse to meet me, kissing me deeply against the hotel door. He’d also promised to buy me flowers. Now it was clear, all of that was just empty promises made after his physical desires were satisfied. “Ugh, I honestly thought Julian liked you, you know?” Chloe dragged her chair next to mine, a look of pity on her face. “He always called you whenever he went out, and he’d get you gifts for holidays and your birthday. Now you’re telling me you two aren’t a couple?” I forced a smile, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. My fingernails dug hard into my palms. Maybe if my body hurt, my heart wouldn’t ache so much. That evening, after dinner at a restaurant, I ran into Julian and Serena. I instinctively lowered my head, wanting to get away from them quickly. “Aurora, what’s the rush?”Julian grabbed the collar of my shirt, pulling me back. “Why didn’t you reply to my SnapChat message this afternoon? I was just about to look for you.” He looked especially handsome today, every strand of hair perfectly in place. Our eyes met, and he saw the humiliated tears in mine. Julian froze. Once, a guy from the next class asked me out, and I didn’t know how to respond. Julian had just returned from playing basketball. Seeing the scene, he casually draped his arm around my neck and pinched my cheek. He said then, “What are you spacing out for, Aurora? Need me to reject him for you?” The guy asked him what right he had to decide for me, and what business it was of his. “What business?”He chuckled softly. “The business of living together.” “I’ve got plenty of photos of Aurora sleeping and drooling on my phone. Wanna see?” That night, after he’d chased the guy away, Julian pinned me to the bed and kissed me all night. He fiddled with the necklace around my neck, whispering a warning in my ear, “Aurora, you can only have me in your heart.”

I pursed my lips, forcing out a smile. “If there’s nothing else, I’m heading back.” I thought to myself, Julian, there’s no ‘us’ anymore. Serena’s voice came from behind me. “Are you coming to Julian’s birthday party with us later? You’re like his sister, it wouldn’t be right if you didn’t go.” In the end, I went. At the party, Julian was chatting with other people, and Serena sat in the seat next to me. She was overly friendly towards me. “Aurora, I heard you and Julian grew up together. Why didn’t you two ever consider being a couple?” I managed a strained smile. “Julian always just saw me as his sister.” But Serena wouldn’t let up, asking provocatively, “So, you mean you’re hopelessly in love with my boyfriend?” “Oh, no…” I opened my mouth, unsure how to retort. Then Serena pointed at the necklace around my neck her eyes sharp. “That’s quite nice. It looks like it could be a matching set with Julian’s.” As if on cue, Julian stepped to my side. “Aurora, give me your necklace.” He didn’t wait for a reply. His fingers went for the clasp. “Since Serena likes this necklace, just let her have it. You pick it, she’ll probably like your taste.” The demand was so outrageous that I instinctively stumbled back. He froze for a moment, his eyes darkening with anger. “Since when do you say no to me? Remember your place. That belongs to the family, and I have every right to take it back.” “Julian, you gave this to me when I was sick,”my voice choked. Julian seemed to snap back to reality, instinctively pulling his hand back. “Forget it… if you like it, keep it.” “No.”I ripped the necklace from my neck. “Take it. Now, I owe you nothing.” He stood frozen, staring at the necklace lying in his hand.

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A year after I was confirmed to be the fake heiress. My friends all said I’d changed. I was no longer arrogant or extravagant, no longer desperately chasing after a moment of genuine attention from my mom and dad, nor was I trying to win Barry’s love. The harsh reality of my financial struggles wore me out, and it taught me that love was the most useless thing in the world. I became what they wanted—passive and no longer battling for anything. When Barry brought the real heiress home again later, I just quietly went to the guest room, quietly waiting to surrender everything to the real heiress. But everyone who wanted me to be compliant was furious, asking why I wasn’t making a scene anymore. It was dawn when Barry brought the real heiress home again. I didn’t make a scene. I just forced myself out of bed, exhausted, and quietly went to the guest room. As I walked past Scarlett, she sweetly tugged on my hand. “Aria, you’ve misunderstood me.” “I just came to get the necklace I left behind last time; I’m not trying to steal Barry from you…” Barry frowned, about to scold me for being dramatic and possessive, just like he used to. But I cut him off, speaking calmly. “I know. I only married him because I took your place. He… was always meant for you.” Honestly, I’d come to terms with it long ago. Arranged marriages among the elite were never about personal feelings, but about family background. When my identity as a fake heiress was exposed, Barry had immediately suggested divorce. I’d cried and screamed, starved myself and threatened to end it all, just to cling to the title of Mrs. Miller. But what was the point? My mom and dad had already taken back everything they’d given me, and the Miller family wasn’t going to give me a dime either. I held a fancy title but was financially ruined, utterly destitute. Scarlett probably hadn’t expected me to say that; she blinked, stunned for two seconds before replying. “Oh, good, I’m glad. I was worried you’d be upset about me starting as Barry’s personal assistant at his company.” She knew my sensitive spot. She knew I hated her getting close to him the most. I clearly caught the triumphant glint in her eyes, but I just nodded calmly. “That’s perfectly fine. Once you’ve gotten some experience, you can take over the whole group.” “Mr. Hayes… your dad will be thrilled.” I brushed her hand away. “Sorry, I’m a bit tired after delivering food all day.” “I’m going to lie down for a bit. You two carry on.” The guest room door slowly closed, and I wearily shut my eyes. A cold, hollow ache settled in my chest, like a draft from a broken window in winter, slowly freezing me from the inside. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I suddenly heard the guest room door violently kicked open. Barry stood by my bed, his face dark. He asked me, “What game are you playing now?”

What game could I be playing? This past year, major companies had blacklisted me everywhere. I ended up delivering packages, doing food delivery, and even live-streaming. The spirit of a princess was long gone. Now, I was a hedgehog stripped of its quills, yet he still feared I might prick someone. He, uncharacteristically, started explaining. “Scarlett felt dizzy last time, so I let her rest on the bed. The necklace must have fallen off then.” “Her being my personal assistant was Mr. Hayes’s arrangement, to have her learn from me. Don’t overthink it.” I kept my eyes closed and murmured a soft, “Mmm.” He stood by the bed, silent. After a long while, I thought he’d left, but then I heard his voice again. “My dad’s birthday is coming up. The party is the day after tomorrow.” “You’d better not make things difficult for Scarlett there, or you won’t even have the title of Mrs. Miller anymore.” I sighed lightly, my mind racing to calculate how many deliveries I’d need to make tomorrow to afford a gift. Utterly exhausted, I managed only a few words. “Mmm, got it.” I scraped together enough money at the last minute before the store closed and rushed in to buy a gift. By the time I arrived at the hotel, I noticed everyone’s expressions were grim. Scarlett was the first to laugh out loud. “Aria, how could you come to a party dressed in your delivery uniform? So many people are here today; at least give Barry some face.” I looked down, realizing in my hurry, I’d forgotten to change. The uniform felt like a stinging slap across my face. I extended my chapped, red hands from the cold and gently placed the gift on the table. “Dad, I’m sorry. I had something… I’m late.” “This is just a small token of my affection. I wish you good health and many more happy years.” Mr. Miller’s expression didn’t soften one bit. Mrs. Miller picked up my gift, opened the box, glanced inside, and then casually tossed it to the ground with a dismissive flick. “If you truly wished him a happy birthday, you’d agree to divorce Barry.” “How dare you bring such a cheap gift? It’s so tacky, truly an embarrassment to the Miller name.” “Sigh.” Her soft sigh felt like a heavy stone dropped into the quiet pond of my heart. My dad lifted his head, indignant. “She’s not our biological child after all; you can’t change that inherent low-class nature.” “When my wife was giving birth at the hospital, there was a mix-up. My poor Scarlett struggled out in the cold for twenty-five years before coming home… but by then, Barry had already married someone else…” My mom couldn’t help but wipe away tears. “And the worst part is, this wretched girl, who stole another’s life, still shows no remorse!” I looked up, seeing the parents who once doted on me now despise me to no end, seeing the scorn on Barry’s parents’ faces. It was all so utterly pointless. The chilblains on my hands were getting itchier, and I lowered my gaze. I desperately wanted to tell them how I’d spent every minute from dawn till dusk making deliveries for this gift, how I’d almost fallen off my e-scooter multiple times from speeding. But in the end, I just opened my mouth, chose silence, and turned to leave. I forced myself to walk for a long time before Barry’s voice drifted from behind me. “Dad, actually, that vintage fountain pen… it’s quite nice.”

I didn’t know why Barry spoke up for me. Was it because my public humiliation would also be an embarrassment to the Miller family? In that moment, a strange, hopeful itch began to bloom in my chest. I slowed my steps, ears perked, listening as my father-in-law said, “Take it away.” Then came a crisp sound, like the pen hitting the floor, but it felt like my own heart had fallen to the ground. That night, I rode my e-scooter, tearing down the street. The biting wind felt like a thousand tiny blades against my skin, whipping my tears in every direction. I realized then, a person could truly die, silently, from the inside out. When I finally got home, all my emotions stripped away, Barry was already there. I tiptoed into the house, and Scarlett suddenly peeked out from an inner room. “Aria, you’re back?” “I thought you probably hadn’t eaten after running off like that, so I took the liberty of packing you some leftovers.” She suddenly covered her mouth. “Oh, I’m sorry, Aria. I forgot you never eat leftovers. Unlike me… I was abducted and forced to live in poverty, starving most days, sleeping rough, and constantly facing abuse. Back then, I would have been so happy to have even a bite of leftovers…” Her words were always laced with venom. Stinging me, reminding me that I had stolen twenty-five years of her fairy-tale life, and for that, I deserved to die. I used to jump to argue with her, to insist that I was innocent too. To argue that even if I wasn’t my parents’ biological daughter, we’d still lived together for over twenty years, and they loved me just the same. But those were always just my thoughts. They didn’t love me. Barry’s parents didn’t love me. Barry didn’t love me either. I stood in the hallway and politely thanked her. “It’s a shame to throw away perfectly good food.” “Just put it in the fridge; I can heat it up and eat it tomorrow.” Scarlett froze, her mouth agape, so surprised she forgot to even blink. I turned and went back to the guest room, taking out cotton swabs and alcohol from a drawer, then carefully rolling up my pant leg. The raw, gaping wound was still oozing blood with the slightest touch. Barry walked in at that very moment. I thought he was coming to question me, so I spoke without thinking. “Sorry, I forgot to change my clothes today.” But he, contrary to his usual self, took the cotton swabs from my hand and personally began to clean my wound. I was stunned. I used to practically beg for a moment of his attention. But now, my leg muscles tensed, and I felt a strange unease spread through me. “Does it hurt?” I blinked, about to shake my head. But he answered himself. “It must. You used to throw a fit over the smallest paper cut.” I didn’t understand what was going on with him. He looked at me. “I had some drinks today, and Scarlett drove me home.” “There’s nothing going on between us.” I pulled down my pant leg and nodded casually. “She’s your assistant at work. It’s normal to have more contact; it’s all part of the job.” His gaze at me began to grow complex. I found it hard to decipher the emotions mixed within it, and I no longer had the energy to try. He watched me for a long time, then finally pulled a black credit card from his pocket and placed it on my nightstand. “Don’t do those menial jobs anymore.” “I’ll transfer your monthly living allowance to this card from now on.” “And stop eating leftovers. I’ll make you some food.”

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I never went easy on my billionaire husband’s lovers. One woman was cheating with him in his car, so I drove my own car and broke her leg. Another woman had dinner with him, so I made her chug an entire bottle of chili sauce. And anyone who dared to send me bedroom photos? I made sure every media outlet in the city ran that photo on a loop for twenty-four hours. This time, Baron Thorne was infatuated with a hotel intern. She looked like a startled little bunny, hiding behind him in a white dress. Baron said, right in front of her and me, “She gave me her first time. I’m going to give her the most spectacular wedding.” My hand was in my pocket, clutching that cancer diagnosis report so tightly I nearly crushed it. I looked at him, then at the girl, and finally, I simply nodded. This time, I said calmly, “Fine. Marry her.” Baron looked at me, the smile in his eyes instantly twisting into suspicion. “What game are you playing now?” He took a step forward, lowering his voice. “I’m warning you, Emily Davis is timid. If you dare lay a hand on her, I’ll immediately cut off Lily’s medical expenses.” For years, we’d been at each other’s throats, but he’d never threatened my family. That was our unspoken boundary. My body stiffened. Now, for Emily, he had personally torn that line apart. It felt like a blunt object had slammed hard into my chest, a dull, aching pain. I lowered my head, forcing a slight smile. “Do whatever you want.” “I’m tired lately. I just want some peace and quiet.” Back in the day, Baron and I were known as the craziest couple in the city’s elite circles. He constantly sought out all kinds of lovers. And I constantly fought with every single one of them. I never gave up, perhaps clinging to a ridiculous hope that one day he’d get tired, get bored, and maybe he’d come back to me. But the diagnosis report in my pocket reminded me that, in the end, I was the one who was defeated first. I had to go to the hospital, to start a long and unwinnable battle for my life. Five years of marriage, and all we had left were fights, tearing each other apart, and countless scandalous headlines. Nothing else. He hadn’t even noticed how much I had wasted away. I returned to the hillside mansion where I lived alone. The cold wind swept in, and I shivered involuntarily. Only after turning on the heating did I start to feel my body warm up. In the mirror, my hair was already thinning, and I looked like a thin sheet of paper. I remembered earlier, when Baron put his arm around Emily and left, he glanced back at me. “Stop trying to lose weight. You’re so skinny, even if you stripped naked and lay in front of me, I wouldn’t react.” Night fell. I sat alone on the sofa, memories of these past years rushing over me like a tide. Four years ago, I broke the leg of his first mistress. He cradled the girl, his eyes ice-cold. “Rose, you married me. You’ll be nothing but a permanent fixture in the background of my life. Do you think this will make me look at you more?” “No. It’ll just make me sick of you.” I even tried cooking for him. My hands were covered in blisters from learning to make soup, only for his mistress to spill the entire bowl onto my feet. He stood by, laughing, praising her for doing it beautifully. I once changed into sexy lingerie, but he just glanced at me, mocking. “If you don’t have the assets, don’t bother trying. Put some clothes on, you’ll catch a cold.” He paused, then added, “If you’re really that desperate, buy a toy.” I threw away all those gentle dresses and kitchen utensils. Between Baron and me, all that was left was a string pulled tighter and tighter, and one mutual destruction after another. The doorbell rang. I opened the door. Emily stood outside, wringing her hands. I frowned. “Something wrong?” Her face flushed crimson, her voice barely a whisper. “Mr. Thorne… Mr. Thorne said there’s a box of unopened… con-condoms here… and he told me to come get them.” I laughed out loud. “Is this his way of reminding me not to touch what’s his?” I looked at her. “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely bless your wedding. The grander, the better.” She bit her lip, then suddenly looked up. “Mrs. Thorne… Mr. Thorne has been having severe stomach pains lately. Can’t you… stop antagonizing him?” I stared at her quietly, suddenly finding it absurd. “Emily,” I said slowly. “I remember Baron can drink anyone under the table. You know best how you ended up in his room that night.” “I’ll say it again, do whatever you want. I’m tired.” “Stop putting on a show for me.” Closing the door, I called my best friend. “Stella,” My voice was calm. “Help me draft a divorce agreement. And contact a good oncology hospital, fast.”

The next day, I went to the hospital Stella arranged. Dr. Alex Carter, the attending physician, was her friend. He carefully reviewed my reports, his brows furrowed. “Why did you drag this on for so long? Have you been in a bad mood these past few years?” My phone suddenly vibrated wildly. It was Baron. I took a deep breath and answered. His furious voice almost burst my eardrum. “Rose, where are you? Get your butt to the company right now!” I hung up directly, letting the phone continue to vibrate in my bag. As I left the hospital, Dr. Carter’s words still echoed in my ears. “The situation is very dangerous. You must be hospitalized immediately. Right now… there’s only a three percent chance.” The sunlight was blinding. I raised a hand to shield my eyes, but my eyes still stung with unshed tears. Suddenly, a hand harshly gripped my arm. “Rose!” I looked up and saw Baron’s ashen face. Emily stood beside him, her eyes red, as if she’d just been crying. I pulled my hand away. “What do you want?” Baron stared at me, his gaze fixed. “What are you doing at the hospital?” Emily suddenly sobbed. “Mr. Thorne… Rose cursed me out on the phone earlier. She called me trash, a gold-digging slut…” She glanced at me timidly. “Is she… is she deliberately hiding at the hospital to play the victim card, so you won’t confront her…?” I frowned deeply. “Emily, what nonsense are you talking about?” Only then did I notice the distinct, frighteningly red and swollen slap mark on Emily’s face. Baron’s voice was as cold as ice. “Apologize to Emily.” I stood my ground. “I didn’t say those things.” He picked up his phone and gave an order to someone on the other end. “Cancel the medical team we arranged before.” My breath caught in my throat. That was Lily’s hope for survival. My fingernails dug deep into my palms. I looked at Emily, my voice dry. “I’m sorry.” Emily’s tears fell even harder. “I’m not trash… My family may be poor, but I have dignity. If there’s no place for me here, I can leave…” Baron’s eyes suddenly darkened. “That’s not enough.” He turned to me, enunciating each word. “Rose, get on your knees and apologize.” My blood rushed to my head, my fists clenched tight. Emily gently pulled his sleeve. “Don’t… She sees me as trash, I can’t bear that.” Baron’s gaze was fixed on my face as he slowly spoke. “The medical team…” I suddenly remembered what Baron had said to me right after we got married. His tone back then was flat, like he was discussing a business deal. “Rose, you are the wife my parents picked. I don’t like being dictated to, but I will take responsibility for your only family member. That’s the only promise I can give you.” But now, that promise had become the sharpest knife in his hand, stabbing directly at me. Emily’s sobs grew more fragmented, as if she might faint at any moment. Baron’s eyes darkened, and he suddenly raised his foot, kicking my shinbone hard. Already weak, that kick completely threw me off balance. I fell heavily to the ground, my face scraping against the rough concrete. My nose stung, and warm blood gushed out. Emily gasped. “Oh my god! She’s bleeding!” Baron’s mocking voice came from above. “What could possibly happen to her? She used to break my fingers when we fought.” He looked down at me. “Alright, Rose, stop pretending.” With that, he put his arm around Emily and walked away. I lay on the ground, blood and tears mixing together. Using all my strength, I pushed myself up. My phone suddenly rang. I painstakingly answered it. “Rose! Something’s happened!” The voice on the other end was on the verge of collapse. “The oxygen tube was unplugged! Lily… she’s stopped breathing!” The world instantly fell silent.

When I rushed to the hospital, Stella’s eyes were already swollen from crying. “I just came to see her… The oxygen tube was on the floor… She was already gone.” I slumped onto the bench in the hallway, my nails digging hard into my chest. It was me! It was all my fault! If it wasn’t for me, if I hadn’t insisted on fighting Baron… My entire body trembled uncontrollably. Baron, why did you do this? Initially, when he knew Lily was seriously ill, even though he didn’t love me, he used his connections to find a top medical team. Lily needed a rare medication, and he made countless overseas calls, arranging for it to be air-shipped overnight. But later, the women by his side changed one after another. And I refused to back down, fighting him to the very end. But now… I chose a quiet cemetery for Lily. “I’m useless, it’s all my fault,” I caressed the cold tombstone. “Wait for me, Lily. I’ll be with you soon.” Suddenly, a low thunderclap echoed in the sky, and rain poured down. Rainwater lashed down on my face, making it impossible to distinguish between rain and tears. A faint sound came from behind me. I wiped my face and turned around. Emily stood not far away, her white dress soaked with rain. On that always timid face, there was now a hint of a triumphant smile. I stumbled forward, using all my strength to slap her across the face. But she just smiled wider, even raising a hand to touch her swollen cheek. “Rose,” Her voice was exceptionally clear in the rain. “You, right now, look like a homeless stray dog.” I stared at her, hatred almost overflowing. “What else do you want? I’ll give you Baron, I’ll divorce him right away, is that enough?” She chuckled softly. “I want more than just that. Mrs. Thorne’s position, all of Baron’s love, I want it all.” I suddenly found it incredibly absurd. “Emily, you’re too naive. I’ve seen too many girls like you over the years. When he gets tired of you, your fate won’t be any better than mine.” “Shut up!” Her face instantly changed, and she shrieked, pointing at me. “Just you wait!” She turned and hurried away, her white dress disappearing into the rain. I sat by Lily’s grave until dusk. In the evening, I returned to the mansion, quickly packed a few clothes, and prepared to go to the hospital. Just as I was about to leave, the front door was violently flung open. Baron stood in the doorway, his face terrifyingly grim. “Rose.” He practically spat my name through clenched teeth. “You have some nerve.” He walked closer, step by step, his eyes swirling with rage. “You actually dared to have someone break Emily’s leg!” I froze in place. “…What?” “Still pretending!” He sneered. “Emily said she only saw you today. Then her leg was broken.” He opened his phone, and Emily’s weak, pitiful voice came through. “Mr. Thorne… Don’t blame Rose… She just loves you too much, that’s why she hates me and wants to ruin me…” I shouted into the phone. “Emily! Why are you lying?!” Her sobs grew even more heart-wrenching and broken. Baron cut the call, his eyes icy. “Emily is soft-hearted and told me not to pursue it.” He paused, his voice growing deeper. “But there’s no way I’m letting you off.” “Just be a proper Mrs. Thorne, and stop your little schemes. Maybe then there’s still room for discussion.” I looked at him quietly, remembering Lily’s lifeless face. Everything suddenly felt as absurd as a nightmare I couldn’t wake from. All these years, fighting with him, battling those women, it was all actually because… I loved him. Loved him from the moment I first saw him. I had desperately tried to do everything right, but he never even noticed. It wasn’t until I started to resist, until I fought with his lovers, tearing each other apart, that he would finally look at me properly, finally get angry at me. I thought, fine, at least he sees me. But now, that last shred of obsession, with Lily’s death, had completely extinguished. Baron brutally dragged me to the road outside the mansion. The next second, a car sped straight towards me! “Bang—!” Excruciating pain erupted from my knee. I clearly heard the sound of bones shattering. My vision went black, and I lost consciousness.

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At the company’s annual gala, my wife’s assistant, Caleb, had a couple of drinks, then suddenly mocked me in front of everyone. “Alex,” he slurred, “Serena told me you last three seconds in bed, is that true?” “Are you sure about that?” I shot back, a cold edge to my voice. “Were you hiding under my bed every night, watching?” I grabbed his collar, warning him not to take his jokes too far. But my wife, Serena, immediately stepped in front of Caleb, smashing a wine bottle over my head. “Caleb was just trying to liven things up with a joke! Do you have to be such a jerk?” I was about to retort when Caleb, feigning hurt, stopped her. “Serena, Alex is the company’s VP. I shouldn’t have joked like that in front of so many people. Please, don’t argue. He’s right to yell at me.” Hearing that, Serena told me to get lost and even threatened to strip me of my VP title. I just laughed. I was curious to see how long she’d last as CEO once she fired me. Blood slowly dripped from my forehead. I never thought Serena would actually lay a hand on me for Caleb. I stayed silent, but she mistook it for submission and continued to scold me. “Alex, it’s a fact you’re short on time, Caleb didn’t say anything wrong!” “He’s just started his career, what if you scare him off?!” “Apologize to him right now, or you can forget about being VP!” Just then, David Davis, our technical lead who’d returned from overseas with me, stepped in to calm her down. He said Caleb was out of line, and that as my wife, she shouldn’t trample on my dignity like that. But no sooner had he finished speaking than Caleb put on a wounded expression. “Serena, he’s right. You and Alex are married; you shouldn’t get angry because of me. I spoke out of turn. After all, in Alex’s eyes, I’m just a nobody. And nobodies shouldn’t speak too much.” At Caleb’s words, Serena’s temper flared even more. “Alex, you just don’t like Caleb, do you? You always bully him. Today, with me here, you won’t get away with it!” David tried to intervene again, but before he could say another word, she demoted him on the spot. “Don’t be afraid, Caleb! With me by your side, no one will dare mess with you!” Caleb nodded meekly, but when his gaze flickered to me, there was a barely perceptible glint of triumph. Watching them, so wrapped up in each other, my heart turned to ice. Caleb had been hired three months ago by Serena, straight out of a lesser-known college. As a supposed technical staff member, he had neither a high-level degree nor any real skills. But Serena claimed he was quick and efficient, diligent in his work, and told me to mentor him well. I tried my best to guide him, but he was always dismissive of me, and constantly ran to her with complaints, saying I was deliberately making things difficult for him. Each time, Serena would bring him back and lecture me. I thought Serena was just trying to build up new talent. But it wasn’t until I walked past Serena’s office one day and found Caleb sitting on her lap that I understood what was really going on. I still remember their conversation. “Serena, you’re so beautiful and you run a whole company—that’s amazing! Not like me, I’m useless.” “Oh, my sweet Caleb, your words are so charming. Just keep me happy, and I promise you promotions and raises.” “Hehe, I’ll definitely make you happy, unlike that old geezer.” Then, Serena actually let Caleb put his hand inside her clothes. When things got heated, they started kissing. When I pushed the door open, Serena claimed she was just explaining company matters to Caleb. She even accused me of having sleazy thoughts and being jealous of Caleb’s youth and good looks. After that, Serena bought Caleb countless gifts. When I confronted her, she said she was merely encouraging new talent and that I was being unreasonable. But she had forgotten that when she started her company, I had staunchly supported her, even turning down high-paying offers from major corporations. To help her succeed, I even gave her the advanced technology I’d brought back from overseas and specially brought in several core technical personnel to keep operations running smoothly. Without that technical support and my business development efforts, the entire company would have struggled to survive. Now, she was humiliating me in front of the entire company for a college graduate, and even demoting me! David looked at me, his face etched with worry. “Alex, she’s really…” 2. I signaled him to stay calm, then glared coldly at Serena. “David is a key member of this company. If he hadn’t overseen the tech department these past few years, the company would have collapsed long ago. Is this how you treat your long-term employees?!” I thought that once she heard about David’s importance to the company, Serena, no matter how arrogant, would at least reconsider. But to my surprise, she snorted with contempt. “Alex, you have the nerve to talk! The company’s technology has long been mature. If you hadn’t hyped them up all these years, why would I have paid them such high salaries?!” “And on the year-end financial report, I found you secretly gave them raises!” “They don’t even work, and you give them raises? I think you’re abusing your power for personal favors!” I retorted, my voice icy. “Serena, Caleb, a new hire who knows nothing, gets the same salary as everyone else. Why can’t I give raises to long-term employees?” “These past years, the company’s technical operations have depended entirely on them. They’ve earned it!” No sooner had I finished speaking than Serena told Caleb to take out his phone. Caleb showed me a photo of a few tech staff members dozing off during work. He whispered in a barely audible voice, “Alex, I saw this while I was working. Serena has been so good to me, I can’t just stand by and watch employees slack off while she pays them for nothing.” That rat, he was lying! Serena’s voice turned sharp. “Alex, since you claim they’ve contributed so much, what about sleeping during work hours? How do you explain that?!” My anger flared. She never said a word when they were working overtime to update technology, but she’s quick to point fingers when they’re exhausted and catch a few minutes of sleep! I was about to object, but Serena walked forward and suddenly announced to everyone: “I’m cutting everyone in the tech department’s salary by half! If anyone doesn’t like it, they can get out!” At her words, the guys I’d brought back with me immediately stood up. With their skills, they could easily command better salaries elsewhere. If it weren’t for me, they probably would have quit on the spot. Serena was truly ungrateful! I raged, “Serena, are you really trying to ruin this company?” Serena sneered, “Don’t act like the company can’t function without them! I don’t believe a company this size depends on just a handful of people!” “Fine, Serena, you said it. Since you treat my guys like this, I have no reason to stay in this VP position any longer!” “You think you’re so important? The company will run just fine without you!” At her words, someone from the sales department immediately stood up. “Ms. Hayes, your decision isn’t reasonable. These past few years, whenever we had issues on business trips, it was thanks to the tech department helping solve problems. Without them, the company’s sales wouldn’t be this high. Plus, some of our most crucial clients, the ones vital to the company’s economic lifeline, were brought in by Alex. To cause such a fuss with him over a junior employee who just graduated is really…” But hearing this, Caleb, standing beside Serena, immediately started crying, looking wronged. “Serena, he’s right. I’m just a junior employee, a burden to the company. Please don’t argue with everyone because of me. I’ll just resign now. I won’t disrupt the company’s normal operations.” With that, Caleb made to leave, but Serena grabbed him. Then she shot a cold glance at the sales colleague. “If you can’t even close clients, what’s the point of having you in the sales department? Low sales numbers prove your incompetence!” 3. “If you think you can’t do without them, then you can leave too! My company doesn’t need fools!” Hearing that, Mark sighed and sat down. Then, Serena looked at me with a sneer. “What, aren’t you going to leave with them? Why are you still standing here? Can’t bear to?” I stared at her coldly and said to David beside me, “David, I once told you guys I wanted to start our own company. I thought it would be the same here, but it seems I was wrong.” David shook his head. “Alex, don’t say that. We chose to come with you back then, and this isn’t your fault.” I nodded. “Do you remember the company we registered when we first came back? A client in a nearby city has a contract expiring soon; we can bring them over.” David froze for a moment, then his face lit up with excitement as he realized what I meant. “I remember! The guys have been looking forward to it for a long time. I’ll tell them right away!” Hearing this, Serena looked disdainful. “You think starting a company is that easy?” “Are you just spouting nonsense to save face after being humiliated here? It’s hilarious.” I calmly looked at her. “You’ll soon find out if I’m just putting up a front.” But she was dismissive. “Well, I’m eagerly anticipating it. But we should sign an agreement, just in case you go bankrupt and drag me down with you.” I looked at her calmly. “Exactly my intention.” Soon, the agreement was signed. It stated that if the company encountered any problems, each party would bear their own responsibility. The last clause was simple: may the best one prevail. At that, she shot us a disgusted look. “Alright, take your people and get out of here.” I gave her a cold glance. “Serena, you will regret this.” Then, I led out the few people who had trusted me and returned with me. Back then, my guys trusted me and agreed to come back to the country with me to build our own brand. Serena and I weren’t married yet; she was a powerhouse. When she heard we were starting a company, I even told everyone that it would be the same at her company. Because they trusted me, they had worked hard to build up the company all these years. But every time I wanted to give them a raise, Serena was reluctant. I had hoped that by landing bigger clients and generating more profit for the company, I could make Serena speechless. But in the end, she broke their hearts for a graduate from a lesser-known college! After leaving the hotel, I immediately contacted clients whose contracts were about to be renewed, as well as those whose contracts were about to expire. Upon hearing that I was starting my own company, they all expressed their support. “Alex, you finally came to your senses! Before, if it weren’t for you, we would have stopped collaborating long ago.” “Exactly! The products always had issues; we suspected they were cutting corners. Years ago, you helped me solve a huge problem, and I didn’t even plan to mention it to you. Now it’s great, with you as the CEO, I can finally relax.”

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I once believed Asher and I would grow old together, until Lila returned, Buddy died at my feet, and I realized I meant nothing to him. My project was taken, my reputation crushed, and even my mother’s last keepsake was desecrated. In that moment, I finally understood his love had never been mine. When the confidential space program reached out to me, I signed the ten-year anonymity agreement and ended our farcical marriage. And only when he stood in an empty home, with every trace of me gone, did he finally understand that he had destroyed the only love that had ever been steadfastly his. Staring at the NDA in my hand, I signed my name without hesitation. “Professor, I’m willing to join the Aquila Advanced Propulsion Program.” He studied me with a hint of regret. “You understand this mission is classified. Once you join, you’ll be stationed at the Redwater Desert Research Facility. Ten years of anonymity. No contact with the outside world. No one will be able to find you.” “Aren’t you getting married? You should at least discuss this with your fiancé.” Thinking of Asher’s cold, resolute expression, I gave a faint, bitter smile and shook my head. “There’s no need.” The professor fell silent for a moment, then nodded. “Very well. Prepare yourself. We depart in seven days.” It was raining when I left his office, and I walked home through the downpour. Unsurprisingly, Asher still hadn’t returned. Lila had taken Buddy—the dog I’d raised since childhood. When I tried to talk to Asher, he blamed me instead and disappeared for three days. I slipped the ring off my finger and tossed it into the drawer. Asher had made it for me by hand, a symbol of lifelong love, meant never to be removed—even in death. I used to believe we would grow old together. But everything changed the moment Lila came back from overseas. Asher forgot my birthday, ignored my feelings, and I became the most invisible person in the house. I was about to change out of my soaked clothes when the doorbell rang. Opening it, I saw Lila standing there, malice flickering in her eyes as she kicked something toward me. “This mutt wouldn’t listen and ran into a car.” I stared in disbelief at Buddy’s small body, fur matted with mud and blood. A sharp, unbearable pain twisted my chest, and tears blurred my vision. Lila only shrugged with a mocking smile. “It’s just a dog. Do you have to cry like someone in your family died?” My restraint snapped. I shoved her. She screamed dramatically, collapsing into Asher’s arms as he rushed over. Tears filled her eyes instantly. “Asher, the dog ran out on his own… I never meant for this to happen. Why is she blaming me?” Before I could speak, she looked even more aggrieved. “I’m sorry, Cora… I know you loved him…” Touching Buddy’s still-warm body, my voice trembled with grief. “What’s the use of saying sorry!” Lila wilted pitifully into Asher’s chest. “I even brought the dog’s body back for her, and she speaks to me like this…” Asher’s face hardened with irritation. “It’s just an animal. It’s dead—so what? My grandmother left you so much money. You can buy as many dogs as you want.” With his protection, Lila cried even harder, soaking a dark patch on Asher’s shirt. As if that weren’t enough, he continued, “Cora, when did you become so petty and unreasonable?” Animal. The word echoed in my head like a blow. He knew what Buddy meant to me. Buddy was the last gift my mother left me before she died. Asher had once promised—at my mother’s bedside—that he would take care of both me and Buddy. Yet now, for Lila, he dismissed Buddy as nothing. His heart had already drifted far away. Exhaustion washed over me. I didn’t want to fight anymore. Thinking of the decision I had made earlier that day, I felt a strange sense of relief. Asher gently stroked Lila’s back and shot me a glare. “Are you satisfied now?” Then he tipped her chin up tenderly. “It’s raining. I’ll drive you home.” Lila nestled into his arms and cast me a smug, triumphant smirk from where he couldn’t see. Watching him leave without a backward glance, I felt the last of my illusions crumble. The Asher who once claimed he fell for me at first sight had never truly loved me. I had been a stand-in during his loneliness, and Lila was the one he really wanted. Now that the rightful owner had returned, I—the substitute—was expected to step aside. But it no longer mattered. I tucked the ring and the unsigned prenuptial agreement back into the drawer. Asher would never know that the agreement his grandmother forced him to give me—granting me half his assets—was never notarized. And I had never signed it. After cremating Buddy, I buried him beside my mother’s grave. On the third morning, the Professor sent me the precise departure time. I replied with a simple “okay,” then went straight to HR and submitted my resignation. They must have disliked me for a long time, because everything was processed without hesitation. The moment I stepped out, their whispers drifted through the door. “She really resigned. Well, she’s basically the CEO’s wife—Asher’s grandma left her half the property.” “Wife? It’s not even official. I heard she quit because Asher handed her project to Miss Daphne.” “That project was practically finished. Giving it to Daphne now is just handing her the credit.” “Please, Daphne is Asher’s true love.” I could not blame them for thinking so. The instant Daphne returned, Asher made her General Manager. Even if she had known nothing, he would have handed the project to her personally. He had me work overtime revising her proposals and entertaining her clients. Even when I landed in the hospital with a bleeding stomach, he told me I owed it to Daphne. Their mocking laughter barely touched me. My only wish was for the next few days to pass quickly. Everything was arranged; all that remained was to pack. When I arrived home with my boxes, Asher and Daphne were at the dining table, laughing as they fed each other. My hand trembled at the sight. Once, I had accidentally used Asher’s cup, and he hired a dozen cleaners to sanitize the entire house—warning me never to touch anything he used. So he never had a cleanliness obsession. He simply despised intimacy with me. Daphne noticed me first. Leaning coyly against Asher’s arm, she murmured, “Asher, if you give Cora’s seat to me, won’t she be upset?” Asher sneered. “I’m the company’s CEO. I don’t need her approval.” “But she hasn’t been home for days.” “She’s waiting for me to coax her. Don’t mind her.” Triumph glinted in Daphne’s eyes as she curled into his embrace. I said nothing and headed upstairs. Only then did Asher seem to truly see me. Guilt flickered across his face before he slammed his fork down and barked, “Stop right there!” I ignored him, but he rushed over and grabbed my arm. “Cora, what’s your problem? Do you even remember you have a home?” He reached for my box, but I turned away. “No need. Go back to your work.” Impatience flashed across his expression—until Daphne called sweetly, “Asher, I want another fried egg. Can you make one for me?” “Sure.” He left immediately. I tried to continue upstairs, but Daphne stepped in front of me. “What do you want?” I asked. Her gentle facade vanished, replaced with naked jealousy. “You heard him. Asher only cares about me. If his grandmother hadn’t forced him, he never would’ve married you. Don’t think the property she left you is actually yours.” She smirked. “Hand over the agreement. One word from me and he’ll throw you out.” She paused, then covered her mouth with a theatrical laugh. “Oh, I forgot. Your whole family is dead. No wonder you cling to Asher like a stray no one wants.” Her voice dripped with contempt. I could endure insults toward myself, but not toward my family. My blood iced over. “Daphne,” I snapped, “say one more word and you’ll regret it.” “Cora! What’s wrong with you?!” Asher’s voice cut in as he hurried over, clearly worried I might harm Daphne. I stopped short. Daphne arched a brow—and gave me a subtle push. My foot slipped. I fell down the stairs, pain shooting through me the moment I hit the ground. “Cora!” Asher dropped everything and rushed to me. Daphne leaned toward him, tears trembling. “Asher, I didn’t mean to… I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have caused trouble.” Her panic looked impeccably sincere, and Asher softened instantly. He glanced down at me. “Are you alright? Do you need a hospital? Daphne didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t blame her.” I shook my head, bitterness rising as my gaze fell on the scattered items beside me. The resignation letter and confidential documents lay right on top. Chapter 3 I ignored the throbbing pain in my body and quickly bent down to gather the scattered documents. “I’ll do it.” Asher crouched beside me, immediately picking up the resignation letter with a deep frown. My breath caught. I prayed he wouldn’t notice the confidential files. Fortunately, his focus stayed on the resignation letter, giving me just enough time to slip the confidential documents beneath the rest of my belongings. “You resigned?” His voice was sharp with disbelief. “Yes.” I shoved everything into the box without looking up. He sounded irritated. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? When I asked you to hand over the project, you refused. What made you suddenly give in?” Maybe it was my pallor, or maybe he sensed something else—either way, his tone softened. “Quitting is good. Saves me the trouble. Grandma already left you so much money—you should be satisfied.” “You should focus on being Mrs. Asher and stop competing with Daphne. She’s kind and doesn’t understand your scheming.” I bit down hard on my lip, holding back the sharp sting in my eyes, nodding while my chest tightened painfully. I tried to stand. Pain shot up my spine. He reached to steady me. “Cora, walk Daphne through the project. She’ll struggle with the investors otherwise.” “She’s not like you—she can’t charm people into giving her property.” Not wanting to waste another second, I nodded. “Alright.” Asher seemed pleased with my obedience. He even smiled. “That’s better. I’m sorry for neglecting you lately. Once Daphne fully takes over your work, I’ll make it up to you.” “After Grandma’s mourning period, we’ll get married. It’ll give her peace.” My nails dug into my palms. He had no idea those days would never come. In the days that followed, I quietly packed, drafted a full proposal for Daphne, and visited his grandmother’s grave to tell her my decision. She was the only one who had ever chosen me sincerely. She wouldn’t want me to stay and suffer. On my last day in the house, Asher stayed home, which made me uneasy. I looked for an opportunity to slip out. Unexpectedly, he opened a storage box and took out an old telescope. “Daphne wants to stargaze. I’ll take her camping tonight.” “Alright.” Relief washed over me. If he left early, I could avoid a confrontation. He added, “There’s a Charity Gala tonight. Prepare a dress for Daphne.” By then, I would be long gone. Daphne appeared at his side, gripping his arm with practiced fragility. “How can Cora get me a dress? Last time she gave me the wrong proposal and the investors scolded me…” “Asher, it’s fine. I’ll wear anything. I don’t want to trouble her…” Tears fell on cue. Asher immediately glared at me. “Cora, if you don’t want to help, just say so. How could you do something like that? You’ve disappointed me.” I didn’t want unnecessary drama on my last day. “I’m sorry. My mistake. It won’t happen again.” Then to Asher, “Don’t worry. I’ll prepare the dress.” A flicker of guilt crossed his face. After a moment, he murmured, “Cora… I’ll get you a new puppy tomorrow, just like your last one.” Before my mentor arrived, I ironed Daphne’s dress, placed the engagement ring—the one that supposedly meant “the only one”—and the prenup agreement neatly on the table. With my suitcase in hand, I walked downstairs. The Professor glanced at my blank expression and sighed. “Since you’re leaving, work hard and achieve something big out there.” “Okay.” I got into the car. Asher’s villa grew smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror until it disappeared completely. Early the next morning, slightly drunk, Asher returned with Daphne. The house was dark and silent. His irritation rose instantly. No matter how late he came home, I had always waited up for him. “Cora! Come out and make some hangover soup.” Silence. He switched on the lights. The ring and prenup lay neatly on the table. He froze—then abruptly shouted, “Cora! Who allowed you to take off the ring?!” Chapter 4 But the empty house offered him nothing—only layer upon layer of silence. Asher stood in the middle of the living room, stunned, a strange tremor spreading through his chest before he even realized what it meant.

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I tried to stay invisible. I let my roommate insult me, rummage through my things, spread rumors, and even parade her knockoffs around like they were superior to mine. None of it mattered—until she stole my scholarship and labeled me “unfit” for it. That was when my patience finally snapped. And when my father made one single phone call, the girl who called me “low-brow” finally realized who she had been provoking. Recently, my roommate Danielle Clementine has been dating a so-called “trust fund guy,” and she flaunts it around the dorm nonstop. “Hey, check out this Tiffany bracelet he got me. Isn’t it gorgeous?” She lifted her wrist toward the light, angling it so the metal glinted dramatically. “Wow, that must’ve cost thousands! Your boyfriend treats you so well!” “For real! Does he have any friends? Set us up!” The girls crowded around her, piling on compliments. Their worship made Danielle glow like she’d just won a pageant. She even tossed out a handful of high-end cosmetics, and the others scrambled to grab them, squealing in excitement. I sat off to the side reading, not joining the commotion. That, of course, caught Danielle’s attention. She shot me an annoyed look. “Sophie, don’t you think this Tiffany bracelet is stunning? Way better than that cheap silver bangle you always wear, right?” I glanced at the bracelet and immediately recognized the telltale signs—it was a knockoff. The “plain” silver bracelet on my wrist? Limited-edition Tiffany. Still, I stayed low-key. “Yeah, it’s pretty. My silver bracelet is nothing special.” Pleased, Danielle walked over and snapped my book shut. “Sophie, you really need to, like, invest in decent jewelry. It’s embarrassing standing next to you.” I didn’t respond. Everyone knew Danielle’s background wasn’t glamorous; she wasn’t even solid middle-class. Before this “boyfriend,” she lived in cheap T-shirts and jeans. Now she acted like a socialite. I quietly reopened my book, trying to find my place. Alexa Wind looped her arm through Danielle’s. “Forget her. You two aren’t in the same league anyway. Let’s go eat tonight—I want the full update about you and your boyfriend.” Danielle smirked. “Can’t. I’m going out with him tonight.” Jealousy flashed across Alexa’s face. “At some fancy restaurant, right? Don’t forget to post pictures!” Danielle didn’t answer. She spent fifteen minutes applying makeup, put on her only dress worth over $500, and strutted out like a swan. That evening, I ordered spicy gumbo and ate in the dorm while Alexa squealed, “Danielle just posted! Look—foie gras, caviar, red wine, steak… oh my gosh!” The roommates crowded around her. Alexa looked at my gumbo with disdain. “Some people go on luxury dates, and some stay home with cheap gumbo. Talk about contrast.” Gumbo was now a moral failing, apparently. She shoved her phone at me. “Look how perfect they look together.” I glanced at the photo—and paused. The “trust fund guy” in the picture? My family’s new security guard. My dad had made his fortune in Seattle after an early jackpot win, and during high school I’d had everything—designer clothes, a chauffeur. Unfortunately, that also made me a target, and I almost got kidnapped. Since then, Dad insisted I keep a low profile. Even though he bought a mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, near Columbia University, he encouraged me to stay in the campus dorms. I still liked quality clothing, but to avoid attention, I’d often call my things “knockoffs.” Eventually, everyone assumed I was a poser with a taste for fakes. I didn’t care. I was here to study. Dad always said: “We only have money. You have to earn the honor.” A whole wall of our home displayed my awards—each framed like a priceless treasure. Once, Dad climbed a ladder to fix a peeling corner on one of the frames. My goal in college was to win scholarships every year. Money meant nothing; the recognition did. Recently, we replaced our security guard, and the previous one recommended his nephew, Tony James. He seemed responsible. I had no reason to expect he’d pose as a rich boyfriend for Danielle. As the roommates gushed over her post, I couldn’t help but laugh silently.

Danielle returned from her date wearing a knockoff Chanel outfit and carrying a pile of gifts. One by one, she laid them out as the roommates crowded around. “Danielle, that Chanel looks amazing.” “Gucci perfume? Can I just hold it?” “Ugh, I’m so jealous!” Danielle smiled smugly and stole a glance at me before lifting one bag. “Sophie, I remember you have a similar Hermès. Want to compare?” I removed an earbud and watched calmly as she opened my locker and pulled out my Hermès tote. She placed hers beside mine and raised her voice dramatically. “Hmm? Sophie, yours looks a bit… different from mine.” Different was an understatement. Her bag had the shiny surface and thick piping typical of a knockoff. Feigning innocence, she said, “How strange. Mine’s a gift from my boyfriend. Yours is from home, right?” Alexa chimed in eagerly, “Oh yeah. Sophie started school with knockoffs. Makes sense her bag wouldn’t be real.” Then, as if she were some wise critic, Alexa continued, “Sophie, buying fake designer stuff doesn’t change your background. Flaunting knockoffs only distorts your values.” Danielle looked proud, as though she’d won a debate. I kept calm. “Danielle, did you even ask before going through my things? And Alexa, your flattery is impressive. You two make quite the duo.” Danielle scoffed, grabbed a pair of scissors, and said, “If I hadn’t checked, I wouldn’t have known how vain you are. Let me help you out by cutting this knockoff.” She raised the scissors while Alexa gestured for the others to hold me. I didn’t flinch. “Go ahead. But if you make even one cut, you’ll pay for it.” Danielle hesitated. “Even if it’s fake, Hermès knockoffs still cost thousands. Are you sure you can cover that?” A beat passed. Then she backed down and put the scissors away. I said lightly, “Clean up my locker when you’re done.” Alexa snapped, “Sophie, don’t push your luck.” Danielle ignored me, humming while cleaning. I gave her one last warning. “Danielle, I’ll only say it once more—clean my locker.” She rolled her eyes, so I stood up and kicked her chair. “I won’t ask again.” The room froze. Even Alexa went silent. Shivering, Danielle finally cleaned it properly. When she finished, I checked the locker, sat down, and began reading my textbook aloud. The entire dorm went quiet.

I didn’t think much more about Danielle after that. I threw myself into my goal: winning the scholarship. My GPA was the highest in the department. I aced every physical exam. I never missed any scholarship-eligible activity. So when award day came, I was stunned to see Danielle listed as the National Merit Scholarship recipient—while my name was missing entirely. Not even a minor award. All my effort, brushed aside. I checked my evaluation. Every score was top-tier—except “character.” Ms. Julia Lambert had marked me “unsatisfactory.” Heart racing, I went straight to her office. Danielle was already there, smiling triumphantly. “Wow, Sophie. Didn’t think luck would be on my side. Guess hard work doesn’t always matter.” I ignored her. “Ms. Lambert, I have a question about the scholarship results.” She sighed impatiently. “Sophie, academic ability alone doesn’t define you. You lack teamwork and good conduct, so I couldn’t recommend you.” I was speechless. I had always shared notes, helped classmates, and served as class rep. The only people I’d clashed with were my roommates. Danielle’s guilty expression confirmed everything. I steadied myself. “Ms. Lambert, basing this on one person’s word seems inappropriate.” Her expression darkened. “Are you questioning my professionalism?” Danielle added sweetly, “Ms. Lambert, don’t bother. Sophie can be pretty low-brow.” I glanced at Ms. Lambert’s “Tiffany” bracelet—also a knockoff. “Ms. Lambert, Danielle gave you that bracelet, didn’t she?” She froze. I stood. “If I can’t get justice here, I’ll speak with the Dean.” Danielle snorted. “Go ahead. I’d love to see you try.” In the hallway, people whispered about the scholarship. Alexa mocked loudly, “Look who’s here—the top student who can’t even get a scholarship.” I ignored her and called the Dean. When I couldn’t reach him, I emailed a detailed report with evidence. After a week with no response, I nearly gave up—until Dad texted: “Proud of you for winning. Don’t forget about your old man.” I called home, crying as I explained everything. Mom was furious. “Frank! Call the Dean right now and have that counselor fired!” I choked, “Mom… they won’t respond. What can Dad do?” Dad rubbed his head awkwardly. “Didn’t I tell you? I joined the board of trustees.” Before I could react, the Dean called personally, apologizing and promising immediate action. Danielle walked into the dorm just as the Dean’s voice came through the speaker: “As per school policy, your roommate will face disciplinary action and return the scholarship.” Danielle burst out laughing. “Seriously? Did you hire someone to pretend to be the Dean? That’s hilarious.” Alexa added, “Right? She must be losing it.” Then the Dean asked, “Who is speaking?” “That would be my roommate,” I said. He replied, “Understood. Sophie, the updated list will be posted tomorrow.” He hung up. I glanced at Danielle, blissfully unaware of the disaster awaiting her. Then I went to sleep. The next morning, I jolted awake to Danielle screaming like the world was ending. She was sitting upright on her bed, hair sticking out in all directions, gripping her phone as if it had

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