Category: English

My best friend Brooke once lost a tooth defending me. My boyfriend Luke won me over with 200 love letters and a sky full of fireworks. Then, on my 25th birthday, I caught him pressing Brooke against his car, kissing her until her lips were swollen. “What about Lena?” Brooke asked, her voice trembling. “I don’t want to hurt her,” Luke groaned, “But I can’t stop wanting you. Tell me what to do.” Then the car began to rock. I tucked my cancer diagnosis deeper into my pocket and smiled bitterly. Easy enough. That night, I booked my assisted suicide. Snowflakes lashed against my face, sharp and biting. It was the first heavy snowfall of the year. I stood behind a wall, watching them kiss in the secluded corner. The hand Luke had wrapped around Brooke’s neck still bore the couple’s watch he shared with me. And Brooke was nestled in the very scarf I had knitted for her with my own hands. After a moment of passionate kissing, they climbed into the car. I saw the vehicle begin to rock, moans faintly carrying through the frozen air. My hands and feet had gone numb with cold after waiting half an hour in the relentless snow. Only when they opened the car door and stepped out did I pretend to have just arrived, raising a hand in greeting. “You both got here so early?” “You’re the guest of honor today! How could you be late?” Brooke unwound her scarf, the one I’d knitted, and wrapped it around my neck. Her eyes were full of concern. “You’re freezing. Why didn’t you call me to pick you up?” That’s when I noticed my eyelashes were completely frosted over. I remembered how Luke used to bundle me in his coat when it snowed, terrified I’d catch a chill. But now, he only hesitated for a second before finally reaching out to gently brush the snow from my shoulder. The moment his hand brushed my shoulder, Brooke’s expression tightened. She quietly averted her gaze. Luke immediately stepped back, putting a respectful distance between us. I shook my head, pretending not to notice, and forced a cheerful grin. “Oh, come on, I’m not that delicate. Let’s get this party started!” After all, this was my last birthday. Brooke exclaimed. “Guess what I got you!” Luke snorted playfully. “My gift is definitely better!” They fell into their familiar bickering, the easy back-and-forth lightening the mood. When Luke and I first started dating, Brooke couldn’t stand him. Now, it sounded like playful banter. I wanted to pretend I couldn’t see, that if I didn’t turn my head, I wouldn’t cry. But the streetlights cruelly stretched their shadows long. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luke secretly reach for Brooke’s hand. Their fingers intertwined tightly. A perfect match.

“Come on, get inside, it’s cold out here.” I quickly opened the door for them. “Don’t rush us, we’re coming!” Brooke laughed, quickening her pace in high heels to catch up. As she entered, she stumbled slightly. The cake she was carrying crashed to the floor. I rushed forward to help steady her. “Watch out!” Luke beat me to it, grabbing her waist to steady her. He anxiously crouched down to check her ankle. “How is it? Can you still walk?” My outstretched hand hung in mid-air, and Brooke’s smile froze on her face. The air fell into an awkward silence. Luke’s movements faltered as his eyes met mine. “Lena, don’t be mad. Brooke’s always been clumsy, she didn’t mean to drop the cake. I’ll go buy another one right away.” I watched him protect Brooke. Just like Brooke had always protected me, standing in front of me since we were kids. Brooke and I grew up together in an orphanage. She was hot-headed, and I was timid; she always protected me. Now, I just awkwardly shoved my hand back into my pocket, fingers caressing that terminal illness notice, and looked away, smiling. “I’m not a three-year-old, there’s nothing to be mad about. It’s just a cake.” “Luke, can you clean that up? I’ll go check the medicine cabinet for band-aids.” Luke lowered his head apologetically. “I’ll order a new cake right now.” I waved my hand dismissively, helped Brooke sit on the sofa, and found some ointment to gently apply. Brooke said, “Lena, you’re too kind.” I smiled and said, “You are too, Brooke.” Brooke lowered her head and stayed silent. After I put a band-aid on her, Luke had already finished cleaning up and called us over to eat the newly ordered cake. Luke lit the candles. In the flickering candlelight, I saw a photo displayed on the corner of the table. Luke and I, in our high school uniforms, holding hands tightly. Brooke, in a red spaghetti-strap dress, hugged my other arm, glaring resentfully at him. Back then, they couldn’t stand each other. Brooke would fiercely tell Luke, “Hey! You’re her first boyfriend. If you ever hurt her, you’re dead!” Luke would retort, “No way! I think *you’re* the one who looks like you’d hurt Lena!” At that time, Brooke’s eyes dimmed. I quickly told Luke to stop. When I was fifteen, the orphanage closed down. Brooke dropped out of school and worked to put me through high school. She dressed in sexy clothes, became an influencer, and each time I tried to help her shoulder the burden, she’d send me back to school with a lecture. “Lena, you’re smart, and you’re still young. You have to study hard and go to college! I don’t have that chance anymore, you need to cherish this opportunity to learn, understand?” But she was only three years older than me. Memories flooded my mind. I closed my eyes and made a sincere wish. I wished for my best friend and the boy I loved most to be happy forever. Even long after I was gone. After I made my wish, Brooke eagerly volunteered to cut the cake, then mischievously dabbed frosting on my nose. “Happy birthday, Lena, another year older.” I forced a smile, but then I saw Luke’s burning gaze fixed on her. It was tender and lingering. The bitterness in my heart flared up again. Brooke, completely oblivious, casually pulled out a small gift box. “See? Do you like it?” Luke finally snapped back to reality, playfully elbowed her aside, and, holding something mysterious in his palm, leaned in. “Guess what I got you?” “You little brat, stop trying to steal my thunder, don’t you dare compete with me!” Brooke puffed out her cheeks, exasperated. “You two rivals, stop bickering and just leave me alone.” Neither of them would back down, so I helplessly rubbed my forehead, forced to open both their gifts at once. The moment I opened them, we all froze.

They both picked rings from the same series. The styles were incredibly similar. Luke’s had a mountain pattern, while Brooke’s had waves. They weren’t just similar; they fit perfectly together, like a pair. Brooke looked a little lost, but I laughed, snatched the two rings, and quickly slid one onto each of my hands. “No wonder we’re such good friends, we’re so in sync! I was debating which design to get, but now I don’t have to.” I pulled out my phone and snapped a dozen photos. But everyone just grew more awkward. Brooke forced a smile. “He definitely copied me. But since you like it, I won’t bother arguing.” My heart ached faintly. Then, I forced myself to be cheerful and suggested we drink to celebrate. But Brooke, who usually had the best alcohol tolerance, was the first to get completely wasted, sprawling like a rag doll. She kept mumbling, “Lena… we’ll always be best friends…” Luke stood up, expertly picked up her jacket, and helped her stand, saying, “Lena, I’m taking Brooke home first. If you’re tired, just go to sleep, don’t wait up for me.” I quietly nodded. From the balcony, I watched them lean on each other as they disappeared into the distance. I took a deep breath, then scooped a spoonful of cake for myself. The cream tasted sickly sweet and bitter. I reluctantly put down my fork and went back to my bedroom, planning to sort through my belongings. But by chance, I discovered the love letters Luke had written to me when he was eighteen. Two hundred letters, their pages filled with his tight, meticulous script. “Lena, I noticed you long before you ever noticed me. You never looked up. I was always so curious-what did you think about when you were so quiet?” “Silly girl, I didn’t save you. You were the one who gave me a chance to prove my love.” “Lena, we’re going to grow old together.” As I read, my nose grew slightly sore, and the corners of my mouth unconsciously turned up, but then I abruptly stopped as I turned a page. The back of the love letters had new writing. “Strange, before I always thought of Brooke as my rival, and only gave her a friendly face for Lena’s sake. But now I realize, she seems really special.” “I ran into Brooke today. It’s the middle of winter, and her face was bright red from the cold. I felt a little pang of sympathy.” “No, I have to control my feelings.” “My hand accidentally met Brooke’s during our walk. She jumped back like she’d been shocked, her face turning red. Does she feel it too?” “Lena was surprisingly clingy today, but Brooke was clearly disappointed. I don’t want to run from my feelings anymore. I need to be clear with her.” Fragmented handwriting. It formed a reverse love letter. Though the handwriting was new, the feelings were just as genuine and passionate. I saw that it seemed to have started about a year ago, and the entries on the back were even starting to exceed those on the front. His heart, it turned out, had shifted long ago. The most recent date was just yesterday: “I’m sorry, Lena.” “But it’s time to end things. I’ve already failed you; I can’t fail Brooke too.” A torrent of tears finally burst forth. I struggled to breathe, coughing heavily twice, and hot blood splattered onto my palm. I fumbled for a tissue. Luke chose that moment to return. He habitually pulled open the door and peeked in. “Lena, are you asleep?”

I stumbled, rushing to block the door tightly. “I feel a little dizzy, I’ve already lain down.” My shirt was still stained with blood. The love letters on the floor were scattered. Luke knocked on the door twice more, asking if I needed medicine, but I brushed him off with an excuse. I couldn’t face him. I didn’t know if he was more worried about me being sick, or if he hoped to break up with me soon so he could openly pursue the girl he loved. After a long time, silence finally fell outside. Luke was probably asleep. I put the room back in order, packed a few small bags, and checked myself into the city hospital alone. The doctor frowned, trying to persuade me. “Are you really not planning on chemotherapy? Even though it’s stage four lung cancer, aggressive treatment could still buy you some more time.” “You’re still… very young.” I smiled and shook my head. “No, I’ll only be staying a few days.” Originally, I planned to leave all my savings. Enough for Brooke to get a proper streaming studio, and some seed money for Luke’s startup. With the rest of the money, I booked my assisted suicide procedure abroad. Seven more days, and I’d be free. Ultimately, I was still a coward. The next day, Luke called. I picked a random excuse and hung up. For seven days straight, he called countless times. Each time, I found various reasons to refuse, until eventually, I couldn’t even bear to hear his voice. I still remembered the burning love in that eighteen-year-old boy beneath the fireworks. So I couldn’t accept his change of heart. I wanted to beg him not to be so cruel. Just a few more days, and I wouldn’t bother them anymore. It felt like as long as he didn’t break up with me, I would die still believing I was loved. But the night before my assisted suicide, as I was counting my documents, Luke’s anxious call came through, his voice a panicked shout. “Lena! Brooke’s live stream just cut out, and her phone’s going straight to voicemail. Something’s wrong. I’m on my way, but the meetup spot is too far. I might not get there in time. You have to go check on her, now!” My eyes widened. I didn’t have time to question why he was so worried about Brooke’s live stream. I quickly said, “Don’t worry! I’m on my way!” I ripped out my IV, forgot to grab a jacket, and got into the car, speeding through the night towards the place Brooke usually streamed from. I couldn’t remember how many red lights I ran. But when I finally arrived. Brooke’s clothes were torn to shreds, and a unconscious thug lay nearby. Luke had already arrived, clearly having fought someone; his face was bruised and swollen. He was holding the trembling Brooke, comforting her over and over again. My knees buckled, and I stumbled over, trembling, trying to reach for her hand. “I’m too late, I’m so sorry.” “Get lost! Why are you still pretending to care!” Luke’s eyes were bloodshot. He fiercely slapped my hand away, in a protective stance. “You were so close, why didn’t you rush over to save her? If you had gotten here sooner, Brooke wouldn’t have…” “You’ve always enjoyed her sacrifices, why couldn’t you sacrifice for her just once? How could you be so selfish?!” “Enough!” Brooke’s voice was hoarse, and she forced a smile at me. “That animal didn’t actually violate me, I’m fine.” My throat tightened, and my nose felt terribly blocked. But he was still frantic. “Brooke! Stop pushing me away!” Hearing this, Brooke’s body trembled, and she lowered her head. She finally accepted the jacket Luke draped over her. Luke took a deep breath, then continued to scold me: “How can you say something like this is fine? This is a lifelong trauma! Lena, what have you been doing these past few days?” I didn’t know how to answer him. I stared at the bruised needle marks on the back of my hand. I was only wearing a thin undershirt, and I couldn’t help but shiver from the cold. Guilt mingled with a deep sense of injustice. Besides “I’m sorry,” no other words would come. “Lena, you wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for Brooke. Now that she’s in trouble, this is how you repay her? You’re utterly lazy. You’ve disappointed me beyond words.” Luke held her close, his expression icy as he turned to me, his gaze like that of a stranger facing an enemy. “We need some time apart. You need to think carefully about everything that’s happened recently.” I gasped in shock, wanting to explain, but then I violently vomited a pool of blood. The snow immediately stained a stark red. Before I could even cover it, I saw Luke. He was already helping Brooke into the passenger seat. He pressed the gas pedal, and he never looked back. I lowered my gaze to the blood on the ground. I was such a mess, always ruining everything. I wiped my mouth bitterly and went to the airport alone. I remembered the wish I made on my fifteenth birthday: “I wish my best friend would always be by my side, and the person I love most would always be across from me, forever and ever.” What a pity. It never came true. I sent one last text: “I wish you both a happy life together.” Then, I turned off my phone. Goodbye, Luke. Goodbye, Brooke.

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On our anniversary night, I accidentally grabbed Julian’s Apple Watch to charge. The screen lit up, revealing a heart rate peak of 158. The location was Serena Vance’s room at Southside Medical Center. Serena. His first love. And that day, was the day I found out I had cancer. The same day, his pulse was racing in her room! Julian walked out of the bathroom, snatched the watch, and slid it onto his wrist, his expression annoyed. “Checking up on me again? How many times have I told you not to touch my things?” The words died in my throat. Ten years living together, and I wasn’t even his girlfriend. Then his expression softened. He pulled a ring box from his pocket. “Just a little longer. We’ll get engaged next month.” Always “next month,” I gave a bitter smile. But this time, I don’t think I’ll live to see your “next month.” He dropped the ring box onto the bed. “What? Even this isn’t good enough for you now?” Ten years ago, Julian was a broke medical student. I funded his PhD and his personal lab with the inheritance my parents left after they died of cancer. I was the one who gave up a full scholarship to Stanford, trading a brilliant future in biochemistry to become his unseen assistant. Over a decade, he rose from a man whose tuition I worked three jobs to pay into a top surgeon hailed as a “Rising Star.” And I sacrificed it all-my family’s legacy, my future, my very life. He’d forgotten. He chose to specialize in targeted cancer therapy because he vowed to conquer it for me. He promised I’d never have to be afraid. The ultimate irony? I am now the cancer he’s trying to conquer. Seeing me still stunned, the curve of Julian’s lips completely hardened. “Clara, I’m tired from work. I don’t have the energy for your mind games.” His voice held its usual dismissive coldness. He didn’t even look at me. “I have an early flight to Zurich for the summit tomorrow.” I gave a noncommittal hum. I didn’t get up to pack his luggage as I always did. Julian seemed taken aback by my uncharacteristic calm. He stared at me for a few seconds, then ultimately said nothing and turned into his study. The door closed, separating two worlds. I looked down at the diagnosis report, still warm and crumpled in my hand. Stage IV Lung Adenocarcinoma. Bone and brain metastasis. The doctor had said that with aggressive treatment, I might have six months. Without it, perhaps less than two. Curled up on the sofa, my body felt cold, as if I’d fallen into an ice cave. Julian didn’t emerge from his study until late at night. He didn didn’t even look at me, heading straight to the bedroom. That night, we lay back to back, separated by an unbridgeable galaxy. The next morning, he dragged his suitcase, ready to leave. Before stepping out, he stood in the doorway, turned, and squeezed my cheek. “Keep the ring safe, don’t lose it.” “Give me a smile when I get back, okay?” I looked at him, at his expensive, perfectly tailored suit-the one I’d helped him pick out last week. I spoke softly, “Julian.” “Hm?” He sounded a little impatient, glancing down at his watch. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I wanted to ask him if I was dying, could he please not leave. But I knew the answer. He’d just think I was pulling another stunt for attention. “Never mind, it’s nothing.” Julian frowned, seemingly displeased by my hesitation. He pulled open the door without another look at me. After the loud slam of the door, the whole world fell silent. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but it couldn’t bring a speck of warmth into my heart. I took out my phone and opened Dr. Miller’s SnapChat. The interface was still on yesterday’s chat. “Two paths. One is palliative care, slowly fading away amidst endless cancer pain and breathing difficulties.” “The other… go do the things you always wanted to do but never did.” My fingers trembled as I typed, one word at a time. “Dr. Miller, I’ve made up my mind.” “I choose the second option.” My fingertip hovered over the send button. I thought for a moment, then added another sentence. “And I’m willing to sign the organ donation agreement.” It was set for the day he would have made his thirteenth promise to get engaged to me.

Three days after Julian left, a live interview with him aired on the financial channel. He appeared as a rising star in the medical world, seated beside Serena Vance, the heiress to another pharmaceutical empire. On screen, they were hailed as “the Sun and Moon of the Industry.” A perfect match of talent and beauty. The host smiled and asked him charismatically, “Professor Vance, you’re a leading authority in cardiothoracic surgery. What inspired you to pursue medicine and choose such a demanding field?” Julian turned his head slightly, gazing deeply at Serena beside him. In that moment, the tenderness in his eyes was a sight I hadn’t seen in ten years. The camera perfectly captured a close-up beneath the table. Their hands, fingers tightly intertwined, seamlessly clasped. He spoke to billions of viewers worldwide, his voice carrying clearly through the airwaves into my ears. “To prevent the most important person from ever being lost to illness again.” As soon as he finished, Serena shyly lowered her head and added to the camera, “And I am that lucky person he snatched back from the jaws of death.” A wave of benevolent laughter and applause erupted on set. I gripped my cold phone, my stomach churning violently. Those tightly entwined hands were practically a public declaration of their relationship. So, his grand ideal of saving lives was for her. His entire motivation to become “the Bright Star of Medicine” was also for her. And me? What was I for these past ten years? A joke? A generous, foolish, self-deluded… sponsor? A fierce wave of dizziness washed over me. I leaned against the wall, dry-heaving for a long time. The side effects of chemotherapy were starting to show: hair loss, nausea, bone-deep fatigue. I dragged my broken body back to that empty house. The place I once believed would be my lifelong home. On the dining table, surprisingly, was a note he’d left, tucked under a thermos bowl. It was Julian’s bold, sweeping handwriting. “There’s porridge in the fridge. Stop dieting for the wedding, you’ve lost too much weight recently.” In that moment, I almost thought I was hallucinating. Ten years. It was the first time he’d ever actively prepared food for me. Choking back bitter tears, I fiercely crumpled the note into my chest, as if embracing a person I might never see again. That heart, which had long turned cold, actually felt a pathetic flicker of warmth. Maybe he still cared about me. Maybe he just wasn’t good at expressing it. With this meager hope, I trembling opened the lid of the thermos bowl. A rich, savory aroma wafted out. Inside was a meticulously prepared seafood porridge, plump shrimp and dried scallops clearly visible. My blood ran cold instantly. I was allergic to seafood. Severely allergic, enough to trigger anaphylactic shock. He had known this since the first day he pursued me. Because back then, I’d been rushed to the emergency room after accidentally eating some shrimp paste at a company dinner. And seafood porridge, coincidentally, was Serena Vance’s favorite food. I remembered, years ago, when he was still doing his PhD, Serena had been sick in the hospital. He had clumsily learned to make porridge, then carefully carried the thermos, taking a two-hour bus ride to see her. At the time, I, a fool, thought he was preparing a surprise for me. A tremendous sense of absurdity and sorrow completely overwhelmed me. He didn’t forget. He simply mistook me for her. With trembling hands, I replaced the lid, then tossed the bowl and the note into the trash. I thought, with a self-deprecating laugh. Even if I died from a cancer attack in the next second, he’d probably just think I starved myself to death from excessive dieting. But as a top doctor in the country, could he really not see that something was wrong with me? Or was he just choosing not to see?

I started packing up this apartment, which was permeated with his presence. All his lab coats, each one ironed without a single wrinkle, the cuffs always pristine white. All his shirts, from Armani to Zegna, hung meticulously arranged by color and fabric, filling the entire walk-in closet. Then there were the foreign papers I’d translated and the case notes I’d annotated during countless late nights. Together, they had nearly filled the entire study. Once, these were all testaments to my love for him. Now, they only served to remind me, again and again, of what a fool I had been. I called a moving company and had everything that belonged to me, every single item, packed up and taken away. Clothes donated, books and notes sent to the recycling center. Workers moved boxes in and out, and the large house quickly became empty. I sat on the bare living room floor, and a strange, hollow laugh escaped me. Julian, you have saved countless cancer patients. You became a god in their eyes, a beacon of hope in the media’s narrative. Yet you never once turned around to see that I, too, was sick. Stricken with the very illness you vowed to conquer. Finally, I understood. Completely. I walked with you from obscurity, step by step, to become the revered “Bright Star of Medicine.” But your light was never meant to shine for me. My phone vibrated. It was a message from Julian, his tone demanding, with his usual air of expectation. “Where’s the spare key card for my office? My assistant can’t get in, bring it over quickly.” Before, no matter when or where, if he said a word, I would drop everything and solve it for him immediately. I looked at the message, and calmly typed my reply. “Threw it away.” After a thought, I added, “I’m traveling. From now on, you handle your own affairs.” Send. Then, I turned off my phone, took out the SIM card, snapped it in half, and dropped it into the toilet. The flush sounded, like a trivial funeral for my ten years of absurd youth. Downstairs, the vehicle from the hospice care facility was already waiting quietly. I pulled a small suitcase containing only a few changes of clothes, and took one last look at the empty house. Goodbye, Julian. I don’t want to play this game anymore. I concede.

On the way to the hospice, my phone, which should have been off, vibrated persistently, like crazy. It was Julian, who had somehow found a satellite phone and called the driver’s spare phone directly. I hesitated, but answered. As soon as the call connected, his voice, unprecedentedly urgent and suppressing rage, came through. “Clara! What are you doing?! What’s all this about?!” “Serena developed a post-op infection, her condition is critical, and she urgently needs a granulocyte transfusion!” His voice was laced with undisguised panic and helplessness, yet he didn’t ask me a single question about my willingness. “You’re the only match for her in the entire database! Clara, you need to get to the hospital. Now!” I was utterly drained from a fresh cycle of chemotherapy, each breath tinged with the metallic taste of blood. My primary doctor had warned me in the most severe tone that, given my current physical condition, any form of blood donation or component transfusion could directly lead to immune system collapse and acute organ failure. It would be equivalent to suicide. Leaning against the car seat, I used almost every ounce of strength I had to force out a few words from my raw throat. “I… I don’t feel well. I can’t go.” On the other end of the line, Julian’s voice rose sharply, even tinged with incredulous anger. Yes, when had I ever refused him? “What could possibly be wrong with you? It’s just a little blood donation! Don’t be so dramatic!” “Have you considered the impact on the hospital’s reputation and my project if anything happens to Serena?” “Clara, I know you’re jealous of Serena’s success… but don’t throw a tantrum at a time like this. This is a human life we’re talking about!” Listening to his self-righteous roar, I suddenly found it incredibly laughable. Serena’s life is a life, and mine isn’t? After the ultimate despair, came an absurd calm. I couldn’t help but let out a low laugh. “Fine, Dr. Vance.” “But you might need to send someone over quickly.” I paused, feeling my life force slowly draining away from my body. “I’m afraid… I might not last until you get here.” “Otherwise, once I’m dead, the blood won’t be fresh anymore.”

I hung up, returned the phone to the driver, and told him to ignore any further calls. The car continued smoothly toward the hospice facility in the suburbs. I thought that would be the end of it. But I underestimated Julian’s callousness, and overestimated his remaining rationality. The car stopped at a temporary infusion center for my daily nutritional support injection. Just then, the door to the infusion room was violently pushed open. Serena stood in the doorway, her face pale, but with a sickly, triumphant smile. Behind her stood two tall security guards in hospital uniforms. “Clara, Julian told me everything.” She slowly approached, looking down at me, weak and lying on the chair. “I know you’re not feeling well, but I can’t wait.” My pupils constricted. Before I could react, the two guards stepped forward, pinning my arms down tightly! I struggled with all my might, but my post-chemotherapy body couldn’t muster an ounce of strength. One of the guards skillfully took out a component blood collection kit from a medical box; the thick needle gleamed coldly under the light. “What are you doing! Let me go!” I screamed hoarsely. Serena chuckled softly, then played a recording on her phone. From it, Julian’s voice, devoid of any emotion, came through clearly. “Her blood source is the safest. Use it directly.” “Make her donate! Whatever happens, I’ll take responsibility!” “I’ll take responsibility.” I hadn’t expected Julian to be so utterly ruthless, but I still struggled with my last remaining strength. I didn’t know if Serena’s illness was real or fake, but a cancer patient’s blood cannot be used! Choking back the metallic sweetness rising in my throat, I glared at the triumphant woman before me. “I have cancer. If you’re not afraid of dying, go ahead and use it, but don’t harm innocent people.” Serena scoffed, then suddenly looked pitiful as she glanced behind me. “I know you resent me for taking Julian from you, but you shouldn’t lie like this…” I had no intention of arguing and stumbled, trying to walk past her. But Serena suddenly collapsed to the floor, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at the person who had just arrived. It was Julian. Before I could react, a stinging slap landed on my face. A mouthful of blood finally spilled from my lips. Julian looked at me with deep disappointment, the delicate woman in his arms still softly sobbing. “Julian, please don’t blame Clara. She just said she has cancer, maybe… maybe she really has some difficulties.” Julian’s eyes showed a flicker of panic for a moment, but he quickly composed himself. “Clara, don’t test my patience with these crude tricks. I know you’re not sick. Today, even if I have to drain your blood dry, I will ensure Serena’s safety.” “Clara, I don’t like women who stoop to such lows.” I wanted to laugh for some reason. The lowest I’d ever stooped in my life was giving up my career to be his personal assistant. Actually, in the first few years, I really wasn’t sick. Julian was afraid of inherited cancer from our parents, protecting me like the apple of his eye. He said, “Clara, I wish for us to have many years together.” So he took me for full body check-ups every year. But he hadn’t called me Clara in years, and he hadn’t taken me for a check-up in a long time either. Now, he used that nickname for the sake of another woman. I stopped struggling and closed my eyes in despair. Julian, once this blood is drawn, I owe you nothing. You were with me after I lost my parents, giving me the courage to live. My life was a gift from you. Now, I’m giving it back. The cold needle, mercilessly pierced my vein. Blood began to be forcibly drained from my failing body, and my consciousness slowly blurred. When I next opened my eyes from the cold operating table, no one else was around. I struggled to push myself up, but stumbled and fell after only two steps. Perhaps my light was truly fading, I thought. It was a shame, I still had so many things I wanted to do. Just as I thought I would die there, I saw a pair of polished shoes step into my shadow. I expected it to be Julian, returned, but when I looked up, I saw an unexpected face. His face was as handsome as ever, but his eyes now held a mature sharpness, and he looked at me as if I were a pile of hopeless trash. He leaned down slightly, a familiar, cutting sneer gracing his lips.

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I filed a police report after getting ghosted for $50k. Turns out, the officer taking my statement was the ex I hadn’t seen in years. He stared at the chat logs, absolutely furious. “Fifty thousand? You slept with me for three days and all I got was a $9.99 pizza!” I pointed at the photo. “He’s way younger than you!” “That photo is obviously fake.” He froze, eyes locked on his phone. His face darkened to a frightening purple. “Oh, he’s definitely young…That’s my damn nephew. The kid hasn’t even graduated high school.” Officer Ben Carter, my ex-boyfriend, sat across from me, all business. “Name?” “Chloe,” I whispered. He glanced up,and his gaze lingered on me for a second. “It’s you!” But just as quickly, his face iced over again. My heart pounded with a guilty thud. Damn. He was even hotter now. That police uniform clung to his lean waist and long legs… Ugh, Chloe, stop! Haven’t you learned your lesson with pretty faces? “Reason for your report?”he asked, not looking up from his keyboard. I forced myself to speak. “My online boyfriend disappeared…” “You sent him money.” His sardonic chuckle was pure mockery. “Yeah,” I admitted, guilt washing over me. He finally looked up, glancing at me. “Five years, Chloe. Your taste and your IQ keep hitting new lows.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “It means,” he said, his voice cold and flat, “you just fell for a classic scam. Wasted your tuition on a fantasy. Your head’s full of romance novels, not common sense.” “He’s not!” I shot back. “We had a real connection!” “A ‘connection’?” Ben’s sneer was razor-sharp. “Let me guess. Daily ‘good mornings,’ a pet name, and a sudden emergency he needed cash for?” I stared, speechless for a moment. “How did you know?” “Hmph. He’s smooth. Probably their top performer.”He dismissed my shock with a cold sneer. “Ben, that’s enough!” I slammed my hand on the table. “I’m the victim here! Could you at least pretend to be professional?” He leaned forward, his gaze pinning me in place. “My professionalism is telling you to learn some damn scam prevention, okay?” I was so angry I couldn’t speak. Then, with the detached air of someone watching a soap opera, he prompted, “So. How did you and this scammer meet?”

My online boyfriend and I met in a game. He was incredibly sweet, , though he’d often disappear mid-conversation for “class.” I was naive enough to wonder if college workloads were really that heavy. He confessed to me later. I turned him down at first. That all changed when I saw his Instagram. One photo hooked me: a face full of youthful rebellion, tall and built. “Just because of a photo?” Ben cut in, his voice sharp. “Since when did you become so shallow??” “Mind your own business!” I glared at him. “I’ve always been this superficial! Is this your first day knowing me?” Our own story had begun with a picture-perfect rescue. I was traveling out of state, my wallet got stolen, and then I got caught in a sandstorm. He was a soldier on a temporary assignment, and he found me. Back then, he was in his uniform, tall and strong, with an incredibly handsome face and cute little canines when he smiled. I was instantly smitten. What I never told him was that the scammer’s photo hooked me for one reason: he was the spitting image of Ben. But more importantly, it was a younger, more attentive, emotionally available version of Ben! We chatted daily. He was sweet, clingy, and impossibly thoughtful. Then yesterday, he went out with friends. Someone broke a leg, ended up in the ER, and they needed a deposit. I transferred the money. And then, nothing. “Officer Carter,” I said, clinging to a last shred of hope. “Could something have happened? What if his phone was stolen? Or…he was kidnapped?” He didn’t even look up. “Provide the chat logs. We’ll see what we can trace.” Fuming, I handed over my phone. He scrolled through it, then his finger suddenly stopped. His brows drew tightly together. “My Ex Is In Heaven?” Crap, he saw my SnapChat handle… “I’m still breathing, and you’ve already sent me to the grave?” I cleared my throat, my eyes darting nervously. “Please don’t take it personally. It’s not necessarily about you.” He scrolled down, then paused. “Babe?” My face burned. Damn it. I really should have changed that name for my vanished new boyfriend before filing a police report. He stared at the screen, his back teeth grinding loudly. “Seriously, Chloe? We dated for four years, and you always called me by my name. Now you’re calling some scammer you’ve never even met ‘babe’?” He kept scrolling through my chat logs. With every message he read, his face got darker. I was mortified and indignant, and I tried to snatch my phone back. Ben’s gaze suddenly froze. His voice filled with disbelief. “Fifty thousand! Chloe, you sent him fifty thousand?! You slept with me for three days and all I got was a nine-ninety pizza! And some random scammer you’ve never even met gets fifty grand?! What the hell was I to you?” His shout made several colleagues crane their necks, their eyes wide with gossip. I was mortified. I lunged to cover his mouth. “He’s different from you!” Besides, I was a broke student back then, what money did I have…’ “Different how? He’s better at faking it, better at scamming, right?” His attitude ignited my own anger. “He’d tell me everything! He’d say goodnight every single day! He’d listen to me vent! Even without seeing him, I never felt like I was dating a phone! You? Could you do that?” He fell silent instantly. His eyes swirled with emotions I couldn’t decipher. Back then, our breakup was messy. I’d chased Ben relentlessly for ages before he finally said yes. I was a college student, he was a soldier. Four thousand kilometers apart, we did the long-distance thing for three years. From sweet nothings to screaming matches. The last time we argued, I broke up with him. He just said, “Okay,” adding that he was tired anyway. In a fit of pique, I sent him photos with other guys to provoke him. He said, “I wish you happiness.” I demanded to know what he meant. He just said, “Just pretend I’m dead.” Years passed, and who would’ve thought we’d meet again under these circumstances. Ben lowered his gaze, organized the report, and handed it to me, his professional calm restored. “We’ll do our best to investigate, but the chances of recovering the money in these cases are slim. Let us know if you have any more leads.” I suddenly remembered. “He posted photos on his Ins. I saved them.” I quickly found the photo and handed it to him. He sighed in exasperation. “This is probably an AI-generated image. Useless.” But after scrolling for a bit, he suddenly stared at one photo. Then he said, “That’s my damn nephew, who hasn’t even graduated high school yet!” My eyes widened. What?!

Ben’s face was dark. He pulled out his phone and made a call. “Where’s Leo? Are you coming in yourself, or do I need to come arrest you?” A rustling sound came from the other end of the line. Moments later, a sharp-faced middle-aged woman came rushing in. “Get in here!” She yelled over her shoulder, yanking a student dressed in a school uniform inside. The kid hung his head, looking sulky. He looked up and saw me, his eyes suddenly lighting up. “You’re my online girlfriend?” I looked down, speechless. Ben’s face got even darker. He pulled Leo aside. “Leo, are you completely broke, or is the family starving you? Learning to scam people online at your age?” Leo looked wronged. “I didn’t!” “Then why did you vanish after she transferred you the money?” “Mom confiscated my phone! How could I contact her? I was going crazy too!” Leo blurted out. Ben’s sister stood by, completely lost. “Ben, what is this about?” After a terse explanation from Ben, his sister’s expression shifted. She quickly grabbed my hand, her voice filled with apology. “Oh, sweetie, I am so sorry! He skipped class, his friend broke a leg, and his teacher reported it. When I saw he was obsessed with gaming and dating apps instead of studying, I lost my temper and took his phone.” “I’ll transfer the money back to you right now. Truly, I apologize!” Leo secretly glanced at me, then cautiously spoke up. “I really wasn’t trying to scam you.” My head was still buzzing. I gritted my teeth and asked him, “You’re just a high school student? You said you were in your twenties!” He cleared his throat, his gaze evasive. “I’ll be twenty in three years.” Ben’s sister slapped him on the back of the head. “Apologize to her! Learning to trick women’s feelings at your age, huh?” Leo hung his head, pouting miserably. “I’m sorry.” Ben’s sister looked at me, then suddenly exclaimed, “Oh! Sweetie, have we met before? You look so familiar!” My heart seized up. I quickly looked down. “You must be mistaken.” Ben saw my reaction and reminded her, “I’ll walk you out. I’m off work anyway.” Ben’s sister immediately chimed in enthusiastically, “Great, great! How about we all go grab a bite?” I frantically waved my hands. “No, please! It’s really not necessary!” Wasn’t this situation chaotic enough already? But his sister simply linked her arm through mine and half-led, half-coaxed me to a restaurant near the police station. Her eyes darted subtly between Ben and me before she smiled. “Chloe, dear, how old are you this year?” “Twenty-five,” I replied. She clapped her hands. “See? My brother here is twenty-nine, just out of the military. He’s an officer, and quite handsome, don’t you think? What a perfect match!” But Leo couldn’t hold back. “Mom, Ben’s so old for her! Chloe deserves better!” “Leo!” Ben said coldly, tapping the table, warning him. Ben’s sister looked at me, then suddenly smacked her forehead. “Oh, my goodness! I remember now! You’re Ben’s ex-girlfriend from his phone!” Oh no! I can’t believe she recognized me! Someone save me! Just then, my phone rang! My best friend Sarah’s tearful voice came through. “Chloe, I broke up with him!” I quickly stood up. “Excuse me, I have an emergency. I have to go.”

At the bar, Sarah was getting wasted. “Girl, I’m miserable. Please, comfort me.” I silently took a swig of my own drink and told her, “I got scammed by my online boyfriend and went to the police.” She looked up. “Oh, really? Hugs, you poor thing.” “The officer who took my report was my ex-boyfriend, who I broke up with three years ago.” “What?!” She sobered up considerably. I nodded, then added, “Later, I found out my online boyfriend was his nephew, who’s still in high school.” Sarah froze, completely stunned. I asked, “So, are you still miserable?” She slowly recovered. “Not anymore. Tell me that joke again, hahaha!” I recounted my bizarre day. She went from shocked to even more shocked, then utterly bewildered. “That family’s taste is surprisingly consistent. How did they all fall for you?” I wanted to bury my face in my drink. “Stop talking about it!” Sarah leaned in, a mischievous grin on her face. “So, which one do you actually like?” I nearly spat out my drink. “Leo is only seventeen!” “He’s almost an adult, isn’t he?” she chuckled. “Unless you’re still hung up on your ex-boyfriend?” I said, “Maybe, a little…” After all, Ben’s face, that body-they were still my favorite. Back then, I’d gone to the wilderness alone for a photography project. My wallet was stolen, and I got caught in bad weather. Ben appeared like some guardian angel, and I fell for him instantly. I pursued him relentlessly, but he kept refusing me. “My duties are demanding. I can’t promise to always be available online, and phone calls are often impossible…” “Then I’ll just wait for your replies! However long it takes, I’ll wait!” Back then, I was young and stubborn, my heart completely set on winning him over. Eventually, he couldn’t resist my persistence and said yes. Just as he said, we couldn’t be together like regular couples. Four thousand kilometers apart, with time differences and spotty signals. Every day, I’d share my daily life with him. He’d reply to each message whenever he had time. I’d push my luck, too. “Show me your abs.” He’d furtively look around. Only when he was sure no one was there would he shyly lift his T-shirt. Through the screen, I could see him, but I couldn’t hold him. My longing grew even stronger. His leave was rare, but every time, he’d rush to see me first. To be honest, we didn’t have many dating memories. His time was so limited that whenever we met, all we wanted to do was kiss and touch. We hadn’t seen each other in so long, we craved each other’s warmth. And his stamina was terrifying. The craziest time, we stayed holed up in a hotel for three days straight. When he finally had to leave, we were reluctant. There wasn’t enough time, so we just grabbed a pizza near the campus gate before parting ways. Sarah’s eyes gleamed as she teased. “No wonder you’ve been single all this time. You’d already found the best!” “Your relationship sounded pretty good, though. What happened in the end? Did he cheat?” I shook my head. “No, nothing like that. I think we just… burned out.”

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I was thrown into a horror game. Terrifying for anyone with normal vision. I’m nearly blind. I mistook the blood-red loli for a lost child. I mistook the headless final boss for her dad. Now they’re both glued to me— the girl wrapping herself around my waist, the father pulling her off and tossing her across the hallway, both hissing, “She’s mine.” 0[Welcome to the “House of Happiness” mission. [Players who survive for seven days in this mission will pass. [Initial players: 30; Currently alive: 30. [We wish all players an enjoyable game~] After dying in a car accident, a flash of white light passed, and I arrived in front of a large building. An eerie mechanical voice sounded in my ears. Because I’m severely nearsighted, I can’t distinguish between people and animals within 10 feet. I couldn’t see what the building looked like clearly, nor could I make out the exact appearance of the people around me. I could only see vague human shapes. At this time, I heard a fragile schoolgirl crying: “Wah, where is this? I want to go home.” A yellow-haired guy cursed angrily: “Who’s messing with us? Let me go back!” A relatively calm man and woman stepped forward. They introduced themselves as veteran players named Rachel and Jack, and kindly explained to us. This was an infinite horror game, and those pulled into this game were all dead people. If we could clear all the missions and accumulate the legendary 9999 points, we could be resurrected. Hearing we could be resurrected, I hurriedly asked: “So how many points can you get for clearing one mission?” Rachel seemed a bit down and said softly: “It depends on your terror value when you clear it. If you clear with 99 terror, you’ll only get 1 point. If you hit 100 terror, you die instantly.” Terror value, as the name suggests, is the degree of fear. Veteran players familiar with the game can usually keep their terror below 60. As for new players, well, it’s pretty rough. I rubbed my chin and asked again: “Then what if you clear with 0 terror? Can you get 100 points?” As soon as I said this, unbeknownst to me, everything was being livestreamed. Countless comments mocked me: [This newbie is so arrogant! Although the House of Happiness is only an S-rank mission and not the highest level, it’s still never been cleared due to its insane difficulty!] [Didn’t the famous player James from the top guild fail here last time? He made it to day 6 but still died in the end.] [We’re screwed, this random matchmaking only has two veteran players, Rachel and Jack. The two of them together aren’t as good as James. Looks like it’ll be a team wipe again.] 0

Soon, it was time for us to choose rooms. Rachel said that although no one had cleared this mission before, the players who died previously had figured out some tips. This building has 30 floors total, with one apartment per floor. Only one player can stay on each floor. And the House of Happiness is actually a role-playing horror mission. There are some ghosts living in each apartment, and they will play various close relationships with the players. So how could the terror value not fluctuate dramatically after living together for seven days? Jack hurriedly interrupted Rachel and pulled her along to choose the first and second floors. Seeing the veteran players make this choice, some smart people quickly followed suit and chose the lower floors. Because of my poor eyesight, I couldn’t run fast enough, so I had to wait for everyone else to choose. In the end, only the 30th floor was left for me. Taking advantage of the fact that I couldn’t see, the comments were chattering again: [This newbie is dead for sure. Everyone knows the higher the floor, the higher level the boss.] [Especially the 30th floor, it’s all big bosses, known as the House of Death.] I reached the 30th floor and looked around, finding it not much different from reality. Just a bit more bloody smell, redder walls, lower temperature, darker lighting… Plus, this was a huge penthouse! With the family I’ve always dreamed of! You should know, in reality I’m not only a severely nearsighted useless person, but also an orphan, and even more so a poor dog! I walked to the door, unhesitatingly reached out my hand, knocked hard, and shouted: “Open up quick, baby’s home! I’ll starve to death if you don’t open!” The comments were stunned: [Is she purely seeking death? Which player doesn’t politely knock or wait quietly at the door for the ghosts to be in a good mood to open up.] [I don’t want to watch this brainless woman anymore. I’m switching to another stream. I’ll go watch Rachel.] [Keep watching! I want to see how she dies!] 0

Actually, they don’t understand my thought process. Since it’s role-playing and we’re supposed to become a family with the ghosts, of course we should interact naturally. In real life, would you very politely say “Hello, is anyone there? Please help me open the door” when returning to your own home? After knocking, the door creaked open and a chill swept over my entire body. I sighed comfortably. This was simply a summer resort. No need for air conditioning even in summer. I looked down and saw a small red “figure”. Although my vision was always blurry, the two braids swinging back and forth suggested it was a child in a red dress. The child smiled eerily and suddenly pounced at me, her icy little hands gripping my neck. I hugged her in my arms, feeling her dress was wet, and immediately said disapprovingly: “How can a child wear wet clothes? Take them off quickly! I’ll get you changed into dry clothes!” My nose twitched, smelling a bloody scent, and I anxiously asked: “Are you hurt somewhere? Where’s the first aid kit? I’ll help you treat it.” The comments bitterly complained: [Sister, open your dog eyes and look! This is one of the bosses of the House of Death. What she’s wearing isn’t a wet red dress, it’s dyed red from killing and dismembering players! The bloody smell isn’t because she’s hurt, it’s the players’ blood on her dress.] [Never mind, when that person comes home, she’s dead for sure.] Unfortunately, I couldn’t see these comments. I carried the child into the house while helping her take off the red dress. I found a new white dress in her exquisite princess room and put it on her. The child’s little hands gripping my neck unconsciously loosened. Sensing her uncertainty, I took a warm towel, leaned in closer, and gently wiped the blood stains off her face bit by bit. Only then did I see clearly that she was an adorable little loli. I smiled and pointed at my face, saying: “As family members, helping each other is what I should do. But shouldn’t you give me a kiss to show your thanks?” The little loli shyly tugged at her white dress, quietly leaned in to my face, and gave me a quick peck before quickly pulling away. Her voice was soft and sweet as she said: “Thank you, Mommy.” What? Mommy? I’ve become a painless mother! This is simply too awesome! You should know, in reality I’ve heard so many stories of women dying in childbirth. Although I long for a family, I’m most afraid of giving birth. I had just coaxed the little loli to take an afternoon nap when I heard the mechanical voice announce: [Initial players: 30; Currently alive: 20.] I didn’t expect that just from choosing rooms, 10 players had already died. I opened my phone and held it close to my eyes, barely able to make out the text on the screen. It turned out everyone was exchanging information in the player group chat, like how other players died. Apparently, Brad and three other men had fought fiercely over the 3rd floor. In the end, Brad narrowly won and moved into the 3rd floor. As soon as Brad knocked on the door, a human-bodied dog-headed ghost walked out, opened its bloody maw, and swallowed Brad whole. It then chewed a few times and spat out some white bones with bits of flesh still attached. Through the half-open door, other players saw a large pile of bones inside. They guessed those were probably the remains of previous players. Witnessing this, basically all the new players’ adrenaline spiked. Now except for Rachel and Jack, everyone’s terror value was at 50, and this was only the first day! There was also a middle-aged uncle whose terror value shot up to 100 the instant he walked through the 10th floor door, and he died directly. The other players died in various ways, either killed by ghosts or scared to death. Of course, none of this had anything to do with me. I stood up and, while the little loli was sleeping, diligently found a mop from the bathroom and cleaned the entire apartment. I scrubbed the red floor tiles until they turned white. I’m really capable! The red stains on the walls that I couldn’t clean off, I just scraped away with a chisel. By the time I finished, it was already afternoon. My back ached from the work, so I lay down on the sofa next to the little loli and fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up again, I was enveloped by an icy aura. The room was very dark, and a blurry black shadow stood in front of me. Although I couldn’t see clearly, I was captivated by his voice from his very first sentence. 0

He chuckled in a low, sexy voice: “Heh, interesting. You’ve actually survived this long with Poppy.” Immediately after, the little loli Poppy’s cold voice also sounded: “You’d better not touch her. This mommy is quite interesting. I want to keep her to play with.” The man didn’t respond to her. With a wave of his hand, the little loli named Poppy flew backwards off the sofa, crashed into the balcony glass with a loud “bang”, along with the sound of bones shattering. The man laughed coldly: “Who allowed you to talk to me like that? You really think you’re my daughter?” I couldn’t stand it anymore. I scrambled up from the sofa, muttering: “Who allowed you to talk to a child like that? What kind of father are you?” I meant to slap the man’s face, but somehow my hand slipped and grabbed his abs instead. Tsk, the feeling was so good I couldn’t help but feel them up a couple more times. Seeing the man on the verge of exploding with rage, his whole body emitting black energy, I hurriedly tried to salvage the situation: “Poppy is my little treasure, you’re my big treasure. We’re just a loving family. “Actually, um, honey, your body is pretty nice, but why do you look a bit short? “It’s okay, now that I’m here, I’ll cook delicious food for you every day. I guarantee both father and daughter will grow tall.” The comments went crazy: [God, what is she saying? How dare she say these things in front of the Headless Big Boss!] [Finally the Headless Big Boss appears. He should be the strongest boss in the House of Happiness mission, right? James died at his hands back then.] [But why is the Big Boss’s face suspiciously red? I’m shipping it.] [Above, you’re just hungry.] The livestream audience was all waiting for the man to snap my neck. That was the fate of previous players.

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When Tristan publicly chose another girl, people waited for me to break. But I’d already seen the future— the version where loving him killed me. So I went to the one man who mourned me for a lifetime. Silas Yates. Cold voice, steady hands, eyes burning when he thought I couldn’t see. Tonight, I won’t be the girl chasing Tristan. I’ll be the girl hiding in Silas’s bed when Tristan walks in. The day Tristan Reed confessed to the pretty transfer student, everyone thought I would break down and rush over to make a scene. But I didn’t show up at all, even after the confession was over. Tristan had no idea that at that moment, I was sitting on his roommate’s bed, wearing his roommate’s hoodie, asking in frustration: “I got your bed all wet. How are you going to sleep tonight?” Silas Yates averted his gaze, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he handed me a towel. “Go dry your hair. I’ll change the sheets before you sleep.” The day Tristan Reed confessed to the pretty transfer student, everyone thought I would break down and rush over to make a scene. But I didn’t show up at all, even after the confession was over. Tristan had no idea that at that moment, I was sitting on his roommate’s bed, wearing his roommate’s hoodie, asking in frustration: “I got your bed all wet. How are you going to sleep tonight?” Silas Yates averted his gaze, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he handed me a towel. “Go dry your hair. I’ll change the sheets before you sleep.” Tristan was going to confess to that pretty transfer student. He had asked everyone to keep it a secret from me. But he didn’t know that some gossips couldn’t hold it in and had already told me. Everyone knew I had a crush on Tristan and dreamed of marrying him someday. This time, Tristan seemed to have fallen head over heels for that girl. People thought I would throw a fit, cry and make a huge scene. Everyone loves to watch this kind of drama unfold between men and women. They were all waiting for me to lose it and rush over to cause chaos. But unfortunately, even after Tristan successfully confessed, I still hadn’t shown up. The crowd of onlookers, three layers deep, started to lose interest. Even Tristan’s face didn’t show much joy. He put his arm around his new girlfriend and took out his phone. There were no calls or messages. Tristan frowned slightly. Then he turned to the crowd and said, “I’m treating everyone tonight. You’re all invited.” The onlooking classmates all cheered. I had been standing behind some trees the whole time and only then walked out. Someone with sharp eyes spotted me and immediately shouted, “It’s Mia! Mia’s here!” “I knew it. How could Mia possibly stay away?” Tristan suddenly looked up. The moment he saw me, the corners of his lips curved up almost imperceptibly. I ignored all the people waiting to see some drama. I walked straight up to Tristan. “Mia.” Tristan held his new girlfriend tighter. He looked at me and said flatly, “You can’t force feelings.” “We’ve known each other for over ten years. I don’t want to say anything too harsh and hurt our old friendship.” “From now on, I’ll still treat you like a sister.” “If you need anything, you can still come to me.” Then he lowered his voice, “With so many people watching, don’t make a scene. Go home.” “Tristan,” I interrupted him and slowly took a step forward. He frowned again, “Mia, be good.” I smiled and handed him the bracelet I had just taken off my wrist. “I came to return this to you.” Seeing the bracelet, Tristan’s face suddenly darkened. “Mia, what game are you playing now?” “Take the bracelet back. I won’t bother you anymore after this.” Tristan stared at me, his voice growing colder, “I don’t care about this little bit of money.” “If you don’t want it, just throw it away.” As soon as he finished speaking, I turned and threw the bracelet into a nearby trash can. “You can throw away all the other things I gave you before too.” With that, I left without looking at him again. By the time I reached the riverside, it was raining heavily. Standing in the rain with an umbrella, I thought about the dreams I had in the past few days. In the dream, because of Tristan confessing to Olivia, I cried and made a scene. To force him to break up, I jumped into the river that night. But what was the result? I almost lost my life. Tristan only stayed at the hospital for five minutes before leaving resolutely. The White family who had fostered me thought I was embarrassing them by attempting suicide. And because of Tristan’s attitude, they felt I was no longer of any use to them. They forced me to drop out of school and sent me back to my birth parents, who were involved in all kinds of vices. In the end, my life spiraled downward, and I died miserably in a foreign country. After I died, the person who collected my incomplete remains turned out to be the one I had always feared and kept at a distance. And Tristan, newlywed and in high spirits, never showed up. These days, the events in my dreams came true one by one. If it weren’t for these dreams, I would have been frantically calling Tristan by now. Then I would have threatened to kill myself and jumped into the river. I’m very grateful for this dream. It made me feel like I was reborn. I can change my predetermined tragic fate bit by bit. The third time I dialed that number, it was finally answered. I clutched the phone tightly and held it gently to my ear. The name Silas Yates lingered on my tongue several times before I finally uttered it slowly. The heavy rain cut off all the noise in the world. Only Silas’s voice, slightly lazy, sounded deeply, “Mia?” “Silas, it’s raining heavily.” “I’m by the river and can’t get back. Can you come pick me up?” The other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds. I nervously gripped the umbrella handle, my palm clammy with sweat. In the dream, when Silas was collecting my remains, he seemed to cry. His tears fell one by one on my decaying flesh and bones. Even in the dream, I could feel that burning sensation. Later, he carried a small bottle of my ashes with him for a lifetime. And he was lonely for a lifetime. I couldn’t help but tear up and choked back a sob. “Why are you crying?” Silas’s voice suddenly came through. It was still that indifferent tone, even with a hint of impatience. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t come.” “Then when will you be here?” “Wait. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” “Okay, I’ll wait for you, Silas.” He didn’t say anything else, and the call ended. Fifteen minutes later, I gave my umbrella to a mother and child seeking shelter from the rain. So when Silas arrived, I was already soaked from head to toe. When he got out of the car, his thin lips were tightly pressed together, his face as cold as if it contained frost and snow. I brushed my wet bangs aside and looked up at him with a bright smile, “Silas, you’re really punctual.” “Mia, you might as well die of stupidity.” He coldly grabbed my arm and shoved me into the car. Then he threw me a soft blanket. “Dry yourself off. Don’t get my car dirty.” He glanced at me in the rearview mirror and then skillfully turned the car around. “Oh.” I obediently wrapped myself in the blanket. Then I couldn’t help but steal glances at him as he focused on driving. When he had no expression, he always looked very cold and unapproachable. Many girls at school liked him, but no one dared to confess. He was Tristan’s roommate. I often went to Tristan’s dorm, and every time I went, Silas seemed to really dislike me. Even now, although he came to pick me up, his attitude was still cold. Just now when he shoved me into the car, he used extra force. My wrist still hurt, with a ring of red marks. It’s hard to tell that he had been secretly liking me all along. I slowly lowered my eyelashes. Everything in the dream had come true. But now, because of my changes, many things have also changed. Would Silas still like me? If he didn’t like me at all, wouldn’t I be causing him trouble by doing this? “Back to the dorm?” Silas suddenly turned his head and glanced at me. My heart suddenly skipped a beat, and I blurted out, “Yeah, back to your dorm.” Silas gripped the steering wheel and snorted, “Tristan won’t be back tonight.” “I know.”

I gripped the edge of the blanket, twisting it tighter and tighter. “I’m not looking for him.” The car suddenly braked sharply and stopped by the roadside. Silas turned to look at me, the frost in his eyes so cold it made my heart tremble. “Mia, don’t treat me as part of your game with Tristan.” “I’m not…” He stared at me for a moment, then took out his phone. “I’ll call you a cab. You go back by yourself.” “Silas…” I bit my lip hard and snatched his phone away. “Mia.” He looked at me, but there was no anger or disgust in his eyes. His eyes were just very deep, filled with countless emotions. I suddenly felt inexplicably sad. “Silas, I don’t want to go back to the dorm. They’re all laughing at me.” “I’m also afraid to go home.” “Can you… let me stay at your dorm for one night…” I hid his phone behind my back, my voice getting smaller and smaller. “Of course, if you really hate me so much and don’t want to see me… then forget it.” As soon as I finished speaking, tears also fell from my eyes at the right moment. One by one, quietly and soundlessly. Silas didn’t say another word to me. But he started the car again. The car drove towards the direction of the school and finally stopped at the foot of his dormitory building. I followed Silas into the dorm. He went to the closet and took out a clean hoodie and handed it to me, “The bathroom is over there.” He’s tall, so the hoodie was very big on me. It reached almost to my knees, like a dress. After showering, I just put on the hoodie and came out bare-legged. Silas glanced at me and then averted his gaze. I walked past Tristan’s bed and sat down on Silas’s bed. My wet long hair dripped water, quickly soaking the sheets. The shampoo and shower gel on my body were all Silas’s scent. In the small space, the same scent permeated, creating an indescribable intimacy that was quietly growing. Silas took out a pack of cigarettes, coughed lightly, “I’m going to smoke a cigarette.” He went to the balcony. I curiously looked around Silas’s bed. Light gray sheets and blankets, clean and tidy. There was a computer and books on the desk, also neat. I was about to look at the decorations on his desk when my phone suddenly rang. Tristan’s name was flashing on the screen. I didn’t answer. He called again very quickly, seemingly with no intention of stopping. I simply put the phone on silent and put it back in my bag. “Silas.” I called out towards the balcony. He quickly turned around, put out his cigarette and walked over, “What’s wrong?” I sat on the bed, having to look up to see him. Silas made eye contact with me for two seconds, then looked away. But I noticed that the back of his ears seemed to be a bit red. “I got your sheets wet. How are you going to sleep tonight?” He glanced at me, then at the wet patches on the sheets. His Adam’s apple bobbed violently before he turned to get a clean sheet from the closet. “You go dry your hair first. I’ll change the sheets before you sleep.” After saying that, he went to get clean sheets from the closet. I clutched the towel, thinking of how his whole ear had turned red earlier, and couldn’t help but smile. When I came out after drying my hair, Silas had already changed to new sheets. “You go to sleep.” “What about you?” He pulled out a chair, not even turning his head, “I’ll play some games.” “Oh.” I sat down on his bed somewhat dejectedly. Silas put on his headphones and was about to put them on when his phone suddenly rang. He looked at the screen, then turned to look at me before answering. “Tristan, what’s up?” My heart suddenly tightened, and I instinctively held my breath. “Mm, I’m in the dorm.” “You say someone saw Mia come to our dorm building?” Silas turned to look at me again, “I…” In a moment of panic, I didn’t wait for him to finish speaking. I got up and walked over, straddling his legs and hooking my arms around his neck. When Silas was about to push me away, I pressed against his ear and said, “Silas, tell him I’m not here.” Under my fingers hooked around his neck, Silas’s skin instantly burned hot. I saw the blue veins on the side of his neck tense and slightly bulge. His Adam’s apple moved up and down violently, his heart beating very fast. I looked up at him, and he looked down at me. In the depths of his eyes, desire gradually spread. “No, I’ve been in the dorm the whole time.” “She didn’t come. Yeah, you should ask someone else.” Silas hung up the phone as soon as he finished speaking. He tossed the phone aside and gripped my waist with his long fingers through the hoodie. Holding me tight, pressing me into his embrace. I clearly felt the burning volcano. My ears buzzed, and my first thought was to escape. But Silas held me even tighter, “Mia.” His voice was a bit hoarse. His hot breath fell on my ear and neck. I shrank my neck, wanting to dodge, but his kiss fell directly on my lips. “Don’t tempt me… I don’t want to touch you in a place like this.” “Silas…” I twisted my body, wanting to adjust my sitting position. The volcano seemed about to erupt, frighteningly fierce. In the gap between breaths, I finally found a chance to speak. “If you don’t want to touch me, why are you kissing me?” Silas lowered his head slightly, his forehead pressed against mine. In the tangle of breaths, he closed his eyes, seemingly trying hard to calm down. “Also, do you know how to kiss… my lips are all swollen.” “Mia.” Silas didn’t open his eyes. But his hands holding my waist slightly loosened their grip. His fingers were very long and strong. Gripping my waist through the hoodie, making me both in pain and torment. “Silas…” I couldn’t help but frown, wanting to push his hands away. But Silas grabbed my fingers. “Mia, don’t move.” “I’ll be gentler this time.”

As he finished speaking, Silas’s hands fell on my lower back. He pulled me into his embrace, pressing tightly against him. This kiss was long and gentle. At the end, he seemed to lose control and kissed very deeply. “Silas…” I lightly punched him and bit him in the gap between breaths. “Mia.” Silas’s voice was extremely hoarse. His whole body tensed up. The heat from his palms almost burned my body. Silas suddenly buried his face in the crook of my neck and let out a low groan. The volcano erupted, then calmed down. But soon, it was on the verge of erupting again. However, Silas gently pushed me away and pulled me to stand up. I just felt that his expression was very strange. There was also a very unfamiliar smell permeating the air. I couldn’t help but ask, “Silas, what happened to you just now?” His ears were red as blood. The usually cold and aloof man now had eyes full of deep desire. “I’m going to take a shower.” He stood up, lowered his eyes and pulled down the hem of my messy hoodie. “You sleep first.” Before I could say anything, Silas had already quickly entered the bathroom. When the sound of water started, I lay on Silas’s bed and rolled over. Then I cooled my burning face with the back of my hand. I seemed to have vaguely guessed something. But Silas was tall and often exercised, with lean muscles all over. He had a high, straight nose bridge and a sharp jawline. His fingers were also very long, with strong knuckles. No matter how you look at it, he doesn’t seem like the type of guy who would… um, finish so quickly. Could it be that he hadn’t had a girlfriend before? And had never been intimate with a girl? Thinking this way, my heart started to fill with sweet bubbles. I lay on Silas’s pillow and accidentally felt a pearl earring under his pillow. The earring looked very familiar. It was one of a pair that I loved to wear daily. Once when I came to Tristan’s dorm, I accidentally lost one and couldn’t find it no matter how hard I looked. So it turns out Silas had picked it up. I suddenly remembered. In those previous dreams, Silas seemed to have kept this earring with him all the time. After being dazed for a while, I put the earring back under his pillow. The sound of the hair dryer stopped. When Silas came out, he was wearing a set of navy blue pajamas. After the steam, his skin looked as white as jade. With his hair falling neatly, that sharp coldness from before faded a bit. Somehow, I felt Silas looked a bit cute at this moment. Just as I was about to call out to him, there was suddenly a faint sound of people talking outside the door. My expression changed, and I froze completely. One of the voices outside was clearly Tristan’s. Silas’s face also darkened, but he obviously reacted faster than me. By the time Tristan pushed open the door, Silas had already stuffed my clothes into the closet. My shoes were hidden in the deepest part under the bed. And Silas was just lifting the blanket to get into bed. Only one night light was on in the dorm, the light dim. I was hidden under Silas’s blanket. There was only a slight, inconspicuous bulge. Even if Tristan came closer, he wouldn’t notice anything unusual unless he looked carefully. “Why did you turn off the lights so early?” Tristan asked curiously. “Got caught in the rain. My head hurts a bit.” As Silas spoke, he gently gripped my restless wrist under the blanket. The bed was only about 4 feet wide, and Silas was tall with long legs, taking up a lot of space. My whole body was almost pressed against him. My breath faintly brushed against his waist. I could clearly feel that the muscles of his waist and abdomen were very tense. “Alright then.” Tristan didn’t turn on the lights either. He sat down in a chair and took out his phone to make calls. After making several calls with no one answering, Tristan was obviously a bit angry. “Silas, do you think Mia is doing this on purpose?” “What?” “I just confessed to Olivia today, and she’s already causing trouble like this.” “Just now the news reported that a female college student committed suicide by jumping into the river because of relationship troubles.” “I thought she had done something stupid, so I rushed over there, leaving Olivia behind.” “But it wasn’t her when they pulled the person out.” “I’ve been calling her all night, and she’s not answering any of them. Now she’s nowhere to be found.” Tristan slammed his phone on the table, “She’s definitely doing this on purpose, deliberately ruining my date tonight.” At this point, Tristan let out a cold laugh, “I bet she’s going to cling to me for the rest of her life.” “Not necessarily.” Silas suddenly interjected. Tristan was a bit surprised, “Not necessarily?” “Silas, you’ve seen clearly how she’s been clinging to me these past two years.” “You’ve been annoyed by her too, never giving her a good look.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but bite Silas’s waist. He winced in pain and instinctively moved his hand to block it, but his fingers just brushed against my lips. I simply bit his finger lightly. Silas’s whole body suddenly tensed up, and he let out a very low hiss. “What’s wrong with you?” “It’s nothing… my leg cramped.” Silas’s voice was very hoarse, and he coughed twice after speaking. “Alright, you rest well. I won’t bother you anymore.” Tristan said as he stood up, “I’ll just use the bathroom and then leave.” When he pushed open the bathroom door, I suddenly thought of something. Earlier when I showered, I had washed my socks and hung them in the bathroom. Sure enough, when Tristan came out less than two minutes later, there was a mischievous smile on his face. “Silas, did you bring a girl to the dorm?” “You’ve kept it so well-hidden. Which beauty managed to win over our ice prince Silas?” “Don’t talk nonsense.” Tristan took a few steps towards the bed, “Going to bed so early, hiding someone in bed, huh?” “Tristan.” Silas’s voice suddenly turned cold. “Okay, okay, I won’t come over.” Tristan stopped in his tracks. But he looked at Silas’s bed with interest, “Do you have protection? I have extra, want me to give you some?” Silas gently gripped the back of my neck under the blanket, making me lie still on top of him. Then he glanced at Tristan, his voice a bit cold, “Don’t make those kinds of jokes about girls.” “Are you serious?” Tristan seemed a bit surprised. Silas’s lips were tightly pressed together, his Adam’s apple bobbing, “Mm.” If the light had been a bit brighter, Tristan would have seen how pained and restrained Silas’s expression was. After all, he was gripping my neck to keep me from moving. But my other parts could still move. Anyway, no one could see under the blanket. So I properly felt Silas’s abs. Every time I touched him, his muscles tensed up a bit more. I secretly moved my hand lower, and when I reached his V-line, Silas’s reaction was quite big. It even scared me.

“Alright then, I won’t disturb you guys. I’ll stay out tonight.” Tristan turned and left the dorm. As soon as the door closed, I threw off the blanket, “Silas, I was about to suffocate…” Silas leaned against the headboard, looking at me deeply. The not-so-bright light fell on his handsome, chiseled features. Casting large patches of shadows. I was stunned by the sight. They say beauty is best viewed under the lamp. Actually, it’s the same for men. Looking at a handsome guy in the flickering light and shadows certainly creates more atmosphere. “Mia.” Silas slowly sat up. He reached out and brushed aside the messy hair by my ear. Then, cupping my face, he spoke very seriously. “I wasn’t annoyed by you.” “And I didn’t give you the cold shoulder.” “Don’t take his words to heart.” After Silas finished speaking, he let go of his hands. He got out of bed and took out a pack of cigarettes, “You sleep.” “What about you?” He pointed to the balcony, “I’ll smoke a cigarette. Go to sleep.” Very timely, I suddenly sneezed. Silas stopped in his tracks. I grabbed the sleeve of his pajamas, frowning pitifully, “I think I caught a cold. My head hurts.” Silas looked at me for a while, “Let go first. I’ll get you some medicine.” After I took the medicine, I still clung to him and wouldn’t let go, “Silas, I’m a bit cold. The blanket is too thin.” But this time Silas pushed my hand away. “Mia, Tristan left a long time ago. You don’t need to do this anymore.” “What does this have to do with him?” Silas laughed self-mockingly, “What were you doing by the river tonight?” I finally came to my senses. So the news about a girl jumping into the river that Tristan mentioned earlier had made him misunderstand. He thought I went to the river because I was feeling hopeless and wanted to end my life. Calling him and coming back to his dorm was deliberately getting back at Tristan. Actually, I know it’s normal for him to think this way. For the past two years, my foster parents from the White family had been pushing me hard. After the real daughter of the White family was found. They once wanted to send me back to my birth parents. Later, probably considering that I still had some value for an arranged marriage, they reluctantly kept me. So Tristan was like a lifeline for me. I thought since we grew up together as childhood sweethearts. There would always be some affection between us. He would save me from the quagmire. I placed all my hopes on Tristan. But all of this, in others’ eyes, was evidence of my obsessive love for him. Not to mention Silas. He was Tristan’s roommate. How many moments of my “persistent pursuit” had he witnessed? “Silas…” I wanted to explain. But he had already stood up, “Set an alarm and leave early tomorrow morning. Don’t let anyone see you.” “After all, this kind of thing isn’t good for you girls.” “Silas.” But he didn’t stop or look back. I bit my lip hard, “Then you kissed me so many times tonight.” “And even did that…” “Are you not going to take responsibility?” Silas suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned to look at me. I sat on the bed, my eyes very red, but holding back tears. “I know you hate me.” “Every time I came here before, you ignored me.” “But thank you for coming to pick me up tonight and taking me in.” “If you really don’t want to have anything to do with me anymore, then I’ll leave now.” I got up from the bed. I didn’t bother looking for my shoes, just walked towards the door barefoot. As I passed by Silas with my head down. I had already silently shed tears all over my face. “Mia.” Silas grabbed me. “I said earlier, I don’t hate you…” “Then will you take responsibility?” I shook off his hand and looked up at him defiantly. “You kissed me, hugged me.” “And even did that…” Silas suddenly gripped my chin and kissed me fiercely. “Mia.” He sucked on my lips, his breathing getting heavier. “If you insist on provoking me, then provoke me all the way.” I hugged his lean waist and stood on tiptoes to meet this deep kiss, “Okay…” During the National Day holiday, I went to the city where my birth parents lived. I stayed there for three days. When I left, that pair of scumbags who indulged in all kinds of vices. Had already been taken away by the police, awaiting the severe and merciless punishment of the law. Human trafficking, gambling, forced prostitution, thanks to those dreams, I had iron-clad evidence for each and every crime. I didn’t need to wait for rebirth or the next life. In this life, I could completely get rid of this pair of demons and let them receive the punishment they deserved. When I got on the plane, I let out a long sigh. The biggest worry in my heart was finally settled. At this moment, I felt incredibly free and relaxed. When the plane landed in the capital, I first reported to Silas that I was safe. He didn’t know the true purpose of this trip. He still thought I had gone on a short trip with my girlfriends for a few days. “I’ll come find you tonight. Is everything ready at home?” Silas had moved to an apartment off campus. He was already a senior and hardly needed to go back to school anymore. Plus, living in the same dorm with Tristan was inconvenient after all. “It’s all ready. Should I come pick you up?” “Sure.” “Mia.” “What is it?” “Today is Tristan’s birthday. He’s throwing a party and asked me to go… with my girlfriend.” I had forgotten that Tristan’s birthday was on National Day. “Mia, do you want to go with me?” I didn’t answer, feeling quite conflicted inside. It wasn’t that I was unwilling to make our relationship public. But the White family might soon cut ties with me. At that time, my unsavory background would be known to everyone. I knew Silas wouldn’t care. But I couldn’t bear to let him be criticized. Just like in the dream. They accused him of being unfilial and disloyal. For the sake of an unworthy woman. Breaking his parents’ and relatives’ hearts. But, as Silas said that day. I was the one who provoked him first, so I should provoke him all the way. You can’t have it both ways, right? “Silas.” I took a deep breath, “Do you want me to go?”

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We were the four girls the Sterling family took in. My foster mother, Mrs. Sterling, had one goal: to groom the most exceptional of us to marry her son, Damian Sterling. The other three—Lily, Sarah, and Maya—they learned flower arranging, dance, and how to charm Damian. Me? I learned finance, management, and how to bleed his family’s company dry. Damian cornered me against a wall, a smirk playing on his lips, smug and sure of himself. “Playing your little seduction games? I despise ambitious women.” He thought I wanted him. He had no idea I’d seen too many women who latched onto men, only to end up as discarded, fading roses. What I wanted was never his love. It was the power to utterly break free from his grasp. Later, he truly fell for me: “You win. I only want you. Stop working so hard, just be my Mrs. Sterling.” I laughed, slapping my resignation letter onto his chest. “Mr. Sterling, you think I was after the title of your wife?” “No. I was after *your* position.” Mrs. Sterling summoned the four of us to the main residence for afternoon tea, claiming she had an important announcement. In the enormous living room, the crystal chandelier sparkled, and the air was thick with the cloying sweetness of expensive diffusers. Lily, Sarah, Maya, and I sat side-by-side on the plush velvet sofa, like a line of products waiting to be appraised. Our postures were trained through countless repetitions: backs perfectly straight, smiles flawlessly calibrated. Mrs. Sterling’s well-maintained face wore a gentle smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Children, you’ve all been with the Sterling family for over a decade now. Each of you has grown into such beautiful young women; I’m truly delighted.” Her gaze swept slowly across our faces, as if she were inspecting her prized collection. “Damian is of marrying age now, and I’ve watched all of you grow up, so I know you well.” “I’ve decided that one of you four will be chosen to be his wife.” The moment her words fell, the breathing of the three girls beside me quickened. Lily was the least able to hide her feelings; her cheeks instantly flushed crimson, her eyes practically overflowing with anticipation, hands clutching tightly at the hem of her skirt. Sarah bowed her head, twisting her fingers into the fabric of her dress, appearing calm but with knuckles turning white. Maya, however, subtly straightened her back, striking her most poised and impeccable pose. As if the title of Mrs. Sterling was already hers for the taking. They all wanted to be Mrs. Sterling. Only I remained, picking up my coffee cup, gently blowing away the wisps of steam. The dark surface reflected my utterly calm face. I just wanted to escape this gilded cage.

After dinner, we returned to the rooms specifically prepared for us. The moment we stepped inside, the stifling tension in the room finally burst. Lily was the first to break the silence, her face alight with giddy excitement, twirling around in place. “I’m going to marry Damian! Did you hear that? Mrs. Sterling herself said so!” Sarah was mixing colors at her easel, but at Lily’s words, she calmly poured cold water on her enthusiasm. “All four of us want to marry him. But the Sterlings will only choose the most outstanding.” Lily huffed indignantly, puffing out her chest, and marched over to Sarah. “Damian has feelings for me! He treats me the most specially!” She pulled a small silver whistle from around her neck, dangling it before us like a precious treasure. “Last year, for my birthday, Damian took me to the stables, and this was his gift. He said he polished this whistle himself, that it’s one-of-a-kind.” Her voice was full of sweet memories. “He also said that if I ever blow it, no matter where he is, he’ll come to me instantly. He even said my smile was like the first flower to bloom in spring.” We all stared at the whistle, glinting with a cheap, deceptive gleam under the lamp. Damian had said similar things to every one of us. Those sweet nothings were nothing but his easy manipulation, a low-cost, high-reward hunting tool. Just last month, he’d told Sarah her paintings held the vastness of stars and oceans, a lonely genius no one else could comprehend. Then he’d turned around and told Maya her coffee had a calming, almost magical quality that perfectly mirrored her serene nature. But Lily believed him. She clung to that whistle as proof of her unique status, convinced she was the most special person in Damian’s heart. Maya scoffed, said nothing, and turned to enter the bathroom, her retreating back radiating disdain. I looked at Lily’s face, utterly lost in her fantasies, and couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth. Some people just have to learn the hard way. There’s no talking sense into them until they get burned.

Damian’s official fiancée, Veronica Shaw, had suddenly returned from overseas. She was the sole heir to the formidable Shaw Corporation, a family as influential as the Sterlings. Their marriage had been an unspoken pact between their grandfathers for decades. Mrs. Sterling instructed us to pick her up at the airport, giving the reason that we should “familiarize ourselves with our future sister-in-law.” Truth be told, she just wanted us to be her foils. To make her see how many women Damian had wrapped around his finger, hoping to ignite some jealousy. Veronica arrived in a custom-tailored designer suit, her makeup flawless. Her eyes, hidden behind dark sunglasses, swept over us like she was assessing a few eager pets wagging their tails. Her gaze finally settled on Lily. Lily had purposely worn the limited-edition dress Damian had gifted her, and her makeup was meticulously applied. Her obvious eagerness, her desire to impress Damian, was an open book to Veronica. At the evening reception, Veronica glided towards Lily, glass in hand, a predatory smile playing on her lips. “Lily, dear, isn’t it? Damian told me you’re quite good at riding. I’ve just returned and feel like a bit of a challenge. How about we head to the stables for a little friendly competition tomorrow?” Lily was thrilled. Damian had never openly praised her like that before, not in front of others. She accepted without a second thought, believing this was Damian’s acknowledgment of her. The next day, almost all the city’s elite received invitations to what was framed as a ‘friendly match’ but was clearly a calculated public display of power. Veronica personally chose the wildest, most unpredictable horse for Lily, claiming it was a handsome steed, perfectly suited for her. Lily was a little scared, but desperate to impress Damian, she forced herself onto the horse. The race began, and Veronica’s horse took an early lead. Lily galloped close behind. Then, on a sharp bend, Lily’s horse suddenly spooked, rearing its front hooves with a piercing whinny, violently throwing her to the ground. Everyone gasped in shock. Damian was the first to rush forward, but not towards Lily. Instead, he hurried to Veronica, who had inexplicably slipped from her own horse and merely twisted her ankle. He held Veronica close, his face etched with tenderness, anxiously examining her ankle, as if his beloved treasure had shattered. Meanwhile, Lily lay on the ground not far away, her lower leg bent at a sickening, unnatural angle. Her face was deathly pale from the pain, cold sweat beading on her forehead, yet no one spared her a glance. She watched Damian and Veronica in their intimate embrace, and the light in her eyes slowly, agonizingly, faded to nothing.

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I have face blindness. My husband was a long-haul truck driver, always on the road. But every time he came home, it was like he was a completely different person. Sometimes, he was like a madman fresh out of lockup, pinning me against the wall the moment he walked in, his movements harsh, like he wanted to devour me whole. Other times, he’d hold me with red-rimmed eyes, whispering how he didn’t want to hurt me, yet his hands roamed, setting every nerve ending on fire. And sometimes, he’d slowly, deliberately, untie his tie, toss me onto the bed, his voice cold and deep: “Lie still, legs open.” I always thought it was just the immense stress from his job, pushing him to the brink of a breakdown. Until the day their logistics company went public. Three tall men, looking exactly alike, stood neatly in my living room. They all claimed to be my husband. My mind went completely blank. These three faces, utterly indistinguishable to me, which one was my actual truck-driving husband?

Jax had been back from his trip for half a month, but tonight, he seemed like a different person entirely. The motion-sensor light in the hall was out, leaving everything in darkness. I’d just fumbled for my keys when a scorching hand suddenly reached out from behind me and clamped over my mouth. It wasn’t the familiar scent of tobacco. Instead, a faint, milky scent. Before my body could instinctively go for a grappling move, the person behind me buried his face in the crook of my neck. He sounded utterly distraught, as if he’d suffered some colossal injustice. “Chloe… you’re still the best to me…” I was stunned. By the moonlight filtering through the window, I finally saw his face clearly. Chiseled features, incredibly handsome. Yes, it was Jax, my husband of only half a month. But those eyes… something was off! Half a month ago, I’d rushed into an arranged marriage with him to escape loan sharks. Back then, he was all muscle, swearing like a sailor, and had kicked those paint-splashing goons flying, a cigarette still dangling from his lips. On the day we got our marriage license, he’d snarled a warning at me: “I’m on the road all year. If you can’t handle the loneliness, get out now.” Our wedding night was even worse, like a wild bull, all force and no tenderness. But the man in front of me now… So gentle. This wasn’t him at all… “Jax…?” I called out, unsure. He pulled me closer, his hot breath ghosting against my neck. “Chloe, they tried to steal my cargo, they tried to beat me… only you’re good to me…” Goosebumps erupted all over me. Had this guy gone crazy on the road? Or had those truck hijackers beaten him senseless? Where was the tough guy who’d throw punches at the slightest provocation? “You… let go first. You’re choking me.” I tried to push him away, but this seemingly gentle guy had surprising strength. He didn’t budge an inch. Not only did he not let go, but he became bolder, one hand starting to sneak under my shirt. “Chloe, I want to take a shower. I feel dirty.” His tone was polite. But his actions were pure pervert! My mind was a complete mess. Staring at the identical face, and these drastically different eyes. For the first time, I had a terrifying suspicion: What kind of man had I actually married? Before I could even process it, he suddenly scooped me up and strode towards the bathroom. “Chloe, help me wash…” “Jax, you maniac! Put me down!” But his movements only grew more urgent. That night, I felt like every ounce of my strength was drained. That intense sensation almost drove me to the brink of madness.

The next morning, sure enough, the spot beside me in bed was cold. Only a crumpled note remained on the pillow, the handwriting scrawled with a little crying face drawn on it: “Chloe, I had to leave urgently. Don’t miss me.” I angrily crumpled the note. Miss him? No way! Wore me out all night, then just ghosted me? I thought that was the end of it, just my husband having a temporary breakdown from stress on the road. But over the next month, Jax simply vanished. Until that rainy night. I worked overtime until midnight, returning home soaked to the bone. I pushed open the door, and the lights were off, but someone was sitting inside. The figure was tall and straight, sitting on that creaky folding chair, somehow radiating the aura of a king on his throne. My heart lifted, not yet noticing anything wrong, I dropped my bag and rushed towards him. “Husband! Where have you been? You never answered my calls!” Normally, the brute would’ve pulled me into a fierce embrace and started kissing me senseless, or the gentle one would have rushed to hug me. But this man didn’t move. He didn’t even lift an eyelid. He held an unlit cigarette in his hand, and by the flash of lightning outside the window, I saw a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. Glasses? When did Jax get nearsighted? He slowly raised his gaze, those eyes deep as stagnant pools, devoid of any emotion. That bone-chilling stare instantly froze all my enthusiasm into ice shards. I stood rooted to the spot, my outstretched hand awkwardly suspended in mid-air. “Hus… band?” I called out, uncertainly. The face, the body, it was definitely him. But the way he looked at me was like I was an ant, or… a cheap commodity. He finally moved. Slowly, he put the cigarette on the table and stood up. That oppressive aura washed over me, a hundred times stronger than the tough guy, the undeniable presence of a superior. He advanced, step by step, until he had me cornered against the wall, with nowhere to retreat. His long fingers hooked under my chin, the pressure neither light nor heavy, but laced with an undeniable command. “For the past month, you’ve been living in this pigsty?” His voice was low and magnetic, yet cold enough to drop ice shards. I was bewildered. Pigsty? Isn’t this the home we’d lived in for months? He even said it was cozy when we got married! “Jax, what the hell is wrong with you? If you hate it so much, don’t come back!” I exploded, swatting his hand away. He didn’t get angry. Instead, a mocking smirk played on his lips. “Jax?” He repeated the name softly, his tone playful. “Fine, then I’ll be Jax.” He slowly unbuttoned his shirt collar, his movements as elegant as if he were unwrapping a work of art. Then he grabbed my wrist and tossed me onto that flimsy bed. His tone was as detached as if he were discussing business, devoid of any emotion: “Since we’re married, it’s time to fulfill your duties. Lie still, legs open.”

That night, it felt like I was being punished. This Jax with glasses was utterly inhuman. He wasn’t loud or aggressive, barely even spoke. But he was like a precisely calibrated machine, every action cold, precise, and straight to the point. No foreplay, no tenderness, just pure conquest and plunder. No matter how much I cried or begged, his face remained expressionless. Only at the very end, would his brow furrow slightly. Afterward, he got up and dressed, his movements as elegant as if he’d just left a formal dinner. He pulled a black card from his wallet and tossed it onto the bedside table. “The password is your birthday. Find somewhere else to live; this place isn’t worthy of you.” Then, without another glance, he walked out. Leaving me alone, staring at the black card, feeling utterly cold. What was happening? My hand trembled as I picked up the card, tears streaming down my face. I remembered half a year ago. My dad had just passed away, and loan sharks were harassing me daily. When the matchmaker introduced me to Jax, she said he was a long-haul trucker, poor but honest. On our first date, he treated me to noodles at a street food stall. When those loan sharks came to bother me, he didn’t hesitate, grabbing a stool and smashing it into them. It was a brutal fight, and in the end, with blood streaming from his forehead, he grinned at me: “Don’t be scared, Chloe. From now on, I’ll protect you.” On our wedding day, he gave me all his savings – ten thousand dollars – to pay off my debts. “I’m not much, just this. But as long as I have food, you won’t starve.” Back then, he was rough, he was poor, but he gave me a home, a profound sense of security. But now? The black card in my hand felt heavy. They said it could buy an entire street. Yet, the Jax who would fight for me, who would clumsily try to cheer me up, seemed gone. The man he was now, was a stranger, and it terrified me. I didn’t dare touch the card, locking it deep in my drawer. I feared it was money he’d risked his life for. Even more, I feared that by using it, I would truly lose my tough guy husband forever.

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When I was four, my younger brother, Noah, and I both drowned. Only I survived, and from that day on, Mom hated me. At night, countless times, she’d try to force colorful “sweets” into my mouth, but Dad always stopped her just in time. Later, I cut off my long hair, shed my princess dresses, and tried desperately to live as Noah’s shadow. Only then would Mom spare me a glance. Three years passed. Mom became pregnant again, announcing that her beloved Noah had returned! I was happy for her. Noah was coming back, which was great… Because then, this family wouldn’t need me, the replacement, anymore. I found the “sweets” Mom had once tried to feed me, and quietly swallowed them. The “sweets” dissolved in my mouth, releasing a bitter taste. I couldn’t help but hunch over, dry heaving, bile and saliva rising to my lips. These were the pills Mom had hidden in the deepest part of her closet three years ago. Back then, she would often sit by my bed late at night, her eyes vacant, whispering: “Why aren’t you dead yet?” Now, I was finally fulfilling Mom’s obsession. I wore a boy’s school uniform, its collar frayed. It was Noah’s old uniform, long outgrown, but Mom said… I had to keep wearing it to be more like him. Mom’s laughter, a tenderness I’d never heard directed at me, echoed from the living room. She was stroking her stomach, talking to Dad, Robert: “The doctor said it’s definitely a boy this time. Look how stable the pregnancy is.” Her voice was sickeningly sweet. “Soon… I won’t have to look at that blight on our family’s face ever again.” I wanted one last look at Mom’s smiling face. Just as I reached the doorway, Dad saw me first, his brow furrowing. “Scarlett, why aren’t you doing your homework?” His gaze swept over my uniform, then quickly flicked away, as if he’d seen something offensive. Mom turned, her smile freezing instantly. “Who told you to come out? Your hair’s grown out again. Didn’t I tell you to cut it short, just like Noah’s buzz cut?” She hurried over, her finger jabbing hard at my head. “Always causing trouble. When Noah is born, if you dare to bother him, I’ll break your legs.” I flinched back, the red mark on my forehead stinging. The “sweets” in my stomach seemed to be dissolving, a throbbing pain rising in my abdomen, forcing me to bend over. Dad started to come to my aid, but Mom blocked him. “Don’t touch her. She’s probably just faking it for sympathy.” I bit my lip, saying nothing, slowly retreating to my room. With every step, my stomach felt like it was being twisted by knives. My limbs began to go numb, and even my hands clutching the doorframe trembled uncontrollably. I lay on the bed, my body starting to twitch. The door pushed open. It was Dad, holding a glass of warm water. He placed the glass on my nightstand, hesitating for a long moment before saying, “Scarlett, your mom is pregnant. Her emotions are a bit volatile, so don’t take it to heart.” I shook my head, but only a weak whimper escaped. Dad’s figure began to blur in my vision. Dad sighed, then simply pulled the blanket over me. “Get some good sleep. You’ll be fine tomorrow.” He closed the door as he left, and silence enveloped the room. I reached under my pillow for the small toy car, Noah’s favorite. Most of its paint had chipped off, but I polished it clean every day. Mom said it was Noah’s, and I had to keep it safe. Last time, when a classmate tried to take it, I fought desperately, taking a beating to get it back. Gradually, my vision blurred completely. I hugged the toy car tightly and closed my eyes. Mom, Noah is coming back. You won’t have to suffer looking at me, your replacement, anymore. This way, it’s truly good.

Slowly, I felt the pain fade away. Like a dandelion seed carried by the wind, I floated gently into the air, clearly seeing the small body on the bed. The crumpled school uniform clung to her, her face as white as paper, her lips an unnatural purplish-blue. A smudge of undigested bile still clung to the corner of her mouth, and in her hand, she clutched that small toy car. Mom pushed the door open just as I was looking down at my own hands. They were transparent, allowing the sunlight to pass through them, revealing a photo of Noah. She didn’t glance at me on the bed. Instead, she walked straight to the desk, picked up Noah’s photo, and meticulously wiped it clean, murmuring, “Noah, Mom’s going to buy you a new bassinet today. Do you like blue or yellow?” She turned to leave, accidentally kicking the bedframe. Only then did she impatiently glance at me on the bed, frowning. “Still sleeping? The sun’s practically noon. Get up and make breakfast. Do you want to starve Noah and me?” I floated in front of her, trying to speak, but she couldn’t hear me. She shuffled out in her slippers, still humming a lullaby. From the living room, I heard Dad, Robert, scrambling eggs, and Mom’s, Claire’s, instructions: “Add two more spoonfuls of sugar. Noah always loved sweets.” I floated to the kitchen doorway, watching Dad put pancakes on a plate—they were heart-shaped. I used to love pancakes like that, too, but ever since Noah died, Dad had only made round ones. He said Noah didn’t like anything fancy. Mom took the plate, carefully placing it in the center of the dining table, as if worshipping a precious artifact. “Go wake her up for breakfast,” Mom told Dad, her tone full of impatience. “Don’t let her make us late for buying Noah’s bassinet.” Dad put down his glass of milk and walked towards my room. I followed behind him, watching him stand by the bed, reaching out his hand, then letting it fall onto the blanket instead. “Scarlett, time to get up.” His voice was soft. “We’re going to buy a bassinet today. Do you want to come with us?” The me on the bed didn’t stir. Dad’s fingers trembled, and he nudged my shoulder. “Scarlett?” Mom’s voice came from the living room. “What’s taking so long? Is she faking sleep again?” She hurried in, saw Dad frozen by the bed, and immediately flared up. “She’s definitely faking it! She just doesn’t want us to buy Noah a bassinet! Let’s just go without her. Noah is waiting!” Dad didn’t move. He looked at me on the bed, very agitated. “She’s our daughter too!” “She is not!” Mom shrieked. “My only child is Noah! She’s the one who killed Noah!” She grabbed the photo from the desk and smashed it to the floor. Glass shards cut Dad’s hand. Dad didn’t say a word, just quietly picked up the fragments, wrapping his wound with a tissue. The living room phone rang. It was Ms. Rodriguez, my teacher, from school. Mom answered, her tone immediately softening. “Hello, Ms. Rodriguez, is this about Noah… oh no, I mean, about Scarlett?” Hearing the teacher ask why I hadn’t been to school, Mom’s voice turned cold again. “She’s just intentionally skipping school. Ms. Rodriguez, please don’t bother with her. Let her fend for herself.” She hung up the phone, then pulled Dad outside. “Let’s go. Don’t let her make us late for buying Noah’s bassinet.” Dad looked back at my room, his steps faltering, but Mom pulled him away. The moment the door closed, I saw Dad wipe his eyes. The house was eerily silent, only the ticking of the wall clock breaking the stillness. I floated to the bedside, looking at myself. My face was still round, but it was so gaunt it was unrecognizable, my chin unnaturally sharp. My hair had grown quite a bit, covering my eyes, not short as Mom demanded. I remembered the last haircut. The stylist accidentally cut it a bit too short, and Mom had yelled at him, saying he’d ruined Noah’s look. When we got home, she made me kneel for two hours, then told me I wasn’t worthy of having hair like Noah’s. As I knelt there, looking at Noah’s photo, I suddenly felt very distant.

In the afternoon, Mom and Dad returned, carrying a blue bassinet embroidered with little bears. Mom couldn’t stop smiling, placing the bassinet in the center of the living room and telling Dad, “Noah will definitely love this. He always loved sleeping with a teddy bear.” Dad glanced at my room, then quietly asked, “Shouldn’t we check on Scarlett?” Mom’s face instantly hardened. “Why check on her? She’ll come out when she’s hungry.” She sat by the bassinet, gently rocking it, humming a lullaby, her eyes filled with a tenderness that could melt. I floated closer, looking at the blue bassinet. It was small, delicate, just what Noah would have liked. Mom used to say she’d buy it for his birthday, but Noah left before his birthday came. Now the bassinet was finally here, and its little owner would soon return in another form. Mom suddenly looked up, as if sensing something, and glanced towards where I was. I quickly floated to the ceiling. Her gaze swept over the empty living room, then she frowned and lowered her head, continuing to rock the bassinet. “Noah, Mom is waiting for you to come back,” she whispered. “I’ll never let you leave again.” I looked at her profile, feeling no sadness at all. Mom was finally getting her Noah back. And I, the replacement, was finally fading away for good. This way, everyone could find happiness. On the third morning, a knocking on the front door echoed through the house, so loud it sounded like the doorframe would splinter. I floated to the living room, watching Mom impatiently open the door. Ms. Rodriguez, my school teacher, stood outside. “Scarlett’s mom,” Ms. Rodriguez’s face was stern, “Scarlett hasn’t been to school for three days. I couldn’t reach you by phone, so I came to check.” She peered into the house. “Is Scarlett home?” Mom’s face immediately darkened. She blocked the doorway, preventing Ms. Rodriguez from entering. “She’s home, just throwing a tantrum and refusing to go to school. Please don’t worry about her; I’ll talk to her.” “It’s not about a tantrum,” Ms. Rodriguez frowned. “Last week, some students reported that Scarlett was being bullied at school. Those kids were trying to pull off her clothes and splashing cold water on her. I wanted to discuss how to handle it with you, but I couldn’t get a hold of you.” Mom jumped up like a cat whose tail was stepped on. “Don’t listen to those kids’ nonsense! Scarlett must have provoked them herself! She’s been mean-spirited since she was a child; she killed her brother, and now she wants to act pitiful at school for sympathy!” Ms. Rodriguez’s face grew even more serious. “Scarlett’s mom, I saw Scarlett’s injuries, they’re all recent. And from what I understand, Scarlett was protecting a classmate when those children bullied her. She’s very well-behaved at school and works hard. You can’t talk about her like that.” “Well-behaved, my foot!” Mom shrieked, her voice so loud it could be heard throughout the hallway. “If she were well-behaved, how would Noah have died? She’s a jinx! I shouldn’t have let her live!” Ms. Rodriguez was startled by her outburst, sighing. “If you continue like this, I’ll have no choice but to contact child protective services. Scarlett is a good child; you can’t treat her this way.” With that, she turned and left. Mom continued to curse behind her until Ms. Rodriguez’s figure disappeared down the stairwell. After closing the door, Mom trembled with rage. She walked to my bedroom door and kicked it hard. “Scarlett! Look at the trouble you’ve caused me! Now even the teacher is showing up at our door! Why don’t you just die!” I floated beside her, looking at her distorted face, and suddenly remembered the drowning incident when I was four. Noah and I fell into the river. I desperately clung to his hand, but the current was too strong, sweeping us apart. When I was rescued, I saw Mom crying, holding Noah’s lifeless body. The first thing she said to me was, “Why aren’t you dead yet?” Dad, Robert, emerged from his study, stopping Mom. “Stop yelling, the neighbors can hear you.” His voice was low. “Scarlett hasn’t eaten in three days. Let’s go check on her.” Mom shook off his hand. “Why check on her? She won’t die!” But this time, Dad didn’t listen to her. He pushed open the door and entered the room. Mom hesitated, then followed him in. Dad walked over, pulling back the blanket. Sunlight fell upon my body. I could clearly see my pale face, my purplish lips, and the dried blood at the corner of my mouth…

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Online, I had this hot VP boyfriend, six foot three, and I’d get daily ab pics from him to “approve.” So when he suggested we meet up in person, I broke up with him, no hesitation. Because only I knew the truth: my online boyfriend was actually my boss. But just as I swore to keep my identity a secret, I turned around and found myself in his arms. “Please, don’t break up with me?” he pleaded. My boss has been in a foul mood lately. Everyone felt it, and the office turned into a graveyard of productivity, with even fewer people secretly playing games. Ryan, my boss, was working insane overtime, and no one dared to leave before him. So, our workdays stretched to eleven, sometimes midnight. I was constantly exhausted, sporting dark circles, and my skin had even started breaking out. Honestly, I was probably the only one in the entire company who knew why he was so volatile, but I couldn’t spill the beans. Because, well, my boss had just gone through a breakup. And, unfortunately, I was the “ex.” He just didn’t know it yet. It all started when my online boyfriend of two years wanted to meet. We’d met on some random social app. He’d posted a “help me” thread, titled, “Why Can’t I Find a Date?” I clicked on it. The post read: “Male, 6’3″, 165 lbs, 25 years old. Harvard grad, Management and Engineering. Currently a VP at a publicly traded company, seven-figure salary, owns a car and a house, celebrity good looks. Still single. Just wondering, what’s my problem?” The comments section was brutal. “Troll post, confirmed.” “Dude’s living in a fantasy, right? 25, VP at a major company? C’mon, at least make your lies believable.” Just messing around, I commented, “Probably your looks. Post a pic.” Then I exited the thread. A little while later, the poster messaged me privately. “Hey, can I send it privately?” Me: “???” I was confused, but hey, I live for drama. “Sure.” Then, a photo popped up. I choked on my coffee, spraying it all over my desk. Are you kidding me? Six foot three? I’d believe five foot seven! It was a mirror selfie, a third of his face blocked. The weird angle made his head look huge and his body tiny. He wore dorky, black-rimmed glasses, making him look kinda frumpy and, well, short for someone that tall. But I couldn’t deny the face itself. Even half-covered, that jawline, that nose, those eyes – they all screamed one thing: “I’M HOT.” He just looked… vaguely familiar. My inner monologue was screaming, “How can someone this good-looking not even know it?!” But being the helpful soul I am, after zooming in and out like crazy three or four times, I fired off a whole list of suggestions: “You need to learn how to dress and pose for photos! Change the glasses – get rimless ones, or better yet, contacts. Don’t take photos from that angle! Tilt the phone slightly, so the charging port is closer to you. Change your pants, get something more fitted, black maybe…” He replied, “Thank you so much.” After that, I didn’t pay much attention. But the next day, the guy sent me his “homework assignment” based on my advice. I gave him some more pointers, and then he sent another the third day, then the fourth, then the fifth. Just as I was starting to get annoyed, he proactively asked to add me on SnapChat and offered to pay me for my help. Thinking, “only a fool turns down free money,” I gave him my personal account. And then, a familiar profile picture popped up, asking to be my friend. Isn’t that the boss?! My hand twitched, and I accidentally hit “accept.” My heart sank instantly, and I quickly changed my settings to “chat only.” My brain raced, wondering if I’d accidentally linked my personal SnapChat to anything at work. He was “typing…” for what felt like ages, then finally sent: “Thank you so much for all your guidance and help these past few days. Here’s a small token of my appreciation.” Then, a transfer of $7,000 appeared, with the note “voluntary gift.” I froze. I screenshotted it, double-checked the SnapChat ID. No doubt. It was the hot guy from online, and it was definitely my boss. After silently screaming “holy cow” for a solid minute, I shamelessly accepted the money. Whatever. It was my personal account; Ryan had no idea it was me. From then on, I kept helping him improve. He was a quick learner, soon mastering how to show off his natural good looks. But just as I was about to consider my mission accomplished, the dummy confessed his feelings for me. First, there was this ridiculously long message, like a mini-essay I hadn’t written since high school. I skipped straight to the end: “Actually, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time. I like you.” Me: “…” My silence was deafening. Me: “Oh, thanks so much!” Him: “Huh???” Then: “I really like you!” Me: “I really appreciate it!” Him: “No, I’m serious.” Me: “Yeah, thanks a lot.” My head was throbbing. Is this guy for real? He seemed to pause for a moment, then asked, “No matter what, can you give me a chance to pursue you?” I didn’t reply. That night, I actually had trouble sleeping. The next day, the dummy started sending me daily messages: “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” “Good night,” and things like, “I’m going to work,” “I’m heading out,” “I’ve arrived,” “I’m starting work now,” and so on. Yep, that’s how he tried to win me over. I’d occasionally give him a half-hearted reply, and he’d be over the moon. Things took a turn a month later. I was happily scrolling through hot guys online, and, on impulse, I tried to share a video with my best friend. But my hand slipped, and I sent it to him instead. Me: “Ugh, he’s so hot. I’m obsessed.” Me: “video” Him: “???”

By the time I saw the messages, it was too late to unsend. Even though it’s natural to appreciate beauty, I still felt a little bit guilty. Just then, he sent a message: “You like this kind of thing?” Then, a video. It must have been filmed at the gym. Not exaggerated muscle definition, but well-proportioned, with beautiful V-cut abs winding down, disappearing into his athletic shorts. As for above… Yeah, definitely easy on the eyes! The guy in the video seemed shy; his face was flushed red by the end. My heart fluttered. Me: “Got more? Send ’em over!” Then he shyly sent a few more videos. I admit, I was completely swayed by his good looks. Who knew my boss, Mr. Straight-Laced, was so… well, that in private? How should I put it? It was unexpectedly thrilling. As I was enjoying the view, he suddenly sent another message. “If you agree to be my girlfriend, I’ll record one for you every day. You can watch as much as you want.” Look, everyone’s got their vices. For me, it’s pretty boys. The first three – money, power, fame – meant nothing to me. So, the last one was incredibly tempting. Me: “…Well… I guess that wouldn’t be so bad.” It was just an online relationship, after all. Of course, there were conditions. No going public, no matching profile pics, no video calls, and definitely no meeting in person. He wasn’t thrilled, but he agreed. And so, we dated for two years. As he got better at dressing and styling, I got better at enjoying the benefits. He could pull off any look. Just as I thought this blissful routine would continue forever, the dummy suggested we meet. Me: “Didn’t we agree not to meet? Just online dating, nothing real-life.” He sounded genuinely hurt: “I know, I’m sorry. But I really want to see you.” I knew what he was getting at. A couple of days before, I’d gone to my college reunion, and afterward, a former classmate confessed his feelings. I rejected him, and then he started sending me really creepy and gross messages. So, I blasted him on my Ins story. Then blocked and deleted him. Since we were “dating,” my dummy of a boyfriend would have seen it. He clearly wanted to meet up and publicly stake his claim. I knew exactly why I couldn’t meet him, so the answer was an obvious no. After a week of his pestering, I got annoyed and broke up with him. He was totally terrified, deflated like a balloon. My phone showed his call for the nth time. I sighed, flipping it facedown on the desk. Just then, my direct supervisor, Victoria, called my name. “Cassie, can you take this proposal to Ryan?” It was an open secret in the office that Victoria had a crush on Ryan. Normally, she’d jump at any chance to interact with him. But lately, with his foul mood, she’d tried to “comfort” him last time and gotten a humiliating dressing-down. So she wasn’t bothering with that anymore. I winced, forcing a tight smile: “Victoria, that’s a bit of a bypass, isn’t it? Going over my direct manager’s head isn’t ideal.” Ryan was my online boyfriend. While I had his work contact, I’d never actually interacted with him professionally. Plus, this proposal had been dragging on forever, and Ryan was never happy with it. Even on a good day, you’d get ripped apart for it, let alone now. This was clearly Victoria sending me in to take the fall. Victoria rolled her eyes: “Just do it, Cassie. Less talk, more action.” …Fine. Even though I’d practically seen everything there was to see of him online, I was still a total chicken about meeting him in real life. Especially at work, where he was notoriously strict, practically a tyrant. —And totally sharp-tongued. I hesitated for a moment, then pulled out my phone. After I’d broken up with him that day, the dummy had been apologizing non-stop, clearly freaking out. But I hadn’t replied to any of it. I’d just steeled myself to break up with him and hadn’t really checked my phone. Partly because I was scared I’d cave, and partly to teach him a lesson. Meeting in person was out of the question, but breaking up felt right. After thinking it over, I sent a message. “We don’t have to break up, but can you be good? I really don’t like people who don’t keep their promises.” He replied instantly: “Baby, you finally answered me! I know I messed up, I’m so sorry, I promise I’ll never do it again.” Followed by a crying puppy emoji. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The person inside seemed to jump, then cleared their throat. “Come in.” The moment I stepped in, my eyes were drawn to Ryan’s slightly red nose. Had he been crying? Noticing my gaze, he seemed a little embarrassed and tapped his desk. “Proposal? Just put it here. You can go back now.” His temper was noticeably better. Otherwise, he would have totally chewed me out for skipping ranks. A colleague had been fired before for going over their manager’s head. While that colleague also had issues with poor work performance and disobeying assignments, and they did receive severance pay, going over someone’s head is still a huge workplace no-no. But that proposal was still no good; it got sent back. Victoria then dumped it back on my desk. No choice. I had to work overtime to fix it. But, typical, Ryan was in a good mood today and left on time, and since it was Friday, the other colleagues who’d been suffering through endless overtime also bolted early. Soon, it was just me and the receptionist left in the office. But I had no idea how long this proposal would take, so I told the receptionist I’d lock up and turn off the lights, and she left. After who knows how long, I heard the facial recognition scanner at the door activate. I froze, a pang of fear in my chest. I checked the time. It was already ten at night. Who could it be at this hour? All those office horror movies started playing in my head. I was telling myself ghosts aren’t real, while subconsciously holding my breath, too tense to move. A familiar figure approached. When I clearly saw his face, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was Ryan. “Why are you still here alone? Aren’t you going home?” Ryan sounded surprised that I was still working overtime. I silently gritted my teeth: Whose fault do you think it is?! “This proposal is pretty urgent. I’m worried it won’t be viable by tomorrow, so I thought I’d stay late tonight to perfect it.” “Oh, that proposal.” Ryan paused, then actually walked straight towards my desk. “Let me explain it to you in more detail. That way, it’ll be easier to revise.” My heart leaped—because we’d made up, I had to reply to his messages, and I hated constantly checking my phone, so I’d already switched my computer to my personal account. What now? Ryan walked closer. “Open it up, let me see.” My brain spun, and my fingers flew across the keyboard. Just as I thought I’d got it, Ryan said, “Scoot over, I…” “Wait!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “307592”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

I had terminal cancer, but my wife, Clara Hayes, gave my treatment opportunity to Alex Stone, who only had early-stage cancer. When I signed over my company to Alex, my parents smiled with satisfaction; When I signed Clara’s divorce papers, she sighed, saying I was so mature; When I asked my daughter, Lily, to call Alex “Daddy,” she happily did; Even when I gave Alex all my properties and assets, they didn’t sense anything was wrong. Three days before I died, I finally became the son and husband my family always wanted. Would they ever remember me after I was gone? Under the doctor’s pitying gaze, I swallowed the painkiller. Only three days remained until my death. After taking the medicine, I went to Alex’s hospital room. Inside, Dad was peeling an orange for Alex, while Mom chatted happily with him. When they saw me enter, their smiles instantly froze and became distant. “Oh, what now? Can’t keep up the sick act, so you’re back to bothering Alex, are you? Liam, let me tell you, with us here, you can forget about trying to mess with him!” Dad looked at me, his voice icy. “Our family has always prided ourselves on raising our kids right. I don’t know where you picked up such bad habits, being so jealous of Alex and even snatching his chemotherapy chance,” “If only I’d known, I shouldn’t have given birth to you!” Mom pointed at me, her voice laced with accusation. In a corner where my parents couldn’t see, Alex smirked, his eyes full of provocation. I lowered my gaze. I’d heard these words from my parents countless times before. Usually, I’d argue back, expose Alex’s deception in front of them, Even though my parents never believed a single word I said. But now, I was tired. I just didn’t want to fight anymore. “Anyway, you came at a good time. I have something to discuss with you,” Dad said then. I smiled faintly. “Dad, I also have something to tell you.” “Alex, he wants my shop businesses and my company, doesn’t he? I’ve thought about it. I’ll give them all to him!” Dad froze for a moment, and Mom looked at me with some surprise. “How did you know I was going to talk to you about this today? You agreed?” I gave a slight twitch of my lips. It wasn’t surprising they were shocked and double-checking. Alex had wanted my shops and company for a long time. My parents had said every good and bad thing imaginable to make me hand over everything I’d worked so hard for to Alex. But I’d always refused. Now, though, I was a dying man. These things were meaningless. Mom saw my serious expression and finally smiled, a look of relief on her face. She stepped forward and gently touched my head. “You’ve finally come to your senses!” “Alex was always more excellent than you in school, and even though he’s sick now, he’s much better at managing finances than you are.” “We’ll feel much better if you let him manage your shops and company.” I barely managed a smile, then handed the transfer agreement to Alex. After my parents saw Alex sign it, they excitedly held my hand, repeatedly calling me their “good boy.” A faint irony bloomed in my heart. How laughable. Only when I yielded to Alex would Mom show me a smile. But I was also curious. If Mom ever discovered Alex’s true colors, and realized I was dead, Would she and Dad feel any regret? That evening, I returned home. My wife, Clara, and my daughter, Lily, were in the kitchen, cooking. Perhaps because of my late-stage cancer, my movements were softer, and the mother and daughter were laughing, seemingly oblivious to my arrival. Clara, serving a dish, turned and saw me. Her smile froze for a split second before she recomposed herself. “Liam, when did you get back? You’re so quiet.” I silently watched the dish in Clara’s hand—it was Alex’s favorite. Judging by the presentation, it looked like it came from a professional chef. It was quite ironic. I was dying, And only now did I discover that Clara, whom I’d spent five years with, could cook. She used to always complain about my cooking, and under Clara’s influence, Lily gradually started to dislike it too. I’d slaved away for this family, only to earn not a shred of respect. In the past, I might have lost control, utterly breaking down. But now, I calmly walked past them, sat on the sofa, and organized the things in my bag. Clara saw my silence and paused, then placed the dish on the table and walked over to me. “Liam, today, there’s something I want to discuss with you.” Clara touched her nose, a slight awkwardness in her gesture, then hesitated before speaking: “It’s about your brother, Alex.” My heart sank, a terrible thought suddenly surfacing. The next second, Clara’s words froze me in place: “Alex has been very depressed since his chemotherapy. So Mom and Dad want me to marry Alex, hoping this happy event will help him recover.”

My ears buzzed loudly, the sound overwhelming everything. It took a long time before I found my voice. “So, you agreed?” Clara sighed. “Liam, even though Alex isn’t your biological brother, he’s still family since Mom and Dad adopted him.” “And it’s just to help him get back on his feet. As soon as Alex is discharged, I’ll still be your wife, and Lily’s mom.” Before I could speak, Lily chimed in: “That’s right, Daddy! Alex has been feeling really down lately, you should try to understand him!” I silently watched the mother and daughter in front of me. This was the woman I had loved for so many years. This was the child I had painstakingly raised. I asked myself if I had ever made a mistake; I truly believed I had been a good son, husband, and father. My conscience was clear. Yet, in the end, I received their betrayal. But it didn’t matter now. If Alex wanted it, I would give him everything. I didn’t want any of it anymore. I looked up at Clara. “Fine, I agree!” A flicker of surprise crossed Clara’s eyes. “Really?” With that, she quickly pulled a divorce agreement from a drawer and placed it on the table. I gave a slight, bitter smile. Clara, Clara. Your eagerness is so transparent, you’re not even trying to hide it, are you? I picked up the pen and quickly signed. After I signed, Clara’s face was filled with utter satisfaction, her expression solemn and seemingly affectionate. “Liam, we’ll remarry once Alex is discharged. Don’t worry, I’ll never betray you!” Clara finished speaking and signed the divorce agreement herself. After signing, She looked at me and sighed, “Liam, you’ve become so much more mature than before. I know I’ve had my faults too, I was wrong.” “Once Alex is well, I promise I’ll never let you worry about anything again!” “That’s right, Daddy!” Lily, trying to sound like a little adult, also spoke up. “Daddy is so good to Alex, I’m proud of you!” Watching them, a wave of despair washed over me. Before this, I had held onto a last shred of hope for Clara and Lily. And now… It’s over. I had no expectations left, except for death. I stood up, intending to walk past them and rest in my room. A powerful wave of dizziness hit me, and I couldn’t help but collapse. In that last flickering second before my world went black, I thought I saw Clara’s face, etched with a fleeting panic. I was jolted awake by a sudden chill. When I opened my eyes, I found myself still lying on the floor. Clara and Lily were both looking at me, their faces etched with disappointment. “Mom, I told you! Daddy’s just faking it again!” Lily said. “Daddy, can you stop being so childish? You’re really delaying us from going to see Alex at the hospital!” Faking it? Then Clara spoke, her voice filled with disappointment: “Liam, can you please stop this nonsense?” “Didn’t I tell you? Even though we’re divorced, you’re still the one I love. You really don’t need to use childish tricks like faking a faint to test me!” After hearing Clara’s words, I finally understood. The painkiller I took, it completely blocked out all symptoms for three days. During that time, I’d look and feel like a perfectly normal person, my complexion no different from anyone else’s. But the side effects were brutal: after those three days, my organs would fail, and I’d die. Turns out, the medication was doing its job a little too well. I forced myself to stand. “It’s probably just low blood sugar, it’s nothing. I’ll come to the hospital with you.” “There are still some transfer documents that need Alex to sign.” Clara nodded. There wasn’t a hint of surprise on her face, so my parents must have told her beforehand. At the hospital, Alex was in his room, watching TV. “Liam, you’re here!” Alex still looked pale, But his spirits were clearly much higher. I didn’t miss the smugness, the outright arrogance, glittering in his eyes. “Liam, thank you for trusting me and letting me manage your businesses. Don’t worry, I won’t let you down!” “That’s right, Liam! With your shops and company in Alex’s hands, you can just relax at home every day and collect dividends. How wonderful is that!” Mom said, smiling. I took out the remaining documents from my bag. “In that case, I’ll let him manage all my other assets too.” “That way, I won’t have to worry about anything anymore.” Everyone in the room froze.

“Liam, are you serious? You’re giving Alex all your assets?” Clara grabbed my arm, her eyes wide with surprise. This time, I was the one confused. They used to always side with Alex, giving him whatever he wanted. If I refused, they would scold me endlessly. But now that I was giving Alex everything, They were confused? Dad was the first to snap back, his eyes beaming with satisfaction. “Our son has finally come to his senses! Our affection for him wasn’t wasted!” “Liam, it’s a good thing you’ve finally accepted your brother!” “From now on, you two live good lives together, and we’ll be at peace, even in our old age!” At peace? Mom and Dad, you’ve been fooled by Alex’s fake kindness for too many years. Do you really believe Alex will manage everything of mine properly? My head spun again, and my nose felt itchy. I touched it and found my fingers slick with blood. “Liam, why are you bleeding from the nose? The weather hasn’t been dry lately, has it?” Mom asked then. My hand, wiping my nose, paused. I couldn’t hold back anymore and looked at them, speaking: “Dad, Mom, if I really die of illness one day, will you regret it?” But Mom’s expression didn’t even flicker. She just smiled and glanced at me. “Your face is so flushed, how could you be that sick? Stop talking such nonsense, it’s bad luck!” “Exactly! Alex is different. Once he recovers, we must make sure to help him recuperate properly!” Dad said, looking at Alex with concern. “I think so too!” Lily chimed in quickly. “Daddy is quite healthy, Godfather Alex is the one we should worry about the most!” The last shred of hope in my heart vanished. I had nothing left to hope for… I looked down at Lily and smiled. “Lily, haven’t you always wanted Godfather Alex to be your real daddy?” “I’ve agreed. Alex is your daddy now. Won’t you call him Daddy?” Lily’s eyes lit up with surprise. “Really?!” I smiled faintly. “Once you call him Daddy, you can always eat the food he makes and he can always spend time with you!” “Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? Aren’t you happy?” Lily jumped up excitedly. “Yay! Daddy is the best in the world! Thank you, Daddy!” With that, Lily pulled her hand from mine and hugged Alex. My parents and Clara watched the scene with satisfied smiles. I turned to leave, taking one last look at them. My parents were laughing and playing with Lily alongside Alex, and Clara watched with a soft smile. No one noticed me. I closed the hospital room door and left the hospital. Only one day remained until my death. I had nowhere to go. My life had been busy and rushed, I’d never truly let go and enjoyed myself. I booked a ticket to a coastal city, went to see the sea at night, and wanted to climb a mountain. But I couldn’t hold on anymore. Just before I passed out, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in almost five years. Then, my vision went black, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up, I was already in a hospital. I slowly moved my eyes to check the time. Only six hours remained until my death. Beside me was my friend,Mark Miller, his eyes red-rimmed. Years ago, Mark had strongly opposed me getting together with Clara, saying she wasn’t worth marrying. But I hadn’t listened. We had a huge fight, so much so that he didn’t even come to my wedding. I knew I shouldn’t bother him now, But besides him, in this world, I truly couldn’t find anyone else. “What the hell happened to you? Weren’t you so smug after marrying Clara?” “Weren’t you three living happily ever after? How did it come to this? Why did the doctor say your organs are failing?” Mark’s voice was choked with tears. I wore a breathing mask, smiling at him. When we were kids, we made a pact: if one of us reached the end of their life, The other would, no matter what, take care of things afterward. I couldn’t speak anymore, so I forced myself to raise my hand and point to my bag. Mark pulled out several agreements from the bag. He looked at the papers for a moment, then nodded slightly and put them into his own bag. Thankfully, our privity hadn’t changed over the years. We didn’t need words to understand each other’s thoughts. Only three hours remained until my death. I gave up on resuscitation. After another bout of unconsciousness, I woke up. Mark showed me his phone. It was a message from Alex: [Liam Davis, I won! I got everything of yours.] [You thought you could compete with me? Blame your own incompetence. Who asked your parents to love me so much?] [Just quietly leave the Davis family! I’ll take good care of your parents, and your wife and daughter.] After Mark read it, he cursed loudly in the hospital room. I sighed, a self-deprecating laugh in my heart. In my entire life, I had never regretted anything, except for asking my father to sponsor Alex. I saw Alex in a dilapidated orphanage. I was volunteering with my teacher there, That day, it was snowing heavily, and all the other children were huddled inside for warmth. Only Alex was in the backyard, scrounging for scraps in a dumpster, picking at discarded bones. I couldn’t bear to watch, so I begged my father to sponsor Alex. After that, Alex and I became inseparable friends. The next year, Alex joined my class. As soon as he arrived, he charmed both teachers and students with his supposed brilliance. Whenever someone praised him, I felt incredibly proud; Until later, things started to go wrong. My friends inexplicably began to drift away, suddenly treating Alex as their best buddy; Girls who used to like me grew cold, showering Alex with declarations of affection instead; Even my parents constantly pushed me to bring Alex home for dinner, to stay over. They even split my own room, turning half of it into Alex’s. I blame my own naiveté and dullness back then. I never realized that Alex’s greatest talent was to, amidst others’ praise, Steal everything that belonged to me. By the time I came to my senses, My room was gone. My family was gone. Everything I had was occupied by Alex. I actually once asked Alex why, but his answer sent chills down my spine: “Liam, did you actually think I’d be grateful for your help? Grateful? How could I be?” “I hated seeing you so smug, so proud in front of me. I swore I’d take everything from you.” “All I wanted was to see the look of pure despair on your face when I stripped you of it all!” … I once thought I could drive Alex away. I also thought I could make my parents and Clara see his true face. But I was too naive. I underestimated Alex’s tactics, and even more, I overlooked the affection my parents, Clara, and Lily had for him. I had utterly lost. Only nine minutes remained until my death. My consciousness began to fade, my vision blurred. But I still saw a message from Mom on Mark’s phone: [Liam, could you get someone to paint the walls in your old room blue these next few days? Your brother likes blue!] [Also, Alex will be discharged in about two weeks. Once he’s out, you’ll need to move some of your things out; he’ll need space for his stuff!] Even at the last moment of my life, Mom was still concerned about Alex. It seemed I truly wasn’t important in her heart. Then, so be it… Mark seemed to be crying and screaming something in my ear, but I couldn’t hear it anymore. After so many years of fighting, I was truly exhausted. Finally, I could get some good sleep… On November 24th, Liam passed away at a hospital in Coast City, aged only 29.

Alex was in his hospital bed, watching TV, when the door suddenly burst open. He looked up and saw a man enter. The man was Alex’s biological father, Frank Wallace. “What do you want?” A flicker of disgust, mixed with a hint of fear, crossed Alex’s eyes. Frank sneered. “What, if I hadn’t thrown you in that orphanage back then, would you have ever met such rich people?” “I’m broke. Transfer me money. I need a hundred grand!” Alex shot up in bed, staring at Frank. “Why should I? Have you supported me for a single day since I was born?!” Frank made himself comfortable on the sofa in the room. “Cut the crap, Alex. I know all about your dirty little secrets, every single one of them.” “You transfer the money quietly, and we won’t have to make a scene. Otherwise, you know what I’m capable of!” Alex clenched his fist tightly, then slowly released it after a moment. “Fine. Give me some time. I need to be discharged to earn money.” Frank scoffed. “You don’t have the fate to be rich, but you got a rich man’s disease. Early-stage cancer, that’s it? What a waste of money!” “I’m giving you two days. If I don’t see the money by then, I’m going straight to the Davis family!” Frank stood up, kicked the hospital room door open, and left. Alex violently smashed the glass cup on the nightstand, sending shards flying. He gasped for breath, his eyes filled with burning hatred. Why… Why did everyone else get to have such happy lives? Why was he only destined to be thrown into an orphanage by a scumbag father like that? Why did he have to live such a despised existence? He had finally managed to usurp Liam’s place in the Davis family, to push Liam out. He absolutely refused to go back to those days of having no security! Alex got out of bed. After tricking Liam into giving him the chemotherapy chance, his body was recovering faster each day. He’d be discharged soon. But right now, he just wanted to quickly sell all the assets, shop businesses, and the company he’d snatched from Liam. Then, he’d transfer all the money in batches overseas and use the excuse of moving abroad. That way, his scumbag father would never find him. Even the gullible Davis family wouldn’t find him. Yes, he had to handle this as quickly as possible! He told the nurse at the station that he was going out for a walk to clear his head. Downstairs, he hailed a taxi and went to the bank. Alex arrived at the bank, handed his card to the teller, his heart trembling with excitement. Soon, Liam’s money would be his, and he would finally be free. But then, the teller looked up, giving him a strange glance. “Sir, the name and identity associated with this card do not match your identity.” “Sir, did you pick up the wrong card?” Alex froze. “How could that be? My family already transferred ownership of this card to me when we did the paperwork!” “Could you have made a mistake?” The teller shook her head. “Sir, the owner of this card is still Mr. Liam. Furthermore, this card has an asset protection freeze applied to it by our bank!” Alex was stunned. Asset protection freeze? How was that possible? How could this be? He had watched Liam sign the transfer agreement! He had checked that transfer agreement again and again before signing to confirm. Had Liam pulled some trick afterward? Right, and the shops and the company! Alex left the bank and called a friend he knew. He sat anxiously on a bench outside the bank. A few minutes later, his friend called him back. “Alex, the shops and company you’re talking about, their ownership belongs to someone named Liam.” “Two days ago, this Liam had his lawyer, representing him fully, apply for an ownership protection order!” Boom! A deafening explosion echoed in Alex’s mind.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “307591”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn