Category: English

**Chapter 1** In the final minute before the application deadline, I switched my choice from Westwood University to Eastwood University. As soon as it was done, a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. I leaned back in my chair, my gaze accidentally falling on the trio photo on my desk. In the picture, the three of us stood in front of Westwood University’s gates. I was playfully sticking out my tongue, flanked by Seraphina Whitfield on my left and Blair Montgomery on my right. Seraphina’s cool, clear eyes were fixed on me, a fond smile playing on her lips. Blair, always a bit careless, leaned casually on my shoulder, my chin resting on the top of her head as I looked at her. I chuckled to myself, a bitter laugh, and tore off the slightly yellowed sticky note pasted on the photo. It read: “Asher, Seraphina, and Blair are going to Westwood University together!” The resolute strokes were still clear, even after all this time. Without a second thought, I shredded the sticky note and tossed it into the trash. “Seraphina, Blair, this time, I won’t be joining you.” “From now on, we go our separate ways.” *Ding-dong.* My phone, resting on the desk, suddenly chimed. I picked it up and saw a new message in the SnapChat group chat titled “Asher and His Two Childhood Sweethearts Who’ll Spoil Him Forever.” It was supposed to be a group chat for three, but now there were four people in it. Three weeks ago, Jasper Thorne had posted a message in the group. “Yay! I checked my scores, I’m definitely in Westwood! So excited! I’ll get to be classmates with Seraphina, Blair, and Asher again! Please go easy on me~” Though he said “Asher,” the names he tagged were only Seraphina and Blair. Seraphina replied instantly: “Whenever you need me, I’ll be there for you in a heartbeat.” Blair followed up: “Me too! On the first day of school, the whole campus will know you’re under my protection, princess!” I scoffed, scrolling down the screen. Two weeks ago, Seraphina and Blair had been posting again. Today, Seraphina had bought a luxurious laptop and tagged Jasper. “This is a welcome gift for school. Did you get it? I’ll teach you if you don’t know how to use it.” The next day, Blair bought the latest model phone. “Jasper, your phone is too old. Use this brand-new one I got you.” Jasper was incredibly touched, sending several crying emojis in the group: “Your gifts are too precious; I don’t deserve them.” Both girls, almost in unison, sent the same message: “You’re wonderful, you deserve everything.” After that, they excitedly discussed throwing a celebration party for Jasper. From start to finish, I hadn’t said a single word. No one had bothered to talk to me either. I was supposedly an important member of this group, yet I felt like an outsider. Today, Jasper was flooding the chat with a stack of photos. Seraphina and Blair were doting on him like he was the center of the universe, surrounding him at the party. It was a grand celebration; gift boxes were piled high like small mountains. Jasper in the photos was smiling sweetly, like a beloved prince. After posting the photos, he specifically tagged me in the group. “Asher, are you really not coming? Seraphina and Blair threw such a magnificent party for me, I’m so happy!” I initially didn’t want to reply, until I saw the tuxedo he was wearing and the jewelry on his ears. My face hardened as I typed back: “Jasper, where did you get those clothes and jewelry?” Within seconds, Jasper sent a voice message. “Oh, I forgot to tell you! I didn’t have a tuxedo, and I remembered you must have a lot, so I went into your closet while you weren’t home and picked out a tuxedo and some jewelry.” His husky voice carried a hint of laughter, and I could hear cheerful congratulations in the background. I felt a surge of fury. “How did you know my house code?! Taking things without asking is stealing, don’t you understand that?!” My message hadn’t even been sent for a second before Seraphina and Blair’s messages flooded the screen, defending Jasper. “Asher, you’re not usually so petty. It’s just some clothes and jewelry. I’ll pay you back if it’s such a big deal.” “Exactly, why are you saying such harsh things? Jasper would never steal! He only went into your house because he thinks of you as a good friend.” “We’re all going to Westwood together, we’ll be classmates. Why make such a fuss? Just let him have it.” … Their messages, one after another, were full of accusations directed at me. Then, each of them transferred money, claiming it was to compensate me for my “losses.” My chest heaved with rage, and the glaring group name on my phone screen felt like it was mocking me. Seraphina, Blair, and I had been childhood sweethearts, growing up together. At three, when we first met, they both clung to little me, unwilling to let go, as if they wanted to take me home and raise me themselves. At six, I loved a certain brand of yogurt, so Seraphina bought out every single yogurt on the street for me. Blair even had her family buy the entire factory, just so it could supply only me in the future. At thirteen, when the Hartley family home caught fire and my parents were away on a business trip, I was trapped inside. Everyone else was too scared to go in, but young Seraphina and Blair rushed in without hesitation. To this day, they still bear the burn scars on their chests. At fifteen, I suffered from severe stomach pain. Seraphina immediately skipped her Olympic competition and rushed back overnight. Blair, frantic, took me to doctors and lovingly pressed her hand to my stomach, looking utterly heartbroken. All these years, they had always been by my side, one on each arm, like two loyal queens, forbidding any other girl from getting close to me. On my seventeenth birthday, both of them confessed their feelings to me. I couldn’t choose, nor did I want to date prematurely. Just as I was about to steel myself and refuse, they immediately grabbed my hands, stopping me from saying anything. They even humbly asked for some time to consider, promising that I could give them my answer on the first day of university. Not wanting to hurt anyone, I reluctantly agreed. I thought I would figure out my feelings during this time, until Jasper appeared. Jasper was one of the impoverished students sponsored by the Hartley family. Because of his excellent grades, he was able to transfer to my high school. He used the excuse of thanking me to slowly get closer. At first, I felt sorry for him and often looked after him. He said he couldn’t afford meals, so I often used my meal card to buy him food. He said he couldn’t keep up with his studies, so I sacrificed my own time to tutor him. He said he had no friends, so I introduced him to Seraphina and Blair. But I never expected that in just three months, Jasper would meticulously, step by step, replace me. Incidents similar to today’s had occurred countless times over the past year. The group chat was still relentlessly trying to convince me. Watching them defend Jasper and blame me with every single word, I let out a bitter laugh. Seeing that phrase, “All four of us are going to Westwood University,” I typed a few words: “Only you three.” I paused for a moment, then deleted it. I accepted their transfers, then tagged Jasper: “Fine, they’re yours.” Not just the clothes and jewelry, but these two childhood sweethearts too. I’m giving them all to you. **Chapter 2** After replying, I immediately changed the front door code. Then, I started clearing out every memory of Seraphina and Blair from my house. I packed away many ornaments and plush toys from the shelves, tossing them into a box. Before I knew it, the box was overflowing. As I carried the box downstairs to throw it in the trash, I coincidentally ran into Seraphina and Blair, who were returning from the party. They spotted the two veils in the trash almost immediately. When we were kids playing house, they both fought over who would be my bride, almost coming to blows. In the end, I had to buy them both veils, and only then did the tension between them ease, though they still declared that when we married, the other’s veil would have to be thrown away. At that time, I just blinked my eyes: “How do you know I’ll marry one of you when I grow up?” They both instantly exploded, insisting I had to choose one of them. Now, seeing me throw away not just the veils, but everything related to them, they rushed forward. Blair, with her outgoing personality, grabbed my hand tightly, incredulous: “Why are you throwing away the things we gave you? Are you still mad about what happened earlier? Yes, we did tell Jasper your house code, but aren’t you guys friends? We thought it wouldn’t be a big deal to tell him. Even if he took your stuff, we already transferred the money, and you accepted it, didn’t you…?” Seraphina, usually cool and reserved, spoke with a slight tremor in her voice, “Asher, it’s just a small thing. If you’re upset, fine, but why throw things away? Do you have to be so extreme?” I’m being extreme by throwing away *their* things? And *they* feel hurt? What if I told them I’d secretly changed my university application, just to get away from them forever? Wouldn’t that drive them insane? “I’m not mad. These things just got moldy, so of course, I’m throwing them away.” I spoke calmly, my eyes as placid as still water as I looked at them. “You’re really not mad anymore?” they asked in unison. I shook my head. “No.” After all, these two would have nothing to do with me anymore. What was there to be angry about? Hearing this, Blair immediately let out a sigh of relief. Seraphina’s brow also relaxed slightly. “If they got moldy, it’s good to throw them out. We’ll buy you new ones later.” I didn’t say anything, just hummed in acknowledgment, and turned to leave indifferently. Watching my retreating back, Blair still sensed something was off. She knew I was saying one thing but thinking another. She impatiently ruffled her hair, then exchanged a glance with Seraphina, tossing her chin dismissively: “Should we go mollify him?” Seraphina’s eyes were downcast, the depth of her thoughts unreadable. “You go,” she said, her voice chillingly calm. Blair took a step, then hesitated, as if recalling something. “Never mind. He has to make a choice on the first day of school anyway. If he’s still mad, we’ll explain the Jasper situation then.” “Hm.” Seraphina nodded, and they each went home. For several days, Seraphina and Blair didn’t come looking for me. Through Jasper’s constant SnapChat stories, I knew they had been accompanying him through his post-graduation bucket list. Amusement parks they’d never visited, planetariums they were curious about, the Great Wall only seen in books… They took Jasper to experience each one. I scrolled through them, even finding myself in the mood to hit “like.” Then, one day, I received my acceptance letter from Eastwood University. Just as I put away the letter, Seraphina and Blair knocked on my door together. “Asher, our acceptance letters arrived! Did yours? Let’s go pick them up together.” My expression was distant, my usually gentle eyes now filled with indifference. “No need, mine already arrived.” I moved to close the door. Seraphina quickly caught it with her hand. “Wait, I booked a private room. Let’s have dinner together to celebrate.” Blair also blocked the door, adding, “After dinner, we can go shopping for school supplies together.” I didn’t want to go, but they wouldn’t leave, nor would they let me close the door. Left with no choice, I nodded in agreement. I followed them into a hotpot restaurant. The spicy aroma stung my nostrils, and I instinctively rubbed my nose, my eyes tearing up slightly. At the reserved table, Jasper was already adding ingredients to the pot. “You’re finally here! The broth’s been boiling, I’ve been waiting for you guys forever!” Seeing Jasper, I instinctively frowned. Blair quickly explained, “Asher, Jasper said he also needed to buy supplies, so we invited him along.” Seraphina, however, carefully observed my expression, then added, “We’ll be classmates from now on, so we just thought we should look after him.” No matter how much more they explained, I no longer cared to listen. I just wanted to finish dinner and shopping quickly, then go home. But sitting at the table, I couldn’t eat a single bite. The spicy hotpot was alarmingly full of chilies. Jasper enjoyed it, but I’d had a sensitive stomach since childhood and couldn’t handle spicy food. After forcing down a few mouthfuls, my stomach burned with a fiery pain. I called a waiter to order a few more dishes, but Jasper snatched the menu from my hand and ordered several even spicier ones. Seraphina and Blair watched him with fond smiles, completely forgetting that I couldn’t eat spicy food. At this point, I could see that Jasper was doing it on purpose. I didn’t resist like before. I was tired of the game where my two childhood sweethearts would defend Jasper and criticize me. So I just quietly drank plain water, not saying a word. **Chapter 3** When we went to the mall to buy essential school items, I browsed the winter wear section, picking out several thick clothes. Seraphina noticed and reminded me, “Westwood University is in this city, the weather is always mild. You won’t need these heavy clothes, you don’t have to buy them.” Westwood University? I wasn’t going to Westwood. I didn’t explain, simply brushing her off: “Hm, I know. These clothes look nice, I can wear them when I travel.” Seraphina frowned slightly, her lips parted, but she still didn’t say anything. On the way back, Jasper hesitated for a long time before tugging on Blair and Seraphina’s sleeves. “Blair, Seraphina, can I, like, not go home?” He bit his lip, his eyes, slightly downcast, glistening with tears. “The crime rate in my neighborhood, the low-income area, has been really bad lately. I’m always so scared and on edge whenever I go back.” As he spoke, he looked up at Blair and Seraphina pleadingly. “Of course, you can! Come stay at my place! I have so many spare rooms, pick any one you like!” Blair, soft-hearted, promised generously. Seraphina also gently hummed, “You can stay at my place for a while too. It’s very safe.” Jasper’s face instantly broke into a wide smile, profusely thanking them, then subtly glancing at me. “Thank you both so much, you’re so good to me! I’ve never lived in such a nice house before!” I leaned against the car window, ignoring them, my gaze aimlessly fixed on the distant scenery. It didn’t matter where Jasper stayed; it had nothing to do with me. The next morning, I received a call from my parents. “Asher, are you really sure you don’t want to go to Westwood? Eastwood is better, but didn’t you, Seraphina, and Blair promise to go to the same school? Those two girls have clung to you since childhood; they can’t stand you being gone for an hour. If they knew you switched schools, wouldn’t they go crazy?” I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “That’s their problem, not mine. I did want to go to Westwood because of our promise, but Eastwood has a major I prefer. This is my life; I’ll make my own choices.” Hearing this, my parents didn’t try to persuade me further, only nagging with concern: “Since that’s the case, take good care of yourself at home alone for now. We’ll be back to keep you company once our business trip is over.” “Oh, and the welcome gift your dad and I bought for you arrived. Remember to pick it up!” “Okay, thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom.” I hung up, smiling, then opened my phone to find a text message from the courier ten minutes earlier, confirming delivery. [Your package has been left at the door. Please sign for it.] I quickly got up to open the door, only to find nothing there. Just as I was about to call the courier, utterly confused, Jasper suddenly emerged from Seraphina’s house, holding something in his hand and waving it. “Asher, are you looking for this?” What he was waving was, unmistakably, a violin. “I saw a package at your door, so I helped you open it. Is this from your parents? What a beautiful violin! I really wish I had one. Can you give it to me?” He spoke, his eyes sparkling as he caressed the violin, refusing to let go. I had never met anyone with such a lack of boundaries; for a moment, I almost thought I’d misheard him. “Didn’t anyone teach you not to open other people’s packages without permission? If you like it so much, why don’t you buy one yourself?” Hearing this, Jasper’s eyes instantly reddened, and he choked out, “You… you know my family can’t afford it. Why would you humiliate me like that?” I had no time for Jasper’s theatrics, and no desire to argue further. I simply reached out to take the violin. But Jasper clung to it stubbornly, clearly loving it, refusing to let go. In the struggle, I’m not sure who let go first, but the beautifully polished violin fell to the ground with a dull thud. A hideous crack spread across its perfect body, impossible to ignore! **Chapter 4** I couldn’t hold back my anger any longer. “Jasper!” Hearing the commotion, Seraphina quickly stepped out. Blair, next door, also rushed out immediately. And the first thing they saw when they came out was Jasper’s tear-streaked face. They both ran to him. “What happened? You were fine a minute ago. Who bullied you?” He sniffled, his voice thick with tears: “It’s not Asher’s fault. I accidentally dropped the new violin myself. It’s natural to be sad. He just got angry at me and pushed me when I suddenly appeared, but I’m not mad. As long as he’s happy, I’m willing to endure anything.” *I* dropped the violin? *I* got angry at Jasper to vent and pushed him?! Every word Jasper said made sense on its own, but put together, only two words echoed in my mind. Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous! I thought Jasper was just manipulative, but I never expected him to be so morally corrupt, capable of twisting black into white. Before I could even speak, Blair’s face darkened, and she immediately reprimanded me: “Asher Hartley, you can’t just throw a fit like a spoiled rich kid! Apologize to Jasper!” Seraphina also coldly chimed in: “Asher, you’ve gone too far. Apologize now!” My temples throbbed with fury, and I struggled to control my emotions: “Me apologize? Seraphina, Blair, there’s a security camera in this hallway. Do you want to see what really happened?” Hearing this, Jasper immediately panicked and cried even harder. “Seraphina, Blair, don’t blame Asher. I’m really fine. If you stand up for me like this, I won’t be able to be friends with Asher anymore.” At his words, Seraphina immediately pulled out a tissue and gently wiped away his tears, patting his back. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault. Don’t cry, sweetie.” Blair glared at me coldly: “Look at what you did, and then look at what Jasper did! The difference between class and trash is instantly clear!” With that, the two of them, shielding the crying Jasper, turned and left without looking back. Watching their backs, I felt a knot of suffocating frustration in my chest. I could only tell myself, over and over again. Soon. Soon, I wouldn’t have to see these three people anymore, and they would be completely out of my life. Three days later, it was the pre-arranged class reunion. As soon as I arrived, many classmates curiously looked behind me, then their eyes filled with disappointment. “Asher, why aren’t the two campus queens here? Aren’t they always wherever you are?” “Yeah, I heard you all got into Westwood. On the first day of school, you have to choose between Seraphina and Blair. Have you decided who you’re going to pick?” Before I could answer, a few classmates who usually targeted me quickly chimed in: “Choose who? Does Asher Hartley even have a choice anymore? Seraphina and Blair prefer Jasper now. Why are you even asking him? Haven’t you figured it out?” The group burst into laughter, waiting to see my reaction. They expected me to get angry, but to their surprise, I didn’t say a word, didn’t even spare them a glance. The group, feeling snubbed, was about to continue their taunts when the private room door opened. Seraphina and Blair entered, one on each side, like two grand queens guarding Jasper. The group quickly looked at me and started laughing again. “Now that the ‘queens’ don’t like him anymore, I don’t know what he still has to be so arrogant about.” “That’s not arrogance, that’s a stray dog, hahahaha… Look at him… he looks like a dog.” The class president wiped his sweaty forehead and quickly smoothed things over: “Everyone’s here, let’s start the party!” At the party, everyone was chattering noisily. Seraphina carefully took off her jacket and draped it over Jasper. “The AC is strong here, wear something warm.” Blair sat with a rebellious swagger, deftly playing with a fruit knife. With a few swift movements, the fruit peels neatly dropped into the trash can. Soon, a bowl of cut fruit appeared in front of Jasper. She lazily said, “Eat more fruit, drink less alcohol.” They attended to Jasper with extreme care. Mindful of the last incident, they didn’t even glance in my direction. I sat in a corner, calmly eating some fruit, my expression utterly indifferent. Midway through, someone started a game of Truth or Dare. I didn’t want to participate, but I was forcibly pulled into the game. After a few rounds, I lost. “Alright, alright, it’s my turn to share a secret!” A secret? I chuckled inwardly, my gaze sweeping past Seraphina and Blair. Then I said flatly, “My secret is – on the first day of school, I’m going to throw away two things.

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It was the third year of my marriage to Ryder Vance when he was reported dead, killed in action during a mission. His twin brother, Archer Vance, brought back a blood-stained dog tag, his voice hoarse as he told me, “Mia, Ryder… he’s not coming back.” I fainted on the spot. When I woke up, I frantically tried to go find him, but my mother-in-law, Eleanor, held me back with all her might. Later, I swallowed sleeping pills, slashed my wrists, jumped into a river—three attempts to end my life, and three times I was saved. Everyone whispered, “Colonel Vance and Ms. Stone had such deep feelings for each other…” Yes, deep. So deep that it took three months after his “death” for me to discover the truth— He wasn’t the one who died at all. **Chapter 1** The night I was saved from my third suicide attempt, I stumbled into my in-laws’ house, my face pale, hoping to find some of Ryder’s old belongings for solace. Instead, I heard hushed voices from the inner room. “Ryder, how much longer are you going to keep this a secret? Mia has tried to kill herself three times for you!” My fingers dug sharply into my palms. Ryder? Why was my mother-in-law calling my deceased brother-in-law, Archer, “Ryder”? “Mom, just a little longer,” the voice replied. It was clearly Archer’s voice, but the gentle tone was eerily similar to how Ryder used to comfort me. “My brother, Archer, entrusted me with looking after his wife before he died. But she’s delicate, and hearing the news of his death would surely kill her. I could only pretend to be him, give her a child. With a child as an anchor, she can keep living.” My blood ran cold. I could barely believe what I was hearing. So, it was Archer who died, not Ryder. My husband was alive, but he was living as his brother, sleeping next door every night—with Scarlett Hayes! “But what about Mia?” Eleanor’s voice grew more frantic. “You’re sleeping in Scarlett’s room every day. Haven’t you thought about Mia’s feelings?” “I’m stronger than your average woman…” That sentence pierced my heart like a dagger. I stumbled backward, accidentally knocking over a broom leaning against the wall. The room fell silent instantly. But I turned and ran, as if a monster was chasing me. As I ran, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my hand. Opening my palm, I saw that the dog tag, clutched too tightly, had cut into my skin, and blood was flowing. For three months, I had held this dog tag every night as I slept, waking up countless times in tears. But now, it suddenly felt so ridiculous. My husband wasn’t dead. He just chose to let me believe he was, all to “comfort” his sister-in-law! Five years ago, Ryder and I first met at a military gala. He was a commanding officer in an elite unit, and I was a dancer for the armed forces performance group. Many women pursued him, and I had my share of admirers. But that night, he stood in the audience, his gaze fixed on me as I performed a powerful military dance. Afterward, he strode onto the stage and, in front of everyone, draped his military jacket over my shoulders. “Madam,” he said, “it’s getting chilly. Please stay warm.” I blushed, wrapped in his jacket. After that, he began to court me. Before every mission, he would make a special detour to visit me at the performance group. The day I agreed to officially be his girlfriend, he was ecstatic, drinking until he was utterly intoxicated. He spun me around in the courtyard, swearing solemnly, “Mia, you are the only woman I, Ryder Vance, will ever cherish in this life.” After we married, everyone said Colonel Vance doted on his wife to the extreme. I truly believed he treasured me like a precious gem. But now? He was impersonating his brother, sleeping in his sister-in-law’s bed, and even planning for her to conceive his child, all for “her comfort.” And I, like an idiot, cried for him, tried to die for him, was consumed by grief for him. Did he ever stop to think that I would hurt too? When I stumbled home in a daze, Ms. Jenkins, the matchmaker, paid another visit. “Amelia, Colonel Dawson is being transferred to the island in two weeks. This is the seventh time he’s asked me to come… He said if you still don’t agree, he won’t ever come back.” Liam Dawson, Ryder’s comrade. Since I was confirmed a widow, many men had approached me, expressing interest in dating or marriage. I had refused the first six times. Because I believed I would only ever love Ryder Vance. But now… I looked up and calmly said, “Alright, I’ll marry him.” Ms. Jenkins stared, stunned. “You, are you serious?” “Absolutely,” I smiled. “Please tell Liam Dawson that in two weeks, I’ll marry him and go to the island with him.” The door swung open abruptly. Ryder stood there, his face shadowed with anger. “Sister-in-law, who are you marrying?” I looked at him, and suddenly, it all felt so ridiculous. “Brother-in-law,” I said softly, emphasizing the title, “that’s my business.” He spoke to Ms. Jenkins but grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it hurt. “My sister-in-law has me to care for her. She doesn’t need to marry anyone else. Besides, you loved Ryder so much, you couldn’t possibly marry another. Ms. Jenkins, don’t come back here again, or I’ll be forced to send you away!” Ms. Jenkins looked bewildered. “But Amelia already agreed…” She was cut off mid-sentence as I quickly grabbed her arm. “Ms. Jenkins, weren’t you planning a trip to the local grocery store? You should hurry; it’ll be closing soon.” Ms. Jenkins’s attention was diverted. She nodded quickly, agreeing, and then hurried off. Ryder finally breathed a sigh of relief when Ms. Jenkins left. He took a half-step closer, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Sister-in-law, even though Ryder is gone, don’t worry. I’ll take care of you. From now on, just send people like that away…” At that moment, I found him utterly laughable. He was secretly sleeping in his sister-in-law’s room every day, yet he was afraid I would run away, afraid I would remarry? What kind of logic was that? But I didn’t expose him. I just nodded. Anyway, in half a month, I’d be married to someone else, leaving this place forever. He wouldn’t be able to control me then. That night, as I packed my luggage, I suddenly heard the creak of a wooden bed from next door. Before, hearing that sound, I would have just thought my brother-in-law and his wife had a good relationship. But now, every muffled groan was like a blunt knife twisting in my gut. It was unmistakably Ryder’s deep hum, the sound he used to make only in my ear when we were intimate. “Ah—!” A piercing scream cut through the night. When I rushed out, I saw Ryder carrying a disheveled Scarlett Hayes, running outside. In the moonlight, a stark red stain spread on her white sleep shorts. The residential area immediately erupted in whispers. Mrs. Peterson, my neighbor, peeked her head out, asking, “Oh dear, what’s going on?” “I heard she got a little too excited during intimacy, causing some bleeding…” “I can’t believe it, Archer always seemed so serious, but he’s so attentive to his wife…” I stood among the crowd, feeling utterly cold. Just as I was about to turn and leave, Mrs. Peterson grabbed my arm. “Amelia, as Archer’s sister-in-law, you should go with them and check on her!” To avoid any more gossip, I quickly grabbed a jacket and rushed to the hospital. In the hospital hallway, the sterile scent of disinfectant stung my eyes. Ryder was pacing anxiously. He visibly froze when he saw me. “What are you doing here?” I forced a faint smile. “As Archer’s sister-in-law, I should naturally come see her.” The operating room door suddenly opened, and a doctor emerged. “Mr. Vance, please don’t worry. Your wife is fine. She’s just pregnant and needs to avoid strenuous intimate activity for a while…” **Chapter 2** I stood in the hospital hallway, my ears ringing. The doctor’s words, “She’s pregnant,” hit me like a blunt instrument. I instinctively looked at Ryder, who first froze, then his eyes exploded with wild joy. He murmured, “This is great… Everything is going back on track.” I knew exactly what he meant. Scarlett was pregnant, so he could finally shed Archer’s identity and return to me. But I didn’t need him anymore. “However, the patient is a bit anemic and needs a blood transfusion,” the doctor’s words interrupted my thoughts. Ryder immediately rolled up his sleeve, but the doctor stopped him. “Your blood type doesn’t match. We need B-type blood.” I was B-type. His gaze shifted to me. After a moment of hesitation, he walked over. “Mia, your sister-in-law is pregnant. This child… we’ve been waiting for a long time.” He paused. “Would you mind donating some blood? When the baby is born, I promise I’ll make it up to you.” Make it up to me? I scoffed internally. His idea of “making it up to me” was to come back to me as if it were a favor? “I can donate blood, but there’s no need for compensation.” I said calmly, then turned and followed the nurse to the blood donation room. As the needle pierced my vein, I watched my crimson blood flow into the bag. I suddenly remembered the year we were newly married: I had a high fever, and Ryder carried me for miles through the night to the hospital. That day, a similar needle was used, and he squeezed my hand tightly, saying, “Don’t be scared, wife, I’m right here.” Now, my blood would flow into another woman’s body, nourishing their child. For the next few days, I recuperated at home. Through the window, I watched Ryder, who didn’t even go to the base, shuttle between home and the hospital daily, carrying an insulated food container. One day, it was chicken soup; the next, boiled eggs… Once, when I was sick in bed with a cold, he would stand in the kitchen like this, making all sorts of nutritious meals for me. The day Scarlett was discharged, the entire residential area was filled with the sweet scent of candy. Ryder carried a jar of celebration sweets, distributing them house to house. His usually stern face held an undisguised smile. “Scarlett’s pregnant. Have a sweet.” “Oh, congratulations!” “Finally, a baby is on the way!” He smiled and nodded in agreement, his eyes beaming with the joy of an expectant father. Finally, he came to me, his hand hesitant as he offered the candy. “Sister-in-law…” “Congratulations, Brother-in-law,” I said, taking a candy and smiling just enough. “I wish your family of three happiness and fulfillment.” Ryder’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Such a perfectly polite blessing made him uneasy. Since “Ryder’s sacrifice,” I had either cried or thrown tantrums. When had I ever been so calm? But before he could ponder it, Scarlett walked over and linked her arm through his, chirping, “Ryder, didn’t you say you’d treat Mia to dinner?” To thank me for donating blood, Scarlett insisted on treating me. I refused repeatedly but was eventually pulled into their car. At the restaurant, a waiter greeted us warmly. “Right this way for three!” Her gaze flickered between Ryder and Scarlett, and she smiled. “You two make such a handsome couple!” Then she looked at me. “Is this your sister? She’s quite striking.” Ryder flinched, but before he could speak, I had already responded softly, “Yes, I’m his sister.” Those words stabbed him like a knife. But looking at Scarlett’s slightly swollen belly, he ultimately didn’t correct her. **Chapter 3** When ordering, he rattled off a string of dishes with practiced ease: “No cilantro, light on oil and salt, make it sour and spicy…” All of Scarlett’s preferences. It wasn’t until the waiter asked, “What would your sister like?” that he seemed to remember me, turning his head in my direction. “Anything is fine,” I said, lowering my head to drink my tea, the steam blurring my expression. When the dishes were served, I mechanically picked at my rice, grain by grain. Suddenly, my throat constricted. I looked down and realized the dumplings in my bowl were sesame-filled—I was allergic to sesame! Ryder used to remember all my allergens; he would even specifically remind people not to use sesame during group gatherings. Now, he had ordered an entire plate of sesame dumplings. “Amelia?” Scarlett noticed my pale face. “What’s wrong?” Ryder finally looked up. Seeing my flushed cheeks, he shot to his feet. “Did you eat sesame?!” My breathing grew increasingly difficult, and my vision blurred. In a haze, I saw Ryder rushing towards me, but he was stopped halfway by Scarlett’s cry of pain: “Ah… my stomach hurts so much…” Time seemed to freeze at that moment. I watched Ryder stand rigid, his gaze torn between me and Scarlett. Finally, he picked up Scarlett, and as he left, he hurriedly told the waiter, “Please send my sister to the hospital.” “Madam? Madam!” The waiter’s frantic shouts grew distant. My consciousness faded, and I completely passed out. The sterile scent of disinfectant stung my eyes. I opened them to see a nurse changing my IV drip. “Madam, you’re awake!” The nurse breathed a sigh of relief. “Luckily, the restaurant staff brought you here in time. Anaphylactic shock can be fatal.” I tried to speak, but my throat was burning. Ryder’s silhouette, carrying Scarlett and leaving without hesitation, wouldn’t disappear from my mind. I closed my eyes, but tears streamed down my temples. For three days in the hospital, I lay alone in my bed, the allergic rash making me itch all over, my throat so swollen I couldn’t even swallow water. At my worst, I overheard nurses outside whispering: “The pregnant woman in Room 308 has frequent fetal movements; her husband is frantic, like something’s possessed him.” “Unlike the patient in Room 302, whose allergy is so severe, yet her husband hasn’t even visited her, as if she were dead…” I buried my face in the pillow. Yes, my husband had died long ago. He died in that mission, he died three months ago, he died… the moment he chose to become another woman’s husband. The day I was discharged, the sun was shining brightly. As I reached the hospital entrance, I suddenly saw that familiar military-issue jeep. The next second, Scarlett Hayes walked out of the hospital doors. The car door *thudded* open, and Ryder rushed over, carefully supporting her waist. “Slow down, the doctor said you need more rest…” His voice was dripping with tenderness, exactly how he used to coax me. I stood there, watching the jeep drive away, the exhaust fumes blowing onto my pale face. He didn’t even spare me a glance. … The evening wind carried a chill. I pushed open my front door. From afar, I saw a tall figure standing at my doorstep. Ryder Vance held several shopping bags filled with supplements, and at his feet were several mesh bags containing nutritional drinks, candy, and canned goods. “Amelia,” he quickly walked over. “Are your allergies any better?” How ironic. During the day, he acted as if I were invisible, but when no one was around, he came to pretend affection. “Thank you for your concern, Brother-in-law. I’m much better.” I bypassed him, reaching for the doorknob. Ryder grabbed my wrist. “Take these to help you recover…” “No need—” “Ryder! Something’s happened!” Scarlett suddenly rushed into the yard, tears streaming down her face. “I, I’ve been reported for illegally obtaining special permits!”

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I was the world’s top mercenary, all because of one sentence she uttered: “The world is too dangerous, I want to build a life with you.” I fought tooth and nail to leave my organization, stopping dead in my tracks to be by her side. Until I overheard her conversation with a friend. “Boyfriend? Please. He’s just a bodyguard I sleep with.” Her friend then mentioned a name: Liam. The moment she heard it, Seraphina’s expression softened, her voice turning gentle. “Liam is different. He’s the purest, most innocent boy in the world.” In that instant, my dream felt like it shattered. I narrowed my eyes and called my Boss, who’d been waiting for my return. “Boss, that S-rank mission you mentioned? I’ll take it.” “Are you sure about this? It’s a covert operation, no contact with the outside world for an entire year.” “Aren’t you and your fiancée pretty solid?” I glanced at the woman I’d loved for three years. She was sitting in the center of the couch, delicately toying with her wine glass. The tender expression she’d worn just moments ago when Liam’s name was spoken still lingered on her face. I spoke softly. “Yeah, I’m sure.” Boss didn’t press further. “Alright, get ready. I’ll send a car for you tomorrow night.” After hanging up, I pushed open the door and walked in. The moment I stepped inside, countless mocking glances fell on me. “Look who it is, Mr. Jax! Seraphina, really, always making her boyfriend drink for her. Always a cheat.” “He’s not just a boyfriend, he’s her fiancé.” “Right, right. Mr. Jax risked his life for her, so Seraphina naturally had to give herself to him. A bodyguard who climbed his way up. Quite the trick, isn’t it?” These were Seraphina’s closest friends, the city’s privileged socialites. Their taunts weren’t new. I couldn’t be bothered to engage. I walked straight to Seraphina and sat down. Seeing my lack of reaction, their faces fell, and their teasing words grew laced with anger. “What? You really think you’re her fiancé now? We’re talking to you, can’t you hear us?” Seraphina chuckled, handed me a glass of wine, then turned to smile at the woman who’d just spoken. “Can’t a drink shut you up? He’s my savior for the night, don’t scare him off before he’s had a chance to help.” She turned to me, nodding her chin towards the glass in my hand, signaling me to drink it. “They’re just joking around, don’t mind them.” “It’s my birthday today, and they’ve given me so many toasts. If you hadn’t shown up, I’d be completely wasted.” Seeing that I still said nothing, Seraphina knew I was upset. She turned back to her friends and gently chided them again. “Say less of that next time. He doesn’t like it.” Over the years, Seraphina had often brought me to these kinds of events. I used to think it was a sign of her valuing me, letting me into her world. But now, it was clear. In her eyes, I was nothing more than a servant to deflect drinks, a bodyguard she slept with. Seraphina’s friends pouted, but eventually, they said no more. Just then, a figure walked in from the doorway. He looked a little flustered, tightly clutching a gift box in his hands. His knuckles were white from nervousness, as if this was his first time in a place like this. The moment he entered, Seraphina abruptly stood up from beside me and rushed to his side. “What are you doing here? I told you I’d come find you after I was done!” Seeing Seraphina, the boy’s panic instantly turned to surprise. He held out the gift in his hands towards her. “It’s almost midnight. I wanted to give you your present before then.” Just then, Seraphina’s friends’ mocking voices rose again. “Well, well, if it isn’t Mr. Liam? Hearing about him doesn’t do him justice; he’s truly an adorable little bunny.” Seraphina’s face instantly darkened. She snatched a wine glass from the table and hurled it, smashing it against the wall. “Cut that out! If you dare scare him, I swear I’ll make you pay!” Seraphina’s reaction was extreme, the icy chill radiating from her chilling everyone to the bone. The entire VIP room fell silent. Seeing her reaction, I felt a strange disconnect. Her friends had only teased him a little, yet she flew into such a rage, terrified that Liam might suffer even a hint of injustice. But moments ago, her friends had said far worse things to me, and even when I was clearly upset, she’d merely laughed it off, unconcerned. I lowered my head, chuckling self-deprecatingly. The air in the room grew heavy with tension. I picked up two wine glasses, stood up, and walked over to Liam, offering him one. “Mr. Liam, nice to meet you. My name is Jax.”

The words had barely left my lips when Seraphina snatched the glass from my hand, tilting her head back and draining it. “He has a sensitive stomach and doesn’t drink. I’ll drink it for him.” For three years with Seraphina, most of the drinks at these events were consumed by me, on her behalf. Now, Liam hadn’t even refused yet, and she was already protecting him, drinking his share. I was about to speak, but Liam’s necklace caught my eye. The pendant on the chain was a worn, faded bullet. Noticing my gaze, Liam’s hand instinctively clutched the necklace, his voice tinged with nervousness. “Is something wrong, Jax?” Before I could answer, Seraphina quickly interjected. “Liam said this necklace was special when we met last time, so I took the liberty of giving it to him.” I looked at Seraphina. A flicker of unease crossed her face. After three years of constant companionship, how could I not know her? Her hurried explanation was only because she was afraid I’d question Liam. But she didn’t know me. I, Jax, have never been one for drama. “Well, since your date has arrived, I’ll head home then.” “Seraphina, Happy Birthday.” With that, I walked out of the room without looking at anyone’s expression. As soon as I got home, my phone rang. I opened it and saw a video on SnapChat had tagged me. In the video, Liam was sitting amidst a pile of gifts, a large bouquet of Black Knight roses beside him, and a party hat perched on his head. The caption read: “Someone who truly loves you will spoil you rotten. Who knew even non-birthday people could get so many gifts?” Soon, the video disappeared, and a message popped up a second later. “I’m so sorry, Jax. I tagged the wrong person. My bad.” I smiled, put down my phone, and didn’t reply. Liam’s little games meant nothing to me. I began to pack my things calmly, but as I did, tears started to fall. I didn’t have much. Apart from my everyday clothes, there was almost nothing else. As I packed, I suddenly realized that in these three years, Seraphina had never once given me a gift. When we were most in love, I, like a naive boy, would pull her into my arms, holding her hand and tracing her fingers. “It’s always me trying to make you happy and giving you gifts. Other girlfriends always prepare surprises for their boyfriends, but I’ve never received anything.” “Next anniversary, how about a small gift for me?” Seraphina would always lean her head against my neck, clinging to me playfully. “My Jax isn’t like those *other* men, why would he like things losers pine over?” My mind flashed back to the video I’d just seen, that man sitting amidst a mountain of gifts. In that moment, I suddenly realized it wasn’t that I was “different,” but that she simply couldn’t be bothered to put effort into me. Piles of gifts that others couldn’t even stack were the surprises I’d begged for for three years and never received. How could my heart not ache? Three years with Seraphina were three years of my life. I genuinely believed, once, that I would build a home with her. “Why are you suddenly packing? Where are you going?”

Her familiar voice reached my ears, and my hands froze. “Nowhere. The closet’s a mess, just tidying up.” Hearing my answer, a flicker of suspicion crossed Seraphina’s face. But perhaps thinking I knew no one else besides her, she seemed to believe my explanation. She sighed, wrapped her arms around my waist, and gently nuzzled her head against my chest. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I just see him as a friend. I’m going to marry you, Jax.” “That necklace, he said it was special, so I let him wear it for a couple of days. If you’re upset, I’ll go get it back tomorrow.” “Don’t be mad, hmm?” That final “hmm,” with its rising inflection, was soft and intimate, laced with playful seduction. After three years together, she knew exactly how to make me melt. Every time I was even slightly upset, that single phrase from her would completely soften me, and I’d be instantly appeased. But this time, smelling the faint scent of men’s cologne in her hair, my nose just stung with a sharp ache. Before I could reply, Seraphina’s phone rang. “What’s wrong? Did you scratch the car?” “Don’t be scared, I’ll be right there. Are you hurt?” “Liam, don’t panic. Listen to me first, call the police and insurance…” Her face was etched with anxiety. She spoke rapidly, pulled open the door, and left the house without a backward glance at me. The entire house fell silent again, as if she had never returned. I smiled, reaching up to brush away the tears welling in my eyes. That necklace, so casually mentioned by her, was once a bullet that had nearly pierced my heart. As a top mercenary, our organization frequently took on illicit missions from the dark web. My acquaintance with Seraphina began because she was my client for one of those contracts. During that period, she was being hunted by rivals, and I was her bodyguard for three months. In those three months, I saved her life countless times. And on the day the three-month period ended, a killer hired by the other side and I fired our bullets simultaneously. My opponent died on the spot, and the bullet meant for me lodged half an inch from my heart. I narrowly escaped with my life. When I woke up in the hospital bed, Seraphina was asleep by my bedside. Her eyes were swollen and red, like a startled rabbit. “I’m fine, don’t cry. Our contract is over, and that mercenary is dead. No one can hurt you anymore, don’t be afraid.” At the time, I truly believed her tears were from fear. After all, she was different from someone like me, who dealt with death constantly. For someone like Seraphina, who’d lived a life of privilege since childhood, and a woman at that, experiencing such a life-and-death situation, fear was only natural. But she shook her head, pressed her forehead against the back of my hand, and choked out each word. “This world is too dangerous, Jax. I want to build a life with you.” “My Jax, my heart aches for you. Stay, stay by my side, okay?” I don’t know if it was Seraphina’s tear-reddened eyes that were too sincere then, or if her words were simply too moving. When she asked that question, I nodded, as if compelled by some unknown force. From that day on, I fought tooth and nail to leave the organization. I stopped dead in my tracks for Seraphina, fantasizing about building a home with her. And that bullet, Seraphina had made into a necklace, wearing it close to her skin. “This bullet will remind me every single moment that Jax is the love of my life.” But now, she knew the meaning of that bullet, yet she still gave it to someone else. Then, it was time for me to exit the stage.

Seraphina finally came home the next afternoon. There was a business reception that evening, and she was back to pick me up. I glanced at the clock on the wall. I still had a few hours before Boss’s car would arrive. I didn’t want to arouse Seraphina’s suspicion and cause unnecessary trouble later. I nodded, changed my clothes, and accompanied her out the door. I walked beside Seraphina, her arm linked through mine. We mingled elegantly, clinking glasses and exchanging pleasantries at the event. Just then, a woman in a fiery red gown with faint wrinkles on her face suddenly tripped. The red wine glass in her hand flew straight towards me. Drips of red wine ran down my collarbone, and the woman’s eyes fixated on me. “Ms. Davies, your arm candy is quite the catch.” Seraphina’s eyes held a smile. She took another glass of red wine from the table and handed it to the woman. “Ms. Davies, you joke. When I step out, I naturally make sure my companion isn’t a disgrace.” “Since you find him quite satisfactory, I’ve booked a wonderful dinner tonight. Let’s all go together and discuss the resort development project.” Hearing Seraphina’s words, the woman’s eyes lit up, and her gaze slithered over me, predatory and assessing. In the past, Seraphina often brought me to these kinds of events. Thinking about it now, in her eyes, I was probably just a skilled bodyguard. Perhaps a tool to deflect drinks, or even a pawn in her business deals. But never a fiancé. I lowered my gaze, masking the disappointment in my eyes. I smiled at the two women in front of me. “I look a bit undignified right now. I’ll just go to the lounge to freshen up. I’ll be right back.” By the time the server brought my cleaned clothes back, an hour had passed. I changed and prepared to return to the banquet hall. Passing one of the lounges, the door was ajar, and indecent sounds drifted out. The woman gasped softly, her voice full of longing. “I didn’t bring you here because these people aren’t good. How could I let you risk it?” The man’s voice was low, filled with raw desire. “But seeing him standing next to you, I was practically insane with jealousy.” “Don’t get so worked up, keep your voice down. Didn’t you say he was in the lounge too? What if he hears us?” The woman chuckled coquettishly. “The soundproofing in these fancy VIP lounges is top-notch. Besides, I’ve already closed the door.” The man continued his actions without restraint, seemingly pleased with the woman’s words. “I truly adore you. Your duality always thrills me.” The moment Liam’s words fell, his eyes flickered, meeting my gaze across the hall. In that instant, what more was there for me to understand? Whether it was his presence here, or him making sure I saw this whole show, it was all intentional, all Liam’s doing. I curved my lips, looked away, and thoughtfully closed the lounge door for them. Just as I got downstairs, my phone rang. “Jax, where are you? I’m coming to pick you up.” “The plan’s changed, we need to leave immediately.” After giving Boss my location, I walked straight out of the hotel, not bothering to return to the banquet hall. Well, if the plan changed, maybe it was fate. Seraphina, goodbye forever.

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For three years of marriage, my husband, Alex Thorne, didn’t even know my face. He could remember everything in the world, but not mine. I’d change my hairstyle, and he’d ask, “Miss, who are you looking for?” I’d wear a different outfit, and he’d assume I was the new housekeeper. On our anniversary, I got trapped in a collapsed mine shaft with some of his company employees. In the dark, I fumbled my way to him and told him I was Scarlett Hayes. He shoved me away. “Stop pretending. My wife isn’t even here.” It took the rescue team three days and three nights to dig me out. That night, Alex raised a toast at the celebration banquet. “Thank you, everyone. No casualties.” He completely forgot about me, lying in the hospital. From then on, I only wore clothes of one color, kept the same hairstyle, and used the same perfume, all just so Alex might recognize me. But every time he saw me, Alex still looked at me like a stranger. I thought this was God’s punishment for me. But on the day I flew abroad to celebrate Alex’s birthday, I saw him part the crowded airport, walk straight to a girl, and pull her into a tight hug. Turns out, he didn’t remember my face because I wasn’t the one he loved. If that’s the case, then I’ll just leave him.

The moment I turned, I was surrounded by several foreign police officers. They mistook me for some wanted criminal. My clumsy French only seemed to harden their faces. They pressed me down, forcing me onto my knees. In a panic, I instinctively looked at Alex, who wasn’t far away. “Alex! Help me! They’ve got the wrong person!” I screamed with all my might. He heard me and looked over, his gaze sweeping across my face. Then, like he was looking at a complete stranger, he calmly shifted his eyes away. “I don’t know her.” That was the coldest sentence I’d ever heard in my life. Fifteen days. In the dark interrogation rooms and cold cells, I counted the hours, enduring three hundred and sixty of them. It wasn’t until a DNA match report finally cleared my name. Dragging my exhausted body out of the police station, I wasn’t met by Alex, but by his secretary, Mr. Davies. Mr. Davies adjusted his glasses, his voice dripping with reproach. “Miss Hayes, what exactly are you doing? Do you know Mr. Thorne waited for you at the airport for two whole hours?” The last flicker of warmth in my heart turned to ice in the cold foreign wind. The day I returned home, as soon as I walked through the arrivals gate, I was surrounded by countless flashes and microphones. My imprisonment abroad had become a widely known scandal. After finally fighting my way through the crowd and getting home, Alex’s first words were a reprimand. “How many times have I told you to wear a white coat when you’re out? Why don’t you listen?” He frowned, his tone like he was scolding an unruly child. “You know I have face blindness; I can’t tell women’s faces apart.” I clenched my hands into fists. He turned a page in his document, giving his next instruction without looking up. “The PR department has already drafted the statement. We’ll have a press conference tomorrow.” “You need to clarify things and apologize to the public.” Apologize? Apologize for whom? For Alex Thorne’s cold indifference, or for his so-called “face blindness”? I looked at his impassive face and quietly asked, “At the airport, the girl you hugged – who was she?” His hand, turning the document, paused. A rare stiffness appeared on his face. After a few seconds, he finally spoke. “There were too many people then. I thought it was you.” I almost laughed, bitterly. That day, the girl wore a bright, eye-catching red dress and had a cascade of wavy hair, a style I’d never once worn.

And me? I didn’t even own a single red item in my wardrobe. “Alex Thorne, I called out to you that day, you know.” The injustice churning inside me forced the words out. “And then?” Alex lifted an eyebrow. “Do you want me to apologize for my psychological condition?” “Scarlett, you knew I had this issue before we even got married.” Looking at his unconcerned face, I suddenly felt so tired. Yes, it was all my own doing. “Fine. I’ll go to the press conference.” But Alex’s mind had drifted. His gaze was fixed on my bag. Half an airline magazine was peeking out. Following his gaze, I looked down, realizing the open page featured a group photo of an orchestra. Dozens of people were packed together, and in the most unassuming corner of the photo, sat a girl playing the cello. It was the same girl Alex had hugged at the airport. The photo was so blurry her features were almost indistinguishable. Yet Alex, with just one glance, had seen her. So, it wasn’t that he couldn’t recognize women’s faces. He just couldn’t recognize the face of someone he didn’t love. My heart felt like it was being squeezed tight, every breath ached. But I still managed a strained smile, pulled the magazine out, and handed it to Alex. “Here. I don’t want it anymore.” This title of Mrs. Thorne. And these three years of being ignored. I didn’t want any of it anymore. The next day, I arrived at the press conference on time. The spotlights felt like countless sharp knives, all aimed at me. I wore a rose-colored gown, directly contradicting Alex’s demand for white. Taking the microphone from the host, I began to speak calmly. “I was mistakenly arrested because my husband, Mr. Alexander Thorne, told the police he didn’t know me, right to their faces.” The entire room erupted in gasps. I paused, looking directly into one of the cameras, as if looking through it straight at Alex. “I imagine being trapped in a marriage where your spouse of three years can’t even recognize you must be incredibly painful.” “So, I’ve decided to grant him his freedom.” “Mr. Thorne and I will be getting a divorce.” As I got into the car, I noticed my hands were trembling. Not from fear, but from a rush of liberation, finally breaking free from shackles. My phone vibrated madly. “Alex Thorne” flashed across the screen. I simply switched it off. My car hadn’t gone far when Alex’s vehicle blocked it. Alex got out of his car, his face was thunderous, dark enough to curdle milk. “Scarlett, are you insane?!” He yanked me out of the car, his grip so strong it felt like he might crush my wrist. “Who gave you the guts to spout such nonsense at a press conference?!” I stared coldly at his furious face. “Which part of what I said wasn’t the truth?” My question choked him, fueling his rage even more. “Do you have any idea how much harm this will cause others?” “What if they dig up the airport surveillance footage? What if Sera gets dragged into this? She just barely got into the Vienna Orchestra!” He *could* distinguish her. A fresh wave of pain spread through my chest, almost driving me mad. “Alex Thorne, you recognized *her*.” Alex’s face was etched with undisguised irritation. “So what? She means something different to me, but I still married *you*.” “Don’t forget, you were the one who pushed for this marriage.” Yes, it was all my own obsession. Alex couldn’t even remember my face, so how could he remember a promise made twenty years ago? I wiped the tears from my face. “Alex Thorne, I regret it. Let’s get a divorce.”

Alex was silent, but his face didn’t show the relief I expected. After a long moment, he spoke, as if making a momentous decision. “Don’t be silly. Just wear white like before, and I won’t fail to recognize you.” “I’m not divorcing you.” “Oh really?” I managed a mocking smile and looked up at him. He probably forgot what document he signed from me this morning. I’d only worn a wig and a different dress. Alex had simply assumed I was the new secretary. He’d signed the divorce papers without even looking. He’d even asked me to organize his study’s safe. Alex had carefully cut out Sera Dubois’s photo from yesterday’s magazine. I pulled open the safe; it was filled to the brim with news clippings about Sera. Photos of her in red, in blue, in black. No matter how Sera dressed, Alex could always recognize her. And in the oldest photo, Sera was still in high school. Wearing a white dress, with long, straight black hair. Exactly the look I had painstakingly maintained for the past three years. Lost in thought, Alex took my hand. “Scarlett, I won’t lose you again.” I pulled a sarcastic smirk, about to open my mouth and clear everything up. But Alex suddenly pushed me away and ran off in one direction. I followed his gaze as Sera’s back disappeared into the crowd. Halfway there, Alex seemed to remember something. He turned back and yelled, “Scarlett, wait for me! I’ll be right back!” But the direction he shouted in was towards another woman beside him. She was also wearing a rose-pink dress, just like mine. I turned and walked away without a second thought. Alex was furious about me leaving without permission. But that day, I was sitting in a coffee shop nearby, sorting out some paperwork for my new identity. The entire afternoon, until it got dark, Alex never returned. I ignored Alex. Anyway, if I just changed my clothes, I’d be invisible to him. With all the paperwork for moving abroad completed, the first thing I did was go shopping for new clothes. For years, trying to get Alex to notice me, my wardrobe had been a monotonous sea of white, draining my soul. Now, even looking at it made me sick. A sales assistant enthusiastically presented a fiery red dress. Just as I was about to swipe my card, a cool, clear voice cut in. “I’ll take that one too.” I turned my head and saw Sera Dubois’s arrogant face. She scrutinized me from head to toe. “Miss Hayes, what are you still clinging to? Didn’t that airport incident make it clear enough?” “Alex doesn’t love you. You can buy the most expensive clothes, but he’ll still see you as air.” I couldn’t be bothered with her nonsense, so I pulled out my black card from my wallet and handed it to the sales assistant. “Wrap up this one she touched, and every single item in this collection for me.” “And please, escort her out.” The sales assistant immediately began to clear her out, but just then, Alex appeared. He walked directly to Sera, not even glancing at me. “Wrap up the dress for Miss Dubois.” The sales assistant was stunned and whispered a reminder: “Mr. Thorne, but this is your…” I was wearing smoky eye makeup and bright orange curly hair. Alex, predictably, didn’t recognize me. “Who does she think she is?” Alex’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for everyone in the boutique to hear. “Just some woman who popped out of nowhere. Does she really think she can compete with Sera for anything?”

He turned to the now-astonished sales assistant, his voice carrying an unyielding command. “Starting today, I want you to remember Miss Dubois’s face. From now on, all Thorne Corporation properties will prioritize her service, no questions asked.” With a condescending smirk, Sera dropped the dress. “No thanks, I don’t need this. “Let the poor, unloved ones have it.” Alex didn’t press the issue. “Whatever makes you happy.” I stood there, watching Alex’s gaze, which never left Sera, and the last shred of warmth in my heart completely froze. Returning to the villa where I had lived for three years, the key card access system failed to verify. I was about to call the housekeeper when the main door opened from the inside. Sera Dubois stood there, wearing my slippers and wrapped in Alex’s bathrobe. She frowned, as if seeing something disgusting. “I thought you were a decent person. You should know your place.” “Clinging to Alex, is it really worth it? Wearing white clothes to copy me, is that really fun?” I stood outside the door, feeling the night wind chill me. Yes, it really wasn’t worth it. What was I even fantasizing about? I looked down and took off the diamond ring Alex had personally designed for me. The black card, the car keys. And my marriage certificate with Alex. I placed all these symbols of “Mrs. Thorne” identity, one by one, neatly arranged. Then, I turned and never looked back. I pulled out a brand new phone and dialed a number. “Hello, it’s me.” “From now on, there is no more Mrs. Thorne in this world.” Alex didn’t contact me again, probably assuming I was just throwing a childish tantrum. It didn’t matter. I was too busy to bother with him. The gossip headlines, however, were diligently updated. In the photos, he and Sera were seen together everywhere. His usually stern face held a tenderness I had never seen directed at me. Regarding Sera, Alex neither confirmed nor denied anything. I scrolled past the news, turned off my phone, and continued to list all my assets. All the wealth I had accumulated to reach Alex was now converted into cash, flowing into the account of a charity fighting human trafficking. The director was so emotional she was incoherent, thanking me profusely. But I was lost in thought, looking at the photos of the rescued children. Alex and I escaped from the bad guys. But we got lost in the mountains. Little Alex gave me the last wild fruit he’d picked, while he gnawed on mud to fill his stomach. But we were caught again. A rusty iron rod smashed into my body, and I screamed in terror. Alex, however, shielded me with his body, grunting as he endured all the blows. The smell of blood filled the air, and he lay there, barely conscious. While the bad guys drank themselves senseless, I finally found a chance to crawl through a small hole, barely big enough for a dog, and called the police. Later, Alex was picked up by his family, and I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye. His promise to marry me, whispered before he passed out, became my sole obsession for many years. I used all my strength to slowly make my way to him, becoming his wife. But it was nothing more than a one-woman show. Alex had long forgotten. Back at my short-term rental, Sera Dubois was casually sitting inside. She even looked up and smiled. “You’re back?” The next second, police sirens blared outside. The door was kicked open with immense force, and a group of black-suited bodyguards burst in, pinning me to the ground without a word. “Don’t move!” Then, Alex rushed in, pulling Sera into his arms, his voice laced with a raw, uncontained relief. “Sera, it’s alright. I was careless and let them snatch you.”

He held her like a precious treasure he had lost and found again. “I promised you, I wouldn’t let anything happen to you again.” His words sounded eerily familiar to me. But the bodyguard captain holding me down recognized me. “Mr. Thorne, this is…” Alex finally bothered to look back at me. But his eyes held the look of someone staring at an enemy. *Slap!* My head snapped to the side, and a metallic taste instantly filled my mouth. I didn’t cry. Instead, I almost wanted to laugh. “Who cares who she is?” Alex’s voice was colder than ice. “Anyone who harms Sera, even if she’s the daughter of the richest man alive, will pay the price!” “Give her a proper welcome. Make sure she knows what happens when you kidnap Sera!” The bodyguard captain tried to say something else, but Alex’s fierce glare silenced him. I was dragged into an empty room, and punches and kicks rained down on me. My body was in agony, but my mind couldn’t help but wonder how much it must have hurt when Alex took those blows for me back then. The smell of blood filled my nose, yet I felt no fear of death. My life, after all, was given to me by Alex. Now, I was simply paying him back. After an unknown amount of time, the door opened. Sera leaned against Alex, saying, “Alex, she’s learned her lesson. Just send her away.” “Make sure I never see her again for the rest of my life.” Alex didn’t hesitate. “Alright.” He personally escorted me to a private airport. As I was pushed up the boarding ramp, the necklace around my neck snapped. The rose pendant fell to the ground. It was a rose pendant Alex had personally picked for me – the only birthday gift he’d ever remembered to get, and even then, only after his secretary reminded him. I hadn’t brought myself to throw it away back at the villa. Alex frowned, picking it up. “This… why does this look familiar?” My heart, at that moment, gave an inappropriate lurch. But Sera simply coughed softly a couple of times and tugged on his sleeve. “Alex, it’s windy, I’m cold.” Alex’s hesitation vanished instantly. He casually tossed the pendant onto the ground, lifted his foot, and crushed it. “Drag her onto the plane. Don’t ever let her step foot back in this country again!” The plane engines roared, and the immense thrust pushed me back into my seat. Good. He personally sent me away, personally severed our past. From now on, we would never meet again.

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My girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend attempted suicide, and ever since, whenever he felt unwell, she would drop everything and rush to his side, leaving me behind. Faced with my objections, Chloe snapped: “He was beaten raw, all bruised and battered, and his mental state is incredibly fragile. What’s wrong with cutting him some slack?” To win his affection, Chloe gave him my brand-new luxury watch, worth over five figures, to wear. She let him browse my walk-in closet for clothes, and even stole my bank card to fund his spending sprees. Worse, to ‘heal’ her ex, she secretly got intimate with him behind my back. When I caught them red-handed, Chloe brushed it off, utterly unfazed: “Noah was just too tense, Ryan. I was merely helping him release some stress.” Later, I fully indulged her ‘compassion’ for her ex, and happily married the woman I could never let go of. That’s when Chloe lost her mind. I came home early, only to walk in on my girlfriend, Chloe Miller, and her ex, Noah, tangled up in my bed. Noah was the first to spot me, standing in the doorway, my face dark as thunder. His face flushed with terror; he pushed Chloe away, tumbling off the bed and shrinking into a corner. He clutched himself, burying his head in his arms, muttering to himself: “I didn’t mean to, I didn’t mean to, don’t hit me, don’t hit me, boo-hoo…” Chloe, who moments before had been enjoying herself, snapped back to reality and immediately rushed to comfort Noah. “Noah, it’s okay, no one blames you. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” “Ah, don’t bite your arm again, you’re hurting yourself. Please, stop.” What could a woman’s strength do against a man’s? Watching Noah self-harm, Chloe stood up, ran over, and without a word, slapped me across the face. She screamed at me: “Ryan, what the hell is wrong with you? Weren’t you supposed to be at work today? Why are you back already? Look what you’ve done to Noah! You scared him half to death. Go apologize to him, now!” I stood my ground. She couldn’t drag me anywhere. From the moment I walked in, a furious rage had been building, and seeing her attitude now, there was no way I was holding back. “I apologize? Shouldn’t you be the one explaining things to me? You’re my girlfriend, living in my house, you brought your ex back here, and then I walk in on you two doing something so disgusting. And you expect me to apologize to *him*? Are you serious?” Chloe, however, thought *I* was being unreasonable. She lectured me: “What’s your problem, Ryan? I’ve told you countless times, Noah was kidnapped and tortured for days. He came back almost completely broken. He’s only just started to feel a little better, and I simply saw he was too stressed out. I was helping him relax. What more is there to explain?” I laughed, a bitter, humorless sound. I raised my hand and slapped Chloe across the face, disappointment heavy in my voice: “Chloe Miller, you utterly disgust me.” Noah suddenly rushed forward, wrapping his arms around Chloe, shielding her behind him. His eyes, red-rimmed, stared at me, his voice choked with tears and a trembling sob. “Ryan, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have touched Chloe, but I was so scared. Scared of being locked up again. It was Chloe who patiently guided me, gave me warmth, helped me accept a new life, I… I… ugh…” I kicked him hard in the stomach, spat on the floor, and glared at the sickening pair. “Disgusting. I never want to see either of you again. Get out of my house before I come back.” Furious, I slammed the door shut and called my best friend. “Leo, come out for a drink with me.” At the bar, I downed glass after glass. My phone vibrated endlessly in my pocket. I picked it up. It was Chloe. “Ryan, please don’t be mad at me, okay? I’ll send Noah away. He won’t stay at our place anymore. I know you care, but I can’t help it, his mental state…” I didn’t want to hear another word about Noah. I hit the red button and chugged straight from the bottle. Leo snatched the bottle from my hand, his face etched with worry. “What happened, man? What did Chloe do to get you this worked up? I haven’t seen you this out of control in ages. You walked in and already drank a whole case of beer. You’re scaring me.”

Leo’s questions and concern became an outlet for my rage. The alcohol loosened my tongue, and all the frustrations I’d bottled up just came spilling out. I grabbed Leo, pouring out my heart. “You know, when I was pursuing Chloe, I knew she had insecurities. I gave her every single dime of my salary, keeping only five hundred dollars for myself. For three years, I wouldn’t even buy a shirt over a hundred bucks, but I gladly let her use my money to buy designer bags worth thousands.” “Her brother was a complete deadbeat – no degree, no skills, just good at wasting his parents’ money and talking big. To stop Chloe from being bled dry by her mom to support her brother, I hustled countless connections, pulled every string I could just to get that deadbeat a cushy office job.” “When her parents were sick in the hospital, I was the one who hired nurses while I was at work. After work, I tirelessly cooked meals and personally looked after them. Chloe didn’t have to lift a finger; I handled everything.” “Now, I’m financially free. I haven’t changed, I don’t smoke, I drink responsibly, I have no bad habits. I bought a house and a car. She feels bad her ex was scammed and beaten up – I get it. But how dare she push her luck? Letting him live in my house was bad enough, but then taking my clothes and luxury watches, my prized possessions that she *knew* were important to me, and giving them to him without my permission?” “Hah, you know what? Every time I wanted to get angry, she’d just bat her eyelashes and I’d melt. I’d tell myself she was just too kind. But it was my endless forgiveness that led to me walking in on them, tangled in *my* bed, today.” “And after I caught them, she demanded *I* apologize to him!!!” “Why the hell should I!!!” *CRASH!* I slammed the bottle down, shattering it on the floor. Alcohol splashed out, wetting everything within a foot. Looking at the mess, it felt just like my life lately. Chaotic and ruined. The manager, Mike, heard the commotion and came over. To avoid further trouble, Leo quickly explained: “My friend just broke up with his girlfriend, he’s having a rough time. I’ll cover all the damages, sorry about that.” Mike was understanding and arranged a private booth for us. Once Leo had heard the full story, he vented alongside me. Then, he suddenly yelled. “Holy crap, Ryan! Chloe just posted something. It’s messed up, look!” I snatched his phone. Chloe had posted a selfie of her and Noah kissing under fireworks. \[*Your life is brilliant, and I’ll be here to guide you through this darkness.*] I realized she had blocked me. I couldn’t take it anymore. I smashed the phone against the wall. My chest heaved violently, a lump in my throat almost choking me. That night, I drank until my stomach bled. In a haze, I heard Leo calling Chloe. “Ryan’s in the hospital from drinking too much. Are you seriously not going to come see him?” There was a hint of worry on her end, but not much. “What? Ryan went drinking again? Well, you take good care of him. I can’t leave right now, there’s a patient here I need to attend to constantly.” Leo scoffed: “Patient? More like your little lover clinging to you, unwilling to let you go. You two are squatting in Ryan’s house, taking over his things, sleeping in his bed, and now he’s this heartbroken, you can’t even be bothered to come see him? That’s just sick.” After Leo hung up, I heard a heavy crash and Chloe’s shriek on the other end, then the call disconnected. I drifted into unconsciousness.

In my dream, I was back to when Chloe and I first got together. Back then, we were inseparable. There was a time when I was laid off and my salary cut, and the money Chloe had was almost gone. It was her, secretly taking out loans to keep us afloat, getting us through those days when we were practically starving, living on cheap instant ramen and bland rice. She firmly believed I could make a comeback, encouraging me every day to get back on my feet. And because of her constant encouragement, I persevered. Later, I paid off her loans, and our lives steadily improved. I was even secretly planning to propose to her. But then Noah suddenly reappeared, shattering all my plans. At first, she brought Noah to our home, letting him wear my clothes, use my things. I tolerated it all, because Chloe would say: “Don’t forget, you had your dark period too. You know how hard it is to find light if no one’s there to guide you.” But my tolerance only made them bolder. Hah, they actually slept together right in front of me. Was that part of ‘finding the light’ too? Back then, I was so worried about dragging Chloe down, I never even touched her. The dream grew increasingly painful. Suddenly, a commotion woke me, followed by someone hitting my chest. The pain jolted me awake, and the first thing I saw was Chloe’s red, puffy eyes. She angrily accused me. “Ryan, you want to get drunk, fine, but how dare you let your friend provoke Noah? He’s in the hospital now, he’s already suffering so much, why would you go out of your way to torment him? Tell me!” A flurry of slaps rained down on my head and body. My head throbbed from last night’s drinking. Impatiently, I pushed Chloe away. “Enough, Chloe. If you’re so worried about your Noah, then from today on, we’re over. I’m blocking you everywhere, we’re done. I’m sick of this.” The moment my words fell, Chloe instantly quieted. She panicked, her eyes filling with hurt. “You… you want to break up with me?” “Yes!!” “Hah, that’s impossible. We love each other so much, how could you be so cruel as to break up with me? I don’t believe it.” Right in front of her, I pulled out my phone, unlocked it, found her contact, and blocked her with a single tap. Then I went into my photo gallery. I deleted every single photo of us together. To prove I was serious, I even went into the trash folder and permanently deleted every last one. My voice was flat as I said: “Chloe Miller, there is no ‘us’ anymore.” Chloe snatched my phone, trying to unblock herself, only to find I’d changed my password. She urgently questioned me: “How could you change the password? You said you’d always be transparent with me!” “Ryan, please don’t be like this, okay? I promise you, I won’t bring Noah home again, and I won’t do anything inappropriate with him. I won’t make you angry again, please don’t do this.” Just moments ago, wasn’t she accusing me of bullying her Noah? What was she trying to say now? I stared into her eyes, asking seriously: “Then can you promise to never contact him again? Send him to a psychiatric hospital; they have professional staff. I’ll cover the costs.” Chloe didn’t even consider it, blurting out: “Noah can’t function without me. Anything else, I can promise you.” As soon as she finished speaking, her phone rang. She answered, then rushed out of the hospital room without a backward glance. Watching her go, my heart was utterly deflated.

I knew it – Noah was probably having another one of his ‘episodes,’ needing Chloe to rush to his side and play savior. The moment she walked out the door, I made up my mind. This relationship? I was done with it. Leo walked in then, looking frantic, his face filled with urgency. “Ryan, you have to see this. I just saw Noah acting really strange. He was totally panicked, and he threw this thing away. I picked it up, and check this out. You need to get yourself checked out, man.” Noah had syphilis. An HIV positive test report. He was actually sick. I’d heard stories about people coming back from places like that, often carrying infectious diseases. I’d suggested Chloe take Noah for a check-up before, but she just got angry and yelled at me. “What health problems could Noah possibly have? Don’t stress him out like that!” Back then, I was afraid of upsetting her, so I dropped it. I never imagined it would actually come to this. Now, thinking of him lying in my bed, wearing my clothes, using my things, and even Chloe herself being contaminated… Goosebumps erupted all over me, my scalp crawled, and I gagged, bile rising in my throat. I asked Leo to book me an appointment for a check-up. At the same time, I hired a professional cleaning service to remove and dispose of absolutely everything in the house. Within a day, every single thing in my house, from luxury items to furniture, was gone. Only the bare walls remained. I listed the house for sale online. Because of its prime location, viewings were quickly booked. I simply told the agent the selling price, and he handled the rest. As for Chloe and Noah, they’d already moved out after our last fight. So they had no idea I’d sold the house and scrubbed every trace of our life from it. Everything, from the largest furniture to the smallest forks, Chloe and I had carefully chosen together. Now, I just felt like it was all utterly tainted. Soon, my test results came back: negative. A huge sigh of relief escaped me. Truth be told, Chloe and I hadn’t been intimate in a long time. First, I was busy with work. Second, after Noah reappeared, she had no time for us, not even for a simple hand-hold or kiss. Chloe, you’ve made your bed. I can no longer force myself to tolerate your irrational behavior. This is the path you chose. When you discover the truth, I hope you don’t regret it. I checked myself out of the hospital and called my company to take some time off. I also mailed Chloe the matching couple’s rings we’d bought and booked a flight to the Silverwood Mountains, planning to hike and clear my head. I was halfway up the mountain when Leo called me. “Chloe’s frantically looking for you! She got the ring you mailed her, went to the hospital, found out you’d been discharged, then ran to your company, and when she couldn’t find you, she actually called the police! The cops even came to my place asking questions!” “She’s threatening me with a knife, trying to make me tell her where you are!” Leo kept complaining. “Dude! I risked my life and didn’t sell you out! I’m planning to go on a trip to avoid this mess, you’re reimbursing me!” I hadn’t expected Chloe to react so strongly, and I was worried about Leo. “I’ve transferred a hundred grand to your account,” I said. “Go have fun.” Knowing Chloe had been taken to the police station for threatening someone with a knife, and the knife confiscated, Leo was safe, so I didn’t press for details. If this were before, I would have rushed back immediately, stayed by Chloe’s side, and prevented her from doing anything reckless. Now, I felt utterly calm inside. Anyway, I was enjoying my hike, and my mood was improving. As I neared the summit, I saw a woman ahead of me trip and fall. The path was narrow, with a sheer drop beside it, and the safety railing was just a flimsy wooden pole. She hit the pole, her balance shifted backward, and just as she was about to tumble over the edge, she grabbed hold of the wooden post. I rushed over, grabbed her, and pulled her back to safety. When our eyes met, we both gasped at the same time. “Grace!” “Ryan, you…”

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I always thought my shifter husband was sexually distant, which is why we hadn’t been intimate in three years. Only later did I discover he’d been betraying me all along. Three years ago, Liam got caught in an avalanche. I rushed into the mountains to save him, and he gained his life back, but I lost my womb. Liam proposed to me out of obligation, a way to compensate me, but I was never his true love. Liam and I were both members of our university’s ski club. Everyone in the club knew I joined just for Liam. After all, who wouldn’t be captivated by that fluffy wolf tail, flying freely on the ski slopes? Plus, Liam was the best-looking wolf shifter around. Tall, handsome, with an aloof and detached demeanor. So, when Liam was caught in an avalanche during an off-piste ski trip, I didn’t hesitate to lead the search and rescue team into the mountains. The snow-covered mountains were brutally cold. Our rescue mission lasted three days and three nights. To save Liam, I fell into the icy depths of a river, and that’s when I lost my ability to ever bear children. After Liam was rescued, he proposed to me at our graduation ceremony. I remember all the girls on campus looking at me with envy. That was the happiest moment of my life. It *used* to be. Until I stumbled upon Liam on a date with my cousin, Cassidy. Cassidy: “Liam, I’m really struggling. That night was a mistake, let’s just forget about it.” Liam: “These three years of marriage have been a cage for me. Only that night with you… did I feel alive again.” Cassidy: “But you’re Willow’s husband. This isn’t right…” Liam: “If I’d known the price of being saved was losing you, I would have rather died in that avalanche. You know, she can’t have children.” I suddenly remembered that bleak, endless expanse of snow three years ago, when all the other rescue teams had given up. It was *I* who emptied my entire savings, begging the rescue team to go back into the mountains. When I found out I could never have children, the cold in my heart was far more biting than the river water in the mountains. Liam stroked Cassidy’s belly: “I can support her my whole life, but only you, me, and *our* child can be a real family.” Cassidy shyly touched Liam’s fluffy ears. A sharp pain shot through me. Had Cassidy already gotten pregnant with Liam’s baby? For three years, I had always believed Liam was sexually distant. A shifter’s ears are a sensitive spot for wolves. On our wedding night, I’d shyly tried to get close, but Liam had instantly pulled away from my playful hand. He’d warned me not to touch his ears or tail. “You can’t have kids anyway, so there’s no need for us to do that.” I’d ignored that sentence back then. I’d just thought he was naturally asexual. I never imagined it was simply because someone like me, someone who couldn’t bear children, wasn’t *worthy* of touching him. 2. I dragged myself home, slumping onto the living room couch, where I sat numbly through the entire night. On the table lay a medical report confirming my infertility. For three years, I’d sought out countless doctors, swallowed endless medications, undergone countless tests. I even tried ridiculous remedies. Each time, I’d shared my hopeful expectations with Liam, believing he was just as eager as I was. I shredded the report. Now, I wasn’t even a normal, complete person anymore. Day broke, and I got up to wash my face. My reflection in the mirror was sallow, with prominent dark circles under my eyes. Today was Evelyn’s birthday. I’d told Liam weeks ago that we would go celebrate with her together. Of course, Cassidy would be there too. I skipped makeup and hailed a cab straight to the best makeup studio in town. I told the receptionist: “I want the most expensive stylist you have.” When I walked into the family dinner, the first person I saw was Evelyn. Then I saw Cassidy and Liam, chatting and laughing together, as if they were the real couple, the true family. The moment I entered, their laughter died. I placed my gift down. “Happy birthday, Mom.” My gaze swept over them, landing on Liam and Cassidy’s hands, seemingly casually clasped together. My eyes lingered for two seconds, and Cassidy instantly let go of Liam’s hand. Liam’s gaze lingered on Cassidy, so incredibly gentle. So, they had all these little secret gestures. When did it start? How long had they been holding hands? Had Evelyn, sitting right there with them, not noticed anything? Liam frowned. “You’re wearing makeup?” I simply said, “Do I look good?” Liam looked away, silent. Ever since the river water left me infertile, my complexion had been terrible. Even though I’d exhausted myself trying to recover some color, I could never compare to Cassidy’s youthful beauty. But today, the stylist had spent three hours on my look. Looking in the mirror, I truly did look beautiful, just like I did before I got married. I’d almost forgotten I used to be a pretty woman. I pressed on. “Do I look good? Who do you think is prettier, me or Cassidy?” I wanted to know what he would say, standing between his wife and his mistress. Would he consider me, or her? Liam looked displeased. “You’re already married. Why are you still comparing yourself to Cassidy?” I sneered internally. “So what if I’m married? Who says a married woman is automatically worse than an unmarried one?” Evelyn’s smiling face suddenly fell. “What’s wrong with you? Three years of marriage, and you haven’t given Liam a single cub. You’ve already let him down enough. Now you’re acting out like this, with no grace for a wife. Is this how a good wife behaves?” So that was it. A wave of profound sorrow washed over me. Evelyn always thought I owed Liam because I couldn’t have children. But the truth was completely different. I asked Liam, “Liam, you tell Evelyn. Why can’t I have children?” 3. Liam stiffened, his two wolf ears standing rigid. Liam: “That’s all in the past. I’ve never resented you for not being able to have children. Bringing up something like that on Evelyn’s birthday is completely inappropriate.” Cassidy quickly interjected: “Exactly, Willow. No matter the reason, we should be talking about happy things today. Your inability to have children is a fact that can’t be changed, so what’s the point of talking about it?” Cassidy’s pretty face held a chilling indifference that startled me. This was my cousin, Liam’s true love. I looked around the room, finally fixing my gaze on Evelyn. “Mom, the reason I can’t have children is because I fell into the river when I led the team to save Liam back then. If I hadn’t gone, Liam would be dead already.” Liam said coldly, “Are you trying to say I owe you, is that it?” I felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave. For three years, I had never resented him for that incident, only because he was the man I loved, and I’d done it willingly. Now, I just wanted to tell Evelyn the truth, and it was twisted into me blackmailing him? I pleaded, “Mom.” I thought at least Evelyn would take my side. But Evelyn angrily said, “You’re so thoughtless. If Liam had married Cassidy back then, we would have grandchildren by now.” I should have known. Evelyn didn’t love me. She’d known all along. She’d always known. Even though Cassidy wasn’t Evelyn’s biological daughter, Evelyn always seemed to prefer her. Ever since I became infertile, Evelyn treated Cassidy more like her own child. She looked at me like a flawed gem, filled with disdain, wanting only to lock me away and never see me again. I knew Evelyn resented me for being infertile. Years ago, when I applied to join the ski club, Evelyn strongly opposed it. She called me repeatedly, insisting I withdraw. I was too embarrassed to say I joined to chase Liam, so I just said I loved skiing. But eventually, Evelyn found out. I thought she would call me a loose woman. Instead, she was incredibly happy. She said a girl’s greatest value was to find a strong shifter and give birth to even more powerful offspring. So, when she learned the cold had seeped deep into my bones, leaving me infertile, she abandoned me at the hospital and never visited me again. Even when I lay in that hospital bed, pleading for her, she never looked back. Even my medical bills were paid for by my ski club friends. Perhaps, she wished I had died in that rescue mission. The dinner ended on a sour note. Liam and I went home together, in silence. Evelyn had already implicitly approved of Liam and Cassidy’s relationship. I suddenly felt incredibly foolish. If Liam and I broke up, no one would be on my side. Once we got home, Liam glanced at the shredded paper on the floor, completely unfazed. He changed clothes, ready to leave. I grabbed his tail. It was the first time I’d touched his tail since we got married—smooth and soft, delightful to touch. Liam’s voice was frigid. “What are you doing?” I caught the scent of Cassidy’s perfume on the shirt he’d just taken off. “Where were you last night?” Liam paused. “Work event.” I smiled. “Liam, I can have children now.” Liam visibly froze. “What did you say?” “I said, I’m cured. I can have a baby for you now. Don’t you want an heir for your wolf pack? A legitimate heir?” Liam didn’t seem to catch my insinuation; he was still reeling from the news. While he was stunned, I pushed him onto the bed and climbed on top of him. His eyes were deep and bright, his nose bridge high, his jawline sharp. His ears were fluffy, and his tail looked like an adorable feather duster. I was such a fool, letting such a gorgeous Liam go untouched for three years. Furious, I yanked open his restrictive buttons. “Come on.” Liam shoved me to the floor with one hand. “Are you out of your mind? The doctors said you can never have your own child. And all these medications… the house always smells of them. When will you face reality? A wolf pack heir? Don’t be ridiculous.” Liam slammed the door shut, leaving me alone on the floor, tears streaming down my face. 4. I thought back to all the moments Liam and I had shared over the years. When we first got married, Liam’s career was just taking off. He didn’t have an office, so he and his team worked day and night on proposals in our new apartment. I managed the home, cooking meals, cleaning – love was about giving, about wanting him to succeed, I understood that. So, I never felt anything was wrong, never asked for anything in return. Liam’s wolf shifter buddies often teased him, saying he was incredibly lucky to have such a good wife. I felt happy then, too. I never noticed how distant and cold his eyes were when he looked at me, how utterly different from the way he gazed at Cassidy. I remembered after we got married, I planned a honeymoon with Liam to the snowy mountains. I’d researched everything, booked tickets, but we never went. Because Liam didn’t want to. I packed my bags, sorted through my savings from the past three years, and suddenly realized that I’d barely saved anything, having spent so much on my treatments. But none of that mattered anymore. I left the home Liam and I shared. I never wanted to see him again in my life. But I refused to divorce him. Let him and Cassidy have their happily ever after? Dream on. 5. I booked a random “mystery” flight ticket, just flying wherever, stopping in various cities, until my savings ran out. I walked along the beach, the sea breeze salty, the waves rolling in and out. I remembered Liam’s tail, swishing back and forth just like that. Even after leaving, I still couldn’t forget him. He loved Cassidy, so why was I still clinging to him? I vowed to cut off my love for Liam. The last stop on my trip was the snowy mountains. It was my favorite city. The new city was full of tall, handsome shifters, and I loved it. I could see fluffy tails everywhere, every day. I blocked all of Liam’s contact information. That way, even if he wanted to reach me, he couldn’t. I thought this would stop me from thinking about him. I found a job as a temporary ski instructor at a ski resort. The owner, a lynx shifter named Mr. Kaelan, asked me, “You’ve been away from home so long, how come no one’s tried to reach you?” I fell silent for a moment. Family? Who would care where I went? My Evelyn, my cousin, or my husband? I said, “They’re all dead to me.” To me, they were as good as dead. Mr. Kaelan sighed, shaking his head. “Ah, shifter life, huh.” This ski resort was nestled at the foot of the mountains, with a breathtaking view. I spent my days watching the snow, warming by the fireplace, my heart feeling incredibly peaceful. Every day, I taught all sorts of little shifter cubs how to ski, each one with a big, fluffy tail. The cubs always gathered around me, rubbing their soft ears and big tails against me, sweetly calling me “Ms. Willow.” It was then I realized how much I truly adored fluffy creatures. I regretted it. I shouldn’t have sacrificed myself for Liam. I longed to raise a fluffy little one. But I couldn’t anymore. After each lesson, I would walk the little cubs to their parents, always reluctantly giving advice about their little ones’ progress. Gradually, parents in the area learned about the dedicated and responsible ski instructor at this resort, and they all loved bringing their shifter cubs to me. One day, little Pippa, a calico kitten-shifter, clung to me while skiing and asked, “Ms. Willow, are you married?” I paused, realizing it had been a long time since I’d thought of Liam. Just as I was lost in thought, another husky puppy-shifter, Finn, nudged Pippa aside. Finn: “Can’t you tell? Ms. Willow is so young and pretty, of course she isn’t! Ms. Willow, Ms. Willow, will you marry me when I grow up?” Milo, a raccoon-shifter, chimed in: “Are you silly? How long would Ms. Willow have to wait for you to grow up? Ms. Willow, can you be my mom instead?” The parent who came to pick up Milo quickly covered their cub’s mouth, apologizing profusely as they whisked their little one away. That day, I sat in the ski resort until late into the night. My mind was filled with Liam. Once mentioned, the memories were impossible to suppress. I remembered that whenever I brought up seeing a doctor for my condition, Liam would always say he didn’t care that I couldn’t have children, telling me not to waste my effort. Now, I realized he simply didn’t want to have children *with me*. Mr. Kaelan rushed towards me, looking frantic. “It’s over! An avalanche on the mountain, and there are still guests up there!” My heart leaped. “Quick, call the search and rescue team!” Mr. Kaelan: “We might not make it in time! It’s too late, and the team leader isn’t here today! What do we do? Where can we find a leader to take charge now?” I said, “I’ll go.” I knew the stranded guest; it was a fire fox-shifter. I remembered him so clearly because of his stunning, captivating face. Foxes were experts at charming. Of course, there was another reason: this guest prided himself on his pro-level skiing skills and loved off-piste skiing. 6. I led the search team up the mountain; navigating the snowy paths at night was incredibly difficult. Especially after an avalanche, and the forecast predicted more snow later that night. If we didn’t find him soon, it would be dangerous. I pulled out the satellite tracker. Ever since I learned this guest loved off-piste skiing, I’d forced him to carry one. Kai: “Are all ski instructors around here as nosy as you?” I genuinely wanted to hit him with a shovel back then. If a guest wasn’t in trouble and potentially causing problems for the resort, I wouldn’t bother with him. I said, “If you get lost up here, you’ll freeze to death.” Kai tossed the satellite tracker away. “Me? Get into trouble? Never! Just you wait, I’ll take pictures of all the unseen scenery and bring them back for you to see.” Thinking about it now, I shuddered. Thank goodness, before he left, I’d secretly slipped the satellite tracker back into his bag. Because of the tracker and the search team’s familiarity with the mountain, we quickly found Kai. The little fox-shifter was shivering violently, his fiery red ears adorned with snow beads, and his usually fluffy, beautiful tail was curled up in a tight ball, both adorable and pitiful. “Kai!” I called his name. The little fox-shifter’s face was streaked with tears. The moment he saw me, he lunged forward, crying and shouting, “I thought I was going to die!” I patted his back. “You almost did, indeed.” Kai clung to me tightly, refusing to let go. “How did you find me?” I scoffed and showed him the satellite tracker. “I put it in your bag when you weren’t looking.” I only noticed his stunned expression, not the bright, shimmering look he gave me. Kai: “You saved me.” 7. I brought Kai down the mountain and put him in the ambulance. The paramedics said a family member needed to accompany him. I told Kai to call his family to pick him up, but he gripped my hand tightly, his eyes shining as he stared at me, stubbornly refusing to make the call. Mr. Kaelan waved his hand, silently telling me not to push him. Since Kai wouldn’t let go, I reluctantly got into the ambulance with him, signing my name in the family section. Kai needed to be hospitalized for observation due to prolonged exposure to low temperatures. So, I had to handle his admission paperwork and pay his hospital fees. Watching my hard-earned savings dwindle again, I sighed internally. Kai looked at me and smiled. “I’ll pay you back someday.” I helplessly ruffled his hair. “Consider this interest.” I wiped the snow from his tail and then dried it with a hairdryer. It was my first time touching a fox’s tail. It was warm and soft, different from Liam’s tail. I wasn’t sure if it was my movements, but his fiery red tail twitched. I quickly grabbed it. I said, “Don’t move.” I suddenly froze. Kai’s eyes were fixed on me, and he smiled. It suddenly dawned on me that a shifter’s tail shouldn’t be touched casually. I gave an awkward smile and pulled my hand away. I said, “You do it yourself.” But Kai said, “Sister Willow, my hand hurts so much. Can you help me?” Fox shifters were incredibly beautiful. Especially fire foxes, which were a rare breed. Kai certainly lived up to his breed; he was exceptionally handsome. He pleaded with me so pitifully that I couldn’t resist. I’d been married for three years, and Kai was just a teenager, eighteen or nineteen. I just saw him as a kid; there was nothing wrong with that. Besides, this was a special situation. If I didn’t dry his tail, he’d get sick. I tried hard to convince myself. Kai’s tail unconsciously wrapped around my wrist. “Sister Willow, please.” Foxes were just too charming. This had to be innate; how else could a seemingly innocent kid like Kai be so effortlessly captivating? I stayed with Kai in the hospital for a week. The doctors repeatedly assured him he was fine before he reluctantly agreed to be discharged. Kai and I parted ways at the hospital entrance. The ski resort was temporarily closed due to the avalanche. Kai had to go home, and I returned to my resort. I said, “Goodbye. Next time, don’t go off-piste by yourself, little fox.” Kai: “Sister Willow is right, Sister Willow is so good, Sister Willow is the best.” I smiled helplessly and went our separate ways. Then, right at the ski resort entrance, I saw Kai drawing circles on the ground， looking dejected. “What are you doing here?!” Kai looked innocent and pitiful. “Sister Willow! Please listen, my phone got stolen. I can’t go home, what should I do? Sister Willow is so kind and brave, smart and generous, she wouldn’t abandon a poor fox out here in the snow, would she?” Kai grinned triumphantly, and I finally understood why foxes were often villains in fairy tales. I thought, in this day and age, how could he not be able to go home? But then Mr. Kaelan appeared. He said, since the mountain was closed anyway and the ski resort had no business, an extra person would make it livelier. Kai was allowed to stay. I didn’t know why Kai wouldn’t go home, but I figured he had his reasons for refusing to call anyone in the ambulance. Just like me, everyone has their secrets. If he didn’t say, I wouldn’t ask. Kai was both well-behaved and mischievous. He’d throw a snowball at me when I was quietly reading by the fireplace, inviting me and Mr. Kaelan to a snowball fight. Every morning, I’d be curled up in bed. When I opened my eyes, I’d see a stunningly beautiful face, very close to mine. “What time is it?” I broke out in a cold sweat. My biological clock always woke me at five AM. Because I needed to prepare breakfast before Liam went to work. I’d always been taught that if I couldn’t be a mother, I had to be a good wife. “Sister Willow. I’ve brought you some breakfast.” Kai called me Sister Willow. He pulled back the curtains, his beauty more radiant than the winter sun. I covered my eyes, not daring to look too long. Foxes were too charming, even unintentionally. Kai didn’t understand anything. I had to teach him. “First, shifters shouldn’t enter a girl’s room without knocking.” Kai pouted. “I knocked, Sister Willow didn’t hear.” “Impossible.” He definitely hadn’t knocked. 8. Later, one day I dreamed I fell into icy, bone-chilling river water. Then the doctor told me I could never have children again. I wanted so desperately to wake up, but the nightmare wouldn’t let me go. Then I dreamed I was pregnant. I happily told Liam, only to see him holding Cassidy. Cassidy scoffed, “How could you be pregnant? Look at that!” I looked down, and it wasn’t a baby, but a black tumor. I screamed, abruptly waking up. “Sister Willow, Sister Willow!” I was awake. Kai’s beautiful face was right in front of me. He jumped onto the bed, holding me tightly, comforting me. Kai: “It’s okay. It’s okay.” I couldn’t stop my tears. I was enveloped in Kai’s embrace; he was so warm, his fluffy tail wrapped around my waist. I cried silently in his arms. Damn it, how much longer was I going to keep running? I should have let go of the past and started fresh, shouldn’t I? Kai didn’t ask anything. After I’d calmed down, I realized Kai was in my bed. “Second, shifters shouldn’t climb into bed.” That’s what I *should* have said, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I gripped the tail wrapped around my waist; it was so soft, I couldn’t bear to let go. We stayed like that, curled up in bed together, not for long, but coincidentally. Someone suddenly burst into my room. “Willow! What are you doing!” I looked out from Kai’s embrace, my heart seizing. It was Liam. Kai glanced at him, then spoke coldly: “Mister, shifters shouldn’t enter a girl’s room without knocking, don’t you know that?”

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My son’s bone marrow transplant failed. He had only three months left. His only wish was for our family to see the ocean on his birthday. I immediately called my wife, Seraphina, but her secretary answered. A cruel voice, pretending to be Seraphina’s, sneered through the phone: “Your mother already thinks you’re worthless. It’d be better if you just died. Don’t worry, the child in her belly will enjoy all the motherly love in your place.” Leo’s condition worsened instantly from the shock. That very night, a critical condition notice was issued. I frantically called Seraphina, but no one picked up. She only came home after Leo’s burial. “My new secretary, Brandon, is young and foolish. Please, Daniel, talk to our son. Tell him not to take it to heart.” “In my heart, no one can ever shake your place. It’s just… I’m pregnant, so you have to understand.” “If I have a daughter, she’ll inherit my company, but don’t worry, I would never treat our son badly.” I listened to her unyielding tone and merely nodded. She didn’t know I’d already agreed to the company’s overseas assignment. As soon as Leo’s funeral was over, I was leaving for Europe. If she and Brandon were so in love, I would simply grant their wish.

Seraphina finished speaking, and seeing my lack of refusal, she paused, surprised. She clearly hadn’t expected me to be so agreeable. After all, any mention of Brandon used to send me into a hysterical rage, leading to massive arguments with her. Seeing that I wasn’t pretending, she walked over and rubbed my shoulder. “Husband, you’re so good, so understanding. I promise I’ll never let Brandon surpass you.” “It’s just, Brandon is quiet and introverted, he needs a lot of looking after. So, I’ll be dedicating my time to him, but *you*, Daniel, you’ll always be my husband.” I forced a smile. Did she think I cherished this “husband” title she so graciously offered? After Brandon came back from overseas, we had countless fights, and whatever affection we once shared had completely vanished amidst the shouting. I’d endured it all, hoping to maintain a façade of a happy family for our son. I thought this would give Leo some happiness in his final days. But before he died, his eyes were filled with sorrow, and he clutched my hand tightly. “Dad, Mom doesn’t love us anymore, does she? Leo wants you to be happy. Please, separate from Mom.” Remembering Leo’s dying words, my eyes welled up. “Seraphina, our son is dead. Do you know that?” Seraphina froze instantly. She quickly glanced around. Normally, every time she came home, Leo would happily run out to greet her. This time, there was no sign of him. But after a moment of panic, she suddenly let out a sarcastic laugh. “Daniel, I thought you were mature enough to stop playing these pathetic little games. Leo’s at the hospital, isn’t he? We’ve been married for six years, the novelty wore off. Isn’t it normal for me to find something to amuse myself? If you want me to spend time with you, just say so, and I’ll agree. But don’t curse our son!” “You know perfectly well he’s my son too! I carried him for nine months!” With that, she angrily flung her hand away and stormed off. Watching her retreating figure, I twisted my lips into a self-deprecating smile. “Seraphina, you’re free.” Five years ago, Seraphina and I were the envy of everyone, a model couple. Our careers were just starting, we lived in a rundown rented apartment that often lost power at night. She would call me, crying, in the dead of night when the electricity went out. I would drop everything at work, no matter how busy, and rush back to her. Our proposal was incredibly simple, just a ring made from a pull-tab. And that cheap ring, I’ve kept it carefully to this day. She had said: “I’ll be good to you for a lifetime.” Later, she gave birth to Leo, but he was diagnosed with congenital leukemia. Our world collapsed. While she was in post-natal recovery, I put all my work aside, repeatedly rushed to the hospital, and asked doctors countless times what we could do to save our child. We poured all the little money we’d made from starting our business into Leo’s treatment. Thankfully, our efforts weren’t in vain, and we finally saw Leo grow up healthy. Our family of three had always been close, until Brandon returned from overseas, and Seraphina’s time at home gradually diminished. And Brandon, secretly, always mocked me. “If it weren’t for that ailing child, Ms. Montgomery would have left you ages ago.” “If you ask me, you should cut your losses while she still has *some* affection for you. File for divorce yourself. Who knows, you might even manage to squeeze some money out of her because of your son’s condition. Otherwise, you’ll end up losing everything – both your marriage and your wealth.” But Leo’s leukemia was due to a hereditary condition in Seraphina’s family. While Leo was alive, I fought for a complete marriage, for my child’s mother, desperately maintaining the illusion of our family’s happiness. But after Leo’s death, neither a wife nor a marriage mattered anymore. If Brandon wanted it, he could have it. In the days immediately following the devastating loss of my son, I chose to work overtime at the office, numbing myself with work. However, as I worked late into the night, an unwelcome guest arrived in my office. Seraphina found me, looking utterly haggard, and immediately launched into a barrage of questions. “Why are you still working late? You never used to stay out all night! Look how many times I’ve called you! Don’t you know I have an emergency?” I checked my phone. Sure enough, there were over twenty missed calls. But my phone is always on silent when I’m working. Putting my phone down, I continued typing on the keyboard, expressionless: “We’re both adults. Do I really need to report to you whether I come home or not? I have a lot of work. As a senior leader, isn’t it normal for me to stay and work late?” Seraphina opened her mouth, then realized she had no counter-argument. She impatiently ran a hand through her hair: “I went for a check-up, and the doctor said the baby isn’t getting enough nutrition; I might have a premature birth. Doesn’t your company have a partnership with a top-tier birthing center? Can you get me an internal slot? That way, after the baby is born, it’ll get the best possible care.” My fingers froze on the keyboard. So, her twenty urgent calls late at night, her anxious face rushing to the company, were just to pre-book a spot at a luxury post-natal care facility. I wanted to throw the keyboard at her face. I wanted to ask if, while she was eagerly anticipating the birth of this new child, she had given even a single thought to our son who had just died. But I opened my mouth, then closed it, dismissing the thought. She didn’t believe Leo was dead. She only thought I was trying to use our son to keep her. What was the point in saying more? I simply told her there were no internal slots. On the way home, Seraphina’s face was grim. She frowned, chatting on her phone, seemingly with Brandon. Sure enough, as soon as we arrived home, Brandon came out to greet us. “Ms. Montgomery, Daniel, you’re back.” He put a faux-sympathetic arm around my shoulder: “Daniel, no offense, but we’re both fathers. I don’t want the baby in Ms. Montgomery’s belly to suffer even a little, which is why I want her to go to the most exclusive birthing center for her recovery.” “Ms. Montgomery told me you even claimed Leo was gone a few days ago, just to keep her. Daniel, isn’t that a bit much? Leo’s health is already delicate; words like that can easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy. You’re his father; you should be kind to your son.” I violently shook off his hand and walked into the house, expressionless. Brandon saw I was ignoring him, clenched his teeth, and bent his knees as if to drop to the floor. “If Daniel has an issue with me, I can get down on my knees and beg for forgiveness. But as a fellow father, I hope you can understand me.” “Your son was born with leukemia. Do you really want my son to be born inherently weak too?” He looked at me with red-rimmed eyes, as if he truly were a doting father worried sick about his child. Seeing this, Seraphina immediately stepped forward to support him, then coldly reprimanded me. “Daniel, Brandon is humbling himself like this for the sake of our child, what more do you want? You’re a father too, wouldn’t it be good to help us? Why are you being so heartless?” In the past, their intimacy would have stung my eyes. But now, they just looked like a pair of ridiculous clowns. “Did you two graduate from a drama school? I haven’t said a single word, and you’re still putting on this act.” “Moreover, Brandon knew Leo’s body was weak and couldn’t handle stress, yet he mocked him as worthless on his birthday. And you still expect me to get you an internal slot? In your next life, maybe.” Seraphina’s face darkened slightly, as if she suddenly remembered that she hadn’t visited Leo since his birthday. She looked at me, a hint of guilt in her eyes. “What Brandon said last time was wrong. I’ve already chewed him out for it. Leo is absolutely not worthless; he’s my child. I’ve been negligent lately. I’ll go to the hospital to see Leo later and bring him a birthday cake to make up for his missed birthday.” Make up for it? Leo’s birthday was his death day. How could she make it up? I fought back the redness in my eyes, my heart aching as if it were tearing apart. “No need. Leo… he’ll never eat your cake again.” Seraphina thought I was just throwing a tantrum and spoke impatiently. “I told you, what happened that day wasn’t intentional. You always dwell on things. Now you’ve taught our son to be as childish as you.” I looked up at her, speaking each word distinctly: “Our son is gone. I’ve already told you, haven’t I? He’ll never eat your strawberry cake again.”

“Daniel!” Seraphina’s voice rose. Looking at my desperate expression, an inexplicable panic stirred within her. She could only raise her voice to mask the fear in her heart. “You’re truly insane, cursing your own son like that! He has leukemia; we can’t say such things in our family. Why can’t you wish him well?” Yes, why? For the sake of another man, she could go half a month without seeing her critically ill son. Brandon chimed in from the side. “Daniel, I admit I misspoke on the phone that day. Please, don’t keep acting out. I apologize to you. Ms. Montgomery has always been very worried about Leo, so please don’t upset her.” Seeing Brandon’s hypocritical, pretentious face, something inside me snapped. I raised my hand and slapped him clean across the face. “Shut your mouth. You’re the last person on earth who deserves to mention my son. Get out of here right now, or I’m calling the police.” Brandon stumbled to the ground from the slap. His words were directed at me, but his face was turned towards Seraphina. “If hitting me makes Daniel feel better, then go ahead and hit me.” I glared at him, about to say something, when Seraphina shoved me away. “Daniel, he’s the father of the child in my belly, do you understand? Do you believe I’ll call the police and say you assaulted me? Assaulting a pregnant woman sends you to jail!” “I know,” I said, my arms crossed, fearless. “Then call the police.” Leo’s funeral wasn’t even over. I didn’t want to curse the mother my son loved most. Seraphina was furious. She dialed the police right in front of me, accusing me of maliciously assaulting a pregnant woman. She looked at me: “I’m giving you one last chance. Apologize to Brandon, and we’ll drop this. Otherwise, if you go to jail, you have no family in this city besides me. Only I can bail you out. In the end, you’ll still have to beg me.” Looking at her accusing me, I suddenly laughed. “Do whatever you want. Make me apologize? Only over my dead body.” She was beyond furious. “You’re utterly unreasonable! Then rot in that police station!” And Brandon, behind Seraphina, flashed a provocative smile. As a man, I understood the meaning behind that smile all too well. It was saying: See? You’ll never be better than me. Seraphina watched as the police took me away. She said she wanted to grind down my stubbornness, waiting for me to apologize. My boss heard about the incident and bailed me out. Heartbroken by my ordeal, he decided to send me overseas ahead of schedule. I had no objections. A marriage reduced to this point had long lost any affection. During the few days Daniel was held at the police station, Seraphina felt a persistent unease. Every hour, she checked her phone several times. She just needed Daniel to admit he was wrong, and she would immediately get him out. Brandon, beside her, said, “Ms. Montgomery, how about we go shopping now? I really want that Armani suit you promised to buy me.” Seraphina irritably rubbed her brow: “Fine.” She really wanted to go get Daniel out, but she didn’t know how to face his stubborn expression. So, she settled for accompanying Brandon shopping. As they passed a bakery, Seraphina immediately spotted a strawberry cake. A brilliant idea suddenly struck her. “You can take a cab back by yourself later. I’m going to the hospital to see my son.” With that, she ignored Brandon’s exasperated look behind her and sped off to the hospital with the strawberry cake. First, she’d appease Leo, then take him to pick up Daniel. They would surely be touched, and all the unpleasantness would be forgotten. After all, that’s how Seraphina had always handled things. No matter how angry Daniel got, as long as he saw her and Leo getting along, he would eventually cheer up. Seraphina thought, this time would be no different. Arriving at the familiar hospital room, Seraphina pulled back the curtain, holding the cake high. “Mommy’s little darling, guess what I brought?” But the bed was empty; there was no sign of her son. The bed was neatly made, as if no one had ever stayed there. A sudden panic gripped her heart. Daniel’s words echoed in her mind: “Leo will never eat your cake again, because he’s gone.” Seraphina grabbed a passing nurse and asked, “The little boy in bed 17, Leo, did he change rooms? I’m his mother, I…” The nurse interrupted her, confused: “That little boy was cremated seven days ago. You, his mother, didn’t know?”

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Julian’s brother, Brett, suddenly started speaking in French at the party. “So, Julian,” he slurred, “when’s the big day with Seraphina?” Julian, cool as a cucumber, replied in French, “Family’s set the date. Two weeks from now.” The whole private room erupted in laughter, their eyes twinkling with amusement as they glanced at me. “What about your little Cinderella girlfriend here?” someone else piped up in French. Julian wrapped an arm around me, his voice a lazy drawl, “Seraphina gets the title, Elara gets my love.” My fingertips clutching the glass turned stark white. They had no idea. They saw me as some impoverished girl, but I was actually the only daughter of the world’s richest man. I took a deep breath, then turned to call my billionaire parents. “I’m ready to come home and inherit the family fortune.” After the party, I followed everyone out of the private room. I hadn’t walked more than a few steps when a voice I didn’t recognize called out, “Miss Sterling!” I turned. It was Mr. Davis, a business partner who’d been trying to collaborate with my father for ages. I didn’t want to expose my identity, trying to figure out how to brush him off, when one of Julian’s friends, trailing behind him, scanned me from head to toe. He snorted, ” ‘Miss’ who? Is her entire outfit even worth five hundred dollars? A ‘Miss’? That’s a joke! A total laugh riot.” That comment unleashed a fresh wave of mockery. They weren’t speaking French now, so I heard every word of their taunts, though my face remained expressionless. Julian, on the other hand, bristled. He shot the guy a cold, warning look. The friend, clearly annoyed, toned it down, no longer openly mocking me. The others, receiving the same glare, gradually quieted. With the noise subdued and Mr. Davis not following, I walked behind Julian. We didn’t exchange a single word all the way home. Once inside, he took off his jacket, hanging it on a nearby rack, before finally speaking. “Baby, I won’t take you to these kinds of parties anymore.” My expression was calm, but I asked, “Do you think I embarrass you?” He let out a short, incredulous laugh and reached out to ruffle my hair, but I dodged him. He sighed, “What are you thinking? I just don’t want you to be upset.” “But there’s a difference in our social standing, and we’ll always face situations like this. Haven’t your family pushed you into an arranged marriage?” I watched him, trying to find a hint of guilt in his expression. But even hearing the words “arranged marriage,” Julian’s face only stiffened for a second before quickly returning to his usual composure. “Elara, all you need to know is that you’re the one I love. As for everything else, I’ll figure it out.” If I hadn’t been watching closely, I wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss. After speaking, Julian headed to the bathroom to wash up. Watching him walk away, I said nothing, but a thought gnawed at me: His “solution” was to follow his family’s wishes, marry one woman, and keep another on the side? A notification chime sounded from Julian’s phone on the bedside table. He’d never hidden his password from me, so I easily unlocked it and clicked on the message. It was from Seraphina Beaumont. [Julian, we’re meeting our parents tomorrow. If you don’t stay here tonight, won’t they realize our marriage is just for show? I know you love your girlfriend, but please, just for these few days, can you stay with me?] Though her words were humble, I saw her true intention. First, she’d use their parents as an excuse to make him stay. Then, she’d keep using that excuse, pushing further, little by little. But none of it mattered to me anymore. I was already planning my exit. I marked the message unread and put the phone back. Soon after, Julian emerged from the bathroom, grabbed his phone, glanced at it, and then looked at me apologetically. “Elara, something urgent came up at the office. I won’t be back tonight. You get some good rest.” He left in a hurry, too rushed to notice my reaction, or that I, who usually walked him to the door, whining and asking him to spend more time with me, didn’t try to stop him this time. I just watched his silhouette disappear into the distance. *Ding-dong*. Julian had barely left when my phone chimed. [All it took was one word from me, and Julian came right back. We’re meeting our families tomorrow. Once we’re really married, what will you be? Just… a permanent secret mistress?] Seraphina’s words were vicious, but what hurt more was that the knife used to wound me had been handed to her by the boyfriend I thought I could entrust my life to. Julian probably didn’t know that even if he didn’t discuss his engagement in French, his upcoming marriage to someone else wouldn’t remain a secret from me for long. Seraphina had already added me on SnapChat, and these past few days, she’d been sending me all sorts of provocative pictures. Photos of Julian helping Seraphina try on wedding dresses, pictures of them picking out engagement rings, photos of them scouting wedding venues… Each picture, one after another, completely shattered any remaining love I had for Julian. That night, Julian didn’t come home. I didn’t care at all. The next morning, after a quick wash, I went straight to the company and resigned. My termination paperwork was processed that same day. Julian was home when I returned. I told him I’d quit, then continued carrying my boxes toward my room. His brows furrowed deeply. “You liked that job so much, why did you suddenly resign?” I paused, looking at him with a smile. “Because I have a job I want to do even more now.”

Julian didn’t press further, only saying, “If work gets too tiring, just come back. Seeing you exhaust yourself like this pains me, Elara. You know I can provide for you.” I shook my head, enunciating each word. “I am no one’s accessory.” Julian looked stunned. “How could you be an accessory…?” I didn’t want to hear it anymore, cutting him off. “Why are you home so early today? Not at the office?” “I’ve been so busy with work lately, no time to spend with you. So today, I thought I’d make some time.” His brow smoothed, and he was back to being my compliant boyfriend. “What do you want to do? Italian or a movie? Whatever you want today, I’ll go with you.” The old me would have been incredibly touched by those words. After all, he was the heir to the Vance Group, with countless responsibilities. The fact that he was willing to carve out time for me showed I held a significant place in his heart. But now, looking at him, I couldn’t help but wonder: Was he truly busy with work, or was he busy planning a wedding? How could he possibly be planning a wedding with another woman while simultaneously sweet-talking me, claiming I was the only one he loved? In the end, I didn’t expose his lies. There were only a few days left anyway. Soon, I would disappear from his life completely. I shook my head, rejecting his suggestions. After a moment, I said, “How about you help me with a big clean-out? A lot of things in the villa are old and useless.” Julian agreed, helping me sort through things. But as we cleaned, everything I pulled out was a matching couple’s item that we’d bought together. From water bottles to accessories, from clothes to slippers—I tossed them all into the trash without a second thought. His smile stiffened with each couple’s item I discarded. By the time the last one hit the bin, his panic was undeniable. “Elara, did you… find out something?” “Find out what? Are you hiding something from me?” I raised an eyebrow, looking at Julian, deflecting his question with one of my own. He averted his gaze, as if afraid to meet my eyes, and remained silent for a moment. In the end, he didn’t answer directly, just clasped my hand. “Elara, no matter what happens, just remember, you are the one I love.” I curled my lip, saying nothing more. After the big clean-out, Julian still insisted on taking me out on a date. Fearing he might sense something was wrong, I didn’t refuse again. We had dinner, watched a movie, and finally, the car pulled up to an auction house. Just as we were about to enter, I saw a woman in a Chanel suit, with immaculate makeup, slowly approaching us. Julian’s expression flickered with a hint of discomfort. “What’s wrong? Someone you know?” As I spoke, the woman stopped in front of us, a warm smile on her face as she greeted us. Julian introduced her, “She’s the daughter of my parents’ friends, Seraphina Beaumont.” He paused, then introduced me, “This is my girlfriend, Elara.” Anyone not deaf could hear the difference in his introductions. Seraphina’s smile immediately faltered, but after a moment, she forced it back and extended her hand to me. “I’ve heard Julian’s girlfriend is beautiful. It’s certainly true.” Just then, the group of friends who had openly mocked me in French the day before approached, winking at Julian, thinking they were being subtle. I immediately understood: this encounter wasn’t accidental. They had deliberately brought Seraphina here. At the auction, Seraphina sat right beside Julian. Unlike her provocative SnapChat messages, in person she was gentle, refined, and knowledgeable. Upon learning of Julian’s interest in antiques, she conversed eloquently about the subject, and Julian, initially distant, gradually leaned closer to her. It wasn’t until I cleared my throat that Julian seemed to snap back to reality, realizing he’d been ignoring his actual girlfriend for too long. He quickly took off his jacket and draped it over me, his voice gentle. “Are you cold? Is that better? Elara, I know you’re not interested in these things, but if anything catches your eye, just bid on it.” I hadn’t even spoken when whispers from his friends behind us drifted over. Though they deliberately lowered their voices, we were only one row apart, and I heard every word. “Julian really knows how to play the hero for her. Even if she *were* interested, what would she know? She probably doesn’t even know how to raise a paddle, ha ha ha ha.” “Exactly. A high-society auction? She’s definitely a newbie.” I knew they were saying it for me to hear. I didn’t bother reacting. Soon enough, when we met again, they’d have to stand before me, respectful and calling me Miss Sterling. At that moment, the previous item was sold, and the next one was brought up. It was an ‘Imperial Swan’ Fabergé egg, crafted from the finest gold and encrusted with diamonds. What truly made it exceptional was the auctioneer’s announcement: it was a lost masterpiece by the legendary artisan, Master Dubois. As soon as I heard Master Dubois’s name, I instinctively looked at the piece on the stage. After just a glance, I retracted my gaze, my voice flat. “That one’s fake.” Seraphina’s smile almost fell off her face. “How can Miss Sterling tell?” “Because the real one was given by the world’s richest man’s daughter, Miss Sterling, to her grandmother.” There was only one in the world. The real one was at my house. The one on stage had to be fake. I was trying to be helpful, but my words made Seraphina burst into laughter. Even Julian’s friends behind us began to openly mock me. “Elara, if you don’t know, just don’t pretend to. It’s embarrassing.” “Yeah, and ‘given by the richest man’s daughter’? Did you see it with your own eyes from under her bed? Just because your last name is Sterling, you think you’re related to Miss Sterling?” The laughter grew louder until Julian, his face cold, finally silenced their taunts. He looked at me, taking my hand. “Elara, I know you’ve been reading some art appreciation books lately, but you can’t improve your appreciation skills just from books. Seraphina has been attending auctions since she was a child and is quite knowledgeable about such art. She naturally understands more than you.” He didn’t say anything overly harsh, but his meaning was clear: he thought I was talking nonsense. I let out a soft laugh, saying nothing. In the end, Seraphina paid a staggering twenty million dollars for that Fabergé egg. Watching her swipe her card, I smiled. I wondered what Mrs. Vance would think when she learned Seraphina had bought her a fake for $20 million. I didn’t stop her, nor did I care. I stood up and went to the restroom. Just as I finished washing my hands, a familiar voice came from behind me. “I thought I’d made myself clear enough. How can you still shamelessly hang around? Do you really want to be a homewrecker?” Her voice was sharp and grating, completely unlike the gentle, refined socialite she’d been moments ago. I calmly raised my eyes, turning to face her. “Miss Beaumont, I hope you understand that I’ve been with him for five years. The term ‘homewrecker’ certainly doesn’t apply to me, does it?” With that, I prepared to walk past her, but she wouldn’t let me go, sneering, “Yes, five years together, and he still won’t marry you. Haven’t you ever wondered why? I’m Miss Beaumont, and he’s the heir to the Vance Group. Our families are perfectly matched. But you?” “With a gambling father and a sick mother, such a pathetic background, nothing to your name. How could you possibly deserve him?” My steps faltered. This background was a complete fabrication, but I never imagined Julian would tell Seraphina even that. I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. If I truly came from such a background, would my so-called boyfriend, the one who said I was the only one he loved, have handed another woman a second knife to hurt me with? “You’re right, I don’t deserve him.” A pang of pain shot through my heart. I glanced back at Seraphina, and the pent-up frustration I’d held inside suddenly dissipated. “You two are a perfect match. I wish you both a successful marriage.” With that, I turned and walked away. I hadn’t gone far when my phone rang. It was my mother. “Elara, hurry home. Everyone’s waiting for you, and we’ve prepared tons of gifts.” “Your father and I bought you a castle overseas, your aunt bought you a diamond crown—they say it was once worn by the Queen of England—and your uncle, he’s got a garage full of luxury cars waiting for you…” Listening to my mother’s endless stream of gifts my family had prepared for my return, I couldn’t help but sigh. “Mom, I’m coming home to inherit the family fortune, not to squander it.” The moment my words fell, a familiar voice came from behind me. “Inherit the family fortune? What are you talking about?”

I froze, instinctively hanging up the phone, but couldn’t help but marvel at how much these people loved to suddenly speak from behind others. I turned around, seeing Julian’s distinctly unhappy expression. After a moment of hesitation, I explained, “Oh, nothing. Just some old colleagues asking what I plan to do after resigning. I was just joking with them, saying I’m going home to inherit the family business.” Julian frowned, about to speak, but I had already walked several steps away. I looked back and called out, “Coming? There are still a few jewelry pieces to be presented.” Hearing that, Julian stopped himself, nodded, and followed me. Back in the auction hall, Julian bought several more jewelry pieces at high prices, had them wrapped, and presented them to me. I looked at the boxes in my hands. “I don’t wear this kind of jewelry,” I said softly. Julian smiled, ruffling my hair. “You’ll get used to it. Don’t worry about wasting money. I’ll buy you diamonds for life.” My lips moved, but I ultimately held back the rest of my words. I don’t wear these million-dollar jewels. My jewels, each piece, are worth hundreds of millions. The auction was over, and people were gradually leaving. Julian and I, along with our group, didn’t linger. Everyone had driven their own cars, and we should have just gone our separate ways. But as soon as we got into the car, before it even started, Seraphina knocked on the passenger window. The window slowly rolled down, revealing her bashful face, her voice equally sweet and delicate, completely devoid of the sharp-tongued venom she’d shown me in the restroom earlier. “Julian, my car broke down. Could you give me a ride home?” Julian frowned, about to refuse, when she added, “Your parents asked you to look after me. You haven’t forgotten, have you?” Julian’s expression darkened, clearly remembering something. He finally agreed. Seeing him nod, her smile visibly brightened. She then pushed her luck, looking at me. “But I get motion sickness. What if I can’t sit in the back?” Julian looked at me, but before he could speak, I had already pushed open the car door, stepped out, and swiftly moved to the back seat. My movements were so quick that Julian hadn’t even reacted before I was settled in the back. His words were stuck in his throat, making him look uncomfortable. He seemed hesitant, wanting to say it was just a seat, nothing to fuss over. When his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror and saw me with my eyes closed, pretending to rest, he stayed silent. Just then, Seraphina got into the car. The door closed, and seeing me resting in the back, a triumphant smirk touched her lips. Her voice was soft and sweet, her eyes coyly on Julian. “Is Miss Sterling tired? Let her rest for a bit then.” Perhaps sensing my unusual quietness, Julian didn’t engage much with Seraphina. He just nodded and silently started the car. I must have actually fallen asleep at some point, because when I woke up, the car was already parked in the Vance family villa’s garage, and Seraphina was long gone. Julian stroked my face. “Awake? You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to wake you.” Still a little groggy, I nodded, opened the car door, got out, and walked straight towards the front door without waiting for Julian. Julian caught up to me at the entrance, blocking my way. “Are you mad? Seraphina really is just the daughter of my parents’ friends. Don’t worry about it.” I hummed in response. Julian thought I was still angry. He took my hand, coaxing softly, “She’s truly just the daughter of my parents’ friends, baby. You know I only love you.” After speaking, he caught a whiff of my rose perfume, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and he leaned in to kiss me, but I pushed him away. Watching his astonished expression, I walked directly inside. “I’m on my period and not feeling well, so I’m heading to my room to rest.” With that, I locked the door, completely cutting off Julian’s chance to come in. The next morning, in the downstairs dining room, as Julian and I ate breakfast, my phone, which was lying nearby, suddenly rang. It was a timed alarm I’d set a while ago. The reminder: “Meet the Parents.” Julian also saw the message. Before, I had planned to reveal my identity to him and suggested he come home to meet my parents, which he had agreed to. We exchanged glances. I was wondering how to cancel the meeting when, the next second, his phone also rang. It was Seraphina. I couldn’t hear what she said, but his expression changed slightly. When he turned back to me, he apologized and called off our meeting. “Elara, something’s suddenly come up that I need to deal with. How about we meet your parents another time?” I nodded calmly. “Perfect, I have something to take care of today too.” Julian left soon after, and I followed suit. I went shopping, buying a gift for each of my girlfriends whom I was meeting later. When we met, everyone opened their packages, gasping as they saw a brand new luxury item in each box. “Elara, where did you find so many high-end fakes? They look so real!” “They’re all real.” Seeing their surprised faces, I couldn’t help but chuckle. After explaining, and seeing they still looked unconvinced, I revealed my true identity. “Actually, what I told you before about my father gambling and my mother being sick—that was all fake. My real identity is the sole heir to the world’s wealthiest family. I’m saying goodbye to you all because I’m going home to inherit the family fortune.” Hearing me say this, everyone was first shocked, then overjoyed, exclaiming that a real-life heiress had been right among them. Their screams nearly blew the roof off the restaurant. After their excitement, someone remembered Julian and quickly asked, “But if you go back, what about Julian? Does he know your real identity?” At the mention of Julian, the smile on my face faded slightly. “He’s planning to marry someone else.” “No way!” My friends were incredulous. “He always seemed like such a devoted rich guy to us!” “Exactly! Three years ago, you said you liked night-blooming orchids, and he spent a fortune buying every rare one in existence just to see you smile. Two years ago, when you got the flu, he cancelled a multi-million-dollar deal and flew back from overseas to personally care for you, staying awake all night. And a year ago, your car got into an accident. The truck was headed straight for you, but he swerved to protect you. You didn’t even lose a hair, but he broke three ribs and was in the hospital for three months, almost not waking up. Now he’s getting married? How could the bride not be you?” Hearing my friends recount those past events, I still felt a surge of emotion. Back then, Julian truly loved me enough to risk his life. But now… I shook my head, smiling faintly. “He did love me, but his family thinks I’m not good enough for him and forced him into an arranged marriage. Before I even had a chance to tell him the truth, he’d already printed the invitations. From what he said, he probably intended to keep me as his mistress after the wedding.” My friends exploded instantly. “What? A mistress?!” “Asking the world’s richest heiress to be a mistress? The Vance family must be insane!” “Oh, really? He’ll regret this, just you wait!” “Exactly! If he knew you were secretly leaving, and his family found out your real identity, they’d go crazy!” Just then, Julian and Seraphina walked in from outside, frowning as they overheard our conversation. “What real identity?” Seeing them enter together, one of my friends, absolutely furious, was about to speak but I stopped her. I looked at the two newcomers, my expression cold. “What are you two doing here?” At my question, Julian couldn’t help but feel a little guilty, his eyes flickering. “The Vance and Beaumont families have a collaboration, so we arranged to meet and discuss it.” Hearing his reply, I just smiled. Of course, I knew about their “collaboration” – a marriage alliance. Because they were discussing “business,” Julian and Seraphina didn’t sit with us, but at a separate table nearby—close enough for me to witness their intimate interactions. Like him cutting her steak, her sharing her favorite food with him, him handing her a napkin, her wiping a smudge from his lips… The two exchanged affectionate gestures, infuriating my friends, but my face remained calm.

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**Chapter 1** Liam had Serena’s chat pinned, but not mine. I broke up with him. My friend Maya was shocked. “Over something so trivial?” Everyone thought I’d regret it. After all, Liam was genuinely great. He’d meticulously planned my entire academic journey, from undergrad straight into a Ph.D. program. He’d even thoroughly researched and decided which city we’d settle in. His notebook was crammed with plans for “our” next ten years. It detailed everything, right down to which year we’d save enough for a down payment, and when we’d have kids. But he wouldn’t pin our chat. He thought taking five seconds to text me goodnight was a waste of time. Yet, he spent two weeks coaching Serena on topics she didn’t understand. He’d explained it. “It’s all for work. Work is for our future.” I knew. I knew everything. But I didn’t want to live in the future anymore; I just wanted to live in the present. The day before our fifth anniversary, I playfully asked Liam to pin my chat. “This is the only anniversary gift I want. Please, just say yes!” This was probably the seventh time I’d asked him to pin our chat. The previous six times, he’d refused. Even now, he had 99 pinned chats. There was Serena, his junior colleague, his advisor, various work and study groups. But never me. My initial confusion had turned to hurt and anger, and now, a calm indifference. The message I’d sent him still hadn’t received a reply, even after 12 hours. No surprise there. Liam was always busy, and not replying was the norm. Once, he went on a business trip with his advisor and didn’t reply for half a month. If I hadn’t seen Serena, who was with him, still updating her Ins feed regularly, I would have thought something terrible had happened to him. It sounds ridiculous, but I had to learn about my boyfriend’s whereabouts through other people. This time was no different. I checked Serena’s Ins and found out the academic summit had ended, and a banquet was being held. Logically, the busiest part should have been over. But Liam still wasn’t replying. I just called him directly. He picked up on the third ring. “Is something wrong?” His voice, thick with exhaustion and static, sent a chill through me. I gripped my phone tightly. “It’s our anniversary. I’m at the hotel entrance where the banquet is…” “It’s just an anniversary. You didn’t need to come all the way to City A.” Liam calmly interrupted me. My full anticipation for our fifth anniversary. In his eyes, it was a dismissive “just.” How many five-year periods do you get in a short lifetime? Liam continued. “You should be writing your thesis instead. Your current level won’t get you into the university we’re aiming for.” I softly cut him off. “I’ll wait for you. After the banquet, just half an hour, have dinner with me.” Then, I hung up. I waited for a while. My phone remained silent. No calls, no messages. The hotel’s warm, yellow lights were diffused and hazy by the snowy mist. Faint laughter and chatter drifted from behind the glass doors. It made the silence outside even more profound. Liam was probably chatting and laughing with those academic bigshots. Maybe Serena was right beside him, smiling as she raised her glass. But none of it mattered anymore. I had already made up my mind to break up. **Chapter 2** When my best friend, Maya, heard I wanted to break up, she called me crazy. “Liam was so good to you, didn’t you forget that notebook?” “Do you know how many people envy you for having a boyfriend who plans everything out?” Liam had a notebook. It was filled with plans for our next ten years. The first phase was college. In high school, his grades were better than mine, and he’d tutor me every week without fail. In the end, we went to the same university. The second phase was the Ph.D. For this, he helped me plan my path from undergrad straight into a Ph.D. program. It was detailed, down to how to change majors, which courses to take, which advisor’s research group to join… Then came work, buying a house, marriage, and having children. He’d researched the climate and housing market trends in different cities, specifying which year we’d pay the down payment and which year we’d have kids. I was in every stage of his plan. Maya sighed. “Chloe, tell me, what other guy would go to such lengths?” I watched the snow outside gradually stop falling. My throat felt tight. Yeah. The words “us” were written densely throughout his notebook. He often told me: “We’re not just two paths crossing; we’re two people walking together to the finish line.” Those things were true. But he’d write in his notebook to prepare gifts for our anniversary, yet he’d mix up the dates. He thought replying to my messages was a waste of time, that researching topics was more productive than chatting with me. He’d plan our home ten years from now, but leave me heartbroken countless times in the present. Maya was still trying to persuade me. “Look, he even included you in his life ten years from now. Isn’t that enough?” “Now you want to break up over something as small as pinning a chat? Aren’t you being a bit dramatic?” “Listen to me, don’t be impulsive, don’t break up. You’ll regret it.” I gently cut her off. “If he can’t even care about me now, will the ‘future’ he’s planning truly include me?”

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My mother-in-law, Eleanor, said she wanted to experience what young people do, so I took her to a bar to grab a drink. I never expected that as soon as I ordered a drink for Eleanor, a flirtatious woman came over with a glass in her hand. Her eyes scanned the bill on our table, and she snickered dismissively. “Only spending a few bucks? Just brought the old lady here to leech off the free AC, huh?” “Poor people should stay in their gutters! Do you really think you belong in a high-class place like this?” I stood up, trying to keep my temper in check. “We’re spending our own money. What’s it to you?” She suddenly snapped, grabbing an unfinished beer bottle from our table, and raised it to smash it over my head: “My husband owns this bar! Even if I kill you, I can afford to pay for it!” I wiped the beer from my face, trembling with rage. She was my husband’s side chick! I immediately opened my live stream and said to my followers: “Live on air, I’m taking you all on a tour of my husband’s *other* home.”

\[OMG! Scarlett, your head is bleeding! Who did that?!] \[Daniel’s other home? What does that mean? I just came from CEO Miller’s financial interview live stream, he said he was coming home to have dinner with Scarlett tonight!] \[Who’s that woman up front? So arrogant! I know this bar, it just opened. Heard Daniel Miller is the owner!] \[My husband is the owner? So… is that woman the owner’s wife?] Comments flooded the screen, scrolling so fast they were a blur. Meanwhile, the woman opposite me casually lit a cigarette. “Your husband? With your pathetic look, do you really think you’re good enough for Daniel?” “Stop flattering yourself. Take this old hag and get out, or I’ll call security!” I was about to argue when I noticed the wristwatch on her wrist – “Overture of Time.” It was mine. Just yesterday, Daniel had held my hand, his face full of concern: “Scarlett, the watch strap is a little loose. I’ll take it to the master’s apprentice to adjust it for you, and get it serviced. I promise you’ll be wearing the perfect watch tomorrow.” I laughed, telling him he was making a big deal out of nothing, but his thoughtfulness melted my heart, and I gave him the watch. But I never imagined it would be on another woman’s wrist at this very moment! My live stream followers were sharp-eyed and spotted it too. \[Wait! That watch! Isn’t that Scarlett’s ‘Overture of Time’?! The only one in the entire world!] \[Holy crap! I remember that watch! When CEO Miller gave it to Scarlett back then, we all said it was a fairy-tale romance! How is it on this woman’s wrist?!] The woman obviously saw the comments. She deliberately raised her wrist. “So you really are Daniel’s wife. Even better!” “Let me tell you right now, this watch is proof of Daniel’s love for *me*! Who do you think you are? You’re nothing but a wife in name only! Daniel loves *me*!” “You don’t deserve to wear it,” I said coldly, clenching my fists. “Scarlett, let’s go. Don’t bother with people like her.” Eleanor’s face changed as she looked at the watch. “Old hag, trying to leave? Not until you clean up the mess you made!” The woman stepped forward, blocking our way, grabbed a bottle of red wine, and poured it over Eleanor’s head. “Aren’t you live streaming? Perfect! Today, I’ll let everyone see how you and that old hag kneel down and lick the wine off my shoes!” She waved over a few black-suited security guards who had come over to see what the commotion was about. “What are you standing around for?! Grab these two fools for me!” “When Daniel gets here, I want him to see with his own eyes how these two pieces of trash kneel and beg for mercy!”

I aimed my phone camera directly at the woman’s face. “Folks, meet this lady who claims to be Daniel Miller’s ‘true love.’ Right now, she wants my mother-in-law and me to kneel before her.” The comments on the live stream instantly went from anger to a flood of mockery. \[Kneel? Is her brain broken? Make Scarlett and her mother-in-law kneel to *her*?] \[LOL, who is this person, so basic, yet so confident? ‘True love,’ does CEO Miller even know?] Eleanor also spoke up, “Young lady, power that comes from a man blows away with the slightest breeze.” Tiffany’s face instantly turned scarlet with rage. She grabbed a wine bottle. “Old hag! Stop acting like you’re so wise just because you’re old!” I instinctively pulled Eleanor behind me. *Thud!* The bottle smashed hard against my back. Wine soaked through my dress, and glass shards cut my skin. I grunted, falling to my knees. “Scarlett!” Eleanor shrieked in terror. The woman pointed at me, yelling at the surrounding security guards. “What are you looking at?! Grab this crazy woman! And that old hag! Tie them both up!” Several menacing security guards advanced on us. Eleanor anxiously said, “Wait!” She then called Daniel and put him on speakerphone. Just as it was about to go to voicemail, Daniel’s impatient voice came through, mixed with a woman’s giggling in the background. “Mom? What is it? I’m kind of busy here.” “Daniel, Scarlett and I are at your new bar. Scarlett was hit with a wine bottle protecting me and is bleeding badly,” Eleanor said anxiously. Daniel replied dismissively, “Mom, why did you two go there?” “I have a very important business dinner here; I really can’t leave.” “Take Scarlett to the hospital first, and let Tiffany handle everything. All medical expenses are on me.” “I’ll… I’ll come see you later.” With that, he actually hung up the phone. “Beep… beep… beep…” So her name was Tiffany. Eleanor’s hand, holding the phone, trembled uncontrollably. “Heard that? Daniel doesn’t care about you two at all!” “Security! What are you standing around for?! Throw them out!” Tiffany waved her hand, saying triumphantly. The security guards closed in again. “You just heard your boss’s voice. He’s just busy and can’t leave right now.” “But if you dare touch us, I promise you, you’ll deeply regret it!” I shielded Eleanor behind me, forcing myself to stay calm. “And I’m still live streaming, you know. If this gets out, I wonder if your bar will have any business left!”

My words clearly had an effect. The bodyguards exchanged glances and stopped. Tiffany shrieked in exasperation, “What are you afraid of?! What can a stupid live stream do?! Daniel will handle any consequences! Get them!” However, no one moved. Tiffany could only call Daniel, putting him on speaker. He picked up almost instantly: “Tiffany? What’s wrong? Didn’t I tell you not to be childish? I’m busy here.” She cried into the phone, “Daniel! Someone’s causing trouble at your bar! They hit me! Come quick!” Daniel on the other end immediately sounded tense. “What?! Are you hurt? Where are you hurt? Don’t be scared, wait for me, I’m coming right now!” He then hung up abruptly. A cold dread washed over me. Just a few minutes ago, Eleanor told him I was bleeding from a bottle smash while protecting her. And he said, “I can’t leave, you two go to the hospital yourselves.” Tiffany hung up, arrogantly commanding the security guards, “Did you hear that? Daniel will be here any second!” “You! Now, tie these two bitches up immediately!” “When Daniel gets here, I’ll make sure you all know who truly has his ear!” Eleanor looked at me worriedly, and I gave her a reassuring smile. Then, I walked up to Tiffany and slapped her hard. *Smack!* “You dared to hit me?!” Tiffany shrieked, clutching her face. She raised her hand, but stopped when she saw the watch. “You really care about this watch, don’t you?” She dangled the watch, and my heart sank, a premonition of dread rising within me. She smiled at me, deftly unbuckled the strap, and held the wristwatch high. “You say Daniel loves you? But he gave me your symbol of eternal love!” “I heard this watch is priceless. Do you think it would still be valuable if it shattered?” With that, she violently slammed the watch onto the marble floor. “No!” I screamed, lunging forward. *Crash!* With a crisp sound, the sapphire crystal of the watch face instantly shattered, and intricate parts scattered everywhere. My heart shattered with it. The live stream viewers were also shocked by her瘋狂act; the comments completely froze for a moment. “See that? That’s how much you mean to him! Worthless!” Tiffany laughed maniacally, grinding her sharp high heel over the broken watch face. “Some broken junk, and you cherish it so much?!” “I’m going to kill you!” I lunged, pinning her to the ground, slapping her repeatedly! “Ahhh!” Tiffany screamed non-stop. The security captain behind her finally snapped out of his shock. “Quick! Pull her off! Tie this crazy woman up!” he yelled at his men. I was pulled away by the bodyguards. “Yes! Tie her up! Beat her hard! I want her to spend the rest of her life in bed!” She yelled at everyone, “When Daniel comes, he’ll only take my side! Get her!”

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