Category: English

The prince was searching the entire city for the girl who lost a glass slipper. My stepsister stole my shoe, claiming she was the one who danced with the prince last night. She didn’t know that the prince had killed someone that night. And I was the only witness. ***** “Sister, please, give me back my shoe.” I clung to Emma’s leg, begging desperately. Emma grabbed my hair and spat in my face viciously. “Pfft, you filthy wretch! How dare you covet His Royal Highness? Go back to the attic where you belong, that’s your rightful place.” Madame Franklin and Julia each grabbed one of my arms, pushing me towards the attic. I struggled fiercely, trying to lunge for the glass slipper. “You can’t take it out! You really can’t!” A few days ago, I suddenly found myself in a twisted version of the fairy tale, becoming Cinderella. At first, I thought, how bad could a fairy tale world be? Until I saw the prince slice open the Chancellor’s belly with his sword. After the murder, he stood calmly, using his long blade to lift up a section of the Chancellor’s intestines, admiring it in the moonlight. “Ah, how beautiful.” The bright red intestines dripped blood, and the prince’s eyes gleamed with an eerie, bloodthirsty light. I hid in the bushes, tightly covering my mouth, my whole body shaking uncontrollably with fear. I must have been shaking too hard because the prince suddenly turned his head in my direction, his gaze sharp and piercing like a hawk’s. “Who’s there? Come out!” I gasped, picked up my skirts, and ran. The prince chased after me, sword in hand. The palace was magnificent, with expensive crystal chandeliers hanging from the pillars on both sides, illuminating everything clearly. The prince laughed softly behind me. “Oh, it’s the beautiful girl who danced with me tonight—” His tone was sinister. I turned my head to look; the prince’s face was twisted with malice, his long sword still dripping blood, leaving a trail behind him. I was terrified, running faster than I ever had before. But the white jade steps at the palace gate were too long, and no matter how careful I was, I still lost one glass slipper. I knew he wouldn’t let me go. Sure enough, the next day, news of the Chancellor’s death spread throughout the country. The king was furious and ordered the guards to catch the real culprit. Along with the obituary, another piece of news spread across the country: the prince was looking for love. The prince had fallen in love at first sight with a beautiful girl at the ball. He announced that whoever could wear the glass slipper left behind by the girl would be the next princess. All the women in the city went crazy. Emma and Julia started dressing up early in the morning, soaking their feet in milk, praying for this lucky glory to fall upon them. It wasn’t until Emma came to my room to look for jewelry that she accidentally found the other glass slipper.   “You filthy wretch, how dare you sneak off to the ball behind our backs! If you’re so desperate for a man, we’ll marry you off to a stable boy tomorrow!” Madame Franklin grabbed my hair and slapped me hard across the face several times. Emma clutched the glass slipper to her chest and kicked me hard in the stomach. The attic door opened, and I fell down. Emma giggled. “Thinking you could be a princess? You should look in a mirror first. “Stay here like a good girl. If you make a sound, you’re dead.” With a loud bang, the attic door was locked. I pounded on the door above my head, my face filled with despair. This is bad. If they take out this shoe, the prince will surely know I’m here. He’ll kill me! Soon, I heard Madame Franklin’s fawning voice from above. “Oh my, Lord Roderick, why have you come personally— “No need to try it on, this shoe belongs to our Emma. Emma, show the other shoe to Lord Roderick.” Lord Roderick’s face was stern as he held a fine velvet cushion with a sparkling glass slipper on top. “Everyone must try it on. Oh—indeed, they make a pair. Noble lady, please come with me to the palace so the prince can see for himself.” The other maids and guards all offered their congratulations. Emma excitedly hugged Julia and spun around. Soon, a flurry of footsteps gradually faded away, and silence fell once again overhead. I slumped to the ground, my face filled with despair. My sister’s foot was bigger than mine. Once they entered the palace and the prince discovered she couldn’t wear the shoe, he would soon come to my house. I had to escape before that happened. But the attic door was locked, and there wasn’t even a window. I had no way to escape. There were many tools in the attic. I found a hammer and started chipping away at the wall. After an hour, I had only managed to scrape off a thin layer of plaster. Covered in sweat, I angrily smashed the hammer against the wall a couple of times before throwing it to the ground. A mouse in the corner was startled and scurried to the other side, squeaking. Looking at that mouse, my eyes lit up as an idea suddenly came to me.

  In my impression, Cinderella was always mistreated by her stepmother and forced to do chores. Whenever the housework became too overwhelming, she would start singing, and then many birds and small animals would come out to help her. This was a special ability of Disney princesses. Now that I had become Cinderella, shouldn’t I have this ability too? I cleared my throat. “Ooooh ooooh ooooh~ Aaaah aaaah~” No response. Maybe I was doing it wrong. I continued singing. “Eeee eeee eeee~ Oooo oooo~” I sang repeatedly for half an hour, until my throat was dry, but I didn’t give up. Finally, that mouse crept out from the corner again. I was delighted and crouched down to look at it. “Are you here to help me?” The mouse squeaked, its limbs twitching, and fell to the ground. Me: “…” I sat on the ground hugging my knees. Just as I was at a loss, I heard chaotic footsteps from above and Madame Franklin’s shrill voice. “Oh my, Prince Henry, you’ve come personally! Heavens!” I looked up through the cracks in the wooden floor. The prince still carried that long sword from last night. He smiled and gestured for his attendant to press Emma onto a chair. “Beautiful Lady Emma, is this pair of glass slippers yours?” Emma’s face turned red, and she nodded shyly. The attendant tried to put the shoe on Emma’s foot, but her foot was too wide and wouldn’t fit no matter how they tried. Emma became anxious. “I… I’m a bit swollen today.” “Is that so? But you must wear the shoe to become my princess.” The prince’s expression was cold. Hearing this, Emma desperately tried to squeeze her foot into the shoe, her instep turning red from the effort. The prince laughed coldly and raised his sword. “Let me help you—” The prince’s blade fell, cutting off half of Emma’s foot. She screamed and rolled on the ground, clutching her leg.   Everyone was terrified, but the prince acted as if nothing had happened and calmly turned to look at Julia. “Beautiful lady, is this pair of shoes yours?” Julia’s face was pale, but unable to suppress her desire to become a princess, she still nodded. This time, the prince cut off her heel. Blood sprayed everywhere, dripping through the cracks in the wooden floor. I was terrified, looking around frantically but finding nowhere to hide. Madame Franklin screamed and went to embrace her two daughters. The prince put his sword to her throat. “Are there any other daughters in your house?” Madame Franklin’s lips trembled. “No, no more…” Despite their severe injuries, both sisters gritted their teeth and insisted there was no one else in the house. The resolve of the mother and daughters to prevent me from becoming princess was unexpectedly strong. Thank you all. “What about young maids? None of those either?” Madame Franklin continued shaking her head. The prince laughed and sat down in a chair, using a clean white cloth to wipe his long sword. “Well, isn’t that interesting!” The prince waved his hand, and his attendants scattered to search the house. Soon, Lord Roderick ran to the prince’s side. “Your Highness, the attic door is locked.” The prince looked at Madame Franklin. “This is your last chance to live. Open the door.” The prince’s eyes were sharp, his tense jawline showing that his patience had reached its limit. Seeing Madame Franklin standing still, Lord Roderick drew his sword. “Kill her. You all, go break down the door.” Only then did Madame Franklin react, screaming and crawling towards the attic door. “I’ll open it, I’ll open it, don’t kill me—” The sound of keys and chains clashing rang out, and the attic door was forcefully pulled open. A beam of light shone diagonally into the attic. In the dusty beam of light, the prince stood before me with a wicked smile. “Ha, found you.”

  The next moment, the smile froze on the prince’s face. My face was covered in ash, my eyes were crossed, and I asked him with a toothy grin: “Who ya lookin’ for, mister?” Prince: “…” The prince took a big step back in disgust. “Who are you?” “I’m the maid, Cinderella. Ain’t you a handsome fella, hee hee hee—” I reached out to touch the prince’s face. He frowned and swatted my hand away. “Someone, bring her up.” Two guards jumped down into the attic and hauled me up. Thanks to my stepmother’s mistreatment, I was wearing old clothes patched all over, my hair was full of straw, and my face had several red handprints, which indeed matched the image of a maid. Lord Roderick looked disappointed. “Your Highness, this girl doesn’t seem to be the one.” I had just breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the prince coldly order: “Put the shoe on her.” Damn it, he still suspects me. Where’s the basic trust and respect between people? I was pressed into a chair by several guards. Lord Roderick knelt on one knee, holding up the glass slipper. As soon as he lifted my long skirt, Roderick turned his head away in disgust. My feet were pitch black, covered in ash, with my five toes spread wide like sea anemones. The prince laughed coldly. “What happened to your feet?” I smiled ingratiatingly: “My toes are deformed, they’ve been like this since I was little.” “Is that so?” The prince paused for a moment, then suddenly reached out and pinched my calf hard. “Ah—” I screamed in pain, and my toes instinctively curled up. The prince sneered. “Look, all better now.” “Thank you, you’re so kind.” I wanted to cry but had no tears left as I watched Roderick stuff my foot into the glass slipper.   Of course, it fit perfectly—not too big, not too small, not too long, not too short. The glass slipper on my pitch-black foot looked as if it had been custom-made for me. Roderick looked awkwardly at the prince. “Your Highness, are you sure this girl is the one you’re looking for?” The two sisters, who had been rolling on the ground clutching their legs, hurriedly crawled over and said in unison: “There must be a mistake, she didn’t go out last night!” Madame Franklin nodded along. “Yes, this is my maid. I locked her in the attic last night; she couldn’t possibly have attended the ball. Your Highness, she absolutely cannot be the girl you’re looking for.” The prince stared at Madame Franklin for a while, then curled his lips into a smile. “Liars must swallow a thousand needles. “Roderick, bring out that box of needles.” What kind of psychopath carries around boxes of needles? Watching Roderick stuff silver needles as long as a pinky finger into Madame Franklin’s mouth, I was so scared my legs went weak. Amidst the wailing of the mother and daughters, I was escorted onto a carriage by the guards. As the wheels rolled, two guards watched me vigilantly from the side. I couldn’t find any chance to escape. Soon, the majestic palace appeared before my eyes. “My dear Henry, have you found your beloved girl?” Queen Eleanor came out to greet us enthusiastically. Seeing my ash-covered face, the queen paused, a flash of horror crossing her eyes. “This is—” “Someone, take her away to clean up.” The prince acted as if he hadn’t seen the queen and ordered the people beside him. The queen circled around the prince, asking if his journey had been tiring and chattering endlessly. The prince coldly waved her away, turned to Roderick, and instructed: “Clean her up and bring her to see me.”

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  Eight months pregnant, I went to Rex’s office to deliver some documents. The temperature inside was scorching 46°C. Just as I reached to turn on the air conditioner, his secretary stopped me. “Ma’am,” she said sweetly, “I’m on my period. I get cold easily—please don’t turn it on.” I glanced sideways at her. My baby was growing inside me, and the heat could cause a heatstroke. Without saying a word, I turned the AC on anyway. That evening, Rex came back from a business dinner and burst through the door, already furious. “Janice, Julie is on her period! Do you even realize those 38 minutes and 19 seconds of cold air sent her to the ICU with severe cramps?” I stared at him in disbelief. “Rex, are you mocking me just because I don’t have a period? I’m eight months pregnant! And if I get heatstroke, that’s not just discomfort—it could be fatal! Are you drunk?” He curled his lips into a mocking smile and nodded. “You’re right. That was foolish of me.” That night, he comforted me as usual, whispering sweet nothings until I drifted off to sleep. But when I woke up, I was no longer in my bed. I was in a walk-in freezer—surrounded by walls of glass on all sides. Outside the glass, a group of second-generation elites laughed and pointed at me. Rex stood among them, his arm was wrapped around Julie’s slender waist. They looked at me and chuckled. “Afraid of heatstroke?” he sneered. “Then let’s cool you down properly tonight.” My heart sank. Calmly, I pulled out my phone and snapped photos of everyone outside. Then, I dialed a number. “Dad,” I said coldly, “I don’t want any of these people to see the sunrise tomorrow.” —— There was silence. Then I hung up. The laughter around me exploded. “Janice, your dad was thrown into the open sea and was fed to sharks six months ago. Have you frozen your brain? Or were you always this stupid?” “Still pretending to be the Newton family’s heiress? Even in your wildest dreams, you wouldn’t dare imagine that anymore.” Rex watched proudly as his cronies mocked me. He took off his fur coat and draped it gently over Julie’s shoulders, then walked slowly toward the freezer. He tapped on the glass with his index finger and smiled coldly. “Janice, are you cold now? Do you realize your mistake?” The red thermometer outside reads -50°C. I was shivering from the cold, still dressed in the thin pajamas I’d worn to bed the night before. My skin, where it touched the icy ground, had turned blue and numb. The cold pierced like knives. Shivering violently, I stumbled to the glass wall and slammed a fist against it. “Rex, what did I do wrong?! It was 46°C inside—I just turned on the air conditioner! Pregnant women are more vulnerable to heat. If I had collapsed, it would’ve been two lives lost!” Suddenly, a sharp pain twisted through my abdomen. I clutched my belly and crouched down, eyes bloodshot as I glared at him. “Rex, let me out! You know exactly how much I’ve suffered to carry this child. I cannot lose him!” A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes. He, of all people, knew the pain I’d gone through. An accident years ago left Rex infertile. For eight years, I endured thousands of hormone injections the length of my forearm just to extract viable eggs. Only after all those years had we finally conceived. Eight months of careful bed rest. I had done everything to protect this baby. I still remember how furious he was once when a servant brought me brown sugar water that wasn’t warm enough, he broke her arm. But now, for Julie’s period, he didn’t hesitate to lock me in a freezer. My chest tightened with bitter despair. Just as I opened my mouth to speak again, Julie pulled off the fur coat Rex had just given her and clung to his arm with tears brimming in her eyes. “Rex, let your wife out,” she said softly. “She’s delicate and frail. She won’t survive this… Unlike me—I’m just a poor girl who’s used to hardship. I’ve fainted in freezing rooms before, and I didn’t even dare complain…”

Fainted from the cold? All I did was turn on the air conditioner for thirty minutes. When I left Rex’s office, Julie was still smiling, making plans with her girlfriends to hit the bar that evening. I opened my mouth to explain—but Rex’s expression became indifferent in an instant. His voice dropped several degrees colder. “Someone get in there and strip off her coat! Isn’t she supposed to be delicate and pampered? Then let her experience how kids from poor families suffer!” He bent down to pick up the fur coat. With a gentle touch, he draped it over Julie’s shoulders and glanced at me with icy contempt. “You can come out when you finally realize your mistake. The doctor said our son is perfectly healthy. Don’t think you can use that baby as an excuse to escape punishment.” With that, he swept Julie into his arms. His voice softened, dripping with tenderness. “Julie, you’re on your period—your feet must stay warm. Just stay in my arms. Let’s see who dares complain now.” As soon as he sat down with her in his lap, a group of men walked toward me with cruel smiles. I shrank into the corner, clutching my thin nightgown tightly. But no amount of resistance could match the strength of several men. Seconds later, the thin fabric was torn into two. In an instant, a rush of cold air pierced through my skin, seeping into every pore. Laughing excitedly, they stripped the rest of my gown. When they walked out, they laughed with Rex as if they’d just come from a game. “Damn, Rex, you really know how to enjoy life. Your wife’s figure is incredible—she’s not shy at all!” “Thanks for letting us take such good care of her!” I was left wearing only my undergarments, curled up on the freezing ground. The warmth of my skin clashed with the ice beneath me, tearing at my flesh with every move. Blistering pain pierced through me—raw skin ripped open, blood slowly seeping out. Bright red against the glowing white of the freezer floor. Rex noticed it. He gently set Julie down and stepped forward, eyes locked on the growing bloodstain trailing toward his feet. Before he could speak, Julie rushed over and pressed her hand against the glass, trembling as she saw the blood. “Please, Janice… just admit you were wrong,” she pleaded, her voice shaking. “There are so many of Rex’s friends watching… if you don’t, he won’t be able to let you off easily.” I stared daggers at her. “Why should I apologize? I saw how comfortable you were under the AC that day. You even made plans with your girlfriends to go out—” Rex’s gaze flicked toward Julie—there was a flash of doubt in his eyes. But before I could finish, Julie slapped herself across the face with a loud smack, then dropped to her knees with a dramatic thud. Grabbing Rex’s hand, she sobbed, “Rex, I just can’t bear to watch her suffer like this… If she still won’t admit her mistake, then I’ll kneel here outside with her!” The moment Julie knelt down, all traces of suspicion vanished from Rex’s eyes. He bent quickly to lift her up, his face twisted in disgust as he turned back to me. “Janice, you’ve really been spoiled rotten. Julie has always endured your arrogance in silence. Now you’re clearly in the wrong, yet she’s still worried about saving face for me—and she’s willing to suffer for you!” “You don’t deserve her compassion.” “Tonight, I’m going to crush that pampered temper of yours. If you don’t admit you were wrong, don’t even think about coming out!” He turned and gestured to the men behind him. “Bring in more ice blocks. Surround her with them. Pour water over her too—I want her frozen to the very walls!” He hadn’t even finished speaking when…

  Just then, a girl tugged nervously at Rex’s sleeve. “Rex, pouring water over ice will make it stick to skin like glue,” she said timidly. “If she moves even a little, her flesh will tear. She’s due any day now—something terrible could happen…” His hand, mid-gesture, paused in the air. He hesitated. But before the moment could shift, a soft, pitiful voice came from behind him. “Rex… let it go. My time in the ICU wasn’t as unbearable as you imagine…” Julie’s words instantly turned his hesitation to stone. His gaze darkened. The hand he had paused slowly lowered as his voice turned cold again. “Do exactly as I said.” The young girl opened her mouth to protest again, but Rex waved her off. “What she’s going through is nothing compared to what Julie suffered. I already have an ambulance waiting outside—what could possibly go wrong?” With that, she fell silent. Now emboldened by Rex’s command, the men returned to the freezer—this time, carrying even more blocks of ice. One of them grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking me upright. They surrounded me with slabs of ice, building a wall around my body. Then, a basin of icy water was dumped over my head. The next second, my skin adhered to the ice like glue—bonded by freezing water. Each breath burned my throat. Each pore pulled tight with searing pain as the cold seeped into my bones. I glanced at the clock. I’d been trapped in the freezer for over five hours. My limbs had turned dark purple from the cold. To shield my unborn child, I tried to shift my body slightly—to find a posture where my stomach might retain some warmth. But every tiny movement ripped more of my flesh from the ice. The baby’s movements inside me had grown faint. Alarmingly faint. I gritted my teeth, ignoring the raw pain as chunks of skin tore away. Slowly, I maneuvered my body to shield my belly as best I could. Bright red blood began to smear across the crystal-clear ice. By the time I managed to reposition myself, the once-clear ice around me was stained a ghastly crimson. The laughter outside died. Even the jeering men, who had earlier mocked me, fell silent at the sight. Through the blur of blood and frost, I glared at Rex and screamed hoarsely, “Rex! If anything—anything—happens to this baby, then you, his biological father, are his murderers! I swear I’ll pray day and night to his spirit—so that you never know peace!” His expression wavered. The steel in his eyes faltered as he stepped closer, peering through the blood-fogged glass. Then a shout rang out behind him. “Rex! My dad just said—there’s a plane on the Newton family’s private air route!” Rex’s face drained of color. His expression twisted with panic and fury. He pounded his fist against the glass, roaring at me. “Janice! What the hell is this?! You think you can scare me with your Newton family name forever?!” Before I could answer, Julie rushed to his side, gently rubbing his back and shooting me a look that combined hurt with quiet blame. “Janice, if you won’t admit your mistake, that’s fine. But why must you torture Rex like this?” she said, tears glimmering in her eyes. “You know how much suffering he endured back when Mr. Newton was alive. Now he’s gone, and the Newton family’s wealth has long been sold off. What’s the point of staging this farce?” Then she gently tugged Rex’s hand, her voice like a breeze as she added, “Let it go, Rex. Let her out. If something really happens to the baby, we’ll be the ones blamed. It’s not like she ever cared about us lowly nobodies anyway.” Her words didn’t soothe him—they only fanned the flames. His eyes lit with renewed rage. He spat out a curse, then snapped toward his men with a roar. “Turn the freezer down to negative 100 degrees! Do it—now! ”   Seeing Rex explode with rage, the people behind him didn’t dare utter another word. They silently turned the freezer’s temperature down to negative 100 degrees. In an instant, a wave of bone-chilling wind blasted through the air vents, hitting me like knives made of frost. The cold robbed me of speech—my teeth chattered uncontrollably, and I couldn’t form a complete sentence. Then, through the haze of numbness, a sharp, tearing pain erupted from my lower abdomen. I forced my heavy head downward—and froze. A stream of bright red blood was flowing from between my legs, winding like a small creek across the icy ground. In the deathly cold, it steamed against the frost, creating a crimson mist. The blood melted the ice around me, seeping through the cracks in the floor. That’s when it hit me. I knew what was happening. Clutching my belly, I screamed hoarsely toward the glass. “Rex! Let me out! The baby…. Save our baby!” He was still fuming with fury, but the moment he saw the blood—the same blood now melting ice and flowing to his feet—his face drained of all colors. Panic replaced the cruelty in his eyes. He grabbed the man beside him, shouting frantically, “Hurry! Get the freezer key! Didn’t we check with the doctor before locking her in? How the hell did this happen?!” The man handed him the key. But Rex’s hands were trembling so hard that he couldn’t even hold on to it. The key fell—right at Julie’s feet. He immediately turned and gripped her arm tightly. “Julie! Quick, unlock the door! Let Janice out now—hurry!” Startled by his outburst, Julie fumbled to her feet, not even bothering to put her shoes on. She rushed toward the freezer door, casting a glance back at Rex. Then, with her back to him, she slid the key into the lock. In that instant, I caught a flash of something sinister in her eyes—a look of triumph, malice, and cruelty. And then—crack! A sharp sound echoed through the air. Julie turned back around and suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Rex, crying out, “Rex—the key.. it snapped!” His face turned ghostly pale. He stumbled forward, grabbed the broken key and demanded, “What do you mean it snapped?! How could it break? Call someone—get a locksmith now!” By now, the blood had spread across nearly the entire freezer floor, glistening warmly against the icy white. I was groaning in agony, unable to contain the pain. But Julie knelt there with crocodile tears in her eyes, voice trembling with false concern. “Rex, she hasn’t admitted her mistake yet… You said it yourself, this was a chance to humble her—everyone here is watching…” “And what about what I went through in the ICU? Are you really just going to let that go? You promised me you’d give me justice.” Rex hesitated. He waved off the man who had gone to fetch another key. Then he turned back toward the glass, slapping the freezer door repeatedly as he called to me—this time, his voice filled with desperation and pleading. “Janice, please. Just admit you were wrong. For the baby, alright?” “Just say it. Say you’re sorry, and I’ll open the door. You don’t want anything to happen to our child either, do you? I’m begging you, Janice—just be a little softer, okay?” The blood loss was making my vision blur. My body collapsed into the pool of blood, and with a trembling voice I whispered toward the figure outside, “Rex… let me out… If you don’t, my father will kill you…” Julie’s eyes glinted with a savage smile—but her voice remained drenched in that same fake innocence. “Janice… are you really that confused? Mr. Newton died half a year ago. The Newton family collapsed months ago! Just admit you were wrong already—no one can save you now!” Laughter and jeers erupted outside the freezer. “Still dreaming, huh? Gonna have your dad kill Rex? Miss Newton, your old man’s probably rotting in hell—if anything, he’s the one getting killed all over again!” They laughed mockingly while tugging at Rex’s sleeve. “Rex, this woman clearly hasn’t learned her lesson! She’s just faking it. The kid is probably fine—let her rot in there a while longer!” “Exactly, Rex! She bullied Julie so badly—you can’t let her off easily!” The cold storage was already slick with blood. They couldn’t see it, but I could feel it—the faint fluttering inside my belly was growing weaker and weaker. I started to wail uncontrollably, screaming in agony. Rex paced restlessly outside the door. When he glanced back at me again, there was a trace of helplessness in his eyes. “Janice, stop hoping your father is going to come rescue you again. He’s really dead. Just admit you were wrong, okay? Just say the words—I was wrong—and I’ll let you out!” “My dear wife, give it up. Your father won’t be coming to save you this time!” The moment his words fell, the door to the room was kicked open with a loud bang. A squad of fully armed mercenaries stormed in. A deep, commanding voice rang out from beyond the door— “Who said her father wouldn’t come save her?”

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  Six years ago, my husband and I were traveling abroad when we were kidnapped. Our family only had enough money to pay the ransom for one of us. For Leo’s sake, I chose to stay behind and let him return home. Later, a powerful man paid my ransom. In return, I worked under him for six years and eventually became his most trusted aide. In the sixth year, after helping him resolve all his troubles, I was finally allowed to leave. With nothing holding me back, I began my journey home. However, I never expected that upon my return, I would find Leo Evelina already a successful man but still with no intention of ever rescuing me. He was living happily with his first love and they even had two children together. Furious, I confronted him. I asked why he had not waited for me. Why hadn’t he come for me once he had the means? He looked at me coldly and said, “Myra, why would I save you?” “You’ve been passed around countless times over the past six years. Who knows if you’re even pure and clean still?” His words were so cruel and heartless and it made me laugh in disbelief. So this was the man I once loved so deeply, the one for whom I sacrificed everything. At that moment, all I felt for Leo Evelina was hatred. If that was how it was, then he would pay every last bit of what he owed me. —— “Myra Grey, we’re still legally married. My company is about to go public. If you show up now, I will never divorce you.” He stared at me coldly as he spoke. After all, if he divorced me, he would be forced to give up a substantial amount of money, something he simply could not bear. On top of that, there was the price I paid to save his life six years ago. If word got out that Leo and I were divorcing now, it would jeopardize his company’s upcoming IPO for sure. But I looked him in the eye and shook my head. “Leo Evelina, let’s get a divorce.” He said nothing. Instead, he raised his hand and gestured behind him. The next second, a group of men rushed forward, forcefully dragged me away and locked me inside a room. “Just cool off in here.” Then, with a detached expression, Leo added, “As long as you do what I say, you’ll remain Mrs. Evelina.” “I’ll make sure you live comfortably and my children will take care of you when you’re old. But if you refuse to cooperate, I’ll send you abroad.” With that cold gaze and attitude, he turned and left. I was now a prisoner in the Evelina Family’s house. Two bodyguards were stationed outside my door, cutting off any chance of escape. However, what Leo did not realize was that he had not taken my phone. In his eyes, I was just someone who had managed to flee back from overseas alone and helpless. He probably assumed that someone like me would not even have a phone and so he did not bother checking. What he did not know was that I had not come back alone. I picked up my phone and made a call. “Sir, I need your help.” My voice trembled as I spoke and tears slipped down my cheeks. “I told you long ago. Any man who could abandon you and run off alone would never stay with you for life.” “Hold on for three more days. Stay in the Evelina Family’s house and I’ll be there soon.” His voice rang through my phone. It steadied me, grounding me. What Leo never knew was that on the very day he was rescued, my boss had already appeared before me. Not only was I untouched during those years, I was treated well. Exceptionally well. In fact, my boss rewarded me handsomely. I now had more wealth than Leo could ever imagine. The only unfortunate thing… was that he no longer had anything to do with me.

  Since my boss would not arrive for another three days, I had no choice but to stay at the Evelina Family’s residence. What I did not expect was for Leo to show up in my room that very night. He sat across from me, stared into my eyes and said, “Myra, as long as you behave and wait until my company goes public, I’ll divorce you.” “But when that time comes, you’ll need to sign an agreement. I’ll give you one hundred and fifty thousand and you’ll take the money and leave quietly.” “Theresa and I are together now. We have a child. All of my assets will belong to them in the future.” I could not help but laugh at his words bitterly. Six years ago, I gave up everything for Leo Evelina. I even sold all my assets back home just to secure his release. I still remember how, before he left, he held me tightly and promised to raise the money to save me once he was back. He swore he would wait for me, no matter what. And yet, what did he do once he returned to our country? He reunited with Theresa Quinn almost immediately. Their eldest child was already five. That meant he never intended to rescue me after he returned home. The truth was, he had already decided I was ‘tainted’ and unworthy of him. But if it were not for him, would I have ended up in that situation? He was the one who insisted we go on that trip. I did not even want to go. And the ransom money that saved him? That came from selling my own home. Now, facing him again, I scoffed. “Leo, I understand perfectly.” Just three more days. That was all I needed. I knew my boss had powerful contacts in this country. Once he arrived, everything would fall into place. As for Leo Evelina? He meant nothing to me anymore. “Fine. Sign this.” He handed me a document. I glanced over it. The agreement allowed for our divorce and he would pay me one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in compensation. Without hesitation, I signed it. “I’ve signed the divorce papers, Leo. Can I leave now?” I looked up and asked in a cold voice. “Of course not. You’ll stay here for the next few days. You can leave after my company goes public.” He looked back at me indifferently as he spoke. After saying that, Leo stood up and walked out of the room. The two bodyguards stationed at the door stepped forward and blocked my path, making any attempt to leave impossible. I looked at Leo’s retreating figure and shook my head in silent resignation. I knew he would not let me go at a time like this. Left alone in the room, I sat in silence, thinking about everything I had sacrificed for Leo. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I had given this man my youth, only to end up abandoned and imprisoned like this. After crying until I was exhausted, I realized I was starving and I had not eaten anything all day. I opened the door, planning to ask for some food. But the moment I stepped out, the two bodyguards stopped me again. “I need something to eat,” I said flatly. They looked at me coldly and shook their heads, saying nothing. They ignored my request completely, refusing to let me pass. At that moment, the chill in my heart deepened. He had forced me to sign divorce papers and put me under house arrest and now he would not even offer me a single bite of food. Just as I was about to argue with the guards, a woman entered the room carrying a basin. She looked at me with a bright, almost mocking smile. Behind her stood two children. The two kids stared at me with open curiosity. Then the older one, Leo’s son, pointed at me and asked loudly, “Mommy, is this the bitch you told us about?”   Hearing his words, I stared coldly at the little boy in front of me and said sharply, “I’m not a bitch. Your mother is.” “You’re the bad one! You tried to steal my dad and now you’re calling my mom a bitch!” “I’ll beat you up!” As he spoke, he lunged at me, his small fists swinging toward my body. I looked at the boy without a trace of emotion and pushed him away. He fell to the ground and immediately burst into loud, pitiful cries. Theresa’s expression darkened. Without hesitation, she turned to the bodyguards and snapped, “Hold her down!” At her command, the bodyguards forced me to the floor. Theresa stormed up to me and slapped me twice across the face. Pain stung my cheek, but I glared at her, unyielding. “Myra Grey, let me tell you the truth. Leo and I are the ones truly in love.” “Do you really think he ever loved you?” “You don’t even know the truth that the kidnapping was all a setup. Leo planned it with the kidnappers.” “He knew you would give up everything for him, so he used that to his advantage. Do you know what he did after you paid the ransom? He took back half of it!” “That money became the foundation of his business empire today.” Theresa looked at me with an icy smile and said coldly, “Because, at that time, I was already pregnant with Leo’s child.” At those words, my expression darkened even further. I had not expected that everything had been orchestrated by Leo himself. So back then, every sweet word he said to me was a complete lie. “Myra, you must’ve been sold countless times in a place like that, right? I bet you’re excellent at serving men.” “Women like you are only fit to live like dogs.” As she looked at me and spat out those cruel words, a basin was placed on the ground before me. I watched as she took out a bowl filled with dog food and poured it into the basin. Her voice was cold as ice as she spoke, “People like you don’t deserve real food. You only deserve this.” Then, without warning, she slapped me across the face. Before I could react, she grabbed a handful of dog food and stuffed it into my mouth. I struggled to spit it out, but she clamped her hand over my mouth tightly, forcing me to swallow. At this moment, Theresa leaned close to me and hissed, “Myra, let me tell you something. Leo won’t be back for the next two days. You’d better behave and stay right here.” “And as for food? This is all you’re worthy of.” With that, she flung the rest of the dog food at me. The little boy watched as his mother pressed me to the floor and shoved handfuls of dog food into my mouth. He burst out laughing, clapping gleefully. “Serves you right, bitch! You should eat dog food!” “You’re just a stray and no one loves you! And you still want to steal my dad from my mom?” Still unsatisfied, he ran up to me and stomped on my face with his tiny feet before turning and walking off proudly. Theresa looked down at me one last time and said mockingly, “What? Can’t handle this?” “You should be used to it by now, no? In a place like that, serving men day in and day out. This is just your normal life, isn’t it?” “Hmph, maybe they let you go because you were too sick and even they didn’t want you anymore.” I glared at her furiously, but she only smirked with satisfaction before turning on her heels and leaving the room. I knew then Theresa would not be paying attention to me any time soon.

I watched as the two bodyguards shut the door behind them. Once I was sure they were gone, I quietly took out my phone and called my boss. “Sir… they won’t even give me food.” I swallowed my pride and added softly, “Theresa… she made me eat dog food.” Over the years, I had followed this man with unwavering loyalty and in return, he gave me unimaginable wealth. Not only had I lived a life of dignity, I even had the tastiest food, the finest clothes and the most comfortable house and transportation. I had not felt this humiliated in years. From the other end of the line, his voice came through coldly, “After tonight, I’ll be there. You’ll see me with your own eyes.” I could hear the anger boiling beneath his words. After hanging up, I quickly hid my phone. That device was the last thread keeping me connected to hope. I did not call the police. I knew it would be useless. Even if I did, Leo would find a way to trap me here. He could easily claim I was mentally unstable after the trauma abroad. And once the police were gone, the consequences for me would be far worse. So I endured the hunger in silence… and eventually drifted into a deep sleep. By early morning, I saw Leo again. The moment he stepped into the room, he slapped me across the face. “Myra, you vicious woman!” he roared. “How dare you lay a hand on my son?” “So what if I didn’t rescue you? That doesn’t give you the right to hurt a child!” His expression grew darker as he spoke and a harder slap landed again. After that slap, my cheek swelled instantly. When I tried to open my mouth, it was filled with the metallic taste of blood. I knew that my lips were bleeding from the force of his hit. But even after seeing me like this, Leo did not stop. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and kicked me hard. The blow landed on my stomach and pain twisted my face as I let out a cry. Leo’s kick landed hard and I crumpled to the floor with a sharp scream. Even seeing me curled up in pain, he showed no mercy. Instead, he continued to punch and kick me without restraint. His son stood at the doorway, clapping and cheering excitedly. “Yes! That’s right! This bitch needs to know how strong I am!” “Dad, you are amazing! You made her cry!” The boy kept applauding, his face lit up with twisted delight. Then Leo grabbed a fistful of my hair and growled viciously, “Myra, listen carefully. If you ever touch my son again, I’ll kill you!” I looked up at him, fear clouding my eyes. He was completely insane. “Dad, let me hit her next! Beat her to death, now!” the boy shouted, pointing at me with cruel enthusiasm. Hearing his son’s words, Leo turned to him with a smile and nodded. “Of course, my good boy. Don’t worry, Daddy will make sure this woman learns her place today.” Then he glared back at me, raising his hand to strike again. At that moment, all I could feel was raw terror. Even when I had been kidnapped, the abductors had not been this brutal. I truly believed I might die here, beaten to death by the man I once trusted. Just then, Theresa’s scream pierced the air from outside the room. “Who are you? How dare you break into my house?” And in that instant, I knew that my boss had arrived.

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  My younger sister got pregnant out of wedlock and vanished after giving birth to a boy in a back-alley clinic. The doctor used the address she left behind to find my family, leaving the baby with me. My parents got on their knees and begged me to adopt him. Just like that, I, a single woman, began the arduous task of raising a child alone. Years later, just as I’d finally raised him, my sister returned. On her arm was a rich businessman, a thick gold chain gleaming around his neck. She clutched my son and sobbed, telling him I was a jealous monster who had stolen him at birth, tearing their family apart. My son, my pride and joy, renounced me on the spot and ran into her arms. My parents threw me out of the house. The neighbors’ gossip and condemnation became my personal hell. In utter despair, I threw myself from the roof of my apartment building. When I open my eyes again, I’m back on the day my sister gave birth. ***** The pounding on my door started with the dawn, jolting me awake in a cold sweat. This was it. In my last life, this was the exact moment the clinic doctor had hammered on our door, waking the entire neighborhood. He’d handed me the baby in front of everyone, scolding me for being an irresponsible mother. Only later did I learn the baby was my sister’s. My parents had pleaded with me to keep him. Since I had no plans to marry anyway, I agreed. A choice I came to regret with every fiber of my being. Hearing that sound again, a jolt of electricity shot through me. I scrambled out of bed and yanked the door open to see that same, familiar face. “Cathy,” the doctor began, his voice dripping with condescension. “You can’t just have a baby and abandon it. You know that’s illegal.” The neighbors were already awake, their heads craning out of their doorways to watch the drama unfold. I stared at him for a single, silent second. Then I ripped off my slipper and brought it down on his face with all my strength. “You goddamn vulture!” I screamed, hitting him again and again. “How dare you show up at my door with this scam! I don’t even have a boyfriend, let alone a baby! Have you ever seen a woman who just gave birth hit this hard?!” I gestured wildly at my own body. “Do I look like I just had a baby?!” My furious assault left the doctor stunned and speechless. Mrs. Richards from across the hall was the first to find her voice. “She’s right, you know. Cathy goes to work every single day. I’ve never once seen her with a baby bump.” “Yeah, you must have the wrong person.” “Wait, I recognize him. Isn’t that the doctor from that sketchy clinic down the street?” I planted my hands on my hips, my slipper still raised. “You sleazy old quack! You run a back-alley clinic and now you’re trying to pin a baby on me? That’s it, I’m calling the cops!” The word “cops” made him panic. “I—I won’t press charges for the assault!” I grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his head back. “Oh, you won’t press charges? Too bad, because I’m not letting you run away!” I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Hello, 911? I’d like to report a case of infant trafficking!” “Don’t you dare say that!” he shrieked. “You’d better have a good story for the police,” I snarled, “or I swear to God, I will burn your little clinic to the ground.” Fate had given me a second chance, and I was unleashing every ounce of frustration and injustice from my past life. When the police arrived, they found a bizarre scene: a doctor with a swaddled newborn, his face bruised and swollen, and me in my pajamas, wielding a slipper like a weapon. The neighbors had all gathered, buzzing with speculation. The officers looked from the baby—so fresh its umbilical cord was still clamped—to the doctor. “Alright, what’s going on here? Start talking.” “She’s the one! The patient left this address and name!” he sputtered, pulling a medical file from his pocket. An officer took it. The address was indeed mine, and the name on the file was Cathy Scott. I crossed my arms. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Someone obviously used my name to have a baby and is now trying to make me pay for it.” Just as I finished speaking, my parents, who had been hiding inside, finally emerged. “Cathy,” my mother began, her voice wheedling, “since you’re not planning on getting married anyway, why don’t you just adopt him?” “Are you serious, Mom? I’m not just going to randomly adopt a child who appeared out of nowhere! We have no idea who his parents are. What if they’re drug addicts? That stuff is genetic, you know. I’m not raising some ungrateful little monster!” My parents were stunned into silence. The doctor’s face was a mask of fury. He shoved the baby into my arms. “This is your family’s problem! I’m done! You can tell Judy she can raise her own damn kid! If I’d known you people were this unreasonable, I never would have come!” A collective gasp went through the crowd. The secret was out. The baby belonged to my sister, Judy.

  “You’re a liar!” I shouted, shoving the baby right back at him. “First you say he’s mine, now you say he belongs to Judy? Where’s your proof? You have none! You just want to dump this baby on us. Officer, I’m telling you, this man is trafficking infants!” I crossed my arms again, making it clear I was washing my hands of the situation. “Cathy!” my mother gasped, horrified. “Mom, Dad, don’t be so naive! The world is full of scammers!” Mrs. Richards chimed in from her doorway. “She’s right, you two. This doctor shows up claiming the baby is Cathy’s, then changes his story to Judy. He’s obviously lying through his teeth.” “Yeah, who knows where he got that baby!” another neighbor added. The doctor practically jumped up and down. “My name is Zero Theresa, and I don’t lie! I’ve been running my clinic for years. Do I look like a con artist?” He pointed a shaking finger at me. “It was last night! Your sister, Judy, came begging me to deliver her baby!” He rummaged in his medical bag. “I even have her phone as collateral!” He produced a smartphone. One glance and I knew it was Judy’s. My parents froze. The proof was undeniable. The baby was Judy’s. The neighborhood gossip erupted. “Judy? She’s just a kid! Who’s the father?” “Who knows! You never see her around much, and she always wears such baggy clothes. I can’t believe she was pregnant!” “God knows what kind of trouble she got into out there.” “You shut your mouths! My daughter is a good girl!” my mother shrieked, finally finding her voice. “Say one more word and I’ll tear your tongue out!” Dr. Theresa sneered. “Please. Judy told me to bring the baby here as soon as it was born. She said her older sister would raise it. Officers, I even have a letter she wrote herself!” He pulled a sealed envelope from his bag. There was no letter in my last life. In fact, when Judy had returned to destroy me, Dr. Theresa had stood by her side, helping her spin her lies and pushing me closer to the edge. The man was a snake. “I never should have gotten involved,” Dr. Theresa muttered. “What a damn headache.” The police officer sighed, seeing the situation for what it was. “This is a domestic dispute. You all need to handle it yourselves.” I grabbed the officer’s arm. “This isn’t just a domestic dispute! He’s expecting us to believe my sister had a baby and ran off based on nothing but a phone and a letter? For all we know, she could be dead in his clinic!” The officer’s expression sharpened. He saw the logic in my words. He immediately grabbed Dr. Theresa. “Let’s go. You’re taking us to your clinic. Now.” My parents trailed after them. I didn’t waste a second. While they were gone, I threw my life into a suitcase. I was not staying in this house. As I was leaving, a neighbor saw me. “Cathy, where are you going?” “I’m moving out,” I said loudly enough for everyone to hear. “If I stay, that baby will end up in my parents’ hands, and we all know who they’ll expect to raise it. Judy’s the one who had a kid she couldn’t handle, not me. Why should I be responsible? I’m not even married! What would my future husband’s family think if they saw me with a baby?” They nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Cathy. You have to think about yourself. Go on, get out of here.” “That poor girl. Judy has some nerve, just having a baby and running away.” “Who knows, maybe that doctor did something to her…” “No way!” I didn’t care what they whispered about. I just needed to run. By the time my parents got home, I was already settled into my company’s dormitory. It wasn’t long before my mother’s call came. The moment I answered, her frantic voice filled my ear. “Cathy, where did you go?!” I could hear a baby crying in the background. “I moved out,” I said calmly. “How could you move out? What are we supposed to do with this baby?!”

  So, they had been to the clinic. They had confirmed the baby was Judy’s, and that Dr. Theresa had, in fact, delivered him. What I couldn’t understand was why they were still so fixated on me. “Mom, what does that baby have to do with me? I didn’t give birth to him.” “Right now, the most important thing is to find the baby’s father. Anyway, I have to work. Bye.” I hung up and went about my day. At the office, my colleague Sara slid up to my desk. “Cathy, you seeing anyone? I’ve got someone I’d like you to meet.” My first instinct was to refuse, but I stopped myself. “Oh yeah? Who is it, Sara?” “My nephew! He’s three years older than you, a veteran. Owns his own little restaurant now.” She grinned. “How about lunch today?” I agreed immediately. Sara was thrilled and rushed off to call him. In my last life, Sara had seen how exhausted I was raising the baby and had thrown a lot of freelance work my way. She’d also tried to set me up, but I was always too afraid that a new man in my life would mistreat my “son.” Looking back, I was unbelievably foolish. I met her nephew, Ryan, for lunch. The connection was instant. We exchanged numbers, agreeing to see where things went. When I got back, Sara was waiting. “Well?” I nodded. “He’s great. I’d like to see him again.” She was ecstatic. “I’m telling you, if this works out, he’ll treat you right. I’ve watched that boy grow up. He’s a hard worker, a good man.” I felt a blush creep up my neck, which only made Sara more excited. And so, Ryan and I started dating. For two solid weeks, my parents didn’t contact me, and I didn’t go home. But I should have known it wouldn’t last. My mother found me at work. I was in the middle of a sales call when the security guard at the front desk rang my extension. “Cathy, you need to get down here, now. Your mom just dumped your son with us! You need to come get him, he’s screaming his head off.” My mind went blank for a second. “What son?” I said, deliberately raising my voice so the entire office could hear. “I’m not married, where would I get a son from? Don’t spread rumors!” The guard sighed. “I don’t know, man. Just get down here.” When I hung up, every eye in the office was on me. “What’s going on, Cathy?” “I have no idea. The guard said a woman claiming to be my mom just dropped off my son.” Sara gasped. “You’ve got to be kidding me! That’s a new one. Come on, let’s all go see what this is about.” “Yeah, is this some kind of scam?” “Cathy has a son? I never saw her pregnant.” “Maybe it was a few years ago. You know how young people are these days, their lives are a mess.” Hearing that, even Sara shot me a suspicious look. I put on my most bewildered expression, and she couldn’t read me. When we got to the front desk, everyone stared at the tiny, wailing infant. Sara let out a breath of relief. “There’s no way that’s Cathy’s baby. He can’t be more than a month old!” “Exactly! Who would be so cruel? If it was a toddler, Cathy would never be able to clear her name!” “This is character assassination!” I was laughing on the inside. The guard just shrugged helplessly. “The woman said she was Cathy’s mother. What was I supposed to do?” An idea sparked. “Pull the security footage,” I demanded. “Let’s see this woman.” When the footage played, I didn’t recognize the woman who had dropped off the baby. I knew exactly what to do. “Call the police. That’s not my mother, and I have no idea who she is.” The others hesitated. I threw my hands up. “This is child abandonment. I’m in sales; I hand out hundreds of business cards. Who knows who got their hands on one and decided to pretend to be my mother. I am not raising someone else’s kid!” Everyone agreed that made sense. The police were called, and they took the baby away. I made a point of asking, “Where will he go?” “Where do you think? If we can’t find his parents, he’ll go to a group home. He’s in the system now.” Hearing those words, a wave of relief washed over me. This time, I would not be raising that ungrateful viper.

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My mother-in-law, Martha Evans, was worried sick about how worn out I looked after giving birth. For Thanksgiving, she took me to this aesthetic clinic my husband, Liam Evans, had invested in, hoping to help me feel like myself again. But just before the injection, I happened to glance at the vial. The expiration date was six months ago! I froze, my blood turning to ice, and immediately screamed for them to stop. Martha was furious and confronted the clinic’s director, Dr. Evelyn Reed, on the spot. But Dr. Reed just shrugged, completely unconcerned. “What’s the big deal if it’s expired by six months? Just pump up the dosage, the effect will be just as good! What makes a hag like her think she deserves top-tier products anyway?” I was absolutely outraged, pointing to the door. “Your ads promise all products are the latest EU imports, yet you’re giving clients expired drugs! Aren’t you afraid your boss will find out?” She just laughed as if I’d said the funniest thing. “I *am* the owner’s wife! My husband bought me this place as a little trinket, a plaything! And let me tell you, even if you two dropped dead on the operating table today, my husband would smooth everything over for me. Now, pay up, or you’ll regret it!” I glanced at the price. Sixty-eight thousand for an expired injection? My mind raced, not just about the outrageous cost, but simmering with anger that Liam would dare to mess around behind my back like this! Before I could even think about confronting him, she was already on the phone, her voice dripping with sickly sweetness. “Oh, hubby, someone’s bullying me here at the clinic! If you don’t come soon, your little baby is going to be bullied to death!”

“You two just wait! My husband is on his way to deal with you two freeloading nobodies trying to skip out on the bill!” Hearing her absurd accusations, my entire body trembled with rage. “What are you talking about? We never said we couldn’t pay! We’re questioning you for using expired medicine to harm people!” She gave me a cold, dismissive glance. “You? You think you’re in any position to question us? Look at you, all bloated and ugly after childbirth, saggy skin, stretch marks all over your belly. You can’t even afford basic care, and you dare to come to a high-end establishment like ours?” Martha saw my face drain of color from her insults and immediately stepped in front of me. “How dare you speak to my daughter-in-law like that? She became this way because she gave birth! What right do you have to mock her? Besides, this is *my son’s clinic*! Even if it were just a regular place, you’re using expired medicine, and we have every right to question it!” Hearing Martha’s words, her face instantly darkened. “You old hag, who do you think you are? Your son’s clinic? This place was opened for *me* by *my husband*! Look at the rags you’re wearing! Who do you think your son is to even *compare* to my husband? I’m telling you, whether you get the injection or not, if you don’t pay me that sixty-eight thousand today, you’re not walking out that door!” Martha was always modest, used to wearing custom-made clothes that most people wouldn’t recognize the value of. I never imagined she’d be underestimated because of it. But Sera wasn’t done. Still seething, she shoved Martha hard. Martha was older, and the push sent her sprawling to the ground. “Mom!” I rushed to her side, helping her up. Martha’s face turned ashen, and she clutched her chest, gasping for air. “Mom, what’s wrong? Is your asthma acting up again?” Martha’s asthma was a chronic condition, easily triggered by excitement or stress. As I asked, I frantically pulled her inhaler from my bag, just as Dr. Reed snatched it away. “What an act, truly well-prepared!” “Call… call 911…” Martha stammered, barely coherent. Seeing Martha’s worsening condition, I had no time to deal with Dr. Reed. I quickly pulled out my phone to dial for emergency services. But Sera was lightning-fast. She lunged, grabbed my phone, and smashed it violently to the ground. *CRACK!* The screen instantly shattered into a spiderweb of cracks. “What a performance! When the expired meds didn’t work, you decided to fake an injury and call an ambulance, hoping to scam me out of money!” she sneered. “I’ve seen countless poor people like you! First, you nitpick and refuse to pay, then you fake illness, then you pretend to call an ambulance – it’s all just a ploy to extort money from me! Let me tell you, I, Seraphina Thorne, wasn’t born yesterday! I’ve seen through all these tricks before!”

I stared at the broken shards of my phone on the floor, then at Martha, who was struggling more and more. Tears streamed down my face, unstoppable. “Do you even know who she is? She’s your husband’s mother!” I screamed, completely breaking down. But instead of believing me, Sera just got even worse. “Oh, really, you pathetic hussy? I haven’t even said who my husband is, and you’re already trying to impersonate his family here? And you call her ‘Mom’? Clearly trying to be the mistress! You filthy slut, I’m not going to let either of you get away with this! Security! Get over here and hold this tramp down!” The words were barely out of her mouth before four burly men rushed over and pinned my arms and legs. Struggling was useless. I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Liam Evans! Liam Evans! Is your husband Liam Evans?! She really is Liam Evans’ mother! Please, I’m begging you! My mom truly has asthma, she’s in danger right now! Please, just let us call an ambulance!” Sera stood with her arms crossed, her eyes blazing with malice. “You actually know my husband, huh? Ha! I knew you wanted to be the mistress! No problem, I’ll make sure you never dare to covet someone else’s property again.” The moment she admitted she was with Liam, I heard my heart shatter. The last sliver of hope I clung to vanished. The man who’d promised to love and protect me for a lifetime had taken a mistress right after I’d given birth. And by the looks of it, it hadn’t been a short affair. “You four, have you ever slept with a woman?” Sera’s voice slithered in my ear, chilling me to the bone. “You’re in for a treat today. This woman likes to steal other women’s men. She’s all yours to ‘discipline.’” Before I could even process the fresh heartbreak, their disgusting laughter filled the room. I fought back with all my might. “Stop it! No! If you dare touch me, Liam Evans will never let you get away with it!” Sera laughed, a triumphant, mocking sound as she covered her mouth. “Liam Evans? He’s *my* husband! Why would he protect *you*? You guys, hurry it up!” With her command, I watched in horror as those repulsive faces loomed closer. Rough hands tore at my body, still weak and vulnerable from childbirth. The ripping sound of my clothes, interwoven with the men’s crude gasps, became the most terrifying symphony in my ears. “Stop! You beasts! Let my daughter-in-law go!” Martha was screaming beside me, struggling to get up from the floor, but her asthma attack made every breath a torturous battle. Sera slowly walked over to Martha, her face etched with utter disdain. “You old hag, you think you can play hero in your state? You’d better worry about yourself first!” *SMACK!* A loud, stinging slap echoed through the room, landing squarely on Martha’s aged face. “MOM!” My eyes widened in terror, and I let out a gut-wrenching scream. My heart, in that single deafening slap, completely shattered into a million pieces. I struggled with all my might, but I was held down firmly on the cold ground. Despair, like a tidal wave, completely engulfed me. I don’t know how long it lasted. Finally, the men stood up, satisfied. They adjusted their clothes, muttering insulting words about me, and then moved to stand behind Sera.

Time seemed to freeze. I lay there like a broken rag doll, my clothes torn, every inch of my body screaming in pain. But the deepest agony was in my heart, already riddled with a thousand holes. Still, I couldn’t give up. I mustered every last ounce of strength, scrambling on my hands and knees towards Martha. Her face was already turning purplish-blue, her breath so faint I could barely detect it. “Mom… Mom…” My trembling hand reached for hers; it was terrifyingly cold. No, Martha couldn’t die. She’d always treated me like her own daughter. I couldn’t let anything happen to her. I whipped my head around, glaring at Sera, who looked like a demon. I fell to my knees, humiliatingly crawling towards her feet, and clutched at the hem of her pants. “Please…” My voice was raw, like sandpaper. “Please… save my mom, she’s really dying…” Sera looked at my pathetic state, a triumphant smirk spreading across her face. “You want me to save this old hag?” She crouched down, her finger lifting my chin. ” It’s not impossible. But first, you have to agree to one condition.” A flicker of hope ignited in my eyes. “What condition? Tell me! Anything! As long as you save my mom, I’ll agree to anything!” Sera pointed to the expired syringe resting on the counter. “It’s simple. You inject that expired medicine into yourself, and I’ll *consider* calling an ambulance.” I froze. That was medicine expired by six months! God only knew what side effects it would have; it could easily kill me! “I… I…” I looked at the syringe, then at Martha, who was on the verge of dying. A fierce battle raged within me. Seeing my hesitation, Sera sneered. “How pathetic? Didn’t you just say you’d agree to *any* condition? Changing your mind already? Let me tell you, this is your *only* chance. Miss it, and you can start preparing the funeral for this old woman!” I looked at Martha’s increasingly faint breathing, tears streaming down my face. “Fine, I agree,” I bit out. “But you have to promise that as soon as I’m injected, you’ll call an ambulance immediately!” Sera’s smile widened even further. “Of course, I always keep my word.” She motioned, and a woman dressed like a nurse approached, holding a syringe and the expired vial. “Come on, arm out,” Nurse Davis said, her face devoid of emotion. My arm trembled as I extended it. The needle pierced my skin, and I felt a sharp sting as the cold liquid was pushed into my vein. I had no idea what effects these expired chemicals would have on my body, or if my life was even in danger. But as long as it saved Martha, none of that mattered. As soon as the injection was done, I looked at Sera. “There, I’ve done what you asked. Now will you call an ambulance?” But Sera just smiled and shook her head. “I said I’d *consider* calling an ambulance, not that I definitely would. And now that I’ve considered it, I’ve decided not to.” I stared at her, utterly incredulous. “You! You’re breaking your word? You explicitly said that if I got the injection, you would call an ambulance!” Sera crossed her arms, completely nonchalant. “So what? This is my place, I make the rules. I call the shots. I told you that even if you two died here today, my husband would sort it out for me!” I had believed I’d grasped the last straw of hope, only to find myself drowning in even deeper despair.

“You can’t do this!” I shrieked, my voice hoarse. “You promised! I’ve already injected the expired medicine as you demanded, now you have to uphold your end of the bargain!” Sera looked at me coldly. “And what if I don’t? What are you going to do? Sue me? Do you have any proof? All the surveillance cameras here are under my control. Everything that happened today, I can easily frame as an accident. You two barged in, caused a scene, and the old lady’s asthma flared up from over-excitement. What does any of that have to do with me?” Seeing my desperate face, Sera’s eyes suddenly lit up, as if she’d thought of some amusing game. “However…” she deliberately drew out her words. “I’ve actually thought of an even more interesting idea.” “If you’re willing to cooperate and play a little game with me, I might reconsider.” Hearing her, a glimmer of hope sparked within me again. Whatever the game, as long as it could save Martha, I was willing to cooperate. “What game? Tell me!” I asked urgently. Sera walked to the reception desk, scrawled a few large words on a piece of paper, and then waved it in front of me. “See this?” I squinted. The paper read: “I am a shameless home-wrecker.” “The game is simple,” Sera grinned triumphantly. “You hang this sign around your neck and crawl around the entire clinic. As you crawl, you have to shout loudly: ‘I’m a slut who seduces other women’s husbands, I deserve to die, I’m guilty!’ If you can complete this game, I’ll truly call an ambulance.” As she spoke, she pulled a string from a drawer, preparing to make the sign wearable. I looked around. There were quite a few other clients and staff in the clinic. If I actually did that, the video would definitely be uploaded online, and I’d never be able to show my face again in this lifetime. But then I looked at Martha’s purplish face, at her increasingly weak breaths. My heart ached so much I could barely breathe. “Okay…” I gritted my teeth. “I agree. But you *must* promise that after I’m done, you’ll call an ambulance immediately!” Sera’s smile was even brighter now. “Of course, this time I absolutely mean it.” She handed me the finished sign. “Here, put it on.” My hands trembled as I took the sign and hung it around my neck. I began to crawl, my voice barely a whisper. “I’m… I’m a slut who seduces other women’s husbands…” “Louder!” Sera yelled, dissatisfied. “Who can hear you with a voice that small?” I took a deep breath, and with all my might, I screamed, “I’M A SLUT WHO SEDUCES OTHER WOMEN’S HUSBANDS! I DESERVE TO DIE! I’M GUILTY!” My voice echoed through the entire clinic, drawing laughter from everyone. “Hahahaha, look at this woman, she’ll do anything for money!” “Shameless! She’s actually admitting she’s the other woman!” “This is going to be good! Record it and post it on Ins!” Amidst the mocking laughter, I crawled step by painful step through the entire clinic. Each step felt like walking on knives, each shout like tearing open my own heart. “I’ve done what you asked. Now will you call an ambulance?” Sera looked at my humiliated state and clapped her hands. “Bravo, absolutely brilliant!” At that moment, complete despair washed over me. She had never intended to save Martha from the start. Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door. “What’s going on here?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298993”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

My Ex-Boyfriend Married My Best Friend, So I Married His Uncle On our fifth-year anniversary, Lucas Sterling ditched me to marry my best friend, Chloe Miller. Their lavish wedding was live-streamed, going viral across every social media platform. I was branded a homewrecker, my own family disowned me, and even the funds for my life-saving treatment were frozen. That notorious playboy, Lucas’s uncle, Julian Sterling, came knocking on my door, a cold smirk playing on his lips. “My nephew stole my fiancée. To repay him, shouldn’t I take care of his ex-girlfriend?” I gripped my phone, staring at the dozens of unread messages I’d sent Lucas, then turned to pull out the paperwork. “Know where we go to register a marriage?” “Isn’t that Eleanor Hayes? Stealing her best friend’s boyfriend? How utterly shameless!” “And look who she’s with—Julian Sterling. He’s such a player. Seriously, they’re a match made in hell.” Ever since Lucas Sterling and Chloe Miller’s live-streamed wedding, the rumors hadn’t stopped. “I’m sorry, Mr. Sterling. You’ve had to endure so much because of me.” “What did you just call me?” Julian’s face clouded with displeasure. “Since you married me, don’t you dare pine for other men. Go home, pack your things, and come with me.” Julian drove me back to my place. He held my hand possessively and greeted my parents politely. But Mom and Dad weren’t happy. They both disapproved of Julian. Dad’s face turned crimson with rage. He raised his hand, ready to strike me, but Julian swiftly intervened. “Dad, Eleanor isn’t just your daughter; she’s my wife.” His voice was a low, dangerous warning. Only then did Dad lower his hand. “Once you walk out that door, don’t ever come back. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have a daughter anymore!” I silently packed my belongings and moved into Julian’s house. “I’m busy these days. If you want anything, just say it.” He handed me a black card and, with practiced ease, typed a number into my phone, saving it as “Hubby.” I’d been so nervous, wondering what Julian would do to me, but he just said that and left. This was nothing like the rumored wastrel who only knew how to spend money and cause trouble. Before I could think too much, Lucas’s call came in. “Eleanor, I’m coming back tomorrow. Can you pick me up?” He and Chloe had immediately gone on their honeymoon after the wedding. Pictures of their ‘love’ kept popping up online. Now he remembered me? “As what? Your mistress?” “It was all a misunderstanding. I was just trying to save Chloe. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you for our anniversary when I get back.” “No need. I have plans tomorrow.” I hung up before Lucas could respond. I actually did need to go to the hospital tomorrow; my medication was running out. My doctor spoke earnestly, urging me to have surgery as soon as possible. The success rate for heart valve disease surgery was quite high. If I kept relying on medication, it would only get worse. But he didn’t know my finances were controlled by Dad. I didn’t have any extra money for surgery. After leaving the hospital, I walked aimlessly down the street. Luxury ads played on a huge shopping mall screen. One set of jewelry, a mother-and-child design, looked familiar. I took off the bracelet on my wrist and went to the counter. Sure enough, the sales associate told me it was a free gift, worth far less than the matching necklace sold separately. Lucas had given me this bracelet for my birthday last year. I remembered Chloe wearing a similar necklace the very next day. At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it, but now, it felt like nothing more than Chloe’s discarded trash, yet I’d cherished it like a treasure. I tossed the bracelet into a nearby trash can, tears silently streaming down my face. “Eleanor? You really came to pick me up.” Lucas’s voice held a note of surprise. “You know Chloe is a benefactor to my company. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. But she was going to marry an asshole like my uncle, and I couldn’t let that happen.” Seeing Lucas, I realized I was only half an hour from the airport. “So you could just ruin me? Do you know what people are saying about me? My father even cut off all my funds.” Lucas hugged me, his expression pained. “Anything Uncle doesn’t give you, I will.” I pushed him away, shaking my head. “You should keep it for Chloe.”

I didn’t want to say anything more. As I turned to leave, I bumped into Chloe. It wasn’t a hard push, but Chloe crumpled to the ground, her eyes quickly welling up with tears. “Eleanor, if you’re angry with me, why take it out on Chloe!” Lucas harshly yanked me aside. I lost my balance and fell against a nearby trash can. A sharp pain shot through my chest, and combined with the putrid smell, my head grew dizzy. “It’s not Eleanor’s fault, I came here myself.” Chloe nestled into Lucas’s arms. “Eleanor, Lucas still loves you. He only married me to help me escape his uncle.” They embraced tightly, a picture of mutual understanding. “Fine, then I wish you both well.” I forced myself to stand up and slowly walked away. Back home, I immediately took a shower, but I still felt as if the foul smell hadn’t entirely vanished. My palm was still oozing blood, and my waist hurt with every touch. Lucas and I had been together since college. As an illegitimate child, he wasn’t well-regarded in the Sterling family. Even when he had little money, he always wanted to give me the best, spending all his part-time earnings on gifts for me. He used to be a staunch commitment-phobe. Yet, on graduation day, he took off his pinky ring—a symbol of his independence—and placed it on *my* ring finger. Later, he wanted to start his own business and needed significant seed money. To protect his ego, I secretly invested a substantial amount of money in his venture, disguised as an anonymous benefactor. Eventually, he established his company and gained a foothold in the Sterling family, but the Hayes family was in decline. I didn’t want to be a burden, but he gave me 50% of his company shares. He swore that with him, I would always remain the respected Eleanor Hayes. So what is true love? True love can change in an instant. These past few days, Julian had been coming home late. I’d drift in and out of sleep, feeling myself held close, but every morning, there was no trace of it. It seemed even a ‘wastrel’ had a busy schedule. I mechanically ate breakfast; now, eating was merely about fulfilling the bare minimum for survival. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was Dad. “Eleanor, I was wrong about you before. Your bank accounts are unfrozen. Just… be happy with Julian from now on.” “Dad, I might need to go abroad for surgery.” After much deliberation, I finally told Dad about my illness. There was a silence on the other end for a few seconds, then he burst into tears. I could feel his self-reproach, so I tried to comfort him. In that moment, I couldn’t help but shed a few tears myself. “Have you told Julian?” “No, and I don’t want you to tell anyone else. I can handle this myself.” After a brief chat, I hung up. The hospital called for a follow-up appointment, so I quickly got ready to leave. To my surprise, Lucas was at the door. “What are you doing at Uncle’s house? If I hadn’t gone to your place looking for you just now, I never would have known you were hooking up with my uncle.” Seeing my indifferent expression, Lucas started to sweet-talk me again. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have pushed you yesterday. I brought you breakfast.” He’d brought me a heavy breakfast—something rich and meaty. Not only did I despise strong-smelling foods, but my condition meant I couldn’t eat anything like that. “Just throw it away. I don’t need it.” I had no strength left to argue. “Where’s your bracelet? It’s okay if you lost it, I’ll buy you a new one. Let’s go to the mall after breakfast.” He still hadn’t changed his habit of not listening. I couldn’t win against him, so I went to the mall with him. All the way there, he kept explaining his relationship with Chloe. “Once this is all over, I’ll divorce Chloe. Just wait for me a little longer.” “Oh, and don’t get too close to Uncle. He’s been acting strange lately, targeting me in business, and he’s even started a new conglomerate.”

No wonder Dad had suddenly called me. He must have heard some things about Julian. “Lucas!” Chloe waved from a distance. “Perfect timing, you’re here! I was just about to find you to take our wedding photos.” Lucas awkwardly cleared his throat. “Well, then let’s go pick out some outfits. Isn’t your birthday in a couple of days?” Chloe acted as if she’d just noticed me, graciously inviting me to her party, clearly intending to make a spectacle of me. I ignored her and stepped into the high-end boutique in front of me. The sales associate at the counter eyed me up and down, then turned back to chat and laugh with her colleagues. But when Chloe walked in, the women immediately swarmed her with fawning smiles. I wandered around by myself, my gaze drawn to a fitted dress. Just as I reached out, another hand snatched it first. Chloe’s eyes were full of scorn. She glanced at the dress. “Eleanor, this dress won’t suit you. You’re too big for something like this.” I tried to take the dress, but the sales associate firmly pushed my hand away. “Who do you think you are, trying to snatch Ms. Miller’s dress!” She then fawned over Chloe, guiding her to the fitting room. “Ms. Miller has such a great figure, this dress will look stunning on you.” Chloe took the dress, pleased, and went to change. But when she emerged, she wasn’t wearing the dress, and her expression wasn’t good. The sales associate immediately realized the dress didn’t fit and eagerly offered to find another. “Give me that one. I’ll pay double.” “With those bargain-bin clothes, you honestly think you can afford this? Stop bluffing.” The sales associate scoffed. “Just give it to her. I’d actually love to see Eleanor in it.” Chloe smiled, but as she passed me, she whispered, “I heard your father froze all your cards. Let’s see how you pay for it later.” I ignored Chloe and walked straight to the fitting room. As my condition worsened, I’d grown thinner. The fitted, tasseled dress hung loosely on me, with plenty of room to spare. When I opened the door, I distinctly heard everyone in the room gasp, followed by murmurs of admiration. Even the sales associate who’d been so rude just moments before immediately plastered on a flattering smile. “Miss, this dress was practically made for you! You look absolutely stunning!” Lucas stared at me, completely lost, not even noticing when Chloe tugged at his arm. “Lucas, Eleanor insisted on taking my dress just now and even bid against me.” Chloe clung to Lucas’s arm, her voice pitiful. Lucas’s face turned scarlet with rage. “Can’t you just let Chloe have her way? You can’t afford it anyway…” He seemed to realize he’d said too much and trailed off. I scoffed, a cold smile playing on my lips. I reached for my card, then remembered that while Dad had unfrozen my accounts, I’d forgotten to bring them. Everyone in the store was watching me. Gritting my teeth, I pulled out the black card Julian had given me and handed it to the sales associate. “I’ll take it.” “And, I didn’t steal it. She couldn’t fit into it herself. I’ve never stolen anything from anyone.” I spoke deliberately loudly, hoping to make it clear to everyone that I wasn’t a homewrecker. But Lucas clearly misunderstood. “That’s Uncle’s black card! You really *are* involved with him!” He lunged at me, his eyes red. “You shameless woman…” He didn’t finish his sentence before he was suddenly lifted off his feet and tossed aside like a rag doll. Julian Sterling’s face was livid. “Well, well, isn’t it my dear nephew, the one with a penchant for married women? And my wife is *not* someone you get to eye up.”

Lucas’s bravado instantly deflated. “Uncle, what are you doing here?” He lowered his head, not daring to meet Julian’s gaze. Julian ignored him, walking directly to my side. “See anything you like? Feel free to pick anything out in *my* store.” As soon as he spoke, the manager led a group of employees who respectfully lined up. “We apologize, Mr. Sterling. Our oversight. We didn’t know you were here.” Only then did I realize this store belonged to Julian. “How did you know I was here?” Julian shook his phone. “Text message.” I shyly smoothed my hair, but he saw right through me. “It took you this many days to finally decide to spend some money. Keep it up.” Even though we were only married in name, it still felt inappropriate to be out with my ex-boyfriend. I couldn’t help but explain, “Lucas dragged me out here.” “Nothing else you want to tell me?” I nervously looked away, then heard a faint sigh beside me. “How much longer will you hide it from me? We’re going abroad for surgery next week.” I couldn’t refuse his kindness and nodded in agreement. Just then, a SnapChat message popped up from Chloe, inviting me to her birthday party again. After some thought, I decided to go. After all, Julian and I were married, and it wouldn’t be good for him if I kept being labeled a homewrecker. I had to clear my name of these baseless accusations. I hired someone to do my makeup and wore the fitted, tasseled dress. As soon as I arrived at the venue, many people noticed me. I ignored their probing stares. If I remembered correctly, I had originally booked this venue under Lucas’s name. It was meant for our fifth-anniversary party, but he’d apparently used it to impress Chloe. “Eleanor, what are you doing here? Are you trying to ruin Chloe’s birthday party? Just leave her alone; she can’t handle any stress right now.” Lucas looked at me with disgust, then quickly walked to my side, as if afraid I might do something to Chloe. “Didn’t I say we’d get divorced in a couple of days? Are you in such a hurry?” I pushed him away a bit. “Nephew, please show some self-respect.” Lucas’s face immediately darkened. “Don’t put on an act for me. You used to beg me to touch you.” “I know you’re deliberately using Uncle to make me jealous. Just wait for me, okay?” “How long should I wait?” I couldn’t help but retort, but he hadn’t expected the question and was momentarily speechless. “Eleanor, you’re here too! I was just wondering if I should invite you.” Chloe’s words drew everyone’s attention. The unbearable insults came flooding in again. Everyone believed I was the mistress who destroyed their marriage. “Chloe, you’re so kind! How can you be so generous as to invite a wretch like Eleanor?” “Yeah, Mr. Sterling, say something! How are you going to apologize to Chloe?” Chloe had invited me, but now it seemed I’d crashed the party. “Eleanor and I have nothing going on. Everyone, please don’t misunderstand.” Lucas hastily tried to distance himself from me. The man who had just asked me to wait for him was abandoning me so quickly. “What do you mean, ‘nothing going on’? I’m your aunt, you know.” At my words, the venue fell silent for a few seconds. Lucas’s expression was a mix of shock and disbelief. “Eleanor, you can’t just say things like that.” “You’re the one who shouldn’t be talking out of turn.” The main doors opened again. Julian Sterling stood there in a perfectly tailored navy suit, which highlighted his athletic build. Julian stopped about half a meter from me, knelt on one knee, and pulled out a ring box, all in one fluid motion. “Eleanor, will you marry me? Give me a chance to take care of you.” I hadn’t expected Julian to propose so suddenly. A long-forgotten flutter of emotion stirred within me. I didn’t know his true intentions, but I could feel he was helping me. It was Chloe’s meticulously planned birthday party, yet Julian and I had become the center of attention. I had no reason to refuse. I gave my hand to Julian.

“Isn’t that Julian Sterling, the wastrel who only knows how to party? I heard he’s gained a lot of power in the Sterling family recently, even Lucas can’t stand against him.” “He was just hiding his true strength. They say he has a ton of private businesses. The Sterlings are practically begging him to come back and inherit the family fortune.” Listening to the whispers around me, I increasingly felt like I’d gotten involved with someone incredibly powerful. Julian drove with one hand on the steering wheel, the other gripping mine. “Are you scared of me?” I shook my head. “You’re helping me. Why would I be scared of you?” In fact, I started to wonder if I was just a burden to him. Without me, he might find someone better. Suddenly, the car screeched to a halt. I looked up and saw Lucas standing in front of the car, arms outstretched. I rolled down the window. “Are you crazy? Get out of the way.” “Eleanor, you can’t go with him! Don’t you love me most of all?” I rolled my eyes, feeling a sense of helplessness, like I was stuck with a bad record. “Well, I don’t love you anymore. You can marry someone else, so why can’t I?” Something I said must have hit a nerve because his eyes suddenly widened. “You won’t be happy with a monster like him.” Just as I thought he was about to lose it completely, Chloe appeared from somewhere and hugged him. “Lucas, aren’t you supposed to be with me for my birthday? What are you doing here? Have you forgotten that you only get the inheritance if you marry me?” Lucas slowly calmed down. “Eleanor, I’m giving you one last chance. Come back to me.” I signaled Julian to drive away. I wasn’t coming back to him. Julian booked flights for tomorrow. From Julian, I learned that Mr. Sterling Sr. had declared that only married heirs would be eligible to inherit the family fortune. “But that’s not why I asked you to marry me,” Julian added afterward. The smile on my face froze, like a blurry, out-of-focus photograph, indistinct and panicked. Julian, however, wasn’t about to let me off the hook. “I’m serious. My reputation wasn’t the best before, but now I can give you everything you want. We’ll have our wedding after your surgery.” I didn’t answer him, my mind still reeling. Meanwhile, Lucas, though Chloe had dragged him back to her party, remained distracted. He still couldn’t believe Julian and I were married. He went to my father again, seeking clarification. “You have the nerve to come to me? You abandoned my daughter to marry someone else. What more do you have to say?” Lucas anxiously grabbed my father’s arm. “Did Julian tell you that? I was just repaying a debt. I didn’t have much money when I started my company, and Chloe anonymously donated to me.” My dad looked confused. “What are you talking about? That money was Eleanor’s own secret savings. She even told me not to tell you, afraid you wouldn’t accept it.” Lucas stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. His throat tightened, and he could only manage short, ragged breaths. All the innocent, warm memories from college flooded his mind. Only then did he realize he had been deceived all along. He thought I would always love him, so he’d shamelessly squandered my affection. “Where’s Eleanor now? I need to find her.” “Eleanor has already gone abroad for surgery. You won’t find her.” Lucas’s temples throbbed. “She’s sick?” My dad looked at him with disdain. “You say you care so much about Eleanor, yet you didn’t even know she had heart valve disease! While you were on your honeymoon, Eleanor was in the hospital!” Lucas’s knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, repeatedly muttering, “Impossible…”

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My sister-in-law, Chloe, was trapped in a deep chasm. I risked my life, tying ropes around myself, to go down and save her. Just as I secured the rope around her waist, the support from above suddenly gave way, and we plummeted, hitting the bottom hard. I looked up, only to see my husband, Brandon Kellen, cutting the rope. His first love, Vanessa Hayes, laughed maniacally: “Do it!” Black-clad bodyguards frantically shoveled quicksand into the pit, intending to bury us alive! I desperately contacted Brandon through my walkie-talkie. “Brandon! Chloe and I are still down here!” Brandon scoffed. “Three years ago, during the earthquake, you abandoned Liam, Vanessa’s brother, in the ruins for five days to save others. Now it’s time for you to pay the price!” Vanessa instantly forced out a sob: “Brandon, thank you so much. My brother’s death is finally avenged.” As the quicksand reached our ankles, I screamed, tearing my throat: “Brandon! This is your own sister down here!” “Amelia, you’ll say anything to stay alive, won’t you?” “My sister went to Disney with her friends today. I just helped her with the itinerary last night. Next time you lie, at least try to make it believable.” Vanessa’s voice crackled through the walkie-talkie: “Amelia, what goes around comes around! The way you caused my brother’s death, that’s exactly how you’ll die with that little bitch next to you!” I tried to put some distance between myself and Chloe, hoping they’d get a clearer view of her face. But I was too naive. She’d been trapped here for over a day, and her makeup was completely smeared. It would be a miracle if they didn’t mistake her for a ghost. “Brandon, you’ll regret this!” After saying that, I snapped the walkie-talkie off. There wasn’t much time left! If we didn’t get out before the quicksand reached our lungs, we would truly be buried alive. Chloe gasped for air, clutching my hand, refusing to let go. “Amelia… what’s wrong with Brandon? Does he really want to kill me? I’m his own sister!” With that, she finally burst into tears. Though my heart ached for her, there was no time for comfort now. If I didn’t make a decision, hesitating for even a second meant we’d both die here. The quicksand crept higher, slowly covering our ankles. “Hold on tight, don’t let go!” I tied us together with the rope and began to use the small shovel I carried to dig indentations, making it easier to climb. The next second, a rock the size of a sandbag grazed my ear and rolled past. Chloe yelled up, her voice hoarse: “Brandon! Are you crazy? Why are you throwing rocks at Amelia?” I covered my ears, trying to avoid more bleeding. Brandon picked up a megaphone, his arrogant voice echoing down. “Still running your mouth when death is imminent? You’re asking for it!” Rocks rained down, forcing me to stop digging. Chloe and I huddled together, dodging the barrage. And the yellow sand kept piling up; our calves were already completely submerged. The next moment, the bodyguards suddenly stopped shoveling. A package was thrown down. I opened it to find a phone and a document. The phone was on a FaceTime call with Alexander Kellen. “It’s not too late to back down. Just agree to this document, and I’ll have you both pulled out immediately.” I flipped open the document, wanting to see what could possibly make him go to such lengths to kill me. My mind went blank when I read it.

The document demanded that I surrender to the police and confess that the building collapse during the earthquake three years ago was my fault. It claimed I was responsible for trapping the Hayes siblings in the ruins, leading to one death. But at the time, I was hiking. All company affairs were handled solely by Brandon. He was the one who cut corners, and the building couldn’t withstand the earthquake, causing the casualties. Now, he wanted me to be the scapegoat, and to transfer all company shares to Vanessa. If I agreed to this contract, I’d probably spend the rest of my life in prison. Chloe read the document, then angrily tore it to shreds: “Brandon, you’re despicable!” Chloe snatched the phone, crying uncontrollably at the person on the FaceTime call: “Brandon! Open your eyes! I’m your sister!” “Didn’t you say you’d take care of me forever? Come down and save me! I won’t let Amelia sign that thing!” My heart ached. They say a sister-in-law is like a mother. After five years of marriage, Chloe and I had become inseparable, like best friends who could tell each other anything. Brandon scoffed at her. “Looking like a ghost and trying to impersonate my sister? That’s not how you beg. My sister, even if not a supermodel, has always been beautiful since she was little. How can you, a filthy bitch, even compare!” “Amelia, my patience is limited. Sign it, or die!” The bodyguards at the edge of the pit suddenly accelerated, shoveling dirt and sand down on us. Someone’s keys, mixed in the dirt, had a sharp edge that sliced Chloe’s arm. “Make your decision quickly, or next time I’ll throw knives down!” “Chloe!” I quickly tore off a strip of my clothing to bandage her wound. I glared up at Brandon. “Do you think this plan of yours is perfect?” Brandon sneered. “So what if it is? No one can save you now.” I pointed at Vanessa standing beside him. “Someone is using you to kill, can’t you see? You think you’re some knight charging for love, but you’re just a dog in someone else’s hands.” “Who are you calling a dog?” “You know who. Keep this up, and you’ll regret it, eventually.” Vanessa suddenly picked up a rock and hurled it at us. “Brandon, don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s just trying to buy time for reinforcements!” “Bury her faster!” Brandon immediately stopped thinking, his patience gone. “Didn’t you eat breakfast this morning? Shovel harder!” A dozen bodyguards furiously swung their shovels, and our thighs were almost completely submerged. I immediately pulled a spray bottle from my bag. With every ounce of strength I had, I swung it upwards, hitting the ground near the lead bodyguard’s feet. Brandon, however, burst into laughter. “Pepper spray? Hahahaha…” “Amelia, and you’re a genius from a top-tier university. Can you fend off ten people with one spray?” The sand buried us higher and higher, already reaching our stomachs. Chloe clung to my waist, tears soaking my back, filled with despair.

I watched as the nozzle of the spray automatically opened, dispersing a mist. “Brandon? Do you know how highly concentrated capsaicin spray I put in this?” Brandon’s brows furrowed slightly, but before he could answer. The ten bodyguards at the chasm’s edge suddenly collapsed, convulsing on the ground. Two even tumbled down into the pit. On the FaceTime call, the previously arrogant Brandon suddenly coughed violently, and Vanessa’s smile vanished. “Brandon? Why did they all faint?” Seizing the opportunity, I quickly began climbing up with Chloe. Ten years of mountain climbing experience made the task less difficult. But Brandon’s furious voice came through the phone. “Amelia, are you getting too cocky?” The phone screen shook as Brandon reached into his car, grabbed a water bottle, and used it to cover my spray canister. Then, he picked up a heavy-duty shovel from the ground and violently swung it down towards us. I couldn’t let go. If I fell from this height, Chloe would be smashed to death. Chloe was on my back, and there was no time to dodge. The shovel slammed directly onto her arm, a sickening crunch followed by a scream and a bloody mess. Chloe passed out from the pain. “Bitch, still trying to instigate her not to sign the contract! Let’s see how many more hits you can take.” Brandon threw two more shovels our way. I endured the searing pain in my hands, barely managing to dodge. If Chloe hadn’t been trying to help Brandon stabilize the company and manage the fallout from the disaster, she wouldn’t have been lured into this trap and ended up in such a miserable state. I roared into the phone: “Brandon! At this rate, Chloe will really die!” Brandon drew on a cigarette, slowly blowing smoke rings, unhurried. “Still trying to lie to me when death is at your doorstep? If you really want to save her, sign the document.” “Fine! I’ll sign, I admit it’s my fault.” Without hesitation, I quickly climbed down to the lowest level to retrieve the document and pen they threw. “I’ve signed it! Now let us out.” Chloe, jostled awake, saw my signature and couldn’t help but curse loudly. “You’re not human, Brandon! I’m your own sister!” Brandon used a thin string to pull the document up. After confirming my signature, he drew a throwing knife from his belt. “Still daring to curse me at a time like this? You two need a lesson.” He aimed for my head, and just as we relaxed our guard, he hurled it with force. Chloe, on my back, saw his move and lunged forward, blocking the knife with her hand. “Ah!” With a sickening thud, her hand was completely severed. “No!” I went mad, frantically pulling emergency bandages from my bag, trying to calmly stop the bleeding. “It’s okay, it’s okay…” “Amelia, keep begging me. Why didn’t you save Liam when Vanessa begged you back then?” Vanessa’s head peered over the edge, a triumphant smile on her face. “Brandon, hurry! Don’t go soft. Kill them both!” Chloe was now numb with pain, unable to even cry out, staring blankly at her severed arm. But Brandon didn’t stop. He and Vanessa began shoveling quicksand into the pit again. I swiftly tied Chloe securely to my back. This time, I had to reach the top. I climbed step by step, trying to match their shoveling speed. Brandon suddenly stopped. “Amelia, I’m tired of playing with you.” He pulled a handful of throwing knives from a bag and began aiming them at us. Vanessa, tired herself, dropped her shovel and started massaging his shoulders. “Go, Brandon! Pierce those two bitches!” There was a slope halfway up the chasm; if we could reach it, we’d have some cover and could wait for rescue. One step… A sharp pain shot through my back. I bit down hard, pushing Chloe onto the slope. Then I fell heavily, letting the quicksand engulf my body.

“Amelia!” I had pushed Chloe to safety, but seeing me submerged in sand, she jumped back down without a second thought. With one hand, she dug me out of the sand, forcing me to stand upright so I wouldn’t suffocate. I knew this couldn’t continue. I no longer had the strength to climb back to the slope. “Chloe, I… I’m not going to make it.” “Put me in front of you. You survive, then go find Alexander.” Alexander was the true head of the Kellen Corporation. With him, my innocence would surely be proven. Chloe held me tightly with her one hand. “No, Amelia! If we die, we die together! I never want to see that monster again!” Even injured, I was stronger than a pampered, one-armed young lady like her. Ignoring her struggles, I tied her securely. If only one of us could live, I would make sure it was her! Under my desperate gaze, Chloe finally stopped resisting. “Amelia, it’s okay, I still have one hand…” “I don’t hurt anymore. If he tries anything else, I’ll use this hand to block it.” I didn’t argue with her naive words, only felt a ridiculous pity for myself. After marrying into the Kellen family, I’d poured my heart and soul into their affairs, only to be killed by my own husband in the end. Just as I thought I’d be riddled with knives, Brandon suddenly appeared directly above us. A knife hovered above Chloe’s head. I was too weak to move, and couldn’t think of a better solution. I frantically turned the phone’s camera towards Chloe and shouted. “Brandon, I beg you, believe me one last time, okay?” “This really is your sister! I’m not lying! It’s your own sister!” Brandon on the FaceTime call impatiently rolled his eyes. “Amelia, you’re still so delusional, even when death is at your doorstep?” Vanessa’s simpering voice also came through. “Brandon, she’s just banking on your soft heart. Your sister is a Kellen heiress, how could she look so poor and ragged, with torn clothes?” “Exactly! I personally picked out your sister’s princess dress for Disney last night. Your sister can just go to hell with you!” “No!” Knives rained down from above. Chloe lunged forward, shielding me. “Amelia, live well for both of us.” Dozens of knives, from head to toe, pierced her body. Scalding blood streamed onto me. I met Chloe’s eyes, and they were filled with nothing but worry for me. Even in death, she was thinking of me, her sister-in-law. Vanessa laughed wildly: “Oh, what touching sisterly devotion.” “Dying with a bitch for company isn’t lonely, is it? Liam was all alone when he died!” The bodyguards, having recovered, resumed shoveling sand into the pit. I stared blankly at Brandon above me, the husband who once swore to love me forever. The demon who killed his own sister. He looked down at me, condescendingly: “Kneel and beg me, and I might leave you a whole body, and bury you two sisters together.” Vanessa tugged at his arm, cooing: “Brandon, you help dig too. Seeing her for another second just reminds me of my poor dead brother.” I watched the sand rise rapidly, already burying my chest, about to engulf my neck. Chloe’s body was right before my eyes, one hand still clutching me tightly. “Brandon, even if I die, I’ll turn into a vengeful spirit and tear you limb from limb!” Brandon clapped his hands. “That’s my wife, speaking so boldly. Well, go ahead and die now!” Just as the quicksand was about to swallow me, the sound of dozens of SUVs roared from all directions. Brandon’s voice trembled as he asked the man getting out of a vehicle. “Alexander… why are you here?”

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My car crashed, and I ended up in the hospital. Suddenly, I had this idea to mess with my boyfriend. “Who are you?” Julian’s face froze. I was about to burst out laughing. But then Julian pointed at his best friend, Caleb. “I’m your boyfriend’s brother, and he’s your boyfriend, Caleb.” My expression stiffened. Caleb, however, stepped forward. “Yes, I’m your boyfriend.” I forced a smile. “Then take me home.” Caleb took me home. He said I’d always lived here. I looked at this place that bore absolutely no trace of my life, and nodded, playing along as if I were as blind as he was. I slept on his bed for a while, then went to get some water, but I heard a FaceTime conversation from the living room. “Caleb, do your brother a favor and pretend to be Sera’s boyfriend for a while.” “Aren’t you afraid she’ll suddenly regain her memory?” “If she gets angry when her memory comes back, I’ll just coax her into it. She loves me so much, she’d never truly leave me. It’s just… between her and me, it’s gotten a bit boring. This is a good chance for me to breathe, to have some fun outside the relationship.” “So you really hooked up with Chloe, huh? Just using this as an excuse to mess around with her.” “You know it. But I definitely love Sera more. Make sure you don’t touch Sera during this time she’s with you, alright? Though, among my buddies, you’re the one I trust most. And you always seemed to hate Sera, anyway.” My bare feet retreated. I made some noise at the door, then walked back towards the living room. Caleb quickly ended the call and stood up when he heard the noise. “The floor’s cold. Why aren’t you wearing shoes?” Caleb quickly scooped me up into his arms and set me down on the couch. “I’m thirsty.” I said, realizing I couldn’t find where the water was. “I’ll get it for you.” Caleb walked to the water cooler and brought me a glass of water. He sat beside me, looking at me, “Are you uncomfortable anywhere else?” I shook my head after drinking the water. He gently brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, then leaned in to kiss my forehead. My eyes widened slightly. I’d just heard Julian tell him not to touch me like that. I also thought Caleb hated me. Yet now… When his lips touched mine. I turned my head away. He calmly stroked my face. “You don’t remember, so we’ll take it slow. You’ll get to know me again.” Caleb, this man, seemed to be deceiving his own brother too. 2 When Caleb brought me to the private room, it was already lively. A bunch of privileged kids from the city’s elite circles fell into a strangely synchronized silence the moment they saw me, their gazes turning to Julian. “Oh, Sera’s here! Do you still remember me? I’m Chloe, your college roommate!” Chloe, sitting next to Julian, waved, calling out. Caleb led me to a seat. I looked at her and shook my head. “Sorry.” “It’s okay, we can all just get to know each other again.” Chloe said, linking her arm through Julian’s, leaning intimately against his shoulder. This former college roommate, then friend, now that she thought I had amnesia, leaned on Julian like she was subtly staking her claim, a smug satisfaction hidden in her smile. Julian, too, seemed to enjoy the perverse thrill of being intimate with another woman right in front of me. “Yeah, yeah, it’s great, isn’t it? Both of you best friends have boyfriends in this circle.” “You can always hang out together. Whether she has amnesia or not, it doesn’t really matter.” The other friends echoed similar remarks, a malicious glee apparent in their eyes, watching an unwitting victim get publicly humiliated. Everyone continued playing games. Julian and Chloe shared a single cookie, their mouths getting closer and closer with each bite. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” The shouts of encouragement. Julian and Chloe kissed in the charged atmosphere. Afterward, Chloe playfully buried her face in Julian’s chest, then subtly shot me a triumphant glance. Julian, too, looked pleased as he wrapped an arm around Chloe. Then, I lost the game and the penalty was to choose someone to kiss for thirty seconds. Everyone fell silent, looking at me. They were curious who I would pick. Would I instinctively pick Julian, like I used to? Julian seemed a little nervous, avoiding my gaze. He apparently didn’t want me to show any instinctive reaction so soon. Caleb, sitting next to me, also seemed tense. I smiled. “I’ll pick my boyfriend, of course.” 3 I said, then turned to Caleb. “Shall we?” I could distinctly feel Caleb relax. He gazed at me steadily, then leaned in. I proactively wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. “Whoa!” Another chorus of “Whoa!” erupted. These people might have seen Julian with other women, kissing other women, but they certainly hadn’t expected *me* to act this way with another man. So their surprised “Whoa!” was particularly novel, but then it suddenly died down. Caleb seemed to kiss me back fiercely, his lips hungry. Thirty seconds later, I pulled away, only to see Julian’s face was a thundercloud, which was why everyone else had suddenly fallen silent. How laughable. Caleb gently wiped a stray trace of moisture from the corner of my mouth. “What’s wrong, everyone? Didn’t I just complete my penalty?” I asked, feigning confusion at the strange atmosphere. “Even with her amnesia, Sera’s certainly not awkward with her boyfriend.” Chloe’s words were clearly mocking my ‘amnesia’ and calling me a fool. Julian’s face was even more displeased. I went to the restroom outside, but on my way back, I overheard a conversation from the staircase landing between the two men waiting for us. “Caleb, I told you not to mess with her. What you did just now was out of line.” Julian’s voice was cold. “It was just a game. She has amnesia. Is she supposed to look for her boyfriend or for you, who’s already with another woman? That’s not realistic, is it? And I’m her boyfriend, chosen by you.” Caleb replied with a smile. Julian was silent for a moment. “Fine, just be mindful of your boundaries. Even though I don’t believe you’d genuinely fall for Sera and get serious with her, you should still avoid overly intimate contact whenever possible. Otherwise, it would be unbearable for you, and I’d feel terrible about it, right?” “Ha, you really know me, don’t you?” 4 Back at Caleb’s villa, as I was about to enter my room, he grabbed my arm. Without a word, he lowered his head and kissed me. “Mmm—” I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter. After a long moment, he finally pulled back, stroking my cheek and murmuring. “We took a step forward today, didn’t we? We can get to know each other even better, gradually.” I looked up at him, stunned. He seemed to be doing the opposite of what he’d told his brother. I didn’t understand him. My family background and Julian’s were worlds apart. He worked tirelessly, step by step, to win me over. Later, I met some of his friends, a whole crowd of wealthy kids, especially Caleb. Caleb despised me, looked down on me, and that was a well-known fact within their circle. He always had sarcastic remarks about my relationship with Julian. In the past, I avoided him whenever possible. But after my ‘amnesia,’ and Julian forcing us into a couple, he’d repeatedly taken advantage of the situation to do things like this. Was he doing it to get back at Julian for making us a couple? As a designer, my work was pretty flexible, so I often worked from home. Caleb knocked and came in. “You’ve been working hard. There are fireworks tonight, let’s go watch them.” When we arrived at the lake where the fireworks were being set off, Julian and Chloe were already standing in the best spot, watching the magnificent display. Chloe, leaning against Julian, suddenly jumped up happily and gave Julian a quick kiss on the cheek, looking absolutely adorable. Julian smiled back at her, playfully tapped her nose. Then, he turned around and saw us. Julian saw me, and there was a flicker of stiff panic, but he quickly composed himself, acting as if nothing was amiss. Chloe also saw us. “Oh, you’re here!” “Sera, perfect timing! Help me take some photos with Julian!” Chloe called out, coming over and handing me her phone. Julian’s face faltered for a moment, then he glanced at me again. “I’m so happy today! These are the fireworks Julian set off just for me. I want to capture this moment forever.” Chloe walked back to Julian’s side, gazing at him with deep affection as she spoke. Julian’s expression softened, and he wrapped an arm around her. My hand, holding Chloe’s phone, faltered. So, this grand fireworks display was all for Chloe, arranged by Julian. 5 I watched the scene of them embracing in the camera’s frame. Julian gently held Chloe, and she nestled against his chest, a look of blissful satisfaction on her face. Behind them, the magnificent fireworks exploded, creating a picture of breathtaking romance. I quietly took their photos. Once, on my birthday, Julian had also set off fireworks, lighting up the entire lake just for me. Chloe had eagerly offered to take our photos then. I was probably as happy and blissful as Chloe was now. Chloe had even wistfully said, “I’m so jealous of you two. I truly hope one day I’ll have someone who treats me like that.” I had even comforted her, assuring her she would. Now, she certainly made it happen. Caleb took the phone from my hand. “Alright, you’re not here to be their personal photographer.” Caleb tossed the phone back. Julian caught it and handed it to Chloe. After the fireworks display, Chloe and I went to the restroom. The restroom was too crowded, so I decided not to bother. But on my way back, I again overheard the two of them waiting there for us. “Seems like you’re having a great time with Chloe, huh? You and Sera haven’t had this much fun in a long time, have you?” Caleb said. “Indeed. Lately, Chloe and I feel just like how things used to be between Sera and me. Chloe is more obedient, thoughtful, and considerate. She makes me feel comfortable and happy.” Julian replied. “Then why not just let things play out? Chloe does seem to suit you better. Sera… you said she can be stubborn sometimes, and that really frustrates you, didn’t you?” Caleb said. “Caleb, years of history with Sera isn’t something I can just throw away.” “Chloe even said she’s not looking for anything serious; as long as she can be happy for a while, she’ll be content. Such a sweet girl.” Julian remarked wistfully. “Heh.” 6 Back at the villa, Caleb suddenly wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. Then he pulled back slightly, looking at me intently. “Sera, you know what? You’re the best Sera, and you don’t need to be compared to anyone.” I stared at him, stunned, as if he were responding directly to Julian’s comparison of me and Chloe. How… how could he know me so well? My little habits that even Julian had forgotten – what candy I liked, what dishes, what movies… He pushed the boundaries a little further than before. I didn’t object. He stared at me for a moment, then he scooped me up into his arms and carried me into his bedroom. Julian had always been the only man I’d been with. When Julian first pursued me, I was full of distrust. But his seriousness and determination, his respectful attitude towards my grandmother, and the discreet help he offered behind the scenes – they all moved me. Later, his parents disapproved and cut off his allowance. I thought that would be the moment he’d realize the gap between us. But he didn’t compromise; instead, he worked odd jobs while attending classes with me. Eventually, his parents’ hearts softened, and they relented. That’s when we truly settled into our relationship. When my grandmother, my only family, passed away, he held me close, comforting me and assuring me I still had him. He’d always be by my side. Such a deep connection, and now it was completely unrecognizable. If that’s how it was, then maybe it was time to learn to move on to another man. On Friday, a group of us went to a resort for the weekend. When we were assigning rooms at the resort, Julian’s face was displeased. He privately spoke to Caleb. “Are you two really planning to share a room? Get separate rooms.” “It’s just sharing a room. You know I hate her, so what are you worried about?” Caleb replied. I suddenly appeared, and Julian’s disgusted expression froze, the words he was about to say swallowed back down. The next morning, Julian, his face ashen, called Caleb away. I was on the balcony upstairs and heard their voices below. “Did you two… sleep together last night?” Julian demanded, full of anger. “You didn’t spend the night with your ‘sweet’ girlfriend, but came to listen in on our room instead? Julian, are you a pervert?” Caleb retorted. “Caleb! Are you messing with me?!” Julian fumed. “Enough! I don’t need you to pretend to be Sera’s boyfriend anymore!” 7 “Ha, and what exactly are you going to tell her? That you’re her boyfriend? That you wanted to mess around and hook up with her friend, so you lied and told her I was her boyfriend?” Caleb sneered. “Do you dare to say that?” “You!” Julian choked. “Besides, what about your new girlfriend? Don’t you like her a lot? She’s right there, you know.” Caleb said. “Chloe and I agreed from the start that it was just a temporary thing!” “I never intended to give up on Sera, and Sera loves me!” “She’ll regain her memory eventually, and I’ll apologize sincerely. I’ll propose to her, swear I’ll only ever have her, and she’ll forgive me. And you, ignoring the code of brotherhood, took advantage and slept with her?” Julian was furious. “Caleb, didn’t you say you hated her?” “Hmph, when did *I* ever say I hated her? Wasn’t that just what *you all* assumed?” Caleb scoffed. Julian clenched his fists, glaring at him. “I truly never expected that my best friend, you, would set such a huge trap for me! You’ve been harboring dirty intentions for Sera, and you used this opportunity to get your hands on her!” “Julian, you orchestrated all of this yourself. You’re the one who said I was her boyfriend.” Caleb said calmly. Julian’s face paled, filled with panic. “Since Sera and I have already… become intimate, and you also think Chloe is so great, just like I said last time, wouldn’t it be better to just let things play out like this?” “When Sera regains her memory, you won’t have to beg for forgiveness; I will. Wouldn’t that make everyone happy?” Caleb said. Julian looked at him, then let out a cold laugh. “I don’t care about what happened between you and Sera. Perhaps it’ll even make her more likely to forgive me. I’ll break up with Chloe immediately, and I’ll do everything to make amends. We’ll see who Sera’s heart ultimately chooses!” I was idly fiddling with the flowers in a pot on the balcony upstairs. But I saw Chloe, who had been hiding behind the wall, listening to their conversation. After hearing Julian’s words, she frantically ran off. 8 That afternoon, while the men were fishing, Chloe suddenly called out to me. “Sera, let’s go pick grapes! It looks like so much fun.” I gave her a meaningful look, then smiled and went with her. Inside the vineyard. Chloe suddenly handed me her phone. “Sera, I want to show you something.” I took it and looked. “There are a lot of pictures; you can take your time looking. I took these from Julian’s phone.” Chloe said with subtle mockery. On her phone, there were countless intimate photos of Julian and me: kissing photos, photos taken in bed – they were all there. I handed the phone back to her, looking at her. “What’s the meaning of this?” She flinched, then sneered. “What do I mean? Julian says you’re Caleb’s girlfriend, yet you have so many intimate photos with Julian, spanning from our college days until now. What do you think that means?” “Oh, but everyone says my boyfriend is Caleb.” I replied, my face utterly calm. “Sera, are you really that stupid? Can’t you see from these photos? Julian is lying to you! Your boyfriend has always been Julian! Never Caleb! Julian only lied because you had amnesia. He didn’t want to keep being your boyfriend, so he took the opportunity to trick you into thinking Caleb was your boyfriend, so he could go off and mess around!” “Caleb is also helping Julian deceive you. You’re being played for a fool, spun around in circles, and everyone’s laughing at you behind your back! As your friend, I couldn’t stand by and watch, so I’m telling you this out of kindness!” Chloe impatiently blurted out the entire truth. My face remained calm. She stared at my unchanging expression, stunned. I simply smiled. “So what? Is there anything wrong with my situation now? Is Caleb not treating me well? Or is he worse than Julian was?” Her eyes widened in disbelief, staring at me. “You… you knew all this and can still be so calm?” She seemed to realize something. “You… you weren’t faking amnesia, were you?” I picked at a grape in my hand. “Oh, you caught me. Well, as my ‘friend,’ you can’t tell anyone, right?” “You… you…” She stared at me, utterly shocked. “You never had amnesia, yet you’re still with Caleb like this!” “Sera, you’ve been hiding such a deep secret!” “I’m going to tell Julian, I’m going to tell Caleb! You were never actually amnesiac! You’ve been lying to them from the start!” 9 I popped a grape into my mouth, watching her with amusement. “Are you sure you want to rip everything open? Do you really think Julian will keep you around then?” She froze, her face flickering with panic, seeming to recall Julian’s words about ending their relationship from earlier that morning. Then she scoffed. “If I tell Julian you were faking amnesia, and he finds out you’ve been lying to him and even deliberately slept with Caleb, do you think he’d still want you? Won’t he just choose me instead?” “Oh, I’m sorry, but I can’t let you ruin the image I’ve carefully cultivated in front of them. I’ll simply say, with a heartbroken sigh, that Julian’s deception made me believe he didn’t want me anymore. I was so hurt that I fell into Caleb’s arms.” I smiled at her. “Do you think he’ll believe I deliberately lied to him, or that my heart was utterly broken? Do you think he’ll feel more guilt and pity for me, or will he abandon me?” Earlier, she had heard Julian say he didn’t care that Caleb and I slept together, right? Ha. Chloe looked at me like this, recoiling a step, staring at me in disbelief, as if she was seeing me for the first time. “Sera, I never thought… I never thought this was your true face! You’re nothing like you pretended to be…” “What was I like before?” I looked at her, amused. “Chloe, you went to such lengths to be my friend, to scheme your way closer to Julian – what do you think you were after? Why are you so obsessed with what I might be thinking?” Chloe’s face flushed. “I… I truly love Julian! And you, you’ve been faking it all along, and you knew exactly what was going on, yet you still went to bed with Caleb! You’re nothing like everyone always thought you were – strong, brave, kind, sincere, and deeply in love with Julian! You’re not like that at all! You don’t love Julian at all!” “Ha, who said I don’t love Julian?” I found it ironic. “If he hadn’t pushed me into Caleb’s arms, wouldn’t I still be loving Julian? Did I ever betray him the way he betrayed me?” 10 I looked at her strangely. “How can you be so self-righteous with me? If Julian had nothing, would you still be able to say you truly loved him? Ha.” Chloe’s face turned green, then white. “You… you… Sera, you’re terrifying!” “I’m terrifying? The man who pushed his girlfriend into another man’s arms isn’t terrifying, but I am? The man who cheated with his girlfriend’s friend isn’t terrifying, but I am?” I smiled at her. “Chloe, you should be glad that between Caleb and Julian, I’ll only keep one, and I have no intention of fighting you for anything else. Julian is tainted in my eyes now. If you want him, go ahead and keep him, if you’re capable. I won’t sabotage you, don’t worry.” Chloe trembled as she looked at me. “So, you, Sera, don’t love Julian, and you don’t love Caleb. You… you just want to bag a rich guy, whether it’s Julian or Caleb, as long as they can give you a good life, either one will do!” A flicker of impatience crossed my face. “I said I loved Julian, but what did I get? Why should I still love a man like that? Caleb also deceived me, so why should I give him my whole heart? It’s just that, compared to Julian, Caleb isn’t as tainted in my eyes. As long as he treats me well and gives me what I want, I’ll treat him well in return.” Chloe looked at me. “Are you so sure Caleb will be yours to control? He’s widely known as the most ruthless one among that group of friends.” I played with the grape in my hand. “You rely on your abilities, I’ll rely on mine. You and I both know what it’s like to live in poverty. What you choose to do, the decision is yours.” If Chloe didn’t do anything against me, I wouldn’t do anything to her. But if she was foolish enough to treat me as an enemy, like before… I suddenly felt a figure lurking as if eavesdropping outside the vineyard. I turned my head, but only saw the leaves rustle.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298989”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

My Abusive Husband’s Mad Obsession For seven years, I was trapped in my marriage to Alex Thorne, confined within a gilded cage. He remained cold, letting other women waltz right into our home, flaunting their presence and humiliating me. He even forced me to be a silent observer. His friends, they were all used to it. Some even tried to push their luck, to bully me right in front of him. His cruelty, the constant emotional torment, it all became too much. I was driven to the brink, suffered a miscarriage, and eventually, I died while pregnant. Later, Alex Thorne found a witch. He deliberately burned himself alive, wide awake, to trade his life for mine, to bring me back. And I did come back. I was reborn. But now, all I want is to never see Alex Thorne again. Alex Thorne, the man who, since childhood, had only ever been kind to me, hated my guts. It was because on our wedding day, his first love, Brooke Miller, had been heartbroken, flown overseas, and then gotten into a car crash, dying tragically on the streets. My grief had consumed me, plunging my consciousness into darkness. When I finally opened my eyes again… The colorful lights before me swayed. It was our engagement party from all those years ago! “Evie Reed, what kind of stunt are you pulling now?” Alex Thorne’s impatient accusation rang in my ears. When he looked at me, he always subconsciously frowned. After so many beatings, my body reacted to his presence with an immediate, phantom ache, a ghost of the pain he’d inflicted. I knew I shouldn’t be afraid. But I couldn’t control it. The tearing pain made me unsteady, and I nearly swayed right into him. Seeing his impatient expression, I instinctively stiffened, pulling myself away from him, terrified that any contact would only bring more punishment. In my previous life, the relentless emotional abuse, his cold indifference as everyone else trampled all over me, the constant wear and tear on my spirit, and the brutal beatings whenever I dared to disobey – it all left deep, festering scars. So, whenever Alex Thorne showed that cold expression, a chill would creep through my entire body, and I’d tremble uncontrollably. I’d be plunged into an uncontrollable, endless fear. The emcee was about to announce the happy news of our two families’ engagement. I took a deep breath, quickly snatched the microphone from the emcee’s hand: “I apologize, due to a personal issue, today’s engagement ceremony is canceled. If you wish to stay for dinner, please do. Otherwise, you may collect your gifts and leave.” Suppressing the tremor in my voice, I bowed slightly. “I apologize for any inconvenience. The fault for today’s events lies solely with me, and Mr. Thorne is not to blame.” In the distance, the invited media were furiously snapping pictures, their camera flashes exploding like fireworks. I slowly lowered my eyes, my racing heart finally settling. Alex and I had grown up together, a match made through a business alliance. After college, I chose to become an actress. He, meanwhile, inherited his family’s empire. In everyone’s eyes, we were a match made in heaven, the perfect couple. But now, my public rejection of the marriage had shamed the Thorne family and created a massive news scandal. Alex Thorne’s face was a stormy mess, his fists clenching so hard I could hear his knuckles crack. “Evie Reed, you… don’t you dare regret this.” He cursed under his breath, then turned and strode away. His malice froze me in place. I didn’t dare, didn’t even want to look back at him. Alex Thorne, I wish you and the first love you cherished so dearly a lifetime of happiness. Lucky for me, I got a second chance. I will never again be a sacrifice to secure your position. In this life, I won’t abandon my career for you. We will never cross paths again.

After all the guests had left. I stripped off the gown I had personally designed and drove aimlessly through the city. My agent and parents called relentlessly, almost blowing up my phone. I didn’t answer a single call until the battery died. The engagement ring on my finger was a bit small, and the evening swelling made my finger ache painfully. I struggled to pull the ring off my ring finger. In my previous life, I only accidentally found out during my pregnancy that the engagement ring didn’t fit because its size was custom-made for Alex Thorne’s first love, Brooke Miller. I sneered, a sarcastic twist on my lips, and casually tossed the ring out the car window. A dull, heavy ache settled in my chest, a pain that clawed at my throat. I pressed a hand to my chest, biting back the tumultuous emotions, but tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I pulled into a random parking lot. After turning off the car, I cried until my emotions finally calmed. Then, I picked up my phone. I sent a message to my agent. `Ms. Jenkins, find me some work.` In my previous life, at this very moment, I had just starred in a hit show and was in the prime of my career. But because Alex Thorne told me he needed me to manage his household, I gave up working. God knows how many times in my past life I’d woken up in the dead of night, tears streaming, consumed by the crushing weight of my regrets. It still hurts to think about it. No wonder women online always say that losing your job means losing everything. Now, I’m desperate to get back on screen.

Ms. Jenkins sent me a script. The message read: `This project is perfect for you, a real career-maker, but if you want the role, you’ll have to audition in person.` I steadied myself and replied with a simple “Okay.” The audition was in five days. But at the audition site, I saw two familiar faces. “Evie, you’re here to audition too?” Brooke Miller smiled and nodded at me. Then she tightened her grip on Alex Thorne’s arm, deliberately pressing her chest against his, a clear provocation. I glanced at the two of them, tightly intertwined, and felt not even a ripple in my heart. I lowered my eyes and continued to silently recite my lines. Brooke tugged at her collar, as if there were pins inside. Marks, a mix of blue and purple, accidentally flashed before my eyes, showing me just how wild these two had been together. Alex Thorne instinctively snapped, “Evie Reed, do you have any manners? “Brooke greeted you, why didn’t you respond? Can’t you even say ‘sister-in-law’?” I looked up at the man who always acted so arrogant and scolded me with such disdain. In my previous life, because I was in love, I believed no one was perfect. Alex Thorne, the heir to the Thorne empire, with his prominent family background, a little arrogance was normal, I thought. I just put up with it. But Alex Thorne actually thought I was truly timid and weak. He became more and more reckless in front of me. We weren’t even engaged. What right did he have to lecture me like this? Sister-in-law? What sister-in-law? My actual brother, Dan, is busy with business overseas. And Alex Thorne’s girlfriend? What the hell does she have to do with me? My expression must have shown too obvious a disdain. Alex Thorne’s face turned green with anger, and he instinctively started to scold me again. But Brooke, at that moment, whispered something soothingly to him, then smiled sweetly and linked her arm through mine. “Evie, don’t be mad at Alex. He just has a bad mouth, he doesn’t mean anything by it. “I apologize to you on his behalf, he didn’t… Ah!!!” Smiling and apologizing one second, Brooke’s piercing shriek the next left me stunned. I hadn’t even moved. Yet Brooke sat pitifully on the ground, clutching her ankle and weeping. Brooke’s clumsy, self-directed act… Anyone with a shred of sense could see right through it, couldn’t they? But apparently, Alex Thorne possessed no such sense. He was utterly blind. He was standing right behind Brooke, watching the whole thing unfold. “Brooke!” He rushed forward, anxiously helping the fallen Brooke to her feet. The next second, his hand, filled with fury, landed squarely on my face. “Evie Reed! How can you be so vicious? “You’ve tormented Brooke so many times, yet she’s never once blamed you, always defended you. And you? You dare to push her right in front of me? You’re the one who called off the engagement, why are you taking your anger out on her? You’re completely out of your mind!”

I had never imagined I’d be slapped so mercilessly by Alex Thorne in public. He put his full, unforgiving strength into that blow. My cheek instantly swelled and turned crimson. A sharp ringing filled my ears. All sounds seemed distant and unclear. As I stumbled, Ms. Jenkins caught me. Tears of pain streamed down my face. The memory of him choking me in my past life felt terrifyingly real. I was shaking uncontrollably from fright. After a while, I regained my composure, forced myself to stand steady, and tried to calm down. “Alex Thorne, when have I ever tormented Brooke Miller?” A vein pulsed on Alex Thorne’s forehead. He was about to say something more, but Brooke, limping, quickly walked over and held him back. “No, you’ve never tormented me, Evie. Alex is just… too worried about me.” “I don’t hold past grudges… Evie, please don’t be angry with Alex.” Her voice was full of feigned grievance. I listened, utterly bewildered, even beginning to doubt if I had really bullied her. Brooke was helped away by Alex Thorne. Watching their backs, my rationality slowly returned. The throbbing in my cheek stung my nerves. I instinctively raised a hand to touch it. The pain on contact sent a jolt of urgency through me. “Ms. Jenkins, quick, get some ice packs.” Right now, nothing was more important than the audition. The cold touch made my fingertips redden. I lowered my eyes, looking at the lines I had memorized, and my thoughts drifted back to my previous life. When we were children, Alex and I had been close. We grew up together, he always put me first, treated me like a princess. At our high school graduation, some guy, drunk, made a few inappropriate jokes about me. When Alex Thorne heard it, his face instantly changed. In front of a crowd of people, he nearly beat that guy to a pulp. He told me then, “Evie, as long as I’m here, no one will dare to bully you.” After that, everyone knew I was his untouchable. But later… It was also him who felt I had cost him his true love, and so, in retaliation, he dragged my dignity into the public eye, shattered it, and trampled it underfoot. Thankfully, in this life, I’m not his fiancée. I haven’t stood in the way of his love. Just a little more time, and I’ll be able to completely cut ties with him.

After all, the engagement was made with the consent of both sets of parents. Even if it was to be broken, the elders of both families needed a formal discussion. This directly led to Alex Thorne and me having to meet again. At the Thorne estate. I silently held a glass of plain water. Across from me sat Alex Thorne, his face composed but his eyes betraying a deep annoyance. Seeing that man’s face, my cheek seemed to throb again. At once, I felt nothing but irritation. “Evie Reed making such a scene at the engagement party,” Mrs. Thorne’s sarcastic words dripped from her lips, “It seems she thinks our Thorne family isn’t good enough for the Reed family.” Mrs. Thorne’s unsettling gaze slanted at me, silently exerting pressure. In my previous life, after I married Alex, this mother-in-law constantly found fault with me. She actively poisoned Alex’s mind against me day in and day out. Alex Thorne’s intense dislike for me was, in no small part, a result of her manipulation. I had absolutely no fondness for Mrs. Thorne. Unfortunately, this was a discussion between elders, and it wouldn’t be smart for me to jump in. My parents were elderly. In my previous life, they both passed away shortly after I married. I… didn’t want to cause them any more distress. So, no matter how much injustice I faced today, I would swallow it all. My phone screen lit up. I instinctively tapped on Ms. Jenkins’ flashing chat bubble. `Evie, you passed the audition!` `You’ll be on set in less than two months – hurry up and prepare, familiarize yourself with the script the director sent you!` The smooth progress of my career finally eased my troubled mood. I lowered my eyes, trying my best to suppress the slight upturn of my lips. I didn’t notice that Alex Thorne, sitting across from me, had been watching me intently. My expression made his eyes darken. His long fingers toyed with the wedding ring he hadn’t yet taken off. He seemed lost in thought, pondering something.

The conversation, rather than discussing the annulment of the engagement, was more about the strategic alliance between the two families. After it concluded, my parents offered a few words of comfort before rushing back to their company. I let out a small sigh of relief, watched them leave, and then headed towards my car. Before I could open the car door, Alex Thorne’s tall figure blocked my path. “Evie Reed, breaking off our engagement isn’t a good decision for you.” His long eyelashes lowered, casting shadows on his cheeks. “Our two companies have deep ties. If we marry, it would be beneficial for everyone involved.” “If you’re willing to apologize in person, I’m willing to reluctantly marry you…” Reluctantly? I looked up at his self-righteous face. Alex Thorne’s face was undeniably handsome. But now, in my eyes, that face had lost all its previous appeal. His proposition was truly… So shameless it made you want to sigh with exasperation. I didn’t immediately expose his true intentions. Instead, I feigned hesitation, pondering his words. After a moment, I slowly opened my mouth. “What about Brooke Miller, then?” He chuckled softly. As if he’d heard something unbelievable. “You’ll quit acting after we get married. I won’t let you see her.” “Besides, with our family’s wealth, marriage is just a formality. You don’t actually think I’ll be like other men, dedicated to just you for life, do you?” “Wake up, Evie Reed.” His matter-of-fact attitude made it seem as if I were a foolish, ignorant woman, incapable of living without depending on him. “Is that so?” I chuckled lightly, meeting his gaze head-on, and said, word for word, “It’s you who needs to wake up, Alex Thorne.” “Marrying me, you’re clearly the one benefiting more, aren’t you? Don’t forget, while the Thorne family only has one child on the surface, behind the scenes…” I watched his face turn green at my words. I curled my lips into a sneer, rolling my eyes dismissively. Ultimately, the Reed and Thorne families had been equally powerful for years, but who was truly stronger was anyone’s guess. I only learned after marrying him in my past life that despite his deep love for Brooke Miller and his intense dislike for me, he still married me. Only a wife with a sufficiently prominent family background could solidify his position as the head of the Thorne family. These past few days, His cunning, manipulative mother probably hadn’t given him a moment’s peace. That was probably what drove him to pull me aside and try to win me over. “Evie Reed, don’t you dare be ungrateful!” Alex Thorne’s ears turned bright red. I wasn’t sure if it was from anger or if he still possessed some shred of shame. Seeing him clench his fist again, about to strike me once more, But before he could even register my defiance, I swiftly lifted my hand and delivered a stinging slap across his face. “Alex Thorne, consider that my return gift for the slap you gave me.”

I fixed him with a cold stare, rubbing my slightly aching wrist, glaring at him out of the corner of my eye. Years ago, when I first started acting, I underwent specialized combat training to perfect my fight scenes. I guaranteed that slap would be painful and leave a nasty bruise. Seeing Alex Thorne’s stunned expression, I scoffed, no longer bothering to spare him another glance. Who knew, the next second, he suddenly grabbed my neck, shoving me forcefully against the car door. “I gave you an inch, and you took a mile, didn’t you?” Alex Thorne’s sinister gaze swept over me from head to toe. The terror of being beaten in my past life rushed back. I gritted my teeth, refusing to show fear in front of this scumbag. “Alex Thorne!” An enraged roar echoed from the distance. The grip on my neck loosened. I saw my older brother, Daniel Reed, dart in front of us, landing a forceful punch on Alex Thorne’s jaw. Alex Thorne was forced to release his hand from my throat. “Dan…” I clutched my throat, gently pulling back his arm, which was still poised to strike again. My brother, consumed by rage, almost broke free. “Evie, don’t stop me! I’m going to kill this bastard!” My throat was terribly swollen, and even speaking caused intense pain. I was about to force out words, risking my voice, to persuade my brother to stop, when A man with a face five parts similar to Alex Thorne’s grabbed my brother’s raised fist. He said, “Don’t be impulsive. We’re outside. It won’t look good for you or Ms. Reed if this is filmed.” My brother, though hot-headed, was usually amenable to reason. He released Alex Thorne, whose lip was now split, and grumbled, affectionately ruffling my hair. “Didn’t I tell you? If someone bullies you, call your brother! If I hadn’t come to get you, he would have killed you!” My eyes welled up. In my past life, after marrying Alex Thorne, I was cut off from the outside world. Not just my agent, but my brother and parents too, were forbidden from meeting me or even calling. My parents died, and I was confined to the house, unable to see them one last time. Until my own death, I hadn’t seen my only remaining relative, my brother, either. My brother pulled my hand. “Come on, let’s go home. I brought you a gift!” As he opened the car door. Alex Thorne struggled to his feet from the ground, shouting loudly, “Evie Reed! I’m giving you one last chance. As long as you’re obedient, I won’t hold it against your brother for hitting me. I advise you to know your place, otherwise, don’t blame me if…” His words caught in his throat. His gaze fell on the man whose face was similar to his own, and he couldn’t utter another word. I calmly got into the car. Before closing the door, I said coldly, without a trace of emotion, “Alex Thorne, I’m giving you one last warning too. Stop bothering me, or else, you’ll be the one to regret it.” With that, I slammed the car door shut.

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My best friend and I somehow found ourselves pulled into an apocalypse novel. The system’s mission for us was to save this world. I was assigned to work alongside a brilliant doctor researching an antidote, enduring experiment after experiment. Over time, the usually cold and aloof doctor pulled me into his arms, promising to marry me. My best friend, meanwhile, was with the leading military officer, suffering serious injuries repeatedly to save him. The usually stoic and mighty officer swore he’d treat her well for life. Ten years into the apocalypse. The antidote was successfully developed, and the zombies, humanity’s greatest threat, vanished. Just as my best friend and I thought we could finally enjoy a good life in this world, Two men, hailed as “saviors” by the world, suddenly had other women by their sides. They held these new women’s hands with fervent devotion, whispering words of intense love. My best friend and I exchanged a look. It was time to leave this world.

“Serena didn’t mean it, Jordan. When did you become so petty?” “So what if she broke your medicine? Missing one dose won’t kill you. Why are you making such a big deal out of it and bullying her?” Dr. Julian Hayes shielded Serena behind him, his face etched with displeasure as he glared at me. The woman beside him clutched his sleeve, gazing up at him with pitiful eyes. The scene made it seem like *I* was the one who had done something wrong. “Julian, please don’t blame Jordan. It’s my fault for not handing her the medicine with both hands. I didn’t realize Jordan would be so clumsy.” My face was pale, large beads of cold sweat trickling down my forehead. The pain radiating through my limbs made it impossible to stand properly; I could only lean weakly against the wall. Ever since I became a test subject for Dr. Julian Hayes, my body had been riddled with all sorts of toxins. The side effects and complications were countless. The medicine that had just shattered on the floor was my mandatory monthly dose to suppress the toxins. Without it, I’d have to endure this entire month, suffering through alternating chills and fever, as the virus spread through my internal organs. “She deliberately smashed it on the ground!” I shrieked the words, using almost every ounce of strength I had. Dr. Julian Hayes scoffed, a look of disdain on his face. “You don’t trust me?” He sidestepped my question, instead looking at Serena with tender affection, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Serena would never accuse someone falsely.” His single sentence delivered my death sentence. Dr. Julian Hayes turned away, no longer looking at me. He took Serena’s hand and left the dark, cramped basement. I could no longer hold myself upright and collapsed heavily to the ground. My body instinctively curled into a ball, pain spreading from my limbs to my heart. I lay there, gasping for air. As consciousness began to fade, I thought of my last ten years. My best friend and I had been pulled into an apocalypse novel. All to save this world. For ten years, I had been utterly submissive to Dr. Julian Hayes. I’d proactively shared his bed in the dead of night, offering him solace and comfort, easing his desires. Then, when he struggled with his research, I agreed to be his test subject. After that, I was confined to the dark, cramped lab day and night, repeatedly enduring the agony of injections. There were even a few times when Dr. Julian Hayes increased the dosage to speed up the research, nearly causing me to faint and die. When I awoke, he was ecstatic, his hands trembling as he held me, his voice firm as he promised to marry me. I forced a painful smile, letting out a soft, cold laugh. The apocalypse ended, and Dr. Julian Hayes had a new woman by his side.

“Jordan, wake up, please don’t die! What will I do if you die?” “I’ll feed those bastards to the zombies sooner or later!” I woke up groggily, opening my eyes to see my best friend, Cassidy, sprawled over me, her eyes brimming with tears. I slapped her head, signaling her to get off; she was crushing the air out of me. Cassidy immediately wrapped her arms around my neck. “Jordan, I’m so glad you’re not dead! If you died, I wouldn’t want to live either!” She slowly helped me up from the floor. I rubbed my throbbing head, offering her a comforting look. Suddenly, I frowned, pulling her closer, my eyes fixated on a spot on her wrist. “How did this happen?” Over the past decade, Cassidy had trained relentlessly in combat under Officer Ryder, becoming virtually invincible. Before she could speak, I rolled up the sleeves of both her arms. A sharp gasp escaped me at the sight of numerous knife cuts, scars, and dense purple bruises. Cassidy, who had just managed to compose herself, immediately burst into tears again, becoming a complete sobbing mess. It dawned on me instantly. She was formidable; no one dared to harm her. But what if the person who hurt her was the man right by her side? “Today, Serena insisted on coming to the training grounds, claiming she wanted to spar with me. My blade hadn’t even touched her when she threw herself onto it! And Officer Ryder walked in right at that moment.” The rest didn’t need to be said. Officer Ryder must have accused Cassidy without even investigating, eager to avenge Serena. At that thought, I forced my weak body to stand, gritting my teeth as I looked at her. “I’m going to kill him!”

I dragged Cassidy to the training grounds, where we found Serena. But she wasn’t alone. Dr. Julian Hayes and Officer Ryder stood on either side of her, like personal bodyguards. The three of them were laughing and chatting. Dr. Julian Hayes spotted me and suddenly frowned, his face tight with anger. “What are you doing here? This isn’t where you belong. Get back to the lab. Your body can’t handle this kind of strain.” I sneered at him, cursing myself for not seeing through his hypocrisy sooner. If he cared so much about my body, why did he leave me alone in the lab last night to fend for myself? Or was it simply that when Serena was around, I would always be second? I avoided his gaze, took Cassidy’s hand, and looked at Officer Ryder with cold eyes. “I’ve come to demand justice.” Before I could continue, Cassidy suddenly pulled her hand from mine and rushed forward. “Blaze!” Blaze was Cassidy’s warhorse. For ten years, he had accompanied her into battle. From a weak, scrawny pony, he had grown into a strong, magnificent lead stallion, accompanying Cassidy through days of blood and sweat. But now, Blaze lay on the ground, his bright mane stained red with blood. His eyes were wide, as if proclaiming his brutal death. Cassidy knelt beside him, weeping until she retched. I knew how important Blaze was to her. “Who did this?!” Cassidy’s eyes were bloodshot as she glared at the three of them, her hands trembling uncontrollably with rage. Serena instinctively flinched, intimidated by Cassidy’s fury. I seized the moment, pulling Serena out from between the two men. I wound up my arm and slapped her directly across the face. “That’s for falsely accusing others! We had no quarrel, so why did you keep trying to frame us?” “And that’s for your cruel heart, for not even sparing Blaze!” Dr. Julian Hayes lunged forward and roughly shoved me to the ground, his eyes filled with a ruthless malice I had never seen before. “Who gave you permission to touch her?! It’s just a horse. Are you really making such a scene over an animal, Jordan?!” The rough concrete scraped against my skin, leaving my arms and shins instantly bruised and swollen. I gritted my teeth and struggled back to my feet. Serena hid behind Dr. Julian Hayes and Officer Ryder. Only her eyes were visible, glaring at us with a sly malice, like a perfectly sheltered princess. “Julian is right, Jordan. No matter how much affection you have for it, it’s just an animal. If an animal is disobedient, shouldn’t it be gotten rid of?” She stared at me with gleaming eyes, a clear implication in her words. Hearing her, my anger surged again, and I lunged forward, trying to grab her. My fingers barely brushed her clothes when her face suddenly twisted in pain. Then, she coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed into Dr. Julian Hayes’s arms. “Serena!” Both men cried out simultaneously. Dr. Julian Hayes awkwardly scooped her up and rushed towards the lab. Before leaving, he turned, giving me a cold, chilling look. “If anything happens to Serena, you’ll join her in hell.” I stood there, feeling utterly drained, in silent despair. The murmuring voices of the surrounding crowd drifted into my ears. “It’s just a horse. Why can’t she be more understanding? Serena’s right, no matter how good you are to it, it’s just an animal.” “I think Dr. Hayes was so sweet to Serena just now. Are they getting married soon?” “Yes, Serena said their wedding is just around the corner.” I woke up again to find myself confined in that dark lab. I looked down to see my hands and feet bound tightly to a chair, unable to move. Dr. Julian Hayes walked in, wearing a white lab coat and safety goggles, a syringe in his hand. The sight of the needle sent me into a desperate struggle, painful memories flooding over me like a tidal wave. I recalled the repeated agony of needles piercing my skin. The helpless inability to control my body, and the dizziness, vomiting, fever, and spasms that followed. I twisted my body, trying to break free from my restraints, despair etched on my face. “Julian, what are you doing? The apocalypse is over, isn’t it? The antidote has been developed, right?” My wrists were raw and chafed from struggling. Dr. Julian Hayes looked down at me. Perhaps my sudden submission stirred a flicker of pity in him, or perhaps mentioning the apocalypse reminded him of my sacrifices. He gently patted my head, a gesture meant to be comforting. His voice was no longer as harsh as before, yet the words he spoke sent a chill through me, like being plunged into an ice-cold abyss. “Jordan, Serena has a very rare disease, and there’s no known cure on the market yet.” “People have to be responsible for their actions. You hit her, so testing experimental drugs for her could be considered evening the score between you two.” “As for your best friend, Officer Ryder threw her into the stables. Since she loves horses so much, she can just live and eat with them from now on.” “Just bear with it a little longer, Jordan. Once I develop the medicine, we’ll get married, okay?” I stared at him in disbelief, unable to fathom that those words had just come from his mouth. I hit her, so I have to pay with my life? “Get out! I’d rather die than ever marry a man like you!” I weakly raised my arm, trying to swat him away. Dr. Julian Hayes held my struggling hand, seemingly unfazed by my words. “Jordan, don’t say such things out of anger. Just be a good girl and be quiet. We can finish this sooner.” My heart pounded with dread; I was utterly terrified. “No! Please, no! Julian, I don’t want anything anymore. I won’t marry you. I’ll stay far away from you, okay? I just beg you, let me go.” Tears streamed down my face. My desperate struggles were futile. Dr. Julian Hayes covered my eyes, and the cold needle pierced my skin. My body began to shiver uncontrollably, my teeth chattering. Finally, I couldn’t bear it any longer and passed out.

I woke up again on the cold floor. This time, however, I was roused by the system’s alert tone. “Host detected attempting to exit. Due to excellent mission completion, system will automatically approve exit request. Upon exit, you may return to the real world.” Tears welled up in my eyes. I could finally go home! I immediately contacted Cassidy. She was still being tormented in the stables. “We can finally go back!” Cassidy cried out tearfully on the other end. I knew her days had been rough. “Then let’s go back now, Jordan! I really can’t stand it anymore.” I thought of the pain of these past days, and the decade of sacrifice we had made for them in the apocalypse. “Not so fast. Before we leave, we have to give them a grand parting gift.” Cassidy, thrown into the stables, wasn’t in good shape. Bloodshot veins spread across her eyes, and her face was smudged with dirt. As soon as Officer Ryder entered, he instinctively covered his nose, frowning. The overwhelming stench almost made him gag. “Do you regret what you did?” He looked at the woman huddled in the corner, his voice softening slightly. I watched Cassidy’s live stream through the system, secretly marveling at her acting skills. Cassidy slowly lifted her head from her knees, forcing a painful smile with her bruised lips. “Regret? I regret nothing!” “I think you haven’t spent enough time in this stable. If you want to come back, apologize to Serena. She’s magnanimous; she won’t hold a grudge.” “Yes, Jordan,” Serena chimed in, idly fiddling with her hair. “I just want to see some remorse from you. I’m not the type to hold a grudge.” “Is there any point in me going back? Wouldn’t it be exactly what you want, finally, no one to bother you and your Serena?” Officer Ryder stepped forward, pulling Cassidy up. He gripped her wrist tightly. “What’s happened to you? You never used to talk to me like this.” Cassidy winced in pain, pulling her hand away. She looked at Officer Ryder with despair, her voice firmer than ever before. “Because I don’t love you anymore, Ryder. I’ve given up on loving you.” Officer Ryder snorted, his face filled with suspicion and disbelief. “How many times are you going to pull this trick? Stop playing games, okay? Just go apologize, and we can still…” Before Officer Ryder could finish his sentence, a dark shadow flashed outside the stable. A long, whistling sword flew straight towards him. Everything happened too fast. Officer Ryder couldn’t dodge. He could only watch as the sword tip tore through his clothes, aiming for his heart. A small figure suddenly moved in front of him, taking the fatal stab to the chest for him. The person in his arms rapidly lost color, a large mouthful of blood spilling from their lips. Officer Ryder’s pupils constricted, his face a mask of disbelief. He never expected that the person who, a second ago, had adamantly declared she would never love him again, Would, in the next second, rush forward without hesitation to block that deadly blow for him. Serena, meanwhile, had found an opportunity to flee the moment the assassin appeared. Cassidy lay in Officer Ryder’s arms, weakly gasping for breath. “Ryder, from now on, we are even. In our next life, I will never love you again.” Officer Ryder clutched Cassidy’s hand tightly, his eyes wide and unblinking, terrified that she would disappear at any moment. “No! Don’t! I’ll get someone to save you right away, okay? You’ll live!” The only response was the growing coldness in his arms. I glanced at Dr. Julian Hayes, who had just entered the lab. It was my turn to perform. As Dr. Julian Hayes, as usual, prepared his reagents, I looked at him with feigned tenderness. “Can you please stop using me for experiments, Julian?” Dr. Julian Hayes said nothing, a cold, hard refusal. “If I had another chance, I would never fall in love with you again.” Dr. Julian Hayes’s hands paused. “You won’t have a chance to leave me.” I curved my lips into a slight smile, then plunged the syringe next to me into my body. Moments later, I began to tremble violently and then passed out. The last thing I saw before my eyes closed was Dr. Julian Hayes smashing the reagent bottle to the ground and frantically rushing towards me.

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