Category: English

My Birthday Wish Is Your Nightmare After finishing the physical examinations for all the students, I implanted explosive chips in every single one of their brains. SWAT teams, weapons drawn, had me completely surrounded. My voice was terrifyingly calm: “Grant my birthday wish, and I’ll remove the chips.” “Otherwise, every fifteen minutes, a random chip will explode!” All the parents panicked, desperate to know what my wish was. I clenched my jaw, trembling all over. “I can’t tell you! A wish spoken out loud won’t come true.” “Time is running out. You’ll have to guess.” … Everyone erupted. “Crazy much? How are we supposed to grant your wish if you don’t even tell us what it is?” “It’s five o’clock! I need to pick up my kid and get back to work! You’re wasting *everyone’s* time with this insanity!” “I bet those explosive chips are a bluff! Let the kids go, and if you want a birthday, go home and celebrate!” As they spoke, the SWAT teams tightened their cordon, some itching to storm the school. I gave a faint smile and pressed the button without hesitation. A deafening blast. The school infirmary was reduced to rubble. Everyone instantly fell silent. If reinforced concrete could be turned into rubble in an instant, what chance did a human head have? From the crowd outside the school gate, a man stepped forward, hands raised high. “Dr. Reed, please, calm down.” “I’m here to help you. Just tell us what you need, and we’ll do everything in our power to arrange it!” I knew this man – Detective Miller, the city’s most renowned negotiation expert. Many parents’ voices trembled as they echoed him. “Dr. Reed, you’ve been our school doctor for over twenty years. We’ve all witnessed your dedication.” “Someone who loves these children like her own couldn’t have been driven to this point without extreme duress.” “Whatever your hardship, just tell us! We’ll support you!” Their eyes were bloodshot and swollen, brimming with terror for their children’s safety. But I just caressed the button in my hand, my voice cold. “Didn’t I just say?” “Guess and grant my birthday wish, and I’ll release the children.” Some of the more volatile parents couldn’t hold back, cursing and spewing obscenities. Detective Miller shot them a stern glare, terrified I’d be provoked again. I shrugged. “These chips are extremely powerful. Once they explode, a person will be reduced to nothing but… a mess.” Parents’ eyes were blazing with fury, wanting to tear me apart. The school’s outdoor screen, usually displaying uplifting messages, now showed a vivid red countdown. “Time is running out. I advise you not to waste it on yelling at me.” “You have ten minutes left.” They had no choice but to compromise, huddled together in intense discussion. A minute later, dozens of armored trucks sped towards the intersection. “Dr. Reed, you’ve lived a simple life, your parents are bedridden, and their medical bills alone run into the tens of thousands every month!” “We understand your struggles. Here’s fifty million! Is that enough?” Everyone’s eyes lit up like stars, their faces full of anticipation. I spoke slowly. “I don’t want money.” My husband, who had been silent in the crowd, pounded his chest in anguish. “That’s fifty million! If you take the money, Mom and Dad’s illnesses, and our hundreds of thousands in debt, all our problems would just disappear!” “Don’t worry, the officer promised me they’d never take the money back!” Detective Miller’s tone was soothing, persuasive. “Dr. Reed, don’t be afraid.” “If you release them now, we won’t press any legal charges against you!” My voice was flat. “Sounds tempting.” “But that’s not my birthday wish.” “You have five minutes left.” Detective Miller gritted his teeth. “One hundred million! Is one hundred million enough?!” Silence was my reply.

The countdown relentlessly decreased, and the crowd grew increasingly agitated. “Just shoot her! One shot and all these crazy problems will be solved!” “Yeah, even if she has a reason, she’s still a kidnapper playing with human lives! She doesn’t deserve sympathy!” A sniper was already in position. I stood in the center of the plaza, with no cover around me. Detective Miller’s expression was grim. “Dr. Reed, this is your last chance!” I raised the button again. “The moment you shoot me, I’ll press the master switch, and thousands of students across the school will die with me!” The sniper slowly aimed the laser dot at my right hand. I smiled disdainfully. “Even if you cripple me, it’s useless.” “I’ve had hundreds of detection chips implanted all over my body. Any injury, anywhere, will trigger the explosive chips!” “If you don’t believe me, you can try.” Everyone held their breath. This involved thousands of lives; they couldn’t take the gamble. Three minutes remained on the countdown. The Mayor shouted loudly. “I’ll give you the National Medical Excellence Award! With that award, you can pick any hospital in the country!” This was an honor every doctor dreamed of. Since its inception, only two people had ever received it. Yet, I still shook my head. Parents stomped their feet in frustration. “You don’t want fame, you don’t want money, what on earth do you want?!” They forced my husband to recall my preferences. They even brought me birthday cakes, expensive dresses, luxury cosmetics… but I rejected them all. Two minutes left. My husband, who had been deep in thought for a long time, suddenly shouted. “I know what you want!” He frantically searched the back seat of my car, digging a piece of paper out from between the seats. Everyone suddenly understood.

A liver cancer diagnosis. Stage four. To survive, I needed a transplant. “Evelyn Reed, you want a compatible liver, don’t you?” “That’s something neither money nor power can guarantee!” Before I could answer, they immediately accessed their classified resource database, matching me with a suitable liver. In just one minute, a match was found. Fearing I’d burden my family, I’d kept silent about my cancer, barely surviving on painkillers. But now, if I agreed, I could get a free surgery right away, extending my life by at least thirty years. Everyone thought I’d agree. But I still shook my head. “That’s not my birthday wish.” “You have one minute left.” The crowd erupted into chaos. Professional teams had already scoured all my recent browsing history and call records, but still found no clues. Detective Miller frantically flipped through the thick stack of documents in his hands, trying to grasp at any shred of evidence. Thirty seconds on the countdown. Detective Miller suddenly received a call, his voice filled with excitement. “I know! You want revenge for your daughter!” “Three years ago, your daughter graduated and started working at a top tech company, but she quit after six months in a rush, not even collecting her salary!” “Officially, it was a voluntary resignation, but in reality, she was sexually harassed by her boss!” “You tried to seek justice through countless complaints and legal avenues, but they were all shut down.” “The culprit not only refused to admit guilt but even issued death threats against your family!” Someone in the crowd sighed. “So that’s it. A mother’s love is truly limitless.” “I knew it; Dr. Reed wouldn’t kidnap children unless she was pushed to the absolute brink.” Detective Miller’s eyes were full of sincerity. “We’ve just apprehended that man. Don’t worry, he’ll receive the punishment he deserves!” I curved my lips. “That man holds a high position. You’re truly impressive to have caught him in such a short time.” “I’m somewhat emotional. The nightmare that tormented me for three years, you managed to resolve in just a few minutes.” “Then why, for the past three years, did my cries for help go unanswered?” Detective Miller’s face paled. He tried to explain, feigning composure. I gently raised a hand to interrupt him. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter anymore.” “Unfortunately, that’s not what I want either.” The countdown on the large screen showed ten seconds. All the students in their classrooms were engrossed in a movie, occasionally bursting into laughter. They didn’t know that death was approaching. I picked up the megaphone connected to the school-wide broadcast, my voice gentle. “Students, watching movies for too long isn’t good for your eyes.” “Everyone, close your eyes and rest for a bit.” “And please, *please* don’t open them up…” 10, 9, 8… Just then, my daughter, Chloe, looking disheveled and frantic, suddenly arrived. “Mom, no—!” My body violently shuddered. Three years ago, her boss had drugged her, causing severe nerve damage. Doctors had diagnosed that my daughter would never speak again. I stared blankly at Chloe. Her voice was hoarse, her pronunciation strange from not speaking for so long. “Mom, I know you must have an incredibly difficult reason for this.” “But no matter what we face, we’re a team, we’ll get through anything together!” “Mom, please don’t do anything foolish, okay?” “Your daughter can’t live without her mom!” Chloe spread her arms, pleading with me to put down the button. A tender embrace awaited me. Countless people in the crowd wept. I clenched my jaw, trembling all over. *Beep*. The countdown hit zero.

I jolted, shivering. There was no turning back now! *Click*. The button descended. Almost instantly, the windows of Room 302, a third-grade classroom, turned a vivid crimson. Thick, viscous red liquid, like blood and… something else, snaked down the glass, chillingly reminiscent of venomous snakes. Students were splattered with fresh blood, frozen in place. Several minutes later, someone finally reacted, screaming and frantically banging on the door. But the doors and windows had long been locked by me. The school’s soundproofing was excellent, so their screams sounded like faint whispers to others. Other classrooms continued watching their movies. Only Room 302 was a living hell. The countdown reset to fifteen minutes. Chloe was so shocked she fainted, falling unconscious. The parents of Room 302’s students cried hysterically, their hearts breaking. They were too far away to tell if the child who had just exploded was their own. Parents from other classes visibly relaxed, relieved that their darlings had escaped. I secretly chuckled. “You might not know this, but I shuffled all the students’ class assignments.” “So, who do you think that unlucky child was?” Everyone erupted instantly. Wailing, praying, and furious shouts mingled together. Detective Miller’s gaze grew cold. “Evelyn Reed, a powerful sedative is on its way.” “I urge you to give up and surrender.” I laughed bitterly. “What’s the point of surrendering? Will you let me go?” Detective Miller forced himself not to look at the crimson window. “We can try to negotiate a lenient sentence…” I cut him off directly. “I’m terminally ill with liver cancer anyway. Death penalty or life imprisonment, it makes little difference to me.” “Ten minutes left. Let the games continue.” Everyone went wild. Infuriated parents directly aimed their rage at my family. The police couldn’t hold back the enraged crowd. David and Chloe were pelted with mud and filth, looking like beggars. I fought back tears, my voice trembling. “Five minutes left.” Chloe, barely conscious, forced herself up from her faint, tears streaming down her face. “Mom, you said you loved children most.” “When a child had a fever and their parents didn’t take it seriously, you’d pay out of pocket to take them to a big hospital for tests until the results were normal.” “When parents were divorcing, you’d bring the child home to live with us, fearing they’d be traumatize.” “Thousands of children in this school, didn’t every single one call you ‘Aunt Evelyn’?” “Mom, I’m begging you, tell me why you’re doing this? Please?” “What do you want, Mom?” Chloe cried herself hoarse. I trembled all over, biting so hard on the inside of my cheek that I could almost taste blood, but my words remained cold. “I can’t say.” “A wish spoken out loud won’t come true.” “Four minutes left.” Chloe screamed in despair, grabbing a fruit knife from a nearby stall and pressing it firmly against her carotid artery. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll die!” Chloe had suffered from depression for three years. With severe psychological trauma and nerve damage, she’d wake up dozens of times every night, barely getting two or three hours of sleep in total. But no matter how difficult, her eyes were always full of hope, never a word of discouragement. She even planned to study for her Master’s and restart her life. And now… The blade cut her skin, drawing a bead of blood. “Enough!” “Come here, I’ll tell only you.” Detective Miller squeezed Chloe’s hand tightly, signaling her not to be afraid. Chloe walked step by step, her frail body like a withered leaf. I leaned close to her ear and slowly whispered my wish. Chloe froze, the color draining from her face. It wasn’t until Detective Miller shouted himself hoarse that she nodded numbly, utterly bewildered, and started to walk back. Once she returned to the crowd, everyone clamored to know what I had said. Chloe slowly turned back, giving me a meaningful look. Suddenly, with an unnatural speed, she rushed towards the school fence! She threw herself onto it! Without hesitation, with absolute resolve. The spiked railing pierced straight through my daughter’s neck, blood gushing out. Yet, a strange smile spread across Chloe’s face. David instantly collapsed, screaming. “What did you tell our daughter?!” My face was streaked with tears as I stared blankly at the countdown. “Three minutes left.”

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Liam Caldwell had consumed my thoughts for six years. We reunited at Oxford’s grand 100-year alumni reunion. By then, I was gaunt and ill, and he couldn’t recognize the ghost of the girl I once was. He, too, had a beautiful woman by his side. My classmates started teasing, dragging me over to toast him. Liam instinctively recoiled, a sneer twisting his lips: “God, what trash are they letting in now? Don’t want to catch whatever she’s got.” He only knew I had abandoned him six years ago. He didn’t know that on that very day, I went to prison for him. Oxford’s 100-year alumni reunion. The organizers had spared no expense, inviting all the successful elites. The event caused quite a stir, even trending on the city’s social media. When I received the invitation, I was baffled. Weren’t they only inviting accomplished individuals from all walks of life? A loser like me, who had served time, hardly qualified… But thinking of that secret wish in my heart, despite my hesitation, I put on a white shirt with dark green slacks, tidied myself up, and headed to the venue. Stepping into the grand hall, it was filled with successful people, toasting and chatting. Even the air hummed with the scent of money and power. A cold dread settled in my stomach. I shouldn’t have come. But then I remembered I’d finally see him, and all my unease transformed into a burning longing in my eyes. I looked up and immediately spotted Liam Caldwell. His tailored suit and glasses made him look more composed, his eyes devoid of the youthful awkwardness from years ago. He exuded the aura of a successful elite in his conversations. In that instant, my heart hammered against my ribs, a tiny, bitter ache blooming in my chest. It took me a long moment to force myself to look away. I stood there, wavering, filled with anxiety. I wanted to approach him but didn’t dare, only stealing glances occasionally. The next second, a classmate dragged me over directly: “Look who it is! Isn’t this Aria Hayes, our high school’s ‘it’ girl? Where have you been all these years? Why did you just disappear?” “We asked everyone, but no one knew which college you went to…” “Don’t tell me you became a stay-at-home wife?” My classmates barraged me with questions, but I couldn’t utter a word. The surrounding crowd turned, their gazes sharp, scrutinizing the woman before them as if she were a joke. My half-worn shirt, faded slacks, and scuffed shoes. Over the years, I had learned to accept such scorn and disdain. The only thing I found unbearable was Liam’s ice-cold stare, like a chilling blade meant to pierce through me. A slight curve of his lips—a blatant sneer. “I mean, Oxford is a top international university, how did a beggar like this sneak in?” “Are those clothes from a street vendor? Don’t you worry about dirtying the floor?” “This reunion is for celebrities. Did you steal your invitation or something?” Brooke Kingston, standing beside Liam, spoke with a harshness that made me want to lash out. We were in the same class once; pretending not to know me was one thing. I didn’t understand why Brooke was barking at me like a rabid dog. Lost in thought, Liam Caldwell scoffed from the side: “I came here today only to see old classmates. Unrelated people should just stay away. Frankly, I’m afraid of catching something contagious.” As he spoke, he cautiously retreated a few steps, as if a mere glance from me could infect him with some illness. Some of our former classmates exchanged puzzled looks. They couldn’t understand why two people who were once inseparable had suddenly become so distant and repulsed by each other. Back then, they were the campus’s recognized power couple. I lowered my eyes, silent for a long time. My hands were clenched tightly behind my back, and my ears buzzed with snippets of conversations: “If I were Liam Caldwell, I’d choose Brooke Kingston too. One’s an heiress, the other can’t even afford food. Any idiot knows how to choose.” “Aria Hayes used to be the prom queen, but look at her now, living like a stray. Her shoes are practically falling apart.” “If I were her, I’d become a kept woman. With that face, she could easily rake in a fortune… It’s not pretty, but it’s quick money.” “That was *before*! Now that she’s been in trouble, even had a body count, who would want her?” The voices of the crowd flooded my ears. Suddenly, I felt stripped bare, exposed to everyone’s comments. Every word, laced with venom, carried the familiar coldness and contempt I should have been accustomed to. My face paled. Just as I was about to turn and leave, someone grabbed my arm. I turned to see Brooke Kingston approaching with a glass of wine, a triumphant smile on her face. “Tsk, tsk! So pathetic! You’re like a roach now, even *I* feel sorry for you.” “Stop pretending. You’ve achieved your goal.” I lifted my eyelids. “Then why are you still here? Aren’t you just asking for it?” Brooke laughed triumphantly. Then, as if remembering something, she raised an eyebrow and sneered: “Are you hoping to play the victim and get Liam’s pity? Don’t dream about it! He’s mine now!” She stepped closer in her heels, leaning in with a malicious grin: “Ha! He always helped you before. This time, who do you think he’ll help?” *** ### 截断点

The moment she finished speaking, she slapped her thigh hard, let out a piercing shriek, then clutched her face and staggered back, faking being attacked. Even after all my experiences in prison, seeing all sorts of conniving people, I had to admit Brooke’s performance was breathtakingly good. Before I could say anything, Liam Caldwell rushed over, his previously cold eyes now filled with concern. His gaze trembled, and his voice softened: “Brooke, who hit you? Does it hurt?” Brooke remained silent, her eyes welling up, accusingly fixed on me. Following her gaze, Liam’s expression hardened, and his voice turned to ice: “Aria Hayes, what the hell is wrong with you?” “Don’t think for a second that these pathetic tricks will make me look at you twice.” “I must have been blind back then. Now, you’re not even fit to clean my shoes!” “I’m warning you! If you go near Brooke again, I’ll make sure you regret it!” People truly are fickle. One moment he was full of tenderness for Brooke, the next he was glaring at me with fury. But I hadn’t done anything. If he just looked closely, he’d see her face was perfectly clear, no redness, no handprint. But he didn’t. He condemned me without a second thought. I habitually picked at the edge of my fingernail, a small comfort that helped ease the gnawing pain in my heart. Six years ago, Liam’s trust had been for me. Six years later, his trust belonged to someone else. I smiled silently, nodding slightly. My submission seemed to momentarily startle Liam. A few seconds later, he understood and his brows furrowed even tighter. “Don’t think that pathetic act will fool me.” “You’re one thing to my face and another behind my back. You can trick others, but not me. If you dare hurt her again, I’ll break one of your hands.” The surrounding sounds seemed to vanish, leaving only his cruel, heartless words. Mixed with the onlookers’ gawking expressions, they felt like a whip lashing my face, stinging fiercely. He used to fuss for half an hour if I merely scraped my knee on a bike. Now, a baseless accusation was enough for him to threaten to break my hand. It turned out six years really could change everything. I was no longer the proud woman I once was. And he had finally become the man he aspired to be. Brooke was utterly satisfied with Liam’s reaction. Still clutching her face and feigning pain, she continued to provoke me with her eyes. When I first got out of prison, I thought nothing could hurt me anymore. Today, I realized I was wrong. The only person who could truly wound me was the man standing before me. The man I had thought of for two thousand days and nights, whose face I’d trace in my mind whenever I couldn’t sleep. I had re-read his college notes countless times, the edges of the notebooks frayed and worn from daily handling. I had imagined our reunion in many ways, but never like this. I met his gaze directly, a faint smile on my lips: “I hear you, Mr. Caldwell. Don’t worry, as long as your dog doesn’t bite, no one’s foolish enough to go looking for trouble.” “Aria Hayes, what do you mean? Are you calling me a dog?!” Brooke demanded, furious, dropping her hands from her face in her haste. “I didn’t say it was you, but I can’t stop you from claiming it! Some people, even in human skin, aren’t truly human.” “You…” “Enough!” Brooke was about to retort further but was cut off by Liam’s sharp command. He sighed indulgently: “Alright, Brooke, let’s not waste our time here. The dean is looking for me… I’ll make it up to you tonight.” His deliberately lowered tone and eyes smoldering with desire made Brooke blush instantly, and she melted into his embrace. They walked past me, arms around each other, heading towards the dean’s office. Some familiar classmates came up to say hello, and I smiled and responded as usual. But as I turned away, the smile slowly faded from my face. Just then, my best friend Maya Davis called. The moment I answered, her excited voice rang out: “Did you see Liam Caldwell? Did you explain everything to him face-to-face?” “Don’t worry too much. Given how he used to feel about you, I’m sure you two will reconcile once the misunderstanding is cleared…” The sunlight outside was blindingly bright. I shielded my eyes, feeling a pang of discomfort. I didn’t know how to tell Maya. “Aria, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?” “Listen to me, you need to go talk to him. Whatever the outcome, we can’t have regrets…” My steps faltered. This was precisely the reason I’d come, despite knowing the invitation felt off. But now, was there any point in finding him? I wasn’t sure, but my feet seemed to have a mind of their own, leading me directly towards the office.

As I approached, I softened my steps. The old dean’s booming voice carried through the door: “Liam, the next time we meet will be at your wedding with Brooke. I hear you’re planning a grand ceremony for her, the whole alumni network is buzzing about it! I wish you a long and happy life together, filled with joy and children!” “As long as Brooke is happy, Dean. You must come to the wedding!” “Dean, you absolutely have to be there!” Liam’s voice was as steady as ever, but Brooke’s was laced with the sweetness of an expectant bride. Hearing this, I felt that the misunderstanding from six years ago, whether explained or not, no longer mattered. The summer cicadas buzzed relentlessly, making my head spin. I had to lean against the corridor wall to walk steadily. As I walked, something dripped from my face. One after another, tears fell into the air. I reached up and wiped my face, realizing my hands were wet with tears. I had never intended to start a teenage romance in high school. Just surviving took all my strength, but then I met Liam Caldwell. For three years, as desk mates, he filled my dark world with light through his meticulous care. I was overjoyed, yet terrified. Afraid that happiness would be too fleeting. Until that blood-stained summer after high school, when the beautiful dream was shattered by reality. My drunk stepfather tried to assault me. In the struggle, my mother was knocked unconscious. Liam, who had rushed over, in a panic, accidentally plunged a knife into my stepfather. At that moment, he tried desperately to hide his fear: “Aria, my family has connections overseas. We can disappear, no one will find us. My mom can fix this…” My eyes were full of tears, and I looked desperately at the boy’s slender yet resolute back. I softly comforted him: “Okay! Okay! I promise, we’ll go!” After a long moment, I forced myself to compose, then calmly instructed him: “Liam, go back quickly and pack your documents and luggage, book your flight. We’ll meet at the airport later.” Liam, unsuspecting, turned and left. Behind him, where he couldn’t see, I dialed Mrs. Caldwell’s number: “Mrs. Caldwell, you were right. Liam and I really aren’t a match…” Later, Liam waited at the airport until dusk but I never showed up. Only a few sparse words from me: “Liam Caldwell, I don’t want to go live a hard life overseas with you. Go by yourself.” Just as he was about to turn back to find me, his family dragged him onto the plane. That same night, I was sent to prison. Dazed, I stumbled out of the reunion venue, and my mother’s rehab facility called again: “Ms. Hayes, your mother’s medical bill for this month is due. It’s already five days overdue…” “Okay! I’ll pay it as soon as possible. Please, just give me a few more days…” I uttered these pleas almost every month, and the nurses at the facility were practically numb to them. The money Mrs. Caldwell initially gave me had all gone to the medical facility during my time in prison. My mother’s life was sustained by expensive medications every day. No matter the cost, I never considered giving up. I had already lost everything. I couldn’t lose my mother too. Two years ago, after being released from prison, I found it incredibly difficult to find work due to my criminal record and lack of a college education. I could only work as an inn manager at a small boutique inn while taking on odd jobs. But even with that, the money wasn’t enough to cover living expenses. I smiled ironically. I didn’t know if I was mocking my own uselessness or the hopes I had before coming here. My gaze drifted over a large billboard by the road, and I stopped, staring at it for a long time. A moment later, I swallowed my inner turmoil and dialed the phone number listed. That night, I used my looks to get a job as a server at The Onyx Club. Half an hour later, seeing Liam Caldwell and his group, all suited up, I immediately regretted it. I could be looked down on by anyone. But I absolutely didn’t want him to look down on me. Perhaps it was their last pre-wedding bash. Brooke, dressed in barely-there clothing, sat directly on Liam’s lap, her slender fingers tracing suggestive circles on his body. The club lights were dim, obscuring their expressions. Whether the air conditioning was too hot or for some other reason, Liam frantically loosened his tie, his other hand pressed tightly against Brooke’s waist. Even from a distance, I could hear Brooke purring as she kissed Liam’s neck: “Just two more days until we’re married. How do you want to play tonight?” Liam didn’t immediately respond. As if noticing he was being watched, he shot a cold glare towards the bar. I glanced over, then quickly lowered my head. But my hand slipped, and the glass crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. The next second, Brooke raised an eyebrow, arms crossed, and walked towards me, still radiating that arrogant demeanor. “Just today, a classmate suggested you become a kept woman, and you immediately went for it?” “So impatient? Couldn’t even wait a single night?”

At that moment, several people behind her also crowded around, asking indifferently: “Brooke, who is this person? Do you know her?” Brooke glanced at Liam. Seeing his expression unchanged, she sneered and replied: “Know her? Of course I do! This, everyone, is Liam’s high school sweetheart!” “You’re all friends, so go ahead and get acquainted!” A chorus of laughter erupted. I ignored them, my eyes downcast, picking up the glass shards from the floor. “I’m talking to you. Why aren’t you speaking?” Brooke didn’t like being ignored, especially not by me. In her fury, she suddenly shoved me. Half-squatting, I was pushed violently to the ground, my palms landing squarely on the shattered glass. “Ah—!” Excruciating pain shot through me, and I couldn’t help but cry out. Bright red blood dripped onto the floor. Liam’s eyes narrowed slightly, a fleeting spark of something unreadable in them before they settled back into an unreadable coldness. The bar was noisy, but the mocking and taunting voices of the crowd still drilled into my ears, every word. “She’s so desperate, she must be broke. Why don’t you be generous, Brooke, and give her some money?” “People will say you’re a forgiving and magnanimous current girlfriend!” At this, everyone burst into laughter again. Their contemptuous stares, mixed with the dim light, pricked me like needles. Brooke didn’t reply, but the triumph in her smile was impossible to suppress. Liam tilted his head, as if a thought had struck him, and suddenly spoke: “You said you didn’t want to go overseas and suffer with me. Was it just to live this ‘good life’ domestically?” He emphasized the words “good life” at the end of his sentence. Before I could answer, Liam added: “This life might not be great, but it really suits you. After all, your mother used to serve drinks in a bar too…” The surrounding noise abruptly ceased. After a moment, it resumed its clamor. “I heard this woman was so trashy. Turns out it runs in the family, inherited from her trashy mom…” “How could Liam Caldwell have ever fallen for such a woman? She must have won the lottery in a past life.” “But this trash didn’t appreciate it and dumped Liam. Now look at her, she deserves this!” The words “trashy,” “slutty,” and similar insults echoed in my ears, but my world seemed to have hit a mute button. I only heard Liam Caldwell’s last sentence. I looked up in disbelief, my gaunt face framed by wide, red-rimmed eyes. At this point, I couldn’t distinguish whether my trembling was from his words or the pain in my palms. Six years ago, I had a high fever in the pouring rain, and he carried me for thirty minutes, crying, begging me not to die. Six years later, he stood with his fiancée, stripping away my dignity, allowing me to be publicly humiliated. In a daze, icy liquid mixed with ice cubes rained down on me. One cup after another, red as blood, they shattered against me, sending glass shards flying. The metallic tang of blood mingled with the rich aroma of alcohol, creating a suffocating net that choked me. Pain spread through my heart, and I gasped for breath. My chest rose and fell rapidly, as if I were back in prison, being bullied for the first time. The difference was, back then, others hurt me, and I still held a sliver of hope. Now, the very source of that hope was hurting me, and he was slowly fading in my heart. I remained silent, my pale lips bitten raw. I slowly rose, leaning on the bar. A flicker of malicious satisfaction crossed Liam’s eyes, and his lips curved slightly: “You used to be quite outspoken, why are you so quiet now?” “Because…” I looked directly at him: “My time is precious. If you want to talk to me, it’ll cost you.” Brooke scoffed, and a round of mocking whistles filled the air. Liam’s eyes darkened, and he nodded slowly: “Fine! If you kneel down and clean everyone’s shoes, I’ll give you a million dollars.”

With that, he flung his arm, and a black card hit my face with a sharp sting. But compared to the ache in my heart, it was nothing. “Come on, I keep my word. Clean the shoes, and this million is yours!” His face glowed with a triumphant smile, a stark contrast to my trembling pallor. I desperately wanted to ask, *Liam Caldwell, do you hate me that much?* But my gaze fell on the blood-stained black card. Thinking of my mother’s crushing medical bills, the words died in my throat. Whatever. As long as he was happy. Everyone in this section had fallen silent at some point, craning their necks to watch the spectacle. “Mr. Caldwell, you’ll need to sign a document proving this money is mine and cannot be reclaimed by any means later.” My voice was flat, devoid of emotion. Liam, enraged, laughed humorlessly, his eyes filled with bone-chilling coldness. After a long moment, he bared his teeth, squeezing out a gritted-teeth reply: “Fine!” With that, I limped over to him and knelt directly. I picked up a dry cloth to clean his shoes. In the profound silence, the sound of dripping blood seemed amplified. Drip by drip, it splattered on the floor, blossoming into tiny crimson flowers. It was as if I’d forgotten the wound on my hand, forgotten the pain. I just mechanically repeated the motion of cleaning shoes. Everyone lined up, and I didn’t even need to stand. I just stayed on my knees, working. One after another, the bright red blood gradually turned a dark, bruised purple. Everyone’s faces were twisted in sarcastic smiles, except for Liam’s, which was as dark as impenetrable ink. Another person stepped forward. Just as I was about to bend down again, he abruptly stopped me. “Stop cleaning! The money on the card is yours!” I acted as if I hadn’t heard him, my face blank, ignoring him. Liam suddenly exploded in rage, his eyes bloodshot: “I said! Stop cleaning! Are you deaf?!” Looking at his face, a mix of shock and fury, I felt a strange curiosity. He was the one who forced me to my knees. Why was he unhappy now? I suddenly smiled, replying: “I have to. I need the money.” The man furiously shoved me to the ground, roaring, his eyes bulging: “Money! Money! Is that all you care about?!” My body felt like it was breaking apart, my knees scraped and bleeding. I mocked myself internally. This money was certainly not easy to earn. But I slowly picked myself up. Just as I was about to kneel again, Liam, looking like a madman, his face twitching, let out an animalistic growl: “Get out! Take the card! Get out of here!” I shakily got to my feet, glanced at the man with the shattered expression, and carefully tucked the blood-stained black card into my pocket. Before I fainted, I saw Maya’s tear-streaked, anxious face. I woke up again in a hospital. The wounds on my knees and palms had been properly treated. Maya, her eyes red and swollen, was sitting nearby, tidying the bedding. Seeing my eyes open, her first reaction was joy. Then her pretty face immediately fell: “Aria, if you needed money, you could have told me. How could you…” “They were too cruel…” Before she could finish, Maya’s voice caught in her throat, and her shoulders began to tremble with sobs. My lips twitched, and I sighed inwardly. I knew my mother’s rehab expenses would be a black hole. My own life seemed hopeless, but I couldn’t drag down my only friend. Maya had already helped me too much. I raised my bandaged hand, wiped away her tears, and forced a smile: “Maya, I’m fine…” “See, Mom’s medical bills for the next two years are covered. The rehab facility won’t bother us anymore…” “There’s even a little left over. Enough to get you a beautiful wedding dress…” By the end, my pale lips trailed off, and my eyes held a shattered look. Maya’s heart ached seeing me covered in wounds, trying to smile through tears. But she didn’t dare cry in front of me. She pretended something was in her eye, turned away, and silently wiped her tears. I didn’t expose her, just waited quietly. A moment later, Maya composed herself and turned back around. “Maya, could you go to the rehab facility for me? The nurses must be getting impatient.” I handed her the black card. Maya didn’t immediately take the card. Instead, she asked: “You didn’t tell Liam Caldwell, did you?” A bitter smile touched my lips. “At this point, it doesn’t matter whether I tell him or not, Maya. It’s truly over between us…” “Why?! If you just tell him, he’ll understand! He’ll love you again!” Maya’s eyes turned red with urgency, her knuckles white from clenching her hands. “But I don’t want him to.” I slowly turned my head, my eyes blazed with a fierce determination. My voice, though dry and hoarse, carried an unshakeable resolve. “I don’t want his guilt, his amends, or his pity.” “Everything between us ended last night.”

“But…” Maya still wanted to say something. But I interrupted her: “Maya, I’m hungry… I really want your homemade soup. Please, make it for me.” My pale, frail, and pitiful appearance made Maya’s heart ache, and she immediately called the grocery store to order ingredients. Once Maya’s silhouette disappeared, the smile slowly faded from my face. A moment later, a nurse instructed me to go upstairs to pick up my lab results. As I took two steps up the stairs, I heard a familiar male voice from a room: “Brooke, are you feeling better? If this hospital isn’t good enough, I’ll send you to another one.” Liam pulled her close, his stubbled chin rubbing against her cheek with an indulgence that was both familiar and alien to me. It was familiar because he had shown me such tenderness six years ago. It was alien because I had never experienced such deep, ingrained indulgence from him. I had made my decision. I had said I’d let go. But seeing this, my heart wrenched, and an uncontrollable ache spread through my entire body. I slowly placed a hand over my chest, biting my lip tightly. “Liam, did we get too carried away last night? It was all my prank, I’ll apologize to Aria Hayes later, okay?” Brooke said this, but her eyes were fixed on Liam, taking in his every expression. Liam frowned, a little perplexed: “Why apologize? She deserved it!” “Besides, I already gave her money.” “She’d have to let how many men touch her to earn that million dollars?!” The hallway was noisy, full of footsteps coming and going. But Liam’s voice cut through everything, falling clearly into my ears, even his indifferent tone. Tears welled in my eyes, and finally, unable to hold them back, they streamed down my face. The hand clutching my chest gently covered my mouth, veins bulging on the back of my hand, an uncontrollable tremor evident. His answer seemed to please Brooke. She leaned in and kissed his lips. Soon, soft moans and his ragged breaths could be heard from the hospital room. I closed my eyes, leaning against the wall, and stumbled away. That afternoon, when the doctor said there were no other major issues, I took advantage of Maya’s trip to the rehab facility to discharge myself. As I carried my luggage through the corridor, I overheard the nurses at the station discussing: “Mr. Caldwell is truly the best man in the world! He not only booked the entire floor for Ms. Kingston but also put aside millions in business to stay by her bedside every day, feeding her fruit and washing her feet!” “Exactly! What’s even crazier is that Ms. Kingston isn’t even seriously ill, she just threw up last night…” “Speaking of which, poor Ms. Hayes downstairs was brought in covered in wounds and had no one by her side…” Aria gave a bitter laugh, her chest feeling clogged with a mouthful of bitter gall, dense and suffocating. Stepping out of the hospital, I took a long look at the floor Liam Caldwell had booked. My eyes flickered with emotion, eventually dissolving into a soft sigh. Then I resolutely turned away. Back at my rented apartment, the air was filled with the comforting aroma of chicken soup. The chill I felt seemed to be suppressed by the room’s warmth and scent. I put down my luggage and quickly reheated the soup in the kitchen. Then I went to the bedroom and pulled out a dusty cardboard box from under the bed. After staring at it for a long time, I finally uncovered it and took out the contents one by one. The first item was a collection of corrected exam questions, meticulously copied by Liam. Back then, my stepfather always caused trouble at home, distracting me, so my test scores were poor. He had frantically tutored me. The second item was a thermos lunchbox Liam had given me. School lunches were expensive, so I never ate there. I’d prepare my meals and bring them to school every day, and he specifically gave me the lunchbox so I could have a warm meal. The third item was a small white dress Liam had given me. That summer, he said he wanted to see me in a white dress, but I was always covered in bruises, so I never dared to wear it. He thought I was just shy and even got annoyed. The fourth item… One by one, the items were placed into a metal basin, where the flames licked and consumed them, turning them to ash. Along with them went the indelible past and the agonizing, soul-deep love that had consumed my days and nights. When Maya came home, all she saw was a pile of ashes and an empty cardboard box. Dusk fell. I huddled in a corner, knees drawn to my chest, the cramped room swallowed by a deafening silence. Maya pressed her lips together, asked nothing, just held me close, murmuring, “It’ll be okay.”

With the financial pressure temporarily eased, I returned to the inn after my injuries healed. One day, the manager called, saying some VIP guests had booked the entire place, and I needed to quickly get everyone to clean up. I didn’t dare delay. After a flurry of activity, the continuous sound of car engines reached the front door. I looked up and saw Liam Caldwell swaggering in, arm-in-arm with Brooke Kingston. Seeing me, Brooke gave a snarky laugh: “Why are you always a persistent ghost? Don’t tell me you knew Liam was going to propose to me and deliberately stalked us here?” Liam said nothing, just tilted his head, scrutinizing me. I didn’t want to cause any trouble, nor did I want to lose my only means of survival. I could only speak in a hushed tone: “Ms. Kingston, you’re joking. I’m the inn manager here. I wish you both a happy, long-lasting marriage.” Brooke burst out laughing at my words. Liam, on the other hand, his expression darkened, his eyes dark and unreadable, betraying no discernible thoughts. “Liam? You were too rough last night. I can barely stand today… Anyway, you have to give me a massage later…” Brooke’s fingers traced suggestive circles on Liam’s chest, but her eyes were fixed on me. Liam scoffed, pulled her closer, and his fingers squeezed her backside. He whispered into her ear: “Don’t worry, I’ll massage you until you melt later…” Their explicit flirting made several servers secretly blush, and even the friends following them couldn’t help but tease. “Liam really knows how to have fun! He and Brooke have different moves every day. I hear she’s all sore…” “Oh, you don’t know? Young love is about restraint; adult love is about passion.” “They’ve gone through several bed frames…” With that, this friend even turned to me and specifically instructed: “Servers, make a note: Mr. Caldwell’s room needs a specially reinforced bed frame!” Seeing me nod obediently, he gave a sarcastic laugh and strolled away. Several married staff members immediately crowded around, whispering: “Mr. Caldwell seems so refined, is he really that wild in bed?” “Who knows? Ms. Kingston has a round and shapely backside. They must be wild in bed together…” The whispers continued behind me, but I acted as if I hadn’t heard, keeping my head down and organizing their luggage. That night, the inn was brightly lit, adorned with fireworks and balloons. Champagne and wine bottles sparkled on the tables. Liam Caldwell, in front of everyone, dropped to one knee, gazing deeply at Brooke Kingston. “Brooke, thank you for overlooking my past and lifting me from my lowest point. Will you spend the rest of your life growing old with me?” Brooke clutched her lips with both hands, too emotional to speak, just nodding repeatedly. A chorus of shouts erupted: “Kiss her! Kiss her!” Liam smiled and stood up, about to take out the engagement ring. The next second, his smile froze, and his face darkened. Brooke quietly asked: “Liam, what’s wrong?” He shook his head, his face filled with annoyance: “The custom-made ring is gone…” Everyone’s expressions changed, and they bent down to help search. Just then, Brooke looked at me with ill intent. “Aria Hayes, was it you?” “You acted indifferent during the day, but then secretly stole our engagement ring?” I instinctively retorted: “I didn’t! Stop making baseless accusations!” “Ridiculous! A prominent socialite like myself wouldn’t falsely accuse a server! Search her!” Seeing the crowd closing in behind me, my face changed. The humiliating flashbacks from prison flashed through my mind. I turned frantically, staring intently at my colleagues. But they all shrunk back a step, unwilling to meet my gaze. The manager even advised: “Aria, why don’t you just put up with it and let them search you?” At this, a snicker broke the silence. A crushing sense of absurdity welled up in me, my heart pounded against my throat. I struggled violently, the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, my vision blurring. “Wait!” Liam Caldwell’s voice was low. Brooke’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of resentment crossing her face, but she still told the others to stop. A faint flicker of light sparked in my deadened eyes. Just as I was about to thank him. Liam had already walked closer, his eyes dark and intense, and then he spoke: “I’ll do it!” My breath hitched. The light that had just appeared in my eyes instantly dimmed. I took a step back, hissing: “Don’t touch me!”

Then, I raised my eyebrows, looking at Brooke Kingston, my eyes burning as I hissed: “You search me!” Liam’s lips thinned, and fury surged in his eyes. Brooke, with a malicious grin, slowly walked over. Pretending to search me, she pinched and prodded, deliberately torturing me. I clenched my teeth, enduring it, but my trembling body and the glistening in my eyes betrayed my fear. I stubbornly refused to lower my head, staring unblinkingly ahead. Time ticked by, and the crowd gradually grew uneasy. After a long while, Brooke, having had her fun, finally spoke with a laugh: “The ring must be hidden. Lock her up for the night; she’ll confess tomorrow!” Just then, a friend, worried things were going too far, quickly advised: “Forget it, let’s just call the police. She doesn’t look like a thief.” “What do you know! She’s a convicted felon with a record…” With that, she turned to Liam, pretending to ask: “Liam, what do you say?” Liam’s face was complex. His eyes flickered with conflict, disappointment, and contempt. Finally, all those emotions dissolved into a sigh: “If she can steal once, she can steal again. Lock her up for now.” “You have no right to confine me…” Before I could finish, someone clamped a hand over my mouth, dragging me into a pitch-black storage room. Before leaving, they deliberately smashed the lightbulb. “Let me out! I’m not a thief!” The door slammed shut. In that last instant, I saw Liam Caldwell’s cold, contemptuous face. I kept pounding on the door, my knuckles numb even as wooden splinters pierced them. Liam Caldwell’s detached voice came from outside: “We’ll let you out when you confess.” The footsteps gradually faded. I heard a colleague whisper: “Manager, did Aria really go to jail? I can’t believe she’s a thief…” “Whether she’s a thief or not, she really did go to jail…” I fumbled my way to a corner and slowly slid down the wall. The tears I’d held back for so long silently streamed down my face in the dark, one by one, disappearing into the cracks. My heart felt like it was on fire, flames licking through my veins, consuming my entire body. I was in agony, desperate, yet I couldn’t say a word. My mother’s words echoed repeatedly in my mind: “Aria, this is our fate…” I shook my head vigorously, mumbling incoherently: “No! I won’t surrender to fate! I won’t…” For a long time, suppressed sobs filled the room, like a dying animal’s final wails. I don’t know how much time passed when my phone suddenly vibrated, startling me awake from my drowsy state. I glanced at the number and instantly sobered up. When I answered, the nurse’s voice came through: “Ms. Hayes, your mother is feeling well today and wants to video chat with you.” Ever since my mother suffered a head injury from my stepfather that night, she had been mostly disoriented for years, rarely having clear moments. Hearing this, I eagerly agreed, “Yes, yes!” Immediately, I scrambled up, banging on the door, shouting loudly: “Let me out! Let me out!” The only response was the bone-chilling air. When the video call came, I quickly turned on my phone’s flashlight and answered. Through the screen, my mother’s frail face appeared: “Child, why is it so dark where you are? My eyes aren’t good; I can’t see you.” I forced a smile, suppressing the tightness in my nose, and spoke: “Mom, the power’s out here. It’s okay, I’m doing fine…” “Good! As long as you’re well, you’re my biggest worry…” “I’m really well. I even got a bonus this month…” We spoke across the screen, one feigning comfort, the other feigning ease. After a long while, I hung up the phone, and the smile on my face slowly faded. The next day, just as I was about to use the last 1% of my phone’s battery to call 911, Maya’s call came through. The moment I answered, it was a heartbroken sob: “Aria! Auntie’s gone…!” “Gone?! What do you mean? Tell me clearly!” I roared back. “She jumped!”

he next second, my phone died and slid from my grasp, smashing onto the floor. In that instant, my last pillar of support crumbled. I felt like a hollowed-out shell, collapsing to the ground, utterly drained. Remembering my mother’s frail, pale face, I struggled to my feet and rushed towards the door, kicking and pounding on it relentlessly. “Let me out! Please, I beg you!” I knelt on the floor, my fingers turned to claws, desperately scratching at the door, my voice filled with pleading and despair. But there was still no movement outside the door, no sign of it opening. Hot, fat tears streamed down my gaunt face, falling into my pale lips. I broke down in agonizing sobs. “Ah—!” “Open the door!” “Open the door, quick!” Just then, Brooke Kingston’s sneering voice came from outside: “Want out? Fine! Tell the truth, did you steal the ring?” “If you admit it, I’ll let you go!” My body stiffened. A few seconds later, I suppressed the surging blood in my body, gritted my teeth, and spoke each word distinctly: “I stole the ring, yes, I stole it! There, are you happy now? I’ll admit to anything you say! Please… let me out!” At this, a resounding burst of mocking laughter erupted from outside the door. “Since you’ve admitted to being a thief, just wait patiently to be taken to the police station!” I heard her pick up the phone and dial 911: “Hello, officer, we have a thief here. She stole my million-dollar ring. The address is…” The conversation outside clearly reached my ears. I stood there, stunned, slowly sliding down the door. My face was streaked with tears of despair. I don’t know how much time passed before the door opened, and several police officers appeared. I knelt directly, vigorously bowing my head to the ground to the newcomers, tears streaming down my face as I begged: “My mom’s gone… Please, I beg you…” Long periods of crying had made my voice hoarse, almost unable to speak. One of the female officers helped me up, gently comforting me. “Don’t rush, take your time.” I gripped the woman’s hands tightly, choked back a sob, and spoke with almost all my remaining strength. “My mom… she’s gone. Please, let me see her first…” The officers’ expressions hardened. They exchanged glances, then helped me into their car. Brooke exclaimed, “Hey!” wanting to stop them: “Shouldn’t you take my statement first?” “Ms. Kingston, that’s our business. No need for you to worry.” Brooke was about to say more, but Liam Caldwell, who had just come downstairs, pulled her aside: “What’s going on? Why all the commotion?” A quick-witted friend in the crowd blurted out: “The thief’s mom died, and she was making a scene wanting to leave. So, Ms. Kingston called the police and they took her away.” Liam Caldwell’s movement of adjusting his cuffs froze. He turned around, his face full of shock. “Her mom died?” Brooke tried to cover it up, but it was too late. The friend had already blurted out the answer. “Yes! She’s been crying and making a fuss all morning!” Liam Caldwell’s face instantly turned ashen. Without even straightening his coat, he rushed out like a whirlwind. All the way, I cried silently, radiating a profound deadness. After an unknown period, the car stopped at the rehab facility’s entrance. Before it had even fully stopped, I flung open the car door and jumped out. The ground was slick with rain. I stumbled and fell a few times before rushing into the rehab facility. I flung open the door to her room, but it was empty. I spun around and ran towards the facility’s morgue, only to be stopped by Maya at the entrance. I collapsed to my knees, my voice hoarse with despair as I wailed: “Mom! Mom! I’m here… I’ve come to see you!” Maya held me, and we both slumped to the ground, her hot tears soaking my neck. They were scalding, yet bone-chillingly cold. My eyes grew even more vacant. My lips trembled, and I cried silently, profoundly. My voice seemed to have vanished in an instant; only tears streamed endlessly. Footsteps approached, neither light nor heavy. Liam Caldwell looked at the woman with a swollen face and bloodshot eyes, and a deep ache twisted in his heart. His eyes surged with emotion, and when he spoke, his voice was thick with regret: “I’m sorry…” I slowly lifted my gaze, looking at the man through my tear-blurred vision. My lips parted and closed, forming only one sentence: “Liam Caldwell, get out! I never want to see you again!”

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The very first time Julian saw me, his mind already conjured countless intimate scenarios between us. And tonight, his darkest fantasies became reality. “Having an affair with me, are you serious?” In the dim room, the man hovered above me, his voice rough with suppressed desire. I leaned in, pressing my lips to his. “Uncle Julian, I’m sure.” “Aren’t you afraid Rhys will find out?” My lips were warm, and Julian’s eyes darkened further. Rhys, my husband. “You’re doing this to use me? To get back at your cheating husband?” Julian’s fingers dug into my waist. I let out a soft gasp, my hand caressing Julian’s chiseled jaw, my voice a seductive whisper. “Uncle Julian, are you hesitant to touch me because you’re afraid our affair will come to light and strain your relationship with your nephew?” “Heh.” Julian lowered his head and claimed my lips. “There’s nothing in this world that frightens me.” His kiss was fervent, possessive, his tongue exploring every corner. “Mmm… Uncle Julian.” “Don’t rush it,” he murmured, his voice a low growl. “You’ll be screaming my name soon enough.” Julian tore my dress, his blazing hand exploring every curve… Three hours later. My legs were shaking so hard I could barely walk out of the room. The party downstairs was still in full swing. It was Grandpa Hawthorne’s eightieth birthday today, and all the Hawthorne descendants had traveled from far and wide to celebrate. The downstairs was bustling with people, a lively scene. Julian had been relentless, and now my walk was a little off. If anyone saw me, they would definitely notice something amiss. I took another stairway to leave. The exit led to the dimly lit garden. “Mmm… Rhys, didn’t you say you were breaking up with me?” A woman’s breathless moan echoed from behind a stone sculpture. My steps froze. “How could I ever leave you when I love you so much? That was just something I told my wife to appease her. We just need to be more careful and make sure she doesn’t find out again.” Rhys’s low, husky voice drifted faintly through the air. “And one more thing, be a good girl. Don’t try to let Sera find out. No matter how many women I have on the side, she’s my wife, and her position is unshakeable. Understand?” The man’s voice carried a warning. “Mmm, I understand…” I stood not far from the stone sculpture, my nails digging hard into my palms. My heart felt as if it were being brutally squeezed, the pain so intense I could barely breathe. It wasn’t the first time I’d caught him, so why did my heart still ache uncontrollably? The couple sneaking around behind the stone sculpture was none other than my husband and his mistress. No one was more familiar with those two voices than I was. A month ago, I went to Rhys’s office to deliver him a nourishing broth and witnessed my husband cheating with his assistant, catching them in the act. After my initial heartbreak, I dragged our families’ elders into it, determined to get a divorce. But our families, the Hawthornes and the Sterlings, were bound by a strategic alliance, our empires too deeply intertwined to ever break free. No one agreed. Grandpa Hawthorne simply subjected Rhys to the family’s stringent discipline, demanding an apology and a promise to never repeat his mistake. My own family, the Sterlings, also advised me. Men will be men, they said. Just turn a blind eye, especially since Rhys promised it wouldn’t happen again. I refused, insisting on the divorce. Rhys wouldn’t agree, kneeling and apologizing to me. He pleaded for my forgiveness, claiming I was the only woman he loved, and that his assistant had seduced him, making him momentarily lose control. He promised if I forgave him this one time, he would never make the same mistake again. No one knew how much my heart truly ached. Though Rhys and I were in an arranged marriage, we had grown up together and genuinely loved each other. We’d been together since childhood, dated for four years, and married for three. I had never imagined that Rhys, who had once rejected countless women for me, would also cheat like other men. The seven-year itch, it seemed, spared almost no one. I wanted a divorce. I cried for three days and three nights, begging my family, begging the Hawthornes, begging them to allow me to divorce. But daughters in these elite families were often nothing more than pawns in strategic alliances. I cried until my tears ran dry, even went on hunger strike, yet they still wouldn’t agree. The day I woke up in the hospital, Rhys gripped my hand. “Sera,” he said, his voice soft, “if you really can’t stand it, why don’t you cheat too? We can just call it even.” My eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, and my voice, dry and hoarse, responded. “Okay.” Rhys hadn’t expected me to say that, and he immediately looked a little uncomfortable. But he quickly dismissed it. He thought I loved him too much to ever do such a thing. He assumed I was just angry and said it to spite him. But I was serious. No one truly loved me. Everyone sacrificed my happiness for their own interests. So, I decided to get my revenge on everyone. By cheating with Julian. The Hawthornes’ golden boy.

“Mmm… Rhys, what if I get pregnant?” Chloe asked, her voice broken, leaning against the stone sculpture, her cheeks flushed. “You know my rules.” Rhys suddenly stopped. “Take your pills. The only child I’ll ever acknowledge is the one Sera carries.” Chloe’s voice was filled with grievance. “You really love her…” “Yes, I only love her.” Rhys admitted it without hesitation. “You’re just my sexual partner. Don’t wish for anything you shouldn’t, understand?” “Then aren’t you afraid she’ll find out again?” Chloe turned, hooking her arms around his neck, and said wistfully. “This is your family’s garden, and you still called me here…” “She had too much to drink and went back to her room early. She won’t find out.” With that, he grabbed her waist and started moving again. Listening to the intimate sounds, I couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh. Rhys, your love is cheap and disgusting. This time, I didn’t confront them. Because confronting them wouldn’t matter. I still wouldn’t be able to get a divorce. But I wouldn’t compromise. I would never spend the rest of my life with a filthy man who didn’t love me. I already had other plans for a divorce… And Julian was the key to my plan’s success. A flash of determination crossed my eyes, and I walked away from that dirty place. I didn’t notice the pair of deep, dark eyes watching me from behind. After my slender figure disappeared, Julian emerged into the moonlight. He watched the direction where I had vanished, a faint, meaningful smile playing on his lips. Sera, this time you’re the one who provoked me. You can’t escape now. The birthday banquet concluded. Rhys returned to our matrimonial villa. When he opened the door, he saw me already lying in bed. “Sera.” He walked to the bedside and gently called my name. I didn’t respond. Seeing that I was sound asleep, Rhys quietly left the room. He went to the guest bedroom to shower, instructing the housekeeper to immediately wash the clothes that smelled of perfume. Only after ensuring there was no lingering scent on him did he return to the room. He gazed at my innocent face, his eyes brimming with love. Even though he couldn’t control his desires and slept with other women, he knew, deep down, that I was the only one he truly loved. It was just that they had been together for too long, and the monotony of married life had become too boring. He needed some excitement, a taste of something wild. This didn’t diminish his love for me. As long as he was more careful and I didn’t discover his continued contact with Chloe, their marriage would be fine. Besides, I loved him so much. Given enough time, my wounds would heal, and I would forgive him. Couples in their circle were all like this. We could still have a good life together. Then, we’d have a child, and we’d be a happy family of three. Rhys fantasized, holding me as he gradually drifted off to sleep. After he fell asleep, I slowly opened my eyes, expressionlessly pushing him away and creating distance between us. I didn’t want to lie in the same bed as him, but the villa was full of housekeepers sent by both the Hawthornes and the Sterlings—ostensibly to serve, but in reality, to monitor. If Rhys and I slept in separate rooms, the elders from both families would take turns talking to me the next day. I felt suffocated. For now, apart from temporary compromise, I had no other choice. I touched my flat stomach, my feelings complicated. I hoped today’s indulgence would lead to a good result, helping me break free from the Hawthornes and Sterlings, and escape to freedom. To finally be free.

Morning. I woke up early and began my morning routine in the bathroom. Rhys’s young face appeared in the mirror behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, rubbing his cheek against mine. “Sera, why didn’t you wait for me last night? You just came back on your own.” I brushed my teeth, my tone flat. “I couldn’t find you anywhere.” “…” In the mirror, Rhys’s eyes dropped, a hint of guilt in them, avoiding my gaze. “I had too much to drink and felt dizzy, so I just found an empty room to rest. Maybe the housekeeper couldn’t find me.” “Oh.” I responded indifferently. Rhys looked at my makeup-free face, and remembering his indulgence with Chloe last night, a wave of guilt washed over him. “Sera, let’s live well together from now on.” He hugged me tight, as if afraid I would run away. “I promise I won’t ever make you sad again.” Men were truly masters of deception, lying with an unnerving calm, not a single flush on their face, not a single beat of their heart out of place, even though he’d been with another woman just last night. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over me. How many times had I been deceived… Hah, well, it didn’t matter anymore. Finishing brushing my teeth, I pulled Rhys’s hands away. “You should get ready. I’ll go check if breakfast is ready.” I turned and walked out of the bathroom. As I turned, a small red mark on my pale nape caught Rhys’s eye. My skin was very fair, making the small red mark stand out glaringly. Rhys’s gaze froze. “Sera, what’s that red mark on your neck?” An inexplicable unease welled up in his heart. I instinctively reached up to touch it, and last night’s wild moments replayed in my mind. It must have been Julian, during one of those moments when my mind had gone blank. Men were all alike, always chasing thrills. I mimicked Rhys’s calm expression, saying flatly. “I don’t know, maybe I scratched myself by accident.” “Is that so?” But it looked so much like a hickey. Rhys’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat, a strange feeling nagging at him. Then he quickly dismissed the thought. It couldn’t be a hickey. Not only did I love him deeply, even if I wasn’t quick to forgive his mistakes, I would never actually cheat and sleep with another man. Besides, I was a very traditional woman. During our four years of dating in college, I had only ever allowed him to kiss me. I wouldn’t even let him touch me, and our first intimate moment was on our wedding night. That’s why he had said those words about me cheating to make things even. He’d said it precisely because he knew I wouldn’t do it, which would alleviate his guilt. “Do you want to put some cream on it?” Rhys, having reassured himself, asked with concern. I continued walking. “No need.” I finished breakfast without waiting for Rhys. Right after, I received a SnapChat message from Julian. He told me to come find him, the address was a high-end thermal spa and wellness center. As soon as Rhys arrived, I stood up, ready to leave. A housekeeper handed me my white handbag. Rhys grabbed my hand. “Sera, where are you going?” “To my sculpting class.” As a wife in this family, my career wasn’t a priority. Even getting a degree from an elite university was just to prove I had the pedigree to produce worthy heirs, not for any personal ambition. My primary role was to maintain appearances and, of course, ensure I was ready to bear children. So, when I said this, Rhys naturally didn’t suspect anything. “Sera, your figure is already perfect.” Rhys smiled, complimenting me. “Better than any model. You don’t need to go to sculpting class every week.” I pulled my hand free and walked quickly out the door. Watching my retreating figure, Rhys’s brows furrowed slightly. For the past month, my attitude towards him had remained distant. It was his fault for hurting my heart. He would just have to make it up to me slowly. He pulled out his phone and made a call. “Is that Hermès bag Sera likes in stock yet?” His assistant replied. “I was just about to call you. It arrived this morning. I’ll go pick it up from the store in a bit.” Rhys nodded. “Good, don’t mess anything up. Sera’s birthday is in two weeks. This is her surprise from me.” “Understood.” Half an hour later, I arrived at the thermal spa.

This spa was one of Julian’s properties. The front desk staff immediately greeted me with a warm, professional smile. “Miss Sterling, you have an appointment with Mr. Hawthorne, correct? Please follow me.” I nodded slightly and followed the attendant into the spa. After several turns, we finally reached the destination. The attendant smiled. “Mr. Hawthorne is inside. Miss Sterling, please go in. I’ll leave you now.” After she left, I hesitated for a moment before raising my hand to knock. “Come in.” A low, magnetic voice came from inside. I turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. To my surprise, the moment I looked up, I was met with a tantalizing sight. Julian stood by the edge of the large bath, his tall, lean frame naked from the waist up. His taut, muscular physique was subtly revealed through the swirling steam, and a few drops of water trailed down his broad chest, disappearing into the white towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was damp, a few strands clinging to his forehead, adding to his raw sex appeal. Julian saw me enter, a playful smirk curving his lips, his eyes burning with intense desire. He spoke slowly. “Sera, you’re here. I’ve been waiting.” My face flushed slightly, and my eyes instinctively darted away from his body. I tried to sound calm as I asked, “Uncle Julian, what do you need?” Julian took a slow, deliberate step towards me, his long legs moving with an almost predatory grace. Each step carried a sense of pressure. “Are you feeling alright?” I immediately understood his meaning. Images of last night’s passion flashed through my mind, and my cheeks involuntarily deepened in color. “Uncle Julian, I’m fine.” “Is that so? Then it seems we can go for another round today?” Julian stopped in front of me, leaning down so his warm breath ghosted over my face. I froze. “What?” “Last night was incredibly sweet. I’m addicted.” He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling my body flush against his, and whispered into my ear. “If we’re having an affair, let’s go all the way.” With that, he kissed my lips. My handbag slipped from my fingers to the floor, and my hands wrapped around Julian’s waist. I didn’t resist him; instead, I met his kiss. Because, I needed to get pregnant by him, to break free from this gilded cage of a strategic marriage. We kissed for a long time, entangled, before Julian swept me into his arms and carried me towards the steaming bath. After another round of passionate kissing, Julian reached for a condom lying by the edge of the bath, tearing open the wrapper with his teeth. I noticed his action and gasped, “Don’t use it.” “Don’t use it?” Julian lifted my chin, his dark eyes glinting with a knowing smirk. “Aren’t you afraid of getting pregnant with my child?” That was precisely what I wanted. But I shook my head. “It’s uncomfortable. I’ll take a pill afterward.” Julian leaned closer, chuckling softly. “You’re quite daring.” “Come here.” I hooked my arms around his neck, my eyes hazy with allure, openly seducing him. Julian’s throat bobbed, and he nuzzled my lips. “They say Rhys’s wife is the most dignified and traditional. Your behavior now hardly matches what people say about you.” “Don’t people always have two sides?” I tilted my head, smiling softly. “Besides, don’t men always crave a woman with a bit of a wild side?” Just like Rhys, who outwardly claimed to love me to death, yet couldn’t resist the allure of his flirtatious assistant. I was smiling, but my eyes held a hint of sorrow. Julian didn’t like the sadness in my eyes. His warm lips slowly moved from my cheek to my brow, and his large hand gripped my waist. “Wild or not, I like you just the same.” In his eyes, I was a walking temptation, even if I did nothing. He gave me no chance to linger in my melancholic thoughts, sealing my lips with his. They indulged in a prolonged embrace in that private space, until the passion finally receded. Julian carried me, boneless and exhausted, out of the thermal bath and into the adjoining lounge, placing me gently on the large bed. Then he turned and left. Once I regained some strength, I crawled up, then propped my slender legs onto the headboard, placing a pillow under my hips. This position, I knew, was more conducive to conception. After doing all this, I gazed at the ceiling, a sudden wave of sorrow washing over me. It was truly pathetic that I so desperately craved to be pregnant with another man’s child, all just to escape an unhappy marriage. How truly pitiful. I started to laugh, and as I laughed, two lines of tears streamed from my eyes. My heart felt as though it had been filled with sand, a suffocating ache pressing down. Julian came back in carrying a tray of food, just as he caught sight of me lowering my legs from the headboard. “What are you doing?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Nothing,” I lied. “My legs were tired, just resting them for a bit.” My true intentions couldn’t be exposed, otherwise, Julian would never cooperate with me. Julian’s deep, dark eyes lingered on me for a moment, a half-smile playing on his lips. Those dark eyes seemed to see right through me, and I felt a shiver of unease under his gaze. Barefoot, I stepped onto the floor, feeling awkward. “Uncle Julian, I should go now.” “Not going to eat something?” Julian offered me the sandwich in his hand. “You’ve exerted a lot of energy. You should replenish it.” “I’ll eat it on the way.” I grabbed it and hurried out. Except when seducing him, I actually wasn’t very comfortable being alone with Julian. His eyes were too sharp; I always felt like there was nowhere to hide, as if he could see right through me. “I have to go on a business trip abroad. Pick me up at the airport in ten days. I’ll send you a message.” His low voice drifted to me. My steps faltered for a moment. “Understood.” I arrived back at the villa close to two in the afternoon. The housekeeper saw me and asked, “Madam, should I send Mr. Hawthorne his nourishing broth today?” Nourishing broth. I used to send Rhys a nourishing broth every day. The day I discovered his affair, I was late delivering the broth. Rhys, thinking I wasn’t sending it, felt safe enough to indulge in some office play with his mistress. That’s when I realized that after drinking the tonic I meticulously prepared for him every day, he would then get intimate with his assistant. He was always so busy with work, and I worried he was losing weight. So I traveled far and wide to find a reliable herbalist to get a restorative herbal brew recipe. I personally selected all the ingredients and herbs, pouring my heart into preparing it to keep him healthy. Yet, he turned around and expended all that energy on his mistress. My concern now felt like a cruel joke. I said flatly, “Pack it up. I’ll take it over now.” The ironic thing was, despite everything, I still had to pretend nothing was wrong and dutifully deliver it. Because if I stopped, both the Hawthornes and the Sterlings would assume there was friction in our marriage and send elders to “mediate.” I was a woman living under constant surveillance. A mere link binding the interests of the Hawthornes and Sterlings. No one cared if the ‘item’ was happy or not. As long as the item served its purpose, that was enough. So, no one truly cared about me. The broth was packed, and I picked it up, heading out. Hawthorne Group. When the front desk called, Rhys was pressing Chloe against his office desk. Upon hearing I was on my way, he immediately pulled away from Chloe. “Find somewhere to hide. Don’t let Sera see you.” Rhys frantically straightened his rumpled shirt, then opened the window to air out the lingering scent of their encounter. He had originally fired Chloe after Grandpa Hawthorne’s lecture, but he and Chloe were so used to their office trysts that he couldn’t stand it after just a few days. He secretly brought her back, then specifically instructed the front desk to call him immediately if they saw me coming. As long as I didn’t know Chloe was back, everything would be fine. Chloe picked up her scattered clothes, putting them on, and looked at Rhys with a resentful gaze. “If I’m such a secret, why bother calling me back?” Rhys, seeing her unhappiness, cupped her face and kissed her, trying to appease her. “This is for the good of all three of us. If Sera finds out, she’ll just cause another scene. Then Grandpa Hawthorne will personally step in, and I worry it might be bad for you.”

“Fine,” Chloe huffed lightly, tracing circles on his chest with her finger. “She’s bringing broth. I’ll feed it to you myself later.” Imagining her “feeding method,” Rhys grinned mischievously. “Good, I’ll wait for you to ‘feed me’ yourself.” Chloe gave him a flirtatious look, then reluctantly pulled open the office door and left. She didn’t hurry away. She waited until the executive elevator opened and the person inside exited before turning and walking towards the regular employee elevator. I saw Chloe’s back. I watched silently, my face devoid of emotion. It wasn’t surprising that Rhys couldn’t resist being with Chloe, even at Grandpa Hawthorne’s birthday party, and now he had secretly brought the previously fired Chloe back to the office. It was a good thing I had never believed Rhys would change. A leopard never changes its spots. “Sera, you’re here.” Rhys saw me enter the office, happily walked towards me, and reached for the food container in my hand. My nose wrinkled slightly. My sense of smell was very keen. Even with the window open and much of the scent dispersed, I still caught a whiff of it. It seemed he and Chloe had been at it again. Fortunately, I no longer cared. “Here’s your broth. Drink it while it’s hot. I’m leaving now.” I didn’t even sit down for a moment, turning to leave immediately. Rhys grabbed my wrist. “Sera, aren’t you going to stay with me for a bit? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?” I turned to look at him, saying flatly, “Do you need me to?” For some reason, Rhys felt there was a double meaning in my words, and unease welled up in his heart again. “Sera, of course I need you to stay with me.” He put down the broth and pulled me into his embrace. “Why don’t you just stay for the afternoon?” He lowered his head, intending to kiss me. I thought of what he and Chloe had just been doing in the office and felt a wave of nausea, pushing him away. “I have to go to the clinic this afternoon. I can’t stay.” Rhys felt a little uncomfortable being rejected, but he rationalized that I hadn’t forgiven him yet, so my unwillingness to be intimate was normal. In fact, it meant I still cared about him, because only if I cared would I be angry. Rhys reassured himself, then held my shoulders. “Why are you going to the clinic?” “A check-up. To prepare for pregnancy.” He remembered. Our families were already pressing us to have children. We had been married for three years without a child, and the elders of both families were subtly showing their displeasure. This year, they had been particularly insistent about us having a baby, almost bringing up the topic at every family dinner. Actually, both my body and his were fine; it was just that he hadn’t been interested in having children these past few years. He wasn’t ready to be a father, so he had been using contraception. Of course, more than that, he wanted more time alone with me. However, he had changed his mind now. He needed to get me pregnant as soon as possible. Once we had a child, the bond between us would deepen, and the Hawthornes and Sterlings’ alliance would be even stronger. Then I would never be able to leave him. “I’ll go with you after work.” Rhys offered eagerly. I shook my head, refusing. “No need. You’re so busy with work; there’s no need to take time out just for me. I won’t say more; I’m leaving now.” I walked out of the office. Rhys watched my retreating figure, and a sudden tightness seized his chest. I was still being distant with him. In the past, if he suggested doing something together, I would be as delighted as a child. Unlike now, where my words were flat, my emotions muted, everything about me was muted. Completely different from the lively, sweet woman I used to be. Rhys clutched his chest, a sharp pang of guilt piercing his heart. It was all his fault; he had hurt me. Just then, the office door opened again. Chloe walked in. Seeing him clutching his chest, her face immediately showed concern. “Rhys, what’s wrong?” she asked worriedly. Rhys looked at her face, unable to stop himself from questioning. Was chasing thrills with Chloe really that important? Was the fleeting satisfaction of physical desire truly more important than his relationship with me? The pleasure was momentary, but that moment caused me pain, disappointment, and a lack of passion for him. Was it truly worth it? He asked himself repeatedly, but still found no definite answer. “Rhys, what are you thinking?” Seeing that he seemed less distressed, Chloe’s hand stroked his chest, and she pressed her body against him. “Don’t think about it. Let’s continue our ‘game’ from before.” She initiated, kissing him. Rhys wanted to resist, feeling a wave of guilt towards me, but gradually, desire triumphed over reason. He swept Chloe into his arms and pressed her onto the sofa. At the same time. I had arrived at the clinic. After a check-up, the doctor said. “Your health is excellent; you can conceive directly. You’re currently in your ovulation period these few days. Have you been intimate with your husband?” Sera nodded. “Yes.” “You can be intimate more frequently; it will make conception easier.” I asked, “If I get pregnant, how soon can I find out?” “Ten days after intercourse.” the doctor said. I touched my stomach. The first time with Julian last night, he used protection. The next two times, I coaxed him out of it. This morning, we didn’t use protection either. Julian looked very strong. He didn’t smoke or drink much, so his ‘seed’ quality should be excellent. I hoped there was already a result in my belly. Otherwise, in ten days, I would have to go find him again. That evening, I went to bed early again. Rhys, fresh from his shower and thinking about having a baby, hugged me from behind, his hand caressing my body. He whispered into my ear, “Sera, aren’t we trying for a baby? We should…”

I pulled his hand away. “Let’s just go to sleep early.” “Sera, are you still angry with me?” Rhys sat up, pulling me up with him. We faced each other. I lowered my eyes slightly, saying flatly, “Do you expect me to forgive you right now? Do you think that’s possible?” Rhys gripped my hands, his voice heavy with guilt. “Sera, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have given in to temptation and betrayed our love. Believe me, I’ve truly changed.” His eyes were incredibly sincere, as if he had truly repented. If I hadn’t caught him cheating a second time, perhaps I would have foolishly believed him. I looked at his incredibly familiar face, yet felt it was utterly foreign. As if I had never truly known him. Because the old Rhys would never lie to me, but now, his mouth was full of deceit. His love for me was filled with sickening falsehoods. I suddenly didn’t want to see his face. I averted my gaze, looking out at the dark night sky. “Just give me a little more time,” I said softly. A little more time, and I would finally escape this cage, finally be free. Rhys, however, mistook my softening attitude. After all, time was the best healer, and since divorce wasn’t an option, I had no choice but to compromise. A look of joy spread across Rhys’s face, and he hugged me tightly. “Sera, I know I made a huge mistake. Your coldness towards me now is a punishment, and I deserve it. I don’t blame you. I’ll wait until the day you’re willing to forgive me.” That day would never come. I would never forgive betrayal. I let him hold me, my eyes fixed on the darkness, devoid of sorrow or joy. Time flew by. Julian, who was supposed to be on a ten-day business trip, returned early. I had just finished dinner when my phone buzzed with a message from Julian. He told me to pick him up at the airport. I stared at the message, lost in thought. I had gone to the clinic this morning for a check-up; I wasn’t pregnant. If I couldn’t get pregnant with Julian’s child, my escape plan would fail. I would be forever trapped in this cage of an arranged marriage. I had to keep seducing Julian. “Sera, what are you looking at?” Rhys put down his forks, looking up at me. I put away my phone, stood up, and said, “I have something I need to go out for.” “Where are you going?” Rhys frowned. “It’s so late now. Should I drive you?” I shook my head, already moving towards the door. “No need. A female friend suddenly came down with a fever, and there’s no one to take care of her. I’m going to check on her.” “Who is it?” Rhys asked. He and I had grown up together; we knew all of each other’s friends. I casually made up a lie. “A new friend I met in baking class a few days ago. You don’t know her. I won’t say more.” I hurried out the door. Rhys didn’t think much of it and left the dining room as well. Just then, he received a FaceTime call from Chloe, asking him to pick her up at the airport. Chloe’s mother had been ill a few days ago, and she had gone home to visit her. She was back today. She had already landed and was waiting for him to pick her up. Rhys thought that since I wasn’t home anyway, he’d be bored alone, so he agreed. Chloe had been away for a few days, and I wouldn’t let him touch me, so he was feeling particularly pent-up.

I rushed to the airport and quickly spotted Julian in the arrivals hall. Julian stood tall and handsome in a sharp suit. When he saw me, a flicker of something imperceptible, something akin to tenderness, crossed his eyes. “Uncle Julian, why are you back early?” I asked softly. Julian gave a slight smile and leaned in, whispering, “I missed you, so I couldn’t wait to come back.” My face flushed slightly. Julian naturally took my hand. “Come, let’s get out of here first.” As we walked side-by-side towards the exit, Rhys’s car also happened to pull up. The car door opened, and a long, straight leg stepped out. Facing a potential face-to-face encounter, my heart instantly leaped into my throat. I instinctively looked at the man beside me, a wave of tension washing over me. Julian swiftly took off his overcoat and gently draped it over my shoulders. His arm naturally wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me close, shielding me tightly in his embrace. The hem of his coat cleverly concealed my figure, and his strong arm discreetly hid most of my face. Rhys saw Julian, first愣 (froze), then a wide smile spread across his face as he walked over to greet him. “Uncle Julian, why are you back early?” Julian maintained a calm expression, nodding slightly. “Yes, the business trip wrapped up faster than expected, so I came back early.” He was clearly holding someone close, and Rhys naturally noticed, his eyes instantly becoming meaningful. “Uncle Julian, who is this…?” Julian curved his lips. “Your future aunt.” “Really?” Rhys had assumed it was just a casual fling, never expecting it to be Julian’s girlfriend. His proud uncle had never dated before. What kind of woman could make Julian even consider marriage? He was suddenly very curious, trying to peer into Julian’s embrace, but couldn’t make out her face. “Is my future aunt really that shy? She won’t even say hello to me,” Rhys joked. Julian, still holding the woman in his arms, changed direction slightly. “She’s quite shy, indeed. I’ll bring her to the family estate soon; you’ll meet her then.” “Uncle Julian, you’re full of surprises!” Rhys chuckled, retracting his gaze. “Anyone Uncle Julian picks must be extraordinary. I truly look forward to that day.” “What are you doing at the airport?” Julian diverted the topic. Rhys scratched his head. “Just picking up a friend. Well, Uncle Julian, I won’t bother you any longer. Goodbye.” Only after Rhys turned and walked towards the waiting lounge did Julian slowly release me. He looked at my slightly nervous face and chuckled softly. “What, afraid our affair will be exposed?” I pursed my lips. “Aren’t you?” “Me?” Julian gripped my hand, fingers intertwining, tightly laced together. “At most, I’ll get a scolding from Grandpa Hawthorne. What’s there to be afraid of?” “…” For men, it was certainly not frightening. Because the crime of infidelity was judged by two different standards for men and women. For men, it was called a ‘fling,’ something not worth dwelling on. For women, it was called being ‘loose’ or ‘promiscuous,’ and was something to be condemned. I let out a laugh, a mocking, bitter sound. “What are you laughing at?” Julian asked, raising an eyebrow. I said flatly, “Nothing. Let’s go.” Julian took my hand and we left the airport. Meanwhile, Rhys, who had already entered the main hall, suddenly turned back, his gaze fixed on our retreating figures. He saw the woman hidden in Julian’s embrace. Only her back was visible: long black hair, a blue mid-length skirt, a slender, graceful figure. That skirt… wasn’t it exactly like the one I was wearing today?! And her back looked so much like Sera! At this thought, Rhys felt his temples throb twice. He instinctively took a step to follow. Chloe, who was nearby, saw him and happily ran into his arms. “Rhys, you came to pick me up!” He paused, then looked up again, but our figures were already gone. Rhys averted his gaze, affectionately ruffled Chloe’s hair. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to dinner, then drop you home.”

hys took Chloe to dinner, and then, naturally, drove her home. Two hours later, Rhys disentangled himself from their passionate encounter and went to the bathroom to shower. He made sure to leave no scent of another woman on him, to avoid me discovering it when he returned home. Once he entered the bathroom, Chloe glanced at the plush toy on the windowsill. A hidden camera was inside, having recorded their entire intense tryst. A smile played on her lips as she sent the video to me. At that moment, I had just left the movie theater with Julian. I didn’t know what this man was thinking; after leaving the airport, he didn’t eat but dragged me to watch a movie first. It was a two-hour art-house film, and I was half-asleep, yet Julian seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. As soon as I sat in the car, my phone buzzed. It was an anonymous sender, a short video clip lasting several tens of seconds. I opened it and watched. In the video, my husband was having an affair with his mistress. I gripped my phone tightly, my face turning pale. Immediately after, a provocative text message popped up. [Sera, you knew Rhys never broke up with me, didn’t you? We just finished sleeping together. You’re probably still waiting for him at home, aren’t you? Poor lonely wife.] [What about your twenty years of history? He’s still completely obsessed with me. Rhys doesn’t love you anymore. He only stays married because of your family status. Every time he sleeps with me, he complains about how bored he is with you, says sleeping with you is like a tedious chore, not nearly as satisfying as being with me.] [If your family went bankrupt, he’d dump you without hesitation and marry me.] [Oh, by the way, I have good news for you. I’m pregnant, and Rhys says he wants to keep it. When the time is right, he’ll bring the child into the Hawthorne family under the guise of adoption, to raise our child himself. You get to be a mother without the pain. Happy?] Immediately following that, an ultrasound report was sent. It showed Chloe was four weeks pregnant. This was her confidence in openly challenging me. I took a deep breath, gripping my phone even harder. “What are you looking at?” Julian sensed my distress, leaned over, and looked directly at the content on my phone. I quickly pressed the screen, taking a few deep breaths to suppress the surging emotions. “Nothing.” “You look unwell.” Julian cupped my face, examining it closely. “Are you feeling sick?” I grabbed his hand, slowly pulling it down. “Then, Uncle Julian, do you want to check on me?” To get pregnant, I had to go all in. “What, you want to try some car sex?” Julian’s hand slowly moved to the back of my neck, pulling me closer. I looked up at him, my beautiful eyes shimmering with seductive charm. My hand rested on his chest, slowly tracing circles. “Would you like to try it, Uncle Julian?” “Anything you want to play, I’m in.” Julian lowered his head and kissed my lips. I don’t know how long passed, but just as the tension in the car reached its peak, my phone received a FaceTime call from Rhys. I lay on the reclined seat, my face flushed, my soft hand almost unable to hold the phone. I wanted to hang up. His fiery chest pressed down, tight against my back, and his husky voice whispered in my ear. “Sweetheart, answer the phone.” He pressed the answer button for me. Rhys’s voice immediately came through. “Sera, it’s so late. Why aren’t you home yet?” “I…” My voice was already strained as I spoke. “I… I need to take care of my friend.” The man behind me, as if afraid of not being discovered, continued his relentless movements. I tried my best to hold back, but my voice still came out fragmented. “I… won’t be back tonight.” “What’s wrong? Your voice sounds strange.” An unsettling feeling swelled in Rhys’s heart, and a terrifying thought crossed his mind. “Does it? Maybe it’s just the wind being too strong outside. Anyway, I have to go now.” The call ended. Rhys stared at the phone screen, an inexplicable, intense unease washing over him. And that terrifying suspicion. During the call, he had heard an unusual sound, very much like… *that* sound. Could I really be having an affair with another man? No, it couldn’t be. Rhys immediately dismissed the thought. He refused to believe it. I loved him so much and was a very traditional woman; how could I possibly cheat? That was something rebellious women did. I was a well-bred woman; I wouldn’t do such a thing. He must be overthinking it. Rhys reassured himself, put down his phone, and rested. That night, he had a dream. He dreamt of seeing Julian at the airport again. He was desperately curious about what Julian’s girlfriend looked like. Just then, a gust of wind blew, lifting the woman’s hair and revealing her entire face. She looked exactly like me! Rhys suddenly woke up. At that moment, the bedroom door opened.

He looked over, still startled, and met my gaze. “Sera!” Rhys jumped out of bed and strode towards me, grabbing my wrist. He gripped my wrist so tightly that I winced. “You’re hurting me.” Rhys seemed not to hear, his eyes fixed on me. “Sera, were you really with your friend yesterday?” “What else?” Unconsciously, I had learned the same composure after cheating that Rhys displayed when he lied. I looked at Rhys calmly, without a hint of guilt. Rhys stared at me, trying to catch the slightest change in my expression. But he saw nothing. “I’ve been at the clinic all night. I need to change.” I motioned for him to let go. Rhys slowly released me, watching me turn and head into the walk-in closet. Suddenly, he took a step closer and gently pushed open the closet door. I had just taken off my clothes. My pale skin was exposed, as delicate as fine jade, without a single blemish. And no traces of intimacy. Rhys breathed a sigh of relief. He had been overthinking it. How could I possibly be involved with Uncle Julian? Julian was naturally distant, keeping everyone at arm’s length. At previous family dinners, I used to be quite intimidated by Uncle Julian, barely daring to say more than a few words. Later, I even accidentally broke one of Uncle Julian’s favorite antique vases. Although he didn’t pursue it, I often complained to Rhys that Uncle Julian pretended not to care but always looked at me with devouring eyes. It scared me so much that I was even more afraid to speak to him. In Rhys’s mind, my interactions with Uncle Julian were almost non-existent. How could the two of them possibly get together? It was impossible. Rhys reassured himself, but for some reason, a lingering unease still stirred within him. Afraid of being discovered, he quietly closed the door and left. At that moment, my peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the doorway. I knew Rhys had been watching me. I had prepared for this; last night, I hadn’t let Julian leave any marks on my body. Rhys, are you finally experiencing the anxiety of suspecting your loved one of cheating? That unsettling feeling isn’t pleasant, is it? I let out a mocking laugh. The following days of my life remained calm. Except for the occasional rendezvous with Julian, continuing our illicit affair. I worked hard to entice him, and Julian willingly succumbed. Finally, ten days later, I got the result I wanted. I walked out of the doctor’s office, clutching the report tightly in my hand. My lips curved upward, unable to stop smiling from excitement and joy. I was pregnant. With Julian’s child, the cage of this arranged marriage could no longer hold me. My mood was exceptionally good; I even had a smile on my face when I returned to the villa. “Sera, what has you so happy?” Rhys smiled too, pulling my hand to sit on the sofa. “Is it because your birthday is coming up? Oh, by the way, the family estate called. They said you should celebrate your birthday there this year. They want everyone back to make it lively. Grandpa Hawthorne also said he has a gift for you, one he’s sure you’ll love.” Only Grandpa Hawthorne typically celebrated his birthday at the family estate; younger generations weren’t usually eligible. The fact that an exception was being made for me, I knew the reason without much thought. It was merely a gesture to compensate me. I didn’t care or mind in the least. However, celebrating my birthday at the family estate presented an excellent opportunity. My lips curved slightly. Because that day would be the day I would be reborn.

I stepped into the old estate, elegantly dressed in a delicate blush-pink gown. The estate was adorned with festive decorations, adding a celebratory atmosphere to my birthday dinner. The spacious living room was already filled with people; close relatives from both the Hawthornes and the Sterlings had arrived. Everyone gathered, chatting and laughing, creating a harmonious atmosphere. When they saw me, everyone greeted me. Mrs. Sterling took my hand and pulled me to sit on the sofa, saying kindly, “Your sister-in-law is already pregnant with her second child. You and Rhys should also hurry up. Any news yet?” At every family gathering, the topic of having children was unavoidable. Others, hearing this, also began to “care” about my situation. “That’s right, Sera. You and Rhys have been married for three years now. How come you still haven’t gotten pregnant? In another two or three years, you’ll be thirty. You’ll be an older mother then.” “If you have a daughter, you’ll have to have a second child anyway. It’s better to have them early, while you’re young and your body recovers well.” “Are you not feeling well? In a couple of days, I’ll have my sister-in-law tell you about the herbal brew she takes. It’s very effective. She only took it for a month before she got pregnant. If you take it, you’ll surely have good news soon.” I looked at their “caring” eyes, a smile on my face, but my own eyes were cold and devoid of mirth. In that moment, everyone seemed to have forgotten about Rhys’s infidelity, casually urging me to have children. Of course. When a man cheats, the only one who truly suffers is the wife. No one else cares; they might even secretly gloat. A hand landed on my shoulder. Rhys sat beside me, smiling as he responded to the relatives, “Sera and I are working hard. I’m sure we’ll have good news soon.” With that, he kissed my cheek, his eyes smiling. “Right, Sera?” I was about to answer when someone called out, “Uncle Julian, you’re here!” Everyone’s gaze turned to the living room entrance. Julian strode towards us, his long legs moving with purpose. He wore casual black clothes, his handsome face expressionless, still retaining his cool, almost ascetic demeanor. Only I knew that he was deeply passionate, despite pretending to be indifferent to women. His gaze subtly swept over my face, meeting mine for a fleeting moment. I instinctively touched my flat lower abdomen, guiltily averting my eyes. Julian was a star in the Hawthorne family. The moment he arrived, no one cared about whether I was having children anymore. Everyone sought an opportunity to speak with Julian. Julian sat on the sofa, leaning back casually, occasionally answering a relative’s question. Perhaps it was my imagination, but I felt his gaze subtly returning to me from time to time. When he looked at me, a faint smile seemed to play on his lips. My heart felt hollow, having his child secretly growing inside me. After sitting for a while, I found an excuse to leave the living room. I went to Grandpa Hawthorne’s study. I stood outside the door, taking a deep breath to calm my nervous heart, then raised my hand to knock. “Come in.” I pushed the door open. Grandpa Hawthorne was sitting behind an antique desk, holding a calligraphy brush and practicing his writing. Seeing me enter, he looked up slightly, put down his brush, and slowly spoke. “Sera, it’s your birthday today. Why are you here?” “Grandpa, I have something I need to show you.” I took out the ultrasound report and gently placed it on his desk. Grandpa Hawthorne’s eyes immediately lit up with joy. “Sera, you’re pregnant? Excellent, excellent! Our Hawthorne family is gaining a new member. Sera, you’ve done a great service!” “This child isn’t Rhys’s.” I said.

“What?” Grandpa Hawthorne thought he misheard. I looked directly into his eyes, stating each word clearly. “The child in my belly isn’t Rhys’s.” Grandpa Hawthorne’s smile completely froze. He pressed his calligraphy brush down heavily. “You dare…” Before he could finish, I interrupted him. “I’m pregnant with Julian’s child.” One second, two seconds… A full minute passed. Grandpa Hawthorne stared wide-eyed, as if he had just heard the most preposterous thing in the world. “What did you say? Say it again!” “I said, I’m pregnant with Uncle Julian’s child.” I deliberately emphasized “Uncle Julian,” making it undeniably clear. “You’re talking nonsense!” Grandpa Hawthorne absolutely refused to believe it. How could this be? “I know what you’re trying to do. You just want to trick me, to get me to agree to your divorce from Rhys!” I calmly opened my handbag, took out a stack of photos, and placed them in front of Grandpa Hawthorne. “If you don’t believe me, you can look at these pictures.” A dozen or so photos lay on the table. Grandpa Hawthorne, barely suppressing his rage, flipped through them. These photos were all of my daily interactions with Julian: eating, watching movies, holding hands, kissing. Grandpa Hawthorne’s face grew increasingly dark. The last photo was taken in Julian’s apartment. He was bare-chested, holding me in his arms, his body covered in intimate scratch marks. He was looking down at me, his eyes tender as water. Grandpa Hawthorne’s composure finally shattered. “You… you shameless woman, how dare you seduce Uncle Julian? This is a scandal of epic proportions!” A mocking smile touched my lips, but my eyes held fierce determination. “If all of you hadn’t so stubbornly blocked my divorce, how would I ever have become involved with Uncle Julian? Everything that happened today is because of your selfishness!” Grandpa Hawthorne’s face turned beet red with anger, and he slammed his hand on the desk. “You must get rid of this child! The Hawthorne family will never allow such a disgrace to occur!” “I can abort the child, on the condition that you agree to my divorce from Rhys. If you don’t agree, I’ll expose this to the public.” I stood unfazed by Grandpa Hawthorne’s fury, calmly stating my terms. “Think carefully, Grandpa. Once this matter is exposed, what kind of scandal and public outcry will the Hawthornes and Sterlings face? The Hawthorne family’s decades of reputation will be ruined. Julian will also be embroiled in scandal, and his Veridian Corp. will undoubtedly suffer.” I paused, then smiled. “My freedom, your immensely valued power and interests, and Julian’s reputation—you can surely weigh which is more important.” Grandpa Hawthorne trembled with rage, his face ashen. If I were carrying the child of some other man, it might be manageable. At most, they could get rid of it and pretend nothing happened. The Sterling family might even owe the Hawthornes, allowing them to gain more advantage in their collaborations. But no, the man I had cheated with was Julian! There was no way to untangle whose fault this was. Julian was his youngest, most doted-on son, and incredibly talented. He had built Veridian Corp. single-handedly and was his father’s greatest pride. And he had committed such a disgraceful act! Grandpa Hawthorne was practically dying of anger. But he still cared most about Julian and would never allow his exceptional son to carry such a stain on his reputation! After a long silence, Grandpa Hawthorne seemed to deflate, sinking back into his chair, defeated. “Fine, fine. I agree to your divorce from Rhys.” I smiled faintly, just as I had expected. I swiftly took out a pre-prepared divorce agreement from my bag and handed it to him with both hands. “Then please find a way to get Rhys to sign it, Grandpa.” Grandpa Hawthorne reluctantly took the document. “Are you truly determined to divorce? He just made a mistake that many men make. Must you cling to it so fiercely?” “There are plenty of men in the world. I don’t need a spineless man who can’t keep it in his pants.” My expression was calm, but my words were sharp. With that, I walked straight out of the study. Just then, my phone vibrated. I pulled it out and saw a message from Chloe. [It’s your birthday today. Want to know who’s more important in Rhys’s heart, me or you?] [You’ll find out soon enough.]

I read it expressionlessly and turned off my phone. Meanwhile. Rhys was engrossed in the seductive photos in black lace that Chloe had sent him, a glimmer of anticipation and excitement on his face. [Last chance!] He hesitated, wondering whether to go find Chloe, but today was my birthday. Desire and reason wrestled, and ultimately, desire won. He stood up, preparing to leave. Just then, a housekeeper approached. “Grandpa Hawthorne requests your presence in his study.” Rhys had no choice but to go to the study first. On the way, he ran into me. Thinking about meeting Chloe soon, he held my hand and said, “Sera, something urgent came up at the office. I have to leave early in a bit.” He lied calmly, but his guilt was evident; his eyes couldn’t meet mine. I took in his panic and his lie, a faint smile playing on my lips. I didn’t expose him. “I understand,” I said flatly, no disappointment on my face. Then I pulled my hand free and walked away. Rhys watched my retreating figure. For some reason, his heart suddenly dropped, as if something was breaking away. He clutched his chest for a moment, then, without thinking too much, walked into the study. Grandpa Hawthorne handed him the divorce agreement. “Rhys, sign it.” Rhys’s mind was filled with Chloe’s seductive photos. He barely glanced at the document before scribbling his signature. Then he said urgently, “Grandpa, I have an emergency. I need to leave now.” With that, he quickly turned and hurried away. Grandpa Hawthorne watched his retreating back, sighing helplessly, then slumped into his chair. I stood in the old estate’s courtyard. Soon, a housekeeper found me and delivered the signed divorce agreement into my hands. Looking at the somewhat sloppy signature, I could imagine how eager Rhys had been at the time. So desperate to go find his mistress. He probably didn’t even realize he was signing divorce papers. But it didn’t matter anymore. I gazed at the few white clouds drifting across the sky, occasionally spotting a few birds flying freely. A smile touched my lips. Soon, I would be free too. “What are you thinking about?” A magnetic voice descended from above. I turned around and met Julian’s deep eyes. I instinctively tucked the divorce agreement into my bag. “Uncle Julian, it’s best we don’t meet alone at the family estate.” I took a step back, my attitude turning distant. Julian narrowed his dark eyes, a mischievous curve to his lips. “What, afraid our affair will be exposed?” “Uncle Julian, do you want to be labeled as the man who messed around with his nephew’s wife?” I asked. Julian moved closer, his tall frame looming over me. “I don’t mind.” “…” I was silent for a few seconds. “I’m leaving now.” With that, I turned to walk away. But my wrist was grabbed by the man behind me. With a slight pull, I was yanked into his embrace. “What are you doing?” I felt a surge of panic, struggling to break free. Julian held me tightly, his chest pressed against my back, his large hand slowly resting on my flat lower abdomen. “I heard they’re all pressuring you to have children. Do you think there might already be one in here?” My heart skipped a beat. I tried to sound calm. “How could that be? I always take my pills.” “If there is, you need to tell me. I’ll take responsibility.” Julian whispered into my ear, his tone serious. “Uncle Julian, you’re overthinking. That’s impossible.” I forcefully broke free from his embrace, fleeing in a hurry, as if a ghost were chasing me. Julian stood there, watching, his brows furrowed. It seemed I was avoiding him. Neither of us noticed that behind a nearby wall, a pair of eyes had witnessed everything.

This family gathering was for my birthday, but as soon as I returned to the living room, I told everyone I had an urgent matter to attend to and quickly left. I was rushing to finalize my divorce. With the divorce agreement, the process went smoothly; it didn’t even require Rhys’s presence. Grandpa Hawthorne had connections, made a call, and two divorce certificates were promptly in my hands. I walked out of the registrar’s office, and as the sunlight enveloped me, I let out a sigh of relief. I was free. I returned to the villa I shared with Rhys and packed my bags as quickly as possible. There weren’t many things: a few clothes and important identification documents. As I packed, my phone buzzed again. It was another message from Chloe, a few photos of Rhys at her place. [See? I knew I was more important to him. Why else would he come to be with me, even on your birthday?] I looked at the triumphant message, my face expressionless, and picked up my phone to type a reply. [You like picking up other people’s discards? Then he’s all yours.] Chloe replied quickly. [What do you mean?] This time, I didn’t reply. I checked the time. It was noon. My flight was scheduled to depart in five hours. I knew the negotiation today would go smoothly. Grandpa Hawthorne would definitely compromise for the sake of the Hawthornes’ and Julian’s reputations, granting me my freedom. And I was right; my gamble paid off. So last night, I had already booked a flight to the Netherlands. I wouldn’t return to the Sterlings. Because as a daughter, I had no right to inherit the family business, yet I bore the responsibility of a strategic marriage. Even if I divorced Rhys, it wouldn’t be long before I was treated as new merchandise, married off to a new man, doomed to repeat the same life. This was the tragedy of daughters in these elite families. Never lacking material wealth, yet deprived of selfhood, born merely as pawns in strategic alliances. I closed my suitcase, a determined glint in my eyes. My life was my own to command. I would never let anyone control me again. I grabbed my suitcase and headed out, just as I received a call from Julian at the door. After a moment of hesitation, I answered. “Hello, Uncle Julian.” “Why did you leave early?” His voice was still low and calm. “Something urgent came up,” I said. “When will it be taken care of?” “Probably tonight.” “When you’re done, come to my place. Stay the night.” “…” I bit my lip. “Okay, I’ll come once I’m done.” “Good girl.” The call ended. My hand touched my belly, my feelings a bit complicated. I’m sorry, Uncle Julian. Our complicated relationship has to end too. I wouldn’t have anything to do with anyone from the Hawthornes or Sterlings again. I pulled my suitcase and walked out with determination. After taking a taxi to the airport, I sat in the departure lounge, quietly waiting for the time to pass. After half an hour, the boarding announcement sounded. I stood up, pulling my suitcase. After completing the procedures, I boarded the plane. “The aircraft is about to take off. Please switch off your mobile phones. Thank you for your cooperation.” I was about to turn off my phone when a message from Rhys popped up. [Sera, something urgent came up at the office. I have to fly to a neighboring city. I won’t be home tonight. I’ll make up for your birthday privately, okay?] Another lie. I smiled faintly, indifferently deleted the message, then turned off my phone and snapped the SIM card in half. Then I inserted a new SIM card. A phone number no one knew yet, except me. The plane slowly took off, the city gradually shrinking below. White clouds filled my vision, and a genuine smile finally blossomed in my eyes. No matter Rhys, or Julian. No one would stop me from leaving.

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“Evelyn, could you draft my divorce papers for me today, please? Is it possible to rush them?” Hearing the laughter and chatter of a man and woman from inside the villa, I couldn’t help but dial my lawyer’s number. The night wind blew colder, but it couldn’t chill my heart as much as he did. This was *our* home, wasn’t it? And today was *our* fifth wedding anniversary. Yet, I’d been sent out by my own wife, all to make space for her male secretary, to avoid any ‘awkwardness.’ A sigh echoed from the other end of the line: “Mr. Reed, let’s meet and discuss this in person.” An hour ago, I’d rushed home, exhausted. Sitting at the dining table, looking at the brightly colored dishes before me, a weary sigh escaped my lips. “Victoria, you know I can’t eat seafood…” I’ve never been a picky eater. But on this entire table, there was almost nothing I could safely consume. Even if I wasn’t picky, I couldn’t risk my life just to eat, could I? Victoria knew about my severe seafood allergy. That’s why, for years, most of the meals I prepared were simple and light. Yet, this time, Victoria had ordered a whole table of intensely flavored dishes, every single one of them loaded with seafood. She pushed the only bowl without seafood – a simple tomato and egg soup – towards me, her tone impatient. “You know how busy I am with work, I don’t have time for these little things. This huge company relies on me to keep it afloat. I finally carved out some time to eat with you today, don’t make a big deal out of nothing. Besides, isn’t this tomato and egg soup free of seafood?” Though I knew her heart had strayed. Or perhaps, Victoria had never truly cared for me at all. But I never imagined she could be so heartless, utterly disregarding five years of our marriage. It was our fifth wedding anniversary, a table laden with twelve dishes, and I was only deemed worthy of one. I was about to speak. But Victoria’s phone rang, interrupting me. A smile blossomed on Victoria’s face. She spoke welcoming words into the phone, then went to the kitchen to retrieve an extra set of plates and cutlery, placing them beside her seat. Only after she hung up did she turn to me, asking. “Leo is home alone, and his power went out. He has nowhere to go, so I told him to come over for dinner. Julian, I’m sure you don’t mind.” It was phrased as a question, yet Victoria delivered it as a statement. I smiled bitterly. Victoria had already gone this far, even setting out the extra place setting so meticulously. Would my refusal even matter now? “Oh, right, Julian, what were you about to say earlier?” Victoria suddenly remembered I’d been about to speak before her phone rang, so she asked. Today was our fifth wedding anniversary. I cherished this rare opportunity for us to be alone, eating together, and naturally, I didn’t want anyone else to intrude. Though I knew my words would displease Victoria, I thought it over and decided to say it anyway. “Victoria, today is our fifth wedding anniversary. I just hoped it would be just the two of us, to talk properly, and have a nice dinner…” Just as I expected, Victoria cut me off before I could finish. She frowned, her displeasure evident, and slammed her cutlery onto the table. “I know it’s our fifth wedding anniversary! You don’t need to buzz around me like a fly, constantly reminding me.” “I ordered so many dishes, and you can’t possibly eat them all by yourself anyway. Leo works his tail off with me all day, he’s probably starving. It’s like a bonus meal for him.” Seeing Victoria’s resolute tone, I could only lower my head. I didn’t say anything else, just lowered my gaze and began to quietly eat the bowl of tomato and egg soup in front of me. My eyes welled up without me realizing it. Tears dripped into the soup, which I then swallowed. So many dishes, and I really couldn’t finish them alone. Not even if I ate until I burst. I quickly finished the bowl of tomato and egg soup. When I looked up again, I’d regained my composure. Only my slightly reddened, swollen eyes might give me away, if Victoria bothered to look closely. “Victoria, maybe we should get a divorce.” Victoria, sitting opposite me, had her eyes glued to her phone. Her thoughts seemed elsewhere, a faint smile playing on her lips. She didn’t seem to hear my words, or perhaps just didn’t register them. She merely let out a questioning “Huh?” without lifting her head. My face remained expressionless, but a bitter ache swelled in my chest. I took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of hurt. I was about to repeat myself, but Victoria interrupted me. “Leo’s here. We can talk about whatever you want later tonight.” My mouth was still open. But Victoria didn’t even wait for me to utter a single word, hurrying out of the room. Watching her determined back, I forced a small smile. I tapped my phone screen a few times, sending a message. “I’ll be at the lawyer’s office later.” From now on, Victoria would no longer have to worry about me interrupting her relationships with other men. The five-year term was up. Victoria’s mother’s dying wish, after all this time, had ultimately remained unfulfilled. But I truly couldn’t wait any longer. ***PAYWALL BREAK HERE***

Not long after, Victoria returned to the house with a young man. I knew him. The young man was Leo Maxwell. They were colleagues at the same company. Victoria was the company’s owner, and Leo was her male secretary. I was the company’s CFO. However, to avoid suspicion, no one in the entire company knew about our relationship. Even coming and going from work, Victoria would deliberately stagger our times. “Mr. Reed, you’re here too! I thought Ms. Sterling was just pulling my leg.” Leo stepped forward and grabbed my arm. His tone sounded friendly, but it was laced with cunning. “Mr. Reed, tell me, what’s your real relationship with Ms. Sterling?” I uncomfortably pulled my arm away, about to truthfully explain my relationship with Victoria. But Victoria spoke first, her voice full of a mixture of fondness and resignation. “Julian and I are just colleagues. We happened to be reviewing the company’s financial status today, and you just walked in on it. Not everyone gets to lounge on the sofa watching TV after work like you do.” Victoria casually dismissed our relationship as mere colleagues. I stood opposite her, watching her intently for a long moment, my entire body stiffening. Though we always maintained a professional facade at the company, referring to each other as colleagues, hearing Victoria utter those words, one by one, felt like a knife slicing through my heart. I gritted my teeth, opening my mouth in bitter defiance. “Victoria, we are clearly…” “Shut up!” Victoria cut me off before I could finish, giving me a cold, emotionless glance. “There’s no need to say things that shouldn’t be said. I still have the right to decide this matter, don’t I?” I shook my head in disappointment, the last flicker of hope deep in my eyes slowly extinguishing. Leo smirked triumphantly. Hearing that Victoria and I were just colleagues, he sat down at the dining table right beside Victoria without any hesitation, his voice brimming with delight. “Wow, all my favorites! You’re really good to me, Victoria.” As he spoke, Leo leaned in and pecked Victoria on the cheek. Victoria froze for a moment. When she recovered, she cautiously glanced my way out of the corner of her eye. Only when she saw that I seemed to be staring at my lap, as if I hadn’t witnessed the scene, did she visibly relax. “Eat your food. I know you like these, they were all ordered for you.” Leo’s mouth was full of food, his voice muffled, tinged with a hint of complaint. “Victoria, you love to tease me. You knew my rental apartment would have a power outage tonight, but you didn’t tell me in advance. I almost fell when I was showering.” “Oh no, did you get hurt? My fault, I didn’t expect it to be such a coincidence.” “Heh heh, I was just kidding. I’d already finished showering by the time the power went out.” “This was a surprise I prepared for you today. Do you like it?” … The two chatted as if they were the only ones in the room. I hadn’t realized their conversations were so intimate, so boundary-less. It wasn’t until Victoria piled Leo’s plate high with food that I belatedly realized all the dishes on the table were Leo’s favorites. My much-anticipated fifth wedding anniversary was merely a backdrop for Leo. Victoria had rushed home early today, arranging this feast, not for me at all. In that instant, I felt as if I finally understood when Victoria’s heart had changed. A terrifying weight pressed down on my chest, leaving me breathless. I stood up, bitter, preparing to leave. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.” Leo remained seated. “Mr. Reed, aren’t you going to eat something before you leave?” “No, it’s fine. It’s not appropriate.” “Then I’ll walk you out.” Leo started to stand, as if he were the man of the house. But Victoria gently pressed him back into his seat. “He knows his way. You don’t need to see him out.” Those were Victoria’s last words to me as I left the villa. There was no hint of a plea for me to stay. I stood outside the villa, the cool breeze washing over me. I knew the way, alright. This was *my* home. But now, I couldn’t even go back inside. Perhaps my time living here wouldn’t be much longer. 4. A light rain was falling. A cool breeze rustled the tree branches along the roadside. But it didn’t stir my heart. I made a purposeful phone call and headed to a law firm. I took the elevator, making my way to the office with a familiar ease. Clearly, this wasn’t my first visit. “Evelyn, can you finalize my divorce papers today? Do you need any more documents?” The lawyer opposite me frowned, flipping through previous records. “It’s about halfway done. If I work overtime today, it should be ready.” “But according to your previous requests, you were planning to file for divorce next month. Why the rush now?” I offered a faint smile. “Better a short pain than a long one, right? It was bound to happen sooner or later.” I stayed at the law firm until late into the night. When I left, I carried a black folder in my hand. Since leaving the law firm, my brow had been furrowed, never relaxing for a moment. “This divorce agreement requires signatures from both parties.” I had already signed my name the moment I received it. But the next, most crucial step was how to get Victoria to put her name on it. Suddenly, my phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. It was Victoria. “Julian, where are you? Why aren’t you home so late? Give me your address, I’ll come pick you up.” After a moment’s thought, I gave Victoria an address. “Alright, come pick me up. I also have something to tell you.” I thought that if Victoria truly came to pick me up this time, I would lay all my cards on the table, have an open and honest conversation with her, including my intention to divorce. But an hour, then two hours, slowly passed. I still hadn’t seen Victoria. When I picked up my phone to call her, I discovered a new photo on SnapChat. Leo’s apartment was pitch black, lit only by a single candle. The faint candlelight illuminated Victoria’s left hand. Although it was too dark to see faces, I knew it was her. I couldn’t be mistaken about the wedding ring on her finger. [Power outage at home, my big boss is keeping me company by candlelight!] I froze for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh. No wonder Victoria hadn’t come; she was occupied elsewhere. I “liked” Leo’s SnapChat post, then slowly walked home. I returned home, showered, and lay in bed. It wasn’t until I was half-asleep that Victoria finally came back. As soon as she got into bed, she naturally reached for my hand. Victoria pressed herself close to my chest, pulling my hand to her waist. Her cold, thin lips brushed against my neck. “Julian, it’s been a while since we’ve been intimate…” The moment Victoria spoke, An unfamiliar scent of men’s cologne hit me, making me sneeze involuntarily. Coincidentally, it was the exact same cologne Leo wore. It made me feel a little disgusted. I wearily pushed Victoria away, my voice calm. “Not tonight. I’m not feeling well.” It was the first time I had ever rejected her. A flicker of surprise crossed Victoria’s face. However, after I sneezed several more times, Victoria remembered her broken promise from earlier, and her face softened with guilt. “Julian, are you catching a cold? I should take you to the hospital to get checked.” “I’m sorry, Julian, I broke my promise today. Something came up at the company; I was going to pick you up, but then I got too busy and missed it.” I closed my eyes, nodded, mumbled “No, it’s fine,” and then said nothing more. The woman I had shared a bed with for five years no longer spoke a single truth to me. Any lingering guilt I had about secretly drafting the divorce papers vanished. 4. The next morning, we both left the villa one after the other for the company. As I arrived downstairs, I saw Victoria getting out of the car with Leo. Victoria would explain her relationship with me to everyone, but she never shied away from her intimacy with Leo. In her words, they were innocent, and there was nothing to hide. Our relationship, however, was like something stolen, something that couldn’t see the light of day. Seeing me, Leo jogged over and handed me a bag of breakfast buns. “Mr. Reed, what a coincidence! These are for you, consider them a thank-you gift for liking my post yesterday.” Victoria, following behind Leo, heard this and her curiosity was piqued. “What SnapChat post?” It wasn’t until Leo opened his phone, revealing yesterday’s post, that Victoria’s pupils contracted slightly. Perhaps she remembered her lie from yesterday, as a hint of panic flashed in her eyes as she looked at me. But seeing me calmly accept the breakfast buns from Leo, she visibly relaxed. Victoria reassured herself. Perhaps I hadn’t connected all the dots. I took the buns, smiled, said “Thanks,” and squeezed into the elevator. Victoria frowned after I left. She felt something was off about me today, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was. When Victoria arrived at her office, she called someone from the finance department to inquire about my recent work performance. “I saw Mr. Reed at Evelyn Hayes Law Firm yesterday evening. I wonder if something happened at home that needed legal attention.” That single sentence tugged at Victoria’s heart. We were a family, she reasoned, so she’d know if I needed a lawyer. Victoria planted a seed of doubt in her mind. She recalled the address I’d given her yesterday, which happened to be near the law firm. She was about to call me in for questioning. Unexpectedly, I knocked on her office door myself. “Ms. Sterling, this is last month’s employee payroll report. I need your signature.” I took a black folder from my bag and handed it to Victoria. Every page requiring a signature was marked. “Ms. Sterling, the places that need your signature are on these pages…” “I know, I’ll just take a quick look.” I didn’t know what had gone wrong. Victoria, who usually didn’t scrutinize things too closely, was examining this document with unusual care. “I heard you went to a law firm yesterday?” Victoria’s sudden question made my heart leap. If Victoria knew this was a divorce agreement, would she sign it? I didn’t dare to gamble on that probability. I just wanted to get away from Victoria as quickly as possible. “You know the company is about to sign a big project. I asked the lawyer to check the contract for any loopholes.” Perhaps my calm demeanor dispelled Victoria’s suspicions. She flipped to the last signature spot and quickly frowned again. “What kind of contract is this? Why is there only a last page?” There wasn’t much information on it, just the usual boilerplate about contracts being in triplicate. But I was prepared. My face remained impassive, though my voice held a hint of urgency. “I just discovered a mistake in this contract this morning, so I took it in for corrections. Please sign it quickly; this contract is urgent.” Victoria looked up at me. She believed I wouldn’t lie to her, but something still felt off. Unbeknownst to her, my heart, which had just relaxed, tightened again as I saw her hesitate. Although the contract didn’t contain much content, a careful look would reveal the faint words “Law Firm Divorce Agreement” in the upper left corner. “Victoria, I think Leo just fell outside.” I used Leo to distract Victoria. Just then, a soft sound came from outside the door, unsettling Victoria. She didn’t have time to scrutinize the contract further, hastily signing it. I breathed a sigh of relief, satisfied, and left. As I walked away, I saw Victoria carefully examining Leo, turning him over and over, as if he were a precious treasure, though he’d only knocked over a water bottle. This time, I felt calm. The moment I decided to divorce, I had already let Victoria go. 5. That afternoon, I immediately contacted Evelyn Hayes. “Once the divorce agreement is signed, there’s nothing else to do. However, the agreement takes a few days to become legally effective. During this period, if either party disagrees, they’ll have to continue negotiations.” I was already well aware of these divorce procedures. Returning to Victoria’s villa, I immediately began packing my bags. I decided to keep it a secret from Victoria. Living in this villa for five years, at first glance, there were traces of my life everywhere. But as I gathered my belongings, I realized how pitifully few they were. It made me realize once again that Victoria’s marriage to me had been truly reluctant. Otherwise, our five years of marriage wouldn’t have been filled only with resignation, but with happiness. When Victoria returned, I was bitterly placing a towel into my suitcase. She frowned. “Julian, are you packing? Where are you going?” I hadn’t expected Victoria to come home so early today. But I remained composed, calmly continuing to pack. “Nowhere. Just some clothes that have gotten moldy or old. I’m going to donate them.” “Donate them? Why?” I smiled and looked up. “Didn’t I tell you? Actually, I grew up in…” Before I could finish, Victoria cut me off. A phone call, ringing at just the right moment, diverted Victoria’s attention, leaving her no time to delve deeper. The instant Victoria picked up her phone, I saw the number and name displayed on the screen: [My Golden Boy]. A unique nickname, full of affection and intimacy. Unlike me, in Victoria’s phone, I was simply noted as “Julian Reed.” “I’m home already. Just wait for me patiently, I’ll be right there.” With that, Victoria hung up, smiling. She looked up and realized I had overheard the entire call. “Leo is looking for you?” I asked. Victoria immediately became flustered, explaining. “Julian, don’t misunderstand. It’s just that Leo’s power went out again. He’s not safe alone at home; it wouldn’t be good if he accidentally fell or bumped into something, so I…” I quickly cut off Victoria’s incessant chatter. I smiled and said I understood. But the more I did, the more uneasy Victoria became. My recent unusual behavior made her feel increasingly frustrated. It was like a sheet of paper in front of her, ready to tear at the slightest touch. Yet, she couldn’t quite reach the paper, couldn’t find the answer. She watched me finish packing my suitcase, then looked around. The entire house seemed to be just as it was, unchanged. The clothes she needed to wear each day were pressed and neatly arranged. Even the jewelry matching each dress was meticulously placed beside it. Victoria couldn’t find an answer, suspecting she had been too busy lately and was imagining things about me. “Oh, Julian, what were you about to say earlier? Why don’t we go to Leo’s place together?” I was silent for a moment. I had actually been about to tell Victoria that I grew up in an orphanage. My occasional departures over the years were to return to that orphanage, to visit the headmistress and the children. But now, it seemed unnecessary to say any of that. As for her suggestion to go to Leo’s place together, I quickly declined. I patted the suitcase I’d just packed. “I won’t go. I still need to find a place to donate these clothes.” This reason of mine again left Victoria with no room for suspicion. However, this time she didn’t let it end there. “Then I’ll go with you. It’ll be easier to drive.” She looked at me intently, as if trying to read my thoughts. But this time, I lowered my head and didn’t refuse. I knew Victoria well. I knew she had already sensed something was amiss. Only thirty days left. I didn’t want all my efforts to be in vain. We got into the car, one after the other. Just as I was racking my brain for a way to get rid of Victoria, A message from Leo called Victoria away again. Victoria looked at me apologetically. “Julian, I’m so sorry, I can’t go with you to donate the clothes this time. Something came up at the company that needs my attention.” I smiled and nodded. Victoria always thought she was keeping everything perfectly hidden. As she was about to get out of the car, I suddenly asked her. “If I hadn’t saved your mother six years ago, would you still have married me?” This question didn’t catch Victoria’s attention. Her mind was entirely focused on Leo now; she wished she had wings to fly to his side. “Of course, not! We got married because I loved you.” “Is that all?” “That’s all!” I suddenly laughed. I chose to let go of Victoria, whose mind was already elsewhere. To let go of this person who spoke to me with such obvious indifference. It wasn’t until the tail lights of Victoria’s car vanished in the distance that I shed a tear, my eyes reddened. I softly whispered: “Liar.” 6. The story of how Victoria and I met was full of coincidences. When I first arrived in this city, I searched and finally rented a room from Victoria’s mother. On my very first day, Victoria’s mother suddenly collapsed, unconscious, due to an unexpected illness. Thankfully, I discovered her in time and rushed her to the hospital. Later, Victoria’s mother’s surgery was successful, but her health was compromised. And she required long-term care. As I had just arrived in the city and had no job, At Victoria’s mother’s and Victoria’s urging, I took on the job of caring for Victoria’s mother. However, sadly, Victoria’s mother passed away a year later due to her severe illness. And Victoria, honoring her mother’s dying wish, married me. Five years had flown by since then. Back then, full of ambition, I always believed that one day I would melt Victoria’s cold heart. But after five years, I was exhausted. I couldn’t fight anymore. I slowly pushed my suitcase back to the villa, then picked up my phone and made a call. “Mark, could you help me rent an apartment? Nothing too big, just enough for one person. Ideally, I’d like to move in in about a month.” Mark’s puzzled voice came through the phone. “Rent an apartment? Julian, don’t you have a few properties listed for sale? Why are you looking to rent?” Mark was the real estate agent who had helped me find Victoria’s mother’s house all those years ago. Over the years, I’d entrusted him with managing the properties I’d accumulated. He was one of the few friends I had in this city whom I could truly talk to. “If you don’t have a place to stay and want to clear your head, you could go to the old lady’s previous old house.” “It’s quiet there, the environment is good, and it’s not far from your workplace…” Of course, I wouldn’t accept Mark’s suggestion. I wanted to sever all ties with Victoria. Why would I stay in a place connected to her? “Mark, please find me a place somewhere else!” My tone was calm but firm. On the other end of the line, Mark seemed to sense my intentions and sighed, saying no more. Just then, Victoria’s voice came from behind me. “Julian, who are you talking to on the phone?” I flinched. I quickly said my goodbyes into the phone and hung up. I turned to Victoria, my face impassive. “Haven’t talked to Mark in a while. Just arranging to grab dinner with him this weekend.” My words, half-truths, made Victoria frown. She knew Mark was one of my few friends, and we’d contact each other occasionally. But I was usually quite reserved and never had much enthusiasm for going out. The number of times I’d gone out with others in these five years was minimal. “Why suddenly decide to have dinner together?” Victoria took off her jacket, turned around, and looked at me, sitting on the sofa without moving. Her frown deepened. Before, whenever she came home, I would always greet her immediately, taking her coat and hanging it in the closet. But lately, she hadn’t received that treatment. This time, Victoria’s heart began to panic. “You always said you didn’t like going out, didn’t you?” I looked down at my phone. “I just donated all my clothes, and the weather’s changing. I need a couple of new outfits, and thought I’d catch up with Mark at the same time.” Victoria stared at me intently, as if trying to find a flaw in my words. This feeling of knowing something was off but being unable to pinpoint it made Victoria thoroughly uncomfortable. “I should have time this weekend. Why don’t I go with you? It’s been ages since we went shopping together.” I finally looked up at Victoria, a flicker of wariness in my eyes. After a moment, I spoke, my voice edged with a hint of pique. “You’re too busy with work. Let’s not. After all, such a big company, so many people are waiting for you to lead, to support them.” This was the excuse Victoria used most often to refuse me in the past. Hearing it from me now, Victoria actually relaxed a little. Victoria smiled and linked her arm through mine. “Are you still upset?” “I know I’ve been too busy lately and ignored your feelings. I promise I’ll spend quality time with you this weekend.” But Victoria didn’t see the disappointment that flashed in my downcast eyes. I whispered in my heart. Soon. Soon, I’ll be free of you, Victoria. 7. Soon, the weekend arrived. Twenty-four days until the divorce. These past few days, Victoria had noticeably spent more time at the villa. But she was also increasingly distracted. Under my subtle concealments, She hadn’t noticed a single thing out of place in the entire villa. Even the suitcase, full of clothes and leaning against the front door, had sat there for a whole week, unnoticed. Today, Mark and I had an appointment to look at apartments. Victoria stayed by my side, as if determined to fulfill her promise. Unable to do anything else, I took Victoria to the mall. The mall was bustling, but neither of us had much enthusiasm. I was solely focused on escaping, while Victoria was preoccupied with trendy clothes meant for younger people. “Victoria, why don’t we call Leo to come shopping with us?” At these words, Victoria’s eyes seemed to light up. “Really? Is that okay? I said I’d spend the whole day with you and not talk about work.” I sighed inwardly. Victoria had already taken out her phone and started dialing. Why bother with the reluctant, self-deceiving act then? Leo arrived quickly, in less than ten minutes. I wasn’t stupid; I could guess Leo had probably been waiting in the mall for a while. And who would have called him? This was exactly the kind of thing Victoria would do. A three-person outing, but only two people were truly happy. Suddenly, the mall alarms blared. Fire! Thick black smoke billowed, and the crowd in front rapidly retreated. Victoria tightly shielded Leo. Meanwhile, in the surging crowd, I was pushed and shoved, nearly falling to the ground. I turned back, and my gaze met Victoria’s across the chaos. Victoria’s face was anxious, wanting to move forward, but under Leo’s insistent urging, she hardened her heart and turned away. “Julian, wait for me! I’ll get Leo out, and I’ll come back for you immediately!” I was expressionless, quietly watching Victoria and Leo disappear into the crowd. Under the cover of the panicked masses, I quietly left the mall. I met up with Mark and we went to look at several apartments. By the time I returned home, it was late. I hadn’t expected Victoria to still be waiting for me. Seeing me enter the house, Victoria rushed over. After only half a day apart, Victoria’s face looked much worse. “Julian, where have you been? Your phone was off. I was so worried about you.” Victoria grabbed my arm, checking it all over. Until she noticed a faint red mark on my neck. She suddenly slapped herself across the face. The crisp sound made me momentarily lose focus, then quickly turned to a feeling of regret. “I’m sorry, Julian, it’s all my fault today, all my fault…” I let out a mirthless laugh. I felt no real emotion, just a sense of boredom. “I’m fine. I just wasn’t paying attention when I was out with Mark, and my phone died.” Then I suddenly stepped forward, evading Victoria’s attempt to hold my hand again. “I’m a bit tired today. I’m going to bed now.” Victoria stood rooted to the spot, looking a little lost. She suddenly felt me slipping further and further away, making her unable to grasp me. 8. In the following days, I stayed quietly at home. To avoid arousing Victoria’s suspicion, I didn’t go anywhere, just waited patiently for time to pass. The apartment I was supposed to move into had already been settled. But on the very last day to sign the contract, the landlord changed their mind. Mark called me. “The landlord said a woman named Sterling offered a higher price for a young man named Leo, and the apartment was rented out on the spot.” I knew my relationship with Victoria. Coupled with my strange behavior lately, I had a suspicion. I didn’t say much, just asked Mark to find another apartment. That evening, I deliberately probed Victoria. “I heard you rented an apartment for Leo?” Actually, I had no other intention in saying this. I just wanted to confirm it so I could deliberately avoid that area in the future. Victoria, however, seemed flustered, her hands nervously fidgeting. “Julian, don’t misunderstand. You know Leo’s previous rental was in a really bad environment, with power outages every other day.” “I just considered that Leo is a company employee, and this counts as a company benefit.” I nodded, indicating understanding. I didn’t argue or make a fuss, even sharing a light joke with Victoria. Victoria looked at my unusually calm demeanor, and a flicker of fear suddenly appeared in her eyes. “Julian, are you hiding something from me?” My hand, playing with my phone, paused slightly, but quickly returned to normal. I smiled and looked up, “No, why would you say that?” Victoria remained silent. She had a nagging feeling that I was hiding something from her. But she couldn’t find any evidence, so she forced a smile and said, “It’s nothing.” In the following days, with Mark’s help, I found an apartment far away from that area. Once it was settled, I immediately moved all my belongings from the villa into the new apartment. I didn’t leave a single towel or a pair of slippers in Victoria’s villa that belonged to me. That night was my last night in Victoria’s villa. I had sent Victoria a message early on, planning to tell her everything tonight. I cooked a table full of dishes, intending it as our last dinner before the divorce. Unfortunately, Victoria broke her promise again. As the clock struck ten at night, Victoria still hadn’t returned home. I took out my phone and saw Victoria celebrating with Leo on SnapChat. Only then did I realize that today was also Leo’s first day moving into his new apartment. I calmly watched it all. For Leo, she wouldn’t even spare a little time for me? All the dishes on the table were poured into the trash. Victoria, if you knew that after tonight, our agreement would become effective, Would you regret breaking your promise again today? I left a letter for Victoria. But then I thought, since we were divorcing, there was no need to bring up old matters. I tore the letter into shreds and threw it into the trash, leaving only a copy of the divorce agreement. And my wedding ring. I erased every trace of my existence from the villa. Finally, I closed the door and left. It wasn’t until I had left that Victoria belatedly arrived. She habitually tidied her makeup, checked herself up and down, then put on an apologetic smile. She pushed open the door and immediately began to apologize. “I’m so sorry, Julian, I was just on my way back when I ran into Mr. Davies, a big client, and we chatted over dinner.” But this time, in the empty house, there was no sound other than her own echo. Victoria called my name several times more. The house remained eerily silent. Her face quickly changed, becoming somewhat distorted with fear. A cold draft blew through the house. It rustled the divorce agreement and resignation letter displayed on the coffee table. The scattered divorce agreement revealed her handwritten signature.

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After finishing physicals for all the students, I implanted explosive chips into every single one of their brains. Heavily armed SWAT teams had me surrounded. My voice was terrifyingly calm: “As long as you fulfill my birthday wish, I’ll disarm the chips.” “Otherwise, every fifteen minutes, one chip will randomly explode!” All the parents panicked, desperate to know my wish. I clenched my jaw, trembling all over. “I can’t tell you! A wish spoken aloud never comes true.” “Time is running out; you’ll have to guess it yourselves.” … Everyone erupted. “Are you out of your mind?! How are we supposed to make your wish come true if you don’t tell us?!” “It’s five already! I need to pick up my kid and get back to work! You’re having a meltdown on your own time, but you’re wasting *all* of ours!” “I bet those explosive chips are a bluff! Just let the kids go! If you want to celebrate your birthday, go home and do it!” As they shouted, the SWAT teams tightened their cordon. Some officers looked ready to storm the school. I chuckled and pressed the button without hesitation. A deafening blast. The school nurse’s office turned into a pile of rubble. Everyone went silent instantly. If a reinforced concrete building could be reduced to ruins in an instant, imagine what it would do to a human head. From the crowd outside the school gates, a man stepped forward, hands raised high: “Dr. Hayes, please, let’s just calm down.” “I’m here to help you. Just tell us your demands, and we’ll do everything we can to coordinate!” I knew this man. Detective Miller, the city’s most famous negotiator. Many parents, their voices trembling, chimed in: “Dr. Hayes, you’ve been our school doctor for over twenty years. We’ve all seen your dedication.” “Someone who treats these kids like your own wouldn’t do something like this unless you were truly desperate.” “Whatever your hardship, just tell us! We’ll support you!” Their eyes were red and swollen, filled with terror for their children’s safety. But I just stroked the button in my hand, my voice cold. “Didn’t I just say?” “As long as you guess and fulfill my birthday wish, I’ll release the children.” A few furious parents couldn’t take it anymore. They started screaming obscenities, their curses echoing. Detective Miller glared at them, his expression severe, clearly afraid I’d be provoked again. I shrugged. “These chips are incredibly powerful. Once they detonate, a person will be completely disintegrated.” The parents’ eyes were bloodshot with rage, wanting nothing more than to tear me to shreds. The school’s digital marquee, usually displaying inspirational quotes, now flashed a blood-red countdown. “Time is running out. I advise you not to waste it cursing at me.” “You have ten minutes left.” They had no choice but to compromise, huddling together for a frantic discussion. A minute later, dozens of armored vans sped towards the intersection. “Dr. Hayes, we know you’ve struggled financially your entire life. Your parents are bedridden, and their medical bills run into thousands every month!” “We understand your difficulties. Here’s fifty million dollars! Is that enough?” Everyone’s eyes lit up like stars, their faces full of desperate hope. I spoke slowly: “I don’t want money.” My husband, who had been silent in the crowd, pounded his chest in frustration. “That’s fifty million dollars! If you just take the money, Mom and Dad’s illnesses, and our hundreds of thousands in debt—all gone!” “Don’t worry, the officers promised me they won’t touch a cent of it!” Detective Miller’s voice was calm, persuasive: “Dr. Hayes, don’t be afraid.” “If you let the children go now, we won’t pursue any legal action against you!” My tone was flat: “Sounds tempting.” “But that’s not my birthday wish.” “You have five minutes left.” Detective Miller gritted his teeth. “One hundred million dollars! Is one hundred million enough?!” Silence was my only response. The countdown continued to shrink, and the crowd grew more agitated. “Just shoot her! One bullet, and all this craziness will be over!” “Yeah, even if she has a reason, she’s still a kidnapper, toying with human lives! She deserves no sympathy!” Snipers were already in position. I stood right in the center of the square, with no cover around me. Detective Miller’s expression was grim: “Dr. Hayes, this is your last chance!” I raised the button again. “The moment you shoot me, I’ll hit the master switch and take every single one of the thousands of students in this school down with me!” A sniper slowly aimed their laser sight at my right hand. I smiled scornfully: “Crippling me won’t work.” “I’ve implanted hundreds of trigger chips throughout my body. Any injury, any shot, and they’ll activate the explosives!” “If you don’t believe me, you can try.” No one dared to breathe. These were thousands of lives; they couldn’t gamble. Three minutes remained on the countdown. Mayor Thompson shouted loudly: “I’ll give you the National Medical Excellence Award! With that recognition, you could work at any hospital in the country!” This was an honor every doctor dreamed of. Since its inception, only two people had ever received it. But I still shook my head. The parents were frantic. “She doesn’t want fame, she doesn’t want money—what *does* she want?!” They pressured my husband to recall my preferences. They even brought me a birthday cake, expensive designer dresses, luxury cosmetics… but I rejected everything. Two minutes left. My husband, who’d been racking his brain, suddenly yelled: “I know what you want!” He frantically searched the backseat of my car and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from the gap. Everyone suddenly understood.

A diagnosis for late-stage liver cancer. To survive, a liver transplant was the only option. “Valerie, you want a matching liver, don’t you?” “That’s something money and power can’t just buy!” Before I could answer, they immediately accessed a confidential database, searching for a suitable liver. In just one minute, a match was found. Before, afraid of burdening my family, I had kept silent about my cancer, barely clinging to life with painkillers. But now, if I just agreed, I could have the surgery for free, extending my life by at least thirty years. Everyone thought I would agree. Yet, I still shook my head. “That’s not my birthday wish.” “You have one minute left.” The crowd erupted into a chaotic argument. A specialized team had already scoured all my recent browsing history and call logs, but found no clues. Detective Miller frantically flipped through the stack of documents, thicker than a brick, trying to find any tiny lead. Thirty seconds on the countdown. Detective Miller suddenly received a call, his voice filled with excitement: “I know! You want revenge for your daughter!” “Three years ago, your daughter graduated and got a job at a big corporation, but she quit after six months, not even asking for her wages!” “On paper, it was a voluntary resignation, but in reality, she was sexually harassed by her superior!” “You fought for justice, but every attempt was shut down, swept under the rug. He not only denied the crime but even sent you death threats!” Someone in the crowd sighed: “So that’s it. A mother’s love knows no bounds.” “I knew it. Dr. Hayes wouldn’t kidnap these kids unless she was pushed to the absolute brink.” Detective Miller’s eyes were full of sincerity: “We just apprehended him. Don’t worry, he’ll face the full force of the law!” I curved my lips into a smile. “He was rich and influential. You’re really impressive for finding him in such a short time.” “It’s a little… poignant. The nightmare that haunted me for three years, and you solved it in mere minutes.” “So why, then, in the past three years, could I not get any justice?” Detective Miller’s face paled, and he tried to explain, feigning composure. I gently raised a hand, cutting him off. “Forget it, it doesn’t matter anymore.” “Unfortunately, that’s not what I want either.” Ten seconds remained on the big screen’s countdown. All the students in their classrooms were engrossed in a movie, occasionally bursting into laughter. They had no idea that death was at their door. I picked up the loudspeaker, connected to the school’s PA system, my voice gentle: “Students, watching movies for too long isn’t good for your eyes.” “Everyone, close your eyes and rest a bit.” “And please, *please* don’t open them—” 10, 9, 8… Just then, my exhausted daughter suddenly rushed in. “Mom, no—” My body jolted violently. Three years ago, Chloe had been drugged by her superior, suffering severe neurological damage ever since. Doctors had declared she might never speak again. I stared at Chloe, stunned. Her voice was hoarse, her pronunciation slightly awkward from years of disuse. “Mom, I know you must have a terrible reason.” “But no matter what, as long as we’re together, as long as we’re a family, we can get through anything!” “Mom, please don’t do anything foolish, okay?” “Your daughter can’t lose her mother!” Chloe spread her arms, pleading for me to put down the button. A gentle embrace awaited me, and countless people in the crowd wept openly. I clenched my jaw, trembling all over. *Drip.* The countdown hit zero.

I shivered violently. No turning back now! *Click*. The button descended. Almost instantly, the windows of the third-grade, second-period classroom turned crimson. Thick, viscous flesh splattered down the glass, snaking like venomous tendrils. The students were splattered with blood, frozen in place. It took several minutes for someone to react, screaming and frantically banging on the door. But I had already locked the doors and windows. The school’s soundproofing was excellent, too. Their desperate screams, to anyone else, would sound like nothing more than a faint buzzing. The other classrooms continued watching their movies. Only the third-grade, second-period classroom was a hellscape. The countdown reset to fifteen minutes. Chloe passed out from shock. The parents of the third-grade, second-period class cried heartbrokenly. From so far away, they couldn’t tell if the child who had just exploded was their own. Parents from other classes visibly relaxed, relieved that their darlings had escaped. I secretly chuckled. “You probably don’t know this, but I mixed up all the students’ classes.” “So, guess who that unlucky child was?” Everyone erupted instantly. Cries, prayers, and furious curses erupted into a chaotic cacophony. Detective Miller’s gaze grew cold. “Valerie, nerve-paralyzing agents are on their way.” “I advise you to give up and surrender.” I laughed bitterly: “What good would surrendering do? Will you let me go?” Detective Miller forced himself not to look at that blood-red window. “We can push for leniency…” I cut him off directly. “I have late-stage liver cancer anyway. Death row or life imprisonment, what difference does it make to me?” “We have ten minutes left. Let’s continue our game.” Everyone went mad. Enraged parents turned their fury directly on my family. The police couldn’t stop the furious crowd. Robert and Chloe were pelted with mud and garbage, looking as wretched as beggars. I fought back tears, my voice trembling. “Five minutes left.” Chloe, still weak from just regaining consciousness, was sobbing uncontrollably. “Mom, you always said you loved children more than anything.” “When a kid had a fever and their parents brushed it off, you’d pay out of your own pocket to take them to a specialist, wouldn’t rest until you knew they were okay.” “If a child’s parents were going through a messy divorce, you’d bring them home to stay with us, afraid of the trauma they were facing.” “Thousands of kids in this school, and every single one calls you ‘Mama Valerie’!” “Mom, I’m begging you, please tell me why you’re doing this? Please?” “What do you *really* want?!” Chloe’s cries were raw and desperate. I trembled all over, almost biting through the soft flesh inside my cheeks, but the words I spoke were still cold: “I can’t say.” “A wish spoken aloud never comes true.” “Four minutes left.” Chloe screamed, grabbing a fruit knife from a nearby stall and pressing it hard against her carotid artery. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll die!” Chloe had been battling severe depression for three years. With her psychological trauma and neurological damage, she’d wake up dozens of times every night, barely getting two or three hours of sleep. But no matter how difficult, hope always shone in Chloe’s eyes. She never spoke a word of surrender. She even planned to prepare for grad school, to restart her life. And now… The blade bit into her skin, a string of blood pearls welling up. “Enough!” “Come here, I’ll only tell you.” Detective Miller squeezed Chloe’s hand, a silent signal not to be afraid. Chloe walked towards me, her frail body as thin as a withered leaf. I leaned close to her ear and slowly whispered my wish. Chloe froze, the color draining from her face like a tide. Even when Detective Miller screamed himself hoarse, she only nodded blankly, then walked back in a daze. Back in the crowd, everyone clamored to know what I had said. Chloe slowly turned, giving me a deep, meaningful look. Suddenly, with an almost inhuman speed, she bolted towards the school fence! She threw herself onto it! No hesitation, utterly resolute. The sharp picket speared directly through Chloe’s neck, blood gushing everywhere. Yet, a strange smile spread across her face. Robert instantly broke down: “What did you tell her?!”

Tears streamed down my face as I stared blankly at the countdown. “Three minutes left.” Robert’s face was a mask of utter despair. He spat out one word – “Divorce” – before frantically pushing Chloe towards the waiting ambulance. My bedridden parents, who’d been watching the live feed, called me directly, demanding to disown me. Abandoned by everyone—I had expected it. Two minutes left on the countdown. I suddenly pressed the pause button. Everyone strained their necks, wondering if I’d finally snapped out of it. I stared intently at the pool of blood Chloe had left on the ground. The iron fence wasn’t particularly sharp, yet it had pierced directly through her throat. How utterly resolute was Chloe in her desire to die? “Let’s observe three minutes of silence for my daughter.” I burst into tears. In that moment, I wasn’t a kidnapper; I was just a wretched mother who had witnessed her daughter’s tragic death. The crowd watched me coldly, as if I were a madwoman. As soon as the three minutes were up, I instantly wiped away my tears, returning to that cold, detached state. I had long understood that since I chose this path, this was what I deserved to endure. The countdown resumed. *Thud.* A mother in the crowd suddenly fell to her knees. “Dr. Hayes, my child has severe epilepsy.” “She has to go to the hospital for a special injection before 6 PM every day, even one minute late could be life-threatening!” “Please, have mercy! Let me take my child to the hospital!” I remembered that child. Her name was Lily, well-behaved and thoughtful. Every time she saw me, she would share one of the fruit candies she’d saved up. “Dr. Hayes, you work so hard. Have a candy and you won’t be so tired.” A faint smile touched my lips at the memory. But just as quickly, my resolve hardened, and my face went rigid. “Have a doctor bring the special injection here! Administer it right here!” Saying this, I paused the countdown again and used the loudspeaker to call Lily to the main entrance. Lily looked bewildered: “Dr. Hayes, why did the nurse’s office collapse?” I gently took her hand, trying to guide her forward. “It’s nothing. The school wants to build a bigger and better nurse’s office.” I personally handed Lily to her mother. The special injection arrived quickly. Also brought along was a brain CT machine. They swiftly set up a temporary medical tent, pushing Lily into the machine, attempting to remove the explosive chip. Save one if you can. Everyone was sweating nervously, as if the child lying there was their own. I stood leisurely to the side, arms crossed, watching them bustle about with a cold gaze. The countdown remained stuck at two minutes. I gave them time. Over ten minutes later, Dr. Aris, the city’s top neurosurgeon, ripped back the curtain. Everyone surged forward, clamoring: “Well? Did you get the chip out?” Dr. Aris gritted his teeth. “Valerie is lying! She didn’t implant any explosive chips at all!” The entire scene fell silent. “Doctor, are you sure?” Detective Miller’s face was grim. If all of this was fake, then everyone in the city, scrambling and panicking over my “birthday wish,” was nothing but a joke! Dr. Aris thumped his chest, guaranteeing: “These are the scans we just took.” “The child’s brain is perfectly normal! There’s no chip whatsoever!” Other parents were still unconvinced: “Could the chip be somewhere else? Like… her heart?” Dr. Aris shook his head firmly: “We just did a full-body CT scan on the child. There’s not a trace of a chip, not even in her toes.” “And there are no wounds on the child’s body, no sign of any implantation surgery.” Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. Immediately followed by an erupting volcano of rage. “She dared to make fools of us! Kill her!” “Flay her alive and hang her naked from a pole for everyone to see!” The police no longer held back. At a single command, all the SWAT officers breached the main gate, rushing towards the school building like madmen. I looked somewhat helpless: “The explosive chips *are* real.” “If the chips detonate simultaneously, the entire school will be leveled.” “The more people you send in, the more horrific the casualties will be when those chips explode.” Their curses grew louder. If the police hadn’t been holding them back, they would have charged at me and torn me to shreds. I ignored their curses, directly tossing Dr. Aris a USB drive. “This contains the detailed schematics of the explosive chips. You’ll understand after you see it.” By now, SWAT officers had their guns pressed against my forehead. Just one pull of the trigger, and everything would end. Dr. Aris shot me a dismissive glare, then carelessly jammed the USB into his laptop. For a full ten seconds, the data was still loading. Dr. Aris spat in disgust: “Liar! The chips are fake, and the USB is fake too!” “You cold-blooded monster! You don’t deserve to call yourself a doctor!” The SWAT teams all chambered their rounds. One command, and I would be riddled with bullets. “Valerie, this is your last chance.” “Surrender!” Detective Miller yelled at the top of his lungs. I shook my head firmly. “The moment I’m shot, all the chips will detonate simultaneously!” “You wouldn’t dare fire!” Saying this, I whipped out the kitchen knife I’d hidden in my jacket. The police chief’s face went white with shock, and he immediately ordered: “Open fire!!!” I squeezed my eyes shut. Was I going to fail this time too? But the searing pain I expected never came. I snapped my eyes open. Dr. Aris, who had just been mocking me, had actually shielded me from the gunfire. He thrust the laptop overhead, his eyes wide with a desperate, guttural shout. “Order the SWAT teams to retreat immediately!” “The explosive chips are real!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298936”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

The day I got my promotion notice, my sister, Harper, celebrated by gifting me a Rolex watch I’d been eyeing for ages. But my fiancée, Tiffany Hayes, saw it and absolutely flipped out. She insisted I sell the watch and warned me not to get too ahead of myself. “What’s the point of a man like you getting promoted and making so much money? You’ll still end up getting married and settling down, won’t you? Sell the watch, give me all your savings, and I’ll hold onto it for you. We can use it to buy a car later.” “If you really like watches, I can find you some on Wish. They’re like fifty bucks each, I’ll buy you three or four. You can wear whichever one you want.” I sneered. Her bad ideas were exploding everywhere like fireworks, showering me with her true intentions. “Are you out of your mind? Dream on! If I didn’t get promoted and earn money, I’d be stuck with someone like you? My parents spend money on me, and I’d have to look at *your* face for approval?” Tiffany saw my face darken and immediately switched to a gentle tone. “Oh, Liam, I was just a little worked up. Please don’t be mad.” She moved to hug me, but I frowned and blocked her with my car keys. “Alright, what do you want? If it’s nothing, I’m going home.” With that, I turned and headed for the parking lot. I had planned to celebrate with a nice dinner, but Tiffany’s behavior today genuinely disgusted me. As I turned, she grabbed my arm. I looked back, frowning, and told her to let go, but she put on a ‘deeply affectionate’ act. She pulled two crumpled plastic flowers, like the ones handed out at a supermarket promotion, from her bag. “Liam, these are for you.” I took the flowers with my fingertips, mumbled “Thanks,” and practically sprinted to my car. As soon as the car left the complex, I tossed the flowers out the window. Back home, my friend Aiden Miller had already prepared beer and barbecue skewers to celebrate my promotion. All the unpleasantness from earlier instantly vanished from my mind. After a shower, as I leaned back on the couch, I realized Tiffany had called me a dozen times. Annoyed, I turned off my phone, hoping to catch a nap to the sound of the wind outside, but Aiden knocked on the living room door. “What’s up? Just say it.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at his hesitant expression. “Uh, Tiffany seems to be shouting your name downstairs.” I threw off my blanket, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtain. Tiffany really was standing in the wind, calling my name. That annoyed me even more. I grabbed an old jacket from the entryway and headed downstairs, intending to tell her to get lost. Tiffany and I were college acquaintances. She was pretty, with a decent personality, and quite popular on campus. Honestly, I didn’t feel anything special for her. I only agreed to be with her because she publicly confessed her feelings to me at graduation, and I was put on the spot and felt too awkward to say no in front of everyone. If she hadn’t been relatively easy to get along with, I would have broken up with her ages ago. Even after graduation, I didn’t notice any major flaws. But today, this whole thing really made me want to dump her. The moment she saw me come downstairs, her face was flushed and wind-blown from rushing over, and she tried to rush at me. I quickly used my jacket to block her. Her expression stiffened, but she forced a smile. “Liam, I was wrong today. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’m sorry, please don’t be mad at me, okay?” Wrapped in my jacket, I stared coldly at her as she made a scene in the wind. She seemed oblivious to my coldness and continued. “Liam, I didn’t mean it like that. Even though we’re still young, getting married and settling down will cost a lot, right? Your current position is already good enough, there’s no need to burn yourself out just for a promotion.” “My dad said that if men get married too late, their energy won’t keep up, and raising kids will be tough. You’d have to hire help, which costs even more. It’s better to settle down while you’re young and still have the energy.” “Spending tens of thousands on an impractical watch is such a waste. You should save it for our future kids.” “Besides, none of your colleagues wear such expensive watches. If you stand out too much, and get ostracized, I’ll be the only one who cares about you.” The more I listened, the more I felt something was off. A suspicion started gnawing at me. My family’s well-off. My parents own a company. We’re not billionaires, but we’re definitely worth tens of millions. I’ve always kept a low profile at school, and I didn’t use family connections to get into this company after graduation. Just because I got promoted and bought a Rolex, Tiffany thinks I’m different from others. There was a controlling vibe in everything she said. I started to wonder if she was trying to brainwash me. I sneered, glancing at her. “You make a good point. So how about I return the watch tomorrow and stop saving my salary?”

As soon as I said that, Tiffany’s face lit up like a flower. “That’s more like it! Sell the watch, give me the money, and give me all the bonuses you’ve saved over the years. I’ll manage it for you.” “From now on, I’ll give you $800 in allowance every month. How does that sound?” I stared at her triumphant face, my stomach churning. I almost threw up the coffee I had this morning. Her calculations were practically slapping me in the face! I sneered, gripping my jacket tighter. “Alright, I’ve saved quite a bit of my own money over the years, probably a few million. How about I hand that over for you to manage too?” At that, Tiffany’s eyes lit up like spotlights, her voice trembling with excitement. “Really?” I honestly wanted to kick her across the street. I was done playing along. I casually shrugged off my jacket and shoved her hard. “Dream on.” Tiffany looked utterly bewildered, asking me what I meant. I gave her a cold stare. “You spend all day scheming, have you thought yourself stupid? Do you think I’m your personal ATM? I’m not an angel; I have no desire to help someone like you.” She froze for a few seconds, her face turning crimson, then she yelled at me: “Liam Reed! Are you messing with me?!” I rolled my eyes, not bothering to respond. I casually tossed the jacket, now tainted with her grossness, into a nearby trash can. “Tiffany, we’re over. The engagement? Forget about it.” With that, I turned and walked upstairs without looking back. Guess I forgot to check the forecast today; serves me right for running into this crap. While waiting for the elevator, I ran into my colleague and our mutual college acquaintance, Kyle Jensen. Aiden, who was worried about me, also came downstairs. Kyle glanced at Tiffany, who was storming off, then looked at me. “Had a fight with Tiffany?” “No, we broke up.” Actually, my bad mood wasn’t because of the breakup, but because Tiffany’s whole scheme had sickened me beyond belief. “Seriously?” Both of them looked completely shocked. Besides the shock, I also caught a flicker of schadenfreude in Kyle’s eyes, like he was waiting for a show. “Why did you break up?” Aiden asked curiously. I just briefly told him about what happened today. Aiden listened, gritting his teeth in anger, finding Tiffany utterly ridiculous. He immediately blasted her: “That woman is really something else.” Kyle, however, stroked his chin and said lightly: “But Tiffany didn’t say anything wrong, did she?” I turned to him, frowning. I hadn’t expected him to defend Tiffany. “You and Tiffany were about to get engaged, you’ll need a lot of money in the future. Besides, what’s the point of a man getting such a high position? Having a stable life after marriage is the most important thing.” “And what’s the use of such an expensive watch, besides showing off? You and Tiffany are engaged, your money is her money. It’s perfectly normal for her to manage it for you.” Aiden, who was still holding my arm, flared up at his words, sneering: “Dude, is your brain running on fumes? That’s some serious carbon monoxide poisoning! If you’re so humble and love serving others, go do it yourself. Don’t tell others what to do here.” “Though with your finances, even if you paid to be with Tiffany, she’d still be wondering if you’re worth it.” Kyle, however, muttered nonchalantly: “It’s just the truth.” Aiden snorted, glaring at him sideways: “It’s windy outside; is there a tornado in your brain right now? Did it just blow away your common sense? My man Liam’s family is super well-off, his folks are happy to spend money on him, what business is that of yours?” “Now that Tiffany and Liam are over, aren’t you totally into her? Go ahead, take your pathetic savings to her, tell her you’re her savior and you’re willing to give her everything you have. She’ll surely be moved to tears.” That’s why Aiden and I get along; his sharp tongue is unmatched. I patted Aiden’s hand, signaling him not to argue with Kyle. As the elevator approached the first floor, I looked at Kyle: “My money, I’ll spend it how I want. My life, I’ll live it how I want. It’s none of your damn business. Stop trying to tell me what to do.” I glared at him, then pulled Aiden into the elevator.

The next day, as I headed out, my sister Harper was leaning against her flashy Porsche, waiting for me. The moment she saw me, she smiled and opened the car door for me to get in. I strode over and plopped down into the passenger seat. She was so considerate to open the door for me, of course I’d enjoy the VIP treatment. As soon as I buckled my seatbelt, she handed me a watch box, a triumphant smile on her face. “I saw this Cartier watch on a business trip recently and thought it’d suit you. So I just picked it up.” “Why isn’t Tiffany with you today?” She glanced at the rearview mirror, asking. My relaxed mood instantly soured at the mention of Tiffany. “Don’t even mention her. We broke up.” Harper, upon hearing about the breakup, first clapped her hands in delight, but then immediately pressed for the reason. I didn’t really want to revisit that whole mess, but she was insistent, so I reluctantly told her everything. After hearing my story, Harper’s face darkened, practically a storm cloud. Her eye twitched, as if she was suppressing immense anger. She told me very seriously: “You should’ve kicked that trashy woman to the curb ages ago.” Then she added: “Don’t take any of her bullshit to heart. Mom’s money will all be yours eventually, and you can have half of mine too. Why put up with that kind of crap from her?” Her words warmed my heart, and my eyes got a little misty. I nodded emphatically. Perhaps worried I was overthinking things, she changed the subject: “Alright, I have a flight abroad this afternoon to sign a contract, so don’t dwell on it. If anything comes up, just tell me. Hurry and get out, don’t be late for work.” While waiting for the elevator, I ran into Kyle Jensen, who had a smirk on his face. I didn’t think much of it and just got into the elevator. But once I got to the office, I noticed my colleagues seemed to be whispering and pointing at me. My usual lunch buddy, Lucas Davies, grabbed me and pulled me to my desk, then showed me his phone. Someone had posted an anonymous message in the company SnapChat, spreading nasty rumors about me. A picture of me getting out of Harper’s Porsche, chatting with her by the roadside, was circulating everywhere. The message had only one line: “Newly promoted manager Liam Reed suspected of finding a rich girlfriend.” Even more outrageous, it included screenshots of that person’s SnapChat conversation with Tiffany. He claimed I looked down on her, and said I was greedy and had no bottom line, willing to do anything for money. She even claimed she deeply loved me, and didn’t care even if I broke up with her for a rich girlfriend. She even said she wanted to “pull me back” and prevent me from going down the wrong path. After reading all this, I was so angry I wanted to laugh but couldn’t. Did Tiffany really think I was some pushover? Whispers gradually filled the air. Lucas, who has a short fuse, was about to stand up and argue, but I pulled him back. I picked up the coffee from my desk, walked over to Kyle, and splashed it right on his head. He jumped up, yelling, asking what I was doing. I sneered: “Just cleaning up your nasty mouth and filthy mind. Don’t mention it; a simple ‘thank you’ or a little groveling will do.” Lucas asked why I didn’t explain. I patted his shoulder and said that the real priority was to expose the mastermind behind all this.

Close to quitting time, I found the contents of my drawer ransacked and piled on my desk. My watch was gone, with only a flimsy plastic bag left behind. Lucas stood beside me, about to say something, when Kyle walked in, looking guilty as hell. Seeing his expression, everything clicked into place for me. I’d bet anything he took my watch, and he had the nerve to be so blatant about it. Lucas and I exchanged a look, and I knew he was thinking the same thing. He grabbed Kyle’s arm. I followed them to the stairwell. Lucas blocked Kyle’s escape, and I stepped forward, grabbing his collar. “Did you take my watch?” He struggled, swatting at my hands, still trying to play tough. “Liam Reed, don’t falsely accuse people.” Kyle was really stubborn, wasn’t he? You won’t give up until you’re completely cornered, will you? I wonder if he’d still be so tough in front of the police. I snorted and told Lucas: “Lucas, call the cops. Let them investigate who stole my watch.” Lucas nodded and pulled out his phone. Kyle seized the chance, shoved me, pushed past Lucas, and ran towards the end of the hallway. Lucas and I chased after him and heard him making a phone call in the corner. He was crying as he told the person on the other end that I had called the police. Standing outside, I faintly heard him say, “Tiffany.” It seemed Tiffany was involved in this too. After the stairwell fell silent, my phone immediately rang. It was Tiffany. Before answering, I told Lucas to stand by and record the call, to save it as evidence of her instigating theft. Before I could even speak, Tiffany’s furious yell came through the phone: “Liam Reed, are you insane?! It’s just a crappy watch, do you really need to call the police?!” Tiffany really handed herself over. I sneered: “Well, well. I just confronted Kyle, and you call me. What, did you tell Kyle to steal my watch?” “Liam Reed, don’t say such nasty things! What do you mean, ‘told Kyle to steal your watch’? I’m your fiancée, isn’t your stuff mine? Can’t I manage your spending?” “Spending tens of thousands on a crappy watch, my parents couldn’t save enough for that in years. I had Kyle take your watch for your own good. You’re about to marry into my family; if you’re so irresponsible with money, people will gossip.” “Besides, if you sell the watch, I’ll give the money to my dad, and he’ll save it for us. It can even be our children’s education fund later.” Tiffany’s shamelessness amazed me; my chest felt tight with anger. “Tiffany, are you a damn broken record? Can you ever shut up? Didn’t your parents teach you to speak properly, or are you too old to even learn sign language? My money is none of your damn business! I’ll spend it however I want, I’d even burn it for fun.” “Calling you pond scum is an overestimation. Are you living in some twisted family fantasy? And me marrying you? Your audacity is so monumental, it could probably win a Nobel Prize for wiping out all shyness on Earth!” “You’d be lauded for curing humanity’s ‘cringefest’ with your sheer nerve! The government, the World Peace Organization, they’d all give you a lifetime achievement award for that!” “And also, let me say this one last time: we’re broken up, and *I’m* the one who dumped you. Second, I’ve already called the police. They’re on their way to the company building to take your little crony away for questioning. I’m giving you 15 minutes to get your ass down here.” Tiffany was still cursing up a storm on the other end, but I just hung up. Lucas stopped recording, looking at me with admiration. I pushed open the stairwell door, grabbed Kyle by the arm, and dragged him towards the elevator, attracting numerous stares. I didn’t care about any of them. If someone messed with me, I’d make sure they knew what ‘no mercy’ meant. The moment I pulled Kyle out of the elevator, I saw Tiffany standing in front of a couple of police officers, trying to charm them. As I got closer, I heard her trying to stop the officers from doing their job. I thought, she went to a decent university, how can she be like a complete legal illiterate?

“Officers, I’m really sorry. My boyfriend and I had a small misunderstanding, and I didn’t mean to trouble you. How about this, I’ll apologize on his behalf for making you come all this way and wasting your time.” As she spoke, she pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, took out two, and tried to hand them to the two officers in front of her. The officers waved away her gesture, stating they had to see the person who reported the crime and confirm the situation before leaving. Tiffany still wouldn’t give up. A younger officer frowned and said: “Ma’am, this is our duty. Please don’t interfere with our work.” I gave Lucas a look, telling him to keep an eye on Kyle, then I pushed through the onlookers and walked over. “Officers, I’m the one who called you. I’m Liam Reed.” The moment Tiffany saw me, her fawning expression vanished. She tried to drag me away, but the young officer stopped her. She could only force a dry laugh and apologize to the police, then she turned and hissed at me in a low voice: “Liam Reed, don’t push your luck! It’s just a crappy watch, do you really want to embarrass everyone in front of so many people?” I folded my arms, gave her a cold stare, and snorted: “Why should I be embarrassed? I haven’t done anything shameful. What, are *you* scared? Scared everyone will know you told your little lapdog to steal my watch, huh?” I couldn’t be bothered with her, so I turned and told the two officers, in detail, about Tiffany conspiring with Kyle to steal my Rolex watch. They advised Tiffany to return the watch to me. But Kyle, beside her, was still talking tough. “Liam Reed! You say I stole your watch, do you have proof?!” “Exactly, Liam Reed! Don’t talk nonsense without proof! It’s just a crappy watch, do you really need to make such a big fuss?? Hurry up and apologize to me and Kyle, and say sorry to the police, then we can drop this.” As if! I wanted to kick Tiffany and Kyle both so hard they’d never get up. But in front of the police, I had to swallow my anger for now. Lucas stepped forward with his phone, saying he was not only a witness but also had a recording of my call with Tiffany, plus security camera footage of Kyle sneakily taking the watch from my desk. With the evidence laid out for everyone to see, Tiffany and Kyle’s faces instantly went white as paper. I asked Lucas where he got the video. He said while I was in the stairwell confronting Kyle, he’d gotten his buddy in security to pull it. A moment later, Tiffany snapped back to reality, her face red and cursing, she tried to rush forward and snatch Lucas’s phone. “Bastard! You even dared to record it!” The two officers immediately stepped between Lucas and me, sternly warning Tiffany: “Step back! What are you trying to do?!” The police gave Tiffany a stern reprimand, but Tiffany still refused to admit her mistake, stubbornly arguing: “Officers, Liam Reed is my fiancé! It’s just a crappy watch, what’s wrong with me taking it? He spends tens of thousands on a watch; he’s such a vain man, can’t I control him?!” I snorted: “Tiffany, did you hit your head or are you just naturally this delusional? I’m not your fiancé; we’re already broken up.” “And while I’m at it, let me give you a helpful lesson: stealing is against the law. For large amounts, you’re looking at up to three years in prison, detention, or public surveillance. What, are you two so tough you’re eager to get a prison uniform and a new job making license plates?” At my words, Tiffany, who had been jumping up and down, went silent. Kyle’s face was as white as freshly painted drywall. The officers gave them a cold look: “No matter who you are to him, taking someone’s belongings without permission is theft. If the amount is substantial enough, it can be prosecuted by law.” “As for how much the watch is worth, that’s none of your business. It’s his property, and he’s free to use it as he pleases. Neither in terms of emotion, reason, nor law, do you have any right to control it.”

Tiffany was rendered speechless by the police, her eyes burning with rage. The police turned to ask me how I wanted to handle it. Before I could speak, several department heads and managers rushed over, having heard the commotion. They all tried to persuade me, saying it was best not to blow things out of proportion and to settle it amicably. Considering that a huge scene would negatively impact the company, I ultimately decided against sending Tiffany and Kyle to jail. “Alright,” I told them. “As long as Tiffany returns my watch, I won’t pursue this any further.” The police also urged Tiffany to quickly return my watch. But Tiffany’s eyes darted around, and she stammered: “That watch… I already sold it.” I was so mad I almost blacked out. That watch was a limited edition, really hard to get. Harper specifically went out of her way during a business trip to find it. And she just sold it without permission! I suppressed my anger and asked her: “Where’s the money? The money from selling my watch?” She mumbled: “I… I spent it.” I suddenly remembered her earlier clamoring about wanting the latest iPad and a bunch of makeup. Did she use that money to buy them? I really couldn’t stand her double standard. It was wrong for me to spend tens of thousands on a watch, but perfectly righteous for her to spend tens of thousands on electronics and cosmetics. I kept my rage in check and told Tiffany: “I’m giving you two choices: first, return my watch. Second, return my money. Otherwise, you’ll be going to jail!” Under the police’s persuasion, Tiffany finally agreed to return the money. She made a few calls to scrape together the cash, then, witnessed by the police, transferred fifty thousand dollars to me. As soon as the money hit my account, I immediately contacted the Omega boutique and ordered a new sixty-thousand-dollar watch, then called Cartier to order a forty-thousand-dollar necklace. Tiffany’s eyes practically bulged out of her head with rage, and she ground her teeth, threatening me: “You think you’re smart, huh, Liam Reed?!” I put on a scared face, leaned closer to the officers, and half-jokingly said: “Officer, she’s still trying to scare me.” The police pulled Tiffany aside and lectured her again, then took Kyle away. Before Tiffany left, I gave her a challenging eyebrow raise and silently mouthed: “If you’ve got the guts, don’t run. This is just the beginning!” The next day, HR and my superiors took turns talking to me. They suggested that next time I encounter something like this, I shouldn’t rush to call the police. It’s better to solve it internally to avoid affecting the company’s image. I didn’t back down. I replied very seriously: “Calling the police is my legal right as a citizen. I don’t believe I did anything wrong.” I understood they were afraid of the company’s reputation being damaged, but this ‘brushing things under the rug’ approach was something I couldn’t stomach. Unexpectedly, that same evening. Rumors about me spread throughout the company, getting more and more exaggerated. Some even posted the incident online. Faced with these inexplicable accusations, I chose to remain silent, offering no explanation. Then I contacted a friend from college who studied computer science and asked him to help trace the source of the rumors and gather all the evidence. The next day, my parents and Harper somehow heard about it. My mom gifted me a Vacheron Constantin watch worth $120,000, and Harper gave me a new iPhone, comforting me not to take it to heart. Lucas saw the watch on my wrist and laughed, calling me “Mr. Fancy Pants.” To thank him for his help yesterday, I gave him my Saint Laurent sunglasses, which I’d only worn a few times and were worth over thirty thousand dollars. Just then, Kyle shamelessly waltzed over. “Hey, Liam, we’re college buddies and colleagues. Can’t you give me something too?” I sneered. Kyle’s thick skin was truly identical to Tiffany’s. I pulled out a plastic bag from a convenience store out of my drawer and threw it in his face. “I’m counting to three, get the hell out of my sight!” He gritted his teeth in anger, stomped his foot, and ran out, clutching his phone. I was about to call my parents to thank them, but Tiffany’s call came through first.

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My husband indulged his protégée hacker, Chloe, allowing her to manipulate my life for “practice.” The first time, our smart home system went haywire in the dead of night, blaring alarms and lights, terrifying me into a hospital bed. The second time, it was a private video looping on screens during a crucial meeting, making me internet infamous. And this time, she remotely hijacked my smart car, orchestrating a horrific crash on the freeway. Lying in the ICU, covered in my own blood, I heard Julian, my husband, calmly explain as he “fixed” the system: “Don’t hate Chloe, darling. She’s just a bit childish, trying to prove she’s as brilliant as me. You know how these bright young talents are.” “She knows that no matter what happens, I’ll always save you – it’s just a game that got a little out of hand.” Before he could finish, an encrypted call pulled him away. But I saw his unsaved logs on the tablet. They clearly showed he’d known about allof Chloe’s attacks. He hadn’t just ‘condoned’ this sick ‘game’; he’d encouraged it, pushing her to ‘level up’ her skills. What he didn’t know was that his recent “fix” had just activated the ultimate command I’d buried deep within his network. In a week, his digital empire would crumble.

“I’ve already had a word with her. Anyway, you’ve always been so understanding, you won’t hold it against her, right? Just tell me what gift you want, anything, as my apology for her.” Julian returned quickly, taking the soup bowl naturally to feed me, but his words were all for Chloe. I forced a smile. They’d issued a ‘critical condition’ notice, for God’s sake, and he expected me to be ‘magnanimous’? “No need to make her feel bad, and no need for you to apologize.” Julian immediately brightened. “Oh, I have to tell her! Chloe’s been so wracked with guilt since your accident, she hasn’t eaten a thing. She’s lost weight.” I looked into his eyes, eyes that once held only me. He’d told me about his new protégée, Chloe, who resembled his late sister, taken too soon. He’d poured all his unresolved grief and protectiveness into her. I wanted to protect his solace, so I gave way, again and again. I just didn’t know at what point things went so wrong, leading us to this. Julian continued typing away, oblivious, his SnapChat avatar a photo of him and Chloe. Looking at him now, I felt sick. I found an excuse to send him away. Julian left happily, not even bothering to pick me up when I was discharged. Scrolling through my feed on the couch, I saw it—the conference video, twisted and vile, with doctored images of me plastered everywhere, fueling the most disgusting jokes. My fingertips trembled as I scrolled past the vile comments, blood rushing to my head. It was like the ghost of my younger self, Eleanor, was screaming at me: “Are you really going to just takethis?” I slammed my phone down, my nails digging into my palms. Silence? Tolerance? Never again. I opened Ins, my fingers flying across the keyboard. “The so-called ‘private video’ is an absolute fabrication! I strongly condemn this hacker attack and will pursue all legal remedies!” I paused, then typed his name. “Furthermore, I demand answers from @JulianInc_CyberSecurityOfficer. How exactly has your company’s system security become so utterly useless? Or is someone acting with malicious intent?” Seconds after I hit ‘post,’ my phone exploded with calls, ringing like a death knell. I stared at “Julian” flashing on the screen, took a deep breath, and answered. “The company’s stock just dropped three points because of your post,” his voice was laced with fury. “Family business stays in the family. Do I need to teach you that?” “Family business?” I almost laughed. “Julian, this is a crime! I’m not the one acting out here!” “Chloe’s already promised to stop. Can’t you just let it go? Do you really have to make this public knowledge?” “Our PR team will issue a statement saying your account was hacked. Understand?” He hung up, adding one last thing: “Don’t cause any more trouble for a while. Avoid the press.” I listened to the dial tone, my heart aching. He used to hold meon a pedestal. We’d been cyber prodigies, equals from childhood. But Julian had grand visions of an empire, a ‘champion’ to build it. So, I stepped back, deliberately creating openings, handing him the crown I could have worn. His eyes shone back then. I thought that was ourfuture. Now, he sat on his throne, basking in the spotlight, seemingly having forgotten the one who stood beside him, who even gave upher own glory for him. True feelings truly are fleeting.

Julian came home for dinner, Chloe trailing behind him. He placed a Tiffany blue box in front of me, his voice soft. “Eleanor, the necklace you always wanted.” He took out the diamond necklace that had mesmerized me at an auction, fastening it around my neck himself. “I only think of Chloe as my little sister. Don’t overthink things, and don’t be so confrontational with her.” Chloe tugged lightly at Julian’s sleeve, her eyes urging him on. Julian produced a brand-new smart bracelet. “This is the company’s latest health monitoring bracelet. It monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and even emotional metrics in real-time, connecting to our central database. That way, we can look after you better.” I recoiled. It was nothing less than a 24-hour digital shackle. “I don’t need it! My health status is my private information!” Chloe chuckled softly. “Oh, Eleanor, what’s privacy compared to your health? Brother Julian is just worried about you. Besides, your smart home and car systems are already connected to our network, aren’t they? What’s one more bracelet?” Julian frowned. “Don’t be childish. This is for your own good. Your little ‘episode’ at the meeting? Clearly an issue with emotional regulation, darling. Wear it, the data will tell us when you need help.” He took a step forward, reaching to grab my wrist, intending to force it on me. I struggled, pulling away. “Julian! This is surveillance! I’m not your prisoner!” “Why do you always twist goodwill into malice?” He seemed to lose patience, his grip tightening. Chloe quickly tapped on her tablet. Instantly, the bracelet shrieked with a piercing alarm! “See! Your emotions are unstable again! The system’s even alerting us!” Hearing that, Julian pressed down on me harder. “It’s not me! She’s controlling it!” I screamed, pointing at Chloe, but Julian wouldn’t listen. Just then, the smart console cabinet in the hallway suddenly popped open, crashing hard into my shin! I stumbled, crying out in pain, instinctively reaching for the nearby smart curtain track to steady myself. Chloe’s lips curled into a cold smirk, her finger swiping on the tablet. The slow-moving curtain track suddenly accelerated, retracting with a sharp clack! My fingers were caught in the mechanical gap, sending a searing pain through me! At the same time, losing my balance, I was about to crash into the glass display cabinet beside me! “Eleanor, what are you doing!” Julian spun around, roughly shoving me away, pulling Chloe tightly into his arms. “You scared Chloe!” I, with no one to catch me, was thrown by the curtain track’s momentum, my forehead slamming against the cabinet corner. Warm blood trickled down my temple. I huddled on the cold floor, looking up to see Julian anxiously checking if Chloe was startled, his face etched with concern. He didn’t even glance down at me. “Brother Julian, I’m fine. Please, check on Eleanor.” Chloe leaned weakly into his embrace, but her eyes met mine over his shoulder, a clear, icy smirk playing on her lips. Julian finally looked at me, his eyes filled with nothing but disappointment and impatience. “Eleanor, do you haveto make such a scene! Self-harm? Smashing things? You’ve truly disappointed me!” He carefully picked Chloe up and instructed the housekeeper. “Take her back to her room. And until I say so, she’s not to touch any smart devices! And jam any internet signal up here!” I was too numb with pain to speak, only watching them leave. The attic door locked with a heavy thud behind me. Darkness enveloped me, only moonlight casting a pale patch on the floor. This used to be our first ‘lab,’ the walls still bearing the graffiti we’d drawn together – two intertwined ‘J’ and ‘E’s – for Julian and Eleanor. Now, for someone else, he had locked me in our past.

Chloe reappeared three days later. I’d been starved for three days, curled on the floor. Chloe whispered into my ear, “All I had to do was lie, say I wanted to study data recovery, and Brother Julian handed over your mother’s USB drive without a second thought.” She dangled the USB drive, letting out a mocking laugh. I used all my strength to snatch it, but Chloe feigned a stumble backward. “Brother Julian! I told you this thing shouldn’t be kept! Look how scary Eleanor is now!” Julian caught Chloe, then looked at me with cold eyes. “Chloe’s right. It’s these sad memories that are making you so extreme.” I stared at the laptop in his hands, my voice trembling. “What are you doing!” Julian approached, his voice like a doctor soothing a patient. “We need to help you move on.” Chloe stood behind him, purring like a smug cat. “Brother Julian is doing this for your own good,” she murmured. “Those sad memories, they shouldn’t be kept.” “No—” I lunged for the computer, but Julian caught me in an iron grip. His arms were like steel clamps around me. “It’ll be over soon, Eleanor.” Chloe’s fingers danced across the keyboard. “Brother Julian, the original files and backups are all found. Should I format and shred them completely?” Julian paused, then nodded. “Make it clean.” The progress bar began to move. Ten percent, thirty percent, seventy percent… I watched my mother’s smiling photos disappear from the screen, piece by piece, until it was all blank. “Those were the last things my mom left me!!” I shrieked, struggling to break free, but Julian held me fast. The arms that once sheltered me from storms were now the strongest chains. He spoke earnestly, as if comforting a child: “Once the data is gone, I’ll help you create new memories. People can’t live in the past forever. We’re just trying to help you.” “Help me?” I laughed, tears welling up. “Julian, you know what that data meant to me!” “Precisely why I can’t let you keep living in the past.” His tone suddenly hardened. “Chloe’s right. You’re too extreme lately. You need a clean break.” Overwhelmed by grief and rage, I grabbed a crystal ornament from the table and hurled it at the wall. Shards flew everywhere, and I accidentally scratched Chloe, who tried to “comfort” me. She let out a sharp gasp, crumbling to the floor, clutching her face and sobbing. “Brother Julian, it hurts so much! I was just trying to help!” Julian kicked me away, rushing to check Chloe’s injuries. “Eleanor, you’re absolutely insane!” he yelled, turning to me. “It seems you haven’t reflected enough!” “When you’ve come to your senses, then you can come out!” The attic door was locked again. This time, even the windows were sealed shut by blackout curtains. In the complete darkness and silence, all love and hate burned away, leaving only cold despair. My fingers unconsciously traced a loose floorboard – our old snack hiding spot. I carefully pried it open. Inside, a worn USB drive and a laptop lay quietly. It was a backdoor tool we’d designed together when we first started our company, capable of silently accessing core systems. Julian had laughed then, saying, “This is our last resort, our secret weapon. Only you and I know about it.” Now, it seemed he had long forgotten. But I remembered. I inserted the USB drive into the laptop, and the screen glowed with an eerie blue light. Fingerprint authentication passed. The low-level destruction interface slowly unfolded. “Confirm initiation of destruction protocol?” The system prompt flashed. My finger hovered over the enter key. My mom’s smiling face flashed through my mind. Then I pressed it, decisively. “Protocol initiated. Countdown: 168 hours.” The system prompt silently flashed, then automatically cleared all traces. When Chloe detected an abnormal access alert and rushed back with Julian, the USB drive was already back in its original hiding place. I curled up in the corner, feigning weakness. They thoroughly checked the entire system, finding nothing but that ordinary USB drive. “Stop doing useless things.” Julian warned coldly, tossing the USB drive back to me. As they left, neither of them noticed the faint vibrations from beneath the floorboards. The destruction had begun. Irreversible.

I was confined to this small attic, as if forgotten. Only endless darkness remained, terrifying, maddening. Days later, Julian and Chloe pushed open the door together. “Eleanor,” Julian handed me a new agreement. “Traditional therapy isn’t working, so we’re trying ‘mind therapy.’ Chloe has really put a lot of thought into this for you.” I glimpsed the terms on the agreement; the fine print read: “Mental disorder due to excessive dwelling on the past.” “Julian,” my voice was hoarse. “Using your most trusted logic, tell me, is locking me in a VR pod really called ‘therapy’?” “You let her set fires, but you held me back from putting them out, and now you’re saying I’mthe sick one, is that it?” Chloe suddenly started sobbing. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have suggested using VR to help Eleanor face reality…” “After all, anything I suggest, Eleanor naturally doubts.” “But Eleanor, I’m truly thinking of you. How can I make you believe me? Should I prove it with my life?” She made a move to bang her head against the wall. Julian flew forward, grabbing her, then turned to me with a cold voice. “Don’t betray Chloe’s good intentions. Sign it.” Seeing my resistance, he gestured to the housekeeper. Two men stepped forward and pinned me down, one of them forcibly prying my fingers open— The searing pain made my vision go black, but I bit my lip, refusing to cry out. My crimson handprint stained the agreement, like a grotesque scar. I was led into a stark white VR therapy room. Julian himself placed the helmet on me, a strange anticipation on his face. Darkness descended. Then blinding headlights flashed! My mother’s terrified face appeared in front of the car— “No!!” I screamed, but I couldn’t move. The car crash replayed again and again, from cruel angles, slowing down my mother’s final moments of agony. Chloe had even synthesized my mother’s cries, calling my name: “Eleanor—why didn’t you save me—” “Stop… stop it!” I thrashed wildly in the pod, tears soaking the helmet’s lining. Outside, Julian watched my wildly fluctuating physiological data on the monitor, his brows furrowed. “Her reaction is too strong. Should we stop?” “This means the therapy is working!” Chloe said urgently, her fingers discreetly cranking the pain level to maximum. “She’s confronting her deepest trauma! Stopping now would only harm her!” Julian looked at the data, eventually nodding heavily. “…Continue.” Inside the pod, I was curled up in agony, each crash sounding like it was crushing my bones. “Julian… please…” I pleaded weakly. “Make her stop…” But he, separated by the pod’s shell, softly reassured me: “Just bear it, Eleanor. Getting over grief always involves pain.” His words hit me like a sledgehammer, making me completely collapse, plunging into boundless darkness. In a daze, I vaguely heard Julian’s assistant frantically shout. “Mr. Julian! Our system is locked out! The core program is self-destructing!!” “Mr. Julian! All… all nodes are simultaneously offline! The backup system won’t activate! The underlying commands… they seem to be self-deleting!” “What?!” Julian’s face contorted. He completely ignored me, still unconscious in the pod, and rushed over, snatching the tablet.

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I followed a comfort streamer on a sleep aid app. He never showed his face, But his voice was soft. . Every night, I’d fall asleep listening to his live streams. We’d even planned to attend his offline fan meet-and-greet. One day, my best friend, Brooke, dragged me to a boxing gym to try it out. That’s where I met her cousin, Asher, who worked as a sparring partner. The guy was all rippling muscles, with an intense, almost menacing gaze. He was pounding a punching bag, radiating raw, masculine energy. I accidentally slipped, crashing straight into him and knocking the water bottle he’d just opened right out of his hand. He frowned, growling, “Hey, back off, you’re costing me money!” I quickly apologized. When he spoke, his voice was gravelly and rough as sandpaper, clearly from too much smoking and drinking. But then he took a call, lowering his voice to soothe the person on the other end, and that tone… it was identical to the streamer I adored. I froze on the spot. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry!” I scrambled off him, fumbling to pick up the spilled water bottle. Water was everywhere, soaking his black workout pants. His name was Asher Vance, and he was my best friend Brooke Miller’s cousin. Brooke grabbed my arm, grinning as she introduced me. “Asher, this is my best friend, Chloe Sterling. Don’t be such a brute, you’ll scare her.” Asher shot me a glance, full of impatience, and grunted a greeting from deep in his throat. He bent to pick up a towel next to the punching bag, wiping sweat from his forehead. The line of his neck was incredibly sexy. But his face, though handsome, was cold. Brooke tried to smooth things over. “Don’t mind him, Chloe. My cousin just has a terrible temper, but he’s not a bad guy.” I shook my head, indicating it was fine. But my mind was racing. That phone call just now, especially that lowered “Shhh, easy there, I’ll be back soon,”—that gentle, magnetic, almost breathy murmur. It was exactly the same as Whisperwind, the sleep aid streamer I listened to every night. But how could that be possible? Whisperwind was the ultimate gentle male idol, kind, patient, who would read poetry in the dead of night and softly answer fans’ emotional questions. And the Asher Vance standing before me? Volatile, aggressive. It was the ultimate expectation versus reality clash. No, they were entirely different species. My mind went blank. I didn’t hear anything else Brooke said. Not until Asher came out of the changing room, bag in hand, ready to leave. He paused as he passed me, turning his head. Those dark eyes locked onto mine, and his voice was back to that sandpaper roughness. “Seen enough?” I snapped back to reality, my cheeks instantly flushing. Brooke quickly pulled me behind her, shouting at Asher’s retreating back, “Asher! Be polite!” Asher didn’t look back, just waved a hand dismissively and walked out of the gym. “Don’t mind him,” Brooke patted my back. “He’s totally nuts.” I watched the direction he disappeared in, that absurd thought in my mind refusing to be suppressed.

That night, I lay in bed, headphones on, and opened Whisperwind’s profile. Today’s live stream topic was “Tell us the most incredible thing that’s happened to you.” Driven by an impulse, I posted a comment: “I think I’ve discovered a huge secret, about someone I thought I knew well.” Almost instantly, Whisperwind’s voice came through my headphones, accompanied by his familiar gentle chuckle. “Oh? Our friend ‘Night Wind Rushes In,’ what secret have you uncovered? Care to share?” My heart skipped a beat. ‘Night Wind Rushes In’ was my ID on the app. When he read out my ID, his voice lifted slightly at the end, a playful intimacy in his tone. My fingers trembled as I typed a reply: “I found that someone whose voice is like an angel’s might be a devil in real life.” The comment section instantly exploded. “OMG! Spill the tea, sis!” “What’s happening? Is the streamer being exposed?” “Chloe, do you know something?” Whisperwind chuckled softly, his voice caressing my eardrums through the current. “It seems our friend here had quite a shock today. But people are multi-faceted, aren’t they? Perhaps what you’ve seen is just one part of him.” His words were perfectly crafted, giving nothing away. It was as if he was defending “himself,” yet also comforting a regular fan. I turned off my phone, spending a sleepless night. The next day, Brooke invited me to go shopping, saying she wanted to make it up to me. “My cousin was such a jerk yesterday, I have to compensate you.” She pulled me into a luxury boutique. My mind was elsewhere, filled with Asher and Whisperwind. Brooke, however, was in high spirits, holding up a bag to me. “Chloe, this suits you. My treat.” I quickly refused. “No, it’s too expensive.” “Don’t be silly with me!” Brooke handed her card to the sales assistant. “What are friends for?” Just then, her phone rang. Brooke answered, her tone instantly switching to a mix of exasperation and affection. “Hello? What now, Your Majesty?” Whatever the person on the other end said, Brooke’s brows furrowed. “Out of money? Didn’t you just yesterday…” “Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll transfer it to you in a bit. You’re a grown man, you should know how to manage your money.” She hung up, complaining to me, “My cousin, Asher, blew all his money again. All he does is beg for cash, I’m practically his ATM.” My heart stirred. I asked, pretending casual interest, “Is he really that hard up for money? I thought being a sparring partner paid well.” Brooke pouted. “What’s that little bit of money going to do? He’s always buying gear, treating people to dinner, he’s used to spending lavishly. If my parents weren’t holding me back, I’d have cut off his card ages ago.” As she spoke, she showed me a screenshot of the transfer. I saw that the recipient’s profile picture was gray, and the nickname was a simple “H.” My grip tightened on my phone. In Whisperwind’s fan group, the administrator’s username was “H.” Whisperwind had said it was the abbreviation of his name.

The clues slowly connected, and my heart sank with each realization. If Asher was Whisperwind, then why was he doing this? One person playing a gentle male god online, comforting countless girls; the other, an aggressive, moody man in reality, living off his cousin. What was his motive? Money? Whisperwind’s live stream donations and paid content certainly brought in a considerable income. But why would he pretend to be broke in front of Brooke? I decided to test him one more time. That weekend, Whisperwind’s offline fan meet-and-greet took place as scheduled. The venue was a small concert hall, with strict security, requiring ID and phone number verification for entry. Brooke had a last-minute commitment and couldn’t accompany me. I walked into the hall, which was already filled with people, mostly young women, their faces alight with anticipation and excitement. The stage was dimly lit, with only a high stool and a standing microphone placed in the center. Whisperwind maintained his no-face policy even offline. After the host warmed up the crowd, the hall lights dimmed, and a single spotlight shone on the stage center. That familiar, gentle voice, amplified through the speakers, reached everyone’s ears clearly. “Hello, everyone. I am Whisperwind. Thank you for coming tonight, for me.” A wave of excited screams erupted from the audience. I sat in a corner, my heart pounding. He began interacting with fans, answering pre-collected questions. One fan asked, “Whisperwind, what are you like in real life? Are you just as gentle?” Whisperwind chuckled, a hint of mystery in his tone. “Perhaps. But I hope you like my voice more than you like me, the person.” “Everyone wears a mask, don’t they?” At that moment, I took out my phone and sent Brooke a SnapChat message. “Brooke, my stomach feels a bit off, I’m in the restroom. Can you ask your cousin to pick me up? My phone’s almost out of battery.” Brooke replied quickly: “What’s going on with you? Fine, I’ll tell him to go. Send him the address.” I sent her the concert hall address. Then, I looked up, my gaze fixed intently on the blurry figure on stage. Next up, was the moment of truth. About twenty minutes later, my phone vibrated. It was a text from an unknown number. “Where?” Two words, concise, cold, and dripping with impatience. It was Asher. I replied: “Backstage entrance.” Then, I stood up and quietly slipped out through a side door, making my way to the back of the concert hall. Two security guards stood at the backstage entrance. I hid in the shadows nearby. Not long after, a tall figure appeared under the streetlight. Black hoodie, jeans, baseball cap pulled low—it was Asher. He walked up to the backstage entrance and was stopped by the guards. “Sir, you can’t enter here.” Asher looked up, revealing an annoyed expression. “I’m looking for someone.” “Do you have an appointment?” “No, a woman named Chloe Sterling.” Just then, a commotion erupted from the stage direction; it seemed to be intermission. A staff member rushed out of the backstage door. The door wasn’t closed properly, leaving a gap. From my angle, I could just see a corner of the interior. And I could hear the voice coming from the stage through the microphone. It was Whisperwind, talking to staff, arranging the content for the second half. That voice, so gentle it could melt your worries away, and the impatient, gravelly voice at the door, existed in the same space simultaneously. My mind buzzed. It wasn’t him? Had I made a mistake? Asher was still arguing with the security guards, looking increasingly frustrated. He pulled out his phone, seemingly preparing to call me. Just then, a man in a work uniform emerged from backstage. He saw Asher, paused, then exclaimed happily, “Asher? What are you doing here!” Asher seemed surprised to see him too. “Jayden? What are you doing here?” “I’m working part-time here,” the man named Jayden pointed inside. “There’s an event today, and they’re short-staffed.” He enthusiastically pulled Asher. “Since you’re here, come on in and sit down, I’ll get you a good seat.” Asher frowned. “No thanks, I’m just here to pick someone up.” “Who are you picking up? I can call them for you.” “Chloe Sterling.” Jayden slapped his thigh. “Oh, I know her! Brooke’s friend, right? She knows our boss, she’s in the VIP lounge.” With that, he pulled Asher inside without another word. “Follow me.” The security guards, seeing it was a staff member, didn’t stop them. I watched them disappear behind the door, completely frozen. The boss? Whisperwind was the boss here? So, Jayden knew Asher, and he knew me. Everything was messed up. My clever little test… had turned into a total bust. I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, and prepared to call Brooke, to tell her not to send Asher to pick me up.

Just then, my phone vibrated again. Still that unknown number. “Are you playing games with me?” The cold accusation, the anger palpable even through the screen. I was stunned. Why would Asher say that? Hadn’t Jayden pulled him inside? I was about to reply when a new text came in. “VIP lounge. You better have an explanation for me.” My heart sank sharply. He knew. He knew I was testing him. I gripped my phone, hesitating whether to go in. Going in meant a potentially humiliating confrontation. Not going in meant the mystery in my heart would forever remain unsolved. As an internal battle raged inside me, the backstage door suddenly opened. Brooke stood at the entrance, her face pale. Seeing me, she forced a smile. “Chloe, there you are, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” I looked at her. “What are you doing here?” “I was worried about you,” she walked over and naturally linked her arm through mine. “Come on, the meet-and-greet is almost over, I’ll take you home.” I saw the evasiveness in her eyes, and the suspicion I had tried to suppress flared up wildly again. She definitely knew something. On the drive home, Brooke kept making small talk. “How was the meet-and-greet today? Isn’t Whisperwind absolutely charming?” “Did you see him in person? Is he super handsome?” I leaned against the car window, watching the rapidly passing night scenery outside, and simply hummed in response. Brooke seemed a little awkward and fell silent. The temperature in the car plummeted, freezing the air between us. As we neared my apartment building, I suddenly spoke. “Brooke, are you very close with Whisperwind?” Brooke’s hand on the steering wheel tightened abruptly, making the car swerve slightly. She quickly regained control, forcing a dry laugh. “Why… why would you ask that? I just heard you talk about him so much, I got a little curious.” “Really?” I turned my head, looking straight at her. “That staff member, Jayden, just said that I know your boss.” “When did I ever get to know your boss?” Her face went stark white in a flash. Her eyes darted around, her lips moved a few times, but not a single word came out. “The boss he mentioned, that’s Whisperwind, right?” I pressed her further, step by step. “And you, you don’t just know him, you know him well. Well enough to freely go backstage, well enough for your cousin to be directly ushered into his VIP lounge.” “Brooke, what exactly are you hiding from me?” Brooke pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. The car interior was plunged into silence, broken only by our increasingly ragged breathing. After a long moment, she spoke, her voice hoarse. “Chloe, I’m sorry.” “I didn’t mean to lie to you.” “Asher… he really is Whisperwind.” Even though I had prepared myself, hearing her admit it made my heart ache to the point of suffocation. So, it wasn’t a misunderstanding. My intuition had been right all along. Then who was that gentle voice backstage? “It was a voice changer,” Brooke said softly, as if seeing through my confusion. “And his team, they help him handle some of the live interactions.” “So, he just needs to sit backstage, in front of a computer, and use a processed voice to pull off a perfect meet-and-greet.” A bitter laugh escaped me, tears pricking at my eyes. What a grand, elaborate scam. And I, like a total idiot, had been utterly swept off my feet by him. “Why?” I looked at Brooke, asking each word slowly. “Why would you do this?” “It… it was for money.” Brooke couldn’t meet my gaze. “Asher needed money. Being a streamer is fast money, but his own voice… it wasn’t suitable.” “So you came up with this plan? To have him play a fictional persona, to swindle fans out of their donations and their emotions?” “I didn’t!” Brooke retorted, agitated. “I just wanted to help him! I never thought you’d fall so deeply!” “Really?” I scoffed. “You never thought? Then why did you introduce him to me? Why did you play matchmaker between us? Was it fun, watching me get played like a fool by you?” Brooke was speechless, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. “Chloe, I truly never meant to hurt you. I just… I was just jealous of you.” She finally confessed. “I was jealous you have everything. A privileged family background, loving parents, never worrying about money. And me? I have to fight for everything, claw for everything. And I’m stuck with a dead weight like Asher!” “When I saw how infatuated you were with Whisperwind, I admit, there was a tiny part of me that felt unbalanced. I wanted to see what your reaction would be if you found out your idol, your beloved male god, was actually my useless cousin.” “I just wanted to play a joke on you, I never thought it would turn out like this!” So that was it. The best friend I had poured my heart out to had been calculating from the start. The comfort I found in the dead of night was all her carefully designed poison.

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My son was dying. My husband, Julian Thorne, was busy preparing for the bell-ringing ceremony for his corporation’s IPO. He told me, “A sick heir will only drag down the stock price.” Then, he handed me divorce papers and a card. “Forget about the company, and forget about me. This money is enough for you to cover his final arrangements.” Five years later, at the press conference for his new wife’s prenatal check-up, he spoke as the perfect loving husband. “I’m truly fortunate. My family is, and always will be, healthy and complete.” Under the paparazzi’s flashing lights, he spotted my arms, riddled with needle marks. He cornered me in the hallway. “What, ran out of money? Looking to bring that sickly brat back to me for more?” Julian’s voice was arctic, sharp as shattered glass. I pulled a sheet of paper from my folder. “Leo’s hospital bill is due again.” He snatched the bill, his eyes scanning the numbers. Then, right in front of me, he slowly, deliberately, tore it into tiny shreds. The paper confetti rained down on my face, my clothes, like falling snow. “Stella, you’re pushing my limits.” He pulled a black card from his jacket pocket and tossed it to the ground. Metal met tile with a sharp *clink*. “Pick it up.” His voice was low, but the command was undeniable, absolute. “Crawl and pick it up, like the dog you are.” I stood my ground, unmoving. “Oh, suddenly you’re too good for it? Five years ago, you’d have sold your own son for a fraction of that. What’s with the act now?” A soft female voice floated from behind him. “Julian, don’t be angry. It’s not good for the baby.” Chloe Sterling walked over, her hand gently caressing her rounded belly, taking her place beside Julian. She looked at me, a polite smile on her face, but her words were a viper’s venom. “Miss Hayes, the Thorne bloodline demands perfection.” She glanced down at her stomach. “Like our child. Healthy. Exceptional.” “A defective product, a flaw like that, doesn’t deserve to carry the Thorne name. Do you understand?” Julian wrapped an arm around Chloe’s shoulder, pulling her close, protecting her. “This is my final warning.” His voice was devoid of all warmth. “Dare to show your face to my family again, and I’ll make sure you and your son vanish from this world, completely.” I didn’t spare them another glance. I turned and walked away. Back in the lab, the cold hum of machines and the rhythmic dance of data made me feel alive again. I peeled off my lab coat, expertly drew a vial of my own blood. The centrifuge whirred, spinning at high speed. I dripped the separated serum into a petri dish, observing the cellular changes under the microscope. Leo’s rare genetic disease has an incidence of one in a billion. My family, the Hayes, had no history of genetic illness. The source of the disease – I’d been searching for five years. My mentor, Professor Davies, walked in. He was a world-renowned expert in genetic engineering. “Stella, how’s the data analysis coming along?” “Still no good. The ‘Ouroboros’ sequence can’t achieve precise integration at the third locus. The cells just collapse.” I handed him the latest data report. Professor Davies’s brows furrowed. “We’ve hit a wall.” He looked at me. “To break through this, we need two things.” “A huge amount of money, and a ‘Prometheus’ gene sequencer.” “There are only three of those machines in the entire world.” I fell silent. I knew, I couldn’t get either of those. “Don’t lose hope,” Professor Davies patted my shoulder. “I’ve been in talks with an investor recently. He’s very interested in biological projects. There might be a chance.” That evening, while organizing my files, I stumbled upon a financial news notification. \[Thorne Corporation Invests Heavily in New Biotech Ventures, CEO Julian Thorne Personally Invites Gene Engineering Titan Professor Davies to Join] The accompanying photo showed Julian Thorne, radiating success and triumph. And Professor Davies was my mentor, Professor Davies.

Julian Thorne hosted a private investment gala for Professor Davies at the penthouse suite of the exclusive Skytop Club. Security was tight. The attendees were the movers and shakers of the industry, people whose names alone commanded fortunes. I arrived at the entrance, dressed in my lab coat, with a plain black trench coat over it, carrying project documents as Professor Davies’ assistant. The attendant at the door held out a hand to stop me. “Madam, your invitation.” I stated my name: “Professor Davies’ assistant, Stella Hayes.” He spoke a few words into his earpiece, then stepped aside. The crystal chandeliers in the ballroom made me squint. Julian Thorne was conversing with someone, standing right in the center of the crowd. He saw me too. His hand, holding a wine glass, froze. The smile vanished from his face. His jaw clenched, and his lips silently formed a single word: *Get out*. I ignored him, pushing through the crowd until I reached Professor Davies. “Professor, the supplementary data for the ‘Ouroboros’ project.” I handed him the folder. Suddenly, a figure bumped into me. A glass of red wine came crashing down, spilling all over my folder. The crimson liquid bloomed, smearing the charts and data into an unrecognizable mess. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” Chloe Sterling held up her empty wine glass, her apology on her lips, but not an ounce of genuine regret on her face. “I didn’t see you standing there. Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” Her voice wasn’t loud, but several people nearby paused their conversations and looked over. “Julian’s gala is so important. Why would you bring such things in here? What if something goes wrong? Are you trying to cause trouble on purpose?” Julian strode over in a few swift steps. He didn’t even look at me, barking orders directly to the security guard behind him. “Get her out of here.” His voice was barely a whisper, each word squeezed through gritted teeth. “I don’t want to see anyone irrelevant at *my* gala.” Two security guards stepped forward, reaching for my arms. “Mr. Thorne, quite the display of power.” Professor Davies spoke, his voice calm, yet it made the two guards freeze. He walked over, positioning himself in front of me. “You’re trying to throw out *my* person?” Julian’s face was ashen. “Professor Davies, this is my personal business. She…” “She is not your personal business.” Professor Davies cut him off. “Allow me to introduce her to you, and to everyone here.” Professor Davies turned, facing the assembled guests. “This is Stella Hayes.” “My most brilliant student, and the lead researcher for the ‘Ouroboros’ gene repair project.” The entire ballroom fell into a stunned silence. All eyes converged on me. I saw Julian’s body stiffen, his face a canvas of undisguised shock. He probably never imagined that the woman who, five years ago, was just a housewife, confined to domestic chores, would stand before him again in such a powerful new role. I didn’t acknowledge his shock, nor Chloe’s ashen face, drained of all color. From my backpack, I pulled out another folder, identical in appearance to the one that had been drenched. “My apologies for the delay, everyone.” Ignoring everyone else, I walked directly to the projection screen and plugged my USB drive into the computer. “My project is called ‘Ouroboros’.” “Its goal is to repair human genetic defects through gene editing technology.” I skipped any unnecessary background, moving straight into the technical principles, clinical applications, and the commercial value it could generate, detailing each point. As I reached the core technical aspect, I pressed the clicker, and a molecular structure appeared on the screen. “…We have constructed a new protein vector that can precisely target and repair the abnormal gene segment code-named ‘Thanatos’…” When I uttered the word “Thanatos,” my gaze swept over Julian Thorne. His hand, holding the wine glass, trembled. His entire body froze, his face completely drained of blood. The gala ended. Professor Davies, in front of everyone, walked to my side and shook my hand. Then, he turned to Julian Thorne. “Mr. Thorne, your project concept is admirable, but Thorne Corporation’s direction doesn’t align with my research. There’s no need to discuss collaboration further.” He had publicly rejected Julian Thorne. Next, he turned to me, his voice filled with praise. “However, Stella, I will personally invest two hundred million dollars in your ‘Ouroboros’ project.” It was late when I returned to the lab. The first thing I did was open the encrypted computer on my desk, ready to back up the core data. I entered the password and clicked on the folder. Empty. All the files were gone. I stared at the blank screen, my hands and feet growing numb.

Alarms blared throughout the lab. Professor Davies was the first to burst in, his face even paler than mine. “What happened?!” I pointed at the blank computer screen. “The core data… it’s all gone.” Security quickly sealed off the area. After an overnight investigation, the conclusion was clear. “No external intrusion detected.” “The data was deleted internally, directly using the highest-level password.” The Head of Security looked at me. “Ms. Hayes, only you know the password to this computer.” Professor Davies’s disappointment was unconcealed. “Stella, why?” “It wasn’t me,” I said. No one believed me. The ‘Ouroboros’ project was indefinitely suspended. I was placed on administrative leave from the lab, pending investigation. Leo’s treatment was cut off again. I stood before the hospital’s payment window, watching the scrolling outstanding balance notices on the electronic screen. A black Bentley pulled up beside me. The window lowered, revealing Julian Thorne’s impassive face. “Get in.” In the coffee shop, he pushed a contract across the table toward me. “The ‘Ouroboros’ project, including all your personal patents, I’m buying it all.” The price he offered was astronomical. “Sign it, and I’ll treat your son’s illness. I’ll find him the best doctors in the world, use the best medicine.” I pushed the contract back. “My research is not for sale.” He looked like he’d heard a joke. “Stella, you’re not in a position to negotiate with me.” “I only accept investment,” I looked at him. “Project control must remain with me.” The last trace of patience in his eyes vanished. “Do you really think you still have a choice? “You stole your own mentor’s project. Your reputation is ruined. Without me, no one in this entire industry will give you a single penny.” I stood up. “Then we’ll see about that.” Julian’s retaliation came swiftly. Every investor I contacted rejected me at the last minute. Even my friends, and even Professor Davies, subtly advised me to accept Julian’s terms. I was completely isolated. I replayed the lab’s surveillance footage from the night of the gala, over and over again. 11:37 PM. A janitor appeared in the hallway. He didn’t clean. Instead, he used a tool to pry open a network port next to the fire exit. He stayed for five minutes. Those five minutes were the exact window during which my data vanished. I zoomed in on the video, capturing a side profile of his face. After leaving the lab, he got into a car. I checked the license plate number. The vehicle registration pointed to Chloe Sterling’s personal chauffeur. I contacted a financial journalist I knew. The next day, an inconspicuous industry news item appeared online. \[Rumors of ‘Ouroboros’ Project Core Data Having Backup; Stella Hayes Poised to Announce Groundbreaking Technical Breakthrough] I deliberately leaked information, saying the backup data was hidden in a private warehouse on the outskirts of the city. And that I would retrieve it in three days. Chloe took the bait, as expected. Three days later, outside the warehouse, my pre-arranged security team caught two suspicious men red-handed. They were caught with the goods. At the police station, Chloe’s face was ashen. “I don’t know anything. I swear, I don’t.” “They’re my chauffeurs, but I never told them to do anything.” One of the thieves cracked under interrogation. “It wasn’t Ms. Sterling!” “It was… it was Mr. Victor Thorne of the Thorne family who ordered us!” I froze. Victor Thorne. Julian’s estranged uncle, long marginalized and ousted from the family’s power center. A perfect scapegoat. Outside the interrogation room, Chloe, through the glass, flashed me a triumphant smile.

I knew Victor Thorne was just a smokescreen. Chloe had gone to such lengths, even risking exposure, to destroy ‘Ouroboros.’ She was protecting a bigger secret. A secret connected to the ‘Thanatos’ gene. I pulled up all of Leo’s genetic maps again. My family, the Hayes, had no history of genetic illness. So, the source of the disease could only come from Julian. I dug out the blood sample from Julian Thorne, saved from Leo’s paternity test five years ago. I needed a comparison. I began furiously researching all records from Julian’s early entrepreneurial days. His rise to power was legendary; he’d built a business empire in just a few short years. I focused on a biotech company that had long since gone bankrupt. ‘Genesis Horizon.’ Ten years ago, this company had secretly developed a gene enhancer code-named ‘GH-7.’ It was rumored to significantly boost human physical strength and energy. But the project was eventually halted due to uncontrollable side effects, and all its data was supposedly destroyed. ‘Genesis Horizon’s parent company was Sterling Group. Chloe Sterling’s family enterprise. I tracked down the former lead scientist for the ‘GH-7’ project. He’d been retired for years. I gave him a substantial amount of money, and in return, he gave me a copy of the clinical report that was supposedly ‘destroyed.’ The report detailed the side effects of ‘GH-7.’ One of the most severe was that it could cause specific site breaks and abnormal recombination in the gene chains of the user’s descendants. The results matched Leo’s ‘Thanatos’ symptoms exactly. I walked into the executive suite of Thorne Corporation, holding both reports. Julian’s office. “If you’re here for money again, you can leave now,” he said without looking up. I slapped the DNA comparison report and the ‘GH-7’ side effect report side-by-side onto his desk. “Take a look.” He frowned, picking up the documents. When he saw the final comparison results, his entire body froze. “The source of the pathogenic gene, 100 percent, is from you.” “Your proud success, your so-called perfection, it was all bought with my son’s life.” The reports slipped from his hands, scattering across the floor. His face was utterly drained of blood. “No… impossible…” “They told me GH-7 was safe…” “I will be suing you and Sterling Group on behalf of Leo, as his legal guardian.” “Inhumane drug trials, deliberate concealment of grave risks. I will make you pay the price.” I finished, then turned to leave. Once this news broke, Thorne Corporation’s stock price would instantly collapse. Everything he cherished would crumble to dust. That very evening, Chloe, cornered and desperate, took drastic action. I was in the lab, organizing the lawsuit materials, when acrid, thick smoke suddenly billowed in through the door cracks. The fire alarm let out a piercing shriek. The entire floor plunged into darkness as the power died, and the emergency exits clanged shut, locked tight. Arson. The fire spread quickly. I was trapped in the data center, clutching the metal box containing all the evidence. Just as I was about to suffocate, the door burst open with a tremendous force. Julian Thorne rushed in, covered in ash and soot. His eyes weren’t on me, but on the box in my arms. “Give me the damn thing!” he roared at me. “Never!” He lunged to grab it. We struggled, wrestling. The steel girders overhead glowed cherry-red, emitting an ear-splitting shriek as they groaned and buckled. A massive beam, trailing sparks, crashed down towards my head. I closed my eyes. The expected agony never came. Julian, in the last second, released his grip on the box. He pushed me away, using his own body to shield me. The thundering sound of the heavy structure hitting the ground was deafening. Firefighters loaded a severely burned Julian onto the ambulance. The piercing wail of sirens ripped through the night. I clutched the metal box, standing outside the burning building, and didn’t follow.

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Right before freshman year started, I bought a lottery ticket. And I got incredibly lucky – I won five thousand dollars cash. Thrilled, I offered to treat my entire dorm to a lavish dinner. But my three roommates, who always played up their financial struggles, just gave me cold stares. Brittany, our dorm leader, said, “So, you’re the one who sucked all the good luck out of our dorm. No wonder I’ve been losing things every day lately.” I thought she was kidding, so I proactively sent each of them a two-hundred-dollar e-transfer. But the next day, Brittany outright snatched my meal card. “You have to split your prize money with us, half and half! It’s the price you pay for stealing our luck!” The other two crowded around me. “Exactly! Ever since you showed up, I failed my test. It must be your fault!” “This is called a ‘luck equalization fee.’ If you don’t pay, we’ll curse you to hell and back every single day!” Seeing my refusal, they sneered. “Fine. We’re not scared of you, so let’s see who can outlast who.” But what they didn’t know was that I’d already used that prize money to prepare something that would expose all their secrets.

“Congratulations, third prize! Five thousand dollars cash!” When the staff told me, I just froze. Five thousand dollars! My fingers tingled as I clutched the envelope. Back in my dorm, I held up the envelope. “Girls! I won the lottery!” “Dinner’s on me tonight! That seafood buffet by the campus gates – let’s go have a feast!” The dorm fell silent. Brittany Hayes, our dorm leader, was putting on lipstick, glancing at me through the mirror. Chelsea Miller sat at her desk, flipping through a book, the pages rustling loudly, without even looking up. Our other roommate, Megan Jones, kept her head down, washing clothes, as if she hadn’t heard a word. My smile stiffened. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you guys happy?” Brittany snapped her lipstick shut, turned around, and crossed her arms. “Happy? Why would we be happy?” “Turns out all the good luck in our dorm was sucked away by you.” “No wonder I’ve been losing things every day lately. My prepaid laundry card, just after I’d loaded it up, went missing.” I was stunned. “How could that be? It’s just good fortune.” I pulled six hundred dollars from my wallet and handed two hundred to each of them. “Don’t say that. Finders keepers, right? Here, treat yourselves to something nice.” Chelsea stopped flipping her book, looked up, and reached for the money. Megan dried her hands and took two hundred dollars from me. Brittany scoffed, snatched the money, and stuffed it into her pocket. “At least you have some conscience.” I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew all three of them relied heavily on financial aid, so their living expenses were tight. Giving them cash probably seemed more practical. But I never expected that two hundred dollars would only whet their appetite.

The next day, I went to the cafeteria. Just as I swiped my card, a hand shot out and snatched my meal card. It was Brittany. She dangled my meal card. I frowned. “Brittany, what are you doing? Give me back my meal card.” “Give it back? Sure.” Brittany flipped the meal card in her hand, a cold smirk on her face. “You have to split yesterday’s winnings with us, half and half.” “Half of what? Didn’t I already give you guys some cash?” “Two hundred bucks? What, are we beggars to you?” Brittany raised her voice, drawing glances from other students around us. “You stole luck from all three of us and won five thousand dollars! Only giving us two hundred – doesn’t your conscience bother you?” Just then, Chelsea and Megan crowded around, blocking my exit. Chelsea pointed a finger at my face. “Exactly! The moment you arrived, I failed my pop quiz yesterday!” “It’s definitely your fault!” Megan quietly chimed in. “It’s called ‘luck equalization.’ You hogged all the good fortune.” “You have to share some with us, otherwise it’s not fair.” I burst out laughing, furious. “Do you have any sense of reason?” “Winning the lottery is random chance, and failing your quiz is because *you* didn’t study.” “How is any of this my fault?” “What ‘luck’ are you even talking about? Stop being ridiculous!” “Give me back my meal card!” Brittany shoved my meal card into her pocket. “Two thousand five hundred dollars, not a penny less!” “This is the price you pay for stealing our luck!” “If you don’t pay, we’ll curse you to hell and back every single day!” “You’ll have bad luck every single day, you’ll trip over your own feet just walking around!” I clenched my fists. “I won’t give it to you!” Brittany scoffed, exchanging glances with Chelsea and Megan. “Fine, Skylar. We’re the ones with nothing to lose, so we’re not scared of you.” “Let’s see who can outlast who!” With that, they took my meal card, swiped the most expensive meals at the counter, and strutted away. I stood there, seething and starving. Back in the dorm, my desk had been shoved into a corner. My books and skincare products were scattered all over the floor, a newly bought serum bottle smashed, its contents spilled everywhere. Brittany, Chelsea, and Megan were sitting at their own desks, eating with my meal card, laughing and chatting. Seeing me return, Brittany deliberately spoke loudly. “Oh, this braised pork is so delicious today.” “Eating with someone else’s card really does taste better.” Chelsea chimed in. “Doesn’t it? Some people are just born lucky.” “It’s only right that we get to share in some of that.” I was trembling all over. I rushed forward. “You’re going too far!” Brittany lifted her eyelids. “Too far? This is just the beginning.” “If you don’t pay up, you’ll only lose more of your things, and they’ll break faster.” Megan muttered softly. “Who told you to suck all our good luck away…” I looked at the mess on the floor, knowing that reasoning with them was pointless.

I woke up the next morning to my toothbrush covered in mustard. When I went to class, there was glue smeared on my forks. At night, when I tried to sleep, they’d deliberately blast music at full volume, then suddenly turn it off just as I was drifting off, tormenting me repeatedly. New clothes I bought would have holes the very next day. Snacks on my desk would vanish in a flash, the wrappers left on my bed. I couldn’t take it anymore and had a huge fight with them. Brittany, however, just plopped down on the floor and started bawling. “Everyone, come look!” “The rich girl is bullying us poor students!” “All I asked was for her to share a little of her prize money, and she’s trying to hit me!” Chelsea and Megan fanned the flames, claiming I was using my family’s wealth to look down on them and force them to kneel. The dorm hallway quickly filled with people, all pointing fingers and whispering about me. “Whoa, who is that? So arrogant?” “I heard it’s Skylar Reid from the finance department. She was flaunting a ten-thousand-dollar bag on Freshman Orientation Week. So high-profile.” “Being rich makes her think she’s special? Forcing someone to kneel, that’s disgusting.” I was speechless, my eyes welling up. I went to Mr. Davison, my counselor, explained the situation, and asked to switch dorms. After listening, Mr. Davison just gave me a placating smile, trying to smooth things over. “Skylar, I know you feel wronged.” “But you have to understand, your roommates come from difficult financial backgrounds, and they have strong pride.” “It’s great that you won the lottery, but you also need to consider their feelings, right?” I got agitated. “Mr. Davison, this isn’t about feelings!” “They’re extorting and bullying me!” He waved his hand dismissively. “Young people have little disagreements, it’s perfectly normal.” “You just need to talk it out.” “You come from a good family, so be more understanding with them. Just take the hit, consider it your good deed for the day.” “Switching dorms is a complicated process; it’s practically impossible.” “You should just go back and have a good talk with them.” I left Mr. Davison’s office, feeling utterly cold. So, “understanding” meant I had to back down. And “communication” meant I had to pay them. I returned to the dorm, where Brittany and the others were waiting for me. Brittany smiled when she saw me. “Well? Went to complain to the teacher? Was it any use?” Chelsea crossed her arms. “We already guessed it. Mr. Davison hates privileged princesses who whine whenever things don’t go their way.” “Don’t struggle anymore, Skylar.” “Just give us the money, and we can all get along peacefully.” Megan also added. “Yeah, it won’t do you any good if this gets bigger.” “We’ve already trashed your reputation.” I looked at them, and my last shred of hesitation vanished. I pulled out my phone and, right in front of them, sent a message to a number. Brittany thought I was about to transfer the money, and her smile deepened. “Came to your senses? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do this earlier?” I ignored her and sent another message. That evening, I was studying in the library when I received a call from an unknown number. A woman’s voice came from the other end. “Hello? Is this Skylar Reid? I’m Chloe Davis’s mom!” Chloe Davis was the girl I tutored. My heart sank. “Ms. Davis, hello. Has something happened to Chloe?” “How dare you ask! What exactly did you do to my Chloe?!” The woman roared into the phone. “Your classmates all called and told me everything!” “They said you have bad character, that you form cliques and bully students at school!” “They said you cheat on your own exams and have no business being a tutor!” “My Chloe is so innocent, what if you lead her astray?!” “Don’t bother coming for tutoring this month! We don’t need you anymore!” The call ended. I clutched my phone, my hands and feet freezing cold. Brittany, Chelsea, Megan. They actually did something like this! They were trying to ruin my reputation, to cut off all my avenues! I rushed back to the dorm, shoving the door open. The three of them were huddled together, showing no surprise at my return. Brittany smiled at me. “Oh, you’re back? How does it feel to get fired from your tutoring job?” I was shaking all over, my voice trembling. “You did this, didn’t you?” Chelsea stood up and walked towards me. “That’s right, we did.” “We already looked into it. You tutor every week, making quite a bit of cash, huh?” “How about it? Do you know how powerful we are now?” Megan also chimed in. “We just made a phone call, gave that parent a heads-up.” “If you don’t want things to escalate, to be completely blacklisted from the entire tutoring circuit…” “Then just be obedient.” Brittany leaned back in her chair. “Two thousand five hundred dollars. This is the final warning.” “Otherwise, the next step is to print out all your misdeeds.” “And plaster them all over campus.” “Making sure you can never show your face in this school again.” I looked at them. I thought they only wanted money, but I never expected them to be so malicious, wanting to completely destroy me. They thought they had me cornered.

My nails dug deep into my palms, and I could taste blood in my mouth. Brittany saw my pale face, thought I was scared, and reached out her hand. “Give it to us, the money.” “Once the transfer is done, we’ll immediately call that parent.” “And help clear things up for you.” Chelsea urged. “Hurry up, stop dragging your feet.” “Our patience is limited.” Megan whispered from the side. “If you give us the money, we can still be good roommates…” Good roommates? I looked at them and suddenly laughed. My laugh was soft, but the dorm instantly fell silent. Brittany frowned. “What are you laughing at? Have you lost your mind?” I didn’t answer. I slowly raised my head, my gaze calmly sweeping over each of them. I spoke softly. “You said you had nothing to lose, that you weren’t afraid of anything.” “You thought because you found my tutoring information, you had a hold on me.” “You thought by ruining my reputation, you could force me to comply.” Brittany started to get a little unnerved by my stare. “You… what are you going to do?” “I’m telling you, don’t try anything stupid!” “Stupid?” I raised an eyebrow. “Compared to you, I’m far from it.” I walked to my desk and, under their wary gaze, picked up my phone. Chelsea nervously asked. “What are you going to do? Call Mr. Davison?” “It won’t work!” “No.” I shook my head, unlocking the screen. Then, I dialed a number. The call connected. I put it on speaker, and a calm male voice came through. “Ms. Reid.” Brittany and the other three froze, exchanging bewildered glances. I looked at Brittany, a small smile playing on my lips. “Hello.” “It’s time.” “Release everything we found about Brittany.” The man on the other end of the phone replied with a single word. “Copy that.” The call ended, and the dorm was enveloped in silence.

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