Category: English

Everyone in their circle knew Asher Blackwood had a kept woman, an almost identical copy of his first love, Seraphina Thorne. Early one morning, at the city airport, I rushed out, dragging my suitcase, dusty and exhausted. My eyes lit up when I spotted that limited-edition Mercedes sedan. Pulling open the door, Asher Blackwood was indeed waiting for me inside. “How do you have time to pick me up?” I asked, my bright, lively eyes on my delicate, pale face seeming to hold the entire starry sky as I looked at Asher. Asher Blackwood always hated my eyes. My face was at least ninety percent similar to Seraphina Thorne’s, but my eyes were different. Seraphina’s gaze towards him had always been cold and detached. “Close your eyes.” I obeyed, closing my eyes, a hint of allure curving my lips. Asher stared at my face, so like Seraphina’s, and kissed me fiercely. My soft lips were bruised and tormented, as if he could, through me, possess the other woman. The car started smoothly, slowly pulling away from the airport. Half an hour later, Asher Blackwood forced me out of the car. I stood by the street, clutching my suitcase, watching him in the car with a pang of hurt. “Drive.” Asher’s face was cold, unmoved. The car door slowly closed. I watched the black Mercedes drive further and further away, until it merged with traffic and vanished. I wiped my eyes, swallowing my grievance. I called for a ride. After more than ten hours of flying, I was utterly exhausted. Back home, I showered, removed my makeup, then chugged a large glass of red wine before crawling into my soft bed, ready to sleep. My phone rang. I opened it to see a message from Asher: “9 PM tonight.” I smiled and replied, “Waiting for you in bed.” It was as if the unpleasant morning had never happened. It was our unspoken agreement. At 9 PM, Asher Blackwood was always punctual. There was never any tenderness between us; he was direct, almost brutal. “You’re hurting me,” I whispered, but still, I moved to meet Asher’s force. Asher didn’t say a word, just drove into me harder. My body was like a ripe peach, soft and juicy, or perhaps a fresh-baked cake, warm layers enveloping him, giving him the most comforting solace. He didn’t love me, but I had to admit, he loved this body. I often felt that Asher’s feelings for Seraphina were incredibly complex. Beyond unrequited love, there seemed to be a hint of hatred. In bed, Asher shed his usual restraint and coldness. His heat threatened to consume me. I could only cling to him weakly, letting him carry me into a dizzying whirlwind. I felt like a leaf caught in a storm, lost and disoriented. The room echoed with the most beautiful music a man and woman could make, even the air grew scorching hot. Over an hour later, the symphony finally struck its last note at the climax. Asher withdrew abruptly. “I’m going to shower.” I lay softly on the bed, watching his muscular back. I couldn’t help but inwardly appraise him. Asher Blackwood truly was a catch: broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, a strict, controlled aura when dressed, but pure primal release when not. Especially that face… Just as I was lost in my thoughts, Asher’s phone rang. I picked it up and glanced at the screen. “Seraphina?” I walked to the bathroom door, holding the phone. “Boss, your goddess is looking for you~” Asher, wrapped in a towel, opened the door. His eyes, cold and piercing, glanced at me as he took the phone. “Hello?” Naked, I brushed past Asher and closed the bathroom door, starting my shower. I didn’t want to hear what they were saying. Anyway, by the time I came out, Asher would certainly be gone. Sure enough, when I emerged, toweling my hair dry, Asher had left. I picked up my phone to find a massive transfer, as usual. In that moment, I felt incredibly cheap, but also incredibly valuable – the kind of cheap that costs a fortune. I pocketed the money and tucked away the lingering bitterness in my heart. What did I have to complain about? I tapped a few buttons on my phone, transferring the money I’d just received back out. Checking the time, it was midnight – the perfect hour for some fun. Slipping into a sparkling slip dress, high heels, smoky eyes, and a bold red lip, I transformed into the most captivating siren on the dance floor tonight. In the noisy club, I effortlessly became the center of attention. I stretched my body with abandon, releasing my charm with the rhythm of the music. Tonight, everyone loved me! “Boss, look at that chick, isn’t that the one Asher Blackwood likes?” a man in a VIP booth pointed at me on the dance floor. “Boss, I think it actually is! The one called Seraphina something!” another man chimed in. “I’ve seen photos! It’s her!” “Why would Seraphina Thorne be here?” Redmond glanced at me. “Most likely his stand-in.” “A stand-in? Then she’s no use! I thought we could snatch her and get some revenge for you, Boss!” Redmond stroked his chin, his eyes leering as they swept over my body. “Forget it, let’s not provoke Asher Blackwood.” “Redmond, are you scared?” A young man appeared outside the booth, smiling innocently under the flashing, multi-colored lights. I emerged from the club, pulling on my jacket. I was always sober; I could have my fun, but I never touched alcohol at bars. “Sweetheart, why don’t you come play with us?” Redmond’s men shouted from behind me. I knew instantly that something was wrong. I turned, gave them a slow, alluring smile, and leisurely slipped off my high heels. “Well, look at you, eager! No wonder Asher Blackwood keeps you around!” The men chuckled obscenely, and my heart sank. These weren’t ordinary thugs; they were after me because of Asher Blackwood. Clutching my high heels, I flashed a dazzling smile. “Asher~ are you here to pick me up?” The men froze, instinctively turning their heads. I seized the moment, spun around, and ran. “Get her!” A hunt began. I ran like a terrified doe, scrambling along the deserted streets at three in the morning. My heart pounded furiously, threatening to burst from my chest. The footsteps behind me grew closer and closer. “I can’t outrun them,” I thought in despair. I could only duck into a narrow alleyway, hiding behind a pile of junk. Carefully, I pulled out my phone and called Asher. He was the only person I could think of who could save me. “Please! Answer the phone!” I bit my lip, silently pleading. My body trembled uncontrollably. I didn’t want to be caught, didn’t want those men to touch me, didn’t want to… With a harsh rip, the torn tarp above me was yanked away. Several men laughed as they dragged me to my feet. Redmond smirked menacingly, his rough hand tracing my thigh. “Those long legs sure can run.” I bit back the disgust, staying silent. Any struggle or scream would be pointless now. I had to stay calm; only then would I have a chance. “Asher Blackwood not answering your calls?” Redmond took a phone from one of his men and dangled it in front of me. “Want me to give you another chance?” “What do you mean?” I felt like a helpless lamb caught in a den of wolves. “Call Asher Blackwood,” Redmond’s expression hardened, his eyes fixed on me with a vicious glare. “Tell him you’re with Redmond, and tell him to give me back my merchandise.” I took the phone, looking at the missed call from earlier. A chill spread through my heart. Asher Blackwood wouldn’t answer my call. My fate, I knew, was sealed. I took the phone, looking at Asher’s number, but I didn’t dial. “Why aren’t you calling?” Redmond watched me impatiently. “Or would you rather spend some time with my men?” “Redmond, may I say something?” I put the phone away, offering a sweet smile. Redmond squinted at me. This girl was truly captivating. “Go on.” “You just said Asher Blackwood has some merchandise of yours. Was it impounded at the docks?” I didn’t know much about Asher’s business, only vaguely remembering his influence there. “That’s right.” “If this merchandise is legitimate, you could call the police, sue him, and then hold a press conference to drag his name through the mud. If it’s not legitimate…” I paused. “Then you should definitely call the police, be a good citizen and report him, and then hire a PR firm to launch a smear campaign. Either way, the merchandise is currently in his hands, and he’ll have a hard time explaining it.” Anyone capable of being a boss wasn’t a fool. Redmond, though getting on in years, usually stuck to old-school methods—direct and unsubtle. After I finished speaking, he thought for a moment. After all, it was a lawful society now. If Asher Blackwood could stab him in the back, why couldn’t he? “Aren’t you Asher Blackwood’s woman?” Redmond looked at me suspiciously. He wasn’t easily fooled. “His woman? His heart is only for Seraphina Thorne. I’m just his plaything.” My clear self-awareness seemed to make Redmond regard me more highly. “Smart girl. Instead of being someone’s stand-in with Asher Blackwood, why not follow me?” Redmond raised an eyebrow. He liked smart women, especially beautiful ones. I laughed, truly laughed, until I shook, a bitter, acidic feeling churning in my gut. To think, as a kept woman, I actually had market value… “Redmond, that would be a different price,” I said, stopping my laughter and handing him my phone. “Here’s my number. Redmond, you can call me anytime you need me.” Redmond chuckled. This girl was interesting. He took my phone, dialed his own number, then glanced at the darkness behind me and nodded. “Alright. Since you’re so sensible, I’ll let you go today.” “Thank you, Redmond.” I took back my phone, lowered my head, and kept my eyes down. Only after Redmond and his men had left did my legs give out, and I sank to the ground. I glanced at my phone. No missed calls, no messages. I wiped my eyes, a bitter, self-mocking laugh escaping my lips. “What’s there to cry about? Wasn’t this all expected?” In the darkness behind me, a dark silhouette watched me, a knowing smile playing on his lips. *** **截断点** Since that terrifying night at the club, I hadn’t left the apartment. I was just an ordinary woman, capable of fear and psychological trauma. But I couldn’t tell anyone. I had no friends; my entire world revolved around Asher Blackwood, and he had no interest in hearing my stories. “Get up!” Just as I was drifting off to sleep after taking a sleeping pill, Asher Blackwood burst in and dragged me up. A glass of cold water was splashed onto my face. I shook myself awake, looking through my dripping hair at Asher. “Boss? What brings you here today?” “Did Redmond touch you?” Asher’s face was cold, his eyes blazing with a fury that threatened to consume me. “Do you believe me when I say no?” I blinked, holding back the burning tears. “You still dare to lie to me.” Asher’s gaze grew even more dangerous. He dragged me from the bed onto the floor and tore off my nightgown. My pale body was exposed to the cold air, water dripping onto my skin. I couldn’t stop trembling. My lips, now white, mumbled the words again: “Do you believe me when I say no?” Asher stared at my face, almost identical to Seraphina’s, and grew even angrier. In his mind, I was Seraphina. This woman had allowed his goddess to be defiled by Redmond. He would never forgive me. “Since you like being touched, I’ll satisfy you!” “What are you doing…?” Asher tore open his shirt and pushed me beneath him, taking me again and again with brutal force. The thought of me being touched by another man ignited an uncontrollable rage within him. He told himself it was only because he saw me as Seraphina. With each merciless thrust, I felt no pleasure, only humiliation, injustice, and boundless pain… Finally, Asher finished venting. I breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear him say, “You think this is over?” I looked up at Asher, repeating the same words, “Do you believe me when I say no?” “Hmph.” Asher scoffed dismissively. He looked towards the door and slowly spoke. “There are ten more men outside waiting for you to serve them.” I stared at Asher in horror. “Asher Blackwood, why won’t you just believe me?” Asher looked down at the woman on the floor. I had the most beautiful, most alluring body; no man could see it and resist. He knew Redmond too well. That old fox would do anything for his merchandise. How could I have escaped unscathed from his clutches? Looking at my face, he still softened. “Don’t leave the apartment without my permission.” I watched his retreating back, biting my lip to hold back my tears. After all, my tears were just an act in his eyes. Only after the front door slammed shut did I finally curl up and sob uncontrollably. In the following days, Asher Blackwood didn’t come back. I was truly caged. I sat on the balcony lounger, gazing at the blue sky outside the window. “Perhaps, it’s time to leave.” Late that night, at Redmond’s villa, Asher Blackwood sat on the living room sofa. “I thought Redmond, who’s dominated the city for years, would be a smart man.” Redmond was pinned to the ground by Asher’s men. He glared at Asher hatefully. “Mr. Blackwood, you probably don’t know, but Jasper Sterling has a share in this merchandise. You’re not afraid to offend me, aren’t you afraid to offend him?” Asher Blackwood sneered. “You don’t seriously think I impounded this merchandise just because of you, do you?” Redmond suddenly understood. Asher Blackwood was after Jasper Sterling. And he had listened to me, holding a press conference and blowing the whole thing wide open. “Damn you! Your woman is as despicable as you are!” Asher Blackwood’s eyes instantly turned dangerous. “You dared to go after Seraphina Thorne.” “Seraphina Thorne? You don’t deserve her! I’m talking about that bitch you keep around!” Redmond continued to curse. “I should never have let her go that day!” Asher Blackwood’s gaze darkened. Redmond hadn’t touched me? After dealing with Redmond, Asher Blackwood left the villa. After a moment’s thought, he pulled out his phone and typed something. I had just finished showering and was about to go to bed when I saw Asher Blackwood’s message: “Come downstairs.” Asher Blackwood took me to the Grand Allure Club. I sat in the private room, unsure what Asher wanted. Asher didn’t say a word, leaning back on the sofa, looking incredibly tired. The door suddenly opened, and a young man entered with several bodyguards. Asher Blackwood glanced at the man, his expression darkening. “What are you doing here?” “Mr. Blackwood impounded my merchandise, so of course, I have to reciprocate.” The man sat casually on the sofa opposite Asher Blackwood. “I, Jasper Sterling, am not one to take a loss silently.” “Jasper Sterling…” I blinked. Could this be the legendary Mr. Sterling who dominated the city? “I’ve already spoken with the patriarch of the Thorne family. He’s agreed to give me Seraphina Thorne in marriage,” Mr. Sterling looked at Asher Blackwood. “What do you think, Mr. Blackwood?” “You dare touch her!” Asher Blackwood’s eyes turned vicious at the mention of Seraphina Thorne’s name. Mr. Sterling raised an eyebrow. “If Mr. Blackwood hadn’t pulled the rug out from under me, I wouldn’t have resorted to such extreme measures.” Asher Blackwood was silent for a moment. “I’ll return your merchandise.” Mr. Sterling smiled. “I want more than just the merchandise; I want a person.” He paused, his gaze landing on me. “Since Mr. Blackwood can’t bear to part with Seraphina Thorne, then let this beauty entertain me.” Hearing Asher Blackwood offer me up like a gift, my heart ached. Was I truly so worthless in his eyes…? “Go.” Asher Blackwood’s voice was low and icy. “Asher Blackwood… by what right?” My eyes welled up. Asher Blackwood gave me a cold glance. “Isn’t this what you’re paid for?” My heart gave a sharp pang. Yes, in his eyes, wasn’t I just a woman who sold her body for money and clung to wealth…? I walked over to Jasper Sterling, and in a sweet, demure voice, I called out, “Mr. Sterling.” Jasper Sterling nodded in satisfaction, pulling me onto his lap. We drank and played drinking games right in front of Asher Blackwood, having a grand time. Asher Blackwood watched my jacket being removed, revealing my beautiful collarbone and smooth back. His eyes darkened, a nameless irritation churning within him. I sat in Jasper Sterling’s arms, my slender arm resting on his shoulder. In the dim light, I looked at Asher Blackwood opposite us, and my heart felt a little sore. He wouldn’t care about me anyway. In his eyes, I wasn’t even a pet, just a cheap object to be given away and played with. Fighting back tears, I downed a large glass of red wine. I didn’t care anymore. I should have known how insignificant and laughable I was to Asher Blackwood. He wouldn’t even believe I was with him because I loved him. Jasper Sterling’s breath fell on my ear, and his hand explored under my dress. I didn’t even struggle; I lay submissively on the sofa, turning my head as tears finally streamed down my face, unstoppable. Asher Blackwood didn’t see my tears. All he saw was my submission and willingness towards Jasper Sterling. Asher Blackwood’s anger surged uncontrollably. He strode over, grabbed me, and slapped me. “You slut!” I fell to the floor, my cheek burning with pain. I subtly wiped away my tears, looked up at Asher Blackwood, and laughed. “Don’t you know I’m a slut, Mr. Blackwood? Isn’t that why you make me do these things?” “Get out! Don’t let me see your face again!” Asher Blackwood’s mind was a mess. He told himself he definitely didn’t care about me; he just cared about my face, which was so similar to Seraphina Thorne’s. Lost and distraught, I stumbled out of Grand Allure. Barefoot on the asphalt, wearing only a short skirt, my provocative figure drew unwanted attention. “Boss! It’s her!” I heard the voice and looked back. It was Redmond! “Grab her!” Redmond’s expression turned vicious when he saw me. I turned and ran. I knew if I fell into Redmond’s hands this time, my fate would be dire. I ran into the parking garage and bumped into Asher Blackwood. “Asher Blackwood! Save me!” “What game are you playing now?” Asher Blackwood looked at me impatiently. “No! It’s not! It’s Redmond, his men are chasing me!” I clutched Asher Blackwood’s arm, looking back in terror, but there was no one behind me. Not a single one of the pursuers had followed. “Hmph.” Asher Blackwood sneered. “At least come up with a better sob story.” My heart instantly turned cold. “Asher Blackwood, why won’t you ever believe me…?” “Don’t play any more tricks, and don’t let me see you again.” Asher Blackwood coldly shook off my hand, got into his car, and drove away. “You little bitch, you’ve fallen into my hands this time.” As Asher Blackwood’s car sped off, Redmond and his men emerged from the shadows. I didn’t even have time to run before they surrounded me. Redmond grabbed my neck tightly, lifting me and pinning me against the wall. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, even trying to trick me.” My neck burned with pain, and my breathing grew difficult. I watched the taillights disappear into the night. Asher Blackwood really left… I felt like a broken doll, cruelly tossed aside. Several men swarmed me, tearing my clothes, but I just stared intently in the direction Asher Blackwood had gone. He could have saved me… Why… Why couldn’t he believe me just once…? “Ahem.” Jasper Sterling walked over, coughed lightly, and looked at me, barely clothed on the ground. He raised a hand and slapped Redmond. “Mr. Sterling…” Redmond lowered his head, not daring to speak. “Asher Blackwood gave her to me,” Jasper Sterling said, taking off his jacket and covering me. “Understood, understood. I wouldn’t dare touch Mr. Sterling’s woman.” Redmond, trembling, quickly led his men away. Jasper Sterling looked at me on the ground. Beaten like this, I hadn’t begged or made a sound. This woman was interesting. He picked me up and turned, only to see Asher Blackwood’s black Mercedes parked not far away. Asher Blackwood watched us, gripping the steering wheel. He must have been insane to believe me, to drive back like a fool. His face was cold as he watched Jasper Sterling place me in his car. I didn’t resist at all. Asher Blackwood felt a surge of uncontrollable anger. His phone rang. Asher Blackwood frowned, seeing it was Seraphina Thorne. He took a deep breath, suppressing the inexplicable rage in his heart, and answered as gently as possible. “Seraphina? What’s wrong?” “Asher, Father is going to marry me off to Jasper Sterling, and I don’t like him.” Seraphina’s voice on the phone was filled with such raw hurt. “Don’t worry, I’ve already taken care of it for you. Just focus on your recovery abroad.” I slowly woke up to find myself in a car. I looked at the man’s back in front and tentatively called out, “Asher Blackwood?” “Hmph.” Jasper Sterling, who was driving, sneered. “Do you think it would be him?” “Mr. Sterling?” I pursed my lips. “Thank you.” The car drove fast. I leaned against the window, watching the night scenery fly by. I thought of Asher Blackwood. He really hadn’t come to save me. I didn’t believe he hadn’t seen Redmond; he just didn’t care. My innocence, my life or death, meant nothing to him… “Get out.” I froze, realizing the car had stopped. I quickly got out, afraid he’d misunderstand that I wanted to stay. The car drove away, and I realized I was still wearing Jasper Sterling’s jacket. The night wind swept past, and I pulled the jacket tighter. “Forget it. I’ll return it to him next time I get the chance.” In the darkness, Asher Blackwood stared at me like a hungry wolf. He watched me get out of Jasper Sterling’s car, watched me reluctantly pull Jasper Sterling’s jacket tighter. This woman had truly betrayed him! I was completely unaware of Asher Blackwood standing in the shadows. I turned and walked into my apartment. As the elevator doors opened, someone shoved me inside. “Ah!” I screamed, pinned against the elevator wall, terrified. “What? You don’t want me to touch you now?” Asher Blackwood pressed against my back, his voice low as he spoke into my ear. “Asher Blackwood! You bastard!” I struggled desperately. This was an elevator, there were cameras! I didn’t want this here! But Asher Blackwood completely ignored my resistance. He ripped off the jacket I was wearing. My body was covered in bruises, full of injuries. In his eyes, these were all marks of my depravity with Jasper Sterling. My knees were forced apart. I bit my lip, shaking my head violently. “No… Asher Blackwood, please don’t do this here…” “Hmph.” Asher Blackwood thrust into my tight warmth. “Ah!” A tearing pain ripped through my lower body. “Asher Blackwood! You bastard!” Asher Blackwood pinned me ruthlessly in the elevator, thrusting and grinding without mercy. Neither of us found any pleasure; it was only for punishment, for torment, to erase any other man’s marks from my body. I was in agony. My dignity, my love, were all crushed by Asher Blackwood. My lips were bitten raw, the metallic taste of blood constantly irritating my throat. Finally, after Asher Blackwood’s last thrust, I vomited. Asher Blackwood watched me, cold and sinister, sprawled on the floor. “You utterly disgust me.” The elevator doors opened. Asher Blackwood walked out, leaving me disheveled and slumped inside. The camera above flashed its red light, recording everything… After a night of torment, I developed a fever. I lay weakly in bed, thinking that if I could just die like this, it wouldn’t be so bad. My phone pinged. I saw the message: “Evergreen Care Center.” I forced myself to sit up and read the entire message. A relieved smile appeared on my face. My fingers gently caressed the phone screen, which displayed a photo of an elderly woman. She looked very well. “It seems the care center is taking good care of Grandma.” Thinking of Grandma, I found a new will to live. The hospital was bustling with people. I, all alone, forced myself to stay strong, underwent examinations, collected reports, and sat before the doctor, feeling uncontrollably dizzy. “Just a common fever,” the doctor said, glancing at the reports. “But you’re pregnant, so you need to be careful with medication.” “Wait, what did you just say?” I rubbed my temples, suspecting I’d misheard. “You’re pregnant,” the doctor repeated. I froze on the spot. I was pregnant with Asher Blackwood’s child? I walked out of the hospital in a daze, my hand instinctively resting on my lower abdomen. I still couldn’t quite believe it—a life was growing inside me… The taxi stopped at the apartment building. As I got out, I saw a pile of clothes on the ground, thrown out like trash by the street. “These are my things…” I stared blankly at my luggage. Asher Blackwood walked out of the building, his two bodyguards throwing the remaining boxes at my feet, their contents spilling onto the road. “Asher Blackwood, what are you doing now…?” My face was pale, and I felt even dizzier. The bodyguards stood in front of me, blocking me from going up. “Ms. Hayes, Mr. Blackwood requests that you move out.” I looked up at Asher Blackwood, standing imperiously on the stairs, my eyes red. “Asher Blackwood…” Asher Blackwood didn’t even glance at me. He walked down the stairs, got into his car, and sped away. The bodyguards looked a little regretful. “Ms. Hayes, Ms. Thorne is back. She’s not happy with your presence, so… please don’t blame Mr. Blackwood.” After saying that, they got into the car behind him and followed Asher Blackwood away. I stood there, stunned. The sun was so bright, yet I felt cold, a coldness that seeped from my very core. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. “So, the real owner is back.” I crouched on the ground, picking up my clothes one by one. People came and went on the street, pointing and whispering, but I ignored them all. My dignity had already been crushed by Asher Blackwood anyway… I slept in the hotel until evening before finally getting up. I touched my forehead; the fever had broken, and I felt much better. I picked up my phone and saw a breaking news alert. “Late-Night Elevator Affair: Beauty’s Scandalous Performance!” My hands trembled as I clicked on the notification. The news article featured many screenshots from the video: it was Asher Blackwood and me. Only Asher Blackwood’s face was pixelated, while mine was disturbably clear. “Who did this…?” *Ring! Ring!* My phone suddenly rang. I looked to see it was Asher Blackwood. “You’re the one who leaked the footage, aren’t you?” Asher Blackwood’s voice was frigid. “I underestimated your cunning. Unfortunately, you targeted the wrong person.” “It wasn’t me…” I mumbled, my voice barely audible. I was the victim, wasn’t I? Why could Asher Blackwood accuse me so righteously, unwilling to even hear my explanation? “Seraphina saw the news, and her old illness flared up again. If anything happens to her, I’ll make you pay with your life!” Asher Blackwood hung up, leaving me alone, clutching the phone and silently weeping. At the hospital, Seraphina Thorne’s pale face looked at Asher Blackwood with a hint of apology. “Asher, I don’t blame you. I know how hard it must have been for you all these years I was gone. I just…” Before she could finish, tears streamed down her face. Asher Blackwood held her protectively. “It’s all my fault.” “I don’t blame you.” Seraphina Thorne shook her head, blushing as she leaned into Asher Blackwood’s embrace. “Now that I’m back, you won’t need to look for other women.” Asher Blackwood was silent for a moment. “Your health isn’t good, we’re not in a hurry.” Seraphina Thorne’s eyes darkened. “Asher, before I went abroad, you said we’d get married when I came back. So… does that still count?” “Of course it counts. We’ll get married next month.” Asher Blackwood hugged Seraphina Thorne tightly, but for some reason, the tighter he held her, the emptier he felt inside. Asher Blackwood left. Seraphina Thorne sat on the hospital bed, shedding her frail demeanor. She looked at the video screenshots on her phone, her eyes growing increasingly vicious. She dialed a number. “Find out who that woman in the video is. I want all her information.” I locked myself in the hotel room. I didn’t dare to go out, didn’t want to go out, just hoping this whole thing would blow over quickly. But someone seemed to have leaked my hotel information, and every night, men would knock on my door. I called the hotel to complain, but they would only implicitly hint at my supposed fault. I called the police, but when they arrived and saw it was me, they would just shake their heads and leave. I would scream for the people outside to go away, but they would only grow more excited, laughing louder. I could only cover my ears, hiding in the corner of the room. I bit my lip, trying not to cry. I couldn’t understand what I had done wrong. Was loving Asher Blackwood my biggest mistake…? My phone rang. I gripped this single point of light in the darkness. “Tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM, Moonlight Cafe.” “Who is this…?” I looked at the number; it wasn’t Asher Blackwood’s. There was no reply. I wearily buried my head in my knees. Forget it, whoever it was, I had nothing left to lose anyway. At the cafe, I looked at Seraphina Thorne sitting opposite me, feeling a little lost. Why was she looking for me…? The ‘real owner’ looking for the ‘stand-in’ usually meant she wanted me to leave Asher Blackwood, but I had no relationship with him anymore… “Leave Asher.” Seraphina Thorne cut straight to the point. “I think you might be mistaken,” I tried to explain that I had no connection to Asher Blackwood anymore. “Mistaken? I’ve seen plenty of people like you abroad.” Seraphina Thorne scoffed derisively. “How much money will it take for you to disappear?” I bit my lip. “I don’t want money…” “Don’t tell me you love him.” Seraphina Thorne paused. “You don’t deserve him. Just take the money and leave.” Leave? How I longed to leave this city that had brought me so much pain. But I couldn’t go. Grandma still lived in the care center here. Her mental state had only just stabilized; if she were moved to an unfamiliar place and stimulated, who knew what might happen. I shook my head. “Ms. Thorne, you’re really mistaken. I’m not…” Before I could finish, Seraphina Thorne slapped me. “Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.” My head snapped sideways from the blow. I closed my eyes. Why was I enduring all this humiliation?! I stood up. I didn’t want to say anything more to Seraphina Thorne. If we couldn’t agree, it was better to leave quickly. “Ms. Hayes, please don’t hit me! I truly love Asher…” Seraphina Thorne opposite me suddenly burst into tears. Before I could react, someone grabbed me from behind. It was Asher Blackwood. “Who gave you permission to bother Seraphina?” His gaze at me was colder and more ruthless. “You truly have so many tricks up your sleeve, woman.” “I didn’t…” I didn’t want to explain anymore. Whatever I said, Asher Blackwood wouldn’t believe me, so why waste my breath? “If you dare to go near Seraphina again, I won’t hold back.” Asher Blackwood darkly threw me to the ground. I watched Asher Blackwood gently embrace Seraphina Thorne and leave, finding it somewhat amusing. I tilted my head back, trying to hold back the flowing tears, but failed. My heart truly ached, so much… I looked at the collection notices on my phone and sighed. Grandma’s care center fees were due again. I checked the money in my card, feeling a bit heavy-hearted. It seemed I’d have to go to the care center and negotiate with the director; maybe I could defer for a while. The care center was in a remote location, but the environment was excellent—nestled by mountains and rivers, secluded from the world, perfect for Grandma. I talked with the director for a long time before he agreed to defer for three months. I breathed a sigh of relief. I then went to see Grandma. She still didn’t recognize me, but she would affectionately hold my hand and tell me, “I have a granddaughter, about your age. She’s a very good girl.” After returning from the care center, I started looking for a job. All I wanted was to make money now. Although I didn’t have much work experience, my university design projects had won awards. But for some reason, all my job applications seemed to vanish into a black hole. I waited three more days, but no company called me, not even for an interview. The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed, so I simply called one. The person on the other end expressed great interest in my resume, but after hearing my name, they hung up. I listened to the dial tone, and instantly understood. It was Asher Blackwood, wasn’t it? Was he truly trying to push me to the brink of despair…? *Ring! Ring!* My phone rang. I quickly answered, afraid of missing a job opportunity.

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My mom, Lorelei, couldn’t handle my dad David’s cheating. She tried to take her own life by opening the gas valve. She didn’t die, but I, Aubrey, was burned and disfigured saving her from the fire. Seven years later, Lorelei found a new boyfriend, handsome and rich. A week before her wedding, she started packing my bags. “Look, don’t blame me for being heartless, okay?” she snapped. “You look like a monster. What if you scare my boyfriend’s daughter?” “I’ve raised you for years; I’ve paid my dues. It’s your dad’s turn to take responsibility now.” Then, she dropped me and my luggage at my dad’s apartment complex. I was terrified waiting there because I’d dropped my mask and hat in Lorelei’s car. When I thought to chase her, she sped up, eager to get rid of me. I stumbled and fell while desperately trying to catch her, making my already disfigured face look even worse. After scrambling back to my feet on all fours, Lorelei’s car was gone. So I could only crouch on the ground, burying my face deep in my knees. But thankfully, it wasn’t long before a middle-aged man ran over, panting. He called out tentatively, cautiously. “Aubrey.” I quickly looked up. What met my eyes was a stranger. Seeing my face, the man paused for a moment. But after a brief second, he said, “Hello, I’m Mr. Thompson, your dad’s good friend.” “Your dad’s away on a business trip today, so he asked me to pick you up.” The man’s voice was quite loud at first, but maybe it was because I was staring at him. His voice grew softer, almost a whisper. I’d encountered this scenario many times. Ever since I was disfigured saving Lorelei from the fire, it’s always been like this. The first time I returned to school after being discharged from the hospital, with my face covered in twisted scars, Ms. Davies, my homeroom teacher, was on the podium, trying to prepare the class emotionally. She was telling them not to give me strange looks or treat me differently. She spoke passionately and fiercely, but the moment I stepped into the classroom, Ms. Davies was just like this man; her voice hitched, then she stammered a few times, finally forcing the words out to the class. “Okay, cl-classmates… let’s give Aubrey a round of applause for re-returning to school.” A scattered applause echoed through the classroom. But no amount of clapping could hide the shaken, terrified stares that followed me. After that, there were two kinds of people in my class. Some felt sympathy for what I’d been through. Others were terrified, saying I looked like a horrifying monster and were scared if I even looked at them. But no matter what kind of person they were, in the end, no one was willing to interact with me. Even my best friend, my best deskmate, grew distant. I once overheard them talking in the restroom. “Ugh, it’s not that I don’t want to be Aubrey’s friend anymore, but I’m genuinely scared. Every time she looks at me, I have nightmares when I get home.” So, already used to such gazes, I calmly bent down, picked up my luggage, and said, “Let’s go.” The man paused for a second before snapping out of it and quickly followed me. “Aubrey, is your suitcase heavy? Uncle Thompson can help you with it, okay?” I simply shook my head slightly and then lowered my head again, pulling my collar up to hide my face. Seeing my action, the man quickly rushed ahead of me. Watching him, I felt a pang of derision. I wondered why he was so silly. Did he think his large build would somehow make me less noticeable? But he didn’t know that every step of the way, I was met with stares from children and adults alike, stares that openly labeled me a monster.

The man took me to a two-bedroom apartment. It wasn’t large, but it was exceptionally clean. The room was filled with family photos of my dad, a woman I didn’t know, and a little boy. Even with a quick glance, I could tell it was a warm, loving home. It was exactly like the cozy scene with Lorelei, her boyfriend, and his daughter eating at McDonald’s. As soon as we entered, the man invited me to sit on the sofa and eagerly went to pour me some water. But he fumbled around, but couldn’t find the kettle. Seeing his frantic search, I calmly spoke up. “I don’t like interacting with strangers. You can go now.” The man froze slightly, the smile on his face stiffening. But after a moment, he tried to appease me. “Alright, alright, if that’s the case, then I’ll head out.” Then the door slammed shut. It wasn’t until I heard the man’s footsteps fade away that my rigidly upright posture finally softened. After a moment of daze, I pulled out my phone, intending to send Lorelei a SnapChat, to tell her I had arrived at my dad’s. But as soon as I opened my phone, I saw Lorelei’s SnapChat post. “Waiting for my daughter to get out of school.” The accompanying picture was of a little girl with a backpack walking out of school. My fingers tightened around my phone. A suffocating, bitter ache rose in my chest. I held it back, forcing myself to switch from the SnapChat interface to a food delivery app. Just as I was about to order some masks and hats for myself, I remembered Lorelei hadn’t given me any money. Three days ago, she told me she’d already spoken to my dad, and that he would be responsible for all my future tuition, miscellaneous fees, and living expenses. So, she wouldn’t be giving me my allowance for the month. My eyes felt raw, and I had to lie down on the sofa to swallow back my tears. With nothing else to do, I started to daydream. Thinking of nothing, yet seemingly everything. It wasn’t until the sun had set that a little boy’s voice suddenly echoed from outside. “Mommy, is my big sister really coming to live with us? That’s great! I’m definitely going to show her my new Ultraman!” Hearing the noise outside, I immediately sat up on the sofa, straightening my back. Remembering I wasn’t wearing my mask, I frantically pulled my collar up, trying to hide my face in a messy scramble. But I was too late. As a hurried sound of the door opening echoed, It was immediately followed by a startled scream. “Ah! A ghost!” Then came the sound of a boy wailing. My heart seized, and I scrambled to my feet. The woman who entered was a bit plump, dressed in clothes that weren’t particularly trendy. She glanced at me frantically, then picked up the wailing child. She must have been scared too, her voice trembling slightly. “I… I’m so sorry, Aubrey. I… I didn’t know you were already home.” “Your dad called me and said… said you weren’t coming until tonight.” After saying that, she turned to gently comfort the little boy in her arms. “Leo, don’t cry. What did Mommy tell you before? Do you remember?” “This is your big sister, Aubrey! Weren’t you most excited for her to come?” The boy’s crying subsided with the woman’s soothing, but after cautiously peeking at me, he clung to his mom’s neck even tighter and started crying again. His mom looked at me apologetically. “I… I’m so sorry, Aubrey. Your little brother, he’s just a little boy, he doesn’t understand yet.” Actually, she didn’t need to explain. After Lorelei found a boyfriend, she once brought his daughter home. That day, I was sick with a cold and hadn’t gone to school. As soon as the little girl saw a “ghost” in the house, she was so scared she started wailing like a banshee. Lorelei immediately panicked, rushed over, slapped me, and angrily picked up the little girl, storming out of the house. When she came home that night, she made a rule for me. Whenever I was home, except for using the restroom or eating, I had to stay in my room. Not wanting to be annoying anymore, I spoke up amidst the little boy’s cries. “Where’s my room?” The woman’s eyes flickered slightly, then she pointed to the bedroom closest to the bathroom. I pursed my lips, said nothing, and turned to drag my suitcase to the room Elara had assigned me.

For the next three days, other than eating and using the restroom, I hardly left my room. I spent my days either studying or reading. Occasionally, the happy shouts of the little boy from outside would make me pause my pen. It made me think of when David hadn’t cheated yet. Back then, every day when he came home from work, my dad would carry me on his shoulders, and I’d hold a doll in my arms, shouting with joy that Dad’s shoulders were my very own pumpkin carriage. Then, from the kitchen, I’d hear Lorelei’s nagging. She’d ask David why he wasn’t taking me to clean up yet. She’d say I was always getting into mischief all day long. Back then, I’d always giggle with laughter on Dad’s shoulders. Perhaps life was too beautiful back then, so beautiful that even now, tears welled up in my eyes. Staring at the blurred words, I hastily pulled at my sleeve to wipe them away. But the more I wiped, the more the ink bled on my homework, the more the words blurred on my page. It seemed I don’t deserve good memories. Two more days passed. One afternoon, there was a knock on my door. The moment I heard it, my body instinctively tensed. I straightened up, stood, and went to open the door. Elara was standing there, holding the little boy’s hand, looking at me with an appeasing smile. “Aubrey, Auntie Elara bought you something.” Saying this, she handed me a plastic bag. I looked down and saw sanitary pads. She saw my expression and quickly said, “Aubrey, Auntie Elara saw you were using toilet paper in the bathroom, I’m sorry, so I took the liberty of getting you some.” “Oh, and do you not have any money on you? Can I get your SnapChat to send you some money via PayPal?” I looked at her plastic bag, hesitating. But thinking about how uncomfortable it was using toilet paper, I finally took the plastic bag from her hand. I also complied, pulling out my phone to add her on SnapChat. After doing everything, I closed my door. But within a few minutes, Elara knocked again. “Aubrey, Auntie Elara made you a warm herbal drink for your cramps. Would you like to open the door and drink some? It can really help ease the pain.” “Girls your age often get bad cramps.” Listening to Lorelei’s voice through the door, I clenched my fists tightly. This reminded me of two years ago, when I first started my period. My periods were irregular, and the cramps were so bad I’d be rolling on the floor in agony every time. Back then, I cried and begged Lorelei to take me to the doctor. I told her I was in so much pain, so much pain. My mom snapped at me, annoyed: “You’re so dramatic! It’s just period pain, what’s the big deal? “When do I have time to take you to the doctor? Even if I did, I wouldn’t want to. “Ever since you were disfigured, every time I take you out, I feel like a criminal. Strangers stare at me all the time; it’s utterly humiliating! “And besides, I’m going on a trip with my boyfriend today, I don’t have time.” “If you’re really in so much pain, there’s some brown sugar in the fridge. Just mix it with hot water and drink it.” After saying that, Lorelei grabbed her bag and walked out the door. That night, due to severe cramps and a persistent high fever, I almost died at home. It wasn’t until I crawled out and knocked on a neighbor’s door that she took me to the hospital, and I barely clung to life. When Lorelei was called to the hospital, Her first reaction wasn’t to comfort me. It was anger. “Aubrey, why are you so much trouble? I leave for a second and something happens to you.” “I must have been cursed in a past life to have such a jinx for a daughter!” Thinking of the despair I felt lying in that hospital bed back then, A sudden surge of anger, I don’t know why, erupted in my chest. Loudly, angrily, I yelled at the woman outside the room. “I don’t want it! Go away!” It was a long time before I heard the woman’s retreating footsteps outside. And the moment those footsteps disappeared, tears streamed down my scarred face. That night, I didn’t go out for dinner. Elara came to my door several times. Each time, I thought she was going to knock. But each time, she only stood at my door for a moment before leaving. It wasn’t until midnight that I suddenly saw a SnapChat post from her. “Hey ladies, any advice on how to communicate with a teenage daughter?” My fingers tightened around my phone. The word “daughter” hit me like a ton of bricks, stabbing deep into my heart. Ever since I was disfigured, Lorelei had never publicly acknowledged me as her daughter. Even when she took me out, she wouldn’t let me call her mom. When others asked, she would only introduce me as a relative’s child. When we were alone, she explained it to me. She said if people knew she was my mom, they would condemn her, saying what kind of mother lets her young child get so horribly burned. She also said that my disfigurement was all David’s fault. If David hadn’t cheated and divorced her, she wouldn’t have tried to take her own life, and I wouldn’t have become… this monster. So, I couldn’t guilt-trip her, my mother. If I wanted to hate someone, I should hate David. And hate the woman who was now posting on SnapChat, calling me her daughter.

I initially thought after I yelled at Elara yesterday, She wouldn’t bother with me anymore. After all, she and I were essentially rivals, and now I was like a burden, intruding on her happy family. But to my surprise, the next morning, she knocked on my room door again. First, she told me breakfast was by the door. I didn’t answer. Around mid-morning, she knocked again, saying she’d prepared some fruit for me and left it outside my door. I still didn’t answer. It wasn’t until almost noon that the door was knocked on again. I was incredibly annoyed. I climbed out of bed and went to open the door, ready to shout, when I saw the little boy standing there, looking pitifully, his eyes brimming with tears, holding an Ultraman figure. “Big sister, my Ultraman’s leg is broken! Mom won’t fix it for me, but she said you can!” With that, the little boy rushed forward and clung tightly to my leg. “Please, big sister, help me fix my Ultraman! My Ultraman is broken, I’m going to be so heartbroken!” My pant leg was smeared with the boy’s snot and tears. Just as I stood there, flustered, Elara stood at the end of the hallway, holding a spatula, yelling at me. “Aubrey, quickly go comfort your brother! He’s being so annoying!” “I’m cooking right now, I don’t have time!” With that, Elara disappeared back into the kitchen. My hands clenched slightly. It took me a few seconds to find my voice. “Give me the Ultraman.” The boy, like a seasoned actor, instantly stopped crying. Fearing he’d see my face and start crying again, I took two steps back, ready to close the door. The boy, however, zoomed past me, darted into the room, kicked off his shoes, and rolled twice on my bed. “Big sister, come here quickly! Fix my Ultraman on the bed!” My fingers tightened around the Ultraman figure again. But seeing that the boy hadn’t been scared into crying, I sat down sideways on the bed, my feet on the floor, my upper body stiff. As soon as I picked up the Ultraman, the boy suddenly launched himself into my arms. “Big sister, I want you to hold me while you fix it!” The sudden warmth against my chest made my body instantly tense. Even my fingers holding the Ultraman trembled. Ever since I was disfigured, I hadn’t had such close physical contact with anyone. After all, Lorelei wouldn’t even look at me after I was disfigured, let alone hug me. And everyone else just found me repulsive, a monster. They would even walk several feet away from me if we were on the same path. But before I could react, the boy kissed my scarred face. “Big sister, I like you.”

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At the party, my asthma flared up. I fumbled for my emergency inhaler. But the bottle was empty. Brandon explained: “Layla said she had a really scratchy throat, so I just handed her your inhaler. You know, for a quick fix. Chew on some throat lozenges, it’ll help.” My breathing was already getting harder and harder. “She has a dry throat, can’t she just drink some water? You guys are trying to kill me!” He frowned, annoyed. “Can you just stop being so dramatic? You always make yourself out to be some delicate flower. Layla’s right, you’re just playing victim.” I didn’t argue anymore. I sent a message to my mom: “My asthma’s acting up, but Brandon gave my inhaler to Layla.” Brandon saw the message and brushed it off. “You’re doing this again? Always running to your mom, are you in elementary school?” He snatched my phone, held it high above his head, looking down at me. I tried to get it back. The moment I stood up, my vision went black, and I stumbled back down. “My asthma’s attacking, please, help me!” I gasped, trying to explain. Just then, Layla walked over, not forgetting to wave my inhaler in her hand. “Oh, Avery, my little princess, are you *really* that bad off? Or are you just trying to get some attention?” “Ugh, I told Brandon we shouldn’t have girls at our guy’s night. Always so emotional, always trying to stir up drama between each other.” I gasped for air, staring intently at Layla. She was Brandon’s childhood friend. She was always one of the guys, super comfortable hanging out with them, even calling them “bros.” Brandon had mentioned Layla to me more than once, always praising her for being a “true tomboy.” At first, I actually had a good impression of the easygoing “guy’s girl” Brandon talked about. After our relationship became stable, Brandon took me to meet his circle of friends. Layla would always act so friendly towards women. “Oh, Brandon, you’ve got good taste! Where did you find this little angel?” “Aww, girl, come here for a hug! Let’s ignore these stinky boys.” But I always felt Layla’s eyes on me, subtly, with a hint of malice. Her methods were clever. She talked about female solidarity, but her actions always subtly isolated me. For example, she would always bring up their childhood memories at parties. I couldn’t interject and could only sit silently to the side. Then, she’d casually joke with me. “What’s wrong, princess? Are you upset because I’m talking to Brandon?” I had mentioned to Brandon that I felt uncomfortable. But Brandon would just call me petty. He’d say Layla was just trying to lighten the mood, and I was too sensitive. Now, however, Layla’s malice was completely undisguised. “A princess will always be a princess, won’t she? Are you upset that we’re not all fawning over you, so you’re faking being sick?” The guys around us burst into snickers at her words. “I’m really not feeling well, give me the inhaler!” I raised my voice. Seeing my state, the room went silent for a second. Then, a more explosive round of jeering erupted. Layla placed her hand on Brandon’s shoulder. She watched me struggling to breathe, laughing so hard she almost fell over. “Oh, wow, she’s putting on quite a show, Brandon. Are you actually feeling sorry for her?” The others egged Brandon on. “Yeah, Brandon, you’re not going to be scared of your wife after you get married, are you?” “Don’t embarrass us, man! You’re the one in charge. If your girl acts up, you gotta put her in her place!” Brandon couldn’t stand being provoked like that. He stiffened his neck, not looking at me. “Who feels sorry for her? She needs to be taught a lesson, always looking for trouble.” I couldn’t breathe. I desperately pulled at Brandon’s sleeve, guttural “hoarse” sounds escaping my throat. “Help… me…” Seeing me like that, Brandon hesitated. But Layla spoke up again. “Alright, alright, Avery, we’re all just straight-up guys here. Nobody’s falling for your damsel-in-distress act.” Knowing it was useless to talk to him, I tried to leave the room. But as soon as I managed to get my body up, Layla shoved me back down. “The party’s not over yet, how can you leave? That’s just rude!” Her grip was strong. Before I knew it, the back of my head hit the wall. *CRACK!* My head spun even more. I didn’t even have time to react. Layla screamed first.

She covered her mouth, speaking dramatically. “Oh? You’re so manipulative, aren’t you?” “I barely touched you, and you intentionally hit your head against the wall just to frame me.” Hearing that, Brandon’s eyes grew even more impatient. “Avery, you’re going too far.” I bit my lip, trying to stay conscious. “I have severe asthma. If you don’t want someone to die, then stop this right now.” My throat burned, every breath felt like inhaling shards of glass. But Layla dangled the inhaler in front of my eyes, tauntingly, then dramatically took a deep puff. “Can’t give it to you, my throat’s dry.” “And I gotta say, you get what you pay for. This thing feels amazing.” I struggled to raise my hand to snatch it. She laughed, raising her hand high to avoid me. “No. Not giving it to you.” I was so enraged that my vision went black again. Brandon stood by, arms crossed, watching. “Look at you, acting like a beggar. Layla’s just using it for a bit, don’t be so petty.” “Layla’s seen your medical report. You don’t have asthma; you’re just a little short of breath.” I forced myself to calm down. “Brandon, you’ve seen me during an asthma attack, haven’t you? Why would I lie about something like this?” Before Brandon could answer, Layla interjected. “Of course, for attention! In this day and age, there are always those attention-seekers faking illnesses.” “Heh, Avery, are you like those ‘little angels’ online who also claim to have depression?” Hearing that, Brandon’s friends burst into even louder laughter. Someone whistled. “Brandon, your girlfriend is so petty and uptight. She’s nothing like Layla’s easygoing vibe.” “Yeah, you’ll have your hands full if you marry her.” I gasped for air, using my last bit of strength to reach for the inhaler in Layla’s hand. But just as my fingertips were about to touch it, she deftly dodged backward. I lost my balance and fell forward onto the carpet. “Oh dear, what a realistic performance!” Layla exclaimed dramatically. Then she crouched down and whispered, in a voice only I could hear. “Hehe, hurry up and die. Once you’re gone, Brandon and I can finally be together.” She stood up, intentionally raising her voice. “Avery, stop messing around, get up! Everyone’s waiting for you and Brandon to do a shot together!” Brandon started to feel something was wrong. He stepped forward and helped me up. “What’s wrong with you? Are you really not feeling well?” “Help… me…” I struggled to utter a few words. My hand gripped Brandon’s wrist hard, only broken gasps escaping. “In… inhaler…” Brandon’s brows furrowed tightly, his eyes finally showing a hint of panic and struggle. He looked at Layla. “Layla, maybe give her the thing.” Layla’s face immediately fell. She stubbornly hid the inhaler behind her back, stamping her foot in annoyance. “Brandon, are you blind? She’s clearly faking it! Have you forgotten how she used to throw tantrums like a spoiled brat?” Then, she suddenly yelled at the others. “See? These women always act like this to compete with each other. Brandon totally fell for it!” The guys around us immediately chimed in. “Brandon, Layla and us grew up together. She wouldn’t try to hurt you, would she?” “Girls like her, you know, they just like to make trouble. Can’t spoil her.” Brandon’s expression changed. His hand supporting me loosened a bit. I could feel his hesitation. On one side, my agonizing illness. On the other, Layla and their provocations. “But… her face looks really pale…”

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**Chapter 1** On Valentine’s Day, I slipped and fell in the bathroom. My husband, Daniel, said he was on a business trip and couldn’t come with me to the hospital. As I was about to be wheeled into the operating room, I received a notification for my exclusive black card membership with the airline. “Dear Black Card member, thank you for booking a first-class family suite with our company to the Maldives. Points have been credited to your account.” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I sat straight up on the examination table. Just as I was about to send my assistant to investigate, a new post popped up on her SnapChat story. “Thought I’d be stuck living in someone’s shadow forever. Thank you, my darling husband, for giving me and our child a sweet night, just the three of us.” The accompanying picture showed two large hands cradling a tiny one. On the wrist of one of the larger hands was the Rolex watch I’d given Daniel for Valentine’s Day. I couldn’t believe it. The girl I had sponsored and promoted to be my assistant was having an affair with my husband. The doctor’s urgent voice broke through my daze. “Ms. Evans, if we don’t start the procedure soon, the baby’s life could be in danger.” “Perfect. Schedule an abortion for me.” I was just getting ready for the doctor to wheel me in for my check-up. My phone vibrated several times in quick succession. “Dear Black Card member, thank you for booking a first-class family suite with our company to the Maldives. Points have been credited to your account.” After reading the message, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I hadn’t booked a flight to the Maldives. And besides, my baby wasn’t even born yet; how could I have booked a family suite? I thought the airline had made a mistake, so I called them to inquire. “Hello, ma’am, the points were indeed added to your black card. The passengers are a Mr. Daniel Hayes and…” Before she could finish, the surgeon sternly urged, “Ms. Evans, we can’t delay any longer. Even though it was just a bump and there’s no bleeding, we still need to do a thorough check-up.” At her words, my mind was a chaotic mess. I opened Chloe Miller’s SnapChat, intending to ask her to help me look into it. But then, her latest post suddenly popped up on her story. “Thought I’d be stuck living in someone’s shadow forever. Thank you, my darling husband, for giving me and our child a sweet night, just the three of us.” The accompanying picture showed two large hands cradling a tiny one. But before I could look for another second, the post was deleted. In an instant, I couldn’t even see her previous SnapChat stories. Even so, I had clearly seen one of the men’s hands. On the wrist of one of the larger hands was the Rolex watch I’d given Daniel for Valentine’s Day. Just because Daniel had casually mentioned his wrist felt bare. I had pulled every string, spent all my savings, and sent someone to buy that one-of-a-kind, limited edition Rolex. This sudden news left me utterly disbelieving. Immediately, I dialed Daniel’s number. My heart was pounding frantically. He answered quickly. “Wife? What’s wrong? I’m about to take off. I’ll call you back when I land.” He hung up in a hurry before I could say anything. But I still heard a familiar female voice gently coaxing a child in the quiet first-class cabin. “Lily! Don’t bother Daddy while he’s on the phone!” My heart turned cold. In an instant, I dialed Chloe Miller’s number. She didn’t answer for a long time. The next second, another message from the airline came through. “Thank you, esteemed Mr. Daniel Hayes, Ms. Chloe Miller, and young Lily Hayes, for flying with us. We wish your happy family of three a pleasant journey.” *** **Chapter 2** Seeing that message, my eyes widened. I couldn’t believe it. Chloe Miller, the girl I had sponsored and promoted to be my assistant, was secretly involved with my husband, Daniel Hayes. “Ms. Evans, if we don’t start the procedure soon, the baby’s life could be in danger.” I gave a wooden, hollow laugh. “Perfect. Schedule an abortion for me.” After the procedure, I returned home, feeling the emptiness in my womb. My heart was utterly frozen. This child was supposed to be born into Daniel’s and my hopeful anticipation. But now, Daniel had betrayed everything. He was the one who had been ecstatic when he found out I was pregnant, cheering, shouting my name from the streets of Barcelona. He was the one who promised to love me and our baby forever. That’s why I, despite my deep-seated fear of pregnancy, willingly carried his child. But now, he didn’t deserve it. I hired a private investigator, sending him on an overnight flight to the Maldives, to where Daniel and Chloe were staying. Looking at the photos the private investigator sent back, my heart plummeted. There was Daniel, holding a little girl, about three years old, in his arms, while Chloe smiled sweetly, linked to him by the hand. The Maybach I had gifted him during our honeymoon in the Maldives, which we’d driven together, was parked quietly nearby. I had given him more than one car in the Maldives, but he specifically chose this one with its special license plate. He had paid a fortune for that custom “Our Love” plate, and now it felt like a searing brand on my soul. He had insisted, no matter the cost, that he had to have that plate, and he’d personally promised that this car was exclusively for picking up his wife. Now, he was holding another woman’s hand, with another woman’s child, getting into that very car. The pain in my heart was unbearable. Immediately after, Daniel checked Chloe into the overwater villa I owned in the Maldives. That night, the smart assistant in the overwater villa was activated multiple times throughout the night. Having spent my honeymoon there, I knew exactly what that meant. Suppressing the fury raging inside me, I dialed Daniel’s number again. It took a long time for him to answer. Then came Daniel’s slightly breathless voice. “Wife? What’s wrong?” “Where are you?” “On a business trip.” My voice turned icy. “Is that so? Because I received a message from the airline about a flight to the Maldives.” “On Valentine’s Day, you’re on a business trip to the Maldives?” Daniel clearly froze, then a hint of panic crept into his voice. “Ava, listen, let me explain. I was actually preparing a surprise for you. You’ve been so down these past few days with the pregnancy, I thought I’d get everything ready and then bring you over.” Listening to his pathetic lie, I laughed out loud. “Daniel Hayes, have you forgotten? I own that overwater villa.” The moment those words left my mouth, Daniel surprisingly got angry first. “Ava, I know you’re mad that I wasn’t with you at the hospital on Valentine’s Day, but after all these years of marriage, are you really just going to accuse me like this? Is this all the trust you have in me?!” At his words, I laughed, but it was a bitter laugh. My heart ached terribly. I could abandon my own flesh and blood, so what was one Chloe Miller? I could nurture one Chloe Miller; I could cultivate many more, even better talents. “Daniel Hayes, don’t you dare play the victim card with me. And while you’re at it, tell Chloe Miller she’s fired.” “As for you, when you’re done playing around, come home and we’re getting a divorce.” With that, I hung up. I looked at the DNA test results sent by the private investigator. Upon seeing that Lily, the child, had a 99.99% match with Chloe Miller and Daniel Hayes, I scrambled out of bed and retched into the toilet. Daniel and I had been married for two years, yet he had a three-year-old child with Chloe. *** **Chapter 3** Daniel rushed back home that very night. When he opened the door, Chloe Miller stood beside him, her eyes red from crying. I frowned, about to close the door. Daniel barged in. “Ava! Listen to me, it’s not what you think!” Chloe cried, “That’s right, Ava! It’s really not what you think!” “It’s true that I flew to the Maldives with Daniel yesterday, but I only did it because I’m your closest assistant, Ava. I know your preferences, so I was just helping him prepare the surprise for you!” “Exactly, Ava! I only got to go because I was helping Daniel with *your* surprise! I was just lucky enough to see the beautiful scenery of the Maldives because he needed an extra pair of hands.” Listening to their rehearsed back-and-forth, I felt nothing but intense irritation. Suddenly, Chloe dropped to her knees in front of me. She was sobbing, her face a mask of pitiful vulnerability. “Ava! I can’t lose this job!” “You’ve sponsored my education all these years, you know my family situation. If I lose this job, my gambling addict father will surely beat me to death!” Daniel frowned, looking conflicted. “Ava, this is just a misunderstanding. Are you really going to abandon an assistant you’ve poured so much effort into cultivating for years, all because of a misunderstanding?” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh. But my heart felt incredibly bitter. I could give up my own unborn child, so what was one Chloe Miller? I could nurture one Chloe Miller, and I could cultivate many more, even better talents. “Yes, Ava, I’ve been working with the company’s core confidential information with you. Are you really sure you want to just dismiss me like this?” “Are you threatening me?” Seeing my expression change, Chloe cried even harder, terrified. “No, I didn’t mean that. I’m not.” She looked up at Daniel pitifully. “Mr. Hayes, I didn’t mean it that way.” Chloe suddenly slumped to the side, revealing her bruised and scraped knees. She instinctively glanced at me, then quickly pulled down her skirt. Daniel’s face softened with concern. He pulled her up. “Alright, Ava, Chloe has apologized. It’s just a misunderstanding, why drag it out like this?” “A misunderstanding?” I threw the photos taken by the private investigator at his face. “Holding hands? A misunderstanding?” “Chloe Miller, do you dare to show me the SnapChat story you posted?” At my words, Chloe’s face went white. Daniel, too, looked utterly humiliated after seeing the photos I’d thrown at him. I forced myself to calm down. “Do you have anything else to explain? That overwater villa also has 24/7 surveillance recordings.” “Should I pull them up for you two to enjoy?” Chloe and Daniel’s faces completely panicked. My heart ached with unbearable pain. Actually, there were no surveillance cameras installed in the overwater villa. I was just testing them, lying to them. But now, their panicked faces had thoroughly betrayed them both. Looking at the man I had deeply loved for two years, I smiled in disappointment. “Daniel Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” At my words, Daniel, who had been momentarily stunned, exploded. His eyes blazing red, he grabbed my neck, pinning me against the wall. “Divorce? Ava Evans, what right do you have to talk about divorce?!” Daniel calmed down and pushed me away abruptly. “Ava, don’t be unreasonable.”

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Anya had her cherished fantasy, and I, Liam, just pretended not to notice. While she was sending jewelry and bidding on collectibles for her beloved, I was holding our son, Kai, watching the stars. When she celebrated her lover’s birthday with a drone show that lit up the entire city, sparking rumors, Kai and I were quietly vacationing in Zurich. When she brought her lover, Jade, into her office for steamy sessions, I’d watch the security footage, my face emotionless, and then simply switch it off. It wasn’t until Jade, consumed by jealousy, kidnapped our son, and both of them tumbled down a cliff, ending up in the hospital. Anya rushed there, and I heard the doctor informing her, “Blood supply is critical. We can only save one—the child or the adult.” Anya hesitated for a moment. Under my piercing gaze, she finally said, “Save the child.” … I watched her sign the consent form, her pen trembling slightly, pausing for a full thirty seconds. In the end, she wrote our son’s name. A wave of relief washed over me. Then, I turned back to Anya, the woman I’d loved for ten years. “Anya, what did you promise me back then?” My gaze burned with fury. I had pursued her for ten years. If she said she hadn’t eaten enough for dinner, I’d scour the entire city to buy her favorite porridge. When she was injured and bleeding after a race, I nearly drained myself to donate blood for her. But no matter how much I did, she only found it annoying. It wasn’t until Anya’s corporation faced an economic crisis that she reluctantly agreed to marry me, a marriage of convenience to survive the difficult times. That day, I went to her, overjoyed, only to be met with her cold words: “A marriage between powerful families is just about getting what you want. I’ll never give you real feelings. Just give up on that thought.” Before our wedding, I was forced to sign a contract, making us contractual partners. We would fulfill all marital duties and enjoy all marital rights – except for the one about mutual loyalty. The only condition was that whatever happened outside, it shouldn’t affect our family. For years, we had upheld this principle perfectly. Even when Anya found one lover after another, I never questioned it. But I absolutely could not tolerate her hurting our son. “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect Jade to be so extreme. She saw our family photos today, and in a moment of panic, she got agitated…” Anya tried to explain. My palms were clenched white. Finally, I just said, “If you can’t control your lover anymore, I will do it for you. Don’t blame me if I show no mercy then.” Anya mumbled, “Okay, I understand.” Then, she stood up and walked to the corridor to smoke. For so many years, we’d been like this – appearing to be a perfect couple, but in reality, complete strangers. Two hours later, the doctor emerged from the operating room, regretfully informing me, “The child’s life was saved, but her brain sustained a severe concussion. She’s currently in a vegetative state. Ms. Jade Meng, however, was a bit luckier and has already regained consciousness.” … I stumbled into the hospital room. My eyes immediately fell on Kai’s pale, little face. I looked around; Anya was nowhere to be seen. She must have gone to Jade. Fighting back tears, I gently wiped my son’s face. From the open door of the hospital room, I overheard nurses whispering, “I just passed the stairwell and saw the CEO Anya talking to the doctor, telling him to save the adult, not the child.” “No way? Who would do that to their own child?” “Why would I lie? I saw them re-sign the consent form with my own eyes!” My heart felt colder than ice. I closed my eyes, two lines of tears rolling down my cheeks. A towering resentment towards Anya rose within me. That same evening, I called Anya’s mansion. Her private secretary, Mr. Davies, answered. “Find the agreement Anya and I signed when we got married. Take a photo and send it to me. Remember, don’t alarm anyone.” … Fifteen minutes later, my phone pinged. I opened the image in the chat and clearly saw the words: “Any party breaching this contract must unconditionally agree to a divorce, leaving with nothing and forfeiting all assets.” I saved it, archived it. Then, I forwarded it to a lawyer friend and a contact at the registrar’s office. Soon, I received replies. [This contract remains valid long-term.] [The registrar’s office has an open slot tomorrow; you can apply for divorce anytime.] I stared at the lines of text. Just as I was about to hit delete, a deep female voice drifted over. “Liam, why aren’t you asleep yet?” I jumped, instinctively snapping my phone shut. Anya walked towards me, her gaze falling on Kai’s face. She sighed, “Although this was Jade’s fault, I’ve already had the doctors give her full treatment, and the blood bank prioritized Kai. It’s just a shame the child is so small, her body couldn’t keep up…” I said nothing, only watched her with a mocking gaze. Anya frowned slightly, uncomfortable with my stare. She found an excuse and left. I knew she was going to take care of Jade. But I hadn’t cared before, and I certainly didn’t care now. Over the next few days, apart from taking care of Kai in the hospital, I quietly returned to Anya’s mansion to clear out my things. On the first day of our stay, Anya spent the entire day in Jade’s room. I went back to Anya’s mansion and burned all our joint photos and keepsakes. On the second day, Anya came to be with Kai for an hour but was called away by a phone call from Jade. I went back to Anya’s mansion and cut up the half-knitted sweater I was making for Anya, tossing it into the trash. On the third day, Anya came to visit Kai, and she brought Jade with her. From the surveillance footage, I watched them embrace passionately, entwining themselves next to Kai’s hospital bed. I returned to Anya’s mansion and took photos of all Anya’s corporate confidential documents, saving them to a private folder on my phone. On the fifth day, Kai was discharged. Anya brought Jade back to the mansion with us. “Liam, Jade is injured and can’t take care of herself right now. She can’t manage without me.” I looked at her, devastated. “Anya, have you forgotten our agreement?” You can do whatever you want outside, but you can’t bring your lovers home. That was my bottom line. Anya had always respected that line before. But this time, she shook her head, her tone edged with annoyance. “Liam, Jade really needs someone to take care of her. Just be understanding; she won’t bother you.” She paused, then added, “I promise you, no matter what Jade and I do, it won’t affect your status.”

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I was married to Elara for twenty years, and for ten of those years, I cared for her bedridden mother, Mrs. Albright. I put my own life on hold, helping Elara’s mother rise from a local community college instructor to a renowned university professor. Everyone praised me as the perfect husband, the greatest asset to the Albright family. On her deathbed, Mrs. Albright clutched my hand, her voice weak but firm, wishing I could be her son-in-law again, even in the next life. Elara hugged me tight, her voice thick with gratitude. “Leo, you’ve sacrificed so much for us these past years. I promise, I’ll make it all up to you.” I thought my suffering was finally over. But before Mrs. Albright’s grave was even settled, Elara shoved a divorce agreement into my hands, then turned and embraced Caleb, my supposed best friend, the guy I’d grown up with. She said, “Leo, I’ve tolerated you for twenty years. I’m finally free.” “The man I truly love has always been Caleb.” I walked away with nothing but the clothes on my back. I ended up on the streets, lost and broken, until a car accident brutally cut my life short. Then I opened my eyes again, and I was back. Back at my blind date, twenty years ago. Ms. Gable, the matchmaker, was practically gushing, rattling off Elara’s virtues: “This young lady is a real catch, a diamond in the rough! She’s got a wonderful heart, so dedicated to her family. Any man who marries her will be set for life!” I looked at the refined, seemingly sincere woman across from me, and a cynical smile touched my lips. Then I crumpled the profile sheet in my hand and tossed it straight into the nearest trash can. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’re a good match.”

The smile on Elara’s face froze. She adjusted her glasses, her tone still mild. “Mr. Hayes, have I given you the wrong impression?” “We can take our time getting to know each other. No need to rush to conclusions.” Ms. Gable looked frantic, grabbing my arm. “Oh, Leo, what are you thinking?!” “A brilliant young woman like Ms. Albright? They don’t make them like her anymore! You’d be lucky to find someone half as good!” “Don’t mess this up!” I gently pulled my hand away, my gaze calm as I looked at Elara. In my last life, that gentle, refined demeanor had fooled me for an entire lifetime. I believed her humble background was just a temporary hurdle, and that her integrity was beyond reproach. So I emptied my savings, passed on my scholarship to art school, and settled down with her in that quiet town. I cooked, cleaned, entertained her superiors, and navigated the politics, paving every single step of her path to success. And what did I get? Once she achieved everything, she just kicked me away like a worn-out stepping stone. I curved my lips into a slight, bitter smile. “Ms. Albright, it’s not a misunderstanding. You’re a wonderful woman. I simply don’t deserve you.” With that, I stood up, grabbed my bag, and walked away. “Leo!” Elara grabbed my wrist. I turned back, my gaze cold. She seemed to realize her lapse in composure and loosened her grip. “Mr. Hayes, I just feel it’s a shame.” “I promised my mother I’d find a reliable and caring husband, just like you.” “I…” “Then you should keep looking,” I interrupted, shaking her hand off forcefully. “Ms. Albright, please stop following me. It’s a bad look.” I walked out of the noisy coffee shop without looking back. The early summer breeze kissed my face, carrying a hint of warmth. I exhaled slowly, a long, deep sigh of pure relief. It felt good. Everything could still be changed. Just then, my supposed best friend, Caleb, called. I swiped to answer, and his voice, thick with feigned concern, immediately came through. “Hey, Leo, how did the blind date go?” “Ms. Gable said Ms. Albright is a really wonderful woman. Did you meet her?” I leaned against a sycamore tree on the sidewalk, watching the dappled shadows dance. A cynical chuckle escaped me. “I did.” “That’s great! How is she? Is she everything Ms. Gable said?” “Yeah, she’s a diamond in the rough,” I said, my voice deliberately flat. Caleb on the other end seemed to let out a breath of relief, his voice overflowing with thinly veiled excitement. “I knew it! Leo, you have to seize this opportunity!” “A man, you know, getting a good wife and settling down is more important than anything!” “Don’t worry. If you and Ms. Albright get together, I’ll definitely treat her like family and get along with her well.” He’d said the exact same thing in my last life. Then, while I was overwhelmed caring for my mother-in-law, he, in the very shirt I’d bought him, went to ‘comfort’ Elara in my stead. While I was scrambling, practically begging for her research grants, he, posing as her intellectual confidant, escorted her to academic conferences, hobnobbing with the elite. Finally, he stood there, arm in arm with my wife, and had the audacity to tell me, “Leo, I’m sorry, but you can’t control who you fall in love with.” I closed my eyes, forcing down the bitter, searing hatred that clawed at my gut. “Caleb, if you think she’s such a catch, why don’t I just pass that ‘blessing’ on to you instead?” On the other end, Caleb’s breathing hitched, a sharp gasp.

“Leo, you… what are you talking about?” Caleb’s voice suddenly sounded flustered. “We’re best friends, how could I possibly…” “Between brothers, good things should always be shared.” I cut him off, my voice dangerously light. “Didn’t you always say you wanted an ambitious woman, someone dedicated to her family, someone who’d be good to you?” “Elara checks every single one of your boxes.” “But, but she’s your blind date!” “I already turned her down.” I looked at the bustling street, feeling as if the whole world had brightened. “So, she’s a free agent now.” “You have Ms. Gable’s number, right?” “Don’t drag your feet. A ‘diamond in the rough’ like her won’t last long on the market.” With that, I hung up before he could even react. I could picture Caleb on the other end of the line, a mixture of shock and glee plastered across his face. In my last life, he’d sung Elara’s praises countless times, urging me to settle down quickly. He just wanted me to clear all the thorns from her path, to do all the heavy lifting, and once I’d helped Elara climb to the top, he’d swoop in and steal all the glory. This time, I’d let him have it. I’d love to see how, without my family’s support and savings as startup capital, without my network and sacrifices paving the way for her, Caleb will manage to build that ‘good life’ he dreams of with his beloved ‘diamond in the rough.’ Back home, my mom, Carol, was waiting for me on the sofa. Seeing me, she quickly asked: “Well, how was it? Is Ms. Albright alright?” My dad, Robert, also poked his head out of his study. My parents were working-class, a bit old-fashioned. They always believed the most important thing for a man was a stable family. In my last life, they were incredibly pleased with Elara as their cultured daughter-in-law. I sat down next to them, speaking calmly. “Dad, Mom, I wasn’t interested in her.” “What?” My mom’s face fell in disappointment. “Why not? Ms. Gable said she was…” “She mentioned her mother’s poor health, needing medication year-round. And a younger brother in college, with her salary being the sole support for all of them.” I stripped away Elara’s carefully constructed image of ‘family dedication’ and ‘responsibility,’ exposing the harsh reality of her situation. My mom’s expression visibly changed. “That’s… that’s a lot of burden, isn’t it?” “Yeah,” I nodded. “Besides, I don’t want to get married so early.” “Dad, Mom, I want to pick up my paintbrush again. I want to apply for grad school for art.” This was a dream I’d buried deep in my heart for twenty years. In my last life, for Elara, I gave up my guaranteed scholarship for grad school. She had solemnly promised, “Leo, once I’m settled, I’ll fully support you going back to school.” Later, when she was settled and a professor, she told me: “You’re almost forty. What’s the point of stirring things up now? Wouldn’t it be better to just settle down at home?” My dad listened to me, silent for a moment, then finally nodded. “Alright. If you want to apply, then apply. Don’t worry about things at home.” My dad had always been more open-minded than my mom. My eyes welled up, and I nodded emphatically. The next day, I was at the bookstore, poring over grad school application guides, when Elara suddenly appeared, blocking my path. “Mr. Hayes, I know this is audacious, but I wanted to try again.” I closed my book and looked at her. “Ms. Albright, I think I made myself quite clear.” “I know,” she said with a bitter smile, her voice laced with a hint of plea. “My mother, she found out yesterday that you weren’t interested. She didn’t sleep a wink all night and woke up sick this morning.” I smirked inwardly. In my last life, I was too soft. When her mother ‘fell ill,’ I went to visit, only to be ambushed by their entire family, guilt-tripped and emotionally blackmailed until I reluctantly agreed to marry Elara. I met her gaze directly, speaking each word with deliberate clarity. “Ms. Albright, if your mother is sick, she should be in a hospital, seeing a doctor.” “Not coming to me, a stranger you’ve met once. I’m not a doctor, I can’t cure her.”

Elara’s face instantly darkened. She took a deep, shaky breath, her voice weighted with desperation. “Leo, I just want to beg you to see her.” “She truly adores you. She hasn’t stopped talking about how you’re exactly the son-in-law she always dreamed of.” “Just… out of pity for an old woman, could you please just go see her?” Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes were a little red. I put my book back on the shelf and turned to leave. “Leo!” Elara’s voice suddenly rose sharply. “Are you really so heartless?!” Heads turned, eyes drawn to our little scene. I stopped, my gaze calm as I met her slightly displeased stare. “Ms. Albright, please watch your words.” “Between us, there’s nothing but a single, failed blind date.” “Your public outburst right now is making me incredibly uncomfortable.” Her chest heaved, a clear sign of her barely contained rage. “Fine. Fine. Fine.” She spat out the words, a dark, unsettling glint in her eyes. “Leo, I’ll remember this.” With that, she turned and hurried away, her back radiating a certain defeat. That night, I received a call from an unknown number. On the other end was a frail, elderly woman’s voice. “Is… is that Leo, dear?” I instantly recognized the voice: Elara’s mother, Mrs. Albright. “Mrs. Albright, hello,” I replied politely, a hint of detachment in my tone. “Oh, Leo, dear.” Mrs. Albright sighed heavily on the phone. “Auntie knows. It’s our Elara who’s simply not good enough for a wonderful young man like you.” “But, but I just desperately want to see you, to say a few words to you in person.” “Otherwise, my heart will feel so heavy, so choked up, I’m afraid… I’m afraid I won’t last much longer.” As she spoke, her voice started to break with sobs. I gripped the phone, a heavy silence hanging in the air. She was just like this in my last life. Every single time Elara wanted something from me, Mrs. Albright would conveniently fall ill, claim her heart was heavy, or say she couldn’t go on. And I, time and again, would soften, time and again, I’d compromise. “Leo, dear, Auntie doesn’t ask for anything else. Just please, come to the hospital and see this old woman, alright?” “Just… out of pity for me.” Her voice was full of pleading, as if I had no choice but to agree. I took a deep breath, knowing that if I didn’t deal with this once and for all, they’d cling to me like a stubborn stain, forever. “Alright,” I agreed. “Send me the address. I’ll come tomorrow afternoon.” After hanging up, I stared out at the inky black night sky, my gaze growing colder with each passing second. Elara, if you and your mother insist on performing this little drama, then I’ll be more than happy to play my part. But this time, the script is mine. The next afternoon, I arrived at the city hospital as promised. Just as I reached the hospital’s main entrance, I saw Caleb waiting there. He was dressed in a crisp white T-shirt, wearing an expression of perfectly calibrated concern. The moment he saw me, he rushed over. “Leo, you finally made it! Mrs. Albright, she… she hasn’t eaten anything since this morning, just keeps asking for you.” He instinctively reached out, trying to sling an arm around my shoulder, as if we were still the closest of brothers, sharing every secret. “Really?” I subtly sidestepped him. “Then let’s go in quickly. We shouldn’t keep an elderly person waiting.” Caleb’s eyes flickered, a momentary lapse, before he smoothly slipped back into his ‘helpful friend’ persona, guiding me toward the ward. As he pushed open the病房 door, a heavy, cloying scent of antiseptic and stale medicine instantly assaulted my senses. Mrs. Albright lay weakly on the hospital bed, Elara perched on a chair beside her, gently offering her water. The moment she saw me enter, Mrs. Albright’s eyes lit up, and she struggled to sit up. “Leo, dear, you’re here…”

“Mrs. Albright, please lie still.” I pulled up a chair and sat down a comfortable distance from the bed. Mrs. Albright grabbed my hand, tears instantly welling up in her eyes. “Such a good boy. I knew you had a kind heart.” “See? Our Elara, aside from her humble origins, what’s not to love about her?” “She’s smart, dedicated to her family, and she’s going to achieve great things, I promise you.” “Will you… just give her another chance? Please?” The moment she finished speaking, Caleb, though a flicker of irritation crossed his face, quickly piped up in support. “That’s right, Leo. Elara really is a wonderful woman. It would be such a shame if you two missed out!” Elara, meanwhile, kept her head down, feigning an expression of guilt and helplessness. Three actors, one pitiful play. I looked at Mrs. Albright and spoke slowly. “Mrs. Albright, there are many successful women out there. But I’m not interested in charity work.” One sentence, and the entire room fell silent. Mrs. Albright’s tears were still clinging to her face, but her expression had frozen. Caleb’s mouth hung open, looking utterly bewildered. Elara suddenly snapped her head up, her face instantly flushing crimson. “You… what did you say?” “I said, I’m not interested in charity work.” I repeated, meeting her furious gaze with unflinching calm. “Ms. Albright, what’s your monthly salary?” “Is it enough to buy your mother’s medication, pay your brother’s tuition, and support an entire household?” “My parents raised me for over twenty years, not for me to marry some woman and struggle through life right alongside her.” “Leo!” Elara shot to her feet, pointing a trembling finger at me. “You, you’re practically insulting me! Don’t you dare mock the less fortunate! I…” “I’m not mocking you. I’m simply stating facts,” I cut her off. “And besides, Ms. Albright, you’re talking to the wrong person.” “The person who truly appreciates you and is willing to fight alongside you… isn’t me.” My gaze slowly shifted to Caleb, who stood nearby. “Caleb, didn’t you always say Ms. Albright was a diamond in the rough, a woman of good character, and that whoever married her would be set for life?”

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Landon Thorne and I? We were infamous, a legendary toxic couple in our circles. After ten grueling years, we finally called a truce. The day Landon got back in town, he decided to make a grand gesture for some new girl. He tore my bar apart, all to put a smile on some pretty face. I ripped into him for it. “Tsk, loved smashing your place, didn’t I? What kind of compensation do you want? Name your price.” What could a dying person possibly ask for? It wasn’t until my last follow-up appointment that I knew. I was out of time. A mother and daughter, recovering in the same ward, looked at me with pity. “That poor thing, so young. And at the end, there won’t even be anyone to claim her body.” I sat in the cold hospital corridor, my fingers tracing the number I’d had saved for ten years. “If you really want to pay me back, then promise to handle my funeral.” *** It was a rainy night. The bar was almost empty. The TV screen flashed with news of Landon Thorne’s return. Just as I was about to close up, a young woman walked in. She folded her umbrella, her eyes bright as she pointed at the bottles behind the counter. “These? I’ll take them all.” Trailing in behind her was Asher Vance, Landon’s best friend. He saw me, and his expression froze. “Uh, maybe we should try somewhere else?” “I brought Landon some drinks from here once, he absolutely loved this brand,” she chirped, looking at me. “Bartender, I’ve booked the whole place tonight. Just get these ready for me.” I murmured a reply, my hand trembling slightly as I scooped ice. It wasn’t nerves, or anticipation. It was my illness. Untreatable. “Asher, can you help me light some candles? Landon will be so happy when he gets here, won’t he?” Asher didn’t answer. He knew Landon would never be happy if he saw me. On the news, Landon smirked at the camera. “I’m sure she’s watching this now. And I’m really looking forward to our reunion.” The camera angle highlighted the scar above Landon’s eyebrow. It was particularly noticeable. Yeah, I did that. With a kitchen knife. No real reason, just a bad mood. The ugly scar at the base of my thumb? That was him. He tore my hand open, and it got infected again and again. “So, where are you headed next, Mr. Thorne? With those roses, are you meeting your girlfriend?” He paused for a beat. “My fiancée.” The young woman, Jasmine, meticulously arranged the bar, then turned to watch the TV. “Asher, have you ever met his first love, the one he was with for ten years?” I lowered my head, shaking the cocktail shaker, but my peripheral vision caught Asher’s gaze. “Landon!” Jasmine rushed out, forgetting her umbrella. “Jasmine.” Landon tilted his umbrella to cover her. She eagerly rose on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth, her excitement palpable. Landon clearly flinched back for a split second. My gaze met his through the rain-streaked glass. Jasmine tried to follow his line of sight, but he lifted her chin, pulling her into a deeper kiss. I looked away, adding mint leaves to a glass. Asher was already at the counter. After a few hesitant moments, he finally spoke. “Please, just… don’t torment him anymore.” He thought for a second, then added, “She’s really beautiful, isn’t she? A little like you when you were younger. She’s only nineteen.” I nodded, feeling a strange disconnect. “She is very pretty.” Two figures walked into the bar. Landon folded his black umbrella. “Were you… talking about my fiancée?” His words hung in the air, that familiar gaze, so long absent, finally landing on me. Asher held his breath, watching me. He wasn’t sure if I was about to do something crazy again. But I simply placed the glasses in front of them. “Here you are, everyone. Enjoy.” Jasmine Hayes rested her chin in her hands, her eyes sparkling with joy as she looked at Landon. “Landon, try this. It’s your favorite, the one you loved.” He took a sip, his fingers tracing the rim of the glass. “Bitter and astringent. Yes, definitely my favorite.” Jasmine took a suspicious sip. “It’s sweet! You’re lying again!” She didn’t see it, but his eyes were fixed, deeply, on mine. The bar door burst open. “Bro! Welcome back!” A few guys swaggered in, but their cheerful faces froze the moment they saw me. Their eyes followed my movements, cautious, probing, then flickered to Asher.

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My best friend suggested I use a fake account to test my boyfriend’s loyalty. I agreed. I registered a burner account and told her it was his. Once she added him, she immediately started trashing me, claiming I was cheating on multiple guys, that I’d been ‘around the block’ too many times. At the same time, she flooded him with super sexy, revealing photos—low-cut tops, legs spread, ass provocatively posed. “Hey, big boy, wanna hook up?” “I’m super obedient, you can do anything you want with me.” I replied, “I don’t believe it, unless you…” The next day, during a company-wide meeting, Serena was rushed to the emergency room by paramedics, after a foreign object inside her vibrated so violently, she collapsed. After my boyfriend proposed to me, my best friend, Serena, seemed a little off. Was she worried I’d be mistreated? But Liam was not only tall, handsome, and highly educated, he came from a good family and was completely devoted to me. I couldn’t find a single flaw. Or was she upset that after I got married, I’d have less time for her? I even tried to reassure her, “Liam loves taking me all over the world, but don’t worry, I’ll bring you a souvenir from every single place.” To my surprise, she got even angrier after hearing that. I tried everything to calm her down, but nothing worked. I started to get anxious and asked her what was really going on. Serena was my best friend; we’d known each other since elementary school. She’d been there for almost every important moment of my life. I really didn’t want her to have any unspoken concerns about my marriage or my fiancé. Serena counted on her fingers, stammering, “Chloe, I’m still a bit worried about Liam. Are you being too rash deciding to marry him?” My heart sank. Was Liam cheating on me? Seeing the change in my expression, Serena quickly waved her hands, “I’m just being reasonably suspicious, you know? Think about it, what man doesn’t stray? Especially Liam, with his amazing looks and background. Plenty of girls chase after him. Why would he be so completely devoted to *you*? Your… well, your ‘conditions’ are just… okay, I guess.” I frowned. What was she implying? That I wasn’t good enough for my own boyfriend? Serena quickly tried to backtrack, “My point is, marriage is a huge decision, a lifelong commitment. It’s never too late to make sure you fully understand and trust a person’s character before you tie the knot.” “What if he shows his true colors after marriage, cheats, or becomes abusive? Your whole life would be ruined!” I hesitated, “So what do you suggest I do?” Serena’s eyes lit up. She grabbed my hand and said, “Give me your boyfriend’s SnapChat. I’ll add him with a fake account and test him. If he can resist the temptation, it means he’s a good guy, and then I’ll feel comfortable letting you marry him.” Immediately, I felt uneasy. This clearly showed a lack of trust in Liam, and it wasn’t how I usually handled things. But Serena kept pestering me, so I finally told her I’d think about it and get back to her later. When I got home, I thought long and hard. I decided to tell Liam everything. Honesty was key in a relationship. Instead of playing games, it was better to talk things through. If there was a problem, we could cut our losses early. No big deal. I finished telling him, expecting him to be angry. Instead, he burst out laughing. He stroked my head and said, “Are you sure that’s your best friend? Or is she a frenemy trying to steal your boyfriend? Her intentions are practically screaming in my face. What a manipulative schemer.” Annoyed, I swatted his hand away. “What kind of talk is that? We’ve been together for over ten years; we’re not going to tear each other apart over some guy.” Liam looked like he wanted to say more but held back. Finally, he came up with an idea: “Okay, how about this. You register a fake account yourself. Give *her* that fake account and tell her it’s mine. Then *you* can chat with her using the fake account.” “Let’s see how she plans to ‘test’ me.” Just then, Serena messaged me again, urging me to give her my boyfriend’s account. A lightbulb went off. “Alright, that’s what we’ll do!” I immediately registered a fake account and sent it to Serena. The next second, I received a friend request: “Hey there, handsome.” I thought for a moment, and mimicking Liam’s tone, I replied: “Who is this?” She replied instantly: “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is, do you know your girlfriend is cheating on multiple guys behind your back, and you’re just going to be left holding the bag?”

I stared at my phone screen in disbelief. *This* was how Serena was testing my boyfriend? By immediately slandering me? I took a few deep breaths, steadying my trembling hands, and quickly typed: “What do you mean? What about my girlfriend?” Serena quickly sent a ‘hug’ emoji and replied: “She’s tricked you. Don’t let her innocent facade fool you. In college, she was notoriously wild, dating several guys at once. Her reputation was ruined long ago.” “To spice things up, she even sought out Black international students. So many classmates saw her going to hotels with several Black guys at once.” “There was even a period when she was constantly battling STIs, had growths down there—ugh, absolutely disgusting—and it took forever for her to get better.” “I know you’re about to marry her, but I just can’t bear to watch an honest, kind person like you be deceived by a woman like that.” With that, she sent another string of ‘kiss’ emojis. *This* was my best friend, spreading vicious rumors about me under the guise of “caring for my well-being”! I was instantly furious, but I forced myself to calm down. I replied: “Do you have proof of any of this? Don’t just make baseless accusations.” But Serena continued to fan the flames: “I have photos and chat logs from her college days. Want to see them?” How was that possible?! Before I could ask another question, she immediately dumped a pile of chat logs and photos on me. I clicked them open, and it *was* me! But these chat logs had clearly been tampered with and stitched together. Many were even fake conversations using my profile picture. And the so-called photos were group pictures of me participating in a school international student program, taken with international students. Packaged by Serena like this, combined with her detailed, seemingly credible story, even matching times and locations – if she sent this to anyone else, it really could fool them. After all, with “irrefutable proof” right there, who wouldn’t believe it? Rage pushed me to the brink of sadness, of utter despair. I was the clown all along. I’d been so good to her. I shared every good thing, every good news with her first. I stood by her unconditionally in everything. Why? Why would she do this to me? The next second, I had my answer. Serena seemed to give “Liam” three minutes to process, then continued: “I know you and your girlfriend, and I know about her hidden past. I totally understand how you must feel right now.” “A trashy girl like that doesn’t deserve you. You’ve been so good to her, and she still doesn’t appreciate it.” Then she changed tack: “Hey, handsome, what about me? I’ve been quietly following you, and my heart aches for you.” “If I had a boyfriend as amazing as you, I’d never cheat. I’d cherish you with all my life.” Hahaha… I laughed out loud, enraged by this sudden confession. So *that* was it. Liam was right. She wanted to steal my boyfriend. To pressure “Liam” into making a quick decision, she even sent several more super revealing, close-up photos—no face, just low-cut tops, legs, and a provocatively posed ass, with the caption: “I know you’re hurting. Come out and relax, forget about that rotten girl.” Liam saw the distraught look on my face and my labored breathing. He quickly took my phone away, telling me to calm down. He raised his hands and swore, “I’d never be interested in a two-faced person like Serena. You’re the only woman I love, wife.” “Don’t get upset over trash like her.” “Now you’ve seen her true colors. We’ll just cut her out of our lives. Out of sight, out of mind.” I gave a tight smile and patted Liam. “No way! She’s coming after *me*. Am I just going to let her get away with biting me?” I thought for a moment, then replied to her: “Who are you? Why should I believe a stranger’s words?” She immediately replied: “You’ll find out when we meet. It’ll be a real surprise.” For the next few days, I continued to play the role of the heartbroken and dejected Liam on SnapChat. I’d chat with Serena occasionally, but I wouldn’t commit to breaking up. Serena grew impatient, her messages becoming bolder and more direct: “Hey, big boy, wanna hook up?” “I’m super obedient, you can do anything you want with me.”

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I was married to Damian Thorne, an arms magnate, for seven years. My hands, meant for painting masterpieces, learned to assemble firearms and disarm bombs, walking through hell and back with him. But in the seventh year of our marriage, he became utterly obsessed with a former convent girl, delivered to his bed by his rivals. That girl was pure as freshly fallen snow, and for Damian, who had grown up steeped in blood and violence, she was an addiction he’d never known. He built her a lavish, secluded sanctuary, shielding her from every shadow. Until I unexpectedly discovered the word “divorced” on our official marriage certificate. I confronted him, shattering, but Damian casually polished his gun barrel. “Elara gave up her sheltered life for me. I owe her a proper name, a legitimate place.” He paused, eyes cold. “What compensation do you want? Just name it.” Consumed by bitterness and rage, I slapped Elara across the face at their wedding. That very night, my critically ill mother was tied to the front of an armored vehicle. “Seraphina, you shouldn’t have touched Elara. This is your lesson.” I fell to my knees, begging him to stop, but the engine roared to life, and my mother’s blood and flesh splattered across my face. Clutched my stomach, a searing pain, I screamed until darkness claimed me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I discovered I’d been divorced. This time, I didn’t confront him. I booked a flight that very night, desperate to take my mother somewhere Damian Thorne would never find us. … “Ms. Vance, our system shows your current marital status as divorced.” The monotone, official voice of the government clerk dragged me back to reality. My eyes widened in horror. I could almost taste the coppery tang of my mother’s blood in my nose. “When was this processed?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “August 29th.” My heart felt like it had been crushed by a blunt instrument. August 29th. Our seventh wedding anniversary. That day, I’d bought fresh flowers and candles, preparing a meticulously cooked dinner. But the candles melted down, the roses wilted, and Damian never showed. He had been busy dissolving our marriage. I clutched the divorce papers in my hand. As I turned to leave, I saw the familiar black Bentley pulling up outside. In that other life, I had stormed out, oblivious, to confront him. Damian, afraid Elara would discover our connection, had smashed the butt of his gun into my jaw, cracking it. Remembering that, I immediately ducked into the shadows of a corner. Moments later, the car door opened. Damian Thorne, usually so arrogant and domineering, acted like a chauffeur, personally opening the passenger door. Then he took off his trench coat and draped it gently over the girl’s shoulders, his movements impossibly soft. Elara Sterling was dressed in a simple white gown, her eyes serene, standing in the morning light like a vision of porcelain purity. Damian took her hand gently and led her inside. Elara’s pale lips tightened, her expression flustered. “Mr. Thorne, are you really going to marry me?” “Of course. I dream of this day. I’m responsible for you leaving your sheltered life, and I must take responsibility.” Elara’s slender fingers brushed against her slightly swollen belly. “But I was just an ordinary convent girl. I’m not worthy of someone as powerful and revered as you, nor am I worthy of carrying your child. Perhaps…” Her unfinished sentence was interrupted by a dominant, possessive kiss. I don’t know how long it lasted, but when it finally ended, Damian cupped her face, his eyes overflowing with doting affection. “Elara, no one in this world is more worthy of me than you. Only you are fit to bear my child.” A sharp, searing stab of pain suddenly ripped through my lower abdomen. I clutched my stomach, a desperate grasp, tears blurring my vision. It wasn’t until I saw them disappear into the marriage registry that I stumbled away, making a resolute decision. *** **【Chapter 2】** I took a cab to the hospital and scheduled an abortion. Lying on the examination table, the doctor sighed as she looked at the ultrasound results. “Ms. Vance, your uterine lining is naturally thinner than most. This might be the only child you’ll ever have.” I stared at the ceiling, my voice as calm as still water. “I’m divorced. This child shouldn’t come into this world.” The cold liquid surged through my veins, and my consciousness slowly blurred. In a daze, I saw Damian once, his ear pressed to my belly, listening to the baby kick, laughing as he talked about teaching our child how to modify guns. I saw him flipping through baby name books, talking about finding a name that brought good fortune. I saw him holding me, promising to distance himself from the bloodshed, to live a peaceful life with me, to be a good father… Finally, all those images froze on his words to Elara: “Only you are fit to bear my child.” Two hours later, my face pale and drained, I walked into my mother’s hospital room. She was still in a coma, on a ventilator, but she was alive. My living, breathing mother. In that other life, I had dragged my mother into ruin. This time, I wouldn’t be so foolish. I went through discreet channels to arrange her transfer to a new hospital. Then I went to the immigration office to process my emigration papers. In just three days, once all the paperwork was complete, I would vanish from Damian Thorne’s world forever. After doing all of this, I stood in the rain, feeling an unprecedented sense of lightness. Just as I was about to walk away, three men, masked and wearing baseball caps, suddenly rushed out from behind me. Before I could react, the iron bars in their hands whistled through the air, smashing into me. A searing pain sent me stumbling to my knees, my back instantly slick with blood. I didn’t need to guess. These were enemies of Damian, coming for revenge. I tried to grab my phone for help, but one of them slammed a bar down, shattering it. Then, countless blows rained down on me like a storm. Just then, that familiar Bentley drove past the intersection. It was Damian’s car! “Damian Thorne!” I screamed with all my might, struggling desperately to get his attention. The car slowed for a split second, and my heart hammered wildly in my chest. He saw me! But the next moment, the Bentley accelerated again, speeding away from the intersection without hesitation. Through the window, I saw Damian raise his hand to shield Elara’s eyes. In that instant, I lost the will to even scream. Of course. Elara was in the car. Damian wouldn’t want his pure, snow-white angel to witness such a bloody scene. Excruciating pain surged through every limb, my vision blurred, and my consciousness faded into the metallic tang of blood. **【Chapter 3】** When I opened my eyes again, I saw the stark white ceiling of a hospital room. The door was ajar, and I heard Damian’s subordinate say, “Boss, what if Ms. Vance discovers Elara? If she starts digging, we won’t be able to hide it.” Damian snuffed out his cigar. His voice was cold. “Don’t worry about that. Your only job is to protect Elara. She’s too pure, not like us. Sera is cunning, always playing dirty. Elara is too innocent, too simple-minded to stand a chance against her. If necessary, we can use Sera’s sick mother. She’s Sera’s only weakness; Sera won’t abandon her.” I clutched the bedsheets, biting down hard on the tender flesh of my lower lip, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. Years ago, when he proposed to me, he had knelt on one knee and said, “My Sera, with me by your side, no one will ever lay a hand on you.” The same protective instinct, the same promise, but the recipient had long since changed. The woman he once guarded was now, in his eyes, a dangerous schemer capable of playing dirty. Footsteps approached. I quickly closed my eyes, reopening them with an expression of icy indifference. “You’re awake? I had my men investigate. It was that Southeast Asian crew.” Damian walked to my bedside and tossed a document onto the blanket. “This is a ceasefire agreement. Sign it, and they’ll agree to abandon the South American arms market.” Our eyes met. I couldn’t utter a single word. I had almost died at the hands of his enemies, only to become a bargaining chip in his business deal. My voice was hoarse. “Damian, when did you decide on this deal?” Was it the moment he saw me being beaten? Or when he knew the Southeast Asian arms dealers were coming for me? Damian frowned, displeased by my probing. I knew better than to push. The answer, to me, was already irrelevant. As if to appease me, he worked from my hospital room for the next two days. But his phone was never out of his hand. Occasionally, he would smile softly at his screen, that gentle smile, once reserved only for me. I suddenly remembered the first time we met, seven years ago. He was being chased by enemies, covered in blood, and collapsed at the entrance of my art studio. He was like a dying lone wolf, his eyes fierce, yet betraying a hint of vulnerability. I should have called the police, but the moment our eyes met, as if by some strange compulsion, I dragged him into my studio. I never imagined that one act would drag me into an endless hell. Later, my family went bankrupt, and my father sold me to the largest underground black market in Southeast Asia. A depraved rich heir, known for torturing women, tormented me until I was a shadow of my former self. It was Damian, passing by, who rescued me. That was our second meeting. It was then that I understood: in this world, kindness was a useless weakness. From then on, I, once a budding artist, became the infamous ‘Gunsmith Queen,’ a name whispered with terror in the underworld. I assembled firearms and disarmed bombs for Damian, my hands stained with indelible blood. I thought we could stand shoulder to shoulder, equals. But he saw me as someone already swallowed by darkness, not as pure as Elara. I looked at my hands, hands that should have been holding a paintbrush, depicting landscapes, but now only knew how to dismantle weapons and engage in brutal skirmishes. Then I thought of Elara’s clear, pure-as-snow eyes, and the irony was crushing. All my profound love and unwavering loyalty had become nothing but a cruel joke. **【Chapter 4】** After I was discharged from the hospital, Damian claimed he needed to handle an arms deal and never showed his face again. It wasn’t until the day before I was due to leave that I went to the local chapel, wanting to pray for my unborn child’s soul. At the chapel gate, I saw Elara. She was bandaging an injured stray cat, her simple white dress making her look even purer. Perhaps her movements were clumsy, for the kitten struggled violently, spilling antiseptic everywhere. I walked over and took the cotton swab from her hand. “There’s still a tiny stone in the wound. Applying medicine will only make it hurt more.” This was the first time we’d been alone together since Damian changed. She didn’t know who I was. She pressed her palms together in a respectful bow. “Thank you.” I forced a faint smile, my heart surprisingly calm. When she learned I was there for my lost child, her eyes instantly welled up. She knelt before the altar, pressing her palms together in prayer. “Oh, Heavenly Father, please bless that unborn child to find peace in the afterlife, and grant this mother peace and health.” Standing there, I suddenly felt a flicker of pity. I wanted to tell her that Damian Thorne’s tenderness was poison, that anyone who got close to him would eventually be dragged into the abyss. But looking at her devout profile, the words caught in my throat. If she knew my true identity, she would surely break ties with Damian, and then all of his wrath would be unleashed entirely upon me. The horrific memory of my mother’s death in that other life/timeline surged into my mind, and a shiver of icy dread ran through me. I used the excuse of offering prayers and slipped into a quiet alcove, opening my phone to check the security camera feed. The caregiver was pushing my mother in her wheelchair for a walk, and only then did I feel a little peace. My mother was my only weakness. This time, I absolutely would not let her get caught in this conflict again. As I calmed my emotions and stepped out of the alcove, a cold gun barrel pressed against the back of my head. **【Chapter 5】** My body froze. I glanced towards Elara. She had already collapsed softly beside the offering altar. I cursed under my breath, ‘Of all the rotten luck!’ The next second, the gun butt smashed into the back of my neck. When I woke again, I was in a derelict warehouse, tied to a pillar with Elara. Her voice was trembling, on the verge of tears. “Who are you? We have no quarrel with you. Why are you holding us?” The next moment, a brutal slap landed across her face. Scar, the scar-faced leader, grabbed her hair. “Why are we holding you? Damian Thorne stole our biggest deal in Europe and America! We’re in this line of work—how could we just let that slide? He cherishes you, doesn’t he? I’m going to torture you to death, slowly, today!” So, they were the arms dealers from Europe and America. That territory wasn’t under my jurisdiction, which explained why they didn’t recognize me. I took a deep breath, discreetly using the small blade hidden in my sleeve to saw at my ropes. I’d been through scenes like this too many times not to have some precautions. Noticing I was awake, Scar rummaged through my wallet. “Ms. Vance, tough luck for you. Tell your family to bring ten million for your ransom, or wait for your corpse.” “Ms. Vance… I’m so sorry. I dragged you into this. But don’t be afraid! My husband will come rescue us soon. He’s incredibly powerful,” Elara said, her eyes full of trust, as if Damian was a divine savior. My hands paused, but I didn’t respond. Suddenly, Scar roared into his phone. “Damn it, Damian Thorne doesn’t believe me? Looks like I need to send him a big present!” He threw a knife at our feet. “Alright, men, cut this convent girl’s bastard child out of her belly and send it to Damian!” My pupils contracted. If Elara died here today, Damian would surely tear me and my mother apart for revenge. Elara was trembling uncontrollably, tears drenching her face. “No… please, don’t hurt my baby…” Her simple white dress was covered in dust, tears streaming down her face, a picture of fragile despair, like a terrified fawn. Her appearance completely ignited the savage instincts of these madmen. “Boss, this girl has such delicate skin. Why don’t we have some fun with her first?” Seeing them reach out to drag Elara away, I, having just cut through my ropes, charged forward, ramming into Scar and shielding Elara with my body. “Damn it! Beat her to death!” Scar roared, clutching his stomach, and the men immediately swarmed me. Two fists against a dozen, I could only protect Elara with my body, enduring countless blows and kicks. “Ms. Vance… don’t hit her… please, let her go…” Elara cried out, trying to block the blows, but I held her down tight. Just then, an SUV smashed through the warehouse door, and gunfire instantly echoed through the space. **【Chapter 6】** All eyes turned to the entrance. Damian Thorne stormed towards us like a madman, pulling Elara into his embrace. “Elara, don’t be scared. I’m here.” Elara sobbed in his arms, almost fainting. The moment she relaxed, she passed out. He carefully lifted her into an ambulance, gently wiping away her tears himself. I struggled to my feet, meeting Damian’s icy, piercing gaze, and my heart plummeted to my gut. “Seraphina.” His voice was low, yet carried a bone-chilling coldness. “Why are you here?” I swallowed the metallic taste of blood, forcing out a broken laugh. “If I told you it wasn’t me, would you believe it?” A hard slap landed across my face, sending me crashing into a pillar, blood immediately welling at the corner of my mouth. “Seraphina, can’t you even come up with a believable lie?” I spat out the blood, ultimately deciding not to say I was there to pray for our child. He placed his foot on my wrist and pressed down, grinding it. The excruciating pain forced a scream from me. “When did you start plotting against Elara?” “I didn’t.” Damian turned and shot Scar in the leg, then pressed the muzzle against his head. “Did she not?” Scar howled in pain, trembling as he pointed at me. “It… it was Ms. Vance who hired us! She said she’d pay us to teach that convent girl a lesson…” “You’re lying!” I retorted fiercely, but his men held my shoulders down tight. Damian sneered, then pulled the trigger, blowing Scar’s brains out with a single shot. “Seraphina.” He crouched down, gripping my chin, his eyes ruthless. “You hurt my Elara. You’ll pay with your most precious possession.” With a sickening crunch, he snapped my wrist clean. “Ah—!” The pain made my vision blur, my body convulsing. “Damian Thorne! How can you do this to me!” He stood up, adjusting his suit, his voice flat as if discussing something trivial. “Sever her hand tendons.” “Do it.” Two words, light as a feather, yet carrying a deathly chill. I was roughly pinned to the ground, my hands forced open. “Damian Thorne!” I cried out in utter despair. “Seven years ago, I should have let you rot in that alley…” His back, as he turned to leave, paused for a fraction of a second. But in the end, he didn’t look back. The second before the searing pain hit, I remembered him kissing my wrist, saying, “My Sera’s hands are meant for painting. If anyone dares to touch them, their entire family will pay with their lives!” Seven years ago, I saved him, stepping deeper into the abyss with each choice. Seven years later, he personally severed every last one of my hopes. Four in the morning. I lay sprawled on the cold warehouse floor, my hands twisted at grotesque angles. My loyal aide rushed in with a medical kit. Behind us, the warehouse blazed with roaring fire. In the car heading to the airport, cold sweat drenched my clothes, yet my voice was resolute. “Once the plane takes off, destroy all traces of me. I want the name Seraphina Vance to completely vanish from this world.” **【Chapter 7】** At the hospital. The moment Elara woke, Damian knelt on one knee to apologize, his palm gently stroking her cheek, his eyes full of self-reproach. “I failed to protect you.” Elara gently shook her head, tears still clinging to her lashes, but her first question was about me. “Ms. Vance? Is she alright?” Damian pulled her into his embrace, his chin resting on her head. “Why are you always so kind-hearted? I just love how pure you are.” Elara’s cheeks flushed at his words, and she forgot to press about me. After Elara fell asleep, Damian walked out of the room and said to his subordinate in a cold voice, “Take the divorce papers to Seraphina. And transfer 30% of Thorne Industries’ shares into her name. Tell her to be out of the mansion before dawn.” But the next day, Damian waited at Thorne Industries all morning, with no news from Seraphina. He stared at his messages, which had vanished without a trace, his fingers unconsciously tapping the desk. Beyond frustration, a strange unease began creeping up his spine – Seraphina had never ignored his calls before. “Where is she? Do I have to go get her myself?” His subordinate hesitated. “Boss, perhaps Ms. Vance is at the hospital.” Damian’s brow furrowed abruptly as he suddenly remembered that he’d ordered her hand tendons severed yesterday. No wonder she wasn’t replying. He tossed the divorce agreement to his subordinate. “Find out which hospital she’s in and give her these. And when you find her,” he called out before the man could turn, “assign two men to watch her. She’s vindictive; don’t let her play any dirty tricks against Elara. If you detect any unusual movements, send her to a private mental asylum. Release her after Elara’s child is born.” Late that night, Damian returned to the mansion. The master bedroom was empty, without a trace of me. That sense of unease surged again. Just as he was about to call his subordinate, a faint rustle of art supplies came from the art studio downstairs. She’s back? Well, where else would she go but to him? Her edges had grown sharper over the years. This was an opportunity to break her spirit, lest she harm Elara in the future. With that thought, he went downstairs and pushed open the art studio door. **【Chapter 8】** Moonlight streamed over the girl’s hair. Her slender fingers held a paintbrush, delicately outlining shapes on the canvas, pure as an untouched painting. Damian’s expression, however, darkened instantly. “Who told you you could touch these art supplies?” This set of custom German paints and brushes, he had personally commissioned for Seraphina. Her hands, besides holding a gun, could also paint gentle landscapes. In those years, after every late-night arms deal, I would always paint a “Starry Night” here. He knew it was her way of self-redemption. The paintbrush suddenly stopped. Elara looked up in a panic, meeting his cold gaze. “The butler said I could use them… I’m sorry.” Seeing her eyes redden, Damian’s expression softened. He pulled her into his embrace. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. These are my late wife’s belongings. If you like them, I’ll order a new set for you.” Elara’s eyes filled with sympathy, her earlier hurt instantly forgotten. So he truly harbored such deep affection for his wife, who had passed away five years ago. Such a man would surely make a good husband and father. At three in the morning, Damian’s phone suddenly rang wildly. His finger hovered over the answer button, hesitant—his intuition, honed by years in the underworld, told him this call would make him lose something very important. “Boss, Ms. Vance is gone! We can’t find her!” his subordinate’s anxious voice came through. “But we found her medical records. You should really see them yourself.” Damian was about to hang up when the subordinate added, “Boss, Ms. Vance knew you had divorced her a long time ago.” When Elara woke, she found Damian sitting on the balcony, smoking, the floor littered with cigarette butts. “Is work not going well?” she asked softly, thinking his job at the District Attorney’s office was indeed very demanding. Yes, afraid of alarming Elara, Damian had always lied, telling her he worked for a federal agency. Damian looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot. He had read the files his subordinate sent last night over and over again—Seraphina was pregnant. The day she terminated the pregnancy was the same day he married Elara, only an hour apart. He understood at a glance: Seraphina must have seen him and Elara going to get married. But she dared to abort his child. Initial anger surged, but then he looked at Elara, standing in the morning light, golden rays illuminating her white dress and dark hair, like an ethereal angel, pure as snow. So utterly different from that blood-stained, manipulative woman. This was for the best, he thought. They were divorced anyway. Her leaving on her own saved him the trouble. He should probably thank Seraphina. “No, it’s nothing. Work matters are handled.” He stood up and closed the window. “I reek of smoke. I’m going to shower.” Elara nodded, relieved. Damian went into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. He called his subordinate. “Wipe out those scum from Europe and America, every last one of them. Chop off their fingers and feed them to the dogs.” **【Chapter 9】** Elara became the new lady of the mansion. Damian ordered new art supplies for her, and for a while, she believed herself to be the happiest woman in the world. But after Damian took over the affairs Seraphina had left behind, the killing intent radiating from him grew heavier. Every time he came home and faced Elara’s pure face, he felt an overwhelming exhaustion—she was, after all, not like Seraphina; she couldn’t help him deal with his dirty business. And he still had to pretend to be some upstanding federal prosecutor in front of her. One day, after dealing with a traitor in his organization, he was about to follow his routine and bring Elara a small cake when he was suddenly captivated by an international art competition playing on a store screen. The familiar face on the screen was confident, vibrant, and full of life. That day, he went to buy Elara dessert, and in a gallery window, one of my old pieces was displayed. It depicted sunflowers blooming in the sun, painted with bright, spirited brushstrokes. It was like a vibrant red rose, blazing with color, outshining even the purest snow. Damian stood in the store for a long time, his heart still pounding even after the store closed. He walked into Seraphina’s old art studio for the first time in ages, the dusty easel standing quietly in the corner. Memories suddenly broke through the dam— The first time they met, Seraphina stood at the studio door, holding a sketchbook, her white dress splattered with paint, like an angel who had wandered into the darkness. That year, Seraphina had just graduated from college. He had pulled her into his world, utterly reckless. Seraphina was the only light in his bloody life; only by her side could he find a moment of peace. He had once sworn to protect Seraphina his entire life, to love her forever. When did that change? Was it when Seraphina first accepted a deal from his men? Or when she picked up a gun and killed for him? Seraphina gradually became like him, her paintbrush stained with blood, yet he began to crave a different kind of purity. Long-forgotten emotions surged, and Damian had only one thought: he wanted Seraphina back, no matter what it took. “Tear the world apart if you have to, but find Seraphina!” he yelled into the phone at his subordinate, his voice trembling. “Even if she’s dead, she’ll die in my arms!” “Boss, she’s been gone for so long. It’ll be hard to find any trace of her now.” “If you can’t find her, find her mother!” Damian interrupted. “She’s critically ill; she must be in a high-end nursing home. Seraphina wouldn’t skimp on her only family.” As he hung up, Elara stood at the art studio door. “Damian, who are you looking for?” **【Chapter 10】** Damian turned, his tone distant for the first time. “Work matters. You don’t need to worry about them.” Elara’s smile was a little stiff. She sat on the art stool. “What do you want to paint? I’ll paint it for you.” In a daze, he almost saw a familiar figure. “Paint ‘Starry Night’.” Elara froze for a moment—that was a very obscure painting. “Okay.” Days passed without a single lead. They couldn’t even find a trace of Seraphina’s mother. “Worthless! A bunch of useless fools! You can’t find a living, breathing person?!” Damian swept his desk clean, sending papers flying. “Why are you still standing here? Get out there and find her!” He had never been this agitated. Every day without Seraphina felt like his heart hollowed out a little more. In the wine cellar, he drank himself into a stupor. Elara pushed the door open, intending to help him back to his room. Damian had been distraught, and at first, she could convince herself it was truly just about work. But then she’d overheard Damian’s conversation in the art studio. Was his wife really dead? Elara’s hand instinctively went to her noticeably swollen belly. After a moment of hesitation, she knelt down, trying to help Damian up. “Damian, let’s go back to the room. I made you some hangover cure.” Damian said nothing, his eyes hazy as he stared at her face for a long moment. Suddenly, he reached out and cupped her cheeks, pressing a burning kiss to her lips. Elara blushed, her smile barely forming before she heard him murmur, “Sera… I miss you so much.” All the blood in her body instantly froze. The next day, Damian came downstairs to find Elara waiting for him in the living room. Wedding invitations were laid out on the coffee table. Before Damian could speak, Elara tentatively asked, “The doctor says the baby is strong. We can have the wedding now.” Before, Damian would have been ecstatic. Now, only irritation remained. He put his arm around her. “Have I been too busy lately? Is it affecting you?” “I just want to know when the wedding will be, and will it be public?” Elara looked up, her eyes filled with sorrow. “If you don’t like me, I can leave.” Damian stiffened for a moment, then placated her. “Next week. We’ll have the ceremony next week, and it will be public. Don’t overthink things, just rest and take care of yourself, okay?” After he left, Elara went to Thorne Industries, the company he’d mentioned in his files. She waited outside for three days, asking everyone she met, “Do you know Seraphina Vance?” Until one person, hearing Seraphina’s name, stared at her suspiciously. Soon after, Elara was disoriented and shaken, barely remembering how she got home. The basement door was ajar, and screams echoed from inside. **【Chapter 11】** Damian was having a man chained and dragged across broken glass. It was utterly barbaric. “Damian Thorne! I already gave you the South American deal! What more do you want?!” the man screamed. “What’s the South American market compared to my wife?” Damian sneered. “You should have known your fate the moment you laid a hand on her!” The man spat blood, a mocking glint in his eyes. “The day I sent my men to beat her, you were wrapped around your little mistress! Now you’re pretending to be so devoted? Disgusting!” “Cut out his tongue.” Damian’s voice was terrifyingly calm. This was his true face—not a grieving prosecutor mourning his late wife, but a ruthless arms magnate, his hands steeped in blood. Elara fled back to her room, frantically packing her bags. She had to leave. She had to get out of here. When Damian caught up, he saw Elara’s red-rimmed eyes and knew she’d seen everything. “Elara, those were just tactics. He hurt me, but that was the punishment he deserved.” Elara, tears still streaming, stopped packing. “Seraphina saved me. When those men tried to hurt me, she shielded me with her own body. She’s so good. I can’t betray her.” A flicker of panic crossed Damian’s eyes. Elara knew everything. He quickly stepped forward, grabbing her hand, trying to explain. “I didn’t mean to lie to you. I had my reasons…” He tightened his grip. “You have to understand me. You should understand me. Aren’t you the most compassionate person I know?” Elara pushed him away, tears flowing freely. “Do you know why she went to that chapel?” “Why?” Damian’s heart sank. “She was there to pray for your lost child. She truly loved you and your baby.” **【Chapter 12】** Damian’s outstretched hand fell uselessly to his side. A gut-wrenching roar of agony tore through the mansion. What had he done… I spent four months in a rehabilitation center in New York, undergoing nine surgeries on my hands. Every night I woke in pain, I’d go to the rooftop for air. That’s where I met Jaxson Reed. He’d broken his leg in a street race and would sneak up to the roof to drink beer, hiding it from his doctors. I asked him if he’d won. He flashed a wild grin. “Of course, sis. By just 0.01 seconds. I never lose.” On the day I was discharged, he handed me a love letter, blushing, and my dead heart felt like it started beating again. Later, I learned he was the son of a powerful New York crime boss, raised under his family’s protection. When he talked about the family business, his eyes gleamed like a coiled panther, ready to strike. I couldn’t help but be drawn to him, yet because of the shadows of my past, I always kept my distance. I picked up my paintbrush again, finding a job at a gallery. Jaxson would come pick me up every day after work. Today, I waited for half an hour with no sign of him. Just as I was about to call, someone clapped a hand over my mouth and dragged me into a van. When the black cloth was ripped off, I saw Damian Thorne’s face. “Long time no see,” he said. I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. “What do you want? You’re not in charge here.” He ran his tongue over his reddened cheek, then leaned the other side closer. “Wifey, how about this side too?” I recoiled, a chill running through me. “We’re divorced. I didn’t stand in your way with Elara. What do you want?” “I’ve looked for you for a long time. I missed you.” A shadow of sorrow crossed his eyes. He was still wearing our wedding ring. “Come home.” “Dream on!” I sneered. “Damian Thorne, I hate you. Forever.” His eyes suddenly reddened. “I know about the baby. Sera, can we start over? This time, I’ll protect you.” I didn’t bother to reply. My smartwatch was already automatically sending a distress signal—Jaxson had given it to me; it would alert him if I left a safe zone. Damian rushed me towards a private airfield when Jaxson’s video call suddenly came through. On the screen, Elara was tied beneath a helicopter, cradling a baby. “Let her go, or I’ll send your wife and child on a one-way flight,” Jaxson’s voice was laced with challenge. I looked at the child, nearly a year old, and my brow furrowed—so he hadn’t split with Elara after all; the child was already quite big. The video ended, and Damian expressionlessly turned off his phone. “Let me go! He’ll really do it!” “She’s not as important as you. Sera, Elara means nothing to me compared to you.” His eyes were filled with a terrifying obsession. “For you, I’d give up everything.” I was stunned by the madness in his eyes. He’d truly lost his mind. The car sped forward. Just as it turned the corner, a motorcycle suddenly cut in front of us, and bullets instantly shattered the window. Suddenly, gunfire erupted everywhere. **【Chapter 13】** Damian’s men and Jaxson’s crew immediately engaged, fighting with murderous intent. He took a bullet to the abdomen, but still clutched my hand. “Don’t be scared, I’m taking you home.”

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For three years, Aubrey Hayes had tried to end her life over a hundred desperate times. When she woke again, she found herself in a hospital bed, her mind a complete blank. A middle-aged couple sat by her bed. Seeing her eyes open, they immediately frowned. “How much longer are you going to keep this up?” “Liam was supposed to marry Clara. You were just a consequence of a drunken mistake, an accident that forced his hand,” the woman said, full of impatience. “It’s normal that he doesn’t love you, or come home. But you? You constantly threaten him with suicide. After all these years, can you name one time he’s visited you after any of these attempts?” “If you weren’t our biological daughter, we honestly wouldn’t bother with you,” the man sighed, shaking his head. “You’re simply no match for Clara, not in the slightest.” Aubrey stared at them, bewildered. She’d lost all her memories, didn’t even know who she was. All she could piece together about her shattered life came from the accusations of this couple who claimed to be her parents. She was once the Albright heiress, kidnapped as a child. When she was finally found and brought home, she discovered her family had adopted a girl named Clara Miller. Her parents, who should have doted on her, now only had eyes for their adopted daughter. The place that should have been hers was completely taken by another. Later, she fell in love with Liam Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Enterprises. But his heart, too, belonged to Clara Miller. Then came that party. Liam, drunk, mistakenly ended up in her room, and he took her. After a night of reckless abandon, he was forced to marry her. But he also reserved all his coldness and resentment for her. Her parents didn’t love her, her husband didn’t either. Overwhelmed by despair, powerless to change her fate, she resorted to desperate acts, hoping they might finally notice her, finally care. “Alright, we need to go back and cook for Clara,” Mr. and Mrs. Albright said, rising from their seats. “You stay here and reflect on your actions.” The moment the hospital room door clicked shut, a sharp pain pierced Aubrey’s chest. Even without her memories, the sense of being abandoned by the whole world felt chillingly real. She couldn’t understand. How could parents not love their biological daughter, but instead lavish affection on an adopted one? And that man, Liam Sterling… It was *his* mistake. He went into the wrong room, he misidentified her. If he was forced to marry her, why couldn’t he treat her well? Why did he push her to the brink with such cruel indifference? She dared not delve deeper. Just listening to these unfamiliar past events made her heart ache as if being carved by a blunt knife. What about her former self? How utterly soul-crushing it must have been, day after day, living with parents who couldn’t care less and a husband who outright ignored her? Aubrey slowly pushed herself up, silently completing her discharge paperwork. But standing at the hospital entrance, she didn’t know where to go. She couldn’t recall her parents’ address, nor Liam Sterling’s. Even more tragically, neither home welcomed her. Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the hospital entrance. Aubrey looked up, seeing a tall, lean man striding purposefully, cradling a delicate figure in his arms. He wore a sharp black suit, his shoulders broad, incredibly handsome, exuding an undeniable presence with every step. The girl in his arms was carefully protected, her pale face pressed against his chest. He looked down at her with a tenderness that stung Aubrey’s eyes, his arm tightening possessively, his steps instinctively softening, as if afraid to jostle her. “Clear the way!” His voice wasn’t loud, but the onlookers instinctively parted, creating a path. “Oh my God, is that Liam Sterling?” someone behind her whispered in awe. “Who else could it be? Who in this city commands such a presence? He’s so impossibly handsome, my knees went weak just looking at him…” Aubrey froze. So this was Liam Sterling, her husband. And the one in his arms was likely Clara Miller, her adopted sister. As he passed her, his steps faltered almost imperceptibly. His eyes, dark as midnight, swept over her, cold as an ice blade against skin. But in an instant, he pulled his gaze away, hurrying towards the emergency room with the girl in his arms. Aubrey’s slender frame trembled slightly. She didn’t follow, still pondering where she was supposed to go— The next second, footsteps sounded behind her. She turned, only to find it was Liam Sterling, who had returned. He grabbed her wrist, his grip so tight she winced. “You’re Rh-negative, aren’t you?” Without waiting for an answer, he dragged her towards the blood donation room. “Clara was in a car accident and lost a lot of blood. The hospital blood bank is low. Donate some blood for her.” “I…” Aubrey was about to speak when Liam suddenly gripped the back of her head. He leaned down and kissed her. The kiss was cold and brief, a mere touch before he pulled away. “Can you donate now?” His voice was low, devoid of any warmth. Before Aubrey could fully process it, she was pushed into the blood donation room. Outside, the nurses’ whispers drifted in clearly: “That’s Liam Sterling’s wife? The one who tried to end her life over a hundred times? I heard the first time she tried to make him kiss her, the second time for a date, the third time to sleep with him… Always rejected. She’s truly shameless.” “And now Liam Sterling finally kisses her, but it’s only to make her donate blood for Clara Miller…” “She’s probably happy and heartbroken at the same time, right? Happy to finally get his kiss, but sad that it’s all for someone else…” Aubrey lay on the donor chair, watching through the glass window as Liam stood by Clara Miller’s bed, his long fingers gently enveloping her pale hand. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. Strangely, she felt neither happiness nor heartbreak. The pain of the needle piercing her vein felt muffled, as if through a thick veil. Even the emotions that should have been gut-wrenching were dulled by her memory loss. Perhaps forgetting everything was the universe’s mercy to her. After donating 400cc of blood, Aubrey emerged, her face pale, her vision blurring in and out. After struggling for a moment, she finally walked up to Liam. “Liam, can you tell me… our home address? In exchange, I can give you a gift.” Liam frowned. “What game are you playing now? Too many attempts, and you’ve forgotten where you live?” “No, I have amnesia…” “The driver is waiting outside,” Liam cut her off. “Have him take you back.” “Thank you,” Aubrey said softly. “I’ll prepare the gift.” “Don’t bother,” Liam’s tone was icy. “I’m not interested in any gifts from you, and you don’t need to try and win my affection.” Aubrey lowered her gaze, a faint, fleeting smile touching her lips. Is that so? But this time, you *will* like the gift. Once in the car, she found her lawyer’s number in her phone contacts and sent a message: 【Hi, I want a divorce and to sever parental ties. Please prepare a divorce agreement and a declaration of severed parental ties for me.】 The lawyer’s reply came quickly: 【Of course, Ms. Hayes. I’ll draft them as soon as possible.】 Aubrey put away her phone, watching the fleeting scenery outside the window. Amnesia was the universe giving her a chance—a chance to completely escape and start a brand new life. “Don’t go home yet,” she suddenly told the driver. “Take me to the immigration office.” The driver clearly paused, looking at her in surprise through the rearview mirror, but still respectfully said, “Certainly, ma’am.” The immigration procedures went smoothly. The staff informed her that all her documents would be ready in two weeks. When she got back into the car, Aubrey hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Please don’t mention today’s events to Mr. Sterling.” The driver’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Ma’am, Mr. Sterling has always… forbidden us from mentioning you in his presence.” Aubrey forced a bitter smile. So Liam Sterling detested her to such an extent that he didn’t even want to hear her name. Back at the mansion, Aubrey stood in the entryway, looking around. This home felt both familiar and alien. Familiar because every detail matched her aesthetic, yet alien because it was so cold and quiet, as if no one truly lived there. She gently traced the embroidered throw pillow on the sofa, thinking that when she had decorated this home, she must have been full of hopeful anticipation for a happy life with Liam. In the wedding photo hanging on the wall, her eyes were filled with love as she looked at Liam, but his handsome face only showed indifference. Aubrey shook her head and turned to go upstairs. Entering the bedroom, Aubrey instinctively pulled open a drawer. A leather-bound diary slipped out and fell to the floor. She opened the first page. The messy handwriting looked as if it had been written while drunk: 【Today is the first day of my marriage to Liam. He went to his study without saying a word. It’s okay, I’ll wait.】 Flipping through the pages, each entry felt like a knife plunging into her heart: 【My 37th attempt. He still didn’t come to see me. His assistant said Clara had a fever, and he stayed by her bedside all night. I lay in the emergency room, counting the drips until dawn.】 【My 89th attempt. I took sleeping pills. When I woke up, I heard him on the phone in the hallway, saying, “Let her die.” It was then I understood. What hurts more than death is hearing the person you love most wish for your death.】 【My 108th attempt. I’ve decided to give up. If this one doesn’t work, I’ll simply vanish for good. After all, no one in this world cares if I exist.】 Aubrey slammed the diary shut. Her chest felt as if it had been brutally torn open. The scars on her wrists suddenly burned, each one silently screaming of past despair. She slowly sank to the floor, hugging her knees. For three years, she had lived so humbly, like a dog begging for scraps, just for a glance from him. “It’s okay,” Aubrey whispered, wiping away her tears and placing the diary back in the drawer. “Aubrey Hayes, it’s okay if no one loves you.” The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a small pool of light at her feet. “As long as you love yourself, you haven’t lost.” Aubrey lived in the empty mansion for several days. Liam Sterling never returned. Without memories, without love, she didn’t find the solitude difficult to bear. In fact, she thought it was quite nice to quietly wait for her immigration documents to be processed. Until her mother’s call shattered the peace. “Tomorrow is Clara’s birthday. Seven o’clock in the evening, at the Grandview Hotel.” Her mother’s voice was cold and distant. “Don’t be late.” “I don’t…” “That’s settled.” The call was abruptly cut off, not even giving her a chance to refuse. On the day of the party, Aubrey chose the simplest black dress. Upon entering, she saw Clara Miller, surrounded by admirers, and Liam Sterling, whom she hadn’t seen in days. “Clara Miller is so lucky,” two women whispered nearby. “Her adoptive parents dote on her like the apple of their eye, and even Mr. Sterling is so attentive to her.” “Isn’t she? I heard Mr. Sterling personally arranged this party. Look at that champagne, specially flown in from France, each bottle costs six figures. And those flowers, freshly flown in from Holland this morning. The entire ballroom is decorated like Clara Miller’s favorite Monet garden, costing millions.” The guests’ murmurs continuously reached her ears. Aubrey took a sip of her drink, her gaze fixed on Liam Sterling not far away. He was wearing a black suit today, his shirt collar casually unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone, exuding a hint of lazy aristocracy. Yet this very man was now half-kneeling, adjusting Clara Miller’s skirt. His usually cold face even bore a smile. “And now, let’s invite Mr. and Mrs. Albright to offer their blessings to their beloved daughter!” No sooner had the host’s voice faded than Aubrey’s parents walked onto the stage with Clara Miller. Mr. Albright cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Today, I have an important announcement. Sixty percent of Albright Industries’ shares will be inherited by Clara Miller.” A gasp rippled through the audience. Aubrey’s hand tightened around her glass. At that moment, Liam Sterling also walked onto the stage, pulling a velvet box from his pocket. When he opened it, inside lay an antique emerald ring. “Isn’t that the Sterling family heirloom?” someone in the crowd exclaimed. “I heard that emerald ring was left by Mrs. Sterling Senior for her eldest grandson’s wife.” “Oh my God, giving the family heirloom to his wife’s sister… Mr. Sterling is openly humiliating Aubrey Hayes…” The ring slowly slid onto Clara Miller’s ring finger, a perfect fit. “Dad, Mom, Liam, isn’t this… a bit much?” Clara Miller suddenly looked towards the corner, her voice filled with feigned hesitation. “After all, big sister is the biological daughter of the Hayes family, and Liam Sterling’s wife. These things should belong to her, shouldn’t they?” Hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Albright immediately grasped her hands. “Nonsense! Aubrey is well-married, with the Sterling family backing her. We naturally need to plan more for you. Giving you the assets is only right.” Liam Sterling merely stated calmly, “If it weren’t for that accident, this ring would have been yours.” Aubrey stood in the middle of the crowd, feeling like she was being stripped naked in public. Her parents’ words were like slaps, Liam Sterling’s words like knives, striking her face repeatedly. The gazes of the surrounding guests were like spotlights, leaving her nowhere to hide—pitying, mocking, gloating. Every single one of them screamed “pathetic.” She could even feel Clara Miller’s triumphant gaze, like a victor flaunting her spoils. In the past, she would have been so heartbroken she’d want to die. But now, she felt only peace. Aubrey gently set down her glass. As she turned, she heard someone whisper: “Look, her eyes are all red…” “She must be heading to the restroom to cry…” “How pathetic. Her biological parents and husband both favor the adopted daughter…” She didn’t stop, walking straight to the restroom. Her reflection in the mirror showed perfectly applied makeup, not a single tear shed. Because she had forgotten everything. She had forgotten how humbly she once begged for her parents’ affection, for Liam Sterling’s love. She no longer remembered how many times she had cast aside her dignity, just for a fleeting glance from them. These people, whom she once humbly looked up to, were now no different from strangers. Now, she simply needed to quietly wait for her immigration documents to be processed, and then learn to love herself properly. Aubrey reapplied her lipstick. Just as she was about to leave the restroom, she suddenly froze at the corner of the hallway. Not far away, Liam Sterling was pinning Clara Miller against the wall, kissing her deeply. His long fingers threaded through her hair, his other hand tightly gripping her waist, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones. Clara Miller’s head was thrown back, her fair neck forming an elegant arch. After what felt like an eternity, Liam Sterling finally released her, gently caressing her slightly swollen lips with his thumb. His voice was low, “Satisfied?” Clara Miller leaned into his embrace, her voice soft and sweet. “Liam, do you think I’m being too demanding? I’ve already accepted your family heirloom, but I still asked for a kiss… If big sister saw us, she’d probably be sad again.” “I’m just in so much pain. If that accident hadn’t happened back then, we would have been together…” Liam Sterling’s eyes were calm as he held her even tighter. “Her sadness has nothing to do with me.” “I never liked her, and I never will in this lifetime.” “It’s always been you, Clara.” With that, he lowered his head and kissed her again. Aubrey stood frozen, her heart clutched by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible to breathe. She raised a hand to her chest, thinking: *This must be the lingering warmth of my past love for him.* *Once this last ember dies out, there will be nothing left.* Liam Sterling and Clara Miller kissed for a full three minutes before turning to leave. Only after their figures completely vanished did Aubrey emerge from the shadows. She took a deep breath, straightened her dress, and prepared to return to the ballroom to get her bag and leave. But just as she entered the main hall, Clara Miller rushed over and grabbed her wrist. “Big sister, if you liked the ring Liam gave me so much, I could have given it to you. Why did you have to steal it?” Aubrey froze. “Steal what? What are you talking about?” “Don’t pretend!” Clara Miller’s eyes were red. “I just went to the restroom, and the ring was gone! The waiter said only you came near my bag!” Mr. and Mrs. Albright arrived, hearing the commotion, and without a word, Mrs. Albright slapped Aubrey. “Aubrey Hayes, you just can’t go a day without causing trouble, can you?!” Aubrey’s cheek stung, and before she could react, her mother shrieked, “Someone, search her!” Several waiters immediately surrounded her, roughly tugging at her dress. Aubrey struggled desperately. “I didn’t steal anything! Let go of me!” “Rip!” The sound of tearing fabric filled the air. Aubrey’s shoulder was exposed, and gasps and snickers immediately broke out among the guests. “Found it!” A waiter pulled the emerald ring from her bag. “It was in here after all!” Clara Miller took the ring, tears streaming down her face. “Big sister, what do you have to say for yourself now?” Aubrey trembled, about to speak, when the crowd suddenly parted— A steady footsteps approached from afar. She looked up to see Liam Sterling walking towards her, his polished dress shoes echoing on the marble floor. Each step felt like it landed directly on Aubrey’s heart. “Why would you steal it?” His voice was soft, yet it silenced the entire ballroom instantly. “Don’t you know I never considered you my wife?” Aubrey looked up, meeting his icy gaze. “Aubrey Hayes, some things don’t belong to you,” his thin lips parted, each word like a poisoned blade. “They never will.” Aubrey suddenly smiled. That smile made Liam Sterling’s brow furrow almost imperceptibly. He had seen her cry, seen her throw tantrums, seen her become hysterical, but he had never seen her smile like this—a smile of release, or perhaps mockery. “I didn’t steal it.” Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear. The ballroom chandelier cast tiny lights in her eyes, like tears, or perhaps stars. “And—” She took a deep breath, enunciating each word: “I don’t love you anymore!” Silence descended upon the hall. Everyone’s eyes widened, disbelieving their ears. Aubrey Hayes, the woman who had been desperate for Liam Sterling, saying she no longer loved him? All eyes focused on Aubrey, faces etched with shock. Only Liam Sterling stood before her, impeccably dressed, his expression cold, not a ripple in his eyes. “How many times have you played this game of push-and-pull?” His voice was low, laced with undisguised mockery. “I’ve told you, it doesn’t matter how much you act out.” He leaned slightly, his thin lips barely moving, each word designed to crush her last shred of dignity— “I don’t love you, and I never will.” With his words, the surrounding guests finally snapped out of their shock, and whispers erupted like a tide. “I knew it! How could Ms. Hayes suddenly stop loving Mr. Sterling?” “Right? She used to try to end her life over a hundred times just to get him to look at her!” “Tsk, tsk, how pathetic and tragic…” Aubrey clenched her hands, her nails digging deeply into her palms, but she felt no pain. She opened her mouth, wanting to say it again— She wasn’t playing games. She truly, deeply, didn’t love him anymore! But before she could speak, Mr. Albright sharply interrupted. “Excuse me, everyone. It’s our fault for failing to raise our daughter properly, allowing her to commit such a shameful act of theft!” He waved his hand coldly, instructing the bodyguards, “Take her and throw her in the hotel’s cold storage. Let her freeze there overnight to clear her head!” Aubrey’s pupils contracted sharply. She suddenly looked up. “I told you I didn’t steal anything…” But no one listened to her explanation. Two bodyguards stepped forward, roughly seizing her wrists. She struggled desperately, but then a sharp pain shot through the back of her neck! She stumbled backward, her vision blackening, after being struck by the bodyguard’s bat. In the last second before losing consciousness, she met Liam Sterling’s eyes. He stood there, watching her coldly, not even a flicker of emotion on his face. Later, Aubrey was awakened by a biting cold. Frost coated her eyelashes, and her breath misted in the air. Her limbs were stiff with cold, her blood felt like it had congealed. The cold storage unit was minus thirty degrees Fahrenheit, and she was only wearing a thin slip. Her exposed skin was already turning blue-purple. “Can’t die…” She struggled to move her body. “I can’t die…” Her immigration documents would be ready soon. She had to leave this place. Soon, she could start a new life. She used all her strength, inching her way to the cold storage door. Her fingers, purple with cold, desperately pounded on the heavy metal door. “Help… me…” “Is anyone out there… help me…” Her voice was hoarse and unrecognizable, but there was no response from outside. Until— “Stop knocking.” A soft, laughing voice drifted from beyond the door. Aubrey froze. It was Clara Miller. “Everyone’s celebrating my birthday party right now, who has time to bother with you?” Clara Miller chuckled, her voice laced with unconcealed triumph. “Oh, and here’s something funny—” “Today’s your birthday too, isn’t it?” “Too bad no one remembers.” Aubrey bit down hard on her lip, the taste of blood spreading in her mouth. “I’m being celebrated in a lavish ballroom, while you’re freezing to death here…” Clara Miller laughed softly. “What if you’re a real heiress, Aubrey Hayes? What if I was just an orphan adopted from a welfare home?” “You’re still beneath my heel.” Aubrey closed her eyes, a metallic taste rising in her throat. Just then, Clara Miller’s phone rang. She seemed to intentionally put it on speaker, allowing Aubrey to clearly hear the voice on the other end— “Clara, where did you go?” It was Liam Sterling. His voice was low and gentle, with a tenderness Aubrey had never heard directed at her. “I feel a little dizzy…” Clara Miller’s voice immediately turned delicate. “I’m in the lounge…” “Wait there, I’ll be right over.” The call ended, and silence returned to the cold storage. Hearing Liam Sterling’s tender voice towards Clara Miller, Aubrey slowly closed her eyes. For some reason, she suddenly recalled the long nights she had written about in her diary. On the yellowed pages, the words were blurred by tears, each stroke her own despair etched onto the paper. She wrote about Liam Sterling booking an entire revolving restaurant for Clara Miller’s birthday, just so she could see a snowfall; She wrote about him staying by Clara Miller’s bedside all night when she had a fever, even missing his company’s IPO bell-ringing ceremony; She wrote about the tender warmth in his eyes when he looked at Clara Miller, like melting spring snow, while his gaze on her was only icy frost. So many days and nights, she had been like a pathetic voyeur, hiding in the shadows, watching them fall in love. Thankfully, now, she finally no longer loved him. This realization made Aubrey’s lips twitch, and she succumbed completely to the darkness. When she next awoke, Aubrey found herself in her mansion bed. Loud, exaggerated laughter and cartoon dialogue drifted from outside the door, the volume so high it seemed to shake the walls. She propped herself up and, pushing the door open, saw Clara Miller sitting cross-legged on the living room rug, snacking on chips, laughing uncontrollably at the TV. “Big sister, you’re awake?” Clara Miller turned, still smiling. “Oops, sorry, was my anime too loud?” She deliberately crunched her chips loudly. “I’ve felt a bit stuffy these past few days, and the air here in the mansion is so good. Liam said I could stay a few days to recuperate… You don’t mind, do you, big sister?” Aubrey instinctively looked at the sofa— Liam Sterling was sitting there, his long fingers flipping through financial reports, his expression cool and focused behind his gold-rimmed glasses. The TV was blaring, yet he didn’t even frown. Aubrey suddenly remembered something written in her diary: 【He lost his temper again today because I was eating an apple beside him. He said the chewing sound bothered his work and told me to leave.】 【Remember, from now on, when he’s in his study, even my breathing must be quiet.】 And now… Clara Miller rustled her chip bag loudly, exaggerated battle sounds boomed from the anime, but Liam Sterling didn’t even lift his head. The difference between love and not loving was so stark. She was about to speak, but Liam Sterling suddenly spoke first. “If it weren’t for that accident back then, this home would have been yours.” His tone was cold, his gaze still fixed on his documents. “She’s merely taken what isn’t hers. You don’t need to ask her permission.” “Right, no need to ask my permission,” Aubrey said calmly. “You can stay as long as you like.” Liam Sterling’s finger, turning a page, paused slightly. He finally looked up at her, his gaze behind his glasses subtly narrowing. This wasn’t like her. Normally, she would either cry hysterically or suppress tears with red eyes, never this… calm. But this slight anomaly only lingered in his mind for a second. He returned his gaze to his documents. After all, he never dwelled on anything related to her, much less cared. Aubrey didn’t care what he thought, simply closing her bedroom door. All day, Aubrey locked herself in her room, listening to the incessant, grating noises from outside. Clara Miller cranked the TV volume to maximum to watch variety shows, walked around on the hardwood floors in high heels, and even opened one of Liam Sterling’s treasured bottles of red wine to go with fried chicken. Every single one of these actions was typically a huge trigger for Liam Sterling. Once, she had accidentally bumped his bookshelf and earned a cold glare; walking too loudly in slippers would earn her a frown and a sharp correction; let alone touching his red wine… But now, she clearly heard Liam Sterling merely say, “Eat slowly, no one’s taking it from you.” Aubrey finally emerged for dinner. The dining table was already laden with dishes. Clara Miller sat beside Liam Sterling, her eyes curved in a radiant smile. “Liam, these are all my favorite dishes!” “Yes,” Liam Sterling’s gaze was tender. “I haven’t forgotten a single one of your preferences.” Clara Miller’s face flushed. She turned and saw Aubrey standing by the door, immediately calling out, “Big sister, come eat!” Aubrey silently walked to the opposite end of the table and sat down. At this moment, Clara Miller seemed like the lady of the house, and she, Aubrey, merely an uninvited guest. She took a forkful of the dish in front of her. After two bites, her throat suddenly felt itchy. She frowned, tried another dish, but the discomfort only grew more intense. “Big sister, what’s wrong?” Clara Miller suddenly exclaimed. “Why do you have red spots on your arm? Are you having an allergic reaction?” Aubrey looked down to see her arms indeed covered in red rashes. Her breathing became increasingly rapid. She tried to speak but no sound came out. She struggled to point to her bag, where her emergency medication was. Clara Miller frantically rose to check, but accidentally knocked over a steaming hot soup bowl— “Ah…” The scalding soup splattered all over Aubrey’s already rash-covered arm, and the intense pain brought tears to her eyes instantly. She saw Liam Sterling rush forward in a single stride, but it was— To shield Clara Miller in his arms! “Did you get burned?” He anxiously checked Clara Miller’s hand, his voice dripping with tender concern. “How could you be so careless?” Aubrey’s vision blurred in and out. Before losing consciousness, the last thing she saw was Liam Sterling’s retreating back, cradling Clara Miller… When she woke again, she was in a hospital bed. A nurse was changing her IV drip. “Your allergy was so severe, you almost died. And you have second-degree burns. Why haven’t any family members come to see you in two days?” Aubrey opened her mouth, but then heard whispers from outside the door: “I heard Mr. Sterling booked the entire floor?” “Yeah, all for Ms. Clara Miller’s minor burn.” “He spoils her so much. By the time he gets here, her wound will have already healed…” Aubrey slowly closed her eyes. “I don’t have any family.” The nurse looked as if she wanted to say more but eventually left silently. No sooner had the room quieted than her phone rang. Aubrey fumbled to answer it. A voice, old but full of vigor, came from the other end: “Girl, it’s Grandpa.” Aubrey froze. In her diary, Liam Sterling’s grandfather seemed to be the only elder who had been kind to her. “Girl, I know all about what’s been happening recently,” Grandpa Sterling’s kind and concerned voice came through the phone. “You’ve suffered. Since Liam married you, he should treat you well. Don’t worry, Grandpa will stand up for you.” This was the first time since losing her memory that Aubrey felt genuine concern and affection. Her nose stung, and she almost shed tears. “It’s okay, Grandpa, I’m fine.” “You always make my heart ache, girl,” Grandpa Sterling sighed. “You’re an heiress, but after being kidnapped, you suffered so much. Your parents don’t care about you, in fact, they’re better to their adopted daughter. And Liam, too…” “All these years, you’ve given so much for him. He’s picky and hard to please, yet you learned a whole set of massage techniques; for that limited edition tea set he loved, you traveled to over a dozen cities to find it; when he was hospitalized with a stomach ulcer, you cared for him sleeplessly for three days and nights; when his mother passed away, you handled the entire funeral… Yet he treats you so coldly, unable to give you his true heart. He *will* regret it!” Aubrey stared blankly at the sterile white ceiling. She didn’t remember any of these things, but just hearing them made her heart throb with pain. “Alright, Grandpa needs to go for a check-up now,” the old man finally said. “Remember, if you ever need anything, just call Grandpa to back you up.” Shortly after the call ended, the hospital room door was violently pushed open. Liam Sterling stood at the doorway, impeccably dressed, his eyes icy. “First, you have an allergic reaction and attempt to end your life, then you go running to Grandpa for help. Aubrey Hayes, besides ending your life and calling Grandpa, do you have any other tricks to get my attention?” Aubrey wanted to explain, but seeing his mocking gaze, she ultimately just said softly, “I didn’t deliberately attempt to end my life. I forgot I was allergic to peanuts.” “Forgot about a peanut allergy?” Liam Sterling sneered. “Why don’t you say you forgot who you even are?” Aubrey quietly looked at him. Yes, she had forgotten who she was. She had forgotten the Aubrey Hayes who had been so humble for love, forgotten the profound despair of those years, and forgotten… the deep-seated love she once had for him. But she didn’t say a word of it. Perhaps due to Grandpa Sterling’s pressure, Liam Sterling grudgingly stayed to “care” for her. But it was less care and more a form of torment. When her IV dripped blood back into the tube, he ignored it. When hot water scalded her hand, he remained indifferent. Even when she struggled to breathe and pressed the call button, he was only concerned with calling his assistant: “Has Clara Miller’s burn been redressed?… Hmm, send over the best scar cream.” The most ironic part was that even though she no longer loved him, Aubrey still felt suffocated. She couldn’t imagine how her former self, who had been so desperately in love with Liam Sterling, had endured years of this daily torment. Sycamore leaves drifted outside the window. She suddenly remembered the words written on the last page of her diary: 【If one day I stop loving you, it will be because my heart has died.】 Now, she realized, the Aubrey Hayes who wrote that line had probably died long ago, in countless nights of neglect. On the day of her discharge, the hospital room was empty. Aubrey knew Liam Sterling had gone to Clara Miller again. In three years of marriage, the days he spent by her side could be counted on one hand. She was used to it, silently waiting for her immigration documents to be approved. During this time, Clara Miller’s Ins feed was constantly updated— Swiss skiing, the Eiffel Tower, island sunsets… In the photos, Liam Sterling’s gaze was blindingly tender. The latest post showed Liam Sterling at the foot of a snowy mountain, his long fingers gently adjusting Clara Miller’s scarf, bending down to tie it tightly, while Clara Miller leaned into his embrace, her smile radiant. The caption read: 【He said he wants to show me the whole world.】 Aubrey calmly scrolled past, as if looking at a stranger’s feed. Three days later, the immigration office finally called, informing her that her documents were ready. She immediately took a taxi, picked up her passport and visa, and then went to the law firm to collect her divorce agreement and declaration of severed parental ties. Everything was in order. She could finally leave this place for good. Aubrey carefully folded the divorce agreement and the declaration, tucking them into the innermost pocket of her bag. Just as she zipped it shut, her phone screen lit up. Clara Miller: 「Big sister, let’s talk.」 Aubrey: 「About what?」 Clara Miller: 「You’ve occupied the position of Mrs. Sterling for three years. Isn’t it time you gave it back to me?」 Aubrey let out a cold laugh, and replied directly: 「It’s already yours.」 She sent the message, then tossed her phone into her bag and walked home without a backward glance. When she pushed open the front door, the motion-sensor light in the entryway didn’t come on. She frowned, fumbling for the switch on the wall. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the back of her head— Before consciousness fully faded, she heard Clara Miller’s voice talking to a man. … When she next awoke, a biting wind lashed her face. Aubrey’s eyes snapped open, and she found herself dangling over a cliff edge! Rough ropes dug into her wrists, and below her was a bottomless abyss. She struggled to turn her head, realizing Clara Miller was also suspended not far from her, her face deathly pale, trembling violently. “Awake?” The kidnapper stood nearby, a cigarette dangling from his lips, sneering. “Don’t worry, your men will be here soon.” No sooner had he spoken than the roar of an engine echoed from a distance. Several black SUVs sped towards them, braking sharply at the cliff edge. The car doors opened, and Liam Sterling strode out. He wore a black trench coat, his expression grim, his presence chillingly oppressive. “Here’s the money, release them,” his voice was low, carrying an undeniable command. The kidnapper grinned. “As expected of Mr. Sterling, straight to the point.” He took the box handed to him by a bodyguard. After confirming the amount, he waved his hand. “I’ve given you the people. Mr. Sterling, you can save them yourself.” With that, he and his crew left without another word. Aubrey hung suspended in mid-air. The rope was already starting to fray, and loose stones crumbled from the cliff edge, falling into the bottomless darkness. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay calm. “Liam! I’m so scared!” Clara Miller cried, tears streaming down her face. “Save me…” A bodyguard quickly assessed the ropes, his face grave. “Mr. Sterling, the ropes won’t hold much longer. We can only save one person right now.” Liam Sterling didn’t hesitate for a second, walking directly towards Clara Miller. At the same time, Mr. and Mrs. Albright’s car arrived. They scrambled out, seeing the scene at the cliff edge, and immediately cried out, “Clara!” “Save Clara first! Quick! She’s fragile, she can’t take this kind of ordeal!” Mrs. Albright’s voice was shrill, almost breaking. Mr. Albright rushed over to help. The three of them worked together, quickly pulling Clara Miller up. Meanwhile, on Aubrey’s side, the rope had begun to make a groaning, snapping sound. “Crack!” She suddenly plunged down a section, the loose stones at the cliff edge tumbled down, disappearing into the bottomless darkness! “Ma’am!” A bodyguard lunged forward, desperately gripping the rope. The rough hemp rope dug into his palm, blood dripping between his fingers, but he finally managed to drag her up.

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