Category: English

The night Chloe didn’t come home, I vanished. She went to see Aiden, her first love, the one who got away, and she ignored all my calls. I desperately texted her: **”Don’t do anything reckless, or I swear I’ll die!”** She just logged into all my gaming accounts and deleted them, then threatened me: **”Still sulking? If you don’t come back now, I’m throwing out your precious husky too.”** I was frantic, but utterly helpless. Because the Soulmate Quest failed, the System had already wiped me out completely, leaving absolutely nothing behind. 0 My wife’s first love had returned to the country, and I tried my best to keep her from seeing the news. But she still found out and went to see him behind my back, leaving me a message to reassure me: **”He and I are just friends now, don’t get the wrong idea.”** I paced back and forth in the living room, a knot of anxiety twisting in my gut. A dull ache settled in my chest, heavy and suffocating. “One life, one love, one fated pair”—that was the mission the System had given me. If Chloe betrayed our marriage, I would be completely erased. For now, I chose to trust her… After all, I had so much faith in our relationship. Midway, I couldn’t resist calling her. She sounded soft and sweet, even a little bit flirty with the alcohol: “Honey…” “No need to pick me up, I know my way home. Don’t worry, I’ll be good. See you in a bit.” I didn’t know where they were having dinner, so I got in my car and started driving around, searching for her. I called countless times, but she kept rejecting them, until eventually, her phone went straight to voicemail. At that moment, my mind was a chaotic mess. Okay, I was panicking. I kept sending her desperate texts: **”If you truly can’t let him go, we can get a divorce.”** **”Please, don’t do anything that would betray me. I’ll die, I really will die!”** … The city lights blazed bright, a kaleidoscope of colors. My car pulled into a deserted alley. That’s when the System’s cold, robotic voice echoed in my head: **[Host, it is with regret that we inform you, your Soulmate Quest in this world has failed.]** My mind went blank. I clenched my fists, slamming them against the steering wheel again and again. The last thread of hope in my chest snapped. But I was so incredibly unwilling. The System’s voice remained mechanical, but this time, it seemed to stutter: **[Your wife has already… with him…** **[Based on the penalty mechanism, you will be annihilated before dawn.]** ### Cut-off point But I never expected her to return in the dead of night. What truly shocked me was that her first love had brought her back. 0

The door creaked open. Aiden King had his arm wrapped around Chloe Bennett’s waist, his voice dripping with intimacy: “You must be tired, Chloe. Get inside and get some sleep.” My heart violently twisted, rage threatening to consume me. I shot up from the sofa, flicked on the living room lights, and cut straight to the chase: “Chloe Bennett. “Haven’t you had enough sleep already? What more sleep do you need?” She froze, straightened up, her face chilling: “Liam Harris, what are you yelling about? I drank too much tonight, that’s why I asked Aiden to bring me home.” He drove you? Even if he drove around the entire city, it wouldn’t take three hours. Besides, arguing with her was pointless now. She noticed the strange look on my face and, instead, got angry, demanding: “When did you become so possessive, to even suspect your own wife?” Aiden leaned lazily against the doorframe, his eyes narrowed, enjoying our argument. I grabbed the vase from the table and hurled it towards her: “He abandoned you first and went abroad back then, don’t you remember? You’ve been married to me for so many years, have you forgotten that too?” But I couldn’t bring myself to hurt her. The vase flew wide, shattering on the floor near her. The exploding glass shards seemed to clear her eyes. She stammered out: “I really did drink too much tonight, and Aiden came back specifically to say goodbye to me. He’s staying abroad for good now. “Besides, he and I have both moved on. If you were so bothered by our past, why did you marry me in the first place?! What are you raging about?” I listened, then let out a soft, mocking laugh. I pulled a cigarette to my lips, self-deprecatingly: “Stop pretending. Own up to what you did.” The smoke drifted across Chloe’s face. She frowned: “Own up to what? Aiden suffered so much drifting alone overseas, what did he do wrong? Can you please stop bothering him now? I’m begging you!” I shrugged: “I won’t. You won’t be seeing me around anyway.” Aiden snickered, a sneer twisting his lips. “You two chat. I’m out.” The door clicked shut. Chloe’s expression softened. She took a step closer, wrapped her arms around my neck, and stood on tiptoes to touch my nose with hers: “Honey, still jealous? “Don’t worry, you’re the only one I love.” I swept her soft body into my arms. Her warm breath tickled my neck, igniting a familiar heat within me. But then I thought of what she’d done with her first love just hours ago, and I abruptly let go. She landed on the floor with a painful thud. I disgustedly wiped the spot on my face where she’d touched me: “You’re disgusting.” I even spat on the floor. She froze, too stunned by the pain to cry. After a long moment, she slowly got up, then stormed out, slamming the door behind her: “Liam Harris, you dare humiliate me like this today, you’d better not regret it! “If it weren’t for you paying Aiden to leave the country and stay away, I would have married him years ago! I never would have chosen you!” 0

Back then, my wife, Chloe Bennett, was the dream goddess of every guy on campus. Her exquisite, stunning face needed no makeup whatsoever. Any elective Chloe chose, the classes would be packed, with people even spilling out into the hallways. I was one of them. And everyone knew that besides Aiden King, she wouldn’t say a single extra word to any other man. “You like her too?” Aiden had approached me back then, handing me a card. “Give me enough money to study abroad, and I’ll hand her over to you.” My rival, yet he offered her up. Without a second thought, I transferred the money, sending off my biggest competitor. The System quest notification appeared the moment I fell in love with Chloe at first sight. Initially, the mission was just to marry her. I felt no pressure at all, I was even excited. Because I truly loved her. After Aiden left, I finally won her over with my persistent efforts. When Chloe agreed to marry me, she said: “When there’s a rainbow in the sky, I want to capture it for you. When I hear a beautiful song, I want to sing it to you. When I’m sad, I want you to understand me. I want to share every beautiful thing with you, and if you’re slow to reply, I’ll worry you don’t care about me anymore. I hate unstable relationships, so Liam, let’s get married.” I’ll never forget the rapid beat of my heart that day. And, of course, the sweet chime that signaled the completion of the quest. But I never expected there to be a second quest: **[One Life, One Love, One Fated Pair.]** **[If your partner betrays you, you will be annihilated by the System.]** At first, I thought the System was just testing me. After all, there were so many temptations in the world. Until I saw Aiden King’s chat pinned to the top of my wife’s SnapChat friend list. I panicked. She always calmed me down with her actions. Dark clouds rolled outside, thunder rumbling. Her eyes were hazy in my arms, and the air around us crackled with a charged intimacy. I told her seriously and sincerely: “If you ever stop loving me and want a divorce, I’ll agree. “But please, never betray me. Otherwise, I’ll die.” She laughed, confidently: “Honey, I’m not that kind of person.” Now, it all seemed like a cruel joke. Did I regret it? Yes, I should have divorced her the day I found out she still had feelings for Aiden! I should’ve married anyone, even someone I didn’t love, and I’d still be alive! My carefully built company, all those savings in the bank. My buddies I gamed with. Even the limited edition action figures, signed basketballs, and rare sneakers I’d spent millions collecting. The moment dawn broke, they would all be gone forever! My phone rang. It was an unknown number. “Liam Harris, it’s Aiden. “Heh, she came looking for me again. You’re really pathetic, can’t even hold onto what was given to you.” 0

“Take me to a hotel, please.” Aiden deliberately didn’t hang up the phone. Chloe had gotten into his car. “Chloe, why the long face? Didn’t you say you definitely wanted to go home earlier?” “He’s like a rabid dog. I don’t want to talk about him. I’m tired, and I don’t want to see him for a while.” Aiden chuckled: “But you were so determined when you emailed me saying you were marrying him. “Now that you regret it, maybe you could consider someone new? “After all, I’m your first love. After all these years, didn’t you miss me?” Chloe’s voice softened: “Alright, Aiden, stop it…” The call ended. My head slumped. The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts. I’d be gone soon. I pulled out my phone and called my closest friend, Caleb. He picked up, his voice heavy with sleep: “What time is it? Waking up this early makes me feel like my soul’s being ripped from my body!” He’d been my best friend since childhood. Our bond was stronger than gold. I intended to tell him my last wishes, but hearing his voice somehow steadied my emotions. “Chloe cheated on me. I’m going to die.” He didn’t understand, even raising his voice: “She cheated? No way, she would never cheat! She wouldn’t even look at another man besides you!” “Aiden’s back.” “Good, divorce her! Divorce her immediately! You have money, you have looks, there’s no woman you can’t get! As long as you don’t love her, she’s absolutely nothing!” I fell silent, not replying, and began reciting my bank card passwords to him… Before we got married, Chloe, to prove she wasn’t marrying me for money, had signed a prenuptial agreement. That worked out. Now that I was gone, I’d rather donate the money than let her get a cent. Caleb seemed scared, his voice frantic: “Liam Harris, are you out of your mind? “Don’t be like this. I’m coming over right now to drink with you, drink till we drop! There’s no hurdle in life you can’t get over! “It’s just a woman, right? Divorce her, torment her, make her regret it! Isn’t ‘the ex-lover’s desperate chase’ the hot trend now?! “Hang in there, man. I’m telling you, I rode my bike all day today, my crotch was chafed, I can’t even take a shower. Isn’t that hilarious? “Think about your bank account! You can go to the Maldives and stare at the sea, feed pigeons in London Square, go diving in Australia, travel the world to heal. How happy is that? If I got dumped, all I could say is, ‘Ugh, I’m tired, guess I’ll just screw it and live.’ You’re living in paradise and don’t even know it!” As he spoke, he started crying. Because he knew I would never joke about something like this. But only Chloe didn’t know. Even though I’d told her again and again. I gambled and lost. I deserved it. I printed out the divorce papers, signed them, and prepared to give them to Chloe. My last wish was to divorce her. She wasn’t asleep yet and quickly replied: **”Liam Harris, are you serious about this?”** The sunlight streamed through the window, so faint. My body began to turn transparent, light, floating upward… So this is what death felt like. Chloe. If I hadn’t been erased by the System, I would never have let you off easy.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298472”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

When someone from my ancestral line reaches the peak of emotion, a unique, soft fur sprouts from the tip of their tailbone. Legend says, if a man can pluck one, his fortune will multiply. For seven years, Caleb plucked countless strands of my fur. His wealth exploded, multiplying beyond measure. He was always overcome with desire for me, obsessed to his very core. Until the day he became the richest man in the entire city. That’s when I accidentally walked in on him and that heiress, tangled together, dripping with sweat. When I angrily confronted him, he just scoffed back: “You honestly thought I loved a freak like you? I kept this ‘thing’ for over a decade, just for the money, obviously.” Caleb gloated to Cassandra, as if showing off a prize: “This fur is gold, trust me. I became the richest man in the city by sleeping with her. And the best part? She just melts into a puddle, and her power activates…” Afraid Cassandra wouldn’t believe him, he pulled out our intimate videos, threatening to force my power to activate right then and there, just to strip me of more fur. That day, I fought back until I was bleeding and bruised, only to be abandoned at the hospital. Meanwhile, Caleb spent the entire night with Cassandra in our bedroom. The next night, he came home reeking of her sickeningly sweet perfume: “Cassandra’s so pure-hearted, and it’s just a few measly strands of fur she needs. Do you really have to be so petty?” “Her mom is sick; she needs thirty million. The fur I got yesterday was sold at auction for sky-high bids. Hurry up and pluck a few more for me. Don’t be so unreasonable!” I smiled and said, “Okay.” But he didn’t know that every single strand of my power-infused fur, once love turns to ashes, carries a curse.

“…Softer… Caleb… Tell me, isn’t my body… softer than Elara’s?” Cassandra’s sickly sweet voice floated through the air. Caleb buried his face in her neck, mumbling a reply: “Little vixen… don’t ruin the mood by talking about her…” Cassandra let out a playful laugh. “But it’s true!” Her eyes, hazy with desire, glanced towards the doorway, as if only just noticing me standing frozen there. “Ah! Caleb, someone’s there! Someone’s watching!” Caleb’s movements suddenly stopped. He lifted his head, breathing heavily. When he saw it was me, the lust on his face instantly curdled into annoyance. “Get out.” My feet felt rooted to the spot. I wanted to turn away, but I couldn’t move an inch. He pushed Cassandra away, rolling off the bed. He grabbed a bath towel from the floor and wrapped it around his waist. He spoke softly to Cassandra, “Baby, you go outside first.” Cassandra pouted, slowly making her exit. The sickening perfume, mixed with the acrid scent of their intimacy, churned my stomach. Seven years… This was the man I had loved for seven years, the man I had given my entire heart and soul to. Caleb saw that I hadn’t moved and clicked his tongue in irritation. “Good, you’re back. Cassandra’s mother is sick and needs thirty million.” His eyes held nothing but naked demand. “Yesterday, I put your fur up for auction, and people were desperate for it, bidding sky-high. Hurry up, give me a few more strands!” The bloodied scars from where he’d forcibly plucked my fur last time hadn’t even healed. Before, whenever he wanted to pluck more strands, I’d practically beg, trying to sweet-talk him into waiting until it grew back a bit. I’d even use my body to smooth things over, just to escape the immediate pain, risking a few harsh words in return. I tried to reason with myself, but my body wouldn’t obey. For seven years, I’d been by his side, from a struggling medical student to the city’s wealthiest man today. In that moment, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over me. I was suddenly just… tired. “Okay.” Caleb froze, surprised by my compliance. “That’s more like it,” he said. “Once we have kids, I’ll make you my wife publicly.”

Leaving the house, I went to see Grandma Eleanor. “Grandma,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “I want to leave.” Grandma Eleanor looked stunned. “Elara? Is Caleb acting up again?” I shook my head. My fingers unconsciously brushed against the tip of my tailbone, where a barely perceptible rough patch remained. “The fur is connected to my very essence. Forcibly plucking it is like draining my lifeblood, shortening my lifespan.” “Caleb has been insatiable all these years, plucking far too much.” “I… I might not be able to have children anymore.” The old woman’s hand trembled fiercely as she clasped mine. “Elara… you two have supported each other through so many years. Can’t you…” Grandma Eleanor’s voice was filled with a desperate plea. Before she could finish, Caleb’s call came through. “Grandma?” Caleb’s voice echoed from the phone. From his end, Cassandra’s provocative giggles almost pierced my eardrums. Grandma Eleanor’s lips trembled, words caught in her throat. Caleb said impatiently, “No wonder that creature wasn’t making a fuss today. So she went to you to demand status?” His voice was full of contempt. “The ungrateful thing. If it weren’t for your kindness back then, nursing her back to health, she wouldn’t even be here to make demands now!” “Just ignore her.” The call ended. I returned home, intending to pack my things. Pushing open the bedroom door, I saw Caleb standing in the bathroom, hand-washing a woman’s underwear. Lacy, sheer… definitely not mine. I stood in the doorway, speechless. He was a doctor; he’d always been a germaphobe. When we were intimate, if the blood from my plucked fur got on his clothes, he’d get agitated, strip them off, throw them in the trash, and shower for at least half an hour. Coming back to reality with a jolt, Caleb saw me. He dried his hands as if nothing was wrong. “Elara,” he said. “You’re back?” He reached out to embrace me. In the past, I would have wagged my tail and clung to him, but today I sidestepped, avoiding his touch. He paused, then blocked the doorway. “Will you just stop acting up, Elara? Grandma Eleanor just scolded me. She said you… you can’t have children anymore?” “Elara,” he reached out and gripped my shoulders. “I really only slept with Cassandra today because I want a child so badly.” He leaned closer. “Please, forgive me this one time, okay?” His other hand slid unbidden to my lower back, attempting to lift my nightgown. “Let’s just let nature take its course, try again? What if…” Once, I’d feared Caleb like this. His hot-and-cold treatment would make me feel like a fool, spiraling into self-doubt. But now, I didn’t care anymore. Caleb’s familiar touch now only filled me with revulsion. “Don’t you feel disgusting?!” I ripped his hand away. The tenderness on Caleb’s face faded. “Elara, you’re really pushing your luck, aren’t you?” He didn’t even bother to pretend anymore, his voice turning commanding. “Tomorrow night, Mr. Davies and Mr. Thompson are coming over for a party.” “Do you know how popular your ‘fortune fur’ is in this circle? Several big shot investors are desperate for it!” “Just giving them the fur isn’t enough anymore. Some are calling it fake!” “Tomorrow, you must cooperate fully. I’ll record a more ‘detailed demonstration’ for them!” His words pierced my heart. Watching him loom over me, his hand reaching under my nightgown, I screamed in a崩溃大吼: “You want the fur?! Fine, take it! Just don’t touch me, you make me sick!” The scent of his perfume made me dizzy, sick to my stomach. My fingers plunged towards my tailbone, seizing the soft fur without mercy, and yanked hard! A ripping sound, then a blinding, bone-deep pain. I shoved the blood-stained strands of fur into his hand. “Get out!” Caleb just watched me in silence, his eyes holding a chilling calculation that I couldn’t decipher. Just then, his phone rang. “Cassandra? What’s wrong?” He turned and walked away, his voice filled with uncontrollable joy: “Pregnant?! That’s amazing!!” “When our son is born, the entire Shen Corp will be his!…” I glanced at the bleeding wound and lowered my head, laughing through my tears. Caleb had no idea his good fortune was about to run out. If I plucked five consecutive strands of this special, cursed fur—the fur that only grows after love has died—everything he gained through me would be systematically stripped away.

The party was held in the villa’s largest banquet hall. Mr. Davies, cigar clamped between his teeth, his gaze lingering on me: “Mr. Shen, a recording isn’t much fun, is it? We need Miss Elara here, let us guys get a feel for the real thing!” Mr. Thompson immediately chimed in, “Exactly! Caleb, let Miss Elara demonstrate!” Caleb’s smile stiffened. He instinctively glanced at me. “Mr. Davies, Mr. Thompson,” “Elara… isn’t feeling well. She probably can’t demonstrate…” Mr. Davies slammed his hand on the table. “We’re signing contracts, injecting capital, and we just watch?” Mr. Thompson squinted at Cassandra beside Caleb. “Is Mr. Shen getting soft? Well, then, let Miss Cassandra here join us for a few drinks!” As he spoke, he reached out for Cassandra. Caleb shot up, his face ashen, pulling Cassandra protectively behind him. My heart plummeted into an icy abyss at that moment. Sure enough, Caleb only hesitated for a few seconds before his gaze shifted to me. “Elara, you go.” Caleb walked up to me and said in a voice only I could hear: “Stop making that face! Cassandra is kind and pure. If those dirty hands touch her, she’ll never recover!” “You’re different. Who cares who you sleep with? Aren’t you just a natural-born… pleasure-giver? Just make sure these gentlemen are well-entertained tonight, make them happy.” “If you can persuade them to add more investment…” He paused, then dangled the one promise I used to desperately crave. “If you succeed, I’ll make you Mrs. Shen.” “After all, marrying into the Shen family is quite a step up for you, isn’t it? If you show off your real talents, you’ll feel better about yourself, right?” After he walked away, arm around Cassandra, Mr. Davies eagerly tried to wrap his arm around my waist. “Miss Elara, Mr. Shen’s recording was amazing, it made us all so excited! Quick, show us how you activate your power and grow your fur…” I suppressed a wave of nausea, my voice trembling. “Gentlemen… just like this… how boring? How about… how about we play something more exciting?” Mr. Davies narrowed his eyes. “Oh? How exciting?” “I… I know a special method,” I licked my dry lips, a hint of allure in my eyes. “With some special alcohol… and incense… Elara can serve you better.” It was late night. The heavy stench of alcohol mingled with an cloyingly sweet, suffocating fragrance. Mr. Davies, Mr. Thompson, and several other burly men were now sprawled on the floor, snoring loud enough to shake the entire room. My back pressed tightly against the wall, trying to calm my trembling breath. I gritted my teeth, hatred boiling within me. Caleb… just three more days… My phone vibrated. I checked the new message. “Your blood type is highly compatible with patient Louis, who is awaiting a kidney transplant at our hospital. Please reply by phone as soon as possible…” Tears immediately welled up. Grandma Eleanor was old. After her sudden kidney failure that day, I had decided to repay her kindness before I left! A few days later. I lay on the operating table. Seeing a familiar face, I wasn’t afraid anymore. Caleb himself was going to perform my kidney removal surgery. The operating room was crowded, and if he dared to take my life on the spot, he wouldn’t escape responsibility afterwards. While waiting for the anesthetic to take effect, he asked: “Why do you want to donate a kidney?” I knew Grandma Eleanor hadn’t told him about her condition because she was afraid he’d worry. Since I had already been successfully matched, there was no need to hide it anymore. Before I could finish explaining, I drifted off. Where I couldn’t see, his eyes were cold. In the past two years, my biological parents had found me, and Caleb only assumed I was doing this for my own family. That’s why he specifically inquired about my surgery, just so he could personally perform it. I don’t know how long passed before I groggily opened my eyes, the anesthetic not yet completely worn off. I heard Caleb’s conversation with the doctor:

“…Failed? Didn’t you say the mechanical kidney has a high success rate abroad? How am I going to explain this to Elara?!” Caleb’s voice suddenly rose. “Do you know what day tomorrow is?! Shen Corp Bio-Tech’s IPO launch event! Global live broadcast!” “And you’re telling me now that she’s dead?!” My heart plummeted. Not because of his outburst, but because of that phrase, “she’s dead.” The surgery… failed? What about Grandma Eleanor? I couldn’t believe my ears! “Mr. Shen, this is a medical malpractice…” “Shut up!” Caleb roughly interrupted. “I’ll pay you double, just keep this quiet! Especially don’t tell Elara!” “Just tell her the surgery was a success and her grandma is recovering at the sanatorium!” The doctor outside meekly agreed. Footsteps receded from the door, and Cassandra’s delicate sobbing floated in. “Should we really have used Elara’s kidney to ‘bless’ our dog? I mean, that ‘expert’ said it would bring wealth to our baby, but what if he was lying…?” “Stop talking nonsense!” Caleb’s voice was irritable. “The expert was right. Her unique lineage guarantees wealth. It’s just one kidney; it’s worth a lifetime of prosperity for our son. It’s a bargain.” I struggled to crawl to the door, my lips trembling with rage. “Caleb, you’re insane!” “Grandma Eleanor’s kidney failure means she could get a transplant right away! And you did this for that wretch… you…” Both of them outside jumped in shock. Caleb’s eyes blazed with fury. “What are you talking about?!” “Grandma Eleanor’s always been perfectly healthy! Are you always thinking about her inheritance? You’re absolutely evil!” “I’m not! Grandma Eleanor, she…” Cassandra shrieked, cutting me off. “Elara! You can’t have kids, and now you’re cursing Grandma Eleanor to die!” “…No wonder heaven wouldn’t let you get pregnant. It was afraid you’d give birth to someone as malicious as you are!” I trembled with rage. Caleb held Cassandra tighter, looking at me with disdain. “Elara, you really are crazy. So your poor old grandma from the countryside died, huh?” “Fine! Tomorrow, at Shen Corp Bio-Tech’s IPO launch, I’ll make you my wife publicly! Is that enough?!” “The expert said it would cleanse you of all that bad luck. So you’d stop talking nonsense!” “And it’ll show everyone how charitable the Shen family has been with you, our foster child!” After saying this, he couldn’t be bothered to look at me again. He carefully helped Cassandra leave. As Cassandra turned her back, her eyes held an unreadable expression. The hospital room door slammed shut. My lips slowly curved into a tearful smile. Tomorrow night. That’s when your nightmare begins. The next day, at the city’s wealth forum, Caleb stood backstage. Suddenly, his phone vibrated. “Hello?” he answered impatiently. “Mr. Shen!” his assistant almost cried. “About the funeral…” “I’m busy right now!” Caleb cut him off directly. “Just find some ditch and bury that old woman from her family!” He quickly hung up. The assistant called repeatedly, the phone buzzing in Caleb’s hand. He casually turned his phone off and tossed it onto the sofa. As the press conference was about to end, Caleb walked out, his arm linked with mine. Everyone praised us as a perfect match, saying Mr. Shen’s had his secret beauty hidden away for years, and now he’s finally decided to show her off! Just then, my image suddenly appeared on the massive 4K surround screen. My clothes were disheveled, and I was surrounded by several burly men: “Gentlemen, how about we play something more exciting?” “I know a special method, that can help Elara serve you better.” The camera suddenly cut to a more private, even more indecent scene. Every detail of me writhing under a man, groaning softly, was captured in perfect clarity. My face was shown in extremely high definition, while the men on top of me were always cleverly hidden in the shadows. The entire banquet hall fell silent instantly, then exploded into chaos! “How many men has she… slept with?!” “Is she some kind of… escort? Has Mr. Shen been duped?” Caleb’s mother, a socialite who rarely bothered with anything, now had wide, furious eyes. She delivered a resounding slap across my face: “You disgusting wretch! I will never allow you to marry into the Shen family!” Filthy insults filled the hall: “So promiscuous, she must be riddled with diseases!” “Damn! She’s definitely trash, whoever touches her is cursed!” The waves of ridicule from below grew louder and louder. After a long silence, Liam’s voice was hoarse, but firm: “No matter Elara’s past, or what she becomes in the future, I, Liam, will marry no one but her in this lifetime.” “I love her, and I will love all of her.” The sounds of pity and curses from below continued for a long time: “Mr. King is young and promising, but it’s a shame he’s completely blinded by love.” “Exactly, that promiscuous woman, probably riddled with diseases, is she even fit to step foot in the Shen family home?” Caleb’s eyes were firm and determined as he tried to slide a ring onto my finger. I ripped my hand away, grabbing the microphone in front of me. “You want to marry me, but have you even asked if *I’m* willing?” Caleb’s face instantly darkened. He tried to snatch the microphone from me. “Elara! Are you crazy?! Assistant! Get Mrs. Shen out of here first!” I sidestepped his hand.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298465”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

I was Anya Callahan, heiress to the rich Callahan family, engaged to the man who was supposedly devoted to me, Jasper Hayes, and blessed with a sweet and innocent-looking stepsister, Willow. Then, overnight, I started hearing their thoughts. Jasper held me close, his voice soft and tender, “Anya, I only love you.” [This idiot. Just get her family’s heirloom into my hands, and I’ll dump her so fast.] The next day, I donated the heirloom to the National Heritage Museum. Then, I grabbed all the property deeds under my name and ran straight to the story’s biggest villain, Sterling Thorne. “Brother, I’m homeless. Can you take me in?” I froze in Jasper’s embrace. The crisp cedar scent on him mixed with the stench of his true thoughts, making my stomach churn. [Why isn’t she agreeing yet? Usually, a few sweet words are all it takes. What’s taking her so long today?] Jasper saw my lack of reaction, tightening his arms around me, his voice growing even more affectionate. “Anya, what’s wrong? Don’t you trust me?” His handsome face was etched with a perfect show of hurt, his eyes overflowing with what seemed like deep affection. If his thoughts weren’t scrolling like a news ticker in my head, I would honestly believe he loved me to his very core. Beside us, Willow chose that moment to tug at my hand, her tears streaming down her face like a heartbroken angel. “Sister, please don’t blame Jasper. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t even exist; I’m the one who caused trouble between you two.” She cried so genuinely, as if I were some kind of wicked witch. [Hurry up and fight! The nastier the fight, the better! Once Anya gets kicked out, I’ll be the Callahan family’s only young miss! Jasper will be mine, and everything the Callahans have will be mine too!] So that was it. Turns out, I wasn’t living in some fairytale billionaire romance. I was living inside a massive scam. I was the villainess destined for ruin in this story, existing only to use my stupidity and arrogance to highlight the protagonist, Willow’s, kindness and resilience. In the end, they’d team up to destroy my family and leave me to a miserable death. But now, I’d transmigrated, and as a bonus, I’d gained a unique gift: the ability to hear people’s true thoughts. I stared at the disgusting, conniving duo performing in front of me, my stomach churning. I violently shoved Jasper away. In his stunned gaze, I raised my hand and slapped Willow hard across the face. *Smack!* The sound echoed, crisp and loud. The living room fell silent instantly. Willow clutched her cheek, staring at me in disbelief, tears spilling like broken beads. Jasper reacted first, pulling Willow behind him and glaring at me, enraged. “Anya! Have you lost your mind?! Why would you hit Willow?!” [Good hit! That’s exactly what we need! Richard will hate her even more now!] Jasper’s thoughts mirrored his furious expression, but the reasons for his anger were entirely different. I sneered, pointing at Willow. “She deserved it.” “You…” Jasper spluttered, choked with rage. Willow, however, peeked out from behind him, shaking her head as she sobbed. “Jasper, don’t blame Sister. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have made her angry…” [Yes, just like that. Keep scolding her. The harsher you scold, the more Dad will pity me.] I watched her sickeningly sweet, innocent act and could only find it hilarious. “Alright, enough with the act,” I said, glancing around. My gaze landed on the antique painting on the wall, which was supposedly a family heirloom. “Isn’t this what you wanted?” Jasper and Willow’s breaths hitched simultaneously. Jasper quickly suppressed the greed in his eyes, frowning. “Anya, what are you talking about? I just love you. This has nothing to do with your family’s things.” [How did she know? Did someone spill the beans? No, I have to keep her calm.] I couldn’t be bothered with their nonsense anymore. I walked directly towards the painting. “If you want it, you’ll have to earn it,” I turned back, flashing them a dazzling smile. “Otherwise, I’d rather burn it to ashes than let you get your grubby hands on it.” With that, I turned and headed upstairs, leaving two ashen-faced figures in the living room. Back in my room, I locked the door. All the strength seemed to drain from my body, and I slid down the door to the floor. My heart was still pounding. Not from fear, but from the immense relief of escaping and the boiling rage within me. What they truly wanted was the treasure map hidden behind that ancient painting.

In the original story, they sweet-talked me, and I傻乎乎地 (stupidly) handed the painting over to Jasper. He then used the treasure to rise as a rising star among the city’s elite. After that, he dumped me cold and rode off into the sunset together with Willow. As for me, after they’d drained me of everything, they conspired to have me committed to a psychiatric hospital. This time, I wouldn’t let them succeed. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Hello, is this the National Heritage Museum? I have a family heirloom that I would like to donate to the nation, free of charge.” There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a voice, surprised yet restrained. “Ma’am, are you sure you want to donate it without compensation?” “Absolutely,” I said calmly. “Tomorrow morning at nine, I’ll be waiting for you at home.” I hung up, deleted the call record, my mood strangely calm. Since you two want it so badly, I’ll send it somewhere you can never touch. The next morning, I specifically chose a vibrant red dress and applied exquisite makeup. Downstairs, Jasper and Willow had already arrived, sitting on the sofa with my parents, Richard and Eleanor. When I came down, Jasper immediately stood up, his face showing the perfect amount of concern. “Anya, I was too impulsive last night. Please don’t be angry anymore.” [This stupid woman. I have to get that painting today.] Willow, her eyes red-rimmed, spoke timidly, “Sister, I’m so sorry…” [Just hand over the painting already, I can’t keep this act up.] My father, Richard Callahan, glared, slamming his hand on the table. “Anya! Apologize to Willow and Jasper!” [This ill-mannered girl. If it weren’t for her grandfather’s shares, I would have kicked her out long ago.] My mother, Eleanor, wiped her tears. “Anya, how could you become like this? Willow is your sister!” [My sweet Willow is suffering. Anya is such an ungrateful viper.] This family was truly a picture of perfect harmony. I smoothed my dress and sat opposite them, as if I hadn’t heard my father’s outburst. “Dad, Mom,” I said, smiling. “I’ve invited some very important guests today. You should really watch your behavior, or you’ll embarrass the Callahan family.” Richard paused, bewildered. “What guests?” Jasper and Willow exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with wariness. Just as I finished speaking, the doorbell rang. I got up to open the door. Standing outside were several elegantly dressed middle-aged individuals in uniforms. The leader extended his hand to me, his voice filled with excited restraint. “You must be Ms. Callahan? I’m the director of the National Heritage Museum. Thank you so much for your support of our national cultural preservation efforts!” I smiled and shook his hand. “You’re too kind. It’s the least I could do.” The four people in the living room, upon seeing the IDs pinned to the visitors’ chests, instantly turned pale. Especially Jasper. He stared at me, his eyes practically spitting fire. [She actually donated the painting?! This lunatic! How could she?!] Willow was also dumbfounded, covering her mouth, trembling all over. [It’s over, it’s over, my billionaire dream… No, there’s still a chance. She must be lying!] My father, Richard, was the first to react. He shot up, pointing at me, his lips trembling with rage. “Anya! You… what have you done!” I turned back, my smile even brighter. “Dad, I donated the family heirloom to the nation. This is a truly honorable act, a boost for national pride. You should be proud of me.” The museum staff clearly hadn’t anticipated such a tense, hostile scene and looked a bit awkward. Ignoring my father’s murderous glare, I stepped aside. “Please come in, gentlemen. The painting is right there on the wall.” The director and the experts carefully took down the antique painting and began their on-site appraisal.

The atmosphere in the living room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Richard’s chest heaved with suppressed fury. Eleanor wept incessantly. Willow and Jasper looked as though their souls had been sucked out, their faces ashen. Soon, the experts delivered their verdict. “Ms. Callahan, this is indeed an authentic work by the former master, Master Xu, *Autumn Mountain Journey*. Its market value is estimated to be at least nine figures. And yes, there’s something hidden in the back lining of the painting… it appears to be a map?” The expert’s words were a heavy hammer, striking Jasper’s heart. [A map! It really was a map! That b*tch Anya! She ruined everything for me!] I watched his twisted face, a wave of satisfaction washing over me. The donation ceremony went smoothly. The director personally presented me with a certificate of honor and a banner. Reporters snapped countless photos of me. “Ms. Callahan, your spirit of selfless dedication is truly admirable and an example for us all!” “Indeed, to have such foresight at such a young age, Mr. Callahan has certainly raised his daughter well!” The reporters’ words made my father’s face change from white to green, then to purple, a truly spectacular display. He wanted to erupt but was constrained by the cameras, managing only a smile uglier than a cry. “It’s… it’s nothing…” After seeing off the museum staff and reporters, as soon as the living room door closed, Richard’s palm swung towards my face. “You ungrateful daughter!” I had anticipated it, dodging aside. His slap missed, making him tremble with even greater rage. Jasper also finally shed his pretense. He rushed forward, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me forcefully. “Anya! Why would you do this?! Do you have any idea how important that painting was to me?!” [I’ll kill her! I swear I’ll kill this woman who ruined my future!] I felt dizzy from his shaking but still met his gaze with a cold sneer. “How important? More important than your life?” Willow cried out, rushing to pull him away. “Jasper, don’t be like this. Sister surely didn’t mean to…” [What do I do? What do I do? Without the treasure, will Jasper still want me? No, I can’t lose him!] “Get off me!” I flung her hand away, my gaze as cold as ice. “Stop your sickeningly sweet act. It’s disgusting to watch.” Eleanor shrieked, rushing over to embrace Willow, who I’d pushed to the floor. “My Willow! Anya, you viper! She’s your sister!” I looked at this family, twisted and deceitful, and my heart finally turned to stone. “From today onwards, I am cutting all ties with the Callahans.” I pulled out the documents I’d prepared earlier from my bag and slapped them onto the table. “This villa was left to me by my grandfather. My name is on the deed. Now, all of you, get out of my house immediately.” Richard’s eyes turned red as he stared at the photocopy of the property deed on the table. “You… what did you say? This is the Callahan family’s house!” “It’s written in black and white,” I said, looking at him coldly. “If you can’t read, I can invite a lawyer to read it for you.” [This little b*tch! When did she get her hands on the property deed?! No, she can’t have this villa!] Eleanor was also dumbfounded, clinging to Willow and wailing, “Anya, how can you be so heartless? Where are we going to live?” [Without this huge villa, how will I face all those wealthy ladies?] It was laughable. They were never worried about me, only about their own lavish lives.

Jasper’s face was utterly grim. He had always believed that everything belonging to the Callahan family would eventually be his, but he never expected I had already pulled the rug out from under him. “Anya, were all those years of our relationship fake?” He tried one last desperate attempt to salvage the situation, his voice trembling slightly. [Keep her calm first. As long as she still loves me, there’s still a chance. Once I’m back on my feet, I’ll deal with her properly!] “Relationship?” I laughed as if I’d heard the biggest joke. “Jasper, are you even worthy of talking about relationships?” My gaze was so cold it made his heart tremble. “Anya, don’t you dare regret this!” Richard pointed at me, enraged, spitting out threats. “My biggest regret is ever meeting any of you,” I delivered my final ultimatum. “I’m giving you three hours. If you’re still here after three hours, I’m calling the police and reporting you for trespassing.” With that, I didn’t spare them another glance. I grabbed my car keys and walked out of that suffocating house. The sunlight outside was a bit harsh. I drove aimlessly through the streets. My phone vibrated furiously on the passenger seat. I didn’t even need to look to know it was calls from them. I simply turned it off. The world went silent. But what next? Where should I go? The original plot had been completely derailed by me. Jasper had lost his biggest advantage, and he wouldn’t just give up. Given Richard’s temper, he would definitely try every trick to reclaim the villa. While I had some ability to protect myself, facing their combined suppression, I was ultimately outmatched. I needed backup. A powerful enough backing that would make Jasper and the Callahans wary. A name flashed through my mind. Sterling Thorne. The biggest villain in this book. A ruthless, vengeful maniac. He was also Jasper’s mortal enemy. In the original story, Jasper had barely managed to gain an advantage over Sterling thanks to the treasure. Now, Jasper’s wings had been clipped by me. And I held secrets about all of them that they didn’t know. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I turned my car around and headed towards the tallest, most prominent building in the city center. Thorne Enterprises Headquarters. Thorne Enterprises’ security was even tighter than I’d imagined. The young lady at the front desk, with a professional smile, politely stopped me. “Miss, do you have an appointment?” “I’m here to see Sterling Thorne.” “May I ask your name?” “Anya Callahan,” I stated my name, watching her dial an internal line. Sure enough, a few seconds later, she shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry, Ms. Callahan, Mr. Thorne is not seeing visitors today.” An expected answer. Someone like Sterling Thorne wouldn’t be accessible to just anyone. I didn’t insist, merely looked at her calmly. “Please try again. Tell him I know where the ‘New Energy Project Proposal’ that Jasper has been searching for is.” The receptionist’s expression flickered with hesitation, but seeing my resolute gaze, she dialed again. This time, as she listened to the phone, her face changed slightly. After hanging up, she looked at me with a mix of curiosity and a hint of reverence. “Ms. Callahan, Mr. Thorne will see you. Top floor, CEO’s office.” Riding the private elevator straight to the top floor, the doors opened to reveal a man in a black suit, his expression cold and imposing. “Ms. Callahan, I’m Mr. Thorne’s assistant, Mr. Hayes.” “Hello.” Mr. Hayes led me down a long corridor and pushed open a heavy black wooden door. The office was astonishingly large, with a wall-to-wall window offering a panoramic view of the entire city. A man stood with his back to me, gazing out the window. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his figure as tall and straight as a pine tree. Just his back exuded an aura of untouchable intimidation. He slowly turned around.

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So, you accidentally swapped lives with an ancient emperor. How do you survive 30 days without getting yourself killed? It’s actually pretty simple. Just three steps: Step one: Facing the dreaded ‘bedding’ ceremony? Bluff your way through using high-minded, statesman-like rhetoric to deflect the crisis. Step two: Confronted by scheming ministers in court? Dismantle their old-world schemes with modern project management strategies. Step three: Forced into a royal wedding with another woman? Don’t panic. Just… improvise. And guess what? I survived, came back in one piece, and even brought a ‘Beginner’s Guide to Imperial Revolution’ with me. You’re welcome. **Chapter 1: Trapped as a Tyrant – Waiting to Die** The world glitched. A crazy new game called “Life Swap” popped up, letting you trade lives with anyone. It went viral, totally blew up overnight. All you had to do was scan your face and upload your ID, then boom – you’d switch identities with someone for a set amount of time. I jumped right in, couldn’t wait. **[Match Found. Identity Swap Successful.]** The game’s notification barely faded. And then, I was soaking in a steaming hot bath. The white marble tub was carved with intricate patterns, rose petals floated on the surface, and the air hung heavy with a decadent, exotic incense. Around me, a circle of maids knelt, trembling, only daring to peek at me from the corners of their eyes. Is this some kind of VIP millionaire experience pass? A thrill shot through me. Just then, a flood of chaotic memories slammed into my mind like a tidal wave. The ancient Empire of Veritas, the third year of Emperor Julian’s reign. Julian, a notorious tyrant, known for his unpredictable rage and a body count higher than the palace walls. The identity I’d swapped into? The infamous young tyrant, renowned for wiping out entire families on a whim! “Your Majesty…” From outside the chamber, a sycophantic yet subtly mocking voice spoke up. It was Master Bellamy, the chief steward. “Lady Seraphina, your most favored consort, is ready. Shall we bring her in to assist you with your bath?” My mind exploded. I instinctively shot up from the water. Warm water streamed off my body, and I looked down, instantly frozen with shock. It was still *my* body! Fair skin, delicate curves—all the undeniable features of a woman, made even clearer by the steamy air! Damn this game! It only swapped identities and locations, not bodies! “Your Majesty?” Master Bellamy’s voice held a hint of confusion. I was terrified out of my wits. If he walked in and saw the Emperor’s sacred body had turned into a woman’s, I’d probably be tortured to death on the spot. “Get out!” Thinking fast, I forced my voice low, imitating the tyrant’s muffled roar from the memories. “I’m feeling under the weather today, and I have no desire for bloodshed. Get out!” Master Bellamy outside clearly froze for a second, then actually seemed to relax, chuckling obsequiously. “Your Majesty is truly merciful! This servant was foolish. So… by imperial decree, shall Lady Seraphina be beaten to death and cast out of the palace?” What?! My scalp prickled instantly. A human life, dismissed so casually by him. I couldn’t let him follow the tyrant’s logic any further. “Silence!” I slammed my hand onto the water, sending a huge splash flying. My voice trembled with fear and anger, but to them, it sounded like the prelude to a terrifying rage. “I’ve changed my mind! From this day forward, I will not harm women! Dare to question my will again, and I’ll have your tongue cut out!” This statement, completely out of character for the tyrant, clearly stunned everyone outside the door. After a long, chilling silence, Master Bellamy’s tearful kowtows echoed. “Your Majesty, please forgive this lowly servant! I deserve death! I will never dare again!” Listening to their scrambling footsteps retreating. My legs went weak. I collapsed back into the bath, letting the warm water cover my shoulders. Staring at this female body hidden beneath the Emperor’s robes, I sank into unprecedented despair. This damned tyrant experience pass? It started on hell mode! **Chapter 2: Imperial Court – A Battle of Wits** The next morning, I was practically dug out of the imperial bed by the palace staff. Layers of heavy, intricate robes felt like a suffocating cage. Worst of all, to conceal my female figure, I had to bind my chest tightly with long strips of cloth. Every breath felt painful and constricted. Pale-faced and wobbly-legged, I was finally carried to the morning court. In the Imperial Throne Room, hundreds of officials knelt, chanting, “Long Live the Emperor!” I sat on the high throne, my legs trembling. “Any petitions? Otherwise, court is adjourned—” The steward’s announcement had just finished. When a middle-aged man in sumptuous royal robes, exuding an air of authority, stepped forward. He was Duke Silas Thorne, the all-powerful Regent, and by blood, the Emperor’s uncle. “Your Majesty,” his voice was booming, filled with immense pressure. “The northern barbarians are restless, and our border defense funds are critically low. I believe the most pressing matter is to increase taxes by thirty percent to replenish the national treasury and assert our nation’s might!” The entire court fell silent. I immediately sifted through the original Emperor’s memories. The treasury wasn’t empty at all. This old fox was trying to seize an opportunity to line his pockets and, incidentally, test me – the puppet Emperor who had changed so drastically last night. Isn’t this just a corporate stress test? A cold smirk touched my lips. I suppressed my nervousness and spoke. “Uncle, your words are flawed. A forced tax increase would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, only inciting rebellion among the people. The matter of the national treasury should prioritize increasing revenue and cutting expenses.” “Increasing revenue? Cutting expenses?” The Regent’s eyes flashed with disdain. “Tell us, Your Majesty, how do you propose to increase revenue, and how do you propose to cut expenses?” Here we go! That’s what I was waiting for. I cleared my throat, ready to unleash my modern-thinking combo. “Increase revenue?” I leaned slightly forward, my voice not loud, but clear, echoing through the grand hall. “Firstly, thoroughly investigate all illicit salt and iron mines across the land, bringing all their profits under state control. Secondly, transform the royal hunting grounds into a major trade hub, levying transit taxes on all passing merchant caravans. My hunting grounds won’t lie fallow for free.” At these words, many officials’ faces subtly shifted, clearly agitated that their interests were being touched. I ignored them, pressing on, “As for cutting expenses, it’s even simpler!” My gaze swept across the room, my voice low, laced with my carefully mimicked tyrannical edge. “Firstly, downsize the Imperial Harem. Three hundred consorts out of three thousand are quite enough. The rest shall be given severance pay; those who wish to return home may do so, and those who wish to remain in the palace may serve as maids. All their allowances shall be halved!” “Secondly,” I shifted my focus, my eyes locking onto the Regent. “Reduce the stipends of the Royal Clan! Uncle, as the head of the Royal Clan, you should lead by example for our Empire of Veritas. Your stipend, for instance, shall be cut by half, as a clear demonstration, won’t it?” This was a direct hit, a dimensional reduction attack that struck directly at Duke Silas’s most vulnerable point. He never dreamed that this puppet nephew, whom he’d always manipulated, would dare to turn the knife on him. “Your Majesty! Absolutely not! This goes against ancestral law!” The Regent’s face turned ashen, finally cracking under pressure. “Ancestral law?” I slammed my hand onto the armrest of the throne. “Is ancestral law meant to keep the common folk well-fed, or to let you bloated, corrupt parasites gorge yourselves?! I say, what needs changing most are these very ancestral laws that enable your corruption!” My words left the Regent speechless, his face flushing a deep purple. Meanwhile, a few old ministers in the ranks, long suppressed by him, now had eyes that blazed with an astonishing light. Their gazes, initially contemptuous and numb, had transformed into disbelieving awe and respect. I tasted the sweet nectar of power for the first time, but I also clearly felt it. When the Regent lowered his head, the look he shot me was filled with undisguised murderous intent. **Chapter 3: The Empress Dowager’s Feast – A Perilous Trap** My unusual behavior quickly reached the Imperial Harem. The Regent’s elder sister, the current Empress Dowager Beatrice, couldn’t sit still. Under the guise of caring for my health, she arranged a perilous trap disguised as a feast in the warm pavilion of the Royal Gardens. Inside the pavilion, incense swirled, and soft music played. The Empress Dowager sat regally at the head of the table, surrounded by a group of alluring consorts. “The Emperor has been toiling for the nation lately, he’s grown quite thin.” The Empress Dowager smiled warmly at me, but her eyes held a malicious glint. “Come, my consorts, let us toast His Majesty properly, to ease his fatigue.” No sooner had she spoken than a svelte consort, holding a wine cup, melted against me, her breath like exotic perfume. “Your Majesty, I toast you…” The heavy scent of her perfume and her warm body sent shivers down my spine. I stiffly pulled away, terrified that the tightly bound cloth across my chest would burst open. “I… I don’t care for heavy perfumes.” I mumbled a clumsy excuse, then grabbed a cup and downed its contents in one gulp. Another bolder consort directly picked up a pastry and tried to feed it to me. “Your Majesty, try this…” I practically scrambled away from her. My repeated rejections made the atmosphere in the pavilion grow increasingly strange. The Empress Dowager’s smile slowly faded. Finally, she revealed her true intentions. “Oh dear,” the Empress Dowager sighed softly, her face full of concern. “The Emperor keeps refusing. Is His Majesty perhaps unwell? I hear there’s a Physician Alistair Finch who recently arrived in the palace, whose legendary technique of pulse diagnosis is truly remarkable. Regardless of gender—” “Oh, no, regardless of condition, he can discern it instantly. I specially invited him to examine Your Majesty.” As her words fell, an old man with a goatee emerged from behind the screen, his eyes sharp. “This humble servant, Physician Finch, requests to take Your Majesty’s pulse.” My heart instantly plummeted. Pulse diagnosis by thread? Isn’t that like an ancient x-ray or ultrasound! Once he got a reading, my faint female pulse and the constricted breathing from my bound chest would definitely give me away! Treason, punishable by the harshest death! Even though I was technically the Emperor, the premise was that I had to be the *real* Emperor. Cold sweat instantly soaked my inner robes. My hands and feet felt icy, my mind a blank. What do I do? What do I do?! Just then, my gaze swept across the room and suddenly landed on a young palace attendant, Leo, kneeling in a corner, holding a fruit platter. A consort accidentally bumped him as she turned, and the platter crashed to the ground, sending fruit scattering everywhere. The chief steward next to him immediately stomped on his hand, cursing loudly. “Clumsy fool!” Leo’s face contorted in pain, but he bit down hard, not letting out a single sound. While everyone else was gloating, watching me, the Emperor, make a fool of myself. Only he, even with the agonizing pain of his crushed hand, looked up quickly at me. In his eyes, there was no fear, only the bitter resentment of being bullied, and a desperate plea for help. My heart suddenly leaped. A crazy, desperate plan instantly formed in my mind. **Chapter 4: The Vault Burns** Just as Doctor Finch, twirling his thread, was about to touch my wrist – that split second of ultimate suspense. “Insolence!” I slammed my hand onto the table, the throne rattling with a loud bang. I pointed at Leo, the young attendant who had dropped the platter, and roared with all my might. “How dare you! To be so disrespectful in front of the Empress Dowager and my beloved consorts, and to disturb my royal presence! Take him away, execute him at once!” This furious shout was filled with the unpredictable, unhinged fury of the original Emperor. Everyone was startled by this sudden resurgence of my tyrannical nature. The Empress Dowager even revealed a satisfied smile. What she wanted was this incompetent Emperor, ravaged by wine and women, utterly devoid of initiative. Not the wise ruler who dared to challenge her brother in court. Leo was dragged away by two guards. When he looked back at me, his eyes were full of despair and confusion. I forced back my inner apology, then stood, bowed to the Empress Dowager, and said impatiently. “This clumsy servant has ruined my mood! I need to change my clothes!” With that, I brushed past everyone and strode out of the warm pavilion. But I didn’t return to my private quarters. Instead, I shook off the pursuing stewards at a corner, took a shortcut, and ran desperately towards the Royal Penitentiary, the department in charge of punishments. When I arrived, breathless, the executioner’s blade was already raised high. “Stop!” The blade halted less than an inch from Leo’s neck. In the dark, damp woodshed of the Royal Penitentiary, I personally untied the ropes binding Leo. He knelt on the ground, still shaking from the shock. “Do you want to live?” I stared into his eyes, cutting straight to the point. “If you want to live and become my confidant, do something for me.” Leo snapped his head up, his eyes blazing with intense light. I leaned in close, whispering so only he could hear. “Go set a fire. Burn down Duke Silas Thorne’s private chambers, the Obsidian Vault, where he stores his official documents. Make sure it’s as big a scene as possible, but don’t harm a single person!” The despair in Leo’s eyes instantly transformed into surprise, then a fierce resolve. Anything to stay alive. He kowtowed deeply, then vanished into the night without a word. I quickly tidied my appearance and returned to the banquet, pretending nothing had happened, continuing to play my part with the Empress Dowager. Less than fifteen minutes later. “Fire! The Obsidian Vault is on fire—!” In the distance, flames blazed, painting half the night sky crimson. Alarm bells rang throughout the Imperial Palace. I erupted in fury, pushing away Doctor Finch, who was still trying to take my pulse, and pointed at the commotion outside. “There’s chaos in the capital, assassins must be at work! What are you useless quacks doing here, trying to take credit! Guards! Protect the Emperor!” I seized the opportunity to wrest temporary command of the Imperial Guard from Duke Silas’s loyalists. At the same time, under the pretext of searching for assassins and imposing a city-wide lockdown, I confined all of the Empress Dowager’s and Duke Silas’s informants within the palace, successfully deflecting the medical crisis. I had just caught my breath in my chambers when Leo, smelling of smoke, stumbled in. Behind him, a breathless messenger, just arrived from the border, rushed in! The messenger dropped to his knees, his voice hoarse: “Report—! The northern barbarians have torn up the peace treaty! Thirty thousand troops are amassed outside Serpent’s Pass!” “The barbarian princess has issued an ultimatum: she demands to marry the Empire of Veritas’s War God, our Emperor, on the battlefield in two days! Otherwise, she will raze the city!” I shuddered, turning sharply to look outside. The unsettling smirk that had played on Duke Silas’s lips just before his confinement flashed in my mind. I instantly understood. This was no mere diplomatic marriage. This was a death trap he had set, one I could absolutely not escape! How could I, a woman, marry a warrior princess known for her strength, in front of thirty thousand soldiers from two nations?! At the same time, on my phone—the interface only I could see—the cold notification rang again: **[WARNING: High-Risk Quest Triggered. Time Remaining: 72 Hours.]** **Chapter 5: Battlefield Negotiation** I had no choice. Two days later, on the battlements of Serpent’s Pass, the north wind cut like a blade. I wore heavy golden armor, and underneath, still that suffocating chest binder. Amidst the mournful wails of my officials, lamenting their Emperor’s sacrifice for the nation, I walked alone to the highest battlements of the fortress. Below, the barbarian army stretched as far as the eye could see, a dark, ominous mass, their murderous aura reaching the sky. At the front of their lines, a magnificent warhorse carried a woman in crimson battle armor. Her posture was as straight as a pine, her face cold and stunning, and her phoenix-like eyes were sharp. Even from a hundred paces, I could feel the hardened, battle-forged aura emanating from her. She was Princess Anya Volkov, the legendary warrior princess of the northern barbarians. “I heard the Emperor of Veritas is just a sickly man who hides in his palace, playing with women,” she began, her voice clear and carrying across the entire battlefield. “Is he truly worthy of marrying me, Anya Volkov, on the battlefield? Worthy of being called a War God?” Her words were laced with undisguised contempt. I didn’t get angry. Instead, I took a deep breath, employing every negotiation trick I’d learned in my previous life, and spoke loudly. “Princess, you claim this is a marriage alliance, but in truth, you seek to gauge our strength. If I were truly a sickly man, marrying me would mean you’d be a widow in all but name, and the world would mock you.” “If I am not a sickly man, then you would be subservient, living in my shadow. No matter how you look at it, Princess, this deal offers you nothing but losses, doesn’t it?” My words clearly startled Anya. She hadn’t expected me to so directly expose her intentions. I pressed my advantage, adding more. “The real beneficiary of our marriage would be my Regent, who schemes to see me disgraced.” “And if we go to war, the beneficiaries would be the neighboring nations, who eagerly await our mutual destruction. Princess, we are both pawns in a larger game. Perhaps, we should discuss a third move on this chessboard?” “A third move?” A flicker of interest appeared in her eyes. “Please, Princess, enter the fortress for a discussion!” I called out, “I, the Emperor of Veritas, guarantee that not a single hair on your head will be harmed!” “Alright!” She was surprisingly bold, tossing her weapon to her deputy and riding alone towards the fortress. In the secret chamber of the fortress, only the two of us remained. Under Anya’s scrutinizing gaze, I said nothing, laboriously removing my heavy armor. Then, right in front of her, I slowly, layer by layer, pulled off the binding cloth that had made it so hard for me to breathe. When my female features were fully revealed to her. The battle-hardened warrior princess, for the first time, showed a look of sheer astonishment. “Now, we can talk about a real partnership.” I looked into her shocked eyes and said, word for word, “I am a woman. Princess, to have established yourself among the northern barbarians, you must understand the difficulties women face in positions of power.”

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The first time my boyfriend and I got intimate, he actually *complained* that my sounds weren’t sexy enough. Then he had the audacity to suggest playing a recording from his phone. The sounds from his phone were undeniably arousing, so much so that even I felt a strange thrill. But a crushing wave of insecurity hit me instantly. I looked at his eager eyes and his burning body, silent for two agonizing seconds. I loved him. I didn’t want to ruin the mood, so I swallowed my pride and reluctantly agreed. But that night, I didn’t feel anything good. Not even a spark. From then on, I secretly practiced making sultrier moans when he wasn’t around. I’d even find myself laughing at how ridiculous it felt. One day, I snuck his phone, wanting to transfer that recording to mine so I could practice along. But when I saw the note for the recording, my heart skipped a frantic beat. [Chloe’s Little Siren] Chloe. The same Chloe who had made my life hell in college. And the same Chloe he’d chased for four years and never got. That very night, he was playing that recording on repeat in the bathroom. When he came out, he was already throbbing with desire. He grabbed me, pulled me into the bedroom, and covered my face with a new lace mask. The moans from his phone were still echoing on loop. He frantically started tearing at my clothes, muttering, “I can’t take it anymore. Put this on properly, so I don’t accidentally knock it off when things get wild.” As his words sank in, my heart felt like it had been violently stomped on. A suffocating feeling choked me. Liam, what do I even mean to you?

Tears streamed down my face, hot and scalding, a stark contrast to my icy heart. I could hear my tears wetting the sheets, and a bitter ache twisted in my chest. After he’d stripped me naked, he turned up the volume of *her* moans. “I’m just doing this to enhance the experience. You get that, right?” My heart was shattered beyond words. I couldn’t answer him. The mask hid my despair, but the excitement on his face was impossible to hide. Seeing my lack of reaction, a flicker of annoyance crossed his handsome features. “Just this once, okay? This sound is so… stimulating. I really can’t help myself…” I had loved him for seven years, chased him relentlessly for four. I really didn’t want to throw it all away over this. But I couldn’t stand him trampling on my dignity either. I bit down hard on my inner cheek, the metallic taste of blood instantly filling my mouth. “Either turn off that recording, or you can take care of yourself.” “Are you serious, Anya?! It’s just a recording! I’m not stopping you from making noise; just keep your voice down. Don’t drown *her* out.” I didn’t say anything. I just silently picked up the clothes he’d just ripped off me, sat up, and slowly started putting them back on. The moment the mask fell from my face, his tone softened. He reached out a hand, wanting to wipe away my tears. “Why are you crying? Did I hurt you just now?” I tilted my head, dodging his hand. My face was expressionless as I pointed to my heart. “Here. It hurts here.” He looked utterly confused, his brow furrowed. “It’s just a recording. Why are you getting jealous? It’s no different than watching an adult film, just adding to the mood.” I continued to dress with cold indifference, not giving him a single glance. Seeing my lack of response, he raised his voice a few notches. “If you really don’t want this, we won’t do it again in the future. I promise you, today is the last time.” I glanced at his already aroused lower half again, letting out a cold, bitter laugh. He instantly exploded. “What are you laughing at?! That’s incredibly disrespectful!” “Disrespectful? Have *you* shown me any respect?” I shot back. “You know whose voice that is in the recording.” His expression suddenly froze, but he stubbornly refused to admit it. “It’s just taken from some adult film.” He was silent for five seconds, then continued, “Fine. If you don’t want to be with me, I won’t force you.” The moans continued to play, grating on my nerves. I finished dressing and stood up, staring at him with a complex gaze. My voice trembled. “Chloe’s moans must really hit the spot for you, huh? You’ve been playing it on loop for over half an hour, can’t even bring yourself to turn it off.”

He started to panic, quickly standing up and towering over me with his six-foot-three frame. “You looked at my phone? Do you have any idea how out of line it is to snoop through someone else’s phone?! Where’s your upbringing?!” My heart tightened. He knew. He knew my mother had died in a car accident just a week ago. He’d been with me at the cremation. He’d watched me cry until I was oxygen-deprived and almost ended up in the hospital. He’d even offered to pay for my mother’s burial plot to comfort me. So why now, *why* was he twisting the knife in my fresh wound? I froze, tears welling up and blurring my vision. He realized he’d messed up. Guilt washed over his face, along with a complex expression I couldn’t quite decipher. He pulled two tissues from the nightstand and leaned in to wipe my tears. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I misspoke.” He paused, then added, “For the sake of me buying your mother’s burial plot, please forgive me!” I slapped his hand away, my body trembling as I stumbled out of the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me. Through the closed door, I heard his feeble explanations. “Chloe and I are innocent! I haven’t had feelings for her in ages. I just thought her moans sounded good, that’s all!” I locked myself in the bathroom, leaning against the wall. My legs gave out, and I slid to the floor, collapsing in a heap. I buried my head in my knees, weeping silently. My chest ached, and my heart felt like it was being ripped apart… I needed a drink. I struggled to my feet, opened the bathroom door, and walked out. From the bedroom, I could hear his laughter, wave after wave, as he scrolled through TikTok. A primal scream tore from my throat. I burst into tears, flung open the apartment door, and walked out into the night. On the way to the bar, he called me five times. I ignored every single one. The noise inside the bar was deafening, yet it couldn’t drown out the sound of my shattering heart. One shot of liquor after another went down, offering a temporary numbing. But soon, the contents of my stomach began to churn violently. I’d never drunk so much before. Only now did I understand: drinking numbs the heartache because your stomach hurts more afterward. I let out a self-deprecating laugh and stumbled to the bathroom, throwing up until I was empty. As I turned around, I bumped right into Chloe. “Well, well, Anya. Don’t you ever come to bars?” She smirked, peering out past me into the bar. “Liam not with you?” Remembering that recording, pure hatred surged through me. Fueled by the alcohol, I slapped her across the face. “You’re insane?! What’s wrong with you?! Why’d you hit me?!” She clutched her stinging cheek. A wave of satisfaction washed over me, and I almost went for another slap. But in the next second, my legs suddenly gave out. I have a mild alcohol allergy, and I collapsed to the floor again. Chloe looked around. Seeing no one, she stepped on my hand with her high heel, twisting the heel into my knuckles. I screamed in pain. She then started slapping my face with both hands, hitting me again and again, spitting venomous words. “You bitch! You messed with me in college, and you’re still messing with me after graduation? What? Does it feel good to be betrayed by your boyfriend?” She kept hitting me. “When you seduced Noah back then, did you ever think you’d have a day like this?!” Noah was Chloe’s ex-boyfriend from college. She’d been madly in love with him. And it was because of him that she’d always rejected Liam’s four-year pursuit. Her face contorted in a grimace. The angrier she got, the harder she hit. Strangely, I couldn’t feel the pain on my face anymore. “If you hadn’t stirred up trouble, Noah would never have broken up with me! If we hadn’t broken up, I’d be a rich man’s wife right now! I wouldn’t be scrambling for jobs after graduation!” Chloe had always been high-maintenance in relationships. During their three months of dating, she’d broken up with Noah fifty-eight times, blocking his number every single time. I remembered it so clearly because Noah would always SnapChat me afterward, asking about Chloe and trying to get her back. He’d made me promise to keep it a secret. Until later, when Noah finally couldn’t take it anymore and broke up with Chloe for good. And that’s when the whole thing became public knowledge. I became Chloe’s scapegoat, the reason Noah had broken up with her. Seeing me remain silent, she kicked me squarely in the chest. The nausea in my stomach surged into my throat again. I tried to stand up to throw up in the toilet, but she pressed her foot down on my hand again, hard. The pain was so intense I couldn’t move. I couldn’t hold it in. I threw up all over the floor, some of it splashing onto the shoes of a girl who had just walked into the bathroom. Seeing someone enter, Chloe quickly released my hand and took a step back. I immediately reached out to wipe the girl’s shoes, my hand already stained with blood. Chloe gave me a disgusted look, covering her mouth and nose. Then, right in front of the other girl, her face completely changed. “Are you okay? How could you drink so much? Do you need me to take you home?” I wiped the residue from my mouth and spat at her. “Don’t pretend to be nice. You’re more disgusting than my vomit.” Chloe’s face crumpled in a show of hurt. “I was just trying to be kind. Why are you like this?” The other girl scoffed, then warned Chloe, “Stop acting like a good Samaritan.” She pointed at my face. “Those red handprints on her face? Weren’t those from you? Do you think I’m blind?”

I had never expected that reaction from a stranger. My heart, wounded by someone I knew, was suddenly warmed by a complete stranger. I looked up, studying her face. From this angle, she seemed to merge with the warm light of the bathroom, shining brightly. But I knew the consequences of crossing Chloe. I couldn’t drag this girl down with me. “Mind your own business! You’re blocking my light. Get lost!” The girl looked confused, but she just shook her head. After she was done, she glanced at me and walked out of the bathroom. Chloe slapped my face hard again. “Smart move. But that slap you gave me? We’re not done.” Then she made a call. “Hey, you three. Come over. I’ve got another gift for you.” After hanging up, she blocked the bathroom doorway and lit a cigarette. The smoke drifted in with the draft, making me cough uncontrollably. I suppressed my physical discomfort, stood up, grabbed cleaning supplies and paper towels, and cleaned up the vomit on the floor. As soon as I finished, Chloe grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and dragged me out. Just outside the bathroom door, three men were waiting, their faces leering. They were all under five-foot-seven, with eyes that were too small, each ugly in his own unique way. The stench coming from them was worse than a public restroom. One of them pulled a rag from his back pocket and violently shoved it into my mouth. The other two held me down. After gagging me, he turned to Chloe, joking, “This little thing, she’s got a big ass, and a D-cup, right? Way better than the last ones!” My heart dropped. Chloe did this often? She rolled her eyes at the man, her voice light and flirtatious. “Take her to my place. And you three, don’t be gentle with her. Have fun with her!” Her voice then dropped to a low whisper. “But don’t kill this one. There’s a good show to watch tonight!” “Alright!” “Tonight’s gonna be great! Haven’t played with one this good before!” “Yeah, I’ve been holding it in too.” The three men spoke excitedly, dragging me out of the bar. I was terrified and in pain, whimpering for help. But the bar music was too loud. No one would hear me. As soon as we were out the bar door, I was roughly thrown into the back seat of a car. Unbeknownst to me, I blacked out. The next time I woke up, I was in a strange room. Only those three men were with me. They were rubbing their hands together, naked. I screamed in terror. “Look who’s finally awake, you little vixen. It’s no fun if they’re dead.” “Are you gonna take it off yourself, or should we help you, huh? Hahahaha!” “Come to Big Bro’s arms, let me take good care of you!” I scrambled off the bed, my body trembling as I ran towards the door. I hadn’t even taken a few steps before they violently slammed me back onto the bed. “Damn it, you haven’t even entertained us yet! And you think you can just leave?!” I shrieked and screamed, pure terror seizing my heart. Suddenly, the door opened from the outside. The three men frantically pulled up their pants and rushed out. It was Chloe. And a furious Liam.

His face was thunderous. He pointed at me, yelling, “You didn’t answer your phone, and you ran off to mess around with three ugly losers like them?! You really are as disgusting as the rumors say.” After Chloe and Noah broke up, her hatred for me only intensified. She started spreading rumors that I was sleeping with two men. Soon, the gossip spread like wildfire. No matter how I explained myself or tried to stop it, people just found it amusing and spread it further. Eventually, I stopped trying to defend myself and just let it be. But I never imagined that rumor would become a scar in Liam’s mind. And today, he brought it up again. Seeing me silent, he sneered. “No answer means you admit it?” I was mentally and physically exhausted. I wearily looked up at him. “Open your eyes, Liam. This is Chloe’s place. She’s the one who brought those men here. I have no idea how I even got here.” Chloe’s expression instantly panicked. She quickly explained, “I saw you were drunk, so I kindly brought you to my place to rest. I even turned around and told Liam to come pick you up! But then you brought three men back to my house! I haven’t even settled scores with you, and you’re still trying to slander me?” Chloe was a master of turning the tables. I was too tired to explain. I just wanted to escape that room. I didn’t say anything. I just started walking towards the door. After just one step, Chloe blocked my way and shoved me hard in the chest. “You’re just going to leave without explaining things to your boyfriend? Looks like you don’t want this relationship to work out.” I looked up and met Liam’s eyes. They were cold, alien to me. My heart finally went completely numb. “Let’s break up, Liam.” Chloe burst into laughter, doubling over. “Did I hear that right? You want to break up with him? You’ve liked him since freshman year of high school, and you chased him desperately for four years in college.” She continued, “Your mom tried to stop you from being with him, but you pushed through all of it. You must have spent at least two hundred thousand on him, right? How could you possibly bear to break up?” I couldn’t bear it, but what I couldn’t bear to lose wasn’t him. It was the brave, loving person I used to be. Before my mother died, she told me: love yourself first, and never let the person you love hurt you. Mom was right. I shouldn’t have been with Liam. I should have listened to her. “Break up. I’m not joking. I’m serious.” I bit down hard, forcing the words out. Liam’s face turned green. He squeezed my arm hard. “You don’t have to threaten me with a breakup. You just want me to coax you, don’t you?” He paused, his voice turning accusatory. “But *you* did something wrong here. You went behind my back and found other men. You should apologize to me.” He lifted his chin arrogantly. “If you’re sincere, I’ll forgive you. Because nothing *actually* happened today.” I smiled bitterly, shaking my head. I pulled my arm from his grasp and said, word by word, “Don’t you understand, Liam? I said, we’re breaking up.” His face flushed a deep purplish-red, but then he laughed. And slowly, he uttered the words that would shatter me completely… “What are you, some kind of saint? I only got with you because you had a good body and I had fun. I absolutely despise pathetic lapdogs, and that’s *exactly* what you are!”

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In the ten years since the apocalypse hit, I’d awakened my spatial powers and become the toughest supply hunter our base had. During one mission, I put myself in harm’s way to save my boyfriend, only to be swarmed by zombies. But instead of helping, he just ran, taking my best friend, Briar, with him. Three months later, I fought my way back, covered in blood and fury. I kicked open the War Council chamber doors, only to see Briar. She was wearing my combat uniform, distributing supplies like she owned the place, like she was the deputy commander. The moment she saw me, Briar shrieked, instantly defensive. “You’re supposed to be dead! How are you even *here*? Are you infected?” She scoffed, a smug look on her face. “Fine, out of old mercy, I’ll let you stew in the isolation zone. You need to see how things work now. This is *our* base now.” “Oh, and don’t even *think* about causing trouble. I’ll be the first to gun you down like a zombie.” I ignored her, my eyes locked on the water bottle clipped to her belt. She instinctively shielded it, then flaunted it at me. “What are you staring at? Never seen a spatial water bottle before? My boyfriend gave it to me! The water inside can purify your body.” Hah, a spatial water bottle? That was just a little trinket I’d casually conjured, a mere *trick*. That measly bit of water? It was just some of the cheapest healing spring water from my spatial dimension. Briar really thought she’d found a treasure, but she had no idea – the *real* riches were still far beyond her grasp! I snatched the bottle from her belt, unscrewing the cap. “My space. You really think you’re worthy?”

Briar’s face drained of color. She shrieked, trying to grab it back. “What are you doing! Give it back!” I tilted my head back, chugging the water down in one go. “Ahhh—” A sigh of pure satisfaction escaped me. “My water. Still tastes so good.” “Cassidy! You absolute psycho!” Her piercing scream drew a crowd from outside the War Council chamber. Footsteps pounded closer, and a tall figure appeared in the doorway. It was Jax, my ex-boyfriend. When he saw me, his face just… froze. For a split second, it was like his perfect facade cracked. “Cassidy?” Briar found her anchor. She instantly threw herself into his arms, sobbing. “Jax, she’s back! She stole the water bottle you gave me and drank all the water!” “She must be infected! That’s why she’s acting so violent, so completely unhinged!” Jax held Briar close, his shock twisting into wariness, then pure disgust. “What are you doing back here?” “This is my home. Why shouldn’t I be back?” I shot back. “Your home?” Jax sneered. “You’ve been missing for three months. You were declared dead weeks ago. Your pension, your room, your position – Briar’s inherited all of it.” “Now, you’re just an unknown returnee. You have to undergo examination.” He waved his hand. “Guards! Take her to the isolation zone!” The combat team members hesitated. They were my former teammates. I’d helped them out countless times. One of them, a guy named Milo, couldn’t help but speak up. “Captain, Cassidy… she doesn’t look infected.” Jax’s face clouded over. “What? Are you defying my orders?” “She vanished into a zombie horde for three months. Who can guarantee she’s 100% clean? What if she’s carrying a new virus and infects the entire base? Are *you* going to take responsibility for that?” Milo fell silent, looking down. “I’ll go myself.” I tossed the empty water bottle to the ground. “Jax. Briar.” I called out their names, making sure they heard every word. “I clawed my way out of that horde once, and I’ll do it again. You two better pray I *am* infected, because if I’m not…” As their faces contorted in ugly expressions, I turned and walked towards the isolation zone. Behind me, I could hear Briar’s voice, thick with feigned tears, yet brimming with triumph. “Oh, Jax, I’m so scared. She looked terrifying just now. What if she comes back for us?” “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. A washed-up power user like her won’t be stirring up any trouble.” Washed-up power user? They thought my spatial powers were just that little water bottle?

The isolation zone was the farthest, most desolate corner of the base, fenced off with barbed wire. It housed suspected infected individuals and exiles banished for severe crimes. I was shoved into a dilapidated metal shack, the heavy door clanging shut and locking behind me. I found a relatively clean corner, slumped down, and closed my eyes, trying to conserve energy. Later that night, the shack door creaked open a crack. Milo slipped in, clutching two hard, black loaves of bread and a bottle of water. “Cassidy, you need to eat something.” He pressed the items into my hands. “I’m sorry, Cassidy, we…” “It’s not your fault.” I cut him off. “Jax is the captain now. You’re supposed to follow his orders.” Milo sighed. “Cassidy, you don’t know what Captain Jax and Briar said after you went missing.” “They told everyone you willingly charged into the horde to cover our retreat, detonating all your explosives, going down with the zombies.” “The base even held a funeral for you and declared you a hero. Everyone was heartbroken.” “Captain Jax… he really looked devastated, holed himself up for days. It was Briar who finally coaxed him out. Then, he started telling everyone – and himself, I guess – that he had to be strong, to carry on your legacy, to lead the base in your honor.” “That’s how he convinced himself, and that’s how he convinced everyone else. Now, they all believe they got together to inherit your will. Briar smoothly stepped into your position as deputy commander and even moved into your room.” “And Jax? He handed over *all* my gear, *all* my supplies, to her.” I gnawed on the dry, hard bread. So, in their version of the story, I’d become a great sacrifice. My death, a stepping stone for their love and power. “Cassidy, you need to be really careful now that you’re back,” Milo warned. “Captain Jax… he’s like a different person. He’s got a lot of animosity towards you.” “I know.” “And Briar, she’s the toast of the base right now. Everyone sees her as the new hope, believing she’s carrying on your legacy.” Inheriting my legacy? Not even close. Milo shared more about the base’s changes over the past three months, then left. I swallowed the last bite of bread, feeling the energy flow through my body. The healing spring water was still working its magic; my injuries were mending. Now, all I needed was an opportunity. An opportunity to walk out of here, head held high, and reclaim everything that was mine.

The next day, the iron door of the isolation zone was kicked open. Briar sauntered in, surrounded by a crowd of sycophants. Finally, her gaze landed on me. “Well, well, if it isn’t our great hero, Cassidy.” The other prisoners in the isolation zone shrank into the corners, not daring to utter a sound. I leaned against the wall, eyes still closed. My blatant disregard infuriated her. “Cassidy, I’m talking to you! Are you deaf?!” She stalked over, looking down at me. “Don’t you dare think you can be as arrogant as before. Now, you’re nothing but a suspected infected prisoner, a captive. Your life is in my hands.” She pulled a dagger from her waist—my dagger. My initials, CL, were still etched into the hilt. She used the tip of the blade to lift my chin. “Do you know? Since we were kids, everyone only ever saw *you*! Now, it’s finally *my* turn!” “Jax is mine, the deputy commander position is mine, your room, your glory – it’s *all* mine!” “After we ran that day, Jax was so riddled with guilt, so much pain. It was *me*, I was by his side day and night, comforting him, helping him through it until he finally pulled himself together.” “He said he must have been blind to ever have fallen for a butch, battle-hungry woman like you.” “He said *I* was the woman for him. Gentle, caring, and capable.” “Are you done?” I finally opened my eyes, looking at her with cold indifference. “Done? Get lost.” Briar’s face turned an ugly shade of green. “You… you dare talk to me like that!” “I came here today to tell you one thing.” She gritted her teeth. “Jax, and everything you once had, is mine now. You came back, but you can’t change a thing.” “Oh really?” I scoffed, a faint smile playing on my lips. “Briar, do you truly believe you have everything?” “You’re just a thief, a pathetic worm who clawed her way up through lies and betrayal.” “You!” Briar raised the dagger, ready to strike. But I was faster. My hand shot out, seizing her wrist, the one clutching the dagger. With a sickening *CRACK*, her scream ripped through the air as her wrist snapped under my grip. The dagger clattered to the ground. “Ahhh—! My hand!” Briar cradled her broken wrist, writhing on the ground in agony. The people who came with her were frozen in terror; no one dared to step forward. I picked up the dagger from the ground. “Stolen things, eventually, have to be returned.”

Jax stormed in shortly after, a squad of his men hot on his heels. When he saw Briar’s horrific state, his eyes practically bugged out with rage. “Cassidy! You audacious bitch!” But his raised hand froze mid-air when his eyes met my utterly cold stare. The team members behind him exchanged uneasy glances. Jax took a deep breath, forcing down his fury, and managed a cold, twisted smile. “Cassidy, you’re still as impulsive as ever.” He turned to the fearful prisoners in the isolation zone, his voice rising. “You all saw it. Cassidy disappeared for three months and came back changed, extremely aggressive.” “But I, Jax, am not one to forget old ties.” “How about this, I’ll give you a chance.” He looked at me. “The base urgently needs a batch of medical supplies, especially those gene-enhancement serums from Central Hospital.” “I know you’re strong. If you’re willing to participate in this mission, atone for your actions, and succeed, I can overlook everything and grant you your freedom.” “Of course, the mission is extremely dangerous. A mutated Alpha zombie has taken root in that hospital.” His words plunged the entire isolation zone into a dead silence. Central Hospital. Alpha zombie. That was a recognized death trap. He was clearly sending me to my death. Briar, clutching her broken hand, wore a venomous yet triumphant expression. She knew. Jax was trying to get rid of me. “Jax, don’t let her off that easy! She broke my hand!” Briar shrieked. Jax patted her back reassuringly, but his voice was cold. “She’s a dead woman walking. Why bother with her?” He looked at me again. “Well? Cassidy, this is your only chance.” “I’ll take it.” I replied. Jax’s face registered surprise, then his smile twisted into something grotesque. “Very good. I hope you don’t disappoint me.” He ordered someone to take away the still-wailing Briar, then turned and left. His back radiated arrogance. He thought he’d set a trap. But he had no idea, I was waiting for one too. Central Hospital, mutated Alpha zombie? Perfect. Time to test my new skills from the past three months. The sky was overcast on the day of our departure. We, the ‘cannon fodder’ from the isolation zone, were assigned to the very outer perimeter of the convoy, armed with rusty knives and short spears. Jax stood on the roof of an SUV, delivering a pre-mission pep talk.

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After a terrible car crash, my eyes were severely damaged. The day they finally healed, I started seeing a strange number floating above every woman’s head. My wife’s number was 0. My mother-in-law’s was 30. And my wife’s best friend had a 45. What did these numbers mean? As I investigated, I uncovered a shocking truth… 1: *CRASH!* I watched, helpless, as the speeding car slammed into mine, even though I’d braced myself. The moment of impact hit me like a suffocating wave of death. I barely felt any pain before I passed out. When I finally woke up, I could faintly hear a voice nearby. “Good thing you arrived in time. The patient’s condition is stable now.” Another voice spoke up. “Thank you, Doctor. We truly appreciate it.” It was my wife, Chloe. She kept thanking the doctor. I knew I’d survived the crash, but why was everything black? I couldn’t see anything. I managed to let out a weak sound, and Chloe heard it. She rushed to my side. “Honey, are you awake?” I whispered back, “Why can’t I see anything?” The doctor’s voice chimed in again. “Your eyes suffered severe trauma in the accident. We’ve done our best, but we can’t promise a full recovery. Please prepare yourself for that possibility.” A heavy silence fell over me. In the days that followed, Chloe stayed by my side at the hospital, caring for me. I’d often ask her, “Honey, what if my eyes never get better?” Chloe would always comfort me, saying, “Don’t be silly! You’ll definitely get better, I promise.” Our financial situation wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either. The expensive medical bills started to weigh on my mind. I asked Chloe, “Honey, what about the driver who hit me?” Chloe spoke softly, “That driver hit you and then fled the scene. They still haven’t been found. The car had stolen plates, and the police haven’t found any leads yet.” Chloe seemed to sense my thoughts. “Honey, don’t worry about it. Even if we never find that driver, we have to get you well.” “Don’t stress about the money.” I said nothing. During my hospital stay, besides both our parents, Chloe’s best friend visited me the most. Her name was Maya. We’d met a few times. Like Chloe, she was a true stunner. Her figure and looks were absolutely gorgeous. I figured she worried Chloe would get bored staying in the hospital all day, so she’d come over to chat with her whenever she had free time. I secretly vowed that once I recovered, I’d treat her to a nice meal to thank her properly. Perhaps it was Chloe’s meticulous care, but my eyes, which could initially only perceive a faint light, slowly began to show signs of recovery. This reignited my hope. After two months of recuperation in the hospital, my vision miraculously returned. Even the doctors called it a miracle. But the moment I opened my eyes, the scene before me baffled me. I faintly saw a blue number floating above Chloe’s head. It was a 0. Could it be that my eyes had just recovered, and I was seeing things? I rubbed my eyes, then looked at her head again. This time, I was certain I wasn’t mistaken. There was indeed a number 0 above Chloe’s head. Just then, the doctor and a nurse walked into the room. The doctor didn’t have a number above his head, but the female nurse did. It was a 5. I froze. Chloe, seeing me staring intently at her head, couldn’t help but look up at the ceiling too. “What’s wrong, honey?” I whispered, “Chloe, your… why is there a zero above your head? And the nurse has a 5 above hers.” 2: Hearing this, Chloe touched her own head. “There’s nothing there, honey. What’s wrong? Are your eyes still adjusting after recovering?” The doctor also told me, “Your eyes were blind for several months. It’s perfectly normal to experience some visual hallucinations after regaining sight. Just a few days of rest at home, and you’ll be fine.” In the end, I had no choice but to believe the doctor. But as my wife handled my discharge paperwork, I sat in the hospital lobby. I noticed that among the people coming and going, men didn’t have numbers above their heads, but all women did. Most of them were 0s. I couldn’t believe this was just a hallucination. Just then, a voice called out, “Chloe!” I looked up. It was Maya. She walked in through the hospital entrance, waving at Chloe, who was beside me. And a number appeared above Maya’s head: 45. I was stunned. While most women had 0s above their heads, including my wife Chloe, why were some numbers different? Like Maya’s, why was hers 45? Maya came over to us. After greeting Chloe, she looked at me. “Hey, Writer! Congrats on getting discharged! You’ve been through so much, good fortune is definitely heading your way!” I quickly smiled and nodded at her, saying “Thank you.” Chloe said to me, “Honey, our car was totaled in the accident, so I had to ask Maya to pick us up from the hospital.” I smiled but said nothing, still trying to figure out why all women had numbers above their heads. Once we were in the car, Chloe was worried I might be uncomfortable, so she had me sit in the back while she and Maya sat upfront, chatting. I, however, kept staring at the numbers above their heads. It wasn’t until we arrived at our apartment building and parked that I got out and said to Maya, “Hey, Maya, thank you for visiting Chloe so often at the hospital. I’ll definitely treat you to dinner sometime soon.” Maya laughed, “Oh, it’s no big deal. Chloe’s my best friend. Visiting you and keeping her company was no trouble at all.” I was about to speak when suddenly, the number above Maya’s head flickered. It changed from 45 to 46. I was stunned again. What in the world was going on? I was certain this isn’t a hallucination, but what did these numbers above their heads mean? Chloe’s number was still 0, unchanged. Why did Maya’s number change? Before I could figure it out, Chloe said to Maya, “Maya, Leo’s discharged today, and both our parents are at our place, so we won’t keep you.” “We’ll thank you properly another time.” Maya was very understanding. She nodded, then looked at me. “Go home and rest well. Don’t make Chloe worry anymore.” I nodded at her, and she started her car and drove away. When we got home, both sets of parents, all four of them, surrounded us, asking about my health. But my attention was fixed on my mom and mother-in-law’s heads. To my surprise, my mom’s head didn’t show a number, but my mother-in-law’s had a 30. I was dumbfounded again. This was another different number. These numbers were driving me crazy! What on earth did they mean? But the more I thought about it, the more my eyes ached. In the end, I decided to stop thinking about it. Back home, everyone agreed I should rest. They didn’t let me sit up for long, urging me to lie down in the bedroom. They started talking in the living room about the hit-and-run driver, saying they needed to find him and make him pay. Unconsciously, drowsiness crept in, and I lay down and fell asleep, hoping that when I woke up the next day, those numbers wouldn’t be there anymore. 3: The next day. When I woke up, Chloe was already out of bed. She was preparing breakfast for me. I quickly went to the kitchen doorway and looked at her head. The number was still there. She noticed me behind her and turned around, smiling softly. “Honey, you’re awake! Breakfast will be ready soon.” Seeing her already dressed in a business suit, I asked, “Chloe, are you going out?” Chloe replied, “Of course. I haven’t been to work for months taking care of you. The company has called me countless times. If I don’t go back soon, I might lose my supervisor position.” “You stay home and rest. Don’t worry about work for now.” I nodded at her. Chloe left without eating breakfast with me. Staying cooped up in the house felt stifling, so I decided to go for a walk downstairs in our apartment complex. During my walk, I encountered many women, our neighbors, with whom we usually got along well. Numbers were still above their heads, but this time, 0s were in the minority. For example, the young girl next door, who was about to take her final exams and often came to me for writing tips. Her number was 25. The property manager who worked downstairs, her number was 17. And the deli owner, where we frequently bought things. Her number was 38. Could these numbers represent a woman’s loyalty or infidelity rate? But then, I immediately dismissed that idea. Over the next few days, I was constantly bothered by these inexplicable numbers. I told Chloe, but she just brushed me off with the doctor’s explanation. One day, Chloe had a day off, so we decided to invite her best friend, Maya, over for dinner to thank her properly. Maya agreed when Chloe called her. When she knocked on the door and Chloe went to open it, I was immediately struck by her outfit. Today, she wore denim shorts that showed off her long, fair legs, paired with white high heels. It was a treat for anyone who appreciated great legs. On her upper body, she wore a tight white T-shirt that perfectly accentuated her curves. Chloe had many beautiful friends, but Maya was definitely the most stunning among them. After admiring her beauty, I quickly looked at her head. The number was still there, unchanged, still 46. She entered, put down the fruit and milk she’d bought, greeted Chloe, and then looked at me. “Hey, Writer, how are you doing? Feeling better?” I snapped out of it, nodded, and smiled, “Much better, thanks for asking.” She didn’t say anything more and went to the kitchen to help Chloe. Soon, the fragrant dishes were on the table. To celebrate my recovery, they brought out beer, though they wouldn’t let me drink any since I’d just been discharged. So, the two of them started drinking at the table, glass after glass. I knew Chloe wasn’t good with alcohol. Sure enough, after two bottles of beer, her speech became slurred. She was clearly drunk. Maya, on the other hand, was fine, just a little flushed. A little while later, Chloe completely passed out on the sofa, unconscious. Feeling a bit helpless, I helped her to the bedroom and laid her on the bed. I returned to the living room. Maya was sitting on the sofa. Seeing me, she smiled. “Oops, Leo, sorry I got your wife drunk again.” I chuckled, “It’s fine, as long as you two had fun.” Maya stood up then. “Alright, since Chloe’s asleep, I won’t bother you anymore. Especially you, you need to rest.” With that, she walked towards the door. I quickly called out to her, “Wait.” Maya turned back to look at me. “What is it?” I quickly picked up a jacket from the sofa and asked her, “Did you drive here?” Maya replied, “No, I knew I’d be having a few drinks with her today, so I didn’t drive.” I walked towards her. “Good. Don’t drink and drive. You should take a taxi home. You’ve had quite a bit to drink, I’ll walk you out.” Just as I finished speaking, I suddenly noticed the number above Maya’s head changed again. It jumped from 46 directly to 49, increasing by three points.

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My boyfriend, the one I was crazy in love with, turned out to be a married jerk. When I confronted him, his wife opened the door and just cut to the chase: “Ten million. Help me take him down. In or out?” In! Hell yeah, I’m in! Revenge and getting rich? That’s the best damn deal on earth! So, I quit my job and went undercover at his company, teaming up with his wife. Together, we slowly but surely pushed that arrogant bastard into the grave we dug for him. Don’t even talk to me about love. All I care about now is cash and chaos! It was *that* kind of night. Roses, champagne, and his warm kisses still tingling on my collarbone. The sound of water running in the bathroom, Julian Hayes was washing away the day’s stress. Everything was perfect. Until his phone, which he’d left on the nightstand, buzzed at the absolute worst moment. The screen lit up, and my eyes just drifted to it. **[Lily’s running a 103.6 fever! Where the hell are you?!]** Lily? Who was Lily? Fever? My mind went blank. Maybe a relative’s kid? A younger sister or something? But then, the second message completely shattered any hopeful thoughts. **[Julian Hayes, what kind of father are you?! If you want a divorce, just say so!]** Julian Hayes, father! Those words felt utterly foreign to me. My boyfriend of three years was married, with a kid! The love story he’d built for me, a perfect fairy tale, crashed down in an instant. The man who swore I was the only light in his life, who even said he was willing to be child-free for me, had a whole family already. No wonder he was willing to be child-free. He already had a child. The bathroom door creaked open. Julian came out wrapped in a towel, water droplets glistening on his sculpted abs. He closed his eyes, instinctively reaching for me, his voice a husky, sexy whisper: “Valerie, come here, give me a hug, and blow-dry my hair.” It was almost instinct. I tossed his phone back onto the nightstand and stiffly walked over. The hair dryer’s hum was piercingly loud. Hot air blasted through his hair, but I felt nothing. He scooped me up, carrying me to the soft bed, his hot breath overwhelming me. “My darling, happy romantic night.” His kisses were aggressive, exploring eagerly. My stomach lurched, a wave of nausea I couldn’t hold back. I shoved him away. “Your phone… it just rang,” I stammered, scrambling for an excuse. “Sounds urgent.” A flicker of annoyance, almost imperceptible, crossed Julian’s handsome face, but I still caught it. “What could be more important than you?” He chuckled, his large hand already moving back over my body. “Tonight, you’re only mine.” Just as his hand was about to cross my line, his phone rang sharply, ripping through the sensual tension in the room. Julian’s face completely darkened. I practically scrambled off the bed, grabbed that insistent phone, and handed it to him, a hint of defiance in my eyes that even I hadn’t realized was there. He glared at me, then snatched the phone, turned, and strode onto the balcony, slamming the glass door shut. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, only saw the tension and frustration in his rigid back. A few minutes later, he pushed the door open, fully dressed. “Something urgent came up at work, I have to go immediately.” He leaned in, trying to kiss me, but I instinctively turned my head away. His movements stiffened. In the end, he just mumbled, “Be good, I’ll be back,” before rushing out. The moment the door closed, the whole world fell silent. Two hours later, at 2 AM, a call came in from my best friend, a nurse in the downtown hospital’s emergency room. “Valerie! I just saw Julian Hayes! He was holding a little girl, with a haggard-looking woman by his side, rushing into pediatrics, sweating buckets! The kid… she kept crying and calling him ‘Daddy’!” The call ended. I sank to the floor. I was the other woman.

I didn’t sleep a wink that night. Only one thing on my mind: destroy Julian. As soon as dawn broke, I drove straight to the hospital. In the pediatric ward hallway, I spotted her right away: Victoria Hayes. She was sitting on a chair, beautiful but utterly exhausted. I walked over, the click of my heels alerting her. She looked up at me, her eyes devoid of emotion, as if she’d expected me. “You’re Julian Hayes’s wife?” I cut straight to the chase. I wished so badly she’d shake her head, or even say “ex-wife.” Anything to ease the guilt in my gut. But she just nodded faintly. “I know you, Valerie Davis. Julian got involved with you three years ago, right after I got pregnant.” Oh. My. God. I felt like the biggest, most humiliated fool on the planet, practically glowing with it. My grand romance, my great love story, was built on someone else’s pregnancy and pain. “Let’s talk somewhere.” I struggled to keep my voice even, forcing the words through clenched teeth. Downstairs at the coffee shop, I ordered an iced water. So did she. I was fully braced for her to throw it in my face. But she just watched me, saying nothing. Her silence made my anxiety even worse. “Listen, divorce him.” Finally, she raised an eyebrow, a mocking twist to her lips: “The mistress wants to move up? That eager?” “You’ve got it all wrong,” I scoffed, slamming my water cup down. “Julian told me he was single. Now that the truth’s out, a man dirtier than a dumpster? You don’t want him, and I certainly don’t need him!” My honesty seemed to surprise her. The scrutiny in her eyes sharpened into curiosity. “You think I don’t want a divorce?” She gave a bitter laugh. “You overestimate yourself. He has women outside, more than a field of weeds. He mows one down, another springs up. You, you’re just the freshest one.” Another heavy blow. So I wasn’t just the other woman. I was just another disposable plaything, probably not even worth a number in his little black book! Seeing my expression, like I’d just swallowed a fly, Victoria’s eyes finally softened a bit – a shared understanding, a kinship between victims. Rage shot straight to my brain. “So you just put up with it?” I asked. “Julian won’t divorce easily. His career needs the facade of a stable family,” she stated, hitting the nail on the head. “So, you’re trapped?” I pressed. “We’re *both* trapped,” she corrected. I got it. Both of us, played by that bastard. In that moment, mistress, wife, all that crap just melted away. We were two peas in a pod, both screwed over by the same jerk. The only enemy was the son of a bitch who started this whole fire. “I’ll help you,” I said, staring into her eyes, enunciating each word. “Help you gather evidence, help you stir up public opinion, help you strip him bare. I don’t want anything for myself, just to see his reputation in ruins.” Victoria stared at me for a full thirty seconds, then spoke. “I want him bankrupt. I want him to walk away with nothing.” A faint smile touched her lips, a spark of life finally returning to her eyes. “You help me, and when it’s all done, I’ll give you ten million. In or out?” What?! Ten million? Revenge and getting rich? This was the best damn deal on earth. “In!” I answered without a shred of hesitation. We pulled out our phones. No more talk. We just exchanged SnapChat contacts. The moment the friend request went through, I knew it. Game on. Our goal: to personally drag that high-and-mighty Julian Hayes down and stomp him into the dirt.

The day after we connected on SnapChat, Victoria immediately sent me the profiles of two other women, with one simple message: **[These two are also victims. Hook them in if you can. More people, more power.]** I clicked them open. The first was Willow Greene, a designer. The profile said that Julian, that bastard, won a major design award last year, bragging about it endlessly. But the truth was, he’d completely swindled the concept from Willow. He not only stole her hard work for free but also sabotaged her project, almost driving her to bankruptcy. The second was Ashley Roberts, a former finance employee at Julian’s company. This girl had it even worse. Because she was pretty, Julian tried to make a move on her. When she refused, that son of a bitch found an excuse to fire her, pinning a bogus charge on her that ruined her reputation in the industry. I looked at both profiles, my blood boiling. Julian Hayes, that animal, was an absolute scumbag. Victoria’s message was clear: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I contacted Willow first. We met at a secluded studio. The moment she saw me, her eyes were filled with wariness. “Who are you? What do you want?” “I’m Julian Hayes’s… another victim.” I didn’t beat around the bush. I laid out my and Victoria’s plan. “We’re going to hit him hard. Put him behind bars, and bankrupt him. That design he stole from you? We can help you get justice for it, and make sure he gets what’s coming to him. Are you in?” Willow froze, probably not expecting me to be so direct. She was silent for a long time, her eyes slowly welling up. That stolen design was her heart and soul, the result of countless sleepless nights. It was her baby. “Why should I trust you?” she asked, her voice hoarse. “You don’t have to trust me,” I handed her my phone with Victoria’s SnapChat profile. “You should trust her. She’s Julian Hayes’s wife. What we need now is a sharp blade to expose his business lies. And you, you’re that blade.” Willow stared intently into my eyes. Finally, she gritted her teeth and nodded: “I’m in! I kept the original copies of all those messed-up contracts he tricked me into signing!” One down. Next, Ashley Roberts. Ashley was harder to deal with than Willow. Julian had terrified her, and she’d tremble at the mere mention of his name. I tried to meet her three times before she finally agreed to a noisy fast-food restaurant. “I don’t want anything to do with him anymore. Please, just leave me alone,” she mumbled, head bowed, her voice barely a whisper. “Leave you alone? You wish!” I slammed my hand on the table, drawing stares from everyone around us. “You think hiding will make it all go away? The dirt Julian threw on you will follow you forever! Everywhere you go, people will whisper behind your back! Do you want to live like a pathetic coward your whole life?” My words cut her like knives. She suddenly looked up, her eyes full of tears. “But what can I do…?” “What can you do? You throw it right back at him, of course!” I lowered my voice, leaning closer. “We’re taking him down now, and we’re going to make it as big as possible. You were his finance person. You know better than anyone how rotten his company’s books are. You don’t need to show your face. You just need to tell us where his weak spots are. Like, which accounts are shady, which projects are empty shells.” I looked at her, saying each word clearly: “We’re not asking you for a favor. We’re giving you a chance. A chance to get back all the injustice, all the bitterness, with interest.” Ashley’s breathing grew faster and faster. Finally, as if making a monumental decision, she pulled a USB drive from her bag and pushed it across the table to me. “This is a backup I kept. It has evidence of some of his fake accounts. I was scared back then, didn’t dare bring it out…” She took a deep breath. “Now, take it! Destroy him!”

The alliance was formed. Next step: action. Victoria’s plan was simple and direct: I needed to get into Julian’s company and gather dirt on him. This suited me perfectly. Julian had been pestering me for ages, wanting me to be his secretary, saying it would be “convenient for us to see each other anytime.” Back then, I found it annoying and kept making excuses. Now, I couldn’t wait to get there. The next morning, I walked straight into my dead-end job and handed my boss my resignation letter. As I was packing my things, that fake-sweet Tiffany from the office started with her passive-aggressive jabs: “Oh, some people just get lucky, find a rich boyfriend, and never have to work again. Just lie back and count the money.” I was already in a foul mood today, and she walked right into my crosshairs. Without a word, I walked over and gave her a hard slap across her face. The entire office went silent. “Is your mouth too busy with the boss last night to remember a toothbrush?” I glared at her, smiling like a villain. “I saw you, you know, in the breakroom. Tsk, tsk, quite a show.” Tiffany’s face instantly flushed red. She clutched her cheek, unable to utter a single word. I grabbed my box and walked out, leaving everyone gaping in shock. I was done playing nice. That very evening, Julian heard about my resignation and immediately came rushing over, practically tripping over himself, his eyes gleaming. “Valerie, my darling, you finally came around!” He hugged me, ecstatic. “Come be my secretary. We can be together every day, office play, whenever, wherever…” I suppressed a wave of nausea, pasting a fake smile on my face, tracing circles on his chest. “Oh, you’re so naughty. I’ll be shy.” Inside, I was thinking: *Play that with your mother!* He was utterly consumed by desire, immediately dragging me towards the bed. I was about to lose it, about to break character, when I had a sudden idea. I clamped my legs together, wincing, and looked at him with a pained expression. “Honey, I can’t… my period just came.” Julian’s movements froze. The desire on his face instantly morphed into irritation and suspicion: “Didn’t you just get it last week?” “Oh, you know, I’ve been so stressed lately, my cycle’s been a bit irregular…” I blinked my innocent eyes, internally awarding myself an Oscar for that performance. Though annoyed, he didn’t force it. He just went to the bathroom for a cold shower. The next day, I officially started at Julian Hayes Enterprises as the President’s Special Assistant. The moment I stepped into the company, I felt countless eyes on me: jealous, contemptuous, waiting for a show. Whatever. I was here to cause trouble, not make friends. I leveraged Julian’s favoritism to familiarize myself with everything in the company. Which departments were key, which executives were his loyalists, which surveillance cameras were broken. Everything was going according to plan. Until the third afternoon of my employment. I was pretending to bring him coffee, passing by a meeting room, when I heard a voice inside. It was Ashley Roberts. My heart sank. Wasn’t she fired ages ago? What was she doing here? I quietly pressed my ear to the door, catching Julian’s assistant talking to someone: “…Don’t worry, the Ashley Roberts situation has been completely handled. All the core accounts she ever touched, I had everyone re-cover them three times with the new system. Even a god couldn’t find anything.” The USB drive Ashley gave us… was it fake? Or rather, was it just useless data now?

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It was the first day back home for summer break, and the house felt strangely empty. Then my mom’s texts flooded into the family group chat. “Your dad and I are taking Blake on a trip. You’re home alone. I’ll give you five bucks a day for living expenses.” “If it’s an emergency, I can add five more, but you need to submit a request three days in advance.” “Getting a summer job is humiliating. Our family doesn’t allow it.” They wouldn’t give me money, and they wouldn’t let me earn it either. I texted back, “You guys are spending tens of thousands on a trip, can’t you just give me a little more allowance?” The next second, my mom lowered it from five dollars to three. “You’re so stubborn. You won’t starve to death with a little less.” I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping me. If three bucks is their standard, then the million dollars I brought back this time has absolutely nothing to do with them! I’m a college student, and every summer I lug a mountain of luggage back home. This summer, I texted my mom three days in advance to let her know when I’d arrive. She read it but didn’t reply, and I didn’t think much of it until I walked through the front door and found the whole house deserted. The “Miller Family Chat” group hadn’t had any activity for over a week. I tapped my phone, sending the first message. “Where are you guys? I’m home.” Half a minute later, my mom’s replies started pouring in. “So you’re back, why bother texting? Your dad and I took your brother on a trip. There’s still leftover rice from two days ago in the pot. Heat it up and eat it. And don’t forget to scrub the pot clean for me.” “I left your allowance in the living room. Be careful with it.” “If it’s an emergency, I can temporarily transfer you five bucks, but you need to submit a request three days in advance. I’ll only approve it if the reason is reasonable.” At first, I didn’t realize the importance of that last sentence. Not until I followed my mom’s instructions and found a stack of cash on the coffee table in the living room. All crisp dollar bills. One… two… Exactly thirty bills. I almost admired my mom for specially going to the bank to get this stack of five-dollar bills. I quietly asked in the group chat, “150 dollars, for how many days of living expenses?” My mom instantly replied, “Days? That’s for the whole month, of course.” My head was spinning with questions. “That little? Do you want me to get a summer job to support myself?” But my mom kept on lecturing. “No summer jobs! It’s so humiliating, people will think we’re abusing you.” “Five dollars a day isn’t enough? When I was your age, I was already working to support a whole family. Not like you, always begging for money from your parents and being so greedy.” “Do you know how hard your dad and I work out there?” “When you’re not home, we’re practically living on ramen and tap water. Not like you, so extravagant, complaining about five bucks a day.” I stared at my phone, fuming. Because I’d just seen my brother’s latest Ins post: a photo dump of their trip to a fancy resort town. They were staying in a grand hotel, dining at restaurants where meals cost hundreds of dollars per person. Even the sunglasses my brother casually bought while shopping had a price tag of $1399 on the receipt. … I sent a text, cutting off her lecture. “You guys are willing to spend tens of thousands on a trip, but you only give me five bucks a day? Can’t you increase my allowance a little?” My mom didn’t text back. She called directly and started yelling the moment I answered, “You little brat, you dare complain? You should be grateful you even got anything! It’s perfectly fine if I don’t give you a dime. You’re twenty-two, still shamelessly begging for money and full of complaints!” She rattled on and on, not giving me a chance to speak. Until she finished with, “From now on, your allowance is three bucks a day. You’re so stubborn, you won’t starve to death anyway. When I get back, I expect to see you’ve saved sixty dollars, or I’ll beat you black and blue.” … She hung up without letting me say a single word. I stood there, seething. I turned around and saw the family photo on the table: my dad, my brother, and my mom, all hugging sweetly. I picked up my phone and dialed. “Please help me deposit a million dollars into an investment account. I don’t need it right now.” I had originally brought a sum of money back to give them a surprise. But they… They don’t deserve it.

Unknown to my parents, I’d already had two years of work experience, and my game studio had been running for almost a year. While other college students were enjoying their university life, I’d been washing dishes and tutoring since freshman year. That’s because my parents, in an era where the average living expense was fifteen hundred dollars, only gave me five hundred a month. I still remember what my mom said when she gave me my first allowance in freshman year: “You’re grown up now, you need to learn to be filial to your family. You can’t spend all this money at once; you have to buy gifts for your family on holidays.” Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays… Eventually, even for Halloween or Easter, she’d demand I buy things for home. If a gift was under two hundred dollars, I’d get chewed out something fierce. So I had no choice but to work part-time. That’s how I met Lucas Scott, an upperclassman from my department. Lucas was two years my senior but had already inherited his family’s major corporation, becoming a famous young CEO in City A. Initially, I worked as his assistant at his company. Later, a project I tried developing myself caught the eye of the higher-ups. After winning a few hundred thousand dollars in prize money, I quit directly to start my own business. When my studio created its first game, Lucas and I also made our relationship official. I had originally planned to tell my parents about my company today and bring Lucas home tomorrow. But now— Forget it. I’d rather go back to the studio and work more. Lucas and I had been out enjoying ourselves quite a bit this past month. On the same day I went back home from City A to get my stuff, my parents also returned. The moment my mom walked in, she started yelling, “Harper, get out here and help me unpack!” I slowly walked to the living room and saw they were loaded with shopping bags. “Bought so much? Did your tour group rip you off with all this?” My dad immediately rolled his eyes. “You don’t know squat! This is thousand-year-old ginseng! Even the richest CEO’s wife can’t get this quality. It was only 6,888 dollars. How is that being ripped off?” Besides the ginseng root, I also saw lingzhi mushrooms, silk blankets, frozen seafood, and more. “Right, right, I’m just ignorant. You guys know best.” “You little brat, what’s with that attitude?” My mom glared at me, then walked up to me and held out her hand. “Where’s the rest of your allowance? The sixty dollars?” I shrugged. “Spent it all.” “How can you be so wasteful with money? What expenses could you possibly have at home? You didn’t save a single cent of the hundred and fifty!” My mom kept criticizing, but I just silently pulled out a water bill receipt and put it in front of her. Exactly one hundred and fifty. I thought she’d stop there, but I didn’t expect her to retort, “Who told you to be so nosy?” Me: ? “Is paying the water bill your job? Since you love paying so much, from now on, the electricity and water bills will be deducted from your allowance.” “Also, you’re graduating next year. It’s time to prepare for marriage.” I told her with a straight face, “I’m definitely working after I graduate. I’m not in a hurry to get married.” Who knew she’d just shove a photo at me? “This is a guy your Aunt Carol introduced. His name is Chester Blackwood. His family is very well-off. You’ll meet him in a few days.” Looking at the photo of the greasy, heavy-set guy with a puffy face, I clenched my fists. “This guy’s at least forty, isn’t he? Are you insane to set me up with him?” My mom glared at me, then slapped me hard. “He’s only thirty-one!” “You little brat, watch your tone! I raised you all these years, not for you to defy me!”

I emphasized it many times, “I have a boyfriend. Don’t set me up on blind dates.” But the next morning, as soon as I woke up, I saw a living room full of people. Chester, the guy from the photo, was wearing a wrinkled white shirt, grinning foolishly in my direction. “Is this my wife? She’s so pretty!” I practically shrieked, “Mom!” “What are you screaming for?” My mom walked up beside me. “What good-for-nothing boyfriend did you find in college? Chester’s family owns a factory, two houses, and he’s their only child. Won’t all their assets be yours?” Before I could say anything, my brother eagerly called out, “Brother-in-law! I just saw a new skin in my game, can you buy it for me?” “Of course, no problem!” A whole noisy crowd swarmed me, touching my waist and even my butt. They had absolutely no respect, constantly talking about me having babies and how many sons I’d deliver. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I rushed back into my room and slammed the door shut, ignoring the chatter outside, and buried my head in my phone, texting Lucas. “I’m going back to City A. Can you help me tidy up my place?” Once I heard the people outside gradually disperse, I came out of my room again. I still stressed to my mom, “I haven’t even graduated college yet. Don’t even think about selling me off for some ‘marriage payment.’ I won’t ever obey you.” “You little brat, why are you so arrogant? If it weren’t for your dad and me, would you even be in this world? You ungrateful wretch!” My brother was casually playing his game nearby and blurted out, “Sis, just go with it. This brother-in-law is so generous, he just bought me two thousand dollars worth of skins.” “Exactly, what’s so bad about getting married early?” “Harper, you wasted so much money going to college. We’re setting you up for life, and you’re so ungrateful.” I nodded, trying to calm my anger. “Fine, there’s no talking to you.” I turned and pulled my suitcase. “I have something I need to go back to school for. We can talk about this later.” But before I could take two steps, my dad grabbed my suitcase. “You’re not going anywhere! I already promised Chester you’d go out with him. If you run off now, how am I supposed to explain?” I turned to my dad. “You mean you want me to go out alone with Chester?” I sighed. “What if he abuses me?” My mom immediately chimed in, “That would be wonderful!” She looked smug. “If you can get pregnant with Chester’s baby early, you can become a rich lady sooner, and our family’s living conditions will improve too.”

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My husband, Liam Hayes, was a celebrity photographer. He’d always end up sleeping with his models during intimate photo shoots. He called it his “art.” But it was his art that led my police officer father to get injured saving him years ago. And it was Liam who got down on his knees, begging my mother for my hand in marriage. Now, as the 99th model entered the studio, I was ordered to kneel on the floor, holding her discarded clothes. The next second, a heavy metal stand crashed down on my head, hard. “Three years, and you still can’t even catch a simple piece of clothing?” “I have you here to watch, to learn how to be a good clothes hanger, not to be a damn tripping hazard!” I wiped the blood from my forehead, then obediently bowed my head in submission. Everyone thought I was just a nobody by his side, broken down completely, leaving nothing but a shell. But then I disappeared completely from his lens. Liam, the man who never stayed with any woman, searched for me for seven long years. … Liam stared at me, his eyes burning, as I knelt on the floor, silent and still. The spot he’d just rubbed with his cuff bled anew, a fresh red stain spreading. Suddenly, a foot kicked my side. I curled into a ball, drenched in a cold sweat from the pain. “Are you mute?” “Playing the silent game with me, huh? You think I can’t see through you? No matter how deep you hide your intentions, I’ll rip them out!” His boot twisted again, grinding into my bones. My vision swam with black spots. I struggled to get up, to fight back. But he leaned close, his voice a chilling threat in my ear. “Your father’s still lying in the hospital. If no one taught you manners, I will.” A shiver ran through me. I swallowed my rage, lowered my head, and continued to kneel. The shoot resumed. Two figures intertwined before me, the sounds of their heavy breathing and moans crashed into my ears. He’d enacted countless intimate scenes with other women right in front of me. Once, he even made me kneel by the bed, forcing me to count how many times they had sex that night. I don’t know how much time passed. My knees were numb, and my lower abdomen ached so badly I couldn’t hold the kneeling position any longer. I slowly crawled to my feet. Someone saw me stand, and a voice from the side whistled, mocking, “Trying to sneak away already? Not waiting for Liam to finish?” Usually, I’d have to stay on my knees until he was done. But not this time. I couldn’t. Liam, breathing heavily, spoke in a cold voice. “Let her go. What’s with the act of defiance? This pathetic lapdog, you think she’d dare not come back?” At his words, everyone present erupted in loud laughter, placing bets right in front of me. They bet that even if I left now, I’d be begging Liam to open the door for me by nightfall. Watching Liam and Skylar grow more and more exposed in front of everyone, my heart felt like it was bleeding. I knew that due to the nature of Liam’s photography, these scenes might be considered “normal” in the industry. But I simply couldn’t accept it – watching one beautiful, young woman after another, getting intimate with my husband right before my eyes. The eyes of the surrounding crowd darted back and forth between us. After it was over, Liam looked up and instructed me. “Skylar’s feeling a bit run down. Go home and make a soothing herbal broth for her.” Liam held Skylar close, the thin blanket over them barely hiding the flushed marks they’d left on each other. My heart trembled as I struggled to speak, “I can do it, but the cost of the ingredients…” Before I could finish, Skylar gasped from Liam’s arms. “Seriously, Anya? Liam doesn’t lack money for food or drink. Why do you have to be so picky about such a small amount?” “You live in Liam’s house, you eat, drink, and use his money for everything. Now, he’s just asking you to make some soup, and you’re already haggling over money with him? Do you think Liam’s place is some kind of market where you can bargain?” She snuggled deeper into Liam’s embrace, her fingertips tracing his collarbone. “Besides, you’re always complaining about headaches or stomach aches every few days. Liam hasn’t kicked you out yet, and you dare to ask for money? Are you saving up to run away?” She deliberately sat up, puffing out her chest. As the blanket slipped down, Liam tenderly kissed her chest. She was truly a top-tier model, the kind you see on every major runway – her features and figure simply dazzling. Then I looked at myself. A faded, worn-out T-shirt, so thin I was practically skin and bones. My face was sallow, completely lacking any vitality. In Liam’s eyes, I was probably worse than a maid, just a pathetic dog trailing behind him. 2 To outsiders, I was Anya Miller, the wife of celebrity photographer Liam Hayes. He came from a prominent family, one of the wealthiest in their circle, and personally held countless awards. Netizens always envied me, saying Liam’s wife must have earned immense good karma in her past life to snag such a catch. They’d say I’d hit the marital jackpot. But very few knew that my life was worse than trash. The glamorous facade, the blessings – they were all just an illusion. The reality was a miserable, humiliating existence. He confiscated all my documents. My phone? I got it every few days, for ten minutes tops. For three years, I had no money, no time of my own, and I hadn’t even had a proper conversation with anyone other than Liam. “Bitch, you really want to run, don’t you?” Liam looked at me with pure disgust, pulling a few bills from his wallet and flicking them at me. The crisp paper currency whipped my face, leaving a stinging mark, and slicing through my dignity once more. My father was still unconscious, needing medication daily to maintain his vital functions. All of it was paid for by Liam. What was my dignity compared to that? I crouched down, picking up the bills one by one. I stood up, turned calmly, and as I was about to walk out the door, I felt his burning gaze on my back. He called out to me. “Leave the good luck charm necklace,” he said, his voice cold. “Skylar hasn’t been sleeping well lately.” That necklace was the last thing my mother left me. My eyes instantly welled up. I stared at him in disbelief, but Liam remained cold. “How much? Name your price.” I clenched the necklace tight. He knew. He knew perfectly well where that necklace came from. He knew how important it was to me. He knew it was my only keepsake. But I also knew that six months ago, on a hike, just because I hadn’t carried Skylar’s bag, he’d had his bodyguards hold my head to the ground and made me lick her shoes. My hands trembling, I took off the good luck charm necklace, my nose stinging, and placed it into Skylar’s hand. I choked out, “I hope you take good care of it. And I hope you have good dreams every night.” Hearing that, Liam actually showed a rare hint of a pleasant expression. Skylar took the necklace, but not long after, she let out a shriek. A large red rash had appeared on her arm. Liam picked her up, shoved past me, and headed out, ordering me to drive them to the hospital. On the way, the pain in my lower abdomen grew worse, cold sweat beading on my forehead. It felt like it was getting more and more severe. Liam sat in the back seat, cradling Skylar. He murmured soft words of comfort, and I saw Skylar’s smug smile reflected in the rearview mirror. At the hospital, after a series of examinations, the doctor said the necklace had been coated with a substance Skylar was allergic to. Luckily, they’d gotten there in time, or she could have gone into anaphylactic shock. As soon as the doctor finished speaking, Liam slapped me without warning. “What the hell is wrong with you? How did you become so malicious?!” “Skylar never did anything to you! How dare you try to kill her?!” He grabbed my wrist, twisting it with crushing force. “If anything happens to her, I’ll skin you alive!” Watching the concern in his eyes for another woman, even breathing felt painful. Three years ago, Liam, with his prominent family background, suddenly shot to fame as a top-tier photographer. But his blunt personality had offended many. During an outing, he was kidnapped in an act of revenge, even intended to be sold overseas. My father, then a lead detective on the case, was shot while trying to save Liam’s life. In the beginning, he wasn’t as cold as the rumors suggested. When my father was in surgery, Liam paid for all his medical expenses, and even now, though my father lived as a vegetable, I was still grateful. I remember that afternoon, he rushed to my house, got down on his knees, and begged my mother for my hand. My mother smiled, placed my hand in his, and said reassuringly, “Anya’s father owes you so much. She has a difficult temper, please be more tolerant with her in the future.” But just like that, on the third day of our marriage, on our way back from visiting my parents, my mother was hit by a car while out shopping and died instantly. 3 After that, Liam seemed to revert to the man the industry rumors described. During several rough nights, he’d choke my neck, whispering warnings in my ear: “Anya Miller, you’ll never leave me. Never…” Those words became a chilling prophecy, trapping me. How could I forget? Liam, a ruthless player in the cutthroat world of fame and power, was more obsessed with control and violence than with tenderness or care. How could I forget that even when he cloaked himself in gentleness, it couldn’t hide the cold cruelty in his bones? Our ill-fated connection, with its clearly defined stages, should have been severed from the very beginning. After the hospital results, they didn’t wait for me. They went straight back to the villa in the suburbs. By the time I, enduring the heavy ache in my lower abdomen, stumbled back home step by painful step, it was already early the next morning. Sounds of pleasure still echoed from the master bedroom. My palm, gripping the doorknob, was slick with sweat. I looked at the only wedding photo of Liam and me in the living room. My throat felt raw. I stared at it for a long time, then took it down and cut it into tiny pieces with scissors. I searched for a painkiller, only to find them tossed into the trash can, mixed with leftover soup. I curled up silently next to the garbage bin. My pants leg slowly soaked with blood. My consciousness blurred, and I passed out. I was jolted awake by a bucket of ice water. Still groggy, I felt a figure pressing down on me. Before I could fully regain my senses, I heard a surprised female voice from the doorway. “Anya, Liam was looking for you all night! You were hiding in this room all along. If you came back, you could have just told him. You made us search for so long, and look at you…” It was then I realized I’d been stripped naked, my entire body aching. The man on top of me had one arm wrapped around me and the other gripping my breast. Everywhere I looked, my skin was covered in red marks. This room was originally the maid’s room. A year ago, the maids, seeing which way the wind blew, had kicked me out and made me move in here. It was tiny and stuffy. I frantically pushed the man off me, my body trembling uncontrollably. Liam strode in, furiously grabbing the man by his hair and punching him. “You sick bastard, you dared to touch *my* woman? You’ve got a death wish!” “You’re asking for it.” Another punch landed. The man was instantly bruised and swollen, covering his mouth as he seized the chance to escape. Liam turned to me, his face red with rage, veins bulging in his neck. He roared at me, “Anya Miller, you really know how to degrade yourself. You’re unbelievable.” I thought he would hit me, but instead, his raised fist slammed into the wall. Then he stormed out. Skylar leaned against the doorway, sneering, “Anya Miller, how was it? Enjoy yourself?” “I’m Liam’s wife. Aren’t you afraid of what happens if he finds out the truth about what you’ve done to me?” Skylar scoffed, walking up to me and poking my lower abdomen with her finger. “Wife? Anya Miller, you must be in too much pain to think straight. Do you really think Liam sees you as his wife?” She suddenly leaned close, her words venomous whispers in my ear. “Do you know? The medicine on your lucky charm necklace didn’t just give me a rash. It also made your uterus bleed heavily.” “The doctor said you’ll never have children, Hahaha!” My body stiffened. No wonder. No wonder my lower abdomen had been aching so much yesterday. It was all thanks to her. All Skylar! No, this whole nightmare started because I met Liam. Father, if only you hadn’t led that team to rescue Liam, none of this would be happening now. I raised my hand, wiping away tears, and lunged forward in fury, but she easily dodged. My lower back slammed into the corner of a nearby table, and my vision went black from the pain. 4 Skylar covered her mouth and stepped back, a look of excitement on her face. “Liam wants a child more than anything. What do you think he’ll do when he finds out you can’t give him one? Will he keep a useless dog like you around?” I glared at her, my teeth chattering, a silent rage building inside me. Liam and I weren’t without children before. But I’d gotten pregnant twice, and both times ended in sudden miscarriages, with no explanation. After that, his attitude changed drastically, and he never touched me again. From then on, he’d stage all sorts of scandalous shoots with various models, always making sure I was there to watch. Just then, a cat meowed from the living room. It was Pumpkin, the orange tabby Liam and I had adopted when we first got married. It was the only living thing in this villa that would rub against my hand. But now its cries were incredibly mournful. I struggled and ran out. I saw Skylar’s assistant holding Pumpkin down, a needle plunging into its neck. “What are you doing?!” I shrieked, trying to stop her, but Skylar grabbed me. I watched as the assistant transferred Pumpkin’s blood into a nearby Ragdoll cat. Skylar, behind me, said slowly, “My Snowflake is sick. The vet said she needs a blood transfusion, and this little cat’s blood type matches perfectly. Look how lively Snowflake is; what’s wrong with donating a little blood?” “It’s too small! Drawing blood like that, you’ll kill it!” I watched helplessly as Pumpkin’s cries grew weaker and weaker. It lay on the ground, losing strength, no longer needing to be held down. Its once bright eyes slowly lost their luster, the fur on its neck soaked with blood. When the assistant pulled out the needle, Pumpkin was already silent, its tiny body curled into a ball, its limbs still twitching faintly. “Oh dear, how did it die?” Skylar feigned regret. “If I’d known it was so weak, I would’ve found another cat. Anya Miller, don’t blame me. Blame it for being just unlucky.” The housekeepers, standing nearby, chimed in, trying to curry favor. “Miss Skylar, we were tired of this stray cat anyway. It was always scratching things, so annoying.” “Yes, yes! Your cat looks so regal! Look how shiny its fur is!” Skylar suddenly released me. I rushed over and picked up Pumpkin’s cold body. Tears streamed down my face. Pumpkin hadn’t even had a chance to grow up, and now its life was gone. Now, my hope for a child was gone, and even my little cat had been killed by them. “What’s all this noise?” Liam’s voice came from the doorway. His tie was loose around his neck, and he smelled of alcohol. Skylar immediately reddened her eyes and threw herself into his arms, sobbing. “Liam, I heard you loved Pumpkin so much. I just brought my sick Snowflake over to play today, but Anya suddenly wanted Pumpkin to give Snowflake a blood transfusion. I told her the pet hospital has blood, but she wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t stop her, Liam, it’s so sad. Pumpkin was just bled to death.” As soon as Liam heard that Pumpkin had been “killed by me,” the alcohol fumes instantly vanished from him. I wanted to explain, but he suddenly smiled at me, his expression turning stone cold. He pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over the call button as he stared right at me. “Stop the care at that place today.” Then he snatched Pumpkin from my arms and walked out. A jolt went through me. A dark premonition. Just then, Skylar appeared from somewhere and handed me my phone. The moment I took it, the phone rang. It was my father’s attending doctor. My fingers trembled. I answered with trepidation, and a voice that stole my breath came through the receiver. “Mrs. Miller, your father… has just stopped breathing. He passed away… Please accept my condolences.” *Buzz*. All other sounds around me vanished. My heart skipped a beat, then another. I stared blankly ahead, unable to shed a single tear. Skylar and her crew walked away, their laughter echoing in the sudden silence. Only I was left in the villa… “Ah…” That night, a news report flashed: “Early this morning, a woman in our city reportedly jumped off a bridge with an urn, ending her life. Police have launched an investigation.” 5 People thought it was just another tragic suicide story, but no one knew it would trigger a massive chain reaction. Liam didn’t see the news until the evening of the next day.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298452”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller