Category: English

The day the zombie apocalypse hit, our school was rehearsing a stage play. Brittany, the queen bee who played the elf, got healing powers. The background extra, who played a tree, became invisible to zombies. Liam, my childhood sweetheart playing the knight, could skewer zombies like shish kebabs with his long sword. … They all stared at me, a makeup artist, holding nothing but ordinary makeup brushes. So, I was abandoned. Later, when our paths crossed again, their team of powered individuals watched me get swallowed by a zombie horde, each one cracking sarcastic jokes. But I used my makeup brushes to turn zombies into my own superpowered army, instantly turning the tide. You guys are gods, but I’m the one who *makes* gods. **1.** When bad luck strikes, even cleaning up makeup backstage can get you attacked by a zombie. I was tackled onto the dressing table, screaming for help, my voice raw. But the stage, which had been so noisy just moments before, was now as silent as a tomb. My will to survive finally kicked in. I cried and fought, luckily managing to wrap a prop chain around its mouth. My hands shook like a leaf as I pulled back the curtain, ready to bolt, only to see a group of perfectly made-up people staring silently in my direction. When they saw it was me, they looked genuinely surprised. “Rose, you can’t even lift a water cooler bottle, and you beat a zombie?” Brittany, the queen bee, playfully punched her updo, a smirk playing on her lips. “Looks like I lost that bet again. The zombies had like, a ninety-nine percent chance of winning. How did they lose? My luck is just the worst, seriously.” Alex, the student body president, chuckled and chimed in, “A bet’s a bet. For the next two days, you’re my shadow, ensuring my safety when I’m fighting zombies.” “Ugh! Lucky you! I’m the most valuable healer now, everyone’s begging for my help.” My heart instantly sank. I’d thought everyone was dead. After all, when the zombies first broke out, the screams and wails on stage were non-stop. I’d even felt guilty for surviving alone. But they had just stood by, using my life as a damn bet! “You were all here? So, you intentionally left me to die? Why?” Everyone stared at me in silence, as if my question was utterly ridiculous. Brittany gave a light laugh. “If we didn’t push you, you wouldn’t have known you could defeat a zombie, right? So, what’s your power, Rose?” I was shocked and confused, instinctively retorting, “What power?” “No way?” She gasped. “You only beat that zombie because you got lucky?” Seeing me still standing there dumbfounded, her smile widened, becoming even more radiant. “Alright, I’ll be merciful and show you.” She walked over to a classmate with a scraped arm, gently placing her hands on the wound. The injury healed at a visible rate, then vanished without a trace! The classmate touched his smooth arm, his voice filled with awe. “Brittany’s power is healing. She’s the core member of our little team now!” I stood there, stunned, watching them show off their various abilities. The strongman classmate who played the bouncer threw zombies hundreds of feet away. The classmate who played a stone wall was impervious to blades. Alex, the student body president playing the king, just gave orders, and all the background extras sacrificed themselves to save him… Their golden auras were so blinding I could barely keep my eyes open. “We figured it out. Everyone got powers based on the roles they played in the drama club production.” “This proves we’re the chosen saviors, picked by fate!” Finally, everyone turned to look at the makeup brushes in my hand. After an eerie silence, they burst into laughter, sharing a knowing glance, their voices dripping with mockery. “Rose, you seriously plan to fight zombies with *that*? Aren’t you just going to be dead weight?” “Makeup brushes aren’t bad, though. You can poke zombies’ eyes with them, then they won’t see you!” “Brittany won’t be able to save anyone else if she’s too busy saving just you. How’s she supposed to be useful?” “Why don’t you volunteer to stay behind and cover our retreat? At least you’d be somewhat useful then!” **2.** My face went ghostly pale. I looked out the window at the dense swarm of zombies, feeling like I’d fallen into an ice pit. How could a normal person like me cover the retreat for a group of superpowered individuals? That was a death sentence. I looked at Liam with pleading eyes. We’d been childhood sweethearts for twenty years. My parents had even saved his entire family from a house fire. He wouldn’t just leave me to die. Sure enough, his brows softened, and he started to plead on my behalf. “Maybe Rose’s power just manifested later. Let’s give her a chance, okay? I can’t leave her here to die.” Someone immediately shot back, “Then *you* stay behind and protect her! But don’t forget, even if you can pierce three zombies with one sword, you can’t defeat the horde outside. Are you really going to give up your life for a useless person?” “Oh my god, seriously! The apocalypse is the worst with dead weight and overly soft heroes. You don’t fear a godly opponent, you fear a teammate who’s a total liability.” “What if you accidentally stab Rose while fighting a zombie? That would be hilarious.” Alex, the student body president, was always the peacemaker. “Let’s not call anyone useless. We’re all classmates. Liam’s right, what if Rose’s power is just late to awaken?” I looked at him gratefully, then heard him continue, “So, why don’t you go outside and find a zombie right now to trigger your potential? Or you can stay here in the school, there might still be a glimmer of hope.” He smiled sweetly at me. But a shiver ran down my spine. Only then did I realize that Alex had always been this kind of two-faced person during my days of being excluded by classmates. How could I forget? How could I forget that this very group of people had just tried to kill me! I grabbed Liam’s hand, clutching it like my only lifeline. “Liam, save me! Don’t leave me alone!” But Brittany stretched out her arms to Liam. “Liam, we need your combat power. Don’t be too soft-hearted in the apocalypse, okay? Do you want to see me exhaust myself trying to save her?” Liam didn’t let go. The two sides were at a standstill. The zombies outside grew more agitated. Someone began to pull out their weapon, pointing it at us. “Stop acting like a hero! Either stay or go, don’t waste our time here!” “Exactly! We don’t *need* you! To be honest, with dead weight like her, your combat power is even worse than mine.” “Alex, let’s go! If we drag this out any longer, all the zombies in the school will surround us!” Liam was torn, still trying to explain for me. “Rose is really good at long-distance running. She definitely won’t slow us down.” “So, you’re saying she’ll abandon us and run for her life in a crisis? We absolutely cannot let that kind of ungrateful wretch come with us!” “No, I mean…” Before he could finish, someone unexpectedly flung open the auditorium doors. The zombies, seeing a group of living people, their eyes glowing green, surged in like a tide. Everyone unleashed their powers to fight them off. In the chaos, Alex shouted, “Charge!” Everyone bolted outside. Someone shoved me, and by the time I reacted, I was behind everyone else. Liam turned back to look at me, his pupils shrinking. “Rose!” He wanted to save me, but Brittany suddenly shrieked, “Liam! Help me! The zombies are grabbing me!” Even though everyone else ran towards Brittany after hearing her cry for help, Liam hesitated. He looked at me, then at Brittany. My heart clenched instantly. I struggled, running towards him. “Liam! Save me!” Just as I was about to grab his hand, he pulled it back. “Rose, I owe you. I’ll repay you in the next life!” Then, he turned his back and ran towards Brittany without a second glance. **3.** I stood there stunned, unable to believe he would do that. Twenty years of childhood friendship, plus saving his family’s lives from a fire… and he said he’d repay me in the *next* life? If he wouldn’t save me in *this* life, what was he going to repay me with in the next?! I was trembling with rage. But the immediate priority was to get away from these zombies. Though most of them had been drawn away by the others, a few stragglers were still around. Seeing me, they shrieked and lunged. I picked up a spear from the ground, trying to overcome my fear, and thrust it into their chest. *Splat—* The zombie’s head exploded with a single blow. Its rotting body toppled onto me, and I finally reacted, screaming and scrambling backward. “Can you stand up?” A gloomy guy looked down at me, his voice hoarse. It took me a while to remember he was a classmate who always lurked in the corner of the classroom. I think his name was Caleb. Caleb, like me, was an outcast. We were also the only two people who weren’t in the drama club production. The difference was, I was disliked by a lot of girls for being too close to the popular Liam. He, on the other hand, was cold and arrogant, offended a lot of people by being a loner, and was subjected to silent treatment. “Th-thanks…” He extended a hand and helped me up. “I was worried these guys would use me as a human shield, so I pretended to be dead and observed them. Heh, just as I thought…” “Zombies aren’t human. Stabbing their hearts does nothing. You have to go for the head, understand?” “Got it! Got it!” I nodded repeatedly. He turned and started disposing of the bodies. I cautiously ventured, “Um… Caleb, are we, like, allies now?” After a few minutes, he just gave a faint “Hmm.” I sighed in relief and eagerly started helping him. But when I knelt down to look, I nearly fainted from fright. Caleb was collecting zombie blood in a glass bottle! “What are you collecting that for?” My voice trembled. Caleb glanced at me, calmly saying, “To mask our scent. You didn’t see the situation backstage earlier, but zombies use their noses to detect humans, not just their eyes.” “If we coat ourselves in their blood, we can fool them and get out safely.” I see. Despite the disgust, the thought that it was for survival pushed down my urge to vomit. After collecting the zombie blood, I took out my portable makeup brushes and started applying it to Caleb. The fishy smell of blood and decay went straight to my head. I painted and gagged. Caleb was a tough cookie, though; he didn’t even change his expression. If his eyelashes weren’t subtly trembling, I would’ve thought the person in front of me was already dead. “Alright, later you can just smear some zombie blood on yourself.” Caleb opened his eyes, and I was shocked to see his pupils had turned white! “Caleb, what’s wrong with your eyes?” I hadn’t even put colored contacts on him! A thought flashed through my mind. I snatched the spear from Caleb’s hand and leaped away. The next second, Caleb lunged at me, trying to bite. He had turned into a zombie! Cold sweat poured down me. I cursed the heavens for being so unfair. Not only did I not have a power, but my freshly-made ally turned into a zombie! The problem was, Caleb hadn’t even said he was injured! Was this just a conspiracy to keep me from living?! Caleb didn’t give me a chance to react and lunged again. I dodged while aiming the spear at his head. But killing someone sounds easy; doing it is a whole different beast. Aside from the blood all over his face, Caleb looked exactly like a human. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it! Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a prop water tank on the stage. A lightbulb went off. I jogged, luring Caleb towards it. As he lunged, I used all my strength to tackle him down and hold him underwater. *Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle—* Caleb was submerged, the blood he’d just had on his face swirling in the water. He was still struggling. I hardened my heart and pressed down harder. Caleb slowly stopped moving. I finally let out a breath, collapsing weakly to the side, about to lament my unfair fate. Unexpectedly, Caleb suddenly convulsed, then gripped the edge of the water tank and climbed out. **4.**

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After the girl he put on a pedestal fell to her death, my stepbrother hated me for ten years. Even after I used despicable means to completely claim him. He never truly forgave me. Until, in a fit of pique, I ran off abroad and got caught in a riot. But my brother, without a moment’s hesitation, shielded me, taking the bullet and dying. His last words, whispered in my arms, were: “I spoiled you.” “I truly regret… becoming your brother.” Everyone called me a lunatic. They said I was the one who destroyed my brother, a man of integrity, upright and self-controlled. So, I knelt on those long stone steps for fifty years. Begging for a chance to start over. This time, I would complete him. All I wanted was for him to live a life of peace and happiness. “Stella, just look at the things you wrote! Don’t you feel sick to your stomach?!” “How could you… have such thoughts about your own brother?!” That voice, so familiar, so cherished, echoed in my ears. My eyes snapped open. I saw Julian holding my diary, his face blazing crimson with fury. That diary was filled to the brim with my— Desires for him. But at that moment, I felt no shame from being exposed. Instead, I burst into grateful tears. I had truly been reborn. Reborn to the first time Julian and I ever argued, the moment he discovered my forbidden feelings for him. My brother, vibrant and alive before me, made my body tremble uncontrollably. It was too good to be true. He was alive. Julian noticed my strange reaction. The fire that had been burning in him immediately died down by half. He pointed to the floor. “All of this… take it and burn it.” In my previous life, after hearing those words, I became completely hysterical, grabbed him by the collar, and kissed him. Julian, his eyes wide with shock, fled in a panic, slowly distancing himself from me. And all my obsessive desires, fueled by that outrageous kiss, broke through their chains. Making me hate Lena, the girl who stole my brother, even more. Leading to all the tragedies that followed. So this time, I furiously wiped the tears from my face. And picked up the box full of diaries. “Okay.” “I’ll go burn them.”

My diaries chronicled more than a decade of my life with Julian. My mom and Julian’s mom were best friends. But my mom was a total romantic, always blinded by love, and she ended up marrying a monster who abused her. When I was five, my mom passed away despite all efforts to save her. My dad, a chronic alcoholic, fell into a ditch on his way to turn himself in to the police and died. Julian’s Aunt took me in. And then she passed away when Julian and I had just started middle school. From then on, it was just Julian and me in the large villa, with only a few house staff. Julian was only a few months older than me. But I was a complete magnet for trouble, and Julian was always like a miniature adult. So, from childhood, he followed me around, cleaning up my messes. Julian’s Aunt was always very busy with work. And the housekeepers and nannies often took days off. When I had a terrible stomach bug, he stayed by my side all night while I was hooked up to an IV. When I got into a fight, he always had my back. When it stormed, he’d grab his pillow and blankets and squeeze into my bed with me. Even when Lena fell to her death because of me. Julian hated me to his core. But when the riot broke out, he still didn’t hesitate for a second, stepping in front of me to shield me. My brother was perfect in every way. Except his love for me was family. My love for him… it felt like a sin I couldn’t confess. In my previous life, Mrs. Davis was inconsolable when she heard about Julian. Mr. Peterson, though, he pointed a finger right at my face and screamed, “Stella, you’re nothing but a jinx, a curse! Are you only happy when everyone around you is dead?!” I remembered Julian’s last words to me: “I spoiled you.” “I truly regret… becoming your brother.” He regretted it. Actually, I regretted it too. The secluded monastery tucked away in the northern hills was rumored to grant wishes, to answer prayers. I wanted to ask for a next life where Julian would never meet me again. But perhaps I was too wicked. The abbot refused to see me. So, I knelt year after year. The dark, mottled stains on those stone steps? Each one was a mark of my forehead, a desperate plea. From my youth until my hair turned white. Finally, when I was frail and old. The abbot agreed to see me. He said: “What has already happened cannot be changed, but perhaps there can be a new beginning.” “You are his fated hurdle. If it’s not resolved, all your efforts will be in vain.” Then, he slipped a small silk pouch into my wrinkled hand. “It will guide you to the moment of your rebirth.” When I woke again, the pouch clutched in my hand told me it wasn’t a dream. This time, I wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes. I would pay any price, as long as my brother was safe and happy.

The next day, when we went to school, neither of us mentioned what had happened the night before. A suffocating silence hung in the car. When we got out, Julian finally broke the quiet. “You hurt Lena a few days ago. Go apologize to her today.” His tone was stiff, almost forced. It was as if he expected me to throw a tantrum again before he even spoke. But I just nodded calmly. “Okay.” Julian looked at me with a hint of surprise. But in the end, he didn’t say anything more. During lunch break, as promised, I went to find Lena to apologize. But after searching around, I found her with Julian. The bustling afternoon was warm and bright. Lena giggled, playfully tapping Julian’s chest. The next second, her eyes flickered over to me, and she immediately cowered behind Julian, clutching her bandaged hand. Julian’s arm instantly shot out, shielding her. “What are you doing here?” His voice was slightly distant. He’d already forgotten he’d told me to come apologize that morning. It wasn’t really my brother’s fault for being on edge. I truly was a lunatic. I had an almost savage possessiveness over Julian. He was handsome, and kind. Plenty of girls liked him. And I’d scared every single one of them away. I interpreted Julian’s silent consent as: *He has feelings for me too*. Just like in my previous life, I’d put something in his drink. Forcing him to cross a line. He resisted my touch, yet I could discern a twisted pleasure in his fragmented gasps. But I’d ignored that it was just an uncontrollable physical reaction. Lena was special to him. Even ten years after her death, Julian still hadn’t forgiven me. I forced down the bitter pang that threatened to overflow in my heart and let out a shaky breath. Then, I gave Lena a deep, abrupt bow. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have hurt you a few days ago, and I shouldn’t have publicly insulted you and humiliated you.” “Can you… forgive me?” Lena cautiously glanced at Julian. Seeing he said nothing, she finally replied, “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I forgive you.” I straightened up, meeting Julian’s eyes. They churned with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher.

In my previous life, there was another reason I hated Lena. More than once, I’d seen her acting close with Brock, the school bully and my brother’s archnemesis. Brock had a terrible personality and loved to trip Julian up. I seriously suspected Lena was sent to deceive my brother’s feelings, so I targeted her at every turn. This time, no matter what the truth was, I had to find out. I needed to put the two people who were meant to be together back on track. So, I started clinging to Lena, telling her how remorseful I was and how much I wanted to be her friend. At first, she was wary. But when she saw I genuinely had no ill intentions, she let her guard down. I casually probed her, “What do you think of my brother?” A blush crept up Lena’s ears. “Julian, he… he helped me a lot. And he really loves small animals. He used to feed the stray cats around here all the time and even got them spayed and neutered.” “I think he’s incredibly kind.” Sure enough. They loved each other back. Lena was actually pretty amazing. Her family wasn’t well off, but she was incredibly diligent, studying on a scholarship. She was the picture of a resilient girl from a humble background. My brother was handsome, the top of his class, and had a large inheritance left to him by Julian’s Aunt. Anyone looking at them would say they were a perfect match. Even though I’d long known this, my stomach still twisted with jealousy. That evening, Julian knocked on my bedroom door for the first time in ages. He didn’t dare to come in. The last time, it was because he’d suddenly walked into my room that he discovered my shameful thoughts. I spoke first, “I’m just looking at schools to apply to, nothing else…” Since my rebirth, I’d felt Julian was constantly distancing himself from me. Even without that kiss, he couldn’t accept that the sister he’d raised liked him *that* way. And even without that kiss, I couldn’t let Julian go. He cleared his throat unnaturally. “Why haven’t you been coming home with me lately?” I was a bit surprised he was asking about that. *Because I need to quickly get used to life without you*. I silently replied in my head. Even today, I was thinking of finding a school far away from Julian. Anyway, he and Lena had good grades, so they’d definitely go to the same university later. As for me, the further from him, the better. I casually threw out an excuse. “Lena and I actually get along pretty well, so we agreed to go home together. We can chat.” As soon as I said it, even I didn’t quite believe it. Julian stared at me intensely, making my scalp prickle even more. I stiffened my neck and challenged him, “Am I… bothering you two?” He frowned, then tapped me on the forehead. “What are you thinking? Of course not.” Then, he raked a hand through his hair, slightly agitated. “Forget it, you… it’s good to make more friends.”

Today, I walked home with Lena as usual. She’d opened up to me quite a bit, and I wanted to figure out the real reason for her fall in the previous life. Everyone thought I had pushed her off the building. Even Julian believed it. After all, I had a long history of acting out. But I hadn’t. I hadn’t even touched a single thread of her clothes. She just started crying and jumped. I wondered if something terrible had happened to Lena’s family, causing her to think of taking her own life. “Lena, if anything’s wrong, you have to tell me. If you’re in trouble, let me know, I’ll help you fix it!” Lena first froze, then her eyes welled up. She *was* in trouble. Just as she was about to speak. Suddenly, a group of thugs burst out from the alleyway beside us. They looked menacing, brandishing metal pipes they’d apparently ripped off school desks. I’d learned some self-defense when I was little and managed to hold my own against them. Lena, however, wasn’t doing so well. Seeing a pipe about to land on her, I didn’t think twice and shielded her. Then, my vision went black. When I woke up again, the back of my head and my back throbbed with a burning pain. I was covered in mud, but the scene before me was so shocking I couldn’t even register my own pain. Lena lay naked beside me. “Hey, Lena, what happened to you?” My voice trembled. Without thinking, I frantically searched for my phone. I just wanted to reach my brother as fast as possible. But my phone was shattered, completely unresponsive. Just then, a blinding light suddenly shone on my face. I instinctively lowered my head, squinting my eyes. The piercing wail of police sirens tangled with Julian’s furious shouts. I felt a force shove me away, sending me stumbling against a nearby step. “Stella, I really thought you’d changed, but I guess you were just biding your time for today, weren’t you?!” Julian’s eyes were bloodshot. I stared at him blankly, only then realizing. He’d misunderstood. “Julian, no, it wasn’t me.” Julian scooped Lena into his arms. “You’re holding your phone and saying it wasn’t you?! Delete all those photos, I’ll deal with you when we get home!” I watched his retreating back numbly, tears welling up in my eyes. “It really… wasn’t me…” Finally, all the strength drained from my body, and my vision blurred into darkness once more.

I dreamed of the previous life, when Julian had been just as angry with me. When Lena fell to her death, and I was taken in for questioning. Julian hit me for the first time. A loud, stinging slap. “How could you do something like this…?” “I’m so disappointed in you.” “I wish I never had a sister like you.” His eyes held an emotion so profoundly sad, it was almost serene. I couldn’t blame him. After all, only Lena and I were on the rooftop that day. No one would believe that a graduating student with a bright future would just jump off a building for no reason. But even if Julian didn’t believe me. He still found me the best lawyer. There were no security cameras on the rooftop, no direct evidence proving I pushed Lena. Besides, my fingerprints weren’t found on her body. But there was still the possibility that I had incited Lena to jump. Ultimately, the incident was ruled an accident. Julian paid Lena’s mother a large sum of money. But she still came to the school every day, causing a scene. So, Julian proactively took me out of school. I truly ruined his life. If it weren’t for me, what a brilliant life he would have had. No matter how the outside world speculated about the incident. For Julian, his sister had killed the person he loved. From that day on, there was no going back. I woke up with a jolt from my dream. Before my eyes was my familiar bedroom. Julian was sitting by my bed, looking haggard, dark circles under his eyes. When he saw me wake up, a glimmer of light appeared in his eyes. Then, he hugged me tightly.

It turned out, Lena had woken up before me. She recounted the entire story. I had been knocked unconscious while saving her. The group of thugs had taken pictures of her and fled. Julian held me, his body trembling uncontrollably. He kept repeating apologies. “I’m so sorry, Stella, I’m so sorry.” “It’s my fault for misunderstanding you.” “I didn’t take good care of you, and I accused you without a second thought. You should hit me…” His trembling was obvious and clear, and his body heat seeped into me, making my eyes well up with warmth. Days of accumulated grievances burst forth. My tears and snot plastered all over Julian’s shirt. “Julian! It’s all my fault!” “If I hadn’t been such a mess before, you wouldn’t have doubted me!” I desperately shook my head, wanting Julian to believe my promise. “I’m truly sorry. I’ll never cling to you and make things difficult again!” “I’ll never yearn for you like that again. I just want to be your sister, always your sister!” I felt my brother’s body stiffen for a moment. Then, his hand gently patted my back. We hugged like that for a long, long time. It was as if all the previous distance between us had simply vanished. Julian brought over a bowl of porridge from the side. “Eat something first.” He tied up my hair and grabbed his jacket. “I’m going out to buy you your favorite tarts as an apology.” “Wait for me to come back. I have something important to tell you.” I gazed at Julian obediently, sensing something was different about him. As if he’d made some kind of decision. But I waited a long time, and my brother never came back. Instead, I first received a message from Lena. 【Stella, please, come find me on the school rooftop.】 【Only you.】 【Please…】

I ran out of the house like a madwoman. Why was it still happening? The abbot’s words echoed in my mind. *What has already happened cannot be changed.* Was I truly unable to change anything? Then what was the point of me being reborn?! But Lena’s message to me was different from the previous life. In my previous life, she’d sent me a taunting message. Lying that she and Julian were secretly meeting on the school rooftop. This time, though, it was different. I felt like the truth was within reach. On the rooftop, Lena was crying, just as she had in the previous life. “Lena, what the hell are you doing?!” *Does this building just have to be jumped off of?!* Lena looked at me, then dropped to her knees with a thud. “Stella, I can’t escape this. The people who hurt us that day were Brock’s men. They took so many photos and videos of me… I’ve been trapped for so long.” My blood immediately rushed to my head. “You knew this? Then why didn’t you tell the police? You’re the victim! It’s not your fault!” Lena screamed, looking completely on the verge of a breakdown. “It’s no use, Stella!” “I fought back, but it was useless…” “They threatened my mom and my younger siblings. Brock’s family has serious connections, we can’t go against him at all.” “He’s a monster. He’s always been toying with us. He wants to ruin Julian, that’s why he tried to get to him through you.” “I’m so sorry. You and your brother have both been so kind to me.” “Don’t come near me. As long as you don’t touch me, they won’t find any evidence on you.” “Julian cares about you so much, he’ll find a way to protect you, no matter what.” “But if I don’t listen to Brock, my family won’t have a chance to live. If I die, maybe it’ll blow up and get enough attention.” “I only ask one thing, please, after I die, look after my family, just for the sake of our short month of friendship…” I didn’t let her finish. I rushed forward, grabbed her by the collar, and pulled her to her feet. I could only hear my own roar echoing. “Then do you know what will happen to my brother after you die?! He’ll spend his entire life mourning you!!” It was only then that I realized I was a complete mess, tears streaming down my face. Lena stared at me blankly. The small silk pouch in my pocket *clattered* onto the floor. It lay there quietly. I vaguely remembered the warmth that had spread through my palm the first time I held it. *If I’m Julian’s fated hurdle.* *Then without me, he’d be happy, wouldn’t he?* …So, that’s what it meant. I finally understood. “So, we just need to make a big scene, right?” I turned and ran towards the edge of the rooftop. At first, it was a light, floating sensation. Then, a heavy, plummeting feeling. I chose the abyss. So I fell into the abyss. *Thud—!* A deafening sound, followed by a piercing shriek. It shattered the quiet of the night. At the same time, Julian, who was just a street away from the school, was so startled by the sudden loud noise that he almost dropped what he was holding. It was the last box of tarts. The bakery he usually went to was closed. He’d gone to several places before finding this newly opened one near the school. The crowd around him gradually grew louder. “Someone died!” “Someone jumped! A female student!” Julian turned his head, looking towards the school. He suddenly remembered the sharp pang he’d felt in his chest when he heard that loud thud.

Julian, as if compelled by some strange impulse, walked towards the school. He was never one to be curious about crowds. But that day, a voice inside him seemed to say: *You should go see.* He saw Lena. She was crumpled on the ground, crying, calling Stella’s name. *Why would she call Stella’s name?* Julian’s heart pounded with growing dread. He couldn’t control his hands, desperately pushing through the crowd. The person lying on the ground. He couldn’t *not* recognize her. No matter what she looked like, he would know her at a glance. But his sister should be lying in her room right now, waiting for him to come home with tarts. She shouldn’t. She shouldn’t be lying there, broken and shattered, on the ground. Lena confessed everything. She cried, saying she had killed Stella. “When I was injured before, I deliberately framed her. That day, she came to find me, furious, and I intentionally placed a cup near her. She accidentally knocked it over and broke it, and I pretended she pushed me and cut my arm.” “She actually believed it. She even apologized to me, even though she was the only one who ever treated me like a friend…” Julian stared at her blankly, it took him a long, long time to find his voice. “What did she say, in the end?” “She said, if I died, you would mourn me your whole life.” Julian felt as if someone was choking him, making it impossible to breathe. He finally realized: The one who killed his sister, was himself. Julian still clearly remembered the day he told Stella to burn the diaries. She stood in the yard, burning them and wiping away tears. His heart twisted with pain. He told Mrs. Davis to call Stella back inside. But he found himself uncontrollably walking towards the pile of ashes. There was one diary that hadn’t completely burned. He stomped out the flames. Inside, the elegant handwriting was something he had taught her, stroke by stroke. *Would Julian be disgusted if he knew I loved him?* In that moment, he felt nothing else mattered. He shouldn’t have blamed her. He had no right to blame Stella. In this world, no matter what mistakes Stella made. His own sin was far greater. He was just too afraid to take that step. If one day, Stella no longer loved him. If she saw a better, wider world. If men out there made her realize her brother was actually insignificant. Then they wouldn’t even be able to be siblings anymore. The step he took would damn him forever. That night, he even had a twisted thought: *It would be better if he and Stella had a blood relation.* At least that way, there would be an indelible mark between them. He was terrified. So, when he realized Stella hated Lena. For the first time, he didn’t distance himself from someone his sister disliked. He thought, *just let Stella give up on me.* She would grow up eventually. She would leave him eventually. But when Stella had been unconscious for several days, then woke up crying and apologizing, saying she was a jerk. He just wanted to say: *He* was the jerk, a thousand times worse than her. Not only that, he was a coward. Letting Stella bear the burden of their shared sin alone. Julian finally understood. He would tell Stella: *It’s fine. We can just go somewhere no one knows us.* But it was his moment of hesitation that made him lose his sister forever. … By the time Julian came back to his senses. He had already handled Stella’s funeral. That small urn held the person he loved most. She was so lively and active. How could she bear to stay in such a cramped space? His senses seemed to return belatedly. Thousands of razor blades seemed to sprout from his internal organs. He desperately dry-heaved. The blades sliced his esophagus, his throat. But nothing came up. He could only spend his days in Stella’s room. It was the only place in the world that still carried her scent. He didn’t know how much time had passed. His life had ended the day his sister died. Behind the wall, Mr. Peterson and Mrs. Davis were incredibly anxious. “We’ve found so many therapists, but nothing helps!” “He looks like he’s lost his soul. I heard that monastery in the northern hills is very spiritual…” I didn’t expect to wake up again. In a dimly lit rented apartment. There was an admission letter. The name on it was “Stella.” I had been reborn into a body with the same name.

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Ever since my wife got pregnant, strange things have been happening around our house. Our bathroom was constantly swarming with spiders. And my wife’s behavior grew increasingly bizarre. She started keeping secrets, her temper flaring up at the slightest provocation. One night, while I was asleep, she *savagely* bit my neck, coming terrifyingly close to severing my artery. Chloe frantically explained it was just hormones, unbalanced by the pregnancy. I stared at the thick black hair covering her legs, not entirely convinced. The next day, she secretly left for her family’s remote estate. I discreetly hired a private investigator, only to discover she’d been hiding something from me for *three whole years!* Deep in the night, an urgent call of nature stirred me awake. Still groggy, I tried to get up, but something fuzzy and round was pressing down on my chest. I couldn’t budge it. I grabbed my phone for light and nearly screamed. All grogginess vanished as I tumbled off the bed onto the floor. Right there on the bed, staring back at me, was a spider the size of a dinner tray. Its eight glowing green eyes were fixed on me, and my heart nearly stopped beating. I scrambled to my feet, desperate to escape the room. But the next second, the world spun, and I blacked out. “David? What’s wrong, David?” Still hazy, I felt someone shaking me. My face drained of color as the memory of that horrifying spider flashed back. “A spider! A giant spider!” “David, what spider? Did you have a nightmare?” Chloe quickly got out of bed, her face etched with worry, gently stroking my cheek. Seeing her kind, beautiful face, I slowly calmed down and immediately recounted what had just happened. “David, you must be stressed about my pregnancy, worrying about me and the baby. It’s just a nightmare.” Her explanation made sense, and I nodded. After all, where in the world would you find a spider the size of a dinner tray? But the dream felt so incredibly real, like I was truly there. Just as I was about to drift back to sleep, I noticed Chloe’s arms were covered in thick, dark hair! Chloe caught my gaze and hastily explained, “David, it’s probably just my hormones, unbalanced because of the pregnancy.” I nodded, though her hormones seemed to be *wildly* out of whack. She clearly needed some extra nutrition. The next day, I bought a live rooster, planning to make her some nourishing chicken soup. But when I took the knife to the bathroom to butcher it, the rooster was *gone*! And the bathroom was thick with spiderwebs, like a scene straight out of a horror movie, or a giant spider’s nest. It felt like spiders were suddenly *everywhere*. First my dreams, now the bathroom. But I kept the house spotless – how could there be so many webs? As I wondered, I noticed a puddle of feathers on the floor, some with skin still attached. But the chicken meat itself had simply vanished. “Was this chicken… eaten by a spider?” I shook my head immediately. Impossible. A spider big enough to kill a rooster would have to be the size of two hands, and there’s no such thing in the world. But where did the chicken meat go? I was about to ask Chloe when I got close enough to smell it: a strong, metallic scent of blood coming from her mouth! A flicker of panic crossed Chloe’s face. She quickly explained, “David, my gums are bleeding, pretty badly. I was just about to get some medication for inflammation.” Ah, that made sense. Pregnancy was hard, women developed all sorts of issues. My heart went out to her, and my worries about the chicken completely vanished. The vanished chicken remained an unsolved mystery. I cleaned the bathroom’s spiderwebs thoroughly, but found no spiders. Where were these webs even coming from? It wasn’t just the bathroom. Lately, there were webs on the bed, the couch, even in the kitchen – and *lots* of them. This had never happened before. It felt like ever since Chloe got pregnant, one strange thing after another kept happening. That night, Chloe stared at me, her eyes unblinking, swallowing constantly. “David,” she purred, “you smell so good. I just want to devour you.” I thought she was trying to be intimate, so I bit back my urge and said, “Sweetheart, we’re in a delicate stage right now. What if we hurt the baby? It could lead to a miscarriage, and we don’t want that—AHH!!!” The words were barely out of my mouth when a searing pain shot through my neck. Chloe was sinking her teeth deep into my neck, a monstrous growl rumbling from her throat. I cried out in agony, scrambling away from Chloe and clamping my hand over my neck. I flipped on the light and gasped in horror – my neck was bleeding, and she had nearly bitten a chunk of flesh right out of it!

Chloe scrambled out of bed, her face pale with terror as she saw my bleeding neck. Tears streamed down her face. “I’m so sorry, David! I don’t know why… I just felt so drawn to your body…” Seeing her so distraught and remorseful, I sighed deeply, unable to blame her. It had to be those pregnancy hormones, throwing everything out of whack. I comforted her for a moment, then quickly stopped the bleeding as best I could before rushing to the emergency room. The wound treatment took forever, and I must have drifted off to sleep at some point. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. A surge of panic hit me. I hadn’t been home all night! Chloe must be frantic with worry! I quickly grabbed my phone to call her, but just as I did, I saw a message from Chloe: “David, I’ve gone back to my family’s estate to rest during the pregnancy. Please, don’t come looking for me until after the baby is born.” Apparently, Chloe felt her emotions were too unstable for the pregnancy, so she called her mother for help. Her mom suggested she return home to recuperate. My blood ran cold. Most rural houses are built to face the sun, but my mother-in-law’s place was nestled deep in the shadows, and its structure was incredibly peculiar. The house was perpetually damp, dark, and sunless. Living there long-term would make anyone sick, let alone a pregnant woman! It was absolutely *not* a good place for Chloe to rest. I was about to call and urge her to reconsider when my mother-in-law called *me*. “David, dear,” she said, “I haven’t been feeling well lately, a bit overwhelmed. Could you possibly come stay and help care for Chloe for a while?” I first asked about her health, then suggested bringing Chloe back home. But Martha insisted, “David, don’t you worry. I had a carpenter specially renovate a room – it’s airy, sunny, and absolutely perfect!” After much hesitation, I agreed. Two and a half hours later, I arrived at Martha’s place. Martha greeted me with a warm, almost *too* warm, welcome. To be honest, she always unnerved me. She just had this unsettling, eerie vibe. Her face was chalk-white, as if dusted with flour, her eyes were unnaturally dark, and her nails were long and sharp. Honestly, she looked like something out of a gothic horror film. Chloe heard the commotion and rushed out, her eyes wide with shock when she saw me. “David, I told you *not* to come!” I told her exactly what Martha had said. Chloe’s emotions flared. She whirled on her mother, furious. “Mom! How *could* you? Are you trying to kill him?!” Martha’s voice softened, almost pleading. “Chloe, I’m doing this for your own good. If you want a safe delivery, you *need* him.” Their exchange sent a chill down my spine. A dark premonition washed over me. “Chloe, what do you mean, ‘kill me’? What are you two talking about?” Chloe’s face crumpled, a flicker of panic in her eyes. She quickly explained, “I was afraid the same thing would happen again… What if I bit you to death…” Her words made my neck throb, but I didn’t think much of it. She hadn’t meant it, after all. I sighed in relief and told her not to worry. Chloe looked like she wanted to say more, but under Martha’s stern gaze, she finally lowered her head. Once Martha had left, Chloe pulled me aside, her voice urgent and serious. “David, you *have* to leave! Right now!” I thought she was still feeling guilty about the night before, so I held her gently. “Sweetheart, don’t worry, I—” “It’s not that!” Chloe cut me off. A look of deep torment crossed her face. Finally, she met my eyes, her voice sharp and resolute. “I can’t explain. But if you don’t leave, we’re getting a divorce!” The word ‘divorce’ hit me like a lightning bolt. I never imagined she’d use that to force me away! Why on earth would she do that? I couldn’t shake the feeling Chloe was hiding something big, and her recent behavior had been undeniably strange, though I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was off. And Martha… she was increasingly unsettling, always looking at me with a calculating gleam in her eyes. Facing Chloe’s stubborn expression, I finally nodded, agreeing to leave. I immediately drove away. But just as I reached the village exit, a spider, twice the size of a dinner tray, suddenly blocked the road. Its eight blood-red eyes were fixed on me, unblinking. I slammed on the brakes, terrified. By the time I wrestled the car under control, the spider had vanished without a trace. I frantically scanned my surroundings, but there was no sign of it. Was I… just too stressed? First the nightmares about spiders, now hallucinations?

My mind reeled, filled with doubt and fear. My gut screamed that something much deeper was going on – and it definitely involved Chloe. So, I decided to hire a private investigator to discreetly follow Chloe and Martha. Barely half a day later, the private investigator sent me a video. The moment I clicked play, my blood ran cold, freezing in my veins! On screen, a disheveled woman was tearing into a live chicken, devouring it raw like a wild animal. My blood ran cold. The face was gentle, beautiful… it was my wife, Chloe! My sweet, gentle Chloe! She was eating with terrifying relish, sucking and slurping like she was drinking juice. In moments, the entire chicken was gone, leaving only a pile of feathers. My face was ashen, my fingers trembling uncontrollably. This *couldn’t* be just pregnancy hormones. What pregnant woman would transform into a ravenous, bloodthirsty monster? That speed of consumption was utterly inhuman! Suddenly, I remembered the chicken that had vanished days ago. I’d only found feathers then. Could it be… could Chloe have eaten *that* chicken raw, just like this? My phone buzzed again. It was the second video from him. When I saw what was on screen, I nearly dropped my phone, my heart pounding. The second video showed: A hunched figure was slowly approaching a plow cow. But the horror! It wasn’t a human head she wore, but a massive, fuzzy spider’s head! Its barbed front limbs wrapped around the cow’s neck, and its gaping maw bit down with sickening force. The sturdy cow collapsed instantly, frothing at the mouth. Then, the creature suddenly *smiled*. Its monstrous head began to melt, slowly shifting into a familiar human face – Martha, my mother-in-law! Martha seemed to notice something, and her eyes glared intensely at the screen. “David! You goddamn ruined me!” The video cut out with the detective’s terrified scream. I stared at the black screen, trembling uncontrollably, cold sweat slicking my skin. My entire world had just shattered into a million pieces. I couldn’t believe it. Martha… was a spider demon! Which meant Chloe was too. The night before last, when she bit my neck and said she wanted to ‘eat me,’ she wasn’t flirting – female spiders devour their mates after conception. It’s an instinct ingrained in their very genes! She actually *wanted* to eat me! My hands shaking, I reached for my phone to call the police, but then a chilling breath brushed against my neck. “My dear son-in-law…” a chilling whisper slithered into my ear. “Who are we calling, hmm?” I slowly turned my head. Hovering right behind me was a black widow spider, twice the size of a dinner tray. Its mandibles dripped with viscous fluid. And that voice… it was undeniably… “M-Martha?” My vision swam, and I passed out cold. When I woke, I was encased in a sticky cocoon, lying in a damp, web-filled cavern. Two enormous black widow spiders loomed before me. One, slightly smaller, had eight glowing green eyes – the very same spider that had been on our marital bed that terrifying night! It scuttled towards me, its segmented legs clicking against the ground. “C-Chloe?” I choked out, my voice trembling. The spider froze. All eight eyes constricted, revealing a flash of agony and struggle. I stared at the black widow, trembling violently, cold sweat drenching my back. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that the woman I’d shared a bed with for three years was such a massive spider demon. She had hidden her true nature so incredibly well. Female spiders, after conceiving, instinctively devour their mates. It’s their very nature. Now, wrapped tightly in sticky silk, imprisoned in this dark cavern, my heart hammered. Was she… was she going to eat me *right now*?

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I possess the Sacred Blood, and the blood within me can heal any ailment. In my previous life, it was only after I cured the paralyzed legs of a billionaire CEO that I discovered the Mitchell Family had decreed that anyone who healed Ethan Mitchell would become the lady of their household. Ethan Mitchell was compelled to marry me. Fiona Johnson, who had risked her life to gather the Himalayan Snow Lotus for him, was so stunned by the news that she fell off a cliff and disappeared. A year later, Ethan found Fiona’s frozen body and forced me to cut my wrists to save her. “If only I had waited for Fiona to return with the Snow Lotus and heal me, we could have grown old together. You killed her!” “Lydia Smith, didn’t you claim your blood is a miracle cure? Then bring Fiona back to life!” I pleaded with him tearfully. “Fiona has been dead for a year. I can heal diseases, but I can’t bring the dead back to life.” But Ethan refused to listen to my explanation and watched as I bled to death. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day the Mitchell Family asked me to treat Ethan. Seeing Ethan sitting in his wheelchair with a gloomy expression, I smiled faintly. “Mr. Mitchell, these legs are beyond repair; no one can heal them.” ⋯⋯   Hearing my words, Ethan slowly raised his head to look at me, his eyes burning with growing anger. “Get out of here, you fraud!” I raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to Mrs. Mitchell beside me. “Mrs. Mitchell, if the Smith Family says an ailment is incurable, then it truly is. You might want to consider having another child while you’re still young.” As soon as I finished speaking, the teacup in Ethan’s hand hurled directly at me. I moved aside to dodge it. With a crash, the expensive teacup shattered on the floor. Mrs. Mitchell, startled, quickly apologized to me. “Miss Smith, I’m sorry. I apologize on Ethan’s behalf. It’s just his condition…” I brushed it off nonchalantly. “I understand. It’s normal for a crippled and impotent man to have a warped mind.” Seeing Ethan tremble with anger, I turned and left the Mitchell Family. Mrs. Mitchell chased after me, pleading softly. “Miss Smith, is there really no way? I’ve heard the Smith Family has a secret cure for all ailments. If you can heal Ethan’s legs, the Mitchell Family will fulfill any request you have.” But it wasn’t that he couldn’t be cured; it was that I wouldn’t cure him. In my last life, Ethan blamed me for Fiona’s death, stubbornly believing that if Fiona had brought back the Snow Lotus, it would have healed his legs. Had he thought calmly, he would have realized the Snow Lotus was merely a supplement. Its supposed miraculous properties were nothing but exaggerated tales. Yet, when he discovered I used my blood to heal his legs, he watched me die, hoping to resurrect Fiona. Before I died, I overheard the servants of the Mitchell Family talking.

It turned out Fiona didn’t fall off the cliff because of the Snow Lotus. She was discovered by the wife of her wealthy patron when she tried to marry into the Mitchell Family and was thrown off the cliff. This time, I won’t get involved in their entanglements. I wish them a long and happy life together. “Mr. Mitchell, these legs, I can’t help.” Ethan came out and heard my words, his deep voice filled with anger. “Mom, Fiona has already flown to the Rocky Mountains. Once she brings back the Himalayan Snow Lotus, my legs will definitely be healed.” “My affairs don’t concern others.” Mrs. Mitchell sighed deeply. “The Himalayan Snow Lotus only helps your legs recover. To stand again, it’s far from enough. The Smith Family is your last hope…” Ethan remained stubborn. “I said, Fiona can heal me.” I gave Ethan a long look and bid farewell to Mrs. Mitchell as I left. Just as I walked out of the Mitchell Family’s gate, a black business car stopped in front of me. A woman got out and knelt before me. “Miss Smith, please save my son…”   It turned out that a year ago, the accident injured not only Ethan Mitchell but also his arch-enemy, Nolan Johnson of the Johnson Family. After that car accident, Nolan became a vegetative state. Having endured a painful past life, I wouldn’t casually use my blood to save people again, so I refused Mrs. Johnson’s request. Mrs. Johnson didn’t press further and left in tears. A week later, I received an invitation to a Mitchell Family banquet. Fiona had returned with the Himalayan Snow Lotus. Mrs. Mitchell feared there might be issues with Fiona’s medicine and asked me to attend and check it. At the banquet, Fiona stayed close to Ethan. Mrs. Mitchell held my hand, her face full of worry. “I’m not afraid that Fiona’s medicine won’t work. I’m just worried that Ethan will be disappointed again and won’t be able to handle the blow.” “We’ve tried everything in the past year. I’ve watched the hope in Ethan’s eyes fade away bit by bit. As a mother, I really have no choice…” Before I could offer comfort, Fiona pushed Ethan over. “Aunt, don’t worry. I can definitely help Ethan stand up. I almost died in the Rocky Mountains for this Himalayan Snow Lotus.” Ethan held Fiona’s hand, looking deeply moved. “Fiona, when I stand up, I’ll throw you a grand wedding.” “Ethan, I believe in you.” Fiona turned to look at me, her smile ambiguous.

“I’m not like those fraudulent doctors. I’m confident I can heal Ethan’s legs.” As soon as she finished speaking, the faces of the renowned doctors who had treated Ethan’s legs turned sour. “Miss Johnson, you speak boldly. Are you sure you can heal Mr. Mitchell’s legs?” “You’re not even a medical professional, yet you dare to question our expertise?” “Even Miss Smith from the medical family Smith Family said Mr. Mitchell’s legs couldn’t be healed. I don’t believe a young girl like you has that ability!” Although Ethan felt Fiona spoke rashly, he still defended her. “I believe Fiona can heal me!” I couldn’t help but laugh. Fiona thought I was mocking her. She gritted her teeth in anger but forced a smile. “Miss Smith, I heard you’re the most outstanding doctor of your generation in the Smith Family. But you refused the Mitchell Family and then the Johnson Family. It’s hard not to suspect you can’t actually treat illnesses.” I smiled slightly. “Then I’m very much looking forward to the day Miss Johnson makes Mr. Mitchell stand.” Seeing me laugh instead of getting angry, Fiona bit her lip. “Are you upset I stole your thunder? I know Aunt favors you and wants you to marry Ethan. But now, only I can heal Ethan’s legs.” Sitting in the wheelchair, Ethan sneered. “Lydia Smith, even if you could heal me, I wouldn’t agree to marry you. Moreover, you’re just a fraud. When my mom introduced you, I thought you were someone impressive, but it seems you’re just so-so.” “Let me tell you, the only person I love is Fiona, and I will marry no one but her.” “No matter how many times you appear before me, I won’t spare you a glance.” Watching them act in sync, I just felt annoyed. “Mrs. Mitchell invited me to check Miss Johnson’s medicine. Since Mr. Mitchell trusts Miss Johnson so much, I won’t meddle.” After saying this, I wanted to leave, but Fiona blocked my way. “Lydia Smith, what do you mean by that?” I frowned. “Exactly what I said. If you don’t understand, look it up in a dictionary!” Fiona snorted coldly. “Lydia Smith, do you dare to bet with me? Bet on who can heal Ethan’s legs. The loser must kneel and admit defeat and never set foot in New York City again!” I paused, turned to her. “I’ll bet with you, but I won’t treat Ethan Mitchell. I’ll treat Nolan Johnson!”

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My stepbrother and I are the main characters in a step-siblings romance novel. After realizing this, I avoided him like the plague to stop these inappropriate feelings. However, he pinned me against the kitchen counter, biting my neck, and growled, “You can only love me.” The day Jack brought his girlfriend home, I had a ridiculous dream. In the dream, I was the female lead in a step-siblings romance novel, and my stepbrother Jack was the male lead. Jack’s girlfriend, Emily, was the antagonist in this story. In the book, Jack had liked me since childhood, and a strong sense of guilt haunted him throughout his adolescence. He had sneaked into my room countless times to kiss the corner of my mouth while I was asleep, and had woken up sweating profusely in the middle of the night, calling out my name. To let go of these abnormal feelings, Jack agreed to date Emily, who had a crush on him for six years. At this point in the story, I woke up from my dream. Frightened by the absurd scenes in my dream, it took me a while to calm down. Jack liking me? How could that be possible? I recalled Jack’s cold attitude towards me in daily life and shook my head slightly. But even so, I still felt uncomfortable. When I was young and naive, I did have a crush on Jack. I remember being encouraged by my best friend to knock on his door late at night, only to see the impatience and disgust in his eyes when he saw me. So, those secrets were gradually buried deep in my heart, rotting away.

The next day, when I went downstairs, Jack and Emily were sitting on the couch. Jack had his head slightly lowered, his long fingers playing with Emily’s bracelet. Emily greeted me enthusiastically, and I noticed how beautiful and charming she was. As my gaze shifted to her lips, I was slightly taken aback. The girl’s red lips were slightly swollen, making it easy to guess what they had been doing. I hurriedly tried to look away, but accidentally met Jack’s cold gaze. “Jack,” I forced a natural smile. Jack didn’t respond. Seeing this, Emily gave me an awkward smile and playfully pinched Jack’s arm. As I left the house, I thought to myself, it really was just a ridiculous dream after all. When I returned home that evening, Jack wasn’t back yet. I went to the kitchen and made a simple dinner for myself. While washing the dishes after eating, I heard the sound of the door opening. Jack had entered the kitchen at some point. I was slightly startled and asked, “Jack, do you want something to eat?” Jack didn’t answer me, he just walked up to me. That’s when I noticed his beautiful and delicate face had an unusual redness to it. He was drunk. I quietly took a step back and asked him softly, “Jack, did you have a fight with Emily?” Jack stubbornly took another step forward and forcefully grabbed my chin. I was forced to look into his eyes, and I realized his gaze was incredibly cold: “Jack?” “Don’t call me that.” Jack’s long fingers slowly caressed my cheek, “Are we even related by blood?” I froze on the spot. Seeing this, Jack let out a mocking laugh and released his hand, then asked with a smile, “What kind of sister would harbor such unspeakable thoughts for her brother?” I closed my eyes, suppressing the bitterness welling up inside. When I opened my eyes again, there was only calmness in my gaze: “But Jack, I don’t like you anymore.” “Liking you was too painful.” “So Jack, whether that dream was real or not, I don’t want to like you anymore.” Hearing what I said, Jack, who was about to turn away, paused slightly, but he didn’t respond to me.

That night, I had another dream. In the dream, Jack pinned me against the kitchen counter and kissed the corner of my mouth passionately. The kitchen door was wide open, and I could faintly hear our parents talking in the living room. I struggled, trying to get Jack to let go of me, but he lowered his voice and asked, “You don’t like me anymore? Hm?” “Jack, you already have Emily,” I said in the dream. Jack bit my neck without a care, his voice husky as he said, “I only want you.” I woke up from the dream once again, the stinging sensation of the bite on my neck still lingering. It was too strange. The dreams I’ve had these past two days were too strange. Could it be that Jack really liked me? I remembered the photos of me that Jack had secretly taken in the dream I had the other night. If the dream was real, would those photos be in Jack’s album? I picked up my phone and checked the time – 2 AM. Throwing on some clothes, I still went to Jack’s door. When Jack sleeps, he usually leaves his phone on the desk, quite far from his bed. If his room door wasn’t closed, I could just sneak in, take the phone, check it, and put it back quietly. If the door was closed, I’d give up for now and find another way to check his album later. But what I didn’t expect was that the doorknob turned easily without a sound. Jack’s room had a pleasant scent, the same as the one he carried. But ever since Jack found out I liked him, it had been a long time since I’d smelled this scent. I quietly walked to the desk, and sure enough, the phone was right there. Just as my hand touched the phone, a cold voice came from behind me: “What are you doing?” I trembled slightly in fright and immediately turned around: “Jack…” Jack was standing right behind me, just a step away. He stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out to touch the corner of my eye: “Why are you crying?” “I’m not crying.” Jack didn’t say anything, but his touch became rougher, his calloused fingertips rubbing my eye corner painfully. For some reason, I felt that Jack was very dangerous right now. “Let me guess what you’re doing?” Jack’s cool hand slowly slid down to my neck, his voice husky, “Were you trying to sneak a look at my phone?” Seeing that I didn’t answer, Jack let out a mocking laugh and picked up the phone himself, holding it in front of me. He unlocked it with his fingerprint: “What do you want to see?” “SnapChat, text messages, or…” Jack paused slightly here, his deep gaze fixed on me, “my photo album?” My eyelashes fluttered. Jack’s expression became even more dangerous. Just as I was about to explain, Jack suddenly grabbed my wrist and placed the phone in my palm, opening the main interface of the photo album. I couldn’t help but look down at my hand. The album was visibly filled with page after page of intimate photos of him and Emily. My hand holding the phone trembled slightly. Jack took the phone from my hand and stepped back, his voice turning cold: “Aren’t you leaving?” I didn’t leave, just stood there firmly and said word by word: “Are you serious about Emily?” Jack didn’t answer, but the usually cold person seemed to think of something, and a hint of tenderness and deep affection rippled in his eyes. His gaze now was identical to how he looked at me in the dream. My stepbrother and I are the main characters in a step-siblings romance novel. After realizing this, I avoided him like the plague to stop these inappropriate feelings. However, he pinned me against the kitchen counter, biting my neck, and growled, “You can only love me.”

Jack could only love me. For some reason, this thought suddenly popped into my head. That night, I couldn’t sleep at all. The desire to find the photos Jack had taken in my dream grew stronger. The next day, I bumped into Jack as I was leaving. Unusually, I didn’t greet him, and Jack didn’t say anything either. We tacitly acted as if nothing had happened the night before, calmly treating each other like strangers. What I didn’t know was that the moment I left, Jack’s eyes instantly darkened, all traces of his previous calmness gone. As a senior, I didn’t really have many classes, but staying in the same space as Jack made me even more uncomfortable. Jack and I didn’t always have such a strained relationship; at first, he was just a bit cold towards me. It wasn’t until the night before college registration five years ago, when I knocked on Jack’s door, that things changed. At that time, my feelings for Jack were at their strongest. Jack’s bangs were slightly damp, and his delicate features showed a hint of impatience. I lowered my head, then mustered up the courage to speak: “I like you, Jack.” Those few seconds felt like centuries. I didn’t dare to look up at Jack’s expression, but I saw his pale, slender hand hanging by his pants suddenly clench, veins popping out. After several seconds, Jack’s icy voice finally sounded above my head: “Lily, I’m your brother.” “I know, but we’re not blood-related…” “Look up,” Jack interrupted me. I obediently looked up at him. Jack stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly grabbed my chin, his voice ice-cold: “You like me?” I nodded slightly. Jack smiled: “You want to be with me?” I hesitantly nodded. Jack chuckled, his voice mocking: “Are you worthy?” Those three words, “Are you worthy?”, became like a curse. Later, every time I saw Jack, these words would flood my mind, tormenting me. From that day on, Jack’s attitude towards me changed drastically, becoming cold and dismissive. After that day, I didn’t go home for about two weeks straight. Until I had to return home to get a USB drive. To avoid running into Jack, I deliberately chose a time when he usually wouldn’t be home, planning to grab the USB and leave. But I didn’t expect that as soon as I opened the door, I’d be pulled into an embrace that smelled of alcohol and faint mint. Jack’s usually cold voice now seemed to carry a hint of grievance: “Where have you been?” “What’s it to you?” “How is it not my business?” he said, half-pushing, half-carrying me towards the living room. After struggling in vain, I was brought along with him as we fell onto the living room couch: “Jack, what exactly do you want?” No one answered me. I looked up and realized that Jack had already closed his eyes. He looked heavily drunk, his face flushed, and his usually neat suit now wrinkled.

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At the party, my asthma flared up. I fumbled for my emergency inhaler. But the bottle was empty. My boyfriend, Liam, casually explained, “Chloe said her throat was dry, so I gave her your inhaler. Just take some throat lozenges; they’ll help too.” My breathing was already getting harder, each breath a struggle. “If her throat’s dry, why can’t she just drink water? You guys are trying to kill me!” He frowned, clearly annoyed. “Can you stop being so dramatic? You always act so delicate, like you’re made of glass.” “Chloe’s right, you’re just being extra.” I stopped arguing, sending a frantic message to my mom: “My asthma is flaring up, but Liam gave my inhaler to Chloe.” Liam saw the message and just shrugged it off. “Here you go again with this? Always running to your mom, are you in elementary school?” He snatched my phone, holding it high above his head, looking down at me with contempt. I tried to grab it back. The moment I stood up, my vision blurred, and I stumbled back onto the couch. “My asthma’s really bad, please help me,” I gasped, desperate. Just then, Chloe strolled over, still flaunting my inhaler in her hand. “Oh my, Princess Scarlett, are you *really* feeling bad? Or are you just trying to get attention?” “Ugh, I told you guys, women shouldn’t be at our guy’s nights. They’re always so whiny and just stir up drama, trying to compete with each other.” I fought for air, my eyes fixed on Chloe. She was Liam’s childhood best friend. She’d always been super chummy with guys, treating them like her brothers. Liam had mentioned Chloe more than once to me. He always said she was a real ‘one of the guys.’ At first, I actually had a good impression of the easygoing ‘female buddy’ Liam described. After our relationship became stable, Liam introduced me to his friend group. Chloe always went out of her way to act like a huge supporter of women. “Oh my god, Liam, you have such good taste, where did you find this princess?” “Swoon! Girls stick together, let’s ditch these smelly guys.” But deep down, I always sensed a hint of malice in Chloe’s eyes when she looked at me. Her methods were subtle, almost brilliant. She’d preach ‘girl power’ but then deliberately ignore me in her actions. For example, she’d constantly bring up their childhood memories at parties. I’d have nothing to contribute, so I’d just sit there silently. Then, she’d suddenly turn to me, all casual and friendly. “What’s wrong, Princess? You’re not mad because I’m talking to Liam, are you?” I’d mentioned to Liam that it made me uncomfortable. But he’d always just say I was being petty. He claimed Chloe was just trying to liven things up and that I was too sensitive. Now, though, Chloe’s malice was completely undisguised. “Princesses are just princesses, aren’t they? Are you upset we’re not all fawning over you, so you’re faking being sick?” The guys around us snickered, a wave of mockery washing over me. “I’m really not feeling well, give me the inhaler!” I raised my voice, a desperate plea. My sudden outburst made the room go silent for a second. Then, the mockery erupted even louder. Chloe draped her arm over Liam’s shoulder. She watched me gasp for breath, doubling over with laughter. “Oh my, she’s really good at faking it, Liam! Are you actually feeling sorry for her?” The others joined in, egging Liam on. “Yeah, Liam, you’re not gonna be whipped after you get married, are you?” “Don’t disgrace us, man! The man’s the head of the house, if a woman disobeys, you gotta teach her a lesson!” Liam couldn’t handle that kind of challenge. He stiffened his neck, refusing to look at me. “Who’s feeling sorry for her? She needs to be taught a lesson, always looking for trouble.” I couldn’t breathe. I desperately tugged at Liam’s sleeve, gurgling sounds escaping my throat. “Help… me…” Seeing my state, Liam hesitated for a moment. But Chloe spoke again, her voice dismissive. “Alright, alright, Scarlett, we’re all just regular guys here, we don’t fall for the damsel-in-distress act.” Knowing it was useless to reason with them, I tried to leave the private room. But as soon as I pushed myself up, Chloe shoved me back down. “The party’s not over, why are you leaving? You’re disrespecting me!” Her grip was surprisingly strong. I wasn’t careful, and the back of my head slammed against the wall. *Thump!* My head spun even more. Before I could react. Chloe screamed first.

She covered her mouth, her voice overly dramatic. “Oh my god, you’re so manipulative!” “I barely touched you, and you actually hit your head against the wall just to frame me!” Hearing that, Liam’s gaze turned even more impatient. “Scarlett, that’s too far.” I bit my lip, trying to clear my head. “I have severe asthma. If you don’t want a death on your hands, stop this now.” My throat burned, every inhale felt like drawing in broken glass. Chloe, however, dangled the inhaler in front of my face, showing it off, then dramatically took a huge puff. “Can’t give it to you, my throat’s dry.” “And I gotta say, you get what you pay for, this thing feels great.” I struggled to lift my hand, trying to snatch it. She laughed, easily raising her hand to dodge me. “Nope, not giving it to you.” Furious, my vision blurred again. Liam stood there, arms crossed, watching. “Look at you, begging like that. Chloe’s just using it for a bit, don’t be so petty.” “Chloe even saw your medical report; you don’t have asthma. You just get a little short of breath sometimes.” I forced myself to stay calm. “Liam, you’ve seen me have an attack before, why would I lie to you?” Before Liam could answer, Chloe interjected. “To get attention, obviously. In this day and age, there are always those attention-seekers faking illnesses.” “Heh heh, Scarlett, are you like those online princesses who also claim to have depression?” At her words, Liam’s friends erupted into even louder laughter. Some of them whistled. “Liam, your girlfriend is so uptight, she’s not half as cool as Chloe.” “Yeah, you’re gonna have your hands full when you get married.” I was gasping for air, using my last bit of strength to reach for the inhaler in Chloe’s hand. But just as my fingertips brushed it, she quickly pulled her hand back. I lost my balance and tumbled onto the carpet. “Oh my, she’s really selling the act!” Chloe exclaimed dramatically. Then she crouched down, whispering in a voice only I could hear. “Hehe, hurry up and die. You dying will make things perfect for me and Liam.” She stood up, deliberately raising her voice. “Scarlett, stop messing around, get up! Everyone’s waiting for you and Liam to take a toast together.” Liam felt a flicker of concern. He stepped forward and helped me up. “What’s wrong with you? Are you really not feeling well?” “Help… me…” I struggled to get the words out. My hand tightened around Liam’s wrist, only broken gasps escaping my throat. “In… inhaler…” Liam’s brows furrowed, and a hint of panic and struggle finally appeared in his eyes. He looked at Chloe. “Chloe, maybe just give it to her.” Chloe’s face instantly dropped. She stubbornly hid the inhaler behind her back, stamping her foot in frustration. “Liam, are you blind? She’s totally faking it! Have you forgotten how she used to throw her little tantrums?” Then, she suddenly turned to the others and yelled. “See? These drama queens always put on an act, and Liam totally falls for it!” The guys around them immediately chimed in. “Liam, Chloe and us grew up together, would she really try to hurt you?” “These princesses, they just love to cause trouble, you can’t spoil her.” Liam’s expression changed. His hand, which was holding me, loosened a little. I could feel him wavering. On one side was my agonizing pain, on the other, Chloe and his friends’ manipulation. “But… her face looks really pale…”

Liam looked worried, his gaze falling on my bloodless lips. Chloe suddenly slapped her own forehead with an “oops!” “Oh! I saw her go to the restroom earlier with a pad, she’s probably just having bad period cramps.” She said this, feigning concern for me. “Scarlett, if you’re just having cramps, why lie and say you’re having an asthma attack? You’re just unnecessarily worrying Liam!” Hearing her, Liam visibly relaxed. His eyes, when he looked at me, were filled with reproach. “You can’t pull stunts like that again, you almost scared me to death.” I didn’t have much strength left. Thankfully, I had taken preventive medicine before leaving the house. Otherwise, with all their delaying, I would have been dead by now. Chloe, hiding behind Liam, smirked at me provocatively. Then she pulled a small bottle from her bag. “Here, I have throat lozenges. Scarlett, isn’t your throat bothering you? Pop one in!” Without waiting for my consent, she shoved a throat lozenge into my mouth. The strong mint flavor rushed into my nasal passages, intensifying the burning sensation in my throat. I tried to spit it out. But she clamped her hand tightly around my jaw. “Swallow it! What’s wrong with you? You really are just faking this to get sympathy.” She only let go when I was choking and gagging, then turned to Liam. “See? She won’t even take it, what else could it be but an act?” Liam looked at me, then at the throat lozenge I had just spit out onto the floor. The flicker of panic in his eyes vanished, replaced entirely by irritation. He just thought I was overreacting, being dramatic for no reason. He sighed heavily, roughly pushing me onto the sofa. My back hit the armrest with a painful jolt, making me gasp. “Alright, let’s just drop it. Don’t ever do this again.” “No, I…” I tried to explain, but only guttural, gasping sounds came from my throat. Chloe patted Liam’s shoulder. “Come on, forget her, let’s go drink. If no one pays attention to her, she’ll be fine in a bit.” Liam nodded. As he walked away, he cast one last glance at me. His eyes held only impatience and annoyance, no worry at all. He was pulled away by Chloe towards the crowd, not forgetting to toss a final instruction. “Behave, don’t embarrass me anymore.” The surrounding group dispersed, joining Liam and Chloe to drink. I curled up in the corner, watching Liam and Chloe being egged on to take a toast together. “Come on, cheers, cheers!” “Don’t be a buzzkill, drink up!” “It’s just a game, your girlfriend won’t be that petty, right?” Through my blurred vision, I saw Liam glance at me from a distance, then wrap an arm around Chloe and kiss her… I felt the air being slowly drained from my lungs. I truly couldn’t breathe anymore. My phone lay on the floor where Liam had tossed it. But I didn’t even have the strength to crawl towards it. In despair, I suddenly remembered that last month I had put an asthma pill in my bag. I mustered my last ounce of strength, reaching out to feel around me. My heart leaped when my fingertips brushed against the chain of my bag. I desperately clawed at the chain, pulling it out, the leather rustling against the sofa. The bag was still open. I fumbled inside. A single pill rolled out, falling onto the carpet. That’s it! This was just an emergency slow-release pill. It wouldn’t work as fast as the inhaler, but it could buy me a little more time. I was practically in tears. But just as I stretched out my hand, and my fingertips were about to touch the pill—a high heel stomped down.

Right in front of my face, the heel repeatedly ground the pill into the carpet. It was Chloe. She smirked, looking down at me, her foot still grinding. “Oops, almost let you take your medicine.” My blood rushed to my head. “Get lost! I’ll kill you! My mom won’t let you get away with this!” The suffocating sensation overwhelmed me. After screaming that, I collapsed back onto the sofa, like a dying animal trapped in a cage. “Hehe, watching you rage so helplessly makes me so happy.” Chloe crouched down, poking my face with her long fingernails. “You deserve this, trying to steal what’s mine. Liam is *mine*. Even if I don’t want him, he’s certainly not for you.” With that, she forcefully grabbed my hair. “Alright, you can die now.” My scalp screamed in pain from the tugging. I tried to struggle. But I didn’t even have the strength to lift my hand. “I’m… Scarlett Vance—” Through my blurred vision, Chloe’s face was a distorted, grotesque mask. She cut me off. “Liam’s over there drinking.” She leaned closer to my ear, her voice sickly sweet. “He couldn’t care less about you. Do you think he’d be sad if you died right now?” I tried to bite her hand, but she easily dodged me. She stood up, patted my cheek, then yelled to Liam in the distance. “Liam, come look! Scarlett seems really mad!” Liam was called over by her. He looked at me, limp on the sofa, his brows furrowing even deeper. “What are you throwing a fit about now? It’s just period cramps, don’t act like you’re dying. Every woman gets cramps.” “I… I really have…” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Have asthma…” Liam’s gaze swept over my pale face, then to Chloe. Chloe shrugged helplessly, indicating she couldn’t do anything. Liam’s gaze settled on me, filled with utter disappointment. “Scarlett, I’m so sick of this. If you keep acting like this, we’re over.” With that, he turned sharply and walked away. Chloe scurried behind him, not forgetting to turn back and flash me a ‘V’ sign. I felt like my lungs were a leaky bellows, every breath a tearing pain. The snowflakes in my vision grew denser. Chloe’s face in the distance shimmered in the halo of light, appearing and disappearing, like a demon from hell. My eyelids felt incredibly heavy. Over there, a group of people were cheering around Chloe. In my peripheral vision, Liam and his good friends raised their glasses. Chloe pretended to be drunk and leaned into Liam’s arms; he didn’t push her away, instead, he tightened his arm around her waist. “Liam…” I called out, using every last bit of my strength. My voice was a mere whisper, barely audible. He inexplicably glanced back. Chloe immediately tiptoed and whispered something in his ear. He frowned, impatiently shaking his head. In that moment, the last shred of warmth in my heart turned to ice. I slowly closed my eyes. I regretted it so much. Why did I ever get involved with Liam? Liam was just a poor student from an ordinary family. My mother, on the other hand, was a billionaire entrepreneur. I was afraid Liam would feel insecure, so I never told him any of this. He always thought I was just slightly better off than him. Chloe walked back over. She crouched in front of me. “I heard you grew up in a single-parent household. If you die, your mom will cry her eyes out, won’t she?” “But it’s fine, Liam can go handle your funeral as the future son-in-law. Maybe your mom will be so soft-hearted, she’ll give all her family fortune to Liam…” Chloe was certainly dreaming big. But before she could finish, the private room door was suddenly thrown open. “Scarlett!” It was my mom’s voice. Before I lost consciousness, I saw Mom rushing towards me like a madwoman. “Scarlett!” The world before my eyes plunged into darkness.

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Every single day, I’d grab my binoculars and sneak a peek at my neighbor across the street. But lately, nightmares had been haunting me every night. So, I bought a security camera, desperate to find out what was causing them. What I found was totally unexpected: the scorching heat in the middle of the night, the fresh red marks on my neck in the morning, and my swollen lips in the mirror – they all came from *him*! He looked like he’d just stepped out of the shower, towel-drying his damp hair. Through the window, I could make out his sharp, chiseled profile. His honey-toned skin practically glowed in the sunlight streaming through the pane, and the few water droplets still clinging to him stood out like tiny diamonds. My breath hitched, watching him through the binoculars. A blush crept up my ears. I had the binoculars propped on the windowsill, my right eye glued to the eyepiece. To avoid getting caught, I’d even pulled the curtains almost all the way closed. That should keep him from spotting me. After all, who’d ever think that in the shadows, a pair of eyes would be so intensely fixed on him? My gaze greedily swept up and down his body, drinking in his raw, masculine form. Seeing his oblivious expression, the thrill of secretly watching him peaked. My blood felt like it was boiling from the sheer rush, a dizzying pleasure washing over me. *Gulp*. I swallowed hard, my mind replaying the scene I’d just witnessed. After drying his hair, he picked up a bottle of water nearby. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and the water droplets that had lingered there began to slide. They traced a path down his sculpted collarbone, continued lower, leaving a shimmering wet trail across his perfectly defined abs. My eyes were locked on that single droplet, unmoving. Inside, I was silently cheering, so glad I’d splurged big time on these binoculars just for spying on him. The guy who sold it to me wasn’t kidding! I could see every single move he made across the way. Even… even the tiny water droplets rolling down his skin were crystal clear. After that droplet slid past his abs, it vanished, the view below completely hidden by the towel wrapped around his waist. The disappearing droplet, the still-wet trail – it somehow added a touch of something raw and tempting to his otherwise cool expression. I was a little bummed I couldn’t see more, but honestly, just getting to see Cole’s body like that made these binoculars worth every penny! Thinking this, I lowered the binoculars, rubbed my chin, and mumbled, “Honestly, I never would’ve thought Cole, a doctor, would have a body like that.” Yep, this definitely wasn’t my first time spying on Cole. But it was the first time I’d caught him fresh out of the shower. Before, he was always either glued to his laptop working or lifting weights. It was like his whole world revolved around work and working out. At first, I’d been so nervous watching him. But seeing his routine like that, my daily spying sessions just became a routine, like a daily check-in. Over time, I started feeling like I was Cole’s boss, and spying on him with binoculars was more like I was overseeing him. Just looking at Cole’s chiseled face, his totally bad-boy charm, who would’ve guessed his private life would be so… boring? But after seeing Cole’s body, I felt like all my hard work hadn’t been for nothing! I was practically humming with glee, just about to go back for another admiring look. The moment my eye touched the binoculars, I recoiled like a startled rabbit, then darted away from the window. *Huff, huff.* Pressed against the wall, my heart hammered like a drum. “Huff, huff. That scared me senseless!” “How could he… how could he have looked right at me?” I frowned, replaying the moment in my mind. When I’d pressed my eye to the binoculars, I hadn’t just seen Cole’s tempting body, but his gaze, too – a half-smile in his eyes. That look was aimed directly at me. I was certain I hadn’t imagined it. But then… “If he noticed, why didn’t he report me?” “Maybe… maybe I really did see wrong.” I murmured to myself, and the more I thought about it, the more convinced I became. If he’d caught me spying, I would’ve been reported by Cole and probably locked up by now. I wouldn’t be sitting here, perfectly safe. Perhaps that reason actually convinced me. I cautiously edged along the wall, peeking towards the window. “Where is he?” It had only been a few minutes, but when I looked again, the figure by the window was gone. Even without the binoculars, I could tell if someone that big was there or not. *Knock! Knock! Knock!* Just as I was wondering where he’d gone, the front door knocked. I froze, staring disbelievingly at the sound.

The sudden knocking, combined with Cole disappearing from his window. These two things happening back-to-back made me connect them instantly. I bit my lip, forcing down the surge of unease, and cautiously started walking toward the front door. I’d only taken a few steps when something clicked. I turned back, pulling the curtains completely shut to hide the binoculars near the window. Given my current state, that move probably screamed “guilty as charged.” *Knock! Knock! Knock!* The moment I’d hidden the binoculars, the knocking started again, louder this time. “No, it can’t be Cole. Our houses are a fair distance apart. Even if he saw me, he couldn’t have gotten here so fast.” After a few minutes, my heart, which had been pounding like a drum, slowly returned to normal. My sluggish thoughts started to make sense. Reason finally kicked in, calming my frantic mind. I realized that the person at my door wasn’t Cole. I hurried forward and opened the door. Standing there was a delivery guy in a black T-shirt, looking impatient. His expression softened a bit when he saw me. But after he scanned me up and down, his face turned a little weird. “You were home? Why didn’t anyone answer when I knocked?” “Oh, I’m so sorry! I was just tidying up.” I offered an apologetic smile, taking the package from his hand. Feeling his eyes on me, I silently pulled my sleep shirt up higher, covering the red mark on my neck. I thanked him, closed the door, and went back to my room with the package. I tore open the box; inside was a security camera system. I’d painstakingly picked this one out on Amazon: dual lenses, dual screens, and super long battery life. Setting up the monitor was simple. I had it assembled in no time. But where to put it? That was the tricky part. “Where can I place it to actually capture whoever’s appearing in my room at night?” *Is it really a person?* I thought of the nightmares I’d fallen into every night, the red marks on my neck when I woke up, and what I saw in the mirror. And in those nightmares, the broad hands that had run over my entire body, and the long, thin fingers that had stirred my mouth and tongue. My memories churned, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell if it was just a nightmare, or if it was real. At first, I truly believed it was just a nightmare. After all, the next morning, I hadn’t found anything out of the ordinary.

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My awful old man was finally dead. As the family’s only son and heir, I was stoked to head home and claim what was mine. But then, the “little daddy” I’d always tormented suddenly locked me up, and even… *tormented* me back. My head felt hazy, the world around me flickering in and out of focus. I lay on the bed, trying to move my limbs, only to find my entire body immobile. A warm, soft hand grazed my forehead, but it wasn’t long before I drifted back to sleep. Before losing consciousness, I thought I heard someone call out, “Madam.” Madam? The first mistress of the mansion, my mother, had passed away sixteen years ago. The only one left who could be called that now was the second person my father brought home six years ago. My father’s partner – Lysander. A tickling sensation spread across the soles of my feet. My instinct was to curl my legs, but then I realized I was still completely unable to move. I struggled to open my eyes, only to see Lysander, a faint smile on his pale face, gazing at me under the dim yellow light. My inner calves were incredibly sensitive. I followed his hand downwards and found it was a man’s doing. “Lysander! What in hell are you doing?!” Lysander, who usually dressed in those soft, almost feminine robes, had completely changed. He was wearing a dark, tailored shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing the same smooth, luminous skin. Facing my fury, Lysander remained utterly unconcerned. The smile on his face was warm yet distant, and the long, white feather he held in his hand showed no sign of stopping its teasing movement. I saw that my perfectly tailored suit had been replaced by a deep blue silk robe. With every stroke of Lysander’s hand, the robe’s long hem had slid all the way up my thighs. My wrists and ankles were cuffed, ropes connecting them, forcing my body open on the bed in a spread-eagle position, leaving me entirely at Lysander’s mercy. “What am I doing, Young Master? Is it really that unclear?” Lysander’s voice was as soft as ever, but his actions were anything but gentle. I could feel my most vulnerable parts being shamelessly kneaded by Lysander, giving me almost no time to resist. The surging desire swept away all my pride and dignity. Lysander swung himself onto the bed, straddling my waist, his legs spread. Through the open slit of his shirt, I could see the defined muscles beneath his dark trousers. “You insolent bastard!” My face flushed crimson with rage, humiliated to the point of nearly blacking out. Yet Lysander remained calm, watching me, until he mockingly stripped off my trousers. Lysander looked at my already pathetic state and finally let out a laugh. “My father and I, we were just two apex predators circling each other. We might snarl, but we never truly went for the kill—a kind of twisted respect among our own kind. I’ve had my eyes on you, Young Master, for a long, long time. Tonight… I intend to enjoy myself to the fullest.” As his words faded, I watched, horrified, as he removed my last line of defense. The iron cuffs on my ankles spread my legs wide, allowing Lysander to easily prepare me, and then, he pushed deep inside. My face went pale with pain. I gritted my teeth and snarled, “I’ll get you, just you wait!” Lysander lifted one of my legs, not pausing for a second at my threat. His laughter mingled with his ragged breaths, filling my ears. “I’m afraid,” Lysander whispered, “you won’t get the chance.”

The chandelier in my vision slowly blurred. I didn’t know when I passed out, but in my dreams, I remembered the first time I met Lysander. As the family’s sole heir, even though my relationship with my father was terrible, we always maintained a basic, polite facade. Yet, on the very night of my mother’s memorial, when that bastard father brazenly—even grandly—brought Lysander home, I lost my temper like never before. “Has my lust blinded me, or something? On a day like this, how dare he bring his paramour home?!” I was consumed by rage, smashing almost everything in sight. I wanted to lay my hands on my father, but the household staff weren’t just for show; they held me back. It ended with me smashing a vase over Lysander’s head, and me being restrained, taking two hard slaps from my father. After that, I never gave Lysander a moment’s peace. It was fine when I was studying abroad and didn’t see him, but whenever we met, I’d inevitably fly into a rage. After several such incidents, my unbearable father finally banished me abroad. But to his surprise, I went into overdrive, finishing my credits early and returning home two years ago. I brazenly insisted on living under the same roof as my father. From then on, I abandoned my old fits of rage and adopted slyer, more insidious tactics. I leveraged the fact that this “little daddy” wouldn’t dare provoke me while my father was weakening. So I became even more reckless. I’d splash him with cold or hot water, make him kneel before my mother’s portrait as ‘family discipline’ when my father wasn’t home, or deliberately cut back his food. I even dragged Lysander to parties, pointing out pretty young women. I remember pretending to be drunk, lifting Lysander’s chin, and challenging him, “How long will this face of mine keep the old man happy? Or rather… what if tonight, I managed to charm some heiress, marry her, and have kids? Where would that leave my standing in this house then?” I watched Lysander slowly raise his eyes. His gaze was filled with a knowing, mocking smile. It mirrored the look from last night. Then, Lysander, dressed in a proper, intellectual-looking shirt, was shamelessly violating me, who was stripped bare and bound. I could hear voices from the other side of the wall, but my mouth was stuffed with fabric, sealed tight with the leather belt he’d taken from my trousers last night.

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His innocent white socks, clinging to Noah’s ankles, stirred a mix of purity and raw desire within me. My grip tightened, almost unconsciously. Noah trembled all over. I traced the hollows of his lower back, then subtly twisted my hand, gently bringing him pleasure. *How many rounds does a demon go in a single night?* I retracted my fangs. Not enough… As a modern demon, setting up a makeshift booth on a university campus isn’t all that unusual, is it? I lit the incense, and the lamplight made my crystal ornaments glitter, but I felt no excitement. Not far away, a hesitant figure hovered. I knew exactly who it was. I put on a perfect smile, waiting for him to come consult me about his emotional problems. I wasn’t a hasty hunter. Too much eagerness would only scare off a simple little creature. “Senior… do you have a cigarette?” Noah’s clear eyes were like the purest emeralds. I looked down at his knees, flushed from exercise, and my throat tightened. I felt a sudden thirst. I lit a cigarette for him, and Noah choked a few times. I leaned closer, patting his back to help him recover. Handing Noah a bottle of water, I noticed how small his hands were in comparison. It seemed I could cup both of his in just one of mine. Noah drank the water too quickly. A few clear drops escaped his lips, tracing a path down his Adam’s apple. They continued their descent, dampening his shirt, turning the white fabric translucent. I felt even thirstier. “Senior, you must be tired.” Noah offered the water bottle back to me, and I emptied it in one gulp. Noah’s ears seemed to be turning red. I glanced at the bottle’s rim, then at Noah’s still-damp lips… “Ah, an indirect kiss.”

Noah was a good boy, voted by the girls in his major as the one they’d most want to sleep with. Maybe it wasn’t just girls who thought so. “Smoking is bad for your health. If you know that, why do you still do it?” Noah shrugged. He had no idea how adorable he was. “Maybe because smoking offers a brief reprieve from an insatiable craving,” I said, picking up a cigarette but not lighting it. Noah leaned in, sniffing curiously, then frowned and wrapped it in a tissue. “Senior… do you like someone?” I didn’t answer directly, just chuckled softly and lit an aromatherapy candle. “Always suppressing it, Senior must be in a lot of pain, right?” Noah lowered his head, then picked up a pen and paper from my stall. His slender, articulated fingers wrote beautiful characters on the white paper. The words on the paper were clean and elegant. I leaned my head slightly, reading what he’d written: “The Lost One awakens the Sealed Demon.” Perhaps… I had underestimated Noah.

“That’s not something a good student should be doing,” I said, starting to pack up my stall. “What should a good student be like?” Noah reached out, stopping my movements. I looked up, meeting his resolute gaze. He used the candle to light the piece of paper he’d written on. The flames roared, burning hot in my heart. The firelight reflected in his eyes. In that moment, Noah said, “Senior, let’s date…” I couldn’t refuse. I carefully packed away my tools, then smiled at Noah. “Alright, but first, let’s… hit the gym together.” So I gave Noah the address of my regular gym. Noah looked confused. He didn’t understand what dating had to do with working out. I leaned close to his ear. “With that body, I’d make you *pass out* from pleasure.” “Do you even know how many times a demon goes in a night?”

I was a demon hidden in the human world. A long time ago, I saved a little boy. It was the only good deed this demon had ever done. Time had brought us to this day. I wore a tight-fitting shirt, the lines of my muscles clearly visible even through the fabric. Noah’s steps faltered when he saw me. I pulled his hand. “Don’t worry, it’s just for exercise… nothing more.” He gathered his courage, brushed his hand over my arm, then with a surge of bravery, touched my abs, pulling my shirt up slightly. Across my stomach was a glaring, jagged scar. He tenderly touched the scar, pressing himself against me. My excitement soared. I looked down. Noah’s actions were far from innocent. For a split second, I wanted to grab Noah’s head and pull him down *there*, to use those soft lips to amuse myself… In the end, I just ruffled his hair. *Don’t rush… don’t rush…* My hand lingered in his smooth hair, unwilling to leave. I sensed the wetness. He was crying… “It’s an old wound,” I said. “I know.” Noah lowered his gaze. I suspected his wiped memories were returning. I started setting up the professional equipment, demonstrating a few movements for him. My muscles rippled subtly with each movement, an even more tantalizing sight beneath the black compression shirt. But Noah still seemed preoccupied. It wasn’t until I pulled him onto the exercise equipment. A few dozen minutes later, Noah was completely spent, lying motionless on the machine… His cheeks were flushed, his hair damp with sweat, his breathing uneven and ragged. His eyes, vacant with exhaustion, looked like someone who had just reached climax. “Senior… could you rub me down…” Noah was truly delicate. The moment my hand touched his skin, he began to moan. “Oh… ah…” I knew Noah didn’t mean it that way, but his voice made my wall of reason crumble. I massaged Noah’s thighs, my hand unwilling to leave his skin. Skin hunger? No, how could a demon suffer from such a human ailment? Noah suddenly lowered his voice, but the low groan at the end echoed in the empty room, reaching my keen ears. My hand, moving with a captivating current, kneaded Noah’s leg. I warned him,

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My wrists were cuffed, spread wide, shackled to opposite sides of the bed. My skin was a tapestry of purpling bruises and angry bite marks. Damien lay sprawled by the bed, lazily dragging on a cigarette. Then, with a practiced ease, he gripped my jaw, prying my mouth open before leaning in to kiss me. He watched my face flush crimson as I choked, a slow, dark smile spreading across his lips. “I told you,” he purred, “run again, and I’ll break your legs.” The dim lights of the bar cast a hazy glow over the counter, the air thick with the thumping bass of music and the roar of a hundred conversations. My phone buzzed relentlessly in my pocket, but I ignored it, letting the vibrations fade into the background noise. “Hey,” the girl in front of me chirped, pushing a glass across the bar. “This rum cocktail is on me. It’s the house special!” I took the glass, swirling the amber liquid idly. Through the ice, I caught a glimpse of her smile, a little too wide, a little too stiff. “You’re not drinking?” I asked. “Oh, I don’t really drink much myself,” she said, her forced smile still in place. “But since I dragged you out here, I had to treat you to something, right?” I didn’t reply. I just lowered my gaze, gently swirling the drink in my hand. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it? It’s actually pretty good, you should just try a…” “Of course he won’t drink your poisoned little concoction.” A man in gold-rimmed glasses appeared out of nowhere, striding directly towards me. He smoothly plucked the glass from my hand. “Wh-what do you mean drugged? Why would I ever hurt him?” she stammered, her voice thin with panic. “Then drink it yourself.” Damien’s gaze was fixed on her terrified face as he thrust the glass back into her trembling hand. “I… I don’t drink,” she stammered, fumbling the glass. It crashed to the floor with a loud *smash*, shards scattering as she recoiled, eyes wide with fear. “Tsk. Such a golden opportunity, wasted,” Damien purred, his fingers pinching her cheek, a predatory smile on his face. “You’ll regret not drinking that glass later, I promise.” “Take her upstairs,” he ordered, his smile turning chillingly cold. “Make sure she gets a little… *treatment*. Let her know exactly what she threw away by crossing me.” “Damien,” I murmured, my voice barely a whisper. His head snapped towards me, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Instinctively, I lowered my gaze, avoiding his direct stare. “My dear brother, aren’t you going to be a good boy?” he purred, his fingers lightly tapping my cheek. “Why are you running around without your big brother’s permission?” He then plucked my phone from my pocket. “Remember to answer my calls on time from now on,” he continued, his voice dropping to a low growl. “And… you shouldn’t have called out to me just now, Julian.” I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me. “Don’t you want to stay and watch her apologize to you? Hmm?” Damien’s gaze burned into my back. “No,” I replied, not breaking my stride. I kept walking, only to be stopped by two hulking figures blocking my path. Damien slowly approached, slinging an arm around my shoulder, a chilling smile playing on his lips. “Come on, Julian. You’ve come all this way. Let’s have a drink and wait for the main event to begin.” In the main hall of the bar, men and women swayed and twisted to the pulsating music, while the bartender, bathed in a kaleidoscope of lights, expertly shook cocktails. From upstairs, muffled cries of distress echoed, the woman’s agony mingling with the crude laughter and lewd remarks of men, all barely contained behind a closed door. “Mmm, this drink is excellent,” Damien purred, his eyes fixed on me, a taunting smile playing on his lips. “Why aren’t you drinking, Julian? Big brother wouldn’t drug you like that *bad girl* did, would he?” His gaze, though, was chilling, like a viper ready to strike. I snatched the glass from the table and downed it in one gulp. “When can I leave?” I demanded, my voice tight with impatience. Damien glanced at his watch. “Hmm, just about time. Let’s go, Julian. Let’s see how our little friend is doing.” The door swung open, revealing Chloe. The girl who had been smiling just moments ago now lay on the floor like a broken rag doll. Her clothes were torn, her body smeared with sickening red and white fluids. Her face was streaked with tears, hair a tangled mess, her lips swollen. Her pale skin was a canvas of purpling bruises. My hands instinctively clenched into fists, a movement Damien caught from the corner of his eye. “Tell me,” Damien said, sauntering over to a nearby couch and seating himself. “Who sent you?” His men forced Chloe to her knees before him. Her eyes were vacant, her mind clearly still reeling from the horrors she’d just endured. “Start talking,” he pressed, his voice dangerously soft. “And be detailed. Otherwise… your brother…” The mere mention of ‘brother’ seemed to shock Chloe back to life. She struggled, her voice raw and hoarse. “No… don’t hurt him!” “That depends on how cooperative you are,” Damien drawled, roughly slapping Chloe’s face. “How could you try to harm *my* brother, all for the sake of your own?” He leaned close to her ear, his voice a chilling whisper. “You’d better go explain yourself to Julian. Otherwise… I’ll just have to collect my dues from your dear brother instead.” At his words, Chloe’s eyes filled with raw terror. She scrambled, crawling on her hands and knees towards me, clutching at my pants leg, her voice a desperate plea. “I… I didn’t mean to hurt you! After I saved you that day, a… a bunch of terrifying men came to my small shop. They looked like devils, and they… they threatened me with knives! They said if I didn’t do what they told me, they’d kill my little brother. He’s only eight, he doesn’t understand anything. He’s in the hospital right now, still recovering from a car accident. Please, please, just let him go! Please!” The girl sobbed uncontrollably. I knew, of course, that she had drugged my drink. That’s why I’d kept swirling the glass, never taking a sip. I’d even suspected she was acting under duress. But I had drastically underestimated Damien’s possessiveness. I’d foolishly thought he’d turn his fury on those who orchestrated this whole thing. I never imagined that monster would unleash his rage on the victim herself. “Can I leave now?” I asked, looking at Damien, who sat on the couch, watching the spectacle unfold with a detached amusement. “How do you want to handle her, Julian?” he asked. “Do whatever you want. I’m going home.” I turned to walk away. The men at the door moved to stop me, but Damien raised a hand, dismissing them. And just like that, I walked out. The moment I was out of sight, Damien’s smile vanished. He stood, walked to the back of the room, and pulled back the heavy curtains. His eyes were glued to my figure as I exited the bar and got into a car, watching until I was completely gone. “Chop off the hand she touched me with, then mince it up for the dogs,” Damien said, his voice devoid of emotion as he walked from the window back to Chloe. “After that, make her swallow the rest of that poison she had for Julian, and dump her in front of the Sterling Syndicate’s factory. After all, what goes around, comes around, right?” “I… I understand now… Please… don’t!” Chloe whimpered, tears streaming down her face. “How about your brother takes your place then?” Damien suggested, his eyes cold as he watched the girl’s ashen face. “He’s a vegetable anyway, could die at any moment. Isn’t trading his life for yours a pretty good deal?” “N-no… you can’t!” Chloe wailed, fresh tears streaming down her face. She had practically raised her little brother. He was so smart and sweet. The car accident happened when he was just trying to help her by picking up groceries. Some reckless driver ran a red light, hit him, and fled. She’d borrowed money from everyone she knew, just to cover his medical bills and barely keep him alive. Even though he was in a vegetative state, as long as there was a flicker of hope, she’d never give up on him. Her own life was already ruined, but what would happen to her brother if she was gone? Chloe was dragged out, silenced. “Hmph, a truly devoted sister,” Damien scoffed, a dark amusement in his voice. “Go ahead and cover her brother’s ongoing medical expenses.” “Yes, Master Damien,” his subordinate replied.

“From now on, I don’t want you going out at night, alright?” Damien said, his gaze fixed on me as I sat on the couch, a flicker of disturbing obsession in his eyes. “I’m a person, not a pet,” I retorted, not even bothering to look up from the newspaper in my hands. “How can you say that about yourself?” he murmured, crossing the room and settling beside me, his arm snaking around my shoulders. “I’m just worried you’ll get hurt out there. Look, someone tried to drug you today.” He paused, squeezing my shoulder. “So, don’t make big brother worry, alright?” His words were soft, but laced with a chilling undercurrent of threat. ‘Brother?’ I scoffed internally. He was nothing more than a rabid dog. Ever since Father died, Damien – the one Father brought home and who’d always harbored a strange, possessive obsession with me – had grown progressively worse. I had to escape, and fast.

Damien’s hand tightened around mine, his eyes gleaming with a possessive affection, as if I were a precious pet cradled in his arms. “Kill him.” His voice was still soft, almost tender, utterly detached from the chilling command he’d just uttered. He shifted his gaze to the man tied to the target post opposite us, his eyes filled with sheer disgust. The man’s eyes, wide with rage and despair, were fixed on us. His mouth was tightly taped shut, allowing only muffled whimpers to escape. “Why?” I asked, my voice flat, my eyes lowered. “Hmm, let me think,” Damien mused, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “His reason for dying. Is it because he betrayed me, or tried to kill you, or… is it simply because… he wanted to take you away?” My hand, gripping the gun, tightened. Did he know? No… that was impossible. This plan was a last-minute decision, even I’d only found out recently. It was just bad luck that Damien had stumbled upon us. How could he possibly know…? Looking at the man before me, tortured beyond recognition, I couldn’t stop trembling. It felt like I was back years ago, witnessing Damien pour scalding hot oil over someone’s face. This man was always ruthless. If he knew that I hadn’t been forcibly taken during the raid, but had actively gone along, looking for an opportunity to escape… my legs would surely be broken. “Let him go,” I said, my voice unnervingly calm. But the hand holding the gun wouldn’t stop trembling, a tremor so slight it was almost imperceptible, yet Damien’s sharp eyes caught it. Even though killing the man would be the safest option for me now, I couldn’t bring myself to murder someone who had done me no wrong. “Alright,” Damien purred. He released my hand, then curled an arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “And my dear… what will you give me in return?” His voice dripped with his usual possessive affection, but a coldness deep within his eyes, like a viper fixated on its prey, went unseen by me, nestled in his embrace. “I won’t leave this place,” I stated. I turned my head, looking directly into his eyes. They were alight with a fierce blend of love, lust, and possessiveness, so intense it seemed to spill out. I knew he must be furious. Ever since I’d tried to break free from him, only to be knocked out and dragged back, I hadn’t stepped outside this mansion. No matter what I tried, nothing worked. I’d even attempted to provoke him, deliberately ignoring him and chatting happily with one of the maids. The result? Damien’s face darkened, and right in front of me, he poured scalding hot oil over the poor woman’s face. He then… He used a leather belt to bind my wrists, then threw me onto the bed. “If you won’t talk to me off the bed,” he snarled, “then we’ll talk *on* it.” He didn’t stop until I passed out. I was bedridden for three days after that. Now, the sight of a belt sends shivers down my spine.

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