Category: English

Elara and I, we were inseparable, the deadliest duo our special ops team had ever seen. Until one mission, I drew the short straw to pose as her husband. But then someone sabotaged us, and our staged marriage became frighteningly real. She blamed me for stealing the role of husband, a title meant for the man she truly loved. I blamed her for marrying me out of pure spite, when she clearly didn’t love me. For five years, we were at each other’s throats, practically wishing for the other’s demise. Until our old enemy, Ms. Obsidian, came seeking revenge. She cornered me on a luxury yacht, holding a gun to my head. “You die, or he dies, Elara. Your choice.” The moment the shot rang out, Elara lunged forward. She threw herself in front of me, tackling Ms. Obsidian, dragging her into the raging sea with her, taking her down with her. As they plunged, I heard her last words: “If there’s a next life, let’s just be partners, okay? No more being husband and wife.” I watched, numb, as the sea churned with crimson ripples, then swallowed them whole. The next second, the bomb beneath my seat reached zero. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to the day we drew lots. I was a step ahead this time. I snatched the two mission slips. “No need to draw. I’ll go undercover alone.” This time, I’d make sure she got her happy ending. I wouldn’t be a roadblock to their love anymore.

Holding both slips, I felt a jolt of surprise. I looked up at Commander Thorne. Her eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place. After a moment, she looked at me, a complex expression on her face. “Falcon, this mission is extremely dangerous. Are you sure you want to go undercover?” In my past life, Leo had drawn the long slip and gone undercover. I, on the other hand, had been paired with Elara, pretending to be husband and wife. Back then, my heart had been pounding with excitement at the thought of faking a marriage with Elara. I hadn’t suspected for a second that Commander Thorne, who always favored me, had tampered with the slips. What she didn’t know was that her ‘favoritism’ had condemned Elara and me to five years of pure torment. I looked at her, gratitude welling up inside me. “Leo’s too impulsive. It’s better if I go undercover.” Seeing my insistence, she finally nodded. If one person went undercover, the other would automatically be paired with Elara to pose as a couple and provide backup. Just as we stepped out of the room, Elara rushed in, looking anxious. Leo’s face lit up. “Elara!” Her expression was cold, but her eyes were fixed on him. They stared at each other, and Leo’s ears turned crimson as he finally looked away. The tenderness in their eyes twisted a knot in my gut. The next second, she pulled me aside. Behind her, Leo’s face fell, a hint of jealousy in his eyes as he watched us. “I won’t agree to this plan.” “Ms. Obsidian is a sharp woman. The undercover agent will be found out.” “Leo doesn’t have much experience. I won’t agree to put him in danger.” She had protested just as fiercely in my last life when she found out Leo was going undercover. But in the end, every single one of her suggestions was shot down. I just calmly waited for the mission day, took her hand, and practically dragged her to City Hall to get our marriage license. A bitter taste filled my mouth. “You know someone has to go undercover. It’s either Leo or me.” Her cold face was emotionless, her voice cool but confident. “Just give the organization a little more time, and I’ll find Ms. Obsidian’s weakness. Going undercover isn’t the only way.” I gave a faint smile. The reason it had to be either Leo or me was because the enemy’s intelligence indicated that our special ops team was all women. So Leo and I were the most suitable candidates for the undercover role. “Elara! We’re out of time!” “No matter what you say, the mission has been set. Come to the team meeting or don’t, I don’t care!” With that, I ignored Elara’s stunned expression and walked away. I wasn’t going to tell her that I was the undercover agent this time. After all, the news that ‘Falcon’ was the groom would be much more surprising coming from the source. Elara, this time, I’d trade our partnership for a quiet drink at my grave.

That night, I kept replaying the events of my rebirth, still finding it hard to believe it was real. A knock at my door. I opened it to find Commander Thorne. She was carrying two cans of beer and a bag of skewers. “I don’t drink before missions,” I said, confused. She nodded. “I know. So I’ll drink, you eat the skewers.” I smiled genuinely. She drank silently, and I ate silently. After a long while, I couldn’t help but ask the question on my mind, “Why?” She knew I was asking about the slip-tampering and raised an eyebrow. “I was shipping you guys.” My jaw almost dropped. But her presence somehow calmed the turmoil in my heart. The next morning, before I was even fully awake, Elara was knocking on my dorm door. I rubbed my eyes as I opened it, and she strode straight in. Her cold eyes were bloodshot, narrowed into dangerous slits, the outer corners turned up. When she was on a mission, she’d draw a scorpion at the corner of her eye. Coupled with her ruthless expression, those in the underworld called her ‘The Scorpion’. Now, her eyes were bare, but her gaze was like daggers, ready to tear me apart. “Falcon, you’re despicable!” “Why did you conspire with Commander Thorne to tamper with the slips?!” “I thought, I really thought all of this was fate.” Her hands were around my throat, and she mumbled to herself. I struggled, my voice hoarse. “Elara, let go. It hurts!” “You feel pain? Doesn’t Leo feel pain?” “Doesn’t it hurt to die undercover?” “You don’t know, in my last life…” She stopped abruptly as if remembering something. When she looked at me again, her eyes were filled with disappointment. “Why do you insist on tearing us apart? Why do you insist on sending Leo undercover?” Her grip tightened. I hadn’t been expecting it, but I reacted instinctively, twisting my arm. We fought in the cramped space of my dorm. “Elara, are you crazy?” “Going undercover is the organization’s decision. It’s not something we can decide!” Her eyes were bloodshot as she roared, “You’re lying! Both slips were long! Leo said he drew the long slip to go undercover!” “We all know about your little trick with Commander Thorne!” Knowing her weakness, I used my strength to pin her down. “I’ll say it again: everything is the organization’s arrangement.” “As for what you want, the organization will consider that too!” She laughed, a bitter, desolate sound. “What I want, I can never have, all because of you.” Only when I felt her resistance drain did I slowly release my grip. Freed, she remained on her knees, slamming her fists repeatedly against the floor. After a long while, she recomposed herself, becoming that cold, aloof person once more, as if her earlier outburst hadn’t happened. She stood up, mumbling “I’m sorry,” but I didn’t respond. Only Leo could make her lose her composure like that. In our past life, when we were pretending to be married, she accidentally ingested a powerful drug. The situation was critical. To save her, I had no choice but to… Even then, in bed, she remained aloof and self-possessed. Not a trace of passion. Only after the drug wore off, as she stood up, did she say: “You will take responsibility for this.” After Leo’s death, the mission was terminated, but we never divorced. We continued our marriage, but she became even colder towards me. We used to be perfectly in-sync, partners in life and death. Later, we became mere acquaintances, a couple in name only. I thought this time, with me going undercover, we would remain true partners. I never expected such a rift to form between us. But perhaps it was for the best. If this mission failed, my death wouldn’t cause her too much pain.

I had spent three years researching Ms. Obsidian’s organization; the intel was crystal clear. Our team discussed the mission procedures and plans in an orderly fashion. Because he would be posing as Elara’s husband, Leo’s smiles became more frequent. After a meeting one day, he pulled a small yellow amulet from his pocket and, with a shy smile, handed it to Elara. “Elara, I got this at the temple yesterday.” Elara was an atheist; she detested anything to do with gods or prayers. When she was seven, her father died, and her mother, claiming enlightenment, gave away all their family wealth and became a nun. Elara was left to fend for herself, growing up with little support and a lot of judgment. Once, on a mission, I simply said, “May the heavens protect us,” and she glared at me fiercely. “Say that again, and you’re out of my team!” Watching Leo pull out the amulet, everyone in the team gasped. But the next second, everyone’s eyes widened as Elara smiled, took the amulet, immediately hung it around her neck, and then pulled out a jade pendant in the shape of a Bodhisattva from her own shirt. I recognized that jade pendant. It was something her mother had left behind before she abandoned them. Elara was a stubborn one; she hated her mother but still kept these things as mementos. In my past life, after we were married, I accidentally knocked the pendant off, and it fell to the floor. The pendant was fine, but she slammed me to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw. Gus, our team observer, recovered first and started to tease. “Is our frosty Elara finally getting a heart?” I twisted open my water bottle and took a swallow. For some reason, the water today tasted bitter, even more so than my usual black coffee. The other two also chuckled. “Our Leo’s got real charm! He even melted Elara! If he goes undercover, he’ll have Ms. Obsidian, that old woman, wrapped around his finger. This mission is a sure thing!” Hearing that, I looked up, stunned, at Leo. His eyes darted away. I understood. He hadn’t told them. I couldn’t fathom why. Gus chimed in, “Leo, you’re so good-looking, make sure to protect yourself when you go undercover.” I watched Elara’s hands clench tightly. The next second, she slammed her fist on the table and said coldly, “Shut up!” Everyone fell silent, not daring to joke anymore. After the meeting, Leo pulled me into the shadows. “Falcon, I… I didn’t mean to say I was the undercover agent. Elara asked me about it.” His face flushed as he spoke. “Elara told me to protect myself and gave me lots of details and tips about going undercover in private.” “I didn’t have time to tell her.” Looking at him, I understood. I shook my head. “It’s fine. Elara’s just worried about you. Learn everything you can from her.” After all, Leo would be her partner now. I told myself this, trying to feel better. I don’t know how I got back to my dorm that day. The next morning, at the early meeting. I was a few minutes late. There were six people inside; I was the seventh. As soon as I entered the conference room, the atmosphere inside was heavy. Everyone was standing. Elara’s face was grim. Seeing me, she slowly spoke. “The first day you joined my team, I laid down three rules. Gus, recite them.” Gus hesitated, looking at me, then at Elara, before quietly speaking. “First, ensure your own survival. Second, ensure your teammates’ survival. Third, no infighting within the team.” Elara looked at another teammate and asked, “What’s the punishment for breaking a rule?” “Breaking the third rule means 3000 push-ups, a 10km weighted run, and a public apology.” She scanned the room, then turned her gaze to me. “Falcon, get ready for push-ups!”

I was utterly bewildered. “Why?!” I demanded. Gus leaned close to me, his face serious. “Falcon, seriously, you went too far this time. You need to apologize to Leo properly.” The other two nodded in agreement. I looked at Leo, who stood opposite me, his head bowed. “Why would you threaten him? You made a mistake and refuse to admit it!” She said, pulling a tissue from her pocket and spreading it open in front of me, her eyes burning. “That jade pendant was a gift I gave Leo for good luck.” “Why did you snatch it and smash it?!” I looked up, utterly shocked, and instinctively tried to explain to the others, “No, I didn’t!” “Leo, tell them what happened!” He shook his head, biting his lip, his voice choked with tears. “Falcon, I didn’t mean to tell on you, but Elara saw it. If I didn’t tell the truth, I’d be the one getting punished.” “Falcon, we know you like the Commander, but this is too much. She just gave Leo a jade pendant for good luck.” “After all, the undercover mission is so dangerous.” The others chimed in, accusing me. I looked at Leo, disbelief written all over my face. I couldn’t understand how someone could fabricate such lies out of thin air. “Leo, look at me. Was it really me?!” I stared at him, my voice trembling. The next second, he burst into tears. “Elara, Falcon didn’t mean to!” “Enough, Falcon!” “I am truly disappointed in you.” “With all these incidents, you don’t deserve to be my teammate.” “Confess and accept your punishment, and we might still accept you back on this team. Otherwise, I will report to headquarters that you are unfit to be a special agent.” I shook my head, my eyes burning. We had been on so many missions together. She knew what kind of person I was, but just because Leo shed a few tears, I suddenly became an unqualified agent in her eyes? “Are you going to apologize or not?!” She barked at me sternly. I bit my lip, staring fiercely at Leo. After a long moment, I spoke coldly, “I’m sorry!” “Louder!” “I’M SORRY!” “Get ready for push-ups!” I performed the push-ups without a word. Three thousand was no small number. My hands began to tremble, and the frequency of my reps slowed. When the 3000 push-ups were done, I picked up the weighted pack and turned to leave the room. Gus tried to intercede for me, but Elara silenced him with a cold glare. I ran lap after lap around the training ground. Until my legs were shaking. Towards the end, I stumbled and fell to the ground. A shadow fell over me, and a faint scent of perfume wafted into my nostrils. “Falcon, tsk tsk, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to test Elara’s feelings for you.” “Seems it wasn’t much after all!” He grinned triumphantly. I looked up, staring at him coldly. “Why?!” “Why does everyone, one by one, want me to go undercover?!” “Knowing it’s a death sentence, Commander Thorne too, and Elara too? She’s been training me daily, isn’t it all for you?” “To keep you safe, so they can sacrifice me?” I shook my head, finding it ridiculous. “It’s not like that, Leo.” “Not like that? Don’t think I don’t know just because you snatched the slips. And what if you and Elara were partners? As long as I’m the one by her side from now on, I’ll replace you eventually.” I said bitterly, “I’m sure you will.” Her heart has always been with you, that’s undeniable. But my sincere words were perceived as mockery and provocation in his eyes. He said fiercely, “Don’t get cocky.” As he spoke, he grabbed my hand and brought a pill to my mouth. “Falcon, I need you to do me a small favor!” The next second, he put the pill in my hand, then grabbed my hand and shoved *it* into his own mouth. He clutched his throat. “Falcon, why would you do this to me?”

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My first time getting sucked into a novel, and I woke up right in a psycho’s bed! But the villain… didn’t even flinch. That’s enough! Seriously, *enough*! Don’t you dare insult my body! 0 My name is Elara. I might be the only person in transmigration history to cross over because I literally *ate myself to death*. Alright, fine. Waking up inside a novel, I can deal with that. Becoming the villainess? I can deal with that too. But waking up in the villain’s bed, completely naked? How the hell am I supposed to deal with *that*? Nobody understands. The moment I opened my eyes, I felt something cold on my face. I focused, and holy hell, it was a blade pressed against my skin! “Dude, can we just talk this out?” My lips were trembling. Naked or not, at least I was alive. Better than being dead. “You’re not Elara,” he said, grabbing my chin, his gaze icy. This incredibly hot guy wore an ornate circlet, crimson earrings dangled from his lobes, and a distinctive mark was etched near his eye. Huh, he looked… familiar. Valerius? The one who seemed gentle and refined on the surface, but was actually a deranged psycho? “Ding-dong! Host’s system awareness has activated. You will now receive your quest.” What?! I have a system? Is this one of those villainess comeback stories? I’m totally familiar with those. “What’s the quest?” I thought, communicating with the system. “Host’s quest is to trigger hatred points. Incite hatred from all characters connected to you in this novel. Make everyone resent you.” *Trigger hatred points*? I hadn’t even dealt with the psycho in front of me yet. I’d probably be dead before I even started. Forget it, forget it. “If I’m not Elara, then who do you think I am?” I tried to dispel the villain’s suspicion first. “I don’t care who you are. You’re definitely here to break in this blade for me.” I felt the knife press in a little further, and I was about to be disfigured. Dammit, what do I do? I need to make him hate me, but I also need to save myself. A wild, crazy thought flashed through my mind. I grabbed his hand and shoved the blade towards *him*. If I was going to die, I might as well take him with me. We were incredibly close. Valerius didn’t resist, and the blade in his hand plunged right into his shoulder. Seriously? Is this psycho out of his mind? He didn’t even try to stop me?! I looked up at him. His face was filled with a terrifying excitement. He used his other hand to grip mine, pushing the blade even deeper. His blood stained my hand. I was completely numb! Thinking about killing someone and actually *doing* it are two totally different concepts! I wrapped myself in the blanket, leaped off the bed, grabbed some clothes from the changing screen, threw them on, and yanked open the door, bolting outside. I swear I’ve never sprinted so fast in my life. But after running a few steps, I pulled open the door and was frozen by what I saw. The ground was covered in poisonous scorpions! Between being killed and being bitten by poisonous bugs, I chose the former. I dashed back inside, slumped down by the door. Whatever. I was already exhausted. A soft chuckle echoed. I looked up. Valerius’s clothes were soaked with blood, but a gentle smile played on his lips. Why did he look so unnerving? I forced the most gentle smile of my life and said, “Valerius, how about we go outside first? The scorpions are about to crawl in.” “Come here.” His voice was deep and soft, but it sent a chill down my spine. In the original book, he always did the most vicious things with the gentlest expression. I walked over resignedly, my eyes filled with determination. My body wasn’t even warm yet, so if I died, I died. “How strange. Why is it that when *you* hurt me, I actually feel it?” It would be stranger if it *didn’t* hurt, I thought, rolling my eyes as I turned my head. “Stab me again, and I’ll take you outside.” Valerius placed the blade back in my hand, his eyes practically overflowing with anticipation. 0

You just can’t reason with a psycho. I gripped the blade, my hand shaking uncontrollably. Before, it was a crisis, so I acted without thinking twice. But now, in a normal situation, I couldn’t bring myself to do it! “Tsk, how boring.” I couldn’t bring myself to strike. Valerius seemed to lose interest. He simply scooped me up, opened the window, and jumped out. I swear to god, I just free-fell like I was flying, and I almost puked. I clung to his neck for dear life, terrified of being splattered into a pancake. Once we landed, I was even more speechless, because there was a whole group of people waiting to kill Valerius! My mind raced, and I finally remembered this plot point: Valerius’s disguise had been torn away, and the righteous heroes were attacking him. After he pulled me from his arms, my legs were shaking so badly I thought I’d collapse. My face must have looked utterly horrified, like I’d just seen a ghost. He took one look at my expression and burst out laughing. “Detecting a decrease in the villain’s hatred points. Currently at 60%.” Me: Can you *please* get it straight? I’m about to die! Who gives a damn about some stupid ‘points’? System: “Host, you will still need to complete the quest even if you die.” Me: … I took a good look around and realized: This guy *planned* this. No wonder he didn’t fight back earlier. He was setting me up! He deliberately led me straight into this trap. Damn it, I should have stayed upstairs. “So scared? How about I just kill you now, make it quick and painless.” Valerius leaned close, speaking gently. Painless, my ass! I forced a trembling smile. “No thanks, I think I’ll stick around a little longer. If I’m going down, you’re coming with me.” His expression suddenly turned cold. He pulled me with one hand and drew his own sword with the other. “Who says you’re going to die soon?” There were at least twenty opponents. A dark and stormy night – perfect for a massacre. I should’ve never stabbed him earlier. What if he couldn’t fight them off? “Valerius, you monster! Prepare to die!” They charged forward with their swords. I couldn’t see the faces of our attackers, only heard the clash of blades, and felt myself being yanked around so violently I felt like my last meal was about to make a reappearance. I squeezed my eyes shut, terrified a head might roll to my feet. The sounds of fighting gradually faded, but I still didn’t dare open my eyes. “Don’t want your eyes anymore? I can dig them out for you.” Valerius’s voice entered my ear, and I immediately snapped my eyes open in terror. A pile of corpses lay before me. No joke, it was really a *pile*! I’ve never met anyone so utterly insane. Why would he pile them up like that after killing them?! Just to make sure I saw it was a *pile*? What the hell is wrong with his brain? “My brain is perfectly fine. I just thought they were all about the same height, so piling them up might make them look neater.” Valerius’s smiling voice rang out. 0

This guy is insane!!! Before I could even process what happened, he grabbed my waist again and leaped into the air. This time, it was even more thrilling, because he wouldn’t let me cling to his neck. The wind whistled past my ears, occasionally slapping a few leaves onto my face. I didn’t dare open my eyes. “Still don’t want your eyes?” Valerius suddenly spoke again, making me jump. I opened my eyes and saw we were at an inn. He walked right in, and I quickly followed. He ordered two dishes: one cabbage and one… green vegetable! I swear… Seriously, dude, do you have to be so cheap? “It’s not me being cheap. You’re not doing any work, why should you eat well?” He looked at me, a smirk playing on his lips. How did he know what I was thinking again? He was definitely cheap, and he was trying to justify it. “Detecting an increase in the villain’s hatred points. Currently at 70%.” Hearing the system’s electronic voice, I was even more speechless. Why were the hatred points randomly increasing? Did he want me to eat a full meal before I died? But first, let me actually *eat* a full meal. This wouldn’t even fill a tooth cavity, it’s a joke! I still ate the bowl of rice. Lying in bed in the middle of the night, I recalled the plot. I remembered the original villainess died tonight. So now that I haven’t died, will it change the story? “Host, the main plot will not change. Other details are unknown.” The system’s sudden voice startled me. I immediately asked, “You mean Valerius will still die by suicide, just like in the original book?” When I first read the book, I was surprised that Valerius ended up committing suicide. “Unknown. The main plot revolves around the male and female leads’ romance. Valerius is merely a supporting character.” My mind raced. I suddenly remembered that something was supposed to happen tonight. I pulled on my shoes and socks and bolted out the door. When I opened Valerius’s room door, the candle was still burning, but no one was inside. I whispered, “Valerius?” No one answered. Had the story shifted? I was about to turn away when suddenly, the back of my head throbbed. 0

When I woke up again, I sat bolt upright, finding myself in a bed, naked again. Dammit, this scene was way too familiar. I remembered that before I passed out, I was trying to warn Valerius that someone was coming to kill him tonight. So what happened after that? Where was Valerius? “Oh, you’re awake.” I looked up to see someone standing by the bed. It was Valerius. “Explain yourself. Why are you and I back here again?” Valerius’s eyes were filled with murderous intent. “Detecting the villain’s current hatred points at 90%.” What did he mean, “again”? I clutched my neck. If I was going to die, could he at least not slice my throat? The spraying blood would be really ugly. “Uh, Host, you died before. Someone struck you down with a single palm, so the story restarted.” “Then why does Valerius remember what happened before?” “System has crashed…” Hearing the system playing dead, I… “Dude, honey, bestie, let’s just talk this out, okay? Yeah, so, that’s how it happened, and this is the result…” I couldn’t even finish. I rolled my eyes and continued, “Fine, just strike me down.” “Hahaha…” Valerius laughed, a genuine, joyful laugh. “Detecting the villain’s hatred points at 60%.” I was speechless. Utterly speechless. He tossed me a piece of clothing and told me to put it on. Same as before, he scooped me up and jumped out the window. This time, I was a little more used to it. I didn’t almost puke. After he set me down, I saw clearly that there were only two people on the ground. I felt a little relieved. “Host, detecting the male and female leads have appeared.” I hadn’t even enjoyed my relief for a minute before the system poured cold water on me. Those two across from us were the main characters! Oh, seriously? Should I just reset again? “Host, you no longer have the chance to restart the story. If you die this time, you are truly dead.” “Valerius, so this is the kind of person you are.” Seraphina, the female lead, spoke, her voice laced with regret and a hint of heartache. “Seraphina, he’s heartless, he’s cold. He’s simply not worth your love.” Darius, the male lead’s words, made me want to laugh. And I actually did laugh out loud. The air froze. And I was embarrassed again. “Elara, you’re helping a villain. You’ve truly disappointed me,” Darius spat again. “Your disappointment means nothing to me. It was my own blindness that made me like you before. Now, I’m a freak, and liking you would make me an idiot.” I retorted without hesitation. The night was quiet and clear, so I couldn’t clearly see his expression. “Heh.” Valerius chuckled again. Damn it, why did he laugh so much? Was it really that funny? “Draw your swords. I’ll even let you have a hand.” Valerius’s smile vanished as he gripped his sword and drew it. “Such big words.” I stood off to the side, listening to a flurry of clashes. This time, I hadn’t stabbed Valerius, so he should be able to win, right? “Danger! Danger! The male and female leads are about to die! Please protect the male and female leads!” Is this ever going to end? I need to make them hate me, but I also have to protect them? “Host, if the male and female leads die, you will also cease to exist.” Dammit! I immediately rushed over, wrapped my arms around Valerius’s waist, and clung to him. “Now, get lost!” I yelled, unleashing a barrage of insults at the main characters. Valerius didn’t say anything. The main characters left. I felt like I was probably still going to die. Oh well, in this life, whether I die now or later, death is inevitable. Valerius grabbed my hand, looking at me with an unreadable gaze. “Are you… propositioning me?” 04 Propositioning what?! Seriously?! I jumped off him, shaking my head. I said directly, “No, I just didn’t want you to kill them. Don’t you think it’s strange? Why would they appear here this time? Maybe this is the key to why we’re back here.”

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My daughter suffered from severe heat sensitivity, where even slightly high temperatures caused her entire body to swell, and in extreme cases, lead to suffocation. So, I had always meticulously kept our home’s AC strictly controlled at 78 degrees Fahrenheit. But on my daughter’s birthday, my husband Liam’s female secretary, Chloe, used the excuse of feeling cold to blast the AC up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit while I was out. My daughter’s entire body quickly turned red and swollen. Ultimately, her throat swelled shut, and she suffocated to death. I gathered the evidence, intending to call the police, but Liam locked me in the walk-in freezer instead. He wrapped his arm around Chloe, then spoke to me with a solemn, lecturing tone: “Chloe just turned up the AC a little. You don’t need to ruin her life over it.” “What happened to Sarah was just an accident. Just pretend it never happened. If you’re willing to drop the charges, I’ll let you out.” Chloe, putting on an act, feigned distress and whined, “Sister-in-law, I was only trying to help you! Giving birth to that… freak was only dragging Liam down.” I froze. It seemed that in the years Liam had been living off my family, he had completely forgotten who he was. I let out a cold laugh, then directly sent a message to my dad: [Dad, please come pick me up in Silverwood. I’m going to make Liam vanish forever!]

After sending the text, I looked at Liam and said, “Liam, I advise you to let me out now, or you’ll regret it.” I glanced at the freezer’s temperature. Liam had cranked it down to minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit. I was shivering uncontrollably in my thin clothes. My skin was already turning purple. If this continued, I would freeze to death. Hearing my words, Chloe covered her mouth, a cruel giggle escaping. “Sister-in-law, at a time like this, are you still trying to threaten Liam?” She poked Liam’s chest with her finger, feigning concern for him: “Liam, I really feel sorry for you. She’s just a house-wife who relies on you. What right does she have to threaten you?” A flicker of guilt flashed in Liam’s eyes, but when he saw me glaring at him, he scoffed coldly. “Alice, hand over the evidence, and I’ll let you out immediately.” My eyes widened, and I slammed my fist against the freezer door. “Evidence? Why should I hand over the evidence? She knew Sarah had severe heat sensitivity! She killed our daughter! Sarah suffocated to death, choked by her own body!” “As Sarah’s father, are you actually protecting a murderer?!” Liam’s eyes darted away, but he still spoke with cold indifference, “Don’t bring Sarah’s illness into this. If it weren’t for your faulty genes, would Sarah have turned into such a freak?” My eyes burned with fury as I stared at him, unable to believe that our daughter, whom I’d loved for years, was now called a freak by her own father! “Besides, you lost your daughter, but if you accuse Chloe, her mother will lose her too.” “Pah!” I spat, cutting Liam off before he could finish. “Stop feeding me this garbage! There’s nothing wrong with my genes! She murdered my daughter, and she will pay for it with her life!” Liam looked at me with a face full of disappointment. “Alice, when did you become so selfish and terrifying?” He shook his head, then picked up a covered box next to him and unveiled it. “If you continue to be so stubborn, don’t blame me if I toss our daughter’s ashes. And I had someone look into it, they said it’s bad luck for a child to die at home. Her ashes are supposed to be disposed of.” As he finished speaking, I finally realized the box he was holding was Sarah’s urn! I stared at him in shock, as if this husband I had lived with for eight years was a complete stranger: “For this woman, you’re threatening me with our daughter’s ashes?!” As I looked at Liam, my eyes were already filled with nothing but disappointment. He had been a penniless guy back then. To be with him, I defied my father’s wishes and resolutely followed him to Silverwood to build our lives together. I leveraged every connection and resource I had to elevate his company to where it was today. After our lives stabilized, we decided to have a child. To have Sarah, I endured countless hardships, forcing down bitter medicines without a second thought. After Sarah was born, and we learned about her heat sensitivity, Liam had tenderly held me and Sarah, promising: He would protect me and our daughter forever. Yet, those vows gradually crumbled after Chloe joined the company. Liam, who used to come home after work every day to be with me and Sarah, started having more ‘business engagements’ and often didn’t come home at night. One time, I was running a scorching fever and wanted him to come home to take care of me and Sarah. But Chloe called him, saying she couldn’t get a cab, and he immediately left to take her home. And now, he knew Chloe was the one who killed our daughter, yet he still chose to protect her!

“Liam, if you don’t let me out now, we’re getting a divorce!” Hearing the word “divorce,” a triumphant glint sparked in Chloe’s eyes. She snatched the urn from Liam’s hands and looked at me with malicious intent. “Sister-in-law, stop threatening Liam with such words. Besides, I already had someone check. Sarah’s condition is a genetic issue. You say your genes are fine, and Liam’s genes are fine, so…” She covered her mouth, feigning discovery of a shocking secret: “Could Sarah be the child of you and some other man?” “Bullshit!” I shouted back, instinctively glancing at Liam. To my horror, I saw a flicker of doubt rise in Liam’s eyes after hearing Chloe’s words. My heart plummeted, and I demanded loudly, “Liam, we’ve been married for eight years! Do you still not trust me?!” Liam looked at me, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. Before he could speak, Chloe burst into loud tears. “Forget it! Liam, it’s all my fault! I killed Sarah, so just let Sister-in-law take me away!” “I worked so hard to get into university, and I never expected my future to be ruined by something like this. This must be my fate.” Her face was streaked with tears, evoking Liam’s overwhelming pity. He quickly pulled her into a hug, comforting her softly, “Nonsense! This is clearly not your fault. Don’t worry, I won’t let you go to jail!” He turned his head to me. “Chloe’s right. Neither of our genes has problems, so Sarah can’t be my daughter! Alice, you really don’t need to quarrel with me over a bastard. Hand over the evidence now, or I’ll feed Sarah’s ashes to the dogs!” By this point, I had been in the freezer for an hour. My hands and feet were so stiff they felt immovable. Hearing Liam’s words, I found some unknown strength and slammed against the icy wall, screaming, “You wouldn’t dare! If you lay a hand on Sarah’s ashes, I’ll make sure you both have nothing left, not even a grave!” My words made Liam’s eyes show a hint of retreat, but Chloe seized the opportunity. She deliberately smashed our daughter’s urn to the ground, then said with an apologetic look: “Oh dear, Sister-in-law, my hand slipped.” Just as Sarah’s ashes spilled out, a large black dog rushed in from outside. Without a moment’s hesitation, it began greedily devouring Sarah’s ashes. “No! Don’t!” I screamed, my eyes bloodshot, but I couldn’t stop any of it. I could only watch helplessly as all of Sarah’s ashes were swallowed by the black dog. My vision went black. Before completely losing consciousness, I gritted my teeth and glared at the two of them. “Liam, you’ll never get the evidence from me. I will never rest until you both pay!”

When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed. The pain in my body confirmed that everything that had just happened was real. The thought of everything my daughter had endured made my eyes burn, hot with tears. But I knew I couldn’t collapse. I had to get justice for my daughter! I struggled to climb out of bed, clutching the evidence in my hand, ready to call the police. But before I could even leave the room, Chloe blocked the doorway with several men. “Sister-in-law, where are you going? You’re not still trying to report me, are you?” Seeing Chloe’s nose in the air, I said coldly, “Get out of my way!” Chloe scoffed. The bodyguards behind her immediately grabbed me and threw me back onto the bed. I couldn’t fight them off and could only scream, “Let me go! Let me go!” “Sister-in-law, how about I show you something?” Chloe pulled out a tablet. On the screen was the surveillance footage from my house. My daughter’s room, her sanctuary, had been turned into the black dog’s new kennel. All of Sarah’s belongings were piled in the yard and set ablaze. Watching my daughter’s last remaining possessions in the world being destroyed, I ignored my injuries and struggled wildly on the bed: “Bitch! Who allowed you to do this?!” Chloe pouted, her face a picture of innocence. “Why, Liam, of course! This little black dog is a stray I just found today, but seeing as it ate that bastard’s ashes, Liam agreed to let it use Sarah’s room as its kennel.” She leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Sister-in-law, you’re very angry, aren’t you? You’re right, I intentionally caused Sarah’s death, but so what? Your daughter is dead, but your husband only protects me.” She stood up and looked down at me. “You’re nothing but an aging woman clinging to Liam, losing your looks. Liam even said the pleasure I give him in bed is far more intense than anything you ever could.” I stared in shock, never imagining they had been secretly having an affair behind my back for so long. I shouted, “Everything Liam has today, I gave him. What do you think he’d be without me?! I’m warning you, let me go right now!” Chloe sneered. “You still think you can threaten me now? I’ve already dealt with your daughter. Once I deal with you, I’ll be Mrs. Gu Corporation.” Her face twisted in malice. “Tell me, what do you think Liam will say if he sees you being intimate with a group of strangers?” Hearing Chloe’s words, my face twisted in horror: “What exactly do you want to do?!”

A grotesque grin stretched across Chloe’s face. She clapped her hands, and seven or eight ragged, foul-smelling vagrants rushed into the hospital room from outside. The stench made me gag repeatedly. “Liam said, since you’re so fond of ‘cheating,’ then you should ‘enjoy’ this.” She had a bodyguard set up a camera, then said with a laugh, “Film this carefully. I want to make sure she can never show her face in public again!” A flicker of madness flashed in Chloe’s eyes. Hearing her, the vagrants all lunged at me. I recoiled in terror. “Get away! All of you, get away!” The vagrants’ hands touched my body, and the pain and revulsion made me tremble uncontrollably. Just as a vagrant pulled down my pants, Liam appeared at the doorway. Like I was seeing my savior, I stretched out my hand to him: “Liam, save me! I truly haven’t cheated! Sarah really is your daughter!” I had thought that after eight years of marriage, Liam, no matter what, wouldn’t stand by and watch me be humiliated by these vagrants. But he merely glanced at me, then looked away in disgust. He wrapped his arm around Chloe and said softly, “How can I let you do these disgusting things yourself?” “Don’t look, it’s sickening.” I froze in shock, momentarily forgetting to struggle. Eight years of marriage! He was the one who, back then, held me and personally promised to love me forever, to cherish me for a lifetime! Now, in his eyes, I was something dirty! A surge of pure hatred ignited every fiber of my being. I grabbed a fruit knife from the bedside table and screamed, “Don’t come any closer! If you do, I’ll kill you!” The vagrants exchanged nervous glances. Seeing my desperate, reckless demeanor, they actually didn’t dare to move forward. A flicker of malice crossed Chloe’s eyes. She huddled against Liam’s chest, feigning fear. “Liam, I’m so scared! Is Sister-in-law challenging your authority like this? Never mind, don’t let me cause trouble between you two. Liam, as long as you’re happy, just send me to jail.” Her words, feigning noble self-sacrifice, moved Liam deeply. The next second, he actually grabbed a nearby stool and brutally swung it at me. I was hit in the head, and the knife immediately dropped to the floor. “What are you waiting for? She might be a bit old, but I guarantee you’ve never tasted a woman like her in your life! What are you waiting for, go!” Hearing him, the vagrants swarmed me. My hands and feet were grabbed and held down. Wearing light summer clothes, it took less than a minute for my clothes and pants to be ripped off. I was left in just my underwear, exposed in a humiliating position before everyone. The vagrants’ thick lips roamed over my body, and their foul stench filled my nostrils. I screamed, “Liam, if you dare do this to me, my dad will never let you get away with it!” Liam scoffed coldly. “Your dad? Didn’t your dad die years ago?” He sighed, feigning generosity. “Alice, I told you before. If you just hand over the evidence now and kneel and kowtow 99 times to Chloe, how about I let you go? You don’t want your compromising photos all over Silverwood tomorrow, do you?” My skin was torn by the vagrants’ teeth. I endured the excruciating pain and screamed, “You wish! I’ll never let you get away with this! Never!” Liam, enraged, bellowed, “Are you just going to stand there talking?! Each of you, get on with it! I’d like to see who will protect an orphan like you besides me!” A bolder vagrant immediately dropped his pants and climbed onto me. Just as he was about to make his move, a gunshot echoed, and the vagrant’s skull shattered, sending him tumbling off the bed. Everyone was startled by the sudden turn of events. The next moment, the thunderous roar of helicopters filled the air outside the window. Liam looked over in fear, only to see dozens of sleek, all-black helicopters hovering just outside the hospital room. Then, a squad of highly-trained bodyguards stormed into the room. “I’d like to see who dares lay a hand on my daughter!” A furious roar erupted from outside. Hearing that familiar voice, tears welled up in my eyes. Seeing my dad rush in, I cried, “Dad!” My dad saw my miserable state and instantly rushed over in anguish, but Chloe immediately stepped in front of him:

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On the day of my wedding, my parents suddenly show up at my house with my fiancé, Yoseph Caldwell. They say they’ve decided the bride is going to change. “Your sister’s terminally ill, and her only wish is to marry Yoseph. You’re her younger sister, so be generous and help her out.” Yoseph chimes in calmly, “Don’t worry. It’s just a ceremony. Once she passes, you and I can still get the marriage certificate.” When I refuse, my parents tie me up. “We’ll let you out once the wedding’s over.” But not long after they leave, an intruder breaks in and brutally murders me. By the time they finally remember me, all that’s left is my rotting corpse.

I’ve returned to Christmas 1975. I went to the black market and sold off all the jewelry and new clothes my fiancé Edward Gray had given me at bargain prices. I deliberately made myself look dirty and disheveled, like a beggar. In my previous life, my family had finally managed to secure me a spot to return to the city. I was overjoyed and, following Edward’s instructions, put on the clothes he had sent me. But I never expected that Olivia Murray, a poor female student who had been sent to the countryside with me, would steal my identity and board the city-bound vehicle ahead of me. When I chased after her to confront her, she pointed at my new clothes and accused me of improper conduct, claiming there was no way I could be the daughter of the upright Dean Albert Murray. They threw me off the vehicle, forcing me to continue working in the countryside. Three years later, I finally made it back to the city. I witnessed Edward walking past me with his arm around Olivia. That’s when I realized they had been together all along. My inability to return home had been part of their scheme. Not only that, but they also told my father Albert and mother Emilia Murray that I had been with other men in the countryside and didn’t want to come back. Albert, as the dean, was so enraged that he suffered a stroke and died. Emilia cried every day and also passed away the following year. Olivia smugly flaunted in front of me: “Matilda, thank you for having them take such good care of me before. The property your two foolish parents left behind all went to Edward and me.” I was so furious I coughed up blood. Edward, who had been promoted to associate dean, sent me to the hospital and injected me with an overdose of medication, killing me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I was preparing to go home. ***** When I emerged from my room wearing tattered clothes, everyone around me was stunned. A man asked: “Matilda, didn’t your fiancé send you lots of things? Why are you dressed like this?” Matilda Murray is my name. A woman said: “Yeah, even if he truly cares about you and has been waiting for you to return for two years, you should still pay attention to your appearance.” Their faces were full of confusion. After all, we were going home – why was I wearing these drab work clothes and mud-stained rubber boots? Who would dress like this to meet their beloved? I smiled without saying anything, my eyes filled with complex emotions. In my previous life, I had also believed Edward truly cared about me. Albert and Emilia had finally secured me a spot to return to the city. When I received the things Edward had sent and learned he was coming to pick me up, I happily put on the new clothes and even wore the most fashionable hair accessories of the time. I had thought I could let my beloved see me at my most beautiful, but when I hurried to catch the city-bound vehicle, I discovered Olivia sitting in my seat. Olivia insisted she was Albert’s daughter and spoke about my family’s affairs in great detail. She also pointed at my new clothes and angrily said: “You all know my father is very frugal. How could his daughter possibly dress so glamorously? “This kind of extravagant style would only anger my father if he saw it.” The others believed her words. No matter how I tried to explain, it was useless. I was thrown off the vehicle and forced to return to the countryside. The letters I sent home and to Edward mysteriously went unanswered. It wasn’t until three years later that things changed. I returned to the city with others. As soon as I got off the vehicle, I saw Olivia in a dress with her arm linked through Edward’s. They were very intimate. It turned out they had been together all along. I was shocked and rushed forward to grab Edward’s sleeve, but he shook me off forcefully. Edward said: “Matilda, I really didn’t expect you’d actually make it back.” Before I could understand what he meant, Olivia cleared up my confusion. She smiled and said: “Matilda, Edward and I fell for each other years ago. I really have to thank you for your spot – it let me come back early and marry Edward. “Oh, by the way, you don’t know yet, do you? Albert thought you were with some old man in the countryside and died of a stroke from rage. Your mother also died last year. All that property went to Edward and me. “You have nothing left now. How pitiful.” I was so angry I coughed up blood, while Edward looked at me coldly and forcibly took me to the hospital under the pretense of medical treatment. He said: “Matilda, don’t blame me. “You could have stayed quietly in the countryside and married some rural man. But you came back. “For the sake of my bright future, you need to die.” Edward used his position without hesitation to inject me with an overdose of medication, leaving me to die in despair on that hospital bed. But in this lifetime, none of that has happened yet. This time, I absolutely won’t let them succeed.

I boarded the vehicle with my packed belongings, and the bespectacled man sitting by the door frowned at me. He said, “All seats are taken. Who are you? Go back where you came from.” I feigned ignorance, covering my mouth in surprise as I said, “All seats taken? How is that possible? I have a reserved spot. Who’s taken my place?” The man’s expression darkened. He turned to scan the area, as if trying to determine whether my words held any truth. I pointed at Olivia, who sat there looking somewhat nervous, and confronted her: “Olivia, why are you sitting in my seat?” She immediately shot back, “Your seat? This seat is mine.” The man chimed in, “That’s right. Do you know who she is? This is the daughter of hospital director Mr. Albert Murray and General Carter Simpson. Don’t you dare falsely accuse her.” “The daughter of Mr. Albert Murray and Ms. Simpson? You mean her?” I asked, my gaze cutting toward Olivia like a blade. Olivia’s body stiffened for a moment, a flash of guilt crossing her eyes, but she still straightened her spine. She said, “Yes, that’s me. I am Mr. Albert Murray’s daughter. This opportunity to return home is mine.” Olivia was about to use my attire to suggest I was improper, but after looking me up and down, she froze completely. I wasn’t wearing a single decent piece of clothing or jewelry. Where had all those things Edward gave me gone? I could see Olivia’s confusion, so I flashed her a meaningful smile. Olivia was stunned. She knew very well that if she couldn’t get me off this vehicle, both she and Edward would be finished. Olivia’s gaze fell on my shabby appearance, her eyes flickering several times. She said, “Edward has already prepared a welcome banquet for me in the city. You’re dressed like a beggar—how could you possibly attend a welcome banquet? “Matilda, I know you desperately want to return to the city, but you can’t just try to steal someone else’s spot. You should focus your energy on legitimate pursuits.” Olivia’s words were filled with righteousness. Compared to the timid demeanor she had when she first arrived at our house, her boldness had certainly grown considerably. My gaze fell on the dress Olivia was wearing—the one Albert and Emilia had sent together—and my eyes grew profound. Olivia was the daughter of our family’s housekeeper, Ella Murray. Her biological father was a gambler who had already been arrested by the police, with no connection whatsoever to Albert. She simply happened to share the same surname as us. Initially, seeing that she was about the same age as me at Christmas and had such a pitiful background, Albert and Emilia agreed to let Ella keep her close, allowing her to grow up alongside me as a companion. I was delighted to have another sister in the house, so I shared almost everything good with her, treating her like my own sister. Olivia also appeared very well-behaved and sensible. When the family was deeply worried about my being assigned to work and live in the countryside, she even volunteered to accompany me. I was so moved that I immediately begged Albert and Emilia to adopt her as their goddaughter. However, in my previous life, just before I died, Edward mercifully revealed the truth to me. He said, “Accompany you to work and live in the countryside? Olivia’s name was on the list too. She simply had no choice but to go to the countryside.” Olivia was nothing but an ungrateful, thankless person. Just as I was about to publicly expose Olivia’s true identity, the man suddenly spoke again: “Exactly, stop making things up here. If she’s not Mr. Albert Murray’s daughter, then are you supposed to be? She has the Murray family heirloom and a personal letter from her fiancé Dr. Gray as proof. “Mr. Albert Murray is away, but he specifically wrote to ask Dr. Gray to host a welcome banquet for her.” A family heirloom? A handwritten letter? I was furious beyond words, wanting nothing more than to strangle Olivia and Edward. The Murray family heirloom was a ruby pendant. When Edward and I got engaged, Albert had given it to Edward as a special gesture to show how much he valued him. But I never expected it to be in Olivia’s hands now. Not to mention Edward’s handwritten letter. No wonder in my past life, even when I explained that I was Albert’s daughter, no one believed me. Olivia had lost her initial panic and now wore a smug expression, looking at me provocatively. She said, “It’s okay. She’s probably just homesick and didn’t get a spot, so she resorted to this. Since it’s still early, you should get off and head back. Don’t waste everyone’s time.” Olivia’s words sounded magnanimous and considerate. The people on the bus from other places didn’t know the truth and began treating her as Albert’s daughter, gathering around to curry favor with her. A man said, “Miss Olivia, you’re so generous. If some lowlife tried to steal my spot, I’d definitely call the police and have her arrested.” A woman chimed in, “Exactly. I’ve long heard that Mr. Albert is upright and famously professional throughout the medical field. Miss Olivia is truly forgiving to pardon even someone like this.” I watched all this coldly and said, “Olivia, you’d better not regret this.” My warning was clear enough, but Olivia was basking in the feeling of being adored by everyone. Hearing my words, she just gave me a disdainful glance and didn’t take it to heart at all. Before the man with glasses could kick me off like he did in my previous life, I grabbed my bundle and stepped off the bus myself. The man sneered, “At least you have some self-awareness. You’ve crossed Mr. Albert’s daughter—aren’t you afraid of what’ll happen when someone in your family gets sick?” He scoffed and slammed the door shut. The bus drove away right in front of me, kicking up dust all over me. My already dirty work clothes now looked even worse. I took a deep breath and used the money from selling my belongings to rent a car. So what if that bus wouldn’t take me? As long as I had money, couldn’t I still get there? I was determined to see exactly what kind of welcome banquet Edward had prepared.

The car bumped along the entire way. By the time I made it back to the city, it was already evening. My two-story house was brightly lit, with many people moving around inside, looking quite lively. I immediately understood—this was the “welcome party” they had mentioned. Without hesitation, I walked straight in. Everyone was busy chatting, and hardly anyone noticed me. I was about to head upstairs when someone suddenly grabbed me. A woman in a floral shirt pushed me away with disgust, her eyes full of contempt. She said, “What kind of beggar are you? Is this a place you should be? Planning to steal something? I’m telling you, get out of here before I call the police.” I figured she had mistaken me for some thief trying to steal. Just as I was about to explain, a familiar voice rang out: “Mrs. Jones, what’s happening here?” Freya Jones, who had just treated me so rudely, immediately put on a respectful expression. She said, “Mrs. Emilia Murray, some beggar broke in. I don’t know if she’s here to steal. I was worried it might disrupt Ms. Olivia Murray’s welcome party, so I wanted to throw her out.” “Mrs. Emilia Murray” sighed after hearing this. Then she said, “This poor soul. If she wasn’t truly desperate, who would swallow their pride and beg from others? Let her come in and have something to eat. Just keep an eye on her and don’t let her wander around.” Freya said flatteringly, “You’re so kind. You and your husband Mr. Albert Murray are truly a perfect match.” “Mrs. Emilia Murray” looked quite pleased with the praise, nodding slightly, really looking like a wealthy person. However, when she caught sight of my face from the corner of her eye, her expression instantly froze. She asked, “Ms. Murray… Matilda, how did you get back?” This “Mrs. Emilia Murray” that Freya was flattering was actually Ella, Olivia’s nanny mother. I remembered she used to always keep her head down and seemed very honest, so our whole family trusted her completely. When I went to work in the countryside and Albert went away for research, only Emilia was left at home. Since Emilia didn’t like socializing and rarely appeared in public, we specifically asked Ella to take good care of Emilia. But I never expected she would have the audacity to assume Emilia’s identity. My gaze swept over Ella several times. The jewelry around her neck and on her hands all originally belonged to Emilia. In my previous life, I hadn’t been able to return at this time. When I came back three years later, both Albert and Emilia had already passed away. I had no idea how much Emilia had suffered at home. Perhaps all that talk about Emilia crying every day and dying of depression was just lies. Suppressing my rage, I walked toward Ella step by step, asking coldly, “What? Ella, am I not allowed to come back?” Ella trembled with fear and said, “That’s not what I meant.” Her tone was clearly frightened. Freya, standing nearby, looked surprised after hearing this. Freya asked, “Mrs. Emilia Murray, who is this beggar? Why are you being so polite to her?” Ella didn’t know how to respond. I lost my patience, worried that Emilia was being framed by them, and headed straight upstairs, only to run into Olivia and Edward coming down hand in hand. The moment Edward saw me, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, and he instinctively let go of Olivia’s hand. Edward asked, “Matilda, how did you get back?”

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Returning to the 1980s, watching my sister Emily Ortiz constantly complaining about hardships yet insisting on marrying the beggar at our door, I knew she had been reborn too. In my previous life, Walker Clark, son of General Nolan Clark who admired me, came to propose marriage. Emily, jealous of my engagement, secretly drugged Walker, forcing him into a relationship with her and making him marry her instead. I endured the heartbreak and attended Emily’s wedding, only to encounter Adrian Allen at the restaurant entrance, nearly starving to death. Emily covered her nose and told him to leave quickly, not to bring bad luck to her wedding day. But I pitied him as a human life, not only housing him in the village’s unused barn to recover his health, but also saving my own food to feed him daily. After Adrian regained his strength, he proposed going south to find his relatives. When Emily heard I had given him all my savings for travel expenses, she laughed at my foolishness. However, none of us expected that within just half a month, Adrian would return as the son of the wealthiest man, bringing an enormous dowry to marry me. Meanwhile, Emily was separated from Walker, who was stationed at the frontier on duty. Over three years, unable to bear the loneliness, she frequented dance halls and became pregnant with another man’s child. When Walker’s parents, Nolan and Alice Clark, discovered this, they sent her back home. My parents, Hudson Ortiz and Freya Ortiz, fearing others would mock Emily, sent her south to find me. Forgetting past grievances, I kindly arranged work for her. But seeing my manor villa, she demanded an outrageous $30 million in support money. I firmly refused, but Emily flew into a rage and strangled me with a rope she had prepared. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day the engagement was arranged. ***** Freya said regretfully, “I never imagined Nolan’s son would choose Hannah.” Hannah Ortiz is my name. She slapped her thigh in disappointment, feeling sorry that the Clark family didn’t favor her beloved eldest daughter Emily. Emily, however, leisurely picked up the southern fruits the Clark family had brought and took a big bite. She said, “I don’t care about the Clark family. Soldiers are everywhere. What’s so special about Walker?” Hudson and Freya were stunned, and Freya asked, “Emily, do you have someone better in mind?” Emily raised her eyebrows and smiled, “Dad, Mom, just wait and see. When we have so much money we can’t even count it all, don’t complain about being tired.” I was dumbfounded, thinking, “What does this mean? Is she not planning to compete with me anymore?” Previously, to steal my captain fiancé, Emily had even resorted to drugging. On the night Walker and I got engaged, Emily convinced Hudson and Freya to call the entire village to our family’s barn. The neighbors, seeing the unconscious Walker and Emily with her shoulder exposed, all assumed they were truly in love. I was devastated but had no choice but to give up the engagement, allowing Emily to become part of the Clark family. But this time, Emily never mentioned Walker. On my wedding day, she dressed up carefully, wearing a fashionable outfit I’d never seen before. I feared Emily would cause trouble again, until I saw her flirting with the beggar at the restaurant entrance, and only then did I relax. So she had been reborn too, and had set her sights on the beggar husband I had taken in during my previous life. Emily bent down, her chest half-exposed, and said coquettishly to the beggar, “Are you hungry? Come home with me. I have lots of delicious food at home.” Who could have imagined that their beloved daughter would seduce a beggar? Freya trembled with rage and shouted on the spot, “Emily, what are you doing?” Not only did Emily feel no shame, but she said confidently, “I’m looking for a boyfriend, of course. I’m definitely going to marry this beggar.” Hearing this, Hudson’s eyes turned red with anger, and he reached out to pull her away while scolding her. But Emily hugged the filthy beggar tightly, pressing her chest against the beggar’s face so hard that his features became somewhat distorted. I stood aside in my wedding dress, watching coldly. The beggar, however, seemed enraged and said, “Get lost!” For a moment, Hudson, Freya, and Emily were all stunned. Looking at his familiar expression, I straightened up.

In my previous life, I kindly took in Adrian when he was begging on the streets. My family was very poor with little food, but seeing his pitiful state, I gave him the food I saved even though I starved myself to the point of developing stomach problems. Adrian was homeless, so I secretly hid him in an abandoned barn in the village to help him recover. In the end, I softened and gave him all the savings I had earned from sewing clothes for others as travel money. Half a month later, Adrian came back with a generous dowry and married me. I thought he was repaying my kindness. Until one day when he got drunk and let something slip: “Hannah, do you know why I married you? Because I’ve never played around with a village woman like you before.” My whole body gradually turned cold as I discovered that Adrian had a messy private life, just well-hidden. He always had mistresses around him. When I confronted him with evidence wanting a divorce, he said: “What are you pretending for? I’m already being good to you by not making you raise my mistresses’ children.” But later, he still brought his illegitimate children home. When I refused to raise them, he held a knife to my throat and forced me. The manor villa housed Adrian’s three illegitimate children. Emily came to me asking for money. Forget about 30 million dollars – Adrian would question me even if I spent a single cent. I was just a nanny raising his children, not the lady of the house. I thought: “Emily, since you want this kind of life so badly, you can have it.” Seeing Adrian’s arrogant attitude, Hudson rolled up his sleeves ready to hit him, but Adrian fainted from physical exhaustion. Emily pulled Hudson and Freya aside, taking out a missing person notice from her handbag. She whispered: “Dad, Mom, he’s the son of Christian, the richest man in Florida. His family has great influence. Though he’s down and out now, once he returns to his family in half a month, he’ll be very powerful.” The three of them got extremely excited, preparing to carry Adrian home. I reminded Hudson and Freya that my wedding was about to start and they needed to hurry inside. Emily snorted coldly: “What’s so great about marrying some broke captain? I’m going to marry the richest man’s son. You better get lost and stop interfering with my good fortune.” It didn’t matter that Emily wouldn’t attend my wedding. But Freya also chimed in: “How could your business be more important than Emily’s? Just attend your own wedding. Don’t waste our time.” With that, they abandoned me and left without looking back. Tears streamed down my face as I thought: “Are they really this biased?” The more I thought about it, the sadder I became. Suddenly, a warm, large hand wrapped around my waist. I spun around to see Walker pulling me into his arms like a protective puppy guarding his food. His strong chest muscles stirred feelings of affection in my heart. Looking into his deep eyes, my heart skipped a beat. No wonder everyone said Walker was the most handsome man in the military district. There was really no arguing with that. I turned to see Alice approaching as well. She patted my back and said angrily: “I’ve long seen how biased your parents are. From now on, you’ll be my daughter. I’ll cherish you.” The wedding was grand. With Walker’s parents and Walker backing me up, no one dared mock me. Instead, when I returned home that day, I heard Emily’s scandal spreading throughout the village as soon as I entered. The villagers were all saying that Emily had picked up a beggar from the street. Not only did she bring him home, but she also slept with him that very night. Moreover, Emily kept telling everyone that the beggar was her man and that no one was allowed to compete with her for him. Looking at my family’s front gate, I noticed that despite it being daytime, it was tightly shut. This was definitely because Hudson and Freya were too ashamed to face the villagers’ criticism. However, the scene inside the house made me want to gouge out my eyes. To marry the richest man’s son, Emily was truly shameless.

Emily was wearing a camisole, getting intimate with Adrian in the courtyard. Only after seeing Walker and me did she casually throw on a light jacket. Emily sneered, “You just brought back two bottles of cheap wine? I thought the General’s family could come up with something better.” Though this wine couldn’t compare to the treasures in the richest family’s wine cellar, it was still military-exclusive stock that outsiders couldn’t even buy. Hearing Emily’s words, Walker frowned, clearly displeased. Adrian had his shirt collar unbuttoned, staring at me lecherously. Emily unhappily blocked his view, afraid I might steal her beggar husband: “Why are you dressed so nicely? Who are you trying to seduce? Go inside and take those clothes off for me. What makes you think you deserve to wear such expensive clothes?” Walker frowned: “I gave those to her…” I quickly covered his mouth: “I’ll take them off right now. If you like them, I’ll give them to you.” With that, I pulled Walker into the inner room. He shook off my hand in frustration, clearly dissatisfied with my compliance. I chuckled softly. This was nothing—Emily had taken so many good things from me since childhood. Besides, she wouldn’t be smug for much longer. Freya came into the room and pulled me aside, whispering her complaints: “Don’t just buy wine next time—just give money directly.” Then she yanked the gold necklace from my neck and handed it to Emily. She whispered, “Emily, is the travel money enough now? When is this beggar going to Florida to find his relatives?” Emily said impatiently, “Isn’t it great that he likes being with me? The better we treat him, the deeper his feelings for me will be. Then we can ask for more bride price when the time comes. Don’t you get it?” That’s when I noticed the old yellow cow from our barn was gone. Emily’s dresses, which she always loved, had also disappeared from her wardrobe. Hudson and Freya had obviously lost weight, looking like they hadn’t had many full meals, staring at the cake I’d casually bought and swallowing constantly. Instead, Adrian was covered in designer brands, completely different from how he looked at the restaurant entrance a few days ago. His cheeks were no longer sunken, and he’d filled out considerably. Looking at the empty kitchen, I was stunned. To scrape together his travel money, they’d sold everything valuable in the house? Moreover, all those bride gifts the Clark family had given me were gone too. Hudson and Freya were usually stingy, but to get Emily married to the richest man’s son, they were willing to sacrifice everything. Freya had everyone sit down for dinner, and Emily had Adrian sit in the head seat of the house. That spot had always been Hudson’s. He coughed in dissatisfaction but got elbowed by Freya. She said, “Think long-term—imagine that three-story mansion.” Walker and I had nowhere to sit, so we could only stand beside the dining table. Adrian cleared his throat, and Hudson and Freya both straightened up. Then Adrian said, “Hudson, I’ve been in the village for quite a few days now. It’s time I head south to look for my birth parents.” Hearing this, Hudson and Freya were thrilled, almost moved to tears with excitement. Freya said, “Good, Adrian. When you find your birth parents, don’t forget about us.” Emily looked reluctant as she acted coquettish: “Adrian, I’m your lifesaver. You have to remember to come back and marry me.” A flash of disgust crossed Adrian’s expression. Soon, Adrian nodded: “Alright.” Then he eagerly grabbed his bundle. Hearing his answer, Emily became incredibly smug. She looked as if Adrian would return with a hefty bride price to marry her the very next second. Emily arrogantly waved at me: “Didn’t Walker drive here? You two can take us to the station—Adrian needs to ride in a luxury car.” Today’s events had made Walker furious: “No way. You bully my wife, and I’m supposed to help you escort your lover? What do you take me for?” Emily blurted out, “We still have use for you now, so you should be happy. You think you can stay in the city much longer? Once you get deployed to the frontier, you won’t be able to act so arrogant.” Walker was stunned. I glanced at Emily and dragged the still-dazed Walker to the car: “We’re not taking you.” Emily pounded on the car door, saying angrily, “Hannah, you’ve gone too far. Well, let’s see what happens—in half a month, you won’t be able to act so high and mighty.” That sentence kept echoing in my mind until half a month later, when our home phone rang. I picked up and heard Freya’s voice through the receiver: “Hannah, come back quickly. That beggar…”

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My boyfriend Caleb Watson and I went on a graduation trip together, but we were kidnapped in the middle of nowhere. The kidnappers had ill intentions toward me, and to save Caleb, I actively negotiated with them. I successfully helped Caleb escape. He called the police and brought rescue personnel to save me. However, after my rescue, a video of me being assaulted surfaced online. Everyone pointed fingers at me. One man said, “Is this the woman who had relations with two men in the wilderness?” A woman said, “She was so proactive even after being kidnapped. Her private life is such a mess.” Another woman said, “How does someone like that still have the nerve to live? She has no shame!” I pressed Caleb about where the video came from, but he wouldn’t answer my questions and even wanted to break up with me. He said, “I’m about to start working at a major company. I can’t have a girlfriend with a ruined reputation. You’re too dirty.” In my despair, someone pushed me off a rooftop. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day we were kidnapped. ***** Caleb whispered, “Sienna, there’s no one else here, and the tent is already set up. It’s safe.” Sienna Grant is my name. He embraced me intimately from behind, his tone suggestive as he reached to undress me. My heart jolted as I turned to look into his eyes. The fear of death swirled in my mind, but that fear couldn’t compare to my hatred for the man before me. In my previous life, Caleb had seduced me the same way, saying no one would see us in the wilderness and nothing would happen. I had agreed, never expecting two criminals to pass by and kidnap us. Seeing my clothes half-open, they developed evil intentions and wanted to assault me. They held gleaming knives, and I had no choice but to pretend to comply with them. That’s when Caleb ran away. Taking advantage of the guards’ relaxed vigilance, he quietly escaped from the tent. To cover for Caleb, I had no choice but to actively cater to those criminals. By the time Caleb reported to the police and returned with officers, I had been tortured nearly to death. Someone had posted about this incident online. Soon, news of our kidnapping spread everywhere. Caleb became the clever, brave man who was deeply devoted to me. Everyone praised him, saying he risked danger to save me. But I was labeled as lacking self-respect, promiscuous, and unfaithful. Anyone who saw me would spit at me. Even stranger, what happened that night was somehow recorded on video. Netizens were extremely excited, and messages flooded out like a torrent. One part of these messages was true, nine parts were false. I became a tool for marketing accounts to make money. My social media accounts were exposed, and I received various comments and private messages daily. 【You shameless b*tch! Since you’re so desperate for men, go sell your body!】 【How much do you charge per night? Is it free? We’re in the same city, I can hook up with you.】 【Since you’re so wild, those kidnappers were probably attracted by you, weren’t they? Your boyfriend is so unlucky.】 I deleted my accounts and threw away my phone, but I still had nightmares every night. The kidnappers’ vicious faces and the online abuse alternated in my dreams, and I couldn’t find a way out. I went to find Caleb and asked him why what happened that day was recorded. I thought he might say he didn’t know, or suspect the kidnappers had recorded it. The one thing I never expected was for him to dodge my questions without answering, his eyes shifty and evasive. I demanded, “Do you know where that video came from?” Caleb didn’t answer. Instead, he said, “Sienna, let’s break up. I’m about to start working at a major company. I can’t have a girlfriend with a ruined reputation. You’re too dirty.” I wondered if I had heard wrong. I demanded again, “What did you say? I was humiliated trying to save you, and you’re calling me dirty?” Caleb remained silent, and as I desperately tried to continue questioning him, a pair of hands reached out. Those hands pushed me off the rooftop. In the last second, I saw Eliza Duncan standing at the edge of the roof, her hand still extended from pushing me, her face full of satisfaction. Caleb stood beside her, saying nothing. Eliza was the daughter of his company’s boss, who often came to hang out with us under the guise of friendship. In that instant, I suddenly understood that Caleb had long since latched onto someone wealthier and more powerful. Fortunately, God didn’t let me die with injustice, but gave me a chance to start over. This time, I will never again sacrifice myself for others!

Caleb tried to get closer to me, and I instinctively swung my hand and slapped him hard. I roared, “Don’t touch me!” The images from before my death were still vivid in my mind, and I used every ounce of strength to suppress the hatred burning inside me. Caleb was startled by my reaction and quickly came over to comfort me. He said, “Sienna, don’t be angry. If you don’t want to, we won’t do it.” Caleb gave up so easily, but I had no time to dwell on that. The most urgent thing now was to get out of here. Based on my calculations, those thugs would arrive in less than two hours. I turned around and started packing. After putting on my jacket, I grabbed my phone and headed for the tent exit. Caleb grabbed me, asking anxiously, “Where are you going?” I sensed something was off about him and deliberately said, “That’s none of your business. Don’t stop me.” But Caleb wouldn’t let go, saying, “It’s getting dark. Why do you want to go out? Didn’t you just say you wanted to sleep?” I stared at him for a long time. Just as he was about to speak, I said, “I’m just going to get some water.” There was leftover water from dinner outside the tent. I poured myself a cup and took a big gulp. Caleb actually followed me out and stood at the tent entrance, watching me. Why was he keeping such a close eye on me, as if he was afraid I’d run away? A terrible suspicion began forming in my mind, but I quickly pushed the thought away. I glanced at him calmly and quietly dropped a few sleeping pills into the water cup. I had trouble sleeping and always brought sleeping pills when traveling, but I never expected to use them here. The pills dissolved quickly. I walked over casually and handed the water to Caleb. I said, “I can’t finish this. You drink it.” Caleb didn’t suspect anything and drank it all. Then he said, “Sienna, let’s go to sleep.” I didn’t refuse and went into the tent. Caleb fell asleep within minutes. I took rope and tied his hands and feet tightly, then stripped off all his clothes. If those kidnappers ignored him, that would be his good luck. If those kidnappers really went after him, it would be his sacrifice for saving me! In this life, I was going to make Caleb experience all the suffering I had endured. After finishing this, I grabbed my backpack, took my power bank and phone, and prepared to leave. Seeing Caleb’s phone, something occurred to me. I picked it up and unlocked it with his fingerprint. But I never expected that before I could do anything, I’d see evidence proving his guilt. His phone screen was still on his chat with Eliza. Eliza: [Did you guys make it there?] Caleb: [We’re here. Baby, we’ve finished dinner and are getting ready to sleep. You’re sure those two guys won’t hurt me, right?] Eliza: [They won’t. They’re people I found. Don’t you trust me? Plus, I paid them a lot of money. As long as they film a video humiliating Sienna and post it online, her reputation will be completely ruined!] Caleb: [Okay. How much longer until they arrive?] Eliza: [It’ll take them at most two hours to get there now.] Eliza: [You’re not allowed to do anything with her. You promised me you’d break up with Sienna and be with me, which is why I’m helping you like this!] Looking at these chat records, I froze completely. No wonder the kidnappers had captured us but never mentioned ransom. No wonder Caleb had been able to escape so easily. No wonder there had been a video circulating later. No wonder he was so nervous tonight, afraid I’d leave. Even until my death, I never imagined that even those thugs were hired by them working together! Looking at Caleb’s figure, I really wanted to stab him to death.

This wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment crime by thugs—it was premeditated. If I hadn’t seen those chat records, even if I had escaped, they would have hunted me down. What should I do? I immediately grabbed Caleb’s phone and sent a message to Eliza. 【Have you seen those two men? What do they look like?】 Eliza replied instantly: 【I’ve never seen them. Why would I meet them? That would get me in trouble. I only told them to deal with that woman around you.】 Perfect. This meant those two thugs couldn’t tell me and Eliza apart. Caleb: 【Where are you? I miss you.】 Eliza: 【I’m nearby. After this is over, you still need to keep me company.】 Caleb: 【How about right now? Come over quickly. I tied Sienna up while she was sleeping. I’m coming out to find you now.】 Eliza: 【Okay, I’m coming over right now!】 I sneered at the phone screen. Since you all want to harm me, then face the consequences yourselves. I found the recording equipment Caleb had hidden in the corner and connected it to his phone. This essentially created remote surveillance. Caleb was still sleeping soundly under the influence of the sleeping pills, his expression peaceful. He used to be very popular at school. Many people envied me for being his girlfriend. Who could have imagined his heart had turned so rotten? Just to break up with me and ruin my reputation, he was willing to conspire with others in this charade, watching me get violated. I kicked him hard, and a red mark immediately appeared on his skin. The two thugs Eliza found both had criminal records and had been in prison multiple times. Even if they came in and didn’t see Eliza, seeing Caleb in this state—wouldn’t they be tempted? There was less than an hour left. I immediately ran outside. I had never run so fast in my life, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I kept running until the tent became a tiny dot in my vision, then I stopped, gasping for air. I hid behind a large rock, then took out my phone to check the surveillance inside the tent. After a while, two hoarse male voices came through the phone. I knew those two thugs had arrived. Sure enough, the closer they got to the tent, the clearer their conversation became. It was definitely those two men’s voices. One of them said: “It’s pitch black inside. Are they all asleep already? Should we go in, grab the person, then throw the guy out?” The other said viciously: “Why would we do that? The employer said we need to have our way with that woman right in front of the man.” “These rich people sure are ruthless when they want revenge.” “Cut the chatter. Let’s go straight in, finish the job, and get out of here.” I didn’t have time to think more. The next moment, a man pulled open the tent flap and walked in. He had a long scar on his face, extending from his nose all the way to his jaw. I recognized him immediately. He was one of the men who had violated me in my previous life—George Martin. As soon as George entered the tent, he pounced on the blanket, then realized the numbers were wrong. He cursed under his breath: “Damn it! Why is there only one person here?” Then he turned on the flashlight he was carrying. Caleb was lying on the blanket completely naked, wearing nothing at all. Even though he hadn’t found me, George was startled by this scene. Caleb was awakened by the commotion. The sleeping pills’ effects were gradually wearing off. The moment he opened his eyes and saw a burly man on top of him, he nearly screamed in terror. George reacted quickly, immediately covering his mouth. Then George randomly grabbed a sock and stuffed it into Caleb’s mouth, threatening: “Don’t make a sound!” The other thug, who had been guarding the entrance, heard the commotion and walked in too. He asked: “What’s wrong?” Seeing Caleb in this state, he was momentarily speechless, unable to look away. He said: “Damn! Why is this guy so slutty? He’s actually sleeping naked. George, how about we rape him too?” George still remembered their mission, so he shoved the man away. Then he said: “I don’t know where that woman went. You guard the entrance and grab her if you see her.” As he spoke, he began touching Caleb. Caleb struggled desperately, and George slapped his butt. He said: “Stay still! You stripped yourself this clean—weren’t you waiting for me to fuck you? What are you pretending for?” Just then, Caleb’s phone received a message. Eliza: 【Where are you? I’m near your tent. Why can’t I find you?】 I took a deep breath and typed back. 【I’m in the tent. Those two men haven’t arrived yet. Come over first.】 I smiled, thinking: “Go ahead. They’re waiting for you. This is the show you carefully orchestrated. Now the tent is missing a female actress. You’ll have to take the stage yourself!” I believed there should be absolutely no mercy for people like this. Eliza didn’t suspect anything. In fact, when she saw the tent flap was open, she thought Caleb was specifically waiting for her. But George heard her footsteps first and turned off the flashlight. The two men quietly waited in the tent, listening as Eliza approached. Eliza hadn’t taken more than a few steps before complaining loudly: “Caleb, why didn’t you come out to meet me? I’m exhausted.”

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My husband used our son for drug sensitivity tests, all to cure his rare heart condition. I played along, feigning ignorance. Our son’s fragile body deteriorated with each passing day, and I was utterly, agonizingly helpless. Finally, the trials bore fruit. He’d found his cure. I naively believed our son’s torment would finally cease. But then, in a cruel twist of fate, my best friend’s son was suddenly struck with kidney failure. Hearing this, my husband brutally dragged our son right in front of my ‘best friend,’ demanding he donate a kidney. My ‘best friend’ then dared to push her luck, looking at me expectantly, asking for *my* opinion. I simply smiled, a chilling, hollow sound escaping my lips, and whispered, “Okay.” Julian Blackwood and I had been married for six years, and our son, Leo, was five. To outsiders, we were the picture of an enviable family. My husband, Julian, was a PhD in Cardiology and a Chief Physician, loaded with accolades. But what no one knew was that Julian had a rare heart condition, and it was unclear how many years he had left. And our son’s health was far from ideal. He’d been frail and sickly since birth, always in and out of the ER. Julian was exceptionally attentive to Leo, claiming it was his duty as a doctor and a father. He personally took care of Leo, meticulously, as if putting on a show. He even called Leo “special” and said he needed extra attention. But that day, I accidentally caught him feeding Leo some medicine. The label on the bottle—I’d never seen it before. The packaging was crude, with no official approval. I felt a pang of suspicion and secretly looked it up. Those pills were unapproved laboratory drugs, never clinically tested. Their safety hadn’t even been verified! I knew there was no experiment more direct, more effective, than human trials. But this violated medical ethics, and it certainly violated the law. Especially when it was his own flesh and blood… But I said nothing. I was just a stay-at-home wife; every decision in our home was his. I comforted our son, “It’s okay, Leo. You’ll get stronger when you grow up.” He nodded, his gaze blank and dull. My best friend, Skylar Hayes, also conceived around the same time I was pregnant, using a sperm bank, becoming a proud single mother. Her son was named Caleb. Skylar often brought Caleb over to our house. The kids were innocent and playful, and I adored them. It was just that Julian was *too* good to Caleb. “Caleb is so well-behaved and smart, unlike this worthless trash Leo. He’s as dumb as a brick.” “Leo, come here!” Julian’s voice suddenly turned harsh. “Look at Caleb. So well-behaved, so obedient, so healthy.” Then he slapped Leo across the head. “You piece of garbage, always sick with something.” “Hey, Julian, don’t hit him like that!” Skylar said, but a smile played on her lips. “You’ll make him truly stupid. Our Serena would be heartbroken.” She gave me a meaningful look. “I’m sorry, Dad. I was wrong.” Leo sank to his knees. This was routine for him. And the interactions between Skylar and Julian were more than just a little excessive. Even in front of me, they made no effort to hide it. Skylar would naturally link arms with Julian, giggling as she asked him medical questions. Julian always looked annoyed, but he never actually pulled away. He’d frown at me, then gently answer Skylar.

Skylar visited our house again. “Serena, I truly envy you. Your husband, Julian, is so skilled in medicine, so caring and devoted to his family. He’s the perfect man,” she gushed. Julian smiled modestly, frowned at me again, then seemingly casually asked Skylar, “Is it hard raising a child alone?” They played off each other perfectly, an unspoken understanding between them. And I, I felt like an outsider, completely out of place. I subtly asked Julian if he and Skylar were getting too close. He looked utterly transparent, his eyes clear. “I’m just being responsible as a doctor, caring for Skylar and her son.” “Besides, it’s not easy for Skylar to raise a child by herself. As a friend, I should help out more,” Julian said. I stayed silent. I knew what he was really thinking. That day, the way Skylar looked at Julian was full of admiration. And the way Julian looked at Skylar had a tenderness he rarely showed me. Julian ruffled Caleb’s hair. “Caleb, next time, Uncle Julian will buy you a remote-control car!” “Yay! Thank you, Uncle Julian! I love you the most!” Caleb exclaimed. After they left, our son Leo asked, “Dad, can I have a remote-control car too?” “Don’t you know how busy I am at work? A remote-control car? Aren’t you annoying?!” my husband snapped. “But you just promised Caleb…” Leo’s voice was filled with hurt. “He’s a guest! Is that the same thing?!” My husband’s voice rose sharply. Leo silently teared up, then began to cry. “Are you going to cry again?!” My husband grabbed Leo, slapping him. Leo instantly stopped crying. “You pathetic scum! A remote-control car is for kids with brains! You brainless bastard, do you deserve one?” With that, he started punching and kicking Leo. Leo scrambled to my side, hugging me. “Go to your mom, what good is your mom?! You little brat, always demanding this and that!” My husband followed, slapping Leo again, knocking him to the floor. Leo hit his head, bleeding. “You disgusting punk! Wasting my medical bills again! I’ll beat you to death!” My husband didn’t stop, continuing the vicious assault. I still said nothing.

When Leo was ten, my husband again took him out behind my back. When they returned, Leo’s arms were covered in needle marks, and he was completely out of it. “Julian, what happened to our son?” “Just a cold. Too many anti-inflammatories, an allergic reaction. He’ll be fine in a bit.” Julian said it nonchalantly, completely unconcerned about Leo’s state. I asked him, “Are you sure he’s okay?” “I said he’s fine, so he’s fine! Do *you* know more than me? Asking, asking, always asking!” “Instead of asking, why don’t you cook me two dishes and pour me a beer? Can’t you see I’m half-dead from exhaustion today?” My husband was utterly impatient. Seeing his expression, I knew. This drug sensitivity trial had failed again. I’d lost count of how many failures there had been. Every time he went to the lab for a trial, Leo would come back sick for a long time afterward. He still believed it was his own fault. That day was Caleb’s birthday. Skylar came again with Caleb. Caleb was healthy and vibrant, while Leo lay in bed, looking like a ghost. “Skylar’s here! Darling, go cook a feast for our guest. Don’t you dare be rude,” Julian ordered. “Okay,” I said. “Thank you, Serena! Julian, why are you so good to me today?” Skylar playfully responded. “When am I *not* good to you?” My husband lowered his head, not looking at her. I went into the kitchen to cook but kept an ear on their conversation. “Julian, how’s it going today? Is there any hope?” It was Skylar’s voice, deliberately lowered. “No. Time is running out. We have to push forward,” Julian said. “It’s okay, then let’s just cherish what we have now.” Skylar’s voice suddenly became soft and seductive. “Skylar, don’t. Serena’s still home,” Julian said. “So what if she’s home? She and her useless son will be out of here soon enough. This will be *my* home.” I walked into the living room, only to see Skylar holding my husband’s face, kissing him passionately. My husband’s expression was grim, but he didn’t resist. “Serena, what’s wrong? Can’t you handle seeing this? We do this all the time.” Skylar said it bluntly, without a hint of shame. “Serena, don’t be so petty. Look how hard I’ve worked, raising a child alone all these years.” “We’re best friends. Isn’t sharing a husband perfectly normal?” Skylar said. Caleb emerged from Leo’s room. Julian quickly pulled away from Skylar, grabbing a gift for Caleb. It was a pair of expensive, exquisite running shoes. “Caleb, you need to exercise well and grow up strong,” Julian said, his voice full of doting affection. “Thank you, Uncle Julian!” “Oh, Julian, you’re so good to our Caleb, just like a real father.” Skylar giggled. I glanced at Leo’s shoes by the door. They were so worn out, the soles were torn, and his toes poked through. They were Caleb’s old, worn-out shoes from two years ago. I wanted to buy Leo a new pair. But all the money in the house was in my husband’s hands. My husband had said, “Leo is worthless trash, a bastard. He doesn’t deserve new shoes.” Then he looked at me, his eyes complex. I didn’t understand what he meant.

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At 19, Liam promised me forever. At 26, he held Scarlett’s hand and slapped me across the face in front of everyone. I was forced to drink until I was wasted for him, used and abused by his business partners. But he just watched, cold and indifferent, even believing a twisted, life-for-a-life prophecy from a mystic. He let our son die, all so Scarlett could give birth to a child. I clutched my son’s lifeless body, gripping the confirmation of my pregnancy, and wept until I had no tears left. Later, I ended the pregnancy and fled far away. But Liam’s eyes burned with accusation. “You don’t want *our* child?” The laughter from behind the screen was like poisoned needles, pricking my eardrums. “Mr. Liam, what great fortune you have! Isabelle’s still in the hospital, right? And now you’ve got double the good news! Scarlett, you’re going to give Liam a big, healthy boy!” “Isabelle? That vain and opportunistic woman? She saw Liam losing his influence and immediately slept with one of his partners.” A man chuckled softly, his voice so lazy it sounded like he was discussing the weather, utterly trivial. “Isabelle? She probably died ages ago, didn’t she?” His laughter pierced my heart like a blade. My fingertips turned white as I dug them into my palms. Three days ago, when Liam’s business partners dragged me into an alley and brutalized me, he had laughed like that too. Those animals tore my clothes, beating me mercilessly. He just stood at the alley entrance, embracing a pregnant Scarlett, watching with cold eyes. My son, Leo, was kicked to the ground by Liam, screaming and sobbing, “Dad, why are you doing this to Mom?!” Leo’s convulsing body, my own humiliation—it suddenly shattered the last sliver of my composure. I shoved the screen aside with a jolt, my voice echoing, silencing the room. “Liam, what exactly did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I didn’t understand how this man, who I’d loved for seven years, had become this monster. Liam’s hand rested on Scarlett’s prominently swollen belly. His eyes narrowed when he saw me, then he sneered. “Still alive, huh? Had enough fun with your little fling?” My lips trembled, a dense, aching pain spreading through my chest. “Let’s get a divorce. Leo stays with me. You’re the one at fault, so we split everything 50/50.” “At fault?” His face twisted, his eyes inexplicably reddening as he stared at me with an unreadable expression. Suddenly, a powerful slap landed on my face, making my head spin. As the world reeled, I saw his lips move, spitting out cruel words. “I was merciful enough not to kill that bastard Leo. And you have the nerve to talk about divorce.” A thunderclap exploded in front of my eyes. I stared at the man I loved, utterly incredulous. Seeing my shock, Scarlett feigned timidity, shrinking into his embrace and handing him a piece of paper. “Sister, this is the paternity test. Leo really isn’t Liam’s…” The paper fluttered to the ground. Large red letters declared: “NO BLOOD RELATIONSHIP CONFIRMED.” It pierced my heart.

I suddenly laughed, but tears streamed down my face. “Liam, I ended up in the hospital because I was trying to save you.” “Nothing happened with those clients. Don’t you even believe me?” Liam scoffed, then furiously smashed a glass against my forehead, grabbing my throat and pinning me to the floor. Amidst the shattering glass, he leaned close to my ear and whispered: “You’d say anything to protect Leo’s real father. You’re disgusting, Isabelle.” Warm liquid flowed down my cheek, and I thought of Liam when he was 19. He had cut the chains an old widower used to imprison me, carrying me through mountain paths ravaged by mudslides. We huddled in a rented room with our meager savings, the scent of cheap shampoo mingling with our breaths. He said: *Isabelle, I’ll love you my whole life. We’ll work hard, live in a big house, and have a bunch of healthy babies.* From then on, I did everything—waitressing, reception, hospitality, logistics. I took any job I could find. When he landed his first big deal and earned his first million, we smiled at each other, joking that we were each other’s good luck charms. A year ago, on a rainy night, he was set up and embroiled in a financial scandal. Risking prison, I gritted my teeth and navigated business dealings with a group of older men, playing along with their charades. A man’s fleshy, greasy hand caressed my thigh, and I subtly pushed it away. They laughed loudly, toasting me glass after glass. “There are three more bottles of hard liquor here. If you finish them, our deal is done.” Without a word, I picked up the bottles and drank them one by one. The liquor burned like fire in my stomach, but I didn’t even flinch. In the end, the deal was done, Liam escaped the lawsuit, and I ended up in the emergency room. I never expected that when I woke up, I wouldn’t be greeted by Liam’s warm embrace, but by his furious accusations. “Why didn’t that old widower just kill you? Getting yourself hospitalized from being used like that.” He grabbed Brooke’s hand and left without a backward glance, as if even another glance at me disgusted him. Amidst the wreckage scattered on the floor, I lay there like a crushed stray dog, letting my tears stream freely. Suddenly, a phone call shattered the silence. My child’s voice, choked with sobs, was heartbreaking. “Mommy, I’m scared. Daddy brought a woman home, and he told me to get out…”

I endured the dizziness, hurrying home in a panic. The moment I pushed the door open, Leo flung himself into my arms, his soft, rosy face covered in purple bruises. Tears streamed down his small cheeks, scalding my heart. I hugged Leo tightly, looking at the man and woman before me, grief and fury surging within me. “Liam, how could you do this to your own son! You’re a monster!” Liam scoffed, looking at me as if I were the unforgivable villain. “Get out, you and that bastard! I won’t give you two a single cent!” Scarlett smirked triumphantly, her eyes darting around slyly as her seemingly delicate hand caressed Liam’s shoulder. “Liam, honey, I heard a mystic say there’s a way to trade a life for a life. If one boy is gone, another can be born.” “Leo isn’t even your child anyway, and I’m ready to have a baby now. Should we try it?” At her words, my entire body trembled. I stood up, raising my hand to slap Scarlett. But Liam’s grip clamped down on my hand. He kicked Leo, sending him sprawling to the floor, where he curled up in pain. My eyes turned bloodshot, and even my fingertips trembled. “Liam, you can’t do this! Leo is your biological son!” But he only sneered, then summoned his bodyguards to throw Leo and me out like stray dogs. The biting autumn wind was bone-chilling. Leo, dressed in thin clothes, shivered from the cold. His small face was red, filled with sorrow. “Mommy, did Leo do something wrong? Is that why Daddy doesn’t like me and Mommy anymore…?” My nose stung. I knelt down and hugged his small body. “Leo, Mommy and Daddy are getting divorced. Will you stay with Mommy?” Sadness clouded his face, but to comfort me, he forced a smile and nodded. “Okay, Leo likes being with Mommy.” Listening to my five-year-old son’s words, too mature for his age, my fingertips turned white. A wave of crushing disappointment washed over me. *Liam, you said you’d love and protect me my whole life.* I held his small hand, walking slowly along the road, unsure where we were going. Suddenly, turning a corner, we saw a group of menacing men, staring straight at Leo. My heart seized with fear. I scooped Leo into my arms and ran for my life. The next second, the men grabbed my arm.

They ignored my screams, dragging Leo and me into an alley. Leo was slammed onto the ground, letting out a sharp, desperate cry. “Please, I beg you, don’t touch Leo! Do whatever you want to me!” I cried, begging and struggling to stop them. But they snickered, roughly shoving me away, and then punched Leo again. I watched helplessly as Leo’s small body twisted at unnatural angles, blood oozing from his soft lips. “Leo… Leo…” Tears blurred my vision, my heart tearing with agony. He was just laughing a moment ago, saying he loved Mommy… and now he was bleeding… Warm, sticky blood flowed from between my legs. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and a foul odor assaulted my senses. “Alright, alright, he’s probably gone.” “Wonder if the life-for-a-life ritual works. Hope Miss Scarlett gives birth to a healthy boy and marries into a rich family!” A mouthful of blood sprayed everywhere, yet I felt nothing. As I lost consciousness, I kept thinking, over and over: *Leo’s birthday is in a few days. I need to buy him a big cake, and that toy car he wanted…* The pungent smell of disinfectant stung my nostrils. I struggled, waking from the nightmare. Looking at the unfamiliar ceiling, I shifted, and sharp pain shot through my lower body. “Miss Isabelle, please don’t move. You’ve just suffered a violent assault. Thankfully, you have a strong constitution, and the baby inside you is fine. You need to rest properly…” “My Leo?” I managed to ask, the only thing that mattered to me. The doctor’s expression shifted to one of sorrow and pity. That was all I needed to understand everything—it wasn’t a nightmare, it was real! “He’s in the morgue. Our efforts were in vain. Please accept our deepest condolences.” Dragging my weak body, I ran and crawled to the morgue. Among the white sheets, I found a small body. I pressed a hand hard against my chest, bending over, gasping for air. I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. Large, heavy tears streamed down my face. When Liam entered, he saw me kneeling on the floor, consumed by grief. For a moment, his face contorted with a complex mix of emotions. He reached out to help me up, but I pushed his hand away. “Liam, my Leo is dead. I wish you would die too.”

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Oh, hey. So, yeah, I’m literally in my kitchen right now, and I just rescued a merman cub. Things are super complicated: The original me treated the male lead like a personal cash cow, hanging him upside down and forcing him to cry pearls. My own daughter is a total nightmare. And that egg, the one that was about to be boiled alive? Yeah, that’s his sister. So, question: Is it too late for a redemption arc? Seriously, asking for a friend. Help! I burst through the kitchen door. The first thing I saw was a battered blue fishtail, hanging suspended in mid-air. A flood of memories, or rather, *information*, slammed into my brain. I’d transmigrated into a novel, becoming Chloe, the male lead Leo’s wicked aunt. The original Chloe, greedy for her sister Rainey’s estate, had ostensibly adopted Leo, a merman hybrid, and his unhatched sister, Anya. But in reality, she’d turned the boy, who could shed pearls when he cried, into her personal money-making machine. Along with her biological daughter, Hazel, the original Chloe had cruelly abused the little merman. And twenty years later, the adult Leo had brutally sliced her up. Literally, like *sashimi*. The child hanging from the kitchen beam in front of me couldn’t have been more than six or seven years old. His small body was tightly bound from head to tail. Most of his beautiful scales had been pried off, revealing raw, pink flesh underneath. Directly below him, a small wooden bucket held a handful of rice-sized pearls. *This* was Leo? The future male lead? “Mom, what’s up? Is the egg almost ready to cook?” A little girl with bouncy pigtails trotted up behind me, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she peered at the stove. Only then did I notice the large pot full of water on the stove. Inside, a pale blue egg glowed faintly. My heart hammered in my chest. I quickly turned off the burner. The water was already close to boiling. I carefully wrapped the egg in my apron and lifted it out. “Mom, what are you doing? Didn’t you say we were having boiled egg today?” Hazel pouted, clearly annoyed by my actions. “This isn’t an eating egg.” I carefully placed the pale blue egg in the sink and turned on the faucet, trying to cool it down. Then I turned back to the boy still hanging. He’d been struggling frantically since I walked in, his blue eyes continuously shedding tiny pearls. Muffled whimpers escaped his bound mouth. “Don’t be scared, your sister is fine.” I moved towards Leo, but realized I couldn’t reach the rope tied to his fishtail. I grabbed a chair and stood on it. As I worked on the knots, I said to Hazel, “Hazel, sweetie, can you go grab two towels for Mom? The softest ones you can find.” The moment the rope loosened, his skinny body plummeted. I frantically caught him. He was terrifyingly light in my arms, his ribs starkly visible. A faint scent of blood and seawater clung to him. “Mom, are you crazy? If you let him down, where will we get pearls? What about Dad’s medical bills?” Hazel had just brought the towels when she saw me putting Leo down. She tossed the towels at me, yelling. “Hazel! This is your cousin!” I snapped at my daughter, then wrapped Leo in a towel and removed the gag from his mouth. “Sis…” The first thing he did, free from his restraints, was reach for the egg in the sink. I quickly wrapped the other towel around the egg and tucked it into his arms. Only then did Leo truly calm down, clutching the egg tightly. His blue eyes, filled with distrust and fear, stared straight at me. “I won’t ever treat you two like this again.” I murmured softly, my fingers gently brushing over Leo’s wounds, my heart aching with sympathy. But Leo clearly didn’t trust me. He flinched, curling back, his gaze fixed on my hands.

“Mom! See? He doesn’t even appreciate it. He’s such a little monster, no emotions at all.” Hazel pulled at my hand, looking at Leo with disdain. I quickly led her out of the kitchen, ready to give her a serious lecture. To my surprise, Leo, clutching the egg, stumbled out behind us. Before I could react, he pushed open the front door and darted outside. Hazel’s eyes widened in shock. “Mom, the little monster ran away.” “Hazel, that’s not a little monster. That’s your cousin, Leo. He’s your Aunt Rainey’s child, he’s family, okay?” But my little terror just stared blankly, clearly not getting it. “Mom, he ran away. Do I still get the dress you promised to buy with the pearls?” This kid. Spoiled rotten by the original me, she was a true little terror. I sighed and grabbed my jacket, intending to go find Leo. It was so late, and even if he was the protagonist, he was still just a six or seven-year-old kid. “Mom, it’s so dark outside. Why don’t you look for the little monster tomorrow?” Hazel tugged at my sleeve, trying to stop me from leaving. “Hazel, it’s late and cold out there. Wouldn’t you be scared if you were alone outside?” Hazel thought for a moment, then nodded. “Well, Leo is only a year older than you. He’ll be scared too, all alone. I need to go find him.” Finally, Hazel stopped pulling on my sleeve. “Mom, be careful, and please come back safe.” I ruffled her hair, then turned and left.

I scoured the neighborhood with my flashlight, checking every alley, every shadowy corner, even peering into storm drains. But there was no sign of Leo. The night wind bit at me, chilling me to the bone. Then something clicked. I bolted, running towards the nearest beach. Under the moonlight, the sand glowed a cold white. The waves breathed, ebbing and flowing, a steady rhythm. Right at the ocean’s edge, a small blue figure knelt in the water. “Leo!” My shout startled the little merman. He whipped his head around, and when he saw it was me, he clutched the egg and tried to dive into the sea. “Wait, stop! Your tail will get infected!” The seawater was already up to his waist. I rushed into the waves, grabbed his collar, and dragged him back to shore. “There are hardly any good scales left on your tail. Why are you running into the ocean?” His scales were gone because the original Chloe had ripped them off to prevent him from escaping. The saltwater would burn like hell on his raw skin. “Sister…” He clutched the egg tightly, afraid I would try to harm her. “The eggshell turned gray. It needs saltwater.” Only then did I notice the egg’s strange appearance. From the moment I’d pulled it out of the boiling pot, it had looked a sickly, dull grey-blue. “But you can’t soak yourself in the ocean, either. There’s a tide pool area over there; we can go there.” Noticing that the child under my hand was shivering violently, I quickly took off my coat and wrapped it around him.

The tide pools near the shore formed natural basins. I carefully placed the egg in the seawater, and after a moment, its shell regained its vibrant color. I noticed Leo wasn’t doing well. His tail was in saltwater, and his whole body was ice cold. “Leo, how long does it need to soak? Can we just do it for a bit tonight and come back tomorrow? Your wounds need to be treated, too.” “I promise I’ll be able to cry tomorrow. Please, don’t boil my sister.” He tugged at my sleeve, his large blue eyes pleading. My heart ached, a sharp pang of empathy. I pulled the wounded child into a tight embrace, holding him close – this boy, covered in cuts and bruises, yet still clutching his sister’s egg. It felt like I was holding a younger version of myself, the scared, lonely kid from the orphanage. “You won’t have to shed little pearls anymore. I’ll be good to you and your sister.” The little merman curled into a ball in my arms, his damp hair sticking to my arm like seaweed. A while later, once the egg had completely returned to its original color, I held the egg in my arms and carried Leo on my back as we walked back. As we reached the seawall, he suddenly asked, “Why did you… suddenly change?” The world seemed to go quiet, the sound of the ocean fading away. How was I supposed to tell him? That I transmigrated here? That they were just characters in a book? “I had this really long dream… I dreamt about your mom, Rainey. She was furious, pointing her finger right at me, screaming that if I ever treated you two like that again, she’d come back from the grave and string *me* up.” Suddenly, I felt something hard pressed against my back. As I took a step forward, I saw it was a tiny pearl. The child on my back mumbled, “Mom…” When we got home, only a small night light glowed in the living room. Hazel was curled up on the couch, fast asleep. At the sound of the door opening, she immediately sat up and rushed to the entrance to greet us. “Mom! You’re back!” “Yep, we’re back. Hazel, you did great looking after the house by yourself.” I carried Leo towards the bathroom. The steamy air quickly fogged up the mirror. “Hazel, can you help Mom grab the medical kit? It’s the blue box under Mom’s bed.” She quickly ran back with the medical kit. “Little monster, where did you run off to? Why are you carrying that egg? Wasn’t it for us to eat?”

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