Category: English

I’m a mortician specializing in restorative art. I have eyes that can see people’s death dates, and even twist their destinies. But this ability can only be used three times, or there will be a severe backlash. The first time, Liam was critically ill, desperately needing a kidney transplant. I used my ability to extend his life. The second time, Liam needed money to invest in his company. I proactively read fortunes for a wealthy man, altering his destiny in exchange for five million dollars. But when I brought the money home, I overheard Liam and Chloe’s conversation. “What if she finds out about us?” Liam scoffed. “Don’t worry, she won’t. That stupid woman is about to die anyway.” It wasn’t until I used my last ability that I discovered something terrifying. I only had three days left to live. … My body did indeed start showing problems. But it shouldn’t have. My lifespan was always longer than most people’s. The fact that I could see people’s death dates and twist their destinies was something Liam didn’t know. At that moment, I was cleaning a body that had just been brought in. After treating the wounds and applying the makeup, it was already four in the morning. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was a text from Liam. “Honey, I’m at the parking lot. Yesterday you said you wanted cantaloupe. You’ll be able to eat it after you get off work.” “I love you, babe. Can’t wait to see you.” I texted back, “Okay.” I quickly turned off my phone and glanced at my work log for three days from now. It had another name for me, a name only Liam knew. If I hadn’t seen Liam cheating with my own eyes yesterday, I might never have believed someone who claimed to love me so much could be so cruel. After all, to pursue me, he used to come to the funeral home every day to wait for me to finish work. For three whole years, come rain or shine, he was always there. His sincerity moved me, and after we got married, he continued to be just as good to me. My colleagues all praised him as a wonderful husband, envying me for finding true love. But looking back, after Chloe appeared a while ago, something felt off about him. Her name was the one he mentioned most often. On Valentine’s Day, he’d make excuses about working late at the office, but he was actually out to dinner with Chloe. One day, he actually didn’t come to pick me up after work. I had to call him to find out he’d simply forgotten. Yet, I saw a photo of them together at a nightclub on Chloe’s Ins story. I had originally intended to find an opportunity to ask him directly. If his heart had changed, I would have let them be. But then he reverted to his gentle, loving self, and I didn’t dig deeper. I just thought maybe he was just looking for a new thrill. One day, Chloe called him many times, but he didn’t answer. He stayed home with me instead. “Honey, the company’s run into some trouble recently. We desperately need a large sum of money, or the company will go bankrupt.” “This company is my life’s work, honey. I treat it like my own child. I can’t lose it.” He finished speaking, then hugged me and burst into tears. I couldn’t bear to see him so upset. “Don’t worry, I still have some savings in my account. I’ll go to the bank and withdraw it tomorrow.” After I said that, he hugged me tightly and said, “Honey, you’re so good to me. I’ll always be by your side from now on, and I promise to do everything I can to make you happy.” I believed him. All my previous suspicions vanished. I found a middleman and announced on the black market that I could read fortunes and alter destinies. A wealthy man, on the verge of death, found me. I used my second ability, extending his lifespan. He paid me a five-million-dollar酬金 (fee). This money, if things had gone as planned, was supposed to be given to Liam today. Sure enough, as soon as I got in the car, Liam first pretended to be concerned about my health. “Honey, you were coughing a bit this morning. Are you catching a cold?” “Make sure you get enough rest. If you’re sick, please take a few days off and stay home.” I nodded. My heart felt no ripples. Seeing my expressionless face, he softened his tone and asked again. “Honey, did you go to the bank to withdraw the money? The company’s account is empty, and the finance department is urging me to transfer funds today.” I looked up at him after hearing that. His face was full of anxiety, and he parted his lips to continue. “It’s okay. If you can’t withdraw it, it’s fine. I’ll figure out something else. I can’t let a woman shoulder all the responsibility.” Though he said that, in his heart, he was clearly anticipating me handing over the money. When I said I’d transfer it to him once we got home, a flicker of glee crossed his eyes. But he likely wouldn’t live to spend that money. 2 He hugged me happily and said, “Honey, you’re the best. The company is saved now.” “By the way, have you felt unwell lately? You looked a bit pale this morning. I’m a little worried.” I knew what he meant by that. This morning, I had used my last ability and saw that only three days remained above my head. But what he didn’t know was that I had swapped my own fate. After returning home, I called Mr. Sterling, who then told me about Liam’s true nature. I was somewhat shocked. After thanking him, I quickly hung up. Hearing the sound, Liam poked his head out of the bedroom, asking suspiciously, “Honey, who were you talking to?” “Nothing much. The money couldn’t be transferred, so I just called the bank to inquire about the situation.” “Oh, I see. No rush. Just as long as you can transfer the money to me tomorrow.” Only then did he relax and continue tidying up. The next morning, he still hadn’t received the money and was starting to get anxious. I had just sat down to eat breakfast when he immediately snatched my forks away. I was annoyed. “What are you doing? What do you mean by not letting me eat?” He heard my impatient tone, but instead of getting upset, he smiled. “Honey, how can you still have an appetite when the money hasn’t come through?” I let out a cold laugh. His hidden agenda was practically screaming at me. Seeing that I didn’t answer him directly, his face began to darken, turning sullen. “Aubrey Hayes, you *will* transfer that money to me today! You weren’t like this before!” “The company can’t wait any longer. If it goes bankrupt, you won’t be able to live a life of luxury anymore! You’ll have to beg with me!” I ignored him. His expression was somewhat perplexed. In the past, I would have transferred the money immediately, but this time I had waited a long time. I naturally knew what he was angry about. Not long after we got married, his physical exam revealed kidney failure, so severe that he needed an immediate transplant. Unfortunately, there was no kidney donor available. He cried to me. “Honey, I don’t want to die. If I leave, and you’re all alone, I can’t rest easy.” I had no choice but to use my ability to alter someone else’s lifespan. After the surgery, I could only tell him that I had donated it. He was so moved, saying he would spend his entire life making it up to me. How could I, who loved him so much, refuse his request? He grew more and more anxious, talking faster and getting more agitated. Seeing me unresponsive, He forcefully swept the table, sending plates and bowls crashing to the floor. But I didn’t expose him. I looked up to question him. After five years together, I still wanted to give him one last chance. If he told me the truth, He wouldn’t die. “Liam, is your company really in trouble?” “Or are you lying to me? Just tell me, and I’ll forgive you. Maybe we can figure it out together.” At my words, his pupils contracted slightly, and his expression became unnatural. But then he thought, *How could she possibly know? Besides, she’s practically dying anyway.* Liam sneered. “Aubrey Hayes, if you don’t want to give me the money, just say so. Don’t accuse me! If you don’t believe me, ask the company’s CFO.” “Or I can call Chloe. She’s my secretary. One question and you’ll know. When she found out the company was in trouble, she willingly sold her house to help me. You’re my wife, and you’re not even as good as her.” Liam’s stubborn denial truly disappointed me. Since he intended to harm me, I had nothing left to hold back. No need for softness. Suddenly, Chloe actually entered, inputting the password to unlock the door. I froze for a moment. It seemed they were much more intimate than I had imagined. She scurried over and linked her arm through Liam’s, cooing, “Mr. Miller, hasn’t Ms. Hayes given you the money yet?” “Is Ms. Hayes giving the money to another man? You don’t know? If you ask me, just take her phone and transfer it yourself.” Liam’s fury ignited at her words. He grabbed a cup from the kitchen and threw it at me. It struck me squarely on the head. I cried out in pain, clutching my head and groaning. 3 Chloe stood by, covering her mouth and giggling, her words dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, Ms. Hayes, Mr. Miller is usually so kind-tempered. Look how you’ve upset him. This isn’t good for you.” He seized the opportunity to snatch my phone and began transferring money to himself. “Liam, give that back! If you transfer it, you’ll live to regret this!” He found my words amusing. “You b*tch, when I was being nice to you, you wouldn’t give it to me. You forced me to get rough. Who knows who’ll regret what? Maybe you’ll be the one in trouble first.” “If you had just given me the money earlier, you wouldn’t be suffering. I can’t stand you.” Chloe kicked my face, then leaned in close to my ear. “He’s always with me when he’s not home. He says I’m more adventurous in bed than you are. He absolutely adores it.” “And I’m pregnant.” She touched her belly, looking at me provocatively. “Oh, by the way, he told me you have some special ability, that you can see people’s lifespans. Is that true?” I stared at her in shock. I grabbed Liam’s leg and asked, “How do you know that?! Who told you?” He disgustedly kicked me away. “Get lost! You don’t need to know that.” “You just need to know that when you die, I’ll take care of your body. I think you’ve just used your abilities too much and now you’re facing retribution.” Before I could speak, he continued to kick me savagely, only stopping when I coughed up blood. “See? Your retribution has arrived. Don’t blame me for abandoning years of our relationship. It’s just that you have this ability and never told me! Otherwise, my mom wouldn’t have died!” “Aubrey Hayes, how heartless you are! If you could have checked my mom’s lifespan in advance, and she’d been diagnosed with stomach cancer earlier, she could have been treated. Everything would have been fine!” “You could save *my* life, why wouldn’t you save my mom’s?!” Liam was known for being exceptionally filial. But this level of devotion, it was truly pathological. My heart clenched. When his mother was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer, I was on duty at the funeral home. By the time I rushed to the hospital, she had already passed away. Liam was disoriented for half a month afterwards. Then he told me his company was in trouble. It seemed he already knew about my abilities by then and had blamed everything on me. My body began to suffer a severe backlash. I convulsed incessantly, rolling on the ground, my eyes rolling back. Chloe was terrified and quickly crouched behind Liam. He didn’t find it strange; instead, he laughed wildly. “You b*tch, this is your retribution!” “By my calculations, you’ll die tomorrow. I’ll take care of your body then.” He stabbed me in the abdomen with a knife, and I screamed in agony. “Once you’re dead, I’ll find a place to bury you properly.” Without waiting for me to speak, he grabbed Chloe and turned to leave. I lost consciousness from excessive bleeding. When I woke up, I found myself lying inside a cremation oven at the funeral home. The enclosed space made it hard for me to breathe. I desperately cried, pounded, and called for help. “Is anyone there?! Let me out, please!” “Is anyone there?! I’m still alive!” No one responded. I started to panic. Then Liam’s voice echoed in my ears. It wasn’t loud, but I could hear it clearly. “Screaming won’t help. No one’s coming to save you.” “I’ve been preparing for this. Today, I’m sending you to be cremated. A life for a life!” My throat was raw from screaming, and my voice was laced with tears as I asked, “Alright, since I won’t live long, let me die with some understanding. What have you done to me?!” At my words, Liam chuckled softly. He began to tell me how he had been preparing for two months, how he had bought a secret poison from a shady contact deep in the city’s underbelly. No matter how resilient a person was, prolonged consumption would cause problems. Every day after work, the fruits and food he brought me contained the poison. So that was it. My heart felt as if it were in ice, chilling to the bone, making me tremble with pain. He was the person I trusted most. How could he?! How *dare* he?! I had sacrificed so much for him. The first time I twisted someone else’s fate, my limbs became weak, and every step felt like my bones would fracture. In the end, I had to hide from him, claiming I was working overtime, but I actually slept in the morgue for half a month before recovering. The second time I altered the rich man’s destiny, I briefly went blind. I never told him any of this. For him, I was willing to endure. He finished speaking and left immediately after seeing the cremation oven start its cycle. I heard him leave. I immediately pressed the emergency button, which only internal staff knew about. Soon, my colleagues rushed over and violently pulled the metal tray out. They gasped when they saw it was me. They quickly treated the wound on my abdomen, stitching it with twenty stitches. “Ms. Hayes, how did you end up in there? Thank goodness you pressed the button in time, or someone could have died.” “Oh my god, Ms. Hayes, who put you in there? Your name isn’t on the work log.” They looked at the name, which read “Aubrey Vance.” “That’s not right. That’s not Ms. Hayes’s name. I saw that name on the log yesterday too and wondered why it was only one letter different from Ms. Hayes’s.” Suddenly, a female colleague screamed. “The family member who signed the log is Ms. Hayes’s husband!” “I feel a little weak in the legs, I need to sit down.” Hearing this, they helped me to the break room, their faces filled with worry. They wanted to ask more questions but ultimately swallowed their words. I broke the silence. “Don’t say anything about what happened today. I’ll handle it.” Seeing my solemn expression, they immediately nodded, gave me a few words of caution, and left. I took out my phone and called Mr. Sterling. “Hello, I’m out. Are you ready?” “Everything’s set. Just waiting for your command to deal with that despicable pair.” “Good!” I closed my eyes, waiting quietly. Meanwhile, Liam went home, packed his things, contacted a real estate agent to sell the house, and sold off all the valuable items in the home. After letting his guard down, he actually started dancing a striptease with Chloe at home. They were both incredibly excited, tearing open one condom after another. Used toys lay scattered on the floor. He cupped Chloe’s face and said, “Once she’s dead, I’ll have her abilities. We’ll be rich beyond our wildest dreams.” “My little darling, tonight I’ll definitely take good care of you, make you utterly satisfied, and blow your mind.” But the next second, Chloe’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She pointed at Liam, terrified.

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Six months after my death, Mom’s leukemia relapsed. My brother, Liam, came to my apartment, demanding I donate bone marrow to her. My landlady, Martha, told him, “Chloe’s already dead.” Liam scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. “Chloe Kingston, always so dramatic! Always pulling stunts for attention. She’s just rotten to the core, nothing like Serena. You tell her to stop playing games and go donate bone marrow to Mom, or I’ll make her regret it!” Martha, her hair a wispy white, flared up in anger. She grabbed a broom and chased Liam out. “I told you, Chloe’s dead! You, her family, killed her! “Chloe’s been gone for six months now! How exactly are you going to ‘make her regret it’? “Chloe truly had the worst luck, cursed with a family like yours!” The realization that I was genuinely dead seemed to hit Liam then. His face turned ashen, and he fled in a panic. I’d been dead for six months, but I hadn’t moved on. My soul clung uncontrollably to the Kingston family. Day after day, I watched the four of them, happy as ever. Serena Davis and Ryan Thompson were getting married. The date and venue were already booked. That’s when they finally remembered me. “Is Chloe still mad? Will she come to my wedding with Ryan?” “If she doesn’t come, I won’t acknowledge her as my daughter anymore.” “See? She wasn’t raised by us; she’ll never truly be family.” “I told you back then, we shouldn’t have brought her back. Just let things be.” My dad, Robert, my mom, Vivian, and my brother, Liam, sat there, talking about my faults. I saw Serena’s eyes well up, but a tiny smirk played on her lips. She’d won. I, the real daughter, had nothing left, not even my life. The family took turns calling my phone, but it just went straight to voicemail. It had been six months; my phone battery had died ages ago. After failing to reach me, they cursed me out collectively, then dismissed me from their thoughts again. Even if they occasionally remembered me, it was only to add another insult. Mom went with Serena to try on wedding dresses. Serena’s eyes landed on a gown displayed in a glass case. “Mom, look! This dress is so beautiful.” I looked at the dress too, and for a moment, I was lost in a daze. Just then, Mom had already called a store assistant over, asking to take the dress out. “I’m so sorry, but this gown is a custom order.” Serena loved the dress and kept asking about the client who’d ordered it. Finally, the assistant checked her records: “It’s Miss Chloe Kingston. She provided the design herself, and our company helped create it.” Serena immediately covered her mouth, choked up. “Sister still can’t let go of Ryan, can she? Maybe I should just give him back to her.” Give him back to me? A bitter laugh escaped my ethereal form. Ryan and I were childhood sweethearts, once the most envied couple. But then I was recognized by the Kingstons, and I met Serena. Everyone loved Serena. My childhood sweetheart loved her too. This wedding dress… yes, I designed it for myself. Once, filled with so much love, I poured my heart into this design. I thought I’d wear it, that I’d marry Ryan. But now, that dress was something I could only ever dream of, forever out of reach.

Serena Davis always got what she wanted. “Mom decided,” Vivian declared. “This dress is yours, a wedding gift from her.” Serena feigned modesty. “Won’t Chloe be upset?” “What’s there for her to be upset about? Matters of the heart can’t be forced. It’s her own fault for being ill-tempered and malicious. Ryan not liking her is her just deserts. What does it have to do with you? She always used to bully you; giving you a wedding dress is the least she could do.” Serena happily slipped into the gown, twirling joyfully in front of the mirror. Mom watched Serena with a look of profound satisfaction. That was a look I could only ever wish for, never attain. For Serena, Mom was always hands-on, meticulous about every detail. She said she wanted her precious daughter’s big day to be perfect in every way. As for me, after being stolen as a baby, I was simply an extra person, a nuisance. I watched Mom, day and night, altering Serena’s wedding dress. Serena was a bit heavier than me, and she refused to pick another dress. Mom, who loved her daughter more than life itself, disregarded her own health, insisting on altering the gown personally. My mom, Vivian, was a highly sought-after fashion designer in the industry. Serena, year-round, pretty much wore only clothes designed by Mom. I never had that privilege. Later, I became a designer myself, designing my own clothes. No one loved me, so I learned to love myself. The night the wedding dress was finished, Mom collapsed. She was rushed to the hospital, and her condition was critical. “The patient’s leukemia has relapsed.”

Dad swayed, nearly losing his balance. “How can this be? Wasn’t she recovering well before?” “Has the patient experienced any unusual symptoms recently?” “Well, our daughter is getting married, so my wife has been busy running around. Maybe she’s just tired. Recently, she even pulled two all-nighters to alter the wedding dress for our daughter.” “Foolish! Is she trying to die? Her body just recovered; how could it withstand such strain?” “Then, Doctor, what do we do now? Please, you have to save my mother.” Serena’s eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at the doctor. The doctor’s expression turned grim. “We need to prepare for a second bone marrow transplant.” “Then quickly call Chloe Kingston to come here!” Immediately, they all remembered me again, frantically calling my phone. “Hello, the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable…” Listening to the automated voice on the phone, their faces all darkened. Serena cried, “Sister must still be mad at me. I’ll go beg her. As long as she’s willing to save Mom, I’ll leave Ryan, I’ll leave the Kingston family.” “That b*tch, Chloe Kingston! Mom’s critically ill, and she still won’t answer the phone! She’s truly a malicious b*tch!” I watched Liam. My brother, with whom I shared blood, thought of me as a b*tch. Dad, Robert, sneered. “She thinks she’s got us cornered, waiting for us to beg her.” “I don’t want her bone marrow anymore, that unfilial daughter. Since she doesn’t care if I live or die, I’ll pretend I never had a daughter like her.” Mom, upon waking from her coma, also joined in, expressing her disgust and condemning me. Liam angrily punched the wall. “I’ll go find her.”

I followed Liam to the apartment where I had lived before I died. *Bang! Bang! Bang!* Liam pounded on the door, his face etched with disgust and impatience. He hammered on the door for a long time, but no one answered. Just as he was about to leave, Martha, my landlady, came out. The old lady lived right across the hall; she must have heard the commotion. “Where’s Chloe Kingston?” Liam demanded. Martha paused. “Chloe? Such a sweet girl. What a pity she had such bad luck and died so young.” “Died? How could that be! “Old lady, you’re quite a joker.” Liam burst out laughing, completely disbelieving. Yes, in his eyes, I was a menace. And a menace, they say, lives a thousand years. How could I possibly die so easily? But this time, I truly was dead. “Who would joke about something like that?! Chloe really is dead.” Liam continued to scoff. “Chloe Kingston, always so dramatic! Always pulling stunts for attention. I’m her brother; I know exactly what kind of person she is. “She’s just rotten to the core, nothing like Serena. You tell her to stop playing games and go donate bone marrow to Mom, or I’ll make her regret it!” Martha, her hair a wispy white, flared up in anger. She grabbed a broom and chased Liam out. “I told you, Chloe’s dead! You, her family, killed her! “Chloe’s been gone for six months now! How exactly are you going to ‘make her regret it’? “Chloe truly had the worst luck, cursed with a family like yours!” Liam, who had been dodging, froze. “You’re not joking? Chloe Kingston is really dead? How… how can that be?” “Get out! Get out! You heartless monster!” Liam fled in a panic.

I followed Liam into his car. Liam lit a cigarette, and through the swirling smoke, I saw his face was dark with troubled thoughts. Knowing I was dead, did a tiny bit of sadness touch him? In the flickering light of the cigarette, Liam’s phone rang. He glanced down at it. The contact name read: “Serena Darling.” Huh. Serena was “Serena Darling.” And me? Oh, I was the “bane of their existence.” That was the note the entire family had for me in their phones, surprisingly consistent. Liam answered the call. Serena’s voice, slightly choked and hoarse, came through. “Brother, what did Sister say? Is she still angry? Please don’t argue with her. I’ll go apologize to her myself. Sister is stubborn. After donating bone marrow last time, she said she’d never acknowledge us again, that even if she died outside, it would be none of our business. I’m scared Sister might do something foolish.” At her words, Liam’s dark brows instantly smoothed out. “Heh! Chloe Kingston is quite impressive now, even faking her own death!” I froze right there. My brother thought I was faking my death. No investigation, no verification. Yes, they simply didn’t care about me. Always their own subjective assumptions. “Then what do we do? Mom’s body can’t wait.” “I don’t believe it. There has to be another suitable donor besides Chloe Kingston.” Yes, I was always the one who shouldn’t exist.

When Liam returned, he exaggerated my “faking my death” story, adding his own nasty twists. The whole family instantly launched into a tirade against me. “Just as I thought, an ungrateful wretch, only thinking of herself.” “How could I have given birth to such a heartless creature?” “Sister is still angry with me. I’ll go apologize, I’ll make amends.” The tirade reached its peak amidst Serena’s sobbing. They comforted Serena, while using even more vicious words to curse me. Ryan half-embraced Serena, gently patting her back to soothe her. “Serena, it’s not your fault. Kindness isn’t a reason for Chloe Kingston to bully you. A malicious person like her is destined to be disliked by everyone.” Serena quietly sobbed in Ryan’s arms. But then, I remembered some things from the past. Years ago, after Serena’s mother stole me, she dumped me in a trash can. I was picked up by human traffickers, who sold me to a couple who had been childless for years. Less than a year after adopting me, that couple had a set of boy-girl twins. After that, my once ordinary life turned into a living hell. At just three years old, I had to start learning to do chores. I also had to take care of my younger brother and sister. If anything went wrong, my father’s heavy hand was waiting for me. Simple things like eating enough and having warm clothes were luxuries for me. In those bitter days, Ryan was one of the few sources of light in my life. He would secretly slip me a protein bar on the way to school. He would tend to my wounds after my father hit me. We got into college together, and naturally, we became a couple. I dreamed of spending my whole life with him, but then he got together with Serena. “I shouldn’t have pitied her back then; she’s just a heartless, ungrateful monster.” Ryan’s harsh words pulled me back to the present. So, being with me was out of pity? When I used to tutor Ryan, he once praised me: “Chloe, you’re truly the most wonderful girl in the world.” After we both started college, there was an opportunity to study abroad for three months. The school had me in mind for it. But Ryan really wanted to go. He hugged me, begging me to give him the opportunity. When I nodded, he happily spun me around. “Chloe, don’t worry. All this hard work is so I can give you a better life in the future. I want you to walk down the aisle to me in style.” Ryan discarded his promises like trash. Only I clung to them, refusing to let go. Even when what I held in my hand had rotted away, I clutched it like a lifeline. But Ryan had long forgotten.

Dad and Liam pulled every string they had, trying to find another suitable bone marrow donor for Mom. But a suitable donor wasn’t easy to find. In just half a month, the doctor delivered an ultimatum. A suitable donor had to be found as soon as possible. Otherwise, Mom would be in grave danger. So, they started calling me again. Still no answer. They exchanged glances, realizing that besides calling me, they had no other way to reach me. Dad cleared his throat. “Do any of you have any of Chloe Kingston’s friends’ or classmates’ numbers?” All their gazes fell on Ryan. Ryan pulled out his phone and called a few classmates and friends he remembered I was close to. “Chloe Kingston? I haven’t heard from her in almost a year.” Liam’s face darkened. “That Chloe Kingston is such a freak. She doesn’t even have any close friends or classmates. Who knows where she’s hiding, completely inconsiderate. She deserves to be disliked.” A bitter taste filled my mouth. If I could, I wouldn’t want to be here either. I didn’t want to be disliked. I wanted everyone to adore me, just like Serena.

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The night my girlfriend became a movie star, she plunged a knife into me seventeen times. I bled out completely. But then, after killing me, she took her own life. In her hand, a voice recorder, engraved with “To Julian.” It was filled with the most intense love and longing. Julian was the idealized crush of her life, the man she’d secretly adored for three years. He’d died in a car crash before she ever got the chance to confess her feelings. On the recording, she sobbed, her voice tearing her heart out, “It’s all because of you that I lost the love of my life!” When I opened my eyes again, I watched her rush towards the surging traffic, and I used every ounce of my strength to save *her* “love.” Seeing her clutch him in her arms, like he was the most precious thing in the world, I let out a bitter laugh. This time, Serena, I set you free. Just don’t you dare regret it. “Liam, thank you for supporting me all these years. I really appreciate you.” The woman before me smiled, a picture of blooming beauty. But my body went weak, and I could only cling to the tablecloth before crashing heavily to the floor. Plates and bowls clattered, shattering around me. My eyes wide with horror, I watched as the beautiful woman slowly drew a sharp knife from her clothes and walked towards me, her face alight with vicious satisfaction. In my stunned gaze, she stabbed down hard. The blade sank deep into my flesh. The pain was so intense, I wanted to scream. I wanted to demand, *Why?* Her heavily made-up face contorted into a grotesque mask. “It’s all because of you that Julian died! Why wasn’t it *you* who died instead?!” “This is what you owe Julian! You deserve to die! Because of you, I never even got the chance to confess to him!” Pain. So much pain. But I couldn’t open my mouth. All I could do was stare helplessly, watching her stab me, one knife after another, again and again. I think, I probably died then. Killed by a woman. Killed by the girlfriend I’d pampered for seven years. How pathetic. After I died, my soul floated in the air, watching Serena madly stab my lifeless body. My body was riddled with holes, blood flowing endlessly, making the scene a horrific, foul-smelling mess. She seemed to finally believe I was dead. With trembling hands, she pulled out an old high school uniform and somehow squeezed herself into it. The clothes didn’t fit her at all, and with her heavy makeup, she looked like a grotesque clown. As I watched in shock, the next second, a sharp blade plunged through her own heart. Serena fell slowly to the ground, a smile on her face, murmuring, “Julian, I’ve finally avenged you. Wait for me down there, I’ll be right there to find you!” I watched her bleed out. I watched her take her last breath. I wondered, *Julian, who is that?* I floated there for two hours, waiting for Mr. Hayes to arrive and call the police, waiting for the fully armed officers to enter the scene. Finally, from the depths of my memory, I dug up some long-forgotten past. Julian was Serena’s first love from high school. He had died seven years ago. And Serena had only agreed to be with me the month after Julian’s death. Back then, I thought she had lost her love and desperately needed a relationship to heal herself. I spent all my energy pleasing her, treating her like a precious porcelain doll, coddling and doting on her. Throughout our relationship, she never had to lift a finger at home. I thought, after all my effort, after seven years by her side, even a block of ice would have melted. But it hadn’t. A woman’s voice suddenly rang out, crying her heart out. I snapped back to reality, seeing a police officer pull a voice recorder from Serena’s embrace, his hand resting on the play button. “Liam Davies, you forced me to stay by your side, making me waste seven whole years of my youth!” “Yes, I killed you. I want you to feel how painful death is, so you understand how much I suffered! “This was all your fault! If it weren’t for you, I would never have lost Julian!” At the end of the recording, she said, “Liam Davies, I hate you! I want you to go to hell and atone to Julian!” That recording, the police and I listened to it together five times in that silent room. The silence in the room was so thick, you could hear a pin drop. I was stunned, suddenly feeling like my death was utterly worthless. What did I ever see in that psycho?

But Serena’s craziness went far beyond that. The day after Serena’s suicide, her Ins account released the audio from the voice recorder. It was a scheduled post. She must have set it up before she died. The recording, coupled with a long, melodramatic caption, was enough to completely ruin my reputation. That day, her fanatical followers flooded my private messages with unreadable, disgusting comments. Even though I was dead, even though I couldn’t reply, couldn’t clarify anything. They still relished in it, negative news covering every platform. Serena truly deserved to be a movie star; she even turned our deaths into a theatrical performance. Her fans didn’t see her as a murderer. Instead, they thought she had endured for love, lurking for years just to make me pay the price I deserved. I, the victim, was portrayed as the ultimate villain who tore apart a perfect couple and caused such a talented actress like Serena to die in the prime of her life. My entire life story was dug up and displayed for the internet to feast upon. My grave became a pilgrimage site for those rabid fans, who took pleasure in defacing it. They even tried to dig up my ashes and scatter them, only stopped by the authorities. Davies Corporation’s stock plummeted. Even worse, core secrets of Davies Corporation mysteriously appeared in the hands of rival companies. In just a few days, my family’s company was on the verge of bankruptcy. My reputation, my career, my life—all of it was completely destroyed by Serena. Even my very existence had ended at her hands. I had never so clearly understood that the woman who had slept by my side for countless days and nights only wanted to destroy me. Then, I finally remembered why Serena hated me. Seven years ago, I had stopped Serena from rushing into traffic. And because of that, Julian was hit and killed by an out-of-control car. It turned out, from that moment on, Serena had held me responsible for everything. She said I made her miss the chance to confess to Julian, the man she’d secretly adored for three years. It made no sense. Even if I hadn’t confessed to her that day, she wouldn’t have confessed to Julian either. I was just unlucky. Unlucky not just to confess to Serena the day Julian died, but to fall in love with that unhinged woman in the first place. I thought, this time, I truly regretted it. The next moment, a sharp scream jolted me back to reality. A figure slammed into me, shoving me aside, and rushed into the surging traffic. “Get lost, Liam! If anything happens to Julian, you’ll pay with your life!” I watched her clutch him tightly in her arms, like he was the most precious thing in the world, and I let out a bitter laugh, tossing the bouquet in my hand into the trash. Pay with my life for him? Julian, was he even worth it? I’d understood it perfectly after I died. There are so many women in the world; why did I have to be obsessed with just one? Especially a toxic poppy that would demand my life as payment. What a waste of time and effort.

And my current situation was perfectly clear. A bouquet, a confession, plus a car accident. Serena’s eyes were filled with disgust when she looked at me; she looked innocent and young. This couldn’t be the Serena I’d spent seven years with, who, after years in the entertainment industry, had long learned how to mask her emotions and wouldn’t be so transparently expressive. That left only one possibility. I had been reborn. And the person in front of me was Serena, seven years ago. I immediately turned around decisively, wanting to be eight hundred miles away from that psycho, but she suddenly called out to stop me. “Liam Davies, what are you doing?! Can’t you see Julian is hurt? Aren’t you going to help?” I glanced over. He was indeed badly injured. Although Julian hadn’t been dragged under the car like in my previous life, he hadn’t completely escaped either. His leg collapsed limply, like two undercooked noodles, blood soaking through his pants. Oh. Looks like he’ll be crippled. I felt a little gleeful. Help, with my own hands? Absolutely not. Out of basic human decency, I dialed 911. “911 is coming right away. Before I leave, there’s something I want to tell you.” The girl looked at me, her expression even more high-and-mighty. She seemed afraid I would come up and pull her away, instinctively clutching the person in her arms even tighter. “If it’s a confession, there’s no need. I…” I smiled, cutting her off. “It’s not a confession. It’s just a blessing.” The siren of the ambulance wailed. I met the girl’s stunned gaze and offered a smile. “Serena, I hope you and Julian find happiness.” Preferably, never separate. Serena’s face darkened. Before Serena could say anything, I turned and walked away. I needed to go home and check what exact point in time I was at now and what I could do. Now, I was sitting in a classroom again. It felt like another lifetime. I listened to the hypnotic drone of the trigonometry lesson. Everyone around me was asleep, but my eyes were wide awake. “Liam Davies, you’re doing great today! So energetic. Everyone should learn from him!” The teacher rarely praised me. But there were no sounds of appreciation from below. I could still hear the deliberately amplified sneers from the two boys next to me. “Learn what? How to be a simp chasing a goddess, or how to stay at the bottom of the class?” “Who doesn’t know what he’s like? Just because he has a few dirty bucks, why’s he acting so arrogant? Maybe when Serena gets back, he’ll be sticking to her like glue again!” I didn’t say anything, just smiled. They weren’t wrong. I did have a few dirty bucks, and I consistently held the last-place spot in class. But those weren’t my weaknesses. The stupidest thing I’d ever done in this class was falling for Serena. Now she was stuck with the hospital drama and couldn’t come back. I looked down at my phone. The media swarmed her like bloodsucking locusts. Logically, she wouldn’t be able to get away anytime soon. I was enjoying my peace. Unfortunately, I soon realized that those good days were coming to an end. While class was in session, someone knocked on the classroom door. I looked up and met the gaze of the person on the podium. Her eyes still held that familiar, high-and-mighty look. Tsk. Serena got free so quickly and came back to class. How annoying. I thought she would at least be a little wary of me. But to my surprise, Serena pointed directly at me from the stage. “I want to sit next to Liam Davies.” My smile froze. I just stared, dumbfounded.

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I dedicated two years to caring for Julian, who was paralyzed. Everyone believed the first thing he’d do after standing again was marry me. Only I, on the night his surgery succeeded, asked, “Do you still want to marry me?” He hesitated. That simple answer, he never quite said it. I let out a soft laugh. “I get it.” I took off the ring and, that very night, left the place I’d called home for two years without a second thought. **1** “Do you still want to marry me?” Julian froze slightly at my words, staring at his legs for a long moment before speaking. The commotion from outside drifted in through the slightly ajar door. “The doctor said Julian’s surgery was a huge success. He’ll be back to normal in less than half a month.” “I seriously never thought he’d recover. Two years ago, he’d practically given up on himself.” “Thanks to Elara, sticking by him through thick and thin. They’re definitely getting married, right? We should start preparing wedding gifts.” … Julian heard these teasing congratulations, but he still didn’t say anything. An awkward silence hung in the air. Finally, I stood up, kneading his knees and calves like I always did. I gently offered him an out, “Is this pressure okay?” That broke the uncomfortable quiet. His tense body gradually relaxed. I softly asked again, just like I had for two years, “Are you uncomfortable?” He shook his head, then earnestly replied, “No, you’re better than any physical therapist.” I stared at my hands, massaging his legs. Honestly, when I started, I had no idea what I was doing. He couldn’t stand being touched by professional physical therapists. Whenever one arrived, he’d throw a fit and send them away. But massage was crucial for his legs, so I spent three months learning from a local wellness center owner. From experimenting with different lotions and techniques on myself, sometimes to the point of soreness, I finally cautiously began massaging his legs. The first time, I only dared to massage him when he was asleep. But he was a light sleeper, and he still caught me. He erupted, “Get out!” I didn’t leave. I followed the pressure points the wellness center owner had taught me, massaging him again. His legs couldn’t move, so he threw his pillow at my head. I didn’t flinch. He just started throwing anything he could grab within reach. Finally, a photo frame flew towards me. Inside was a picture from his college days: one hand holding a trophy, the other clenched in a fist, full of youthful vigor. When warm blood trickled down my forehead, he stared at me, struggling to get to my side, but his restricted legs made him helpless. Finally, he covered his face and suddenly sobbed. “Go. Just go. Don’t stay with me. “It’s useless. I can’t feel anything. No matter how much you massage, it’s no use.” **2** Back then, he’d completely given up on himself. I’d come over every day, rain or shine, to massage him. Until his mother found him after he’d taken sleeping pills and rushed him to the hospital. His mother was at her wit’s end with him. I knelt in front of him and said, “Look at me.” He quietly looked up. I told him, “Everything’s going to be okay. Trust me.” At that moment, I had no idea where I found that confidence. From that day on, I moved into his house. Mrs. Davies cried, thanking me over and over, saying how lucky they were to have me. She seemed to hesitate, and I knew what she wanted to ask. So I said, “As long as Julian doesn’t tell me to leave, I’ll stay by his side.” But the truth was, even if he *had* told me to leave, I still wouldn’t have gone. Another time, when the massage seemed to have no effect, he exploded. “Get out! All of you, get out!” By then, he was in a wheelchair. His entire bedroom was smashed to pieces. But at least, he finally avoided throwing things at me. After he’d finished venting, I knelt beside him. I said it again, “Julian, trust me.” That simple phrase, I said it for two whole years. Gradually, he began to feel the pressure in his legs, and then slowly, he could do some simple movements. Until yesterday’s surgery, even the doctors were amazed, saying it was a great success. If all went well, he’d be able to stand again. **3** When Mrs. Davies heard the news, she slipped a bank card into my hand. I stared at the card, feeling dazed. These past two years, I wasn’t doing it for a bank card. Julian’s friends all called me ‘sister-in-law,’ but only I knew the truth. I wasn’t a ‘sister-in-law’ at all. We never even talked about being together, let alone made things official. But at least I had Julian’s promise: “Elara, once my legs are better, we’ll get married right away.” That was during his first treatment session. The doctor had regretfully implied a bleak outlook, and I was pushing him home. He completely broke down the moment he entered the house. The golden boy, who once had it all, suddenly found his world shattered. No one could accept that. I hugged him tightly. He bit down on my shoulder. He bit so hard and deep, the marks are still on my shoulder even now. When he saw the blood, he snapped back to reality, panicked, and said, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” After he apologized, I massaged his calves like always, and that’s when he said it. No, he also asked, “Elara, do you have a crush on me?” I didn’t just nod. I looked at him and said, “Yes.” He looked at me for a long time before saying he’d marry me. But everything I did wasn’t for an equal exchange. I just wanted him to feel the same way I did, praying that one day he might love me too. At that moment, I stood up like I always did, poured the massage oil into my palms, warmed it up, and then touched his calves. I knew he was watching me. After a long silence, his voice came from above my head. “Elara, you don’t have to do these things anymore.” My hands paused, but I continued with the massage. I looked up, asking again, still holding onto a sliver of hope, “Julian, do you still want to marry me?” He looked like he wanted to speak, but he kept his mouth shut. I could only laugh at myself for being so foolishly hopeful. But the ring on my ring finger, he had put it there himself. I’d had a crush on him for so many years; how could I not be foolishly hopeful? **4** I stood up and washed the massage oil off my hands. The ring on my ring finger felt like it was digging into my heart. He spoke from outside the door, “Elara, you’re like a sister to me.” Tears splashed into the water, and I quickly wiped them away. Don’t say that. Those words were too cruel to me. When I pushed open the bathroom door and stepped out, the living room was still noisy. I looked down at Julian’s eyes, and with effort, I slipped the ring off. The fit was off, it was a size too small. I didn’t know if he was careless or if it wasn’t meant for me in the first place. But I knew I’d forced it on, even though it pinched my finger. Before, I could still lie to myself that rings were supposed to be like that. When I finally took it off, my finger felt a sense of relief. I almost regretted why I hadn’t taken it off sooner. Julian’s gaze flickered away. I held the ring out to him. “Here, take it back.” The red mark on my finger was still clear. I added, “It was a size too small.” He tried to say something, but I waved him off. Then I pushed his wheelchair towards the door.

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On the ninety-ninth day after I died, Chloe brought her new boyfriend to visit my grave. She held a vibrant bouquet of flowers, nestled in his arms, and forced out two measly tears. The sight of it tore my heart to shreds. I immediately cursed the heavens for being so unfair. Even after death, I had to watch my wife flaunt her new love with another man. As my curses grew fouler, a voice suddenly echoed in front of me. **System:** [Ding! Congratulations, Host, for unlocking a stage quest. Complete it on time to earn three days in the mortal realm.] [Quest One: Make the new boyfriend dance wildly at your grave.] I instantly closed my eyes and blurted out: [Just let me stay dead.] **System:** [Rise, my love! Rise!] [Can you please give me some quests that are actually doable for a living person?] I snarled, my brow furrowed, teeth gritted. **System:** [Welcome to the underworld.] Oh right, I almost forgot. I was already dead. Now, I was just a wisp of a soul, drifting around the human world. [But this… this quest? Unless I can knock him out, drag him to the grave, and force him to dance…] **System:** [Where there’s a will, there’s a way.] Fine! Fine! Fine!

This was my ninety-ninth day after death, and my hundredth day since passing was just around the corner. I never imagined Chloe would find a new boyfriend so quickly. They walked hand-in-hand, like a groom and bride, slowly approaching me. For a moment, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I blinked, then blinked again. Nope, no tricks. This new guy was actually quite handsome, but nowhere near a fraction of how good I was. Pretty faces are a dime a dozen, but a truly interesting soul? That’s one in a million. Chloe stood at my grave, her eyes instantly welling up. As she placed the bouquet down, she gracefully knelt. “Liam, I’ve come to see you. Are you doing well over there? I’m doing quite well. You try to take care of yourself too. Remember to eat well, rest well, and don’t overwork yourself…” Chloe’s voice choked. If she hadn’t brought Julian today, if this wasn’t the first time she’d visited me since I died, I almost would’ve believed her. Bad woman! You promised you’d only love me for this lifetime. Look how fast you found someone new. Julian gazed at Chloe’s tearful face, his heart aching. He then pulled her into his embrace, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “This is the last time you cry for him. Don’t let me see it again, okay?” Chloe nestled obediently against him, a little bird seeking shelter, nodding her head. The two of them then walked away from my grave, side by side. A gust of wind swept by, and I shivered instantly. I didn’t know if it was real coldness hitting me or just a wave of disgust washing over my soul.

Julian, I actually knew him. He and Chloe had known each other since childhood, born in the same year, same month, same day. You could say they were childhood sweethearts, the kind that made everyone envious. They say a sudden, fated love can never truly win against a childhood sweetheart. But hey, didn’t I just prove them wrong? Chloe and Julian were as close as could be, thick as thieves, sharing everything. My appearance completely severed their connection, right when their “more than friends, less than lovers” phase was heating up. Chloe fell hard for my slicked-back hair, my skinny ripped jeans, and my designer loafers back then. Her eyes sparkling, she told me, “Liam, I’ll marry no one but you in this life!” And I believed her. After all, for years of marriage, we truly were deeply in love. Passersby would almost gag from how sweet we were. And Julian? I could see the suppressed anguish in his eyes, the resentment of someone whose cherished person was snatched away by me. Isn’t that just how love works? Totally unexpected, yet somehow, exactly what you’d expect. So when Chloe brought a new man, and that new man happened to be Julian… I admit, I totally lost it. Julian was practically cuddling with my wife right over my grave. I seriously wanted to bust out a song right there and then. “I could sing ‘I Will Always Love You’… nah, scratch that. How about ‘Since U Been Gone’? Or ‘Irreplaceable’? ‘Happy breakup, hope you find someone better!’” Clearly, they couldn’t hear me.

I floated out of the grave and followed them all the way back to what used to be our home. In just a short time, the place had undergone a complete transformation. I liked warm colors, but Chloe was the opposite; she loved black, white, and gray. Our tastes truly clashed. When we decorated our marital home, to satisfy both of us, half was my preference, half was hers. Now, the entire house was a dark, gloomy color. The balcony curtains were heavily drawn, letting in not a single ray of light. It looked incredibly depressing. The three wedding photos of us hanging on the wall were gone too. Taking the opportunity, I floated into the bedroom for a look. Ugh, seriously… everything was gone. Every single trace of me had completely vanished. I suddenly felt so helpless as a ghost, forced to witness these infuriating things. Chloe had been curled up on the sofa since they got back, looking sickly and down, her face pale. A few beads of sweat occasionally appeared on her forehead. This familiar sight immediately told me: her period had arrived. She had always been a bit delicate, and when her period came, it always hurt terribly. She’d always complain and lean into my arms, asking me to warm her belly. I instinctively floated over, wanting to warm her belly for her. Julian, I don’t know when, appeared with a warm herbal tea. “Chloe, drink this while it’s hot. You’ll feel better. What would you do without me, huh? You never know how to take care of yourself…” Julian said, his voice full of concern, as he helped her up and personally fed her the tea. I looked at my own translucent, ethereal hand floating in the air, feeling a little dazed. Had I forgotten something again? Julian kept chattering away as he tended to her. I wanted to slap him. Why was this guy so chatty? So fussy… But then I remembered, I used to say even more than him. “Chloe, your time of the month is coming up! Drink fewer cold drinks, eat fewer snacks! Especially ice cream—” I peered over the computer screen to see a petite figure sneaking away from the fridge, a chocolate ice cream in her hand. “Chloe! Put that thing back where it belongs, right now!” I couldn’t help but roar. Chloe immediately stopped, looking all pitiful, eyes glistening with tears. “You don’t love me anymore! You said you’d be good to me forever, and you won’t even let me have ice cream?” Ah, here we go again with that routine. I stared at her, not angry, but smiling instead. “Just one bite, don’t push it. You know how much it hurts you every month. I don’t want to nag, but… I’m just worried you’ll be in pain, okay? When you hurt, you cry, and when you cry, I have to comfort you, and then I worry you’ll cry your eyes out or tire yourself…” I prattled on, my words like a machine gun. See? Not one bit less than Julian.

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At the wedding reception, Seraphina, in her wedding gown, walked straight to her ex-boyfriend. “Brad, I can’t marry you.” “You really think Seraphina would marry a cripple like him?” the man beside her sneered. “You’re just the Sterling family’s lapdog.” I didn’t care. I simply shrugged, slipping the ring off my finger and offering it back. Later, Seraphina begged me, claiming she loved me, that she wanted to marry me. But in this new life, the debt I owed was finally paid. I looked at her, my words measured: “Seraphina, I actually never wanted to marry you.” I didn’t use my cane for the wedding ceremony. My leg was definitely getting tired now. But what truly drained me was dealing with the scene playing out. Guests whispered around us, but my fiancée had her arm wrapped around another man. I knew him. She’d dated him for three years, and after he left, she’d cried for him night after night. And now, Brad, right in front of me, was practically shouting: “You actually thought Seraphina would marry a cripple?” “Leo, you’re just the Sterling family’s lapdog. How could Miss Seraphina marry a poor nobody like you?” “Now that I’m back, you can get lost.” I looked at Seraphina, my gaze unwavering. “Seraphina, is this what you want too?” Her eyes welled up with tears, but she looked at me with conviction and said, “Leo, I can’t marry you.” “If you felt bad, you wouldn’t be doing this on our wedding day.” She could’ve called off the engagement weeks ago. But no, she had to satisfy her first love’s pathetic ego, turning me into the biggest joke of the night. “I’m sorry, Leo. You’re really a good person. You’ll find someone who loves you.” “Who’d want him, a cripple? And look at how broke he is.” Brad spoke without filter, as if that would somehow crush me. I slipped the ring off my finger and handed it to her. “You two can keep this. Maybe for your future.” Then I walked away. But what they didn’t know was, I secretly sighed in relief. I owed her a life, and now it was paid. I was finally free.

“Leo, what the hell happened?” My best friend, Mike, was ready to fight for me. “Didn’t Miss Seraphina Sterling practically beg to marry you?” “Is she treating marriage like a game?” “You almost lost your leg for her, and she’s actually dumping you for it!” I’d handled all the wedding arrangements and procedures myself. I hadn’t slept well in days, and all I wanted was to catch up on sleep. “Just let me sleep for a bit longer.” “You’re still sleeping?” Mike ripped the blanket off me. “Your fiancée just ran off with another guy, and you’re still thinking about sleep?” “Didn’t you dislike Seraphina anyway? Shouldn’t you be throwing a party now that she’s gone?” Sleep was clearly out of the question, so I sat up, annoyed. “Well, yeah, that’s true, but didn’t *you* like her?” “Mike, you probably won’t believe me, but I actually never liked her.” One look at his face, and I knew he didn’t believe me. Honestly, if I didn’t know the truth myself, I wouldn’t have either. Because the entire city knew I was madly in love with Seraphina. And my willingness to be her obedient lapdog, all for “love,” had already become the laughingstock of our entire circle. Everyone thought my days as a simp were finally over, but who’d have thought this wedding would brand me as the ultimate laughingstock? Just then, my phone rang. It was Seraphina. I didn’t want to answer, but Mike snatched it. He answered directly, “I want to hear what this heartless woman has to say.” A groggy voice came from the other end. Seraphina sounded half-asleep. “Leo, pick me up at ten. I have a beauty appointment today.” I hadn’t even spoken yet when Mike snapped, “Miss Seraphina, why don’t you have your husband pick you up? What? Did his leg break overnight?” Seraphina seemed to wake up then and quickly mumbled, “I forgot…” I chuckled. “It’s fine, Miss Seraphina. Please don’t contact me again.” “Leo, do you really have to be so formal with me? You can’t even call me by my name anymore?” She sounded so wronged. “I know you’re mad, but I really love him. You always knew that…” “Miss Seraphina, there’s no need to discuss our relationship anymore.” With that, I hung up. And blocked her on every single platform. “Leo, you actually blocked her?” Mike’s surprise made me laugh. “Why wouldn’t I?” “Come on, you always gave in when you two argued. She’s probably waiting for you to apologize. Let’s see how long you can resist contacting her this time.” “Forever.”

“You absolute disgrace!” Mr. Sterling smashed an antique right in front of me. It shattered into pieces. I didn’t even see what it was. “You really are a menace! How could you let her behave like that?” Mr. Sterling was clearly furious, his face red and his neck veins bulging. But more than anything, he was angry that we had embarrassed the family. His words sounded like he was scolding Seraphina, but they were mostly aimed at me. Scolding me for not controlling Seraphina, and for not being able to win her over from another man. “Mr. Sterling, I’m not sure what Mr. and Mrs. Sterling meant.” In other words, Seraphina’s parents were there that day, and no one intervened. They just let me be humiliated. Why was it my fault now? “Get her back here! If she doesn’t come, tell her never to bother coming back!” Mr. Sterling yelled at his son. “This is a huge scandal. If she’s not ashamed, I am.” “That… what’s his name, Brad? Wasn’t he the one who went abroad before?” Mrs. Sterling quickly nodded. “That Brad, I don’t know what kind of spell he cast on our Sera. I’m just about to lose my mind…” She started crying. Mr. Sterling tried to comfort her while speaking to Mr. Sterling senior. “I’ll make sure to discipline her properly later.” Once we left the Sterling family mansion, Mrs. Sterling immediately stopped crying. She turned to me. “You useless thing! I entrusted my precious daughter to you, and you let her run off with another man?” “Mrs. Sterling, Seraphina has always loved Brad.” “That just proves how useless you are! I don’t care what you do, even if you have to grovel, get her to come back!” I shook my head, pulled a card from my wallet, and handed it over. “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, I’m grateful for all these years you’ve taken me in. This is the money you spent on me. I saved it for a long time. Consider it repayment for your kindness.” “Leo, what’s the meaning of this?” Mr. Sterling’s face clouded with displeasure. “Are you trying to cut ties with the Sterling family?” “No, Mr. Sterling, it’s not that. It’s just that Seraphina doesn’t want to marry me, and I don’t want to force her.” With that, I said my goodbyes and left. Cutting ties was definitely necessary, but the Sterling Corporation would still need me. I patted my leg. To save Seraphina back then, my leg was almost crippled. Now, it was almost fully recovered. I never said I’d be a cripple forever, but they seemed to take it as gospel truth. I took off my glasses and tossed them directly into a trash can. Seraphina used to say she liked quiet, bookish guys. So I’d forced myself to wear glasses, to act refined and polite, all because I owed her a life. But now, there was no need to pretend anymore. So that night, when I was drinking at a bar, Seraphina stormed over, clearly furious. “Alright, Leo, aren’t you allergic to alcohol? What on earth are you drinking?” I swirled the glass in my hand, unfazed. “Just a little something. What’s it look like? Booze.” “You took off your glasses… are you not even nearsighted?” “Miss Seraphina, I just don’t want to wear glasses. You also once said you only wanted to marry me. What’s your excuse now?” I stood up. “We’re all con artists here, so let’s not debate who’s better at it, shall we?” I hadn’t expected to see Seraphina here, and more importantly, the young woman she’d brought with her looked familiar. She just seemed completely out of place in this bar. “Leo, I thought we were still friends.” Seraphina suddenly softened her tone. “I know I was impulsive this time. Please don’t talk to me like this. Can you forgive me?” “Miss Seraphina, there’s no need for any of that between us. Let’s just live our own lives from now on.” Just then, Brad appeared. He charged at me, shouting, “What a lowlife you are! Sera doesn’t even like you, yet you’re still clinging to her!” I didn’t utter a single word of persuasion, but I certainly delivered a punch. Brad was all height and no fighting skill. How could he be a match for someone like me, who grew up in an orphanage? I knocked him to the ground, and he was still shouting, “Leo, you’re just a low-class hooligan! I’ll make sure you get kicked out of Sterling Corp!” “Oh yeah? I’m waiting.” I rolled up my sleeves after hitting him. “But Brad, if you pull that stunt again, I’ll beat you every time I see you.” Seraphina looked like she’d never seen me so arrogant before. She was terrified, helping Brad up, unable to speak. “Leo, I’m so disappointed in you! I never thought you’d be like this. You’re from the Sterling family! How can you just resort to violence at the drop of a hat? What kind of behavior is that?” Seraphina clearly still thought I was the old me, the one who’d lower his voice and constantly pamper her. She instinctively spoke from a position of moral high ground, scolding me. “Miss Seraphina, you probably don’t know me very well. This is who I really am.” Besides, there was a lot more she couldn’t accept. For example, I was adopted by the Sterlings. And she, wasn’t even the real heiress.

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In this world, failing the Grand National Exam meant immediate consignment to the lowest caste, becoming nothing more than an indentured servant. After my rebirth, I burned all my revision notes. Only because in my previous life, my so-called best friend used a system to spy through my vision. I’d poured my heart and soul into those exam notes, burning the midnight oil for two years straight. They were my ultimate guide to passing. She printed them out and freely handed them to every other student around us, but I was the only one kept in the dark. During the exam, she used her system to copy all my answers, then reported *me* to the Ogre Overseers for cheating off *her*. Staring at the identical exam papers, I was dragged away by the brutal Enforcers, condemned to become the lowest form of servant. Meanwhile, she became the top scorer, elevated to the world’s elite. I begged her to expose the truth, but she just laughed in my face: “Luna Sterling, isn’t this just karma for your cheating? What could I possibly prove?” Brandon, the guy I was totally crushing on, sneered when he heard: “You copied Vivian’s paper, and now you’re forcing her to vouch for you? Don’t you have any shame?” Because of that cheating accusation, I was tortured to death by the servant overseers, left to rot in a garbage dump. And Vivian Vance? She became renowned, the pillar of the elite. Fine. If that’s how it is, you two conniving snakes, I will make sure you taste the true depths of hell!

Watching the charred paper scraps dissolve in the fire pit, my tense body finally relaxed. First step, accomplished. This time, I would absolutely tear those two despicable scumbags limb from limb! My eyes began to ache, my head throbbed, and cold sweat trickled down my neck. This feeling was all too familiar. In this life, she was already starting to use her ability. I calmly kicked over the fire pit, and the flames were instantly smothered by the sand. Love to spy, do you? I’ll give you an eyeful. I went home, collapsed on the sofa, and pulled up one of the world’s top 10 horror movies. Just then, my phone buzzed incessantly. Brandon Hayes, my dream guy, was flooding me with messages. [Babe, did you study today? The exam is coming up, gotta study hard~] [Send me a pic, I’ll supervise you.] Hah. Supervising me now? In my previous life, I had eagerly accepted his “kindness.” Whenever I struggled with a problem, he’d rush over with a mountain of study materials. It truly sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it! I simply switched off my buzzing phone and went back to my horror movie. All the knowledge was stored in my head. Now, they were the ones who should be panicking. A moment later, the lock on my front door clicked, eerily, as it opened. I stared, wide-eyed and terrified. Brandon walked into my house, carrying coffee, his eyes softly tender. “How do you have my house code?!” “You told me last time when we were studying~” He spoke calmly, without a hint of rush. Vivian must have given it to him! She was the only other person who knew my code! Without batting an eyelid, I changed the door lock code on my phone. I smiled sweetly at him. “You came all the way to bring me coffee? You really want me to pull an all-nighter studying?” He sat beside me, reaching out to brush my hair. “Isn’t it for your future?” I subtly shifted, “accidentally” spilling my iced coffee all over his pristine white shirt. “Didn’t you often tell Vivian I was a bookworm, no fun, boring? A woman with only studying on her mind?” “I had a revelation today. We only have, what, three thousand days on this planet? Gotta relax a little, right?” Brandon carefully dabbed his white shirt with a tissue. His friendly expression froze instantly at my words. “You…” Those were the very words he’d spat at me when I was on my deathbed. He looked at me, visibly guilty. Suddenly, a piercing ringtone blared. Brandon shot me a quick glance, then stepped outside to answer. When he returned, he gazed at me with a look of reluctance. “I’m only thinking of you, Luna. You’re the person I love most. But I have an urgent matter to attend to now. I’ll have to leave.” Hah. My little puppy dog was off to lick my “bestie” again. “Wait!” I grabbed the other cup of coffee, then executed a perfect “fake trip,” spilling it precisely on the still-clean part of his white shirt. His face contorted in rage. “You…!” I pressed a hand to my forehead, delicately slumping onto the sofa. “Oh, it must be all this study stress lately. So clumsy of me~ But you love me the most, right? You wouldn’t mind?” At the mention of “study,” his expression softened. “Right. Well, I’m off then. See you at school tomorrow.” The moment the door clicked shut, I burst out laughing. Hahahaha! That idiot! Just as I’d suspected, that was the white suit he’d spent half his allowance on, planning to confess to Vivian today! What sweet revenge! I walked into my bedroom, turned off the lights, and put on my eye mask, all in one smooth motion. “You little sneak, enjoy the black screen! All my knowledge is locked right inside my brain!” In the middle of the night, a shrill ringtone jolted me. I rolled my eyes and answered the video call. “How *dare* you go to sleep?!” Vivian’s voice exploded.

I watched, utterly satisfied, as her face turned scarlet with fury. Slowly and deliberately, I spoke: “Vivian, what’s with the sudden call?” Her eyes were practically bulging out of her head. Today, she had scheduled a session with an off-campus tutor to demonstrate her problem-solving skills. For this, she’d even sent me the agreed-upon problems the day before, instructing me to solve them at a specific time today. She copied the first few problems, feeling smug about her precious system. But halfway through, she saw me using the scrap paper – *her* scrap paper – to wipe my dog’s rear. Nothing left to copy. The tutors, seeing her unable to continue, assumed she was messing with them and immediately revoked her eligibility for the National Math Olympiad. I met her eyes, which were filled with a desire to devour me. I warned her. “Playing dirty will only backfire on you! This is the first time, and it will be the last. Next time… I’ll make sure you don’t get off easy.” She looked at me with a complex expression. Then, she suddenly rubbed her eyes, feigning a yawn: “Oh, what’s going on? Luna, darling, why are we on the phone?” “My sleepwalking must have kicked in again, how terribly annoying~ Don’t be mad at me, okay~” She hung up immediately after saying that, then sent me a message. [Good night, Luna! Let’s walk to school together tomorrow~] Still treating me like the naïve fool from my past life? Last time, she used her “sleepwalking” excuse to steal thirty limited-edition designer bags. Looking at her pathetic excuse, I blocked and deleted her number. The next day, as I opened my front door, I saw Vivian and Brandon standing there. Brandon still had a smudge of lipstick near his mouth. Looks like they’d just finished a “session.” Vivian sidled up to me, oozing flattery. “Luna, why did you change your house code? I kept trying, but couldn’t get in.” “Trespassing? Looking for a jail cell?” I walked straight past them. Vivian didn’t seem annoyed. Instead, she solicitously held out a bag full of breakfast items, asking what I wanted. Oh, right. The money they spent? It all came from *my* linked payment account. In my past life, Brandon publicly acted like he disdained using my account, but secretly spent hundreds of thousands. Vivian, even worse, would flaunt spending my money in public, then privately call me an animal. Brandon frowned. “Vivian’s talking to you. Are you deaf?” “I’m spending my own money, and I’m supposed to applaud you for it?” I looked at Vivian. “Since you’re being so thoughtful, leave all the breakfast for me.” Vivian’s eyes instantly reddened, and she bit her lip. “Luna, I’m sorry. I know I’m spending your money, but today… I haven’t eaten breakfast either.” Brandon stepped in front of Vivian, shielding her. “Luna Sterling! Don’t be so arrogant! Vivian was kind enough to buy you breakfast, and this is how you treat her?” I stepped closer to Vivian. “Didn’t you offer it to me?” “You insisted on giving it, and I kindly accepted. Now I’m the ungrateful one?” My finger tapped her shoulder, one by one. “If you don’t want to give, don’t pretend. You dare to offer, I dare to take. After all, it’s all my money, isn’t it?” I turned to look at the man I once adored. In my previous life, I never tired of looking at him. But now, he looked hideous, like a disgusting, slimy swamp creature. The next second, Vivian covered her face and ran off, crying. Brandon, when I wasn’t looking, viciously slapped me across the face. “This is all your fault! You better write out a detailed exam study plan by tonight! Or I won’t let you get away with this!” Brandon glared at me, then turned to chase Vivian. I immediately lifted my foot and delivered a solid kick to his backside. He sprawled on the ground, his face twisted in rage, eyes almost popping out. He looked ready to unleash a torrent of curses, but then he suddenly looked at me with pity, as if he understood something. “I know you like me a lot, but you can’t hurt Vivian just because you’re jealous, can you?” “Go on, apologize to Vivian, and give her your newly written exam problem-solving notes. She’ll probably forgive you.” I walked over to him, grabbing a handful of his hair. “Oh, I will. Just you wait. I’ll make sure you’re both ‘satisfied.’”

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My best friend, Zara, had studied magic performance in Las Vegas for half a year. When she came back, she shot to stardom. To make more money, she loved performing extreme stunts at every live show. At first, I earnestly warned her to be careful, but she completely ignored me, becoming even more obsessed. I gradually realized something was terribly wrong. When she performed a chain escape act on stage, my shoulder inexplicably dislocated. When she locked herself in a water tank for an extreme escape, I felt an intense pressure in my chest and uncontrollably spewed water at the dinner table. The most terrifying time, she showed the audience her razor blade swallowing act. My esophagus was horrifically lacerated by some foreign object, rotting all the way down to my stomach. From my hospital bed, I tearfully pleaded with my husband, Noah, who was her magic assistant. He, however, lectured me, “Zara went to study magic, not black magic. You’re pregnant; why aren’t you being more careful? What does her magic have to do with you? Just stay home and focus on your pregnancy.” I sat there, stunned, reflecting. Was it really just prenatal depression? Then came Zara’s national tour, with the grand finale act: sawing a person in half. Six long knives were plunged into the box she had entered. She emerged unharmed, but I was stabbed through my pregnant belly, killing both me and my unborn child in my own home. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of Zara’s first performance after returning home.

A soul-shattering pain radiated from every part of my body. I instinctively touched my eight-month pregnant belly… empty? I looked down; there was no blood, no baby bump. “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Master Zara, here to bring you her highly anticipated comeback show!” The host’s booming voice on stage yanked me back to reality. I was reborn. Reborn back to the day of Zara’s comeback show. My baby was only three months old in my womb. Everything was still salvageable. In my previous life, I was tidying up at home, holding my stomach, when I accidentally stumbled upon a photo of my best friend and my husband. Before I could even take a closer look, I was stabbed to death. In the photo, they were naked and in a highly intimate embrace. I didn’t even have time to confirm if it was really them. This time, I had to rush home and find out what that photo was all about. Before Zara even went on stage, I frantically packed my bag and tried to leave from backstage. The next second, Noah blocked my way. “Mia, where are you going? Zara’s about to go on stage.” Seeing Noah’s furrowed brow, he clearly wasn’t happy about me leaving right now. Seemingly realizing his attitude was off, Noah quickly put his hand on my arm and smiled. “Honey, Zara is your best friend. She studied abroad for so long, finally achieved something. Of course, you have to be here for her first show. Aren’t you happy for her?” I stared at Noah’s face. My best friend’s performance seemed to make him happier than me. “Oh, it hurts so much!” I pretended to clutch my stomach, a pained expression on my face. This was exactly the second week after I found out I was pregnant. Noah was still absorbed in the joy of becoming a father, and he was incredibly doting on me. “Are you okay, honey? Is the baby kicking you?” I playfully tapped his chest. “Oh, darling, don’t be silly. The baby’s only three months old; it doesn’t even have feet yet!” Noah chuckled, taking my fist and pulling it to his chest. But I used the momentum to push him away, stepped back, and clutched my stomach. “I probably ate something bad for lunch. I need to find a restroom right away.” “I’ll go with you!” He said, trying to put his arm around me and lead me towards the backstage exit. Zara’s sickeningly sweet voice floated from behind me: “Noah, darling, get ready, we’re on!” He froze. Noah had just taken a step before letting go of my hand, a look of apology on his face. “Mia, I have to go on stage. You go by yourself.” I forced a fake smile and waved at them. “Go on, I’ll be back to watch your show in a bit. Good luck!” Zara jogged over and playfully swung my hand. “Mia, this is my first show back home. Having you here makes me feel so much better~” I sneered inwardly. *You feel better, alright. All the cuts and pain were landing squarely on me.* Once I found out what methods you used, that would be the day you perished. For the two lives they stole, for my unborn child, I swore I’d make them pay! I left the backstage area and immediately hailed a taxi home. Relying on my memory, I found the secret compartment under the double bed Noah and I shared. The compartment opened to reveal that very photo, along with a dozen love letters, full of flowery words. And the entwined figures in the photo were Zara and Noah…

The tearing pain of being stabbed through once again surged through me. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. I clutched my chest and sank to the floor. The photo slipped, face down. On the back, a row of small, handwritten words: “My eternal love, forever in my heart.” I recognized the handwriting instantly as Noah’s, bold and flowing script. He used to love writing me love letters in that very hand when he was pursuing me. The date was November 2023, three months after Noah and I got married. In the throes of our honeymoon phase, he was in bed with my best friend, claiming “eternal love”? Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me. I clutched my chest and dry-heaved. I couldn’t tell if it was morning sickness or just pure disgust. My hands trembling, I picked up a few of the love letters and read them. Some felt familiar, others I’d never seen. Familiar because the content was identical to the letters Noah used to write to me. But judging by the dates, he wrote Zara’s first, and then simply copied them for mine. After facing the harsh reality, I put everything back in place, pretending I hadn’t touched anything. I immediately ran out the door and hailed a taxi to the hospital. At the same time, Zara’s magic performance had already begun. “Driver, hurry to the county women’s and children’s hospital!” Before the driver could even step on the gas, my shoulder suddenly flared with pain, and blood started to seep through. I knew it was Zara and Noah performing the blindfolded knife-throwing act. In my previous life, no matter how off-target Noah threw the knives, Zara would always come off stage completely unharmed. Noah had even bragged to me about it multiple times. “Honey, I’m a magic prodigy! Zara and I are a match made in heaven as stage partners!” More and more bloody lines appeared on my body. The driver was so scared he floored it to almost 120 mph. “Miss, are you okay! This… this looks really serious!” I covered my wounds with tissue paper and spoke weakly, “I’m fine, I’m fine, driver. Please, just go faster.” Luckily, the blindfolded knife-throwing only involved three knives, so they didn’t hit any vital organs. I got out of the taxi, covered in blood, and even gave the driver an extra two hundred dollars for car cleaning. I rushed into the hospital lobby, yelling for a doctor. At this moment, the hospital’s TV was also broadcasting Zara’s magic debut live. After a quick cleanup and bandage in the emergency room, I scheduled an abortion for the obstetrics and gynecology department. Noah, that scumbag, didn’t deserve to have a child with me! His child had already been stabbed through by his own six knives in my previous life. As I lay on the operating table, sedated. Zara was preparing to perform her underwater escape act. While the doctor was performing the surgery, I suddenly started convulsing and spitting up water. The doctor was so startled they didn’t dare continue. I took deep breaths and tried to reassure them. “It’s okay, Doctor, please continue… *cough, cough*…” Large amounts of clear water gushed from my mouth and nose. This was the second time I had experienced the sensation of almost drowning. The doctor had never seen such a scene, but at my insistence, they had no choice but to complete the surgery. Half an hour later, the surgery was done, and I lay weakly in the hospital room. The young nurses came in, making their rounds, gushing about Zara’s magic performance. “That Master Zara’s underwater escape just now was truly spectacular!” “Yeah, she was trapped in that water tank for five whole minutes and wasn’t hurt at all, she escaped successfully.” “A master who came back from abroad is just on another level. She even dropped the key to the lock but wasn’t in a hurry to pick it up. She was so calm, like a real-life mermaid.” I clenched my fists, swearing that no matter what evil methods she used, this time I would not let her harm me in the slightest. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Noah calling.

I decisively rejected the call and replied to him on SnapChat. “Honey, company just scheduled an unexpected business trip for me. I’ll be gone for a few days.” Worried he’d notice something was off, I added another line: “Love you, remember to miss me and baby, and wish Zara success on her debut~” After that, I bought a flight ticket to a country known for its mysticism. I had to find out where Zara had really learned her magic. After some investigation, I learned that she hadn’t been studying in the UK for the past six months at all. Instead, she had gone to a country in Southeast Asia, a land steeped in ancient, forbidden magic… I caught a connecting flight. The moment I landed, I saw an old woman faint. The old woman was shabbily dressed, clutching a worn-out bag in her hand. I gave her some water and fanned her. She finally woke up. Just as I was about to leave, the old woman grabbed my hand. “Don’t go, young lady. We’re destined to meet, and I can help you.” Before I could answer, she abruptly snapped the chain of the small gold charm pendant around my neck. “Hey! What are you—” I frowned, about to scold her. But I saw her twist open the gold charm. This gold charm was a wedding anniversary gift from Noah this year. I had no idea this decorative locket could even open. The old woman pulled out a small piece of paper from inside. It was clearly a hex paper. She tsk-tsked, shaking her head. “My dear, someone put a hex on you.” … That afternoon, I felt disoriented. Even on the flight home, I hadn’t fully recovered. The old woman’s words kept echoing in my mind. *A hex…* If Zara put a hex on me, then why was the gold charm from Noah? Could he have known all along about Zara using this hex to transfer the harm to me? Like I was possessed, I found myself heading home, only to find Noah and Zara panting softly, entwined in the bathroom. Zara was even wearing the designer shirt I had bought Noah for our wedding anniversary. Seeing me return, they were clearly startled. Noah quickly straightened his clothes and came out, hugging me and trying to explain. “Mia, Zara got hurt during her performance today. I was just helping her with her wound.” I glanced at Zara; there was a nearly healed scratch on her collarbone. Suddenly, Noah’s grip tightened on my wrist. He glared at me, demanding, “Mia! Where’s the gold charm I gave you? How could you take it off?! No wonder Zara got hurt!” His grip was so tight it hurt, and tears welled up in my eyes. Realizing his outburst, he quickly let go and spoke gently, coaxing me. “Honey, that’s not what I meant. I meant this gold necklace is a symbol of our love, you can’t just take it off.” At this moment, I finally believed that he must have known about the hex paper hidden inside the charm. I pulled the broken chain and pendant from my bag, my face expressionless. “The chain broke. I can’t wear it.” The next second, Zara directly took off the gold chain from her own neck and handed it to me. “Mia, that’s such a shame. Then use my chain, darling. After all, it’s your wedding anniversary gift from Noah. Noah would surely be upset if you didn’t wear it.” Without waiting for my agreement, Zara picked up the gold charm, went to the side, and threaded it onto her gold chain. In the reflection of the mirror, I saw her whispering something to Noah. They opened the gold charm to confirm the hex paper was still inside, then pretended nothing was amiss. “Come on, honey. See how generous Zara is? She just gave you her gold chain. It’s hard to find a best friend like that.” Watching Noah put the almost identical gold chain around my neck, it was hard not to suspect he had bought two chains from the start—one for me, one for Zara. Too disgusted to say more, I walked straight into the bedroom. Carefully, I picked up the long strand of hair on the bed that didn’t belong to me.

Soon, it was time for Zara’s next live performance. By now, she was incredibly famous, with many fans traveling from out of town just to see her perform. She had already hyped it up online: today, she would perform the incredibly difficult grand finale act, sawing a person in half. The sensationalism and marketing had already been unleashed. Many magic enthusiasts gathered in the theater, eagerly awaiting her groundbreaking show. “I’ve been a magician for over ten years, and this is the first time I’ve seen a flawless performance like Master Zara’s.” “She’s truly a prodigy! I definitely need to ask her for some tips after the show.” These professional magicians couldn’t stop praising her. In just one month since returning home, Zara had become a legend in the magic world. I sat in the first row of the audience, clutching my phone tightly. I had mailed Zara’s long strand of hair to the old woman days ago, but I hadn’t heard from her. *Had I been scammed?* I took a deep breath, telling myself not to overthink. I’d already died once. At worst, it would be an all-out war with these two bastards. Cold sweat drenched my back, and my body trembled uncontrollably. Ten more minutes, and the show would begin. Zara’s opening act today was swallowing razor blades. I kept staring at my phone, the seconds ticking by. Zara and Noah came onto the stage, greeting the audience, who erupted in cheers. “Master Zara is a magic goddess!” “A legendary newcomer in magic! A dark horse!” “Flawless, astounding performance! We love you!” The applause lasted for a full three minutes before finally quieting down. Zara smiled gracefully, waving to acknowledge them. “Ladies and gentlemen, please settle down. Thank you all so much for coming to my show~” She deliberately spoke in a saccharine sweet voice. You could literally see the men in the audience melt. Noah on stage melted too. “To thank you all for your support, today’s opening act will be one of my signature skills~” “Razor blade swallowing!” Before she even finished, fans in the audience were already shouting it out for her. Zara smiled brightly, raising her hand to take a tray of blades Noah brought onto the stage. A whopping eighteen blades. Noah and Zara exchanged a knowing glance, then both looked at me simultaneously. A feeling of suffocation crawled over me. *Were they… planning to kill me directly?* But if they killed me, how would Zara perform the sawing a person in half trick? Zara’s overly sweet voice sounded again. “Just kidding with you all, I can’t swallow eighteen blades! I’ll only swallow three today~” Before the words fully left her mouth, she picked up a blade and swallowed it whole, without even chewing. The piercing pain of a sharp object tearing through my throat flared, and I clutched my neck, unable to speak. My phone rang. It was the old woman! I quickly pressed the answer button, but then I heard a piercing scream from the stage. Ah—

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I had just returned from a specialized fellowship abroad, stepping out of the operating room after successfully completing a complex organ transplant. The air still buzzed with the aftermath of intense focus. But then, Dr. Chloe Davis, my husband’s intern, blocked the hallway. She looked smug, arrogant, and stopped me dead in my tracks. Her voice, sharp and loud enough for everyone to hear, sliced through the quiet. “Who gave you permission to use Operating Room 3? Effective immediately, you’re suspended!” I froze for a split second, then a smirk touched my lips. “Oh? And who, exactly, gave *you* that authority?” She scoffed, a cold, harsh sound. Right in front of me, she snatched the departmental schedule from the nurses’ station and ripped it in half with a dramatic flourish. “The Director did,” she spat, tossing the shreds onto the floor. I nodded slowly, pulling out my phone. I immediately shot a text to Patient 001’s private contact. “Apologies, my surgical privileges have been revoked. It seems I won’t be able to perform your wife’s tumor surgery.”

I instantly opened my husband, Dr. Brandon Miller’s, SnapChat. “Brandon Miller, get to the hospital. Chloe Davis is trying to suspend me.” Chloe glanced at me, then burst into a shrill, mocking laugh. She grabbed the surgical plan I’d just laid down and, with a vicious tear, ripped it in two. My eyes narrowed, watching her arrogant display. That plan was for the mayor’s pre-op tomorrow. Brandon himself had emphasized its critical importance. What truly baffled me was the reaction of the surrounding medical staff. Not only did no one intervene, but someone even eagerly offered her a paper shredder. My brow furrowed. Had I been away from the hospital for so long that Brandon’s strict protocols had become utterly meaningless? No way. I knew him. He never compromised on patient safety. Chloe savored my expression, a sneer on her face, and triumphantly scattered the shredded paper onto my face. “What’s wrong, Dr. Hayes? Surprised?” She sank into a nearby chair, idly playing with her manicured nails. “Your era is over,” she declared, her voice booming. “Brandon said that effective today, the VIP wing is entirely under my command. As for you, you’re relegated to night shift nurse duty.” The head nurse standing nearby immediately chimed in. “Exactly! Dr. Davis is a specially approved international talent, brought in by the Director himself!” “Some people occupy a Head of Department position for two years without doing any real work. How dare she show her face back here?” It was clear. In the past two years, this hospital had lost its way. I snatched a patient file she was about to pull away. “Chloe Davis, listen up. I am Brandon Miller’s legal wife, and a lifetime honorary professor at this hospital!” “Professor?” She burst out laughing, turning to the bewildered crowd. “Do you know how she got that professor title?” She roughly tore down my specialist profile photo from the hallway display. “A glorified trophy wife who got her title by clinging to her Director husband? She thinks she can pull rank on me?!” Chloe straightened her spine proudly. “I, on the other hand, am a Harvard Medical School Ph.D. personally mentored by Brandon! He used a special talent fund, dropped millions to poach me as a cardiothoracic specialist!” Suddenly, she grabbed the instrument cart a nurse was pushing, sweeping my dedicated surgical instruments to the floor with a loud clang. “Now, get on your knees and pick these up.” “Are you insane?” I stared at the scattered precision instruments for heart surgery. “These are sterile…” “Kneel! And! Pick!” She enunciated each word, her eyes gleaming with contempt and malice. The people around us suddenly erupted. “Kneel already! Why act so high and mighty?!” “Does she really think she’s still the legendary heart surgeon? Dr. Davis has been carrying this department for the past two years!” I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my skin. “For the past five years, 87% of all heart transplant surgeries in this hospital were performed by me. That’s verifiable data.” “Without those successful cases, this hospital would never have been accredited as a National Center of Excellence, let alone acquired the latest medical equipment.” A young doctor I had personally mentored stepped forward. A warmth spread through me. Someone still remembered. But the next second, he brutally stomped on my stethoscope, crushing it. “Professor Hayes, don’t push your luck!” “Dr. Davis is being merciful by telling you to kneel!” “Exactly! Kneel! Now!” The shouts around me grew louder and louder. Just then, the fire exit door burst open. I saw Brandon Miller’s figure, and a tiny sigh of relief escaped me. He arrived faster than I expected. Amid Chloe’s triumphant smirk, I looked at Brandon and said, “Brandon, Chloe said…”

*SMACK.* A brutal slap across my face. The force sent me crashing into the test tubes behind me. Glass shattered, scattering across the floor. I clutched my stinging cheek, looking up at Brandon’s hand, still suspended in mid-air, a look of utter disbelief on my face. “Amelia Hayes! Who gave you the audacity to treat Chloe like that?!” He snatched my ID badge and threw it to the ground. “She’s the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery whom I spent a fortune to poach from the Mayo Clinic! She’s the medical expert I cultivated with five years of painstaking effort! What right do you have to defy her?!” “It’s just an operating room, isn’t it? If Chloe says you can’t use it, you can’t. Now, get on your knees and apologize to her immediately!” Brandon’s face, contorted in rage, suddenly felt incredibly alien to me. Wait, what did he say? Mayo Clinic? I looked closely at Chloe Davis, and a realization hit me. Wasn’t she that nurse who sold counterfeit drugs five years ago and was jailed for six months? How did someone with barely a middle school education become my peer, let alone a chief of surgery? Brandon suddenly turned, his voice soft with concern as he spoke to Chloe. “Why aren’t you wearing the gloves I got for you? These spilled instruments will get on you.” “And next time, if you want to suspend someone, don’t get all worked up yourself. Don’t let it happen again.” Chloe immediately took off her mask, letting out a few fake tears. “Brandon, maybe I should just resign. With Dr. Hayes like this, how can I possibly lead the heart transplant surgeries?” Brandon’s voice instantly shifted back to a furious roar directed at me. “Apologize to Dr. Davis right now! If you dare to obstruct her work again, you’ll be transferred to laundry duty in the maintenance department!” The surrounding area fell silent. The watching medical staff immediately began whispering. “Dr. Davis is the Director’s pet!” “Exactly, she’s a genuinely talented, highly educated expert!” “Unlike some people who have no real skills, only relying on being the Director’s wife.” “Shameless!” I stared at Brandon Miller, the man who once swore he’d always support and love me unconditionally, now publicly humiliating me. But he still wasn’t done. He pointed at me. “Effective today, you’re demoted to a physician’s assistant. You’ll do rounds at 5 AM every day, and handle all departmental night shifts, patient records, and autopsy reports.” “Once you’ve reflected enough and learned how to be an assistant, then we’ll talk.” He grabbed the white coat Chloe had just taken off and tossed it at me. “Now, handwash Dr. Davis’s scrubs!”

*Ha.* I burst out laughing, a hollow sound. My mind flashed through countless nights of collapsing in exhaustion at the operating table. The bloodshot eyes from perfecting my techniques, the thousands of papers I’d devoured to push the limits of surgery… All just to ensure every operation was safe, to make Harmony Medical Center’s stellar reputation shine even brighter. I practically lived in the on-call room and the library, sacrificing countless moments we could have shared. Even starting a family was constantly postponed because he always said: “Amelia, our hospital’s development has just begun.” And now? Now, after I’d just completed the nation’s first transcatheter mitral valve repair, anticipating an embrace from him, I walked in on him holding hands with the intern he was supposed to be mentoring. I watched Chloe lean against his white coat, her face streaked with tears that couldn’t hide a triumphant smile. I watched Brandon look down at her with a tenderness and indulgence he had *never* shown me. This relationship, it should have ended a long time ago. I took off my stethoscope and tossed it onto the desk. “Let’s get a divorce.” Brandon remained utterly calm, not even a blink. He pulled two documents from his desk. The first, a ‘Research Project Lead Change Request,’ had my name neatly crossed out. The second, a ‘Physician Practice Location Change Consent Form,’ was already signed with his full name. “Sign it,” he said, slapping the papers onto the desk. “Once you sign, go to medical administration and transfer Patient 001’s tumor surgery team to Chloe.” “Why should I?!” “I spent a month preparing this surgical plan, staying up night after night.” “Yours?” He suddenly laughed, his hand pointing sharply at the ‘Hospital Management Regulations’ posted on the wall. “Amelia Hayes, please open your eyes and read the hospital bylaws clearly. All medical teams and research outcomes belong to the hospital’s legal representative. Participating physicians only retain the right to be credited.” My eyes widened in shock. I stared, utterly fixated, at the familiar signature on that ‘Physician Practice Change Consent Form.’ Back then, during a crucial phase of the hospital’s restructuring, Brandon had held that document, his fingers slightly trembling beneath his white coat. “Amelia, you know the risks involved in hospital reform. This agreement is just to satisfy the state medical board’s inspection. If our accreditation fails, it will at least protect your practice license.” His eyes were red-rimmed as he gripped my hand. “And those conservative old guard on the board… they need a clear statement. Trust me, it’s just a piece of paper, do we really need this between us?” “I love you, and I don’t want to drag you down.” At that time, I was completely swept up in Brandon’s so-called fake love, even touched by his supposed thoughtfulness. That thirty-page professional document… I hadn’t even bothered to scrutinize the fine print clauses. I, the person who could spot a 0.5mm nodule on a CT scan, had ironically missed the malignant tumor growing in my own life. How incredibly ironic… Amelia Hayes, nicknamed the living atlas of cardiac surgery, whose most frequent advice during mentorship was to meticulously study every single word of a pre-op surgical plan. My heart and soul, poured into my medical career, even rejecting top-tier offers from international institutions. Now, it had all culminated in betrayal, leaving me with absolutely nothing.

The surrounding medical staff immediately started whispering, their voices laced with sarcasm and mockery. “I heard even the patent for the heart valve she developed belongs to the hospital now.” “Serves her right. Someone needed to humble her arrogance.” I unpinned my ID badge and dropped it onto the floor. “Brandon Miller.” “I’ll sign it.” “As you wish, I’ll leave.” I turned, my white coat brushing against a bottle of iodine, sending it tumbling. Brandon’s voice instantly rang out. “Stop right there!” I paused, but didn’t turn back. “Amelia Hayes, you think resigning is the end of it?” “You haven’t completed your handover yet!” “Tomorrow’s community outreach clinic, you’ll show up and do your work, no questions asked.” “If you dare to skip, I’ll make sure the entire medical system knows that the esteemed cardiac surgery specialist refused to even take a poor old man’s blood pressure.” I slammed to a halt, utterly incredulous. Stealing all my credit wasn’t enough? He wanted me to stay and be publicly humiliated even further? A cold smirk played on Brandon’s lips. “Perfect, Chloe just won the Golden Scalpel Award for Young Physicians. She needs an assistant who’s familiar with the procedures. Starting today, you’re in charge of her award ceremony preparations.” He slapped a patient chart against my chest. “If anything goes wrong at the awards ceremony…” “You know what the Medical Malpractice Investigations Unit has been looking into lately.” Chloe immediately smiled, her eyes sharp as knives. “Don’t worry, Brandon. I’ll make sure to ‘guide’ Assistant Hayes properly.” The next few days were pure hell. I became her speechwriter, even her awards gown alteration seamstress. Every time she wanted to humiliate me, she chose the daily general meeting, making the entire hospital staff watch as she tossed away the research materials I had organized overnight, treating them like trash. On the day of the awards ceremony. The host’s voice boomed, inviting Chloe Davis to the stage to deliver her speech. Chloe, beaming with smug satisfaction, strutted onto the stage in her high heels. “Thank you to all the esteemed fellows and leaders for your guidance! This breakthrough in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, first and foremost, I must thank my fiancé, Mr. Brandon Miller.” That was fast. The divorce cooling-off period wasn’t even over, and she was already wearing an engagement ring. She gazed deeply at Brandon, who was seated in the front row, prompting a round of applause from the entire audience. Suddenly, she changed her tone, bringing up a set of data charts. “To be honest, leading this nation’s first transapical mitral valve repair surgery, I was quite apprehensive.” “You see, in the preliminary research, the traditional surgical approach had a 30% risk of valve displacement.” “If it weren’t for our team discovering the risk of valve anchor detachment during the surgery and promptly switching to traditional suturing techniques…” She casually dismissed my decade of hard work as a potential medical accident, subtly implying that she had stepped in to save the day. The hall immediately erupted in whispers. “So, Amelia Hayes’s patent was that dangerous.” “No wonder Patient 3 had reflux after surgery last time.” “Dr. Davis truly has a compassionate heart.” After the meeting, she cornered me by the elevator, holding out her hand. “Hand over the USB drive. Patient 001’s surgery, I’m the lead surgeon now. Give me his private contact information. I need to personally discuss the surgical plan. As for you…” She scoffed disdainfully. “You can go to HR and pick up your resignation forms.”

So that’s it. I stared at the surgery approval form in Chloe Davis’s hand, stamped with the red designation “001.” It suddenly clicked. Their target, all along, was Madam 001’s heart transplant surgery. This was the kind of elite surgery that could immortalize an entire medical team and secure national special grants. I slowly lifted my head. Chloe’s eyes were filled with pure greed, while Brandon Miller, standing nearby, wore a cold expression, clearly condoning everything. This was their trap. No wonder they waited until now to divorce me, no wonder they were only just now kicking me out. Because there were regulations stating that once a surgery of this caliber was completed, the lead surgeon would directly qualify for an academy fellowship nomination. They probably thought that if they dragged it out past the public announcement period, that honor would be securely placed on Chloe’s head. I burst out laughing. Brandon’s face turned grim. “What are you laughing at? Chloe Davis is a top expert trained at a world-renowned university! She’s performed surgeries for multiple important U.S. figures! Her abilities are a million times stronger than yours!” “Amelia Hayes, without Harmony Medical Center, you are nothing. The title of national master surgeon will soon be Chloe’s.” I smiled, handing over the encrypted USB drive. “Dr. Davis, I wish you a smooth surgery for Patient 001.” I couldn’t wait to see how someone who had faked her way into the medical system would pass Patient 001’s pre-operative review. I’d forgotten to tell them: Patient 001’s medical file was personally established by my father back in the day. That night, a black sedan slid silently to a stop. The window rolled down, revealing Professor Maxwell’s eyes – wrinkled, yet still sharp. He was the Head of Patient 001’s Security Detail, and my beloved mentor.

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My fiancé’s new intern actually suggested serving chips and soda to the CEO of a multi-million dollar company’s wedding guests. Could you believe it? And the whole company, mind you, cheered for it. They called it “innovative and cute,” “so creative.” I instantly shot it down, only to be mocked as “old-fashioned” and “out of touch with young people.” To protect our reputation, I secretly swapped back to the high-end menu. The wedding, in the end, was a smashing success. But the very next day, the intern went live on TikTok, crying and accusing me of “workplace bullying” and “stealing her credit.” And my fiancé, Alexander, didn’t say a word, tacitly agreeing with every single one of her accusations. Clients cancelled contracts, partnerships ended, our company’s reputation was dragged through the mud. Employees, jobless and furious, unleashed all their anger on me. I was beaten black and blue, subjected to a brutal online hate mob. My parents collapsed from stress and were hospitalized, and I ultimately drowned, my heart overflowing with bitter hatred. Reborn into this life, I’ve learned my lesson. No stopping them, no advising them, no saving them. A ridiculous “snack banquet”? I’ll make sure it crashes and burns, spectacularly. It’ll be an absolute nightmare. I sat in my familiar office. The intern’s proposal, signed by my fiancé, lay quietly on my desk. I coldly sneered and sold off all my shares. “This time,” I muttered, “I’m just here to watch the show unfold.” 0

It was only early autumn, but the lake water was already ice-cold, biting. I felt my lungs squeeze, the last bit of air forced out of my body. I drowned three days after that wedding. Bruised and battered, with claw marks from my ‘colleagues’ still stinging my face. The laid-off employees, furious and jobless, screamed that I deserved it, that I’d brought it all upon myself. The mob beating, the online hate, the contract cancellations, the shredded agreements – all because of one phrase: “I won’t approve the snack banquet.” Chloe cried a river of fake tears, claiming I bullied her, stole her brilliant idea. Alexander watched me surrounded, trapped, and didn’t utter a single word. My soul floated above, watching, as my father burst from his hospital room, his arm still connected to an IV drip, pulling my mother down to their knees to beg Alexander for one more chance for me. I died so quietly, yet I became the top trending topic: **[B*tch Finally Gets What She Deserves, Good Riddance]** Then, I opened my eyes again. I was sitting in the familiar conference room. The intern, Chloe, was in the corner, suddenly speaking. Her eyes sparkled, her voice cloyingly sweet: “All those fancy dishes are so old-fashioned! Who still eats dry roast beef, rubbery lobster, and boring champagne at a wedding?” “How about we switch to fried chicken, chips, and soda instead? It’s more down-to-earth, and it looks young and vibrant!” The conference room fell silent. The next second, laughter erupted. “Hahaha, how novel!” “You know, young people really prefer this stuff.” “That’s hilarious, I’m all for it!” The sensation of the lake water choking me was still so vivid. I clutched my chest, gulping down the long-lost air. I turned my head. Alexander and the various shareholders were all looking at me impatiently. Everything was exactly as it had happened in my memories. I… I was reborn? Gently closing my folder, I quickly accepted this gift of fate, smiling faintly: “I actually think soda with fried chicken could create quite the vibe.” Chloe nodded, beaming: “See? That’s what I’m saying! Who eats fancy stuff anymore? It’s so greasy~” She was wearing a frilly, sweet-looking dress, like the mean girl from a high school drama. I remembered her from my past life, too. She’d pop up softly, a knife in her hand, plastered with pink stickers, but it would stab you right where it hurt most. Alexander leaned back in his chair, lazily, his gaze full of doting affection for her: “Sounds interesting. The client said they wanted something ‘unique,’ right? This definitely fits the bill.” A chaotic circus of approval erupted as the group laughed and applauded. I lowered my eyes, then nodded: “We can give it a try.” As soon as I said that, the entire room seemed to relax, as if they’d been waiting for me to start a fight. Too bad. I wasn’t taking the bait this time. “Then I’ll re-arrange the schedule. I’ll also coordinate with the audio and presentation teams.” I said, gathering the documents on my desk. No one thought anything was unusual about me. They thought I had given up. Only I knew that what I needed to do now wasn’t to argue, but to plant the bombs. This planning company was founded by Alexander and me. I poured nearly all my savings into it, even my parents’ retirement fund. In the early days, to secure investments, I’d entertained clients until I was hospitalized multiple times. Alexander and I crammed into a tiny studio, working from dawn till dusk, never daring to slack off. In my previous life, worried about all our hard work going to waste, I had changed the menu before the wedding, ensuring its smooth execution. But I never imagined I’d die with a tainted reputation, and that my parents would fall ill because of me. This time, I wouldn’t stop them. Let them fill a high-society wedding, attended by the nation’s most prominent figures, with their bubble tea, fried chicken, and chips. Let them crash and burn, be humiliated, and perish. Caldwell Enterprises, that massive client, I’ll devour all by myself. I will settle every single score. 0

I locked my office door and dialed a long-uncalled number. “Victoria, I’m in. I’m joining your team.” “I need you to assemble a full-service, high-end banquet team within three days.” “Don’t ask why. I’ll explain the specifics when we meet. Just follow the proposal I’ve sent for now.” There was a few seconds of silence on the other end, then a cheerful agreement. “We’ve been waiting a long time to hear that from you.” This team was connected through my university senior, Victoria. She had already moved half her business to a high-end wedding planning firm abroad. They had invited me to join them several times, but in my previous life, for the sake of “partner balance” with Alexander and our company, I had painfully declined. This life, I wouldn’t give way. I wasn’t just here to save this one wedding; I was paving my own path. Alexander could be a partner, but I could also dismantle this mess and rebuild a new “Scarlett Events” without him. I instructed Victoria to sign contracts under a new name, directly with the hotel channels. At the same time, I quietly established my new company: legal registration, entity formation, and process approvals – all done in one swift motion. With my second chance at life, I was launching my second venture. I deliberately stayed late at the office, working overtime until everyone else had left. I returned alone to the projector control room, locked the door, and turned off the lights. In the glow of the screen, I pulled a specially designed USB drive from my bag— This USB could subtly switch signal channels and control playback content without detection. In my previous life, they’d used this exact setup to play a “Thank You Team” video that was, on the surface, glamorous, but secretly contained Chloe’s self-serving “innovation speech.” This time, I would make her personally tear off her masked face. I turned on the sound testing equipment, connecting the USB while simultaneously activating my voice recorder. Over the next few days, I would prepare a clear, complete gift for Alexander and Chloe. 0

The next morning, I arrived at work as usual. Chloe was even earlier than me, humming a tune as she arranged flowers. She saw me and deliberately sidled over, her eyes glistening, as if plucking up courage to speak: “Scarlett, you finally didn’t argue with me yesterday. It’s the first time you’ve acknowledged me, and I’m so happy.” Listening to her syrupy pretense of being wronged, ignoring the looks from those around us, I smiled too and nodded: “Yes, your proposal this time… it really is quite novel.” She blinked, inching closer, pushing her luck: “So, can I take over the schedule and logistics? Even Alex praised how clever I am, I’ll learn quickly.” “Of course,” I replied calmly. “You can handle the front-of-house flow. I’ll oversee the audio and back-end production.” She froze for a second, as if she couldn’t believe I was being so agreeable this time. Afraid I’d change my mind, she nodded vigorously: “Okay! I promise I won’t disappoint you!” She really thought I had given up. I watched her skip, without knocking, straight into Alexander’s office to deliver her good news. The frosted glass dimly showed their embracing silhouettes. Later, I walked past the office and heard voices drifting from the crack in the door. “Alex, why is she so easy to deal with now? Does she know she’s about to be sidelined?” Chloe’s sickly sweet voice murmured. Alexander chuckled softly: “She doesn’t know how to adapt. She’ll dig her own grave eventually.” “Tell me… can we take over all the upcoming projects too?” “Once this wedding is over, her reputation in this industry will be ruined. People like her are too much of a nuisance. It’s best to get rid of her early so there are no future worries.” Excellent. I pushed the door open, smiling: “There you are, I was just looking for you two.” Chloe startled, quickly jumped off Alexander’s lap, feigning composure, and straightening her clothes: “Scarlett, don’t misunderstand, Alex and I, we were just discussing the front-of-house floral arrangements~” “Scarlett, don’t be dramatic. We’re just working.” My gaze deliberately lingered between them. Under their tense stares, I simply nodded faintly: “Don’t overwork yourselves. Remember to go through the full rehearsal tonight, so there are no mistakes on the day.” She saw that I wasn’t reacting according to her script, leaving her pre-prepared act useless. Her smile became forced. I turned and left, the tiny camera clipped to my collar flashing a red light. I knew this was just the beginning. I wouldn’t rush my move. I would let them dig their own graves, one by one, and jump right in. I just needed to play one sound clip, flash one piece of paper, at the very end. And I could bury them, leaving not even their bones behind. This wedding would be their public execution. But I underestimated their viciousness. 0

**[Scarlett, could you please come down to the basement storage? This prop seems to be having an issue.]** I looked out the window at the darkening sky. I left a message for my team, but still headed to the company’s basement storage as per Chloe’s text. On the way, I noticed everyone’s eyes subtly falling on me. My heart stirred with suspicion, but I had no idea what trick Chloe was up to, so I decided to proceed cautiously. The elevator doors opened, revealing the usually lit basement storage in complete darkness. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. I instinctively recoiled, not stepping out of the elevator. Instead, I frantically pressed the close-door button, wanting to go back upstairs. “Scarlett’s running! Grab her!” Chloe’s sharp voice echoed from the warehouse, making it sound even more sinister. Through the crack in the still-open elevator doors, I saw several burly men in black suits emerge from the darkness. The cold, white elevator light made them look even more menacing. Their arms looked like they could knock out eight of me with a single punch. “Press the elevator door, you idiots!” Chloe shouted into a walkie-talkie at the men from the warehouse entrance. My hands trembled as I frantically pressed the close button, but the elevator doors were maddeningly slow. Finally, the moment the doors fully closed, I watched the figures trapped outside. My heart, which had been pounding in my throat, slowly settled, filled with the relief of a narrow escape. The elevator opened again, back into the bright company floor, but my wildly thumping heart still hadn’t calmed down. I looked at the crowd waiting by the elevator, suddenly recalling Chloe’s sinister smile just before the doors completely shut. “What do you want?” My back pressed against the elevator wall, I forced myself to speak in a cold voice. They said nothing, but slowly advanced on me. “Scarlett, I know you’re still unhappy with me.” “I overheard you telling Alex you wanted to sabotage this plan. But everyone has approved it, I can’t let all our hard work, and the company’s investment, go to waste just because of you.” “So, to stop you from causing trouble, you’ll just have to be inconvenienced and stay in the company storage for a while.” My eyes widened. I could barely believe what I was hearing: “I never once objected! I never even talked to Alex!” Meeting my gaze, Alexander looked away, but then said in a deep voice: “Even now, you’re still putting on an act!” Seeing this, all the shareholders and employees instantly lost their initial reluctance and hesitation, casting strange looks at me. Chloe immediately teared up: “Scarlett must be mad that I gained everyone’s approval. It’s okay. For the company, let her yell at me.” “But the bigger picture is important. How can we treat a company project like a joke…?” “Scarlett, why are you so petty? You need to have a broader mindset in business, don’t always target people. It’s ridiculous.” “Yeah, I genuinely think Chloe’s plan is pretty innovative.” “Besides, our company is a true leader in the industry. We should be pioneers, break new ground! If we don’t dare to, are we supposed to let smaller companies take the lead?” “Exactly. For safety, I think we really can’t let Scarlett go. What if something goes wrong? If the company loses money, I’d have to kill myself!” As they piled on the accusations, Alexander tenderly wiped away Chloe’s tears, then slammed down the gavel, as if pronouncing my death sentence: “Then take her phone and lock her in the basement storage.” A chilling dread spread through me. My blood ran cold, and I couldn’t stop trembling. I slowly crouched down, covering my ears with my hands. There was a ringing in my ears. Not the sound of a broken light, but that high-pitched whistle from my memories. When I was five, I was kidnapped and held in a place just like this. No lights, no sounds, no people. I almost went insane then. Though I made it home alive, I’ve suffered from severe claustrophobia ever since. With light and a window, I can manage for a while. But in a truly enclosed space, after just ten minutes, I’ll completely break down. Alexander knew about this. He had held me then, his face full of heartache, promising me over and over that he would never leave me alone in a place like that again, not in this lifetime. “No,” I said, looking desperately at Alexander, who was coldly watching from the crowd. “Alexander, how can you lock me in the storage room? I promise I won’t do anything. Don’t lock me in…” I was dragged inside by several grown men, my fingers gripping the doorframe tightly. The unfiled edges tore at my flesh, drawing blood, but I refused to let go. In my terror, I abandoned my dignity, begging pitifully: “Alexander, I can’t be locked in the storage room. I’ll die, I really will die…” Some colleagues, seeing my horrific state, felt a pang of pity: “Alex, if it’s really necessary, just have a few people watch her. Don’t lock her in.” Alexander’s expression softened, perhaps remembering my claustrophobia, and he was about to give in, but the next second, a soft arm wrapped around his. Chloe looked up at Alexander, gently shaking his arm, pouting: “If we just have people watching, she’ll have too much freedom to move. What if she runs away?” “Besides, we’re just restricting her movement, it’s not like we’re not giving her food. What could possibly happen? She’s reacting so violently, she must have some plan she’s trying to sabotage, right? Can we really just let her walk away now?!” “No, Alexander, you know I have claustrophobia…” My face was ashen as I tried to defend myself. “Oh, come on, Scarlett. You’ve read too many novels. There’s a limit to making up stories.” “This basement has lights, it’s not even dark, what are you afraid of?” “Besides, you should face your fears directly, it helps with desensitization. I’m doing this for your own good. Why are you so unwilling to go in? Is it because you’re planning to ruin the wedding we worked so hard on?” At that, everyone fell silent. Alexander himself pried my fingers off, one by one, and shoved me inside.

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