Category: English

To protect his illegitimate child, Lucas pushed me down the stairs when I was in late pregnancy. He left me bleeding profusely and rushed to the hospital with that illegitimate child. It wasn’t until I was sent to the operating table that I learned the truth. He forced me to give birth to this child, just to save the life of his and Amber’s illegitimate child. Poof— A mouthful of fresh blood gushed from my mouth, staining Amber’s face. Before losing consciousness, all I could hear was Amber’s panicked screams. And those words mercilessly revealing the truth about why Lucas made me pregnant and give birth. When I woke up again, I was in the operating room of the hospital. The lights above me swayed back and forth, stinging my eyes. My limbs felt like they were being gnawed by ants. I could constantly hear the doctors discussing around me. Intermittently, not very clearly. The gist was that I might die on this operating table due to excessive blood loss. And the child in my belly would never have a chance to be born into this world. Tears flowed uncontrollably from my eyes. I wanted so badly to grab the doctor’s hand and beg him to save me, to save my child. But I had no strength. I could only let them cut open my belly and take out the baby that was originally nurtured there. Then my body was like a rag doll, being turned over and stitched up by the doctors. Until finally I heard a “beep”, and the doctors stopped their actions. And my consciousness began to gradually leave my body. Looking at the tiny body placed beside the operating table, my heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. After all, he was once expected to be born. The doctors kept calling Lucas’s phone again and again, but couldn’t get through. And I just watched numbly, unable to stir up any ripples in my heart. I don’t know how long it took, but finally someone came to deal with my and the baby’s bodies. It wasn’t my legal husband, the father of the child, Lucas. But Amber, with tears in her eyes but a smile on her lips— My own elder sister. She took away my baby with the organ donation consent form signed by Lucas. As for me, she only left a sentence “Contact the crematorium to cremate as soon as possible, to avoid the family’s grief” before leaving without looking back.

Watching Amber take away my baby, I hurriedly followed. Thinking of that organ donation consent form, I rushed in front of her like a madwoman. What was she going to do with my child? What was she going to do to my child! I hysterically tried to take back my child, but I could only pass through Amber’s body, touching nothing but emptiness. She came to Lucas’s side, and right in front of him, directly handed the child to the doctors in the operating room. Throughout this process, Lucas didn’t even raise his head. The lights in the operating room lit up again, and I rushed towards it with a heavy heart. But the scene inside made my eyes bulge with anger. My baby was again placed on the cold operating table. Those people were cutting open his chest, but not to save him. They mercilessly cut open his chest to take out that tiny heart, and then carefully placed it on the illegitimate child next to him. The scene before my eyes was like being doused with a bucket of cold water and thrown out in the bitter cold of winter. My whole body trembled. A murderer, a third party, an illegitimate child! How dare they transplant my child’s heart! How dare they! “Stop! You bunch of devils!” “Don’t treat my child like this! Stop it…” I screamed, I roared. I was so angry I wanted to destroy everything here. But I was powerless. I could only watch helplessly as they took the heart and then harvested all the usable organs from my baby. In the end, that poor child was thrown in the corner like a broken doll. No one cared anymore. It wasn’t until someone congratulated Lucas saying the young master’s surgery was successful that I pulled away from my angry and sorrowful emotions. I suddenly rushed in front of Lucas, punching and kicking him, wishing I could tear off his skin with my own hands. Both of them inside were his children. But why treat my baby like this? Why let him leave with such a mutilated body? Is it because he hates me? But the one who has the least right to hate me is him, Lucas. We’ve known each other for over twenty years, I saved him from dire straits, and in the end, I met with such a tragic death! I really hate him so much!

For some reason, after that day, I could no longer leave Lucas’s side. I could only float within his range of activity. Perhaps my hatred was too intense, Lucas would occasionally unconsciously turn his head to look in my direction. “Was that child properly buried?” “Don’t worry, Huai. I’ve already found a place with excellent feng shui, and even invited a master to perform rites. It’s enough to do right by him for coming here.” After saying this, Amber gently leaned on Lucas’s shoulder and cried mournfully: “It’s just a pity for my Henry, who has been fighting with illness for so many years. Now he’s finally overcome his suffering.” “Huai, we’ll be happy as a family of three from now on, right?” This time, Lucas rarely didn’t go along with Amber, and spoke on his own: “After all, we owe that child. In the future, on holidays, you should burn more paper money for him.” A flash of impatience crossed Amber’s eyes, but she still pretended to comply. “Alright, I’ll do as you say.” Lucas responded, then asked: “How is… Zoe? She didn’t make a fuss this time?” Amber’s face went blank for a moment, then she quickly said: “You know Youyou’s temperament. So after she woke up, no one dared to tell her about the child.” Observing Lucas’s expression, Amber tentatively said: “She did shout about wanting a divorce a few times after waking up. But Henry’s condition wasn’t good at the time, so I forgot to tell you.” Sure enough, hearing Amber’s words, Lucas’s face, which had shown some guilt, once again showed anger. “Why does she think she can force me to marry her when she wants, and I have to obediently listen to her arrangements when she wants a divorce?” He picked up his phone, ignoring Amber’s attempts to stop him, and strode out of the ward. I was forced to follow him once again to the place where I had died tragically. Watching Lucas stumble around the obstetrics department like a headless fly. He kept grabbing doctors and nurses in the corridor asking: “Which ward is Zoe in?” Everyone looked at him with confusion, as if looking at a mental patient, saying there was no patient called Zoe here. Lucas felt uncomfortable being looked at like this, and turned to leave with a frustrated face. Watching Lucas’s back as he left without hesitation, one of the young nurses who had been stopped suddenly slapped her forehead, finally remembering where she had heard the name “Zoe”. She angrily called out to Lucas’s back: “Pah! What a scumbag! His wife died from massive bleeding, two lives lost, and he only comes to the hospital to look for her after the seventh day of mourning. What kind of person is he!” Hearing the young nurse’s words, Lucas suddenly turned back. His eyes were as sharp as swords, shooting towards the nurse who had spoken: “What did you say? Say again who died?” The young nurse, seeing Lucas’s fierce look, was frightened. But she still stood up, trembling as she said: “It’s that Zoe, she died from difficult labor that night. Her husband couldn’t be contacted, in the end it was her sister who contacted the crematorium, and she was directly cremated.” “They didn’t even notify anyone else to see her one last time.”

Lucas’s expression stiffened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. He called Amber to inquire. “Maybe Youyou found out about the child, couldn’t accept it for a while, and is still angry with you. That’s why she got the young nurse to act with her to fool you.” “If Youyou really died, how could you, as her husband, not know?” Lucas hung up the phone and returned to Henry’s ward, filled with anger. Just as he was about to speak to Amber, the phone in his pocket rang. Seeing the words “Wife” flashing on the phone, he sneered coldly. While feeling relieved, his anger surged. “You love playing dead? Then go die for real!” Then he violently smashed the phone against the wall, shattering it to pieces. “Wah… Dad is so scary… wuwu…” “Huai! Henry is still sick, why do you have to make such a big fuss about something!” Amber, under the guise of comforting and holding Henry, took the opportunity to slip the phone hidden behind her back under the mattress. Lucas, seeing Henry crying with a red face, and Amber haggard from taking care of the child, was immediately overwhelmed with guilt, replacing his anger towards me. He stepped forward to take Henry, gently coaxing him. Only when the little one in his arms fell asleep did he gently place him back on the bed. Looking down at Henry’s sleeping face, Lucas lightly kissed his forehead. Then he slowly said to Amber: “Every time I see Henry, I think of that child. I don’t even dare to look at him. Even though I once looked forward to his birth.” “Although Zoe is willful and ignorant, that child was innocent.” “Huai, I know you feel guilty about her and that child, but it’s not your fault!” “You were just trying to save one of the two children as best you could.” Amber slowly wrapped her arms around Lucas’s waist, burying her face in his chest. “I know you have feelings for Youyou. I won’t force you to divorce.” “But in the current situation, it’s really not appropriate to let her know the truth, and Henry needs you now…” “Huai, let me be selfish just this once. Before Henry is discharged, don’t go back to find her, okay? Just take pity on us, mother and son.” “After Henry is discharged, if Youyou doesn’t like it, we’ll leave and never see you again.” Lucas’s arms around Amber suddenly tightened, and he lowered his head to urgently kiss Amber. He blocked the words of leaving from her mouth.

I floated above them, laughing at Amber’s fabricated words. If she really wanted to leave and let me be with Lucas, she wouldn’t have appeared in front of me with her illegitimate child when I was in late pregnancy. The scene before me was really disgusting. Before I could turn to leave, Amber’s phone rang. I looked at the flashing “Mom” on the screen, and couldn’t help but feel a twinge in my nose. I wonder how mom is doing. We had promised to visit her together with Lucas, but I had broken that promise forever. The sudden ringtone interrupted their intimacy. Although Amber was impatient, she still answered the phone gently: “Mom, what’s wrong? Huai? He’s here…” Lucas took the phone, sounding much more respectful. “Mom…” “Lucas, are you really not coming to see Youyou off?” “Mom, Henry just had surgery, Chen Chen can’t take care of him alone, I can’t leave. Since Youyou is already with you, I’m relieved…” “Moreover… moreover, Chen Chen and Henry are also your daughter and grandson, you shouldn’t be partial…” Hearing Lucas say this, mom’s voice suddenly became hysterical: “Lucas! Are you still human? Today is the seventh day after her death, even if you don’t come to see Youyou, what about the child? He’s your flesh and blood too…” Lucas’s hand gripping the phone suddenly tightened, his voice hoarse as he opened his mouth: “Mom, I…” “Don’t call me mom!” Mom’s sharp crying came through the receiver. “The thing I regret most in my life is listening to Youyou back then and adopting you! Causing my Youyou to die, two lives lost…” “Since you won’t come, then don’t come anymore in the future.” “From now on, you have nothing to do with Youyou anymore. I won’t even carve your name on her and the child’s tombstone.” Mom hung up the phone after saying this. Lucas stood there motionless, holding the disconnected phone, while I was anxious. I wished I could fly to mom’s side and comfort her. I didn’t know how mom, who was staying well in the nursing home, found out about my death. But I guess it had something to do with Amber. Hearing mom’s desperate voice, my heart hurt more than being dismembered. Seeing Lucas still standing there motionless, I angrily punched and kicked him. I wished I could drag him to see my mom. “What’s wrong, Huai? Did something happen to mom?” It wasn’t until Amber spoke that Lucas suddenly came back to his senses. “Mom said… Zoe is dead.” “What nonsense are they talking about! How could that troublemaker Zoe possibly be dead?” Lucas suddenly rushed out of the ward, slamming the door so hard it shook. He didn’t consider Henry who had just had heart surgery at all. I floated beside him, constantly praying, hurry up, walk faster! Don’t let Amber call him back again! But just as Lucas’s figure was about to disappear, Amber’s heart-wrenching cry came from behind: “Henry!”

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On my birthday, my dad gave me a car. I posted about it on social media to show it off a bit. But when my boyfriend’s father saw it, he came over pointing at me and yelling: “What’s a girl buying a car for? What a waste of money!” “Hurry up and sell that car, and give the money to my son!” I was stunned. Was something wrong with this man’s brain? What business was it of his if I bought a car? But to my shock, he actually rushed at me trying to grab my car keys! And that wasn’t all. When I wouldn’t give them to him, he started demanding I pay his son a “gene usage fee”! That’s right, a “gene usage fee”! I was furious and immediately posted the video of this online. Netizens were speechless. [Is this old man some kind of clown?] [Today I learned what true shamelessness looks like!] [This old man’s face is thicker than the Great Wall!] [First time hearing such a ridiculous reason, I’ve learned something new!] I had been with Ethan for two years. This was our first New Year as a couple, so I bought gifts and went with Ethan to his family home, hoping to gain his parents’ approval. Who knew that as soon as Ethan’s father saw me, his face darkened: “My son finally comes home for once, and you have to come drag him down!” I bit my lip, not wanting to argue on New Year’s, and could only force a smile: “Uncle, these are gifts I brought for you…” “Tsk, what a bunch of useless junk,” Ethan’s father didn’t even look. “All flash, no substance!” He turned to Ethan and said: “At least my son is filial, bringing back good cigarettes and alcohol. Much more practical than the trash you brought!” I almost laughed from anger. I had brought high-quality tea, supplements and health products. The cigarettes and alcohol Ethan brought were bad for his health. Which gifts were really more practical? But out of respect for him as an elder and Ethan’s father, I held my tongue and didn’t argue. Instead, I rolled up my sleeves and went to the kitchen to help make dinner. I thought, if I help out, surely he’ll see my good qualities? However, I still underestimated how shameless Ethan’s father could be. After dinner, he looked me up and down before asking: “I hear your family is quite well-off?” I pressed my lips together and nodded. “How many properties do you own? What brand is your car?” Ethan’s father asked. I frowned, feeling annoyed, but still answered: “I’m not sure how many properties, the car is just the one I drive now.” “Oh,” Ethan’s father seemed disappointed. “Well, that’s not bad.” Before I could feel relieved, he asked: “So what do your parents do? High salaries?” Suppressing my irritation, I replied: “Their salaries are decent. They have formal jobs.” Ethan’s father nodded, finally stopping his questions. I thought that was the end of it, but the next second, Ethan’s father said: “I hear you and our Ethan have been dating for a year?” I nodded. “When do you plan to get married?” Ethan’s father asked. I frowned: “That depends on both people’s wishes. It can’t be decided unilaterally.” “So you’re not planning to marry yet?” Ethan’s father instantly became angry. “Why are you stringing my son along!” I was speechless: “How am I stringing him along? Isn’t your son involved in this too?” Ethan’s father sneered: “My son is such a good catch, girls are lining up for him! You’d better hurry up and marry him while he still has some interest in you. Otherwise, you’ll be crying with no one to hear you!” “Besides…” he looked me up and down, “With your conditions, you should consider yourself lucky to have my son!” I was so angry I could barely breathe. Pointing at the door, I shouted: “What do you mean by that!” Ethan’s father crossed his arms, looking at me with disdain: “You’re two years older than my son, your education isn’t as good, and your job isn’t as good. If that’s not marrying up, what is?” I glared at him, wanting to smash the teacup on the table into his face. “And…” Ethan’s father’s eyes shifted, “If you’re willing to sell your car and transfer the money to my son, I suppose I could reluctantly agree to you two being together.” “Hah,” I was so angry my hands were shaking. “Sell my car and give your son the money? Keep dreaming!” Ethan’s father frowned, looking at me with contempt: “It’s just a car, what’s the big deal? With my son’s conditions, good girls would be lining up for him.” “I’m only agreeing to let you be with my son because you have some looks. Otherwise, you think you’d be able to step foot in our house?” I was so angry I wanted to flip the table: “I don’t care about stepping foot in your house!” “Hey, don’t speak too soon.” Ethan’s father waved his hand. “My son is great in every way. His only flaw is that his genes are too good.” I was stunned for a moment, not understanding: “What?” Ethan’s father said matter-of-factly: “My son has good genes, he’s strong in that area too. When you’re together, if you get pregnant, that would be a premium product!” “I didn’t create this for free, you need to pay our family a gene usage fee!” I forced a smile, holding back my anger: “Uncle, you must be joking.” Ethan’s father’s face darkened: “Who’s joking? I’m serious!” “Hurry up and sell the car, transfer the money to Ethan!” “When you two are together, all the money should be managed by Ethan. Your money is my money, my money is still my money!” “Your car should be for Ethan to drive. You should buy Ethan a car, that’s the right thing to do!” I really couldn’t listen anymore! I was shaking with anger. This person was simply unreasonable! I grabbed my bag and turned to leave, but Ethan’s father was still shouting behind me: “I’m telling you, our Ethan’s genes are very good!” “His sperm motility is much higher than average. Being able to have his child is your good fortune!” “You should be paying our Ethan a gene usage fee!” I was completely speechless. I had always thought that even though Ethan’s conditions were average, he was at least an educated person, so his family shouldn’t be too bad. But I never imagined his family would be like this! To say such things, what kind of upbringing did they have!

On my birthday, my father gave me a car. I happily posted on social media to show off: “Thank you Dad! You’re the strongest and best dad I’ve ever seen!” Ethan liked the post but didn’t say anything else. But that evening, he suddenly called me: “You bought a car?” I nodded: “Yeah.” “How could you buy a car!” Ethan sounded unhappy. “Weren’t we saving money to buy a house and get married?” I was stunned for a moment before explaining: “This was a birthday gift from my dad, I didn’t spend money to buy it.” “You still should have refused!” Ethan frowned. “You don’t even know how to drive, it’s a waste to buy one. It would be better to have your dad transfer the money to me for investment!” “Or…” he hesitated, “You could sell the car and transfer the money to me.” I almost laughed from anger: “Is something wrong with your brain? Asking me to sell the car and give you the money?” Ethan looked serious: “Yeah, you don’t know how to drive anyway, it’s a waste to buy one. Might as well give it to me to do something more useful!” “Besides…” he paused, “A man should be the head of the household. The family finances should all be managed by the man!” I sneered: “Do you live by the ocean? Trying to control everything?” “I don’t agree. Give up on that idea!” I said and hung up the phone. I thought that was the end of it, but the next day, Ethan’s father actually showed up at my door! “Bang! Bang! Bang!” The deafening knocking was accompanied by Ethan’s father’s loud voice: “Come out! You come out right now!” I looked through the peephole and saw it was Ethan’s father. I didn’t want to open the door. Outside, Ethan’s father was still shouting: “I’m telling you, don’t try to hide from me, I know you’re home!” “Come out right now! Let’s get things straight!” Afraid the neighbors would hear and gossip, I had to grit my teeth and open the door: “What do you want!” Ethan’s father snorted: “When I’m not around, you try to drive a wedge between Ethan and me, huh!” I frowned: “When did I drive a wedge?” “I heard all about it!” Ethan’s father looked disdainful. “Just asking you to sell the car and transfer the money to my son, and you whisper in my son’s ear that his father is no good!” I laughed angrily: “I said his father is no good, is there a problem with that? Do you think you’re good?” “Furthermore…” I paused, “Why should I sell my car and give your son money? Your son hasn’t said anything, and you’re already trying to call the shots!” Ethan’s father frowned: “My son is a man, men need to save face, of course he’s embarrassed to ask you for money!” “Hah.” I sneered, “He’s too embarrassed to ask, but you’re not?” “And…” I glared at him, “This is my own family’s money, I can spend it however I want. What business is it of yours!” Ethan’s father snorted: “You’re with my son, so you’re part of our Gu family! Your money is Ethan’s money, Ethan’s money is my money!” “I can’t manage it? Who else can manage it!” I was shaking with anger: “How can you be so shameless!” “I’m warning you…” I pointed at his nose, “If you don’t leave, I’m calling the police!” “Go ahead and call!” Ethan’s father said disdainfully, “Let’s see if you dare!” “You think I don’t dare?” I was so angry I took out my phone and dialed 110. To my surprise, Ethan’s father snatched my phone, smashed it on the ground, and stomped on it twice: “Go ahead and call! You believe I won’t smash your car too!” “Give me the keys!” He held out his hand. As he spoke, he reached out to grab my keys. I was completely stunned. How could this person’s face be so thick! He was actually trying to rob me! I struggled desperately, shouting: “Let go of me! Let go!” “Give me the keys!” Ethan’s father stared at me with bloodshot eyes. I was terrified, crying and dodging. Fortunately, the police arrived quickly and took Ethan’s father away. That day, Ethan never showed up. The only time he called, it was to criticize me for treating his father that way, saying I was making a big deal out of nothing. I angrily argued with him: “Your father came to my house, smashed my phone, and tried to steal my car keys. What’s wrong with me calling the police!” “You know if I had been a second later, he would have wrecked my house!” “That’s my dad!” Ethan’s voice came through the phone. “If you don’t respect my dad, you don’t respect me!” “Hah.” I was shaking with anger. “What kind of robber’s logic is that!” “Ethan, let me tell you…” I said through gritted teeth, “We’re done!” I thought that after breaking up with Ethan, this matter would be over. But Ethan’s father came looking for me again. He would call to curse at me from time to time, or wait outside my company to ambush me, saying I wasn’t good enough for his son, that I was shameless, and that I still wouldn’t listen to him and sell the car to give his son money… Even more terrifying, he actually brought up the “gene usage fee” again.

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I accidentally saw a “mistress registry” in the company group email. Next to my husband Ethan Parker’s name was his childhood sweetheart, the same age as him. In the evidence column, there was a screenshot of a chat. The childhood sweetheart asked him: “How long has it been since you touched that old lady?” He replied: “Don’t mention it. Now when I look at the company’s interns, I find them so youthful and vibrant.” “But when I go home and face her wrinkled face, I always feel there’s an elderly odor.” I’m already thirty-six, eight years older than him. But I don’t think I’m old yet. After coming to my senses, I decisively handed him divorce papers. Without me, his older sister figure, charging ahead, Ethan Parker lost his job and dignity, and reluctantly tried to keep me. I pinched my nose and said mockingly: “Why is there a smell of poverty here?” When I saw that “mistress registry”, Ethan Parker was playing games in the study. I placed the warmed milk beside him, reminding him to drink it soon. He impatiently said: “I know, you go rest first.” I casually scrolled on my phone, the page stopping right on his name. Olivia Quinn’s name was prefixed to his. And for several rows after, there was all kinds of substantial evidence of her being his mistress. My gaze focused on the words “elderly odor” for a long time, until my hand was almost numb. My heart ached, and my mind went blank. Until a game ended, Ethan Parker cursed softly and reached for the milk. But he accidentally spilled it. The milk spilled all over me. Ethan Parker finally had time to look up at me: “You haven’t left yet?” He frowned, his eyes showing a hint of disgust: “Tsk, what a strong smell. Go take a shower quickly.” The three words from the chat screenshot instantly became sharp arrows in reality. They pierced through the void, stabbing fiercely into my chest. In a daze, I suddenly realized a problem. Ethan Parker hadn’t touched me for a very long time.

When I closed the study door. The girl he was playing with maliciously asked: “She’s been waiting for you, does she want to… with you?” Ethan Parker instinctively looked back. Probably afraid I would hear. The door was left with a small gap, I stood where he couldn’t see me, and heard him say: “Can you stop disgusting me on purpose? Just thinking about that smell on her body makes me lose my appetite.” The girl’s mocking laughter was like sharp knives, cutting me to pieces. She continued to ask: “You’re not even thirty yet, why suffer with her? Just get a divorce.” “Forget it,” Ethan Parker hesitated. I thought he still couldn’t bear to part with me. Who knew he would say pityingly: “She’s almost forty, an old woman. Who would want her besides me?” My breathing became irregular, and my hands started trembling uncontrollably. I ran to the bathroom in a panic, looked up, and found my face had already turned pale. Ethan Parker didn’t notice anything unusual. But in the past, if I just sneezed once, he would make a fuss, take my temperature, and make chicken soup for me. Afraid I would be even slightly uncomfortable. When did he change? It was after I turned thirty-five. In this year and more, we rarely communicated. I always thought I was too busy with work and neglected him. I never imagined that his disgust had shown signs long ago. No longer turning on a lamp late at night, waiting for me to come home. No longer holding my waist intimately, calling me “babe” when things got passionate. No longer taking every little thing about me to heart, fearing to be negligent. It’s hard to imagine that this man, who now thinks I smell like an old person and is disgusted with me in every way, Once fought with his whole family, was kicked out of the house, to be with me, a woman eight years older than him, still firmly holding my hand, never giving up. At that time he said: “I don’t care what others think, you’re the best in my heart.” “Whether you’re twenty, thirty, or forty, fifty, in my heart, you’ll always be an eighteen-year-old girl.” “Even if the whole world disapproves of us, I still want to be with you.” “Let me take care of you for life, okay?” I raised my hand to smell myself. Because I was taking medicine to regulate my body, I could only smell a very faint scent of Chinese herbs. Like a string suddenly snapped, I took all the perfumes from the cabinet and sprayed them on myself. The perfume bottles fell to the ground, the broken pieces flew up, leaving a bright red wound on my leg. Blood flowed profusely. The entire bathroom was filled with a suffocating strong fragrance. Ethan Parker pushed open the door: “Rachel, what did you break?” He didn’t even notice that my leg was bleeding profusely, but just complained: “It’s so stuffy, clean it up quickly! It smells terrible!” But that was perfume. It doesn’t stink. At that moment, I suddenly realized. Ethan Parker just didn’t love me anymore. Why should I punish myself for his lack of love?

In the six years of marriage with Ethan Parker, I had always been known as a strong career woman to outsiders. And he rightfully enjoyed the “material” benefits that I, as the older one, contributed more to this relationship. I didn’t intend to let Ethan Parker take away a penny of the “marital property” I had worked hard to earn. Getting actual evidence of his affair became particularly important. To my surprise, Ethan Parker’s social circle was shockingly clean. The only one he was entangled with was his childhood friend he had known for many years. Olivia Quinn.

In the past, we had arguments because of Olivia Quinn. Although I was older than him and more mature, when it came to matters of the heart, I also had a jealous side. Olivia Quinn was young and beautiful, and had known Ethan Parker for many years. Their relationship was very deep. Sometimes, there would be actions that crossed the line. One particularly intense argument with Ethan Parker was because during a trip together, Olivia Quinn accidentally sprained her ankle. Ethan Parker carried her on his back without a second thought, leaving me, his girlfriend, far behind. Afterwards, Ethan Parker found it very hard to understand. He said: “Olivia is just like a sister to me.” “I carried my own sister when she was hurt, there was absolutely no other meaning to it.” Even Olivia came to apologize to me: “Rachel, don’t misunderstand. Ethan and I are just buddies. If we could be together, we would have been long ago, why wait until now?” In the end, it turned out that I was making a fuss over nothing. I stopped paying attention, and that argument became the longest cold war between Ethan Parker and me. In the end, he waited for me outside my company building for a day and a night. I worked overtime all night, and early the next morning, I met him at the entrance with his eyes red from staying up all night. He came up to me, gently tugging at the hem of my clothes, and pleaded in a low voice: “Don’t be angry anymore, babe.” “I promise, I’ll keep my distance from Olivia in the future.” “Okay?” After that, I rarely saw Olivia appear in front of me again. Little did I know, they had been keeping in touch privately all along. In fact, the girl he was playing games with last night. Was Olivia Quinn.

After staking out for half a month, I finally saw the latest chat records between Ethan Parker and Olivia Quinn on the iPad. They had arranged to meet at a hotel in the neighboring city. That day was Olivia Quinn’s birthday. I sat in a rented Volkswagen, watching Olivia Quinn link arms with Ethan Parker not far away. They were eating the same ice cream cone. Olivia Quinn’s face was full of arrogance: “Would the old lady eat the same ice cream cone with you?” Ethan Parker looked embarrassed: “Walking on the street, people think she’s my mom.” “Who eats the same ice cream cone with their mom at this age!” They entered the hotel together. The room number was 606. I travel frequently for work and have a gold membership on the hotel APP, with VIP discounts for accommodation. But my assistant always helped me book rooms, I rarely logged in myself. So Ethan Parker felt safe enough to use my account to book hotel rooms. It was only after calling customer service and asking them to restore the deleted booking records that I discovered Ethan Parker had booked rooms more than ten times in the past year and a half. Each time in his words was a so-called business trip. I sat in the Volkswagen for about twenty minutes, smoking two cigarettes. Estimating that enough time had passed, I finally dialed the police. Imitating the online procedures for catching cheaters, I calmly informed the person on the other end of the phone. “Hello, I want to report anonymously.” “There’s group prostitution happening in room 606 of XX Hotel.”

When I entered the room, Ethan Parker was shirtless, trying to explain. “I’m just playing games with my friend, what’s the problem?” The police officer sneered: “You play games without clothes on?” “Well, the informant is here. Please come with us to the police station to make a statement.” Ethan Parker hadn’t seen me yet, and was already furious: “Which psycho—” As I walked around the police officers. He met my eyes. At that moment, he completely panicked, his eyes full of disbelief: “You- why are you here?” I lit another cigarette, scanning him from head to toe. Fortunately, Ethan Parker was wearing shorts. But they must have been hastily put on when he was caught. After all, they were on backwards. The pockets were in the front. I couldn’t help but sneer. Ethan Parker fiddled with his drawstring, and after the initial panic, he quickly regained his composure. He quickly explained: “Rachel, today is Olivia’s birthday.” “We had arranged to meet some friends at the hotel to celebrate her birthday.” “We just arrived early, don’t misunderstand.” As he spoke, he deliberately took out his phone to show me the group he had created with his buddies. The group name was “Princess Olivia’s Birthday Party”. Six or seven men, but only Olivia was a woman. “I know you’ve never liked Olivia much, so I didn’t dare tell you. We even arranged it in the neighboring city.” I calmly finished my last drag of the cigarette, extinguished it, and said flatly: “Ethan Parker, do you remember what day it was yesterday?” His eyes first flashed with confusion. Then, he suddenly panicked. Of course he should panic. Because yesterday was my birthday.

It was when I got on the high-speed train to the neighboring city that I suddenly saw the date on the calendar and remembered. Yesterday was my birthday. It had already passed. I hadn’t remembered, and neither had Ethan Parker. Before I turned thirty-five, for every one of my birthdays, Ethan Parker would thoughtfully prepare gifts for me. From small things like a pen or a bouquet of flowers, to big things like a diamond ring or a wedding dress. At thirty-six, everything was gone. All that was left was the “elderly odor” that people found disgusting all over me. I smiled self-mockingly, suddenly realizing that when I thought of those three words again, I no longer felt so breathless with pain. This is probably the advantage of dating an older woman. All emotions are processed internally. But, you won’t get away with taking advantage of me. Love is just a game, I can play it, and I can lose it. “I’ve been so busy lately, I really forgot…” When Ethan Parker stepped forward urgently, trying to explain, I gently waved away his hand. I said in a contemptuous tone: “Ethan Parker, you’ve saved quite a bit of money using my VIP membership to book hotels over a dozen times, haven’t you?” “After the divorce, remember to transfer that money back to my card.”

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Ethan pressed me against the corner of the sofa, his eyes blazing red: “Emily, I’m asking you for the last time, do you want to be with me or not?” I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak, too many worries preventing me from answering. He slowly released me and stepped back, his reddened eyes full of disappointment. I quickly grabbed his hand to stop him from leaving, whispering: “Can you give me some more time to think about it?” “Emily, you’re really going to be the death of me.” I found him on a rainy day. He was soaked to the bone, hiding alone behind a pillar on the sidewalk, curled up in a ball and shivering uncontrollably. “Are you okay?” I asked. He looked up at me briefly, then quickly lowered his head again, turning away as if he didn’t want to talk. I went into a convenience store, bought some hot food and water, and sat by the window to eat it all at once. Hot food on a rainy day always brings comfort. When I came out, he was still in the same position, looking like he might be washed away by the heavy rain at any moment. Unable to bear it, I went back and bought another portion of food, placing it in his arms. “Eat this, it’s still hot.” After a few seconds of hesitation, he shakily took the food and stuffed it all into his mouth, finishing everything including the soup in just three minutes. After eating, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and softly said, “Thank you.” Seeing him like this, I thought he might be a runaway kid. I couldn’t do much more, so I left my umbrella and turned to leave. Just as I stepped into the rain, my sleeve was tugged. I turned to find the young man who had been crouching there following me. With hesitation but also a hint of desperate courage, he asked: “Can you take me home with you?” Out of selfishness, I agreed. After all, in my final days, I wanted someone to keep me company. Just having someone there would be enough.

Two months ago, when I received my leukemia diagnosis, I didn’t feel much sadness. If anything, I felt relieved that I could finally leave this miserable world with a legitimate reason. But in these last days, I wanted to be selfish for once and do all those things I had only ever written down in my notebook. I wanted to see the breathtaking sunrise over the mountains and the endless expanse of the ocean. Perhaps the heavens didn’t want me to be too lonely in my final days and sent me a companion. After entering my apartment, I told him to quickly take a shower. In this weather, catching a cold would be miserable. I gave him my largest T-shirt and pants, but they were still a bit short on him. It would have to do for now. I planned to take him shopping for suitable clothes tomorrow. After his shower, he looked damp and vulnerable, his doe-like eyes darting around, clearly wary of his surroundings. It stirred a strange protective instinct in me. I handed him a glass of warm water and brought out some instant noodles I had just prepared. “Eat this to warm up your stomach, you got pretty soaked in the rain earlier.” “By the way, I’m Emily. What’s your name?” “I’m Ethan, miss,” the young man replied, his voice low and somewhat muffled, as if speaking from inside a glass dome. After he finished eating, I took the bowl to clean up. When I came back, he had already fallen asleep on the table, his arms wrapped around his neck in an awkward position. Not wanting to wake him, I draped a blanket over his shoulders and turned up the temperature on the living room heater. … The next morning, I woke up with a nosebleed that wouldn’t stop. The medicine I took last night didn’t seem to have any effect. I finally managed to stop the bleeding, but my whole body felt boneless. I collapsed on the floor with a loud thud. There was frantic knocking at the door. “Emily? Are you okay?” It had been so long since anyone cared about me that I felt a bit uncomfortable. I didn’t want to open the door and let him see me in such a pale and haggard state. I suppressed the taste of blood in my throat and steadied my voice to tell him I was fine. “I just tripped and fell.” I applied some light makeup to look more lively. Ethan was sitting obediently in the living room waiting for me, still wearing the clothes from last night, looking a bit comical. I stared at him, the corners of my eyes lifting slightly as I smiled. Seeing me trying to hold back laughter, he looked down at his clothes and pouted in disappointment. “Mine aren’t dry yet, I can’t wear them.” “Alright, let’s go out and buy you some new ones now.” I took him to the mall to buy a few sets of clothes. I had to admit, the young man was very handsome with his pale skin, doe-like eyes, and a smile as bright as the stars. No wonder he was hard to refuse. We also went to the supermarket to buy some ingredients. I planned to make hot pot for dinner, something I had been craving for a long time but never had anyone to share it with. Now that I finally had the chance, I was determined to enjoy it to the fullest. During dinner, Ethan and I both had our mouths and throats burning from the spice. We kept drinking ice water to try to cool down, but the fire only seemed to spread to our ears, tormenting us to no end. He was drinking water but still managed to tease me. “Emily, you’re such a wimp.” “You’re not doing much better yourself,” I retorted. Looking at each other’s disheveled state, we couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room. It seemed that because of his arrival, my final days had gained a glimmer of hope.

Sometimes we would choose a classic movie and sprawl out on the sofa in all sorts of positions to watch it. Seeing the characters in a scenic location, I leaned on the sofa armrest and asked Ethan: “Should we go on a trip? We could see the unique culture and watch the sunrise over the mountains.” “Sure,” he agreed without hesitation. On the day of departure, the sky was clear, as if giving our journey a beautiful omen. We were seated next to a young couple who assumed Ethan and I were also on our honeymoon. They kept enthusiastically sharing their travel tips with us. “We’re not actually—” I started to explain, but was interrupted. Seeing their enthusiasm, I gave up trying to correct them. Let them think we were a couple, it didn’t matter. I turned to look at Ethan and saw the tips of his ears turning red as he pretended to look elsewhere. I decided to tease him a bit, moving closer and resting my head on his shoulder. He stiffened, his back going straight as he awkwardly asked, “Emily?” “Don’t move, boyfriend. I’m tired,” I said playfully. I had intended to just see his flustered reaction, but I actually fell asleep, missing the blush that spread across his face. When I woke up, I was still in the same position, but now there was a blanket draped over me. Ethan had his eyes closed, already asleep. The woman next to us noticed I was awake and whispered teasingly: “After you fell asleep, your boyfriend didn’t dare move an inch. He kept looking at you like he wanted to drink in the sight. He even asked the flight attendant for a blanket when he was worried you might be cold.” I was stunned for a moment, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. I hadn’t made a mistake in taking him in.

When we arrived at our destination, neither Ethan nor I experienced any altitude sickness. We moved our luggage to the guesthouse, but the front desk told us that due to an error, the two rooms we had booked were no longer available. They only had one room left and offered to refund us and pay a penalty fee. I thought about finding another hotel, but everywhere nearby was fully booked. We had no choice but to make do. Ethan said he could sleep on the floor. It was my first time sharing a room with a guy, and we both tactfully avoided mentioning it. After showering, I hid under the covers with only my eyes peeking out, blinking rapidly. Hearing the water running in the bathroom, my imagination started to wander. A young, fit body… something I had never experienced. I muttered to myself: “Emily, get it together. You can’t do something like that.” But another voice in my head chimed in: “Well, it’s not entirely out of the question…” In the end, I did nothing and just lay there obediently, but I couldn’t fall asleep. I decided to chat with him instead. “Ethan, are you asleep?” “No, can’t you sleep, Emily?” “I just want to talk for a bit.” Ethan told me that one day he had a big argument with his parents over something trivial. He was so angry that he stormed out and didn’t come home all night. His parents were worried and went out looking for him by car, but they encountered a drunk driver. The two cars collided, and tragedy struck. “If I hadn’t argued with them that day, if I hadn’t left, would everything be different? Would I still have a family?” It turned out that the day I found him was the seventh day after his parents’ passing. He had planned to end his life that day but unexpectedly met me instead. Muffled sobs came from under the bed, breaking my heart. I rolled to the edge of the bed and gently stroked his head, taking his hand in mine as I shared my own story with him. My dad and mom were only 18 when they had me, having just graduated from high school. When my mom was discovered to be pregnant, she was locked up at home. My grandmother brought over a dozen relatives to demand an explanation from my dad’s family. If they didn’t agree to marriage, they threatened to report my dad for rape. In the end, the two families decided to have the baby first and get married later. My parents only got their marriage certificate when I was four years old. Less than a year later, they were already at each other’s throats, insisting on divorce. Neither of them wanted to take me, seeing me as a burden. It was my grandmother who couldn’t bear to see this and took me back to the countryside, raising me to adulthood. By the time I finally made something of myself and earned some money, my grandmother was no longer around to enjoy it, having gone to a faraway place. Ethan squeezed my hand and said softly: “Everything will be alright.” “It definitely will be.” We were like two wounded animals licking each other’s wounds. Though they couldn’t be fully healed, at least they didn’t hurt as much anymore. Suddenly, I felt like I had a reason to keep living.

I always thought I slept quite gracefully, but I ended up embarrassing myself completely in front of Ethan. I woke up next to Ethan, opening my eyes to see his face up close, my hand resting on his firm waist, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing. Afraid of an awkward awakening, I tried to sneak back to my own bed, but as soon as I moved, he pulled me back into his arms. “Emily, let’s sleep a bit longer.” I felt a rush of heat to my face, my heart pounding. This kid really knew how to charm. “Are you awake?” I asked. There was no response. Ethan looked even more innocent when asleep, like a baby, making me want to kiss him. And I actually did. His lips were soft like jelly. I kept it brief, feeling guilty for stealing a kiss. But suddenly Ethan deepened the kiss, our breaths intertwining as we greedily savored each other’s taste. Throughout the whole process, he never opened his eyes. After the kiss, he rolled over to face the other way, as if he had fallen back asleep. If it weren’t for the redness spreading from his ears to his neck, I would have thought he was just dreaming. Cheeky brat, kissing me and then pretending to be asleep. I went to the bathroom feeling shy and annoyed, stomping my feet loudly to make sure he heard. In the time it took to brush my teeth, a metallic taste filled my mouth and my nose started bleeding profusely. I kept trying to wipe it away, staining my fingers red. Looking at myself in the mirror, I suddenly felt overwhelmed with sadness, almost losing myself in despair. I couldn’t let this ruin things for him. If only I could live… It seemed I wasn’t as unafraid of death as I thought. Once you have someone to care about, you become terrified of leaving. I flushed the bloodied tissues down the toilet and cleaned myself up. When I came out, Ethan was making the bed, neatly folding the pajamas I had tossed aside. I walked past him and poured myself a glass of warm water, swallowing a handful of pills in one go. Seeing me take medicine, he asked with concern: “Emily, what’s wrong?” “It’s nothing, just some vitamins. I’ll give you a few later too.” “Let’s go out after you’re done getting ready.” … After leaving the room, Ethan tried to bring up what happened that morning, but I kept brushing it off. He seemed annoyed but didn’t dare express it, not understanding why my attitude had suddenly changed so much. He tried to hold my hand several times but gave up disappointedly each time, like a Samoyed that hadn’t received its treat. I kept reminding myself not to soften, it would only hurt both of us. The sky here was truly blue, making me feel completely relaxed. We rented a vintage car and drove along the lake road towards a scenic town. Walking on this flower-lined street felt like it could heal everything. There were too many people coming and going, including children running around. “Emily, watch out!” Ethan suddenly pulled me into his arms, shielding me in his small space.

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Who would have thought that the boyfriend I bought on a second-hand website would turn out to be my direct supervisor? After meeting in person, my grudge-holding boss transformed into a sweet puppy. Later, rumors spread throughout the office. He locked me in his office, cornering me, “I heard you’re dating that guy? What about me? What about the promises we made?” “Don’t worry, you’re still my favorite.” #Selling second-hand boyfriend. We’ve been chatting for a week. He plays all kinds of games, has a magnetic voice that’ll make your ears pregnant. He’s quite funny and great for boosting mood, perfect for gaming together. #I heard in real life he’s handsome, 6’1″, with a six-pack and still working out. He says he wants to be a lean muscle boy. He can also play piano and sing pop songs. You can just use him as a tool. I haven’t told him any of my personal info, so you can chat safely. Scrolling through this post, I felt like I was doomed. Who would sell their boyfriend? And this was from someone I followed. Who was this? Looking closer, I realized it was an online gaming buddy I’d met a few days ago. I couldn’t help but ask: “Girl, are you really selling your boyfriend?” Before I got a reply, I received a call from my mother. As soon as I answered, unsurprisingly, it was about marriage – “You’re already 26, almost 30, and you still haven’t found a boyfriend! What will you do in a few years when your dad and I are gone? All alone, you…” I could recite Mom’s spiel by heart at this point. “It’s just that I haven’t found anyone suitable…” Before I could finish, she interrupted, “No excuses. You must come home next weekend for a blind date! Otherwise, I’ll… I’ll disown you.” It seemed Mrs. Wilson had been “inspired” by some friend, to the point of threatening to disown me. I quickly agreed, and Mrs. Wilson was finally satisfied enough to end the call. But not before warning me, “Don’t you dare try to trick me, or I’ll bring someone straight to your little apartment for the blind date.” The thought of those blind dates made me shudder. They were either as plain as a potato, as short as a turnip, missing a few teeth, or divorced with two kids… No way, not for me.

“Yes, yes, girl! Do you want him? I’ll give you a good price.” “We’re so close, I’ll be honest with you.” “The main thing is, I found someone with decent conditions in real life, so I don’t really want this online one anymore. I thought I’d sell him and get some money back.” While I was on the phone with my mother, this girl sent me a bunch of messages. “Look, here’s his photo and some videos to prove it’s him. I think he’s really quite good.” “video.mp4” I didn’t rush to reply to her messages. I was curious if what she said was true, so I clicked on the video to feast my eyes. He walked ahead, turning back to look at the camera. The young man’s lips curled into a particularly dazzling smile. A simple white T-shirt looked like an expensive suit on him. Sunlight fell on his hair. His youthful aura was overwhelming. He was so handsome! Much better than those duds from blind dates! I want him. Blinded by his looks, I transferred money to the girl, and she sent me his friend request.

After adding him as a friend, I came to my senses. How could I go after a younger guy! I felt a bit heartbroken. My principle was never to go after guys younger than me, but now I’d spent a lot of money to get a “second-hand boyfriend”. I didn’t know whether to call myself stupid or foolish. “Hello, baby.” Since I’d already bought him, might as well chat. Worst case, I could come clean about the truth. The girl told me his name was Ethan. She had just asked Ethan to add her main account – which was my account. This completed the account transfer. The girl also sent me a document titled “Things We’ve Discussed”. I skimmed through it. It was mostly information about Ethan, with very little about Ethan’s “girlfriend”. “This way, you can chat with him yourself and reveal your own preferences.” Looking at the pile of information about Ethan, I couldn’t help but comment – he was way too gullible. He’d spilled everything without the other person saying much. He didn’t even need to be tricked, he’d just give you his social security number.

I discovered that Ethan was really too easy to fool! He believed everything I said. I had no doubt that if I told him there were lychees growing in the sky, he’d believe it without question. There weren’t many people as pure as him left in this world. “Olivia baby, I have to go to work now. When can we meet?” Ethan’s one downside was that he really wanted to meet. In the few days we’d been chatting, our relationship had rapidly heated up. I was thinking of just bringing Ethan home for the weekend blind date. Having someone was better than no one, right? Mom shouldn’t say much then. From what I understood, Ethan was in the same city as me, working in the same district! What could be better than that? We might even bump into each other on the street. “Baby, are you free this weekend? Would it be okay to come home with me?” “Really? I can?” Seeing this exclamation mark, I could imagine how excited he must be on the other side of the screen. “Baby wants to meet me, I’m so happy, so excited!” “Baby baby baby, this is great, I can finally meet you! Five days until the weekend! I need to think about how to dress myself, hehe.” His messages came one after another like an excited puppy. I looked at them helplessly. It was just a meeting, was it really such a big deal? “Olivia, has anything exciting happened recently?” My coworker Sarah asked from the desk opposite. It was just after lunch break. I didn’t like squeezing into the cafeteria with everyone else, so I usually waited a bit to eat. I didn’t expect Sarah to still be here too. “Why do you ask?” Sarah tidied up her desk and picked up her phone. “No reason, I just noticed you’ve had a non-stop smile on your face. I thought maybe you saw some funny video, or…” Sarah leaned in with a mischievous grin, her eyes narrowing to slits, “Could it be? Has our beautiful Olivia found love?” “What are you talking about? Don’t be silly. If anyone’s going to find love, it’ll be you before me.” I quickly locked my phone screen and joked, “Alright, alright, I’m going to eat now. Want to join me?” “Sure.”

While eating, I glimpsed a handsome guy at a nearby table that I hadn’t seen before. I whispered to Sarah, “Quick, look at the guy behind me. He’s so handsome. Look at that high nose bridge, tsk tsk…” The handsome guy wore a simple white T-shirt, shoveling food into his mouth. If this was in high school, he’d be the quintessential hot guy. I’d say one sentence, then take a bite of food, my eyes never leaving the guy next door. “Look, his profile is so handsome, his full face must be amazing.” Sarah quickly tugged at my sleeve, whispering so quietly I could barely hear, “Olivia, lower your voice. You’re speaking a bit loudly, he might hear you.” I noticed the guy’s ears turning visibly red. Crap, he heard me talking about him behind his back. I slowed down my eating, not wanting to run into the handsome guy. The company was so big, I’d never seen this handsome guy before, so I probably wouldn’t see him again. As long as I didn’t feel awkward, the awkward one would be someone else. I kept trying to convince myself. But reality slapped me in the face that afternoon. “Now, let’s welcome our newly appointed Manager Ethan.” The former manager walked in with a somewhat familiar face. I was secretly stuffing fruit into my mouth, trying to get some vitamin C. I looked up and suddenly met eyes with the new “Manager Ethan”. Oh no, did he recognize me? I could feel my heart pounding frantically. I didn’t want to be targeted by the new boss, then ostracized by everyone, and finally leave the company in disgrace. Manager Ethan only glanced at me for a moment before looking away, greeting everyone casually, “I’ll be working with all of you from now on. Please take care of me.” Everyone applauded. “Alright, everyone get back to work. Oh, Olivia, come to my office for a moment.” Manager Ethan said mildly before walking to his office. As soon as he said this, everyone in the office seemed to smell some juicy gossip and stared at me. I felt uncomfortable and looked at Sarah. Sarah gave me a helpless expression. I thought I could avoid it, but it seemed I couldn’t. Looks like he was going to confront me about what I said in the cafeteria. I steeled myself and walked to his office.

“You’re here, have a seat.” Manager Ethan still had that smiling expression, inviting me to sit on the big sofa nearby. As I was considering whether to fall to my knees and immediately apologize for gossiping about a colleague at lunch, ruining the company atmosphere… Manager Ethan handed me a document, “Take a look at this project. Can you handle it?” As long as he wasn’t pursuing the matter, I could climb mountains of blades or dive into seas of fire. Anything was fine. I immediately relaxed, quickly skimmed the project, and confidently assured him, “No problem, you can count on me.” Manager Ethan waved his hand, telling me to go back and work on the plan, “Can you give me a proposal by Friday?” I nodded vigorously like a pecking chicken. As I nodded, I walked backwards and knocked over a vase on the sofa. “Crash!” The crisp sound of breaking porcelain. I didn’t dare turn around, afraid this was all just my imagination. “Hehe.” I looked at Manager Ethan sheepishly, wishing the office floor would open up and swallow me. Gossiping about a colleague at lunch, then breaking a vase in the office in the afternoon. I must have forgotten to check my horoscope before leaving home today. Such bad luck! “Are you okay?” Manager Ethan rushed over, looking very concerned. “The vase seems to have a bit of a problem. I’m sorry, Manager Ethan, I’ll compensate for it at the original price.” I quickly bowed, hoping Manager Ethan would forgive me. I didn’t want to be the first target of his new leadership. A manager who just started on his first day surely couldn’t be asking if I was okay. “I’m asking if you’re alright. The vase breaking is just a small matter, as long as you’re not hurt.” Manager Ethan looked me up and down. Only after seeing I was really okay did his tense expression fade. “As for the vase, let’s just consider it breaking for good luck. No need for compensation.” “Then I’ll get back to work.” I slipped out, leaving those words behind.

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Title: My Girlfriend Planned a Beach Proposal, but I Found Her Kissing Her “First Love” Instead # After my girlfriend’s 99th dramatic breakup, she surprised me by apologizing and inviting me to the beach to “clear the air.” When I arrived, I saw a beautifully decorated proposal setup and immediately assumed it was her usual game of playing hard to get. For three years, this had been her style: make me sad and frustrated, only to turn it into a “surprise” that was supposed to make me happy again. So, I put on my best suit, ready to accept her proposal, only to find her kissing her “first love” in front of an applauding crowd. That’s when it hit me—one-sided love is meaningless. But as I boarded the train to leave, she called me, crying and begging for a chance to explain. “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” On the beach, my girlfriend, Summer, and her “first love,” Chase, were locked in a passionate kiss, urged on by the cheering crowd around them. And I was just… standing there, watching. My chest felt like it was being ripped apart, and my vision blurred with tears. I looked down at the suit I had picked so carefully, at the bouquet of 999 roses I’d bought just for her. Suddenly, I felt like the biggest fool in the world. Today was the 99th time Summer had threatened to break up with me. But for the first time, she’d actually apologized and asked me to join her for a day at the beach. As soon as I arrived and saw the elaborate proposal decorations, I thought I understood what was happening. This was just another one of her tricks—a game of push and pull. For three years, she’d loved to toy with my emotions, making me feel hurt and neglected before delivering some grand surprise to “make it up to me.” Like on my birthday. She had pretended to forget it entirely and spent the whole day out with Chase, leaving me waiting at home. After I’d sat there alone for hours, watching the dinner I’d prepared grow cold, she finally came back with a cake. She smeared frosting on my face, giggling as she said, “Surprised? Happy birthday, Ryan!” Or on our anniversary. She stood me up at the restaurant, leaving me sitting alone at a table while strangers whispered about the guy who’d been ghosted. When the restaurant finally closed, she waltzed in with perfect hair and makeup. “Even if the restaurant’s closed, I still showed up. Isn’t that romantic?” Every time, my emotions were dragged through highs and lows, like a rollercoaster I couldn’t get off. I’d told her how much I hated these kinds of “surprises,” begged her to stop playing these games. But she never took it seriously. So this time, I thought it was just more of the same. Breaking up was just the “low,” and this proposal would be the “high.” I let go of my earlier frustration and sadness, convincing myself that this was finally the moment I’d been waiting for. After all, I’d always wanted to marry her. For years, Summer had insisted on delaying marriage, claiming she wanted to focus on her career. But now, I thought she was finally ready to commit. Excited, I went all out. I rented a tailored suit from a boutique and bought the biggest, most beautiful bouquet of roses I could find. I rushed back to the beach, ready to say yes to her proposal. But instead… I saw her kissing Chase, their faces glowing with happiness as the crowd cheered them on. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms. My chest felt like it was being torn apart. How could she do this? We’d been together for so long, and she’d never even kissed me. Summer had always told me she was a conservative person. She wanted to save her first kiss for our wedding day. So for three years, I respected her boundaries. The most we ever did was hold hands—and even that depended on her mood. But now… Now she was kissing Chase in front of everyone, without hesitation, without shame. I felt cold all over, like every part of me had been rejected. She wasn’t conservative. She wasn’t shy. She just didn’t want me. Suddenly, everything made sense. The constant delays, her refusal to marry me—it was never about her career. She was waiting for Chase. I stood there for what felt like an eternity, the salty breeze drying my tears until my eyes stung. The whole time, Summer didn’t even notice me. At that moment, I realized how pointless it all was. Loving someone who doesn’t love you back is the most meaningless thing in the world. I let out a quiet sigh, tossed the flowers into the trash, and turned to leave. Afterward, I returned the suit, changed back into my own clothes, and went home. Once there, I began packing my things, determined to end things with Summer for good. While sorting through my belongings, I stumbled upon a dusty pink diamond necklace tucked away in the corner of a drawer. It was the first gift I ever bought for her, something I had saved up my entire first paycheck to afford. It was also supposed to be our “promise” gift. I had never once seen her wear it. When I asked, she claimed she had accidentally lost it. But here it was, sitting untouched, still in its original packaging, collecting dust in a forgotten corner. I had offered it to her with so much love, and she had dismissed it without a second thought. For years, she had treated me with indifference, breaking up with me more times than I could count. And yet, I had fooled myself into believing there was love between us. The truth was, Summer had never let go of Chase. Her games of “push and pull” were nothing more than excuses to openly get closer to him. They grew up together, childhood friends who naturally became a couple in college. But they broke up because of clashing personalities, and Chase had left her behind to study abroad. Even after the breakup, their connection lingered, messy and unresolved. I had only entered the picture after their split, helping her move on from the heartbreak. There was a time when we were happy together. Before Chase came back, no matter how angry Summer got, she never actually broke up with me. She even remembered small details about me—like my allergy to spicy food. But once Chase returned, everything changed. Suddenly, she was picking fights and breaking up with me on a whim. Her heart was no longer with me. She even forgot about my allergy, putting chili peppers in our meals multiple times, which sent me to the hospital for stomach pumps and IV drips. Back then, I lied to myself. I told myself she was just too busy to remember these things, that she still loved me even if she was bad at showing it. But now? Now I could finally see the truth. I had been in love with an illusion, convincing myself there was something real between us when there never was. I’d had enough. Enough disappointment, enough heartbreak. It was time to let go and start over. Just as I finished packing my bags and was about to leave, Summer walked through the door. She looked surprised to see me. Then her expression shifted into a frown, full of annoyance. “Why didn’t you come to the beach today?” she asked, her tone sharp. After a pause, she lowered her gaze and added, almost dismissively, “Not that it matters. It’s all over now.” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. She had no idea I’d been there. No idea I’d seen her and Chase locked in that passionate kiss. Of course, she wouldn’t have noticed me. She had been so caught up in the moment, so lost in her happiness with him. I was exhausted—years of trying, years of hoping for something that would never come. Love that isn’t returned isn’t love worth keeping. With that thought, I took a deep breath, looked her in the eyes, and said, slowly and clearly: “We’re done.”

“What? Can you stop being so unreasonable?” Summer’s eyes widened as she stared at me, utterly stunned. She clearly hadn’t expected someone who had always loved her unconditionally to suddenly suggest a breakup. But my tone was calm. “I’m not being unreasonable. I’m serious.” “You kissed Chase. What’s the point of continuing this relationship?” Summer froze at my words, her expression faltering for just a moment before a flicker of guilt crossed her face. “You… you saw that? When did you—” Before she could finish, I cut her off with a bitter laugh. “Right when you and Chase were so caught up in your kiss. You two really make a perfect match.” Summer paused, then shot me a cold glare, her tone sharpening with anger. “And whose fault is that? If you hadn’t been late, Chase wouldn’t have had to kiss me to diffuse the situation!” “We agreed to meet at ten, but you didn’t show up until eleven. Do you know how humiliated I felt, standing there while everyone was ridiculing me?” “And if you had arrived, why didn’t you come find me? Were you just standing there watching, hoping to see me embarrassed?” I was speechless for a moment. She was the one who had done something wrong, yet somehow she managed to twist it around and make it my fault. Besides, I clearly remember sending her a message when I went to rent the suit and buy the flowers. Seems like she hadn’t even bothered to check. Chase calls her once, and she’ll drop everything—even a meeting—to answer. But when I sent her over a dozen messages, she ignored them all without a second thought. This was the difference between love and indifference, and I was finally starting to understand it. “Summer, I sent you a mess—” Before I could finish, the sound of a knock on the door interrupted me. It was Chase. The next second, he entered the apartment after punching in the code, as if it were his own home. Judging by how natural and practiced he looked, it was clear this wasn’t his first time here. This was my home. Mine and Summer’s. Yet she had given him the door code behind my back. I turned to look at her, but she avoided my gaze, shifting uncomfortably. Chase walked over to her, casually standing by her side, and said with a grin, “Summer, you left in such a rush earlier that I just realized I still had the engagement ring on me!” “Good thing I noticed and came over to return it right away!” As he spoke, he shot me a smug, taunting look, deliberately holding up the ring for me to see, his intention to provoke clear as day. It was only then that I noticed the matching couples’ rings on their hands. I lowered my gaze, my heart growing colder by the second. Wasn’t he just “helping” her out of an awkward situation? Then why were they wearing matching rings? Neither Summer nor I spoke, and the room was thick with tension. Chase took advantage of the silence, pretending to lighten the mood while slyly fanning the flames. “Are you two fighting? Ryan, don’t misunderstand. I only wore the engagement ring because I had no choice.” “Back at the beach, I only kissed her because you didn’t show up on time. We thought you weren’t coming.” “The moment was perfect, the crowd was cheering, and I didn’t want Summer to feel awkward. That’s all.” “But really, nothing happened between us. We’re completely innocent. Don’t let me come between you two!” Chase then turned to me with a fake smile. “I’ll take the ring off and return it to you right away.” He started fiddling with the ring, but it was obvious he wasn’t trying very hard. In fact, he made a big show of pretending it was stuck, rubbing his finger until it turned red. Then he looked at Summer with mock helplessness. “Summer, it’s stuck! What should I do?” Playing along, he forced a pitiful expression, as if he had tried his best. Summer, of course, fell for it. She grabbed his hand, her voice soft and full of concern. “If it’s stuck, don’t force it. It’s just a ring—don’t hurt yourself over it.” Chase continued his act, still “struggling” to remove the ring as he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “But this is the engagement ring you bought for Ryan…” Summer, clearly irritated, glanced at me with annoyance, as if still upset about our argument. “Then I’ll just buy him another one. It’s not a big deal. He’s not that petty.” Hearing her dismiss me so easily, Chase’s smugness grew, and he shot me a triumphant look. I, however, felt nothing but cold detachment. This was how it always was. Whenever it came down to choosing between me and Chase, she always chose Chase. This wasn’t about a ring. It was about everything that had been broken between us. Rings can be replaced. But a broken relationship? That can’t be fixed. I smiled faintly, walked over, and placed their hands together. “There’s no need to take it off. You two are perfect for each other. I wish you both the best.”

With that, I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the door. Chase, clearly delighted, decided to play the “good guy” and pretended to stop me. “Ryan, I know you’re still upset about what happened at the beach, but it really wasn’t what you think. I was only trying to help Summer out of an awkward situation.” “Sure, we shared some great memories in the past—bungee jumping, watching the northern lights—but that’s ancient history. Summer and I are just good friends now. Don’t let it get to you…” He was pretending to console me, but every word was dripping with smugness. Before he could finish, I interrupted with a cold smile. “Oh, I get it. It’s lip friendship, right? Friendship sealed with a kiss.” My sarcasm made Chase’s face twitch, and Summer immediately snapped. “That’s enough, Ryan! Chase already explained everything to you. What more do you want?” “And seriously, it was just a kiss! I’ve already agreed to marry you—my whole life will be yours after we’re married! Do you really need to make a big deal out of one kiss?” I couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous she sounded, defending Chase like that. She didn’t understand. It wasn’t about the kiss. It was about the way she always treated Chase so differently—how she always put him first. When I didn’t respond, Chase’s eyes began to glisten as he played his usual victim card. “I’m sorry, Summer. It’s my fault you and Ryan are having this fight.” “I should probably just leave so I don’t upset him anymore…” As he said this, he slowly made his way toward the door, deliberately brushing past me. I frowned, wondering what he was up to now. The next second, he stumbled and fell to the ground with a dramatic cry of pain, clutching his leg. He looked up at me with teary, accusing eyes, as if I’d somehow tripped him. Summer immediately pushed me aside and rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around him protectively. “Ryan! How could you? Tripping Chase over something so petty? I’m so disappointed in you!” Chase, of course, was quick to add fuel to the fire. “Don’t blame Ryan, Summer. It’s my fault—I wasn’t standing properly…” Her shove had sent me sprawling to the ground, scraping my arm in the process. Blood was trickling down, but Summer didn’t even glance my way. I got up slowly, looking at her with cold detachment. “Summer, I’m the one who’s disappointed.” For three years, she had always chosen Chase over me. She had always made excuses for him, always found a way to justify his presence in our lives while treating me as an afterthought. Three years of disappointment and resentment had built up inside me. I was tired. Exhausted. Without another word, I turned and headed for the door. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of panic in Summer’s eyes, but it quickly disappeared, replaced by icy indifference. “Ryan, don’t think pulling this stunt will get my attention. Playing hard to get doesn’t work on me!” “If you leave now, don’t bother coming back!” I stopped for a moment, and for a brief second, she looked confident, like she thought her words had worked. Her lips curled into a faint, triumphant smile. “If you’ve come to your senses, then hurry up and—” But before she could finish, her smile froze. I wasn’t stopping for her. I was just grabbing my suitcase. I walked right past her and left without looking back. Seeing my resolve, Summer finally realized I wasn’t bluffing. “Ryan! If you dare walk out that door, I’ll cut off your mom’s medication!” Her words stopped me in my tracks. She was threatening me with my mother’s life? My mother had been gravely ill for years, relying on expensive medication to stay alive. Summer, being the successful career woman she was, had always paid for it. I had stepped back from my career to take care of her, managing our home and daily expenses instead. And now, she was using that against me? I turned back, my voice cold and final. “Do whatever you want. I’ll take care of my mom myself.” Without waiting for her response, I walked out the door. Once outside, I called my boss and requested a transfer to the company’s branch in Calridge City. My boss was thrilled. “Ryan, I’m so glad you’ve finally made this decision! Do you know how disappointed I was when you turned down the transfer last time?” “You’re one of the most talented people I know. I’ve always believed in you.” I had given up so much for Summer—promotions, career growth, even opportunities to relocate. My boss had offered me countless chances, but I’d turned them all down, thinking I was doing the right thing for my relationship. But now that we were done, it was time to focus on myself again. I asked my boss to help look after my mom while I was away, and he agreed without hesitation. After hanging up, I booked the next train out of this miserable city. As my cab pulled up to the station, my phone started buzzing non-stop. Summer had finally realized I wasn’t joking. She bombarded me with calls and messages: “Ryan! I heard you’re leaving. Is it true?” “Where are you? I’ll come find you right now!” “Why won’t you answer me? Please, just hear me out!” “It’s all a misunderstanding. Let me explain—things aren’t what you think!” I was irritated and blocked her number without hesitation. Then I powered off my phone. Now she regretted it? Too late. Whatever excuses she had, they didn’t matter anymore. Her lack of boundaries with Chase was undeniable, and I had no interest in hearing her try to justify it. Looking back, I couldn’t believe how pathetic I’d been all these years. I’d spent so much energy walking on eggshells, constantly trying to please her. Every time she abandoned me, I’d make excuses for her. Every time she wore matching outfits with Chase instead of me, I told myself it was just a coincidence. Every time she broke up with me, I’d wonder if I’d done something wrong. I knew deep down that she didn’t love me as much as I loved her. But I hadn’t wanted to admit it. The incident at the beach had been the wake-up call I needed. It was time to let go of this toxic relationship and move on. By the time I reached the train station, my train had just arrived. It felt like fate, everything falling into place. I passed through security, checked my ticket, and boarded the train. Just as I found my seat and was about to relax, someone appeared out of nowhere. It was Summer. Her eyes were red and swollen as she ran onto the platform, screaming at the top of her lungs. “Ryan! You promised you’d never leave me, no matter what! So why are you leaving me now?”

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My husband transferred nearly a million dollars to his secretary. That money, which should have been part of our joint assets, became a “gift” to his mistress. The woman even flaunted it on social media with a screenshot. When I left a single comment: [Some people should know how to avoid suspicion.] I was promptly blocked by her. My so-called husband then called to threaten me not to spread nonsense. The next day, she posted another screenshot of a one-million-dollar transfer. I knew this was her declaration of war against me. But this time, I didn’t care anymore. I appeared to have a happy marriage, but at that moment, I was surrounded by unease and doubt. My fingers idly swiped across my phone screen when a notification caught my eye. It was Maggie Bell, the woman who always maintained a professional presence in my life. She was my husband Jeremy Sisto’s secretary. Her post wasn’t about trivial matters; it was a screenshot of a bank transfer. The numbers were like sharp blades stabbing into my heart. “How ironic,” I murmured to myself, emotions churning inside me. What I once believed was an unbreakable marriage now seemed fragile in the face of those cold numbers. But my fingers had a mind of their own. They clicked into the comments section, where I left the remark: [Some people should know to avoid suspicion.] My warning made no waves. It was swiftly deleted by Maggie, and moments later, a harsh notification confirmed that she had blocked me. At that moment, anger and humiliation surged within me. I could almost hear the sound of my teeth grinding. “What gives her the right? How can she blatantly destroy someone else’s family like this?” Just as my emotions were about to collapse, my phone rang suddenly. Jeremy’s name lit up on the screen, and my heart clenched tightly as I answered the call. “Darlene, what are you doing? Why are you spreading nonsense online?” His voice was filled with anger and disbelief as if I were the one at fault. “Spreading nonsense? Jeremy, do you even know what she posted?” I nearly shouted, holding the phone to my ear. But all I got in return was silence. “Darlene, calm down. This is between us. Don’t drag others into it.” His tone softened slightly, but the implied defense of her cut through me like a knife. “Between us? What is there between us that can’t see the light of day? What do you call sending her so much money?” My voice trembled as I confronted him. “Enough! Darlene, your unreasonable behavior has gone too far. I’m not going to argue with you anymore.” With that, the line went dead. When I tried calling him back, a cold mechanical voice informed me that his phone was off. Soon after, I saw that he’d blocked me on messaging apps as well. I laughed bitterly, a laugh-filled with despair and irony. [Jeremy, don’t regret this.] I sent him the text message, even though I knew he might never see it. That night, I tossed and turned, my pillow soaked with tears. The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the curtains, I opened my eyes. What greeted me wasn’t hope for a new day but a harsher reality. My phone buzzed incessantly with notifications. Opening it, I found countless messages from friends, all sharing screenshots. Maggie had once again flaunted a transfer, this time an even more staggering sum—one million dollars. “Is this her way of declaring war?” A surge of unprecedented anger and sorrow rose within me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

A week earlier, I had walked out of the hospital doors. The sunlight was bright, but it couldn’t warm the darkness in my heart. The doctor’s words echoed in my ears, a cold rain of reality reminding me of my body’s frailty and limits. But stubbornness lingered within me. Shaking my head, I rejected the doctor’s advice and decided to go home. Two months ago, a sudden accident swept through my life like a storm, tearing away all my happiness and expectations. Losing my child drained all color from my world. Jeremy’s indifference and distance were like knives, repeatedly cutting new wounds into my heart. Despite everything, I tried to use love and determination to build one last defense for our marriage. At home, I put on carefully selected clothes, each piece carrying my love and hope for Jeremy and our family. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I forced a small smile, attempting to hide the exhaustion and sorrow in my eyes. I reminded myself that today marked our fifth wedding anniversary, a day meant to be full of warmth and sweetness. I sent Jeremy a message, full of anticipation. But it was like a stone sinking into the sea, no reply. As night fell, he finally stumbled through the door, reeking of alcohol. His gaze was vacant, blind to the dinner I had meticulously prepared and the effort I had put into my appearance. “Here, for you. Cake.” He tossed a delicately packaged box onto the table. Inside was a blueberry cake, once our favorite. Now, it felt like an insult. Inside the box, the cake was missing a small triangular piece. I froze because just hours ago, I had seen this exact cake on Maggie’s social media. She had smiled so brightly in the photo. And now, this piece of cake had become the cruelest joke in my marriage. “Jeremy, what’s the meaning of this?” My voice shook, anger and heartbreak surging within me. He frowned, irritation flashing across his face. “It’s just a cake. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?” “Just a cake? Maggie had this first, and you brought it to me? This is how you celebrate our anniversary?” My voice rose, tears brimming in my eyes. “Darlene, you’re being unreasonable!” He snapped back, his tone full of disdain. “Do you regret marrying me?” I froze, tears finally falling. Regret? Perhaps. But more than that, I felt pain and resentment. I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat felt blocked, leaving me silent. We stared at each other, the air heavy with despair. Eventually, I chose silence. I knew any further confrontation would be pointless. Turning away, I retreated to our bedroom and began packing my belongings. I needed to buy some medicine and personal items, but when I mentioned it, Jeremy’s indifference and impatience shattered my last shred of hope. I ventured out alone into the pouring rain. The downpour felt as though the heavens themselves were crying for me. I trudged through the slippery streets, each step feeling like walking on knives. By the time I returned home, I was drenched to the bone, but my heart felt colder than my body. Sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the dark night outside, I made a decision. I knew this marriage had reached its end. Picking up my phone, I began drafting the divorce agreement. At that moment, I felt no hesitation, only resolve.

A few days later, a mutual friend from the company sent me a message. [Darlene, why didn’t you attend the company’s celebration party? Without you there, Maggie, that witch, looked so smug…] I sat alone in front of the computer. The glow of the screen illuminated my pale face as a torrent of emotions surged through me. The video of Jeremy’s company celebration felt like a sharp needle, piercing through the fragile calm I had desperately tried to maintain. In the video, he smiled so brightly, clinking glasses with his employees. That hearty laugh, that confident demeanor of a leader, I used to be so proud of him. But now, it all felt unbearable to watch. Especially, the moment he shielded Maggie from drinking too much, my heart took a crushing blow, leaving me gasping for air. I still vividly remember that suit. It was the one I carefully picked out for him on our wedding anniversary, brimming with joy, believing it symbolized our love. Now, that very suit on his body had turned into evidence of his closeness with another woman. I closed my eyes, trying to erase those images from my mind, but tears betrayed me, slipping silently onto the cold keyboard. I opened Maggie’s social media. Her posts were filled with gratitude toward Jeremy. There was also that photo of him and Maggie together. Maggie was closely leaning against him, her head resting on Jeremy’s shoulder, while Jeremy’s hand was gently placed on Maggie’s waist. Both of them had happy smiles on their faces. But to me, it was so glaringly painful. At that moment, I seemed to see the truth of our marriage. He was no longer my rock but had become someone else’s safe harbor. My heart turned completely cold. Taking a deep breath, I resolved not to run away anymore. I reached out to a divorce lawyer and scheduled a consultation. I knew this would be the hardest step of my life. But I had to take it, for myself, and for the person I once was, the one who had once dreamed of love with such hope. As I was lost in thought about the impending divorce, the phone suddenly rang, breaking my trance. The screen lit up with Jeremy’s name, surprising and confusing me. “Why is he calling now?” I thought. “Jeremy?” I answered, trying to keep my voice calm. “Darlene, we’re having a company retreat, and I’d like you to join.” His tone carried a faint trace of tenderness as if nothing unpleasant had ever happened between us. “A company retreat?” I paused, then let out a cold laugh. “Mr. Sisto, I don’t think there’s any need for me to attend such events anymore, is there?” “Darlene, I know there have been some misunderstandings between us. I hope this retreat can give us a chance to talk.” His voice sounded unusually sincere. I hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed. Perhaps this would be the last chance to understand his heart and let myself finally give up. On the day of the company retreat, I dressed up intentionally. Not for him, but for myself. When I walked into the venue, all eyes turned to me, including Jeremy’s. He walked over and introduced me openly as his wife. At that moment, I felt like I was back in the past, but the cracks in my heart could no longer be mended. During the game, he tried to get me involved. But Maggie’s appearance shattered all the harmony. She purposely lost the game, then provocatively looked at me and demanded that I drink. I knew this was her tactic, her provocation.

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My boyfriend died in a plane crash. I missed his last call before he died. He left me a voicemail. “Harriet, they said I should leave my final words. I just want to tell you I will always love you.” Because of this, I made a deal with the system. I entered endless cycles in worlds and died 99 times. In return, I gained the chance to turn back time. This time, I saved him. But I never expected he only faked his death for his first love. I sat on the sofa, breathing heavily. My mind was blank. “Harriet, the plane is about to take off. I have to go now,” Bradley Moore said. He stood by the door, dragging his suitcase while putting on his shoes. I snapped out of my daze and looked at him. In an instant, my mind became clear. I shouted, “Don’t go.” Bradley flinched in surprise. “You scared me. Stop messing around. I’ll be late.” Ignoring my words, he opened the door to leave. I jumped up and rushed to block the door. I would not let him leave no matter what. Bradley’s expression turned anxious. He tried to move my hands away. He said, “Harriet, stop joking. That performance is very important. I can’t be late.” I shook my head and gripped the door handle tightly. Bradley paced in front of the door, growing more frustrated. Time passed slowly. He kept making phone calls, while I looked at him intently. “I can’t leave the house right now. I don’t know what is going on with her today,” he said over the phone, glancing at me. I didn’t register a word he said. I just focused on stopping him. When the clock struck noon, I finally exhaled in relief. Bradley slammed his suitcase on the ground. “Great! The plane has taken off. Are you happy now?” he huffed. I leaned against the wall, exhausted but relieved. I had succeeded. I had saved him. Bradley clenched his fists, snorted, and walked away. After he left, I collapsed on the sofa. My legs were weak, but I smiled. I had saved him. Those 99 deaths in the small worlds were not in vain. Bradley stayed in his study all day. At night, I made his favorite dishes and went to the study door. Just as I was about to knock, I heard voices inside. “What should we do now?” Bradley asked. “I was ready to fake my death in the plane crash and disappear. Everything was set. But that crazy woman wouldn’t let me leave the house.” The person on the other end of the phone said something to calm him down. Bradley’s voice softened. “I can’t wait to be with you, Amber.” I couldn’t hear the rest. My mind was blank, replaying his words. He talked about faking his death. It sounded like he hadn’t died from the crash in the last life. I wondered if that was his plan to be with Amber Shaw. My blood ran cold. The truth hit me hard. I covered my mouth with my right hand, afraid I’d scream. My left hand dug into my palm, the pain keeping me conscious. Staggering, I turned to leave. “Who’s there?” Bradley called out.

I hid in the bedroom. Bradley quickly walked over and pushed the door open. His tone showed clear anxiety. He asked, “Harriet, did you hear me talking outside just now?” I shook my head. “No, did you talk to me?” I instinctively covered up the fact that I had heard him. Bradley sighed in relief. He said, “Next time, remember to knock when you come into my study.” “Okay.” I nodded. “I made the dishes you like. Let’s eat.” Bradley hesitated for a moment, then looked at me apologetically. He said, “I’m sorry, but Amber needs me for something. I have to go.” He came over and kissed me. I stiffly looked up at him. His face was calm, and his expression serene. I nodded. “Today is our fifth anniversary.” Bradley froze in place. His mouth opened and closed several times. “I really can’t stay,” he said. “We’ll celebrate it next time.” He took the car keys and left. I sat there, stunned. After a long time, I dragged my tired body and my confused mind to the dining table. I numbly shoved the food into my mouth. I was still in a daze from what I had just heard. I thought back to this same day in my past life. It was also our fifth anniversary. At that time, Bradley told me, “Harriet, I have a performance abroad.” I didn’t think much of it. I thought it was just a normal performance. But I didn’t expect that once Bradley left, he never came back. When the plane started to hit turbulence, he tried to call me. But I was angry because he wasn’t with me for the anniversary, so I rejected his call. In the end, I only received one last message from him. “They said I should leave my final words. I just want to tell you I will always love you.” I couldn’t accept that reality. I was so sad, I even thought about dying with him. It was then that the system approached me. I made a deal with it. I went to those collapsing worlds, dying again and again. Finally, after the 99th death, I was given the chance to reverse time. But reality slapped me hard in the face. Bradley wasn’t dead at all. It was all part of his scheme to be with Amber. I felt a deep sorrow in my heart. Everything I had done for him was meaningless. It was all my own wishful thinking. At the same time, Amber updated her social media. It was a picture of a dog. [Let’s wish my little dog a happy fifth birthday.] In the corner of the photo was a pair of men’s hands. The wrist was wearing the watch I had given him. At midnight, Bradley still hadn’t come home. I got up from the living room and walked to the bedroom, diving into the cold bed. In the past, Bradley would warm the bed for me. He wouldn’t let me feel even a hint of cold. The next day, I sat in the dining room eating breakfast. Bradley pushed the door open and entered, holding a bouquet of obviously withered flowers. When he saw me, he handed me a box. Inside was a chain. I looked up at him in disbelief. This was clearly the chain taken off Amber’s dog yesterday. It wasn’t even good enough to be considered scrap. He said, “Anniversary gift. I was in a hurry. I didn’t buy anything expensive. “I’ll buy you something better next time.” His expression was calm, without any hint of guilt. I silently accepted it. He seemed a bit surprised by my reaction, glancing at me several times. I bypassed him, ready to leave for work. I picked up a blue hat hanging on the door, ready to put it on. Bradley’s angry voice came from behind. “That hat isn’t for you.”

I turned to look at him, holding the hat with confusion. Bradley’s face was full of anger as he quickly walked over and snatched the blue hat from my hand. His face showed deep affection, as if the hat in his hand was the most precious treasure. After a moment, he looked back at me. Maybe he realized his actions had been too impulsive. He awkwardly spoke. “Harriet, this hat isn’t for you. If you want one, I’ll buy you another.” I looked at the hat. The stitching was obviously done by hand. As for who it was made for, his actions spoke for themselves. “Okay,” I said, turning to leave. Once I got to the company, I received a picture from Amber. In the photo, she was wearing that same blue hat. Even though I already knew the truth, my heart still ached for a moment. I honestly had no idea how to face them. All I could do was keep avoiding it. It seemed like as long as I pretended not to know, nothing would have happened. After work, I followed my colleague to a concert. When I arrived, I found out it was Bradley’s performance. I sat in the audience. It wasn’t until an hour later that it was his turn to go on stage, but he was with a familiar figure. It was Amber. They performed a wonderful duet. Even their outfits were couple-themed. I clenched the edge of my clothes tightly, trying to suppress the urge to rush onto the stage. After the performance, the two of them took a bow. Bradley suddenly pulled out a flower and knelt in front of Amber. He said, “Amber, this is our third year together. From the first moment I saw you, I knew I had fallen for you. “I’ve thought about it for a long time and finally decided to confess today. “Amber, I like you. I hope you’ll be my girlfriend.” He spoke with such sincerity. His hand holding the flower trembled, and his eyes were filled with tears. But his confession was the same one he said to me five years ago. He once told me that he had fallen for me. It turned out these words weren’t just for me. He could say them to someone else too. Amber covered her face with both hands, nodding eagerly. She said, “Yes.” They hugged on stage and cried. The audience cheered for them to kiss. And I, the real girlfriend, could only watch numbly. Then something happened. The beam above the stage collapsed, and the theater was thrown into chaos. In the crowd, I was knocked to the ground. Through the gaps, I saw Bradley protecting Amber as they ran out. When they passed by me, he even pushed me aside roughly, telling me not to block the way. I cried out in pain, “Bradley.” Bradley looked back at me in disbelief and panic. But the next second, he firmly protected Amber and ran out without hesitation. About ten minutes later, I was rescued. I was taken to the hospital. Bradley just disappeared. He didn’t send a single message. Instead, I received a message from Amber. It was an ultrasound report.

I received a message from Amber. [Harriet, I’m sorry, I sent it to the wrong person. I meant to send it to Bradley.] [I’ll withdraw it now.] But even after half a minute, she didn’t withdraw it. I stared at the ultrasound picture for a long time. My eyes stung, and tears fell uncontrollably. She was already two months pregnant. Two months ago, Bradley had just proposed to me. He said we would get married at the end of the year. I turned off my phone screen. I didn’t want to see these upsetting things anymore. After dealing with the wound on my calf, I got discharged and went home. When I arrived, I saw Bradley busy in the kitchen. A delicious aroma filled the air. It smelled like soup. I went to the kitchen and saw him putting soup into a thermal bottle, obviously about to go out. I thought of the photo Amber had just sent me. I immediately knew the soup was for her. When Bradley turned around with the thermal bottle and saw me, he froze. He looked at my leg with guilt. He said, “Amber is alone in the hospital. I’m worried about her, so I’m going to check on her. “Oh, I made some soup for you. Try it.” I looked at the pot. It was just leftovers and scraps. I asked, “I was at the scene today too. Did you see me?” As expected, his face turned pale. He stammered, “No. I didn’t see you.” I watched his clumsy acting and suddenly felt tired. I turned and walked to the bedroom. “Then forget it,” I said. I didn’t know when Bradley left or when he came back. After he returned, he seemed like a different person. He took care of me meticulously. Half a month later, Bradley suggested a road trip to Teburn. I agreed. When I saw Amber in the car, I wasn’t surprised at all. Bradley, however, looked flustered. He hurriedly explained, “Harriet, let me explain. Amber said she hadn’t been to Teburn and wanted to go. I thought it would be safer to bring her along.” He looked at me anxiously, worried that I wouldn’t believe him. I nodded calmly. From the passenger seat, Amber shot me a smug look. Throughout the trip, Amber caused trouble constantly. Bradley would only say she was just a young girl, asking me to be patient with her, even though I wasn’t much older than her. As we approached our destination, Amber insisted on seeing the sunrise from the mountaintop. Bradley, unable to resist her pleas, went with her. I was left alone in the inn. That night, an earthquake hit Teburn. Trapped under the rubble, I suddenly had a thought. “System, are you there?” I called out to the system that hadn’t appeared for a long time. A moment later, it responded, “Host, I’m here. Do you need help?” The mission was over, and the system had promised to grant one request. I hadn’t used it yet. Now I wanted to use it. I said, “I want to leave. Can you help me fake my death?”

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My father had a severe gambling problem, amassing a massive debt that lingered even after he disappeared. To settle it, I became entangled with a local billionaire, Jack, agreeing to a deal of five million a year. But secrets have a way of surfacing. One day, a member of Jack’s family arrived at my door, offering me twice the money and stripping away my dignity. It was Jack’s son, his handsome face expressionless as he handed me a substantial check and asked, “Is this enough?” As I exited the private room, I heard him say, “You could have been Mrs. Jack openly. Do you regret it, Judy?” I didn’t turn back after hearing those words. My eyes filled with tears, but I held them back, not wanting to cry in front of him. I wanted to apologize, but my throat was too dry to speak. Jessica’s voice came again, asking, “Knowing I’m Jack’s son, do you regret it, Judy?” I couldn’t bear to listen any longer and quickly left. Standing at the shop entrance, the relentless snow outside was biting cold. It was December in North City, and the chill cut to the bone. A message from my mom appeared on my phone, asking why I hadn’t returned yet since Mr. Jack was waiting for me. My eyes dimmed as I clutched the check in my bag. Just then, my phone rang—it was Jack. I stared at the screen for a moment before answering. His voice came through, slightly distorted, as he got straight to the point: “Did Jessica come to see you?” I shivered, unsure if it was due to the cold or him. “Yes.” Hearing my response, he clicked his tongue and said, “I’ll send you abroad. Come back in two or three years. After all, Jessica is my only son.” He was suggesting I leave for a few years and return as though nothing had happened. I wanted to object, but I heard my mom’s voice on the phone. “We’ll do as you say. Judy doesn’t have much of an opinion.” Jack grunted in agreement and added, “Keep the money Jessica gave you. But don’t even think about running away.” He chuckled softly and said, “You can try if you want, right, darling?”

The call ended, leaving me standing in the snow, feeling frozen and unable to move. I heard the shop door open behind me, followed by footsteps crunching on the snow that stopped right behind me. Turning with difficulty, I saw it was Jessica. He was wearing a black coat, but his scarf was gone. “Let’s go, I’ll give you a ride,” Jessica offered. I looked at him in surprise. His tone was casual, as if nothing had happened. Sitting in his car, I was still processing the situation. The warmth inside and the familiar teddy bear cushion on the passenger seat provided a comforting environment. “We had planned to see a movie next weekend,” Jessica suddenly said. “What were you thinking then, Judy?” In the rearview mirror, I saw his mocking gaze. It felt like he wanted to torment me. “I’m sorry,” I managed to say. “Ha…” Jessica laughed coldly. Unable to face him, I looked down. Jessica asked, “Why didn’t you come to me if your family needed money? I told you before, I could support you no matter what.” Tears filled my eyes, but I couldn’t find the words to defend myself. “I… I don’t know…” I stammered. “You didn’t know Jack is my father,” Jessica said. “You didn’t know I am his son, did you?” After saying that, he exhaled, paused, and added, “Judy, you’re really something.” My gaze fell blankly on the expansive snow outside the car window.

I quietly bore Jessica’s harsh words, but he couldn’t handle my silence. The road was icy and difficult to traverse, but he continued to speed up. I felt the car losing control and turned to look at him. Jessica looked back at me, smiled, and said, “Judy, you’re not afraid to die, are you?” I heard the tires skidding on the icy surface and the startled cries of pedestrians. My gaze must have been full of sorrow—I didn’t want to die. I still had so much to do. He seemed to sense my thoughts and turned away from me. The car kept picking up speed until we slid off the road and into a snowbank. The windows were coated in snow, leaving the inside of the car dark. He didn’t turn on the lights, and I found myself gasping for air, relieved to be alive. Jessica, however, remained very calm. He said, “Last night, I found out my father was having an affair, and it was with you. Judy, can you guess what I wanted to do most at that moment?” The air felt thick and my breathing quickened. Then, Jessica leaned closer and gripped my neck tightly, slowly squeezing. I shook my head, trying to escape the suffocation, but he bit my lip mercilessly, and I tasted blood. “I want to kill you,” he said, “Judy.” The suffocation left my mind blank. He wiped my lips and then turned on the car’s light. Jessica’s face appeared before me, his lips also stained with blood. He leaned in and bit my earlobe hard. “Judy, I won’t let you go.” My heart ached, nearly breaking. The fear of dying and the pain of suffocation were unbearable. In the rearview mirror, I saw his fingerprints on my neck. Just now, Jessica truly wanted me dead.

The car was lifted, and we were rescued. Someone checked on me and looked at Jessica with reproach. I just shook my head and said it was nothing. Jessica’s eyes fell on my neck and lips, his gaze dark and silent. I eventually caught a taxi home. The reflection in the car window showed me looking disheveled. The driver joked, “Had a fight with your boyfriend?” “A big one,” he added. I forced a smile and didn’t reply. He pointed to the rearview mirror, “Your boyfriend’s still there.” I turned to look back. Jessica stood there, his black coat covered in snow. Back home, Jack wasn’t there. I sighed and sat on the bed. My mom, however, came in without knocking. I frowned and said, “Mom, please remember to knock.” She dismissed it, saying, “Mr. Jack isn’t here.” Hearing this, I felt a slight sting in my heart, but that was all. “How much did Mr. Jack’s son give you?” she asked, glancing at my bag. I lowered my eyes and said, “I’ll pay off the remaining five million debt.” My mom wasn’t satisfied with my answer and wanted to ask more, but I said wearily, “I want to take a bath and rest first, Mom.” She finally stopped talking and left. Watching her leave, I took the check out of my pocket and hid it where she wouldn’t find it. After bathing, I looked at the slightly messy table and sighed deeply. With a gambler in the family, it’s not just Dad.

Mr. Jack has been out of touch for several days. My mother is anxious, but I feel oddly at ease. The heavy snowfall has closed schools and businesses, bringing the city to a standstill. Yet, the morning news continues to air punctually. [A prominent businessman in the city, Jack, and his wife, Yan Shu, were discovered dead in their home around 10 PM last night…] I froze, feeling as if the blood in my veins turned to ice. My mother rushed out from the kitchen, her face a picture of shock. “Mr. Jack! How could Mr. Jack be dead?” she cried out. “What do we do now?” I sat on the sofa, paralyzed. Her cries echoed around me, but I could barely hear them. How could this have happened? How could his mother…? The doorbell rang, snapping me back to reality. My mother wiped her tears, ignoring the bell. I dragged myself to the door, my feet heavy. Opening it, a gust of cold wind hit me. The person at the door was wrapped in the bitter chill of snow and wind. Dressed in a black suit, with dark circles under his eyes and light stubble on his chin, it was Jessica. I stared at him, taking in his weary face. My heart ached with a bittersweet pang. Jessica was supposed to be proud, dazzling, full of life—not like this, defeated and drained. “Jessica…” I whispered. He looked at me, his eyes empty, and said, “Come home with me.” My mother protested loudly behind us, unaware of who Jessica was. I grabbed a coat and followed him, leaving behind my mother’s curses. “What are you doing with that boy? Such a worthless thing…” Jessica paused, and I nearly bumped into him. I heard his rough voice say, “Like mother, like daughter.” In the icy cold, his words felt like a splash of freezing water. I stood frozen. Jessica opened the car door and looked back at me. “You owe me, Judy,” he said.

He didn’t drive; we sat together in the backseat. Jessica didn’t say a word to me the whole way. When we arrived at Jack’s house, I was taken aback. Everything seemed perfectly normal. Jessica turned to look at me, as if he knew what I was thinking. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Judy.” Jessica was unusually gentle with Judy. Holding my hand, he led me into a study, where he moved some devices, revealing an underground passage. My heart sank. I resisted, standing at the entrance, unwilling to enter. Jessica’s demeanor changed; his expression turned dark. He tightened his grip on my wrist. “You need to know, Judy,” Jessica said. He pulled me into the passage. Dim lights lined the way, seemingly placed there on purpose. My body trembled; I resisted more and more. “Please, Jessica. I’m begging you,” I cried. But Jessica merely paused, then pulled me along faster. My heart felt dead. We reached a room with chains on the door but no lock. He gently pushed the door open, and the dim lights inside illuminated our faces. There was a red bed and countless objects and recording equipment. The screen in the middle of the room displayed my face. I collapsed at his feet, all strength gone. Jessica crouched down to meet my gaze. His eyes were too clear. I could see only hatred. “Father wasn’t home yesterday. Mother found this place,” Jessica said calmly. “She’s really stupid. She actually believed Father loved her.” My body couldn’t stop shaking, but he gently lifted my chin. “You think so too, don’t you, Judy?” Jessica said. He pushed me forward, making me face the big screen showing my image. “You killed them, Judy. You destroyed Jack’s family and me,” he said. I trembled, trying to speak, but he clamped his hand around my throat. The suffocation was more intense than yesterday, overwhelming my entire body. My limbs flailed helplessly as Jessica’s face began to blur. When I woke up again, I was lying on that despised red bed. I got up, only to find the door locked from the outside. There was no water, no food. I hugged my knees, sitting on the bed. My gaze began to drift into emptiness. I thought, perhaps dying here wouldn’t be so bad.

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My stepfather was drawn to my mother’s beauty, ignoring her marriage vows and forcefully claiming her as his own, and I was compelled to call him my father. Everyone whispered that I was a bastard, except for my young uncle, who treated me like a treasure. He loved to hold me close, wipe away my tears, and gently reassure me: “Our Nora is Uncle’s precious.” Gradually, I began to develop feelings for him. The night my uncle took over the company, he was drunk and pinned me beneath him, taking what he desired. Yet, he called out my mother’s name. It became clear that Lucien was simply seeking my mother’s reflection in me. I refused to be anyone’s replacement and shut my heart off. He kept me in his mansion, entangling me every night, but all he received was my icy indifference. Frustrated, Lucien found another woman to shower with affection and attention. This woman, emboldened by his favor, barged into my residence with a group of people while Lucien was away on a business trip. “I want to see which vixen is keeping Lucien captivated every day!” Seeing my face, she flew into a rage. She tore my dress, scratched my face, and threw me to a group of thugs to be humiliated. “Lucien, this b*tch dared to impersonate me. I’ve dealt with her according to your rules!”

Since my father’s death and my mother’s remarriage, Lucien was the closest person to me. The day he took over the company, I was genuinely happy for him; he had finally achieved his dream position. That night, drunk, he stormed into my room and pinned me down as though he’d been suppressing it for a long time. In his intoxicated state, he called out “Lucy”… That was my mother’s name. My heart felt like it turned to stone. It turned out that all his affection for me was because he saw me as a stand-in for my mother. He kept me in his mansion, sharing meals and living arrangements, lavishing me with care and attention. But I refused to be a substitute, sealing my heart and rejecting his touch. I wouldn’t even give him a friendly face. He’s a business tycoon, extraordinarily handsome, with countless women flocking to him, yet he disregarded them all. Except for the moments when he would humble himself in front of me, pleading for affection. But I couldn’t do it. My pride and dignity wouldn’t allow me to be someone else’s shadow, not even for my mother. Lucien grew frustrated with my coldness. “You’ve always listened to me since you were little. Why are you so stubborn about this…” He thought I was just being willful and that if we had a child, I would slowly warm up to him. So, he wouldn’t let go of me except during my inconvenient days. And I would always douse his enthusiasm with cold water. “Over and over the same, aren’t you tired of it, Uncle?” Then, seeing the hurt and defeat in his eyes, I would quickly get up, eager to wash away his traces. Lucien was enraged, yanking the towel from my hands and gripping my waist, biting my ear in frustration. “Do you really hate me this much? I insist you stay by my side! I want us to have lots of children!” I wanted to escape the mansion, but he threatened my mother’s family. “Nora, even if you hate me, you can only stay by my side!” “Don’t get any ideas. Think about your relatives. I have ways to make their lives worse than death!” I didn’t dare gamble with my relatives’ lives. I couldn’t afford to lose. I had to accept my fate. I liked peace and quiet, so I specifically asked Lucien to place me in the most secluded corner of the mansion and forbade anyone from entering. To the outside world, he claimed Miss Nora was abroad for relaxation. But in secret, he forced me to be with him every night. One day, Lucien went on a business trip. I was newly pregnant, often sleepy, and the weather was perfect. I lay in the yard’s rocking chair for a nap. Then, a commotion came from outside the yard.

“Miss Amy, the butler repeatedly warned us that this yard is a restricted area. Without Lucien’s orders, no one is allowed here. Maybe we should leave…” “Look at you, so easily scared? I’m Lucien’s favorite. His restrictions don’t apply to me!” “Besides, didn’t you see? Lucien’s office is filled with my photos. It won’t be long before I become Mrs. Lucien. Why can’t I enter a small yard?” The woman spoke with dissatisfaction, her voice full of confidence. Mentioning Lucien, her tone was filled with undisguised sweetness. Several women agreed with her. “Exactly, everyone knows how much Lucien likes Miss Amy. He would never be angry with her!” “And everyone at the company saw it. Lucien comes to this villa every night. Who knows if there’s a seductress inside luring him?” I frowned, wanting to sleep, but now I was disturbed, a heaviness in my chest. From their words, I guessed the arrogant woman was Lucien’s new lover, the illegitimate daughter of the Amy family. Rumor had it she resembled me by seventy percent, and Lucien had even taken her to three important banquets. No wonder she was so arrogant, but she hadn’t seen Lucien’s frightening side. I remembered not long ago, a new employee got lost in the villa and accidentally opened my yard door. Lucien immediately fired him, banning him from ever working there again. With that in mind, I suppressed my annoyance and got up to persuade her to leave, but unexpectedly, the yard door was kicked open.

The woman was impeccably made up, covered in luxury. She clearly didn’t expect anyone in the yard, hesitating for a moment before frowning slightly. “Who are you, a seductress, daring to ignore the rules? Did you sneak here to seduce Lucien?” One of the women behind her seemed to notice something, exclaiming, “Miss Amy, this seductress’s face looks a bit like yours!” Amy’s gaze landed on my face, her almond eyes wide with shock and anger. Before I could speak, she rushed to me and slapped me hard, her manicure scratching my face painfully. “You b*tch, you had surgery to look like me and impersonate me?” “Are you trying to sneak into Lucien’s bed while he’s away?” She didn’t realize why she was favored and saw me as a rival. I glanced at her indifferently, with some pity. After all, like me, she was just a stand-in. “Miss Amy, I have no intention of competing for Lucien. I’m sincerely advising you to leave this villa’s restricted area, or else…” Before I could finish, her followers fawned over her: “Who do you think you are? If our Miss Amy can’t enter here, why can you, a b*tch?” “Are you saying you’re more noble than our Miss Amy?” I was at a loss for words, unsure how to explain. Should I say I’m Lucien’s kept woman? Such a shameful thing, I couldn’t say it. Before Amy, Lucien had another stand-in who spoke disrespectfully to me, and he immediately cut off all her resources, making her unable to survive in the entertainment industry. That’s when I realized Lucien’s unrequited love for my mother had turned obsessive and even crazed. So, I tried to warn Amy, but she didn’t appreciate it. Her eyes were filled with malice. “Since I’m about to become the mistress of this villa, I’ll start disciplining you dreamers and setting things straight.” “Even if Lucien finds out, he’ll only praise me for saving him trouble. He might even give me the power to manage the company!”

“Phoebe, strip her bare!” “Sisters, let’s see what she used to seduce Lucien!” The followers received the order and tried to tear my clothes. Panicked, I shouted, “Stop! Lucien is my uncle. How dare you lay a hand on me?” Phoebe paused, as if hearing a joke, looking at Amy. Amy and the women laughed hysterically. “She claims to be Lucien’s niece. Does she look like it?” “What a joke, everyone knows Lucien’s niece went abroad for a break. How could she be here?” “Idiot, can’t even lie properly!” “Nonsense in front of me, I think you’re tired of living!” Before I could explain, Phoebe pushed me down, tearing open my collar, exposing my silky skin, and Amy’s eyes flashed with jealousy. “No wonder, she does have some looks…” “Strip her clean and show her what shame is!” I wrapped my arms around myself for cover. Then, Phoebe sharply noticed the jade pendant hanging on my chest. “Miss Amy, look at what that b*tch has hanging on her chest?” She stepped forward, yanking it off, offering it to Amy like a trophy. I was shocked, forgetting my dignity, and begged. “No! Please, give it back!” This pendant was the last memento my mother left me. She said that no matter when, it would protect me like she did. “Looks quite delicate. She must have stolen it. How else would she have such a nice thing?” I wrapped my arms around myself, seeking comfort and warmth. Just then, Phoebe, Amy’s follower, keenly noticed the jade pendant hanging around my neck. “Miss Amy, look at that girl. What’s that she’s wearing?” Phoebe stepped forward, yanking the pendant from me and presenting it to Amy as if it were some kind of trophy. I was taken aback, and, swallowing my pride, I pleaded desperately. “No! Please, give it back!” This pendant was the last memento from my mother. She had always told me it would protect me, just as she did. “It looks exquisite. She must have stolen it. How else would she have something so nice?” Amy muttered, pretending she was about to smash it. I screamed in panic, “Please don’t! I’ll do anything you want!” “Please, give it back!” My pitiful pleas seemed to amuse Amy. She laughed heartily, finding entertainment in my distress. “You lowly fox, I knew you were a cheap seductress. You’ve never seen anything nice. Such a small piece of jade, and you reveal your true nature. In our household, we smash things like this for fun!” “Alright, I’m a reasonable person. I’ll give you a chance…” “I enjoy teasing little dogs. Why don’t you be my dog for a while?” She sat down grandly in the yard, casually twirling the pendant, waiting to see my reaction. I collapsed onto the ground, my heart torn between humiliation and desperation. “Miss Amy, it seems she doesn’t want it that much. Why not smash it…” “No!” “Okay, I’ll do it…”

I crawled towards her on the ground, closing my eyes in shame, lowering my head, and mimicking a dog crawling around her. I bit my lip hard, the metallic taste mingling with bitter tears. At that moment, I felt utterly humiliated. Even though my father passed away early and my mother remarried, she had always protected me. With Lucien’s support, I had never experienced such humiliation. “Bark a couple of times…” I swallowed my pride and barked twice. “Woof, woof…” “Truly an obedient little thing!” Amy laughed and clapped. Her followers looked at me with disdain, shamelessly taunting me. I suppressed my hatred, clenching my fists until they cracked. “Can I have my pendant back now?” Amy examined the pendant carefully. “I didn’t care much for this kind of thing, but since you value it so much, I won’t let you have it!” Her eyes glittered, and she smirked, quickly tossing the pendant far away. The sound of it shattering cut through the air, and the tension in my mind snapped. Seeing the last thing my mother left me destroyed, I couldn’t hold back any longer and lunged at Amy, grabbing her by the neck. “No!” “Amy, may you die a terrible death!” The followers were terrified by my attack, screaming in panic. Phoebe quickly reacted and shoved me away. Amy held her neck, pale and shaken, shouting angrily, “This girl! How dare she lay a hand on me!” She kicked me hard in the stomach. I cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground, sharp pain radiating from my abdomen. She grabbed my hair, forcing me to look at her. Amy maliciously shifted her gaze down to my hands. “It’s these hands that hurt me…” She whispered, stepping on the back of my hand, grinding it with force. “Crack…” I screamed in pain, tears flowing uncontrollably, trying desperately to struggle but was held down by Phoebe. “Amy, Lucien won’t let you get away with this!” She slapped me hard again. “Who do you think you are!” She crouched down, brushing aside my hair to reveal my face, speaking coldly. “You’re just relying on this face that resembles mine. Without it, how would you seduce Lucien!” “Phoebe, you know what I mean…”

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