Category: English

I Got Transported into a Novel Good news: I became the female lead. Bad news: It’s not a proper novel! It’s the kind of book you read under the covers late at night, feeling all hot and bothered. When I was reading it before, I thought, “Huh, is that all you’ve got?” Now, I just want to call the police. Looking at the pure yet seductive face in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Even though I was smiling bitterly, the tear mole at the corner of my eye was dazzling, and my misty eyes gave off a flirtatious feeling. This was my face, but not entirely. Because my face could never be this hot. I got transported into a novel. Into an novel in Nifty where the female lead shares my name. I remember my best friend sending me a link, telling me to read and memorize the whole thing. I hid under the covers, reading it with a flushed face, unable to stop. In just thirty chapters, it combined elements of love triangles, forceful seduction, captivity, and more. It was a five-star masterpiece in terms of excitement. Watching a character with the same name as me being tossed around by three men like a pancake… Besides feeling deeply ashamed, I also felt a pain in my waist and weakness in my legs. The original female lead cried until her voice was hoarse, but still couldn’t escape her fate. If I had known that sharing a name meant getting transported, I would have memorized the whole thing no matter what. I had only read half of it when things started getting intense. As excited as I was when reading it then, I regret it just as much now. I like reading novel in Niftys, but I don’t want to actually experience them! Although my eyes might look mischievous, my heart is pure. I consider myself to have very proper values. Trembling, I posted online for help: [What do you do when you get transported into an novel in Nifty as the female lead? Urgent, please respond.] [Let go of those male leads, I’ll take care of them!] [Just lie back and enjoy it!] +99 This comment quickly received countless likes. Damn it! Do they even know that the male leads the author wrote are all exceptionally gifted in certain areas, and they’re all above the law? She really dared to write it that way. If it were really happening to me, I would refuse. At this moment, a voice suddenly rang in my head: [Detecting rebellious consciousness. Mission issued: Avoid any negative contact with any male lead for 99 days to choose to leave this world on your own.] Great! As long as I guard my own garden and survive for 99 days, I can return to reality. So easy! While I was lost in thought, a voice came: “Sophia, come down for dinner.” “Oh, coming,” I responded, then quickly covered my mouth, unable to believe that a human could make such an abstract sound. Coquettish and soft, it sounded indecent as soon as it came out. Even I couldn’t help but have naughty thoughts when I heard it. No wonder the book described that as soon as the female lead’s voice came out, it made people want to pin her down and do unspeakable things. Holy cow! Isn’t this killing power a bit too much? Soon, I went downstairs. The food on the dining table was more sumptuous than a holiday feast. A haggard but still beautiful woman frantically winked at me, “Sophia, your big brother is back, hurry and greet him.” I looked across the three-meter-long dining table, and my heart skipped a beat. Help! The first big gun was already in position!

A black suit wrapped around the man’s lean body. He had excellent bone structure, young and handsome. It’s just that his face always carried impatience and ferocity, making people afraid to approach him easily. That face, that waist, just sitting there, his sex appeal was already maxed out. My eyes sparkled. With that high, straight nose, I could tell he was very skilled at certain activities. Thinking of this, I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat on my back, almost bewitched by the male lead’s beauty. I secretly warned myself: Stupid, keep your legs together and guard your own garden! This was the female lead’s first man, the domineering CEO, Liam. In the book, the female lead’s mother Yvonne married into a wealthy family with her daughter from her previous marriage, Sophia. Liam was her stepbrother, the actual power holder of the family. Liam hated the mother and daughter, and with just one word, he made their life in the wealthy family worse than that of the housemaids. Yvonne was afraid of him. The female lead was also afraid. I was even more afraid. I had read the original novel and knew that this man was cold-blooded and cruel, and loved to torture people. And he had many little hobbies, dragging the female lead to various places to do all sorts of things. I immediately felt my legs go weak. I opened my mouth, but remembering my coquettish voice, I quickly closed it. Then, taking a deep breath, I called out clearly: “Big brother.” Liam frowned, looking at me with surprise. The bitch’s daughter, quite brave today. Her previous weakness and pitiful act was obviously all fake. Liam’s lips curled into a mocking smile, and he responded coldly: “Mm.” Yvonne saw that I had received a response from Liam and became excited, urging me again: “Sophia, didn’t you have something to say to your big brother?” I looked confused. Except for the juicy parts that I read word by word, I skimmed through all the other plots. How would I know what she’s talking about? I didn’t make a sound. The air suddenly became quiet. It was Liam who broke the silence, “What is it?” Yvonne looked at me with disappointment, “It’s about Sophia’s birthday. We want to hold a party at home and invite some celebrity friends to attend. It would also let everyone know that Sophia is your sister.” “Bang.” Liam put down his chopsticks heavily on the table, his gaze fierce. After so many years, this bitch still hasn’t given up. Back then, when his mother’s body was barely cold, his father had eagerly brought this pair of mother and daughter back. If it weren’t for his swift seizure of power, who knows how happy the three of them would be now. Now, even his arrogant father didn’t dare to speak loudly to him, yet this bitch and little bitch still wanted to use him to increase their status. Dream on. Low pressure permeated the air, and no one dared to speak, silent as cicadas in winter. Only I, with my suspended heart finally settling down. I remembered this plot. It was at the birthday party that the female lead was taken advantage of by her scheming stepbrother. And from then on, things became not suitable for children. I clenched my fists, refusing to engage in any naughty business, starting with me!

Liam didn’t even eat anymore, he just stood up directly. He happened to see my curled lips, my tender face blushing and shy, as beautiful as a peach blossom. His breath hitched. Why did the little bitch look so different today? So tempting. Liam: “Sophia, come upstairs with me.” “Huh? Oh.” Yvonne came over and gave me a push. I stood up reluctantly. Following Liam into a room, it wasn’t until the door was closed that I belatedly realized this was his bedroom. “Kneel down.” Me: “???” What kind of breed of psycho are you? My shocked expression made his brow furrow even deeper. “I don’t want to say it twice.” His low voice gave me an extremely strong sense of oppression. I started to shake, it was this body’s instinctive reaction. I frowned, why am I so scared? My knees already wanted to kneel, but there was still a bit of backbone supporting me to stand in place. I sincerely asked: “Why?” “A few days of not seeing me, and you dare to defy me?” Liam said while starting to unbuckle his belt. Wait, why are you unbuckling your belt?! I was so scared that I collapsed on the ground, immediately kneeling straight. “No, brother, what are you doing? I’m kneeling, I’m kneeling for you, isn’t that enough?” Liam smiled sarcastically, his eyes full of deep malice. “Go to the bed and bend over, stick your butt up high.” I looked at him vigilantly, putting on a brave face but inwardly terrified: “What do you want to do? I’m not even 18 yet, you know about the ten-year prison sentence, right?” Is he trying to do me early? Liam had already taken off his belt. Hearing this, he was stunned. “What are you thinking? You think I want to do you? You’re not worthy.” “Then why are you taking off your pants?” “Shut up.” Are you blind? He only unbuckled his belt, he didn’t take off his pants. “Hurry up, don’t force me to kill you.” “Then you swear first, absolutely not to do anything naughty to me.” Liam’s face turned black as the bottom of a pot. Suddenly, he smiled wickedly, snapping the belt in his hand through the air, making a whooshing sound. “You’re really asking for death.” I let out a scream, almost forgetting that the male leads were all above the law. He really dared to kill me. My body moved uncontrollably, crawling to the bedside in a few moves, trembling as I bent over. “Is… is this okay?” I was so embarrassed that my face turned red enough to drip blood. It’s just that my voice was soft and tender, sounding extremely pitiful. Liam subconsciously wanted to hold me in his arms and comfort me gently. Liam’s hand holding the belt paused. He suppressed the unusual feeling in his heart, but the belt still swung out, though the force was unintentionally much lighter. With a “smack”, a huge tearing sensation came from my buttocks. I cried out in pain, tears bursting from my eyes. He… he actually spanked my butt with a belt? This scene wasn’t in the original novel, was it?

This body was delicate, soft, and sensitive. I collapsed on the ground in pain. I bit my lip and whimpered, my eyes full of tears, like a begonia flower ravaged by a violent storm, shattered on the ground. Wuwuwu, my precious butt was about to split open. I raised my head angrily, just in time to see the middle of Liam’s suit pants, where the sensation was quite obvious. My whimpering became a bit quieter, afraid of angering him again. Being spanked with a belt was better than being threatened with a gun. Liam’s hand trembled. What the hell? The young girl’s fair skin had a faint pink color, her amorous peach blossom eyes, the tears about to fall accusing him of his cruelty, her delicate nose, her pink lips, making her look alluring and ready to be plucked. It was as if she was inviting him to taste her, to enjoy her… In the past, he had punished the little bit… Sophia like this too. He hated them for intruding into his home, treating her as a toy to vent his anger on, even beating her until she was covered in wounds, never feeling an ounce of pity for her. Why were such criminal thoughts popping up in his head today? No wonder her behavior and manners were all so strange today, acting as if he wanted to force himself on her. Playing hard to get? Hmph, as expected of the bitch’s daughter. Just like her shameless mother, at such a young age she already knows how to seduce men. Acting like a prostitute. “Get out!” I heard it like heavenly music, scrambling to get up and leave. “Stop!” I had just touched the doorknob when my hand froze. What now, you lunatic? I quickly covered my butt that had been shattered into four pieces, shrinking myself into a small ball, my expression evasive. Another hit would really shatter me. This posture, in Liam’s eyes, suddenly made him feel as if something had hit his heart, as if he had done something unforgivable to her. “Whose idea was the birthday party?” “I’m sorry, don’t hit me, I don’t know, it wasn’t me.” Liam: “…” This scared? He couldn’t help but soften his tone, “You want to have a birthday party?” I shook my head like a rattle drum, “No, I don’t want to.” The novel in Nifty plot started from the birthday party. I absolutely don’t want any birthday party. I want to survive. I rushed over and knelt on the ground, tightly hugging Liam’s legs, “Brother, please believe me, I really don’t want a birthday party. I’m just a stupid fool who can’t be presented in public. Please don’t throw one for me.” Liam only felt a tickle at the root of his leg, and his heart trembled a bit, “What did you call me?” I looked up, saying with utmost sincerity: “Brother, I’ve always thought of you as my real brother. Please, you must believe me.” If he’s my real brother, he can’t have designs on me. I hope this law-abiding citizen’s morals haven’t completely degraded. The girl’s hands were soft, such a small bundle. Liam’s heart softened. “Alright, no party.”

I returned to my room, and Yvonne came. “Darling, did he agree?” I shook my head. She was obviously a bit disappointed, but didn’t say anything. “Sigh, it’s mom’s fault for being useless. Liam won’t give us any benefits, but luckily there are many top-tier rich young masters at your school.” “My baby is so beautiful, you’ll definitely find someone stronger than the Liam family. Oh right, you’ve been chasing the Young Master Sean for quite some time now, haven’t you succeeded yet?” I perfunctorily said: “Almost.” Then I tried hard to recall the plot. The female lead was currently attending a certain noble school. That was where Yvonne had knelt for a day and night before Liam finally relented and let her in. That school was full of rich kids and socialites. In Yvonne’s words, if you just marry any man from there, you can lie flat for the rest of your life. But— At school, there were two more big guns. Is this school really necessary to attend? After Yvonne left, I looked in the mirror. A crimson mark spanned across my entire butt. My precious butt was burning with pain. When I was reading it before, it was just text. When I saw the female lead crying and saying it hurt when the male leads did this or that to her, I thought she was crying because of some kind of kink. I didn’t expect it to really hurt! Too delicate. Just one hit with a belt and it hurts like this. If I were to be… wouldn’t I lose my life? I became even more determined to survive, wishing I could forge a stainless steel chastity belt and weld it onto myself. There was a knock at the door. “Who is it?” After about a minute, the person simply answered with one word, “Me.” I immediately went on high alert. “I’m already asleep, come back tomorrow.” The doorknob turned, and Liam’s gloomy face appeared at the door. I quickly covered myself with the blanket. The movement was too big, causing the fabric of my pants to rub against the wound. I unconsciously let out a moan. How to put it? That sound was very soul-stirring. I wished I could rip out my throat. I closed my eyes directly and played dead. After all, no man likes a woman who lies in bed like a dead fish. The voice sounded by my ear: “Does it still hurt a lot?” I didn’t dare to open my eyes, only begging him to leave quickly. “Let me check it for you.” Please, that’s my butt, what are you checking?! I opened my eyes, just in time to meet Liam’s gaze. “Why aren’t you pretending anymore?” I said softly: “You’re going to look at my butt.” “What did you say?” Liam’s face flashed with unnaturalness.

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The imposter daughter exposed her identity to bring me back, only to make me marry her crippled fiance. She put on a show in front of the whole family, trying to sow discord between me and them. But what she didn’t know was that we could all hear her thoughts. When she slashed her palm with a fruit knife to frame me, she was secretly thinking, “Why isn’t that useless father of mine hitting her yet?” When she tumbled down the stairs and accused me, she was cursing in her mind, “Stupid old hag, why don’t you teach her a lesson?” And when she snuggled up to my brother in feigned innocence, she was thinking, “You’re really a loyal dog, my dear brother.” The expressions on the faces of the three of them shifted in an instant, their anger rising to the point of madness. I just smiled faintly and turned away, ignoring her, only wanting to get this “special” task over with as quickly as possible. When Kendra Miles found me, I was fishing by the river under the blazing sun. She grabbed my hand with joy, tears welling up in her eyes. “Sis, I finally found you.” Before I could react, a group of people rudely yanked me off the fishing boat and shoved me into a Rolls-Royce Phantom. As soon as the car door slammed shut, Kendra’s smile vanished, and her icy gaze shot at me like an arrow. Her lips didn’t move, but I could clearly hear her cursing in her mind. “How infuriating! This unlucky fool is actually so good-looking. What good is being pretty? She’s destined to be my stand-in and marry that cripple! “It’s all my useless mother’s fault. She couldn’t even get rid of the engagement. If it weren’t for that, I would never let this freak come back! “Even if she returns to the Miles family, I won’t let her live a day in peace.” Half an hour later, we boarded a private plane and arrived at the top of the most luxurious skyscraper in Priemon before nightfall. The place was lit up like a dazzling star, hosting a grand banquet. Kendra led me through a side door to a luxurious suite. Before entering, she pulled a fruit knife out from somewhere, the blade glinting menacingly. She raised an eyebrow at me, and the next moment, blood started flowing from her palm, and I found the knife in my hand. She slammed open the door, threw her arms wide, and threw herself into a noblewoman’s embrace, screaming, “Dad! Mom! Leonard! Help!” Blood trickled down her arm as the people in the room rushed to her, their eyes filled with shock and sympathy. Leonard Miles quickly ripped off his handkerchief to wrap her wound. “Aurelia… Aurelia is trying to kill me! “Aurelia, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to steal your life. Why don’t you believe me?” Her biological parents and brother, who had never met me before, gathered around Kendra, all frowning in unison. They looked at me with clear disdain. I stared at the united front of this family, a faint sorrow tugging at my heart, before I calmly said, “She hurt herself. It has nothing to do with me.” My so-called brother clenched his fist. “The weapon is in your hand, and you still dare to argue? Just like the private investigator said. You’re truly malicious!” They had hired a private investigator to look into me? How did I not notice? My elegant and dignified mother, clutching the sobbing Kendra, comforted her gently before turning to glare at me. “Even though we know you have a bad nature, Kendra still begged us to find you, worried that you’d suffer out there. How could you be so heartless to hurt her?” My successful father sighed in deep disappointment. “If you want to return to the Miles family, you must kneel and apologize to Kendra. We don’t have ungrateful, knife-wielding scum in this family. Kneel!” Kendra raised her chin smugly, her eyes full of provocation. I had imagined the scene of meeting my biological parents, but I never expected it to unfold like this. I stood still, staring at them without moving. “Leonard, if she doesn’t kneel and apologize to Kendra, break her legs!” Leonard stepped forward, closing the distance. I gazed at him with cold eyes, fingers flexing, the fruit knife twirling between my fingertips as I watched them wide-eyed. With a snap of my fingers, the fruit knife flew through the air, and when it fell, I caught the blade steady, then flicked my wrist. The knife whistled through the air, grazing Leonard’s head and embedding itself in the wall. I slowly walked into the room, my voice frigid. “I don’t leave anyone alive if I strike. But since you’re my family, I’ll overlook this. Remember, never again.” Leonard stiffly shut his mouth, swallowing hard. My father instinctively pulled my mother closer, his eyes full of panic. At that moment, Kendra’s thoughts echoed in my mind. “Go ahead, stupid dog, you’re already scared? Didn’t I tell you she’s learned acrobatics? That was all to trick you idiots. “Are you just standing there brewing shit? Aren’t you the ones who claim to love me the most, unwilling to let me suffer a bit? Why don’t you teach her a lesson?” The three of them froze in place, their gazes unintentionally shifting toward Kendra, the tension in the room thickening. I gave a slight smile. She probably still didn’t know that we could all hear her thoughts. With Kendra in the picture, this whole mission just got a lot more interesting.

“Mom, I believe Aurelia didn’t hurt me on purpose. Once she marries into the Anders family, she might stop making things difficult for me,” Kendra said, tears streaming down her face. But her thoughts betrayed her. “Stupid old woman. Why is she not making a move? Hurry up and get rid of her!” My mother, as though gripped by a poisonous snake, suddenly shoved Kendra away, her voice sharp. “What… What did you just say?” She was trembling with anger, her face darkening. She pointed a shaking finger at Kendra, opening her mouth to speak, but no words came out, as if she were about to faint. Kendra collapsed to the floor, her face full of feigned innocence. “Mom, what… what’s wrong with you?” Her expression was desperate, but her thoughts revealed her true nature. “What the hell is this crazy bitch doing? Has she gone mad and about to die? Oh, that’s great. Those two loyal dogs will be much easier to control.” My mother’s chest heaved violently, her eyes bloodshot from the fury boiling inside her. Before I could enjoy more of the drama, someone suddenly knocked on the door, and a servant informed us it was time to go to the banquet hall. Leonard stepped forward, helping my mother catch her breath. My father pointed to a set of high-end formal wear on the sofa bed, his tone reluctant. “Change into this dress and join us in the banquet hall. Remember, your name is Aurelia Miles.” Only then did I realize I was still wearing my black fishing outfit. Once they left, two beautiful ladies came in to help me. One quickly touched up my makeup while the other helped me into the formal gown. After the preparations, I was escorted into the banquet hall, where my parents and brother were already mingling. On the way here, from Kendra’s thoughts, I learned that this banquet was supposedly my engagement to the son of the richest man in Priemon. However, the heir had been paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident five years ago, unable to walk. Originally, Kendra had been the one promised to him, but she refused to marry a cripple. Not to mention that her husband’s mother, Regina Anders, had a notorious reputation for being ruthless. This heir wasn’t a first-time groom; he had two previous fiancées, both of whom had mysteriously died not long after their engagements. Kendra always suspected that Regina was behind their untimely deaths. So, rather than marry a cripple, Kendra had chosen to expose her identity and find me to take her place. Coincidentally, my mission was here in Priemon. Since she had found me, I had to play along. The banquet hall was packed with Priemon’s most influential figures. Now, I needed to find the man with a wolf-head tattoo on his wrist. I casually picked up a glass of wine from a passing servant’s tray, staying alert as I moved gracefully through the crowd, my eyes scanning every corner. Suddenly, a group of exquisitely dressed women, whose cheap airs were unmistakable, closed in on me, sizing me up with condescending glances. “You must be Kendra’s sister, Aurelia?” The ringleader was one of Kendra’s closest friends, Monty. “Kendra told us that when she found you, you were fishing in the river.” Monty laughed out loud, a high-pitched giggle escaping her lips as she dramatically covered her mouth with her hand. “You still smell like fish! So foul! You’ve completely ruined this beautiful banquet.” The others immediately stepped back, sneering as they fanned their noses and exaggeratedly sniffed the air. Kendra, hiding among the crowd, watched from a distance, clearly enjoying the spectacle. As they spoke, I was herded away, pushed into a secluded corner of the hall.

I slowly scanned the crowd, unhurriedly correcting Monty. “That’s a kind of sturgeon, known as a living fossil. It’s a level-one protected species. Its cartilage and spinal cord contain anticancer factors, making it of great academic and economic value. I’d say none of you here are worth as much as it is.” The socialites flinched as though I’d struck a nerve, glaring at me with fury. “Hmph, daring to catch a national protected species? Bet you’re just trying to make a living by selling it. How pathetic you are.” “Your return doesn’t mean you and Kendra are at the same level. The social ladder is not that easy to climb. You’ll never be better than Kendra.” “Exactly. It was Kendra’s kindness and generosity that saved you from the slums. You should be on your knees thanking her.” At that, a few of them came over to push down on my shoulders. I seized their wrists, shifting my body down, and with a swift move, I knocked them both to the floor. Since they liked kneeling so much, I thought I’d give them a bit more practice. Everyone froze, mouths hanging open, wide-eyed. “What? Never seen someone who knows martial arts?” I shook my head in exasperation. “I don’t argue with mediocrity. While you all may be shallow and ill-mannered, I’ll kindly offer some advice.” I turned to Monty, my voice measured. “Look at your face. It’s a clear sign of overindulgence. You shouldn’t be so frequent with your… activities.” “And you,” I said, turning to another one, “your face is swollen, your skin’s turning purple, and your fingertips are thick. Your heart’s in bad shape. Go get yourself checked before it’s too late.” I turned to another girl, raising an eyebrow. “The bad breath… Doesn’t anyone tell you?” The group turned bright red, both humiliated and angry, gnashing their teeth but unable to retaliate. Seeing the situation unfold, Kendra quickly stepped forward to smooth things over. “My sister is from the countryside,” she said, offering a sheepish smile. “She’s used to speaking harshly. Please don’t take her words too seriously. “Monty, you wanted that Lady Dior bag, right? I just got one today and brought it for you. And here’s your Pandora bracelet. Don’t worry. Everyone’s got something.” Monty clutched her bag to her chest, jumping up and down with excitement, her eyes sparkling. As she and the others prepared to shower Kendra with praise and flattery, their faces suddenly froze. They had overheard Kendra’s inner thoughts. “No wonder they’re so good at flattering me. Just a few knockoffs, and they’ve got them spinning. “Ugh, I can’t believe I brought them into this prestigious banquet to show them a bit of the high life. What are they even wearing? I’m embarrassed just standing next to them. “Monty’s such a slut. How does she even get such a handsome boyfriend? I’ve tried so many times and failed. She’s obviously blind. “What are they still standing there for? Why haven’t they come to worship me yet? Are they really that happy to see me?” I nearly burst out laughing. Monty and the others were so furious their faces twisted, looking like they could kill Kendra on the spot. But they couldn’t dare to make a move, not with the Miles family’s power behind Kendra. Just then, the glittering golden doors opened, and a woman with a cold, aloof aura entered, pushing a handsome man in a wheelchair. I narrowed my eyes. The man in the wheelchair… It was him! Free Point

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## My best friend and I woke up one day to find ourselves transported into a beast tribe. She was cast as the stand-in for the icy high priest’s unattainable first love. I, on the other hand, was stuck as the pathetic sycophant of a psychotic snake king. Armed with modern knowledge, the two of us worked tirelessly to improve the tribe’s infrastructure—only to be labeled as heretics and brutally executed by the saint of the tribe. Beheaded. Burned. Our souls shattered. When I opened my eyes again, I grabbed my backpack, knocked on my best friend’s door, and asked: “Are you ready to die again?” “Together,” she replied without hesitation. Turns out, after our deaths, our so-called husbands went completely insane. By the time the high priest returned to the tribe, Leila and I were already in the middle of dividing up the last of our stockpiled supplies. She crouched on the floor, meticulously sorting through her stash. From tiny bottles of chili sauce to a collapsible tent, she treated everything like treasure. Thanks to our efforts at modernizing the tribe, we’d accidentally amassed a decent warehouse of goods over the years. She looked so pleased with her finds that I couldn’t help but feel a mix of envy and pride. Suddenly, a frantic shout came from outside: “The high priest has returned!” Leila shot to her feet like a startled cat, her face instantly losing color. Without missing a beat, she shoved me—backpack and all—under the bed. “Stay hidden and don’t make a sound!” she hissed. Then, with surprising ease, she picked up a three-kilogram cast iron pan and handed it to me like it weighed nothing. “If that saintess shows up to cause trouble, smash her in the face with this!” Before I could respond, the door burst open, kicked down by none other than the high priest. Despite his title as a religious figure, the man standing before us was every bit the predator his avian lineage implied. Towering and broad-shouldered, his sheer presence seemed to block out the light from the doorway. His sharp gaze fell on Leila, who was frozen in place, her eyes brimming with tears as though she were seconds away from shattering. “You’re back!” she whimpered, her voice trembling. “Why didn’t you send word ahead? I could’ve prepared a proper welcome…” Her tone was soft, laced with just the right amount of vulnerability, but the high priest didn’t so much as blink. “Where is Suya?” he demanded, his voice cold enough to freeze the air. Leila’s face twisted into a picture of confusion so convincing that I almost believed her myself. “Suya? She’s missing?” “I’ve told you countless times,” he growled, his patience wearing thin. “She is the chosen saint, blessed by the gods. I stripped myself bare and prayed for her empowerment—it is destiny.” His tone dropped even colder, and his gaze darkened. “You met with her in secret. The next moment, she vanished. Do you really expect me to believe that’s a coincidence?” Leila’s lips trembled as she reached out to tug at the hem of his robe, her voice barely above a whisper. “She… she asked to meet with me. She wanted to talk…” Before she could finish, he pulled his robe out of her grasp with such force that her wrist turned red from the friction. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she cowered, clutching her wrist. For a moment, the high priest hesitated, his gaze softening ever so slightly. But just as quickly, he turned and stormed out of the room. “Do not leave this house unless I command it,” he barked over his shoulder before disappearing down the hallway. Leila collapsed to the floor with a dramatic wail. “Please don’t go! Stay!” Her mournful cries echoed through the room, but as soon as his footsteps faded, she wiped her face dry and deadpanned: “He’s gone. You can come out now.” I crawled out from under the bed, pan in hand, and raised an eyebrow. “You’ve gotten better at this.” Leila smirked. “The game’s on. Suya’s starting her drama with the high priest. Your snake king is next.” I shivered at the thought. “Yeah, I can feel it. It’s about to get messy.” We exchanged a look, then glanced at the pile of supplies on the floor. “Die again?” I asked, my tone light but my meaning clear. Leila didn’t even hesitate. “Of course. But this time, we’re dying on our own terms.” 2 Leila and I weren’t natives to this world. She’d been brought here as the stand-in for the high priest, Sterling’s, one true love—the saintess Suya. In this brutal world of beast tribes, where people could shift into animals, the high priest held a position of unparalleled power. Sterling was the poster child of perfection: devastatingly handsome and worshipped by all. But no matter how much Leila tried, his heart was forever tied to Suya. Meanwhile, my luck was even worse. When we first arrived in this world, we were presented with a lineup of handsome, half-naked men to choose from. Without thinking, I picked the most dangerous-looking one—a man with piercing, cold eyes and an aura that screamed “stay away.” That man turned out to be the snake king, Lucien, feared by everyone in the tribe for his venom and ruthlessness. It wasn’t long before I realized just how “dangerous” he could be. Let’s just say his… capabilities in certain areas were extreme. To survive, I became his obedient little lapdog. The first time around, Leila and I used our modern knowledge to revolutionize the tribe. We built bridges, dug wells, wove fabrics, and even introduced basic sanitation systems. But none of it mattered. The moment our so-called “husbands” left the tribe, Suya accused us of heresy. We were dragged to the sacrificial altar, tied to posts, and forced to watch as Suya, draped in a pure white robe, smiled angelically while slicing away at me with a dagger. Piece by piece, she carved me apart. Blood soaked the altar as my head was severed from my body. When she was done, she burned what remained of our souls, ensuring we couldn’t even reincarnate properly. “Why did Suya even meet with you?” I asked. Leila scowled. “How should I know? I didn’t go. Do I look that stupid to you?” I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Sterling might be cold and distant, but even if Suya stirs up trouble, the worst he’ll do is kick you out.” My voice dropped as I remembered my own situation. “But Lucien…” Leila shuddered. “Yeah, your snake king is way scarier. He’d probably skin you alive.” “Not probably. Definitely.” I couldn’t stop the chill that ran down my spine. The stories about Lucien weren’t just rumors—they were horrifyingly true. He once peeled the skin off a prisoner, layer by layer, just to extract information. The screams were so terrifying that they sent the enemy troops into retreat. And yet, all of his attention—his obsession—was reserved for the same woman who doomed us both: Suya. If I was going to die, I needed to plan my escape carefully. But just as I started packing, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist, yanking me backward. The world spun as my back hit the wall, and a low, dangerous voice whispered against my ear: “Where were you?” 3 Lucien’s voice rumbled low and rough, so close to my ear I could feel the heat of his breath. His hand wrapped around my wrist with ease, pinning me in place. There wasn’t even the smallest gap between us, our bodies pressed together. His collar was slightly open, revealing faint crimson scales etched across his collarbone—sharp, menacing, and impossible to ignore. The glint in his eyes was predatory, like a beast that had just cornered its prey. “I went to see Leila. She helped me make you a gift…” I started, but before I could finish, he ducked his head and tugged a necklace off my neck with his teeth. The necklace was crude, made from river stones I’d polished and strung together with no real skill. Ugly and rough, it was a clumsy attempt at crafting. “This? For me?” he asked, raising a brow. He examined it briefly, his lips curling into a faint smirk of mockery. “It’s hideous,” he said bluntly. Despite his words, he tied the necklace around his neck without hesitation. The mismatched trinket looked ridiculous against his cold, lethal aura, but somehow, he wore it anyway. “Lucien,” I said, my voice softening as I called his name. “Hmm?” His head tilted slightly, gaze fixed on me. “Suya… she’s missing, isn’t she?” He leaned closer, burying his face in the crook of my neck. I felt his breath against my skin as he inhaled deeply, his voice rasping with satisfaction. “Was it you?” I turned my head away, avoiding his question. Instead, I shoved at his chest, trying to free myself. “You stink. Go take a bath.” I expected him to snap back, but instead, he scooped me up without a word. With a few long strides, he reached the edge of the bathing pool and leapt in, dragging me with him. Water splashed everywhere as he pulled me against him, his grip tightening. Something about him shifted. His breathing grew heavier, his movements rougher. When I glanced down, I saw that half his body had already transformed into a long, sleek serpent’s tail. The dark, iridescent scales shimmered like liquid obsidian, cold to the touch as they pressed against my skin, sending shivers down my spine. “Scared?” he asked, his voice low, almost teasing, though his eyes burned with something far more dangerous. Before I could answer, his lips curved into a wicked smile, and he claimed me with a kind of madness I’d come to know all too well. Lucien was relentless. Two. Just two, but it was enough to leave me trembling. His tail coiled around me, pinning my wrists, refusing to let me go. Again and again, he pushed me past my limits, his predatory nature shining through. Even when I was too exhausted to move, he didn’t stop. By the time he finally relented, I felt like my entire body had been wrung out. Weak and boneless, I could barely lift my arms. Lucien, however, seemed perfectly at ease. He dipped his head and bit down on my shoulder—a possessive mark—before gently licking the spot he’d bitten. Then, he grabbed a cloth to dry my hair, his movements surprisingly tender. “Stay in the house for the next few days,” he said, his tone far softer now. “There’s trouble in the army. I won’t have time to deal with you.” It was clear he was in a good mood. I lowered my head, feigning sadness. “Lucien… can’t we ever have a real home? A family?” His hand froze mid-motion. He turned to face me, his gaze sharp and cold. That was the line. Lucien could possess me, control me, even indulge me—but he would never entertain the idea of marriage or children. He didn’t answer. Instead, he silently handed me a cup of bitter herbs. “Drink,” he ordered. The taste was awful, spreading across my tongue and down my throat like a punishment. Tears sprang to my eyes as I stared at the bowl in my hands, my tears falling into the dregs at the bottom. Once I finished the last drop, Lucien pulled on his cloak. His tail shifted back into human legs as he stood, his expression as cold and distant as ever. Without so much as a glance back, he strode out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I stayed where I was, listening to the sound of his footsteps fading away. Then, slowly, a grin spread across my face. Perfect. He wouldn’t be back for at least ten days. Ignoring the ache in my body, I pushed myself to my feet and hobbled over to the stash of supplies hidden in the corner. I opened the chest and carefully selected a few key items. Three days later, in the dead of winter, Leila jumped off a cliff. 4 Sterling received word that someone had spotted Suya deep in the snow forest. Without hesitation, he set off, only to be stopped midway by a breathless teenager from the tribe: “High Priest! It’s bad! Your wife… she’s climbed to the top of the cliff and says she’s going to jump!” That troublesome woman. Every time something related to Suya came up, she pulled some kind of stunt. If it wasn’t pretending to be sick, it was threatening to end her life. And now? Jumping off a cliff? Sterling’s eyes narrowed, his voice icy as he barked, “Let her jump. Don’t stop her.” He didn’t even break stride. Suya was missing, and Leila thought she could distract him with her cheap tricks? Pathetic. Fury simmered in his chest as he stormed off toward the snow forest, determined to find Suya. Leila stood at the top of the cliff, wrapped in a thick fur cloak as snow whipped through the air, stinging her face and making it hard to keep her eyes open. She saw Sterling leave without hesitation and gave a bitter laugh. She had guessed right—he wouldn’t come for her. He never did. She meant nothing to him. The wind howled, colder and sharper by the second. Leila tilted her head back and looked up at the dark, stormy sky. It matched the icy emptiness in her chest. Beside her, a young girl from the tribe tugged at her sleeve, tears streaming down her face. “Leila, please think this through! It’s freezing—if you jump, you’ll turn into an ice cube down there!” Leila only smiled faintly, ignoring the girl’s pleas. She slowly shrugged off her cloak, revealing a pair of worn pendants hanging from her waist. One bore the carving of a bird in flight; the other, the sigil of the high priest. A matching pair. They were the tokens Sterling had given her on the day she accepted his courtship. Her fingers brushed over the carvings, her expression distant, her eyes red-rimmed. But then, in the biting cold, her lips curved into a reckless smile. “Becoming an ice sculpture doesn’t sound so bad, does it?” The snowstorm grew fiercer, the wind howling like a beast. Leila stepped to the edge of the cliff. And, amid the gasps and screams of the onlookers, she jumped. Her heavy cloak spiraled through the air, tumbling into the abyss below. “Damn, it’s freezing!” Leila’s voice echoed softly through the icy cavern. We had planned this for weeks, waiting for the perfect storm to cover our tracks. Leila landed lightly on the snow below, her descent slowed by a rope and the counterweight of supplies I had anchored at the top. Her lips were pale from the cold, but she was calm and collected, brushing off the snow as she glanced up. She gave her cloak one last shake, letting it fall into the ravine to complete the illusion, then turned to me with a grin. “Let’s go.” With that, we slipped into a narrow, hidden ice tunnel, vanishing into the storm. The wind and snow swept over the cliffside, erasing all traces of our escape. By the time Sterling arrived, the base of the cliff was empty. The only thing left behind was half-buried in the snow: the shattered remains of the matching pendants. 5 I knelt near the cliff’s edge, clutching the broken pieces of Leila’s pendant in my trembling hands. Tears streamed down my face, freezing against my cheeks in the biting wind. I stayed perfectly still, as if the storm itself had locked me in place. Sterling approached, his imposing figure looming over me. He looked down, his sharp gaze piercing. “Why are you crying?” “She’s gone…” I whispered, my voice shaking. I forced myself to swallow the lump in my throat, barely holding back the fury that threatened to spill over. “Leila is dead. Are you happy now?!” Sterling’s eyes darkened, his voice cold and cutting like a blade. “Don’t be ridiculous. Leila, come out!” I laughed bitterly, lifting my head to glare at him. “Come out? Are you blind? Everyone saw her jump! What do you expect her to do—climb out of the ice with her bare hands?” Sterling’s hand twitched at his side, a small, almost imperceptible tremor betraying his composure. But his face remained stoic, his expression unreadable. His gaze flicked to the shattered pendant in my hand. “Impossible,” he muttered, his voice low, almost to himself. Tears fell harder down my face, hot against the cold, as I screamed at him: “Impossible? Do you think someone can survive falling into a frozen ravine? What do you want her to do—fly out of there like one of your eagles?!” For the first time, Sterling seemed… shaken. He stood frozen, his usual calm and calculating demeanor cracked. His eyes darted back to the cliff, then to the snow below, as if expecting to see something—anything—out of place. But there was nothing. Just cold, empty silence. “No…” he whispered, almost like he was trying to convince himself. I pushed myself to my feet, anger boiling over. “You never cared about her, not once!” I shouted, my voice raw with emotion. “She waited for you, Sterling. Before she jumped, she sent someone to tell you, to give you a chance to save her. But you didn’t come. You could have turned back, but you didn’t!” Sterling’s fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. His pupils contracted, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to say something—but no words came. The storm raged around us, snow whipping through the air. Finally, he spun around, his voice a roar against the wind: “Search for her! Now!” With a sweep of his arms, he shifted, his form dissolving into a massive eagle with dark, powerful wings. Without hesitation, he dove off the cliff, disappearing into the storm below. Search for her? I looked down at the broken pendant in my palm, a wry smile tugging at my lips. Leila was long gone. She was probably sitting in a warm cave deep in the snow forest, sipping tea and toasting her feet by the fire. Sterling, meanwhile, was scouring a frozen wasteland for a ghost. Perfect. Now that he was out of the picture, faking my own death would be a piece of cake. 6 Word spread quickly through the tribe: the Snake King, Lucien, had saved the saint, Suya. She sat delicately in his arms, her soft voice barely above a whisper, her frail figure illuminated by the glow of nearby flames, making her look even more pitiable. Lucien stood tall in his black-scaled armor, cradling her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Behind them, the enemy encampment burned in a raging inferno, the path ahead slick with the blood of those he’d slaughtered. The story of Lucien’s rescue spread like wildfire. “I’ve never seen the Snake King so gentle before!” “She must be his salvation, taming the beast!” Those words stung like needles in my ears. Meanwhile, I was at home, trying to surprise Lucien by cooking something for him. It didn’t go as planned. A slip of the hand, a misplaced spark—and the entire snake den went up in flames. The fire raged for three days and nights, devouring everything. By the time it finally burned out, the tribe could only find a handful of ashes where I had been. Not even bones remained. They built a small mound to mark the spot, a symbolic grave for the ashes they could gather. When Lucien returned, the sky was dark and heavy, as if the weight of the snow clouds above would crush everything below. He stood in front of the charred ruins, his boots sinking into the blackened earth. The air around him felt sharp enough to cut. Lucien said nothing, his gaze colder than the frost creeping over the wasteland. His soldiers stood frozen behind him, terrified to speak, their breaths shallow in the oppressive silence. Finally, he raised a hand, his voice low and rough, like iron scraping against ice: “Dig.” The soldiers blinked in confusion. “Dig? Dig what?” Lucien’s eyes narrowed, a deadly glint flashing in his pupils. “I want to see her with my own eyes. Dig.”

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After my sister broke up with her boyfriend, she moved into my place. The day after her boyfriend came to apologize and beg for reconciliation, a terrifying heatwave hit. That night, she used the excuse that her boyfriend said the spare room was too hot without air conditioning, so she made me move to the spare room. The next day, she said the weather was too hot and people were dying outside, so they needed to stay for a few more days. Her boyfriend took advantage when she wasn’t paying attention and started touching me inappropriately. I told my sister, but she angrily said it was because I was wearing too little and deliberately trying to seduce him. As the food in the house became scarcer, my sister pushed me out the door, saying this way they could eat a bit less. I died from the heat outside. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment when my sister was crying to me on the phone. “Emma, Derek was flirting with other women behind my back, and he hit me. I’m breaking up with him,” Lily’s sobbing voice came through the phone, startling me awake. “No matter how much he begs this time, I won’t get back together with him.” “He’s been hanging around outside my apartment every day. Can I stay at your place for a couple of days?” My sister’s tearful voice jolted me. A strong, unshakeable thirst spread through my entire body. The suffocating heat that felt like it was evaporating my very being made me gulp down several large glasses of ice water. When I couldn’t drink anymore, I realized I had been reborn. I had returned to my previous life, to the day when my sister called crying about breaking up. That was indeed the last time I heard her say she wanted to break up in my previous life. Because not long after, a global heatwave was coming. It was an unprecedented, abnormal heatwave. Many people would lose their lives in this event. I was one of them. It was this phone call that led to my death in the subsequent events. My sister, Lily, had dropped out of high school for a man and had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with her dropout boyfriend for years. Every time it was all talk and no action. When she called me, she could hardly speak a sentence without mentioning that man of hers. Every time, she would be cursing her scumbag boyfriend one second, swearing to break up, and the next second she’d be happily posting lovey-dovey content on social media. “Love is about breaking up and getting back together, and in the end, not being able to live without each other,” she’d write, with heart emojis. I remember once asking her why she got back together with him again, wasn’t she breaking up with that jerk? Unexpectedly, she got angry and slapped me. “Emma, what kind of sister are you? Are you jealous of my happiness? Are you cursing me? I gave up my chance to go to college for you, and this is how you repay me?” “You’re worse than an ungrateful wretch.” She berated me as if every breakup was my fault. I angrily turned and left, not talking to her for a long time. A few days later, she called to apologize, then asked to borrow money, saying she was planning to marry Derek and needed to buy a new house. “Emma, I’m not as educated as you, and I don’t earn as much as you do.” “Your sister has finally found someone she wants to spend her life with. Don’t you want me to be happy?” She spoke while crying, implying that I owed her because I got an education and she didn’t. I’ve grown tired of hearing these words over the years. I told her directly that this was the last time, and she shouldn’t use this to guilt-trip me anymore. So when she asked for $200,000, I gritted my teeth and gave it to her. This was money I had saved up through hard work, day and night. It wasn’t the first time I had given her money, but she had never paid me back. After our parents died, she was my only relative left. They always said that Lily had a low education and it wasn’t easy for her to make money outside, so they told me to help her if I could. I never hesitated when she needed something. She had taken nearly $300,000 from me over time, with reasons ranging from buying a house to losing her job due to her low education level. The real reason was that her boyfriend was a lazy good-for-nothing who had racked up a mountain of debt, and she was happily following behind, cleaning up his messes. That night, I had an acute appendicitis attack. The pain was excruciating. I managed to drag myself to the hospital for surgery. The surgery cost 5,000,butaftergivingherthemoney,Ionlyhad5,000,butaftergivingherthemoney,Ionlyhad2,000 left. I called her asking for $3,000 for the surgery, but she cried and repeated her old excuses. “Emma, you know your sister didn’t go to school and doesn’t have many skills…” I hung up before she could say more and borrowed the money from a colleague. The night after the surgery, I was tossing and turning in bed, feeling awful. I opened social media and saw my sister had posted about having a candlelit dinner with Derek in an elegantly decorated restaurant. I turned off my phone, feeling a chill run through me. I was in agony from surgery, and my own sister wouldn’t give me a penny, but she was enjoying a candlelit dinner with my money. For two weeks after the surgery, she didn’t call me once. From then on, I never answered her calls again. Until this morning, when I received photos she sent of her being abused by Derek. The handprint on her face was obvious, and the bruises on her thighs and arms were particularly noticeable. She looked like she had been badly beaten. I instinctively became worried. After all, she was my only relative left, and I couldn’t ignore her. I called her back, and just like now, she was sobbing and talking about breaking up. They had broken up and gotten back together before, but it had never been this serious. Afraid she might be abused, I agreed to let her stay with me for a couple of days. Little did I know that as soon as she arrived, Derek would show up too. I angrily tried to kick Derek out, but she cried and begged me, saying Derek owed loan sharks money and would be beaten to death if I kicked him out. She asked me to help her one more time, let them hide for a few days, saying it was too hot to find a new place now. I softened once again, telling myself this would be the last time. But I never expected that this time, they would shamelessly move in with me. Complaining that the spare room was too hot without air conditioning, saying they might get heatstroke, they made me move to the spare room. I was so hot I was only wearing a t-shirt and shorts when Derek suddenly barged into my room, his eyes roving over me lecherously. I screamed in fright. But my sister angrily accused me of trying to seduce her boyfriend. Finally, using the excuse that there wasn’t enough food, they said they were guests and told me to go out and buy groceries. They pushed me out the door. It was so hot outside that it was unbearable. I knocked on the door, begging my sister to let me in, but she said there wasn’t enough food for three people anymore, and with one less person, they could last a few more days. Better for one to die than all three. No matter how much I knocked, she wouldn’t open the door. I kept knocking persistently, but she remained coldly indifferent and never opened up. In the end, I slowly died of dehydration, feeling utterly heartbroken. “The weather bureau reports that today’s highest temperature will be 111°F. High temperatures will persist for the next week. Please take precautions against heatstroke and minimize going outdoors…” The familiar weather forecast was playing on the TV, and my sister’s sobbing came through the phone again. “Emma, Derek hit me. You won’t abandon your sister, will you?” Seeing that I didn’t respond, Lily quietly asked.

In my previous life, that feeling of thirst so intense it made my heart race, yet also chilling to the bone, rose up again. I gulped down another large glass of ice water to suppress it. Not hearing me speak, Lily’s crying grew louder, and her tone suddenly became sharp. “Emma, if I had been the one to go to college back then, would I have to beg you like this? Have you forgotten what you promised Mom and Dad?” “I’m your only sister. How can you be so heartless, watching me get beaten?” “Do you want me to make a scene every day at your home and office, telling everyone how ungrateful and inhumane you are?” Here we go again. She seems to only know how to repeat this one line over and over. I’ve helped her so much more over the years. Whenever things don’t go her way, she takes out her frustrations on me with baseless accusations. She has never shown any gratitude. Even when disaster struck in my previous life, she coldly pushed me out to die. Remembering the desperation and suffocation I felt before dying in my previous life, Lily’s cold face kept flashing before my eyes. Gripping the phone tightly, I spoke softly, “Do you really want to come stay with me?” Sensing an opportunity, Lily quickly nodded, her voice taking on a hint of joy. “He owes a ton of money and keeps hitting me. There’s no way I can keep living like this.” “Emma, I knew you were my dear sister. I knew you wouldn’t abandon me.” A smile played on my lips as I spoke again, “Sis, are you absolutely sure about this?” She seemed surprised that I hadn’t rushed out to help her like before. Her tone started to become impatient: “Emma, are you done?” I took a deep breath and finally said to let her move in three days later, as I was currently away on a business trip. She quickly agreed. In my previous life, Lily had also come over three days later. Thinking carefully about her personality, she probably wanted to rush over immediately. Even if I said I was away on a business trip, she would likely camp out in front of my building waiting for me. If I guessed correctly, Derek probably got into a fight over the money he owed and was now being held at the police station. Derek owed a ton of debt and had assaulted someone, so he was on the run hiding everywhere. Lily was waiting at home for three days for him to be released, then planning to occupy my place long-term. Since she wanted to come, let her come then.

Thinking about the unprecedented and brutal heatwave that was about to hit, I felt a chill. Most people would lose their lives in this natural disaster. Besides the food shortage, there would also be insufficient water and electricity supply in high-rise buildings, and heatstroke would be rampant. Since heaven had given me another chance, I needed to use these three days to make thorough preparations. This time, I was going to take good care of myself. First, I rented a large villa with a basement nearby. I had looked at these villas when I was house hunting before. They all came with basements. The basement temperature was cool and perfect for avoiding the heat. At the time, I thought the first floor was too dark, needing lights on day and night, so I didn’t go for it. Now in this weather, it was perfect to rent it, in case of sudden power outages later when air conditioners and fans couldn’t run normally. Also, the villa was far from others, which would draw less attention, making it convenient for me to store supplies later. As soon as I stepped inside, I felt the coolness hit me. I took out the jacket I had prepared and put it on. The male realtor who had brought me here involuntarily shivered and hugged himself, then smiled and introduced the place. “Ma’am, this is the villa with a basement you requested. Except for the poor lighting on the first floor, how do you like the rest?” He trailed off, looking at me strangely. After all, young people nowadays prefer houses with good lighting and bright rooms when renting. While I was oddly looking for a place where you couldn’t see the sun even in broad daylight and needed to turn on lights as soon as you entered. Although the weather was indeed very hot now, everyone had air conditioning at home. I paid him the money and, seeing he seemed nice, started chatting with him. “The weather is so hot. Several elderly people back home got sick with heatstroke after being outside too long. They can’t even go out to buy vegetables. This house is cool and cheap, so I can save some money too.” I’m not sure if he understood my meaning, and I couldn’t be too obvious about it. After finding the house, I continued shopping for the supplies I needed. I borrowed a small tricycle and spent most of the day going to a wholesale market about ten miles away. I bought dozens of boxes of instant noodles and canned food, and brought them home to store. Then I went to other places further away to buy some vacuum-packed vegetables and fruits. I put all these things in the basement, and finally ordered several super large refrigerators online. I also went to buy several boxes of wholesale ice cream, snacks, and so on. After staying in the basement for a while, I couldn’t help but shiver. Suddenly inspired, I bought a set of hot pot cookware. Then I went to other places to buy ingredients for hot pot, like beef, chicken, and so on. I bought quite a lot and stuffed it all into my big refrigerator, filling it to the brim. Thinking about how unpredictable people can be during disasters, for safety and self-defense, I also went to a knife shop to buy some weapons for protection, and picked up a bag of mouse traps while I was at it. Finally, thinking about the possibility of water and power outages, I bought several large water storage tanks with purifiers. I also learned online how to make a solar power panel. In addition, I stocked up on plenty of backup medicine to prevent heatstroke, just in case. Of course, I was very cautious while doing all this, afraid of drawing attention. I dressed inconspicuously and wore a baseball cap. By the time I finished all of this, three days had passed. Looking at the room full of supplies I had stockpiled, I was very satisfied. It would be enough to last half a year. In my previous life, experts on TV said the extreme heat would end in two months at most. I had stayed home eating and drinking with them for half a month, until food became scarce and I was pushed out. At this point, Lily’s call came in.

“Emma, I’m already at your door. You’re still not back?” Her breathing was a bit heavy as she spoke, likely because it was indeed very hot outside. I sat leisurely on the couch enjoying the air conditioning, and said slowly, “Sis, my car won’t arrive until tonight. Why don’t you find a coffee shop to rest in…” Before I could finish, she hung up. It was getting dark outside. I ate dinner, called a cab, and headed home. Lily was standing in the hallway outside my apartment, empty-handed. The bruises on her face hadn’t faded, and you could still see clear handprints. I didn’t rush to show concern like I used to. She brushed back her sweaty, matted hair and glared at me with fiery eyes. “Why are you only getting back now? I’ve been here for so long.” Before I could speak, she snatched my bag, took out the keys, and opened the door. She kept complaining, “I told you to make me a copy of the key.” Once inside, she immediately turned on the air conditioning and started rummaging through my fridge. She took out a large, unpeeled durian. “At least you had the decency to buy this for me.” I looked at the durian in her hands, inwardly frustrated that I had forgotten about it. I could only watch as Lily opened it up. She set aside one large, intact piece of flesh and hastily devoured the smaller pieces. When she had eaten her fill, she picked up the large piece and looked at me warily: “Emma, I’m saving this. Don’t you dare touch it.”

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Mom took out Dad’s will. It read: My entire estate is to be inherited by my eldest son, while my daughter is to handle the debts. I looked at the aged document in disbelief. My brother seemed unfazed, as if it were the most natural thing: “You’re Dad’s daughter, and there’s a saying that a daughter pays her father’s debts. You should accept your fate.” Mom nodded in agreement, “Yes, you can’t just ignore it, or we’ll take legal action against you.” I tossed the will aside. A will without proper witnesses or legal validation is nothing more than a piece of scrap paper. “Are you serious?” I not only threw the will but also stomped on it several times. Dad’s assets included an old house in the downtown area and a mere $30,000 in savings, all bequeathed to my brother. Yet they expected me to cover the $100,000 debt Dad left behind. In that moment, Mom and Brother felt like complete strangers. “How can you do this? Dad just passed away, and you want him to rest in peace with such regrets?” Brother pushed past me and carefully retrieved the will. Mom’s eyes were filled with reproach. “From childhood, haven’t I done so much for this family? How can you ignore that?” “Now you want to dump all the debt on me while you enjoy the benefits. Is that fair?” Brother scoffed, crossing his arms. “Fair? There’s no such thing as fairness in this world.” “Since Dad left a will, we have to follow it.” “Stop making a scene and figure out how to pay up, so you don’t drag us down.” Brother didn’t even finish middle school. He’s completely illiterate. To him, this will was absolute, and I had to obey it. Mom and Dad didn’t have much education either. They thought they could control me with a simple will. Mom added her voice to the conversation. “Cora, don’t be stubborn.” “We have no choice. Your brother is the breadwinner and needs to inherit the family business.” “You need to make some sacrifices to help the family through this tough time.” Mom’s words struck me hard, making me see reality clearly. To her, I was just a pawn to be sacrificed at will. I once thought Mom loved me dearly. Dad never liked me and was often harsh with me. Whenever I was upset, it was Mom who comforted me. She often said we were family, and families fight and make up. Dad often abused Mom, and I was the one who protected her. At that time, I believed Mom and I were both victims in the family. I thought we needed to support each other. So, I worked hard in school, hoping to succeed and take care of Mom. I took a deep breath, trying to hold back my tears. “This will is invalid. The court won’t recognize it, and neither will I.” “How dare you refuse?” Brother kicked the table angrily, his face contorted with rage. It seemed like he would hit me any second. Mom stopped him, turning to me with tears in her eyes. “Cora, why are you being so unreasonable?” “We’re family. If you make a scene, people will laugh at us.” Those tears would have broken my heart before. But now, I only felt deep sadness. “Mom, it’s not me being unreasonable. You’re being too much!” “You only think about Brother. Have you ever considered me?” “Do you know how much a $100,000 debt burdens me?” Brother glared at me, gritting his teeth: “Stop playing the victim. Just because you studied a few more years doesn’t make you special. Dad’s will is clear; you have to accept it!” He stepped forward, ready to charge. I fearlessly met his gaze, standing tall. “Don’t try anything! If you touch me again, I’ll call the police!” At the mention of “police,” Brother and Mom’s faces turned pale. They never expected me, always obedient, to resist so firmly. Mom’s tears flowed unchecked, trying to use family ties to sway me. “Cora, are you really going to be so heartless?” “We’re your family. How can you turn against us for money?” My voice was filled with sorrow: “If you insist on forcing me, then see you in court.”

With that, I turned and left, ignoring their shouts behind me. Back in my apartment. I collapsed onto the floor, tears finally flowing freely. After crying for a long time, I calmed down and started thinking of a plan. I contacted a professional lawyer and explained the situation in detail. The lawyer listened, frowning. He said the will had major issues with authenticity and legality. Especially putting all the debt on me, clearly against the law. The will was invalid. Hearing this, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. During this time, Mom and Brother bombarded me with messages. They accused me of being unfilial, saying I’d grown independent. My sister-in-law pretended to advise me not to make things ugly. I ignored them all. Until one day, I came home after work. I found the door wide open. I thought it was a break-in and was about to call the police. Then I heard a familiar voice. It was my nephew’s voice. “I like this cat, I want to take it home.” Hearing my nephew’s voice, I was startled. I rushed inside. The living room was a mess, clothes and books scattered everywhere. Mom, Brother, and Sister-in-law stood in the center. My nephew crouched in a corner, trying to grab my cat. The kitten struggled, crying out. “What are you doing?” I shouted angrily, my voice echoing in the empty room. Mom was startled by my shout, a flash of panic on her face. But she quickly returned to her self-righteous demeanor. “Cora, how can you talk like that?” “We’re your family, can’t we come to see you?” Mom spoke while picking up a piece of clothing from the floor, casually folding it and placing it on the sofa. “Do you need to turn my house upside down to visit?” “And who let you allow the kid to grab my cat?” I quickly went to my nephew, gently taking the cat from his arms. “Auntie’s stingy, I just wanted to play.” My nephew pouted, looking unhappy. “Alright, alright, he’s just a kid, why argue with him?” Sister-in-law pretended to smooth things over. “We came today to talk things out. We’re family, no need to make it like this.” “Talk about what? About me paying off the debt?” “Yes, it’s Dad’s wish. You can’t ignore it.” “Get out, I have nothing to say to you.” Brother, who had been silent, turned grim at my words. Suddenly, he stepped forward. “The will is from Dad. You think just saying it’s invalid will make it go away?” “You have to pay Dad’s debts, or you’ll be an ungrateful traitor!” I pointed to the door, yelling: “The debt allocation is unfair. I’m not stupid enough to inherit it. Get out!” “Cora, don’t talk to your brother like that.” Mom played the family card again. “We have no choice. Your brother’s business failed, and he owes a lot.” “Help us carry this debt, and we’ll treat you well in the future.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “The future? Do you think I still believe you?” Mom has said “in the future” too many times. “But when has it ever come true? Every time you coax and deceive me, making me pay for your greed!” Mom once asked me to give her my paycheck, promising to save it for me. But last year, when I got sick and asked for some money, she said it was gone, used for Brother’s business. She said Brother would pay me back… Things like this happened so often in recent years.

Mom opened her mouth to argue but was silenced by my sharp gaze. She looked down, hands nervously twisting her clothes. Brother’s face turned red, veins bulging on his forehead like an angry bull. “You heartless brat, if you don’t agree to pay today, you’ll regret it!” Sister-in-law, instead of stopping him, fanned the flames. “Exactly, you can’t be so selfish. Think about the family.” The kitten trembled in my arms, letting out frightened cries. I gently soothed it. “Try anything, and I’ll call the police. You’ll regret it!” “Your wings have hardened, huh, you little brat?” He gritted his teeth but didn’t dare to lay a hand on me. We stood in a standoff until he suddenly smashed a cup on the table to the ground. With a loud crash, glass shattered everywhere. My nephew jumped, hiding behind Sister-in-law. “You think calling the police will solve anything? You can’t escape this debt!” “Fine, let the police sort it out. Let’s see what they do about you trespassing, vandalizing, and threatening others!” I gently stroked it, feeling a pang of sympathy. “You dare lay a finger on me? I’ll call the police, and you’ll regret it!” “Think you’re all grown up now, you brat?” He was seething with anger but didn’t dare make a move. After a tense standoff, he suddenly smashed the cup from the coffee table onto the floor. With a loud crash, glass shards flew everywhere. My little nephew was startled and quickly hid behind my sister-in-law. “You think calling the police will sort this out? You’re not getting away from this debt!” “Fine, let the police come and see how they handle your trespassing, destruction, and threats!” When “call the police” was mentioned, my mom’s face turned ashen. She rushed over, grabbing my hand. “Sweetie, don’t call the police. It’s my fault, let’s talk this over.” Even my sister-in-law panicked, her fake smile fading into a worried expression. My little nephew, frightened by the scene, started crying loudly. I wasn’t swayed and clearly stated the address on the phone. They were too late to stop me and could only watch me with anger. Soon, the police arrived. I explained the situation in detail. The police inspected the damage to the house and checked the threatening messages on my phone. “Your actions are illegal.” The officer said sternly, “Breaking into someone’s home and making threats is a legal matter.” My mom and sister-in-law began pleading, while my brother stayed silent with his head down. “Because this is your first offense and the victim is considering not pressing charges, you must leave immediately and never harass her again.” Under police supervision, my mom and sister-in-law exchanged reluctant glances. My brother clenched his fists, seemingly wanting to lash out, but held back. “Fine, see if we care!” He gritted his teeth, spitting out his words, “Don’t expect us to be there for you anymore!” With that, he pulled my nephew and headed for the door. My mom and sister-in-law quickly followed. At the door, my mom glanced back at me. Her eyes seemed to carry a glimmer of hope, but I ignored her. With a heavy thud, the door slammed shut. I sat on the floor, hugging my cat, tears once again blurring my vision. I thought I had scared them off this time. But I didn’t expect them to escalate things. It was the weekend when I received a message from my mom. “I’ve been thinking these past few days. We’re family; you shouldn’t bear all the debt alone.” “We plan to sell the house to repay the debt.” I was skeptical. “Your aunt is also here. She rarely visits; you should come too.” I couldn’t refuse anymore. The family had pressured me to drop out of school early. My aunt covered my living expenses in high school. In college, I relied on student loans and part-time jobs. Without my aunt, I couldn’t have even finished high school. So my aunt is very important to me. “Okay.” To ensure everything was safe. I sent a message to my aunt, asking if she was really going back. She replied: Yes. Relieved, I packed my things to go back. I didn’t realize this decision would almost ruin me. When I returned to the old house that night. Everyone was there. The food was ready, neatly placed on the dining table. My aunt warmly greeted me as I came in. Even the others, usually so harsh, smiled and greeted me. Even my usually bossy brother was speaking kindly. No matter how I looked at it, it felt strange. I got goosebumps. I didn’t feel touched, just uneasy. But with my aunt there, I felt a bit calmer. She pulled me to the dining table. She sat next to me, occasionally glancing my way. “Our Sweetie has grown up beautifully.” For some reason, I felt like my aunt was looking at me like I was prey for sale. But I quickly told myself I was overthinking it.

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To prevent me from competing with my stepsister for the gold medal in the dance competition, my fiancé used a crane to lift me to the second floor and then threw me off. My brother was even more ruthless, hitting me with his sports car and sending me flying. I lay there, bleeding and crying, begging them to save my child. But my fiancé remained indifferent: “A child? It’s better gone. That way, you can focus on your sadness and not interfere with Nora winning the award.” I passed out, and when I woke up, I saw my stepsister’s social media post. She was on stage holding the medal that should have been mine, with my brother and fiancé protectively flanking her. The post read: “Thanks to my two princes for their protection, even a little princess like me, who doesn’t aim high, got the gold medal!” My brother and fiancé commented: “Anyone who stands in Nora’s way must perish.” I stared for a moment before silently liking her post. Nobody knows,I came here to complete the tasks assigned to me by the system. Now it’s time to leave. “System, I want to leave this world.”

[Host is about to complete the pain point task.] [The male lead and the second male lead will soon see the true nature of the female supporting character and awaken. Are you sure you want to abandon all your progress?] “Yes.” I lay in a pool of blood, softly murmuring: “I don’t want it. I don’t want my brother, and I don’t want Ezra.” “Ah—” As I spoke, a sharp pain pierced through me. I barely opened my eyes to see my brother, Gideon, sneering as he stomped on my stomach. “Save… the child…” My child… The pain contorted my face, yet my brother withdrew his foot disdainfully. “Playing the pregnancy card again?” “I told you if you dared to make Nora cry, I’d make you bleed. Have you learned your lesson now?” Ezra stood indifferent too. “If the child is lost, it’s for the best. I promised Nora that I’d marry you but only have children with her.” “Mabel, be good, don’t make things difficult for me.” “A little blood won’t kill you; reflect on it right here.” With that, they left without looking back. I watched their retreating figures, feeling the blood draining away beneath me. My body grew colder. My child… I’m sorry, Mom. I shouldn’t have. Maybe I was destined to be a lonely star. In my original world, I was an orphan. Ill and without money for treatment, I waited quietly for death. Then the system found me. It said that if I completed the predetermined plot tasks of the novel, the family in the novel would become my real family. Then, I would be the happiest person. I believed it and became the youngest daughter of the Gideon family, Mabel. At first, I was happy. My parents were loving, my brother cherished me, and Ezra and I were fond of each other. Until Mom died. Dad quickly brought back a woman, and with her, he only cared about her child—Nora. I hated them for making Dad forget Mom and my brother and me. Back then, my brother and I were united against them. Ezra promised he would love me forever. But promises were fleeting. I had been bound by family ties for too long, and at this moment. I suddenly didn’t want them anymore. As darkness overtook my consciousness, a cold familiar voice sounded: [Child successfully miscarried. Congratulations, Host, on achieving two-thirds of the pain point task.]

I was in the operating room for a day and night. After a week in the hospital, Ezra and my brother finally remembered me. Because the stepmother’s birthday was approaching, she wanted the family to reunite, so I was “brought” home. In the luxurious living room, Nora’s sweet and coquettish voice could be heard from time to time. A servant brought a birthday cake to the table, and Nora coyly said she made it herself and even hurt her hand, so they shouldn’t dislike it. Ezra grabbed her hand angrily, scolding her for hurting herself again. His expression was stern, yet he couldn’t hide the tenderness in his voice. Nora playfully stuck out her tongue. My brother looked at her with a face full of affection. Dad and stepmother smiled with kindness. My vision suddenly blurred, making it difficult to see. I reached up to touch my face, only to find my fingertips wet. “Sister finally came back.” “Today is Mom’s birthday. You won’t blame us for not waiting to eat with you, will you?” Nora saw me and smiled brightly, though her eyes shone with obvious provocation and ridicule. Everyone in the room turned to look at me. “Are you mute? Why don’t you speak when you come in?” Seeing me, Dad’s smile faded. Seeing me standing at the door motionless, my brother also impatiently scolded, “What are you standing there for? Don’t you see everyone waiting for you? When will you change your spoiled princess attitude?” I blinked, holding back tears, clutching my aching stomach, and limped over with my injured leg. Ezra saw my movements and frowned, “You’re hurt?” It might have been my imagination, but there was a trace of concern in his voice. My brother glanced at me and then sneered, “She’s pretending again. Ever since Nora came, she’s always like this.” Hearing this, the concern in Ezra’s eyes disappeared, replaced by the familiar disdain. “How long do you plan to keep this act up? How many times have I told you, Nora is just a young girl. She lost her dad, came with her mom to your house, and has been living cautiously. It’s normal for her to rely more on me and Gideon. You have everything. Why can’t you give her a little?” I gave a bitter smile. I have everything? Since Nora and her mother arrived, Dad became colder towards me, and my brother grew to dislike me more. Even Ezra, who used to be devoted to me, gradually sided with Nora. “Ezra, she lost her dad, but I lost my mom.” “Later she got a dad, and I lost my dad.” “Slap!” As soon as I finished speaking, the next second, Dad slapped me across the face. He glared at me: “Your old man isn’t dead yet!” But whether alive or dead, is there a difference? I held my cheek, silently weeping: “I lost my brother, my fiancé.” “And my child.” Ezra looked at me, and there seemed to be some reluctance in his eyes. Suddenly, Nora choked on her sobs. “Sister, are you blaming me?” “Sister, I’m sorry. Then I’ll just go die!” “Nora!” Ezra and my brother immediately rushed to embrace her. I watched the smugness in her eyes, watching their anxious faces. “Mabel, you never change.” “Falling from only the second floor, do you really need to play the victim in front of us?” I stared at him blankly, feeling the pain creeping in. Before, I would’ve cried and begged him to believe me. But now, I didn’t want to explain anymore. I closed my eyes, looking at my brother with one last bit of hope. “My leg is broken.” “The doctor said I can never dance again.” My brother didn’t even look at me, indulgently watching Nora: “That’s just as well. Nora won’t have to hide under the covers crying about you winning dance awards anymore.”

Nora shyly stomped her foot, “I never cried under the covers, brother, you’re so annoying.” Laughter from the family filled the hall. I stood there frozen, my vision starting to blur again. When I was in school, I won an award for dancing, and Nora cried all night. My brother threw away all my dance costumes and shoes, forbidding me to dance anymore. My heart grew colder with every beat. “Alright, let’s eat!” Ezra saw my expression, a hint of reluctance flashing on his face. He pulled me to sit next to him, “Don’t be stubborn. Once your leg heals, we’ll get married.” If it were the old me hearing this, I would’ve jumped up in joy and hugged him. But now, my heart was unusually calm. Nora gave me a look full of jealousy, quickly hiding her emotions, and smiled as she pushed the cake in front of me. “Sister, today is Mom’s birthday. It’s rare for our family to be together.” I lowered my gaze and spoke softly, “My mom’s been dead a long time. Her memorial day isn’t today.” Nora was at a loss for words. The stepmother graciously tried to smooth things over. “You child, your sister rarely comes back. As a younger sister, how can you not know to yield a bit?” My gaze landed on the stepmother’s neck, staring at the familiar and precious emerald necklace. Sensing my look, the stepmother straightened up and intentionally touched the necklace. That was my mom’s favorite thing. Once she was gone, it was safely kept in a safe. I never thought it would appear around the stepmother’s neck. “This is my mom’s. Why are you wearing it?” I lunged madly to snatch it away. The stepmother pretended to be scared and stepped back, yet when no one was looking, she whispered mockingly in my ear: “Your mom couldn’t win against me, and neither will you against my daughter. Everything you and your mom had will be ours sooner or later.” My eyes turned red, and I squeezed her neck tightly. Everyone finally reacted and rushed to separate us. The stepmother leaned tearfully against Dad. Dad, feeling sorry for her, pointed at me and cursed. “You rebellious daughter, your mom’s been dead a long time. I gave the necklace to your Aunt Fiona. If you’ve got a problem, take it out on me.” I rushed forward desperately, trying to snatch it away. My stepmother feigned fear and stepped back. But when no one was looking, she whispered mockingly in my ear, “Your mother couldn’t defeat me, and neither will you against my daughter. Everything that belongs to you and your mother will eventually be ours.” Fury welled up inside me, and I tightened my grip on her neck. Only then did the others react, rushing over to separate us. My stepmother collapsed into Dad’s arms, sobbing. Dad, sympathetic to her, pointed at me and shouted. “You ungrateful daughter, your mom’s long gone. I gave that necklace to Aunt Fiona. If you have a problem, take it up with me.” “Apologize to your Aunt Fiona, or leave this house. I don’t have a daughter like you.” My brother kicked my chair, “Mom and Nora kindly brought you back to reunite, and here you are causing trouble. Is that what you want?” I looked at him defiantly, my face pale. “That’s Mom’s necklace. Why should the other woman wear it?” “Brother, do you still remember Mom?” My brother froze. In a fit of rage, Dad flipped the table and threw a cup at me. “You rebellious daughter, get out!” Ezra and my brother immediately shielded Nora. Blood trickled down my forehead, blurring my vision, and dizziness overwhelmed me. Before I lost consciousness, Ezra rushed over and caught me.

I woke up the next day. I found myself back in the hospital, and the wound on my forehead had been treated. Turning my head, I saw a haggard, pale face reflected clearly in the window. I numbly removed the bandage, revealing a long, deep wound stretching from my forehead to my cheekbone, raw and bloody. [Congratulations, Host, on completing the task of disfigurement.] Touching my ruined face, my throat tightened. “Where are Ezra and my brother?” [Nora was frightened, and her depression relapsed. Your fiancé and brother are by her side, not leaving for a moment.] [And…] The system hesitated but ultimately said nothing, only comforting me: [Host, just hang on a little longer. No matter what they do, once you finish the abuse plot, they’ll realize you’re the only one they love. Then you can enjoy their love and live happily ever after.] Happily ever after, huh? I tugged at the corners of my mouth, saying nothing. I used to believe Ezra and my brother would eventually see through Nora and her mother’s facade. I compromised again and again. But now I finally understand. This so-called happiness is twisted. I don’t want this kind of happiness anymore. When I got home from the hospital, Ezra was resting with his eyes closed on the sofa. His expensive suit jacket was casually thrown aside. He looked utterly exhausted. As I got closer, I could faintly smell Nora’s perfume on him. Hearing my movement, he opened his eyes and looked at me in confusion. “Why are you back? Why aren’t you staying at the hospital?” I lowered my head and said nothing, trying to pass by him to my room. He suddenly grabbed my wrist, somewhat angrily asking, “Mabel, I’m talking to you. What’s your problem now?” My foot injury hadn’t healed yet, and his forceful tug made me gasp in pain. Seeing my gritted teeth, Ezra stood up and stared at me. “Is it because of your face, or are you mad about last time?” “It was just a small lesson. Is it really a big deal?” So, in his eyes, throwing me from a height causing a miscarriage and a broken leg, and forcing me to kneel and apologize to Nora was just a small lesson? I looked at him with red eyes, filled with grief and anger, “A small matter? You think causing my miscarriage and breaking my leg is a small matter? Is Nora’s mood more important than that?” That so-called small matter in his words killed my child and made it impossible for me to dance again. But just because Nora was upset, he was so anxious. Ezra had never seen me so out of control. After a moment of surprise, his tone became a bit impatient. “The doctor said it won’t affect your walking in the future. If you can’t dance, then don’t. Just be Mrs. Ezra after we get married.” “Miscarriage? Even if you never get pregnant again, Nora will have kids for you.” “Then you can raise her kids.” He frowned as he spoke, wanting to say more, but his gaze softened when he saw the scar on my face, “As for the scar on your face, just leave it. Don’t treat it.” “You’re prettier than Nora, which makes her feel inferior. Now that you’re disfigured, it’s just in time for my engagement party with her.” “You can be the bridesmaid, so you don’t steal her spotlight.” I stared at Ezra, dumbfounded. Even though I was used to his favoritism toward Nora, my heart still ached. “What am I then?” “What does our relationship mean?” Ezra moved his lips but remained silent for a long time before saying: “Just be good.” He seemed to want to say more, but his phone rang suddenly. As he answered, his expression grew more and more serious, and his gaze toward me became increasingly complicated. On the other end, I could hear my brother’s excited voice, “There’s hope; Nora can be saved… the same rare blood type…” My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a foreboding sense of doom. At that moment, the system suddenly shouted, “Host, run!”

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The day before Valentine’s Day, I found a booking for a romantic hotel on my wife Celeste’s phone. I was overjoyed, thinking she had planned a surprise for me. But on the day itself, Celeste claimed she had a business trip and didn’t return home that night. It wasn’t until the hotel confirmation was accidentally sent to my phone that I called her with trembling hands. When the call connected, it was Celeste’s cherished first love, Finn, who appeared shirtless, looking at me disdainfully. “She’s still in the shower. Why don’t you call back later?” he said. I drove frantically to the hotel, and in the midst of our argument, Celeste didn’t hesitate to throw a vase at me. Before I completely lost consciousness, Finn stomped on my head in anger. “I’m not done yet, you loser! You ruined everything!” At that moment, my heart broke, and five years of feelings turned to dust. When Celeste called, I was carefully preparing a homemade meal. But when she said she had to work late and couldn’t come home, my actions froze, and my mood plummeted. “I’m sorry, honey. I’ll make it up to you with a gift. Please don’t be mad, okay?” “The company is paying double overtime today, plus other bonuses. I really don’t want to miss out.” After a moment, I sighed and replied, “But you promised you’d be back this morning. I made all your favorite dishes, and you…” Before I could finish, Celeste interrupted. “I said I’m sorry. What more do you want? Nolan, can you give me some space? Stop being so annoying.” Fireworks and cheers sounded from afar, lively and cheerful. But I only felt heartbroken. I quietly said “okay” and ended the call. All these dishes were Celeste’s favorites, and it took me three hours to make them. I tried everything to win her over, but now it seems it was all for nothing. A sour feeling spread through my heart as I sat alone, eating. Ten minutes later, my phone rang again. Thinking it was Celeste, I opened it, only to find a hotel check-in confirmation. My heart sank. I had indeed seen that romantic hotel booking on Celeste’s phone a few days ago. At that time, I thought it was a surprise she had planned and didn’t mention it. But now… I frowned and shakily called Celeste via video. After ringing several times, it finally connected. But it was Finn’s face, Celeste’s first love, that appeared on the screen. He was shirtless, looking at me impatiently. “Celeste is still in the shower. Call back later.” Behind him was the hotel’s big bed, with their clothes thrown together messily. I couldn’t believe it and questioned him, “Why are you two together? Don’t you know she’s married? Do you have any morals?” Finn smirked coldly at my words. “Morals? Are you serious, Nolan? Can’t even keep your woman, and now you’re blaming me?” “Besides, what can a guy like you, living off her, compare with me?” He hung up right after. Sitting in the chair, tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

Celeste and I dated for two years and have been married for five. Before this incident, our relationship was good. She worked while I handled house chores. That was because her dad had cancer and needed someone to take care of him. Celeste couldn’t, so she forced me to quit my job. I took care of her dad for two years, and when I returned to work, my position was taken. Celeste said we didn’t need kids yet and her earnings were enough. So, she wanted me to continue managing the household. She gave me $2,000 a month for groceries, which wasn’t enough for rent and utilities. I was embarrassed to keep asking, so I took on freelance design work. Fortunately, my knowledge from back then helped, and I gradually became more financially stable, even saving $20,000. I didn’t feel I owed her anything. But now, in Celeste’s eyes, I’m just a man living off her. Thinking back to her recent coldness, I felt something was off. She must have reconnected with Finn, and I just noticed today. I went downstairs, drove to the hotel, and punched Finn in the face when the door opened. Finn and Celeste dated in college, but he dumped her for a rich girl. He even badmouthed Celeste behind her back, calling her a desperate admirer. Celeste was caught in a whirlwind of public opinion, almost getting depressed. I helped her out of it, yet they conspired together again. Finn lay on the ground, cursing at me, “Nolan, you really have the nerve to come here?” “You, a man living off her, can’t give Celeste happiness, and you dare hit me!” I was furious, pummeling him and venting all my grievances. Finn’s defiance turned into low pleas for mercy. Just as I was about to let him go, a sharp pain hit my head from behind. Celeste smashed a vase over my head, without hesitation. I collapsed amidst the vase shards. Celeste didn’t spare me a glance, helping Finn up with tears in her voice. “Finn, are you okay? If you’re hurt, my heart would break.” With the last bit of consciousness, I reached for my head, feeling blood on my hand. My shoulder and arm were cut by the vase shards, and I let out a small cry of pain. Celeste looked at me, her eyes full of malice and resentment. She was barely dressed, just wrapped in a bathrobe, her rhythm disrupted by me. “Nolan, let’s divorce. I’ve wanted out for a while now. You brought this on yourself.” Finn, regaining his strength, kicked me, “If you hadn’t interrupted, I’d be done by now. It’s all your fault, damn it.” “You were acting tough earlier, weren’t you? Come on, keep hitting.” On the verge of passing out, I struggled to pull out my phone to call for help. Celeste thought I was calling the police and snatched it away. “It’s just a hit. Do you have to act like you’re dying? Nolan, you’re useless.” “I didn’t even use much force, and you…” She smashed my phone on the ground, shattering the screen. My vision blurred, then I lost consciousness entirely.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. Celeste sat nearby, looking at me with a complicated expression. “Nolan, you’re finally awake. It was my fault today. I was too impatient. Don’t take it to heart.” My head was still throbbing, and I coldly stared at her, unsure what game Celeste was playing now. “The doctor said you’ll be fine after a few days of rest. I took time off to stay with you, okay?” Celeste said, offering me a nutritious meal to drink. I turned my head away. “Celeste, what’s the point of all this? You’re the one who cheated. You want a divorce, and now you’re trying to appease me?!” “I don’t need you with me. Go find Finn. He’s your true love.” In the past, whenever we fought, I would always be the one to apologize first. Now, Celeste’s first attempt at reconciliation was ignored by me, and her face soured. She slammed the meal box down, questioning me with tears, “Can’t I make a mistake? We didn’t even do anything, yet you don’t trust me?” “Dad called today, saying he’s in the hospital again and wants you to care for him. Even if you don’t want to see me, at least visit him!” My expression darkened, so this was her plan. Cancer caretakers are expensive, but if it’s me, they save a lot of money. Years ago, I had no choice but to care for her dad. Spending money and effort, enduring the filth. But all I got was their ingratitude. Now, even with divorce looming, Celeste wants me to be the sucker again. “I’m not going, Celeste. Let’s divorce.” I said bluntly, “Your dad’s illness is none of my concern. I’ll prepare the divorce papers. Make sure to sign them.” Upon hearing this, Celeste lost her patience. She stood up, looking down at me, “You’re not going to divorce me, Nolan. I know you’re just sulking.” “You barged in and hit him. I only acted to prevent Finn from causing trouble later. Can’t you use your brain?” With that, the hospital room fell silent. I closed my eyes, unwilling to argue with her. Celeste had struck hard enough to knock me out. If it wasn’t to vent for Finn, why would she be so determined? Now she claimed it was to protect me. How laughable. “You don’t really want a divorce, do you, Nolan? I know you’re just upset with me.” “When you barged in and started hitting, I only fought back because I was worried that Finn would hold it against you later. Can’t you use some common sense?” The hospital room suddenly fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. I closed my eyes, not wanting to argue with her anymore. At that time, Celeste didn’t hold back and knocked me out cold. If she wasn’t trying to stand up for her beloved Finn, then why else would she be so determined? Now she claims it was to protect me—how ridiculous. “Nolan, we’ve been together for nearly nine years. You’re more than just a lover to me; you’re family.” “I just sought some excitement because our marriage had become mundane. I promise it won’t happen again.” “Can’t you forgive me this once?” Celeste held my hand, looking at me sincerely. The depth and tenderness in her eyes seemed genuine. “Nolan, the gift I got you is arriving soon. I’ll go get it for you; you’re going to love it.” I didn’t respond, just felt utterly drained. Five minutes later, Celeste was back. She placed a pair of diamond rings in front of me. “I know you’ve always wanted these, so I secretly ordered them to surprise you.” “Nolan, I hope you can be happy every day and stay by my side forever.” For a moment, I hesitated. Could it really be, as she said, that we just lost some excitement? Nine years of feelings—I don’t want to give up easily. Seeing my expression soften, Celeste smiled and placed my hand on her cheek. “Honey, rest well. Once you’re discharged, we can go visit Dad together.” “Don’t worry, I know you’re tired of taking care of him alone. I’ll take turns with you.” I nodded, “Just remember, don’t contact Finn anymore.” Hearing this, Celeste remained expressionless, “You still don’t trust me? I’ve sworn, honey. Just rest.” In the following days, Celeste stayed by my side without leaving. She even let me check her phone, which gradually eased my suspicions. Until one night, I didn’t drink the warm milk she brought me. But her phone call woke me up. Celeste, with her back to me, was flirting with Finn by the window. “Why so anxious? Nolan will be discharged soon, then we can meet.” “My dad’s bone marrow only matches his. I’ll keep him happy for now, and it’ll be easier to ask him later.” “Even if he disagrees, it’s fine. The sleeping pills you gave work great. I’ve fed him for five days, and he sleeps like a log. Worst case, we’ll do the transplant first and let him know later.” Finn chuckled on the other end. “If it weren’t for his remaining usefulness, why would I let you stay with him and endure this?” “Celeste, I’m going crazy missing you. Come down and meet me, okay? I’ve got a hotel nearby.” Celeste pretended to refuse a few times before quickly packing and leaving. Heartbroken and humiliated, I couldn’t breathe properly. These past few days, she’d been giving me warm milk, claiming it helped me sleep, but it was just to test the drugs. I pulled out my phone and booked a flight abroad. Then I messaged my good friend Leo, a lawyer, to draft a divorce agreement for me.

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I have a husband who is not only handsome and wealthy but also loves me dearly. Not long after we got married, my sister-in-law was diagnosed with liver cancer and needed a transplant. After testing, I was the only compatible donor in the family. But shortly after the transplant, my sister-in-law passed away due to rejection. My mother-in-law and husband blamed me for her death and sent me down to join her. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day I was supposed to sign the donation agreement. I threw down the pen and said, “I’ll donate, but what are you willing to give in return?” Your lives, perhaps? My husband, Declan Turner, looked at me with sudden anger. “Didn’t we agree that if you save Nora, our whole family will be eternally grateful?” “Nora is so close to you. You wouldn’t want to see her lose her life so young, would you?” When I stayed silent, he resorted to emotional blackmail again. Never mentioning what they’d offer me, just expecting me to give up half my liver to save his sister. My mother-in-law, Beatrix Carter, looked like she was about to start shouting. I tapped the agreement on the table, and she closed her mouth. She took a deep breath and said, “Cora, are you worried about something? Tell me, and I’ll fix it for you.” Only then did I slowly speak up, “Mom, didn’t I say? You know there are risks with donating. I need something in return.” “Nothing will happen. The expert we found is top-notch and won’t let anything go wrong. Besides, everything I have will eventually be yours.” She pretended to act in my best interest. In my past life, I was fooled by this facade, signed the liver donation agreement, and ended up being killed by this heartless family. I met my husband by chance. One day after work, a creep was following me, and he saved me. After finding out I was single, he pursued me relentlessly. He said it was love at first sight. He sent flowers to my office every day and took me out to dinner. He took me out on weekends. He was completely devoted to me. My coworkers were all envious. After all, I was an orphan girl, and he was not only handsome and kind but also a modestly wealthy businessman. It seemed like I had a stroke of luck. He was eight years older than me and said he’d been busy building his career and hadn’t found the right person. After meeting me, he felt it was time to marry. I was skeptical about such good fortune, but he said his family consulted fortune tellers, and not marrying this year would affect his business. Business people often believe in this. Under his persuasion, we quickly got married. The first time I met my sister-in-law, she was very affectionate, constantly calling me “sister-in-law” and personally made a gift for me. My mother-in-law also gave me several sets of valuable jewelry on our wedding day, and the attendees praised how kind his family was to me. I didn’t notice anything wrong. Shortly after the wedding, my mother-in-law tearfully told us my sister-in-law had liver cancer and needed a liver transplant to survive. My husband said we should ask all relatives to do a compatibility test, to see if anyone could donate, as donating a liver wouldn’t affect one’s life. Under their persuasion, I naively went for the test. My husband reassured me it was just for show for his mom and unlikely to succeed. But I was the only successful match. My mother-in-law tearfully said her husband had passed away a few years ago, and now all her focus was on her two children. Declan was married, so she wasn’t worried, but Nora was so young. If she died, how could she live? She implied that if I didn’t save her, it would be my fault if Nora died. My husband promised it was just a liver donation, not dangerous, and they’d be grateful to me forever. All their property would be ours in the future. I said I didn’t marry him for his money. Upon hearing this, he was even more patient and caring. But he constantly looked troubled in front of me. Feeling sorry for him, I softened and agreed. But my sister-in-law still didn’t survive the rejection after surgery. My mother-in-law blamed my liver for being bad, causing my sister-in-law’s death, and hit me, completely ignoring that I had just donated my liver and was recovering from surgery. I thought my husband would be reasonable and went to him. I found him and his ex-girlfriend discussing how to get rid of me. Turns out I was just a tool they had planned to use to save his sister. In shock, I dropped my phone, alerting the two inside. Afraid of being exposed, my husband personally pushed me down the stairs, saying his sister would be lonely underground and since I was so good to her, I should go down and continue taking care of her. Perhaps the heavens couldn’t tolerate this family’s actions and gave me a chance to start over. This time, I will make them pay.

Thinking of this, I looked at my eager husband, pretending to hesitate. “But what if after the surgery, I’m not well, and you end up disliking me?” Hearing my concession, my husband and mother-in-law both relaxed. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him. If he ever wrongs you, I won’t recognize him as my son,” my mother-in-law promised. I picked up the pen, and they thought I was going to sign. They exchanged a glance, smiles forming. I spun the pen in my hand but didn’t sign. “Cora, as long as you sign, all our property will be yours,” Declan promised. “If it’s going to be mine eventually, why not transfer it to me first? Then I’ll feel assured.” Their smiles froze. It took a while for Declan to find his voice. “We’re all family. I said I’ll give it to you later, so why aren’t you assured?” “I trust you, husband. But I’m just nervous about the surgery. Since it’s all going to be mine, let me feel at ease first.” I suggested kindly. Then, I excused myself to the restroom to take care of something. I left the room for the mother and son. When I returned, they had come to an agreement. Knowing them, they were either planning to manipulate the gift contract or plotting how to quietly get rid of me after the donation. … As soon as I entered, Declan approached. “I’ll give you two houses in my name. Sign this first, and I’ll transfer them to you later, okay?” “No, I need the house first to feel at ease.” They were anxious, but I wasn’t. Seeing my insistence, they had to go back and sign the property transfer agreement. I deliberately chose the notary office to sign. My husband and mother-in-law wore sullen expressions. “What do you mean by this, are you afraid we won’t keep our promise?” my mother-in-law asked angrily. “No, you misunderstood. I just don’t know much and thought this place was convenient. Let’s sign quickly so we can go to the hospital.” With the big promise hanging in front of them, they reluctantly completed the gift contract under the staff’s guidance.

On the way to the hospital, I casually mentioned, “After the surgery, I won’t be able to work for a long time. Without money, I’ll be in a bad mood.” My mother-in-law, who had a sullen face the whole way, retorted without kindness. “Didn’t you just get two houses worth over ten million? How can you have no money?” “Then should I sell the houses?” I pretended to get out to sell the houses. My mother-in-law rolled her eyes in exasperation. My husband quickly appeased me, “I still have a credit card, I’ll give it to you when we get back.” Only then did I sit back, satisfied. When we arrived at the hospital, they flanked me, afraid I would run away. Sigh, their vision is too narrow. This is just the beginning. In the office, they kept their eyes fixed on me. The doctor, seeing their urgency, repeatedly confirmed if I was volunteering. Seeing Declan and his mother’s tense expressions, I paused. Until their faces darkened, ready to hit me, I said I was volunteering. The doctor instructed me to rest and keep calm for the pre-surgery examination in a few days. I agreed to everything. Once the signing was complete, they were finally relieved. Back home, I immediately asked my husband for the money. Since the houses were already given, he saw no point in making me unhappy over the money and handed it over willingly. Happy, I used the excuse of being unable to go out a few days before surgery to go shopping with my best friend. I spent over a million on the credit card in one day. Declan called many times, but I didn’t answer. Leisurely, I took my spoils and had hot pot with my best friend before heading back. On the couch, Declan was suppressing his anger. “Where did you go? Why didn’t you answer my calls?” “I bought some things,” I replied nonchalantly, kicking off my shoes and slipping into comfy slippers. “Lin Wei, I’d like to know, what did you buy that cost over a million?” he asked angrily. The Turner family is modestly wealthy, running a company that makes a few million a year. Over the years, they’ve accumulated assets worth tens of millions. Spending so much in one day made him feel the pinch. “Jewelry!” I waved the shopping bags. “Didn’t you say before the wedding that you didn’t have time to buy anything, and we could buy it after? I happened to have time today.” He was speechless. Before the wedding, he kept saying he was busy and promised to go shopping with me later. In my last life, until my death, I never received anything. The Turner Family is moderately wealthy, owning a company that earns millions each year. Over the years, they have accumulated assets worth tens of millions. Although I spent a large amount in a single day, he still felt the financial strain. “Jewelry!” I said, holding up the shopping bag. “Didn’t you say before our marriage that there was no time to buy it, and that we could go shopping after the wedding? I just had some time today, so I went ahead and bought it.” He was at a loss for words. Before the wedding, he always used the excuse of being busy, promising to go with me afterward. In my previous life, I never received anything until the day I died. “Oh, by the way, Mom said to give me the jewelry she set aside for me. I bought a safe, and it would look nice to keep them together,” I added, as if reminded. In my previous life, my mother-in-law pretended to care for me, saying she was worried I’d lose the jewelry she gave me at the wedding, so she took it all back. I thought I wouldn’t wear it anyway, so it was fine if she kept it, and I even thanked her for her thoughtfulness. Later, I realized she just didn’t want me to have it. After all, I was just a tool to them, and once I donated my liver, my role was complete. How could they possibly let me spend more money? This family was always deceiving me. Afraid of upsetting me and affecting the liver donation for her daughter, my mother-in-law reluctantly gave me the jewelry, but couldn’t help but remind me, “You’ve got the house, spent the money, now you should be willing to undergo the transplant surgery. Go to the hospital for the pre-surgery examination tomorrow.” I casually agreed. There would be quite the scene for them tomorrow. 4. The next morning, I went to the hospital. My mother-in-law thought I had run off and frantically searched everywhere. I only called them after ten o’clock to tell them where I was. When they arrived, breathless, I handed them a test result. “This surgery might not be possible.” At the hospital, they stared incredulously at my test result. My mother-in-law’s hands trembled as she held the thin paper that read: early pregnancy. “What about Nora?” she shouted anxiously at her son. Declan Turner looked at me, troubled, and without a moment’s hesitation, said, “Cora, we can have children in the future, but my sister can’t wait. The donation agreement is signed; only you can save her now.” Who says signing means I have to donate? I can still back out, right? Though it’s not ideal, the person I’m meant to save isn’t good either. In my previous life, I felt sorry for that sister and took good care of her. But she always knew their family’s plan. When her condition worsened, she claimed I refused to save her, accusing me of deliberately donating a bad liver. Even on her deathbed, she cursed me. Why should I save such an ungrateful person? “I need to think about it,” I said, and quickly left the hospital. Back home, they took turns trying to convince me, but I remained unmoved, acting determined to keep the child. I moved out of their house and into the property he transferred to me. Seeing my determination, Declan agreed to find another way. He said he was worried about my safety while living alone during pregnancy and came to take me back, promising not to pressure me to donate my liver to his sister anymore. He would find another solution. A few days later, I found out about his plan. The car I often drove was in a car accident.

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Caleb and I were the epitome of a loveless marriage. Outside of our obligatory duties, we barely interacted. He despised my strong-willed nature, while I resented his controlling tendencies. So when my body was taken over by an intruder, I held no hope that he would notice. After all, a docile, obedient wife was exactly what he wanted, right? But later, his expression darkened as he gripped “my” throat, his voice trembling: “Who are you really?” “Give me back the real Amelia!” In a desperate attempt to secure a client, I ended up in a car accident on the highway. With a deafening crash, my world spun violently. In those final moments of consciousness, a strange thought flashed through my mind: Well, there goes that client. And I didn’t even get to sleep with Caleb this month. How frustrating. When I next awoke, I found myself as a disembodied spirit, floating above my own body lying in a hospital bed. Caleb sat beside me, his handsome features etched with exhaustion and worry. I was taken aback. Wasn’t he supposed to be in London for a business deal? Suddenly, I heard an unfamiliar voice. It was coming from my own body. [So this is my new body? Not bad at all.] [The original Amelia was such an idiot, trying to compete with her husband for clients. But once I complete my mission, all this luxury will be mine!] [Men are such visual creatures. This task the system gave me will be a piece of cake.] The voice rambled on, though my body remained motionless on the bed. Was this… the voice of the new soul inhabiting my body? I listened intently, quickly analyzing my predicament. It seemed the car accident had somehow caused my soul to separate from my physical form. When I tried to approach my body, an invisible force repelled me. Clearly, I had temporarily lost control over my own body. And now, this so-called “Intruder” had taken over. Just then, the Intruder stirred. Her eyelashes fluttered as she began to wake. Caleb noticed the movement and quickly called for a doctor. The Intruder opened her eyes, a flash of admiration crossing her face as she saw Caleb. But it was quickly hidden. Her internal voice screeched excitedly: [Oh my god, is this the husband? He’s so handsome!] [Rich, powerful, and gorgeous – how could the original Amelia not like him?] [Well, he’s all mine now. Hehe.] I couldn’t deny it. Caleb did possess devastatingly good looks – the very picture of a refined yet dangerous man. Though the Intruder was screaming internally, she remembered she still had to mimic my personality. So she merely turned her head slightly and said coolly: “Why are you here?” Her smug inner voice continued: [Hah, good thing the system gave me info on the original Amelia. She’s supposed to act all cold towards her husband.] [Hmm, this whole “loveless marriage” setup is kind of hot. I bet I can complete the mission to sleep with him in one month instead of three!] Caleb didn’t seem to suspect anything amiss. He lowered his eyes and replied sarcastically: “I was worried you’d die and I’d have to explain that to the family.” “Just focus on recovering. I have work to handle at the company.” He stood up and strode out, leaving only a glimpse of his dark coat trailing behind him. I felt a pang of disappointment, though I wasn’t surprised. After all, Caleb and I were sworn enemies, weren’t we?

From the Intruder’s constant internal chatter, I pieced together her mission. She had to seduce Caleb and sleep with him within three months. I found the whole thing utterly ridiculous. What kind of system assigned such an absurd task? Was she plugged into some kind of erotic novel simulator? But I had to admit, it did cut straight to the heart of the matter. Caleb and I clashed in every other aspect of our lives. But oddly enough, we were surprisingly compatible in the bedroom. I had a domineering personality, but in those intimate moments, I couldn’t help but surrender control. By the end, I could only passively accept his passionate advances, cursing him breathlessly. “You bastard…” He would lean in close, chuckling softly in my ear. But his movements would grow gentler, bringing me even greater pleasure. Though our relationship was far from a normal marriage, the thought of this Intruder using my body to sleep with Caleb made me sick to my stomach. The Intruder’s thoughts continued to race: [I can’t believe he just left like that. When I succeed in seducing him, he’ll be the one chasing after me!] [Hmph, it’s all the original Amelia’s fault for being so cold. But once I complete my mission, I can stay in this world permanently and enjoy the life of a wealthy socialite.] My heart plummeted. Though the Intruder didn’t specify what would happen to me, it wasn’t hard to guess. Once she succeeded, I would lose any chance of reclaiming my body. And how long could a disembodied spirit linger in this world? When that time came, I would truly cease to exist, leaving no trace behind.

The Intruder was already making her move. She got out of bed, still in her hospital gown, and went to examine herself in the bathroom mirror. Satisfied with her appearance, she walked to the door, intending to leave. But Caleb’s assistant stopped her, his tone strictly professional: “Ma’am, you’ve just woken up. If you need anything, please let me know. You should rest in bed.” The Intruder frowned and argued, “I’m fine now. Get me discharged, I need to go back to the office.” The assistant didn’t budge, as if he had expected this response. “I’m sorry ma’am, but Mr. Thorne specifically said your health takes priority.” After a long standoff at the door, the Intruder finally relented. “Fine, if you won’t let me work, at least let me recover at home. The doctor said I’m okay, and I can’t stand hospitals. Tell Caleb I want to go home.” The assistant hesitated for a few seconds before getting Caleb’s approval. Only then did he step aside. “Of course, ma’am. I’ll arrange your discharge right away.” She had been staying in a VIP suite, and all her belongings were already packed up. A Maybach was waiting downstairs. The Intruder maintained a calm exterior, but inside she was ecstatic. [A Maybach? Just to pick me up from the hospital? All these people catering to my every need…] [Soon this will all be mine. The system wasn’t lying after all.] [The sooner I get home, the sooner I can share a bed with him. More opportunities that way. Caleb’s got a great body too, I definitely won’t mind sleeping with him. Hehe.] I jerked my head up in alarm. The Caleb I knew wouldn’t be so desperate as to take advantage of an injured woman. But I still felt nervous. Caleb was my last hope now. Tonight, would he notice something was off about her?

The housekeeper had dinner ready when we got home. Throughout the meal, they ate in silence, with the Intruder occasionally sneaking glances at Caleb. Caleb finished first, pouring himself a glass of milk before heading upstairs to his study. The Intruder instinctively reached for the milk jug as well. Caleb paused mid-step. The Intruder’s heart skipped a beat. [Shit, I forgot Amelia is allergic to milk.] [Seriously? Little miss princess can’t even drink milk? Now she’s gotten me in trouble!] While internally cursing me, she scrambled to think of an excuse. I did indeed have an aversion to milk. But it wasn’t a physical allergy – it was psychological. I grew up in a wealthy but controlling family. From a young age, every aspect of my life was strictly regulated. I wasn’t allowed any junk food. After puberty, I had to report every meal to maintain my figure. The food was nutritionally balanced, but utterly bland. This extended to the nightly glass of milk before bed. Under my mother’s watchful eye, I would dutifully drink it. But the moment she closed the door, I’d rush to the bathroom to throw it all up. The taste of milk made me feel suffocated. After marrying Caleb, I actually gained some weight. No one monitored my eating habits anymore. No one forced me to drink milk. I never touched dairy products, and Caleb knew this well. He stood frozen, looking back towards the dining table. The Intruder didn’t stop pouring the milk. She set the full glass at the other end of the table. “Housekeeper, there’s some milk left here. Please finish it when you’re done cleaning up,” she instructed casually. With a yawn, she walked past Caleb and headed upstairs. [Phew, that was close. I thought I was going to blow my cover.] [Good thing I thought fast. The Thornes treat their staff well, so what I did shouldn’t seem too odd.] Indeed, Caleb didn’t question it. His hand lingered on the stair railing for a long moment. Once the Intruder entered the bedroom, he slowly continued up the stairs.

With his back to me, I couldn’t see Caleb’s expression. But I knew the Intruder had passed this test. Caleb went to his study as usual. He was always busy, and flying back from London on short notice meant work had piled up. By the time he finished, it was late into the night. When he returned to the bedroom, the Intruder was already asleep. In the darkness, his brows furrowed slightly as he gently touched the bandage on her forehead. The car accident hadn’t caused serious injuries, just some bruising and scrapes. His hand moved lower. He softly brushed aside the hair near her ear, revealing a small red birthmark. Caleb’s frown deepened. He scrutinized every inch of her, searching for any anomalies. But the woman beside him continued to sleep peacefully. He finally let out a sigh of relief. After tucking her in, he closed his eyes as well. As Caleb’s breathing evened out, the Intruder suddenly opened her eyes. A triumphant smile played on her lips, her gaze filled with determination. I felt a mix of disappointment and resignation. Of course he wouldn’t notice anything wrong just by looking. After all, it was still my body. [He was definitely suspicious, but luckily this is Amelia’s real body so there’s nothing off about it.] [Though he was surprisingly gentle just now. I guess the original Amelia was just too unfeminine for his tastes.] [Completing this mission will be a piece of cake!]

Caleb was a staunch materialist who scoffed at any talk of souls or spirits. Tonight’s suspicions were likely just to rule out an impersonator. Once he eliminated that possibility, he probably wouldn’t care anymore. In fact, the more obedient and docile the Intruder acted, the more at ease he might feel. After all, in Caleb’s mind, a submissive wife was preferable. Whether it was really me or not didn’t matter to him. My marriage to Caleb had been an accident to begin with. Our families were old friends, and Caleb and I had been classmates since childhood. We never got along. In school we competed for grades, and at work we fought over projects. Neither of us would back down. Yet despite our constant clashes, our parents were pleased with the match. They had known us since we were young and were satisfied with our characters and backgrounds. Most importantly, our families were of equal status. There was no dramatic love story or convoluted history between us. Caleb and I were simply bound together for life. After marrying Caleb, I was finally free from my family’s control. Caleb gave me shares in the company – I was the second largest shareholder after him. I threw myself even deeper into work. Sometimes Caleb would forcibly close my laptop, saying, “Amelia, go rest. You can’t keep pulling all-nighters.” But I always insisted on finishing my tasks. People often wondered why I worked so hard when I was already the CEO’s wife. The answer was simple – for myself. I knew there was no love in my marriage to Caleb. It was more of a business transaction. He had shown his sincerity by giving me company shares. Of course I had to seize the opportunity and climb higher. In this world, no one can be your eternal support. Even if I left everything else behind, I wanted to ensure I could still live well on my own. That was my goal. But now, it seemed all my efforts would benefit someone else. The Intruder had taken over my body, easily stealing everything I had worked for. This was something I could never prevent, no matter how hard I tried. A deep sense of helplessness washed over me. Rustling sounds from the room interrupted my reminiscing. Perhaps spirits don’t need sleep, because time had passed quickly. The sky outside was already growing light. Caleb always went for a morning run. When he got up, the Intruder was still sound asleep. He carefully tucked the blanket around her and gazed at her sleeping face for a long moment. To my shock, he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. His eyes held a rare tenderness. I instinctively touched my own face. Had he ever looked at me that way before? We rarely kissed, even during sex. I always felt that such intimacy required mutual affection. At best, we were business partners. On countless mornings, I would wake up to an empty bed. I never imagined he did things like this when I was asleep. For the first time, I began to doubt my understanding of his feelings. A tiny spark of hope flickered in my heart. What if… what if Caleb could figure it out? What if he realized my soul had been replaced? But the events of the next few days all but extinguished that hope.

Caleb went about his usual routine, only seeing the Intruder at night when he came home to sleep. Meanwhile, the Intruder was getting quite comfortable in my identity. Everyone close to us knew about the car accident, so no one bothered her with work matters for now. She was thoroughly enjoying the life of a wealthy CEO’s wife. Luxury goods flowed into the house like water. She spent her days at high-end spas and salons. I used to own designer items too, but I wasn’t very interested in them. Caleb would stubbornly have new collections sent to the house. I’d pick out one or two pieces just to save face for him. The Intruder was wary of Caleb noticing, so she only used my credit cards. She stood in the walk-in closet, admiring the shelves of handbags with undisguised satisfaction. [It feels amazing to be rich. I could never afford these bags before, but now they’re all mine.] [Caleb will be home soon. I need to get ready and try to seduce him tonight.] [Once I complete the mission, I want to vacation abroad. I heard the Thornes have a private jet – I’ve never flown on one before!] The Intruder was still daydreaming about her future lifestyle when a phone call interrupted her thoughts. She had scheduled an at-home manicure, and the nail tech was in the middle of applying nail extensions when the phone rang. Annoyed at having her fantasies disrupted, she yanked her hand away from the manicurist and frowned at the half-finished nails. “What kind of shoddy work is this? Your technique is terrible!” The nail tech apologized profusely. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Thorne. Let me redo them for you right away. May I have your hand back please?” The call was from my assistant, Lisa. The Intruder ignored it until it rang a second time. With an exasperated sigh, she answered on speakerphone. “Hello?” “Mrs. Thorne, I’m sorry to disturb your rest, but there’s been an issue with the Horizon project we were working on with Sterling Corp. Their representatives are already at the office. Do you think you could…” Lisa’s voice was filled with anxiety. Clearly the situation was urgent. I hovered nearby, growing increasingly agitated. The Horizon collaboration was a deal I had personally secured after countless negotiations. It was immensely important to me, to Caleb, and to the entire company. But the Intruder didn’t understand. She knew nothing about running a company or maintaining partnerships. She had no idea how to handle this crisis.

She panicked for a moment before lowering her voice to feign weakness. “Lisa, you know I just got out of the hospital. My head is still killing me. Why don’t you handle it for now? I’ll look over any documents you send me.” I had always been a workaholic, pushing myself even when ill. Others constantly had to persuade me to rest. I was competitive by nature and hated admitting defeat. This was the first time I had ever mentioned my own discomfort. Lisa became even more flustered, guilt creeping into her voice. “Of course, Mrs. Thorne. I’m so sorry, this came out of nowhere. Please don’t push yourself if you’re not feeling well. I’ll try to smooth things over with Sterling Corp.” “You should rest. Take care of yourself.” After hanging up, the Intruder let out a long sigh of relief. But she made no move to check her emails or messages. Hours later, when her manicure was finally complete, she admired the sparkling gems on her nails before reluctantly opening her laptop. As soon as she clicked on the files Lisa had sent, her eyes glazed over at the dense text and endless spreadsheets. It was all technical jargon and financial data. [What the hell is all this? Just looking at it is giving me a headache.] [How am I supposed to understand this stuff? This is so annoying. Amelia’s gone but I still have to deal with her mess.] [Why be a career woman when you could just be a trophy wife? Ugh.] The Intruder scrolled aimlessly, her frown deepening by the second. These documents would take even an expert like Caleb all night to review. And this was a project I had been overseeing, so he would need time to familiarize himself with the details. The Intruder stubbornly kept scrolling, desperately hoping to make sense of it. But she finally gave up. Her long, bejeweled nails tapped impatiently on the laptop. She glanced at the time – it was already 9 PM and Caleb still wasn’t home. I floated beside her, completely focused on the financial reports on the screen. I quickly identified where the problems lay. I yearned to take back control of my body, organize all the documents, and schedule a meeting with Sterling Corp. This was the business I had poured my heart and soul into. The Intruder would never treasure it the way I did. But every time I tried to approach her, an invisible force pushed me back. After several failed attempts, I could only watch helplessly as time ticked by. She opened her phone and started scrolling through celebrity gossip instead. By midnight, she was nodding off and went straight to bed. I remained by her side, unable to sleep. Caleb never came home that night. The next morning, the Intruder stumbled downstairs yawning, and ran into Caleb who had just returned. His suit was wrinkled and he looked exhausted, but still devastatingly handsome. “I handled the Sterling Corp situation. Lisa said your head still hurts? I’ll have the doctor do another full checkup. I need to be able to reassure your parents.” His gaze traveled downwards, noticing the Intruder’s freshly manicured nails. Slender and rounded, with diamonds glittering under the lights. “You got your nails done?” The Intruder froze.

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My name is Mia Lane, and this is the night my life took a turn I never saw coming. It all started with my daughter, Aimee, who was only five years old. She had been battling a severe illness for months, her body growing weaker by the day. We were desperate, clinging to the hope that a blood transfusion from her father, Logan Wesley, might save her. But Logan, my husband, wasn’t there when we needed him most. Instead, he was with Louisa Queen, the woman he’d been seeing behind my back, the one who had stolen his attention away from his own family. I had tried to reach him, begged him to come, but his cold responses and cruel words made it clear: Aimee’s life was of no importance to him. That night, Aimee collapsed. It was Aimee, my sweet, fragile child, gasping for breath as her fever spiked. I was already used to the constant worry, but tonight was different. The moment I saw her eyes flutter shut, I knew it was too late. I didn’t cry. I just… acted. The scene that followed was a blur of rushing to the hospital, frantic phone calls, and hospital staff demanding someone to sign for Aimee’s immediate treatment. I stood at the emergency entrance, numb and shaking, holding my daughter in my arms. Then, the cold truth hit me. “Who’s the immediate family member?” A nurse called out, her voice sharp as she glanced at me, waiting for an answer. “I’m her mother. I’m here to sign,” I said, trying to steady my voice. But she ignored me, turning to Ryan Wesley, Logan’s cousin, who had arrived just moments before. “I’m her uncle,” Ryan said, his voice firm. “Where’s her father?” I could feel the eyes of the hospital staff on me, waiting. I knew they were all wondering why Logan wasn’t here—why the father of the child wasn’t rushing to her side. “Please,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “We need to begin the transfusion immediately. I’ll contact Logan—he’s just—” I trailed off, knowing my words were futile. I pulled out my phone, trembling. The numbers dialed one after another, but the calls went unanswered. Each rejection felt like a knife twisting in my chest. The first call went straight to voicemail. The second one rang only to be abruptly cut off. On the third attempt, I heard Logan’s voice crackle through the speaker. “What do you want, Mia?” His voice was cold, distant, as if I were a stranger. “You couldn’t handle this without me?” I felt my heart shatter at the words, but I kept my tone steady. “Logan, Aimee needs you. She’s dying—please, we need a blood transfusion. You have to come!” Instead of an apology or even a hint of concern, he laughed bitterly. “I’m busy, Mia. You know what? Maybe this is just payback for how you’ve always been. You think I’ll drop everything for you and that little brat?” The words hit harder than any punch. I didn’t say another word. I couldn’t. Before I could even react, a faint, trembling voice spoke from the background. Louisa. “Logan, I’m scared… Please, don’t go. You promised me…” The voice wavered with feigned innocence, and Logan’s response was a soft, dismissive murmur. He hung up without another word. I stood there, phone still in hand, my heart sinking into a void. Ryan, who had been watching in disbelief, exploded in anger. “I can’t believe this! No way am I going to let this man put his woman above his own child!” He grabbed my arm, urging me to follow him as he stormed toward the emergency room. The hospital staff was still waiting, clearly frustrated, but I just nodded silently. I couldn’t even bring myself to speak anymore. The nurse, seeing the tension, tried once more to get in touch with Logan. But after several failed attempts, she finally looked at me with sympathy and then at Ryan. “I’m sorry, but we need a direct family member. We can’t proceed without authorization.” I slumped into a nearby chair, my mind racing, feeling utterly alone. I could still hear Logan’s voice in my head, and the cruel words he’d spoken. He had chosen Louisa over Aimee. He had chosen her over the life of his own daughter. And now, I was left with nothing but empty promises and a child slipping further away with each passing second.

Ryan ran a hand through his hair and shouted, “Damn it!” Then, he pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed Logan’s number. I looked up at him, my expression filled with gratitude. The call connected quickly, and as soon as it did, Ryan’s voice cut through the air like a knife. “Logan, I don’t care where you are or what you’re doing! Get your ass to the hospital right now!” I could hear a cacophony of noise on the other end, as if he were in a crowded place. “Ryan? Mia is something else. She’s got you wrapped around her finger, playing this little game! I can’t believe you’re going along with her nonsense! I’ve got real issues to deal with here! Every time I come to Louisa’s, she pulls this stunt, trying to find excuses to get me back! And now you’re in on it too? Can’t she handle things on her own? I’m busy, so I’m hanging up!” Ryan opened his mouth to respond, but Logan hung up without a second thought. Frustrated, Ryan stared at his phone before dialing again and again, but all he got was the cold, mechanical voice of voicemail. His anger shifted to helplessness and then to disappointment. Finally, Logan blocked Ryan’s number altogether. Unable to contain his fury, Ryan shouted at the phone, cursing into the void. I wiped my tears away, covering my face with my hands as silent sobs wracked my body. Honestly, I was afraid I might start laughing at the absurdity of it all. The nurse at the station sighed, looking at me with pity, and handed me her phone. “Use mine. This is a matter of life and death.” I took the phone, grateful for her kindness. After dialing, it didn’t take long for the call to connect. But as soon as Logan heard my voice, he exploded with rage. “What the hell do you want? If you want to die, just go ahead! Can’t you live without me? Just hearing your voice makes me sick! When I get back, I’m filing for divorce. I can’t take this anymore, you idiot!” With that, he hung up, leaving me reeling. The sympathy I had received moments ago turned into anger from those around me. “What good is a father if he can’t even be there for his own child in critical condition? He’s off with his mistress!” “Men like that are a disgrace, seriously!” People could swallow a lot of pain when no one was watching, but when someone showed a little concern, it all came spilling out. Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn’t help but let my mouth turn down in despair as I wiped at my eyes. A woman who had been watching the whole scene handed me a tissue and a business card. I looked closely—it was from a divorce lawyer named Fiona West. I took the tissue to dry my tears and slipped the card into my pocket, trying to keep my composure. I didn’t know how long we waited, but finally, the operating room light went out. A doctor stepped out, weary and removing his mask, shaking his head at Ryan and me in resignation. “She’s gone. We did everything we could.” With that, he turned and walked away, leaving us in stunned silence. Aimee’s funeral was supposed to be led by Logan, but Ryan was adamant about not contacting him. “That ungrateful bastard doesn’t deserve to be her father. It’s a shame Aimee loved that man, only to be abandoned in her last moments!” Ryan’s eyes blazed with barely contained fury as he spoke. He was the most educated and capable member of the family, so his words held weight, and no one dared to argue with him. So, Ryan and I arranged the funeral services, and just when I thought Logan wouldn’t show up, he did. Today was Aimee’s burial day. Everyone was getting ready to pay their last respects when we heard Logan’s furious voice from outside. “Mia! Get out here! Who the hell told you to do this? You’re trying to trick me back, aren’t you? Teaming up with everyone to pull this stunt? Well, you’ve really outdone yourself!” The moment I laid eyes on Logan, a wave of fear washed over me, the kind that had haunted me in my previous life when death was just a breath away. Clutching Aimee’s will, I trembled uncontrollably, tears spilling from my eyes in a physiological response to the overwhelming stress. “Are you done making a scene? When we tried to reach you, you wouldn’t listen! You were too busy with that shameless woman to even hear us out! Now you come back and act like this? Get lost! The Wesley family has no room for scum like you! Just get out!” It was the first time I had ever seen Ryan this furious. “Ryan, Mia’s filled your head with some kind of nonsense! You’re all in on this to deceive me! No way, I’m going to find Aimee and get to the bottom of this. What does she think about playing along with Mia’s little charade?” As he shouted Aimee’s name, Logan frantically searched for her, his eyes darting around. Ryan closed his eyes, exhaling deeply. He carefully placed Aimee’s urn on the altar before striding over to Logan and yanking him toward the urn.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295236”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #后宫Harem