Category: English

I never thought I’d witness my own wedding from a hospital window, but fate has a cruel sense of humor. As I stood there, my restored vision hidden from the world, I watched the woman I loved marry another man. This is the story of how I, Liam Anderson, went from being a devoted fiancé to a man planning his own tragic exit. It all began three months ago when Chloe Sullivan, my girlfriend and the heiress to a vast fortune, was involved in a car accident. In a desperate attempt to save her, I sacrificed my eyesight. Little did I know, this act of love would unveil a web of lies that had been woven around me for years. As I lay in the hospital, supposedly blind, Chloe showered me with expensive gifts. One day, she brought me a watch worth millions. However, I overheard her childhood sweetheart, Gabriel Thompson, swapping it for a fake. “He’s blind anyway,” Gabriel whispered to Chloe. “What’s the difference between real and fake to him?” To my shock, Chloe, who had always professed her undying love for me, didn’t object. She even put the counterfeit watch on my wrist, assuring me, “Don’t worry, I’ll never leave you. We’ll get married next month on the 15th. I’ve invited the media to witness our happiness.” I smiled silently. What Chloe didn’t know was that I had regained my sight through a mysterious power I possessed. I had also set in motion a plan to leave this world. On our wedding day, instead of a groom, she would find my lifeless body. The nurse, who had witnessed everything, tried to comfort me. “Mr. Anderson, you’re so lucky to have such a loving wife.” If only she knew the truth. Everyone believed that Chloe Sullivan was madly in love with me. She, a wealthy heiress, had publicly pursued me for seven years before I finally gave in. Our love story was the talk of the town, inspiring envy in many. I remembered a time when I had slept through her calls, and she had launched a nationwide search for me, making headlines. When she found me, she collapsed into my arms, crying and demanding that I never leave her sight again. People said the Sullivan heiress was truly devoted. I believed it too, and her passion had touched me deeply. To repay her love, I, a man with extraordinary abilities, chose to stay by her side instead of returning to my own world. I helped her secure her family’s assets and become a true powerhouse in the business world. I even became her personal bodyguard, ready to sacrifice everything for her safety. When I lost my sight, I didn’t care. To better protect and care for her, I made a deal with my power source, trading twenty years of my life for the return of my vision. But before I could share this good news with her, I witnessed Gabriel Thompson, her former flame, standing by her side. During the three months I was supposedly blind, he had been by Chole’s side every day, even daring to swap out my gifts in front of me. What I couldn’t understand was why Chloe, who saw everything, allowed his behavior… As I pondered this, Chloe’s best friend, Mia Lewis, entered the room. She glanced at me lying in bed and said with a smile, “Chloe really loves you. She’s rushing me to process the stock transfer she promised you.” She carelessly tossed the documents to me, then quickly changed her expression and started communicating with Chloe using lip-reading, her face full of contempt: “Chloe, you’re not really going to marry this blind man, are you? Everyone in our circle knows you only pursued him so fervently to make Gabriel jealous and come back to you. Now that Gabriel’s back by your side, how long do you plan to keep playing this game? Don’t tell me you’re planning to string them both along?” Chloe’s face darkened as she silently mouthed back, “What’s done is done. I can’t change the past. I’ve genuinely fallen in love with Liam, and he’s the only one I’ll ever call my husband. Don’t you dare bring this up again. If Liam finds out the truth, your family’s days of leeching off us will be over.” Mia fell silent, not daring to say more. The Sullivan family’s influence was vast, and with my help, Chloe had secured control of the family business. Mia’s family was merely riding on the Sullivans’ coattails. Gabriel, standing to the side, flashed a look of regret before quickly changing the subject. “Let’s stop talking. It’s too quiet; what if Liam suspects something?” Chloe snapped out of her daze and composed herself. She took my hand and asked softly, as she always did, “Liam, do you like this gift?” The stock transfer document for 5% of Sullivan Corp. was something Chloe had promised me in front of the media when I was being transferred to another hospital. At the time, I found it strange. Over the years, she had given me many things but never money. When I asked why, she would just smile and say she was afraid I’d change if I had money. When she finally promised me the stocks, I had jokingly asked, “What’s this? You’re not afraid I’ll turn bad anymore, Mrs. Sullivan?” Chloe had hugged me tightly and said with deep affection, “Silly, you were willing to give up your life for me. What do I have to worry about?” Back then, my heart had raced with excitement. I thought Chloe’s love for me had deepened, and I was more determined than ever to spend the rest of my life with her. But now, as I looked at the contract, I saw that while it did transfer 5% of Sullivan Corp., the beneficiary listed was Gabriel Thompson. I let go of the contract and smiled bitterly. It seemed that what I thought was a perfect love was nothing but a sham. The money, her love – it was all fake. Seeing my lack of enthusiasm, Chloe assumed I was struggling with my blindness. She cupped my face gently, as she often did, and said soothingly, “Don’t be sad. You can be discharged today. I’ll take you to try on your wedding suit. At our wedding in fifteen days, I’ll make sure the whole world witnesses our happiness.” For the first time, I didn’t respond to her enthusiastically. I simply took off the fake watch in silence. And quietly, I submitted a request to my power source to return home. The system quickly came online and replied: “Dear user, as you have missed the optimal time to leave this world, if you wish to depart now, you must die in a tragic manner.” Without hesitation, I agreed. Even though there was nothing worth remembering in my own world, I couldn’t bear to see Chloe’s false face any longer. The system informed me that my departure time would be in fifteen days. As I was pondering this coincidental timing, Chloe anxiously spoke up, “If you don’t like the watch, I can get you something else.” Another fake gift? I shook my head and declined, “No need. I don’t want anything anymore.” Hearing this, Chloe’s heart skipped a beat. She had an uneasy feeling, sensing that my words seemed to be about more than just the watch. She hugged me tightly, clinging to my warmth. Gabriel, watching this scene, turned red with envy and reminded her, “Ms. Sullivan, the staff have been waiting for a long time. If we don’t leave soon, we’ll be late.” Only then did Chloe reluctantly let go of me and start packing to take me out of the hospital. As she comforted and chatted with me while packing, she still managed to hold hands with Gabriel. I turned my head numbly to look out the window. So, Chloe’s heart was big enough to accommodate two people at once. The car ride was silent. Due to my eye condition, Chloe had to hold the wedding in the yard of her villa. Although the wedding was only in its early stages of preparation, it was clear that Chloe had put a lot of thought into it. The staff were all waiting, directing us through a rehearsal. Chloe led me onto the stage, while Gabriel stood between us, acting as the officiant with a microphone in hand. “Mr. Liam Anderson, do you take Ms. Chloe Sullivan to be your lawfully wedded wife, for richer or for poorer…” He finished reciting the vows passionately, and along with everyone present, waited for me to say “I do.” But I remained silent. Chloe couldn’t help but tug at my clothes twice. Even the staff were about to come forward to prompt me when suddenly, the newly built stage collapsed. “Watch out!” Chloe shouted, but she pushed me towards the collapsing structure while rushing to protect Gabriel. I was hit and covered in blood, while Gabriel remained unscathed. Looking at Chloe, who was willing to risk her life to protect him even in danger, Gabriel’s eyes filled with emotion. He couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted: “You clearly love me more, why won’t you give me another chance?” Chloe snapped back to reality at his outburst. She quickly let go of Gabriel’s hand and hurried over to me, anxiously asking, “Liam, are you okay? I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you.” She helped the staff lift me up, and upon seeing my head injury, she berated the workers furiously. The staff members lowered their heads, accepting the scolding. After her tirade, Chloe hugged me tightly and choked out, “It’s okay now. I’ll never let you get hurt again.” If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would have believed from her voice alone that I was the only one in her heart. But now, looking at her hypocritical demeanor, I felt nothing but disgust. I was willing to die for her, yet she pushed me, the “blind man,” into danger to save Gabriel. While there were indeed safety issues at the site, I wouldn’t have been injured if Chloe hadn’t pushed me. Fortunately, the structure was light, and I only suffered some scrapes and bruises, nothing serious. Chloe took me inside and brought out the first aid kit. Her eyes never left me, and seeing that I didn’t ask about Gabriel’s outburst, she could only force a laugh and explain, “Someone was watching a drama earlier and forgot to turn down the volume. Those lines were really awkward, weren’t they?” I silently watched her lie, but couldn’t be bothered to expose her. After she finished treating my wounds, she said guiltily, “It’s all my fault for not taking better care of you. You just got out of the hospital and you’re already injured. I’ll go make you some healing soup right away.” Shortly after she left, a dark shadow loomed over me. I looked up to meet Gabriel’s gloomy eyes. He stared at my eyes, lost in thought. After a while, he spoke, “Liam Anderson, you’re not really blind, are you?” I was momentarily stunned, instinctively looking at him again with a hint of confusion in my eyes. Gabriel let out a mocking laugh and explained, “Many of your reactions show that you can see. For example, when you received the fake watch, your eyes darkened. When you saw my name on the contract, a flash of hurt crossed your eyes. When the structure collapsed, you instinctively raised your hand to block it…” “You can’t fool me with these actions.” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. The truth was, I hadn’t really tried to pretend at all. Yet Chloe, who claimed to love me deeply every day, hadn’t noticed. Instead, it was Gabriel, who barely knew me, who first discovered the truth. I didn’t respond. But Gabriel continued to mutter to himself, his brow furrowed in confusion: “This doesn’t make sense. Chloe deliberately caused that car accident just to transplant your corneas to me.” “I really did regain my sight because of it, but how can you see too?” I was stunned, a chill running down my spine. No wonder… I remembered only suffering minor scrapes and then falling unconscious, with no injury to my eyes. How did I end up blind? It turned out that Chloe, the person I trusted most, had given my eyes to Gabriel without my knowledge. Even though my heart had long since grown numb, I couldn’t help but feel a sharp pain at this moment. All my genuine feelings had been misplaced after all. Gabriel didn’t let up, continuing to twist the knife: “Liam Anderson, since you can see everything, you must know that Chloe has always loved me.” “Don’t be fooled by her apparent devotion to you. It was all just to make me come back to her.” “Look, I just mentioned needing corneas, and she gave me yours.” “If you’re smart, you’ll get lost. A white swan like her is not for a toad like you.” He left with those harsh words, looking smug. What he didn’t know was that the voice recorder in my pocket was running, capturing every word he had just said. Time passed quickly, and fifteen days flew by in the blink of an eye. On the day of the wedding, many guests had arrived. Both my parents and Chloe’s had passed away, so the wedding was being hosted by her family elders. Chloe dragged me to the entrance to greet the guests. But all the arriving guests could clearly see that Chloe and Gabriel were wearing matching wedding dress and suit, while I was only in an ordinary suit. Those people’s contemptuous gazes swept over me, yet they spoke words of blessing: “Congratulations, wishing you a lifetime of happiness and many children.” Before I could respond, Gabriel, standing next to me, directly stepped forward to express gratitude: “Thank you, please come in.” The atmosphere froze for a moment. Chloe turned to glare at him, mouthing silently: “Gabriel Thompson, I already agreed to have a wedding with you first. If you dare to push your luck any further, get out right now.” Gabriel quickly begged for forgiveness, saying he had been foolish and wouldn’t do it again. However, he looked at me triumphantly, showing off Chloe’s indulgence towards him. I didn’t say a word. Chloe looked at me worriedly, thinking I wasn’t feeling well, and had someone help me upstairs to rest. I hadn’t been lying down for long when more festive music started playing outside. The nurse who was supposed to stay by my side had also run out to watch the excitement. I walked out of the room and stood by the window, looking down at the grand wedding below. The wedding venue was beautifully decorated, with flower girls scattering petals, welcoming the beautiful bride in white. A helicopter circled overhead, dropping a huge and eye-catching banner that caused a wave of cheers from below. The banner prominently displayed Chloe and Gabriel’s wedding photos, even their names were written on it. The officiant didn’t even need a microphone, just pointed to a giant screen to one side. Everyone looked in that direction to see a slideshow of their photos together, looking sweet and happy. After the photos finished playing, the wedding vows silently scrolled across the screen, following the wedding procedure. Chloe, with tears in her eyes, silently mouthed “I do.” She extended her hand, allowing Gabriel to slip the wedding ring onto her finger. The two shared a brief kiss. The guests below applauded enthusiastically, their faces beaming with joy, yet not a sound was uttered. Even though I had anticipated this, I couldn’t help but clench my fists. The woman who claimed to love me the most was marrying another man right before my eyes. As their ceremony concluded, Gabriel, still not satisfied, took the microphone and acted as the officiant. He spotted me watching from the window and smiled mischievously, shouting loudly: “And now, let’s welcome the groom!” At this moment, everyone suddenly looked up and realized that I had been witnessing the entire process. Chloe’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly remembered that I supposedly couldn’t see. She breathed a sigh of relief and scolded, “Where is everyone? How could you let the groom stand alone by the window? It’s dangerous! Hurry up and help him!” The servants who had been watching the show all started moving towards me. But I, facing the gentle breeze, spread my arms and leapt from the ten-story high building, my head aimed directly at the ground.

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I noticed a message on my husband Theo’s phone. He had booked a luxurious ten-day trip to Europe for Independence Day. I chuckled. Theo always enjoyed planning mysterious surprises like this. However, the surprise never materialized by Independence Day. He told me he had to leave for a business trip. Then, I stumbled upon a social media post from his secretary, Celeste: “Under the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, the kiss touches my lips but reaches my heart.” The accompanying photo showed Theo and Celeste locked in a passionate kiss. I saved the picture and sent it to the Lewis family group chat with the message: “Congratulations on your new daughter-in-law.” 0 The Lewis family chat erupted. Messages poured in: My mother-in-law: “Yanyan, is this a misunderstanding?” Theo’s cousin: “Wow, my brother sure knows how to have fun.” Our aunt immediately tagged the cousin: “Kids shouldn’t speak recklessly.” Theo’s little sister: “Why does this woman look so familiar?” Theo’s cousin: “Isn’t she the secretary, Celeste?” Silence followed. After a while, Theo sent a message in the group: “I lost a game of truth or dare and had to post a kissing photo. She’s just a young woman working for me. I didn’t want her to feel awkward, so I took the picture. Let’s move on and not make this difficult for her.” Theo called me shortly after: “Yanyan, let’s not be childish, okay? How could you post such a picture in the family group? The Lewis family is quite traditional. Please take it down.” I replied calmly: “Is there something about the photo that can’t be seen? I think it’s quite well taken, and the caption fits perfectly.” Theo’s voice grew impatient: “I told you, she lost a dare game. Why are you making such a fuss over a young girl?” I sat up straight and spoke seriously: “She kissed my husband, so it matters to me. If you had no interest, you wouldn’t have let this happen. Theo, I hope you won’t make a mistake.” His tone softened: “Alright, I’ll be careful next time. I’ll bring you a gift when I return from the trip.” I checked the time and asked: “When will you be back from the business trip?” He gave a date that perfectly matched the travel agency’s ten-day tour schedule. Theo had finally betrayed our marriage. A few days later, when Theo returned, I went to the airport to pick him up. It wasn’t that I was clingy; today we had to attend a family gathering for the Lewis family together. Theo emerged pushing a cart full of luggage, with a demure Celeste following him. Upon seeing me, Celeste took a step back, looking bashful: “Mrs. Theo.” Theo gently hugged me and kissed my cheek: “Honey, you must be tired.” I could still smell traces of a woman’s perfume, likely from a recent kiss. I turned my face away, noticing a slight red mark on his shirt collar. I kept silent. Theo appeared unperturbed: “Honey, let’s drop Celeste off first, then head home.” He casually opened the passenger door, explaining that Celeste gets carsick. Celeste glanced at me from the passenger seat, looking cautious: “Mr. Theo, maybe I should take a cab.” Theo took my hand and spoke firmly: “You’re young. It’s not safe to be out alone at night. I’ll drop you off; it’s on the way.” On the way? An extra ten kilometers, if you say so. My eyes met Celeste’s in the car mirror, filled with unspoken understanding and a woman’s intuition. I lowered my gaze and softly asked: “Was it just you two on the business trip?” Theo casually replied: “No, other colleagues took different flights.” Before Celeste got out of the car, she handed me a box and tilted her head: “Mrs. Theo, here’s a gift I picked for you. I heard you like shawls, so I chose this one. I hope you like it. I’m just not sure if the color suits you.” Theo chuckled: “Yanyan is a bit older, not like you young girls who like playful colors. It’s perfect.” I choked slightly, sighing softly. 0

Once the car door closed, I sat up, distancing myself from Theo. He frowned: “What’s wrong?” I handed him a mirror to check himself. He quickly noticed the lipstick mark and frowned but explained: “Celeste almost fell when we got off the plane. I helped her, and maybe it happened then.” I took a deep breath, turning to look at him with sadness and an indescribable feeling: “Theo, we’ve been married seven years. There never used to be secretaries who couldn’t stand and left lipstick marks on you. When did secretaries start accidentally spraying perfume on you or getting lipstick on you?” He was silent for a moment, then apologized: “Okay, I’ll be more careful.” I felt suffocated. Even though our marriage was a business alliance, we dated for two years before marrying. There were feelings involved. Seven years of marriage now felt like it was ending. Before getting out to meet the Lewis family, he grabbed my arm, looking serious: “Are you upset? Because I didn’t spend Independence Day with you and went on a business trip with my secretary?” “When did you become so unreasonable? Acting like a little girl.” “You know Lewis Enterprises is at a crucial transformation stage. I really don’t have time to guess your thoughts. I’ve been abroad, busy for ten days. I’m really exhausted.” “You need to be a proper Mrs. Theo, not someone showing emotions on her face.” I suddenly lost patience with this charade, shaking off his hand: “Independence Day European luxury tour? Business trip? Am I the only fool in the world?” “Was the kiss under the Bridge of Sighs sweet? Do you like her heart?” I pushed open the car door and left without looking back: “Let’s play the perfect couple tonight, then take some time apart to cool down.” The family gathering left me exhausted. Pretending to be the perfect couple was draining both physically and emotionally. Back home, I took a bath, put on pajamas, and applied body lotion. Theo hugged me from behind, coaxing softly: “Honey, I was wrong. I’ll never talk to her again. If you want, I’ll transfer her to the branch office, okay?” I broke free from his embrace: “Theo, don’t hug me with other women’s perfume and lipstick on you.” He held me again: “I was wrong. Let’s wash it off together, okay? You can peel my skin off.” He started kissing me. I was about to slap him when his phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID: “Little Clumsy.” On the call, Celeste’s voice was coy and tearful: “Mr. Theo, what do I do? I messed up the data in the files I brought back. I don’t know how to fix it. The contract needs signing tomorrow, what do I do?” Her voice was filled with fear and a young girl’s dependence on someone in power. Theo frowned, responding: “What’s wrong with you? How could you be so careless? Wait at home, I’ll be there soon.” After hanging up, he put on his coat and told me: “This contract is important. I have to oversee it myself. You sleep first, don’t wait for me.” He left in a hurry, not even remembering his scarf. I sat quietly on the sofa, hearing a notification on my phone. I opened it. It was Celeste’s new social media post: “Serious men are the most handsome, whether in work or in other things.” The photo showed Theo painting Celeste’s nails under a lamp. My suspended heart finally shattered. I locked the door, put on an eye mask and earplugs. He wasn’t coming back tonight. The next morning, while having breakfast, the maid asked: “Is Mr. Theo not eating breakfast?” I put down my utensils and thought: “You probably won’t need to make breakfast for him anymore. I doubt he’ll be eating at home much.” I picked up my phone and opened Celeste’s social media. Sure enough, she posted another picture with a warm touch. Theo was sitting at a roadside stall, with steaming soy milk and buns on the table. The misty, warm scene was beautiful. Two pairs of chopsticks and bowls were on the table. The caption read: “Simple happiness is having you and me, the warmth of life.” This public display of affection seemed endless. Theo is so picky about food. He’s allergic to dairy and peanuts, and eating anything unclean gives him gastritis. Our chef’s standards are higher than those of a five-star restaurant. He ignores a breakfast comparable to a five-star hotel’s and eats at a street stall. Clearly, he’s blinded by love. I couldn’t resist liking the post. Quickly, the post was deleted. 0

My prediction soon came true. Theo was hospitalized for severe vomiting and diarrhea. When I arrived at the hospital, Theo was pale and receiving an IV. His secretary was crying with red, swollen eyes, looking a hundred times more upset than I was as his wife. Theo was still asleep. Celeste saw me and immediately stood up, whispering: “I’m sorry, Mrs. Theo, it’s all my fault.” I stopped her: “Of course, it’s your fault. You have a major role in his hospitalization. Have you thought about how to explain to the Lewis family that you single-handedly landed Theo in the hospital?” “Yanyan, it’s not Celeste’s fault.” Theo woke up, speaking weakly. When I arrived at the hospital, Theo lay there, looking pale as he received an IV drip. His secretary was beside him, crying so much that her eyes were red, appearing far more distraught than I, his wife. Theo was still asleep when Celeste noticed me. She quickly stood up and whispered, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Theo, it’s all my fault.” I interrupted her, “Of course it’s your fault. You played a significant role in Theo ending up in the hospital. Have you thought about how you’re going to explain to the Lewis family how you managed to get Theo admitted all by yourself?” “Adeline, it wasn’t Celeste’s fault,” Theo said weakly as he woke up. Celeste rushed to his bedside, her eyes as red as a rabbit’s. “I really didn’t know you couldn’t eat street food. Next time, I’ll cook for you myself, okay?” Theo gently cut her off, “You should go home. There’s no need for you to take care of me here.” I stood up from the sofa and stopped Celeste from leaving. “No, let her stay. She seems to be the best person for the job. I have business to attend to, and I can’t spend time at the hospital.” Theo hastened to explain, “I was up all night working on data, and Celeste felt bad and treated me to breakfast. Don’t misunderstand.” I grabbed my bag, shaking my head at his explanation. “Having an incompetent secretary is Lewis Enterprises’ issue, not mine. But I can’t help but be upset that my husband worked all night with a young girl and ended up hospitalized due to some ‘carefree joy.’ So, I don’t want to see you today.” Behind me, I heard Celeste’s anxious voice, “It’s all my fault. Should I try to explain and make Mrs. Theo less angry?” Theo comforted her with a hoarse voice, “Stop crying, or you’ll really look like a bunny.” That night, amid my mother-in-law’s constant worries and hints, being a daughter-in-law in a wealthy family felt burdensome. Fortunately, it wouldn’t be for much longer. In the end, I still brought some nourishing soup to the hospital. The door to the VIP ward was slightly open. Just as I was about to push it further, I overheard voices inside. “Theo, I kissed you because I genuinely have feelings for you. I don’t care if you’re married. I don’t want you to marry me; I just want to be by your side. Please don’t transfer me.” “Please, don’t abandon me.” Celeste’s soft, heart-wrenching cries reached my ears. Peering through the gap, I saw Celeste, tears streaming down her face, leaning against Theo, looking up at him with admiration and reverence as if he were a deity. She gently lifted her face and kissed him, pleading, “Please.” Finally, Theo responded, and their kiss deepened, becoming long and intoxicating, enveloping them both. With a loud crash, the thermos in my hand hit the ground, startling them apart. Seeing me at the door, Theo froze, and Celeste blushed and hid behind him. Theo quickly removed the IV needle and rushed to reach me, trying to explain. I slapped him hard, turning his face sideways. “Get away from me.” Celeste darted over to stand in front of him. “Mrs. Theo, how can you hit him? It’s all my fault. If you want to hit someone, hit me.” Looking at the two of them made me sick. I didn’t want to say another word and turned to leave. “Adeline, it’s not what you think.” I spun around sharply. “Not what I think? Then what is it? A five-minute make-out session, and you tell me it’s just a good working relationship? Comforting a scared young girl?” “Don’t touch me, Theo. You disgust me.” “I’ll have the Lewis family’s lawyer contact you, Theo. I want a divorce.” Theo chased after me into the elevator. I swung my bag at him. “Get away from me. I don’t want to share an elevator with you. Your presence makes me nauseous; I can’t stand being in the same room with you.” Theo stood pale and dazed at the elevator door, watching it close slowly, my disappointed gaze feeling like it could kill him. When my elevator reached the first floor, Theo, still in his hospital clothes, was panting as he ran down the stairs, blocking me at the hospital entrance. “Honey, I don’t want a divorce. Don’t say things in anger. We can’t divorce. Hear me out.” I shook him off. “A misunderstanding? You want me to forgive you? What can you even say with sincerity? Theo, I’m so disappointed in you.” Theo held onto my hand. “No, I admit I messed up. I was foolish. Maybe I felt trapped. She’s young and refreshing, and I lost my mind for a moment. But Adeline, don’t cry. When I saw you, I realized you’re the one I truly love. With her, it was just a fleeting dalliance.” I glared at him coldly. “A fleeting dalliance? Your act is never-ending. Theo, are you an actor? Why not go for the next Best Actor award?” “What did you say? It was just an act?” Celeste had come down in the elevator, and as it opened, she overheard Theo’s words. Her tears fell like beads, and she stared at Theo. “Was everything you said last night a lie? Were you lying when you said you loved me in bed? When you said she was boring? When you said you’d divorce her and marry me?” “What about me? I love you so much. Without you, I’d die.” She cried like a pear blossom in rain. Theo didn’t have time to comfort her and tried to catch up with me. There was a commotion behind us, and Celeste fainted softly on the ground. “Celeste!” Theo rushed over to hold her, looking back to find me gone as I drove off. “Adeline,” Theo shouted, but no one answered him. I inherited my fiery temper from my dad, direct and decisive. Back at the house I shared with Theo, I called a moving company to pack up all my belongings from the Lewis family’s place. The Lewis family’s old housekeeper was frantic, calling Theo’s phone, which was off, and then calling my in-laws. I didn’t take their calls. I just posted a video in the Lewis family group chat. This time, no one spoke up. It was a five-minute video of Theo and Celeste’s passionate kiss. The emotions and dialogue were intense, fiery, and passionate. I added a message: “Isn’t this kind of love worth me stepping aside for?” Then I left the group chat. From today on, I was no longer part of the Lewis family, with no ties whatsoever. Theo’s phone was off, so he had no idea the whole world was exploding outside his little love bubble. When I got home, my dad jumped up, ready to go break Theo’s legs in the hospital. My brother, stone-faced, called our partner companies, threatening to cut ties with anyone doing business with the Lewis family. The Lewis family’s legal team worked overnight to sort out our pre-marital and post-marital assets, drafting a divorce agreement. Celeste, still clueless, was posting about her happiness on social media, saying how much she loved seeing Theo wake up beside her. The photos showed Theo sleeping peacefully, clearly satisfied with their night together. I took the opportunity to save the photos and send them to my lawyer. I love how young girls share everything on social media when in love. It made gathering evidence so easy for me. Theo didn’t want a divorce, but it wasn’t up to him anymore. The collaboration between our families was in the process of being divided, handled by my dad and my father-in-law. Splitting the cooperation between two conglomerates wasn’t a simple matter. After Theo was discharged, he showed up at my house every day, trying to see me. My brother kicked him out each time, not even letting him in the door. But he kept showing up, rain or shine. My mom, unable to bear it, said to him with disappointment, “You say you love Adeline, but then you cheat. You say you don’t like her, yet you act like this. Why bother?” He knelt before my mom, begging, “Mom, please let me see Adeline. I truly care for her. I was foolish and kept making mistakes. Please let me see her.” “She can’t give me even one chance to explain. I’ll make it right with her.” My mom sighed and shook her head. “You should go back. Adeline said she won’t see you unless you sign the divorce papers.” Despite kneeling at our house, it was useless for him. I wasn’t even home. I had already embarked on a spontaneous trip with my best friend. My friend tilted her head, her eyes sparkling as she smiled at me, “You’ve been cooped up since you got married. You don’t know how exciting the world is outside.” We went to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to see the snow, to Shangri-La, and to Qinghai Lake. The beautiful scenery healed me, sweeping away my gloom, leaving only good vibes. The answers were on the road, freedom in the wind. I was determined not to be a fool for love. During this time, Celeste seemed to appear everywhere as Theo’s girlfriend. Friends sent me social media posts where Theo and Celeste were often spotted together. I found it amusing. Theo must have lost his mind, refusing to divorce yet flaunting his affair everywhere. Was he trying to make it obvious? When I returned to Seaside City, two months had passed. The answers lie on the journey, freedom is in the breeze, and I refuse to be a fool for love. During this period, Celeste openly took on the role of Theo’s girlfriend. My friends would often send me social media posts featuring Theo and Celeste together. I found it quite amusing. Theo must have lost his mind; he refuses to get a divorce while flaunting his affair. Is he afraid people won’t notice his infidelity? When I returned to Seaside City, two months had already passed. Upon arriving at the airport, I was taken aback to find Theo waiting for me with a bouquet of flowers. He approached with a tender expression, “Wife.” I took a step back, looking at him coldly, “There’s no need for this, Theo. Why haven’t you signed the divorce papers after two months? Aren’t you enjoying yourself with your little mistress daily? Why keep dragging me along? Wouldn’t it be better for both of us to move on with our lives?” Theo’s eyes flickered with a hint of guilt, “We’ve been married for so many years, do you truly not care about our past? I really need you.” I laughed, “You don’t need me. You need a wife who can enhance your public image, and I’m tired of playing that role.” He needed my status as the eldest daughter of the Taylor family to boost his standing both within the family and in society. Where else could he find such a wife? If I hadn’t been swayed by his looks back then, I wouldn’t have fallen for it. The women he’s with now are only good for amusement. I pushed my suitcase past him and left without looking back, regardless of how dark his expression became. The next day, Celeste reached out to me, asking to meet. I didn’t need to guess that this meeting was to persuade me to divorce, but I went anyway. Before she could speak, I raised my hand to stop her, “I want to divorce Theo more than you think. So, you’d better find a way to get him to sign.” “Otherwise, how will you become Mrs. Theo?” My words left Celeste speechless. She bit her lip, twisting her fingers nervously, and finally mustered the courage to say, “I know you won’t reconcile with him and want a divorce. I didn’t come to you for that. I came because Theo has another woman.” What??

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My husband’s mother worked as a waitress in a high-end hotel and pulled a used condom out of the trash, left behind by the wealthiest man in town. After undergoing artificial insemination, she successfully got pregnant. She fantasized about marrying the billionaire and becoming the envy of all as a rich wife. I tried to persuade her to abort the child, given that the father’s identity was unknown. But she mistook my advice for jealousy, and with the help of my husband, they plotted to kill me. She told him, “We’re about to be filthy rich. Once this is all over, I’ll find you a young, pretty, and rich wife.” Later, the child she gave birth to turned out to be Black. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day my mother-in-law was gleefully announcing that she was carrying the billionaire’s child. “Alex! I’m pregnant with the richest man’s child!” My mother-in-law, Nancy Reid, looked like she’d won the lottery, tears of joy practically streaming down her face. My husband, Alex Reid, froze for a moment before lunging forward to hug her. “Mom! Are you serious? You’re really pregnant?!” Nancy nodded so fast it was a wonder her head didn’t fall off. The two clung to each other, bursting with excitement. “This is incredible! Mom, you have to take extra care of yourself, okay? If you can have a boy, even better! Illegitimate kids get inheritance rights too these days. Who knows? Maybe this one will end up inheriting the richest man’s entire fortune!” Alex’s eyes sparkled as he stared at her stomach like it was a treasure chest. “Mom, from now on, you’re the most important person in this family. Even Elaine’s got nothing on you. She can’t even get pregnant.” The two of them were so caught up in their euphoria they didn’t even notice my expression harden. In my previous life, this was the moment everything spiraled out of control. Nancy found out she was pregnant, made a huge scene, and started dreaming about becoming some billionaire’s wife. She actually believed the richest man alive would marry a woman her age. Back then, I was worried about her health as pregnancy at her age was risky, and I was suspicious about the baby’s true father. So, I suggested she get an abortion. She, of course, accused me of being jealous, bitter that she could have a son when I couldn’t. Our argument turned violent. Nancy grabbed me by the throat, and before I could fight back, she and Alex killed me. As I lay on the floor, barely breathing, Nancy had the audacity to turn to Alex and say, “We’re about to be filthy rich. Once this is all over, I’ll find you a young, pretty, and rich wife.” The memory still sent chills down my spine. This time, though, things would be different. I forced a smile. “You’re right, Mom. You should definitely take care of yourself. This baby is very important.” If only she knew what kind of surprise that child would bring her. When Nancy noticed my smile, her giddy expression shifted into a scowl. “What are you grinning at? Stop standing around and get me some food! Are you trying to starve my precious baby?” Alex shot me an annoyed glance. “Didn’t you hear her? Go cook something! Mom’s hungry!” I stood there for a moment, staring at the pair of them. It was hard to believe I’d once thought this man was worth marrying. Turns out, he was worse than a monster. Without a word, I turned and walked into the kitchen, moving slowly and methodically. I rinsed the fresh chicken under the faucet, my mind racing. I couldn’t confront them directly yet. I needed Alex to be the one to suggest a divorce. As I prepared the ingredients, my eyes drifted to a small pile of bird droppings on the windowsill. A wicked thought crept into my mind. Picking up a fork, I scooped up the droppings and casually dropped them into the pot. The corners of my mouth lifted as I stirred the soup and replaced the lid. When the chicken soup was ready, I carried it to the table. Nancy didn’t waste a second before announcing, “I’m feeling weak lately. And since Alex’s the breadwinner, he needs to stay healthy. You don’t get any.” I smiled sweetly, my voice light and agreeable. “Of course, Mom. It’s all for you.” In my mind, I murmured, “Enjoy your special chicken soup. I hope it’s everything you deserve.”

Since Nancy got pregnant, it was like she thought she was carrying royalty, and Alex acted like the king. They treated me like a servant, bossing me around. I pretended to be all cheerful about it, but secretly, I was spicing up their meals with a little extra, making sure their clothes got splashed with dirt and even dunking Alex’s stinky socks into the water dispenser. Meanwhile, in the living room, Nancy could barely move without Alex by her side, practically waiting on her hand and foot. They looked like the perfect couple, him doting on her like a king and her acting like the queen, waiting eagerly for their little prince to arrive. I hid in the bathroom, using their toothbrushes to scrub the toilet, listening carefully to what they were saying. Nancy’s voice rang out, sharp and smug. “See? Alex, this is why she’s been so nice lately. It’s because I’m carrying the richest man’s child. She’s probably just trying to get a piece of the fortune.” Alex’s voice turned cold as he replied, “I think it’s time we get this divorce settled. I’ll do it soon.” Nancy, sounding satisfied, said, “Don’t worry. I’ll find you a rich and beautiful wife once this is over.” Alex’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Mom, you really are the best!” He leaned down and pressed his ear to her stomach. “When will the baby start kicking?” Nancy giggled, clearly enjoying herself. “In a few months, maybe!” The room felt so warm and perfect, like I was the outsider looking in. I couldn’t help but give a sneer. I wanted nothing more than for Alex to ask for a divorce already. What I hadn’t told him, though, was that he couldn’t have children. I’d kept it a secret for so long, trying to protect his fragile pride. I hid the test results and took all the blame on myself, telling him it was me who couldn’t have kids. I slapped my forehead, feeling stupid for trying to protect him all this time. I casually put their toothbrushes back in the cup and walked out of the bathroom like nothing happened. Alex caught my eye for a second, and I saw a brief flicker of guilt before it was gone. “Elaine, go throw out the flowerpots on the balcony. I’m allergic to flowers, and it’s messing with my chances of having a son!” Nancy snapped, glaring at me. I nodded, barely hiding my annoyance. “Sure.” Before I left, I casually said, “Nancy, I heard that to have a son, you should take some supplements to keep everything stable.” Nancy shot me a glare, her voice rising sharply. “Shut your mouth! I’m carrying a son! Even if I don’t take anything, it’ll still be a son!” Alex, looking flustered, snapped, “Elaine! Can you just stop making Mom angry? She’s pregnant, for crying out loud!” I lowered my head, pretending to be submissive. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.” But I could tell that Nancy, eager for a son, had really absorbed what I said. I’d been married to Alex for two years, and in that time, Nancy had forced me to take a ton of medicine, claiming it was for my health. Now, I was going to get my revenge. What I didn’t expect was how far Nancy’s madness would go. She handed me a massive bag of herbs, cradling her belly like some royalty. “Make sure you brew these up. My son needs to get all the nutrients.” I grabbed the bag, feeling the strange weight of it. When I felt the contents, I immediately knew something was wrong. I opened the bag and nearly gagged. Inside were the remains of a fetus, about four or five months along. I masked my disgust and forced out a calm tone. “Should I make soup with this?” Nancy looked at me like I was stupid. “What else? All the nutrition is in the soup!” I couldn’t stomach it. I immediately tossed it in the trash. There was no way I was using that. It was too disgusting, and I feared the karma it would bring. Instead, I made her chicken soup, but I wasn’t done yet. I added my own special ingredient, Alex’s toenail clippings. He was always tossing them around the house, and I couldn’t stand it. I’d tried asking him to clean up, but he never listened. So, I decided to put them to use. I dropped the toenail clippings into the soup and let them soak, then removed them with care, making sure there were no traces left. When Nancy picked up the bowl, she wrinkled her nose at the bitter smell. I took the chance to say, “Drink it while it’s hot, or it won’t work as well.” She grimaced but forced herself to swallow, her face twisting from the bitterness. “Mom, you should have this again tomorrow.” Alex’s words almost made Nancy faint from the shock. “That’s way too bitter,” she complained. Alex waved it off casually. “Of course, it’s medicine. It’s good for you.” Then he handed her a candy to sweeten the deal. Nancy, now happily sucking on the candy, rubbed her belly with a satisfied smile. “I can feel it! It’s definitely a son.” I smiled and chimed in, “Definitely a son.” Nancy rolled her eyes at me but couldn’t hide her smug smile. “You, who can’t even get pregnant, should just keep quiet.” Still, when I echoed her, her face lit up with satisfaction. She was convinced I was just jealous of her having a son. I didn’t argue, but my jaw nearly hit the floor when Nancy suddenly said, “Alex, you should sleep with me tonight. Your little brother will be so happy.” I froze for a second and instinctively turned to Alex. Without a second thought, he nodded and said, “Sure, with me here, he will definitely be cheerful.” I felt like the world was crashing down on me. I was so stunned and couldn’t even process what was happening.

Alex actually shared a room with Nancy. I couldn’t be happier. At least I didn’t have to sleep next to him. In the dead of night, Nancy knocked on my door, her voice loud and demanding. “I’m starving! Make me some pancakes!” I rubbed my eyes and, without saying a word, got up to cook for her. Meanwhile, her darling son was snoring away in the other room, oblivious. Nancy watched me bustle around the kitchen, a satisfied grin spreading across her face. It was clear she enjoyed the sight of me waiting on her hand and foot. What she didn’t know was that I’d added a little extra from the toilet brush to her food. I brought the pancakes over, and as soon as Nancy caught the strange smell, her stomach lurched. “What’s wrong, Nancy?” I asked, pretending I had no idea. Before she could answer, she was already dry-heaving. I raised an eyebrow, trying to sound sweet. “Nancy, you have to eat. Don’t you want to make sure the baby gets enough nutrition?” Her face twisted in disgust as she took a bite, forcing herself to swallow. She couldn’t even finish one bite before gagging again. “What did you do to this? It tastes awful!” she snapped, her patience running thin. I shrugged, acting innocent. “Maybe it’s because you’re carrying a son. I heard your sense of smell gets sharper when you’re pregnant with a boy.” That did the trick. Nancy’s face lit up at the mention of her son, and she stroked her small belly with pride. “My son must be here to repay me.” So, despite her disgust, she managed to finish the pancakes, smiling like it was the best thing she’d ever eaten. A bitter smile tugged at my lips, my eyes cold with intent. This was just the beginning of my revenge. For the past few days, I’d been secretly brewing her soup, each batch more vile than the last. Every time she came close to quitting, I’d whisper, “It’s for the baby.” As her belly began to show, Nancy couldn’t help but brag to her friends about her pregnancy, casually dropping the bomb that the father was some rich tycoon, and soon, she’d be swimming in money. That was when Martha Hayes, one of her closest friends, showed up, eager to help until the baby arrived. I knew what she was really after. She wanted a piece of whatever fortune Nancy would inherit. But the real surprise came when Martha introduced her daughter. “This is my daughter, Brianna,” she said, pushing her forward. “Say hello to Alex.” Brianna shyly tugged at her skirt, greeting sweetly, “Hello.” Alex didn’t even blink, his eyes fixed on her. “Nice to meet you.” The air between them was thick with unspoken chemistry. I realized then that Martha was trying to set her daughter up with Alex. Inside, I was nearly bursting with laughter. This couldn’t have been better timing. I’d been waiting for Alex to finally bring up the divorce. With his ego, if I brought it up first, it would drag on forever. Nancy would have already had the baby, and it would be too late.

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When I got the news that my husband was having surgery, I braved a full-on hurricane—pouring rain, howling winds—and drove four hours straight back to the city. By the time I made it to the hospital, Evan was lying in the hospital bed, groggy but loud, demanding, “Where’s my wife? Someone get my wife here!” His friends, gathered around him, started teasing him, calling him whipped and saying how hopelessly in love he was with me. Everyone always said he adored me to no end. Blushing, I walked over with a shy smile, feeling a mix of relief and happiness. I gently took his hand and reassured him softly, “I’m here.” But to my shock, Evan frowned, yanked his hand away, and looked at me like I was some stranger. “Get lost!” he snapped, his voice filled with disdain. “You’re not my wife! My wife is Sofia!” … The once lively hospital room fell into an awkward silence after Evan’s outburst. His group of buddies immediately looked uncomfortable, avoiding my gaze like guilty children caught in the act. I scanned their faces, and it all became painfully clear: they knew about Sofia. In that moment, I felt like a complete fool. The sweetness and shyness I’d shown just moments before—how pathetic and laughable it must have seemed to them. One of them tried to stammer an explanation. “Um… don’t take it seriously, okay? Evan’s still out of it from the anesthesia. He’s just talking nonsense.” The rest quickly chimed in: “Yeah, everyone knows how much he loves you. He’s totally whipped—this has to be the drugs talking.” “Exactly! Sofia’s just his secretary. She could never compare to you in his heart.” But one of them nudged the speaker, signaling him to shut up. I didn’t say a word. I just stood there, numb. My feet, soaked from standing in rainwater for over four hours, felt cold and lifeless. Meanwhile, Evan kept calling out, “Where’s my wife? Where’s my wife? Mason, call my wife! Hurry!” His voice softened, tinged with a childlike sadness. “I want to hold her. Why doesn’t she care about me?” I held his hand tightly and asked, “Evan, who am I?” He blinked at me, his eyes unfocused, and after a long pause, he muttered three words: “The old hag.” I forced a laugh, though tears blurred my vision. So this was it. From high school sweethearts at seventeen to marriage at thirty, after just four years of being his wife, I’d already become “the old hag” in his eyes. In the end, I took Evan’s phone and called Sofia. She arrived quickly. The moment she entered, she ignored me entirely, rushing to Evan’s side like a heroine in a romance movie. Grabbing his hand, her eyes reddened with emotion as she cried, “Evan, I’m so sorry I’m late!” Evan’s eyes lit up instantly, his face breaking into a wide smile. He pulled her into a hug and said, “You’re finally here, honey. I missed you so much.” “Someone tried to pretend to be you earlier,” he added, glaring in my direction. “But I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for it. I told her to get lost!” Sofia glanced at me smugly before turning back to Evan and cooing, “My husband is so smart.” Evan pointed to his lips, grinning like a child. “Don’t I deserve a reward?” Without hesitation, the two started kissing, completely oblivious to everyone else in the room. I watched, my throat tight and my chest aching. My eyes stung with unshed tears, and my entire body felt like it was trembling uncontrollably. No matter how hard I dug my nails into my leg, the cold numbness wouldn’t go away. Mason, one of Evan’s friends, finally broke the silence, his voice soft and hesitant. “Maybe… you should head home for now? Once Evan wakes up, I’m sure he’ll explain everything to you.” Explain? I turned to him, my face streaked with tears. I didn’t want to cry—especially not in front of Sofia. Crying in front of her felt like admitting defeat, like exposing my humiliation for her to revel in. But I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Just half an hour ago, Evan had been my perfect husband. My pride. My safe haven. We’d been together for thirteen years, and in all that time, we’d never once had a serious fight. I thought it was because of his endless patience and love for me. But now? That perfect image had been shattered, and the earthquake it caused in my heart left nothing but devastation. I walked out of the hospital room in silence. As I stepped through the door, I heard the collective sigh of relief from Evan’s friends, like they’d just gotten rid of a burden. At some point, I’d been quietly pushed out of Evan’s life—and his inner circle—without even realizing it. That night, I couldn’t sleep. I replayed every moment of our thirteen years together in my mind, every sweet memory now bitter and suffocating. At some point, I developed a fever. My body felt unbearably hot, yet I couldn’t wake up no matter how hard I tried. It was as if I were trapped in a nightmare I couldn’t escape. Just as I thought I might die, I felt a hand on my forehead and heard someone calling me softly, “Honey, wake up. Please.” I couldn’t respond. I didn’t have the strength. All I could do was let the tears roll silently down my face. When I finally woke up, the fever had broken. The first thing I saw was Evan sitting by my bedside, looking utterly exhausted.

I didn’t expect to wake up to the sight of Evan sitting by my bedside. For a moment, I thought last night had been a bad dream. I just stared at him blankly, unable to process it all. When Evan saw me awake, his face lit up with relief. He grabbed my hand tightly and asked, “Baby, how are you feeling? Are you okay?” I slid my hand out of his grasp, frowning as I looked at him. “Baby? Or… the old hag?” His face turned pale as if all the blood had drained from it. His eyes reddened, and to my shock, he slapped himself hard across the cheek. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice trembling. “I swear, it was the anesthesia talking. I wasn’t in my right mind.” He looked at me, his expression full of regret and desperation. “I… I don’t even know how I could’ve done something so stupid. When I fully came to, I was consumed with regret and fear. “I was terrified you’d leave me. That’s why, even though the doctor told me I wasn’t ready to be discharged, I left anyway.” As he spoke, he struggled to stand, lifting his shirt to show me the bandages from his appendectomy. Blood was beginning to seep through the gauze. I remembered how he had stayed by my side all night, even in his condition, and my heart softened just a little. Looking at the hurt and guilt in his eyes, I thought to myself—maybe this was real. Maybe… he wasn’t completely beyond saving. Maybe he had just been momentarily infatuated with a younger, prettier woman. But that infatuation couldn’t compare to the love he had for me. If he could cut off those feelings completely, maybe we could go back to the way we were. But the memory of him kissing Sofia in front of everyone played on a loop in my mind, reopening the wounds. My tears began to fall before I could stop them. Evan’s eyes turned red, filled with guilt. Panicked, he started wiping my tears, rambling apologies. “I’m so sorry, Hannah. I never wanted to hurt you like this. “But please, believe me—there’s no one else for me but you. I don’t even know why I said what I did under the anesthesia. “I’ve already fired Sofia. No matter what, her behavior last night proved she had inappropriate intentions toward me. “A woman like that—someone who’d knowingly try to wreck a marriage—I would never be interested in her!” He paused, then added earnestly, “You know how much I hate cheaters. After what happened with my parents, do you really think I’d ever do something like that?” I looked into his eyes and thought back to his past. His mother had taken her own life after his father’s affair drove her into a breakdown. Evan had always despised infidelity, going so far as to refuse to work with people he deemed morally corrupt. And honestly, if there were someone else in his heart, how could he have treated me so well all these years? With that thought, I decided to give him another chance. Evan pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. His tears fell onto my neck, warm and wet, and I could feel him trembling. I knew Evan wasn’t someone who cried easily. If he was crying now, it meant he truly loved me. It meant he was genuinely afraid of losing me. I whispered, “Evan, don’t lie to me. If you ever betray me again, you’ll lose me for good.” His body stiffened slightly, but a moment later, he leaned back and looked at me with determination. “Hannah, I swear—your Evan will never betray you. Ever.” And just like that, we made up. In the weeks that followed, Evan treated me better than ever before. He started driving me to and from work every day, never missing a single pick-up or drop-off. He brought me a different bouquet of flowers every morning, gave me nightly massages, and curled up on the couch with me to binge cheesy rom-coms, no matter how much he hated them. At work, my coworkers teased me endlessly, saying I had my husband wrapped around my finger. Some even asked me for tips on “husband training.” But unlike before, when I used to speak of our relationship with pride and confidence, I could only muster a faint, hollow smile. The events of that night had left a knot in my heart—one I couldn’t untangle, no matter how hard I tried. A month later, I found out I was pregnant. When I told Evan, he was over the moon. He picked me up and spun me around in circles, laughing like a child. Watching him beam with joy, I felt a sense of relief. I was glad I hadn’t let one mistake ruin what we had. I thought to myself, He’ll be a great dad. That hope shattered the day I walked into the OB-GYN’s office and saw him with Sofia. He was sitting next to her, his hand gently resting on her belly, his face glowing with tender excitement. I froze in the doorway, my heart pounding as I watched him lean closer to her and smile. “Everything’s going to be fine,” he said softly. “I can’t wait to meet our baby.” Sofia, her face flushed with happiness, looked at him and asked, “Do you think you’ll love our baby more than Hannah’s?” Without even looking up, Evan replied, “Of course I will. This is my first son. “Besides, you’re young and beautiful. There’s no way her baby could compare to ours.”

I never knew it was possible to feel so disgusted by someone that it could make you physically sick. Doubling over, I barely made it to the trash can before I started vomiting uncontrollably. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sofia and Evan walking in my direction, laughing as they talked. Panicked, I ducked behind the trash can, crouching low to avoid being seen. “I don’t know how you’re so sure it’s a boy,” Sofia said in a playful, teasing tone. “What if it’s a girl?” Evan chuckled softly. “Then I’ll love her too. A little girl who’s sweet, gentle, and as beautiful as her mom? I’d be the luckiest man alive.” Sofia giggled, her laugh high-pitched and flirtatious. “You’re such a charmer. But… I’m scared, Evan. What if, once her baby is born, you don’t have time for me and our little one anymore?” Evan’s voice was calm, reassuring. “Don’t worry. I’ve already thought it all through. Tomorrow, Mason will help you move to the house in Seaside. “From now on, I’ll tell her I’m traveling for work. That’ll give me at least two weeks every month to be with you.” Sofia squealed with excitement, and the two of them climbed into his car, laughing and chatting like they didn’t have a care in the world. I stayed crouched behind the trash can long after they left, trembling as tears blurred my vision. The crumpled ultrasound report I’d been clutching in my hand was now a mess of smudged ink and torn paper. I stared at it, suddenly thankful that I’d decided to come to the hospital alone today—thinking I’d been “saving Evan the trouble” because of how hard he’d been working recently. If I hadn’t… I would’ve never seen this with my own eyes. I would’ve kept living like an idiot, oblivious to the betrayal right in front of me. But Evan… if you love her so much, why did you beg me to stay? Why didn’t you just divorce me? I didn’t get home until late that night. By then, Evan had called me dozens of times, but I ignored every single one. The moment I walked through the door, he rushed over and pulled me into a tight hug, his face full of worry. “Hannah! Where were you? I’ve been going crazy looking for you!” “I went to the hospital,” I said flatly. Evan froze, his expression shifting to one of nervousness. He glanced at me, choosing his words carefully. “What time did you go? Which hospital? Why didn’t you call me?” “The General Hospital,” I replied. “You’ve been so busy lately, I didn’t want to bother you.” He visibly relaxed, letting out a small sigh of relief. They’d gone to the women’s health clinic. “How did it go? What did the doctor say?” he asked, his voice filled with concern. “You… don’t look too good. Is everything okay?” I hesitated for a moment, then said, “The doctor said… there’s a chance I might lose the baby.” I watched his face closely as I spoke, searching for any trace of genuine emotion. Evan looked surprised but not devastated. He quickly pulled me into his arms and whispered, “It’s okay, baby. You’re the only one that matters to me.” His words made me feel like my heart was being ripped apart. I wanted to scream, to slap him, to make him feel even a fraction of the pain I was feeling. It was clear he didn’t care about this baby at all. Why would he, when he already had another child on the way—one he was excited for, one he actually wanted? I couldn’t keep up the act any longer. Pushing him away, I muttered something about being tired and locked myself in the bedroom. Later that evening, Evan knocked on the door, calling me out for dinner. I couldn’t stand to see his face, so I pretended to be asleep. Not long after, I heard him step out of the room. A few minutes later, his phone rang, and he quickly left the house. The second the door closed, I got up, grabbed my keys, and followed him. I tailed him to a flower shop, where he bought a bouquet of roses. Then he stopped by a mall to pick up a designer handbag, followed by a bakery where he grabbed a box of desserts. Finally, he drove to his destination—our home. Our marital home. I gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. My chest felt tight, my stomach churned, and I thought I was going to be sick again. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine he would let her live in the house we built together. This wasn’t just any house. It was the first home we ever shared. The one I bought with the money I earned from selling my parents’ old home and working endless nights on freelance projects. I’d gifted it to him as a wedding present—a symbol of our love, a foundation for our future. Even after he became successful—after he bought bigger, fancier properties—this house remained untouched. He always said it was special, a testament to our love and the sacrifices we’d made for each other. And now, he’d brought her here. The woman carrying his child. He let her trample over everything that house represented. Over me. That night, I didn’t go inside. I sat in my car, parked in front of the house, and watched. Watched as the lights turned on and off. As they laughed and moved around inside. As they made themselves at home. It felt like I was punishing myself for being so blind, for believing in him for so long. I told myself that by staying here, facing this brutal reality, I could finally break free. The next morning, just as the sun was rising, Evan stepped out of the house looking refreshed and happy. Sofia was right behind him, practically glowing as she followed him to his car. She stood on her tiptoes to adjust his tie, her voice soft and affectionate as she spoke to him. He leaned forward slightly, smiling at her, his hands free so he could type a message on his phone. A moment later, my phone buzzed. I picked it up and saw his text: *”There’s an issue with a big contract at work. I’ve been tied up all night and probably won’t be home until late. Take care of yourself and make sure you eat. Love you, babe.”*

That nauseating feeling surged up again, and no matter how hard I tried to suppress it, I couldn’t stop myself from throwing up. This man… he was disgusting. So disgusting. After Evan drove off, Sofia hummed a cheerful tune as she walked upstairs. I stayed in the car for a while, trying to steady myself. My face was pale, but I forced some color back with a swipe of lipstick before stepping out. I walked up to the door and knocked. Sofia answered with a smile, muttering playfully, “What, did you forget something agai—” Her words trailed off the moment she saw me. Her smile didn’t falter, though. In fact, it widened, filled with mockery and malice. She looked me up and down, completely unbothered, and said in a sweet yet venomous tone: “Well, well, it’s you. I guess you found your way here. Why don’t you come in and take a look around?” She stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter, as if she were the rightful lady of the house. That smug, self-assured look on her face—it was as if I were the other woman here, nothing more than an unwelcome intruder. My chest tightened, my breathing grew uneven, but my heart… it felt dead. Hollow. I walked inside, numb, stepping into what I once believed was the happiest place in the world for Evan and me. And yet, everywhere I looked, there were reminders of them. Matching slippers by the door. Coordinated pajamas draped over the bedroom chair. A pair of toothbrushes on the bathroom counter, arranged in a way that formed a heart. It was all so domestic. So intimate. Sofia didn’t bother following me. She didn’t need to. She stayed by the fresh bouquet of flowers Evan had given her, lazily arranging them as she sneered over her shoulder. “Why put yourself through this?” she said, her voice dripping with contempt. “The moment you decided to forgive him, you should’ve known. To Evan, you’re just a woman with no boundaries. “In his mind, as long as he doesn’t divorce you, you’ll keep forgiving him. You’ll keep tolerating him. “Go ahead, confront him. He’ll just apologize, spin some pretty lie, and make you believe he’s sorry. And you? You’ll forgive him again. Because you don’t have a choice. “I mean, look at you. At your age, where else are you going to find a husband as rich as him? “You think you’re better than me, but the truth is, we’re the same.” The same? Her words felt like poison in my veins. I wanted to scream. I wanted to rip that smug expression off her face. I thought about Evan and me, about everything we’d been through. We met when we were young—too young. For him, I sacrificed my career, worked endless hours, and supported him while he built his business from nothing. Sure, he made it big, but he couldn’t have done it without me. And this woman… she had the audacity to claim we were the same? But the confidence in her voice—it was unshakable. And deep down, I knew why. She believed it because Evan had told her so. In that moment, something in me clicked. I realized I’d been wrong all along. I forgave him because I loved him. Because I thought he loved me, too. But to him, my forgiveness wasn’t about love. It was about convenience. This man, this relationship we’d built over more than a decade—it had all rotted into something vile and toxic. Without another word, I walked past Sofia, ignoring the venom in her gaze, and entered the living room. That’s when I saw it. Hanging on the wall was a massive photo. A wedding portrait. In the picture, Sofia wore a diamond-studded wedding gown, her hand resting delicately on Evan’s chest as he held her close. The two of them stood against the backdrop of Santorini’s iconic blue and white cliffs. The image practically screamed luxury and extravagance. I thought I was numb, thought I couldn’t feel anything anymore. But the sight of that photo hit me like a dagger to the chest. Once, that wall had held our wedding photo. Ours was nothing like this one. We couldn’t afford anything extravagant back then. We didn’t even hire a photographer. Our photo had been taken on a beach, using a cheap tripod and a timer. I wore a simple white dress and a borrowed veil. It wasn’t fancy, but it was ours. It was real. Now, it was gone. Replaced by this. I forced myself to stay calm. My hands shook as I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of the portrait. For the first time in a long time, my mind felt clear. Rotten things belonged in the trash. Evan and Sofia had been living together long enough to establish what was essentially a common-law marriage. I had all the evidence I needed. I’d take this to a lawyer. Make sure neither of them got away with anything. Sofia noticed me taking the photo. Her smugness cracked for a moment, replaced by panic. She lunged forward, one hand protectively cradling her belly, the other reaching for my phone. I stepped aside, but as I moved, she shoved me hard, sending me crashing into the coffee table. Pain exploded through my body as I hit the corner of the table. Almost immediately, I felt a warm, wet sensation between my legs. Blood. Sofia’s expression shifted, her eyes flashing with something dark and twisted. I collapsed to the floor, clutching my stomach as waves of pain radiated through me. My hand fumbled for my phone, desperate to call for help. Even if Evan didn’t want this baby, it was still mine. I couldn’t lose it. I wouldn’t. Sofia laughed cruelly, her voice filled with malice. As I reached for my phone, she stomped on my hand, grinding her heel into my fingers. The pain was excruciating. I screamed, tears streaming down my face. And then I heard it—a soft beep, followed by the sound of the front door unlocking. Someone was coming in. I looked up, dazed and barely conscious, and saw Evan standing in the doorway. He was back.

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In my previous life, my wife caused a multi-car pile-up while speeding home from her childhood friend’s wedding. The accident left four dead and one injured. When the police called, I rushed to the scene. It was absolute chaos. Fire trucks were everywhere, the air thick with smoke, and people were screaming and crying. It was a total nightmare. It took a whole day to clear the wreckage. The police delivered the devastating news. They couldn’t find my wife’s body. They suspected the flames had consumed it. To mourn her, all I could do was gather some debris from the scene to place in an urn. Before I could even arrange a funeral, the victims’ families began camping outside my house, demanding justice. Overnight, I found myself responsible for four deaths and tens of millions in compensation. I threw myself into work, desperately trying to earn enough to appease the bereaved families. From the age of thirty to forty-eight, a whole eighteen years, I finally paid off all the compensation and earned the forgiveness of the families. But my body had paid the price. A stroke left me bedridden, condemned to spend the rest of my life in hospitals. On my deathbed, I saw my supposedly dead wife and her childhood friend at the hospital with their child for a checkup. They were laughing together, the picture of happiness. At that moment, I realized everything had been an elaborate deception orchestrated by my wife. The shock made me cough up blood, and I died on the spot. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day of the fatal pile-up!

The police officer’s grave voice crackled through my phone. “Is this Mr. Rylan Langley? It is Highway Patrol. Your wife, Ashley Winthrop, has been in an accident on the interstate. Please come to the scene immediately.” “Sir? Are you there?” the voice pressed when I didn’t respond. The officer repeated my name several times before I snapped back to reality. That was when the memories of my past life flashed through my mind like scenes from a movie. In my previous life, I’d rushed to the crash site in a panic, only to find the scene engulfed in flames. I’d broken down entirely and spent the rest of my life wracked with guilt because we never recovered her body. Little did I know there was nobody to find because she wasn’t dead at all. The whole thing had been an elaborate scheme to transfer my assets so she could run off with her first love! In this life, I would make sure those two backstabbers pay dearly for what they did. After a brief acknowledgment, I hung up and immediately called my lawyer. It was time to lay out every detail of their twisted plot. The key to exposing this scam was threefold. I needed to prove Ashley was alive, find evidence of her affair to protect my assets in the divorce, and finally, reveal her hit-and-run accident that left four dead and one injured. Prison would be waiting for her. Just as I gathered my thoughts and prepared to leave, the front door burst open. Kelly Winthrop, Ashley’s mother, threw herself into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “Rylan, did you see the news? Did the police call you too? What am I going to do? She’s my only daughter! I can’t live if something’s happened to her.” This scene was exactly like my previous life. I constantly tried to comfort Kelly after Ashley’s accident. Looking back now, it was almost laughable. What kind of mother wailed about her daughter’s terrible accident without shedding a single absolute tear? If I hadn’t been so emotionally invested, I would’ve noticed it sooner. Kelly already knew Ashley was safe, and she was well aware of the affair. This family of hypocrites made me sick to my stomach, but I had to stomach my disgust. They lived off my money, and that wasn’t enough! They had to set up this elaborate trap to steal everything I own. “Rylan, why are you so calm? Ashley was in a car accident!” “It’s interesting, Kelly. The police don’t even know the full story yet, but you’re acting like Ashley’s already dead.”

“How could your information be faster than the police?” Kelly’s face flickered with guilt after hearing my words, and she quickly explained, “I’m just worried.” Then she shifted all the blame onto me, yelling, “What are you implying, Rylan? Do you wish my daughter was dead? How could you, as her husband, let her drive back home alone!” It reminded me how I had strongly advised against Ashley’s trip home in the first place. I was tied up with a client project and couldn’t get away, though I usually drove her everywhere she needed to go. When her childhood friend was getting married, I suggested we just send a wedding gift first, then visit home together with Kelly when I had time. But no matter what I said, she would disagree and insist on going, even getting into a huge fight with me over it. In the end, she ignored my warnings and secretly took the car onto the highway. Usually, Ashley was gentle and rarely lost her temper with me. How could I have been so blind in my past life to miss these red flags? “Rylan, your silence means I’m right, doesn’t it?” “Kelly, you’ve seen how I’ve treated Ashley all these years. I cherish her more than anything! How could I ever want her dead?” I held Kelly’s hand, my face twisted with grief and sorrow. “I want this situation less than anyone. All I want is for Ashley to return to me safely. I’ve made arrangements. Let’s head to the scene now.” Kelly’s face instantly lit up at my words, seemingly forgetting that her daughter’s fate still hung in the balance. Kelly and I got into the car one after another. Before this, I had hired a private investigator to monitor every movement around my house. The moment Ashley showed up, evidence would be secured. After taking her seat, Kelly kept her hands behind her back, fingers flying across her phone screen. When I asked what she was doing, she claimed she was checking the news, worried about the accident scene. But the crash site had been cordoned off, and all vehicles cleared. Apart from the initial photos that leaked, there was nothing new online. I knew Kelly was lying to me. She was actually updating Ashley about my every move. Meanwhile, outside the villa, Ashley and her first love, Andrew Harris, were fully equipped, lying in wait. Just as she was about to sneak in to grab some valuable jewelry to exchange for cash, the man beside her stopped her. “What’s going on? Who’s that suspicious-looking guy lurking outside my house?” “I’ll check it out.” As Ashley started to move forward, Andrew quickly interjected, “No way! If you show up now, you’ll blow your cover. Everything we’ve planned will go up in smoke.” She froze, her expression darkening. “Then what should we do? All my valuables and jewelry are inside.” When I rushed home from the accident scene in my past life, the house was in complete chaos. Many pieces of jewelry were missing, but I was too overwhelmed by Ashley’s death to process it. Between dealing with the deceased’s family causing a scene, I barely had time to address the theft. The case went cold. This time, I wouldn’t let her get away with it. She was already dead, yet she thought she could steal my money to support her boy toy. Dream on! “No rush, we’ll find our chance. Besides, after you’re gone, he’ll have to support your mother. We can get her to demand higher support payments for us,” Andrew whispered. Ashley and Andrew quietly slipped away from the villa. Those two were still dreaming about living off my money, but little did they know I had deliberately arranged for two people—one operating in plain sight and another in the shadows to gather evidence against them. Even though Ashley had assumed a new identity, her face remained unchanged. Once we had photos of her, this whole scheme of hers was already half defeated!

Kelly rushed to the accident scene just as firefighters finished dousing the flames, pushing past police officers and firefighters despite their protests. Though several vehicles had been burned beyond recognition, she somehow knew precisely which charred wreck was Ashley’s car. As soon as she got close, Kelly collapsed to the ground, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe. I noticed her phone on the ground. She must have dropped it in her rush. When I bent down to pick it up, a message notification popped up on the screen. It was from a contact with a gray profile picture: [We checked the villa but couldn’t get anything. Mom, see if you can squeeze more money out of Rylan.] My fingers tightened around the phone. Ashley and Andrew had played their cards well, knowing I wouldn’t abandon her only living relative. They were using my love for her to extort money from me. Years ago, after Ashley’s death, when the victims’ families were breathing down my neck, I still made sure to send her mother five thousand dollars every month for living expenses. Whenever I had extra money, I’d send even more. Now I realized all of it had been going straight into those two snakes’ pockets. “Mr. Langley, please keep your family calm. We need to focus on the rescue operation. I promise we’ll do everything we can to save your wife.” I quickly slipped the phone back to its original spot before rushing forward to help Kelly up from the ground. “Kelly, let’s not interfere with the rescue team. People might think Ashley’s already dead, seeing you crying like this.” Kelly looked up at me with bloodshot eyes, confusion mixed with anger. “Rylan, what’s your problem today? Why do you keep opposing me? Are you cursing my daughter to death?” “Of course not. I’m just worried about Ashley, too. Every second counts in a rescue operation.” She stood up uncertainly, and when I tried to help, Kelly stumbled and started falling toward the car. “Kelly!” I shouted, grabbing her quickly. “Are you alright?” Though I caught her in time, she showed no gratitude. Instead, she couldn’t even spare me a friendly look. “Don’t touch me!” Kelly shook off my hand, wiped her tears, and strode past the police line. Her anger stemmed from my interference with her plan. She had wanted to secretly plant Ashley’s phone in the car, hoping it would be discovered during the rescue operation. That phone contained countless photos of Ashley and memories that belonged just to us. When I first got the phone back, my desperate longing led me straight to a repair shop to recover all the data. During the restoration, I discovered a voice recording. It was something Ashley had left behind before her death. In my previous life, when I first heard that recording, I collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. The phone was filled with evidence of Ashley’s love for me. She knew she was leaving this world and expressed such reluctance, hoping we’d meet again in our next life. Every word she spoke felt like a knife twisting in my heart. That’s why I never doubted her love. I spent my entire life atoning for her, caring for her mother, and never married. But this time, I deliberately stopped Kelly’s attempt to plant the phone in the car, preventing her from taking advantage of the situation. The rescue operation lasted an entire day before the police approached Kelly and me with Ashley’s personal belongings, regretfully informing us they hadn’t found her body. The crash had been catastrophic. Her body was likely either blown to pieces or wholly incinerated in the blast. The officer offered his condolences, telling us to stay strong during this difficult time. The devastating news hit me like a ton of bricks. My hands trembled as I grabbed the officer’s, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. Kelly promptly fainted on the spot. I knew she was faking it, just like in my previous life, but I still took her to the hospital anyway. In my past life, after getting Kelly settled at the hospital, I’d bought an urn and collected some ashes from the crash site. This time was no different. After collecting the ashes, instead of heading straight to the cemetery like before, I went to the hospital. Just outside the hospital room, I heard Kelly’s cheerful laughter ring out. “Ashley, you were absolutely right! The moment Rylan heard you were dead, he completely lost it. What an idiot! Don’t worry. I’ll squeeze every penny I can out of him. I’ve already sent people to rile up the victims’ families to cause trouble. Rylan won’t know which fire to put out first, so you better hurry home and grab all the valuables you can.” As I listened to their conversation, my fingers twisted together in rage. After five years of marriage, I never would have imagined that even the victims’ families were puppets in their scheming! The truth hit me like a bolt of lightning, shattering everything I thought I knew. But this time, they were miscalculated. Since Ashley’s supposed to be dead anyway, I was going to make sure that became reality! The Winthrop family’s good times were about to come to an end!

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An avalanche during an Antarctic expedition, I desperately saved my wife but ended up staying behind in the frozen wilderness forever. After the incident, my wife couldn’t find me and mistakenly believed I had abandoned her and ran away on my own. She threw herself into another man’s arms, crying, “Ernest, if it weren’t for you, I would never have survived. I’m going to divorce him and be with you!” Later, our expedition was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records. As a result, my wife signed a contract with the Antarctic research team and became their tour guide for the expedition. However, on the way to Antarctica, another avalanche struck. The snow carried out my body, and the truth was exposed. My wife knelt in front of my body and cried uncontrollably, feeling as though her life was worse than death. At the Guinness World Records award ceremony, I watched as my wife, Amanda Collier, accepted the award with a bitter smile on my face. Our team of five, with me as the leader, made the record-breaking journey. During the polar night in Antarctica, we trekked across the entire phenomenon of the Antarctic polar night. This achievement filled a gap in human history, earning us recognition from the Guinness World Records. Danger had surrounded us the whole way. But thanks to the route I had planned, we were almost at the finish line. Just as I was about to feel relief, a massive avalanche struck, and I desperately saved Amanda. But I was buried forever in the snow. I thought, “Now, here I am, only a spirit remains.” A reporter at the ceremony asked, “Ms. Collier, you’ve become a world-renowned female explorer, and many young women look up to you as an idol. Do you have any advice for them?” Amanda smiled at the camera. “When choosing a partner, make sure to be wise. Only in times of crisis do you see true feelings. “This trip to Antarctica also made me realize the true nature of my ex-husband. I want to thank Ernest for saving me.” I couldn’t help but bitterly smile. When Amanda was rescued, she didn’t see me. She searched everywhere for me. Ernest Bates, seeing this, added fuel to the fire, claiming I had abandoned her and even showed a video. In the video, it looked like I was running away, and he took credit for saving Amanda. Amanda, furious, filed for divorce as soon as she got home. Now, a year later, she was finally single again. Sensing a chance to stir things up, the reporter asked, “Ms. Collier, we understand you’ve just completed your divorce proceedings. “Do you have no lingering feelings for your ex-husband?” At this, Amanda’s expression immediately darkened. “No! And now, I want to use this moment to tell him through your cameras! “Walter Fuller, back when the avalanche happened, you abandoned me and ran off! You even hid from me for an entire year! Now that the divorce is finalized, I have nothing to do with you anymore!” Hearing this, the viewers in the live stream began to lash out at me. [He took his girlfriend to Antarctica but ran away when things got tough. Disgusting!] [As the saying goes, “When disaster strikes, couple would choose their separate ways.” How true this is!] The reporter, noticing the spike in online reactions, asked another question. “After the avalanche, Mr. Fuller was never seen again. Ms. Collier, do you think it’s possible Mr. Fuller died in Antarctica?” Amanda shook her head. “Not to mention that I have video evidence proving he ran away. “He was also wearing a life-monitoring device, and I can see that his body is perfectly healthy now.” Upon hearing this, I couldn’t help but bitterly smile. If Amanda had cared even a little, she would have noticed that I truly disappeared that night, lost forever in the beautiful Antarctic snow. At that moment, Ernest stepped onto the stage and knelt down on one knee in front of everyone. “Amanda, from now on, let me be your husband. I’ll protect you in difficult times and walk with you through happiness for the rest of our lives, okay?” The entire room erupted in applause. Seeing this, Amanda nodded fiercely with tears in her eyes. “From the moment you saved me from the avalanche, I knew you were the one I was meant to be with!” Immediately after, she and Ernest kissed passionately. As I watched this, my face turned pale, and it felt like my heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces of glass.

After the proposal, the event moved on to the next agenda. This wasn’t just the site of the Guinness World Records ceremony. It was also the signing ceremony for Amanda and the Antarctic research team. Afterward, she would lead the team across Antarctica to study the polar night phenomenon and film a documentary about it. The signing went smoothly. A month later, Amanda and Ernest arrived to meet the research team. However, when Amanda saw one of the team members, she frowned. “Victor, what are you doing here?” Victor Donovan sneered, “I’m a research team member, too. Why can’t I be here? I’m going to Antarctica to uncover the truth! “Amanda, for the whole year, you’ve been saying that Walter abandoned you when you were in danger. You said he was still alive, but I’ve waited a whole year for him, and he hasn’t shown up! “You said he abandoned you and has been avoiding you. But why is he avoiding me?” Watching this, I sighed. Victor was my friend, the youngest research member of the Antarctic team. When I went to Antarctica, he asked me to collect some scientific samples. I never expected that I would end up permanently buried in the frozen ground after getting the samples. After my death, the person most concerned about me was Victor. He had come to Amanda several times, asking about my whereabouts. But she always chased him away and even reported him for sexual harassment. It almost cost him his position in the research team. Seeing the situation, Ernest spoke up calmly, “Victor, the route Amanda and I took last time was too dangerous. Even we nearly died in the avalanche. “So this time, the route was re-planned by me. We won’t follow the same path as last time.” Hearing this, Victor grew furious. “You just want to cover up the truth! Walter must have been killed by you!” Amanda responded coldly, “You may be the expert in research, but we are the professionals when it comes to outdoor exploration. “If Walter had listened to Ernest last time, we wouldn’t have faced the avalanche. “He was still a beginner, and now look at you.” At those words, I felt a rush of anger. Ernest was actually my apprentice. He had only started outdoor exploration a year ago. I would never have taken him along if it weren’t for Amanda insisting on bringing him to Antarctica. His proposed route seemed closer and safer, but in reality, it was full of dangers. That path would lead the team through mountains full of snow wolves and across perilous rivers. Any misstep could have resulted in casualties. Meanwhile, the route I had planned was actually quite safe. We never would’ve faced any issues if not for the unexpected avalanche. Amanda didn’t trust my ten years of outdoor experience but instead believed Ernest, who had just started exploring outdoors a year ago. It was truly laughable. At that moment, David Hayden, the professor of the research team, immediately stepped in and pulled Victor back. “Don’t worry. Leave the professional matters to the experts. “We will follow your route strictly.”

Soon, under the protection of helicopters, they reached the frozen land of Antarctica. Amanda immediately spoke up. “From now on, everyone must strictly follow what Ernest and I say, or else we might run into trouble, understand?” The members of the research team all nodded in agreement. Even Victor nodded. On the first day, they made it through the outskirts of Antarctica safely. The second day went smoothly as well. But on the third day, things started to go wrong. They had entered the hunting grounds of a wolf pack. The male members of the research team carried hunting rifles, cautiously keeping an eye on the wolves. In the center of the group, Victor’s face darkened as he confronted Amanda. “It’s only the third day, and we’ve already got wolves tracking us. Based on their behavior, they’ll likely follow us for a while. We won’t be able to continue our research like this! “How did you plan this route?” Amanda’s expression was just as grim. “This might be an accident. We didn’t expect the wolves to migrate here.” Ernest shrank behind Amanda, too scared to speak. “Alright, maybe this wolf pack just ended up here by accident,” David spoke up, trying to calm the tension. “If we keep going, maybe they’ll move on in a few days.” Victor finally fell silent. On the fifth day, one of the male team members fell ill. Immediately, a snow wolf charged toward them. Bang! Ernest fired and killed the wolf. Just as he expected praise from Amanda, the others immediately scolded him. “Don’t you know you can’t just shoot in Antarctica? What if you trigger an avalanche? “Plus, gunshots won’t drive the wolves away. They’ll only make them more aggressive. You’re even worse than a newbie!” Amanda quickly stepped in, shielding Ernest. “He was just trying to help. He didn’t expect things to turn out this way.” I watched the scene unfold and couldn’t help but feel a bit bitter. If the problem had been caused by the route I planned, she’d probably have already yelled at me. She wouldn’t have made excuses for me. But when it came to Ernest, she was much more forgiving. Victor’s expression darkened further. “Mr. Hayden, I think we should cancel this mission. “If we keep going, someone might end up dead. We can sacrifice our lives for research, but we can’t afford to lose anyone over something like this!” David hesitated for a moment. “This mission has already seen significant investment from above. “It would be a huge waste to abandon it halfway.” Victor grew more urgent. “But if we don’t retreat now, what if things get even more dangerous? Then it will be too late!” At this point, Amanda spoke coldly. “Victor, you’re just scaremongering! “Research in Antarctica is already incredibly dangerous. If we retreat just because of a small setback, then I don’t think you should have come here in the first place!” I knew Amanda was worried that turning back now might hurt her reputation. Victor’s face was dark with anger. “A small setback? Do you want us to wait until someone gets mauled by wolves before you’ll agree to leave?” David seemed to soften slightly at those words. Amanda gritted her teeth and snapped, “You’re just trying to force me into following the path of the previous team leader, aren’t you? “Fine, let’s go! Mr. Hayden, let’s take the route we used before. Now you should be satisfied, right?” David nodded. “The route we took before should be much safer. Let’s continue.” Victor didn’t object anymore. I knew he didn’t fully trust Amanda or Ernest, but he trusted me. After all, when the whole internet was criticizing me for abandoning my wife and running off, he still believed I wasn’t that kind of person. As they followed my route, things became much safer. The wolf pack withdrew on the fifth day. The team set up camp and resumed their research. A month later, they had completed their research goals and continued their journey across Antarctica. I stood beside Amanda, staring at the distant snow-covered mountains. My body was buried somewhere out there. But my body had been covered by thick layers of snow and ice, with no chance of ever being found. “Is this the place where you guys were caught in the avalanche?” Victor asked, walking over and suddenly speaking up. Amanda sneered, “Yes, this is where Walter abandoned me. Aren’t you curious if he died here? “You can go look for him now.” She continued coldly, “I’d also like to see if that man who left me behind can be found here.” Victor’s face darkened at her words. At that moment, a member of the research team walked over from the distance. “Mr. Hayden, we found a seal nearby that seems unusual. It’s too quiet here… what if…” David frowned upon hearing this and immediately gave the order. “Everyone, gather up. Hold your guns tight. Let’s go check it out together.” The atmosphere quickly became tense. The team members with guns spread out around the area, carefully scanning their surroundings. Soon, they spotted the unusual seal. “What’s that on the seal? Could there be someone nearby?” Victor asked, puzzled. “Grab it and take a look, but don’t shoot,” Amanda said, furrowing her brow. The team worked together to catch the seal, and to their surprise, they found a sensor stuck to its body. Victor’s eyes widened in shock. “Wait! Isn’t this the same one Walter wore a year ago?”

“I’ve seen this design before, it’s definitely his! Walter must be dead, and this device got attached to the seal after he died!” Saying this, Victor grabbed the sensor and suddenly looked up, glaring at Amanda. “Amanda! How do you explain this?” Ernest stepped forward, frowning. “Impossible. I saw him running away with my own eyes. You must be mistaken. These devices are common among explorers.” Amanda sneered in response, “That’s right. It couldn’t be his. The avalanche was to the north. We’re in the south now. This must be from someone else who got lost.” Victor suddenly smiled, and tears streamed down his face. “This device has initials engraved on it, WF! “Amanda, what’s your excuse now? Walter is dead! You killed him!” Amanda stared at the initials WF on the device, her entire body freezing in shock. “It’s not possible! This is just a coincidence!” Victor gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with fury. “The evidence is right here, and you’re still pretending!” At that moment, another body was discovered, though its identity was unrecognizable. Victor’s eyes immediately locked onto a sports camera on the body. “Once the video comes through, I’ll see how you try to deny it!” As soon as he finished speaking, the team members quickly set up the monitoring equipment, and the video footage started to play. But the screen was filled with green light and static, and the sound was harsh and jarring. One of the researchers scratched his head. “Looks like it’s broken?” Seeing this, Amanda snorted, “Even if Walter turned to dust, I would still recognize him. This body isn’t him!” Ernest nodded in agreement. “That’s right. Walter abandoned us and ran to the north. Even if he’s dead, his body shouldn’t be here.” Victor clenched his fists tightly, his eyes bloodshot. Amanda sneered again, “That bastard Walter always said he loved me so much, but when the avalanche happened, I was left unconscious, all alone! “He abandoned me because I slowed him down! If Ernest hadn’t saved me, I might have died! This selfish, heartless scum couldn’t have just died like that! “The body on the ground isn’t his!” Upon hearing this, many of the research team members were moved by her words and angrily condemned me. At that moment, the team member who had been working on the equipment suddenly looked up with a bright expression. “It’s fixed! Come and see, everyone!” The group quickly gathered around. Amanda looked at the figure appearing on the screen, sighed, and explained, “These are the other two teammates who were with us on the expedition. During the avalanche, they were outside collecting fresh water, so we lost contact with them. “I had been praying they were just separated from us, but I never imagined their bodies would be found so close. “It looks like they survived the avalanche, but after getting separated from us, they lost their gear, couldn’t stay warm, and died. Victor, they aren’t Walter you’re looking for.” Seeing her reaction, I sighed, too. After the avalanche, I was really worried about these two teammates. Since my camp had a snow barrier, I went out immediately to look for them. That was how Ernest ended up with the video he was holding. “But what is up with this sensor? “Did it fall off when he was running away and get stuck on a seal?” Amanda stared at the small device in her hand, her brows furrowed in confusion. Hearing this, Victor scoffed in frustration, “Amanda! How can human and animal monitoring data be the same?! You can’t even figure this out! Did you really care about Walter?” Hearing him, I also gave Amanda a wry smile and asked, “Yeah, did you really care about me?” After saying this, I shook my head. But of course, she didn’t hear me. However, in the next moment, Amanda’s face hardened. “Of course, I cared about him.” I froze. “I once saw him as my one and only. I love him more than anyone. I was willing to die for him. “But him? When things got tough, he left me behind and ran off on his own! Victor, tell me, does such a person deserve my love, my care?” As she spoke, Amanda’s eyes reddened. I dropped to my knees in the snow, grabbing my hair and screaming, “Amanda! I didn’t abandon you! I swear I didn’t abandon you!!” But all I received in return was the sound of the cold, biting wind. I turned my hopeful gaze toward Victor, hoping my friend would explain things to her because he knew what my true purpose in going to Antarctica was. Victor sighed, “Amanda, if I tell you that Walter crossed the polar night with you, it was because he wanted to declare his love for you to the whole world when the polar dawn came… “Then, do you still think he would abandon you?” Amanda froze, her mouth opening but no words coming out. At that moment, a team member excitedly shouted, “Wait, there’s more footage!”

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After our company’s successful financing, I had planned to surprise my wife. Instead, I accidentally overheard her whispering with her male assistant. Adam, half proud and half worried, said: “Boss, when you officially announce later, I’ll play a little joke and pretend to be your partner. James won’t get angry, right?” My wife, Cora, affectionately ruffled Adam’s hair and said generously: “He wouldn’t dare. I’ll also squeeze you into his project team. Once you’ve gained some experience, I’ll promote you to department head.” Hearing this, I kicked open the office door. All my colleagues gathered around, waiting to see me make a fool of myself. Instead, I hung the project manager’s badge around Adam’s neck and said coldly: “No need to wait that long. This project is yours now.” Bang! I kicked open the office door. The surrounding employees who were busy working all turned to look, craning their necks with curiosity in their eyes. Inside, Cora was still ruffling Adam’s hair. The next second, she moved to shield Adam behind her and frowned angrily: “James, are you trying to rebel? Damaging company property like that, don’t expect to get your salary this month!” Adam pretended to look pitiful and said: “James, did you overhear Cora saying she wanted to go public with me and arrange for me to join your project? She was just joking with me…” Hearing this, everyone’s eyes widened, and they started whispering: “So the CEO and Adam have that kind of relationship! What’s going on with Manager James making such a scene?” “Are you stupid? It’s obvious James has a crush on the CEO and he’s just lost it. This is going to be interesting.” I had long since gotten used to these rumors and didn’t care anymore. Since Cora was so eager to help Adam climb the ladder, I decided to fulfill her dream! I stepped forward, took off my project manager badge, and hung it around Adam’s neck. I patted his shoulder and said earnestly: “No need to wait until tonight. The project is yours now. Work hard and aim for a promotion to VP soon.” Instantly, all the onlookers were stunned. After all, everyone knew I had worked day and night on this project, even ending up in the hospital on IV drips several times. I was known for my upright character and despised those who got ahead without hard work. But now, the atmosphere was awkward. People could only help save face for their boss by applauding loudly: “James is so generous! No wonder he’s been with the CEO for so many years!” Cora’s face darkened, and she looked at me ominously, as if I had done something wrong. I couldn’t be bothered with her. I packed up my things and said calmly: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now. Our partners need to see me.” Without waiting for Cora’s response, I walked straight out of the meeting room. I had worked tirelessly on the project’s core patents, conducting experiments day and night. Recently, we’d made good progress, and our partners were very satisfied. They wanted to help our company with additional investment for our IPO. I had originally wanted to share this good news with Cora, but now it seemed unnecessary. I walked out of the company, looking at the dark alley I had taken for seven years, and couldn’t help but laugh at myself. Cora and I had been secretly married for seven years. To avoid suspicion, she never commuted with me, fearing colleagues would notice our routes were the same. She even made me park far away and take a detour home. Now, I didn’t need to worry anymore. I could drive however I wanted. As I walked towards the parking spot, I took out my phone to use the GPS. On the phone screen, the florist suddenly sent a message saying he had delivered the bouquet to the company’s front desk, along with a photo. I suddenly remembered that Sophia had said she would go public with me once the company was stable. For this day, I had specially bought her favorite roses and booked a private movie screening. How ridiculous that when I rushed to the company, what I heard was her once again showing boundless favoritism towards Adam. But now, none of that mattered. It was like feeding a dog. Just as I was about to leave, someone suddenly blocked my way. It was Adam. Adam fiddled with the badge on his chest, clicking his tongue: “James, Cora was originally going to officially announce your relationship tonight, but you just had to come out and make trouble.” “But you know, she told me that after this project is completed, not only will she promote me to project manager, but she’ll also give me company shares. You won’t be angry, right?” His face was written all over with the words “small victory”. In the past, I was often angered by his private provocations, making Cora mistakenly think I was targeting him, leading to endless arguments. But now, I couldn’t be bothered to deal with him. Sure enough, the next second, I heard the sound of high heels clicking behind me. Adam suddenly leaned back and fell on his butt, then quickly got up, hastily taking off the badge on his chest, and said pitifully: “James, I know you’re not happy. Take your anger out on me if you must, just don’t blame Cora. I just wanted to learn from you. If you don’t want me to, I won’t join this project.” “You’re right, such an important position as project manager can only be handled by you. I’m not worthy!” His tone was humble, his eyes slightly red, as if I had scolded him, carefully handing the badge towards me. Cora walked quickly over, raising her hand as if to slap me. Fortunately, I was somewhat prepared and blocked it with my hand. There was still a dull thud, and my arm felt numb from the impact. She grabbed my collar and scolded harshly: “James, I’ve turned a blind eye to you bullying Adam before, but now you’re actually hitting him. Don’t you know this is workplace bullying!” I smirked sarcastically. Adam was obviously faking it, and only Cora, blinded by concern, couldn’t see through it. I turned and reached out to Adam, intending to push the badge back to him directly. But Adam thought I really wanted to take back the badge. A flash of panic crossed his eyes, and his fingers tightly hooked the ribbon, pulling it back. The next second, he suddenly groaned, clutching his chest and saying his heart hurt. The act was too fake, but some people still fell for it. Cora immediately stopped scolding me and hurriedly supported Adam, then took out some heart medication from her bag and gave it to him. She was flustered and shouted at me: “James, why aren’t you helping? Take Adam to the hospital!” I rolled my eyes internally. How annoying. I should have just taken a taxi and left directly. I walked towards the roadside, raising my hand to hail a taxi. But Cora blocked my way, her expression serious, clearly not letting me go: “He got sick because you scared him. How can you just leave?” Chapter 2 I scoffed coldly. Before, when I drank too much at a business dinner and ended up vomiting blood from a gastric hemorrhage, Cora didn’t care at all and just told me to take some stomach medicine. Now Adam was just pretending to be sick, but Cora, who was usually so commanding in the business world, was completely flustered, standing up for him like a shrew. I frowned and reluctantly called an ambulance. At the hospital, after hearing the doctor say Adam was fine, Cora let out a relieved sigh, her eyes full of gratitude. I didn’t want to watch their melodrama anymore and turned to leave. Cora hurriedly chased after me in the hallway and grabbed me. I frowned, thinking she wanted to scold me again for making Adam sick. I instinctively tried to dodge. The next second, she hung the badge around my neck and gently touched my arm where she had hit me earlier. She said softly: “James, you know Adam likes to joke around. There will be plenty of opportunities to officially announce our relationship. Just wait a little longer, okay?” “The project manager position is too important. Don’t be impulsive with it. I’ll let it slide this time.” I responded with an indifferent “Mm.” Cora looked at me for a while, seemingly reluctantly compromising, and handed me a crumpled box. “Alright James, I saw the roses you bought. I really liked them. Why don’t you put them in the vase at home? Actually, I prepared a gift for you too.” I knew this was Cora’s usual tactic – give a little sweetness after the stick. The box in Cora’s hand looked familiar. I remembered Adam had posted about it on social media half a month ago. At that time, Adam had accidentally stained the tie Cora gave him with oil and had to throw away both the box and the tie. He had sighed and complained, but was actually showing off. Cora had commented that she would buy him ten more. I took the gift box and opened it. Inside was a fake tie. I just touched the edge and the color faded. The receipt was even still inside. She didn’t bat an eye buying Adam luxury brand ties, but now she was just perfunctorily giving me a fake. I couldn’t be bothered to expose her and just casually responded: “I see. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.” Turning around the corner, when I saw the trash can, I threw the gift box directly into it without hesitation. Then I took out my phone and called the tech company that had been trying to recruit me: “I accept your company’s invitation.” This tech company was a Fortune 500 company that had never given up on trying to poach me over the past few years. But for Cora’s sake, to realize our dream from back then, I had always politely declined. On the phone, HR kept telling me about their company’s great benefits and how much they welcomed talent like me. As we talked, I unconsciously drove to their front door. Looking at the hour-long call record, I tightened my grip on the phone. Back then, for Cora’s sake, I gave up a high-level management position that was within my grasp, to start from scratch with her. All these years, I had worked tirelessly for the company, exhausting my body and keeping my mind constantly on edge. I was completely burnt out, both physically and mentally. Finally, Cora and I had gone from having nothing to having everything, but Cora’s heart had quietly flown away. From now on, I just wanted to live for myself. I thought for a moment, then sent a message to our project partners, informing them about the change in project manager. The partners approved of me, which is why they invested in this project and even helped the company with financing. Now that I was leaving, I naturally had to let them know. After sending the message, I bought a plane ticket for the next day and started packing my bags. From the bottom of the closet, I took out my coat, not noticing that the photo album pressed at the very bottom had been flipped open. A photo of Cora and me caught my eye. It was a photo from eight years ago, when Cora and I had just gotten together. We looked young and shy, leaning close to each other. I picked up the photo album and flipped through it page by page. Come to think of it, Cora had insisted on taking all these photos, saying she wanted to document our life, record all the hardships we went through, so we could make up for it later. Cora and I had been through thick and thin, living a hard life in the beginning. We used to curl up in a tiny rented room watching pirated movies. On New Year’s Eve, we would argue over who should have the last piece of meat. But those moments of hardship were all happiness to me, and they were my motivation to work hard. Gradually, the people in the photos wore increasingly fancy clothes, the backgrounds became more luxurious, but the photos became fewer and fewer. From one every few days, to one a month, then to one a year. Until Adam appeared, there were no new photos at all. Cora’s interactions with me gradually reduced to just work handovers between superiors and subordinates. I don’t know when it started, but Cora stopped caring if I skipped a meal, if I drank until I had a gastric hemorrhage, or if I got injured during experiments. But she protected Adam very well, canceling business dinners just to eat with Adam who had mild gastritis. It was as if she was trying to make up for something, spoiling Adam to no end. I used to feel wronged and asked her why. She just looked at me coldly and said we had both been through hardships, and she couldn’t believe I was still so sensitive at my age, that I wasn’t as mature as Adam. She said she admired Adam’s pure kindness and didn’t want him to suffer like we did. Coming back to my senses, looking at this photo album that was once filled with Cora’s and my love, I suddenly felt it was meaningless and threw it into the trash without hesitation. I continued folding clothes when my phone in my pocket suddenly rang. It was a call from the cinema: “Mr. Gray, the private screening you booked is about to start. If you don’t arrive within ten minutes, we may have to open the theater to other customers.” Perhaps because we could only curl up in a small room watching pirated movies back then, Cora had an unusual obsession with watching movies in theaters. Even when I proposed, I did it in a movie theater. Today, thinking we could finally go public, I had booked the largest theater in the city to relive old memories with her, but she stood me up in the end. I calmly replied: “I won’t be going. You can give it to someone else.” Just after hanging up, Cora sent me a message: “I have a business dinner tonight. Can’t go to the movie.” This short sentence seemed strange to me. Cora never bothered to inform me before. She would just stand me up directly. But soon I understood why. Just now, Adam suddenly posted on social media. In the photo, Cora was holding popcorn in one hand and feeding Adam soda with the other. The caption read: I like peace and quiet, so the boss rented out the whole theater for me. The soda she fed me herself was so sweet! What a coincidence. So the “other customers” the theater manager mentioned were the two of them. I didn’t ask Cora why she lied about having a business dinner, nor did I feel sad at all. Now my heart was as still as water. I just wanted to get a good night’s sleep. After washing up, I fell into a deep sleep, the best sleep I’d had in years. But in the middle of the night, I was awakened by the sudden bright light in the bedroom. I blinked, finally adjusting to the strong light, only to find Cora standing by my bed. She stared at me with disbelief and exclaimed: “James, you actually fell asleep?” Chapter 3 I was drowsy and looked at my phone screen. It was already 3 AM. This late, and Cora hadn’t stayed out overnight? In the past, whenever Adam had a stomach ache, Cora would stay up all night taking care of him, afraid it would recur. Now, Cora seemed very unhappy, her face dark as she complained: “James, I come home so late, and you don’t even send a message to check on me or wait up for me at home. Isn’t that too much?” I’m too much? I rolled my eyes internally. In the past, when I worried about her safety and called her, she would say I was deliberately checking up on her and didn’t trust her. When I waited for her to come home late at night, prepared a midnight snack for her, massaged her, washed her feet, she would say I was too idle and couldn’t sleep, and that she needed to give me more work. Now that I wasn’t serving her, she was still unhappy. A woman’s heart, unfathomable. I just mumbled a response and was about to turn off the light to continue sleeping. Cora pushed me and leaned on me like she had no bones: “James, I’m so tired today. Aren’t you going to prepare a foot bath for me?” I smelled Adam’s cologne on her. How disgusting. In the past, I would have eagerly served her without her asking, until I saw her fall asleep. Now I just thought she was being troublesome. I pushed her away. I frowned deeply, my tone a bit harsh from being woken up: “I’m very tired. Take care of your own things.” Cora looked stunned, as if she hadn’t reacted to me pushing her away yet. After a long while, her hand gripping her purse strap turned white from the force, and she said through gritted teeth: “James, just because I didn’t have dinner with you, you treat me like this? You’ve really changed!” “You think I want to come home?” With that, she stormed out, slamming my door so hard it shook. I heard the sound of her taking her keys and leaving. In the past, I would definitely have gone out to make up with her, begging her not to leave. Now I just turned off the light and went straight to sleep. The next morning I slept in and woke up feeling refreshed. I had originally planned to make breakfast but was surprised to find Cora was at home. In the past, without me coaxing her, she would give me the cold shoulder until the very end, always leaving early for the company. She was sitting on the living room sofa with an exquisite gift box on her lap, her fingers weaving a butterfly knot. Seeming to hear movement, she turned her head. Cora stepped forward, grabbed my wrist, and fastened the watch from the gift box onto it. The cold touch made my wrist tremble. Cora held my wrist and looked at it again and again, very satisfied, and said: “It’s really nice. The size is just right, and the style is low-key and elegant.” I had seen this watch in a magazine. It was this year’s latest model, worth several hundred thousand dollars. But before I could pull my hand away, she deftly took off the watch, carefully wiped it with a handkerchief. As she put it back in the gift box, she muttered: “It’s a good thing you and Adam have similar wrist sizes. If it fits you, he’ll definitely like it too.” Looking at the top of Cora’s head, I felt it was ironic. Of course, Adam was the one who liked luxury watches. How could Cora possibly turn back? Cora put on her coat, took the gift box, and walked towards the door with light steps. But I reached out and stopped her, taking out the papers I had printed yesterday: “Cora, could you sign these documents?” Cora frowned, not even looking up, somewhat impatiently: “Sign them when we get to the office.” I pushed the documents towards her: “It’s not company business. It’s important and won’t take much of your time.” Cora took a deep breath and grabbed the documents from my hand with a resentful look, muttering: “Always giving me trouble.” Her gaze moved to the documents in her hand, and the next second, her fingers flipping through the papers froze. Because it was a divorce agreement. Chapter 4 Cora was stunned for a moment, then slammed the divorce agreement hard on the shoe cabinet. She sneered: “James, I thought you had something new, but it’s just divorce drama.” “Fine, you think you’ve done a big project and your wings have hardened?” “I’m too busy to deal with your little temper.” I continued to hold the divorce agreement in front of her eyes and calmly said: “I’m not throwing a temper, Cora. I’m setting you free. You can give Adam official status now.” But Cora frowned fiercely, grabbed the divorce agreement from my hand and crumpled it. Seemingly not satisfied, she tore it a few times, scattering paper like snow. She pointed at me, her eyes cold: “You say you’re not jealous, James, but I’m warning you not to bring up divorce again.” “My care for Adam is just because I see our past selves in him. It’s appreciation for talent, not as dirty as you think!” “I was planning to find a chance to officially announce our relationship. You’re really disappointing me like this!” With that, she turned and stormed out without waiting for my response, her high heels clicking loudly on the floor. I had expected this result and wasn’t very disappointed. Since we couldn’t part on good terms, I had a lawyer draft a divorce lawsuit for me. Additionally, I sent my resignation to HR. Soon, HR called, asking me to bring my documents to the company to process my resignation in person. But as soon as I entered the door, I heard my colleagues’ compliments. “Mr. Chen, that watch on your wrist is this year’s latest Patek Philippe model, right? The CEO really cares about you!” “CEO Cora and Mr. Chen make such a perfect couple. With both of you leading, our company will definitely develop better and better!” Adam pretended to scratch his head sheepishly, showing off the brand new watch on his wrist. As soon as he saw me, he quickly walked over, enthusiastically grabbing my hand and smiling: “James, you’re finally here. Cora said I’ll be quite busy with the project coming up, so she wants to treat everyone to milk tea to take care of me. What flavor do you want? Hurry and tell me.” I shook off his hand. But before I could speak, Cora, who had been coldly watching me from the side, stepped forward and shielded Adam behind her. “James, you’re late, and you still dare to ask for milk tea?” “I’ll have HR dock your perfect attendance bonus. Also, how can someone with such poor time management handle the project manager’s job? I think you’d better not get involved in the company’s important projects.” “Start from an intern position and learn the company’s rules properly!” Adam pretended to be surprised, tugging at Cora’s sleeve and advising in a low voice: “Cora, isn’t this a bit too much? The project is almost done. Even if James doesn’t have any merit, he’s put in the effort.” Cora looked me up and down, raising her chin like a proud peacock, and snorted coldly. “If everyone was as petty as him, we couldn’t compare to you at all. It’s his own fault for not being ambitious!” “Adam, from now on, you take over James’s projects. You’re the real project manager now.” Adam’s face was full of greed, but his mouth was still refusing: “Cora, this isn’t right. After all, I’m still young and inexperienced…” The seasoned office workers present saw that Cora was displeased with me and chimed in: “CEO Cora is so wise. Little James has gotten a bit cocky. He didn’t work overtime yesterday and was late today. I think he needs some strict management!” “I’ve always felt that Mr. Chen is very talented. Although James has some experience, he’s no match for the new talent.” Cora raised an eyebrow, looking extremely reluctant, and said haughtily: “If you perform well, I might consider keeping you…” I really couldn’t listen to these people’s back-and-forth anymore and directly interrupted Cora. I frowned and said coldly: “I’m sorry, CEO, but you seem to have misunderstood. I came to the company to process my resignation.” Cora was stunned and exclaimed: “What?” Someone from HR came over and whispered something in her ear. Cora’s face grew darker, the crease between her brows deepening: “James, you’re really making a scene, aren’t you!” “First divorce… resignation, then sarcastic remarks. Don’t forget, the company’s financing was successful, and we’re about to go public!” “When that happens, I’ll give bonuses to all employees. This is a great company that others would kill to get into!” I just looked at Cora indifferently: “I know, CEO. Please approve my resignation request as soon as possible. Otherwise, I’ll have to file for labor arbitration.” Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what was happening. Cora clenched her fists, her fingernails digging deep into her palms. She seemed not to feel the pain, sticking out her neck stubbornly: “Fine, go ahead and leave. I’ll sign it myself! Once you’re gone, I’ll immediately promote Adam to project manager!” She snatched the documents from HR’s hands and made a show of signing, but her eyes were fixed on me, closely observing my reaction. Seeing that I still had no expression, she added a few more sentences: “After the company goes public, I’m not only going to promote Adam and give him a raise, but I’ll also buy him a car and a house. This is how we treat our key contributors!” I couldn’t help but laugh. I knew she was deliberately using Adam to provoke me, wanting me to back down. But she didn’t know that just now, our partners had contacted me, saying they wanted to come to the company to claim compensation. They were already downstairs. Cora stared blankly at my raised corner of the mouth, somewhat annoyed: “What are you laughing at?” I said coldly: “Let him explain it to you.” As I spoke, I smirked sarcastically and stepped aside. The next moment, the representative of our partners walked in from behind me. He looked very serious: “CEO, we will be suing your company for breach of contract and terminating all cooperation!”

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In my past life, I won the grand prize of $99,000 at the company’s annual party. But my coworker publicly accused me of having an affair with our manager, claiming we had rigged the prize draw. From then on, I fell into a trap of trying to prove my innocence. Whether it was prize money, project bonuses, or promotion opportunities, I had to give them all up to avoid suspicion. But my coworkers still weren’t satisfied. At a construction site, they pushed me into a deep pit and buried me alive. Only as I lay dying did I learn the truth – my coworker was the one actually having an affair with our manager. They had conspired to frame me so they could take my position. Given a second chance at life, I decided to beat them at their own game. At the annual party, I preemptively confessed to dating the manager, announcing we’d been together for a year. 0 “Congratulations Rachel! It’s year-end and everyone’s rushing to submit expense reports. How did yours get approved so quickly?” “If you’ve got some secret trick, you can’t keep it to yourself. We’re all colleagues here – you wouldn’t want to see us stressed out over a bit of money, would you?” Amber tossed an expense report onto my desk, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Before I could defend myself, she continued: “I heard you had dinner with Mr. Blake last night. No wonder your expenses got approved today. Talk about greasing the wheels! What did you treat him to?” Amber claimed I’d treated the manager to dinner, but her mocking gaze roved over my face and chest, clearly implying I’d used my feminine charms to bribe the boss for preferential treatment. Everyone in the office was already distracted as the year wound down. Amber’s loud voice immediately drew all eyes to me. “Oh, so that’s how it is! I was wondering why Mr. Blake had no plans yesterday but still waited around for Rachel to leave work together. Tsk tsk.” “Rachel, come on. It’s not like they won’t reimburse us eventually. Why did you have to cut in line?” “Was it really worth buying dinner just to get reimbursed first? Seems excessive.” Gossip and speculation filled the office. Amber looked increasingly smug. Seeing me at a loss for words, she assumed I had no defense and started openly spreading rumors. “Rachel’s got quite the sweet deal going. Don’t our bonuses, raises, and promotions all depend on Mr. Blake’s say-so? I bet Rachel’s about to get promoted.” The entire office stared at me intently. Their gazes – eager, fierce, resentful – felt like they could pierce right through me. But my mind was stuck on memories of my past life. It had started just like this. Amber inexplicably spread rumors that the manager and I were having an affair. To prove my innocence, I was forced to give up everything I’d earned through my own hard work. First it was the chance to submit expenses first. Then the grand prize I won at the company party. Finally, a promotion opportunity. Amber’s relentless accusations made her seem like she was championing fairness and justice. In the end, she reaped all the benefits. I was reassigned from the office to a construction site. While inspecting the work quality there, Amber pushed me into a pit full of steel rebar. Only in that moment did I realize the truth – Amber was the one actually having an affair with the manager. They had conspired to frame me so they could take my position. 0

“Look, she’s speechless. Amber must be telling the truth after all.” “We absolutely cannot allow this kind of impropriety in our company. Rachel Johnson, give up your expense reimbursement priority right now!” The crowd was getting riled up. I had become public enemy number one. Someone asked nervously, “What if Mr. Blake retaliates against us?” Hearing this, Amber made a grand gesture. “What are you afraid of? I’m the one who exposed this. If there are any consequences, I’ll bear them alone!” Her bold declaration won a round of applause. As people clamored for me to give my reimbursement priority to Amber, I calmly stood up. Looking Amber straight in the eye, I said, “Technically, it wasn’t my turn to submit expenses first. And yes, I did use connections to cut in line. That part is true.” Amber’s smug expression grew even more pronounced. But she wouldn’t be smiling for long. I turned to address the crowd. “If I used connections to get preferential treatment, and Mr. Blake gave me special privileges, shouldn’t he be disciplined too?” In my past life, faced with accusations and false charges, I had only wanted to quickly prove my innocence. I didn’t realize Mr. Blake and Amber were in cahoots, so I fell into a trap of trying to defend myself. No matter how much evidence I produced, as long as Mr. Blake insisted he was my boyfriend, who would believe anything I said? Now I understood – if you’re going to accuse me, I’ll drag you all down with me! Sure enough, at the mention of disciplining the manager, the previously righteous crowd suddenly fell silent. They were only brave enough to bully me as a group. Deep down, they knew that whether it was expense reimbursement priority or promotion opportunities, none of it would actually benefit them in the end. They just wanted to see someone else suffer. Amber hadn’t expected me to respond this way. She rushed to defend her lover. “You brought this on yourself by being cheap and easy. It has nothing to do with anyone else. Mr. Blake is a victim too!” The others immediately chimed in to agree. “That’s right, if you hadn’t seduced Mr. Blake, he wouldn’t have given you special treatment.” “We all know what kind of person Mr. Blake is. He just fell for your tricks for a moment.” “Maybe she’s framing him! Mr. Blake could be getting blackmailed.” 0

Memories of my past life began to overlap with the current scene. Looking at these people’s unchanged faces, I could only laugh coldly to myself. The sales department’s salaries were based on performance. If you didn’t meet the company’s targets, you only got the base salary of 2000. A n d 2000.And2000 was barely enough to survive on in this big city. When I first came here from my small hometown, sales was the only job I could get without a degree or connections. To meet my targets, I went from never drinking to being able to outdrink a table full of men. I stood on street corners handing out flyers in freezing weather, sometimes for an entire day. Having been through hard times myself, I wanted to help others when I could. After becoming the top salesperson, I often shared my performance numbers with colleagues to ensure everyone in the sales department got at least $5000 a month. Not only that, I would win back clients they had lost and handle difficult situations they couldn’t manage. I remember how grateful they always were when I shared my performance numbers with them, helping them calculate how much they’d be able to earn that month. “Thank you so much Rachel! I don’t know what I would’ve done this month without you.” “Rachel, you’re the best! You even bought us gloves and scarves. Now we won’t get frostbite when we’re out chasing sales.” “We love you Rachel!” But look at them now. Where was any trace of gratitude for what I’d done? In my past life, Amber’s accusations were full of holes, but they believed her without question. They immediately banded together to report me to the boss, demanding I be fired. When I produced evidence proving my innocence, they made snide remarks, asking if I could guarantee I’d always remain pure and innocent in the future. After Amber got promoted, she didn’t have the skills to lead the sales team to meet targets. Everyone naturally blamed me, insisting I take on the entire department’s sales goals. And in my foolishness, trying to prove my abilities and innocence, I actually did it. In the end, the whole department shared the bonus, while I was relegated to the construction site. When I died tragically, not a single person remembered the good I had done. If that’s how it is, then this time we’ll see who has the last laugh! 0

Amidst the chorus of condemnation, I calmly accepted giving up my reimbursement priority and promised not to cause trouble for Mr. Blake. Amber couldn’t believe I would agree so easily. She kept pressing: “You really mean it? No take-backs!” I casually reassured her: “If I go back on my word, you can report me to the boss and get me fired.” Satisfied with my answer, Amber gleefully headed to the finance office. I opened up the performance report I had prepared earlier. In previous years, to ensure everyone in the sales department could have a good holiday bonus, I had always evenly distributed my performance numbers among those who hadn’t met their targets. That way, everyone could get a year-end bonus. But this time, I had adjusted the report to show everyone’s true performance numbers. I sent it off to the boss’s email. At this point, the rest of the sales department had no idea they were about to lose their year-end bonuses. They were excitedly discussing plans for the upcoming company party. I sat silently in my chair, listening to them talk about the party. The light in my eyes grew dim as I recalled what had happened last time. In my past life, I had won the grand prize of $99,000 that the boss had prepared. It was the biggest prize at the party. But before I could even celebrate, Amber jumped on stage and grabbed the microphone to “expose” my affair with Mr. Blake. She claimed he had told me in advance where the prize was hidden. I tried to explain, but Mr. Blake beat me to it. He rushed to apologize to the boss, admitting to the non-existent affair and confirming he had told me about the prize location. His confession caught me completely off guard. My attempts to explain became stuttering and unconvincing. Faced with Mr. Blake’s impassioned confession and my clumsy denials, the boss chose to believe him. To prove my innocence, I decided to give up the prize money. In the end, the grand prize went to Amber for her “courage” in exposing office impropriety. The boss forgave Mr. Blake for his sincere apology, viewing my continued protests as dishonest excuses. I lost my year-end bonus as well. Lost in angry memories, I glanced at the time. I knew the boss would be arriving at the office soon, just like in my past life. The moment to launch my counterattack was approaching. 0

At 3:10 PM sharp, the boss entered the office right on schedule, just like last time. But unlike my previous life, this time he stormed in looking harried, phone clutched to his ear. As soon as he entered, the boss shouted towards the sales department: “Rachel! What’s going on? Why haven’t you sent the deposit for the party venue yet? The hotel says they’re going to give our spot away!” I poked my head up from my cubicle, putting on a helpless expression. “I’m sorry boss, I couldn’t. My expense report hasn’t been approved yet, so I don’t have the money to front it.” Hearing this, the boss grew even angrier. “Didn’t I tell you to submit your expenses first? Is the finance department dead or something? Why haven’t they paid you yet!” Amber had no idea what was happening outside. She emerged from the finance office with a huge grin, eager to show off. “Being first to get reimbursed is great! $3,200 in my pocket!” She had barely finished speaking when she saw the boss’s furious face. And the boss had heard her bragging about being first to get reimbursed. “What’s going on here? I told Rachel to submit her expenses first. How did you cut in line?” Only now did Amber realize that my reimbursement priority hadn’t come from Mr. Blake’s favoritism, but from the boss himself. Her smug little scheme was about to earn her the full brunt of the boss’s rage. “Boss, I—” “You what? Were you that desperate for $3,000? Are you starving? Can’t afford clothes?” “Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused? We don’t have a venue for tonight’s party now. Are you going to find us one?” “Useless! What are you still standing there for? Waiting for me to fire you?!” Amber’s excuses died in her throat. As I stood up to head to the finance office, I brushed past her and whispered in her ear: “This is just the beginning. You’d better watch out.” Amber’s eyes widened as she bit her lip hard. But she could only watch helplessly as I walked into the finance office. I knew her heart was full of hatred for me. That hatred would make her even more vicious when she tried to frame me at tonight’s party. But it didn’t matter. As the finance stamp hit my expense report, I had already come up with a plan to turn the tables tonight. 0

Soon enough, 5:20 PM rolled around. My coworkers and I arrived at the hotel for the company party. The whole venue was decked out lavishly, a clear sign the boss had raked in serious profits this year. Otherwise he wouldn’t be so generous with that $99,000 grand prize. As soon as I entered, I spotted Amber and Mr. Blake whispering together in a corner. The two of them looked exactly as scheming as they had in my past life. After pushing me into that pit, they had stood over my body impaled on steel rebar, passing final judgment on me as I lay dying. “Rachel Johnson, this is what you get for always trying to be first at everything.” “With you around, I could never get ahead in the sales department. My husband’s position would eventually be replaced by you too.” “Look how hated you are. Even the people you helped despise you behind your back.” “Did you really think anyone needed your pathetic charity? Did it make you feel good to treat us like beggars?” My eyes had bulged with pain as I took my final breaths, unable to close them even in death. Only then did I realize that my attempts to help had been seen as humiliation in their eyes. They smiled and thanked me to my face while viewing me as their greatest enemy. Seeing my icy glare, Amber’s face changed. She quickly stepped away from Mr. Blake. This time, I didn’t sit with the sales department. Instead, I took the seat the boss had prepared for me in advance. To my right was a prize wall for the raffle draw. In the second box of the third row was the $99,000 grand prize that had led to my disgrace and wrongful death in my past life. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Amber and Mr. Blake’s gazes fixed on me as I stared at the prizes. As the top salesperson, I would be the first to draw a prize. Mr. Blake had placed that reward in this spot based on my usual habits. To escape their trap, I simply needed to choose a different prize. But I refused to back down. I had earned this through my own efforts – there was no way I would give it up!

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On our wedding day, Jason’s ex-girlfriend sent him her terminal diagnosis. She said her only dying wish was to wear a wedding dress one last time. To fulfill her request, Jason locked me in the bridal suite and prepared to marry her instead. From behind the door, his irritated voice rang out: “Can you stop being so heartless? She’s dying. What’s the harm in letting her have this moment?” Later, the boy-next-door—who had been secretly in love with me for years—climbed up to the rooftop of the venue, threatening to jump unless I agreed to marry him. Jason, his eyes red with desperation, fell to his knees and begged me: “You’re really going to throw away seven years of our relationship for him?” I brushed his hand away and replied coldly: “What else should I do? Watch him die? It’s just signing some papers. Don’t be so heartless.” One hour before the wedding was set to begin, I sat at the vanity, staring at my phone. On the screen was a photo Jason’s ex-girlfriend had sent me. She was wearing my wedding dress—the one I had painstakingly chosen—and had her arm wrapped around Jason’s. She was smiling radiantly, while Jason gazed down at her with a tenderness he’d never shown me. Her accompanying text read: “He said I look better in it than you ever could.” Then another message followed: “If you want your wedding to happen, you’ll have to beg me.” I turned off my phone and looked at the makeup artist in the mirror. My voice was cold but steady. “The wedding dress I ordered—is it really unwearable because of a fitting mistake?” The makeup artist froze, avoiding my gaze. This was the same boutique that had handled my dress, my makeup, and my photography. I had gone above and beyond to ensure every detail of my wedding was perfect, sparing no expense and holding countless meetings with their team. Her silence told me everything I needed to know. I thought back to when Jason accompanied me to my dress fittings—half the time, he was on his phone or laptop, handling “work.” Yet, when he was with her, the photos showed him laughing, his entire face lighting up. I clenched my phone tightly in my hand and exhaled slowly. “Can someone fetch Jason for me?” I said, my voice calm but firm. The makeup artist’s assistant scurried off to find him. I glanced at myself in the mirror. The bodice of the replacement dress felt suffocating, the fabric digging into my ribs. Perhaps clothes that don’t fit should never be worn in the first place. The first person to enter wasn’t Jason—it was the officiant. He looked nervous, guilt written all over his face. “I’m sorry, Miss Carter,” he said hesitantly, “but… you don’t need to attend the ceremony anymore.” “Don’t need to attend?” I asked, the absurdity of the statement almost making me laugh. “Are you telling me that I, the bride, am not needed at my own wedding?” The officiant opened his mouth to explain, but before he could, Jason walked in. “It was my decision,” Jason said, cutting him off. He was wearing the white tuxedo I had chosen for him, but the bow tie wasn’t the one I had picked. My gaze lingered on it for a moment. Jason noticed and awkwardly tugged at his collar, coughing lightly. “Rebecca has surgery in a few days,” he began, his tone almost defensive. “The hospital issued a terminal notice. She said her only wish is to wear a wedding dress—just once.” I let out a cold laugh. “And she wants to do it at our wedding?” I knew Rebecca. In the third year of my relationship with Jason, I found out about her: his childhood sweetheart, the girl-next-door, the ex-girlfriend who had lost all her hair from chemotherapy. Their families were close, and even after their breakup, their lives remained intertwined. She had moved away for treatment, and her parents had asked Jason to look after her while she was in town. At first, I respected her. I felt sympathy for a young woman whose life had been derailed by illness. But then came the late-night calls, asking Jason to bring her soup after our dates. I had tolerated it, time and again, because she was sick. Jason had always reassured me, prioritizing my feelings and only going to her when it was truly urgent. Sometimes, he even brought me along. Until today. When had he started trying on wedding dresses with her? When had he decided to give her my dress and let her take my place in our ceremony?

The air conditioning in the room suddenly felt too cold, chilling me to the bone. Jason stepped forward, reaching for my hand, but I pulled away. “Bring the dress back,” I said, my voice low but firm. “I don’t want her wearing it.” Jason frowned. “Don’t be ridiculous, Carol. It’s just a ceremony. We can always have another one.” The irritation in his tone, the way his lips tightened—like I was the one being unreasonable—stabbed at me. I stared at him, my voice sharp. “She can have the dress. But does her ceremony have to include you as the groom?” Was this her wielding her illness to manipulate him? Or had Jason already checked out of our relationship, using this as an easy way to slip away? My words hit a nerve. Jason’s face darkened, and he turned toward the door. “You’re impossible to deal with,” he snapped. “You never care about my image. You always have to make everything a spectacle.” The door slammed shut behind him, and I heard the lock click. I stared at the door, stunned, before the reality of the situation hit me. He had locked me in. I threw the skirt of my dress aside and banged on the door. “I don’t agree to this! I’ve spent months preparing for this wedding, and it’s not just some meaningless ritual to me—” His voice came from the other side, cold and impatient. “Can you stop being so heartless? She’s dying. What’s the harm in letting her have this?” I froze, my hands still on the doorknob. She’s dying. Because of her illness, I had already given up so much. Now I was expected to hand over my wedding, my husband, my dignity. But was it my fault she was sick? I took a deep breath and steadied my voice. “Jason, think carefully. Don’t do something you’ll regret.” There was a pause, then the sound of his footsteps fading away. I sank to the floor, my dress pooling around me like a cage. My mind was blank, my heart hollow. She had done it. Rebecca had destroyed my wedding. My phone buzzed on the vanity. It was my parents calling. Before I could answer, the call disconnected. The bridal suite was just behind the main hall, separated by a single door. From here, I could hear the commotion outside—the sound of a crowd murmuring in surprise, followed by applause. Another message from Rebecca popped up. It was a video. The camera panned to the screen in the hall. All the engagement photos Jason and I had spent hours taking had been digitally altered—my face replaced with hers. Every outfit, every smile, every moment of discomfort in the blazing sun—given to her. I trembled with rage, but I still tapped on the next video. This time, I saw Rebecca walking down the aisle, the spotlight following her as she approached Jason. In the shadows behind her, I saw my parents—faces pale, frantically searching for me—held in place by two security guards. Tears blurred my vision and fell onto the screen. Why had I chosen Jason? Why had I dragged my parents into this humiliation with me? I didn’t watch the rest of the videos. As the sounds of celebration continued beyond the wall, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. Slowly, methodically, I removed the ill-fitting wedding dress. I wiped away the makeup. I changed back into my own clothes. For the first time that day, I felt relief. At least I had seen Jason’s true colors before signing the marriage certificate. Better late than never.

The ceremony was finally over. The door to the bridal suite opened, and Jason stood there, rubbing his temples. He looked just as drained as I felt. “I’ll make it up to you,” he said, his voice heavy. “I’ll also explain everything to our parents. I’ll go to their house myself—” I cut him off. “No need. They’re my parents, not yours.” This had nothing to do with him anymore, so why should he bother? Jason looked stunned for a moment, then sighed, his exhaustion showing on his face. “Can you stop being so stubborn? You know Rebecca has been through so much with her illness. What’s the big deal about giving her this one thing?” Even now, he still didn’t think he was wrong. He still defended her. For a moment, I couldn’t even find the words to respond. “Fine,” I finally said, my voice calm but resolute. “Call it stubborn if you want. I’ll pack my things and move out tonight. As for the house, I’ll have someone put it on the market. If you don’t want to sell, just transfer the money my family contributed to my account.” I didn’t wait for his reply. I spotted my parents standing nearby, surrounded by relatives, and walked toward them, leaving Jason with a curt, “That’s it.” When I reached my parents, I overheard one of the relatives whispering, “So, she got dumped at her own wedding, huh?” My second aunt chimed in, shaking her head in disapproval. “Girls like her are too headstrong. That’s why this happened. Imagine the shame—getting replaced on her wedding day.” I felt a sharp pang in my chest as I saw the embarrassment on my parents’ faces. Ignoring the fact that she was my elder, I stepped forward and snapped back. “Are you my aunt or Jason’s?” I asked, my tone cold. “It was his decision to replace the bride, not mine. That’s on him—his lack of responsibility, his inability to respect me, and his failure to communicate. This has nothing to do with me being ‘too headstrong.’ If I’d known even one day earlier, he wouldn’t have been the groom today.” My aunt’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she muttered something under her breath before scurrying away. My mom reached for my hand, her worry clear in her eyes. I gave her a small smile and said softly, “It’s okay, Mom. If the wedding’s off, so be it. I don’t need it anyway.” After making sure my parents got into their car safely, I headed to the house Jason and I had prepared as our marital home to pack my things. I was composed, logical, and determined to get everything over with. But emotions don’t always follow reason. Before I even started packing, tears began streaming down my face, completely out of my control. This house was full of memories of Jason. The small ceramic pot he bought me when he found out I had bad cramps, promising to make me herbal soup every week. The walk-in closet he designed for me after seeing a video I’d liked of a “shoe ferris wheel” for high heels. I had laughed at the colorful LED lights he installed, joking that it looked too over the top. He had just pulled me into his arms and asked for a kiss as a reward. We met in college, then spent a year in a long-distance relationship when work pulled us apart. Jason had chased me relentlessly back then, going out of his way to win me over. He once told me he fell for me after watching me hold my own in a debate competition, saying I was “like a force of nature.” Back then, I was a shining light in his eyes. And now, that same light had become too much for him—he called me “too strong,” as if it was a flaw. I packed in silence, pulling myself out of the memories piece by piece. By the time I had finished, all that remained of our seven years together was a single cardboard box, barely reaching my waist. I stared at the box, wondering how I would haul it out and where I would even put it. That’s when the door burst open, and Stephanie stormed in, her fiery energy filling the room. The moment I saw her, all the strength I had been clinging to crumbled, and my nose started to sting as fresh tears welled up. Stephanie pulled me into a tight hug, squeezing me like she was trying to hold me together. “I knew I should’ve been your maid of honor,” she said fiercely. “If I’d been there, you wouldn’t have had to face this alone.” Stephanie had never liked Jason. She hated his indecisiveness, his inability to let go of Rebecca, and she had refused to attend the wedding because of him. She’d even warned me before: ”If you marry him, you’ll regret it.” She hadn’t minced words either: ”Rebecca being alive is bad enough, but if she dies, you’ll never win against a ghost.” Her words had caused a huge fight between us. We stopped talking for months. But now, looking back, I realized she’d been right all along. I was so grateful she came back. Stephanie had purposely scheduled a work trip to avoid my wedding, but as soon as she heard what had happened, she dropped everything and rushed to find me. She even took time off to stay with me, refusing to let me wallow alone. With her around, the days didn’t seem so unbearable. A week later, she was already trying to set me up with new people when Jason showed up at my door. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. A scumbag coming back to grovel? Well, I wasn’t about to let him walk all over me again.

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### It’s been ten years since my childhood friend and I ended up in this world. Ten years. That’s how long it took for him to finally tell me, “If you die, you’ll go back.” And with that, he jumped from the tower without hesitation. Blood splattered across his wife’s ivory dress. The woman who had been screaming at him just moments ago fell to her knees, wailing in anguish. I stood silently, my face expressionless, watching the scene unfold. My gaze shifted to the woman huddled in the arms of her so-called “true love.” That woman was my wife—this world’s empress. I sighed. It’s time to go home. When Zach leapt from the tower in front of me, I thought I was prepared for it. But the sight of his blood pooling on the ground still burned into my eyes, sharp and unforgiving. That night, my dreams were full of his face. He smiled at me like he always did—bright, carefree—until the blood began to pour, streaking his cheeks like crimson tears. I woke up drenched in sweat, my shirt clinging uncomfortably to my skin. The maid waiting outside my tent came in to help me change, but I waved her off. “Bring me some hot water. I’ll do it myself.” I remembered when we first arrived in this world, how Zach would constantly complain about how inconvenient bathing was here. “It’s nothing like back home,” he’d grumble. “A quick shower, and you’re good to go. This whole ‘bucket and basin’ thing is barbaric.” Now, he’s the one who left clean. Zach and I grew up together. Our parents were so close they used to joke there was something more between us. Little did they know, we both had our own romantic interests. We’d spend hours swapping stories, trading advice, and laughing at each other’s missteps. One evening, after work, we decided to hit a bar. But we never made it. The car accident came out of nowhere. The next thing I knew, we woke up here, in this strange, foreign world. Bound to the same system. The system told us that if we completed the “main storyline,” we could return home. It even let us choose our own roles. Zach, of course, was immediately smitten with Sophia—the ethereal beauty in white—and insisted on making her his target. That left me with Olivia, the exiled princess, beaten down and clinging to the scraps of her former life. The journey wasn’t easy. There were times when Zach and I barely escaped with our lives. But Sophia and Olivia were close friends, and our goals aligned. Eventually, we succeeded. I helped Olivia reclaim her throne, giving up my position as General of the Western Front to remain in the palace as her advisor. Zach married Sophia, and together they opened the most successful inn in the capital, a place called Evergreen Hall. They became the wealthiest couple in the entire empire. We thought we were done. But the system had other plans. “Your mission isn’t complete,” it told us. Zach and I were stunned. We’d done everything it asked of us. Then came the twist. Sophia and Olivia’s “true loves,” their long-lost childhood friend, Nathaniel, returned to the capital. Zach and I had never even heard of this Nathaniel before. When we pressed the system for answers, it explained that Nathaniel had been a childhood companion to both women. Years ago, he’d nearly died saving Olivia, his meridians shattered beyond repair. The Nathaniel we’d never known had been sent away to the southern mountains to train in seclusion. He hadn’t been seen in the capital since. Even the system couldn’t explain why he had suddenly returned. “Maybe it’s to advance the main storyline,” it said in that cold, mechanical voice. “You should wait and see. Complete the story, and you may finally return home.” I didn’t trust it. From the moment Nathaniel appeared, I knew he was going to turn our lives upside down. But Zach didn’t see it that way. He shrugged it off, spending his days doting on Sophia, completely unconcerned about Nathaniel. I remembered the look in his eyes just before he jumped. Zach had always been terrified of pain. But in that moment, he didn’t even hesitate. I never expected him to take such a drastic step. Honestly, I don’t even know if his plan will work. The system never mentioned anything about dying being a way to return. If it doesn’t work… I can’t bear to think about it. But one thing is certain. Someone will have to pay for this.

“Luke! Luke! Tell me—what were Zach’s last words to you?” I had just finished my bath and was in the middle of getting dressed when Sophia barged into the room uninvited. Her usually delicate, doll-like face was now ghostly pale, her wide eyes brimming with a kind of desperate pain, as though she might start crying blood. She stared at me like I held the answers to everything. I adjusted my collar slowly, letting out a cold chuckle. I didn’t bother to respond. “Luke! Say something!” She dared to grab my arm. I shoved her off with ease—though, unfortunately, she didn’t fall. Nathaniel, who had followed her in, caught her before she could stumble. “Luke,” Nathaniel said, his tone calm but tinged with fake concern, “I know you’re upset about Zach’s death, but that doesn’t give you the right to take it out on Sophia. What kind of man does that make you?” I glanced at him, my expression icy. His gaze wasn’t exactly kind either. If I looked closer, I could see the challenge in his eyes, like he was daring me to retaliate. “And who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that?” I sneered. “Get out.” “You—” “Luke! Have you lost your mind?!” Before Nathaniel could retort, Olivia strode into the room, her presence commanding as always. It seemed my courtyard had become the morning gathering spot for drama. Ever since Nathaniel returned, it had been nothing but chaos. “Olivia, don’t get mad,” Nathaniel said, putting on his best innocent smile, the kind that made my stomach turn. “Luke’s just grieving. Let’s not hold it against him.” I turned away, disgusted by his theatrics. “Luke, please…” I had almost forgotten Sophia was still here. She clung to my sleeve with trembling hands, her desperation clawing at me like nails on a chalkboard. “Tell me,” she begged, her voice cracking. “What did Zach say? Please, I need to know.” I sighed, her touch filling me with nothing but irritation. “Zach said,” I began, my voice cold and deliberate, “The one thing I regret most in this life is choosing you.” I didn’t wait for her response. I pulled my sleeve out of her grip and turned toward the door, ready to leave this suffocating room. Behind me, Sophia let out a broken, disbelieving whisper: “No… no, that’s not true. That’s… that’s impossible!” Her voice rose into a scream as she stumbled out, muttering to herself like she’d lost her mind. But before I could take another step, Olivia grabbed my arm. “Luke,” she said sharply, her voice filled with authority, “you still owe Nathaniel an apology.” I froze, stunned at her audacity. “An apology? To him?” I asked, disbelief dripping from every word. “Olivia, it’s fine,” Nathaniel said smoothly, his tone dripping with false humility. “Luke is a decorated general, a hero of war, and your partner in ruling this empire. I would never expect him to treat me as an equal.” His words were laced with mockery, the kind that was just subtle enough to make it infuriating. And Olivia, of course, fell for it completely. “I am the Empress,” she said coldly, her voice slicing through the air like a blade. “There is no ‘partner in ruling.’ And Nathaniel saved my life—his worth is beyond question.” Her words hit me like a slap in the face. I stared at her, her striking face as cold and beautiful as ever. Memories of the first time I met her flooded my mind. It had been a month since I was thrown into this world. Zach had already crossed paths with Sophia, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Meanwhile, the system had been hounding me to get close to Olivia. At the time, she was nothing more than a fallen princess. Her mother, the former Empress, had been unloved by the late Emperor, leaving Olivia powerless and forgotten. When I first saw her, she was in the palace gardens, being bullied by servants. Her face was smeared with dirt, but her eyes—her eyes burned with defiance, like a cornered wolf ready to strike. In that moment, I felt a spark of satisfaction. The system had chosen well. I saved her that day, pulling her under my protection. Using my grandfather’s influence, I paved her path to power. Step by step, I helped her ascend the throne. For her, I fought countless battles, spilling blood and sweat on the battlefield. Even Zach had nearly died protecting her once, taking a blade meant for her. His injuries were so severe that we thought he wouldn’t make it. Even Sophia, who usually avoided conflict, had argued with Olivia over it. At the time, I thought Sophia truly cared for Zach. How wrong I was. And now, standing here, listening to Olivia’s cold dismissal, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to destroy everything I had built for her. “You’re right, Your Majesty,” I said, my voice sharp with sarcasm. “Nathaniel’s heroics truly set him apart. Unlike Zach, who only nearly died taking a blade for you. Now, at least, he’s dead and out of the way. Convenient, isn’t it?” I yanked my arm free from Olivia’s grip and walked out without looking back. Let them stew in their self-righteousness. I was done.

I returned to the estate. The same estate where Zach and I had first arrived after being thrown into this world. This place had been our home. Now, Zach’s lifeless body had been brought back here at my command. I would bury him here, in the place that had been ours. And I certainly wouldn’t give Sophia another chance to defile his memory. As I stood by Zach’s coffin, my hand resting on the polished wood, a deep ache settled in my chest. Zach had always been like a little sun. Bright, carefree, full of life. He’d always had a thing for women who were strong and commanding, the kind who could keep him in line. And Sophia? She was his perfect type—adorably sweet on the outside, but with a sharp, dominant personality underneath. Eventually, Zach fell for her, hard. I still remember the way he’d grin and tell me that he didn’t want to go back to our old world anymore. “Stay here with me, Luke,” he’d say, laughing. “We can make this place home.” But now? Now Zach was gone, and I didn’t even know if he’d truly escaped this hellhole—or if he was just lost forever. How could I not hate the people who pushed him to this point? Zach and I were nothing alike. He was the forgiving one, always brushing things off with a laugh. But me? I was the kind of kid who’d destroy someone’s backpack just because they stepped on my shoes. And now someone had trampled all over me—and over Zach. Did they really think I’d just let that slide? Let’s see if they can handle the storm they’ve unleashed. “General, Sophia’s at the gates, demanding to be let in,” one of the guards informed me. I’d been expecting her. Of course, she wasn’t going to leave this alone. But late apologies are worth less than dirt. Sophia had already lost her chance. I walked out into the courtyard, keeping my expression cold as I faced her disheveled figure. “Sophia,” I said, my voice sharp and unyielding, “I’m not letting you disturb Zach again. Stop making a scene.” “Luke!” she screamed, her voice raw with desperation. “Zach was my husband! You can’t keep me away from him!” I tilted my head, a faint smirk tugging at my lips. “If I remember correctly,” I said, my tone cutting, “you tore up your marriage contract, didn’t you?” Her face twisted, but before she could respond, my mind drifted back to Nathaniel—the man who had been a thorn in Zach’s side ever since he returned. Nathaniel had made it his mission to provoke Zach at every turn, subtly stirring up trouble behind his back. Zach, being Zach, kept his temper in check for as long as he could. But one day, after Nathaniel crossed the line, Zach finally snapped and gave him a well-deserved beating. Of course, Nathaniel ran straight to Olivia to play the victim. Sophia and Zach had fought bitterly about it afterward, and Zach, true to form, didn’t defend himself. Instead, he came to me, drank himself into oblivion, and went right back to doting on Sophia the next day. I wanted to step in, to put Nathaniel in his place, but Zach always stopped me. Then came the palace banquet. Zach had gone with Sophia, and at some point during the night, Nathaniel cornered him in the palace gardens. By the time I got there, both of them were being dragged out of the fountain, soaking wet. Nathaniel immediately dropped to his knees in front of Olivia, his voice trembling with fake humility. “Your Majesty,” he said, “this was all my fault. I shouldn’t have upset Zach. I lost my balance and fell into the fountain—it wasn’t his fault.” More of his carefully crafted lies. Zach just stood there, staring at Nathaniel with a coldness I’d never seen on his face before. Before Olivia could say anything, Sophia stormed over and demanded to know what had happened. I’ll never forget the way Zach’s voice cracked as he asked her, “That jade pendant—did you give it to him?” Sophia froze, and I felt a chill run down my spine. That pendant wasn’t just any piece of jewelry. It was Zach’s family heirloom, something he’d given to Sophia as a symbol of their bond. “It’s just a piece of warm jade,” Sophia said at last, her voice dismissive. “Nathaniel’s health is poor, and I thought it might help him. You gave it to me, didn’t you? So it’s mine to do with as I please.” Zach’s laugh was bitter, hollow. “Do you even remember,” he said quietly, “that I’m your husband? And you gave our keepsake to another man?” The tension was suffocating. Olivia stepped in before things could escalate further, ordering them to settle their issues at home. I don’t know what happened after that. All I know is that the next day, Zach came to me looking like a man who’d lost everything. “She tore up our marriage contract,” he said, his voice empty. As expected, the moment I mentioned the marriage contract, Sophia froze. Her face twisted with pain, but I didn’t care. I was just about to call someone to show her out when she suddenly started muttering, her voice frantic and desperate. “Let me see Zach… He has the system, doesn’t he? He’s not really dead, right?” Her words made my heart skip for a moment. I almost wondered if Zach, in one of his lovesick moments, had accidentally spilled the secret about the system to her. “I know! He was mad at me because I tore up the marriage contract! He said back then that he’d make the system send him away!” “Luke, tell me—where did he go? I’ll go find him!” Hearing this, I was sure of it. Zach, that idiot, must’ve let something slip, and Sophia had pieced things together from there. But it didn’t matter. I had no intention of entertaining her any longer. “Sophia, please leave,” I said coldly. “You’re not welcome here.” And with that, I motioned for someone to escort her out. But before the guards could even step forward, Olivia strolled in with Nathaniel trailing behind her, as smug as ever. “Sophia, what are you doing here?!” Olivia exclaimed, feigning concern. “I told you not to bother Luke right now—he’s obviously not in the mood. Why can’t you just listen to me?” Nathaniel, predictably, chimed in with his usual syrupy tone, “Sophia, you should’ve stayed back. Luke’s clearly upset, and you’re only making things worse.” His voice was so grating I wanted to plug my ears. But something in Sophia snapped. Her eyes locked onto Nathaniel like a predator eyeing its prey. “It’s you! Zach’s mad at me because of you!” Nathaniel’s eyes widened in mock disbelief. “Sophia! How could you accuse me of that?!” he said, turning to Olivia as if for support. “It’s Luke, isn’t it? He’s been poisoning you against me again!” And, of course, he made sure to throw me a wounded look, like I’d actually done something to him. Olivia stood silently, her cold gaze fixed on me, not saying a word. I didn’t spare her a glance. I wasn’t interested in their little drama—I just didn’t want them disturbing Zach’s peace. “You’ve misunderstood me completely!” Nathaniel said, reaching into his pocket with a theatrical flourish. “Look, I even brought the jade pendant. I thought it should be buried with Zach, to honor him.” The jade pendant. Sophia stared at it, her whole body trembling as she took a hesitant step forward. But before she could get any closer, I drew my sword in one fluid motion and brought it down on Nathaniel’s hand. The blade sliced through like butter. “AHHHHHHHHH!!! MY HAND!!!” Nathaniel screamed, clutching the bloody stump where his hand used to be. “Luke, have you lost your mind?!” Olivia shouted, rushing forward to grab Nathaniel. “Someone get a doctor! NOW!” “Your Majesty,” I said coldly, stepping in front of her with my sword still drawn. “If you want him treated, I suggest you head back to the palace. Your presence here is no longer welcome.” Olivia’s face darkened, her expression like a storm cloud ready to burst. “Luke,” she said, her voice low and dangerous, “you’ve gone too far this time. Do you really think I won’t act against you?” “Your Majesty!” Nathaniel’s wails interrupted her. “It hurts! My hand! Why, Luke? WHY?!” I glanced at him, his face contorted in agony, and felt nothing but disgust. “You don’t deserve to touch that pendant,” I said, my voice sharp and unyielding. “That jade belonged to Zach. It was his lifeline. And Sophia—” I turned to her, my anger boiling over. “I’m taking it back on his behalf. Now get out. All of you. Leave this place.” I signaled for the guards to escort them out. The estate gates slammed shut behind them. This estate, the General’s Estate, was a gift from the late Emperor to my family. The stone pillars at the entrance bore his inscription: Pillars of the Nation. No soldier was allowed to set foot inside without permission. Which meant Olivia had no power over me here. She had no choice but to leave, dragging Nathaniel and Sophia with her. But this was far from over. My revenge? It was only just beginning.

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