Category: English

The night before my wedding, my fiancé took me to meet his friends. He was attentive throughout the dinner, and his friends praised him, “Your bride is so pure and innocent, Liam. You’ve hit the jackpot.” Liam smiled smugly, “Of course my wife is the best. Not like those flashy gold-diggers out there.” But when I went to the restroom, I overheard him bragging in a low voice: “Innocent? What’s the use of that? She’s like a dead fish in bed. If she wasn’t Rosalie’s twin sister, I wouldn’t even bother touching her.” The next day at the wedding, my sister showed up with a baby bump. Liam, true to his words, asked me to step aside. I laughed coldly as I tore off my veil and walked to Alexander Grant, who was sitting in a wheelchair in the audience. “They all say you like me. Now that I’m single, do you dare to marry me?” “Haha, Stella Winters has gone crazy!” “Choosing a cripple? Talk about desperate!” “What a disgrace! She’s dragging the Winters family name through the mud!” The guests’ mocking laughter pierced my ears. Each word felt like a needle stabbing into my heart. My father’s face turned purple with rage, and my mother rushed to the stage, grabbing my arm tightly. “Have you lost your mind?! Ruining yourself out of spite?!” Below the stage, Liam Carter held Rosalie close, a smirk playing on his lips. “Well, well, I underestimated her. She’s got guts after all.” Rosalie let out a scornful laugh, her voice sickly sweet, “Guts? More like she’s lost her marbles. Stella dear, are you sure you want to spend the rest of your life with a cripple?” She deliberately caressed her swollen belly, her eyes challenging and triumphant. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. I thought tearing off the wedding dress would set me free, but all it brought was more humiliation. Alexander stood up and limped towards me. Compared to the polished and handsome Liam Carter, he was a world apart. I suddenly regretted my impulsive decision. Why did I choose a disabled man? Was I really going to spend the rest of my life with him? Alexander stopped in front of me and pulled out a ring from his pocket. The stone was made of crushed diamonds, dull and lifeless, not even a full carat. The diamond ring Liam had given Rosalie was a dazzling three carats. In comparison, this ring looked pathetically cheap. The mocking laughter from the audience grew louder. “Haha, even the ring is so shabby!” “Stella Winters, are you really content with this?” Tears nearly fell from my eyes. When had I ever suffered such humiliation in my life? But when Alexander held my hand, I froze. His hand was warm and steady. “I do,” he said firmly. Unlike Liam’s flowery words or the guests’ cold mockery, these two simple words made my heart skip a beat. “Are you sure? I might bring you trouble.” “I’m not afraid,” he replied without hesitation. The audience erupted into even louder laughter. “Two losers make a perfect pair!” “A cripple and a crazy woman, what a match!” Liam spoke up loudly, “Stella, don’t be stubborn. Come back. The baby in Rosalie’s belly needs a father, and you need a whole man.” A whole man? I sneered inwardly. What kind of whole man was Liam Carter? Betrayal, deception, playing with sisters’ feelings – was that his idea of being whole? I looked at Alexander. His leg might be crippled, but his character wasn’t. “Alright, I will,” I said, extending my hand to let him put on that dull ring. The ring was small, fitting perfectly as if it was made just for me. The audience below fell into shocked silence.

Liam’s face instantly transformed from contempt to fury. He strode over and grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he might crush my bones. “Stella Winters, you’d rather choose a cripple to spite me than beg for my forgiveness?” Before I could react, my father rushed over. I thought he was going to stop Liam and protect me. Instead, he raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. The crisp sound echoed through the entire wedding venue. My cheek instantly swelled up, burning with pain. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. The mocking laughter in the hall suddenly stopped, followed by even more piercing whispers. “You ungrateful child! You’ve completely disgraced our family! Get back there right now!” my father shouted, his eyes filled with anger and disgust, without a trace of concern. I covered my face, tears nearly spilling out. Not from the pain, but from the coldness in my heart. This man was my father. Rosalie then pretended to mediate, stepping forward. “Dad, Stella is just being impulsive. Please don’t be too angry…” As she spoke, she “accidentally” stomped on my foot with her high heel. The sharp pain made me lose my balance instantly. She then pretended to lose her balance and rammed her shoulder into me hard. I stumbled and fell to the ground. The pristine white wedding dress was instantly stained with blood from my split lip. The guests below started pointing and whispering. “The Winters’ family education, tsk tsk…” “The elder daughter is crazy, but at least the younger one knows better.” “Good thing Mr. Carter chose the right one.” Rosalie stroked her belly smugly, her eyes full of challenge. Alexander tried to help me up but was blocked by Liam’s friends. “Who do you think you are? You’re not worthy of touching her!” Liam sneered. I lay on the floor, watching Alexander’s anxious but helpless face. A despair greater than physical pain welled up in my heart. Was this the man I had chosen? He couldn’t even protect me. Liam looked down at me, his face full of triumph. “Stella, do you see now? This is your choice. How can a cripple who can barely stand protect you?” He squatted down and reached out to pull me up. “Come on, come back. I can forgive and forget all this, pretend it never happened.” This man, who just last night had called me a dead fish in front of his friends, was now putting on an act of deep affection. Disgusting. I used all my strength to slap his hand away. “Get lost!” Liam’s face instantly darkened. “You ungrateful bitch.” He stood up and kicked the wedding dress beside me. “Since you’re so cheap, go ahead and be with your cripple. But don’t come crying back later!” Seeing this, my father stepped forward again. “You ungrateful child, apologize right now!” My mother also rushed over, crying and wailing. “Stella, have you gone mad? Are you ruining your life just to spite us?” The guests below pointed and whispered, enjoying the spectacle. “Stella Winters has really lost it.” “Choosing a cripple out of spite, she must be desperate.” “What sin did the Winters family commit to have such a daughter?” Rosalie timely came forward, cradling her belly. “Stella, please calm down. We may have had misunderstandings, but Liam truly loves you. Look at Mr. Grant, he can’t even protect you. Is he really suitable for you to spend your life with?” Her words cut deep into my heart. I lay on the ground, feeling the malice from all directions. My parents’ disappointment. My ex-boyfriend’s mockery. My sister’s provocation. The guests’ ridicule. And… the helplessness of the man I had chosen. Had I really made the wrong choice? At this moment, Alexander finally broke free from those people’s restraint. He limped towards me, each step difficult. He knelt down and gently helped me up. “I’m sorry you had to suffer this,” he said softly. Then he turned to face Liam. “You’re right, I can’t protect her.” My heart instantly sank to the bottom. Was he going to abandon me too? But in the next second, he added: “But at least, I won’t hurt her.” He looked at everyone below the stage. “You mock her for going crazy, for choosing me out of spite. But have you ever thought about what would make a woman make such a choice on her wedding day?” The hall fell silent. “It’s betrayal. It’s deception. It’s hurt from those closest to her.” “My leg may be crippled, but my heart isn’t. I may not be able to give her the best material life, but I can give her the truest feelings.” Liam’s face turned ashen with rage. “Stop with this sentimental nonsense! You cripple, what right do you have-” “What right do I have?” Alexander interrupted him, “I have the right to love her. What about you?” “Stop with this mushy talk. Guys, get him out of here.” With that, Liam and his friends pushed Alexander out of the wedding venue.

My mother finally moved. Not to help me up, but to yank me off the ground. Before I could react, Rosalie had already grabbed my other arm. “Mom, what are you doing!” I struggled, but their combined strength was greater than mine. “Shut up! You’ve embarrassed us enough!” my mother hissed. They dragged me towards the back of the stage. The guests watched this scene unfold, some pulling out their phones to record. “Let go of me! Have you all gone mad?” I shouted. I tried to break free, but Rosalie took the chance to pinch my waist hard. The sharp pain made me lose all strength to resist. They dragged me to a storage room backstage filled with junk. The door slammed shut, followed by the sound of a key turning in the lock. I rushed to the door, pounding on it frantically. “Open the door! You can’t lock me in here! Open up!” Outside, Liam’s amplified voice came through the speakers, echoing throughout the venue. “Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for that little scene earlier. It was quite embarrassing.” “Right now, my abandoned ex-fiancée is reflecting on her actions in a little dark room backstage. How long do you think it will take her to come to her senses?” Laughter erupted from the audience. “Mr. Carter is so witty!” “This is better than watching a movie!” “That woman deserves it!” I had become the public laughingstock of this wedding. My phone vibrated. I took it out and saw a message from my mother. “Stella, stop making a scene. Your sister’s happiness is the most important thing. Kneel down and apologize to Liam, and we can put this all behind us.” I stared at the words on the screen. My sister’s happiness is the most important thing. What about me? Doesn’t my happiness matter? Doesn’t my dignity matter? Am I destined to be humiliated, locked up, and treated like a joke? The music outside grew louder. Liam and Rosalie started dancing. The guests’ applause and cheers grew more enthusiastic. And I, like a piece of trash, was locked in this dark corner. My phone vibrated again. This time it was from Rosalie. “Sis, I know you’re angry right now. But think about it, Liam is so outstanding, he deserves better. Don’t be so stubborn, okay?” I slid down against the door, curling up into a ball. The physical pain, the betrayal from my family, the humiliation from my lover, and the departure of the man who said he would protect me – all of it pushed me into a bottomless abyss. I didn’t even have the strength to cry anymore. Let them laugh. Let them gloat. I had nothing left anyway. Liam’s voice came from outside: “Everyone, now it’s time for the most exciting part. Let’s go see if our ex-fiancée has come to her senses!” Footsteps approached. The sound of a key turning in the lock. The door opened, and blinding light poured in. Liam stood in the doorway, followed by a group of guests, all holding up their phones to record. “Stella, have you thought it through? Ready to apologize?” I lifted my head, about to speak. Suddenly, the main doors of the wedding hall burst open. A group of people stormed in, with Alexander standing at the front, followed by dozens of intimidating bodyguards in black suits. The entire hall fell silent. Everyone was stunned, including Liam. Alexander took off his suit jacket and strode towards me. His leg was still lame. He draped the jacket over my shoulders, then lifted me up in his arms without a word. “What are you doing! Let her go!” Liam finally reacted. Alexander didn’t even glance at him. At that moment, I felt alive again. “Alexander Grant, you think bringing a few men makes you invincible? You’re still just a cripple!” Liam shouted, his face red with anger and embarrassment. Just then, a middle-aged man in a suit stepped forward. He held a document which he threw directly in Liam’s face. “Mr. Carter, from this moment on, 35% of Carter Group’s shares belong to Mr. Grant. You have been removed from the board of directors.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297177”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I was added to a weird group chat with the whole class. The group name: **[High-Temperature Apocalypse]**. Everyone else picked a safe house in the wilderness or a place with abundant water. I chose a high-rise apartment with no water or electricity. Chloe, the school’s queen bee, mocked me. No one wanted to team up with me, betting I’d die within three days. When it came to choosing abilities, everyone went for spatial or water-based powers. I picked reverse photosynthesis, which lets me get energy from air humidity. The group chat immediately muted me. They didn’t want to see my dying pleas for help. When the system removed the team-up and admin functions, everyone saw the group name reset: **[Heavy Rain Apocalypse]**. On that scorching summer day, my whole class and I were dragged into a strange group chat. **[Hello, 50 Hosts. Your group admin is the Apocalypse System.]** **[Survive for one week in the game, and you’ll receive a 100 million bonus.]** As if expecting skepticism, it immediately sent out a 1 million cash bonus in the chat. The students, who’d initially thought it was a prank or scam, instantly perked up. They frantically scrambled to split the bonus. “Holy crap, a week from now, I’ll be set for life!” “Quick, open it! Open it!” Only Finn, the class Vice President, seemed confused. “And if we don’t make it, do we die?” **[A total wipeout will reset the game. If there’s a winner, the game closes. Mid-game quitters must return the 1 million.]** Everyone exploded. Those who hadn’t snatched a bonus screamed even louder. “See, I knew it was a scam! I’m leaving the group!” “Go ahead, let’s see if you really have to return the 1 million.” But half an hour passed, and the number of members didn’t drop. Everyone was successfully hooked. The admin ignored the commotion and presented an option. Choose your safe house: 1. A 20th-floor apartment in a downtown city complex, no water, no electricity. 2. A countryside cabin, suitable for farming. 3. An uninhabited island, rich in food resources. 4. A city air-raid shelter, sturdy door, low temperature. 5. A food factory, abundant resource reserves. “Vice President, pick the food factory! You’re always so nosy and like managing things anyway.” “Yeah, Iris, then we can be merciful and team up with you.” Ultimately, no one chose option 1. Except me. Chloe, the school’s queen bee, gasped dramatically. “Iris, are you insane? A high-rise apartment with no water or electricity in a high-temperature apocalypse? You’ll be baked alive by the third day!” “Is it because you want to seem trendy living in the city, so you picked it without thinking it through?” “And she’s the Vice President, how dumb~” Chloe was usually everyone’s darling. As soon as she spoke, several guys agreed with her, mocking me. Even a few students who were about to pick option 1 canceled and chose something else. Five minutes passed, options closed, and the admin spoke again. **[Each Host is a temporary administrator. Hosts with the same option can choose teammates. Teammates will be allocated to the same safe house by default.]** Chloe immediately got excited. “Are there any lucky souls who chose the island like me? We can have a party there!” As soon as she said that, a dozen guys jumped out, begging to team up with her. She beamed, then mockingly @-ed me. “Oh my, so many classmates want to team up with me! Maybe I can spare a few for Iris @Iris? No one picked her, how pathetic!” Yes, everyone had teamed up. Except me.

After enduring dozens of mockery messages, Finn finally stepped in to restore order. “Hey, everyone, stop fighting! Admin, when does it start?” **[One more option: your ability for the coming week.]** 1. Infinite fresh water resources. 2. Invulnerable steel body. 3. Teleportation. 4. Infinite storage space. 5. Reverse photosynthesis. The chat instantly grew serious. Everyone started analyzing these abilities for high-temperature survival rates. Chloe got excited, giving a bunch of totally illogical advice, urging her male admirers to pick the infinite fresh water resource, claiming it would boost their survival rate. She chose infinite storage space herself: “I can help everyone store resources and avoid conflicts, after all, you’re all my good little babies~” Finn chose teleportation: “I can instantly go to your locations to save people.” In the end, no one chose option 5. Except me. I was mocked for dozens of messages again. “What kind of weird ability is that? Sounds like some random filler picked by the test setter to make themselves look smart.” “Hahahaha, what the hell did Iris pick? Doesn’t that mean she gets hungrier in the sun? Won’t she die even faster?” “Must’ve studied herself silly. Good thing we’re not in the same safe house as her!” “Some people act like Miss Perfect on her high horse, but now she’s just picking random abilities for herself. She should learn from Chloe and actually think about others!” I just took all their mockery, saying nothing. Finn, however, seemed to sense something subtly. He private messaged me. “Why are you being so foolish? You’ll be eliminated so quickly!” “Are you still mad I rejected your confession? Are you trying to make me worry this way?” I rolled my eyes and blocked him. Back in the group chat, everyone had confirmed their choices. The admin spoke again. **[Preparations complete. Game starting soon.]** **[Admin privileges will be disabled on the third day. Everyone can modify their teams before then.]** **[Deploying safe houses.]**

Day one, light rain. My apartment was calm and peaceful, with only the patter of rain outside. “Chloe: @everyone See? It’s raining! It definitely has to rain to cool things down before the heat wave, right?!” She followed up with a smug, sassy head-toss emoji. “Some people @Iris, feeling scared now? While it’s not hot enough to die today, hurry up and get a basin to collect water! Tomorrow, the moment the sun comes out, your crappy building will turn into an oven. Don’t go crying and quitting the group on the second day, that’d be so embarrassing!” The others, who had been wondering about the rain, immediately became lively, praising her intelligence. Finn’s message seemed out of place. “@Iris, how are things on your end? Did you find any supplies in your safe house?” This concerned inquiry provoked Chloe’s displeasure. “Vice President! Why are you so worried about her?!” “If you were so worried, why didn’t you team up with her back then? Feeling sorry for her now? Then go find her yourself! Humph!” Followed by a string of exaggerated emojis. Finn fell silent. The group chat also became eerily quiet for a few seconds, with only the faint sound of raindrops hitting the window. Soon, one of Chloe’s minions jumped out, directing his anger at me. “What’s wrong with the Vice President caring about everyone’s safety? Iris, you’re digging your own grave, don’t drag the Vice President into getting yelled at by Chloe!” “Exactly! Just seeing her message annoys me. Let’s mute her. That way, if she’s really dying, she won’t be whining and crying for help in the group, wasting resources and ruining everyone’s mood. Anyway, zero people want to save her!” **[Administrator ‘Mike’ has muted ‘Iris’.]** The cold system prompt popped up on my phone screen. No one said a word for me. Good. Peace and quiet. I put down my phone and started searching the apartment. The space wasn’t large, the layout was straightforward, but it was empty—not a single grain of rice. Finally, I pushed open the balcony door and took a deep breath. The scent of water molecules in the air filled my body. Reverse photosynthesis. As long as there are water molecules, I can replenish my energy. This time, I wouldn’t be troubled by any resource shortages. I felt mentally refreshed, and the faint hunger disappeared.

I sealed all windows except for the balcony, making sure the house wouldn’t get damp later, then I checked my phone. The class group chat was still flooded with messages. “Haha, the heavens sent us water! The field was just tilled, perfect for planting! I’m going to grow a whole vegetable garden in these ten days!” “Good haul, guys! Just went to sea and caught a few big fish! Fish BBQ party tonight!” Chloe also sent a photo: a beach and palm trees on an island, with a mountain of supplies in the center of the frame. Cases of bottled water, vacuum-sealed meats, canned goods, and even a few bottles of red wine. A few guys were gathered around her, their faces plastered with fawning, ‘look what I got for you’ smiles. “Oh my, I just can’t with them~” “I told them not to give me so much! Good thing my portable space is big enough, so I’ll grudgingly help everyone store it~ To be fair, if anyone needs anything, remember to register with me, okay~” Messages of envy and flattery flooded the screen. Some also grumbled about the piled-up resources. “…So much stuff, can it really all be registered and distributed? Feels like it’ll be a mess…” “Alex, what do you mean? Are you questioning Goddess Chloe?” “Chloe is doing this to prevent a free-for-all! If you’re not happy, go team up with Iris! Her crappy high-rise, not even a bottle of water there, absolutely no one will fight you for anything!” I closed the group chat, and with the sound of rain outside my window, I fell into a deep sleep.

Day two, heavy rain. It was no longer yesterday’s gentle drizzle but a torrential downpour. Water quickly accumulated in the city’s low-lying areas. The balcony of my 20th-floor apartment had become like a grotto with a cascading waterfall. I walked barefoot to the balcony door, greedily soaking up the water molecules. My whole body surged with power! I reinforced the balcony door and carved out the bottom of the railing to create a simple drainage system. Unless the balcony’s weight bearing capacity failed and it collapsed, the rainwater wouldn’t get into the house. The class group chat had already exploded. “Damn it, the rain’s too heavy! All the seeds we just sowed are ruined! The water’s almost flooding into the house!” “Help! The island’s tide is rising! Our high ground is almost submerged, and a lot of our food has been washed away!” “My ability is even water generation, completely useless now!” “@Chloe! Didn’t you say this ability was life-saving? What do we do now?!” With their interests jeopardized, many people turned their anger towards Chloe, who had been everyone’s darling just yesterday. Chloe looked aggrieved: “?? My fault?” “Did I hold a knife to your throats and force you to choose fresh water resources? You were all fawning over me, scrambling to pick it just to show off to me! And now you’re blaming me?” Finn tried to maintain order, his voice betraying a hint of imperceptible anxiety. “Everyone calm down!” “Chloe, this isn’t the time to argue. You have so many resources stored in your space, quick, take them out for everyone in this emergency!” Chloe’s voice rose even higher, laced with a tearful, spoiled tone. “Why should I?!” “I worked hard to collect those! I haven’t even finished registering them! And you want me to take them out now when the situation is unclear? What if the sun comes out tomorrow? Fifty-degree heat! That water will be life-saving!” Her words were like cold water splashed into a hot oil pan. “Chloe, are you still thinking about your registration at a time like this! Still thinking about high temperatures tomorrow? Does this rain look like it’s going to stop?” “You hoarded so many resources in your own space, aren’t you just trying to hold us hostage?” “Vice President, say something!” The group chat erupted into chaos, full of accusations and dissatisfaction directed at Chloe. Finn, overwhelmed trying to mediate, seemed to suddenly have an idea and @-ed me. “@Iris, aren’t you in a high-rise? It must be safe! Quick, tell us your address, I’ll teleport the people from the island over there to take shelter!” This move, however, triggered Chloe again. “Vice President, why are you always thinking of being with Iris! Do you like her?!” “I forbid it! Anyone who dares to go find her, I’ll never give them resources!” Finn said helplessly: “Chloe, stop messing around, lives are at stake!” “Who’s messing around? Don’t people need my space? Whoever swears not to go suck up to Iris, I’ll let them into my space for shelter!” With Chloe’s interference, I, who had just regained some attention, was once again forgotten by everyone. They went back to begging her for resources. She was once again the center of attention. I put down my phone and walked to a corner of the living room, where several unassuming cardboard boxes were stacked. Opening one, inside were neatly arranged power banks, laptops, and tablets, their indicator lights showing full charge. Another box held several thick physical books, a few board games, and even a small projector. These were the supplies I had quickly gathered in the few minutes when the system announced the rules, and everyone else was busy snatching cash bonuses and mocking me—some of the most useless items in a high-temperature apocalypse, but essential for maintaining sanity in a confined environment, “non-survival necessities.” I picked up a fully charged power bank, plugged it into my phone, and watched the heated arguments in the group chat. Day three, precipitation doubled again. If yesterday’s downpour was somewhat normal, today was a hurricane-level storm.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297194”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

The night before my crucial athletic scholarship tryout, a gang broke into the stadium. They beat me and humiliated me. The next day, my ex-girlfriend, Amber, spread rumors all over social media, claiming I cheated and was only after my family’s money. Back in our quiet town, my parents were suffocated by the whispers and rumors. Overwhelmed by the crushing despair, they tragically took their own lives. I promptly broke up with Amber and reported everything to the police, armed with evidence. The hospital report came back: my spine was damaged, making it impossible for me to stand for long periods, let alone run long distances. My appeals were rejected, one after another. That’s when Eleanor Vance, a powerhouse attorney, found me. She fought my case day and night. The day we won, she proposed to me. We were together for three years. My legs were useless, and I relied on a wheelchair, but she never left my side. Until today. I wheeled myself to her office to pick her up, only to overhear her tenderly coaxing her foster brother: “You said you envied his running skills? Well, he can’t run anymore.” “You admired his tall, strong build? I tampered with his medical records, making it seem like his leg nerves were damaged, so he’d be forever dependent on a wheelchair.” “Now you’re saying you envy his amber eyes? I can’t exactly gouge them out and make amber cufflinks for you, can I?”

“Why not, sis? Ever since Mom and Dad died, I only have you. You promised them you’d give me everything I wanted. Are you going back on your word?” Damian, her foster brother, wrapped his arms around Eleanor’s arm, his voice laced with a hint of grievance. Eleanor looked down, her fingertips gently tapping his nose. It was a comforting gesture. “Tonight is our three-year anniversary. All I have to do is sweet-talk him, and he’d give me anything, not just his eyes, but his very life.” Eleanor’s legal assistant, standing nearby, couldn’t stand it anymore. “Mr. Alex has suffered enough these past years, Ms. Eleanor. Mr. Damian, you already got what you wanted: first place in the tryouts, a strong physique, and Amber’s attention. Why keep tormenting Mr. Alex?” Amber! Those two words pierced my heart like ice. Wasn’t that my ex-girlfriend’s name? Damian laughed, a bit too loudly. He reached out and pushed the assistant’s shoulder. “I’m getting together with Amber next month, but the damn thing is, she still has that cripple’s photos on her phone.” “Even in her sleep, she’d gaze at his eyes, claiming she’d always admired how focused and profound Alex’s eyes were.” He changed the subject, turning his head to Eleanor. “Sis, tell me, are that cripple’s eyes really that beautiful?” Eleanor raised an eyebrow, looking nonchalant. “His eyes?” “How would I know? My gaze never lingered on trash like that. All I care about is my precious little brother being happy.” The early spring evening wind was still chilly. My hands, gripping the wheels of my chair, were stiff with cold. So love really can be faked. Was the salvation I once believed in just another abyss? I scoffed at my own foolishness, furiously pushing the wheels, desperate to escape. But my wheelchair got stuck in a pothole. I pushed frantically, my hands already raw and bloody. With a violent shove, the chair made a loud noise, a part seemed to come loose. I tumbled out of my wheelchair. The commotion caught Eleanor’s attention at the company entrance. She rushed towards me, kneeling down and shielding me with her body.

Seeing the scrapes on her arm, my heart lurched. “Alex, what are you doing here? It’s windy out, and you’re always so frail. What if something happened to you? How would I live alone?” The love in her eyes seemed to overflow. She looked at my bloody hands, her face filled with anguish. For a moment, I was disoriented, unable to tell which version of her was acting. It wasn’t until her tears fell onto my wounds, stinging, that my mind cleared. “Alex, why aren’t you speaking? Are you scared? It’s okay, I’ll take you home. Don’t be afraid.” She had said those same words three years ago, the day she confessed her feelings to me. She told me we were both people with no one to rely on, and she wanted to be my rock. I believed her. But at that moment, I realized it was all a joke. It was she who had turned me into someone with no one to rely on. Damian, unable to hold back, strode towards me. “Brother-in-law, I’m here for you too. Don’t worry, even if you’re not as mobile now, we won’t ever look down on you.” “From now on, just tell me if you need to go out. I’ll go with you. It’ll be safer that way.” On most days, Damian was cheerful and handsome. Living under the same roof, we’d never even had a single argument. When I fell down the stairs that year, he was the first to find me and rush me to the hospital. The conversation between the siblings at the company entrance echoed in my ears. As I thought about it, my chest tightened, and my whole body went numb. So that oily spill that caused my fall down the stairs that year was all his doing. And my legs, which could have recovered, were made worse by Eleanor’s fake medical records, making me miss the optimal treatment time, forever losing the ability to walk normally. I shoved Eleanor away from me, my eyes wide with horror. She froze for a second, a flicker of displeasure crossing her face. As if she had no more patience to console me. She shot a look at her assistant. “Get him in the car. I rented a yacht. Tonight’s anniversary has to be perfect.” I lifted my gaze in terror, meeting Damian’s eyes. He was staring at my eyes with a knowing, significant smile. My eyes inexplicably stung, and I remembered Eleanor saying she’d gouge my eyes out for Damian’s cufflinks. My stomach churned with nausea. The usually impartial, sharp, and capable legal elite was secretly involved in so many unspeakable deeds. I was forcibly helped into the car, sitting in the back seat with Eleanor, trembling uncontrollably. The assistant stepped on the gas, and the car headed towards the coast. I clung to a sliver of hope, looking at Eleanor. Her expression remained unchanged as she scrolled through her phone. The screen showed her chat with Damian. “Damian, don’t worry. I’ll give you whatever you want. Don’t be mad, it’s not good for your health if you get angry.” “Sis, you don’t worry either. I’ll be fine for you. You’re always the one I love most. If it weren’t for society’s views, I’d definitely choose to be with you.” Eleanor’s lips curved into an unstoppable smile as she read Damian’s messages. Sensing my gaze, she blacked out her phone screen and placed it face down on her lap. Her face remained calm, and she even reached out to caress my hair. “Alex, you once said you loved watching the sea.” “Tonight, you can watch as much as you want before we head back.” She shifted her gaze to my eyes, her hand slowly moving to my cheek. Her thumb caressed my eyelids: “I never noticed before, but Alex, your eyes are so beautiful.” I was trembling like a leaf, yet I dared not provoke her. “Watch as much as I want?” “Are we never going to the beach again?” “Or is it that my eyes are having problems too?”

Eleanor’s hand froze. A moment later, her gaze darted away, and she withdrew her hand. “Nonsense. If you want, we could buy a house by the sea. Then, you could every single day…” Watch the sea? She left those two words unsaid, and a dead silence filled the car. The assistant driving jolted their hand, swerving the steering wheel. I slammed into Eleanor’s shoulder. Eleanor immediately pulled me into her embrace, gently stroking my hair. “It’s okay. Get some sleep. I’ll wake you when we get there.” Looking at the face I had loved for three years, I couldn’t bear it and closed my eyes. After a long while, Eleanor seemed to think I was asleep. She let out a cold laugh and called her assistant’s name. “I’m warning you, if you dare to spill anything to Alex, your family will share the consequences with you.” The assistant stammered, their voice trembling. “Don’t worry, I won’t say a word.” Eleanor finally relaxed, sighing. “Blame him for getting in Damian’s way. Tonight, bring those thugs from before. I’ll get him drunk tonight, and you make sure they’re ready. Have them destroy his eyes. Even if it gets investigated, it’ll have nothing to do with us.” “If it goes to court, we’ll just say… it was those men retaliating against Alex after they got out of prison.” The assistant hesitated. “But Ms. Eleanor, Mr. Alex has a deep trauma from those men. He trembles just seeing strangers, let alone anyone besides you.” “If Mr. Alex is too traumatized, the consequences could be dire!” Eleanor reached back and gripped her assistant’s shoulder, her voice filled with cruelty. “So what? The worst that could happen is he goes insane. We’ll just keep him in the basement. I have plenty of money to support him anyway. He can live comfortably without ever working. He should be grateful.” “Unless you have feelings for my husband? Is that why you keep spouting such nonsense!” The assistant, cowed by Eleanor’s aura, could only squeeze out a few words of pleading. The car came to a smooth stop on the beach. I opened my eyes, clenching my fists as I looked at the turbulent sea. In this life, I had endured too much. I couldn’t bear this inhuman torment for another moment. Tonight, to be buried in the sea I loved most. Perhaps it was my best option. But before I die, Eleanor. I will make you pay for your actions! Eleanor thoughtfully prepared a new wheelchair for me, and she was now pushing me towards the yacht. The aroma of the early prepared dinner was inviting, but I had no mind to savor it. As she positioned my wheelchair, I slipped a sleeping pill into her drink. As we clinked glasses, Eleanor’s face flushed pink. Her movements became increasingly sluggish. My phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my pocket; it was a message from a reporter. “We heard about your experience and hope to speak out for you. Although you declined our invitation last time, I’d like to try again.” “As a rising star in the sports world back then, you were highly anticipated. But due to an assault by thugs and betrayal by your ex-girlfriend spreading rumors, your career and life plummeted.” “Although you won the lawsuit back then, the arrested individuals were hired. The real mastermind is still at large. Do you truly not want to uncover the truth of what happened that year?” My grip on the phone tightened. The hatred in my heart grew deeper. Eleanor, who was now slurring her words, looked up at me. “Alex, who are you texting? Didn’t I tell you?” “There are too many bad people in this world. It’s my fault for protecting you too well, making you so unguarded.” “You shouldn’t talk to outsiders. Be a good boy, give me your phone.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297210”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantasy

It was the sixth year of my marriage to Seraphina Sterling, and her 88th kept man showed up at our door. I kept my face calm, expertly handling the situation. Then, I got a message: my three-year-old daughter had been kidnapped by her new secretary and boy toy, Damon Thorne. I begged her to save our daughter, but she just wrapped her arms around Damon and glared at me. “Caleb Knight, three years ago, you used every dirty trick in the book to marry me, just to get rid of Damon.” “Now you’re trying to use that mistake of a child to stir up trouble between us, aren’t you? Her birth was a mistake anyway. She’s better off dead!” When our daughter’s legs were severed by the kidnappers and she was fighting for her life, Seraphina rerouted all the doctors to treat Damon, who only had a small scratch. Our six-year-old daughter bled to death. Even my sister, Lily, who was in a coma, had her heart removed and given to Damon. I clutched both urns and went to see Grandpa Sterling. “Grandpa, the Sterling family’s kindness, I’ve repaid it with two lives. From this moment on, we have no ties.”

Grandpa Sterling trembled, his face drained of color as he stared at the two small boxes. His lips quivered, and he tried to reach out to stop me. “Caleb, Seraphina… she was just confused for a moment…” I didn’t respond. I just took a thick folder from my bag and placed it next to the urns. “Inside are 88 agreements, and the information and accounts of 88 men.” “Over the past six years, I personally dealt with each one. Every single one was a struggling student I used to sponsor.” Grandpa Sterling’s gaze slowly shifted from the thick folder back to the two urns, and the last flicker of hope in his eyes finally died. He sighed deeply, then pulled a contract agreement from his drawer. “…Alright, I agree.” The agreement stated in black and white: Once Seraphina Sterling’s legs healed, Caleb Knight would regain his freedom. “I hope you’ll honor your promise.” I looked at the agreement as if it were a joke. Seraphina Sterling’s legs had healed three years ago. Grandpa Sterling nodded, tears streaming down his face. “I’ll handle the divorce. You can leave in three days.” He pulled out a black card, offering it to me. “This is compensation…” I shook my head, refusing it. Just then, my phone screen lit up. It was a taunting message from Damon Thorne. I tapped on it, and a video automatically played. In a dimly lit hotel room, Seraphina Sterling and Damon Thorne were entangled, their vulgar sounds filtering through the speaker. “Seraphina, if Caleb Knight found out about this, would he be furious?” “Who cares about him? He’s just a scheming gold-digger, a manipulative opportunist. He’ll always be your stand-in.” Before the video ended, another image popped up. On the screen, a fresh, still slightly beating heart was tossed into a Mastiff’s food bowl. Damon Thorne laughed triumphantly. “Caleb, look, this is your comatose sister’s heart. Fed to a dog. At least it served some purpose.” Seeing my sister’s heart desecrated like that, my chest tightened, I could barely breathe. I felt like I was about to pass out. So, my sister’s death was all his doing. How dare he! After I calmed myself, I showed the video to Grandpa Sterling. “Grandpa, is there any reason for me to stay with Seraphina Sterling?” “I’ve lost everything. The kindness the Sterling family showed me all these years, I’ve repaid it.” Grandpa Sterling also trembled with rage at the cruel footage. He leaned on me, tears streaming down his face. “My boy, our Sterling family has wronged you so terribly…” “If you hadn’t tirelessly cared for Seraphina for five years, she never would have walked again. Whatever you ask for, I’ll grant it!” “I’ll go catch that scoundrel right now and bring him back to apologize to you!” I gave a faint smile and bowed to him. “Grandpa, there’s no need.” “Please don’t tell Seraphina Sterling that I’m leaving.”

Grandpa Sterling had indeed been kind to me. My sister, Lily Knight, and I grew up together in an orphanage. It was the Sterling family’s sponsorship that allowed us to continue our education. Later, Lily saved me in a car accident, becoming a comatose patient. To pay her exorbitant medical bills, I agreed to Grandpa Sterling’s request. At that time, Seraphina Sterling’s parents were victims of a car accident, both dying. Seraphina herself was left with paralyzed legs from the same crash. And her fiancé at the time, Damon Thorne, disgusted that she was confined to a wheelchair, fled before their wedding. To protect his granddaughter from further trauma, Grandpa Sterling concealed the truth of Damon Thorne’s departure abroad. But he also wanted to find a husband who could care for his granddaughter for the rest of her life. We then made an agreement: I would marry Seraphina Sterling in Damon Thorne’s place. Life after the marriage was unexpectedly peaceful. I discovered that Seraphina Sterling, though she appeared cold, had a genuinely warm heart. My feelings for her evolved from pity to concern, and finally, to love. We fell in love and even had a beautiful daughter, Chloe. I tried to be a good husband, massaging her legs daily, helping her with personal care, and assisting her with rehabilitation. Chloe would always hug her mother’s neck and say in her sweet voice, “Mommy, I love you most! Get better quickly so we can play house together!” However, the day her legs finally healed and she could stand again, everything changed. She slept with one of the male students I sponsored. When I confronted her, she fiercely threw that contract agreement in my face, her eyes filled with scorn. “Caleb Knight, who do you think you are? A scheming gold-digger who’d stop at nothing to get what he wants! You were so conniving, you even dared to chase Damon away just to marry me!” “Don’t forget, your sister’s life is still in my hands. One word from me, and she’ll be gone.” “So, stop with that disgusting act and behave yourself!” After that humiliation, Seraphina Sterling seemed like a different person. She grew more brazen, constantly having affairs with the young men on my sponsorship list, each time feeling like a slow torture to my soul. She tested my limits repeatedly, watching my reactions, seemingly drawing pleasure from my pain. Until Damon Thorne returned. She immediately arranged for him to be by her side, as her personal secretary. Then, my little Chloe was kidnapped right under my nose, her legs severed, and she ultimately bled to death due to lack of medical attention. Grandpa Sterling had promised me that if Seraphina Sterling didn’t repent, he wouldn’t force me to stay. But now, even my last hope, my only sister, had been cruelly killed by them. I slowly wiped away the tears from my eyes, my heart dead inside. Perhaps, this was for the best. Both Seraphina Sterling and I were finally free. Just as I stepped out of the Sterling mansion, Seraphina Sterling called. “Caleb Knight, you’re nothing but a stand-in.” Her voice was laced with irritation. “I’m warning you, Damon has a weak heart. You’d better behave yourself and not play any tricks to provoke him!” In the past, her words would have pierced me to the core. Because of Chloe, my only request of Seraphina Sterling was not to have illegitimate children outside. But now, Chloe was gone. I coldly uttered three words: “Whatever you say.” There was a moment of silence on the other end. Seraphina Sterling seemed surprised by my reaction. Then came a surge of greater anger and a hint of subtle unease. “Heh, so you’ve got Grandpa backing you up now, feeling all confident?” she sneered. “Don’t forget, I can cut off your comatose sister’s medical expenses anytime. If you dare to cause any more trouble, I don’t know what else might happen!” My hand involuntarily clenched into a fist! My sister? She was already dead! Her heart had been dug out by her little lover, Damon Thorne. Now, only a handful of ashes remained! A searing, throbbing pain erupted in my chest, impossible to suppress. I remembered the first time I discovered her cheating. After I slapped that man, her furious retaliation followed. She tied me to the balcony of our bedroom, forcing me to watch them spend the night together. The wind that night was chilling, colder than my heart felt at this moment. It was from that day on that I became numb, learning to calmly deal with every man who showed up at our door. Now, my sister and Chloe were gone. I had no weaknesses left! I coldly hung up the phone and booked a flight for abroad, three days from now.

Back at the marital villa to pack my things, I ran into Seraphina Sterling. She leaned against the doorway, her eyes scanning me with contempt. “So, my daughter’s kidnapping act was exposed, and now you’re dropping the pretense?” “Just as I thought, everything about you, right from how you first approached me, was fake.” “What if I told you I married you because Damon Thorne dumped you for being paralyzed and left the country? Would you believe me?” I looked at her calmly. She scoffed indifferently. “You’re really good at slandering Damon.” “Stop with your pathetic act. I’m sick of it.” She stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. “Since you’re so idle, move back in and serve Damon and me properly.” “And if you’re feeling lonely, I don’t mind if we all share the bed.” She leaned close to my ear, her voice barely a whisper for only us to hear: “Your suffering expression is my best thrill!” I didn’t struggle, just stared at her numbly. She seemed to find it boring, let go of me, and turned to her assistant. “Where’s my daughter? He’s done with his act, it’s time to bring the child back, isn’t it?” The assistant stammered, but I no longer wished to explain. Just then, Seraphina Sterling’s phone rang. The moment she answered, her face changed dramatically. “What? Something happened to Damon?” Seraphina Sterling instinctively looked at me. “Is this another one of your dirty tricks! I knew you were still as malicious as before!” “Do you think playing these little games in front of me will make me change my mind?” “Dream on!” She hung up and furiously kicked me hard in the chest. I cried out, falling to the floor. She wasn’t satisfied, though, and kicked me again from above. “Caleb Knight! You dare to pull the same stunt again! Three years ago, you forced Damon away, and now you want to do it again?” Her eyes were bloodshot, like an enraged lioness. “I’m telling you, if anything happens to Damon, I will never let you go!” With that, she rushed away without a backward glance. The assistant was terrified and quickly helped me, weak as I was, to my feet. “Mr. Knight, why didn’t you explain to Ms. Sterling just now? It was Grandpa Sterling who called the police and launched an investigation into Damon Thorne.” I closed my eyes, tears rolling down my cheeks. “I’m tired. And even if I explained, she wouldn’t believe me.” “Just let it be.”

The night before I left, I don’t know what Damon Thorne said to Seraphina Sterling, but to appease him, she not only transferred the title of our marital home to Damon. She also spent a fortune buying a star, naming it “Damon” and proclaiming it to the world. Damon Thorne ostentatiously flaunted their love on Ins. “Some people schemed to get this position, then made my original partner’s heart condition flare up, forcing me to recuperate abroad for years. Only now do I have the chance to return and find my true love. Fortunately, what’s mine, he can never steal.” Below, the comments were filled with sympathy for him and insults directed at me. I vaguely recalled the earliest days, when Seraphina Sterling’s legs were still immobile. She felt bad for me, carrying her to and from bed every day, always gritting her teeth late at night, repeatedly falling from her wheelchair, then climbing back up, silently practicing how to move on her own. She would ask me to go to the garden every morning to pick the freshest, dew-kissed rose for her, placing it by her bedside. The time I had a fever, she was frantic, trying to pour herself water, but she accidentally fell from her wheelchair, hitting her forehead and drawing blood. But as soon as her legs healed, all that tenderness vanished like smoke. I understood now. In this decaying relationship, dwelling on the past was meaningless. Under his Ins post, I calmly left a comment: “May your unwavering love last until old age.” Minutes later, Seraphina Sterling’s call came through. “Caleb Knight! Why would you do that? You know Damon has a heart condition, and you still provoke him! Is your heart made of stone?” On the other end, Damon Thorne weakly coughed. “Seraphina, don’t blame him. I shouldn’t have made our love public, after all, the position of Mrs. Sterling is still his, I understand…” I said nothing, just hung up and blocked her number. The day I left, Grandpa Sterling insisted on seeing me off. “Chloe is still your child, aren’t you going to see her off tomorrow for the last time?” My heart ached again. “Grandpa, the memories would be too much to bear. Let Chloe rest in peace in her favorite garden.” Grandpa Sterling held my hand, his eyes red, filled with guilt and reluctance. Just then, Seraphina Sterling returned. Seeing my luggage by my feet, a mocking sneer played on her lips. “Caleb Knight, what stunt are you pulling now?” “What, your last act of kidnapping our daughter was exposed, so you’ve got a new trick?” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. I picked up my suitcase and turned, intending to walk past her. But my silence seemed to infuriate her. She took a few steps forward, snatched the suitcase from my hand, and snapped: “Did I say you could leave? Where do you think you’re going?” She pulled too hard, and the old suitcase burst open, spilling its contents onto the floor. Seraphina Sterling’s gaze fixed on the scattered letters, her face stiffening. She was all too familiar with the style of those envelopes. “Aren’t these the letters Damon wrote to me!” Seraphina Sterling carefully began picking up the letters. She looked up, her bloodshot eyes glaring at me. “Caleb Knight! What were you trying to do by stealing them? Destroy them to get revenge on Damon and me?” “How can your methods be so despicable!” Seraphina Sterling had always believed that Damon Thorne had secretly written those letters to her while he was abroad. But those letters were anonymous notes I had written to encourage her. Now, I no longer wanted to explain. “You scoundrel!” Grandpa Sterling trembled with rage, pointing at her nose. “Don’t you know, those letters were…” His words were cut off by Seraphina Sterling’s phone ringing. She haphazardly stuffed the letters into her arms, stood up, and impatiently told Grandpa Sterling, “Alright, Damon’s not feeling well and needs me. I’m leaving.” She walked up to me, looking down, and dropped a warning: “Caleb Knight, you’d better watch yourself.” “You stop right there!” Grandpa Sterling was furious, but Seraphina Sterling disappeared out the door without a backward glance. I silently knelt, picking up the scattered items one by one and putting them back into the suitcase, as if I were not the one who had just been humiliated. Grandpa Sterling sighed deeply and handed me a signed divorce agreement. “Caleb, you’re free.” I quietly took off my wedding ring and tossed it into the trash can. Then, holding my sister’s urn, I got into the car headed for the airport. “Lily, it’s all over. Brother will take you to see the world.” After Seraphina Sterling soothed Damon Thorne, she went straight to a club and partied all night.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297226”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

Before I died, I was just a regular college student. A notorious gang leader, Victor Shaw, set his sights on me. He had a classmate lure me out, and during his attempted assault, I accidentally fell and died. My death also took my mother’s life. My rage exploded, tearing through the heavens, consumed by a single desire: revenge. Kaelen Stone, a special agent from the Paranormal Investigations Agency, found me. He guided me to become an investigator, and in the end, he even sacrificed his own life force to bring me back… Predatory student loan schemes had been running rampant on campus, and Victor Shaw, the one controlling our area, had taken an interest in me. I ignored his advances, never imagining he’d use my classmates to set a trap. Seven nights ago, he had a classmate invite me to meet at the library, pretending it was about something important. Naively, I went, only to discover his sinister intentions. He tried to assault me. He even threatened to take explicit photos to force me into his debt. I fought back with all my might, but in his struggle, he pushed me down the stairs. My neck snapped. After I died, my soul detached from my body. I watched Victor Shaw flee the scene in a panic, and I witnessed my own gruesome death. I tried to touch my body, but as a ghost, I couldn’t. I could only hover by my own corpse, with nowhere to go. My parents had been divorced for years, both having started new families. I’d come to this unfamiliar city for college alone, with barely any friends besides a few not-so-close roommates. No one discovered my death right away. I watched Victor Shaw and his thugs sneak into the library three times, meticulously erasing every possible piece of evidence. Seven days later, my decaying body was finally found by a student who came to that quiet corner to study. Instantly, the entire campus erupted in panic. The police quickly launched an investigation, and the media widely reported on the campus murder. My soul followed my remains to the morgue. I saw my father’s remorse and self-blame, and my mother’s heart-wrenching sobs. Their genuine grief brought me a flicker of comfort. They still cared about me, after all. Because Victor Shaw had cleaned up so thoroughly, and there were no surveillance cameras in that corner, the case remained unsolved for a long time. My body was kept in cold storage. I felt the biting chill, yet no one knew my suffering. And so, an entire year passed. Even though the case hadn’t been cracked, my parents eventually went through the procedures, having my body cremated and buried. After being laid to rest, I did feel a little more at ease. My resentment never truly faded, but the intense hatred for Victor Shaw’s deception and attempted assault, for him never being caught, slowly diminished with time. Each year around the anniversary of my death, I would watch my parents mourn and weep by my grave, which slightly rekindled my lingering resentment. I wished for news of the murderer being brought to justice, but it never came. My obsession persisted; I wasn’t willing to move on. Seven years flew by. This year, it wasn’t my mother who came to visit my grave, but my stepfather. He stood before my headstone and said, “Maya, after you left, your mother had restless nights. She blamed herself for not being a good enough mother and kept pursuing the investigation into your killer. She swore she would find your enemy herself to avenge you, but she overworked herself and, in a moment of exhaustion, fell down the stairs and passed away. Maya, so many years have passed, and now your mother is gone too. I wonder if you’ve already let go of your obsession and been reborn.” My stepfather left after saying those words. Learning that my mother had died due to overworking herself because of my case, my slowly settling resentment erupted like a volcano, soaring into the sky. I hadn’t let go of my obsession. All I wanted was revenge! I felt the air around me twist, dust swirling everywhere. When everything settled, I had transformed into a more tangible entity, breaking free from the confines of my grave, able to move far beyond the burial site. “A vengeful spirit reborn, tonight, blood will be repaid with blood!” I growled, flying towards the headquarters of Victor Shaw’s criminal organization.

I arrived in front of a luxurious office building—this was the gang’s main base. I effortlessly phased through the walls and took the elevator to the top floor. Inside the office, Victor Shaw was entangled with a seductive woman. “Honey, I saw this limited-edition handbag…” the woman purred. “Serve me well, and I’ll buy you anything,” Victor Shaw replied with a lecherous grin. I felt a wave of nausea. Victor Shaw using material things to force women to sell themselves was disgusting. This murderer, who had taken my life and indirectly caused my mother’s death, was living so freely and happily. This world was truly unfair! I hesitated no longer. I reached out, channeling all my resentment. A blade, made of pure vengeful energy, materialized in my palm. Just as I was about to hurl it at Victor Shaw, a strange male voice called out from behind me, “Stop!” A searing orb of energy whizzed past, shattering my blade of resentment. I spun around, seeing a man in a black trench coat standing at the office doorway. A colorful knitted pouch hung from his waist. Black with vibrant colors—a truly quirky contrast. In his hand, he held what looked like a talisman, and his entire being exuded an aura that filled me with dread. “You, a vengeful spirit, are you truly planning to commit an irreversible crime?” the man asked in a deep voice. I sensed danger and began to retreat, wanting to escape. But the man simply said, “Thinking of leaving? I’m afraid it won’t be that easy.” With that, he pulled a small jade vial from his knitted pouch. A suction force surged towards me. Before I could react, I was pulled into the vial. Lightning crackled within the vial, and intense pain shot through my entire body. I couldn’t help but scream. “One last chance,” the man said. “Give up your revenge, and I can help you move on. Otherwise, your soul will be completely annihilated.” I wanted to defiantly refuse, but the pain was unbearable. If I remained stubborn, I truly feared my soul would be scattered into oblivion. “I… I give up…” I managed to say. The man seemed somewhat surprised. He then released me from the jade vial. “Since you promised to give up revenge, you must keep your word.” I nodded obediently. He was surprisingly honest, easy to fool, I thought. I felt like I could escape him after all. “Come with me,” the man said, pulling out what looked like a small, plain jug from his bag. “Enter this vessel.” Turns out he wasn’t so dumb. He just swapped me to a less delicate container. Still couldn’t escape easily. While I was still hesitating, the office door suddenly burst open. Victor Shaw stepped out, a look of disdain on his face, clearly disturbed by our confrontation. “Who are you? Dressed so weirdly, showing up in the middle of the night—are you trying to steal something?” Victor Shaw couldn’t see me, but he could see Kaelen Stone. Kaelen Stone’s expression was cold and stern. Dressed in his black trench coat, with the colorful knitted pouch slung across his body, he held the plain yellowish-white jug he was preparing to put me in. “I am a Special Agent from the Paranormal Investigations Agency. I’m here tonight to thoroughly investigate your crimes!” “Paranormal investigation? Don’t try to fool me. Get out!” Victor Shaw, of course, didn’t believe him. Kaelen Stone sneered. He pulled an ancient-looking talisman from his trench coat’s inner pocket, murmured a few incantations, and flicked his finger. The talisman flew and stuck to my soul form. I braced for pain, instinctively closing my eyes, but the anticipated pain never came. Instead, I felt my body suddenly become solid. In my ghostly state, Victor Shaw couldn’t see me. But after Kaelen Stone’s talisman hit me, I fully materialized, appearing right in front of Victor Shaw.

The moment Victor Shaw saw me, his smug face instantly turned ashen, cold sweat beading on his forehead. “Ah, a ghost!” His legs gave out, and he stumbled backward in a panic. I said chillingly, “Victor Shaw, you attempted to assault me and then murdered me. My blood is on your hands! You indirectly caused my mother’s death, and now you still show no remorse…” As I spoke of my grief, my eyes became bloodshot, and resentment surged through me. How could I, a vibrant young woman, have suffered such a cruel death at the hands of this monster? How could I ever swallow this hatred? The air around us seemed to turn blood-red. My enemy was right before me, and I could no longer suppress my desire for revenge. Victor Shaw’s legs trembled uncontrollably. He turned to Kaelen Stone for help. “Aren’t you a Special Agent investigating urban paranormal events? There’s a ghost here, this is paranormal! Catch her quickly! I’ll pay you!” A sliver of fear crept into my heart. Kaelen Stone’s power was profound. If he helped Victor Shaw against me, I wouldn’t stand a chance. Unexpectedly, Kaelen Stone simply stood quietly to the side, making no move. Combined with his earlier declaration to “thoroughly investigate your crimes,” I immediately understood that Kaelen Stone was tacitly allowing me to act. “Hmph, I only said I wouldn’t harm the innocent. I never said I’d let a scumbag like you go!” My eyes blazed. My fingernails instantly grew several inches long, and I lunged at Victor Shaw. “Help me!” Victor Shaw was terrified out of his mind. In his panicked flight, he grabbed the pregnant woman beside him and shoved her towards me. My killing intent was surging. Seeing the woman flying towards me, I truly wanted to tear her to shreds. However, in that split second, through my translucent vision, I clearly saw a tiny fetus in the woman’s womb! Her belly wasn’t noticeably large yet. She was innocent, and she was carrying an innocent life inside her. Even as a vengeful spirit, I couldn’t bring myself to harm the innocent. I flashed past the pregnant woman, and in the nick of time, used my telekinesis to gently guide her onto a nearby sofa cushion, narrowly avoiding a sharp table corner. It was in that moment of distraction that Victor Shaw snatched the jade Buddha pendant from his neck and slammed it hard into my back! “Ah!” I let out a piercing shriek. The immense force knocked me to the ground. My vision blurred, and my body struggled to hold together… Was this what it felt like for a soul to be shattered? “Collect!” In that critical moment, Kaelen Stone pulled the jade vial from his knitted pouch, chanted an incantation, and pointed it at me. The next instant, I was sucked into the jade vial. Before my consciousness plunged into darkness, I couldn’t help but think: *Sure enough, men with such strange quirks are never good news. I knew he had ill intentions… attacking a young woman like me when I was off guard.* I didn’t hear Kaelen Stone’s words after I passed out: “My apologies, I couldn’t save you in time.” When I woke again, I found myself in an unfamiliar room. The lights were dim, but I could see many suspicious figures subtly radiating an ominous aura. I quickly retreated to a corner, fearfully surveying everyone present. No one paid me any mind. They whispered amongst themselves, yet it felt like they were all secretly observing me. The eerie atmosphere only heightened my fear. Just as I stood there, lost, Kaelen Stone reappeared before me. Seeing his familiar figure now, it was like seeing a savior. I quickly rushed forward and grabbed his arm. “Why did you bring me here?” The people around me were just too terrifying. Kaelen Stone cast a helpless glance around, his gaze sweeping over everyone. Their expressions varied, but with a strange synchronicity, they transformed into wisps of green smoke and vanished. This bizarre scene almost made my jaw drop. They weren’t human! No wonder I felt so scared. But I was a ghost too, so why was I still so afraid of ghosts? Kaelen Stone slowly walked to an altar, reverently lit three sticks of incense, and then turned to me. “What’s your name?” “Maya…” I stared blankly at Kaelen Stone, utterly bewildered as to what this mysterious man with peculiar hobbies was really up to… Kaelen Stone gazed at me. “My name is Kaelen Stone. I’m a Special Agent from the Paranormal Investigations Agency. Our agency specializes in handling all sorts of supernatural events. Can you smell the incense? I offered it for you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296862”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

The day I took our daughter, Lily, for her check-up, Damon, my husband, who had been away on a business trip for days, drove to pick us up. The moment he saw us, he pulled both me and Lily into a tight hug. My nose twitched. A faint, unfamiliar scent hit me. Lily snuggled into him, giggling. I stood by, smiling, watching them play-fight. It wasn’t until we settled into the car that I noticed another woman in the back seat… The woman had a small, round face and wore a crisp business suit. She smiled sweetly. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Thorne. I’m Chloe, the new assistant from Damon’s office.” I glanced at Damon. He said calmly, “She was on my way, so I offered her a ride home.” But since when did Damon, the CEO of Thorne Enterprises, personally pick up an employee? Especially when he was on his way to get *us*. Chloe explained earnestly, “Please don’t misunderstand, Mrs. Thorne. I just wanted a chance to apologize to you.” She handed me a gift bag containing a tube of my favorite hand cream. “When I was on the business trip with Mr. Thorne, I forgot my hand cream. You happened to have some in the car, and I… accidentally used it all up.” “This is a new one I bought. I hope you’ll accept it.” I didn’t reach out for it immediately. A hint of nervousness flickered across her face, and she couldn’t help but glance at Damon beside her. “Take it,” Damon said, his voice soft but firm. I took the bag and tossed it onto the seat beside me. Lily, strapped into her car seat, stared curiously at this new lady. Her eyes lit up when she spotted candy in Chloe’s hand. Just as Chloe prepared to unwrap a piece of candy for Lily, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “She just saw the dentist. No candy.” “But this is imported! Not just any cheap brand. You can rest assured—” “So imported candy isn’t candy?” Damon, who had been focused on driving, frowned. “Elara, she’s just trying to be nice.” I fell silent. But Lily, ever the sensible one, nodded. “Lily will listen to Mommy. No candy.” Chloe had no choice but to withdraw her hand, her expression stiff. The car soon pulled up smoothly outside an older apartment complex. She got out, apologizing profusely once more. I just nodded slightly in acknowledgment. On the way home, Damon’s tone softened. “Don’t be mad at her. She’s a young woman, fresh out of college, too much of a perfectionist. Sometimes when she’s stubborn, even I can’t talk her out of it.” A faint smile played on his lips. “Quite strong-willed, actually.” As the car pulled up to our house, he suddenly leaned over and kissed my cheek. I didn’t pull away. From the back seat, Lily suddenly piped up, “Mommy, the lady’s scent smells like Daddy’s.” Damon’s smile froze for a moment. I pretended not to notice, laughing lightly. “That’s because Daddy’s car should naturally smell like Daddy. It has nothing to do with anyone else.” “Oh,” Lily said, sounding half-convinced, half-confused. I got out and lifted her from the car. Looking up at Damon beside me, he spoke calmly. “If taking care of Lily makes you feel tired, I can hire a professional.” His voice was even. “She’s a Thorne, our little princess. She shouldn’t be neglected or anything less than perfectly cared for because *you’re* tired.”

From the moment I married into the Thorne family, I knew I’d have to put up with Damon’s wandering eye. He’d had casual flings, even scandals. The year Lily was born, I had a huge fight with him. It was the first time I’d ever seen him truly angry. His eyes turned icy, making the air around us freeze. He said, “You need to remember, Elara, the status I gave you, I can take away just as easily.” For Lily’s future, I didn’t argue anymore. That storm ended quietly, without even a ripple. Later, I learned my lesson. Because no matter how many women he brought into his life, he always knew this home existed. Sometimes I even felt a genuine attachment in his gaze when he looked at me. After all, I was his wife, and I held a different place in his heart. He drew an invisible line between his family and his girlfriends. I pretended to be oblivious inside that line. They, outside the line, played out one romantic escapade after another with him. Until Chloe appeared, that balance was shattered— She brazenly climbed over that wall and stood right in front of me. After putting Lily to sleep, I returned to our bedroom. Damon stood by the balcony, flipping through documents, a slight smile on his lips. “You’ve had a long week. Get some rest.” He rarely spoke so gently to anyone. A flash of Chloe’s delicate face from earlier that day flickered in my mind. I didn’t respond, walking straight into the bathroom. The water was barely running when a warm, strong body pressed against me from behind. His husky voice whispered from above, “Did you miss me these past few days?” I gently turned, grabbing a towel and wrapping myself tightly. “I’m a bit tired. Not tonight.” As I turned to leave, my wrist was suddenly yanked back. He raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of playful mischief. “I’ve been saving myself for you. If you won’t take it, should I give it to someone else?” He loved to make lewd jokes like that in bed. No matter how I reacted, he always seemed so sure I wouldn’t truly push back. When I pushed him away again, the smile in his eyes only deepened. “Jealous?” “There’s nothing going on between me and her. It’s just that she looks a lot like you…” “If you don’t like it, I won’t do it again. Alright, just for you.” As he spoke, he kissed my neck. What should have been a burning touch sent a chill through me. “Damon, please, don’t touch me.” The bathroom filled with steam, and his expression instantly darkened. “Don’t be difficult, Elara. Not while my patience is wearing thin.” I froze, my fingers slowly turning white. Seeing that I wouldn’t soften, he simply scooped me up, tossing me onto the bed. In the dark, he gritted his teeth and said, his voice quiet but chilling, “If you want things to go smoothly, just behave.” My entire body stiffened. I couldn’t utter a word. Much later, tears silently streamed down my face. The next morning, Lily burrowed into my bed, kissing my face. “Mommy, Daddy’s taking me to the park today!” I was surprised. Damon never liked taking her to places like that, let alone personally. Damon leaned against the doorframe, a gentle smile on his face. “Come on, my little princess. Time to get up.” The moment they left, I went to the hospital. Last night’s events still felt off. When I received the test results, I was stunned myself. The doctor said calmly, “You’re four weeks pregnant. The first few months are unstable, so try to avoid intercourse. If you don’t plan on keeping the baby, decide soon. Waiting too long can have a significant impact on your body.” I clutched the diagnostic report tightly, sobbing uncontrollably in the car.

In the two years I was most infatuated with Damon, I once thought of using a child to keep him. So I got pregnant with Lily. He did start coming home more often, and his care and thoughtfulness slowly returned. It felt like we were back in college, during that period when he was actively pursuing me. But everything changed completely the day Lily was born. I was alone in the delivery room, in pain and terrified, while he suddenly went unreachable. I later found out that on that very night, he had finally succeeded in winning her over. He was with that woman, enjoying a night of passion in the penthouse suite of the city’s tallest skyscraper. In that moment, I truly hated him. Five years were enough to completely erode any expectations I had of Damon. During this time, there were many who urged me to have another child. “The more powerful a man is, the more women he’ll have around him. Especially in that kind of circle. Damon’s actually not bad.” “You should just have a few more kids. No matter what he does outside, as long as you’re firmly in place as the primary wife, that’s what matters.” The Thorne family had only ever had one male heir for generations. If I could have another child, boy or girl—even if Damon intended to make things difficult for me, his parents wouldn’t allow it. Right. No one would act against their own interests. Besides, I had Lily. She was almost the entire meaning of my life. I carefully put away my pregnancy report, drove home, and started a pot of slow-simmered soup, waiting for Lily to return. As dusk settled. After failing to reach Damon for the tenth time, I felt increasingly anxious. I couldn’t wait any longer. Grabbing my car keys, I decided to go look for them myself. I went to his office first, but he wasn’t there. The amusement park was closed. Just as I was about to turn toward the Thorne family estate, our housekeeper, Maria, called. “Mrs. Thorne, Lily just got back. Mr. Evans dropped her off. She’s fast asleep now.” I leaned back in the driver’s seat, closed my eyes, and felt my entire body relax. Maria added, “Mr. Evans also asked me to tell you that Mr. Thorne won’t be home tonight.” I responded with a quiet “Okay.” Hanging up, I started the car and drove back. Just as I turned onto another street, I saw Damon’s car.

Damon’s figure cast a long shadow under the dim streetlights. A tiny red glow flickered between his fingers, and several cigarette butts lay scattered on the ground. This place—I’d been here just yesterday. It was Chloe’s apartment building. He looked up at a lit window, his gaze fixed, unblinking. Following his line of sight, a slender silhouette appeared vaguely through the curtains, like soft gauze fluttering in the wind. He looked like a man from a movie, utterly consumed by love, just standing there, watching her silently from a distance. Something inside me was slowly crumbling. I sat in my car all night. It wasn’t until the sky began to lighten that Chloe emerged from the building. She looked well-rested, and a startled expression crossed her face when she saw Damon. The man, who had been looking so dejected, seemed to get a jolt of excitement. He smiled, said a few words, and then stepped closer—she retreated slightly, but her cheeks flushed. Then, they got into the car together. I remained seated, feeling a thin thread wrapped around my heart, tightening until I could barely breathe. When Damon pursued me years ago, he was just like this—a smile on his lips, approaching step by step, giving no chance to escape. That aloof, arrogant rich boy act, when he was chasing someone… it was impossible to resist. Only this time, the leading lady in his eyes wasn’t me. I followed them to the company building. From a distance, I watched them walk to the entrance, instinctively putting a little space between them. Damon walked ahead, acknowledging greetings from colleagues, then nonchalantly waved to Chloe a short distance away. Drawing envious stares from everyone around, she stepped into his exclusive elevator. In that moment, it was as if she was telling everyone: *she* was special, treated differently. The scene stung my eyes. I sat in my car, trying to calm my emotions, until Maria called. Lily had woken up and was looking for me everywhere. I rushed home. The moment I walked in, Lily lunged at me, wrapping her arms around my neck, and my nose burned with unshed tears. She sat on my lap, swinging her legs, chattering away about the fun she’d had last night. “I even saw Aunt Chloe yesterday! She dressed up as a little bunny and played with me for a long time.” My breath hitched. So that’s why he suddenly decided to take Lily to that place that day—it was to be with Chloe. It was surprisingly easy to find out about Chloe. Her university, her humble family background, her job application process, her past part-time job at an amusement park… even her Ins account. When I clicked on her Ins, I saw a familiar sight—a photo of Lily and Chloe, faces pressed together. The string that had been tightly wound in my heart finally snapped. The reflection in the photo faintly showed Damon’s tall, strong silhouette; he was crouching nearby, diligently taking their picture. It was as if *they* were the truly happy family of three. Scrolling through her Ins posts, it was clear Chloe was genuinely infatuated. The warm brown sugar water Damon sent her when she was on her period; the image of him spending the night in her hospital room when she was sick on a business trip; even small trinkets she’d accidentally lost, he carefully kept them all… For some reason, a strong wave of nausea suddenly washed over me. Tears blurred my makeup, and the mirror showed a disheveled, haggard face. I looked pathetic. All this time, I’d believed that as long as I pretended not to care about other women, this superficial happiness could last forever. But in reality, someone who puts themselves in such a humble position in a relationship can never truly be happy.

In the evening, Maria brought me a bowl of soup, and it reminded me of my weekly habit of sending soup to Damon. Thinking of Lily, I decided I should talk to him directly. So I drove to his company. Night slowly fell. The lights in his office were on, the entire top floor glaringly bright. The door was ajar. The moment I reached out to push it open, the voices from inside made me stop. “…What do I have to do to make you stay with me?” Damon’s voice was low, filled with earnest pleading. “Stay and then what? Be your mistress?” Chloe’s eyes were red as she spoke softly. “Don’t I have any self-respect? Yes, I fell head over heels in love with you. I couldn’t stop myself from getting close to you, from depending on you.” “But every time I see another woman sitting next to you, I know you can’t give me the kind of relationship I want.” “I want a love that’s seen.” “So, we’re over.” Her voice choked with what sounded like deep grievance. Damon, however, sighed and pulled her into his embrace. My hand tightened on the doorknob. Just as I was about to leave, I heard his voice again: “What if I divorce her?” My heart plummeted into a bottomless pit. Falling, falling endlessly. When I came to, I was already in my car. My hands trembled uncontrollably on the steering wheel, and tears streamed down my face. I cried and laughed at the same time, like a pathetic fool. He said he wanted a divorce, and my first thought was to run. That night, Damon didn’t come home. Watching the sky slowly lighten, I suddenly wanted to go find him and make things clear. Was he really going to divorce me? At the very least, I had to protect Lily from being hurt. Having not slept for two days, my head was heavy as I did my makeup. Then I drove to Damon’s company building. His exclusive elevator went straight to the top floor. I heard he was in a meeting. I sat in his office, and unexpectedly, I saw Chloe. She politely brought me a cup of tea. The moment she bent over, I caught a familiar scent: cedarwood mixed with smoke. Just as Lily had said, it was Damon’s scent. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?” I suddenly asked. Her hand visibly twitched, and hot water splashed onto her hand, immediately turning it red. Her eyes darted around, looking terrified. She frantically squatted down to wipe up the spilled water. But she avoided my question. I watched the top of her head coldly. Suddenly, a man’s hand grabbed her, gently pulling her up. He spoke, his tone unkind. “Elara, did you come here this early just to show off?” “She’s my employee, not your servant.” “Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne didn’t mean to…” I suddenly laughed. Perhaps he had forgotten that during my time as his wife, I was never someone to be easily manipulated. “Mrs. Thorne? I don’t recall when you became his sister.” “I just…” Chloe’s eyes were terribly red. “I just wanted to get closer to you. Perhaps you don’t know, but as a secretary, you have to be thoughtful about everything—” “And how exactly were you trying to get closer to me? By having the boss’s family drive you home? Did you feed your ‘thoughtfulness’ to the pigs?” He stood in front of her, his eyes chilling. “Apologize to her.” The people who had just emerged from the meeting room, whispering, all fell silent. I steadied myself and said calmly, “Damon, I have no reason to apologize.” His voice hardened further. “What did you say? Apologize.” It felt like a cold snake slithered down my spine, sending shivers through me. Yes, this was Damon. Once he made up his mind, no one could change it. Just like when he insisted on marrying me. Now, he was stubbornly infatuated with this new secretary. I had been slow to realize that leaving him was an inevitable outcome. I smiled faintly. “Damon, let’s get a divorce.” A flicker of surprise crossed his face. But it quickly morphed into a sarcastic smile. “Are you trying to use divorce to force me to compromise?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296878”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

This Assassin Thinks I Can’t See Him, But He Always Undresses In Front of Me He hears me swallowing repeatedly. Assassin: “Are you hungry?” I nod: “Mm-hmm.” He came back reeking of blood. Although the scent was faint, I could still smell it. The assassin took off his dirty clothes and headed towards the bathroom. “I’ll make dinner after I shower.” I feigned shyness and asked coyly: “Want to shower together?” His body suddenly froze. He turned back to look at me. I quickly added, “I can’t see anything anyway.” “But I can!” he snapped, then turned and entered the bathroom.

My name is Olivia. I’m an orphan. Three years ago, I was adopted by a wealthy family, but none of their children liked me. Especially the youngest son. He pushed me down the stairs when I wasn’t paying attention. I hit my head on the steps, causing me to go blind. Actually, I’m not completely blind. My vision is just very blurry. To stay alive, I insisted I couldn’t see anything at all. After I was discharged from the hospital, the family sent me to a villa in the suburbs along with a huge sum of money, leaving me to fend for myself. I couldn’t be bothered to seek revenge. I lived comfortably every day, ordering takeout and opening packages. But two weeks ago, on a night I’ll never forget, an assassin suddenly broke in. He held a knife to my throat, ready to kill me, but when he realized I was blind, he hesitated. He only threatened me not to tell anyone. And so began our strange cohabitation. His whereabouts were unpredictable. Occasionally he would help cook meals. But a few meals were far from enough to satisfy me. As the landlord, I had to show him who’s boss. That night, I crouched outside the bathroom door, imagining his tantalizing body. The water stopped. The assassin walked out wrapped in a towel. Steam billowed around him. Even with my blurry vision, I could make out his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Tsk tsk, he smelled so good up close. The assassin saw me. “What are you doing here?” I faced his chest and cleared my throat. “Let me feel those abs, big boy.” He: “…”

The assassin stopped drying his hair and was silent for a long time before speaking. “Do you have a death wish?” “I’ll die happy after I feel them.” “…” He ignored me and turned to leave. I hurried to follow him, forgetting to grab my cane. My leg hit the corner of a table. With a thud, I fell to the ground. “Ow, it hurts…” I propped myself up, tears welling in my eyes from the pain. The assassin sighed and crouched down in front of me. Water droplets from his hair dripped onto my thigh. His face was very close to mine, but I still couldn’t see clearly. Judging by the outline, he was probably handsome. Come closer! Just a little closer and I’ll be able to see your face! I didn’t dare look too intently, afraid he would notice. The assassin looked down at my knee, his warm fingers brushing over the wound. “You’re bleeding. Do you have any iodine?” I answered irrelevantly, “I want to feel your abs.” “…” He was speechless again. I’m not joking, this little injury is nothing. I used to get hurt all the time. I had to act fast before he got dressed. The assassin sighed resignedly: “You just want to feel them?” “Actually, I want to kiss them too.” “…Don’t push your luck!”

Just when I thought he would angrily walk away, he grabbed my wrist and placed my hand on his waist. Me: “?” The assassin turned his face away and spoke with difficulty. “Go ahead.” I groped wildly, afraid he would change his mind. The skin under my hands was smooth yet firm, his muscles clearly defined. When I touched his side, the assassin’s body trembled slightly. His voice was hoarse: “Slower, it tickles.” I nearly got a nosebleed.

I was just feeling his abs… My movements slowed down. He also stopped trembling. I’m not sure if it was because I moved too vigorously or if the towel had a mind of its own. It fell to the floor. The assassin quickly tossed the towel from his shoulders onto my face, then hurriedly picked up the fallen towel. I pretended not to know what happened. “What’s wrong?” He replied somewhat awkwardly: “Nothing…” Hehehe. What an unexpected bonus.

When I woke up in the morning, the assassin had already left. I took out the phone I had hidden and held it close to my face, preparing to order some takeout. Suddenly, the front door of the villa was violently kicked open. Then someone shouted— “Olivia, get out here!” I’d recognize that grating voice anywhere, even if it was autotuned. Tyler. The bastard who pushed me down the stairs. I tapped my cane and slowly walked out. When he saw me, he started mocking me like he used to: “Well well, still alive I see.” “I thought you’d kicked the bucket by now. I even brought a hearse.” I couldn’t be bothered to respond. “What are you doing here?” Tyler rushed up to me, shoved me to the ground, and kicked away my cane. “This is my house, I’ll come whenever I want!” Tyler strutted around the living room with his hands in his pockets. “I’m taking back this house. You have until the end of the day to get out.” “Don’t bother cleaning, I’m going to throw out everything you’ve touched anyway.” I kept my eyes lowered to the floor and said: “Dad and Mom gave me this house. You have no right to take it back.” Tyler snorted coldly and spat on the floor, yelling: “They’re MY parents! You’re nothing but trash. Get the hell out of here!” With that, he stormed out without looking back.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296894”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

Because I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, my wife urged me to give up treatment and leave all my assets to our son. Even my eight-year-old, Kevin, had absorbed it all, asking me more than once, “Dad, when are you going to kick the bucket? Mom says I can’t get my inheritance until you’re gone!” Later, when I went back to the hospital for a follow-up, a zombie outbreak hit. To save themselves, Brenda and Kevin tried to trick me into a horde of zombies. But when Brenda learned I carried a precious zombie serum, she righteously demanded my blood. “We’re family! It’s your duty to save me!” I slammed the door, trapping her in a room swarming with zombies. “Sorry, I don’t know you.” 1 All the way from the hotel to the hospital, Brenda and Kevin were fuming. Once we got there, they plopped down on the waiting room bench. They wouldn’t stop muttering. “Typical, burning through our money. I told you it’s a lost cause, but no, you just *had* to come to this fancy hospital. It’s a money pit!” “Mom, you promised that house would be put in my name. Dad won’t go back on his word, right?” My heart felt utterly cold. I dragged my body, still battling a low fever, into the long registration line. My nose felt warm, and then a nosebleed started again. I quickly cupped my hand over it, my eyes searching for the restroom. It was the weekend, and the first-floor lobby was packed, stretching as far as the eye could see. The anxious questions of patients and their families, the shouts of doctors and nurses clearing paths, the constant calling of numbers over the loudspeaker – it all blended into a chaotic mess that made my head pound. People were pressed so close, even breathing felt difficult. It was like I was inhaling everyone else’s exhaled carbon dioxide. Amidst the noise, a piercing scream caught everyone’s attention. But it lasted only a few seconds. After all, in a hospital, screams and cries were nothing out of the ordinary. People murmured and speculated, sighing at fate’s cruel twists. I thought of the stark, sharp words “LEUKEMIA” on my test results and let out a bitter laugh. My body had always been so healthy, and I’d kept up a regular exercise routine for years. Anyone who knew me, colleagues or friends, always praised how fit I was. How could I suddenly get leukemia? I don’t know how long I’d been waiting; my nosebleed had already stopped. Finally, it was my turn. Just as I was about to hand my ID through the window, a nurse suddenly ran in from the side, anxiously whispering something to the nurse at the counter. That nurse gave me a “one moment” gesture, stood up, and left. I muttered about my bad luck. Soon, impatient grumbling started behind me. People in line couldn’t wait; many moved to other lines to re-queue. I hated to give up on the progress I’d made, so I stayed put, waiting. But quickly, I realized something was off. This was the biggest hospital in the city, with ample medical staff and resources. So, what kind of emergency would pull even a registration nurse away? I waited ten minutes. She still hadn’t come back. After thinking it over, I decided to head to the restroom first to wash the blood off my face. I didn’t notice. The moment I stepped into the restroom, the lobby erupted in a chorus of roars and screams. 2 Before I even left the restroom, I caught a strong whiff of blood. Even for a hospital, this intense smell was completely abnormal. I pressed my ear closer to the restroom door, listening carefully. The noise outside seemed even louder than before. But mixed in with the chaos were some unnatural sounds. They were a bit like drunken retching, yet far more terrifying, almost inhuman. For some reason, a chill ran down my spine. If Brenda and Kevin knew, they’d probably mock me for being a coward, call me neurotic. But I trusted my gut feeling. I carefully pulled the door open a crack and peeked out. Outside the door, almost everyone was scrambling to escape. Some rushed towards the main entrance, others towards the stairs. Every face was contorted in terror, like they were running for their lives. But the door blocked my view of the entire lobby. I moved as quietly as possible, pushing the crack wider, then squeezing out sideways. When I finally saw what was happening in the lobby, I immediately raised my hand and bit down hard on the web of my thumb to keep from screaming. People scattered like headless chickens. The main entrance was already a dense pile of bodies, pushing relentlessly forward. The people at the very front were pressed tightly against the glass, no longer moving. Yet, more kept surging towards the exit. The information desk had been overrun. Dozens of people were huddled inside, cowering, and others kept clambering over the counter. Looking towards the direction people were fleeing, I saw a few figures in hospital gowns, covered in blood, limping slowly. Their limbs twitched uncontrollably, bending at angles no human body should. Those chilling growls were coming from their mouths. An elderly man, unsteady on his feet, was knocked to the ground by the stampeding crowd. I watched, horrified, as a man staggered over to the old man and bit into his neck. Blood erupted instantly. The others—or whatever those creatures were, no longer human—instantly became frenzied, moving with shocking agility to swarm the old man. Within ten seconds, the old man was torn beyond recognition, a bloody mess. Then, that gruesome, mangled pile of flesh on the ground twitched, stood up, and joined the horde of wandering creatures. Clearly, everyone had witnessed the tragedy. The crowd fell silent for two seconds. Then, someone, I don’t know who, was the first to snap out of it and screamed. “Z-Zombies! Run! There are really zombies!” I never thought scenes I’d only seen in novels and movies would actually happen in real life. Snapping back to reality, I frantically searched for a suitable hiding spot. The restroom and the main entrance were diagonally opposite. Plus, the main entrance was completely blocked by bodies. Escaping the hospital was impossible. The stairs were right next to the restroom. Now, going upstairs seemed like the best option to find a way to survive. I tiptoed, trying to make no sound, and took two steps at a time up the stairs. Soon, I realized I was wrong. The second floor seemed even worse. Blood, like it had been splattered everywhere, already formed a thin, sticky layer on the corridor floor. Several doctors in white coats were already victims, roaring incessantly in the hallway, searching for their next target. Despite my caution, a few zombies spotted me. They lurched towards me, blood-filled mouths gaping beyond recognition, quickly attracting the attention of other zombies in the corridor. The hospital corridor was a long loop, and zombies were closing in on me from both directions. Down on the stairs, first-floor zombies were also starting to search for living people upstairs. I shuffled my trembling legs, backing up continuously. Until my back hit the hard wall. There was nowhere left to go. The zombie on my left was just two steps away, reaching out with a hand missing two fingers. I let out a bitter laugh, closing my eyes in resignation. Suddenly, something hard jabbed my lower back. It felt like a doorknob. By sheer reflex, I pressed the handle, twisted, ducked inside the room, and locked the door. A zombie rushed past, its putrid stench brushing against my clothes. After the close call, I gasped for air. I quickly patted myself down. No wounds. I finally relaxed, sinking to the floor. Thank god, I was still alive. 3 I leaned against the wall and rested for a bit, slowly regaining my composure. Shaking, I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed 91

Before it could even connect, police sirens wailed from outside the window. My eyes lit up. I rushed to the window. Only one police car was parked downstairs. Three officers, fully geared up, quickly got out. But they weren’t here to rescue us. They swiftly pulled down the fire shutters over the main entrance and the perimeter fence. While cutting off the zombies’ escape route, they also cut off my chance to escape the hospital. The police car’s loudspeaker blared, repeating: “Survivors inside the hospital, please remain calm. Find enclosed spaces to protect yourselves and wait patiently for military rescue.” The loudspeaker’s sound agitated the first-floor zombies. They repeatedly slammed their bodies against the glass, creating terrifying thuds. After three repetitions, the police car sped away. My rekindled hope shattered again. I felt a wave of despair. I pulled out my phone, mechanically dialing 911 again and again. But it was always a busy signal. I don’t know how many times I dialed until my arm ached, and the phone slipped from my grasp. Without food or water, trapped in this small consultation room, no bigger than ten square meters, I wondered if I’d live to see rescue. My phone suddenly rang. I tensed up and quickly answered. But it wasn’t the police. It was Brenda’s voice. “Where are you? Are you okay? Kevin and I are so worried about you. He keeps asking for his dad.” She handed the phone to Kevin. “Dad, come find us! I’m scared!” For some reason, both their voices were muffled and low, like they were in a very small space. A flicker of suspicion sparked in my mind. When Brenda first learned I had leukemia, she’d repeatedly urged me to just give up treatment and not waste money. Even my eight-year-old, Kevin, had absorbed it all, asking me more than once, “Dad, when are you going to kick the bucket? Mom says I can’t get my inheritance until you’re gone!” After several such instances, my heart had grown cold. Before coming to the hospital, I had already made up my mind: no matter the follow-up results, I was divorcing her. I’d rather take my assets to the grave than let those ungrateful leeches get a single cent. How could two people who so eagerly wished for my death suddenly care about my safety? I kept my guard up, not answering directly, but instead asked: “Where are you guys? Are you okay? You haven’t been bitten, have you?” “No, no! Luckily, I hid fast. The moment I realized something was wrong, I ducked away. We’re in the first-floor restroom now. There’s a small window here. Come find us, we can climb out together!” I replied, feigning surprise: “Really? That’s great! I’m coming right now.” Two minutes later, I whispered impatiently: “I’m here. Where are you?” Brenda sounded excited: “You’re sure you’re here, right?” I snapped, annoyed: “Of course! What are you doing? Hurry up!” “Good, that’s great!” Before she could finish, a ridiculously loud, obnoxious tune blared from the bathroom. It was Kevin’s smartwatch. Brenda and I had even picked that ringtone together. The music echoed through the entire building, enraging the zombie horde. They roared and surged towards the first-floor corner. Amidst the roars, Brenda’s voice turned manic: “Alex, you’re going to die anyway. Just make yourself useful to us!” Maybe my heart was already numb. Hearing her words, I felt no ripple of emotion, only amusement at her stupidity. Thanks to her, the second-floor corridor was now empty. Stepping out, I looked down. Two figures, one large and one small, dashed from the janitor’s closet near the stairs towards the main entrance, only to be blocked by the heavy fire shutter. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. The call hadn’t hung up yet. Brenda’s furious curses and screams came through the line. “Oops, I forgot to tell you guys, the main entrance is completely blocked. No way out now.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296917”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

To amuse his new mistress, Damon ordered me, pregnant and exhausted, to dance in the water for his entertainment. When I finally dragged myself out, gasping for air, his mistress took one look at me and started gagging. “Your Majesty, I’m with child. I can’t stand the smell of fish.” It was only because I was a Merfolk princess that my legs transformed into a shimmering tail in the water. Damon exploded with rage. He had me locked in a crystal cage and sunk deep underwater, forbidding anyone from opening it without his permission. “Even if you can become human, you can’t hide that disgusting fishy scent! It’s revolting!” No matter how I struggled or pleaded, he didn’t care. He and his mistress even found it amusing. And so, I drowned, my body eventually dissipating into the water. He didn’t know that while we Merfolk can breathe underwater, we must reside on land to bear our young. After a full day and night, he finally seemed satisfied with my punishment and ordered me released. But I could no longer surface.

I never thought I’d die by drowning, and certainly not at the hands of the man I loved most. “Ariel, what are you standing around for? Seraphina is waiting for your dance performance! Are you defying even your King now?!” Damon, with the giggling Seraphina wrapped in his arm, glared at me with an unfriendly gaze. Remembering his threats against me, I had no choice but to enter the water. I began to perform the dance unique to our Merfolk, just as he demanded. Before, moving in water felt as natural as walking on land. But now, I was pregnant. My movements were clumsy, and I needed far more oxygen to sustain myself underwater. It wasn’t long before I was gasping for air, completely out of breath. I had to stop and pull myself onto the shore to breathe. I hadn’t expected that seeing me surface would make Seraphina immediately turn away, gagging. “Your Majesty, I smell such a strong fishy scent! I just found out I’m pregnant, and I simply can’t tolerate this smell right now.” With that, Seraphina nestled herself into Damon’s embrace, looking so fragile and helpless that it stirred compassion in anyone who saw her. Hearing Seraphina’s words, I felt utterly humiliated. Though I was Merfolk, I wasn’t an actual fish. How could I possibly smell of fish? And Seraphina’s mention of her pregnancy also bothered me. Damon and I had been married for years, yet we had no children. Damon had once confessed to me that their royal line struggled to produce heirs due to their immense power in battle. Some spent their entire lives without offspring, so he didn’t care about it and accepted he wouldn’t have children. Therefore, when I told Damon I was pregnant, he didn’t believe me. Seraphina had just entered the palace then and was in his prime favor. Damon thought I was faking it to gain his affection and lashed out at me. “Ariel, you’re truly shameless! To fake a pregnancy just to win favor—how could you? Don’t you know it’s hard for me to have children?!” I expected Seraphina to receive the same reprimand, but instead, Damon was overjoyed. “Really? Seraphina, you truly are my lucky star! I thought I’d never have a child of my own, and yet you’re pregnant!” “Unlike some who fake pregnancies for attention, you can’t hide your fishy scent, even if you come ashore and become human.” After saying that, Damon ordered me locked in the crystal cage he’d specially made for me and sunk to the bottom of the water. “You’ve disgusted my beauty. When my beauty is no longer angry, I’ll let you out.” Hearing Damon’s words, I was horrified. Once the crystal cage sank, it wouldn’t float back up. Being pregnant, I couldn’t breathe underwater for long periods. If I stayed too long, I would suffocate from lack of oxygen. My own death was meaningless, but my child—he hadn’t even been born, hadn’t seen the world with his own eyes. “Damon! You can’t do this to me! If you keep me in the water, I’ll drown! Let me out, now!” Damon listened, his eyes cold. “You’ll drown? Ariel, listen to what you’re saying! You’re a Merfolk princess!” “I’ve never heard such a ridiculous joke.” He finished speaking and, ignoring my struggles, locked me in. Then, he picked up Seraphina tenderly and turned to leave. Watching his cold, heartless demeanor and Seraphina’s triumphant gaze, I was filled with bitter resentment. But there was nothing I could do. And so, filled with despair, I sank to the bottom.

Damon carried Seraphina back to his royal chambers, a place that once, apart from him and me, no one was ever allowed to enter. But ever since Seraphina arrived, everything had changed. I, too, had become one of those forbidden to enter. I’d even been reduced to a personal entertainer, summoned at her whim and dismissed at her pleasure, without any of the dignity befitting a Queen. As long as Seraphina pouted to Damon about being bored, I had to appear and sing or dance for her. If I showed any reluctance, Damon would threaten my people. But he had forgotten—he once promised to protect me and my tribe forever. Now, he was the one trying to harm us. When Damon was inheriting the crown, he was surrounded by enemies. Brothers coveted his throne, and rival kingdoms loomed threateningly. In such a desperate situation, he sought help from my father, the King. My father was initially unwilling. We Merfolk never meddled in the affairs of other races. But because Damon and I fell in love, my father had no choice but to lend his aid. Though we helped Damon ascend to the throne, our tribe was greatly weakened and slowly began to decline. Damon also crowned me Queen, promising to protect our people. But just a few years later, Seraphina arrived. Everything he had said meant nothing anymore. Damon protected Seraphina with such tenderness, as if she were a fragile treasure. It was a look I hadn’t seen directed at me in a long time. In the first few years we were together, Damon had treated me with exceptional affection and care, as if I were too precious to hold, too delicate to even breathe near. Seraphina leaned against Damon, her voice weak and soft. “Your Majesty, don’t blame my sister. This is just my pregnancy, it’s not her fault at all.” Damon’s face darkened when Seraphina mentioned me. “If she makes my Seraphina uncomfortable, then it’s her fault. She deserves to be punished.” “I was too good to her in previous years, spoiled by luxury, so now she gets breathless with just a few movements. Seraphina, don’t worry, she’s just locked in water. She won’t die.” Hearing Damon’s words, a wave of sorrow washed over me. How could I not die? I was already dead. I remembered how, when I felt unwell in the past, Damon would take meticulous care of me, unlike now, when he knowingly confined me to a cage despite my discomfort. Seraphina heard Damon’s words, and the smile on her lips was almost impossible to suppress, yet she still feigned innocence. “Your Majesty, when my sister comes out later, she won’t come looking for trouble with me, will she? After all, she’s the Queen, and I’m just your mistress.” Damon’s eyes widened. “She wouldn’t dare! Don’t be afraid. No one can release her without my permission.” “Once you bear my child, I’ll depose her and make you Queen.” “Ariel hasn’t given me a single child in all these years. She should have been deposed ages ago!” “Oh, Your Majesty, you’re so good to me.” Seraphina finally looked satisfied, having received Damon’s promise. My heart twisted in agony watching this. I should have had a child too, but now he would never have the chance to be born. Because of Damon, he and I had died together. I couldn’t understand how a person could change so quickly, forgetting vows of eternal love in just a few short years. He got a new love and forgot the old. We promised to be each other’s only love forever, but as soon as someone new appeared, everything changed.

After Seraphina arrived, Damon used my poor health as an excuse to banish me from his royal chambers. Ostensibly, it was for my well-being, but in reality, he and Seraphina spent every night in revelry. Damon’s frequent visits gradually became occasional, and eventually, he stopped coming altogether. Now, every time he said he wanted to see me, it was only to make me sing and dance for Seraphina, humiliating me to please her. He said, “You are Seraphina, and you are worth everything I have to make you happy.” Once upon a time, he had said those very words to me. Whenever I was homesick or upset, he would gently comfort me, gathering all sorts of interesting things to make me smile. But now, I had become nothing more than a tool to please someone else. “Your Majesty! Terrible news! The Queen has stopped struggling! She’s sunk to the bottom!” Just as Damon and Seraphina were enjoying a tender moment, a servant suddenly rushed in. Damon froze for a moment. “What did you say?” Then, as if the words registered, he frowned, looking annoyed, his face darkening. “She sank? So what? She’s Merfolk; what’s so strange about her sinking to the bottom of the water?!” The servant, frightened by Damon’s expression, quickly explained, “But… the Queen, she… her eyes are closed, her face is pale, and she seems to have stopped breathing.” Damon dressed quickly and stood up, appearing ready to follow the servant out. Seeing Damon’s movement, Seraphina quickly spoke. “Your Majesty, didn’t you say you’d stay with me? How can you leave me halfway?” “My sister is Merfolk; she lives in the water. Nothing bad will happen to her. This must be her throwing a tantrum. Your Majesty, you’ve been with my sister for so many years; you know she’s like this. When she’s angry, she ignores everyone.” Damon’s expression suddenly changed, clearly angered by something she had said. “Hmph! She’s definitely throwing a tantrum. Ignore her. I’ve never heard of Merfolk drowning in water.” Then he turned back and issued another command. “Go tell everyone that no one is to release her without my order. If I find out otherwise…” Damon’s words hung unfinished, but the servant was already nodding frantically, terrified. “Yes, yes, Your Majesty! I’ll go watch immediately. I’ll make sure not even a fly gets out!” Damon finally looked satisfied. Seraphina giggled, whispering sweet nothings that so utterly captivated Damon he lost all sense of time.

Damon didn’t think of me for the entire night. I imagined by now my body wouldn’t last much longer before it dissipated. We Merfolk grew up in water, and upon death, we dissipate back into the water, returning nutrients to nurture future generations. By the time Damon finally descended from his bed, satisfied, the sun was already high in the sky. “I wonder how my sister is doing now. Has her anger subsided? You know, the last time my sister was angry, she didn’t show her face for three whole days and nights.” Seraphina’s words stirred my memories. It was when Seraphina had just arrived. Though she was favored, she wasn’t as openly bold as she was now. Damon still cared about me somewhat and hadn’t gone too far. And at that time, I still believed Damon loved me, and Seraphina was just a passing novelty. I thought he would return to me once he grew tired of her. So, when Seraphina came looking for trouble, I slapped her without hesitation. Seraphina ran back crying to complain, and Damon, in a fit of anger, slapped me back. It was the first time I had ever been hit in my life, and to be treated this way by the man I loved, I couldn’t bear it. I immediately jumped into the water and hid. For three days and three nights, I didn’t show myself. It was after that incident that Damon never came to console me again, and he began to openly lavish Seraphina with his affection. Damon, prompted by Seraphina, clearly remembered that incident. He paused for a moment, as if recalling my very existence, then suddenly became enraged. “Hmph! I’ll go see if she knows her place now!” With that, Damon stormed towards the royal gardens. Servants were diligently guarding the area, and my pale body lay there. As soon as Damon arrived, he impatiently demanded, “Has Ariel acknowledged her mistake? Has she begged me to let her out?” Hearing Damon’s words, I scoffed internally. How was I supposed to acknowledge a mistake, or beg for mercy? Hadn’t I already done all that before I died? Was it any use? Moreover, what had I done wrong? Was I wrong for getting tired while dancing, or wrong for letting a fishy smell disgust Seraphina? None of it was true. These were just false accusations you, Damon, imposed on me to humiliate me and please Seraphina. My biggest mistake was loving you and believing your lies. The servant shook his head. “To answer Your Majesty, the Queen… she…” “Since she sank, she hasn’t surfaced. She hasn’t opened her eyes, nor moved an inch.” Damon’s expression froze. He took a few hurried steps to the water’s edge and looked down. My face was pale, and I lay quietly at the bottom. Because the water was moving, my clothes and hair also swayed. Coupled with the strong midday sun, it was hard to see clearly. It looked as though I was floating, occasionally making slight movements. Damon clearly misinterpreted this. “Hmph! What do you mean she hasn’t moved? She’s clearly faking her death!” “Since you like staying underwater, then stay there forever! Don’t ever come up again!” Hearing Damon’s words, I felt a burning hatred. Was it that I didn’t want to come up? I was killed by you, Damon! I could never surface again! Damon finished speaking and angrily turned to leave. It was then that I saw my body beginning to dissipate. The servant saw it too. He screamed in terror, “The Queen… The Queen… she’s gone!” Damon stopped dead in his tracks and ran back to the water’s edge, looking down. The bottom of the water was empty. My body was no longer there.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296936”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

When I was eighteen, I plunged into a frozen river to save my childhood sweetheart, Declan Thorne, a talented swimmer. I got severe frostbite, damaging my uterus. The doctors told me I’d been in the ice too long, sustained severe damage that would make having children incredibly difficult. Declan knelt by my hospital bed, swearing to cherish me forever, even if we never had kids. And just like that, he pampered me, making me the city’s most privileged elite. This year, at thirty-two, marked our tenth wedding anniversary, a decade we’d built side by side. But on our anniversary, I received an anonymous envelope. Inside were growth photos of Declan’s eight children. I stared at my husband, who was meticulously massaging my leg. My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vise, making it hard to breathe. Yet, he looked up and said, “Aria, perhaps we should adopt some children.” He then shamelessly, brazenly, brought his mistress and their eight children right into our home. That day, tears blurring my vision, I dialed his best friend’s number. “Liam, I’m giving you a chance. Come help me put on a show!”

“Aria, I think we should…” “We should adopt a few children to look after you when I’m not around.” He said this while leading a boy and a girl out from a nearby room in the lobby. Looking at their eerily similar faces, I felt a bitter, cynical twist in my gut. Declan walked over and pulled me into a deep hug. “They’re just adopted.” “I’ll still love you most, always!” “That whole thing was so many years ago…” “Aria, maybe we both need to move on.” The memory of almost dying to save him, only for him to betray me, hit hard. The suffocating terror of the river water, the feeling of drowning from all those years ago, flooded me again. “Get out! All of you, just get out!” I fiercely pushed away the two children standing in front of me. Declan’s voice turned sharp, a furious roar. “Aria Maxwell, don’t be so unreasonable!” “They’re just kids. Why are you throwing a tantrum at children?” We’d been childhood sweethearts, and this was the first time he’d ever yelled at me. My heart splintered, like shattered glass. I stormed out of our tenth wedding anniversary dinner. But he didn’t grab my hand like he usually would. The other guests had no idea what had just transpired. They only saw me, pushing the kids away like a madwoman, and their whispers and stares followed me. That evening, Declan came home with the children. I was packing my bags to leave. “Aria, if you don’t like them, I can arrange for them to stay on the second floor.” My packing paused for a beat, then resumed. “Whatever.” It wouldn’t concern me anyway, not anymore. Declan let out a sigh of relief. When I finished packing and reached the living room, I heard the children’s noisy shouts coming from the far right room on the second floor. He’d put the children in *my* old room! I raced upstairs. What greeted me was an utter disaster, the room torn apart. The letters Declan had written me, the tiny straw cricket he’d woven, the handcrafted ring he’d given me when he proposed… And all the toys my parents had given me! Everything was strewn across the floor and the bed, broken. My throat felt like an invisible hand was choking it, and a metallic taste, sharp and bitter, flooded my mouth. *Slap!* I slapped Declan hard across the face. “Declan, do you have any heart at all?!” Declan’s head was turned, and in his eyes, I saw no trace of the love he once held for me. “Aria Maxwell, do you always have to be so demanding?” Declan glared at me, his eyes blazing, while the boy behind him made a mocking face at me. Suddenly, all those years of shared history felt like a cruel joke. I turned to leave, but the boy picked up a jade pendant, clearly intending to throw it out the window. My pupils constricted. “Stop!” Declan spun around. “It’s just a pendant!” “Aria, what kind do you want? I’ll buy you a new one, okay?” “Why argue with a child?” With Declan’s permission, the little boy flung the jade pendant out the window. That was the last birthday gift my mother gave me before she passed away. “No!” The pendant shattered on impact. My eyes burned red with unshed tears. “Go pick it up for me!” My hand had just brushed the boy’s shirt when Declan rushed over and shoved me to the ground. My fingers hit the floor awkwardly and fractured, a searing pain shooting from my hand through my entire body. Declan pulled the boy into a protective, comforting hug. “Aria Maxwell, I never realized you were so vicious!” I remembered how, once, a nanny accidentally broke my hair clip, and he’d lost his temper, making her kneel and apologize to me. Now, he held the boy, led the girl, and walked away without a backward glance, leaving me alone, sobbing uncontrollably. I went to the hospital alone. Dr. Reed, while bandaging my hand, sighed. “What’s gotten into Mrs. Thorne this year?” “Mr. Thorne used to protect you like the apple of his eye. You rarely visited the hospital. Now, you’ve actually broken your finger.” The doctor’s words were like a dull knife, twisting slowly in my chest. I stayed silent, biting back tears. While I was being bandaged, I received a text from him. [Aria, I was too hasty earlier. I’ve prepared a surprise for you.] My heart ached until it felt numb. No surprise he could offer would compare to the “surprise” of these two children. I pushed down the pain and dialed Declan’s best friend, Liam Hayes. “Liam, interested in helping me put on a show?”

I deleted the text message from Declan. I just wanted to grab my luggage and leave, but as I opened the front door, Declan enthusiastically pulled my hand, leading me into the living room. “Aria, are you upset with the kids because you don’t want to take care of them?” “It’s okay, I found a nanny to look after them.” “Now you can relax!” “She just happens to have six children of her own, so she’ll need to live with us.” “Don’t worry, she’s a professional when it comes to kids…” He chattered on, completely ignoring my reaction, beaming as if he’d accomplished some great life feat. Looking at the eight children, big and small, in the living room, my stomach churned. I covered my mouth, feeling nauseous. Seraphina Vance glided over, her hand reaching out to steady me. “Hello, Mrs. Thorne, I’m the new nanny.” Her grip tightened imperceptibly on my broken finger, a searing pain that made me gasp. Blood instantly bloomed, soaking through the gauze. She leaned in close, her voice a poisonous whisper. “Sweetheart, the unloved one is the mistress.” She then shrieked loudly, staggering backward. “Mrs. Thorne, if you don’t like me, just tell me to leave! Why did you push me?!” Declan rushed forward in one stride, catching her. “Aria Maxwell, have I spoiled you rotten these past few years?” “Why is your temper so terrible?” His words from our wedding day echoed in my mind, the solemn vow he’d made before the priest: “Aria, I’ll pamper you into the most cherished princess!” I lifted my bleeding hand. “It wasn’t me!” “Enough!” Declan’s eyes instantly filled with resentment. Looking at the family of ten before me, I felt utterly superfluous in my own home. I turned and went back to my room to get my luggage. Seraphina gently patted Declan’s arm. “I’ll go comfort Mrs. Thorne.” She walked in and closed the bedroom door, dropping her fragile act completely. Seraphina grabbed my arm, yanking me close to her. “A barren hen like you, still clinging on?” “I come from a lineage renowned for its boundless fertility. As you can see, all eight of those children are mine, children I bore for Declan.” “A woman who can’t even have children, truly a disgrace to us women.” “If I were you, I’d have left gracefully long ago.” I stared at the beautiful woman before me. A chill ran down my spine. I didn’t want to engage in a pointless argument; I just wanted to leave. But she blocked my way again. “Do you really think you still hold a place in his heart?” She grabbed my hand and, with it, slapped herself hard across the face. My palm went numb from the impact. As expected, her scream drew Declan’s attention. Declan rushed in, caressing the red mark on her face with tenderness. Then he turned and shoved me, sending me tumbling. My lower back hit the corner of a cabinet, and pain shot through my entire body. He wasn’t done. He swung his hand, connecting with a sharp crack across my face. Blood welled up at the corner of my mouth, and my cheek burned with searing pain. “Aria Maxwell, you’ve gone too far!” “I’ve gone too far? What about your promise to protect me forever?!” His pupils constricted, his expression flustered. But when he heard Seraphina’s sobs again, he chose to turn away from me, helping Seraphina out of the room. After they left, I was in too much pain to move. “Mr. Thompson, call a doctor…” “Mrs. Thorne, all our family doctors are currently in the nanny’s room, tending to *her* face…” “Mr. Thorne won’t let them come.” Declan had once arranged for ten family doctors for me. And now, all of them were attending to Seraphina’s face! The butler’s words were like needles, piercing my entire body, leaving only a dull, aching throb. I bit back the tears, refusing to let them fall, and dialed 911 myself. “Mrs. Thorne, congratulations! You’re two months pregnant!” “Though you’ve had a slight scare, please be sure to take good care of yourself when you go home!” I instinctively touched my lower abdomen, disbelief washing over me. Tears streamed down my face. My hand trembled as I called Declan. “Declan, we… we’re having a baby.” There was no joy, no surprise as I’d hoped. Only a sneer. “Aria, are you really so desperate to fight with the kids that you’d make up a lie like that?” I froze, unable to speak. Before the call disconnected, I faintly heard a woman’s soft moans from his end. I tilted my head back, forcing the tears not to fall. When I got home, Declan walked out of the nanny’s room. The hickeys on his neck were a glaring, painful accusation. I forced myself to ignore them and handed him a document. He paused for a second, then laughed, signing his name with a flourish. “Aria, I’ll buy you whatever you want, but you need to be obedient, okay?” “Tomorrow, I’m planning a party to announce that all eight of these children are mine!” I laughed, a bitter, angry sound. He wasn’t even pretending anymore? “You said you only adopted two. Why are you claiming the other six now?”

Declan stammered, his eyes darting away. “Seraphina’s children were constantly getting bullied at school. If I acknowledged them, no one would dare mess with them anymore.” “She’s a single mom, it’s not easy for her, you can understand that, right?” He reached out, taking my hand and gently stroking it. A wave of nausea washed over me. I pulled my hand away and left. I just had to wait for Liam to finalize the property division, then I’d be free. The next day, when I arrived at the banquet hall, Seraphina and Declan were dressed in extravagant evening wear, greeting guests at the entrance. Anyone who didn’t know them would think they were the couple of honor. In the past, Declan always had custom gowns made for me for every event, big or small. I walked up to Declan, gesturing to my simple attire, then to Seraphina’s elaborate gown. “What is the meaning of this?” Declan waved his hand dismissively. “Seraphina hasn’t worn such beautiful clothes before. Anyway, the children are the stars tonight.” “It doesn’t matter what you wear, does it?” Even though I was determined to leave, seeing the husband I’d loved for so many years like this, my heart still twisted with a sharp, familiar pain. I wandered aimlessly through the banquet, eventually finding myself in the children’s resting room. Looking at the two sleeping infants in their cribs, I thought of my own baby, who would someday be just as adorable, and reached out to hold them. Suddenly, the older children who had been playing nearby rushed over, grabbing my arms and biting down hard. The others ran to the door, screaming that I was trying to kill the babies. They ganged up, pushing me to the floor, pulling my hair, and splashing water on me. Soon, the guests and Declan rushed into the room. The children, seeing them, immediately sat on the floor and started crying. Declan shoved through the crowd, hurrying to my side. Without a word, he slapped me, not once, but ten times. I was too stunned to speak, my cheeks swelling painfully. Seraphina clutched a child, sobbing hysterically. “Mrs. Thorne, just because you can’t have children, do you have to harm other people’s children?” It happened so fast. I hadn’t even processed it, only felt the screaming pain from every part of my body. “That’s right, Mrs. Thorne! Mr. Thorne’s kindness to you is well-known in the elite circles.” “He doesn’t mind you can’t have children. Can’t you even let him adopt a few?” Everyone started to accuse me. Declan, without asking a single question, had already decided I was trying to harm the children. The guests’ words only fueled the fire. “Someone, lock this vicious woman in a room! Let her out after the banquet!” I cried out in disbelief. “No! It wasn’t me!” He ignored me. I was locked in that hotel room for three days. No phone, no one brought me food. I was dizzy and lightheaded from hunger every day. I kept pounding on the door until my palms were raw and bleeding. Declan had completely forgotten about me. He only remembered when he came back to settle the hotel bill. When he saw me, my hair was disheveled, and I was pale and gaunt. I felt a warm liquid trickle down my legs. Gathering my last ounce of strength, I rasped out, “Declan, save… save our baby!” I collapsed before him. Not long after, I was jolted awake by a splash of icy water. “Aria, why do you keep lying about having a baby?” “I told you, I’ll still treat you well after adopting the children!” Seraphina stood nearby, her eyes gleaming with unconcealed triumph. “Mrs. Thorne, lying will teach the children bad habits.” “I heard you’re terrified of water. We should soak you in the bathtub to teach you a good lesson, to set an example for the kids.” After that drowning incident all those years ago, I never went swimming again. Even showering, I had to do it quickly. Declan knew about my fear of water, yet he stood by, watching me with cold indifference. My hands were tied and hoisted up. Seraphina operated a mechanical arm, dipping me into the water, then pulling me out, then plunging me in again. “No! Please, no!” “My baby!” “Mrs. Thorne, you’re clearly on your period. And you’re still lying about being pregnant.” “Hmph! Give her a lesson she won’t forget, so she won’t dare to lie again.” The air in my lungs grew thinner and thinner. My lower abdomen ached, as if hammered. But nothing, nothing compared to the agony in my heart. I felt my child slipping away from me, little by little. In the depths of despair, on the verge of death, I lost consciousness. 5 I woke up to the stinging smell of antiseptic. When I opened my swollen eyes, Liam Hayes was sitting by my side. He shot up the moment he saw I was awake.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296952”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic