Category: English

The family business crumbled, and our once-proud name faded into ruin. My ex-boyfriend, that scumbag, vanished into thin air, taking every last penny I had with him. I was Skylar, a pampered heiress who knew nothing but lavish parties and endless shopping. This disaster hit me like a lightning bolt. One minute I was drowning in luxury, the next, I was practically staring down homelessness. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I marched straight to Jasper’s doorstep and hit the doorbell. My sworn enemy, Jasper, sat across from me, legs crossed, his fingers tapping softly on the table. His expression was utterly serious. “Skylar,” he drawled, “give me one good reason why I should take you in.” My mind raced, desperately searching for an answer. “Actually,” I blurted out, a desperate plan forming, “this bankruptcy… it was just my first step to getting close to you.” A single eyebrow quirked upwards. “So… you like me?” The auction hall buzzed with anticipation. On display, a necklace named ‘Emerald City’ shimmered under the spotlights. Forty-one exquisite emeralds from Kashmir, each radiating an exotic allure, were set into its intricate design. The auctioneer raised his gavel, ready to close the bid. Without a second thought, I called out, “Five million!” A collective gasp swept through the room. Everyone knew Skylar Chen, the pampered darling of the city. My parents had left me an endless fortune when they passed, and I’d been indulged my entire life. Just as I thought it was mine, someone, completely unfazed, raised the bid to ten million. I shot an arrogant glance towards the corner. There he was: Jasper, the city’s second-richest man. His face was sculpted, his composure unshakeable, every movement exuding effortless aristocracy. I knew him, alright. But I didn’t give him a second thought. After all, I was number one on that list. The ultimate pampered heiress, a trust fund baby who burned through cash like it was kindling. Just as I was about to raise the stakes again, Alfred, my long-suffering butler, leaned in. “Miss Skylar,” he whispered, “your parents stipulated a ten-million limit for auctions.” “Damn it!” I muttered, fuming. “Am I supposed to just take this?” The entire room was buzzing, speculating on who would finally claim the necklace. If I gave up now, I’d be utterly humiliated! Alfred tried to calm me. “Miss Skylar, it’s in the will. If you don’t abide by the rules, you risk losing everything.” I gnashed my teeth in fury, shooting a venomous glare at Jasper, then grabbed my purse and stormed out. Jasper, I swore I’d get him back for this. My second run-in with him was in Australia. “I’m sorry, Miss Chen, but the island you were interested in has just been sold.” The moment I heard, I had Alfred arrange a private jet. My heels clicked a furious rhythm as I rushed in, only to find Jasper, casually seated across from the service desk, just about to sign the papers. He leaned back in his chair, a lazy, amused smirk playing on his lips as he watched me. His eyes twinkled with a hint of challenge. A fresh surge of anger ignited inside me. I strode forward, one hand on my hip, my voice echoing through the office. “Hey! Are you seriously just going around snatching everything I want?!” Alfred immediately stepped in, apologizing profusely and trying to hold me back. Jasper, completely unfazed, simply dropped a bombshell. “Your eyeliner’s crooked.” Then, he turned and sauntered away, as if he hadn’t just insulted me. My fists clenched, ready to swing, but Alfred intercepted me again. “Miss Skylar, please don’t be angry,” Alfred pleaded. “You have more than enough islands. Your parents made it clear you shouldn’t be too extravagant.” “Fine! I’ll hold back… for now!” To cool off, I drove myself to my family’s private horse ranch after returning home. It had been so long, I’d actually forgotten the way. After several wrong turns, I finally found it. Talk about ironic. On this bright, sunny afternoon, I stood by the ranch entrance, about to walk in. Then, a cold voice spoke up behind me.

I spun around. Of course. It was Jasper. We stared at each other, disbelief plastered across both our faces. Then, in perfect unison, we blurted out: “What are you doing here?!” “What do you mean, what am I doing here?!” A few seconds of awkward silence followed. My patience wore thin. I crossed my arms, chin tilted, glaring down at him with disdain. “I let you have the necklace and the island,” I snapped, “but this is *my* family’s horse ranch! We’ve owned it for years. Are you seriously going to try and snatch this too?!” A flicker of surprise crossed Jasper’s eyes. His impressive six-foot-two frame bent slightly as he curved his lips into a teasing smile. “Miss Skylar,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement, “look closely. This is *my* private horse ranch.” I followed his gaze. ‘The Jasper Estate,’ large letters declared, prominently displayed above the entrance. My world went black. Just then, Alfred came rushing up. “Miss Skylar,” he panted, “the two ranches are quite close. I was worried you might confuse them, so I hurried over. I guess I was too late.” My face burned crimson. I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. After that whole ranch debacle, I seriously suspected our family property had some bad juju. I even consulted a spiritualist. The spiritualist said the only way to banish the bad luck was to move and find a boyfriend. So, that night, I moved into a sprawling penthouse in the city center. As for the ‘boyfriend’ part, I meticulously sifted through my many admirers and picked Kyle, an earnest-looking corporate executive who seemed reliable and harmless. I chose him because he seemed safe. I had no intention of anything serious, just needed him to help get rid of this bad luck. But who knew? That jerk cheated on me on our *third day* together! My friends said they saw Kyle flirting with some girl at a bar. And the kicker? I *owned* that bar! I gnashed my teeth, ready to storm in and cause a scene, but then I forgot the color of my new car and ended up circling endlessly in the underground parking garage. “Alfred,” I called, “I just bought a new Bugatti, right? Do you remember what color it is?” “Miss Skylar,” Alfred sighed, “you have so many cars, I can barely keep track. I wasn’t even aware you’d acquired another Bugatti.” I hung up, racking my brain. Black! It was black! Then, I realized I’d forgotten my car keys. Just then, the window of another black Bugatti next to me rolled down. “Skylar?” Jasper asked, from the driver’s seat, a cigarette held delicately between his fingers as he exhaled a plume of smoke. Through the swirling smoke, I saw a beacon of hope! I practically dove into the passenger seat, barking out an address and ordering him to drive. Still seething, I snatched the half-smoked cigarette from his fingers and took a long, furious drag. He paused, surprised, then blinked and asked what was wrong. I exhaled a cloud of smoke, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Cheater busting,” I deadpanned. I didn’t notice his gaze linger on me for a fleeting moment. As I got out, I pulled a wad of cash from my bag and tossed it onto the seat. “I know you’re not hurting for money,” I said, “but I don’t take free rides.” Ignoring the way his eyes crinkled in amusement and a subtle smile played on his lips, I stormed into the bar, marched straight to the VIP section, and successfully busted the cheater. But soon enough, karma came knocking.

I went broke. Yep, you heard that right. I was getting a facial at a Korean beauty salon when I got the news. I nearly ripped off my mask in shock. I was the one who went broke? *Me?* Turns out, there were major management issues, basically, internal embezzlement. But whatever, even a collapsing empire has its spoils. After paying off all the workers and employee salaries, I still had enough left to live comfortably for the rest of my life. But then, the final, devastating blow came from my ex-boyfriend. Yes, Kyle, that absolute bastard! He’d transferred all my remaining money, using some genius method that a pretty, clueless mess like me would never have dreamed of. Still, it was fine. I had cars, houses, jewelry, and bags. I could sell off my assets and make a comeback. That’s what all the down-on-their-luck rich people do in movies, right? I’d be okay! It wasn’t until I actually checked that I realized Kyle, that thief, had cleaned me out! I now had fifty dollars spread across five different cards, and literally nothing but the clothes on my back. I slipped off my Patek Philippe watch and handed it to Alfred. “Alfred,” I choked out, “you’ve worked so hard all these years. This is a small token of my appreciation.” Then, I told Alfred to leave. And I left too. Walked out of that house. Overnight, the news of my bankruptcy—Skylar Chen’s downfall—spread like wildfire. Everyone knew. Everyone seemed eager to distance themselves from me. I walked the streets like a zombie, gazing at the bustling traffic and towering skyscrapers, a flood of emotions washing over me. Before, these were just insignificant things I’d barely deigned to glance at from my lofty perch. Now, standing on the ground, they felt impossibly high, unattainable. My eyes landed on a massive screen on a skyscraper, displaying the city’s wealthiest man. Jasper. His figure was imposing, like a stable mountain, perfectly complementing the city skyline behind him. “Jasper,” I murmured to myself. A brilliant idea sparked in my mind. Twenty-eight minutes later, I rang Jasper’s doorbell. Don’t ask why twenty-eight minutes. I had no money for a taxi, so I walked. It took exactly twenty-eight minutes. The moment the door opened, my heart leaped into my throat. But Jasper didn’t say a word. He just gestured for me to come in with his eyes. I swallowed hard, nervously following him inside. Then, I launched into my ‘grand plan,’ a river of compliments flowing effortlessly from me, each one more extravagant than the last. Jasper didn’t seem to be listening. He just walked straight to the kitchen. “I don’t have much food here,” he stated. “You don’t mind instant ramen, do you?” Instant ramen? That cheap, additive-filled, non-gourmet food totally beneath my dignity? I shook my head like a bobblehead. But then, my stomach let out a pathetic grumble, betraying me. Jasper shook his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, then deftly prepared the noodles. Before long, I’d slurped down every last drop of the broth. Jasper sat opposite me again, legs crossed, his fingers tapping softly on the table. His expression was serious. “Skylar,” he repeated, his voice firm, “give me a reason to take you in.” I forced a shaky smile. “My Lord Jasper,” I pleaded, “if you don’t help me, this poor girl’s going to be sleeping in the park tonight.” With that, I put on my most pitiful puppy-dog eyes, sniffled, and looked up, my big, watery eyes brimming with feigned injustice. “I know I’ve been difficult before,” I whimpered. “Can’t you just pity me, even a little?” Jasper was silent for a moment, then, coolly, he uttered two words: “No, I can’t.” My mind raced. I leaned closer to him. “Actually,” I confessed, “this whole bankruptcy thing… it was just my first step to getting close to you.” The words were out before I could stop them. I instantly regretted it.

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After three years on a top-secret mission overseas, I was finally back. Before I left, my superiors strongly urged me to take a dedicated security detail, a whole unit just for my safety. But the first call I got when my boots hit American soil wasn’t from my wife. It was from Brad, my old college class president. “You loser,” he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. “Heard you’re down and out. Perfect timing, actually. I’m getting married, and I’m feeling charitable. Come see how the other half lives.” Then he dropped a wedding invitation into our old group chat. But when I saw the photo of my wife on the invite, I froze. My stomach twisted into a knot. To prevent a colossal misunderstanding, I quickly typed back, “Are you *sure* that’s your wife?” Brad lost his mind. He bombarded the chat with a string of angry 60-second voice messages. “Whose wife do you think it is, you moron?! Yours?! What kind of trash are you to question me? My wife is the heiress of the Lu family, the absolute powerhouse in this city!” “In this city, the Lu family *is* the law. If you get down on your knees right now and beg me like a dog, I might just be in a good mood and let you off the hook.” “Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t even *breathe* in this city!” I scoffed, a cold sneer twisting my lips. “You want me to kneel to you? You’d better make sure you’re even *worthy* of it first!” The leaders of the most influential families in the country bow to *me*. I’d like to see if this ‘Lu family heiress’ he’s so proud of dares to disrespect *me*!

As soon as I pulled up to my mansion, Chloe, my wife, pinged me on SnapChat. “Hey, hubby! I’m out with my girlfriends for a few days. If you miss me, you know we can always connect, virtually. 😉” Chloe and I had been married for ten years. She was vain and a complete gold-digger, but in bed? We were a perfect match. Even when we were miles apart, she’d make sure we connected, *intimately*. She swore she was only mine and knew exactly how to drive me wild. But deep down, I sneered. *Playing around*? She’d probably been busy warming other men’s beds for ages. The next day, I blew off the invites from the city’s most powerful families. I had a more important destination: the address on Brad’s wedding invitation. As I stepped off my yacht, a massive, 10-foot wedding photo dominated the entrance. Thousands of roses were meticulously arranged beneath it, forming giant letters: “Chloe & Brad: Forever Together.” Brad stood in the center of our college classmates, soaking up their adoration like a king. “Bro, Brad, you’re absolutely killin’ it! You actually landed a Lu family heiress!” “The Lu family? They’re practically royalty! You’re set for life, man!” “Brad, don’t forget us little people when you’re swimming in cash!” Even Professor Davies, our notoriously stern college advisor, was practically fawning. “Brad, you failed six courses in one semester, and yet, I *still* awarded you that scholarship. I saw it then! You were just too ‘cool’ to bother with exams, but I knew you had real-world hustle. You were destined for a massive glow-up!” Brad puffed up with self-importance, his nose practically in the clouds. But I just found it pathetic. “Lu family heiress”? Chloe was an orphan. Nobody special. Her real name wasn’t even Chloe Lu. She was just… *Chloe Smith*, born into nothing. After we got married, she constantly complained about her ‘unrespectable’ past. To make her happy, I pulled some strings and *poof*, she was a ‘Lu.’ I used my influence to grant her a new, powerful identity. I effectively *made* her a ‘Lu family heiress.’ And now, that *gift* was Brad’s biggest bragging chip. I stepped forward. A few old classmates spotted me, their faces twisting with blatant disgust. Noticing the yacht behind me, someone sneered, “Did he rent that yacht just to show off? Asher, did you take out a loan just to afford that rental?” Others chimed in, laughing. “Seriously, what’s with the act? Brad’s wife is a Lu family heiress. You’re not even in the same league as her, you pathetic loser!” “Right? Why bother with this pathetic show-off stunt, renting a yacht, when you could just grovel for Brad’s mercy like the dog you are? What a waste of ego!” The crowd erupted in jeers. My voice was flat. “I didn’t rent it. I *bought* it. A billion dollars. Cash.” The words hung in the air for a second, then several people doubled over, roaring with laughter. Brad’s face turned scarlet. He snatched a champagne bottle from a nearby table and *slammed* it against my head. “Stop trying to fool me, you ass! This is *my wife’s* yacht!” “So that’s why you asked if she was *really* my wife. You’re her dirty secret, aren’t you? Her *side piece*! You leech! Being a sugar baby isn’t enough for you? You dare bring *her* yacht to *my* wedding to make a scene?!” Blood trickled down my forehead, and the entire venue fell silent. Someone stammered, incredulous, “Brad, is he serious? Is this yacht really your wife’s?” Brad scoffed, pulling a photo from his wallet. “Who else could afford something like this besides my wife?” The photo showed two people in swimsuits kissing on the yacht. The stern featured custom couple art and engraved initials. A few people circled my yacht, their eyes widening. “Holy crap, it’s exactly the same!” “Asher, you’re not even a man! Being a home-wrecker? Have you no shame?!” Brad’s face was twisted with fury. “You disappeared for three years… was she hiding you away?” At his words, everyone immediately looked at me with disdain. “Remember how many rich women threw money at Asher back then, and he always turned them down? Guess the cash wasn’t enough for him. What a shameless loser.” “Who knows how many sugar mamas he’s been milking dry? He’s probably got more STDs than dollar bills!” “Being a home-wrecker is one thing, but to show up *here*, at *our* wedding? That’s just pure trashy audacity!” Professor Davies and the other teachers looked absolutely disgusted. “You morally bankrupt individual! Don’t you dare claim you were ever our student!” “I’m too ashamed to even know you!” The wedding was being live-streamed. The commotion quickly drew all the cameras to me and Brad, the comment section exploding with hate. Insult after insult scrolled across the screen. I ran a hand over the blood trickling down my face, my gaze locking onto Brad. “You’re laying hands on people before you even know the full story?” Brad’s arrogance swelled. “Yeah, I’m hitting you, you pathetic bastard. So what?” With that, he barked at someone nearby to grab a can of spray paint. He snatched it, then started defacing my yacht, spraying haphazard lines across the hull. “You’re a side piece! What right do you have to question me?!” “ASHER IS A WHORE” blared in huge, ugly letters across the side of my yacht. My voice was cold. “Destroying private property is a crime, you know.” Brad scoffed. “Crime? What’s law got to do with it? My wife is a Lu family heiress! In this city, if I tell the cops to jump, they’ll ask ‘how high?’!” “And you, you’re not just morally bankrupt and a home-wrecker! You’re parading around in *my wife’s* yacht!” “After a piece of trash like *you* tainted it, I don’t even *want* this yacht anymore!” He actually ordered the captain of a nearby vessel to *ram* mine. The sickening crunch of glass and metal echoed across the water as a massive dent appeared in the hull. “Brad’s going to be a Lu!” someone yelled from the crowd of classmates. “We gotta teach this punk a lesson for Brad!” A mob of them surged onto the deck, pouring corrosive liquids onto the yacht, scratching the paint, bashing the hull with anything they could find. In no time, my yacht was a twisted, battered wreck. I clenched my jaw, suppressing a tremor of rage. “I advise you to stop now. Otherwise, the consequences will be far beyond anything you can imagine.” Brad scoffed. “Consequences? Who do you think you are? My wife could crush you like an ant.” Hearing this, the others laughed even harder, smashing with renewed vigor. Suddenly, someone yelled, carrying a solid black, heavy-looking metal box. “This guy hides things so well! Is there something valuable in here?” Brad snatched a small axe and brought it down, splitting the box open. “What’s this? A crown? Must be fake gold, right? Some cheap trick, thinking he’s a king?” I glared at him, a warning in my voice. “Don’t touch that. You can’t afford to pay for it.” This was a priceless artifact, something I was meant to deliver to the national archives. I hadn’t yet processed it because I came straight to this wedding. But Brad, hearing me, practically jumped in a fit of rage. “What do you mean, *I* can’t afford it?! That’s hilarious!” “*My wife’s* fiancé can’t afford your pile of trash? Who are you trying to impress?!” He flung the crown to the ground, doused it in alcohol, and flicked a lighter. The flames licked at the gold, but after a long moment, the crown remained utterly unharmed. Someone’s voice, full of doubt, cut through the laughter. “That crown… it looks like… the Napoleon Coronation Crown. It could fetch *billions* at auction!” Brad’s anger intensified. “Billions?! How could a side piece like him have that kind of money?! He must have stolen it from my wife!” “So what if I turn it into junk right now? Trash like him deserves nothing but trash!” He raised the axe again, smashing the crown until it was a mangled, unrecognizable mess. I watched his furious, insane actions with a cold, detached gaze, saying nothing. Trillions in assets? Laughable. Chloe was always vain. After we got married, global limited edition haute couture gowns and custom jewelry? She owned every single piece. But she was still unhappy. She hated being seen as ‘new money’ or some bumpkin because her ‘family’ had no real standing. To make her happy, I had her officially registered as a Lu. But these idiots actually believed Chloe was a true Lu heiress, fantasizing about the Lu family’s trillions in assets. With Brad leading the charge on the crown, the others were quick to follow suit. They rampaged through the yacht, tearing and smashing my other priceless collections. I was about to intervene when my secure comms device buzzed to life. I answered immediately. “Reschedule the meeting. Send my security detail to my location. Now.” Brad’s cronies noticed my actions, snatched the device, and stomped on it repeatedly. “You pathetic piece of trash, trying to call for backup, are we?” “Laughable! Who’s he going to call? His ‘friends’ from the escort service? Don’t tell me a bunch of spineless pretty boys are coming to save you!” “Seriously, you’re addicted to acting tough, aren’t you? We’re old classmates, we know what a loser you really are!” “You’re a good-for-nothing! You actually think putting on airs will change the fact that you’re trash?!” I looked at the shattered comms device, my voice sharp and deadly. “I hope you’ll still be laughing this hard in a few minutes!” Brad’s eyes bulged. He lunged, slamming his fist into my nose. “Still trying to act tough now?! Your weak, pampered body is going to threaten me? I’m going to teach you a lesson today!” I sidestepped, and Brad, propelled by his own momentum, face-planted onto the deck. He scrambled up, enraged. “Everyone! Hold him down!” Just then, someone held up a string of sandalwood beads. “This fell off the loser! Must be something valuable, right?” My heart plummeted. My voice was a raw snarl. “Give that back!” Brad snatched the beads, a cruel smile twisting his lips. “So tense? It’s just some cheap piece of wood. Is it an antique or something?” I lunged for it. “It’s not valuable, but it’s important to me! Give it back now!” My mother’s ashes were sealed inside those sandalwood beads. When I was a child, I was kidnapped. My mother, to save me, bravely walked into the kidnappers’ hideout and offered herself in my place. I watched, helpless, as she was chained to the ground, and the kidnappers, like savage beasts, unleashed their depraved cruelty upon her. When they were done, her body was drenched in blood, twisted into an impossible, grotesque angle. After she died, I sealed her ashes inside that bracelet. It never left my wrist. I always felt like she was still by my side. It was my only memento, my most sacred treasure. It was my red line, my absolute untouchable. I would *never* allow anyone to take it from me! Brad watched me, a triumphant, malicious grin spreading across his face. “The more you care, the more I want to destroy it!” He lifted it, making a show of tossing it forcefully into the sea. My vision blurred with rage. “No! Just give it back, and I’ll do anything! *Anything*!” Seeing my desperation, Brad laughed, his eyes glinting with pure malice. “Alright, how about this? Get down on your knees and *lick my shoes*. Then I *might* think about giving it back to you.” A roaring static filled my head, my mind went utterly blank. The metallic tang of bile filled my throat as I remembered my mother’s horrific death. I squeezed my eyes shut, and slowly, painstakingly, lowered myself to the deck. With a numb tongue, I licked the filth from his shoe. The cruel laughter spread through the crowd like a plague, but I barely registered it. I urgently rasped, “Now will you give me back the beads?!” “I said I’d *consider* it,” Brad chuckled. “Who said I’d actually give it back?” He gave a sick smile, then *slammed* the beads onto the deck, shattering them into a million pieces. “No!” My eyes burned with unshed tears. I lunged, my fist smashing into Brad’s face! “You deserve to die!” Brad screamed, his face contorted in pain, as he spit out a mouthful of blood. Just as I prepared to strike again, my old classmates rushed forward, pummeling me with kicks and punches. “You got a death wish?! How dare you hit our Brad!” “Brad’s going to be a Lu! Do you know who you’re messing with?!” “That bracelet was probably just some payment from another sugar mama anyway. Just go service a few more rich old ladies, you can replace it, right?” I clenched my fists, blood dripping from between my fingers. “You will all regret this. I swear, I will make you pay a hundred times over!” Piercing laughter erupted around me, laced with undisguised mockery. “Pay a hundred times over? You’re telling jokes now?!” “You’re a nobody! What else can you do besides mooch off rich women?! If you lick *everyone’s* shoes clean, maybe we’ll go easy on you!” “You’re a homewrecker, preying on old classmates! You deserve to be gelded!” Someone aimed a vicious kick at my knee, and I collapsed, hitting the deck hard. The mocking laughter swelled like a tidal wave, drowning me. “Hahahaha, pathetic! He’s already on his knees! What a spineless loser!” “If you crawl through our legs, one by one, maybe we’ll let you off, hahahaha…” Professor Davies pulled out his phone, aiming it at my pale, bruised face. “Look, everyone! This was our department’s ‘brain’ back then! Look at him now! I always knew he’d end up a total loser!” Their sneering laughter stabbed into my eardrums like sharp needles. I clenched the shattered fragments of the beads in my fist, the sharp edges digging into my skin. A desperate cough ripped through me, tasting of iron, mixed with flecks of blood. The wedding live stream’s camera recorded my pathetic state, the comments section exploding with hate, insults scrolling past in a furious blur. They stomped on me, grinding their feet into my ribs, the pain excruciating, bone-deep. I bit down hard on my lip, the metallic taste of my own blood filling my mouth, and rasped out, “You will all regret this!” Brad grabbed my hair, forcing my head up, and spat in my face. “Still living in a fantasy world? Who do you think you are? I could *piss in your mouth* right now, and no one would stop me!” The words had barely left his lips when a low, thunderous roar ripped through the air. Hundreds of dark, predatory attack helicopters descended from the sky. Their doors slid open simultaneously, and fully armored special ops teams rappelled down in perfect synchronicity. 22 The sheer spectacle silenced the entire crowd. All eyes fixed on the formidable helicopter formation.

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Clock Out. Or Die. As quitting time approached, a pop-up notification flashed across everyone’s screens within the company network. **[Please log off promptly at 6:00 PM. Otherwise, you might die!]** I thought it was just some lame prank and was about to click it away when, the next second, a notification from our never-seen boss appeared: **[All departments will work until midnight tonight.]** Only a few high-level executives had the permission to @everyone. But this message came from an anonymous sender with a blank profile picture. There was no way to tell who it was. Were they just rage-quitting? “???” “Who is this?” **[@Sherry, HR Director, what the hell is going on?]** **[Who enabled anonymous access?]** … Sherry, HR Director: **[I’m sorry, I’m checking immediately!]** The group chat fell silent. Dead silent. Ten minutes later, the company’s big boss, Mr. Harrison, who’d never once shown his face in the internal chat, finally popped up. Just one sentence: **[All departments will work until midnight tonight. Project Alpha needs to launch ahead of schedule. Everyone, let’s push through. Your hard work is appreciated.]** *Whoosh whoosh whoosh!* Immediately, a flood of replies followed: **[Got it!]** Mr. Harrison added another line: **[HR will calculate overtime pay as per policy.]** Suddenly, the group chat was flooded with praise and adoration. Even in the dead of winter, the brown-nosers were popping up faster than dandelions in spring. Especially those thumbs-up emojis – every single one of them was used with sickening, masterful skill. Right after that, I heard Ms. Davenport, the HR VP, roaring: “Who was that anonymous sender?! Find them for me, now!” I was just pulling my keyboard closer, resigned to bury myself in work, when the pop-up appeared again. **Alert: [Dear diligent workers, quitting time has arrived!]** **[If you insist on working overtime, please strictly follow the rules below!]** **[1. Unless absolutely necessary, please avoid moving around. Outside your workstation, any other location may pose a fatal danger.]** **[2. No smoking in public areas! Warning: The former smoking lounge poses extreme danger and is currently unusable!]** **[3. Do NOT eat employee meals! Do NOT eat employee meals! Do NOT eat employee meals! Ordering takeout is permitted!]** **[4. Be wary of takeout delivery personnel.]** **[5. Do NOT make coffee! Do NOT make coffee! Do NOT make coffee!]** **[6. These rules are active from 6:00 PM to midnight. Death quota: 4 people. May you survive!]** **— Anonymous User!** At this moment, the clock struck 6:00 PM—the exact time we were supposed to log off. … Mr. Preston, our tech department head, was yelling: “Which damn jerk did this?! I’ll rip their hide off!” Chad, at the desk to my right, and I exchanged glances. Chad pursed his lips, then turned to our team lead, Derek: “Derek, should I go at him?” Derek pushed up his glasses, not even bothering to look up: “Mr. Evans’s team is already on it.” Chad shoved his keyboard away, clearly annoyed. Derek used to be such a workaholic, leading our team to outperform others and earning serious respect from Mr. Harrison. Too bad that was in the past. To my left was Chloe, a new intern. She was in her early twenties, full of life, and even in this cold weather, she was rocking a cute, trendy schoolgirl-style outfit with white stockings and pigtails. Let me put it this way: in our tech field, women are already a rare gem, like finding a unicorn. And Chloe? She was a unicorn with a unicorn’s rare blood type. As far as I know, at least a dozen male colleagues were constantly trying to get her attention. But Chloe was sweet and well-behaved. She stuck by me after joining the team and wasn’t high-maintenance at all. Chloe cautiously looked up at me: “Alex, is this company into these kinds of games?” “Don’t sweat it, it’s clearly just a prank. We just need to keep doing our jobs.” I said it easily, but my heart was thumping a bit too. “Check your OKR progress. It’s perfect for a bit of overtime, isn’t it?” Suddenly, Derek stood up and clapped his hands. The ceiling lights cast a cold, stark white glow on his lean face. “Stop discussing, everyone. Just focus on your work. Alex, pass me the topic list.” “Oh, right. Sure.” I gestured: “Chloe, can you print this for me? I’ll send you the file right away.” Chloe pulled back her neck, a little scared, and mumbled softly: “Alex, the rules said not to leave our workstation…” I almost laughed out loud. The girl was really taking it seriously. “You actually believe that? Fine, I’ll print it myself then.” “No, no, Alex! It’s just a small thing, you don’t need to do it. I’ll go, I’ll go…” That’s more like it. “Go on, then. Hurry up.”

Chloe had been with me since she started her internship, acting as both an assistant and a general helper. Honestly, whether she’d get her full-time offer in two weeks depended entirely on my signature. Chloe received the file, remotely sent it to the printer, grabbed her water bottle, and headed to the print room, apparently intending to get some water as well. Three minutes later, Chloe placed a stack of documents on my desk. I stared at the code on my screen, grunted, and planned to give them to Derek later. First, the new project topic list needed more discussion. I still needed to think it over and talk about the specifics with Derek. Second, since the beginning of the year, our team lead had become surprisingly chill. He dragged his feet on projects even more than we did. I figured he wasn’t in a hurry. I’d heard a rumor that he landed a massive side gig last year and raked in a fortune! Honestly, working when you’re broke, that’s sacrificing your soul! But working when you’re loaded? It’s just… a lifestyle choice. To be honest, if I weren’t broke, I’d probably be just as chill… “Al-Alex…” Chloe hadn’t left, her voice thick with tears. “What’s wrong?” I looked up and asked. “Alex, look…” My eyes scanned the printed documents, and I instantly flared up: “What the hell? Why did you print it in red ink? If I give this to Derek, he’d totally ream me out!” “I didn’t, Alex!” Chloe cried, her voice trembling. “I really didn’t! I don’t know how, but it just printed like this!” “Is the printer broken? Then switch to another one and print it again!” “I… I don’t dare…” “Huh?” I glared at Chloe again, but the next second, I realized something was wrong, and my heart sank. The words on the document were vivid red, abnormally so. Something wasn’t right! I ran my finger over the paper, and a bright smear spread! This wasn’t red ink at all. It looked more like… blood! I shot up from my chair: “Which printer?” “Number 3!” “I’ll go check!” I took a step, but then my body tensed, and I froze: “Chloe, go back to your desk first.” Chloe meekly nodded, pulling her neck in, and sat back down. “…Outside your workstation, any other location may pose a fatal danger!” That warning echoed in my mind. Could it be… “Ah…!” Suddenly, a piercing scream erupted from the direction of the print room! “Someone’s dead!”

I didn’t have time to react. Those closest to the print room had already rushed in. Then came the terrified shouts: “Quick! Someone! Call an ambulance!” I instinctively followed the crowd towards the print room. Just as I turned, I saw Chloe huddled in her chair, head buried. Curled up like a pathetic little quail. By the time I reached the print room, a chaotic crowd had already gathered. The deceased, I remembered seeing him around, but I couldn’t recall his name. Everyone immediately confirmed there was no point in trying to save him. He was sprawled over a standing printer, his right hand clenched into a fist, pressed against his throat. A ballpoint pen was plunged into his throat. A small section of it had even pierced through the back of his neck! His death was like something out of a crime thriller, or those old-school detective shows where someone gets a pen jammed into their throat. It was exactly the same. A large amount of fresh blood covered the printer, pooling onto the floor. His shirt collar was hooked on the corner of the printer’s lid, which was why he hadn’t slid off after collapsing onto it. And at his feet, there was a streak of water. I could almost visualize the scene! He was standing by the printer, waiting for documents, holding a pen, idly tapping it on the printer lid. Perhaps he got tired and shifted his weight, inadvertently slipping on the water. His foot slid backward, and he pitched forward! The upright pen in his hand pierced his throat! It seemed perfectly logical. But also far too coincidental. Suddenly, someone yelled: “Why is there no signal?! I can’t call 911!” “Then go outside and call! Someone died in the company, what the hell is going on?!” “Everyone back to your workstations! Don’t panic! I’ll handle things here! Forget a dead body, even if the sky falls, Project Alpha *must* launch by midnight!” The speaker was Trevor, whom we all called Big Trev. He held the title of General Office Assistant, which was basically a useless position, only handling miscellaneous stuff. He was a busybody, always riding on Mr. Harrison’s coattails, and incredibly reckless… In short, he was a universally despised jerk. But what could we do? He was Mr. Harrison’s cousin. That bastard. This was his chance to really throw his weight around! I quietly exited the print room. Outside, the atmosphere was already explosive. “Damn, this is seriously messed up. Someone died in the company late at night, and we’re still not allowed to leave?” “Do you think it has something to do with those rules in the chat? About not leaving your workstation because other places are fatally dangerous?” “Stop BS-ing, you actually believe that?” “Just wait and see how the company tries to hush it up if someone dies during overtime.” “Our tech department is freaking amazing, they managed to jam all the signals in the entire company!” Hearing that, I quickly pulled my head back. I’m in the damn tech department too!

I thought that after someone died, everyone would be terrified and want to leave the office. To my surprise, their panic didn’t last more than three minutes. They were all eager to gossip, their eyes practically glued to the print room. Just then, the window on the south side of the office space suddenly blew open with a bang! The frigid winter wind rushed in like a blade. “Quick, close the window! I’m freezing to death!” Looking at the eerie green glow of the ‘Emergency Exit’ sign above the door, my heart tightened. Chloe slid her chair closer, leaning over. There were tear streaks on her face, and her nose was red. “Alex, can I go home? I’m too scared…” It was cold, and Chloe’s lean exposed a glimpse of her thermal shirt underneath her cute schoolgirl-style uniform collar, but even so, my eyes couldn’t help but wander. Still, my resolve was firm. “Chloe, I understand you’re scared, but if you really leave now, whether you get your full-time offer might not be my call anymore…” I subtly gestured towards Derek, our team lead. Chloe froze, then lowered her head and sat back down. Faintly, I heard Chloe’s sniffles. My heart softened. I looked up and asked Derek, who was three workstations away: “Derek, it’s getting too late. Chloe’s just a young girl, it’s not safe for her to go home alone. Besides, I don’t really have anything for her to do, so maybe…” Derek pushed up his glasses, the light casting a cold, stark white on his face. His voice was just as cold: “Either work overtime, or resign.” I could only give Chloe a helpless look.

“Alex, did you get a good look? I couldn’t squeeze in! I heard the pen went all the way through his neck, blood was everywhere on the printer, and there were even blood spatters on the ceiling!” Chad slid his chair next to me and whispered, leaning in. “Man, that’s wild! Alex, do you know who died?” “I’ve seen him before, but I can’t remember his name. I just remember… he always wore a blue plaid shirt, carried a thermos like an old man, and was balding at such a young age…” Chad slapped his thigh: “???! The King of the Grind died?!” The mention of “King of the Grind” made my mind buzz, and I remembered too. The King of the Grind was Kyle. He was a textbook example of the ‘overzealous underachiever.’ Constantly teetering between promotion and promotion failure. He held the record for failing six promotions in one year! “Ugh, well, that’s a relief. The group chat will be a lot quieter now. I was so sick of seeing his damn thumbs-up! Right, Alex?” Every time overtime was announced, Kyle was always the first to respond with a thumbs-up emoji. And he’d drag everyone else down with him. His work intensity was comparable to two full-time employees and a caffeinated dog. He wasn’t even a programmer in our tech department, but at such a young age, his head was balder than Chad’s. I thought, the man’s dead, why keep mocking him? I didn’t take Chad’s bait. *Boom!* From the direction of the print room, a dull explosion suddenly roared! Then, a cloud of black smoke drifted out. Across from me, Chloe jumped up with a start, tears streaming down her face. “Holy crap, was his grudge so strong he blew up the printer?” Chad clicked his tongue playfully, dragging his chair back. My heart was pounding like it was caught in a snare, twitching harder with every beat. *Click!* Just then, all the lights in the entire company suddenly went out! Everyone’s computer screens went black too! “Ah!!!” “It’s haunted!” “What a crappy company! I’m out! Screw this!” Instantly, screams and angry shouts erupted. At first, when someone died and we weren’t allowed to leave, everyone held it in. But now that the lights were out, even if nothing was wrong, it was enough to terrify everyone! In the darkness, I felt a hand blindly reaching out, grabbing mine!

I considered myself pretty brave. I grew up in the sticks, and my grandma used to tell me all sorts of spooky old tales. I thought I’d heard it all. But this time, it still scared the living daylights out of me! “Alex, please, talk to Derek again. Let me go home, I want to go home, boohoo…” I instinctively tightened my grip, clutching Chloe’s soft hand. “Chloe, don’t do that, you almost scared me to death!” Honestly, my head was buzzing too, a complete blank. Even though I’m usually a rational guy and don’t believe in ghosts, I was seriously creeped out. Could it really be haunted? “Everyone shut the hell up! The printer shorted out, the circuit breaker popped! I’ll just flip it back on. Everyone, sit down! Mr. Harrison said if the project launches tonight, everyone gets a two-thousand-dollar bonus!” Hearing that, the restless colleagues actually quieted down quite a bit. *Click!* As power was restored and the lights came back on, everyone looked at each other, unsure what to do. Chloe pulled her hand back, glanced awkwardly at her bag, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn’t leave. She sat back down. Money truly makes the world go ’round, or at least makes people forget their fears. Two thousand bucks was roughly a month’s pay for Chloe as an intern before she even got her full-time offer. Like puppets, everyone rebooted their computers and went back to work. “Alex, look, who’s that? Why is someone covered in blood coming back from outside?” Chad pointed towards the entrance. I turned my head and, sure enough, a man, covered in blood, stumbled in. “Mr. Preston? What happened to you?” a colleague asked, startled. Mr. Preston was our department head! My boss’s boss! “It’s real! Those rules are real! Everyone, don’t run! Don’t run, just stay here, don’t move! It’s real!” With that, Mr. Preston crumpled to the floor.

Luckily, Mr. Preston wasn’t dead. He was covered in cuts, drenched in blood. They laid him on a lounge chair, and he gasped for air for a good while before he finally recovered. Thank goodness. If two people died within such a short time, everyone would probably freak out. Colleagues exchanged uneasy glances. I forced myself to stay calm and restarted my computer. After the computer rebooted, several windows popped up from the internal software again. Without exception, they were all from the VP of Human Resources and Finance! **@everyone: [There’s an unexpected situation at the company. Everyone stay calm and don’t move. Someone will handle it!]** **@everyone: [Tonight’s project *must* launch on time. Any slip-ups will be traced to individuals!]** **@everyone: [Considering tonight’s special circumstances, the company has decided to give every employee who clocks out after midnight a $2000 cash subsidy. $200 will be paid directly after logging off, and the remaining amount will be deposited into your bank account along with your salary over 9 months.]** **@everyone: [After power is restored, ensure orderly work. Strictly forbidden to take photos or videos. Do NOT leak videos or images outside the company. Violators will be held accountable!]** … “Tsk, I knew it! The higher-ups are all the same, aren’t they? Two thousand bucks, and they’re paying it in installments? Why don’t they just go broke themselves!” Chad muttered beside me. “Alex, let’s go grab a smoke! It’s too stifling in here.” Chad stood up, motioning for me to come with him. He was right. All this back and forth had my nerves shot. I needed a break. “Let’s go, let’s just tough it out until midnight, then I’m taking five days off tomorrow and just chilling!” As Chad and I walked past the door, we got a pretty good idea of how Mr. Preston got his injuries. “Ugh! Serves him right!” Chad spat. He’d disliked Mr. Preston, our department head, for a long time. To the left of the company entrance were the restrooms and the smoking lounge. Straight ahead was the corridor and the shared elevator lobby. To the right was the fire shutter leading to the stairwell. We smokers sometimes used the stairwell when we were too lazy to go to the smoking lounge. Normally, the fire shutter wasn’t lowered. But now, it was not only half-lowered but severely damaged. The rolled-up metal sheets were covered in blood, and there were blood spatters on the floor and walls. Several grotesque bloody handprints were slapped on the wall, tearing chunks out of the drywall. “Mr. Preston must have tried to go to the stairwell for a smoke and got hit by the shutter. He got caught in it, but luckily, he didn’t die.” I felt a surge of relief for Mr. Preston. I glanced at Chad and whispered: “It might be that what the group message said is true…” “Alex, don’t scare me. Dude, I’m a millennial barely making rent, the only thing I’m terrified of is going bankrupt. You think I’m scared of a prank?” “I was just saying.” Chad cursed: “You watch. That idiotic rule said the smoking lounge was dangerous, right? I’m gonna go try it! It’s all just the higher-ups messing with us!” *Flick!* Chad lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Suddenly, I vaguely thought I saw a red dot on his forehead, which then vanished. I shook my head, assuming I’d imagined it. The red dot must have been the lit end of his cigarette… It was then that I felt something like a gust of wind on the back of my neck. But when I turned around, there was nothing there… “Don’t smoke here! Let’s walk to the bathroom, quick, hurry!” At this point, I was subtly starting to believe the anonymous rules in the group chat! Rule 2: **[No smoking in public areas! Warning: The former smoking lounge poses extreme danger and is currently unusable!]** I pulled Chad along, heading from the corridor towards the restroom, which was right across from the smoking lounge. Chad, true to form, refused to believe in bad luck. He took a step and walked right into the smoking lounge. “Ha, Alex, just watch. Nothing’s gonna happen. I bet Chloe was scared for nothing, hahaha.” I paused for a few seconds. Seeing Chad was fine, I didn’t think much of it and started lighting my own cigarette as I walked in. But… *CRASH!* A grating sound tore through the air! And then, I noticed Chad wasn’t moving! His eyes were slits, and a faint tremor ran through his jaw. The cigarette clenched between his lips dropped. “Chad?” The source of that horrific crashing sound was the metal trash can in the corner of the smoking lounge. The trash can was bouncing wildly on the floor, completely split open, its metal sides covered in blood.

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The kidnappers chopped off ten of my fingers, warning that if they didn’t see the ransom by tomorrow, they’d throw me into a blender and grind me to bits. I decided there was no way out, no escaping their twisted game. So that night, I took matters into my own hands and ended it myself. I shattered my last chance at survival, cutting my own throat. Because I knew. Julian Sterling wouldn’t save me. He had once cut ties with his family, forfeiting his claim to a billion-dollar inheritance, all to be with me. But on our wedding day, he discovered my mother and I had taken $50,000 from his stepmother. I had supposedly deliberately seduced him, dragging him down from his high pedestal. In the five years we were married, Julian fought his way to become a business mogul. Yet, his parade of mistresses was endless. He even made me personally demonstrate to his pampered playthings how to properly please him in bed. Just ten days ago, I was kidnapped along with his current lover. Everyone knew Julian hated me. That’s why my ransom was $50,000, while hers was $500,000. But Julian didn’t hesitate; he paid the $500,000 and only took Chloe Harper. “You probably staged this yourself, didn’t you? You’ll stop at nothing to con money now.” “I’m giving you this out of charity for Chloe, but if there’s a next time, I’ll throw you into the ocean to feed the sharks.” But he didn’t know. I had truly been tortured for ten agonizing days. Until I died. Mr. Thorne, the Spirit Guide, sighed deeply as he came for my soul. He said my obsession was too strong; even in the afterlife, I’d be a lost soul, forever unable to move on. So, he gave me three sticks of mystic incense. He told me to resolve my obsession before midnight tomorrow, or I would be trapped forever.

Mr. Thorne said that until he officially came for me tomorrow night, I would appear completely normal. So when Julian saw me come home safe and sound, the mockery in his eyes was undisguised. “Back so late? Looks like your little kidnapping performance took a lot out of you.” “Since you got your money, do what you’re supposed to. Go inside and get the strawberry-flavored lube.” He was about to get hot and heavy with Chloe right there in the living room. If it were before, I would have just done as he said, then hidden in my room, covering my ears and weeping. But today, I simply sat calmly on the couch. I pulled out the divorce papers he had given me. “I’ll sign, but I have a condition.” Julian’s face darkened. He hated being threatened, but the lure of divorce was too strong, so he held his temper for now. “What condition? Let’s hear it.” “If it’s too much, don’t blame me for flipping out.” I touched the three sticks of mystic incense Mr. Thorne had given me. “I found a shaman who can create dreams. If you’ll just join me for three dreams, I’ll not only divorce you, but I won’t ask for a single cent of our assets.” “That simple?” Julian scoffed. “If three dreams could get rid of you, you bloodsucker, we would have divorced ages ago.” “Anya, are you trying to trick me again?” I looked at him calmly. There was no anger from his mockery. No guilt, no flinching, none of what he expected from me. Julian realized I was serious, and his expression grew solemn. I knew he was hesitating. Chloe wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “Julian, just agree. What if she changes her mind by tomorrow?” Julian pinched her breast playfully. “Alright, anything for my darling.” He then turned back to me, his eyes devoid of any emotion. “How do we do it?” I swallowed the bitter ache in my eyes. Lowering my head, I took out the first stick and lit it. Mr. Thorne had said the dreams were under my control, and everyone who entered would retain their memories. He told me to use these three dreams wisely to resolve my obsession. I was always unwilling to accept it. Did Julian truly have no love for me, even just a tiny bit? Between me and Chloe, would he always choose Chloe? I set the first dream in our old rental apartment. When Julian first left the Sterling family, we only had $3000 between us. So, all we could afford was this dilapidated basement apartment. Julian, being a spoiled rich kid, wasn’t used to sleeping on rough sheets. So, I took his old shirts—the ones with the softest fabric—and painstakingly cut them up to sew him a new one. Back then, Julian would hold me close, nestled on our cramped double bed, saying he’d make so much money one day and give me a good life. Julian touched the oddly patched bedsheet, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. But when he turned to me, he was back to his usual prickly self. “You think this will win my heart back?” “Anya, don’t forget who trapped me in this dump in the first place.” His stare made my heart ache. He started looking around. “Where’s Chloe? Where did you hide her?” Just as he stepped out of the basement, flames erupted from the doorway. The only way out was a small window leading outside. But the window was too high; without someone pulling you from the outside, it was impossible to climb. Chloe was there, screaming in terror by the window. “Julian! Save me!” Julian reached for her, and the flames surged into the room, the wood crackling and popping as it burned. I asked Julian. “There’s not enough time. We can only save one of us, Chloe or me. Who do you choose?” Julian glared at me, his eyes burning. “You’re insane. I’d be out of my mind to save you. I’m saving Chloe!” With that, he pulled Chloe out, comforting her in his arms. The fire in the room grew fiercer, my tears evaporating before they even touched my cheeks. I stood below the window, looking at Julian. “Chloe’s safe now. Will you help me out?” “You should know, this dream feels real. I can feel the pain.” Julian hesitated. He hated me, wanted me dead, but watching a living person burn to ashes was different. But just as he was about to reach out, Chloe suddenly clutched her throat. “Julian, my throat hurts so much. What if I can never sing for you again?” Julian scooped her up without a second thought. “Anya, is there a hospital in this dream? Where is it? Tell me!” I pointed in a direction. He turned and left, leaving me with a complex look in his eyes. There were too many emotions there, and before I could decipher them, thick black smoke enveloped my vision. The dream collapsed. I clutched my chest, coughing incessantly. Julian woke up a moment later, opening his mouth to curse. But seeing me cough like I was about to pass out, he unusually reached out and patted my back. “Anya, are you an idiot?” “You created a dream that hurt yourself like this.” “You’d better learn your lesson for the next two. Don’t do anything so dangerous.” I pushed his hand away. “You don’t need to worry about me. Go comfort your little darling.” Chloe cried incessantly after leaving the dream, her voice only softening when she hid in Julian’s arms. The two shared a comforting kiss. I had no heart left. Yet, my chest ached, a pain so profound it felt like dying all over again. This was the first dream. Julian knew I would die. He knew how dangerous my situation was. But he still chose Chloe.

After the first stick of incense burned out, Mr. Thorne came to see me, his brows deeply furrowed. “Anya, your obsession has grown stronger.” “You have less than twenty-four hours left. If you don’t resolve it, you’ll really turn into a vengeful spirit.” I showed him the first dream. Mr. Thorne was silent too. For a long time, he couldn’t think of anything to comfort me. But what about the second dream? I couldn’t think of a more brutal scenario. Mr. Thorne offered an idea. “How about this? Next time, don’t give Julian time to think.” “I’ve seen your red thread of fate; it’s tied very strongly. Julian can’t be completely devoid of feelings for you. If you make him choose between you and Chloe, you should look for his subconscious reaction.” That night, Julian held a grand party in the suburbs. When I was called over, I heard him clinking glasses with his buddies at the door. “Guys, Anya is finally divorcing me!” “Go wild tonight; all the drinks are on me!” Pushing open the door, I saw wedding photos, cut in half, plastered everywhere. Julian saw me enter, put his arm around Chloe, and tossed our wedding ring into the swimming pool. Everyone present burst into laughter. They were betting whether I would jump in to retrieve the ring. But I just walked straight over. I picked up a glass and clinked it against Julian’s. “Congratulations. You’re about to get what you want.” Then I downed the drink in one gulp. In our poorest year, I worked sixteen-hour days to give Julian a better life, developing severe stomach problems. But I was already dead now, what was a little alcohol? Julian turned his head away. His eyes seemed to redden for a fleeting second. But when he turned back, it was as if my previous observation had been an illusion. He stared into my eyes. “You wouldn’t mind playing a love song for Chloe and me, would you?” Everyone was watching me, enjoying the spectacle. Mr. Sterling’s “trouble-and-strife” wife, forced to congratulate the new couple at her own dismissal party. But I said nothing. I sat at the piano and began to play ‘Love Letter.’ I had specially practiced this song to win Julian’s heart. I could feel his gaze on my back, still as ardent as when we were in love. But from the fourth measure, I started to hit sour notes. The kidnappers had chopped off my ten fingers. Although they looked normal now, they were soft as noodles, completely without strength. Julian’s face grew darker and darker. Finally, he slammed the piano lid shut. “Anya, are you doing this on purpose? Is playing a song for me really that much of a chore?” “Or was your playing for me back then all a lie, too?” I pulled my hand out. Deep red marks were pressed onto it. Julian froze for a moment. He touched my hand, flinching back from the icy cold. “Why are you so cold? Are you not feeling well?” A dead person’s hand, of course, couldn’t be warmed. I looked at Julian. How long had it been since he cared about my body? I couldn’t remember. Julian’s mood soured, and he abruptly cut the party short. After seeing everyone off, only Chloe, Julian, and I remained at the villa gate, waiting for the car. Chloe extended her hand and waved it at me. A diamond, at least five carats, flashed blindingly on it. I remembered Mr. Thorne’s words, pulled out the second stick of incense, and lit it. A truck suddenly roared towards us from the distance. Julian had Chloe on his left and me on his right. Everything slowed down before my eyes. I saw Julian push Chloe to the left, holding her close. I saw the truck hit me, running over my legs. The second dream shattered instantly. There was no truck, no accident. Chloe and Julian were unharmed, but I collapsed to the ground from the searing pain throughout my body. Julian shook his head hard, taking a long moment to confirm that what had just happened was only my second dream. He roughly pulled me up and slapped me. “Are you insane, Anya?” “If the third dream is like this again, I swear I’ll strangle you.” But I just laughed, a bitter, hollow laugh. It made my tears well up. Mr. Thorne had gambled wrong again. Even if it was just a physical reaction, between me and Chloe, Julian still wouldn’t choose me.

Julian kept saying I was truly insane, seeing the look on my face. Just then, I received a notification from the hospital. “Ms. Anya, your mother’s condition is very poor. Please come to the hospital immediately.” I tugged on Julian’s sleeve, begging him to drive me to the hospital. But Julian hated my mother even more. He’d probably throw a party if she died, and he just pulled Chloe into the car and drove off. I hobbled to the hospital. My mother’s eyes couldn’t focus anymore. She looked at me, her expression a little confused. “Anya, why can’t I see your feet?” Perhaps she was dying and seeing my soul. I brushed it off. “You’re mistaken.” My mother started to sob. “Anya, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have taken that $50,000 back then. It made Julian resent you, and your illness was never cured, burdening you for so long.” The money was accepted by my mother and deposited into my account. When Julian’s stepmother showed him our transaction records, I was utterly lost for words, with no way to defend myself. But now, it was all in the past. I couldn’t let my mother die uneasy. I just kept comforting her: “It’s okay, it’s all over now.” My mother said she wanted to apologize to Julian. I stopped her. What was the point of dwelling on right and wrong now? Julian was convinced I had tricked him; he’d only think my mother was fabricating another lie. I personally closed my mother’s eyes. Mr. Thorne took my mother’s soul, pacing back and forth in front of me, worried about my lingering obsession. But I had seen through it all. I thought I didn’t need any more dangerous scenarios to test Julian. Faced with a threat to life, he would certainly choose Chloe. If he could just stay with me for once, I could let go. When Julian came home, I placed a bowl of simple rice, a traditional mourning meal for the departed, on the table. “My mother died. Our old custom is to eat a bowl of remembrance rice for the dead. If you eat it, I’ll divorce you.” Julian was startled. “Is this the third dream?” Of course not. Before I could speak, Chloe’s call came in. “Julian, I did fifty squats today, don’t you want to reward me?” Then she started to whine. “Come on, my stamina’s much better now. Let’s try something new.” Julian hadn’t even warmed his seat before grabbing his jacket and heading for the door. I grabbed his sleeve. “This is the last time. Julian, are you not going to divorce me?” “You wouldn’t still want to be with me, would you?” Julian scoffed. “Don’t try to threaten me with divorce.” “And what if we don’t divorce? Your mother’s dead. No medical bills. How much can it cost me to keep you? I’ll just treat you like a blow-up doll.” I let go of his sleeve and watched him walk out the door. I sat by the table and ate the bowl of remembrance rice for my mother myself. Julian suddenly ran back, throwing a red envelope into my lap. “Didn’t you say your mother died?” “Go buy something to celebrate.” A sudden lightness filled me. It was as if a heavy chain had been lifted from my heart. I smiled at him, and my body began to vanish before his eyes, like erased marks from an eraser. Julian reached out to grab me, but his hand met only air. He probably thought he was dreaming, only pausing for a moment in confusion before walking out the door. Julian lay on the bed with Chloe in his arms, his hand pausing as he unclasped her bra. He suddenly realized why this dream had been so long. Without bothering to get dressed, he rushed home. But he searched every corner of the house and couldn’t find Anya. A sudden, indescribable panic welled up inside him. He remembered Anya’s words and called the hospital. The nurse’s emotionless voice came through. “You’re asking about Ms. Anya’s mother? She passed away two hours ago. Ms. Anya said she would be cremated tomorrow.” “Oh, by the way, her mother left a letter. I’ll send you a photo.” Julian opened the image. A few lines were scrawled crookedly on it. [Julian, when your stepmother paid me, Anya truly knew nothing about it. It was all my fault. I don’t ask for your forgiveness, only that you treat Anya a little better. She anonymously transferred a lot of money to support your business; she wouldn’t let me tell you. If you don’t like her, then divorce her.] Those few lines were like a dagger, plunging deep into Julian Sterling’s soul. He didn’t know why his heart ached so fiercely, as if it were about to crack open. He kept mumbling, “I don’t believe it, it’s impossible.”

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My wife, Seraphina, pushed my mother into the path of a speeding car, just to save a dog. My mother ended up in a vegetative state because of her. Afterward, I took the dog to a shelter. Seraphina responded by freezing all my accounts. “That dog belongs to Jaxon! It’s his competition dog! Do you have any idea how important it is for his future?” “You only lost a mother, but *he* lost his entire future!” Seraphina slammed the door behind her, her voice cutting and cold. “Get that dog back, or your mother will starve to death! And you can forget about ever being my husband again!” Later, my mother’s stock transfer matured, making me the new CEO of the company. At the same time, I served Seraphina with divorce papers and proof of her affair. The moment I heard my accounts were frozen, I rushed to the hospital. “Seraphina, you froze my assets for a *dog*?!” “You know Mom needs that money for her brain surgery!” “How could you do this after all the kindness she showed you?” Thinking of my mother, fighting for her life, fury surged through me. But Seraphina just looked at me with cold eyes, like I was some deranged lunatic throwing a tantrum. “Why are you yelling? Do you think you’re the only one who can scream?” “It’s already happened. What good does arguing with me do?” Seraphina’s voice was flat, as if none of this concerned her. I stared at the woman I’d spent ten years building a life with, and my heart turned to ice. “Have you forgotten how your company got its start?” “Have you forgotten how Mom shielded you with her own body when you were attacked by vicious dogs, getting disfigured herself?” “And now, to save a dog, you’ve put her on her deathbed, Seraphina! Are you even human?!” Seraphina was an orphan, and Mom had taken pity on her, sending her money to support her. Later, when we started dating, Seraphina wanted to start a business. Mom didn’t hesitate, she pulled out all her savings, borrowed money from relatives, and even worked herself ragged, picking up every shift she could, just to support Seraphina’s venture. When the company’s profits soared into the billions, Mom never took a single cent. It’s no exaggeration to say that every ounce of its success was built on her sacrifices. But now, Seraphina had pushed her towards death with her own hands. As I finished, a flicker of irritation crossed Seraphina’s eyes. She whipped the dog leash she held, striking my face. A sharp whistle cut through the air, and my left eye burned crimson. She snapped impatiently, “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. Is it fun to rehash such a tiny thing over and over again?” “This dog is Jaxon’s competition dog. He’s poured years of effort into it. How heartbroken would he be if it was gone?” “Your top priority right now is to find that dog. Otherwise, don’t blame me for freezing all your accounts and letting your mother starve to death!” I looked at the disgusted expression on the woman’s face, a profound desolation in my heart. When we first got together, I loved sweets, so Seraphina would save her lunch money to buy me candy. When I was gravely ill in bed, she’d brave heavy rain to bring me food. She even worked relentlessly to get into a top university, just to be worthy of me, despite only being qualified for a community college. But now, I felt like I was truly seeing her for the first time. Just then, Seraphina’s phone rang. She glanced at me, then walked aside, phone in hand. The moment she answered, her expression softened, and her voice became noticeably gentler: “Don’t worry, Jaxon. I’ll definitely find your dog.” “When the competition starts, I’ll personally take you there.” “I’ve frozen Liam’s accounts, so he won’t dare to defy me… Heh, what if he doesn’t find it? She’s just an old woman. If she dies, she dies. You’re far more important.” … I couldn’t hear the rest of Seraphina’s words. I walked out of the hospital, head bowed, in a daze. The sun was blazing outside, but I felt like I’d plunged into an icy abyss, my heart filled with nothing but numb anger and despair.

To gather money for my mother’s medical bills, I called a few of my closest friends. But those who were usually so enthusiastic now avoided me like the plague. After much prodding, they finally sighed: “Seraphina told us not to lend you any money, Liam. She’s got everyone under her thumb, what can we do?” “If you ask me, you should just swallow your pride and grovel to Seraphina. With her temper, she’ll probably forgive you.” “Seraphina controls everything now. Your mom’s lived for decades, it wouldn’t be a loss if she died. But you’re still young. If you cross her, what will your future be like?” … After talking to them, I received a payment notice from the hospital. The doctor said if I didn’t pay the medical fees soon, they’d cut off my mother’s nutritional support. I stood aimlessly on the street. It was the scorching heat of summer, but my heart felt chillingly suffocated, a coldness flowing through my veins. My phone rang. Seraphina’s voice came through: “Liam, Jaxon is waiting for his competition!” “I’m giving you one day to find the dog, or don’t blame me for cutting off our marriage ties!” “Seraphina, don’t be mean to Liam.” Jaxon’s voice echoed through the phone. “It’s just a competition. If it helps Liam calm down, I don’t mind missing it. It’s just a shame about all the training you’ve given me over the years.” Hearing this, Seraphina’s voice grew even colder: “Liam, bring the dog back before dark tomorrow. This is my final ultimatum!” “Otherwise, expect to see your mother’s corpse!” The call disconnected. I collapsed onto the ground in despair. Cold sweat trickled down my hair. Thinking of my mother in the operating room, I clutched my phone, feeling overwhelmed by confusion and helplessness. Turns out, vows only mean something when love is still in the picture. My phone vibrated again, a text message: [Mr. Davies: Hello, Mr. Turner. Your mother’s shares held with us have matured. As per her instructions, we are now transferring them all to you.]

Seraphina’s power was soaring. At my mother’s milestone birthday celebration, she actually forgot to bring a gift and flaunted hickeys openly at the banquet. Perhaps my mother had already sensed something then, which is why she demanded Seraphina gift her 50% of the company shares as a birthday present. That was two years ago. Even Seraphina herself had probably forgotten about it. My lawyer confirmed that these 50% were core shares, transferred by my mother before my marriage. They were considered pre-marital assets. Even with Seraphina and I married, they were entirely mine. On the other hand, Seraphina. Over the past few years, to keep Jaxon happy, she’d sold off a significant portion of her shares for cash. By now, she probably held less than 10% of the shares. Thinking of my mother, hanging by a thread in the operating room, I clenched my fists. If you treat me unjustly, then don’t blame me for returning the favor!

By the time I got home, it was evening. Pushing open the door, I saw Jaxon and Seraphina in a compromising situation, their clothes disheveled. Jaxon was holding my mother’s favorite cat. I exploded in rage: “Who told you to touch my pet?!” “This is my home! Get out!” “Now! Immediately!” They were startled and quickly got up. Jaxon, especially, his eyes red, hid behind Seraphina, putting on a pitiful, wronged expression: “Seraphina, did I upset Liam again? Maybe I shouldn’t have come here.” “It’s true, I’m just like my dog – no one likes me. Seraphina, I won’t bother you and Liam anymore. I’ll leave now.” He started to walk out. But Seraphina grabbed Jaxon, pulling him behind her, her gaze at me filled with even more disgust: “Liam, I’ve never seen such an overbearing, unreasonable man! What did Jaxon do wrong for you to target him like this?! I can’t stand narrow-minded people like you!” I frowned, disgusted by Seraphina’s twisted logic. “Fine by me. I don’t want someone else’s sloppy seconds anyway,” I said coldly, unwilling to argue further. “We’re getting divorced tomorrow. But Seraphina, remember this: I’m the one who’s leaving you.” Seraphina froze, her eyes reddening. She stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. “What do you mean?” “Can’t you understand?” I sneered. “I find you disgusting.” Seraphina’s eyes were bloodshot, her voice suddenly rising. “Say that again, if you dare!” Jaxon had retreated to the window at some point. Startled by Seraphina’s outburst, his hand jerked, and he threw the cat out the window. I felt myself collapsing. I lunged forward, grabbing Jaxon’s collar. “Why did you do that?!” Jaxon frantically waved his hands. “No, no, I was just scared by you, that’s why I threw it. I didn’t mean to…” But I’d clearly seen him smiling as he threw the cat. He hadn’t been scared at all. And we were on the thirteenth floor; the cat was as good as dead! “Liam, why are you shouting?!” Seraphina blocked Jaxon, pushing me away forcefully. “It’s just a cat! If it dies, it dies! Why are you making such a fuss?!” I looked at Seraphina, and my heart completely died. That cat was bought by my father for my mother before he passed away. It was her only memento of him, her emotional anchor. Seraphina knew this perfectly well, yet she dismissed it so lightly, shielding Jaxon. When Jaxon’s dog went missing, she cut off my mother’s medical funds. But when *my* cat was gone, I wasn’t even allowed to raise my voice. Look at the double standards.

“Seraphina, I’m tired.” I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. “Since you two aren’t leaving, I will.” “Anyway, you’ve been wanting to replace your husband, haven’t you? I might as well clear the spot for you!” *Slap!* A stinging slap landed on my face. Seraphina’s eyes were red. “Liam, what nonsense are you spewing? Jaxon and I are just ordinary brother and sister!” “Don’t use your filthy mind to speculate about us, to tarnish my and Jaxon’s innocence!” I covered my stinging face. My anger faded, replaced by overwhelming disappointment. This was the second time Seraphina had hit me. The first was when I’d impulsively said I wanted to break up. This second time was for Jaxon. “Aren’t you leaving?” Seraphina shoved me hard, pushing me out of the house. Along with me came a pile of my clothes and shoes. “Take your disgusting things with you! Go wherever you want, die for all I care!” “Oh, and by the way, remember to return the dog before you die!” The door slammed shut mercilessly. I stood in the dim hallway, bending down to silently pick up my belongings. Then I went to the institution and retrieved the shares my mother had left me. I looked at the thick stack of documents, my shoulders trembling. These were my mother’s last possessions. They were her final protection, earned through years of frugality and sacrifice. “Mr. Turner, Hayes Industries claims to have made a breakthrough in brain death recovery and can offer your mother free treatment. The condition is that you join their group with your shares.” I knew Hayes Industries. A new pharmaceutical company, a fierce rival of Seraphina’s company. But because of their limited resources, they’d always been suppressed. “Okay.” I pondered for a moment, then signed the contract. That same evening, I transferred my mother to the city’s top hospital. At the same time, I prepared the divorce papers.

The next day, I attended Hayes Industries’ anniversary banquet as planned. And ran straight into Seraphina and Jaxon. “Liam, what are you doing here?” Jaxon gasped, clinging to Seraphina’s arm, covering his mouth. “You’re not… stalking us, are you?” “Liam, I don’t know how you snuck in here,” Seraphina said impatiently. “But this is a major industry event. It’s not appropriate for a small employee like you to be here. Go home before I get angry!” I sneered, staring at Jaxon. “What about him?” “Compared to me, Jaxon isn’t even an employee, is he?” Jaxon’s face changed. But Seraphina shielded him behind her. “Liam, I’m warning you, don’t embarrass me here. I— ” She stopped mid-sentence as Vivian Hayes, the CEO of Hayes Industries, approached and took my arm. “Liam, there you are.” Vivian noticed the shocked expressions on Jaxon and Seraphina’s faces and asked, puzzled, “Do you know Seraphina?” I shook my head. Seraphina’s face turned ashen. Jaxon’s gaze darted between Vivian and me. He suddenly seemed to understand and mocked, “Oh, so *that’s* why you’re here. You’ve hooked up with someone else, huh?” “Shameless! Your mom’s still in the hospital, and you’re out here having a good time?” Jaxon’s voice wasn’t quiet. People around us slowly started to gather. Seraphina tried to explain, but I cut her off. “My business is none of yours,” I said coldly. “None of my business?” Seraphina’s face darkened. “You’re my husband. How can your business be none of mine?” “I get it. You’re throwing a tantrum again.” She frowned, rebuking me. “Now, get your butt home, or don’t blame me for cutting our agreed time short and severing your mother’s medical resources!” I shrugged indifferently. “Whatever makes you happy.” Seraphina froze, then frowned. “Liam, you don’t actually think hooking up with Hayes Industries will save your mother, do you?” “With one word from me, who would dare interfere?” She leaned closer, whispering to me, “Just humble yourself, and I’ll let you stay my husband. Our mom will be fine too.” “No thanks.” I recoiled in disgust. “I don’t want it.” “You— ” Seraphina gritted her teeth and slapped me. I frowned, ready to retaliate. But Jaxon suddenly lunged out from the crowd, kicking me to the ground. He shielded Seraphina and yelled, “It’s your privilege to be slapped by Seraphina! And you dare try to hit back?!” Seraphina backed away with a cold expression, showing no intention of helping me up. “Are you okay?” Vivian helped me up, indignant. “They’re absolutely outrageous.” “Let’s go.” I shook my head, not wanting to get dragged into it any further. “Liam, you stop right there!” Seraphina commanded loudly. I ignored her, so she quickly stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “I told you to stop! Are you deaf?” “I’m telling you, it’s still not too late to beg me for mercy. Otherwise, your mother—” Her words were cut short as Seraphina’s secretary walked into the banquet, looking frantic. “Seraphina, it’s bad! Something terrible has happened!” “What’s the rush?” “That…” Sarah glanced at me, swallowing. “Since this morning, a lot of shareholders have collectively withdrawn their investments, and also…” Seraphina’s face went white. “Also what?”

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The night I almost died during labor, my husband, Dylan, was off on a honeymoon abroad with Serena, his first love. With tears blurring my vision, I begged him to take me to the hospital. But he just shoved me away with disgust. “Why are you being so dramatic? It’s just giving birth. Serena can’t handle stress, I need to be with her to help her unwind and recover.” When I woke up in the hospital, my eight-month-old baby was gone. Half a month later, Dylan returned with Serena, only to find I had changed. At three in the morning, he asked me, still fragile from my recovery, to perform a surgery for Serena. I nodded. During a research conference, he demanded I give my three-year thesis to Serena. Without a word, I handed it over. When he even told me to give up my Head of Department position to Serena, I calmly resigned from the hospital. Serena, nestled in Dylan’s arms, looked smug. “See, Dylan? Just put Chloe through a little hardship, and she’ll listen to everything you say.” Dylan looked utterly pleased. “If you’d just listened to me sooner, you wouldn’t have had such a complicated birth. But since you’re being so understanding, I might consider giving you another child.” But what Dylan didn’t know was, we were no longer husband and wife. And I had already accepted the incredible offer from the Swiss Medical Research Institute. In three days, I would leave this place, never to see him again.

“There’s an emergency, high-stakes surgery in Ocean City, next door. Serena isn’t feeling well, but this patient is extremely important. You need to handle it.” Dylan, with a pale-faced Serena wrapped in his arms, spoke to me in a commanding tone. I was lying in my hospital bed, an IV drip still in my arm, and the incision from my C-section throbbed with a dull pain, a constant reminder that I was still in my postpartum recovery period and barely able to move. “I just had a complicated birth half a month ago. I’m still recovering, and my stitches are still bleeding. I can’t…” Dylan’s brows furrowed in anger. He slammed his hand on the table, pointing at me and snapping. “You’re just jealous of Serena, that’s why you don’t want to help her. These are all excuses! And if you hadn’t been so disobedient during your pregnancy, you wouldn’t have lost the baby!” “Stop being so difficult! This is a work requirement! It’s an emergency! Serena is genuinely unwell, and for the patient’s sake, you *must* go! That’s an order!” Serena, nestled in Dylan’s arms, looked at me with a taunting, mocking smile. Just then, a SnapChat message popped up from Maya, Serena’s assistant. “Bring everything needed for the surgery. I expect to see you in thirty minutes.” Maya’s demanding tone made my brows furrow. A wave of desolation and sorrow washed over me. Maya used to be *my* assistant. She’d been with me since she graduated. I’d done everything I could to help her, both in her work and personal life. I thought we were like sisters. But it turned out she was just trying to curry favor with Dylan. When Serena was suddenly appointed to our department, Maya volunteered to be her assistant. Dylan’s changing attitude towards me also made Maya and everyone else in the department lose respect for me, even brazenly bossing me around. Dylan had unilaterally given Serena my clinical thesis, which I’d spent three years researching. Furious, I confronted him about it. Dylan just shrugged, utterly nonchalant. “Chloe, you got what you wanted – you married me, and you became Head of Department because of me. You’re thriving both professionally and personally, while Serena has nothing. What’s the big deal about giving her your paper? Can’t you just be compliant for once?” I couldn’t accept that three years of my blood, sweat, and tears were just given away. I contacted the publisher, demanding a change of author. But when Dylan found out, he took all my research notes, making it look like I had plagiarized. It became a blemish on my academic record, leading to my suspension from the hospital and the scorn of everyone. I frantically confronted Dylan, but he threatened me with divorce if I didn’t admit to it. Such incidents happened countless times between Dylan and me. At first, I would break down in agony, questioning if I truly was as selfish and petty as Dylan claimed. But now, my heart was numb with pain. Driven by my professional duty, the instinct to save a life, I gritted my teeth and carried on. Every bump during the flight was torture. Cold sweat soaked my clothes, and I had to secretly take strong painkillers. The surgery lasted eight grueling hours. My legs were trembling, and the gauze on my abdomen was already soaked crimson with seeping blood. When the last stitch was done, and I saw the patient’s vital signs stabilize, my vision went black, and I was caught by a nurse from Ocean City Hospital. She looked at my pale, haggard face and said indignantly, “Dr. Chloe, you’re too dedicated. You’re in this state, why isn’t your husband stopping you from working?” Right. My husband not only didn’t stop me but commanded me to leave my hospital bed and risk my life for Serena’s sake. Thinking of this, my heart felt like it was pierced by an ice pick, hurting even more than the surgical wound on my abdomen. But I’d grown used to such things ever since Serena returned from abroad. At first, I thought it was just Dylan caring for a junior colleague. But after seeing his inappropriate actions with Serena, I knew their relationship was far from simple. Whether it was my prenatal check-ups or my difficult labor, Serena would call Dylan away from me, even if she just had a minor bump or bruise. I cried frantically, asking Dylan why, but he just told me impatiently that Serena had taken the blame for a failed surgery for him back in college. Dylan would always watch me break down with cold eyes, then console me by saying, “My relationship with Serena is strictly professional. She’s struggling with her mental health right now, so of course, I need to take care of her. Besides, I just want you to be more compliant.” And after I cried countless times, Dylan stopped explaining or comforting. Instead, he would yell at me, “You’re insane! You really need to go see a therapist! Can’t you just be compliant for once?” Ten years of a relationship had amounted to him ignoring my breakdowns and driving me to the brink of madness. It wasn’t until Serena repeatedly sent me intimate photos of them, trying to provoke me and force me away, that the truth finally hit me. It was time for Dylan and me to end this.

Stepping out of the operating room, I felt all the air leave my lungs, and I slowly sank to the floor, leaning against the wall. Dylan, who was at the doorway, saw me and started walking towards me, reaching out to help me up. Then his phone rang. “Dylan, I feel so awful. Can you come see me?” Serena’s fragile voice floated from the phone. Dylan looked at me, hesitating, a flicker of worry in his eyes. But his attention was completely snatched away by Serena’s pained gasp on the call. “Chloe, wait here for me. I’ll come pick you up after I’ve settled Serena.” “Don’t wander off. Your body can’t handle it.” I watched coldly as Dylan withdrew his hand and rushed out. When Dylan’s figure disappeared down the corridor, I stood up, resigned, leaning on the wall as I walked out. I knew I wouldn’t be waiting for Dylan. He had forgotten me countless times because of Serena. I decided to take the train back myself. On the way, I closed my eyes, exhausted. This relationship was, ultimately, just a farce. My phone vibrated. It was a SnapChat story from Serena, and she’d even tagged me. A perfectly composed selfie, with the VIP suite of some exclusive club as the background. Serena looked radiant and shy, her makeup flawless. A stark contrast to my current state. Serena was holding a rich, restorative broth, smiling sweetly at the camera. And wrapped around her waist was a hand, long and slender, with a wedding ring engraved with “C.C.S.” on its ring finger. The caption read: “Just a little under the weather, but *someone* was so worried he insisted on personally watching me finish my health tonic~ And he’s taking me to see the latest movie too! Thank you, my dearest Dylan.” I stared intently at Dylan’s hand, with my wedding ring, wrapped around Serena’s waist. I stared at Serena’s smug, triumphant face. I knew then that her “not feeling well” was just another act to win Dylan’s sympathy. And Dylan wasn’t stupid. He knew exactly what was going on, or perhaps he simply didn’t care about the truth. He enjoyed Serena’s dependence on him, and he enjoyed the deep love I, the fool, had for him. For this twisted play, he was willing to sacrifice me, his wife, still recovering in a hospital bed, then comfortably accompany his “junior colleague” to drink health tonics and watch movies. “Ha, Chloe. You’re truly pathetic.” I tilted my head back, feeling the pain and weakness radiating through my body. My gaze lingered on the glowing phone screen, fixed on Dylan’s wedding ring. The name etched for love now felt so ironic. Serena and I were never a choice for him in his heart, not after ten years of dating and three years of marriage. Only because he was so sure I’d never leave him, Serena always came first. The last flicker of hope I held for Dylan was extinguished. I took off my matching wedding ring and placed it on the table. This time, I wouldn’t wait for Dylan to turn back. I opened the email with the offer from the Swiss Medical Research Institute and didn’t hesitate to send my acceptance. With my qualifications and successful clinical record, even with a blemish on my academic history, many hospitals were still eager to recruit me. Years ago, I’d stayed by Dylan’s side to help him grow into one of the hospital’s leaders. Now, I’d shot myself in the foot. I called my lawyer to prepare the divorce papers. I didn’t want anything from our life here. I just wanted to completely cut ties with Dylan. In three days, I would leave and start a new life.

Back at the home Dylan and I shared, standing in the corner where the baby crib used to be, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The burning pain from my abdominal wound couldn’t make me ignore the deeper heartache within. I held the printed job offer from a top hospital and my plane ticket for three days later, lost in thought. Dylan pushed the door open. Seeing me, his face registered a fleeting awkwardness. He then completely ignored my ashen face, his gaze falling instead on the document folder in my hand. “Doesn’t your wound hurt? Why are you moving around? Get back in bed! What are you holding?” I casually hid the documents behind my back. “Surgery case files for archiving. I need to send them back to Ocean City Hospital for备案.” Dylan didn’t seem to doubt my words. He solicitously helped me to the bedroom, settled me on the bed, and tucked in the covers. “Back in Ocean City, Serena wasn’t feeling well, so I didn’t have time to pick you up. I was actually just about to leave, but you came back.” I stared into his eyes and gave a short, bitter laugh. “You didn’t have time, and you didn’t send anyone else to pick me up either.” Dylan knew he was in the wrong and didn’t reprimand my sarcasm as he usually would. Instead, he turned and went to the living room. I couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. I closed my eyes, hoping to get some rest. Not long after, a knock on the door woke me. Dylan then came into the bedroom carrying a bowl of soup. He spoke coldly, as if just completing a task. “Drink this. The doctor said you need to replenish your qi and blood.” I turned my head and saw the obvious takeout bag in the living room trash can. My blood ran cold. On our wedding day, Dylan had promised me he would always make me homemade meals. And as a doctor, Dylan had countless times stated he would never eat takeout. Yet now, he was only willing to fob me off with it. Just then, Dylan’s phone rang. He casually placed the soup bowl on the nightstand and answered Serena’s FaceTime call. Serena, looking pale on the screen, whined to Dylan, “Dylan, my chest hurts… I can’t sleep…” The background of Serena’s video was the VIP suite I had longed for during my pregnancy. When I had mentioned it to Dylan back then, he had refused, saying, “That suite is reserved for an important patient who needs treatment occasionally. Chloe, let’s just stay in a regular room.” Now I knew that Dylan’s “important patient” was none other than his Serena. Dylan’s voice suddenly softened when he heard Serena. “Be good, don’t be scared. I’ll be right back to you. Make sure you get your IV drip.” “Okay, Dylan. I’ll wait for you. I also want to eat the lotus root and pork rib soup you make.” “Alright, alright, I’ll make it for you, my sweet little foodie.” Their flirting and sweet-talking, if you didn’t know the situation, would make you think they were a very loving couple. A sudden cramp in my abdomen made me cough out in pain. Dylan seemed to snap back to reality, glancing at me guiltily, then comforting Serena before hanging up. “What’s wrong, Chloe? Does it hurt again?” “I’m fine. If you have something to do, just go.” Dylan didn’t expect me to actually tell him to go be with Serena. His eyes lit up with delight. “Chloe, you finally understand me. You’ve finally become compliant.” “Even in her hospital room, Serena is still worried about you, helping organize your miscarriage medical records. She really cares about you. You’re too weak for high-intensity work right now. Let her take over your Head of Department position.” I snapped my eyes open, staring at Dylan. My nails dug into my palms. I searched his eyes for any trace of reluctance, but found nothing. Could Dylan really be so heartless, giving away the position I’d pursued for years with just a single sentence to Serena? Then, remembering the Swiss Medical Research Institute, I withdrew my gaze, looked at the ceiling, and nodded. Dylan’s eyes immediately lit up. His voice filled with satisfaction. “That new drug development project you were in charge of before your complicated birth? She’ll take it over and publish it. She needs accomplishments to gain respect.” That project was the culmination of my blood, sweat, and tears. Dylan had once convinced all the group leaders to support me unconditionally, but now it was all hers too. Fine. If I’m going to cut ties, I’ll make it a clean break. I swallowed the bitterness in my heart, my voice hoarse. “Okay.” Dylan was overjoyed. He habitually reached out to caress my cheek. I stretched out my hand and brushed his away. He suddenly grabbed my wrist, his fingers squeezing tightly as he stared at my empty ring finger. “Where’s the ring? Where’s your wedding ring? You know what that symbolizes!” Of course I knew. It was the symbol of our promise to be together forever. But he had broken that promise long ago, so why blame me? Why act so devoted now? I spoke numbly. “My hand swelled after the miscarriage. I took it off. Lost it.” Dylan furiously threw my hand away. “You lost the baby, and you can’t even hold onto this one memory? Serena still cherishes the good luck charm I gave her three years ago, keeping it by her bedside!” “I think you’ve truly lost your mind. You’re not fit for work anymore. I expect to see your resignation letter tomorrow.” The same rigid attitude, the same refusal to be denied. Dylan didn’t wait for my answer, striding out the door and slamming it shut. I pressed my throbbing temples, reassuring myself that it would all be over soon. The next day, I placed my resignation letter and the divorce papers together on Dylan’s desk. Still fuming, Dylan didn’t even glance at me. He picked up the resignation letter and started signing it, and naturally, the divorce papers were signed too. Dylan flung the signed documents at me, growling. “Get lost! Go home and reflect on yourself, or next time you’ll be crying and begging me to come back.” I bent down and picked up the divorce papers Dylan had signed, a mocking smile on my face. Now, I wouldn’t cry for him anymore. Serena flaunted various gifts from Dylan and her colleagues on her SnapChat. I shredded my miscarriage diagnosis report and the blood-stained surgical scrubs, then picked up my plane ticket abroad. The moment the taxi trunk closed, a message from Dylan flashed on my phone.

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My billionaire wife, who’d been pretending to be poor for seven years, ran over my mom and daughter with her Maybach. A month later, it finally dawned on her that something was off. She asked her assistant, “After I ran over those worthless nobodies, that old woman and child, did their family not kick up a fuss about compensation?” Marcus, her assistant, his face grim, replied in a low voice, “Madam, *you* are their family.” Seraphina looked completely lost. “What are you talking about?” “That night, when you were drunk, you ran over the old woman and her granddaughter. Mr. Julian tried to stop your car, demanding answers, but you were so intoxicated you didn’t recognize him. You kicked him away and just drove off.” Before Marcus even finished, Seraphina stiffened, her face draining of all color, ghostly pale. It was then that she remembered. Back then, she’d faked bankruptcy and a severe illness, forcing our family to work day and night, spending every last penny of our savings to pay off imaginary billions in debt. To buy her life-saving medicine, my mother and daughter worked tirelessly. But while working in a wealthy neighborhood, Seraphina, driving her luxury car, had plowed into them, their bodies mangled beyond recognition, instantly killed. Numb with grief, after my mother and daughter’s bodies were cremated, I received a call from my wife’s assistant. His tone was like a debt collector’s. “How much do you want? Name your price!”

“I know my boss ran over your mom and daughter, but they were just two worthless lives. How much could they possibly be worth? A million is more than enough for a couple of cheap lives.” “My boss will meet you in person the day after tomorrow, at 2 PM.” Listening to the disdainful male voice on the other end of the line, I felt all the blood rush to my head. The lock clicked. Seraphina walked in, wearing a dress I’d bought her years ago, her eyes curved into a smile as she waved a steaming-hot insulated container at me. Every cell in my body trembled at that moment. Finally, I spoke into the phone, “Alright.” Seraphina didn’t notice anything off about me. Seeing me hang up, a gentle smile played on her lips as she walked toward me. “Julian! I got you your favorite gourmet burger and fries! Come on, try it!” She wrapped her arms around my stiff body and guided me to sit on our thrifted couch. She carefully broke open the forks and handed them to me. A pained look about the price crossed her face. “The boss hiked the price up another two bucks. That could have bought Chloe a new drawing book!” Seraphina glanced around. “Why aren’t Mom and Chloe here? Where did they go? I bought Chloe some sweets with today’s wages. Doesn’t Chloe love sweets the most? But you need to keep an eye on Mom, she can’t have anything sweet with her condition!” Where did Mom and Chloe go? In that instant, as Seraphina’s words landed. My mind was flooded with the image of my mom and Chloe being thrown into the air by that Maybach that plowed into them on the street. “Mom—Chloe—” Watching them tossed in an arc like rag dolls, hitting the ground with sickening thuds. Their warm blood splattered on my face, my screams and the chilling crunch of bones swallowed by the screech of tires. “What… what’s going on? Where did that… pauper come from?” The blinding high beams slowly dimmed, and a drunken voice drifted over. I stared blankly at the driver’s seat. The next second, I saw Seraphina behind the wheel, her brow furrowed as she glared through the window at me, sprawled in the pool of blood. All the blood in my veins froze. How could it be Seraphina? Wasn’t she in the hospital? How could she be here? The next moment, she rolled down the window and vomited, a thick stench of alcohol mixed with blood invading my nostrils. Her eyes blurry, she looked at me. “Who the hell is in my way? Get lost!” I struggled to my feet. “Seraphina!” But Seraphina didn’t recognize me. Instead, she turned the car around and sped out of my sight. Devastated, I was taken away by the Officer who arrived shortly after. He didn’t show me the accident footage. Instead, he sighed and advised me, “The person who ran over your mother and daughter was Miss Seraphina Sterling, the heiress. Our recommendation is to settle this privately.” Seraphina Sterling! The Sterling heiress? A choked sob caught in my throat. I pressed on, “Officer, can you… tell me about this Miss Sterling?” “Mr. Julian, I know what you’re thinking, but I still advise you against suing. The Sterling family could make this city crumble with a snap of their fingers, and this Miss Sterling is the most notorious for her wild antics in the last twenty years.” The next second, I saw pity and helplessness in the Officer’s eyes, then heard him sigh heavily. “Instead of dreaming big, you should try to get more money when Miss Sterling arrives.” As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside. “Miss Sterling, this way, please.” As the words fell, two figures emerged from the automatic sliding doors. I had never seen Seraphina like this. She was dressed in an expensive haute couture dress from a luxury boutique’s display window, every inch of her radiating nobility. She held the leash of a pampered poodle, and Dominic stood beside her, strikingly conspicuous. “…Seraphina!” I instinctively moved forward, desperate to demand what was going on. “Dominic! My ‘poor girl’ bet expires next month. If you keep clinging to me then, I won’t be so nice!” What ‘poor girl’ bet? Seraphina’s words froze me in my tracks. Dominic shrugged nonchalantly. “Why are you mad at me? Isn’t this your family’s bet?” “I don’t necessarily think you’ll win. Who knows, maybe once you’re tired of playing with Julian, you’ll come home and fulfill your engagement to marry me?” Seraphina scoffed. “Delusional! Julian will always be my only husband!” I stared at Seraphina in shock, but her gaze didn’t shift an inch. Even if someone stood directly in front of me, she’d only need to turn her head slightly to see me, the “only husband” she spoke of. But she didn’t spare me even a glance. Instead, she walked past me, chin held high, with an arrogant demeanor I’d never seen from her before. Soon, Seraphina and Dominic entered the glass-walled office just a few feet from me. Their conversation inside was clearly audible. “Miss Sterling, the victim’s family is here. Would you like to meet them?” I couldn’t help but look at Seraphina. Her legs were crossed, propped on the coffee table, her eyes closed as she massaged her temples. “No need! These poor people, once they get involved, they stick to you like superglue! Can’t you even handle this small matter?” Seraphina’s dismissive attitude instantly ignited my fury. Just as I was about to burst in and confront her directly. Dominic’s voice drifted into my ears. A slight smirk on his lips, he said, “Sera, I have a great idea. Let Julian pay the money back. If he doesn’t help you, you lose the bet.” Seraphina opened her eyes and glanced at Dominic, scoffing. “Don’t dream about it. Julian has stayed by my side all these years, even when I was faking poverty and illness. I don’t want to bother him with something like this!” Dominic didn’t get angry, just clicked his tongue. “I wonder if you’re just scared. Is Julian really incapable of coming up with a million dollars for you?” I couldn’t listen anymore. But as soon as I took a step, a sweet, metallic taste filled my throat, and after spitting out a mouthful of blood, I passed out cold. Seraphina’s voice pulled me back to reality. She held me in her arms, speaking softly. “Julian, I accidentally ran over someone last night while making a delivery. They’re demanding an exorbitant sum, saying if I don’t pay, they’ll make me go to jail.” I stared at her, my eyes bloodshot. “But you can’t drive, can you? How could you hit someone?” Seraphina’s eyes darted away, her voice tinged with guilt. “I didn’t want to stay in bed, being a burden to you. I wanted to earn some money to send Chloe to enrichment classes.” Tears instantly welled up in my eyes, but I swallowed them back. I abruptly pulled Seraphina closer, pressing her. “Seraphina! Then I ask you, do you know who you hit?” Hearing this, Seraphina frowned, displeased. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you so emotional?” Looking at the indifferent expression on Seraphina’s face, a raging fire burned in my chest. At this moment, I began to doubt myself, wondering if I had ever truly known the woman I married! “Seraphina!! I ask you! Do you know *who* you hit?!” My emotions were completely out of control now, unstoppable tears bursting forth with my trembling voice. “I think it was an old woman and a little girl. I figured they just wanted to extort money from me.” I didn’t miss the fleeting look of disdain that flashed in her eyes. All my strength drained away in an instant. I said weakly, “Seraphina, I don’t have the money for you.” This was the first time I had ever refused Seraphina’s request. Her face instantly soured, visibly hardening. She stood up abruptly. “Are you really that unwilling to part with a million dollars? Are you just going to stand there and watch me go to jail?! I’m your wife!” In that moment, I suddenly wanted to rip off her disguise. The Sterling family was one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the city. A mere million dollars, what did that amount to in her eyes? “Seraphina, my mom…” Before I could finish, Seraphina impatiently cut me off. “It’s always your mom! How tired could your mom be?! She sits and does intricate needlework all day! She sells it to rich people, adds her pension, and a million should be easy, right?” Watching Seraphina storm out, slamming the door, all the strength drained from my body. I collapsed onto the floor, biting my teeth, silently sobbing. Tears mingled with the blood at the corner of my lips. Before my eyes, I saw my mother and daughter’s tragic deaths, lying in pools of blood, intermingling with seven years of my life with Seraphina, making me question what was real and what was false. Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Mrs. Henderson, our next-door neighbor, saw me when I opened the door, and a look of pleasant surprise crossed her face. “Julian! Not working today? Where’s Chloe? Look what I brought for your little one!” “This paint set is a reward for Chloe! Chloe loves to paint, doesn’t she?” “Oh, and where are your mom and Chloe?” Mrs. Henderson held a back support belt, peering into the house, searching for my mom and Chloe. My throat tightened, and I bit down hard, fighting back tears. “What’s wrong? Julian, why are you crying?” The smile slowly faded from Mrs. Henderson’s face. As if sensing something, her eyes instantly reddened. She looked at me in disbelief, as if hoping for a different answer from my words. “Mrs. Henderson, my mom and Chloe already…” I closed my eyes for a moment, finally uttering the answer. “…are gone.” “What happened?!” Mrs. Henderson cried out in alarm, the gift in her hand falling heavily to the floor. Hearing Mrs. Henderson’s sobs, my own tears couldn’t be held back. I choked out, “A car accident.” I couldn’t bring myself to look up, my shoulders shaking as I quietly wept. A pair of warm arms wrapped around me. Mrs. Henderson wailed, cursing, “That heartless monster! Your mom never even got to enjoy life, and Chloe was so young…” “Oh, does Seraphina know?” The question felt like a sharp blade piercing my heart. Under Mrs. Henderson’s concerned gaze, I slowly shook my head. “She doesn’t know.” Even now, Seraphina had no idea she’d gotten drunk and killed my mom and Chloe. Thinking of this, I could no longer control the grief in my heart and sobbed like a child. After Mrs. Henderson left, I buried my head in my pillow and cried for a long time, until I received a message from the funeral home. Five hundred thousand. Looking at that astronomical sum and my bank account balance, I felt utterly desperate. Where was I going to find five hundred thousand dollars for my mom and Chloe’s burial? As I scrolled through my phone book, trying to find someone I could borrow money from, Seraphina’s call came in. “Don’t let Mom and Chloe work late tonight. I’ll be home early to celebrate Chloe’s birthday.” My mind was still on that five hundred thousand dollars. After a moment of hesitation, I asked, “Seraphina, do you have five hundred thousand?” A long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, she spoke. “Julian, are you kidding me? Where would *I* get money? Didn’t all my wages go to buying things for Chloe and Mom?” There wasn’t a hint of guilt in Seraphina’s voice. She’d told the lie so many times, she even believed it herself. Tears brimmed in my eyes. Suddenly, I cried out loudly, “Seraphina!! You’re lying to me! You do! You clearly do! You just don’t want to give it to me!” Seraphina’s voice rose several octaves. She snapped angrily, “Julian! What are you doing?! What kind of person do you take me for? If I had the money, do you think I wouldn’t give it to you? Who’s been feeding you lies?!” “Please! Can you stop making things difficult for me?!” Oh, “stop making things difficult for me,” indeed! With that, she hastily hung up the phone. To gather enough money for my mom and Chloe’s burial plot, I couldn’t afford to wallow in my grief. I had to rush to the agreed-upon workplace. Encased in a thick mascot costume, I was led into a private room, clumsily swaying my limbs to the music. After my performance, laughter erupted from around the room. “How’s it, Sera? The birthday gift I prepared for your Chloe in advance, pretty good, right?” “Sera dotes on her daughter like the apple of her eye. All the money she earns by humbling herself, she spends on her mother-in-law and daughter.”

It was stiflingly hot inside the mascot suit, yet I felt as if I’d plunged into an ice bath. It was only then that I saw her. In the enormous room, Seraphina was sprawled lazily on the couch, carelessly swirling the wine in her glass, like an untouchable queen. “Looks alright. I’ll call my daughter and ask if she likes it.” As Seraphina picked up her phone, my daughter’s unique ringtone sounded in my ears. But soon, her brows furrowed, and her eyes instantly filled with confusion and worry, because Seraphina had called Chloe several times, but the calls went straight to voicemail. My whole body trembled, tears streaming down my face. Seraphina, you killed our daughter! You’ll never reach this number again! Dominic was close to me. Hearing my fingernails scratch against the mascot suit, he glanced at me. “Sera! You have such incredible patience, pretending to be poor and sick for seven years, tricking Julian, a brilliant graduate from a top university, into slaving away for you, while you, an heiress, condescended to play house with them.” Seraphina scoffed. “Once I win the bet, I’ll bring them back to the Sterling estate. They won’t have to suffer anymore.” Catching the hint of guilt in Seraphina’s voice, I looked at her sharply. “Now you’re putting on the act of a good wife and mother. But why didn’t you give Julian money when he asked you for it just now?” “Why are you meddling in my affairs? If he’s asking for my help, it must be because my mother-in-law’s condition has worsened.” Seraphina’s tone was assertive. “Next month, I’ll find the best doctors to cure my mother-in-law!” “His mom is sick, how could he possibly help you pay?” Dominic’s laughter grated on my ears. Seraphina looked embarrassed. “He *will* help me! If you don’t believe me, I can call him right now and ask him for the money!” My mind went blank. I instinctively raised my clumsy arm, trying to find my phone. It wasn’t until I heard the busy signal that I realized I’d left my phone in my bag before work. “Damn it! What time is it, and he’s not answering my calls!” Dominic casually glanced at me. “That’s why I say, all poor people are the same. What’s love in the face of money? There are plenty of people who would sell their dignity.” Seraphina’s eyes grew colder and colder. Suddenly, she stood up and walked over to me. The next second, her cold eyes stared directly at me, as if piercing through the bulky mascot suit to see my face. Had she finally recognized me?! Just as tears streamed down my face and I prepared to rip off the mascot head to demand what I meant to her, she suddenly spoke. “Would *you* sell your dignity for money?” My hand slowly dropped. I said nothing. Seraphina pulled a stack of money from a nearby box and slapped it against my face. “Get down on your knees!” She yanked my arm, a cold smile on her face, and dumped the entire box of money over my head. Under her icy gaze, I slowly bent down, kneeling before her to pick up the scattered banknotes. I had no reason to refuse this money. With this money, I could buy a better burial plot for my mom and Chloe. “See? Typical poor people, they pick up money the moment they see it! Hey, let me ask you, if I gave you money and told you to die, would you just obediently do it?” “But Julian is different from you! He’s with me only because he loves me, not for money, so whatever I say, he’ll believe it!” I lifted my head, meeting Seraphina’s eyes through the mascot head. I chuckled self-mockingly. “You’re right!” I *am* one of those poor people you talk about! For money, I can also sell my dignity! The moment Seraphina heard my voice, her pupils constricted, and she instinctively reached to pull off my mascot head. But I didn’t dodge. In fact, I was almost looking forward to seeing her reaction when she saw who was under the mask. Dominic pressed down on her hand, scoffing playfully, “Sera, Julian might have upset you, but you shouldn’t take it out on a mascot, should you?” Seraphina angrily yanked her hand away from Dominic’s grasp and glared at me. “Now get lost.” Seraphina didn’t come home that night. It wasn’t until the next morning that I received a text from her. “Julian, my condition relapsed yesterday, and I fainted and was taken to the hospital. I just woke up.” “How’s Mom’s condition? And have you collected enough money for me?” This wasn’t the first time Seraphina had used this excuse for staying out all night. Expressionless, I packed all my belongings and shipped them away, then headed to the address Seraphina’s assistant had given me. As I walked into the high-end restaurant, I immediately spotted Seraphina’s familiar back in the distance. Chloe’s phone watch in my pocket was still buzzing. Seraphina had been calling it incessantly since yesterday evening.

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The apocalypse struck, unleashing a deadly virus. My all-powerful husband called, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it. “Don’t be afraid, my helicopter will be there soon. I’m bringing you to Safe Zone One.” Faintly, from the other end of the line, I heard his ‘true love,’ Eleanor Vance’s sickly sweet voice. “Darling, why waste time on that mobile blood bag? My purification pod is ready. Hurry up and get her over here to donate!” In my previous life, I believed his promise. But what arrived was a squad of soldiers. They tied me to an experimental table, draining my special, virus-resistant blood. All to save his frail Eleanor. Finally, they discarded me like trash into the horde of infected. Only after my death did I realize: he married me simply because my unique blood type matched his beloved’s, making me her perfect “living source of medicine.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the apocalypse broke out. Listening to his hollow reassurances over the phone, I smiled. He didn’t know that the virus antidote I was developing didn’t rely on blood at all. It needed my living cells for its final activation. And the highest authority key to Safe Zone One, the very fortress I’d personally built, was my heartbeat. Want to live? Fine. But first, watch your Eleanor Vance take her last breath right in front of me. **1** Not long after the call ended, I heard the approaching roar of a helicopter outside my window. Did Dorian Blackwood really think I was still that fool he could twist around his little finger? I hadn’t stayed home waiting to die. I’d long since moved to my true sanctuary—the ‘Heart’ lab beneath the villa. This was my personal creation, a secret base even Dorian Blackwood knew nothing about. The roaring grew closer. Through the surveillance monitors, I saw the familiar black helicopter. Inside the cabin, Dorian Blackwood’s hypocritical face peered down through the window. Pathetic. *Bang!* The villa’s front gate was violently breached. It was Dorian Blackwood’s special forces. Leading them was Captain Ryder, his fiercely loyal commander. They stormed into the living room, only to find the house empty. Just then, I activated the projection system. My image instantly appeared on the living room wall, at least ten feet tall. “Hard at work, gentlemen?” My voice echoed throughout the villa via the sound system. Captain Ryder’s head snapped up, his gun instantly aimed at my projection. “Seraphina Jiang? Where are you?” “No need to be nervous, Captain Ryder. I’m right beneath your feet.” Captain Ryder’s face changed. Realizing something, he immediately contacted Dorian Blackwood via his comms: “Boss, target isn’t on site. Suspected to be in the basement.” Soon, Dorian Blackwood’s furious voice came through the comms: “Find her! Now!” I switched channels, connecting directly to Dorian Blackwood’s private line: “Mr. Blackwood, if you want to invite your ‘mobile blood bag,’ you should at least come in person, shouldn’t you? Hiding in a helicopter, what kind of power is that?” “Seraphina! What exactly do you want?” Dorian Blackwood’s voice was laced with suppressed rage. “What do I want?” My laugh turned sharper. “I want to live. But your Eleanor Vance can’t wait, can she?” From his end, Eleanor Vance’s sickly sweet voice chimed in impatiently: “Darling, hurry up, my purification pod is ready…” Hearing that voice, my heart gave a sharp, painful lurch. In my previous life, it was that same voice that had accompanied my last moments. But this time, things were different. I cut off Dorian Blackwood’s channel, connecting solely to Captain Ryder’s comms. “Captain Ryder, want to hear an interesting story?” Captain Ryder frowned. “Ms. Jiang, please cooperate.” “Cooperate?” I sneered. “Like last time, when I cooperated by letting you tie me to an experimental table?” Captain Ryder froze. He had no idea what I was talking about, because that had happened in my previous life. But I had proof. “Listen to this.” I played an audio recording—encrypted files I’d hacked from Dorian Blackwood’s phone. Dorian Blackwood’s voice came through clearly: “Once you get the blood, dispose of Seraphina Jiang. And Captain Ryder’s entire squad, leave no one. Too many people know; it’s bad for Eleanor.” The recording cut off abruptly. Captain Ryder’s face instantly twisted. His squad members behind him exchanged glances, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief. “This… this isn’t possible…” Captain Ryder murmured. “Impossible?” My voice dripped with mockery. “You’ve risked your lives for him for years, and he wants to silence you all. Captain Ryder, does that still seem impossible?” I watched Captain Ryder’s wavering expression on the monitor, a surge of satisfaction rising within me. Loyalty was crumbling. Just then, Dorian Blackwood’s voice came through the comms again: “Ryder! What are you doing? Get her out of there, now!” Captain Ryder stared blankly at his comm unit. I struck while the iron was hot: “If you want to live, listen to me.” As soon as I finished speaking, I activated the villa’s defense system. *Rumble—* Heavy alloy gates slammed down from the ceiling, sealing the entire villa shut. Captain Ryder and his squad were trapped inside. **2** Dorian Blackwood indeed came in person. The cabin door opened, and Dorian Blackwood emerged, cradling a dying Eleanor Vance. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, looking as if she could expire at any moment. Dorian Blackwood’s expression was strained and anxious, completely devoid of his usual composure. “Seraphina! Come out!” he shouted at the villa. “Eleanor’s fading fast!” I activated the hidden passage in the ground. A metal door, just wide enough for one person, opened beneath their feet, revealing stairs leading underground. “Come down,” my voice echoed from the loudspeaker. Dorian Blackwood didn’t hesitate, carrying Eleanor Vance inside. As soon as they stepped into the observation room, the alloy door behind them slammed shut. It was a fully transparent, reinforced glass room, with clear views in all directions. I sat at the control panel, watching them through the glass wall. Eleanor Vance leaned weakly in Dorian Blackwood’s arms, yet her eyes still held a defiant glint: “Seraphina Jiang, you can’t win against him. Hurry up and give your blood, and I might spare your life.” I ignored her. “Want to save her? It’s simple. Transfer all the highest authorities of your corporation to my name.” Dorian Blackwood paused, then burst out laughing: “Seraphina Jiang, are you insane? For a dying woman, you want my entire business empire?” “Do you think I’m joking?” I lightly pressed a button. The room’s air purification system activated, but I secretly lowered the oxygen concentration. From 21% down to 19%. Eleanor Vance’s breathing immediately became more labored. Already weak, she now gasped for air. “You… what did you do?” Dorian Blackwood noticed the anomaly. “For every minute you hesitate, the oxygen concentration drops by 1%. How long do you think she can last?” Eleanor Vance’s face grew even paler, and she desperately clutched Dorian Blackwood’s clothes: “Dorian… I… I can’t breathe…” Dorian Blackwood’s expression instantly transformed. Anger, shock, and a hint of panic. “Seraphina! You’re insane! Let us out!” He frantically pounded on the glass wall. The glass didn’t budge. I watched his frantic state, an unprecedented thrill surging through me. In my previous life, they had trapped me on that experimental table, forcing me to watch my own blood drain away. Now, it was their turn to experience this despair. Time ticked by, minute by minute. The oxygen concentration dropped to 18%. Eleanor Vance began to cough violently, her face turning purple. She weakly lifted her head, her eyes filled with venom: “Seraphina Jiang… you bitch… Dorian won’t let you get away with this…” “Really? Then let’s see what price he’s willing to pay for you.” Sweat began to bead on Dorian Blackwood’s forehead. He looked at the dying Eleanor Vance in his arms. “Seraphina Jiang, what exactly do you want?” “I told you. Your corporation, all its authorities.” “Impossible!” Oxygen concentration dropped to 17%. Eleanor Vance was completely unable to speak, only gasping for breath with her mouth open. Her fingers began to turn purple, her eyes unfocused. Dorian Blackwood finally panicked: “Wait! Wait! We can talk!” “Now you want to talk?” My finger hovered above the button. “Too late.” “Seraphina Jiang!” His voice trembled. “You can have anything you want! Money? Status? I’ll give it all to you! Just spare Eleanor!” I paused my hand. Not out of softness, but because I saw genuine fear in his eyes. This man, once so arrogant, who had treated me as a tool, finally had a weakness. “Money? Status?” I laughed. “Dorian Blackwood, do you think I lack these things?” He froze. Yes, I, Seraphina Jiang, the youngest virologist with multiple patents before the apocalypse, had already amassed a fortune in the hundreds of millions. I never lacked money. What I lacked was his life. The oxygen concentration continued to drop. 16%. Eleanor Vance’s eyes began to roll back, her body convulsing. Dorian Blackwood completely broke down: “I’ll transfer it! I’ll transfer everything to you! Please, save her!” I watched him kneel on the ground, but the rage in my heart showed no signs of calming. In my previous life, I had knelt like that, begging them to spare me. But how did they respond? “Why waste time? The purification pod is ready, hurry up and donate blood.” Now, it was their turn to taste despair. I slowly stood up and walked to the glass wall. “Dorian Blackwood, do you know? In my previous life, when you killed me, I begged you like this too.” He snapped his head up, his eyes filled with confusion. But soon, he would understand everything. Because the real game had just begun. **3** Oxygen concentration dropped to 15%. Eleanor Vance had completely lost consciousness. Dorian Blackwood knelt on the ground, repeatedly banging his head: “I’ll transfer it! I’ll transfer everything to you!” I pushed a special terminal towards him. His fingers frantically tapped on the screen, stock transfer agreements flashing by one after another. All corporate authorities were transferred to my name. The moment the transfer was complete, oxygen levels returned to normal. Dorian Blackwood gasped for air, holding Eleanor Vance tightly: “Quick! Save her!” I stood up and walked to the glass wall. Behind me, a giant screen lit up. Complex gene sequence diagrams densely covered the entire wall. “You thought the antidote was in the blood?” My voice was chillingly calm. “Idiot.” Dorian Blackwood froze. “The virus antidote requires my living cells as a culture medium. The final activation and proliferation must occur inside my body.” Data scrolled across the screen. Lines of technical jargon flashed by. “Draining my blood would only get you useless plasma.” His face instantly turned ashen. “Impossible… The doctor said…” “Doctor? Which doctor?” I sneered. “Only I, in this entire world, could decipher this virus. Who do you think understands it better than me?” “Furthermore.” “The activation process is irreversible. It will drain all my life force.” “Saving her means my death.” I activated another projection. An AI simulation appeared on the screen. Images of me, in my previous life, tied to the experimental table. Blood being drawn, drop by drop. My agonizing struggles. My pleas for mercy. My tears. Until the very last moment of my life. Then, I was thrown into the horde of infected. Torn apart. Devoured. Eleanor Vance woke up. She looked at the images on the screen, and to my surprise, she smiled. “Hahahaha… I really hope you died that horribly…” **4** Although Eleanor Vance had resumed normal breathing, the brief oxygen deprivation had reactivated the virus within her. Eleanor Vance lay in Dorian Blackwood’s arms, her breath growing weaker. Black vascular patterns began to appear on her skin, signs of the virus’s spread. Dorian Blackwood completely broke down. He knelt before the glass wall, frantically pounding on the transparent barrier: “Seraphina! I was wrong! Please, save Eleanor! The virus is taking her life!” “I’ll give you anything! The corporation, the fortune, the power! Just save her!” I looked at his pathetic state, a slight smile playing on my lips: “For the sake of what we once were, I’ll give you a chance.” As soon as I spoke, the lab’s automated equipment activated. A mechanical arm slowly extended to my arm, precisely extracting cell tissue. Culture dishes began to churn, complex biochemical reactions unfolding in transparent containers. A progress bar appeared on the large screen. Antidote synthesis: 1%… 5%… 12%… Dorian Blackwood and Eleanor Vance’s eyes instantly lit up with wild joy. “Seraphina! I knew you still cared for me!” Dorian Blackwood’s voice trembled with excitement. Eleanor Vance, though weak, her eyes sparkled with a desperate will to live: “Dorian… I’m saved…” The progress bar steadily climbed: 35%… 58%… 74%… They watched the screen intently, seeing the hope of survival. 89%… 95%… 98%… Just as the progress bar was about to reach 100%, I pressed the pause button. *Ding—* With a crisp chime, the entire synthesis process stopped. Dorian Blackwood froze: “Seraphina? Why did it stop?” I turned around, the smile completely gone from my face: “Oh, I forgot something.” “The key to initiating the final synthesis is my heartbeat.” “And right now, I’m-not-in-the-mood.” Eleanor Vance’s eyes widened, staring at me in disbelief: “You… you’re joking, right?” “Joking? Like you two joked with my life?” The immense chasm between hope and despair instantly shattered Eleanor Vance. She opened her mouth, trying to say something, but couldn’t draw another breath. Her eyes wide, she simply breathed her last. “Eleanor! Eleanor!” Dorian Blackwood clutched her lifeless body, letting out a raw scream. Consumed by loss and rage, he violently ripped open his collar, revealing a miniature bomb detonator: “Seraphina! I’ll make you die with her!” “Let’s die together!” The moment he pressed the button— All the lights and power in the entire base flickered out. Darkness consumed everything. Only a soft blue light, emanating from my chest, illuminated my face. It was the glow from my heart rate monitor. “Forgot to tell you,” my voice echoed in the darkness. “The lab’s highest authority isn’t electricity, it’s not software.” “Your detonator signal can’t get out.” “It’s my heartbeat.” “Here, I am a god.”

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Introduction： “You gave me to a Beta like some common whore,” I whispered, tracing the scar where our bond used to be. Mother flinched. “While you knelt for Selene like a devoted dog.” Now Jarek’s hands shake when he reaches for me. “Come home.” Selene’s fangs gleam in the moonlight. “You’ll never belong here.” I laugh, cradling the life growing inside me—the heir they’ll never touch. “Funny… I don’t recall asking permission.” I was getting ready for my mating ceremony, practically humming with excitement, when my mom decided to drop a grenade on my perfect day. Out of nowhere—right before the ceremony—she announced she wanted a bigger offering for the Pack, something that would solidify our family’s standing among the ranks. Magnus, my fated mate, lost it. He didn’t just reject me—he made a whole spectacle out of it, ditching me at the last second and turning around to claim my cousin, Selene, instead. Classic. Straight out of a bad Pack drama. Humiliating? Understatement of the century. I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. Then, like some kind of twisted cosmic joke, Jarek—my childhood best friend and Beta—steps in. He doesn’t even hesitate. Offers to claim me on the spot. And just like that, my mom—who was ready to drain Magnus dry—suddenly has no problem slashing the tribute. Practically shoves me into Jarek’s arms and out the door. Three years later, Selene and Magnus are living the high life—Alpha and Luna, Pack royalty, rolling in wealth. And me? I’m stuck at home, raising pups, feeling like I blinked and lost my entire future. It’s the Full Moon celebration, the Pack’s all gathered at my mom’s for a feast, and I’m just trying to get through the day. Then I hear them—Jarek and my mom—talking in the backyard. “You’re a mastermind, Mom,” Jarek is saying, laughing under his breath. “Jacking up the tribute like that? Got Magnus to walk away so fast his head spun. Now Selene gets to be Luna, just like you wanted. But if Astrid ever finds out you two played her like that… think she’ll ever forgive you?” …I was coming back from the Pack store, arms full of groceries, when I caught the conversation. My mom, cracking sunflower seeds between her teeth like she had all the time in the world, didn’t even blink. “She’s my daughter. What’s she gonna do, cut me off? I could tell her never to take a mate at all, and she’d still listen.” Jarek hesitated. “I mean… You knew how I felt about Selene back then, and now, you basically handed Astrid to me just to make sure Selene got the Alpha. That’s kinda—” Jarek exhaled heavily. “Look, if Selene gets everything she ever wanted, is it really a loss? She’s the sweetest she-wolf I know. If she had to struggle in the lower ranks, I don’t think I could stand it.” “And now she’s the Luna, living in the Alpha’s estate, got wealth pouring in, whole Pack at her feet—it all worked out!” My mom beamed and gave Jarek a pat on the back. “That’s my boy. And now that she’s given Magnus an heir, he’s making sure she’s set for life. Bonus payout, three Pack nannies, everything she could ever need. That’s what real security looks like.” Jarek chuckled, looking satisfied. “Yeah, I saw her earlier. She was glowing. Magnus couldn’t make it, busy with Pack duties and all, but he still made sure she and the pup were taken care of. Just goes to show, we did the right thing.” My chest clenched so hard I thought I might choke. This was my reality? My own mother thought Selene deserved more than me? And my so-called mate—my Beta, my husband—was still thinking about my cousin like she hung the moon? What did that make me? A consolation prize? I stood frozen, gripping the grocery bags. Then, my youngest pup stirred against my back, whining before breaking into full-blown wails. I rocked her automatically, my mind still spinning. I had gone out to do the Pack’s supply run—trying to help, trying to be a good daughter—and this is what I walked into. I used to feel bad for my mother, always alone after my father left. Now, I just felt stupid. She turned at the sound of my footsteps, barely sparing me a glance. “You’re back? Did you get Selene’s favorite venison steaks?” “And the goat’s milk for little Mikey?” Jarek and my mom both looked at me, waiting. Not one of them offered to take a single bag. I said nothing, just carried them inside and set my pup down carefully before making her a bottle. Behind me, I heard them retreat to the living room—back to doting over Selene’s son, the precious heir. Their laughter filled the den, easy and warm. I rubbed my stomach absentmindedly. Three months along with my second pup. One more to care for, while I cooked for a Pack that barely noticed I existed. Tears burned at the edges of my vision, but I swallowed them down. I should’ve known better. Jarek wandered into the kitchen, leaning against the counter like nothing was wrong. “Hey, Ash, don’t let it get to you. Just—” My mother’s voice rang out before he could finish. “See, Astrid? Jarek is such a good mate! You made the right choice accepting his claim.” Right. Such a sweetheart. One who only ever gave me empty words. My pup finished her bottle and reached for me, fussing. I kissed her forehead before passing her off. “Go to Daddy, honey. Mommy has work to do.”

She held on tight, her little hands gripping my leg like a lifeline. No amount of coaxing would make her let go. She barely knew Jarek—how could she, when he was always too busy running around handling Pack affairs as Beta? My mom’s expression twisted with irritation, her amber eyes narrowing. “That wolf? What does he know about pups? Just sling her on your back like you always do and get on with it!” Right. Because that was my job, wasn’t it? I turned my head just in time to see Jarek cradling Selene’s son, Mikey, in his arms, making soft growling noises as he waved a shiny new toy in front of him. He looked like a natural—gentle, patient, even affectionate. Where was that when it came to our daughter? If he spared her even half that effort, maybe she wouldn’t tense up every time he walked into a room. Maybe she wouldn’t look at him like he was a stranger. With a sigh, I shifted my daughter into the sling and adjusted the straps. The weight on my back was familiar by now, but that didn’t make it any easier. My body ached, my energy had been drained dry ever since I got pregnant again, and now, with the truth gnawing at me, even breathing felt exhausting. I forced myself into motion, grabbing a knife and chopping vegetables, but my vision blurred as hot tears stung my eyes. Was this it? Was this the rest of my life? A Beta’s mate—bound by duty, never truly chosen. I was only twenty-eight, and already, I felt like I was suffocating. After being strapped to my back for so long, my daughter’s cries escalated into helpless wails. I sighed and untied the sling, carrying her into the bedroom, whispering soft reassurances. It took a while, but eventually, she curled into my chest and drifted off. My mom, meanwhile, was probably halfway to my uncle’s den already. She never missed a chance to see Selene. “Selene carries herself so well—so refined, like a true Luna. Not like Astrid, always looking like some stray.” I wasn’t sloppy. I just didn’t have anything new to wear. Selene and I were the same age, but my mother always gave her the fresh clothes first. Only after Selene got bored with them did they make their way to me. And somehow, my mom still had the nerve to tell me I looked unpresentable, like I had no sense of dignity. I outperformed Selene in Pack training, but my mother never once praised me for it. “What’s the point of a she-wolf being clever? In the end, the only thing that matters is if she lands a high-ranking mate.” Then came the courting season. I brought Magnus home, hoping to finally prove my worth, to show my mother I had done something right. Instead, she turned right around and invited Selene to meet him. I wasn’t blind. I knew Selene had asked Magnus to go out with her more than once. He never accepted. When I mentioned it to my mother, she just scoffed. “You’re being selfish, Astrid. Selene needs a strong Alpha like Magnus. Why not step aside and let her have him?” For the first time in my life, I disobeyed her. Magnus and I were getting bonded. At least, that was the plan. But my mother wasn’t done yet. At the very last moment, she increased the Pack tribute, setting the price so high it reeked of pure greed. Magnus had the wealth to cover it, but he wasn’t blind. He saw what she was doing and refused to play along. He walked away. I ran after him, begged him to stay. But he never looked back. The invitations had gone out. The Pack Elders had already given us their blessing. But none of it mattered. Selene stepped up in my place, smiling sweetly, lowering her head, offering herself as his Luna—no strings attached. No demand for a tribute. And just like that, she took everything that was supposed to be mine.

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The wedding countdown stood at twenty-two days when I walked in on Liam Hayes and his secretary, Chloe, tangled together, stark naked, in my own bed. My fury erupted, and I demanded to break up right there, cancelling our long-planned wedding. Liam fell to his knees, begging me, claiming it was just one drunken mistake with Chloe. He swore I was the only one he ever loved, that I shouldn’t negate our ten years together over a single error. My heart softened at his desperate pleas and tear-soaked face, and I decided to give him one more chance. But three weeks later, he came to me, hand-in-hand with Chloe, clutching a positive pregnancy test. “Chloe is pregnant, and it’s mine. This pregnancy is incredibly difficult for her. If she were to terminate it, she might never be able to conceive again.” “She’s still so young, I can’t let her carry the stigma of being a home-wrecker. For the wedding, she should be the bride first, just until the baby is born and officially part of the family. Then, we can have an even grander wedding for us.” What he didn’t know was that since the night he cheated, Julian Hayes, the scion of a powerful family, had already approached me. He told me he wanted to marry me. But I, swayed by Liam’s sweet talk and manipulative pleas, had rejected Julian. Julian had proposed a bet to me: whether Liam would actually marry me. If I lost the bet, the price was marrying him instead.

Watching their fingers intertwined, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. I tossed the wedding gift I’d prepared into the trash can. “Well then, I wish you both a lifetime of sweetness and happiness.” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, leaving painful crescent marks. Liam didn’t seem to catch my implied meaning. His entire demeanor brightened. He let go of Chloe’s hand and walked towards me. “Aurora, I knew you’d be the most understanding and mature one, you always are. You’d definitely get it.” “Chloe is only twenty, and she’s carrying a Hayes heir. We can’t let the baby be born without a mother, right?” As soon as he finished speaking, he gave a subtle gesture to Alfred, our butler. Alfred quickly moved Chloe’s luggage into *our* bedroom. Liam offered me a strained smile. “Aurora, the guest room is too small, and Chloe is pregnant, so it’s not convenient for her in there. She’ll stay in the master bedroom for now, and you can move into the guest room.” I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, you’ll be staying in the master bedroom too?” His words faltered, and he weakly tried to find an excuse. “Chloe is in her early stages of pregnancy, so there are many things to be extra careful about. Staying in the master bedroom will naturally allow me to look after her better.” “But don’t worry, I won’t sleep in the bed. I’ll have Alfred bring in a sofa, and I’ll sleep on that.” A bitter laugh bubbled up inside me. They’d already slept together, and now he was putting on this act? He pulled Chloe in front of me, gently instructing her. “Quick, thank your sister-in-law! If it weren’t for her acceptance, our child wouldn’t receive such treatment.” Chloe, who moments ago had seemed so innocent in Liam’s arms, was now bursting into tears, faking distress. I hadn’t said a word, yet she immediately looked as if she’d suffered a great injustice. “Sister-in-law, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin your relationship with Liam. We just got drunk…” Tears streamed down her face as she spoke. Liam saw them, and his face was etched with concern. He gently wiped away her tears. “Chloe, don’t blame yourself too much. We were just swept up in the moment, our feelings were too intense to control.” “Don’t worry, your sister-in-law is a sensible person; she already forgave us, didn’t she? Getting too upset isn’t good for the baby. You’re carrying a Hayes heir now, I can’t let you suffer out here.” But Chloe still looked terrified of me, her gaze darting between Liam and me. She looked at me timidly. “But Liam, sister-in-law doesn’t seem very happy. Her face looks quite displeased.” The next second, Liam grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of Chloe. “Aurora, it’s no use me explaining things to Chloe. Why don’t you explain it to her? Chloe is sensitive; without your permission, she’ll just overthink everything, and too much stress isn’t good for the baby.”

I watched them, a perfect duet, my gaze turning icy. I didn’t know if he was truly clueless or just pretending. My heart was seething with resentment, and he was still trying to slap me in the face like this. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I yanked my hand free from his grasp. My eyes, red with suppressed rage, fixed on him. “Liam Hayes, are you saying that you got another woman pregnant, and now I’m supposed to rush over and comfort the home-wrecker you brought back? How dare you have such audacity?” Liam’s eyes, which had been upturned in smugness, instantly darkened when he heard my words. His voice deepened several octaves. “Aurora, how could you think that? Chloe is only 20! She’s still so young. Do you have any idea how much physical harm it would cause her if we forced her to have an abortion?” “I already took her virginity; I’ve already wronged her enough. And you can’t even tolerate *this* small thing?” The way he twisted his infidelity into such a grand, righteous excuse, it felt as if I’d never truly known him. Had he forgotten? I wasn’t even twenty when we started dating. And didn’t I give him my first time too? He turned away, no longer wanting to meet my gaze. But the words he spoke were like daggers, each one drawing blood. “Besides, we’ve been together for so long, and your womb has always been silent. Now, Chloe can give our family an heir. You should be on your knees, thanking her!” I let out a cold snort, responding flatly. “So, if I went and slept with someone else, got pregnant with their child, would you still kneel and thank me?” He spun around abruptly, his furious gaze almost devouring me. “Enough, Aurora! Don’t you think your words are truly disgusting?” “I always thought you were kind and sensible, that you’d understand everything I did. I never imagined you’d be no different from those jealous women.” He gritted his teeth, looking utterly exasperated. Perhaps in his mind, I was just as he described. All that talk of me being gentle, kind, and sensible was just an excuse for him to bring Chloe home. I let out a bitter laugh. “My apologies for disappointing you.” Chloe suddenly dropped to her knees, sobbing hysterically. “Sister-in-law, I’m so sorry, it’s my fault. I ruined your relationship with Liam.” “This baby shouldn’t be in my belly. I promise you, I’ll leave right now. I’ll get rid of the baby immediately and never appear before you again.”

With that, Chloe, still crying, rushed towards the door. With a “thud,” she fell directly to the ground. Liam’s eyes filled with panic. He rushed over without hesitation. Chloe clutched her stomach, whimpering. “Liam, help me! My baby, this is our first baby, I don’t want anything to happen to this baby…” Seeing Chloe’s pained expression, Liam’s eyes instantly reddened. He quickly scooped up the whimpering Chloe from the ground. His panic was visible, his lips trembling. “No, Chloe, I won’t let anything happen to our baby, don’t worry.” “You’re still young, we’ll have many more children, as many as you want, I’ll give them to you, okay?” Listening to his touching declaration, tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. Five years ago, I too was pregnant with his child. But back then, he claimed it was his career’s crucial period and told me to terminate the pregnancy. We were both young then, and I didn’t think much of it, so I went through with the abortion. The moment I was wheeled into the operating room, I suffered a hemorrhage and almost died on the table. That surgery severely damaged my uterus, making it difficult to conceive afterward. Liam knelt by my hospital bed, clutching my hand, sobbing uncontrollably as he repented. “Aurora, I’m so sorry, I truly didn’t know that abortion would cause such severe damage to your body. Don’t worry, I promise I’ll never fail you again. From now on, if we have a child, we’ll keep it, okay?” “If we really can’t have children, that’s okay too. I’ll be child-free with you.” What were once such moving and heartfelt vows now felt like a sharp blade piercing my heart. I turned, wanting to leave, but he, still holding Chloe, rushed up from behind me. Suddenly, he kicked me hard in the back. I lost my balance and stumbled, falling backward. I knocked over a nearby vase, and glass shards pierced my palm. “What are you standing around for?! Get the car ready! If something happens, can you take responsibility?!” “Chloe is pure-hearted; she thinks of everything for you, yet you say such vicious things to upset her. You’re so much older than her, can’t you be more mature?!” The crushing pain in my chest made it hard to breathe. I slowly got to my feet, pulling the glass shards from my palm. Blood instantly welled up. To avoid giving him any more leverage, I forced myself to endure the pain and went to get the car for him. Perhaps, as he said, there was a life in her belly. Blood dripped onto the steering wheel, while in the backseat, Liam and Chloe’s fingers were intertwined. After dropping them off at the hospital, I felt my task was complete. Trembling, I called Julian. “What you said last time, I agree.”

Julian didn’t seem surprised to hear from me. He told me to send him my address. After I sent it, he replied with a text. “Wait for me. Ten minutes.” For some reason, receiving Julian’s message filled me with a strange sense of calm. I took a closer look at myself; I was a mess, my hand still oozing blood. I decided to head to the doctor’s office first to get some medicine and a simple bandage. As I passed Chloe’s hospital room, through the half-open door, Liam was spoon-feeding her swallow’s nest porridge, blowing on each spoonful carefully. He gently wiped the porridge from her lips. “Eat slowly, little glutton, don’t choke.” Their eyes met in the air, and Chloe couldn’t help but lean in and kiss his lips. Liam didn’t refuse; he even closed his eyes. Watching this scene firsthand, my heart twisted painfully. As I pulled away, Chloe seemed to notice me. A hint of challenge appeared in the corner of her mouth, and she wrapped her slender arms around Liam’s neck. “Liam, don’t you think it’s all my fault? It’s because I’m pregnant with your baby that sister-in-law is so unhappy.” “You don’t know how scared I was when I saw the way sister-in-law looked at me. I know she hates me, but I really don’t want to ruin your relationship, and I don’t want her to hurt our baby. Maybe I should just leave.” Liam suddenly cupped her face, gently stroking her cheek with the same hand that had once caressed mine. “Silly girl, how can you say that? It’s Aurora who’s being childish. You’re having such a difficult pregnancy, and she keeps doing things to upset you. When I get back, I’ll teach her a good lesson.” “You’re carrying a Hayes heir now; I’ll naturally give you a proper status.” Chloe said, teary-eyed and full of feigned grievance, her tears coming on cue. “But what if Aurora really gets angry and leaves? Then I’ll truly be a sinner.” Liam placed the swallow’s nest porridge aside and sneered. “She won’t leave me. Everyone knows she’s been with me for 10 years; no one would want a ‘damaged good’ who’s cohabited with another man for a decade.” “She loves me to death, she’s like a persistent shadow, impossible to get rid of. This wedding, she was the one begging me to marry her.” So, in his eyes, all my efforts were just one-sided devotion. Hearing this, my stomach churned, and I rushed to the bathroom, dry-heaving. But there was nothing in my stomach, only bitter acid. Ten years. Memories flooded my mind like a torrent. All those solemn vows played out like a movie in my head. Liam Hayes, you were the one who pursued me back then. To be with you, I even risked cutting ties with my parents. And now, all I got was a dismissive “desperate fool chasing after me.” I dragged my battered body, slowly walking towards the hospital exit.

Liam, who had come out to get water for Chloe, spotted me and called out. “Aurora Hayes!” I instinctively stopped. He walked towards me, holding the kettle, and started to speak but then noticed my hands, wrapped in bandages. He frowned, a rare flicker of concern in his eyes. “Aurora, what happened to your hands?” He reached out to touch them, but I instinctively pulled away. “It’s nothing. You should go back and care for your little darling in the hospital room, Liam.” Hearing my deliberately distant tone, his outstretched hand froze in the air, and a rare hint of disappointment crossed his features. “Aurora, stop playing games, okay? Chloe is pregnant and her emotions are unstable right now. As her sister-in-law, you should be more generous.” “Didn’t you always want to travel? After the baby is born, we can go together, okay?” Watching his self-righteous demeanor, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. In the past, whatever I did or said, he would agree without question. But ever since Chloe joined the company, he’d stood me up countless times. His promises, I no longer dared to hope for. As he spoke, his fingers were still busy replying to Chloe’s messages. I clenched my fists and looked up, meeting his cold eyes. “Liam Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” He was still engrossed in his chat with Chloe. When he finally registered my words, he froze. He lifted his eyelids, looking at me. “Aurora, what did you just say?” I repeated myself, word for word, enunciating even more clearly than before. “I said, Liam Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” Upon hearing this, he slammed the kettle to the ground. He paced wildly like a madman, hands on his hips, his bloodshot eyes fixed on me. “Aurora, do you even know what you’re saying?” “You’re overdoing this hard-to-get act, aren’t you? So what if Chloe got pregnant? Why are you sulking so much?” “You always said you loved me, but now, when our love is truly tested, you’re backing down? Do you think I’d still be a man if I let Chloe go and terminate the pregnancy? Do you want Chloe to end up like you, unable to bear children?” …He practically tore his throat screaming. Passing patients stopped to watch the spectacle of his madness. So, in his eyes, I had always been useless, a woman who couldn’t bear children. I bit my lip, trying my best to keep the salty tears from falling. My throat aching, I looked at him. “I’m not making her get rid of the baby, Liam. Listen carefully: this time, *I’m* leaving *you*.” A message popped up on my phone from Julian: “I’m in the parking lot. Come over.” I turned to leave, Liam’s furious voice echoing behind me. He ripped his throat screaming, “Aurora Hayes, go! If you leave, don’t ever come back!” “Divorce then, divorce! See how everyone will mock you, how you’ll become an abandoned woman everyone can whisper about behind your back in our social circle.” “Don’t come crying back to me for charity later.” No, Liam. From the moment you hurt me again and again for Chloe, I should have known I needed to leave. The hospital layout was unfamiliar, and I searched for a while but couldn’t find the parking lot Julian mentioned. Just as I spotted a parking sign and started walking towards it, a large hand suddenly grabbed me. A furious face appeared before me.

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