Category: English

In the seventh year of our marriage, I discovered two letters my husband had written to his first love. One was a love letter, the other a will. “In our next life, you’ll be my wife,” he wrote. “I’m leaving you my estate. Even after I’m gone, I won’t let anyone mistreat you.” I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh as I bought a plane ticket. That morning, I ironed my husband’s shirt one last time and saw him off at the door. In the entryway, he hesitated, waiting for my usual goodbye kiss that never came. “Anna, don’t be upset. The lipstick stain from last night was just a misunderstanding,” Christopher said, his voice tinged with frustration. “I was just giving a friend a ride home. Don’t overthink it.” I didn’t cry or make a scene. “Oh, I don’t mind,” I replied coolly. Because I had already found someone new and was preparing for my second marriage. But he panicked. After sending Christopher Evans off, he lingered at the door, waiting for something. My tone was indifferent. “You’ve got your briefcase and watch. What else do you need?” Christopher’s jaw tightened, his brows furrowed as he maintained a dignified silence. Seven years of marriage, and before that, I had pursued him for three years. A decade of love, and I knew every little movement and gesture of Christopher’s body. He was waiting for a goodbye kiss. Because I hadn’t leaned in to kiss him and say “I love you” as usual, he felt something was off. “Anna Lee, are you still angry? The lipstick stain was a misunderstanding.” “That girl wasn’t feeling well, so I gave her a ride home. It was an accident.” “I’ve been explaining all night, the evidence is clear. Can’t you be a bit more rational?” His tone was calm, but every word carried a hint of reproach. Christopher was a lawyer, always logical in his speech, never leaving any loopholes. Even our prenuptial agreement was written meticulously. It didn’t shortchange me, nor did it show favoritism. Last night, because of that cologne-scented suit jacket, I had cried and yelled. It was the same jacket I had carefully ironed that morning, without leaving a single crease. To learn that technique, my fingers were covered in burn marks, wrinkled and unsightly. But that evening, his jacket carried someone else’s perfume and kiss. The color and scent of the lipstick were familiar to me – his first love’s favorite. When we first started dating, Christopher would buy perfumes and cosmetics for me. I was touched, thinking this would be for life. Although the color and scent were subtle, I didn’t like them at all. But it was his gesture of affection, wasn’t it? I suggested changing to a different kind, but year after year, Christopher kept sending the same ones, regardless of whether I liked them or not. Later, I found out that he was actually buying them for his first love. Giving them to her was genuine; giving them to me was just an afterthought. “I believe you, okay?” I said, glancing at my bare finger. I had taken off my ring the night before, leaving a red mark on my ring finger. Would Christopher notice? If he had shown even a hint of wanting me to stay, I might have softened and forgiven him one more time. But Christopher quickly glanced past my hand, ready to leave for work. “Oh, and I want to eat fish tonight,” he said casually, assigning me a task as if I were more of a housekeeper than a wife. Watching his tall figure disappear into the elevator, I felt my heart sink a little more.

I found the love letter and the will on the bookshelf. They were brazenly tucked into a romance novel, as if he didn’t care if they were discovered. Christopher never allowed me into his study. I had always been obedient, never entering in all these years of marriage. But that day, Christopher had left a document behind and made an exception by giving me the study’s password. “The password is 716523,” he said. I was taken aback. The first three digits were Christopher’s birthday, but the last three weren’t mine. The voice on the phone was urging, “The court is about to start, hurry up.” In my haste to grab the document, I knocked over a book. Christopher never read romance novels, but when I opened the pink cover, I saw his first love’s name inside. “To Claire Wilson, with love.” “You are my lifelong treasure.” This sentence was in Christopher’s neat, flowing handwriting. His handwriting was beautiful. Many times, I had wanted him to write me a letter, but Christopher always refused, saying he didn’t like handwritten letters, that they were too much trouble. Inside the book, Christopher’s handwritten letters to his first love fell out. One was a love letter, the other a will. The love letter was a full 19 pages long, the writing getting smaller and smaller until he added a final note: “The paper is short, but my love is long.” The will was written cautiously, meticulously. Christopher had a hereditary disease and feared he might suddenly pass away. In the will, there was also a list of assets, with the majority left to his first love. Christopher had even bought life insurance, naming his first love as the beneficiary. “Claire, even if I leave this world before you, I will protect you for the rest of your life.” The contract was written formally and properly, but every word showed his bias towards his first love. That night, when Christopher reached out to remove my shoulder strap, I pushed his hand away, feeling slightly nauseated. “Anna? I want you,” he called out passionately, his fingertips tracing my collarbone. Usually, I would shyly let him do as he pleased. “It’s my fertile period now. You said you didn’t want children yet,” I replied calmly, stating a fact. On our first day of marriage, he had set three rules with me, one being no children yet. But to his family, Christopher used my physical unsuitability as an excuse. Completely avoiding his own reasons. Every time my in-laws saw me, they wore disapproving expressions. I had been taking fertility drugs they sent for a year after year. My menstrual cycle had become irregular from all the medication. When I saw a doctor, she warned, “If this continues, it will be very difficult for you to have children.” I went home and told Christopher, and a flash of joy crossed his eyes. “My parents are just concerned about me. Please bear with it for my sake, darling.” “My career is on the rise. We’ll have children when things stabilize.” Christopher coaxed me for a few days, and I softened, willingly continuing to drink the bitter medicine. Now, hearing my refusal, Christopher’s face cooled, and he turned over to sleep without another word. “I won’t initiate anything for the rest of this month,” he said. I lay awake all night. Although it was a double bed, my back had been cold for years. He knew I was prone to cold, but all year round, Christopher kept his distance. Except when he needed me. I opened my phone and booked a one-way ticket back to my hometown. I sent a message to my mother, “Mom, I’m preparing for a second marriage. Can you help me find someone?” She immediately agreed. “My good daughter, you’ve finally decided to leave that ungrateful man!” “Wait, your mother has a wide circle of acquaintances.”

Before I met him, I knew he had a first love. When they got engaged, his parents interfered, and his first love threw a tantrum, refusing Christopher’s proposal. But the hotel and the officiant had already been arranged. Christopher, too proud to back down, turned to me instead. “Anna Lee, would you like to give us a try?” he asked. His gaze was determined, and he didn’t even kneel. He just looked down at me. Because Christopher knew I wouldn’t refuse his request. After all, I had pursued him for three years. That day, I gave up my overseas assignment and directly put on the veil, registering for a flash marriage. Everyone around me said that after three years, I had finally succeeded. I was also secretly delighted that I could marry him. Christopher was handsome and from a well-off family. Within a few years of our marriage, his law firm had branches all over the city. When we went out, people called me Mrs. Evans. That day, I waited for him in the parking lot, ecstatic with a positive pregnancy test. His career was stable now, and a child would be the icing on the cake. The car was parked in its spot, windows tightly closed. I sweetly tapped on the window, pressing my face close. “Mr. Evans, you’re going to be a daddy!” But Christopher hurriedly rolled down the window, and a familiar scent wafted out from the car. Faint, but enough to make my eyes burn red. In the passenger seat, his first love also had teary eyes, her lipstick smeared messily. “I’m so sorry, sister-in-law. I forced a kiss on Christopher,” she said. “I just had a bad breakup and lost control of my emotions.” “You won’t mind, right?” With her back to Christopher, Claire Wilson spoke in a gentle tone, but the corners of her mouth curled up, her eyes curved in a smile as she made a mocking gesture towards me. I threw the pregnancy test directly at her face, shaking with anger from head to toe. “Get out!” “Is this how your parents taught you to be a homewrecker?” But Christopher raised his hand and slapped me. My ear rang, and my right earlobe hurt badly. The earring he had given me fell off, along with a bit of flesh. I clutched my face in panic, collapsing to the ground. A dull pain spread through my lower abdomen, like waves crashing over me. He looked at my bloodshot face in shock but still spoke righteously, “You’ve gone too far, Anna Lee. You know very well that Claire comes from a single-parent family.” “I hate it most when people rub salt in others’ wounds. How did you become so vicious?” My stomach hurt badly, and I curled up, begging Christopher to take me to the hospital. “I’m pregnant, hurry up, honey.” The word “honey” stopped Christopher, but the first love in the passenger seat let out a whimper. “Ow, it hurts.” His attention was immediately drawn to his first love. She also clutched her forehead, where there was only a bruise the size of a fingernail. “Chris, my head really hurts. But you should take your wife first, isn’t she pregnant?” Claire said, her eyes full of tears and grievance, constantly sniffling. Christopher hurriedly caught her tears and instinctively started the car. “Anna Lee, this is intentional harm. If anything happens to Claire, I will sue you.” The lawyer with a 100% win rate, my husband, was now threatening to sue me because of his first love. “Honey, I’m pregnant,” I said again. Christopher frowned, “Being pregnant is not an excuse for being impolite.” “You’re not that fragile. Stop pretending, have some self-respect.” The car drove away. I ended up losing the baby. But Christopher stayed with me for a month, attending to me day and night, feeding me nutritious meals, coaxing me through treatment, and even helping me bathe. This proud man was willing to put aside his dignity. Everyone advised me, saying men make mistakes sometimes, and I should forgive him. I softened my heart again. He wrote a promise, guaranteeing he wouldn’t let me hurt even a finger. “Anna, in this life, I only recognize you as my wife.” “Claire Wilson is just an ordinary friend to me.”

When the news of Christopher getting into a fight reached me, I was throwing out the last of the garbage. All the photos of Christopher and me, gone. Along with our couple outfits and handmade preserved flowers. Things I used to cherish so much now seemed like fragile, useless trash. The couple outfits I bought for Christopher, he never wanted to wear, thinking it beneath his dignity. But in the closet, there was always a pair of watches, the men’s one for him, and I had seen his first love wearing the women’s one. “Come quick, Christopher is fighting with someone in the parking lot!” “His forehead is bleeding, and his fingers are injured too!” As a lawyer with a reputation to uphold, he rarely got into conflicts with others. Even when cut off in traffic, he would silently note down the license plate and report it, never dirtying his own hands. Always calm and restrained, even when I had a car accident, he could deal with it without changing his expression. Initially, I fell in love with his cool rationality, but now, I only hated his calmness. Because he would lose control for other women, but remained overly rational with me. I tilted my head to hold the phone, unhurriedly cutting the lucky bamboo. This was a plant I had nurtured for seven years, praying for his well-being. Now, I was breaking it piece by piece, stuffing it into the trash can. “Who was Christopher fighting for?” I asked, cutting straight to the point.

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In my past life, I was nothing more than a shadow to him. The Alpha, cold and distant, kept me at arm’s length. He was obsessed with his so-called “white moonlight,” an idealized image of someone who could never be mine. I was never seen, never cared for. And in the end, it cost me everything. My love for him—blind, foolish, unconditional—led to my death. He never noticed my sacrifice, never saw how I withered in silence for him. The day I died, my love for him was all that remained, but it meant nothing. I meant nothing. But now… Now I am reborn. I stand before him, no longer the fragile, desperate woman he ignored. I made him cuckolded. “Never let that filthy woman Elisa into my apartment.” The words echoed in my mind, sharp, venomous, dripping with disdain. But no one knows my secret. No one feels the overwhelming joy bubbling inside me. I’ve been reborn. I stand at the threshold of a new life, the same day—Nicola’s Luna Ceremony. The day my fate was sealed. In everyone’s eyes, I was unworthy of him. He was a White Wolf, the noblest of Lycans. And I? An orphan, a commoner from a forgotten pack. Our lives had been tangled by a childhood jest. An innocent promise that cursed us both for over two decades. I remember it all—his face, disgusted. “You’re nothing. You’ll never be my Luna.” No one sympathized with him. But they pitied him. And even he despised me. “Elisa, it’s not that we won’t let you in. It’s Alpha Nicola’s orders.” The words stung, sharp as a blade, and the guards’ glares were colder than the wind biting at my skin. “Be smart, Elisa. Don’t make this harder on us—or on yourself.” The burly figures flanked the entrance like stone walls, their electric batons raised. The air around us crackled, thick with tension. Everyone knew Nicola hated me. And now, I was here again, in this cursed moment, the one I never thought I’d return to. In my previous life, I hadn’t made it past this very gate. The guards had stared at me, dispassionate, but he—he never came. Nicola’s parents had been furious when they found out, their anger a storm. But their fury hadn’t saved me. Instead, it had pushed them to hurry the marriage, pushing me closer to the fate that awaited. But our wedding? It was nothing like the fairytale they expected. On the morning of the ceremony, Nicola’s beloved—the White Moon, the one he cherished above all else—had thrown herself off a cliff. The moment was etched in my mind like a cruel twist of fate. And in his eyes, I was the one to blame. The one who drove her to her death. From that day forward, my life was no longer mine. It was a descent into hell. Every step, every breath, was laced with the venom of his hatred. Nicola, with his cold gaze and cruel smirk, dedicated himself to making me suffer. His punishments were ruthless—silent treatments that clawed at my sanity, public humiliations that crushed my spirit, and violence that left invisible scars. He gathered his inner circle, those who hated me as much as he did, and they made a game of tormenting me. I begged for release countless times. “Let me go,” I would plead, my voice hoarse and my soul broken. “End this. Break our bond.” But his response was always the same: “I’ll drag you down to hell with me if I have to.” And he did. But now? This time, I won’t wait for his parents’ pity, nor will I endure his vengeance. Because this time, I’m not here to be his Luna. I’m here to shatter his throne.

Under countless astonished gazes, I turned and walked away, my steps steady, my heart free of regret. Back in Nicola’s quarters, I stripped off the cumbersome gown—a symbol of my servitude to him, Alpha Nicola. Everyone knew me as his pathetic devotee. Wherever his name was uttered, I was the fool who went ten steps further to ensure his life was flawless. He’d once complained about the exhaustion of work, mentioning he longed to visit the lavender fields of southern France. So, I meticulously planned a trip, aligning perfectly with his schedule, even though I knew in my heart he’d never take me. And I was right. When the day came, Nicola took Sasha instead. I wasn’t invited as a partner but commanded to tag along—as their servant. I still remember that stormy night. The downpour was relentless, the road slick with rain. Sasha’s bag had fallen out of the car, and Nicola, with his signature icy authority, ordered me to retrieve it. I barely stepped onto the road when a car struck me. The agony was unimaginable. Six months in the hospital, teetering between life and death, abandoned by the one I had sacrificed everything for. That helplessness, that descent into darkness—I would never allow it to happen again. Leaving Nicola was the first step to reclaiming my life. Without hesitation, I packed my things and grabbed my documents. As I made my way downstairs, the front doors slammed open, and there he was—Alpha Nicola, storming in with his perfect suit and searing aura of dominance. The moment his piercing eyes landed on me, his lips curled into a mocking sneer. Without a word, he grabbed my suitcase and flung it to the floor. “What are you doing?” I demanded, my voice sharp. His voice was colder. “The real question is, Elisa, what are you doing?” He crossed his arms, glaring down at me as if I were a petulant child. “Running away from home? How old are you?” My breath hitched as his expression darkened. “Or are you planning to leave another suicide note to manipulate me?” he spat, his voice laced with disdain. The accusation hit me like a slap. “Who told you I wanted to die?” I shot back, incredulous. Nicola’s laughter was bitter, his tone cutting. “Don’t act innocent. You’re the one who left that pathetic note before, threatening to jump if you didn’t get your way.” Memories surged—fragments of the past I had buried deep. After Nicola and Sasha became an item, I had, in a moment of rage and despair, left that message. The fallout had been catastrophic. Nicola’s mother, Sara, had panicked and forced him to break things off with Sasha. Since then, his hatred for me had only deepened. He ignored my pain, allowed Sasha and her clique to bully me, and treated me like a plague he couldn’t escape. But that was the old Elisa. Now, I met Nicola’s glare with unwavering eyes. “I never planned to die. You’re overthinking it. I’m packing because I’m going back to the countryside.” Nicola’s expression faltered briefly, his brow twitching as if he didn’t believe me. Before he could respond, Sasha entered, her voice dripping with false kindness. “Elisa, if you wanted to join my party, you could have just asked. Nicola would never turn you away.” Her words were sweet, but her eyes glittered with malice. “I’m not interested,” I replied coldly. “I’m leaving for the countryside.” Sasha let out a theatrical sigh, turning to Nicola. “Maybe we should invite her. It’s so pitiful seeing her like this.” Nicola frowned, the creases in his perfect features deepening. For a moment, he looked like he might relent. But I didn’t give him the chance. “There’s no need,” I said firmly. “I’m done here.” Nicola’s face darkened, his lips curling into a scornful smirk. “Hear that? She’s done. Off to the countryside, like the common little girl she is.” Sasha, ever the actress, sighed again. Her fingers, tipped with razor-sharp nails, reached out to grasp my arm. No one else noticed as she dug them into my skin, the pain sharp and deliberate. I flinched and instinctively shoved her away. Sasha stumbled, her delicate frame collapsing to the floor. She clutched her hand to her chest, her face painted with betrayal and fragility, lips trembling as if I had struck her. “Elisa… how could you?” she whispered, tears brimming in her doe-like eyes. Everyone stared, the room thick with unspoken accusations. And Nicola? His icy glare now burned with fury, a storm brewing in his gaze.

“Elisa, are you courting death?!” Nicola’s enraged voice echoed, a visceral growl that sent a chill down my spine. Before I could react, he shoved me with all the force of an apex predator. My body hit the stairs hard, the back of my head slamming against the edge with a sickening crack. White-hot pain blurred my vision, and I tasted copper in my mouth. Through the ringing in my ears, I heard his fury unleashed. “Elisa, do you ever get tired of tormenting people?!” His words sliced through me like claws. “The air in this house has been poisoned by your presence! You make me sick!” I struggled to sit up, clutching the back of my head as warm blood seeped through my fingers. “Enough,” I rasped, my voice trembling but firm. “I’ll move out. You’ll never have to see me again.” “Good.” Nicola’s rage seemed to falter for a moment, his jaw tightening. “You better keep your word.” He stood there, breathing heavily, his piercing golden eyes glaring down at me as if I were a speck of dirt on his pristine world. Finally, with a sneer, he turned away, scooping Sasha into his arms like she was some fragile treasure. I watched them disappear, his growl still reverberating in my chest. The pain was excruciating, but not just from the wound. I pressed my hand against the sticky blood pooling at the back of my head, a bitter laugh bubbling from my lips. Once, this man—this wolf—would have turned the world upside down if I so much as scraped my knee. I remembered a time when Nicola and I weren’t so estranged. As a child, I adored him. The elders had told me about our arranged bond, how we were destined to become mates. I clung to that idea, trailing behind him like a shadow. When he rebelled, sneaking off to the woods to hunt, I followed. When he got into disputes with neighboring packs, I was there, trying to mediate.

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In the fifth year of my marriage to Asher, it was revealed that he had been maintaining a relationship with a girl hidden away in a hotel, and the news spread everywhere. To protect her from being branded as the “mistress,” Asher approached me with divorce papers, saying, “Mr. Johnson once helped me, and before he died, he asked me to look after Adeline. Now that this has come out, I can’t just walk away.” Over the years, Adeline had always been Asher’s priority. In my previous life, when I heard these words, I was devastated and refused the divorce, which eventually led to severe depression. Asher dismissed my condition as an act, based on Adeline’s comment that “My sister doesn’t look sick.” He set me up for infidelity and directly filed for divorce. It was then that I realized I couldn’t compete with a deep-seated debt of gratitude, leading me to end my life in despair. But when I opened my eyes again, I signed the divorce papers without hesitation. 1 “Cora, after all this blows over, can we get back together?” While sitting on a stone bench in the villa’s courtyard, lost in thought, Ezra approached me with Adeline. Just three hours earlier, Adeline had been caught by paparazzi as possibly being Ezra’s lover, causing the entire internet to dig into her past and label her as the intruder who wrecked my happy marriage with Ezra. Ezra’s image as the devoted husband fell apart, and the stock of Ezra Corporation began to fluctuate. In my past life, when Ezra came to me with divorce papers, I was furious and destroyed the roses he had planted for me in the garden, hysterically questioning his relationship with Adeline. She was merely the daughter of a mentor, and there were countless ways to resolve the situation. Yet he chose to sacrifice me, simply to prevent Adeline’s depression from worsening. What Ezra didn’t know was that during the trending topic period, I was also diagnosed with moderate depression. “Cora,” Ezra called out again, pulling me back from my reverie. I lowered my gaze to the divorce papers on the stone table. He knelt on one knee beside me, his deep eyes meeting mine, his warm palm enveloping my hand. His tone was persuasive. “Cora, do it for me, okay?” “We’ll tell everyone that our marriage has been over for a year and that we’ve been planning to divorce, but just hadn’t found the right time.” I remained silent, and behind him, Adeline, in a white dress with Ezra’s jacket draped over her shoulders, looked pale and teary-eyed. “Sister Cora, please help me, won’t you?” “My mother took her own life due to cyberbullying and depression. I don’t want to go down the same path. Sister, I’m begging you…” Just as she was about to kneel, Ezra quickly stood up, supporting her and protectively holding her close. His face darkened as he softly reprimanded, “What are you doing?” Adeline choked back a sob, her voice frail and tearful, then lowered her tear-filled eyes. “I… I just want my sister to feel better.” Ezra’s brow immediately furrowed with impatience, and he looked at me, the tenderness in his eyes completely gone. “Cora, I’m not here to negotiate.” “I’ve already made up my mind, and if you don’t want to divorce, don’t blame me—” I calmly met his gaze, and his words stopped abruptly. But I knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to say, “Cora, you know what I’m capable of. I have countless ways to make you sign.” “If it comes to a divorce lawsuit, you can’t win against Ezra’s lawyers.” These were his exact words in my past life. Later, I was set up with several male models, and the evidence of my infidelity was irrefutable. Overnight, I became the woman accused of cheating, subjected to public scorn. While he and Adeline became the innocent victims. “I can sign, but you have to promise me one thing,” I said after a long pause. 2 Ezra looked up at me and nodded in agreement. He handed me a pen, and I took it, signing my name on the divorce papers without any emotion. “Aren’t you going to look at the agreement?” Ezra frowned and asked me. I smiled slightly, “No need.” He was practically leaving empty-handed, giving me all the assets, just for Adeline, to repay a debt of gratitude. “Make time to go to the County Clerk’s Office tomorrow.” “Okay,” I said. Ezra’s hand paused slightly as he took the divorce papers, looking at me with a bit of confusion, but in the end, he said nothing. As they left, Adeline turned back and gave me a mocking look, her thin lips silently mouthing, “You lost.” I did lose. I lost my entire life, and now I don’t want to lose anymore. After a while, my phone screen lit up, showing a message from Ezra. [I’m sorry for what happened today, Cora.] [After this is over, I’ll give you a grand wedding, and we’ll remarry.] [I can’t just watch Adeline’s depression worsen. You can understand me, right?] I looked at the message and couldn’t help but laugh, tears in my eyes. It was the same in my past life. To force me into a divorce, Ezra sought advice from his friends and got drunk. But he forgot his friends were also my friends. Finn tried to persuade Ezra not to sacrifice his marriage for Adeline. Meanwhile, he was mediating with me, asking me to understand Ezra, saying Ezra was a man of deep emotions. If it weren’t for Adeline’s father recognizing Ezra’s talent and investing in him, helping him start his business, Ezra wouldn’t be where he is today. Back then, I tearfully retorted, “Ezra could have clarified this in countless ways. Why must he divorce me?” Finn was silent. He had asked Ezra, and Ezra had replied, “I have to wrong someone, and I can only wrong Cora. She loves me and can understand me.” Because I loved him, I was sacrificed. What logic is that? Luckily, I get another chance. 3 When it comes to Adeline, Ezra always acts quickly. In the day, he signed the divorce papers with me, and by evening, he arranged a press conference and had an assistant invite me to attend and clarify. I hadn’t even spoken yet. The assistant, thinking I would refuse, quickly relayed Ezra’s message to me. He said, “Miss Cora, you should attend this press conference, if not for Mr. Ezra, then for your reputation.” I paused for a second, then snorted. Ezra was threatening me. He was trying to use the same tactics from my past life to force me to compromise, to smear me, and leave me to struggle under public opinion. Ultimately, I would have to bow down. I never understood whether Ezra saw me as his wife or his adversary…? Now he wants to publicly clear up our relationship. So do I. The press conference was arranged in the most luxurious hotel lobby in North Beijing, and the invited journalists were some of the industry’s most influential. When Adeline appeared in a qipao, holding Ezra’s arm, the journalists swarmed them. Ezra instinctively shielded Adeline, smiling as he blocked the microphones, “I’ll answer your questions one by one shortly.” “Please, make some space, okay?” His voice was gentle, and when he looked up, he met my eyes, also surrounded by reporters. In that moment, I still hoped Ezra would come to my rescue. But in the next second— He calmly looked away, smiling, holding Adeline’s hand, and walked to the stage, as if he hadn’t seen me. I curled my lips in mockery. The closest reporter to me was probably an intern, timidly handing me a microphone and asking, “Miss Cora, have you really divorced Mr. Ezra?” “Yes,” I smiled, nodding in response. The intern adjusted her glasses, “But you and Mr. Ezra have known each other since high school, dated for seven years, and been married for five.” “Just last month, Mr. Ezra spent a fortune to buy you an island and named it after you.” I kept smiling, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “That was something he owed me.” He missed my birthday to care for Adeline, and that was the makeup gift. In my past life, I was pleased about this, only to later learn it was Finn’s idea, the island chosen by Ezra’s assistant, and Ezra didn’t even know where it was. “Do you still love Mr. Ezra now?” She looked at me nervously, and the reporters around me fell silent, even Ezra on the stage looked at me. His brows furrowed slightly. I calmly glanced at him and then smiled, saying, “Not anymore.” 4 I didn’t stay for the end of the interview. After Ezra clarified that our marriage had been dead for a year, I left. Overnight, I became the unwanted second-hand by Ezra. While Adeline became the only innocent victim in this narrative. The interview was pinned on the social media platform for days, the topic’s heat never subsiding. Especially the part where Ezra said, “Cora and I planned to divorce a year ago, just waiting for the right time. We intended to handle it quietly, but now it’s affecting an innocent person, so we have to clarify publicly. Miss Adeline is not the cause of our relationship’s breakdown.” Overnight, I became Ezra’s discarded baggage, while Adeline emerged as the sole innocent party in this storm of public opinion. The interview from that day remained pinned on social media for several days, and the interest in the topic never waned. Particularly striking was when Ezra said, “Cora and I have been considering divorce for a year, just waiting for the right time. We wanted to handle it quietly, but since it’s affecting innocent people, we have to clarify publicly. Miss Adeline was not a third party in our relationship breakdown. She was my teacher’s only concern in this world, so it’s natural for me to take care of her. I hope everyone views this rationally.” Some fans were misled to think that the reason for our relationship breakdown was my inability to tolerate the pure sibling bond between Ezra and Adeline, which they saw as something sordid. They also accused me of being petty and lacking generosity, claiming that after five years of marriage, I hadn’t learned any loyalty or righteousness from Ezra. The topic simmered for several days, and I became the target of public criticism. After obtaining the divorce certificate from the County Clerk’s Office, Ezra called out to me, “Don’t take the things said online to heart. People will forget soon enough.” I stopped and couldn’t help but chuckle. The same insults were hurled at me online, yet the difference was stark. “Cora, in two months, it’ll be New Year.” “How about we remarry early next year?” He looked at me and was about to approach, but I took a step back, shifting my gaze to the reporters held back by bodyguards not far away. Ezra seemed to realize the inappropriateness and stopped. “Ezra, I’m going back to Port City.” “You haven’t been back in a long time. It’s good to return for a visit, and I’ll pick you up for the New Year—” “I’m not coming back,” I interrupted Ezra calmly. His faint smile froze, and confusion appeared in his eyes. I added, “When I agreed to sign the divorce papers, you promised me something. Now it’s time to fulfill it.” Ezra stared at me blankly. When I was reborn, it took mere seconds to process my love and hatred for Ezra. The moment I saw the divorce agreement, I thought about going crazy and tearing it up, causing another scene, but reason ultimately prevailed. After a long pause, I smiled slightly: “Ezra, I hope you never appear before me again.” 5 Cora smiled and gracefully disappeared into the crowd, leaving Ezra unable to react for a long time. For a moment, he felt an inexplicable panic, as if he was about to lose something most important. Just like when Cora calmly signed the divorce papers, he felt a vague unease. She didn’t make a scene, seemingly having predicted all the outcomes. Yet not long ago, Cora had been furious because he forgot her birthday, even slapping him. He thought he was proposing a fake divorce. Cora would lose her mind and cause a fuss, and he was ready for it. But she didn’t; she picked up the pen with an expression as calm as still water. He had thought about stopping her, but in the end, he did nothing. He thought it was okay; Cora loved him very much. They were only getting a fake divorce, and he would make it up to her later. But Adeline was different. She couldn’t suffer any harm because of him. If it weren’t for Adeline’s father appreciating his talent and taking the risk of being kicked out of the shareholders’ meeting to invest in his project, helping him grow and become a new elite in North Haven, he wouldn’t be where he is today. Nor would he be worthy of Adeline. Before Adeline’s father passed away, he hoped Ezra would protect Adeline’s well-being. He didn’t want to be an ungrateful person. Finn once asked him, “If one day, both Adeline and Cora fell off a cliff, who would you save?” He laughed, thinking it was a silly question. He would save Adeline, but he would die with Cora. Finn laughed with him but asked, “What if Cora doesn’t want to die?” “Ezra, you can’t keep mistreating Cora because she likes you. If she doesn’t feel your love, she’ll despair too.” That day, he didn’t take it seriously. He never considered it. But in the end, the prophecy came true. At night, Ezra still returned to the villa. Since marrying him, Cora had lived in the villa halfway up the mountain. She was an outstanding painter, recognized at ten for a landscape painting as a young prodigy painter. Everyone thought her accomplishments in traditional Chinese painting were exceptional, and she would become a leader in the industry, which indeed happened. But after marriage, her painting style changed, losing its former brilliance. Cora’s teacher tried to guide her, but it didn’t work, and later, Cora gave up painting and even resisted picking up a brush. Ezra walked into Cora’s studio. When he saw the landscape painting on the easel, he was momentarily stunned. A few strokes, yet vivid. Mrs. Chen saw the studio lights were on and was slightly surprised to see Ezra: “Sir.” Ezra looked up, “When did she paint this?” Mrs. Chen replied, “The day you came back with Miss Adeline.” Ezra nodded, trying to smile, but couldn’t. After leaving the studio, he returned to the room he shared with Cora, telling himself countless times it was just a fake divorce. Once the storm passed, he would propose to her again and give her a grand wedding. But somehow, his heart felt empty. He dismissed Cora’s words today as her angry nonsense. In North Haven, they had their home with Cora; how could she not come back? “Knock, knock—” The master bedroom door suddenly knocked. Sitting at the foot of the bed, Ezra looked up; it was Adeline. She wore a thin dress, her face slightly flushed, standing at the door, quietly looking at Ezra. “Why are you here?” Adeline pursed her lips, “I was scared being alone at the hotel, so I came to find you.” “Did I—” She lowered her eyes, “Disturb you?” Ezra frowned slightly but still said, “It’s okay; it’s a bit late today.” “I’ll have Mrs. Chen prepare a guest room for you.” As he was about to call Mrs. Chen, Adeline stepped into the room, her tender eyes looking at Ezra. “Brother Ezra, I don’t want to stay in the guest room.” “Is that okay?” she asked softly. Ezra’s frown deepened, his lips parted to refuse, but seeing her slightly red eyes, he softened. When the plane landed in Port City, Jasper came to pick me up. At eighteen, he was wrongfully accused of assault after saving a girl and served three years. With a criminal record, no company would hire him. I met him at an art exhibition; he never interacted with others, always looking down. When people approached, he only retreated timidly. Later, one night, on my way home, I encountered thugs and was nearly assaulted. He happened to pass by, and I thought he’d ignore it. But he didn’t; he acted without hesitation. That day I asked him, “What if I falsely accused you too?” He smiled bitterly, “Then I’d accept it.” I used my family’s influence to clear his name. When the truth came out, he stood far away, looking at me through the crowd with red eyes, bowing in gratitude. Three years in prison hadn’t erased his goodness. My father, grateful for saving me, offered him a chance, bringing him into the company. Starting from the bottom, he’s now my father’s most trusted aide. “Miss, long time no see.” Jasper, wearing a trench coat, took my suitcase. I nodded, feeling an inexplicable sadness. Five years ago, after marrying Ezra, I moved north with him. In my previous life, when I had an accident, Jasper was sent to Country A for training by my father. I never saw him again before I died. “Miss, once you’re back this time, are you leaving again?” he asked. I said, “I’m not leaving.” Jasper smiled slightly, “Mr. Cora was delighted to hear you’re back.” I paused, my hand in my pocket tightening, a tinge of bitterness in my heart. My divorce with Ezra was a public debacle. My father, worried about me, flew from Port City to North Haven overnight, earnestly advising me: “Ezra always misjudges things.” “Back then, he chose to work with the Johnson family instead of accepting your help. If you put it nicely, he didn’t want to rely on you. But relying on the Johnson family’s investment is still relying, isn’t it?” “Cora, if you’re divorced, then it’s done. Ezra isn’t right for you.” He wanted to take me back to Port City. But I refused, crying and insisting on staying. I tearfully said, “I love Ezra, and I don’t want a divorce.” “Why should I sacrifice myself for his debt? Even if it kills me, I won’t divorce. I won’t leave.” It looks like the text you wanted translated wasn’t included. Please provide the specific Chinese text you need help with, and I’ll gladly assist you. In the end, I upset my father so much that he had a heart attack and was admitted to the ICU, with multiple critical condition notices issued. Overnight, my mother’s hair turned white. When my father regained consciousness, he didn’t say a word, but I knew he was disappointed in me. Even as she was leaving, my mother tried to persuade me: “Your father has always respected your decisions all these years.” “But Ezra is not a good man.” Back then, I wouldn’t listen to anyone and stubbornly pursued my own path, even at the risk of my life, only to finally realize that I wasn’t that important to Ezra. “Are they all doing well?” I asked Jasper. Jasper nodded, “The corporation is thriving, and Mr. Carter and Mrs. Carter are in good health.” I smiled, meeting his calm gaze. “Thank you, Jasper.” Thank you for taking care of my family duties. Jasper shook his head, saying it was the least he could do. If it weren’t for the help from my father and me back then, he might have ended up in some forgotten corner. On social media, trending topics kept emerging. From Adeline being Ezra’s mistress, it had now shifted to painting me as heartless and ungrateful. Yesterday, the paparazzi caught photos of Jasper and me at the airport, and now they’re claiming I had been cheating all along, which led to my relationship with Ezra breaking down. I couldn’t help but laugh. When I glanced down, there was a message from Adeline, using a fake account, on my phone. It was a picture of her spending the night at the villa on the hillside. [Last night, Ezra invited me to stay over. What do you think he’ll do tonight?] [Ezra is very responsible; now that the shackles are gone.] [Cora, your husband is mine now.] She tried to provoke me, but I was already at peace. Jasper poured me a cup of tea and handed it to me, glancing at my phone screen with concern, and said in a deep voice: “Miss.” “I will make sure you get back all the justice you deserve.” I didn’t respond to his words, instead, I asked, “I heard my father introduced you to many eligible women, hoping for you to settle down.” “Why did you refuse?” Jasper seemed surprised by my question, lowered his eyes, and rubbed the rim of the teacup with his thumb. After a long silence, I asked again, “Is it because of me?” He suddenly looked up, and when our eyes met, he avoided my gaze with a guilty expression. Over five years, although Jasper and I hadn’t seen each other, he always sent generous gifts on my birthdays. He spent lavishly and occasionally transferred money to my account. He practically gave me everything he earned. I refused many times, but he persisted. Later, I called him, and for the first time, I lost my temper with him. I said, “Jasper, you saved me once, I helped you once, we’re even.” “My father brought you into the corporation, and you’ve come this far on your own.” “You don’t owe me anything, I’m not your creditor. Doing this will only ruin my marriage and make Ezra misunderstand my relationship with you.” After that conversation, Jasper stopped transferring money to me. The gifts were just the bare essentials. “Jasper, I said you don’t owe me.” Just as I finished speaking, Jasper said, “No.” “What?” He looked at me, with a slight smile on his face and love in his eyes: “I like you, Miss.” “I know I’m worlds apart from you.” “I never dared to hope you would look back at me, but my heart belongs to you. I don’t want to deceive myself, nor do I want to waste anyone else’s time.” As Jasper’s words lingered, I quietly observed him. Although we were the same age, he matured much faster than I did. When I first saw him, he seemed timid and out of place. Now he has become the backbone of the corporation, the person my father values the most. Last night, when I returned to the old house, my father talked to me for a long time about the future of the corporation and my future. Finally, he asked me two questions. The first was, “Do you still like Ezra?” I shook my head, giving a negative answer. But to the second question, I remained silent. He asked me, “Are you willing to marry Jasper?” My father was planning to retire, and although Jasper had been with him for many years, he was not part of the Carter family. Initially, I was a bit confused, but now I have an answer. “Jasper, are you willing to marry me?” Two days later in North Haven. Ezra sat in the studio, looking down at the recording of Cora being interviewed by an intern. The intern asked curiously, “Do you still love Mr. Gu now?” Cora smiled and replied, “No.” Those simple words inexplicably depressed him. He played that clip countless times, trying to find something in Cora’s eyes. Ultimately, he found nothing. Frustrated, he opened the chat with Cora, only to find the last message was him reminding her to get the divorce certificate at the County Clerk’s Office at nine o’clock. She had replied with a simple “Okay.” And then there was nothing more. In the past, Cora used to cling to him, sharing everything with him, big or small. He would respond promptly when he saw her messages. He scrolled back through their chat history. Many times, it was just Cora talking to herself. Occasionally, he only replied with a “Okay” or “I know.” The corporation kept him busy. After Mr. Johnson passed away, Adeline developed depression and attempted suicide multiple times. He couldn’t handle everything. Suddenly, Finn sent a message. [Cora is going to marry Jasper.] Ezra stood up abruptly, accidentally knocking over the easel. The landscape painting fell to the ground, and when he hurriedly picked it up, a medical report was pressed beneath the canvas. He paused for two seconds, and after reading all the contents, his fingertips trembled slightly. [The patient experiences severe emotional fluctuations, repeatedly showing suicidal tendencies, and has severe sleep disturbances. It is judged that the patient has moderate depression tendencies.] The date at the bottom was the day he proposed a fake divorce to Cora. “Brother Ezra, what happened?” Adeline hurried over from the master bedroom after hearing the commotion. When she saw the medical report in Ezra’s hand, a calculating look flashed in her eyes. “Can I see that report?” Adeline asked softly. Ezra said nothing, only feeling a tightness in his chest. She took the report from his hand, flipped through a few pages, and then pretended to be relieved, patting Ezra’s shoulder to comfort him: “Brother Ezra, don’t worry.” “Did you forget? I’m also a depression patient. You’ve seen how I am when I have an episode.” “I saw Sister that day; she looked so healthy, not like someone who was ill at all.” “She might have been too angry and used a fake report to deceive you.” Adeline looked at Ezra. Just as she was about to continue speaking, Ezra, suppressing his emotions, took the report from her and walked out. After taking a couple of steps, he considered something and turned back to say: “After tomorrow, don’t stay in the master bedroom anymore.” “If Cora finds out, she’ll make a fuss again.” With those words, Adeline stood frozen in place. When she finally reacted and tried to chase after him, “Brother Ezra…” Ezra had already gone downstairs, in such a hurry that he didn’t even take his coat. Whether the report was real or fake. Whether Cora was going to marry Jasper or not. The only thought in his mind now was to see Cora and bring her home. Jasper took our wedding very seriously. He personally oversaw every detail. During the day, he ran between the company and the wedding venue. At night, he sat in the living room, writing invitations one by one. “Jasper, you can let the assistant arrange these things. You’re already working hard enough; there’s no need to put in so much extra effort.” I held a cup, standing at the top of the stairs, speaking to Jasper in the living room. He put down his pen and smiled at me, “No matter what it is, I want to give you the best, Miss.” “I know you may not have me in your heart, but I hold you dearly.” At that moment, meeting his gaze, I was momentarily dazed, my heart stirring after so long. “You don’t need to feel any burden.” “Just be a beautiful bride.” Jasper continued smiling, his eyes no longer hiding his emotions. Eventually, I smiled and nodded. I never expected Ezra to find his way to Port City. Jasper and I had just finished trying on the wedding attire when we saw Ezra standing under a camphor tree across the street. He wore a simple white shirt, his hair messy, his face slightly pale, with no light in his eyes. His gaze lingered on the hands Jasper and I held for a moment before shifting away. Ezra forced a smile, looking at me, “Cora, I’m here to take you home.” “Let’s not wait until next year. Let’s go back and remarry now, okay?” With those words, he took a few steps closer to us. Jasper instinctively wanted to stand in front of me, but I stopped him. While fixing his slightly crooked tie, I softly said: “Wait for me in the car.” “I’ll be back soon. Mom made your favorite dish tonight. Let’s go home together later.” Jasper looked down at me, the corners of his lips slightly upturned, and replied, “Okay.” He then gave Ezra a light glance before heading toward the car park. Now, it was just Ezra and me by the roadside. He instinctively tried to get close to me, but I subtly stepped back, softly saying: “Mr. Gu, let’s keep some distance between us, or else the paparazzi might capture this.” “There’ll be rumors on social media about me deliberately entangling with my ex-husband.” No matter the situation, people are always harsher on women. The incident with Adeline is a clear example. Even though it was Ezra who was inconsistent, I was the one labeled as not being magnanimous enough. “Cora, I…” Ezra’s eyes dimmed, his bitter smile not reaching his eyes. At that moment, just Ezra and I remained by the roadside. He instinctively moved closer, but I subtly stepped back and softly said, “Mr. Ezra, we should keep our distance, or the paparazzi might snap a photo.” “People on social media will start rumors that I’m trying to get back with my ex-husband.” No matter the circumstances, people are always harder on women. The situation with Adeline highlights this perfectly. Ezra was the indecisive one from the start, yet I was labeled as lacking grace. “Cora, I…” Ezra’s eyes clouded, and his bitter smile didn’t reach them. “I’ve asked my assistant to sort things out on the platform. I’m sorry for the trouble you’ve been through.” “I didn’t realize how much distress this caused you, didn’t know—” “Ezra, you knew,” I looked at him calmly. If he hadn’t known how painful public opinion could be, he wouldn’t have divorced me to help Adeline. In my past, I was accused of having affairs with several male models and divorced by Ezra. My reputation was shattered, my career plummeted, and everyone ridiculed my fall. Some even confronted me, asking, “Cora, after being treated like this by your ex-husband, how do you still have the courage to live?” “If it were me, I’d have jumped off a building.” “They call her Mrs. Ezra, but Ezra never really cared about her, or he wouldn’t have driven her to such a fate.” Later, I suffered from sleepless nights, sitting by the window, watching the city lights. I burned down my studio. I also destroyed everything Ezra gave me, as if that could erase him from my heart. I poured out all my grievances. I hated why the boy who once only had eyes for me would send me down such a path. In the end, I slit my wrists and took my own life. To this day, I still remember the feeling of blood slowly leaving my body. Ezra opened his mouth to explain, but no words came out. He could only lower his head helplessly. “Cora, I’ll make it up to you.” I couldn’t help but laugh. I’ve heard that promise too many times. After Adeline’s father passed away, Ezra left on the night of our engagement party, saying, “Cora, something happened to Adeline, I have to go check on her.” On our wedding day, Adeline attempted suicide again. After sending me back to the bridal suite, he didn’t return all night. At that time, I wavered on whether to continue this relationship. But seeing Ezra’s exhausted appearance, I endured. I loved Ezra, so I was willing to go through all the hardships with him. Every broken promise would end with a sentence: “Cora, I will make it up to you in the future.” Ezra always thought we had a lifetime, but he forgot that love can be worn out. In the end, in my previous life. I couldn’t tell if I loved Ezra or was just obsessed. After a while, I mocked, “Ezra, actually, I want very little, but you still can’t care for me.” “I’m also cherished by my parents. Why should I let you treat me this way?” “So let’s just forget it.” As the words fell, I retracted my gaze and turned to leave when Ezra frantically grabbed my arm. His tall frame nearly stumbled, and his pale lips moved. “I don’t agree.” “It can’t just end like this.” “Cora, you’re my wife, you can’t abandon me…”

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At my cousin Aria’s engagement party, her fiancé showed up with a heavy metal safe, claiming it was filled with gold bars as part of his engagement gift to her. Aria was overwhelmed with emotion and was just about to open it, but he stopped her. He sweet-talked her, insisting she shouldn’t open the safe and instead suggested moving it straight to our family’s safe deposit box for safekeeping. Naturally, he asked my parents to guard it for Aria. But here’s the thing—those “gold bars” were obviously fake. His plan was to pass the problem to my family, so later, when the truth came out, Aria would blame us for stealing the gold. That way, he could call off the wedding and demand the engagement gift money back. I exposed his scheme on the spot, but Aria just laughed it off and forgave him. The wedding went ahead as planned. However, on the wedding day, it was Aria’s bold move that completely shattered him. “Luna, this is the engagement gift from our family to you,” Colin’s mom said warmly. “I bought a few gold bars years ago when the price was low. We’re not wealthy and don’t have much to give, but we hope you’ll accept this gift with no hard feelings.” She carefully set a polished, elegant box on the table. I blinked, feeling momentarily disoriented by the familiar scene. It was as though I’d been transported to that exact moment from my previous life. But soon, I snapped back to my senses. I glanced toward my parents, and my eyes stung with emotion. Taking a few steps forward, I threw my arms around them tightly. In my last life, my biggest regret before I died was leaving my parents behind. I was afraid they’d be heartbroken, unable to cope with losing me. Colin, Aria’s boyfriend, held her hand and gave her a heartfelt declaration: “Babe, I’m sorry for putting you through so much. I promise, after we’re married, I’ll take care of you like a queen.” Aria lowered her head shyly, her cheeks flushed. “It’s not a hardship at all,” she murmured. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.” My aunt and uncle were beaming with joy, practically unable to contain their excitement as they stared at the dazzling box. “You’re too kind,” my uncle said to Colin’s mom. “We’re lucky to have such a generous gift. Without Aria, we’d never see this much gold in our lives!” In my previous life, this was the exact moment I started getting suspicious. Colin’s family wasn’t wealthy—how could they afford to give such an extravagant gift? Something felt off. Later, when Colin left, I discreetly advised Aria to double-check the gold bars to make sure everything was legitimate. Her face immediately darkened. “You’re just jealous of me,” she snapped. “You can’t stand to see me happy!” My parents quickly stepped in to smooth things over, and I decided to drop the subject. But the truth was, the gold in that box was fake. This was all part of Colin’s plan to break off the engagement without taking the blame. Under Colin’s sweet talk and endless promises, Aria never even opened the box to check. Instead, she insisted on moving the box into our family’s safe for safekeeping. That box of fake gold bars wasn’t just a scam—it was the beginning of my death countdown.

Aria and Colin didn’t start dating until after college. Aria had fallen for him at first sight during freshman orientation. Colin was handsome and aloof, which only made her more determined to pursue him. She spent all four years chasing him relentlessly, despite his indifference. It wasn’t until after graduation, when Colin broke up with his ex-girlfriend, that he finally agreed to date her. Once they got together, Aria became completely obsessed. She saw every woman in Colin’s life as a threat, convinced that any female interaction was a potential rival. Even I—her younger cousin, whom she met only once on their engagement day—wasn’t spared from her suspicions. In truth, Colin was exhausted. He’d tried to break up with her several times because of her unhealthy possessiveness, but every time, Aria would spiral into threats of self-harm to force him to stay. I only learned about this from my aunt when she came to our house, crying about the situation. So, when Colin finally agreed to marry Aria, she was over the moon. Her obsessive love for him blinded her to everything else. On the day of the engagement, under Colin’s sweet words and grand promises, Aria happily placed the engagement gift—the box of purported gold bars—into our family’s safe for safekeeping. The very next day, Aria showed up at our house in a hurry, saying she felt uneasy and wanted to keep the gold bars closer to her. Thinking nothing of it, I retrieved the box from the safe and handed it to her. She opened it on the spot and was horrified to discover its contents—cheap, fake gold ornaments, not real gold bars. Her face turned pale as she clutched the box and ran out the door. I assumed she was rushing to confront Colin, so I didn’t think much of it and moved on with my day. But what came next was something I could never have imagined. Aria burst into my house in a frenzy and stabbed me to death. Not only that—she dismembered my body. It wasn’t until after my death that I learned the truth. Colin had used Aria as a scapegoat, claiming she had lost the engagement gift. Then, he turned around and married another woman. When Aria tried to reconcile with him, he not only rejected her but also demanded she repay the “missing” engagement gift worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Consumed by rage and despair, Aria blamed everything on me. In her twisted mind, I was the cause of her humiliation and loss. That’s why she showed up at my door and killed me. The pain of dying like that was indescribable—pure agony. No one would ever want to experience it again. Just thinking about it sent a shiver down my spine. This time, I vowed to stay far away from Aria and her obsessive, toxic love life. I was determined to live, and to live well.

At this moment, Colin was gazing at Aria with tenderness, as if she were the only person in the world. “Sweetheart, this engagement gift is really important. It’s tied to our wedding and our future together. Your cousin’s family has a safe—we could leave it with them for safekeeping. What do you think?” And here it was—the same tired routine. I could already see Aria, swept away by his sweet words, getting ready to stash the six-figure engagement gift at our house again. Before she could agree, I quickly stepped forward. “Colin,” I said with a smile, “our family’s safe broke down a few weeks ago. I’m afraid we can’t take on the responsibility of guarding something so valuable. If something went wrong before the wedding, it’d be terrible.” My parents, standing nearby and unaware of the brewing tension, looked like they were about to offer help. I discreetly stopped them with a glance. Hearing my comment about potential wedding issues, Aria hesitated and seemed to snap out of her daze. “Maybe we should just keep it at my house…” But Colin frowned. “Your cousin’s neighborhood has better security. Fewer people coming and going. Even without a safe, it’s still safer to leave it there.” Aria mulled it over and nodded, eyes sparkling as she turned to my dad. “Uncle, would you mind keeping it for us for a little while? Once we move into our new home after the wedding, we’ll take it back.” I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they’d fall out of my head. They really weren’t going to let this go, were they? My dad, thinking it wasn’t a big deal, was about to agree, but I jumped in again. “You know, nowhere’s safer than the bank,” I suggested. “Why not rent a safe deposit box and store it there instead?” Colin’s face immediately tensed, and his parents, who had been quietly observing, started shifting nervously in their seats, stealing glances at Colin. Their reaction made me laugh bitterly to myself. So, they all knew the gold bars were fake. And here they were, trying to drag my clueless family into their scheme. “Is there a problem?” I asked innocently. “I think it’s a pretty good suggestion.” Colin’s mom smacked her knee and exclaimed, “But I heard gold prices are still going up! Storing it at the bank now would be a huge loss!” Colin quickly chimed in, “Exactly! Selling it or storing it would cost too much in fees.” I nodded along as if I agreed. Then, with a smile, I added, “That’s true if you sell it. But you could just store the gold bars in a safe deposit box. That way, you don’t lose value, and you get the added security. “Plus, no one’s home security system can compare to a bank’s. If something happens and it’s stolen, the bank’s insurance will cover it. At home, once it’s gone, it’s just gone.” Colin’s face turned sour, and he looked down, playing the part of a heartbroken man. “This engagement gift is our family’s hard-earned savings,” he muttered. “I just wanted Aria to be able to see my sincerity whenever she wanted…” Aria, moved by his “sadness,” quickly jumped in. “There’s no need to take it to the bank. We’ll just keep it at home.” Every time Colin and Aria disagreed, all it took was a sad look from Colin to make Aria cave. But I’d already lived through this story once before, and there was no way I was letting myself get dragged into their drama again. If Colin wanted to act, well, two could play that game.

I put on my best sincere smile and said to Aria, “How about this? Our family will gift you a safe as a wedding present. That way, you don’t have to worry about the engagement gift being stolen, and you can always see Colin’s sincerity whenever you like.” “Congratulations in advance, Aria and Colin! Wishing you a happy marriage that lasts forever.” If buying a safe was all it took to get these two out of my life, I’d gladly pay for it. Colin’s parents were now frantically signaling to him with their eyes, but Colin seemed momentarily at a loss for words. Aria, on the other hand, beamed at me. “That’s such a thoughtful gift! Thank you!” Colin hadn’t expected her to agree so quickly. He immediately tried to wave it off. “That’s really unnecessary! These gold bars are worth over a hundred thousand dollars. Buying a safe would be expensive, and it’d take too much time. We have plans to meet friends later, so we’re in a bit of a rush.” “Yes, exactly!” his mom added. “There’s just no time!” I turned to Colin with a pointed look and threw his own words back at him. “But Colin, this is your way of showing Aria your sincerity. Isn’t it worth spending a little extra time and money?” “Besides,” I said brightly, “I know a jeweler nearby who could come over in just a few minutes. They can even verify the gold bars’ authenticity for you while they’re here!” The room fell silent. I could see Colin’s panic setting in. His lips twitched as he stammered, “Th-there’s no need for that. It’d be such a hassle for you to call someone…” “Not at all!” I said cheerfully. “In fact, here they are now.” I pointed to the jeweler walking into the room. I grabbed the box of “gold bars” off the table and handed it to the jeweler. Colin’s face turned pale as he lunged forward to stop me. “What are you doing? You can’t just make decisions without asking the adults first!” Oh, he was panicking now. I calmly pushed his hand away and passed the box to the jeweler, who opened it right there in front of everyone. Inside the box, instead of gleaming gold bars, were cheap, fake gold decorations that couldn’t fool a child.

When the jeweler opened the box to reveal a set of cheap, gold-plated trinkets wrapped in red velvet, the entire room fell silent. Not even Aria said a word. Honestly, even I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. No wonder Colin didn’t want to store them in a bank or have anyone verify them. He couldn’t even be bothered to spring for convincing props—he was trying to frame me with the cheapest fake gold imaginable. And yet, these fake gold bars were the reason I lost my life in my last life. I couldn’t help but wonder what terrible thing I must have done in a past life to deserve being tangled up with people like Aria and Colin in this one. Colin’s entire family sat there with faces as pale as ghosts, unable to say a word. My aunt and uncle, furious and humiliated, tried to drag Aria out of the restaurant, but Aria just sat in her chair, sobbing uncontrollably, refusing to leave. “Colin, explain this! Tell me this isn’t true!” she cried. But Colin stayed silent, refusing to meet her gaze. I didn’t waste any more time watching their drama unfold. I grabbed my parents and left the restaurant, leaving them to sort out their mess on their own.

When we got home, I sat my parents down and told them everything that had happened in my previous life. In that life, I never even knew what was going on. One day, I opened the door, and Aria came charging at me with a knife like a lunatic. After I died, my parents were devastated. My mom was so grief-stricken she had a severe asthma attack and ended up in the hospital. My dad, holding back his own heartbreak, handled all the funeral arrangements and spent the rest of his days taking care of my mom in the hospital. It wasn’t long before he collapsed too. When I finished telling them the story, both my parents had tears in their eyes. My mom pulled me into a tight hug, gently patting my back. “You’ve been through so much, sweetheart. It’s all in the past now. We’re together, and we’re safe. That’s all that matters now. And we’ll stay healthy and happy, I promise.” My dad clenched his fists, his voice shaking with anger. “That Aria’s nothing but an ungrateful brat. She wouldn’t dare lay a finger on that scumbag Colin, but she had no problem taking it out on you. If she shows up here again, I’ll deal with her myself.” My mom was quick to agree. “Exactly! She isn’t setting foot in this house again. Not ever.” I wiped the tears from my face and calmed them down. “Mom, Dad, we can’t act impulsively. We don’t want to do anything illegal. But if they try to mess with us again, we’ll fight back with everything we’ve got.” A few days later, after the engagement fiasco, my parents went to work, leaving me alone at home. That’s when I heard a knock at the door. When I opened it, I was stunned to see Aria standing there. Before I could say a word, she stormed in and slapped me across the face. “You jealous little b****! You just can’t stand to see me happy, can you?” she shrieked.

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My mother-in-law demanded that my husband take her for breast enhancement surgery because she believed he was paying too much attention to me. I calmly explained that, at her age, recovery would be difficult and could lead to complications. However, she flew into a rage, yanking my hair, and accusing me of being afraid that she would outshine me and steal my husband away. Behind my back, she secretly went to a small clinic for the surgery and tragically died on the operating table due to an infection. To my shock, my husband blamed me for not preventing her from going through with it. He even spread rumors to the neighbors, claiming I saw her as a burden and encouraged her to go, resulting in her death. Under the weight of everyone’s anger, my husband stabbed me to death at the clinic’s entrance. Suddenly, I found myself back in time, hearing my husband say his mother was coming from the countryside. I quickly set up a video account with the name “Oppressed Ann Summers’ Mother-in-law Daisy Fields, Give Me an Explanation.” 0

“My mom raised me alone in the countryside; it wasn’t easy. Now she wants to visit us. How can I refuse?” “But it’s entirely up to you, honey. If you don’t want her here, I’ll send her back.” As soon as I woke up, my husband was already trying to emotionally manipulate me. Before I could respond, the doorbell rang. My husband’s eyes lit up with excitement as he rushed to open the door. “James, I’ve missed you so much this past year.” A short, plump woman stood outside, laden with bags and kitchen utensils, her flat lips smacking as she spoke. Seeing her long-lost son, she dropped everything and threw herself into James Anderson’s arms, sobbing. “You’ve married and forgotten your mom. How long has it been since you came home to see me?” My husband, distressed at her tears, held her even tighter, patiently comforting her. After a while, she seemed to notice me, “You must be Ann. We only met at the wedding, and I haven’t seen you since. I was worried James would forget me, so I came. You don’t mind, do you?” Hearing the familiar emotional manipulation, I smiled. In my past life, even though I was unhappy about their deceit, I said nothing. I warmly welcomed her into our home and even tidied up the guest room for her, thinking we’d get along well. After dinner, my husband and I went to the bedroom. We were still in the “honeymoon phase,” only a few months into our marriage. He eagerly closed the door, and just as we lay down, the bedroom door swung open. I quickly grabbed the blanket to cover myself. Seeing his mother intrude, my husband frowned, “Mom, this isn’t the village; you can’t just come and go. You need to knock before entering.” Her face fell, and she began to cry, “Since you got married, you’ve stopped caring for me. Your father is gone; I only have you. Now even you treat me this way. I might as well join your father in death.” She moved to hit her head against the cabinet, and I, forgetting my state of undress, rushed to stop her. After scrutinizing me, she squeezed me, making my face flush. I quickly pushed her away. She deliberately collapsed to the ground, “James, you’ve changed since you were a baby nursing in my arms.” My husband’s expression darkened, accusing me, “How could you lay hands on my mom at her age?” “Mom, why are you saying this? I’ve grown up.” “You’ve forgotten me because I’m old and sagging. Is that it?” I couldn’t hold back, “Mom, James and I are married. We need our own private space.” She shouted, “I don’t understand any of that. I only know I have one son in this world, and I must keep him close. Don’t think I don’t see it. You want to monopolize him. I won’t let that happen.” She continued, “I know about breast augmentation. I’ll get one and be better than you. Then your dream will shatter.” I patiently advised, “Mom, you’re older now. Recovery isn’t the same. Surgery can have complications. No reputable clinic will do it at your age…” She yanked my hair, “You just want me dead so you can have James to yourself. I won’t let that happen. I’ll go tomorrow.” Her farm work-hardened hands pulled out a clump of my hair. She snorted, slammed the door, and left. My husband helped me up, “Don’t mind my mom. She’s been like this since my dad passed. Talk her out of the surgery tomorrow. It’s foolish, and people will laugh.” The next morning, I was rudely awakened. “Ann, was this all your plan?” James glared at me. Before I could ask, “My mom died last night at a small clinic. If you had stopped her, she’d be alive.” Someone alive yesterday was dead. My face went pale, “How… how could this happen?” He threw me a harsh look, “Someone like you wouldn’t feel guilty even after killing.” He slammed the door, leaving me stunned. It took me a while to react. I threw on a coat and left. “Isn’t that Ann? Heard she killed her mother-in-law out of jealousy.” “Yeah, poor lady, raising her son alone after her husband died. Then her son’s wife couldn’t stand her and drove her to get surgery that killed her.” “I never thought Ann was like that. So gentle, but you never know someone truly.” Everyone pointed and whispered. I wanted to defend myself. “How do you know?” one curious person asked. “Her husband said it.” I couldn’t believe James could be like this. I rushed to the clinic, seeing James causing a scene. I went to confront him. He turned with red-rimmed eyes and stabbed me, “You killed my mom. If you’d stopped her, she’d be alive.” People screamed and scattered. The clinic manager hurriedly handed James a bank card, “Mr. Anderson, here’s eighty thousand for you.” People backed away, and James kicked me aside, taking the card. I felt a cold, sharp pain in my chest, helplessly watching James walk away satisfied. All I heard was, “She brought this on herself. She urged her mother-in-law to get surgery.” I hated them, that vile mother and son. But now, I heard the moral coercion again. Excited, I took out my phone and registered a video blogger account. I’ll make them pay for their sins. 0

“Since your dad died, I’m just a burden. Now at my son’s house, my daughter-in-law ignores me.” Seeing I didn’t respond, she started her antics, crying to James. Before they could speak, I had registered the account, smiling as I held her hand. “Mom, I’ve been waiting for you. I told James I wanted you to come. I’m thrilled you’re here.” I took her kitchen utensils and tossed them inside. Then I said to James, “Go clean the guest room for Mom. She needs a clean place to sleep. Mom loves your cooking, so make a few extra dishes tonight.” I went back to the bedroom with a smile. At dinner, I came out slowly. Mother-in-law sat with an apron, glaring, “You’ve got some nerve. No man cooks or washes in our village.” “You married James, you should be a housewife. If you don’t cook, you shouldn’t eat.” Ignoring her intimidation, I heard the doorbell and rushed to open it. “Hello, your order of steamed crab, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Boeuf Bourguignon, tomato beef stew, blanquette de veau, Chateaubriand steak, and Bouillabaisse is here. Please give a good review.” I accepted the food, placed it on the table, and took a few bites before remembering, “Mom, did you say something?” “I thought about it and realized you were right, so I’m too embarrassed to eat.” Ignoring my mother-in-law’s attempts to assert dominance, I heard the doorbell and quickly went to answer it. “Hello, your delivery of steamed crab, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Boeuf Bourguignon, tomato beef stew, blanquette de veau, Chateaubriand steak, and Bouillabaisse has arrived. Please leave a positive review.” I smiled as I accepted the food, placed it on the table, and took a few bites before it suddenly hit me, “Mom, were you talking to me earlier?” “I thought about what you said and found it reasonable, so I decided I should apologize for eating.” Seeing that I wasn’t easy to manipulate, my mother-in-law’s face darkened. “Are you trying to chase me away? If you don’t want me here, I’ll leave.” I bit into the crab, enjoying its flavor, “Mom, are you leaving already? At least have a meal before you go. If you have too many things to carry, I’ll call Uber Freight to help with your pots and pans.” My mother-in-law pursed her lips in anger, “You… you just don’t want me here! You’re afraid I’ll take James away, so you’re targeting me?” I ignored her as she began crying dramatically, kneeling before me. “I know you don’t like me, but we’re family now. Why can’t you accept me? I just wanted a meal a day. Now I see I made a mistake coming here, so I’ll leave.” She ended with a gesture of apology, bowing her head to the ground. To gain James’s sympathy, she hit her head hard, leaving a bruise and even some blood. She occasionally glanced up to gauge our reactions. Before James could respond, I quickly took off my slipper and rushed over to her. I pressed her face with the slipper and slapped her a few times. “Alright, whoever you are, get off my mother-in-law.” 0 “Ann, what are you doing?” James stood in shock, seeing my actions and about to intervene. While my mother-in-law was still stunned, I slapped her a couple more times. “Still not coming down? Watch me slap you out.” Satisfied with her swollen face, I stood up. “You dare to possess my mother-in-law? Now you’ll know my strength. Let’s see you act up again.” My mother-in-law lay on the ground, her face red and swollen, pointing at me with trembling fingers before fainting in anger. This little thing sure has a temper. Seeing James looking at me unhappily, I attached a camera to my clothes. “What is that?” I adjusted the lens. “A handy tool.” A handy tool to reveal your true selves.

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“Get me the best doctor here right now!” As I stepped out of the staff-only elevator, I was greeted by the sight of my husband, Nelson Fairclough, making a scene outside the operating room. My first thought was, “What is he doing here?” He told me he was away on a business trip today and couldn’t celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary with me. Before I could process what was happening, he yelled at the nurse again. “You’d better save my wife and baby, or I’ll make sure this hospital goes bankrupt!” I froze at his words. I thought, “If his wife is the one lying in that operating room, then who am I?” The realization hit me like a freight train. I’d been betrayed. I was still standing there in shock when a young doctor hurried toward me. “Dr. Fairclough, you’re just in time. All the senior surgeons are tied up with other cases. Please, you need to head into the OR now!” I took a deep breath, clenched my fists, and made my way toward the operating room. Nelson blocked my path, his voice dripping with hostility. “Are you the lead surgeon?” I was momentarily stunned that he didn’t recognize me. “Even with the surgical cap and mask covering most of my face, how could he not recognize his wife of seven years?” I thought. But then again, I realized that he probably never imagined I’d be here. Last month, I was temporarily assigned to this small-town hospital as part of an exchange program. I remembered telling Nelson about it, but it was obvious that he had been too engrossed in his phone and hadn’t paid attention. From behind my mask, I said calmly, “Please step aside, Sir.” I brushed past him. Nelson shouted after me, “There aren’t any men in that OR, right? My wife’s body isn’t for other men to see!” I cursed him silently, disgusted by his absurd possessiveness. But my curiosity grew. His words intrigued me more about the identity of the “wife” he was so protective of. After scrubbing in, I entered the OR. A pregnant woman lay pale and weak on the operating table. The moment I saw her face, my chest tightened. It was Olivia Hilton, the wife of Edmund Hilton, Nelson’s cousin. Edmund was a soldier and was often away on duty. Olivia would frequently call Nelson over to her house with excuses like a broken appliance or a plumbing issue. I’d been so busy with work that I never paid much attention to these things. But now, I realized they had been carrying on behind my back! The nurse handed me Olivia’s medical chart. Olivia was eight months pregnant. Her premature contractions were triggered by sexual activity during her pregnancy. I flipped through the chart, my mind racing. Edmund had been away for nearly a year. I couldn’t help but think, “Could the baby Olivia is carrying be Nelson’s?” My stomach churned. Memories of suspicious moments surfaced. Despite years of marriage, I hadn’t been able to conceive. My cycles were irregular, and last year, I’d suggested Nelson get tested. He’d flatly refused, insisting he was perfectly fine. Even his mother, Rosina Fairclough, had taken his side. I thought, “No wonder he was so sure of himself. He’s already gotten someone else pregnant.” It dawned on me that Rosina must have known all along. “Dr. Fairclough,” my assistant interrupted, “should we prepare for a C-section?” I checked the fetal heart rate and ultrasound. The baby was developed enough to survive outside the womb. “The irony,” I thought bitterly. “I’m about to perform a C-section on the woman who’s been sleeping with my husband.” But as a doctor, I had no other choice. Taking a steadying breath, I said, “Yes. Prep for anesthesia.” As we began preparations, Olivia suddenly screamed, “I want my husband here! I don’t want to do this alone!” The nurse tried to soothe her. “Ms. Hilton, that’s against protocol…” “Why not? I’ve seen husbands in the delivery room on TV!” After the anesthesia kicked in, Olivia’s contractions eased, and she began shouting energetically. The nurse explained patiently, “Those require prior approval, and our hospital doesn’t…” Olivia shouted, “I don’t care! My husband is a high-ranking executive! If you don’t let him in, you’ll regret it!” I thought, “Your real husband is a soldier, Olivia. Nelson’s just your lover, isn’t he? How shameless.” Clearly, neither Olivia nor Nelson cared about their marriage. They openly called each other husband and wife. “I won’t deliver unless my husband is here!” Olivia declared.

My assistant hesitated. “Dr. Fairclough, what should we do?” Suppressing my rage, I replied, “Call the director. I don’t have the authority to make that decision.” The director approved it quickly, saying the paperwork could be handled later. Soon, Nelson entered the room, dressed in scrubs. Olivia immediately started whining. “Honey, it hurts so much…” She was lying, of course. In her semi-anesthetized state, she wouldn’t feel pain. Nelson held her hand tenderly. “Hang in there, sweetheart. Once the baby’s born, I’ll reward you.” “I want that limited-edition designer bag…” “Anything you want. Just name it.” Watching this despicable pair, I no longer felt anger. I only felt self-loathing for being so stupid. Nelson had been so distant recently, even forgetting my birthday and our anniversary, but I’d foolishly chalked it up to work stress. “Anstey,” I told myself, “you’re a doctor. No matter who’s on the table, you must do your duty.” Resolving to stay professional, I picked up the scalpel. The first incision was smooth. Nelson leaned over to look, then promptly fainted. Ignoring him, I moved on to the second layer. “Nelson! Are you okay?” Olivia shrieked, trying to sit up. My assistant held her down. “Ms. Hilton, please remain still.” Two nurses dragged Nelson to a corner. I knew what was going on. Nelson must have fainted from the sight of blood. “How touching,” I thought sarcastically. “He really does care for Olivia.” We successfully delivered the baby. It was a frail boy, his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, his skin a sickly purple. “Is the baby out?” Olivia asked anxiously. “It’s a boy,” my assistant replied. She was overjoyed and immediately asked, “Why isn’t he crying?” The assistant didn’t answer. I calmly cleared the mucus from the baby’s airway and gave his foot a firm tap. The baby’s first cry finally pierced the room. Nelson stirred, attempting to sit up, but fainted again when he saw the bloodied newborn. The nurse measured the baby’s vitals and weight before showing him to Olivia. “He’s a little weak and needs to be placed in an incubator,” the nurse explained. “What? Incubator? You’re just trying to scam us for money!” Olivia snapped. I lost my patience. “Premature babies often require incubators. If you don’t trust our hospital, you’re welcome to transfer elsewhere.” Her defiance flared. “Fine! We’ll transfer! My husband can afford it. If it weren’t for…” She stopped short, then muttered, “Who’d come to this crappy hospital otherwise?” I knew what she meant. They came here to avoid gossip. After all, I was the best doctor at the city’s top hospital, and if they had born this kid in the city, I might have found out about their affair. I handed over the post-op procedures to my team and stepped out. Just as I was about to take a break, I heard loud yelling from the corridor. “The baby wasn’t even due yet! Why was he born? I’ll sue this hospital into the ground!” Looking up, I saw the source of the commotion. It was Nelson’s mother, Rosina.

Rosina blocked the midwife, refusing to let her take the baby to the NICU. The midwife, growing anxious, tried to reason with her. “Mrs. Fairclough, due to the risk of losing the baby, we had to perform an emergency C-section…” “What?” Rosina’s voice shot up. “A C-section? Natural birth makes smarter kids! Who gave you permission to do this? Call your director here, now!” I had never realized how ignorant Rosina could be. My emotions churned, but I wanted no part in this mess. I only wanted to leave. I made up my mind. As soon as I got home, I would divorce Nelson and sever all ties with these shameless people. I tried to avoid her and walk away. But Rosina spotted me and quickly stepped in my path. “Was it you who performed the C-section on my daughter-in-law?” I answered calmly, “The procedure was done with the patient’s and her family’s consent. If you have questions, take them up with your son.” Rosina didn’t recognize me. She started shouting again. “Hey! How dare you talk to me like that? Do you even know who I am? Who do you think you are? You are just a doctor!” Taking advantage of the distraction, the midwife hurriedly wheeled the baby into the elevator. Rosina, too focused on berating me, failed to stop her. She redirected her fury toward me. “You’re the reason my grandson was born prematurely! What kind of evil person are you? Are you trying to ruin his future?” The other people waiting outside the operating room couldn’t stand it anymore and began to speak up. “How unreasonable can you get? The doctor only acted to save your grandson!” “Exactly. Both your son and his wife signed off on the surgery. Why are you blaming the doctor?” Someone discreetly began recording the scene on his phone. Rosina, unfazed, lashed out. “Mind your own business! If it’s not the doctor’s fault, then whose is it? My grandson wasn’t due for two more months! It’s all because of this quack!” “You’re heartless,” an elderly woman interjected. “The doctor saved your grandson’s life!” The argument spiraled into chaos. In her rage, Rosina suddenly swung a fist at the elderly woman. I quickly intervened, warning Rosina. “Madam, if you keep this up, I’ll have to call security.” “You wouldn’t dare! Go ahead and try!” Rosina screamed, now completely unhinged. I shielded the older woman, urging her to step back. “Please, Madam, step aside for your safety…” Taking advantage of my momentary distraction, Rosina shoved me hard. I staggered, unable to steady myself, and fell heavily to the ground. A wave of dizziness hit me, followed by sharp pain in my lower abdomen. Concerned bystanders rushed to help me up. “Doctor, are you okay?” I couldn’t stand straight. Rosina, however, began shouting as if she were the victim. “Stop pretending! I barely touched you!” The pain was unbearable. I pressed my stomach, too weak to argue with her. Suddenly, I noticed a warm sensation trickling down my thigh. I froze, too terrified to move. Just then, Nelson appeared, pushing Olivia’s hospital bed out of the operating room. Seeing Rosina, Nelson asked in surprise, “Mom? What are you doing here?” Rosina, emboldened now that her son was present, twisted the story. “Your assistant told me Olivia was delivering the baby here! Nelson, tell me, did this quack doctor trick you into agreeing to a C-section? It was such a major decision, and you didn’t even consult me first! Hospitals like this always exaggerate risks to scam people into expensive procedures!” Several staff members lost their patience and spoke up. “Don’t you dare accuse us without evidence!” “The patient’s water broke! We had no choice but to perform the surgery!” Rosina, hands on her hips, snapped back. “And why did her water break, huh? Don’t try to fool me!” I couldn’t listen to her nonsense any longer. Summoning my remaining strength, I retorted, “Your son and his wife caused this by having sex during her pregnancy!”

Nelson froze, unable to refute me. Rosina hesitated briefly before flying into a rage. “That’s a lie! My son would never do something like that!” A nurse came over to support me. “Dr. Fairclough, don’t stoop to her level. Let’s get you out of here…” But Rosina wouldn’t let it go. She grabbed my arm, trying to stop me. “Hold it right there! Do you think you can just walk away? You owe my grandson an explanation!” Pain tore through my abdomen, and I felt cold sweat on my forehead. I realized something was very wrong. I broke free from her grip in desperation, pushing her away. Rosina stumbled back into the wall, clutching her back. She immediately began wailing dramatically. “Oh, my head! You’ve hurt me!” The nurse snapped at her. “You hit your back, not your head! Stop lying!” Rosina whined, “I don’t care! Apologize to me, or you’ll regret it!” She turned to Nelson for backup. “Your mother’s being mistreated, and you’re just standing there? Do something!” Nelson, still angry with me from the operating room, saw his chance to lash out. He marched over, pointing a finger in my face. “Apologize to my mother right now!” I gritted my teeth through the pain and whispered to the nurse, “I… I can’t… My stomach hurts. Take me away, please…” The nurse tried to lead me away, but Nelson grabbed my arm roughly. “Where do you think you’re going? You’re not leaving until you apologize!” The nurse tried to intervene, only for Nelson to shove her aside. “Nelson! You’d better see who I am!” I shouted hoarsely.

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When I was fifteen, my dad left with his first love. That same day, my mom emptied the house with my little brother, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out. She didn’t say a word to me, not even a glance. Once they were gone, the neighbors started gossiping openly, making sure I heard every word. “Victor’s such a stand-up guy, huh? He’d rather divorce and save a terminally ill child than stay with his family. That’s a real commitment.” “Yeah, they make it sound so noble, but let’s not forget, Victor cheated. And as for Isabella, she’s spent years struggling to raise two kids on her own. What did he ever do for her?” “In the end, it’s Charlotte’s fault. If it weren’t for her, her parents wouldn’t have divorced. Honestly, she had it coming.” So, apparently, my parents were the ones who’d been wronged, and I—left behind—was the one who deserved it. I sat on the floor, hugging my knees, looking around at the house my mom had destroyed. Broken bottles lay everywhere, drawers were tossed around. For a moment, I thought I saw my mom packing things up while cursing at my dad. Then I seemed to see myself telling my dad what happened, watching him sit on the couch, chain-smoking, before finally telling my mom that he had had enough of her and was leaving to pursue true love. Before I could think too much about it, a strange middle-aged woman came in, breaking the silence of the room. “Kid, your mom sold this house to me. Pack up your things and leave.” I looked at her wearily and then buried my head between my knees again. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to speak, but my throat hurt so badly that I couldn’t even get a word out. Suddenly, my hair was yanked, and I lifted my head helplessly to meet the middle-aged woman’s gaze. She was gesturing, and from her lips, it seemed like she was asking if I was mute. Before I could speak, the group of women outside the door started talking. “She’s not mute. She just doesn’t want to talk. Ever since her dad ran off, and her mom slapped her a dozen times, she hasn’t spoken. You want the house? Just take it. She doesn’t have anything left here anyway.” I turned to look at the women at the door, their mockery and disgust clear in their eyes. “Oh? Why’s that?” It seemed like the woman was interested, so the group immediately started telling her everything that had happened. “That’s the story. And she even went to her dad’s mistress’ kid and threatened her. The girl was already fragile, and then she went and told her that her mom was the other woman. The poor girl ended up in the ER that day. You tell me, who would want a murderer like her?” “Her mom’s pitiful, and her dad’s useless. Her mom worked hard, selling things during the day, and working in a bar at night to support the family. Then she came home to find out her husband ran off with another woman. Not only that, but her daughter accused her of being a prostitute in that bar. Now, the whole neighborhood knows. She couldn’t face it anymore, so she had to leave with her son.” After hearing the whole story, the woman’s gaze at me turned more disgusted. I wanted to explain, but I felt like there was no point. I’d tried before, but no one believed me. Seeing my resigned expression, the woman didn’t bother with any niceties. She motioned for her people to drag me out the door. As I stumbled to my feet and took one last look at the house behind the iron gate, I didn’t feel much attachment. I just turned and left. Faintly, I thought I heard those women behind me calling me heartless, saying I didn’t know how to appreciate things. Some even called me a fool, saying I wouldn’t fight back when I was beaten or say anything when I was insulted. I found it a bit amusing. A few days ago, when I fought back and screamed in protest, they said I was just seeking attention. Now that I was silent, they called me a fool. In their eyes, I was probably a “murderer” no matter what I did. Everything I did was wrong. Thinking of that, the bitterness in my heart grew heavier. But soon, I had no time to think about it. I hadn’t walked more than a few hundred feet when my vision went dark, and I collapsed. When I woke up, I was in a hospital. The female officer by my bed noticed I was awake and immediately pressed the call button. After the doctor checked on me, she gently asked, “Kid, what’s your name?”

I stared at her without saying anything, my hands clutching the blanket awkwardly. It wasn’t nervousness, but because I hadn’t seen anyone like her, someone who didn’t have ill intentions toward me. I felt a little lost. “You don’t need to worry. The doctor has treated your injuries. You heard what the doctor said, right? After three more rounds of treatment, your wounds will heal. Kid, tell me, who are your parents? Or do you remember their phone numbers? Do you remember how you ended up in that abandoned building?” I certainly remembered how I ended up in that abandoned building. I had been hungry my whole life, and the kind of hunger I felt was nothing new to me. So, I quickly became alert again. When I woke up, I found that I was being dragged by a beggar into that abandoned building. I knew if I really got inside, there was no telling if I would ever make it out again. I wanted to fight back, but the beggar was an adult, and I was just a weak, hungry girl. There was no way I could overpower him, so I could only hope someone would see my distress. I guess I was lucky. Just as I was about to be knocked out with anesthesia and put on the operating table to have my kidney removed, the police found me and saved me. The female officer saw me trembling and thought I was remembering something terrible, so she gently patted my shoulder. “It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re safe now. Do you remember who your parents are?” I instinctively shrank back before finally looking up at her. “My parents are both dead.” They weren’t good people anyway. In my mind, they might as well have been dead. The officer looked at me with sympathy, and her hand gently patted my head. Later, when the police investigated, they found that my parents were still alive. However, when they contacted my mom to come pick me up, she refused sharply. “I’ve divorced her dad. This jinx has nothing to do with me. Don’t bother me.” I didn’t remember exactly what else she said, but I’d never forget the looks of sympathy from the officers at the station. Although I knew what the outcome would be when the police called, I couldn’t deny that a part of me had hoped for something different. I hoped maybe my mom had been in such a rush that she forgot to take me. I hoped that maybe, just maybe, she still had a shred of maternal love left and would feel pity when she heard how badly I’d been treated. I hoped she might… show me just a little bit of love. But looking at it now, those were all just foolish fantasies. I looked at the butterfly on the windowsill, its wings broken but still desperately trying to fly. How pathetic.

Later, when the police checked my background, they found that I had an uncle in Stonebrook. They immediately took me there that night. “Mr. Edward Manning, this is your niece, Charlotte Manning.” I followed the police officer, my eyes on Edward, who greeted me with a warm smile. But I felt nothing close to warmth. Instead, he reminded me of my father’s mistress, just as fake—forcing a smile even though he clearly didn’t want to. I didn’t know what he wanted from me, but that didn’t stop me from despising him. I instinctively grabbed the police officer’s sleeve, but she seemed to misunderstand. She smiled and gently placed my hand into Edward’s wrinkled one. “Sir, she’s been through some rough stuff. My colleague should have told you about it on the phone yesterday. From now on, please take good care of her. She could really use some support.” Edward squeezed my hand tightly, pulling me in front of him to say a few caring words, before the police officer finally turned and left. Once the officer was out of earshot, Edward changed his demeanor completely. He frowned and looked me up and down with visible disgust. “What is it with the Mannings? You’re all useless.” With that, he let go of my hand, wiping it off with a wet napkin, scrubbing it like it was covered in filth. I could barely hold back my disgust. I turned to run, but before I could take a step, Edward yanked me back by my hair. “Where do you think you’re going? You stay here now.” He dragged me back with a force that made me wince. “You even dare to glare at me? Wake up, you’re relying on me now. If you don’t stay on my good side, when you turn eighteen, I’ll sell you off for money. And don’t even think about running away. Everyone here knows you’re my niece, so even if you try, I can always find you.” I glared back, my voice rising. “You promised the police you’d take care of me. What if I report you for abuse? You’ll lose your reputation, and then let’s see how you threaten me.” I struggled, my anger rising. “Oh? You really think someone like you—known for being a problem student—will be taken seriously? Or do you think I—someone with a solid reputation—won’t be believed? Let me make it clear, all the kids here trying to get into private schools and their parents know me. So tell me, who do you think they’re going to believe? Me or you?” Edward’s mocking look made my resistance weaken. He was right. I was in an unfamiliar place. Even if I called the police, what difference would it make? Even the officers from Crescent Falls treated him with respect. Here, he probably had even more power. Seeing that I’d stopped struggling, Edward let go of me. “Glad you’ve come to your senses. Now, get to work—time to start mucking out the garden.” I froze, rubbing my sore scalp in disbelief. “Me? Muck out the garden?” He nodded without a second thought. “What, you thought you could eat and drink here for free?” He tossed a filthy shovel in front of me, the stench immediately overwhelming, and a bit of the dirty water splashed onto my clothes. “Once you’re done with that, clean the house. Oh, and cook lunch too.” As he spoke, he grabbed a ragged bag and walked off, heading out to what I assumed was his university. On the way over, I overheard the police say he was a college professor. I guess he had classes to teach. After standing there for a moment, I rushed into the room, grabbed the fifty bucks I found on the table, and headed straight for the nearest restaurant. I wasn’t some kind of masochist. There was no way I was doing his dirty work.

Even though I knew Edward would find me soon enough, I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. I hadn’t even had a bite of my hamburger when he yanked me by the ear and dragged me back to his house. After a harsh scolding and being forced to eat the vegetarian meal he’d prepared, I completely gave up on running away. Today’s events proved Edward’s words were true—he could find me fast. Because of that, Edward told me he’d had to skip his daily workout to search for me, so now I had to make up for it by exercising in his place. Strangely enough, after that workout, I didn’t suffer from my usual insomnia. But I still didn’t sleep well. I kept dreaming. In those dreams, I was forced to relive memories of my family. Ever since my little brother was born, my parents had been fighting constantly. The arguments were always about money. My mom criticized my dad for not being capable enough. Despite having a bachelor’s degree, he barely earned more than some blue-collar workers, and worst of all, he was lazy, showing no drive to improve. “I can’t believe I was so blind to pick you out of all my suitors. Look at all the men who were chasing me back then—any one of them would have been better than you now. If I’d married one of them, I wouldn’t be struggling so much right now. I’d probably be on a cruise somewhere, living it up. But no, I’m stuck with you, a useless good-for-nothing.” At first, my dad would argue, but after seeing how much more furious my mom got, he eventually learned to stay silent. In my memory, the balcony was always filled with cigarette smoke. My dad worked longer hours but brought home less and less. My mom claimed that he must have someone else on the side. She fought and struggled, but when she saw that my dad wasn’t changing, she gave up. She stopped treating the house like a home and only came back to sleep. Meanwhile, she used the money I’d saved for tuition to waste on other things. The first time I passed out from hunger, I realized I couldn’t just sit back and wait anymore. So, I started secretly taking a little money from my mom’s wallet every day to scrape by. But money was tight, and over time, my mom noticed. The first time she caught me, she grabbed a belt and started whipping me while I was doing laundry. “You little thief! You’ve learned to steal from me now? What is this? Just like your worthless father, sucking me dry! You ungrateful thing! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be living this miserable life. You’re a burden. I’ve had enough!” I was only in elementary school when I heard my mom’s angry shouting and crying. That was when I started to wonder if I was in the wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t have been born. Maybe my mom wouldn’t be so miserable if it weren’t for me. Maybe if I hadn’t stolen money to survive, she wouldn’t be so upset every day. Was I the reason for her unhappiness? So, I started to be more mature. I did all the household chores. At first, I burned my arms while cooking, but eventually, I got pretty good at it. At first, I couldn’t wring out clothes, but after a while, I was able to wash everything and still comfort my crying little brother. At first, I had to hide the food I scavenged at school, but later on, I could walk around proudly, picking up bottles to exchange for a meal. I thought if I was just responsible enough, if I was obedient enough, I could keep up the illusion of peace in this broken home. But then she left. She took my little brother, who was in third grade and only cared about spending her money. She said he would take care of her when she got old. As for me, I was just a leech. My quiet, absent father also left. Even though he would spend his whole life working for someone else’s kid, he walked out without a second glance, leaving me to take all the blame for everything.

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## It happened during an Antarctic expedition. A sudden avalanche buried us both. I gave everything I had to save her, pushing her to safety while the snow swallowed me whole. I was left behind, frozen forever in that icy wasteland. When she didn’t see me emerge from the snow, she assumed the worst—that I had abandoned her to save myself. It didn’t take long for her to fall into the arms of another man. “Jason, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have survived,” she sobbed. “I’m divorcing him. I want to be with you.” Later, our expedition made headlines, earning a Guinness World Record for our achievement. Ironically, my wife’s newfound fame led her to sign on as a guide with an Antarctic research team. But fate has its ways. On her next trip south, another avalanche struck. This time, the snow unearthed my body. The truth came crashing down like the ice that had buried me. She fell to her knees before my frozen corpse, wailing in regret. At the Guinness World Record ceremony, I stood in the shadows, watching her accept the award. My wife—ex-wife now—stood on stage, smiling for the cameras. Our five-person team had accomplished something historic: trekking through the Antarctic during polar night, documenting phenomena no one had recorded before. The achievement filled a gap in human history. It was a feat worth celebrating. But for me, the memory was tainted. The journey had been perilous, every step a gamble with death. Thanks to the route I had meticulously planned, we had made it almost to the end. Almost. Then the avalanche came. I used every ounce of strength to save her, shoving her out of harm’s way. And for that, I paid the ultimate price. Now, I was nothing more than a silent witness. My soul lingered, unseen, as she basked in the glory I’d died for. A reporter asked her a question from the crowd. “Ms. Bennett, you’ve become a global icon for female adventurers. Many young women look up to you as a role model. Do you have any advice for them?” She smiled into the camera, her polished image on full display. “Choose your partners wisely,” she said sweetly. “You really see someone’s true colors in life-or-death situations.” Then, with a deliberate pause, she added, “This expedition also showed me my ex-husband’s true nature. I have to thank Jason for saving me.” Her words twisted the knife in my chest. After I’d saved her, she’d searched for me in the chaos. But Jason, ever the opportunist, seized the moment. He told her I had abandoned her to save myself. He even produced a doctored video of me running during the avalanche, claiming he was the one who had pulled her from the snow. Fueled by anger and betrayal, she had filed for divorce the moment we returned home. Now, a year later, it was finalized. She was single again, free to rewrite the past however she liked. Another reporter jumped in with a provocative question. “Ms. Bennett, you recently finalized your divorce. Do you have any lingering feelings for your ex-husband?” Her smile vanished, replaced by a look of disdain. “Feelings? None,” she said coldly. “In fact, I’d like to use this opportunity to send him a message.” She turned to the camera, her voice sharp. “Zach Carter, you left me to die in that avalanche. Then you hid from me for an entire year out of guilt. Now that the court has finalized our divorce, I want to make it clear: we are done. Forever.” The live stream chat erupted with outrage. “Who takes their wife to Antarctica and runs when it gets dangerous? Disgusting!” “Marriage is supposed to be a partnership. This guy’s a coward.” “‘In sickness and in health’ doesn’t mean anything anymore, huh?” The reporter, sensing an opportunity to fan the flames, pressed on. “Ms. Bennett, is it possible your ex-husband didn’t abandon you? Could he have… died in the avalanche?” She shook her head firmly. “First of all, I have video evidence of him running. Second, he was wearing a biometric monitor. I’ve checked—it shows he’s alive and well. He just chose to disappear.” Her words brought a bitter smile to my face. If she had cared enough to look deeper, she would’ve realized I wasn’t hiding. I was gone. Truly gone. The spotlight shifted as Jason walked onto the stage. Under the gaze of the cameras, he dropped to one knee, holding out a ring. “Lia,” he said, his voice full of false sincerity, “let me be the one to protect you from now on. In your darkest moments, I’ll be your light. In your happiest days, I’ll stand by your side. Will you marry me?” The crowd erupted in cheers. Tears filled her eyes as she nodded. “From the moment you saved me from that avalanche, I knew—you’re the one I was meant to be with.” And with that, she threw herself into his arms, their kiss fiery and passionate. I stood frozen, my chest tightening as though shards of ice were stabbing my heart. I had given my life for hers. And now, she stood there, kissing the man who had lied to her, who had stolen my sacrifice and called it his own. Fate was cruel, and I was its silent witness.

The proposal was just the start of the event. This wasn’t just a Guinness World Records award ceremony—it was also the official signing for Lia’s upcoming role with the Antarctic Research Team. She had been hired to lead the team across Antarctica, documenting the mysteries of polar night and filming a groundbreaking documentary. The signing went smoothly, and a month later, Lia and Jason arrived to meet the research team. However, as soon as she spotted one of the team members, her smile vanished. She frowned and took a step back. “DylanBlake,” she said sharply, “what are you doing here?” Dylansmirked, his expression cold and defiant. “I’m part of this team too. Why shouldn’t I be here? I’m going to Antarctica to uncover the truth.” His voice grew louder as he took a step toward her. “Lia, for an entire year, you’ve been telling everyone that Zach abandoned you during the avalanche. You claim he’s still alive, that he ran off and is hiding. But I waited for him, too—for a whole year. If he’s alive, why hasn’t he come back to me?” I sighed as I watched the scene unfold. Dylanhad been a close friend of mine. He was the youngest scientist on the Antarctic research team, passionate and brilliant. Before I’d left for Antarctica, he had asked me to collect some samples for one of his research projects. I’d succeeded in gathering the samples, but I never got the chance to deliver them. The avalanche had ended my journey—and my life. If I had any regrets, it was for my friends like Ethan, who had been left behind with no answers. Over the past year, Dylanhad tried repeatedly to reach Lia, desperate to know what had happened to me. But she had shut him out every time. When that didn’t work, she escalated—accusing him of harassment, filing complaints, and nearly costing him his spot on the research team. Now, here he was, standing in front of her, refusing to back down. Jason, ever the smooth talker, stepped in to diffuse the tension. “Ethan,” he said calmly, “the route Lia and I took last time was far too dangerous. We barely survived the avalanche ourselves. That’s why I’ve charted a new route for this expedition. We won’t be going anywhere near the old one.” Ethan’s face turned red with anger. He pointed a finger at Jason, his voice rising. “This isn’t about safety—it’s about hiding the truth! Zach didn’t abandon anyone. He died because of you two!” Lia crossed her arms, her expression icy. “Ethan, you’re a scientist. You’re brilliant when it comes to research. But when it comes to outdoor exploration, you’re out of your depth. Let the professionals handle this.” She glanced at Jason, then back at Ethan. “If Zach had listened to Jason’s advice last time, none of us would’ve been caught in the avalanche. He made reckless decisions, and look where that got him. Do you think you’d fare any better?” Her words cut deep, and I could feel the frustration bubbling inside me. Jason, a so-called “expert,” was actually my protégé. He’d only started learning about outdoor expeditions a year before our trip to Antarctica. If it hadn’t been for Lia insisting he join us, I never would’ve brought him along. His “new” route may have seemed shorter and safer on paper, but in reality, it was riddled with dangers. It passed through wolf-infested mountains and icy rivers prone to flash flooding. Any slip-up along the way could’ve been fatal for the entire team. The route I had planned, on the other hand, had been tested and proven safe. If it hadn’t been for the freak avalanche, nothing would’ve gone wrong. But Lia had ignored my decade of experience and placed her trust in Jason—a rookie who barely knew what he was doing. The irony was almost laughable. Before Dylancould respond, Professor White, another member of the research team, stepped in to calm things down. “Let’s not argue,” the professor said, pulling Dylanback. “We’re all here to work together, and we’ll leave the logistics to the professionals.” He turned to Lia and Jason with a polite nod. “Don’t worry. We’ll follow your route exactly as planned.”

Escorted by helicopters, the research team finally stepped onto the icy terrain of Antarctica. Lia immediately stepped forward, assuming command. “From this moment on, everyone must follow Jason’s and my instructions to the letter. No exceptions. We can’t afford any mistakes out here. Understood?” The team members nodded in agreement, including Ethan, though his expression was heavy with doubt. The First Few Days The first day passed uneventfully, and so did the second. But by the third day, trouble arrived. The team found themselves in the middle of a wolf pack’s hunting grounds. The male team members gripped their rifles tightly, scanning the snow for any movement. At the center of the group, Ethan’s face was grim as he turned to Lia. “This is only the third day, and we’ve already attracted a pack of wolves. Wolves don’t just wander off—they’ll stalk us from a distance until they find an opening. How are we supposed to conduct research like this?” Lia’s face darkened. “This must be a freak occurrence. We couldn’t have known the wolves would migrate to this area.” Behind her, Jason shrank back, hiding behind her like a child, avoiding eye contact with anyone. “Let’s just keep moving,” Lia said, trying to wave it off. “Maybe they’ll lose interest in a few days and leave us alone.” Professor White intervened before the argument could escalate. “It’s a minor setback, Ethan. We’ll keep an eye on the situation and proceed cautiously.” Reluctantly, Dylanlet it go. The Fifth Day By the fifth day, the strain was beginning to show. One of the team members fell ill, weakened by the harsh conditions. It didn’t take long for the wolves to notice. A lone wolf darted out from the shadows, closing in on the vulnerable team member. Bang! Jason fired his rifle, killing the wolf instantly. He turned to Lia, expecting praise for his quick thinking, but instead, the team erupted in anger. “What the hell is wrong with you?” one member shouted. “Do you not know the rules? You can’t just fire a gun out here! What if you trigger an avalanche?” “Not to mention,” Dylanadded coldly, “gunfire doesn’t scare off wolves—it provokes them. Congratulations, you’ve just made things worse.” Jason’s face turned red as he stammered, “I-I was just trying to help!” Lia immediately stepped in, shielding Jason from the team’s criticism. “He was just trying to save someone,” she said defensively. “He didn’t mean to make things worse. Cut him some slack.” From where I stood, watching unseen, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. If this had happened on one of my expeditions, Lia would have torn into me without hesitation, blaming me for everything. But for Jason? She had endless patience. The Argument Ethan’s expression hardened. “Professor White,” he said sharply, “I think we need to call off this expedition. If we keep going, someone’s going to get seriously hurt—or worse. We’re here to conduct research, not throw our lives away because of poor planning.” Professor White hesitated, clearly torn. “The funding for this expedition was enormous. If we pull out now, we’ll waste months of preparation and resources.” “And if we don’t pull out?” Dylanshot back. “What happens when we run into something even more dangerous?” Lia’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Ethan, you’re being ridiculous. A little adversity is part of Antarctic research. If you can’t handle the risks, maybe you shouldn’t have come in the first place.” I knew exactly why Lia was so insistent on continuing. She wasn’t worried about science or safety—she was worried about her reputation. If the expedition failed, it would tarnish her carefully constructed image as a fearless adventurer. Ethan’s face turned red with frustration. “Adversity? You call this a little adversity? Do we need someone to get mauled to death before you admit this was a mistake?” Professor White’s expression wavered, clearly considering Ethan’s point. Sensing that she might lose the argument, Lia clenched her fists. “Oh, I see what this is about. You just want me to go back to his route, don’t you? Fine. Let’s do it.” She turned to Professor White. “Let’s use the route Zach planned before. Does that satisfy you, Ethan?” The professor nodded. “If he charted that route before, it should be safer. Let’s proceed.” Dylandidn’t object. I knew why. He didn’t trust Lia or Jason, but he trusted me. Even when the world had condemned me, accusing me of abandoning my wife, Dylanhad always believed in me. A Safer Path As soon as they switched to my route, the tension began to ease. The wolf pack disappeared by the fifth day, and the team was finally able to set up camp and focus on their research. For the next month, they worked without incident, completing all their objectives. But as the team prepared to move deeper into the frozen wilderness, I couldn’t take my eyes off the snow-covered mountain in the distance. That was where it had happened. That was where I had died. My body was still there, buried beneath layers of ice, hidden from the world. The Avalanche Site “Is this where it happened?” Ethan’s voice broke the silence as he walked up to Lia. Lia crossed her arms, her expression cold. “Yes,” she said flatly. “This is where Zach abandoned me. You wanted to know if he’s dead? Go ahead and look for him. I’d love to see if the man who left me behind is still out there somewhere.” Ethan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Before he could say anything, one of the team members came running over. “Professor White, we’ve spotted something unusual nearby—a seal acting strangely. The area seems unnaturally quiet. It could be a sign of…” The professor’s face darkened. “Everyone, stay close. Keep your weapons ready, but don’t fire unless absolutely necessary. Let’s check it out.” The team moved cautiously, rifles raised, scanning the horizon for any signs of danger. When they reached the seal, they immediately noticed something odd. “There’s something attached to it,” Dylansaid, narrowing his eyes. “Could it belong to someone?” “Catch it,” Lia ordered. “And nobody fire a shot.” Working together, the team managed to capture the seal. When they examined it, they found a small device attached to its back. Ethan’s eyes widened as he recognized it. “Wait a second… This… This is Zach’s tracker from a year ago!”

“That’s it! This tracker belongs to Zach!” Dylanexclaimed, gripping the device tightly in his hand. His voice cracked with emotion as he looked up, glaring at Lia. “This can only mean one thing—Zach is dead. That’s why this device ended up on this seal!” Lia’s face froze, but before she could respond, Jason stepped forward, frowning defensively. “That’s impossible!” he snapped. “I saw him escape with my own eyes. You must be mistaken. Lots of explorers use trackers like this one.” Lia crossed her arms and scoffed. “Exactly. This doesn’t prove anything. The avalanche struck in the north, and we’re in the south now. There’s no way this tracker belongs to him—it must’ve been dropped by someone else.” But Dylanjust laughed bitterly, tears streaking down his face. “Oh, really? Then explain why the initials ‘ZC’ are engraved on the back! Lia, stop lying to everyone—Zach is dead, and you’re responsible for it!” Lia stared at the tracker in shock, her face pale. “That… that has to be a coincidence,” she stammered. Ethan’s voice trembled with fury. “A coincidence? The evidence is right here, and you’re still trying to deny it?!” At that moment, one of the team members called out from a distance. “There’s a body over here!” Everyone froze. The team rushed over and found a frozen corpse, its face unrecognizable from the harsh conditions. But something else caught Ethan’s attention—a small action camera strapped to the body’s chest. Ethan’s eyes lit up with determination as he turned to Lia. “Let’s see what’s on that camera. Once the footage is recovered, I want to hear you explain this!” The atmosphere grew tense as the team worked to recover the video. Finally, the camera flickered to life, but the screen was filled with static, green blurs, and distorted audio. One of the researchers scratched his head. “It looks like the file’s corrupted…” Lia let out a sigh of relief and crossed her arms. “Even if it worked, I’d know if that body was Zach’s. I don’t care if he’s turned to dust—I’d still recognize him. That isn’t him.” Jason nodded quickly, chiming in. “Exactly! Zach ran north when the avalanche hit. Even if he died, his body wouldn’t be here, in the south.” Dylanclenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his bloodshot eyes locked on Lia. Lia sneered, her tone dripping with bitterness. “Zach always claimed to love me. But when it really mattered—when the avalanche hit—I was unconscious, lying there in the snow. “And what did he do? He left me behind! If Jason hadn’t saved me, I’d be dead right now. Zach was nothing but a selfish coward. That body can’t be him!” Her words sent a ripple through the team, their anger and disgust aimed squarely at me. Suddenly, the researcher working on the camera let out a triumphant cry. “I fixed it! Everyone, come take a look!” The team crowded around as the video began to play. Lia glanced at the screen, her expression softening as she explained. “This footage is from two of our teammates who joined us on the last expedition. They were collecting fresh water when the avalanche hit, and we lost contact with them. I prayed they’d survived, but it looks like their bodies have been here all along.” She sighed heavily, her voice tinged with fake sadness. “They must’ve survived the avalanche but lost their equipment and succumbed to the cold. Ethan, they’re not the ones you’re looking for.” I watched the scene unfold with a heavy heart. I remembered those teammates clearly. After the avalanche, I had left the safety of our camp to look for them, knowing the shelter I’d set up had been designed to withstand the snow. That was when Jason had captured the infamous video of me “running,” twisting the truth into a lie that would haunt me even after death. But Dylanwasn’t ready to let it go. “What about the tracker?” he shot back. “How do you explain it, Lia? Did Zach ‘drop’ it while he was supposedly running away?” Lia hesitated, staring down at the device in her hand, her brow furrowed in frustration. Dylanlet out a bitter laugh. “Lia, do you even understand how a tracker works? Human and animal signals are completely different. Are you telling me you never noticed? Did you ever really care about Zach at all?” I flinched at his words. Even though I knew she couldn’t hear me, I whispered softly, “Lia… did you ever care about me?” I shook my head, laughing bitterly at my own foolishness. Of course, she didn’t. But to my surprise, Lia answered, her voice cold and cutting. “Of course I cared.” I froze. Her voice cracked as she continued, “I loved him more than anyone else in this world. I would’ve died for him without hesitation. I thought he was my everything.” Her expression darkened, tears glistening in her eyes. “But what did he do? When I needed him most, he abandoned me. He left me to die in the snow while he saved himself. Ethan, how can I love someone like that? How can I care about a man who ran away and left me behind?” Her voice broke as she shouted, her tears spilling over. I dropped to my knees in the snow, clutching my head. “Lia, I didn’t leave you! I swear I didn’t abandon you!” But all I could hear in response was the howling wind. I turned to Ethan, my last hope, silently begging him to defend me. Dylanclosed his eyes and sighed deeply. “Lia, what if I told you that Zach planned this entire expedition because he wanted to declare his love for you in front of the world?” Lia’s breath hitched, her eyes wide with shock. Dylancontinued, his voice softer now. “He wanted to cross the polar night with you so that when the sun finally rose, he could make you his forever.” “Do you really think someone who planned something like that would abandon you?” Lia stood frozen, her mouth opening and closing as if searching for words but finding none. Suddenly, one of the team members pointed at the camera. “Wait! There’s more footage!” he shouted excitedly.

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The fortune teller said I was destined to have siblings. My foster parents found me in a dumpster and took me home. They had no children of their own and treated me like a precious gem. When my foster mother became pregnant, she patted my head and said, “Daisy, you must bring us a boy.” The following spring, they had a son. Suddenly, I became the family’s scapegoat. One day, while washing my little brother’s diapers, I added some hot water to the basin. My foster father kicked me to the ground. “You’re so delicate. Making such a fuss over washing diapers.” I looked helplessly at Grandma. When my brother was born, she had called me the family’s lucky star. But now, she just rolled her eyes at me. “We can’t afford to raise a princess,” she scoffed. I didn’t dare speak and was sent to the pigsty. With no food again today, I had to rummage through the garbage. A neighbor took pity on me and gave me some rice porridge. My foster mother stood at the door, cradling my brother and taunting me. “Hey, you old hag, if you really feel sorry for her, why don’t you take her in?” She had given birth to a son and now felt superior in the Lee household. Even the fierce Grandma had to give way to her. The neighbor awkwardly returned to her house and locked the door. I curled up, trying to avoid my foster mother’s disapproving gaze. I thought about going fishing early the next morning. My foster mother’s body hadn’t fully recovered, and fish soup would be nourishing. If she drank the soup, she might be happy for a few days, and I wouldn’t get beaten. But while fishing, I accidentally fell into the pond. The villagers called for the local doctor, who couldn’t help and suggested taking me to the hospital in town. My foster mother wailed and threw herself on top of me, squeezing my neck. “You ungrateful wretch! We’ve raised you all these years for nothing. Even a pig would fetch some money!” I couldn’t breathe and passed out. My foster father gritted his teeth and carried me on his back. As I bounced on his back, I managed to call out, “Dad, please save me.” Bang. I was tied to a rock and thrown into a pit. The sky opened up, and rain poured down. Rats crawled over my face, but I had no strength to fight them off. I thought, no one will save me now. When I was wrapped in a coat, I was completely dazed. There was a fire burning nearby, and Mrs. Johnson held me tightly, trying to warm my body. Seeing that I was awake, she finally sighed in relief. There was egg custard heating by the stove, and she tried to feed me with a spoon. Mr. Johnson peeked through the curtain and brought me a basin of hot water to wash my face. After I had eaten my fill, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson carried me back home. They went door to door asking about me, but the villagers just looked at each other in confusion. “Isn’t she from another village? I heard that child died on the way.” I clung tightly to Mr. Johnson’s neck, while Mrs. Johnson spat several times in disgust. The wind howled, and Mrs. Johnson took off her coat to cover my head. Before we even reached the door, we heard Grandma say, “You should have thrown her farther away. What if she comes limping back?” My foster father coughed, “That pit was for catching tigers. She’ll definitely die out there.” My foster mother was putting my brother to sleep and chimed in, “Whose pit is it? If she really dies, we could make some money off it.” Tears streamed down my face. Grandma came out to dump leftover food and looked at me with disgust. My foster father grabbed my ear and yanked me off Mr. Johnson’s back. “Such an unlucky thing, can’t even die properly.” My foster mother rolled her eyes at the Johnsons. “We don’t want this dead girl anymore. Don’t think you can extort us.” They pushed me into a pig cage, planning to drown me at night. I clung to Mrs. Johnson’s leg and wouldn’t let go. My foster father raised a stick to hit me, and I closed my eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?” The stick didn’t fall. My foster father was furious. Mrs. Johnson held me in her arms. “Let’s pretend we were never here. From now on, she’s our daughter.” My new parents promised to give my former foster parents, the Browns, a load of grain. Once the grain was delivered, Mrs. Brown threw me out. They had a student write a severance letter. “Everyone, bear witness. This money-losing trash belongs to the Johnsons now. Whatever happens from now on has nothing to do with us.” “We picked her up from a dumpster anyway. She’s wasted so much of our food.” Mom took me home. The heavy snow blocked the roads, so she altered her own clothes to make new ones for me. I didn’t have to do chores anymore, and they even killed several chickens to help me regain my strength. At night, when the bitter wind howled, she and Dad sandwiched me between them, like two big furnaces. Dad even made me little toys – a rocking horse, a pinwheel, and other things. These days of being well-fed and warmly dressed felt surreal. I often thought it was just a hallucination before death. As the snow gradually melted, Dad prepared to go out and find work. The village women’s director came to our house and pushed me out to play. I clung tightly to the doorframe, listening to her say, “Little brother, adopted children can never truly be your own. Listen to your big sister, take your wife to the hospital for another check-up.” “Hurry up and send the child away.” Dad shook his head, and Mom got anxious. “Sis, once we’ve taken in a child, we’ll raise her for life. She’s mine and Johnson’s daughter.” “Ai, you two stubborn fools. What if this child turns out to be ungrateful? You’ll have plenty to cry about then.” “Sis, don’t worry about these things. She’s old enough for school now.” Dad kept using sign language, seemingly urging her on. Big Sis sighed and agreed. The next day, she came to get me. Mom wanted to come along, but she was refused. She carried me, walking quickly forward. I didn’t dare ask, afraid she’d find me annoying and tell my parents bad things about me. She put me in a car and told the woman inside. “Hey, didn’t you want a daughter? I’m handing her over to you.” I knew she was selling me, but I didn’t dare move. This was the second time I’d been sold. The first time was after my birth parents were imprisoned. My father couldn’t bear the hardships of prison life and sold twelve-year-old me to a leering police officer. I became his tool for release, but I couldn’t endure it. When I woke up again, I was a baby abandoned in a dumpster. A passing fortune teller said I was destined to have siblings, and my foster father saved me. I brought them a brother, but I was still abandoned. The woman in the car frowned at me. “Is she an idiot? She’s not crying or making a fuss.” Big Sis pinched my flesh hard. “She’s not stupid. She was playing happily yesterday.” I forced a smile. “I’m not stupid.” The woman gave Big Sis $30. They were even now. The car rocked back and forth as it drove. After a while, I heard Mom calling out. The woman wouldn’t stop the car, so I jumped out. My hand hurt, but I scrambled up and ran towards my parents. My parents were covered in sweat. Mom hugged me and cried, gasping for air. The woman was furious. “Let go of her. She’s my child now. I even paid thirty bucks for her.” Dad took out thirty dollars and gave it to her, but she wouldn’t take it. Mom wiped her tears. “This is kidnapping. Let’s go to the police station and let them settle this.” She immediately snatched the money from Dad and drove away. I nestled in Mom’s arms. When we got home, Big Sis was waiting awkwardly. “You brought her back?” Mom ignored her and changed my clothes. My arm was dislocated and I couldn’t lift it at all. She panicked and wanted to take me to the hospital in town. “I don’t want to go.” Seeing a doctor would cost a lot of money, and I was afraid my parents would regret bringing me back. Dad didn’t listen to me and borrowed a bicycle from a neighbor again. Luckily, the doctor didn’t charge us, and my arm was quickly fixed. Mom thought I was traumatized and wanted to buy me some snacks. Dad went back first; he had to feed the pigs and chickens at home. Christmas was almost over, and someone had ordered fresh chicken and pork to take back to the city. The street was bustling with people. Mom bought me some roasted chestnuts to fill my stomach. I stuck close to her, never having been so happy before. As we passed the stone bridge, I saw someone sprawled on the steps, soaking wet. She was struggling to get into the river. I tugged on Mom’s arm. “Mrs. Johnson, is that person trying to catch river snails?” Mom took one look and exclaimed, rushing down the steps with me. Mom was too frail to pull the person up by herself. The person kept struggling, and I was afraid Mom would be pulled in, so I quickly called for help. Many people gathered around, and everyone worked together to save the person. The old lady wasn’t grateful and cried, beating her legs. “Why did you save this old woman? Just let me die!” “Ma’am, it’s better to live than to die. You’re already so old, what could be troubling you?” I took off my coat and wrapped it around her, just like Mom had saved me. “Grandma, I have chestnuts here. Don’t cry, I’ll peel them for you to eat.” Her crying stopped abruptly, and she let us take her to the police station. Just as we reached the entrance, someone came with news. “Mrs. Johnson, your husband has been in a car accident. He’s already been taken to the hospital.” Mom panicked. Dad was the pillar of our family. Mom occasionally made handkerchiefs and pillowcases to supplement our income. If anything happened to Dad, our family would fall apart. I choked up. Mom hugged me, reported the incident at the police station, and asked the old lady to go home with me while she went to see Dad at the hospital. “Mrs. Brown, please take care of my Pearl. She’s too young, and she’ll be scared with no adults at home.” Mrs. Brown nodded and took us home. The old lady’s hand was cold as she silently held mine. I kept my chestnuts close to my chest, intending to bring them for Dad to eat. Mrs. Brown made noodles for us, but I had no appetite. The old lady forced me to eat. “If you don’t eat and get sick, your mom will have to rush back to take care of you.” At night, I squeezed into bed with the old lady. She told me stories to help me sleep. Mom didn’t return until noon the next day. She packed up everything in the house and took out a gold bracelet from under the drawer. We went door to door borrowing money. The person who hit Dad had run away. The doctor said Dad needed immediate surgery, or his life would be in danger. We ran everywhere and only managed to borrow $2,000. Mom took me to the pawnshop. Seeing our urgency, the pawnbroker kept lowering the price. Mom gritted her teeth and pawned the bracelet anyway. On our way to the hospital, someone ran out from an alley. He tried to snatch Mom’s bag, but I bit his hand hard. Dad’s life-saving money was safe, but it was still far from enough. I tugged at Mom’s sleeve. “Mom, sell me! We can get some money to save Dad.” Mom choked up, “You’re our daughter. We’d sell ourselves before we’d ever sell you.” She sent me home and told me to wait with the old lady for her return. The old lady saw the pigs were hungry and took a sickle to cut grass for them. I went to help. At the village entrance, we met people from the neighboring village. Mrs. Brown was holding my brother and chatting with them in the sun. “Well, well, whose family have you latched onto now? You’re just a jinx. You made Little Bao sick at home. Johnson took you away and got into a car accident.” “Why don’t you go drown yourself? The sooner you die, the sooner you can be reborn.” The old lady shielded me behind her and brandished her sickle. “Why don’t you go die yourself?” The people around tried to mediate: “Mei, the child is suffering enough. You raised her for a few years, why do you need to hurt her like this?” Mrs. Brown backed away cautiously. “Hmph, I don’t want to hurt her. We’ve already severed ties. Don’t even think about coming back.” “I’m telling you, if Johnson dies, you come back and I’ll sell you to the widower in the west village.” That day, Mom sent word through someone but didn’t come home. The old lady helped me wash my face and go to bed. I had nightmares. I dreamed of the police officer lying on top of me, and then of my foster parents kicking me to death. I woke up startled, secretly prepared the next day’s pig feed, and slipped out. I had heard that if you fill your pockets with stones, your body won’t float up after you die. I wanted to ease the family’s burden so that they could raise money for Dad’s treatment sooner. The river water engulfed my head, but I wasn’t afraid at all. My ears were buzzing, and the old lady was wailing. The villagers all rushed over. Big Sis, soaking wet, stroked my head. “What a tragedy. You foolish child. If I hadn’t seen you, you would have been gone.” I couldn’t help but cry loudly. “Big Sis, I don’t want anything to happen to Dad. I want to trade my life for his.” Many people around were wiping their tears. “Everyone, let’s chip in a bit more. For the child’s sake, let’s help the Johnson family through this difficult time.” The old lady picked me up. “Pearl, don’t be afraid.” “Grandma will help your dad.” Early the next morning, the old lady took me to the city. The houses in the city were big and beautiful. I sat on a soft sofa, staring in wonder at the television. The old lady took out a bankbook and went to the bank. A whole suitcase full of red bills. The bank manager drove us himself. “Ma’am, is there an emergency? If you need any help, just say the word.” At the hospital, Dad was struggling to leave. The surgery cost too much, and he was afraid of burdening the family. Without a word, the old lady found the doctor, paid the fee, and demanded they arrange the surgery as soon as possible. The manager made some calls and arranged a small suite for my dad. He even went to the police station personally. “The police already have some leads and will make arrests soon. Don’t worry about the surgery costs. I’ll help as much as I can.” My family and I were stunned. Everything seemed to be resolved suddenly. Mom couldn’t stop crying and knelt down to kowtow to the old lady. The old lady helped her up. “Good deeds are rewarded. You saved me, so it’s only right that I repay you.” “I didn’t know it was this serious, or your husband could have suffered less.” I finally understood. The old lady was from a wealthy family. After her husband died last year, her children pressured her to divide the inheritance early. She distributed it according to her husband’s will, but her children felt it was unfair. They were cold and harsh to her, even wanting to send her to a nursing home. The old lady ran back to the county, but her old house was gone. In her despair, she tried to drown herself. If it weren’t for me and Mom, she might have really gone to join her husband. After returning home, she found a letter her husband had left for her. Her husband had arranged everything for her later life. If the children were filial, everyone would be happy. If not, she would still be well taken care of. The bank manager, Mr. Zhang, listened and was furious. He had once received help from the old lady’s husband. To thank us, Mr. Zhang specially ordered food from a big restaurant. I had never eaten so many delicious things before. After dinner, he wanted to take the old lady to his home. The old lady wanted to take me along. “Pearl, Grandma will be very, very good to you.” “Don’t you like Grandma’s big house? It will be yours in the future.” Mom let go of my hand. I felt full of grievance. Were they giving me up after just a few days? Mom kissed my forehead, “Our family’s conditions aren’t good. It would be hard on you. Go with Grandma, you’ll have a better life.” I hugged her tightly: “Mom, I don’t feel it’s hard. Please don’t give me up.” The old lady couldn’t bear to separate us mother and daughter, so she gave our family a large sum of money. Mom refused to accept it, but the old lady was fierce. “If you don’t take it, I’ll take Pearl away.” Mr. Zhang persuaded Mom not to be polite, saying the old lady was elderly and could easily fall ill if upset. Before leaving, the old lady made me promise not to forget her. “Once I’ve settled everything, I’ll come back for you.” I nodded vigorously. After they left, Mom put the money in her chest, telling me she’d deposit it in the bank for me in a few days. Dad gradually got better. He had a good constitution and could return home to recuperate in less than a month. When we returned to the village, Big Sis brought a lot of eggs. “Your Pearl is a good child. From now on, she’s my own niece.” When Dad learned about my idea of trading my life, he slapped himself hard twice. Mom was also heartbroken. “Pearl, if you were gone, Dad and Mom would go with you.” “Honey, let’s make some meat for Pearl to eat today.” Big Sis spread the word in the village, earning me a Good Samaritan award. I got two hundred dollars, bought Dad a pair of shoes, and Mom a pair of gloves. My parents couldn’t stop showing off, praising me for being filial and kind-hearted. Mrs. Brown secretly found me and told me to give her the remaining money. “You dead girl, if it weren’t for me, you’d be long gone. How dare you glare at me?” She raised her hand to hit me, and I screamed shrilly. Big Sis came running, cursing, and my foster mother fled in panic. I stood with my hands on my hips. I had people to protect me too. A month later, Mr. Zhang brought the old lady to our home. They brought many things – candies, chocolates, milk, and more. The old lady told me to share them with the village children, and I instantly became the most popular kid. After dinner, the old lady proposed that we move. “You should all come with me to the city. Johnson can be a chef at the City Wild Restaurant, earning $800 a month.” “Lisa, you’ll learn handicrafts with me. I’ve seen your pillows, they’re quite good. You’ll be my apprentice from now on.” The old lady had already found a school for me. She wanted me to go to a bilingual school first, then start elementary school at seven. Mom didn’t want to take advantage but also wanted me to have a good environment. Mr. Zhang actively tried to change their minds, worried about the old lady’s loneliness in the city and the poor quality of village education that might hold me back. Big Sis strongly supported the idea, excitedly telling the whole village. Naturally, my former foster parents also found out. The Brown family brought their relatives and friends to make trouble. Mrs. Brown rushed in and twisted my ear. “I raised her to this age, a bit of grain isn’t enough.” Mr. Brown chimed in: “Why should you get all the benefits after raising her for just two days? Daisy is mine, I picked her up. I’m not selling her anymore!”

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To retrieve her engagement ring from her first love, my wife sent our five-year-old daughter into an old, abandoned house rumored to be haunted. Inside, our daughter was terrified by the bloodstains on the walls. Panicked, she lost her footing and fell down the stairs. A rusted metal rod pierced straight through her small body. When I found her, she was already gone. Her tiny hand clutched the ring tightly, refusing to let go even in death. I collapsed beside her lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably as I held her close. Desperate and shattered, I dialed my wife’s number over and over. When she finally answered, her voice was impatient and cold. “Stop calling me!” she snapped. “David’s daughter is about to undergo her heart transplant surgery. Don’t mess this up!” Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. I stared at my daughter’s pale face, my heart breaking into pieces. In that moment, something inside me died. I hung up on my wife and dialed a different number. “Hello. This is Emily’s father,” I said, my voice trembling with rage and grief. “I’m calling about the heart donation.” “I’m sorry, but we’ve decided not to proceed with it.” If you took my daughter from me, you don’t deserve her heart.

For an entire day, my wife’s phone was turned off. She didn’t come to see our daughter. Instead, she sent a delivery driver to pick up the engagement ring that Emily had been clutching in her tiny hand as she died. My wife said the ring was something she’d given her first love, David Lee, back in the day—a symbol of their youthful romance. It was important to her, she claimed. Too important to be lost. The hospital nurse looked at me with a mixture of pity and anger. “How could such a young child be sent alone into an abandoned house to fetch something? That place hasn’t been lived in for years, and there was a recent death there. What kind of parent does that?” “I heard she was already born with a weak heart. How could anyone think it was okay to send her to a place like that?” “That poor little girl… I hope her next life is kinder, without parents like this.” They were right. I hated myself more than anyone else ever could. I’d always known my wife didn’t care about Emily’s health. So why had I let her take Emily that day?
I sat alone in the living room all night, my mind a storm of grief and regret. By the time the sun rose, my wife finally came home. “Sign this,” I said, pushing the divorce papers across the table. She frowned, clearly annoyed. “What’s gotten into you now? Are you losing it?” “Is this about me not answering your calls? You’re being ridiculous,” she said, rolling her eyes. “David’s daughter is about to have surgery. As his friend, of course I had to be there for him. Don’t start acting like a child, Noah. I’m warning you—don’t push your luck.” The faint smell of hospital disinfectant clung to her clothes, the same sterile scent that filled the air when Emily was taken into the emergency room. But back then, my wife wasn’t by Emily’s side. She was off comforting someone else’s child. I let out a bitter laugh, my face twisted with disgust. “Comforting him all night? The surgery hasn’t even started, and you’re already playing the role of a grieving parent? What’s next—holding his hand when it fails?” Before I could say more, my wife slapped me hard across the face. “Noah, let me tell you something,” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom. “The only reason I’ve tolerated you all this time is because we had a daughter together. But if you keep running your mouth, I’ll throw you out of this house myself!” Daughter? She dared to bring up our daughter? The memory of Emily’s pale, pain-stricken face flashed in my mind, and my chest tightened with unbearable grief. “Monica,” I said through clenched teeth, “how dare you even mention Emily? She was only five years old. How could you send her to that abandoned house alone? That place had been empty for years. Someone had just died there! Do you even know—” “Oh, here we go again,” Monica interrupted, rubbing her temples as if I were giving her a headache. “David is an adventure blogger, and the ring got lost there during one of his shoots. What was I supposed to do? Emily was perfectly capable of fetching it. It’s not like it killed her!” Her words made my blood run cold. “Besides,” she continued, “there weren’t any ghosts in that house. I sent her there to toughen her up. It was for her own good.” “Look at David’s daughter. She’s so brave, facing surgery like it’s nothing. And now look at Emily. She couldn’t even handle a simple errand without whining to you about it.” Monica’s tone grew sharper, each word cutting deeper than the last. “And don’t blame me for liking Sophie more than Emily. Let’s be honest—Sophie’s cheerful and outgoing. She’s a joy to be around, unlike Emily, who was always so quiet and dull.” “She was useless, Noah. She couldn’t even find a ring without making it into a big deal. If Sophie’s surgery fails because of that, I’ll make sure Emily apologizes for it—even if I have to drag her to the hospital to kneel outside Sophie’s room!” Her words were knives, slicing me to pieces. I had been a fool. I’d clung to the hope that Monica might feel even a shred of guilt after Emily’s death. But now I saw the truth: Emily’s life had meant nothing to her. All she cared about was David. His feelings. His daughter’s surgery. She didn’t deserve to know what had happened to Emily. If I told her, she wouldn’t mourn. She’d only accuse me and Emily of plotting to ruin her life. “Enough of this,” Monica said, tossing a battered Barbie doll onto the couch. “This is for Emily. Tell her to come out of her room and thank Sophie for the gift.” I stared at the doll, my heart sinking. Emily had always wanted an Elsa doll from Frozen. I’d lost count of how many times she’d begged for one, only for Monica to brush her off with excuses. And now, Monica had brought home this broken, secondhand Barbie—its paint chipped, one arm missing. It wasn’t even Elsa. It was Sophie’s cast-off. The irony was suffocating. Monica, an executive at a prestigious company, couldn’t even buy her own daughter a new toy. Instead, she expected Emily to play with Sophie’s rejects. Ever since David came into our lives, Monica had hurt me in ways I thought I could no longer feel. But when it came to Emily, I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up. “Monica,” I said, my voice trembling with rage, “if you love Sophie so much, why don’t you go be her mother? We’re done. I want a divorce.” Monica grabbed a pillow and threw it at me. “Are you out of your mind, Noah?” she snapped. “I’ve been supporting this family for years while you sat at home playing house. You’re lucky I haven’t thrown you out!” “And now you want a divorce because I said a few things about Emily? Let me tell you something—Emily turned out the way she did because of you. You made her weak.” She opened her mouth to say more, but her phone rang, cutting her off. When she saw the caller ID, her expression softened immediately. “Oh, Sophie, don’t worry, sweetheart. Auntie’s coming right now.” Her voice was warm and tender, full of concern. But when she turned to me, her face hardened again. “Fine. You want a divorce? Do whatever you want.” She grabbed her coat and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. To her, I was just a lovesick fool. She probably thought I’d come crawling back as soon as she tossed me a few kind words. Once, I might have. I’d stayed silent, endured everything, just to give Emily a complete family. But my silence had cost my daughter her life. I wanted to leave this house, this city, this grief behind. But then I thought—why should I go? If anyone should leave, it was Monica and David Lee. So, I changed the locks that same night. If she wanted to be Sophie’s mother so badly, then she could stay with Sophie forever. But she wouldn’t be coming back here. Not to this house. Not to me.

Monica and I fell in love in college. At the time, she was drowning in $30,000 of debt left behind by her parents after their sudden deaths in a car crash. Each day, she survived on boiled cabbage in a run-down apartment, hiding from creditors. I gave her every penny of my scholarship money and part-time job earnings. For three years, we worked together to pay off the debt. After graduation, we both landed jobs at a prestigious company thanks to our stellar academic performance. A year into our careers, I bought an engagement ring, decorated a small apartment we could call home, and proposed to her. Monica was overcome with emotion, crying as she said yes. Not long after we got married, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Monica was so excited to name the baby that she spent hours flipping through name dictionaries. She would curl up in my arms at night, softly reciting the names she’d picked out to the baby in her belly. I teased her for being overly sentimental, but she just smiled and said, “This is only the beginning. One day, I’ll read bedtime stories to her every night. Fairy tales, adventures, and the story of how we fell in love.” After our daughter was born, the company downsized. To support Monica’s ambitions, I quit my job and became a stay-at-home dad, taking care of Emily full-time. Every evening, Monica would come home with a small gift for me or Emily. Our life was simple, but it was warm and full of love. Back then, I truly believed this happiness would last forever. But then David came back into her life. I’d known about David even before we got married. He wasn’t just Monica’s first love—he was her “one that got away.” One night, I heard her mumbling his name in her sleep. I’d heard the story before. They grew up as childhood sweethearts and were even engaged at one point. But after Monica’s parents passed and she was left with their debt, David broke it off and moved with his family to another city. At our wedding, Monica had tears in her eyes as she thanked me. “Thank you, Noah, for giving me a home again.” I held her tightly, thinking only of the pain she’d endured and the strength it had given her. I never realized she was still carrying the weight of her past—David included. The first time I met David was at the hospital. It was pouring rain. He was kneeling in the lobby with a little girl by his side, begging the doctors to save her life. Monica froze when she heard his voice. She turned toward him instinctively, and the moment their eyes met, I saw the panic on her face. She hesitated, visibly flustered, before whispering to me that we should let him have our appointment slot because “the child looked so pitiful.” David’s daughter, Sophie, had a congenital heart defect and needed a transplant to survive. But finding a donor wasn’t easy, so they were relying on medication to keep her alive for as long as possible. After that, Monica started visiting the hospital more frequently, and her relationship with David and Sophie grew closer. Meanwhile, the time she spent with me and Emily dwindled. She would talk endlessly about “Sophie,” comparing her to Emily, and the warm smiles she once gave us became rare. I thought that once Sophie’s situation stabilized, Monica would come to her senses and resume her role as a mother. But I was naive. It took losing Emily for me to realize how wrong I was. Monica and I had been together for nine years. Nine years, reduced to a single sheet of divorce papers. When I signed the organ donation consent form for Emily, my hands were trembling. Organ donation has to happen quickly. Emily was always kind and selfless. Two years ago, she’d seen a news report about donors and told me that if she ever passed away, she wanted to help others in need. This was her wish, and I honored it. But as I watched her tiny, lifeless body lying there, my heart felt like it was being torn apart. “Emily, are you frowning because your stomach still hurts?” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “Sleep peacefully now, my sweet girl. Daddy will make sure the people who hurt you pay for what they’ve done.” After the organs were harvested, the hospital prepared Emily’s body for cremation. Not long after Monica left, I received a call from the hospital. It was the director. “Noah, we understand this is an incredibly difficult time, but there’s something we need to discuss. Emily’s heart… it’s already been removed.” “I don’t care,” I said coldly. “We’re not donating it.” There was a long pause before he hesitantly replied, “Sir, the transplant was scheduled for today. The patient—” “Is her name Sophie Lee?” I interrupted, my voice ice cold. “I’m sorry, but we can’t disclose patient information. Please reconsider—” I hung up. Later that day, I sat in Emily’s room, holding her ashes in my lap. “Look, Emily,” I whispered, forcing a smile as I held up an Elsa doll I’d just bought. “Daddy finally got you the one you wanted.” The sunlight streamed through the window, but every step I took on the way home felt like walking on broken glass. The pain was unbearable. And it only got worse when I reached my house and heard Monica screaming outside. “That bastard Noah changed the locks! David, don’t worry—I’ll handle this. I’ll make him pay!” David sighed theatrically. “Let it go, Monica. I’m sure Emily didn’t mean any harm.” He looked every bit the victim, his face etched with false sorrow. Monica’s anger flared even higher. She turned to the building security guard and shouted, “Break the lock!” “What are you doing?” I demanded as I approached. Monica spotted me and stormed over, grabbing my collar. “Where did Emily hide it?” she snarled. “That little thief stole Sophie’s Elsa doll! What a disgrace of a child!” I froze, disbelief washing over me. My wife didn’t know that Emily was gone… and here she was, accusing her of theft. “I’ve given her everything—how dare she steal from Sophie! Do you know Sophie is so upset about this that she doesn’t even want to go through with her surgery?” “She’s evil! How could a child be so malicious at such a young age?” “Stop, Monica,” David said gently, tugging at her sleeve. “She’s just a kid. We’ll find the doll and move on.” I couldn’t hold back a bitter laugh. Sophie’s surgery was delayed because they couldn’t find a donor, yet Monica had the audacity to blame my daughter. “Do you have any proof?” I asked coldly. “If you’re so confident, why not check the security cameras?” David paled, his fake righteousness faltering as he stammered, “There’s no need for that. Let’s just drop it.” Monica patted his hand reassuringly, then turned to glare at me. “Sophie told us herself,” she said. “And Sophie doesn’t lie.” I stared at her, my heart growing colder with every word. Monica didn’t even need evidence. She was willing to condemn her own daughter based purely on the word of someone else’s child.

“Today, I’m here, and no one—no one—will slander my daughter!” I clutched the urn tightly to my chest, my hands trembling. David’s eyes narrowed as he noticed my protective grip and the faint outline of the Elsa doll taped to the urn. His gaze locked onto it, and a triumphant grin spread across his face. “Monica, look! That’s the doll!” he shouted. Monica’s expression shifted to one of smug satisfaction. Her voice was icy as she declared, “Caught red-handed. And you still want to deny it?” With that, she lunged forward, reaching for the urn. Instinctively, I pulled it closer to me, cradling it as if it were my daughter herself. To them, though, this act of desperation only made me look more guilty. Monica let out a derisive snort and, with David’s help, grabbed at my hands, prying my fingers away from the urn. “Stop it! Don’t touch it!” I shouted, trying desperately to hold on. But against their combined strength, I couldn’t win. With a loud crash, the urn fell to the ground, shattering on impact. Ashes scattered everywhere. I dropped to my knees, frantic and heartbroken, trying to gather what was left. “Ugh! What the hell is this? It’s so disgusting!” David recoiled, covering his nose in exaggerated disgust. Monica turned to me, her face twisted in anger and disbelief. “Noah Carter, are you insane? What is this mess? Did you plan this because you knew David is allergic to dust? Were you trying to sabotage him?” She waved at the security guards. “Get rid of this filth. Flush it down the toilet!” Her voice became background noise as I ignored her, crawling on the floor like a man possessed, trying to scoop up my daughter’s ashes with trembling hands. “Stop! Don’t touch her!” I screamed, my voice ragged and desperate. The guards, perhaps fearing I’d cause a scene, restrained me, pinning my shoulders to the ground. I thrashed against their hold, but I was powerless to stop them. I could only watch helplessly as they swept up Emily’s ashes like trash, preparing to dispose of them. I failed you, Emily. I couldn’t protect you while you were alive, and now, I can’t even shield you in death. The pain was too much to bear. My chest tightened, and blood surged up my throat. With a wrenching cough, I spat it out, staining the floor red. “Noah!” Monica’s voice broke into a shriek as she stepped back in alarm. She waved frantically at the guards to release me. I barely registered her panic. Weak and trembling, I crawled toward the scattered ashes, my body too broken to stand. David watched me with a sneer, his lips curling as if he were about to say something cruel. But before he could, his phone rang. He answered with his usual air of confidence, but his face fell almost immediately. The voice on the other end was loud enough for me to hear: “Mr. Lee, I’m sorry to inform you that the heart transplant surgery for Sophie has been canceled. The donor’s family has withdrawn their consent.” “What?!” David shouted, his voice tight with panic. The hospital director’s voice was grim. “The donor’s condition was a perfect match, but the family changed their mind at the last minute. Sophie’s condition is critical—if we delay any longer, her chances of survival will drop significantly.”

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