Category: English

At the company gala, my fiancée clung to her first love—the so-called “golden boy” of her past—and smugly demanded I step aside. “Starting today, all your client accounts will be transferred to him,” she announced with a condescending smile. “And as for you, there’s an opening in the janitorial department. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.” The room fell silent. All eyes were on me, waiting for the inevitable—me groveling, begging her to reconsider, swallowing my pride for her sake. But what they didn’t realize was this: without me, those clients would vanish overnight, and the company? It would crumble within weeks. I let out a cold, detached laugh and turned on my heel, walking away without a word. By the end of the night, I’d already signed with her biggest rival—the one person she hated the most. You see, I’m not satisfied with just watching her company fail. I’m here to destroy everything she thought she could take from me. For five years, Chloe Hill and I had built something together—both a company and what I thought was a relationship. She always said, “Once the company is stable, we’ll get married.” I believed her. So I worked like a madman, day and night, entertaining clients, closing deals, and doing everything in my power to build the life she wanted. The life we wanted. And it worked. The company grew steadily, year after year. With our largest shipment yet arriving soon, I was already planning how to propose. Tonight was supposed to be the company’s celebration party. Chloe had smiled at me that morning, tying my tie with her usual grace. “Don’t forget to come back early for the party,” she said, her voice soft and full of warmth. I promised I would. But when the shipment arrived late, I had no choice but to go handle it myself. This was the biggest deal our company had ever secured, and I couldn’t afford even the smallest mistake. For two weeks, I’d barely left the office, sleeping on the couch, eating cheap takeout, and working myself to the bone to make sure this deal went smoothly. By the time I finished, it was nearly 10 PM. Exhausted but eager to see Chloe, I drove straight to the hotel where the celebration was being held. But as I approached the door to the private room, laughter and voices drifted out, freezing me in my tracks. “You mean Daniel Brooks?” Chloe’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, followed by a laugh that made my stomach turn. “Marry him? Are you serious? What a joke.” My hand hovered over the doorknob, my entire body going cold. “He’s just a pathetic loser who works himself to death for me,” she sneered. “I only keep him around to do the grunt work.” Her words hit me like a sledgehammer. “All he does is drink and schmooze with clients. No romance, no charm. He’s nothing like my baby—someone who actually knows how to treat me.” A man’s voice broke in, low and suggestive. “Come here, babe. Let hubby take care of you.” Then came the unmistakable sound of kissing. My mind went blank. That voice—it was Jacob Scott, the new assistant Chloe had recently hired. She’d told me he was an old college friend and insisted he’d be a great addition to the team. I’d trusted her. Jacob had been nothing but polite to me, always staying late at the office, bringing her coffee, and helping with her workload. I’d even praised him for his diligence. But now, it was all clear. He wasn’t staying late to work—he was staying late to be with her. These two had been sneaking around right under my nose. “You’re the only one I trust with the clients,” Chloe purred, her voice like nails on a chalkboard. “Now that the company is big enough, there’s no need to keep him around anymore.” Jacob hesitated. “What if he takes the clients with him?” Chloe laughed dismissively. “This is my company. He’s just an employee. If he tries to leave, I’ll make sure he never works in this industry again. What does he think, that the company can’t survive without him?” The sound of glasses clinking and laughter filled the room. “Ms. Hill and Jacob are such a great match,” someone chimed in, their voice full of fake enthusiasm. “Daniel’s just some desperate loser—he should be grateful to step aside.” Another voice added, “Honestly, Jacob’s the real deal. That guy? He’s just a placeholder.” Jacob chuckled, and I heard him say, “This seat was always mine. Just like Chloe has always been mine.” Chloe giggled, her voice dripping with flirtation. “Oh, stop. You know I’ve always been yours. Even back in college…” Her words trailed off into playful laughter, and my blood boiled. I stood frozen, my mind replaying the last six months. Chloe had been “traveling for business” more often than ever, always coming home smelling of a different perfume. On the nights she stayed in, she was distant, always claiming she was tired. And the times she was affectionate? Now I wondered how much of that was just her scrubbing away the scent of another man. Every tender word, every night spent together—it all felt like a knife twisting in my chest. I wasn’t Chloe’s boyfriend. I was her workhorse, her stepping stone, her fool. Inside, Chloe’s voice turned sweet again, but it wasn’t for me. “Jacob, you’re the only one who knows how to treat me right.” My stomach churned. So she could act playful and vulnerable—just not for me. For me, she’d always played the strong, independent businesswoman. Five years. Five years of my life wasted on a woman who saw me as nothing more than a means to an end. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. For a moment, I thought about walking away, but something inside me snapped. I wouldn’t let her get away with this. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door. The laughter stopped immediately.

Chloe was wearing a backless gown tonight, and Jacob’s hand was resting on her bare back, sliding up and down. The two of them stood so close, their faces practically touching, exuding a level of intimacy that made me want to vomit. When Chloe saw me, her expression flickered with annoyance, but she quickly regained her composure, slipping back into her usual air of superiority. “Oh, you’re here? Why didn’t you call to let me know?” she asked, pushing Jacob aside and smoothing her dress with feigned elegance. “Sorry,” I replied coldly, my eyes fixed on the red marks on her neck. “I was in a rush and forgot.” She glanced at me with thinly veiled contempt. “Why are you so late? Seriously, you spent all night dealing with one shipment? What’s wrong with you lately?” I let out a bitter laugh and replied with an icy tone, “Yeah, good thing I didn’t come back later—otherwise, I might’ve caught you two in a hotel room.” Chloe’s face froze, her expression darkening in an instant. “What are you implying?” she snapped. “Jacob and I are just friends. Don’t you dare make baseless accusations!” “Just friends?” I said, my gaze dropping to her swollen lips. “Then what, exactly, is his hand doing? Just being friendly?” Her voice rose sharply, clearly rattled. “Daniel, don’t push your luck! We’re not even married. Who I spend time with is none of your business!” “Funny,” I said, my voice low and cutting. “I thought we were building a life together. Guess I was wrong.” At this point, Jacob decided to insert himself into the conversation, stepping forward like some kind of knight in shining armor. “Daniel,” he said, puffing out his chest, “are you seriously questioning Chloe’s character right now? As her boyfriend, shouldn’t you trust her?” Looking at the two of them, smiling and backing each other up, I felt a wave of nausea rise in my chest. I clenched my jaw and said coldly, “Oh, so you do remember she’s my girlfriend, huh?” Chloe tilted her head, her expression smug. “If you’re so unhappy with me, then it’s perfect timing. I have an announcement to make.” She paused for dramatic effect, her voice dripping with mockery. “Starting today, Jacob will be taking over your responsibilities.” The room fell silent. Everyone’s eyes darted between us, waiting to see my reaction. “And you?” she continued, her tone casual but cruel. “You’ll handle the small accounts from now on. Unless, of course, you feel that’s beneath you. If so, the janitorial team could always use an extra hand.” I stared at her, my expression unreadable. The audacity of this woman. She had no idea how much I’d sacrificed to build her company. Every major client, every deal, every connection—I’d earned them through endless nights of drinking, networking, and suffering through grueling hangovers. I’d worked myself to the brink of collapse just to make this business successful. And now, she thought she could replace me with this clown? Did she really think any of those clients cared about her? Chloe raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying herself. “What, nothing to say? Feeling a little betrayed, maybe?” I watched as Jacob leaned down, planting smug little kisses on Chloe’s lips in front of the entire room. The other employees whispered among themselves, eager to see how I would react. Chloe probably thought I’d beg her to reconsider, that I’d grovel for my job and her affection. She thought she’d won. But what she didn’t realize was that without me, Hill Group would collapse like a house of cards. I shook my head and let out a dry laugh. If they wanted to play dirty, I’d show them how the game was really played. Reaching into my pocket, I felt the engagement ring box I’d been carrying for weeks. With a bitter smile, I tightened my grip on it and turned on my heel, walking away without a word. As I left, Chloe called out after me, her voice dripping with mockery. “What, leaving already? Don’t you want to talk about your new role?” I didn’t even look back. The moment I got into my car, I floored the gas pedal and headed straight to the office. There was no time to waste. Sitting at my desk, I opened my laptop and began contacting our clients. My fingers trembled with rage as I typed, my mind racing with plans to dismantle everything Chloe thought she had under control. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down, gulping down a bitter cup of coffee. Five years. Five years of loyalty, sacrifice, and love—and for what? At least now I knew the truth.

I spent the night at the office. Yesterday had been a whirlwind—I closed several major deals and contacted a long list of clients. By the time I was done, it was already past midnight. I stopped by my apartment to pack a few things before heading back to the office. That place wasn’t home anymore, and sleeping at my desk felt like the better option. “Daniel!” I was jolted awake by someone shaking me roughly. Groggy, I opened my eyes to find Chloe’s perfectly made-up face staring down at me. Her makeup was flawless, but the hickey on her neck was impossible to miss, even under the thick layer of concealer she’d used to try and hide it. Her movements were so aggressive that a few early-arriving coworkers were already sneaking glances in our direction. She slammed a crumpled piece of paper onto my desk, her face twisted with anger, though she forced a saccharine smile a second later. “Daniel, what is this?” she asked, her voice unnervingly sweet. “You moved out in the middle of the night? And now you’re handing me a resignation letter without even saying a word? What’s going on with you?” I glanced at the wrinkled resignation letter on the desk and let out a bitter laugh. “You’re asking me? Weren’t you the one who told me to leave?” Her expression wavered for a moment, but she quickly plastered on a fake look of concern. “I was just upset yesterday,” she said, softening her tone. “You shouldn’t have accused me of being inappropriate with someone else. Let’s talk about this calmly, okay?” She reached out to touch my face, the same tender gesture that used to melt my heart. But now, it only made my stomach churn. I turned my head away, dodging her hand. “Chloe, you can drop the act,” I said coldly. “After the little show you put on last night, don’t bother pretending to be innocent.” I shoved her hand aside. “We’re done.” Her face turned bright red, anger and humiliation flashing across her expression. “What nonsense are you spewing?” she hissed. Just then, the elevator doors opened. Jacob strolled out, followed by a few clients. Ah, so that’s why Chloe was suddenly putting on this performance. She wasn’t here to patch things up—she was here to squeeze every last bit of value out of me before I walked out the door for good. “Well, speak of the devil,” I said with a cold laugh, eyeing Jacob. “Chloe was just telling me how disappointed she is with your… performance.” The room fell into a heavy silence. Coworkers whispered among themselves, while the clients behind Jacob raised their eyebrows in interest. Jacob’s face turned crimson, but he forced a smile, trying to maintain his composure. “Mr. Brooks, please don’t joke like that… Ms. Hill and I have nothing but a professional relationship.” He was dressed to impress, wearing a tailored suit and enough hair gel to make his head shine under the fluorescent lights. He looked like he belonged in a cheap cologne ad, not in a boardroom. “Professional?” I smirked. “Didn’t sound so professional last night when you were bragging about your relationship at the party.” The office erupted into murmurs. “Everyone shut up!” Chloe snapped, her voice cutting through the chaos. She turned back to me, her face livid. “Daniel, I came here to talk things through, and you’re making a scene! I’m trying to be reasonable, but you’re being impossible!” “Reasonable?” I scoffed, leaning back in my chair. “Did you forget the things you said while you were draped all over Jacob last night? Should I remind you?” Jacob’s face went pale as he motioned for his assistant to guide the clients into a nearby conference room. “Daniel, Chloe is still your girlfriend,” Jacob said, his tone stiff. “You shouldn’t humiliate her like this.” Looking at the two of them standing side by side, their united front only made me feel colder inside. Chloe’s face twisted with rage as she pointed a finger at me. “You ungrateful bastard! I’m trying to help you, and this is how you repay me? Do you even have a shred of decency left?” Her voice was shrill, her eyes filled with nothing but disgust. The warmth she used to fake so well was completely gone. I let out a humorless laugh. “Careful, Jacob,” I said, locking eyes with him. “The same woman who’s throwing me aside today will do the same to you tomorrow. You’re just a placeholder, a temporary distraction.” “Daniel, you’re asking for it!” Chloe shrieked, her voice echoing through the office. She raised her hand to slap me, but I dodged in time. Her nails caught the side of my face, leaving a few shallow scratches. The sting was sharp, but I didn’t flinch. Missing her target only made her angrier. She lunged at me again, completely abandoning the polished image she’d always tried to maintain in front of others. Jacob quickly grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her to stop her from clawing at me again. “Chloe, calm down. Don’t let him get under your skin.” I brushed off my suit and stood, smirking at the two of them. “If I’m worthless, what does that make the two of you?” “Get out, Daniel!” Chloe screamed, her voice cracking. “You’re nothing but a parasite! Do you hear me? I’ll ruin you! I’ll make sure you never work again!” I adjusted my tie and straightened my jacket, taking my time before replying. “Chloe,” I said, my voice calm but cutting, “you really think your little company would’ve made it this far without me? Without the clients I brought in?” Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, her whole body trembling with rage. “You think I need you?” she spat. “Take a few clients if you want—I don’t care. Hill Group will be fine without you!” “Is that so?” I said with a cold smile. “We’ll see about that.” “You touch even one of my clients, and I’ll make sure you regret it!” I laughed, shaking my head. Chloe really thought she was untouchable. I turned and walked toward the elevator, ignoring her shrill screams behind me. “You’ll come crawling back, Daniel! You’ll beg me to take you back!” Without looking back, I raised a middle finger as the elevator doors slid shut. The sunlight outside was blinding, but I didn’t mind. Pulling out my phone, I scrolled to a familiar name in my contacts. It was time to call Mila Morgan. If Chloe wanted a war, I was more than ready to give her one.

At the coffee shop, Mila sat across from me, her every movement polished and deliberate. She held her coffee cup with the kind of grace that made it seem like an accessory, not a necessity. Her sharp, assessing gaze flicked to me every so often, as though she were measuring my worth. She’d been trying to recruit me for years. But I’d always turned her down—because of Chloe. “It’s a rare treat to finally get you here,” Mila said with a soft laugh, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness. “I thought you’d spend the rest of your life burning yourself out for Chloe.” I stirred the coffee in front of me, watching the ripples swirl as I answered flatly, “She kicked me out. The details are messy, and frankly, I don’t want to waste my energy explaining. Ask around—you’ll figure it out soon enough.” Mila’s company wasn’t just big—it was the biggest player in the industry locally. Everyone knew her family had money and connections, and if she wanted something, she usually got it. The fact that she’d reached out to me for this meeting was already making waves in our professional circles. “So,” she said casually, setting her cup down, “I take it you’re bringing Chloe’s clients with you in this… transition?” I smirked. “You’re sharp, Ms. Morgan. Yes, I’ve got over 80% of her major accounts in my pocket.” Mila chuckled at that, leaning back in her chair as though savoring my words. “Well, I imagine Chloe’s losing her mind right about now.” “She’s about a month away from crawling back to me,” I said with quiet confidence, lifting my coffee cup. “But by then, it’ll be too late. I’m not just taking her clients—I’m going to make sure she’s finished in this industry.” Mila’s eyes gleamed with interest at my boldness, a flicker of admiration crossing her expression. She rested her chin in her hand, studying me with a newfound curiosity. “You’re more decisive than I expected.” “I’ll make it worth your while,” she said, extending her hand with a polished smile. “I’ll give you a general manager position and triple your current salary. I like your style.” I shook her hand briefly but didn’t let her finish. “There’s one more thing I need from you.” Her perfectly shaped brow arched slightly. “Oh?” “When the time comes,” I said firmly, “I want you to help me expose Chloe and Jacob’s little ‘arrangement.’ Once the scandal hits, you can swoop in and buy her company for pennies on the dollar.” Mila’s lips curved into a slow smile. The idea clearly appealed to her. “Interesting,” she murmured, tapping a manicured finger against her chin. “You’re giving me a perfect opportunity to crush a competitor. But…” Her gaze turned thoughtful, almost mischievous. “How do you know I won’t do the same to you someday?” I met her eyes directly, my tone steady and unflinching. “Because I trust you.” The sunlight streaming through the window caught the angles of her face, highlighting her sharp features and the faintly satisfied look in her eyes. “Fair enough,” she said after a pause, raising her coffee cup toward me. “To a fruitful partnership.” I clinked my cup against hers, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. If Chloe only knew what her betrayal had set in motion, I wondered if she’d still be lying in Jacob’s bed right now—or if she’d already be regretting every choice she’d made.

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After my breakup, I had a one-night stand with a stranger—his presence was terrifying. I couldn’t bear the thought of carrying the child of a monster. But then, everything changed when I uncovered an astonishing truth. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air as I sat in the cold, white-walled office. My hands were clenched tightly on my lap, nails digging into my palms. The doctor walked in, her face soft, her smile almost too kind for what she was about to say. “Congratulations, Leila,” she began, her voice gentle. “You’re pregnant.” The words hit me like a thunderclap. My chest tightened, and the room felt suddenly smaller. Pregnant? No. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now. Not like this. The memory came crashing down like a tidal wave, sweeping the air from my lungs. George. He broke up with me. “It’s not you, Leila. It’s me. I just… I can’t do this anymore.” I could still see the cold resolve in his eyes, the finality in his tone. I grabbed my coat and stumbled out of my apartment, desperate for an escape. The streets blurred as I made my way to the nearest bar, my head spinning with anger and heartbreak. Inside, the dim lights cast shadows over the faces of strangers. I slid onto a barstool, slamming my purse down. “Whiskey. Straight,” I said, my voice trembling. The bartender raised an eyebrow but poured the drink without a word. I’m an orphan—no parents, no siblings, nothing. The one person I ever loved, truly loved, was George. But now… now I have no one. I downed the first glass, then another. Each burn in my throat felt like it might numb the ache in my chest. A man sitting nearby leaned over. “Rough night?” he asked, his voice smooth but tinged with curiosity. “Mind your own business,” I snapped, waving at the bartender for another drink. But he didn’t take the hint. “Sometimes it helps to talk about it.” I turned to him, my eyes blazing. “What do you know about it? Have you ever had your heart ripped out and stomped on?” He chuckled softly, holding up his hands in surrender. “Fair point. Just thought you could use some company.” I didn’t answer. I just kept drinking, sinking deeper into the haze. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in a strange bed. The light filtering through the curtains was blinding, and my head pounded like a drum. Panic shot through me as I looked around. A hotel room. “What the hell…”

I started the day hunched over the toilet bowl, my stomach twisting like a wrung-out rag. “Fantastic,” I muttered hoarsely, wiping my mouth. “Another perfect morning.” The mirror above the sink was no help. My hair hung limp, my eyes dull with exhaustion, and dark circles loomed like permanent shadows. If pregnancy came with a glow, mine must’ve been on back order. After splashing cold water on my face, I trudged into the kitchen and reached for my pack of cigarettes on the counter. One drag—just one—might help me feel normal again. “Seriously?” Leila’s voice cut through the silence. She was leaning against the fridge, arms crossed, her eyebrows raised. “Leila, don’t start,” I sighed, shaking a cigarette loose. Before I could light it, she snatched it from my hand. “What the hell?” I snapped, glaring at her. “What the hell, indeed!” she fired back, waving a piece of paper in her other hand—the pregnancy report. I froze. “Where did you get that?” “It was on the bathroom sink, genius,” she said, her voice softening. “And I hate to break it to you, mama bear, but smoking’s officially off the table.” “Leila…” My voice cracked, and I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. She stepped closer, placing the cigarette and the report on the counter. “Look, I know this is a lot. I know it’s scary. But you’re not doing this alone. I’m here, even if it means wrestling cigarettes out of your hand every morning.” I reached for the cigarette pack on the counter, only for Leila to slap my hand away. “Seriously?” I groaned, clutching my stinging fingers. “One cigarette won’t hurt the baby.” Leila’s eyes narrowed as she snatched the pack and held it up like evidence in a courtroom. “One leads to two, and two leads to you chain-smoking like a chimney. Nope. Not happening.” “Leila, give it back.” “Not a chance.” She spun on her heel and tossed the pack into the trash. “You’re unbelievable!” I snapped. Cigarettes had been my escape since I was sixteen. They’d carried me through the stress of college, through assignments, and sleepless nights. This felt like an attack on my sanity. “You’re pregnant, not invincible,” she shot back, crossing her arms. “If you want a bad habit, you can start drinking herbal tea. It’s safe and soothing.” I rolled my eyes. “What’s next? Are you going to cut off my Wi-Fi so I don’t stay up too late?” Her face turned serious. “Funny you mention that. Last night, you were on your laptop at 4 a.m., and don’t think I didn’t notice.” I groaned. “Leila, I’m finishing my dissertation. I need to graduate.” “You also need to sleep, or do you want a baby born exhausted from the womb?” she countered, her tone sharp. “Fine!” I threw my hands up. “You win. No smoking, early bedtime, and chamomile tea for life. Anything else?” Leila smirked, but her expression softened as she grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge. “Now that we’re clear on that, have you thought about… him?”

My chest tightened. I knew exactly who she meant, but the last thing I wanted was this conversation. “I don’t even know where to start, Leila,” I admitted quietly. “We didn’t exchange numbers. I don’t even know his last name.” Her eyebrows shot up. “You’re telling me you had a one-night stand and didn’t get his number?” I winced. “It was… a complicated night.” Leila grabbed her coat, determination blazing in her eyes. “Alright, we’re going to the hotel. We’ll find him.” I shook my head. “He doesn’t live there. He said he was staying for a week—just passing through.” She froze, then snapped her fingers. “The bar. Someone there might know him.” “Leila, this is ridiculous,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “What’s ridiculous,” she shot back, “is you acting like this isn’t a big deal. You’re having his baby.” “I know that!” I snapped, my voice cracking. “You think I’m not scared out of my mind? I don’t even know where to start!” Leila softened, stepping closer. “Then let me help. But you can’t shut down on me, okay?” I nodded weakly, barely able to meet her eyes. Then she frowned, a new thought dawning. “Wait. What’s his name?” I froze. “Don’t tell me…” Her eyes widened. “You don’t know his name.” I swallowed hard. “Are you serious?” she hissed. “You don’t even know the name of the guy whose kid you’re carrying?” “It was one night!” I shot back. “I didn’t think—” “Clearly,” she interrupted, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Okay. No judgment. But we’re finding him. Name or no name.” “And if we don’t?” I whispered. Her expression softened, but her tone stayed firm. “Then we’ll deal with it. Together.” “W-What?” I stammered, staring at Leila in disbelief. “You found him?” She grinned, leaning against the doorframe like she’d won the lottery. “Found your baby daddy. You’re welcome.” My chest tightened. “How?” She smirked. “Went back to the bar. Bartender remembered him—apparently, he’s a regular.” I blinked, heart racing. “You just… asked?” Leila shrugged, but her smugness was impossible to miss. “I might’ve flirted a little. Maybe bought him a round. Details don’t matter.” I crossed my arms. “Leila…” “Relax!” she interrupted, pulling a napkin from her pocket. “Look.” I stared at the name scribbled on it: Mark Adonis. Below it, a phone number. My hands trembled as I took it. “Call him,” Leila said firmly. “Now?” My voice wavered, every instinct screaming to delay. “Yes, now,” she snapped, her gaze sharp. “He deserves to know. And so do you.” I gripped the napkin, my pulse roaring in my ears. There was no running from this anymore. I felt my breath quicken as I unlocked my phone, staring at the keypad. This was it. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last. I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling as I dialed his number. The phone rang. Once. Twice. I swore I could hear my own pulse in my ears. By the fifth ring, I could feel the cold sweat gathering on the back of my neck. This was the moment. Seven. Eight. The line cut to voicemail. “It’s gone to voicemail,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. A strange relief washed over me. Leila shot up from the bed. “Leave a message! Now!” I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the button to end the call. But Leila’s frantic gestures pushed me forward. I put the phone back to my ear, the beep almost echoing in the silence. “Uh, hi,” I stuttered, my throat dry. “It’s Elena… we met a few months ago at the bar.” Leila glared at me, silently urging me to keep going. “I—I need to talk to you about something. It’s important. Please call me back.” I rushed the last words out, my voice shaking. “Shit! What do I do?” I hissed, waving my phone in front of Leila. “What does this mean?” Leila’s eyes widened in shock, and she grabbed the phone from my hand, accepting the call before I could blink. She slammed the phone on speaker, leaning in close. “Talk,” she hissed under her breath. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I stared at the screen. What the hell was I supposed to say? “Hello?” A deep, gravelly voice answered after a few seconds of agonizing silence. I froze, looking at Leila, who was now gesturing wildly for me to speak. I couldn’t find my words. “Hello?” His voice grew impatient.

“Hi.” My voice cracked as I squeaked out the word. “Hi,” I repeated, louder this time, though my nerves rattled. “Elena? What do you need to talk about?” His tone was direct, almost demanding. I swallowed hard. “I—I think we should meet. This can’t be said over the phone.” There was a long pause. “Alright,” he finally said. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Where?” I blinked, surprised by how easily he agreed. I hadn’t expected this. I ran a hand through my hair. “Uh… my place?” I offered weakly, though I could tell Leila was stifling a laugh. She shot me a look and mouthed café before nodding towards the door. He chuckled lightly. “Fine. Two o’clock. Does that work?” I nodded quickly, heart pounding. “Yeah, perfect.” “See you then,” he said before hanging up. I exhaled sharply, eyes closing as anxiety clenched my chest. Tomorrow. It had to be done. Leila’s voice cut through my thoughts. “He sounds hot.” I snapped my eyes open. “He is.” I couldn’t help but remember how he looked at me that night—powerful, magnetic. I’d been drawn to him instantly. Leila smirked. “He thinks you’re after a repeat of that night.” I groaned. “No. It’s not like that.” She mimicked his voice dramatically, “My place,” before bursting into laughter. “Not funny,” I muttered, but she was still laughing. At the coffee bar

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My stepsister framed me for causing her allergic reaction, so my three brothers locked me in a cramped, airless cellar and chained the door shut. I weakly pounded on the cellar door, begging my brothers to let me out. James, my oldest brother and a business tycoon, coldly scolded me before leaving: “It’s bad enough that you usually bully Lily, but deliberately feeding her seafood when you know she’s allergic? Were you trying to kill her? Stay in there and think about what you’ve done!” William, my second brother and a rising music star, and Henry, my third brother and a genius painter, both sneered: “Someone as vicious as you is still making excuses and playing the victim? You can just stay in there and suffer the consequences!” With that, they carried my trembling stepsister Lily in their arms and rushed her to the hospital. As the oxygen slowly ran out, each breath became more labored until I finally died in that cellar. Three days later, when my brothers returned home from the hospital with Lily, they finally remembered me. But by then, I had already suffocated to death in that cramped cellar. I died from lack of oxygen in that cellar. When I regained consciousness, I found my spirit hovering next to my three brothers. They had just returned to their mansion. James and William were gently helping Lily, speaking to her kindly: “Thank goodness we got you to the hospital in time. You’re recovering so quickly.” Henry fussed over her with obvious concern: “The doctor said your body is still weak and needs proper nourishment.” He then eagerly served Lily a large piece of meat. A servant hesitantly spoke up: “Young masters, Miss Rachel hasn’t made a sound in the cellar for three days now…” James snorted and cut her off: “Today is a happy day – Lily’s coming home from the hospital. Why bring up that troublemaker?” The servant tried to continue, but William and Henry’s cold glares silenced her. “That wretched girl must have known about the seafood allergy and deliberately made an entire seafood dinner,” William fumed. “And here I thought she was finally starting to accept Lily. Turns out it was all premeditated!” Henry added angrily. Lily put on a frightened expression and timidly said: “Big sister is being punished because of me. She’s been alone in that cellar for so many days. What if she’s angry when she comes out?” James’ expression hardened. “Don’t worry, Lily. We’ve been too lenient with her before. She’s never faced real consequences. After this lesson, she won’t dare bully you again.” As he spoke, he instinctively pulled out his phone and refreshed our chat history. But our last messages were still from three days ago. In those three days, I hadn’t sent a single message or made a single call. James’ eyes flashed with anger. “That ungrateful brat! It’s been days and she hasn’t even sent one message asking how Lily is doing!” At that moment, Lily deliberately grasped James’ hand and said in a tearful voice: “I just wanted big sister to spend time with me. I never meant to steal anything from her.” James quickly set down his phone and stroked Lily’s head affectionately. “Lily, you’re so kind. Not like her – she’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch.” William’s eyes filled with cold disdain as he thought of me. “That’s right. She dares to harm family just to get attention? She’s truly despicable!” Henry nodded in vehement agreement and sneered, “Unless she’s learned her lesson and is willing to kneel and apologize to Lily, I’ll throw her out of this house myself!” I stood nearby, listening to my brothers’ words, and could only laugh bitterly at the absurdity. But my spirit’s actions went completely unnoticed by the living. Ever since our parents died when I was young, my three brothers had devoted all their attention to me. One day I said I wanted a playmate my own age, so my brothers went to an orphanage and adopted Lily as my stepsister. I opened my heart to Lily’s arrival, but in front of my brothers she repeatedly framed me, causing them to grow more and more distant from me with each passing day. Including this time – my three brothers locked me in that tiny cellar without a second thought. I struggled desperately, but could only feel the air in the cramped cellar growing thinner and thinner. Pounding on the cellar door, I begged my brothers over and over to let me out. But my brothers only looked at me coldly, angrily saying: “What are you yelling about? This is all your own fault. If it weren’t for you, why would Lily be suffering from such a bad allergic reaction?” “We’ve clearly been too nice to you, that’s why you keep bullying and tormenting Lily. Just stay in there and think about what you’ve done!” With that, William personally wrapped chains around the door, while Henry piled heavy objects in front of it, eliminating any chance I had of saving myself. Now, watching Lily fake-smile at my brothers, I let out another bitter, mocking laugh. Brothers, the sister who loved you most in this world has been killed by your own hands! Lily tugged on James’ sleeve and said in a pitiful voice: “Big brother, don’t be angry anymore. It’s my fault for being so weak and having food allergies. I’m sure big sister didn’t mean it. Please don’t blame her!” James’ expression instantly darkened. He said coldly: “That wretched girl! We’ve clearly spoiled her too much, letting her develop such an arrogant and domineering personality!” William’s eyes flashed with surging anger: “The older she gets, the more narrow-minded she becomes. If it weren’t for her, how could Lily have ended up in this state?” At this point, Lily deliberately exposed her limbs, which still showed faint traces of the allergic reaction, to the three brothers. There were still a few red marks visible. Henry gently stroked the skin that still bore slight redness. “Does it still hurt, Lily?” Lily lowered her head, her voice trembling as if she was about to cry: “It doesn’t hurt… really, it doesn’t…” The anger in William’s heart was thoroughly ignited. He shouted furiously: “If we’d gotten to the hospital any later, it could have been life-threatening for Lily. And after all these days, she hasn’t even sent a single message. She truly shows no remorse at all!” James spoke with even greater fury: “Go bring that wretched girl here to apologize! I don’t believe she can keep refusing to say sorry!” William and Henry joined in angrily: “It’s all because she’s relied on our support. Now that she’s done something wrong, she must face proper punishment!” They turned to the servants and thundered: “What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and bring that ungrateful brat here. And bring our disciplinary cane too. If it weren’t for Rachel deliberately putting seafood in the meal, how could Lily have suffered in the hospital for three days?” “It’s time to set the rules straight in this household!” The servants didn’t dare disobey and hurried off in my direction. I let out a despairing, bitter laugh. My brothers hadn’t even investigated the truth before arbitrarily deciding I was guilty. Three days ago, Lily said she was hungry, so I wanted to do something nice and cooked for her. She even gave me a small packet of seasoning, saying she wanted to eat that. I tasted it and it seemed like normal seasoning. Who could have known it contained her allergen? James is supposed to be a business genius, yet he couldn’t even see through such an obvious ploy for attention? If that’s not favoritism, what is? In my brothers’ hearts, I would never be as important as stepsister Lily. I felt increasingly desolate. But it didn’t matter anymore. I had already died in that cellar. Now my brothers could give all their love and favor to Lily. “Young master, we’ve been calling Miss Rachel for a long time, but there’s been no response at all.” “We can’t hear any breathing from inside!” James frowned deeply, stood up abruptly, his face cold with anger: “What new game is that wretched girl playing now? Does she think it’s beneath her dignity to apologize to Lily?” “Does she still not understand that she nearly killed you this time?!” Lily tugged on James’ sleeve again and said sadly: “Big brother, it’s okay. I’m just an orphan. I don’t deserve to have big sister apologize to me.” The anger in James’ heart was thoroughly provoked: “Using such a lowly tactic for attention – does she really think I can’t see through it?” “She must think she’s so clever, thinking if she plays mute she can get away with it. It seems the punishment I gave her was too light!” “Let’s go. Drag her out here. I’d like to see how she tries to hide now. She must kneel and apologize to Lily!” I involuntarily followed my three brothers’ footsteps, my heart growing heavier with sorrow. Fueled by their rage, my three brothers soon arrived at the cellar door. “Rachel Harper, do you think hiding in there silently will let you escape punishment?” But there was no sound from inside the cellar. William’s face grew even darker: “Rachel Harper, what are you still pretending for? Come out right now and kneel to apologize to Lily!” “Don’t think that hiding in there, turning off your phone, and not contacting us will let you avoid the consequences of deliberately hurting Lily!” Henry’s eyes were blazing with anger as he shouted: “Rachel Harper, you’ve really gotten bold. You just can’t stand to see us being nice to Lily, so you’re deliberately staying silent to provoke us!” “Do you really think hiding in the cellar and refusing to speak will make us give in first?” There was still no sound from inside the cellar. James turned to look at the trembling servants and coldly commanded: “Why are you all shaking? Tell me the truth – did that wretched girl bribe you? Did you secretly let her out?” William snorted, “Given her despicable nature, she probably couldn’t stand being in the cellar after we left and had these servants open the door to let her out.” Henry’s eyes were filled with disappointment: “You nearly killed Lily, but you can’t even face the consequences of your actions. Is this really the sister I know?” “Do you really think we only have you as a sister?” At this point, a servant finally spoke up trembling: “Young master, we wouldn’t dare let her out without your orders!” “Miss Rachel has truly been in the cellar for three whole days now.” Henry looked at the still silent cellar, a flicker of unease passing through his eyes. He walked up and pulled hard on the cellar door several times, but couldn’t open it. “Rachel Harper, enough is enough. I’ve unlocked all the locks. Are you still stubbornly holding the door shut from inside?” I looked at the twisted cellar door and could only laugh bitterly. At the time, desperate to save myself from suffocation, I had repeatedly slammed against the door, just wanting to survive. But the cellar door was exceptionally sturdy. I couldn’t even create the slightest gap, and could only suffocate to death in that cellar. Brothers, when you see my corpse, will you be able to give me even a tiny bit of love and bury me next to mom and dad? James grew increasingly agitated. He started kicking the door forcefully. The twisted cellar door opened a larger crack, and a foul stench wafted out. A servant trembled as she spoke: “It smells like… a decomposing body!” The other two brothers also approached, full of rage. “What decomposing body? She clearly ran away long ago and just threw a dead rat in there to trick us!” “Rachel Harper, do you really think we’re that easy to fool?” The three brothers grew even more impatient and all started kicking the door together. The entire cellar entrance shook again. With a loud bang, the door was kicked wide open. Along with an even stronger putrid smell, the small dark cellar was exposed to everyone’s view.

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Dad always claimed he had a connection in the admissions office at Sunshine University. My younger brother, Gavin, barely scraped by with a GPA that would get him into a third-rate college. But Dad insisted Gavin should apply to Sunshine University, the best university, saying his “connection” could pull some strings. As someone who worked in the local education department, I thought Dad’s plan sounded ridiculous. Connections like that rarely worked the way people thought. So, I went through every college admissions guide I could find and helped Gavin apply to a second-tier university abroad—one that matched his grades and seemed like a good fit. Years later, Gavin graduated but couldn’t find a decent job. Dad wouldn’t let it go. “If Stella hadn’t stopped me from getting you into Sunshine University, you’d have companies lining up to hire you by now!” The more Gavin thought about it, the angrier he got. He stewed over it for weeks. Then, one evening, when I came home for dinner, he snapped. He poisoned my food with pesticide. I didn’t even see it coming. The next thing I knew, I opened my eyes—and I was back on the day of Gavin’s college application deadline. This time, I didn’t argue. “Dad’s the expert, right?” I said with a smile. “Let him handle it.”

I woke up to find myself reliving the day of Gavin’s college acceptance party. At the moment, Dad was at the dinner table bragging to everyone about how Gavin was about to be accepted into Sunshine University. He proudly explained how he’d been working his “connections” since Gavin’s junior year of high school. Recently, he’d met someone who claimed to work in the admissions office at Sunshine University. This so-called admissions officer had assured Dad that as long as Gavin put Sunshine University as his top six choices, the acceptance letter would arrive in the mail within a month. Some of the more practical-minded guests tried to talk Dad out of it. “You’ve got to be careful with people like that. He sounds like a scammer.” “No way!” Dad shot back indignantly. “We’ve known each other for a while now. He hasn’t asked me for a single penny. In fact, every time we’ve gone out to eat, he’s the one who pays the tab. You tell me, where are you going to find a scammer that generous?” Then Dad turned to me, throwing me squarely under the bus. “And isn’t Stella working in the education department? Stella, you tell them—don’t colleges sometimes admit students even if their grades don’t exactly meet the requirements? That’s how these things work, right?” All eyes turned to me. For a moment, my mind drifted to my previous life. I remembered this exact scene playing out before. Back then, I had given Dad a serious, straightforward answer. I told him that college admissions were one of the few truly fair opportunities for ordinary people to change their lives. There was no way someone could get into a top-tier school like Sunshine University through “connections.” I even gave him examples—cases where desperate parents had been scammed out of their life savings by people pretending to be college recruiters. These scammers would strike up casual conversations, claim they had “connections,” and promise the world, only to disappear once they got their money. Dad didn’t take it well. Right there in front of everyone, he slapped me across the face. After that, he confiscated my phone and my wallet and kicked me out of the house in the middle of a thunderstorm. But later that night, after being pressured by relatives and friends, he reluctantly dropped the idea. I spent a week researching schools and helped Gavin apply to a second-tier university in Germany that matched his grades. That decision haunted me for years. Any time Gavin faced even the smallest challenge in school, Dad would blame me for not letting him go to Sunshine University. Over time, Gavin’s resentment toward me grew deeper and deeper. It all came to a head one evening when I came home for dinner. Gavin handed me a glass of juice laced with pesticide. Even as I lay dying, struggling to breathe, Dad stood there watching. He didn’t call for help. Instead, to protect Gavin, he dismembered me and fed my remains to the neighborhood’s stray cats and dogs, bit by bit. When the deed was done, he told everyone I had run away with a man, abandoning my family. One night, I saw him sitting alone in my empty room, staring at the walls. “Stella,” he muttered to himself, his voice heavy with guilt. “I’m sorry. But you were already gone. I had no choice. I had to protect Gavin.” I was there, my soul floating above him. I couldn’t contain my rage. I had been alive when he made his choice. He had seen me fighting for my life, and still, he did what he did. Now, back at the dinner table in this new timeline, I looked up at Dad, who was waiting for my answer. His eyes were filled with pride, eager for validation. “I mean, I don’t know all the ins and outs of how these things work,” I said with a smile. “But Dad, you’re Gavin’s father. You’d only want what’s best for him, right?” Hearing my response, Dad beamed and turned to the guests. “You see? Even Stella, who works in the system, isn’t against it. So why are you all so worried? Just wait! When Gavin gets into Sunshine University, I’ll throw another party to celebrate, and you’re all invited!” I couldn’t help but smile. Dear Dad, I can’t wait to see how far your “connection” gets you this time.

A few days after the party, Dad called me over for dinner. “Stella,” he said, patting my shoulder. “You know how tight money is around here. Gavin’s admission to Sunshine University is going to cost a little extra. Can you help out your brother this once?” He leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Don’t worry, as soon as Gavin graduates and lands a good job, he’ll pay you back, every cent.” In my previous life, I fell for this line. Back then, I thought about how hard Dad had worked to raise me and decided to give him the money. But that was just the beginning. Gavin took it as a blank check. Every month, he’d come to me asking for $300, sometimes $400. If I refused, he’d show up at my workplace, crying and causing a scene until I gave in. I once suggested to Dad that he step in and talk to Gavin. “Oh, boys mature slower than girls,” he said dismissively. “Don’t hold it against him. You’re his sister—you should know better.” Looking back, it was laughable. Did being a sister mean I had to let Gavin bleed me dry? No. Not this time. “Dad,” I said, tilting my head, “didn’t you say that admissions officer was your best friend? And that he wasn’t charging you anything?” Dad’s face stiffened for a moment before he forced a smile. “Well, sure, but the guy’s been pulling a lot of strings for us. I can’t let him go unpaid, can I? You work in the system—you should understand how these things work.” “And besides,” he added, trying to change tactics, “as Gavin’s sister, shouldn’t you at least give him a little gift? Something to celebrate getting into Sunshine University?” I smiled politely but didn’t budge. If Dad wanted to waste his money on a scammer, that was his choice. But he wasn’t getting a dime from me.

About a week later, I got a call from Gavin. “Stella,” he said, his voice dripping with entitlement, “it’s already a done deal—I’m going to Sunshine University. So when are you going to buy me a new phone and laptop?” He didn’t even wait for me to reply before adding, “And they’d better be the latest models! If they’re not, I’m not going to school!” His words hit me like a flashback to my previous life. Back then, I had already enrolled him in a decent state school, with plans for him to transfer after a year and continue his studies abroad. But Dad had filled his head with fantasies about Sunshine University, convincing him it was his birthright. To keep him happy and on track with the plan I’d worked so hard to create, I ended up buying him a new phone and laptop. But let’s be real—he’s the one going to college, not me. If he doesn’t want to go, why should I care? So this time, I wasn’t in a rush. I popped a strawberry into my mouth, sipped some tea, and replied lazily, “Oh, that’s not happening. I don’t have the kind of money to buy you all that stuff. Besides, wasn’t it Dad who promised you those things? You should probably ask him.” There was silence on the other end of the line. Gavin was clearly caught off guard. I’d never said no to him before, especially when it came to things Dad had already promised. He huffed, but instead of blowing up, he asked, “Fine. If you can’t get it now, will you buy it for me after your next paycheck?” I laughed softly, unbothered. “Absolutely not. I’m your sister, not your mom. I’ve bought you snacks and small things here and there, but we’re talking about thousands of dollars. Why on earth would that be my responsibility?” That set him off. He practically screamed into the phone, his voice cracking, “Dad spent all his money on your stupid work gifts! He can’t afford it anymore! And everyone knows government employees like you are swimming in bribes—don’t tell me you can’t spare a little for your own brother!” “Stingy jerk!” I froze for a moment, then calmly hit the record button on my phone. “Excuse me?” I said, my tone sharp. “Who told you government workers are taking bribes? Why don’t you bring that person to me, and we’ll have a little chat?” “Let me be clear: I’ve never taken a single penny beyond my salary and benefits. If someone’s spreading nonsense like that, they’d better be ready to face the consequences. So tell me, Gavin—who’s your source? I’d be happy to report them for corruption.” The line went dead silent. Of course, Gavin didn’t actually know anyone. He had just made it up, hoping to guilt me into buying him what he wanted. The silence dragged on until I heard muffled shouting in the background. It sounded like Gavin and Dad were arguing. Then, with a loud slam, the call disconnected. Curious, I pulled up the security camera feed from home. Sure enough, Gavin hadn’t gotten any money from Dad. Worse, his old phone had been smashed in the middle of their argument.

In the end, Dad gave Gavin the brand-new phone I’d bought him earlier this year. To placate him even further, Dad promised to get him the latest model before school started, so he wouldn’t “lose face” at Sunshine University. As for Dad himself? He dug out an ancient Nokia brick phone and resigned himself to using it. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. Thinking back to my past life, I remembered how I’d been using a five-year-old, barely functional phone while spending half a year’s salary to buy Gavin the latest Apple products. And what did I get in return? Snide comments. “You’ve been working for years, and you still can’t afford a decent phone?” he’d said. “You’re just cheap, Stella. Admit it. This phone is your way of making up for not letting me go to Sunshine University. And even then, it’s last year’s model—couldn’t you at least get me something new?” Well, if last year’s model wasn’t good enough for him, then this time he’s getting nothing. Let’s see how he manages without me footing the bill. I didn’t bother keeping up with their drama after that. I did hear that Gavin started strutting around town, bragging about how his dad had “pulled strings” at Sunshine University. He even claimed he was already set to attend a top-tier school like Harvard or Stanford. His lies stirred up quite a bit of chaos in the community. Parents stormed the local education office, demanding answers. “Don’t worry,” I told them during a public meeting. “We can assure you that the college admissions process is fair and transparent. It’s one of the few opportunities for students to change their lives based on merit alone.” I continued, “Please don’t believe rumors about buying admission spots. If anyone claiming to be from an Ivy League or top-tier school approaches you asking for money, report them immediately. “Think about it—if college admissions could really be bought, why would wealthy families bother sending their kids abroad? Wouldn’t they just pay for them to attend school nearby?” Most of the parents calmed down after hearing this. They were scared, not malicious—just worried about their kids falling behind. Once they realized they weren’t being left out of some secret system, they backed off. Of course, there were still a few who clung to the rumors. But honestly? Some people are determined to believe what they want, no matter what you say. If I couldn’t stop my own father and brother from making fools of themselves, how could I possibly stop strangers?

Time flew by, and soon the first round of college acceptance letters started arriving. Gavin watched as other students proudly showed off their letters, and for the first time, he started to feel a little anxious. He badgered Dad to contact the “admissions officer” and ask about his acceptance letter from Sunshine University. This time, it took a while for the call to go through. “Hello?” a lazy voice finally answered. Dad immediately switched to his overly polite tone, practically groveling over the phone. “Oh, no rush, no rush! Just wanted to ask—when is my son’s acceptance letter going to be mailed out? He’s just a kid, you know, getting a little impatient. Think you could speed things up for us?” The man on the other end didn’t miss a beat, responding with absolute confidence, “Of course! Don’t worry, I’ll get it sent out in the next couple of days.” Hearing that reassurance, both Dad and Gavin relaxed, their worries melting away. Gavin’s confidence returned in full force. He waited eagerly, day after day, for that letter to arrive. Whenever he saw other students on the street crying tears of joy over their acceptance letters from state schools or second-tier universities, he couldn’t help but mock them. “You call that a college?” he’d sneer. “Pathetic. I’m going to Sunshine University.” A few days later, the “admissions officer” called Dad again. This time, he told him that Gavin’s letter had already been mailed. To back up his claim, he even sent a photo of the acceptance letter with Gavin’s name on it. Seeing that photo was all the proof Gavin needed. He practically vibrated with excitement, going around town boasting to anyone who would listen. “If you losers are proud of getting into those garbage schools,” he’d say, “you’ll be blown away when you see my letter from Sunshine University. It’s already on its way!” Then he’d whip out his phone, showing off the photo of his “acceptance letter.” Some people were impressed, looking at him with envy. But not everyone bought it. “Why doesn’t it have an official seal?” someone asked skeptically. “No legitimate university would send an acceptance letter without one.” Gavin’s response? A murderous glare and a string of curses so vile he practically insulted their entire family tree. Five more days passed, and still no letter. At this point, Dad called me, clearly starting to panic. “Stella,” he said, his voice filled with urgency, “Gavin’s acceptance letter was mailed five days ago. Even if it was sent from California, it should’ve arrived by now! Do you think someone at your office intercepted it because they’re jealous Gavin got into Sunshine University?” Before I could respond, he barreled on, “Or worse—what if someone else stole Gavin’s spot? You’ve heard of those cases where people bribe their way into college with someone else’s acceptance letter, haven’t you?” Listening to his ridiculous accusations, I could tell Dad was spiraling. The fact that he still hadn’t questioned whether this “admissions officer” was real was almost impressive. Was he just naïve, or straight-up gullible?

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I am locked in a narrow, airless basement after my adopted brother Lucas has an allergic reaction, and my three older sisters blame me for it. I pound on the door, begging them to let me out. The eldest sister, a business tycoon, turns around before leaving. Her face is icy as she scolds me, “You’ve been bullying Lucas for ages, but knowing he’s allergic to seafood, you still made him eat it? You did that on purpose to hurt him. Stay in there and think about what you’ve done!” The second sister, a rising pop star, and the third, a gifted artist, both snort in disdain, “You’re so vile, and yet you still try to act innocent. Just stay there and suffer!” With that, they rush off, holding Lucas, who is trembling in their arms, and head straight to the hospital. As the oxygen slowly runs out, I struggle to breathe. Every inhale becomes harder, and I feel myself slipping away in this suffocating basement. Three days later, when my sisters return from the hospital, they finally remember me. But by then, I have already died from oxygen deprivation in this narrow, locked space.

I suffocated to death in that basement. When I woke up, I found myself standing beside my three sisters, watching them from a place I couldn’t reach. They had just returned to the villa. The eldest, Serena Hayes, and the second sister, Celeste Hayes, were holding my adopted brother, Lucas, comforting him like a little prince. “Thank God we got to your hospital in time. That’s the only reason you’ve bounced back so quickly,” Serena said with a soft smile. My third sister, Annalise Hayes, seemed even more concerned, her voice full of care. “The doctor says you’re still weak. You need to really build your strength back up.” As she spoke, Annalise casually grabbed a huge chunk of meat and placed it in Lucas’ bowl. A servant hesitated and then spoke up, “Misses, Mr. Liam hasn’t made a sound for three days in the basement…” Serena scoffed, her patience running thin. “Today’s the day Lucas gets out of the hospital, so why bring up that troublemaker?” The servant tried to speak again but was quickly silenced by the cold, piercing glares from Celeste and Annalise. “That little brat must’ve known Lucas had an allergy and deliberately made him seafood oatmeal. I can’t believe I thought he was finally accepting Lucas—turns out, he was plotting all along!” Serena’s voice dripped with disdain. Lucas, putting on a terrified face, spoke up in a small, trembling voice, “Liam’s being punished because of me. He’s been stuck down there alone for so long… he won’t be angry when he comes out, will he?” Serena’s expression turned cold, but her voice softened as she reassured him, “Don’t worry, Lucas. We were just too soft on him. We never disciplined him properly. After this, he won’t dare mess with you again.” As she spoke, Serena absentmindedly pulled out her phone, refreshing our chat history. But it was clear—no messages from me in three days. Not a single call. Her face darkened. “This brat… It’s been days, and he hasn’t even bothered to check on you? Not even one message?” Serena snapped, barely holding back her anger. At that moment, Lucas reached out, gently holding Serena’s hand, and spoke in a soft, pitiful tone, “Please don’t let Liam misunderstand. I don’t want to take anything from you, I just want your attention.” Serena immediately put her phone down, her expression full of sympathy as she patted Lucas’ head. “You’re so sweet, Lucas. You’re nothing like him. He’s just a heartless, ungrateful little snake.” Celeste, remembering me, cast a cold glance in my direction. “Yeah, this guy would hurt his own family just to get attention? How low can you get?” Annalise agreed with a fierce nod, sneering, “He’s been locked away for three days. Unless he’s ready to kneel and apologize to Lucas, I’ll kick him out of this house myself!” I stood silently to the side, hearing their words. It was almost laughable. But no one noticed me, not even as I stood there, helpless and invisible. Ever since our parents died, my three sisters had focused all their love and energy on me. When I wanted someone my age to play with, they adopted Lucas from an orphanage. I accepted him wholeheartedly, but Lucas, in front of my sisters, repeatedly framed me, causing them to pull away further each time. This time, they didn’t even hesitate. They locked me away in that tiny, suffocating basement. I struggled, but the air in the basement grew thinner and thinner, each breath more labored than the last. I knocked on the door, desperately pleading for them to let me out. But all I received were cold stares and harsh words. “What’s the point of crying out now? This is all your fault. If you hadn’t done what you did, Lucas wouldn’t have suffered so badly. We’ve been too good to you, letting you bully him. Stay in there and think about it!” Celeste sneered. As she spoke, Celeste personally wrapped chains around the door, and Annalise shoved heavy objects in front of it, blocking any last hope of escape. Now, watching Lucas fake a smile at my sisters, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter laugh bubble up from deep inside. The world’s most devoted brother had been killed by his own sisters.

Lucas tugged gently at Serena’s sleeve, his voice trembling as he spoke, “Don’t be mad at him. It’s my fault, really. I’m the one who’s weak, and Liam didn’t mean to hurt me. Please don’t blame him.” Serena’s face went cold as she shot him a sharp look. “This kid… We spoiled him rotten. How did we end up with someone so selfish, so arrogant?” Celeste’s eyes burned with rage. “He’s only getting worse. If it weren’t for him, Lucas wouldn’t be in this condition!” Lucas then intentionally pulled up his sleeve, revealing the faint red marks from his allergic reaction, still visible on his skin. Annalise immediately reached out, gently touching the redness with a soft, concerned expression. “Does it still hurt, Lucas?” Lucas lowered his head, his voice barely above a whisper. “No… it doesn’t hurt anymore…” Celeste’s anger flared. “If we hadn’t rushed him to the hospital, Lucas could’ve been in real danger. And after all this time, Liam hasn’t even bothered to send one message to check on him? What’s wrong with him?” Serena’s anger was almost palpable. “Get that little brat in here now, and make him apologize. I don’t care if he’s too proud. He’s going to apologize to Lucas.” Celeste and Annalise both nodded in agreement, their voices filled with fury. “He wouldn’t dare act this way if he wasn’t hiding behind us. Now he has to pay the price. Make him apologize, or else we’ll take it even further.” When Serena turned to the servant, her voice was sharp as steel. “Why are you still standing there? Go get that ungrateful brat. And bring the punishment stick. If Liam hadn’t put seafood in that oatmeal, Lucas wouldn’t have been in the hospital for three days.” “It’s time to set things straight and remind this family what discipline really means!” The servant didn’t dare argue, rushing off to follow the orders. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. My sisters didn’t even bother to look into the truth before blaming me. Three days ago, Lucas had wanted some oatmeal, so I thought I’d make him something special. He handed me a small packet of seasoning, asking for that specific flavor. I tasted it, and it was just simple seafood oatmeal. Who could’ve known it would trigger his allergy? Even Serena, the business mogul, couldn’t see through something so simple. Wasn’t that a sign of favoritism? In their eyes, I would always be less important than Lucas. My heart sank further. But it didn’t matter now. I was already dead in that basement. They could give all their love to Lucas from now on. “Miss, we’ve been calling Mr. Liam for a long time. He’s not responding… We can’t hear any breathing from inside.” Serena’s frown deepened. She stood up abruptly, her face a mask of fury. “What’s he playing at now? Does he think he can ignore us just because he’s too embarrassed to apologize? He really doesn’t realize he almost killed Lucas?” Lucas tugged at Serena’s sleeve again, speaking in a fake, sorrowful tone. “It’s okay. I’m just an orphan. I don’t deserve Liam’s apology.” Serena’s anger boiled over. “So this is his pathetic little game to win sympathy? Does he think I can’t see through him? He thinks he can pretend to be mute and get away with it? Looks like my punishment was too light! Go get him, drag him out, and let’s see how he tries to avoid this now. He’s going to apologize to Lucas, and he’ll do it on his knees!”

I couldn’t help but follow my three sisters, each step making my heart sink even further. Their anger was a storm, and soon, we had reached the door to the basement. “Liam, you think you can hide in there and stay quiet and somehow escape punishment?” Serena’s voice was sharp, full of fury. But there was no sound coming from the basement. Celeste’s face grew darker, her voice cold. “Liam, what are you still pretending? Get out here and apologize to Lucas! Don’t think you can get away with hurting him just because you’ve hidden yourself away, turned off your phone, and cut us out!” Annalise’s eyes blazed with anger. “Liam, you’ve really outdone yourself. You can’t stand it when we show Lucas any attention, so now you’re pretending to be silent just to mess with us? You think hiding in that basement is going to make us back down?” Still, nothing came from the basement. Serena turned to the trembling staff, her voice icy and accusing. “Why are you all shaking? Tell me the truth—did this little brat bribe you? Did you secretly let him out?” Celeste scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. “With his attitude, I wouldn’t be surprised if he couldn’t handle being locked up and had these servants open the door for him the moment we were gone.” Annalise’s expression was filled with deep disappointment. “How could you do this to Lucas? You almost killed him, and now you won’t even own up to it. Is this really the brother I grew up with? Do you really think we only have you to care about?” One of the servants finally spoke, voice trembling, “Miss, we didn’t let him out without your permission. Mr. Liam really has been locked in the basement for three whole days.” Annalise’s gaze flickered to the basement, her unease suddenly apparent. She stepped forward and yanked on the door, but it wouldn’t budge. “Liam, seriously? I’ve unlocked the door, and you’re still refusing to come out?” I stood there, staring at the twisted basement door, bitterly smiling. I had tried to survive by banging on the door, desperate for air, but it was too solid, and I couldn’t get it open. No crack, no escape. I was left to suffocate, trapped in that dark place. Sisters, if you see me like this—my body cold and lifeless—could you at least show me a little love? Could you bury me beside Mom and Dad? Serena grew more impatient. She kicked the door with all her might. The twisted door cracked open, and a putrid stench wafted out. One of the servants, shuddering, spoke in a terrified whisper, “It smells like… a corpse.” Both Celeste and Annalise stormed forward, their faces filled with fury. “A corpse smell? Don’t be ridiculous! That little punk must have snuck out already and thrown in a dead rat to mess with us. Do you think we’re that stupid?” All three sisters kicked the door in unison, shaking the entire basement. With a loud crash, the door finally gave way, revealing the dark, claustrophobic space—and the overpowering stench of decay that followed.

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Roger Quinn, the man I had secretly loved for years, was about to announce his engagement to my younger sister. Summoning all my courage, I returned to Beltown to confess my feelings. The room erupted with laughter at my audacity. “Look at her,” someone sneered, “a bastard child trying to climb the social ladder.” But they didn’t know. When I was eighteen, Roger had kissed me, a moment so tender it had lingered in my heart ever since. And they definitely didn’t know the truth that I wasn’t the illegitimate daughter. Lisa was. I stood my ground, forcing myself to look Roger in the eye and demand an answer. “I thought you were Lisa back then,” he said coldly. “I’m not interested in you.” Lisa nestled into his arms, her smug smile like salt in an open wound. I bit back the tears, forcing a bitter smile. “In that case, I wish you both all the happiness in the world.” Then I turned and walked away, dialing the number of the wealthy godmother. “I’ll do it,” I said. “I’ll leave Beltown and marry your son.” On the day of my wedding, Roger had called off his engagement to Lisa. He asked me if I could give him another chance. I glanced at him briefly, then turned to my fiancé, tightening my hold on his arm. “Sorry,” I said lightly, my tone indifferent. “I’m not interested in you anymore.”

When I returned from Cletown unannounced, the entire room froze in shock. Roger and my half-sister, Lisa, were in the middle of discussing their engagement. Leona Quinn’s face twisted in discomfort, though she forced a smile. “How long are you planning to stay?” I set my suitcase down and answered directly, “I’m not going back to Cletown. I’m planning to find a job here.” The room erupted into murmurs, the air suddenly heavy with tension. The looks my relatives gave me changed instantly, filled with disdain and derision. Someone sneered, “After what you did back then, you’ve still got the nerve to show your face here?” Another muttered, “Ungrateful brat. The Quinn family took you in, and this is how you repay them? Trying to climb up to Roger?” Silence settled over the room like a thick fog. They weren’t wrong. I had come back to ruin the engagement. Summoning all my courage, I stepped toward Roger, my heart pounding in my chest. “Roger,” I said, my voice trembling, “I like you.” Roger’s expression remained calm as if I were nothing more than a naive child. Lisa rose from her seat, her eyes welling with tears. “If Mirea likes Roger too,” she said softly, “then maybe we shouldn’t get engaged.” Roger finally spoke, his voice cold and measured, “Mirea, stop this nonsense. I don’t feel anything for you.” He didn’t feel anything for me? I stared at him, my composure cracking. “Then why were you so furious when I dated someone before?” “You were too young. As your guardian, it was my responsibility to keep you from making mistakes.” “And the kiss? When I turned eighteen, you came into my room in the middle of the night and kissed me. Was that nothing? Don’t tell me it was a mistake.” Roger’s face didn’t waver. “I was drunk. It was just a kiss; it didn’t mean anything.” I let out a bitter laugh. “And what about the family heirloom bracelet? You gave it to me. Was that ‘just nothing’ too?” “That was to make you happy,” he replied, his tone flat, devoid of emotion. It felt like a wall inside me collapsed. This gamble, this desperate, reckless bet, was a resounding loss. Then Roger added, “If the bracelet caused a misunderstanding, you should return it. I’ll need it back now that I’m getting married.” I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. “Fine,” I whispered. Lisa pouted, tugging on his sleeve. “It’s just a bracelet, Roger. If Mirea likes it so much, let her have it.” The man who had doted on me pulled her close, his voice soft. “No, what’s yours is yours.” Lisa leaned into him, her face glowing with triumph. “It’s just a formality. As long as I have your heart, nothing else matters.” The way he gazed at her, tender and adoring, was exactly how he used to look at me. I stood there in a daze as the room erupted into cruel laughter. “She has no shame, asking something like that.” “They never should’ve let Roger take her in. Look at the mess now.” “Exactly. No wonder her parents didn’t want her. She deserves it.” Even though I had prepared for the worst, the words still stung. Leona couldn’t take it anymore and dragged me aside, her voice a sharp whisper. “What were you thinking? If you had to come back, fine, but why make things so awkward for everyone? “Roger practically raised you. Sure, he’s not your biological uncle, but he treated you like you were the center of his world. “And Lisa is your sister. How could you be so jealous of her happiness that you’d try to tear them apart?” She was right. Roger wasn’t my real uncle. He had taken me in as a child, and I had loved him in secret for seven years. But was it my fault? He was the one who gave me hope, time and time again.

The whispers around me pulled at the dark threads of my past, dragging back memories I’d rather forget. I was Lisa’s half-sister, sharing the same father but not the same life. She was born into the Bentley family as their beloved princess, showered with love and privilege. I, on the other hand, was the outcast. It all started with Hugo Bentley, the man who had promised my mother the world. She fell in love with him, only to find herself pregnant. He convinced her to keep the baby, promising they would marry. But he kept delaying the wedding, and when I was four, he turned his back on us completely, marrying a wealthy debutante instead. The day Hugo wed the Quinn family heiress, my mother showed up at their grand estate with me in her arms, desperate for justice. Instead, she was branded a homewrecker and pelted with eggs. Shielding me with her body, she endured every insult and slur hurled her way. From that day on, she was a pariah in Beltown, a walking scandal whispered about behind every closed door. She could no longer bear the humiliation. A year later, when I was five, she took her own life by jumping from our apartment window. My existence became a thorn in Hugo’s side, an embarrassment he couldn’t ignore. Reluctantly, he brought me into his mansion, but he treated me like a ghost, neither acknowledging me nor caring whether I lived or died. Roger, who lived next door, saw me for the lonely child I was and took me in. He gave me a new name, Mirea Quinn, erasing my ties to the Bentley family. To the world, I was now “Ms. Quinn,” no longer the unwanted daughter of a disgraced mother. Roger raised me with care and affection, spoiling me as if I were his own. He nurtured me, shaping me into someone more elegant and poised than Lisa could ever be. I didn’t know when my admiration for him shifted into something deeper. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with my handsome and kind “uncle.” In high school, suitors came in droves, but I turned them all down. My deskmate, Laura, once asked if I liked anyone. Unable to contain my secret, I confessed my feelings for Roger. What I planned to keep buried forever was dragged into the light at my 18th birthday party. Somehow, Lisa had gotten hold of a recording of my conversation with Laura. She played it for everyone to hear, the words echoing like a cruel joke: “I think I might be in love with Roger.” My cheeks burned as I stammered out an explanation, but Roger said nothing. Instead, he told me to go to my room and rest. The rumors that followed engulfed him like wildfire. Ken, Roger’s grandfather, was furious. He demanded that Roger send me away to avoid further scandal. Roger refused. He defied the family for my sake, even at the cost of being stripped of his position as CEO. I couldn’t bear to see him suffer, so I changed my university application. Late at night, I knocked on his door, telling him not to worry. “I’ve already applied to a university down south,” I said. “I’ll leave soon. You won’t have to worry about me anymore.” His room reeked of alcohol. He said nothing as he stepped closer, his breath hot and heavy, before losing control and kissing me. That kiss seared itself into my memory, a moment I clung to even as I moved thousands of miles away. For four years, I stayed away, never once returning to Beltown. But I couldn’t stop thinking about him, replaying that night over and over. I thought he liked me. When I heard about his engagement to Lisa, I rushed home and demanded an answer. But it turned out I was just a joke. That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind refusing to rest. By two in the morning, I gave up on sleep and went to the wine cellar for a drink. Passing by Roger’s room, I heard faint voices, a woman’s soft, coquettish murmur. “Come closer,” he said. “Didn’t seeing her like that make you feel the slightest bit guilty?” Lisa asked. “What’s there to feel guilty about?” Roger’s voice was calm, even dismissive. “When I took her in, it was purely to strengthen the Quinn family’s alliances. Once we’re married, I’ll find a suitable match for her and send her on her way.” The string I had been clinging to so tightly snapped. I stood frozen outside the door, each second stretching into an eternity. Everything I had believed, the warmth that had carried me through my darkest days, it was all a lie. To him, I was nothing more than a pawn, a tool to be used and discarded. For the first time, I felt an overwhelming urge to leave the Quinn family behind, no matter what it took.

I didn’t know when I had fallen asleep, but by the time I opened my eyes, the sun was already high in the sky. I packed my bags, along with the gifts Roger had given me over the years, including the bracelet. Hesitating for a moment, I walked to his door and knocked. It was Lisa who answered. She stood there in a deep V-neck dress, her neck and collarbone covered in fresh kiss marks. Seeing me, she tilted her head with a smile and stepped aside. “Roger, Mirea’s here to see you.” The events of the previous day played in my mind, and whatever lingering attachment I had for him vanished. I handed the bracelet and other items to Lisa, dragging my suitcase as I turned to leave. I hadn’t even reached the stairs when Roger called out behind me, “Where are you going?” I turned, my voice calm and detached. “I’m moving out. I won’t trouble you anymore.” He stared at me in silence for a few seconds before replying in an indifferent tone, “Then let’s have dinner together tonight. Consider it a welcome for your return. Let’s not dwell on yesterday. We’re still family.” I didn’t want to go, but then I thought about all he had done for me over the years. Whatever his feelings for me now, I owed him my life. If not for Roger, I might have died of neglect in that cold Bentley Villa. This would be our last meal together before we moved on with our separate lives. At least it was a peaceful ending. “Alright,” I murmured softly, then turned and walked down the stairs. After checking into a hotel, I buried myself under the covers and slept like the dead. At 5 PM, Roger texted me the restaurant’s location. I got up, washed, and applied some light makeup. When I entered the private dining room, I saw a group of familiar faces waiting for me. Lisa greeted me with a glass of wine, her tone overly sweet as she apologized, “Mirea, I’m sorry. Let me toast you to make up for yesterday.” Before I could respond, Roger reached over and took the glass from her. “Lisa’s pregnant; she shouldn’t be drinking,” he said flatly. “And if anyone should apologize, it’s me for letting you misunderstand. I’ll drink this on her behalf.” I stared at the two of them, their performance making me feel strangely hollow. So while I had agonized over whether or not to confess, he had already started a family with someone else. Those moments I had once clung to, were they really just meaningless signals I had misinterpreted? The realization left me feeling like a fool. It was no wonder people laughed at me. Sensing my silence, the atmosphere grew awkward. Roger’s friends quickly stepped in, showering Lisa with compliments and defending her at every turn. Feeling suffocated, I excused myself and went to the restroom. I wondered if coming to this dinner had been a mistake. Perhaps I should make up an excuse and leave early. As I debated, voices drifted in from outside the restroom. “Lisa, why are you even bothering to appease Mirea? Why invite her out at all? “And you’re pregnant! Aren’t you worried she’ll try to seduce Roger?” Lisa’s voice, though hushed, was perfectly audible. “What’s there to worry about? The baby isn’t even Roger’s.” She continued, her tone dripping with malice. “Besides, the more magnanimous I act, the pettier she looks. Roger will hate her even more.” Then, with a sneer, she added, “Her mother was no better, stealing my father like the shameless woman she was.” I couldn’t take it anymore. My foot slammed into the restroom door, flinging it open. “Why are you doing this to him? He loves you!” I shouted. Lisa jumped, startled, but quickly recovered, her expression twisting into mockery. “Why? Because seeing you miserable makes me happy. Everything you want, I’ll take it all.” Before I knew it, my hand lashed out, striking her across the face. She stared at me in shock, her cheek flaming red, before rushing back to the dining room. By the time I returned, she was sitting beside Roger, tears glistening in her eyes as she touched her face. “What happened to your cheek?” Roger asked. Before Lisa could answer, Laura jumped in. “Mirea slapped her.” Roger’s cold gaze pinned me where I stood. “Why did you hit her?” Lisa sniffled pitifully, her voice trembling. “Roger, it’s just a misunderstanding. Please don’t blame her.” Without even attempting to hear my side of the story, Roger moved to her side and demanded I apologize. The suffocating weight of it all crushed any remaining desire I had to stay. I stared at him coldly, grabbed my bag, and made for the door. But Lisa wasn’t done. She lunged after me, grabbing at my arm. I yanked free and quickened my pace, wanting no part of her antics. Behind me, there was a loud crash. Lisa had tripped over a table leg, landing heavily on the ground. Her screams of pain echoed through the room as blood began to pool beneath her. I froze, instinctively turning back to help, but Roger shoved me away with such force that my back slammed into a table corner. Pain radiated through my body, sharp and unrelenting. “Roger, help! Save our baby!” Lisa wailed, clutching her stomach. “Roger, I didn’t push her! She ran at me!” I explained. The next thing I knew, I was being dragged to the hospital, my back throbbing with every step. In the antiseptic hallway, Roger’s voice was as cold as ever. “If something happens to Lisa or the baby, we’re done.” I let out a bitter laugh, glaring at him through the pain. “You think that’s your baby? Open your eyes, Roger. It’s someone else’s bastard.”

“Mirea! Do you even realize what you’re saying?” Before I could respond, the doctor came out with news: Lisa’s child was gone. The next moment, Roger’s icy slap landed on my cheek. Before I could process the sting, he dragged me to Lisa’s hospital bed. “Apologize!” he barked. I bit down on my anger, refusing to open my mouth. Roger pushed me down forcefully until my knees hit the floor with a loud thud. The sharp pain made tears stream down my face uncontrollably. “I’ve told you before, Lisa isn’t like other women. If you ever bully her again, don’t bother coming back.” I struggled to my feet despite the searing pain. “Fine, I won’t come back. After all, the only reason you brought me into the Quinn family in the first place was to secure your family’s business interests!” Roger’s eyes darkened with disappointment. “If you want to leave, then go. Just remember, you owe Lisa a life.” I let out a bitter laugh, wiping away my tears as I glared at him. “I owe her a life? What about the Bentley family? Don’t they owe my mother one? Who’s paying that back?” “Get out,” he hissed coldly. Without a backward glance, I walked out of the hospital and into the pouring rain. I sat on the curb, letting the cold rain soak me as I calmed myself. After what felt like an eternity, I pulled out my phone and made a call. “Godmother,” I said, my voice steady, “I’ve made up my mind. I’ll come back to Cletown tomorrow and get engaged to Yance.” There was a pause on the other end before her excited voice came through. “That’s wonderful news! But don’t rush back just yet, stay a day or two and attend Roger’s engagement party. After all, he did take care of you all these years, and it’s only polite.” I hesitated, then reluctantly agreed. “Perfect timing!” she added. “Yance just got back to the country. He can swing by Beltown to pick you up.” I frowned. “Swing by? Is it really on the way?” “Of course it is! You’re going to be family soon anyway. It’s a great opportunity for you two to chat and get to know each other.” After some thought, I nodded. She wasn’t wrong. After my mother’s death, my godmother had reached out, offering to take me to Cletown to live with her. But Roger had been so kind to me back then. I couldn’t bear to leave and hurt him, so I turned her down every time. Years later, I ended up going to Cletown for university. My godmother often took me shopping, and I spent most of my holidays at her home. When I graduated, she offered me a job at her company and even suggested introducing me to her son, the same boy my mother had once taken me to meet. But back then, my heart belonged to Roger. Now, all of that was behind me. I no longer wanted to stay in Beltown. I needed to start over somewhere new. After hanging up, a notification popped up from an old friend. I opened it to find screenshots of Roger at the hospital, doting on Lisa. I didn’t respond. My friend, noticing my silence, sent another message: “Mirea, are you really giving up just like that? You’ve loved him for seven years.” I sighed, typing back: [What else am I supposed to do? Stay entangled in this mess and become the laughingstock of Beltown?” “That’s not what I meant. I just think…” “Don’t.”I cut her off. “There’s nothing to think about. I don’t love him anymore.”

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After our honeymoon, Enric and I returned home, filled with excitement and ready to start our sweet married life together. But as soon as we arrived, an unexpected storm hit. My mother-in-law was apparently planning to take over the house my parents bought me as a wedding gift for me, intending to turn it into a wedding suite for Enric’s younger brother. I was stunned, my gaze shifting to Enric for support, but he only mumbled something vague about “family sticking together” and even tried to convince me to make this small sacrifice for his brother. “Enric, hurry up and unlock the door! I’m about to collapse!” The sound of the key turning in the lock echoed faintly, and the door opened with a soft click. The decorations from our wedding day greeted us, the roses still adorning every corner of the room. It was like stepping back into the joy of that day. I kicked off my shoes and rushed straight to the bedroom, eager to collapse onto the bed and indulge in a well-deserved nap. But as soon as I opened the door, I froze. Sitting there on our bed were my mother-in-law and an unfamiliar woman. For a moment, I couldn’t even find the words to speak, the sheer absurdity of the scene stealing my voice. My mother-in-law, quick to recover, stood up and greeted me with an almost overbearing cheer. “Oh, Mila, you’re back so soon! Let me introduce you. This is Leo’s girlfriend, Aria. She’s practically family now, your future sister-in-law!” The woman named Aria blushed shyly, her smile polite yet undeniably awkward. “So you’re Mila! I’ve heard so much about you from Leo. He kept talking about how beautiful and capable his sister-in-law was. Now I see he wasn’t exaggerating!” she said with a bright smile. Although I was deeply annoyed by their uninvited presence in my bedroom, especially their casual occupation of my wedding bed, I managed to maintain a facade of politeness. After all, they both seemed friendly, at least for now.

“What? You’re saying she’s staying here? In my home?” Before I could say another word, my mother-in-law hurriedly got up and clapped a hand over my mouth. “Mila, shh! Keep your voice down! Aria’s in the next room; she’ll hear you!” She cast a few nervous glances toward the doorway. I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my anger, though the effort made my chest ache. Forcing a calm expression, I asked, “Where exactly does that leave Enric and me? Are we supposed to just… move out?” “Mila,” she began, her tone suddenly plaintive, “Aria came all the way from another state to be with Leo. She has no family here or any friends to rely on. It wouldn’t be right to send her to a hotel when we’re the only people she can count on. And, well, I know it’s my fault—I haven’t been much help financially over the years. I couldn’t even contribute to my sons’ weddings…” Her voice broke as she trailed off, now spilling her grievances as though this were my problem to solve. Frustration swelled in my chest. Sure, Aria might be a newcomer here, but wasn’t I a new bride too? Did my needs suddenly not matter? I shot a glance at Enric, hoping for some support, but he was busy gazing at his mother with an expression of deep pity, entirely oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. Great. He was useless, too.

Before I could say anything else, Enric spoke up, stepping in to comfort his mother, “Mom, don’t say that. Seeing you like this… it breaks my heart.” Taking her hands in his, he looked at her with the kind of tenderness I had thought was reserved for me. I sat there, silent and seething, watching the scene unfold. After what felt like an eternity, Enric finally coaxed his mother into leaving the room. Now, with her gone, the space seemed unbearably quiet. Enric turned to me, shifting awkwardly as though rehearsing what to say. After a few false starts, he finally spoke, his voice almost pleading. “Mila, you know our family’s situation. I’ve been so lucky to marry someone as amazing as you, and now Leo’s found someone he wants to spend his life with too. I can’t just stand by and let his relationship fall apart. Please, just bear with this for a little while, okay?” He looked so desperate, his six-foot frame practically crumpled into itself, a shadow of the confident, vibrant man I had fallen in love with. I couldn’t help but think of the Enric I had first met, back when he was full of energy and charm.

We had met in college during a basketball tournament. Enric’s team had made it to the finals, and we girls were there to cheer them on. He stood out effortlessly, towering over the crowd with his athletic build. Through the loose fabric of his jersey, I could make out the faint outlines of his abs. On the court, he was unstoppable, each movement bursting with energy and precision. Every time he scored, the crowd roared, and my heart fluttered. What girl wouldn’t fall for a man like that? As if fate had plans for us, I was later chosen to join the cheer squad, giving me the perfect excuse to be near him. We discovered we were both from the same hometown, and conversations over coffee and shared meals quickly became a routine. Our mutual attraction was undeniable, though unspoken, until tragedy struck. Enric’s father passed away unexpectedly. The loss shattered him, leaving behind a man who was barely a shadow of his former self. Gone was the carefree athlete; in his place was someone drowning in grief. I couldn’t bear to see him like that. I clung to him, trying to pull him back into the light, until one night, after a few too many drinks, he finally let his walls down. That night, he showed me the side of himself he had kept hidden: the pain, the fears, and the vulnerability.

Enric came from a humble background. To be honest, it was more on the struggling side. He grew up in a cramped, 500-square-foot house in a small town, sharing the limited space with his parents and younger brother. His father picked up odd jobs wherever he could, while his mother, a traditional rural homemaker, took care of the household and mended old clothes to make ends meet. When Enric’s father passed away, it felt like the entire sky had fallen for their family. Hearing about Enric’s life, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of heartache and admiration. I pitied the hardships he had endured but respected the determination that drove him to earn a place at our prestigious university. His resilience struck a chord deep within me, and I wanted to be the light that pulled him out of the shadows. That was how we started dating. We became the quintessential campus couple, a pair envied by everyone around us. I believed wholeheartedly in his perseverance and dedication. Despite his modest family background, I never hesitated in committing to a future with him. That same belief was what made me relent when Enric pleaded with me to let Aria stay. I couldn’t ignore the desperation in his eyes, even though it grated against my own sense of fairness. Eventually, I agreed, on one condition: the arrangement was temporary. Once Aria and Leo were married, they would need to move into their own place because Enric and I still needed the house as our home.

When I married Enric, his family had next to nothing. They couldn’t afford wedding gifts or a grand wedding. I understood the weight he carried as the eldest son and never pressured him for more than he could provide. My parents, on the other hand, were deeply concerned for me. They wanted to ensure I’d have a stable future, so they fully paid for a house as a wedding gift for me. But in reality, it was meant to be our marital home. Even after the wedding, my parents funded our honeymoon, which Enric and I had just returned from, still basking in the joy of those precious days together. Now, the idea of letting someone else move into the house I had barely gotten to enjoy felt like a bitter pill to swallow. But for Enric’s sake, I held my tongue. When I finally agreed, Enric was overwhelmed, pulling me into his arms with tears brimming in his eyes. He kept apologizing, promising to make it up to me in the future. That night, we packed up and spent the night at his mother’s house. As soon as we stepped inside, the cramped space, outdated furnishings, and lingering scent of cooking oil made my stomach churn. But when I glanced at Enric, I swallowed my discomfort, choosing silence over complaint. After Enric’s father passed, he had a lot of burden because he was the eldest son. The bed creaked beneath me, the mattress sagging in places, and the damp quilt carried the faint scent of mildew. I closed my eyes and willed myself to sleep, but the night stretched on in restless misery. By the time morning came, my dark-circled eyes told the entire story. Enric noticed but hesitated to say anything, his guilt written all over his face.

After breakfast, we wasted no time heading to a nearby real estate agent. We both knew his family’s house wasn’t an option for me. It was impossible to live there long-term. Through the agent, we found a fully furnished apartment, move-in ready, and signed a three-month lease. I thought to myself, “Three months should be enough for Aria and Leo to settle their wedding plans.” By the end of the day, we had packed up and moved into the new apartment. Over the next few weeks, I grew closer to Aria. She was warm and sweet, always greeting me cheerfully. She often dragged me along for shopping trips, snacks, and walks. For a moment, it felt like I’d gained a sister I never had. In our conversations, I learned more about her. Aria was an orphan, raised in a welfare home. Her story moved me. This bubbly, carefree girl had so much courage to chase after love, despite the odds. She had known Leo online, and she had come all the way to this city for him, a bold and romantic move for someone with no one to rely on. Time flew by, and before I knew it, over a month had passed. One evening, as the whole family gathered for dinner, Leo stood up to make an announcement. “We’ve set the date,” he said with a smile. “Aria and I will be getting married at the start of next month.” All eyes turned to Aria, who sat across from me, her face lighting up. Her shy smile made her look delicate.

As the wedding day drew closer, Aria’s nervousness became more and more apparent. Feeling a mix of sympathy for her and a sense of familial responsibility, I spent much of my time with her. I helped with wedding preparations, trying to ease her anxiety and help her relax. One afternoon, while chatting, I casually asked Aria where she and Leo planned to live after the wedding. Her response left me frozen in place. “We’ll stay in the house I’m living in now, of course. Why do you ask?” she replied, her face showing nothing but innocence. Her words hit me like a thunderclap. Trying to stay calm, I repeated, “You and Leo will live in the house you’re in now?” “Yes!” Aria said, her tone cheerful, though her brows furrowed slightly as if wondering why I was so surprised. “Leo told me this would be our marital home. He even decorated it before I arrived; he covered it in red roses! Isn’t he thoughtful?” Watching her radiant smile as she spoke, I felt a chill seep through my chest. That evening, Enric had barely stepped through the door when I confronted him. “Enric, your brother is planning to use our marital home as his wedding house!” He froze, his expression puzzled. “Wait, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.” His confusion seemed genuine, which only deepened my suspicions. Could it be that he didn’t know? I studied his face, my mind racing. “I found out today while chatting with Aria,” I explained, detailing the conversation. As I spoke, I watched his face for any sign of recognition, but he just stood there, frowning in silence. Finally, I couldn’t hold back anymore. My tone turned sharp. “Enric, whether you knew about this or not, you know now. I don’t care whose idea this was, but you’d better give me an explanation I can accept.” The truth was, the moment Aria mentioned it, I had already guessed what was happening. It didn’t matter who orchestrated it; the goal was clear: they wanted my house for Leo’s marriage. Enric squirmed under my glare. “Honey, please don’t be angry. Let me go talk to Mom and Leo about it,” he stammered before grabbing his coat and rushing out without waiting for my reply.

t was almost midnight when Enric returned, looking utterly exhausted. He flipped on the light, only to find me sitting in the dark, waiting. “Honey, why aren’t you asleep? What are you doing sitting here?” “I’m waiting,” I said calmly, my gaze unwavering. “I want to hear what you’ve decided.” We locked eyes, the silence stretching between us like a taut rope. Enric opened his mouth, then closed it again, repeating the motion several times before finally speaking. “Honey, let’s just let Leo borrow the house for a little while.” “Borrow it?” My voice was ice cold. “For how long? Ten years? Twenty? Or maybe for the rest of his life?” “Come on, honey,” he said, his tone tinged with exasperation. “He’s my only brother, and it’s not like we’re homeless. We already have a place to stay. Can’t we just let him use it for now?” Enric pleaded with me for what felt like forever. I neither agreed nor outright refused, telling him I needed time to think. This wasn’t the Enric I knew. What had his mother and brother said to him to make him so willing to disregard my feelings? That night, I couldn’t sleep. My thoughts churned restlessly until I was pulled from them by the incessant buzzing of Enric’s phone. Annoyed, I reached for it to put it on silent. That’s when I saw it: a message from his mother. [Enric, how’s it going?] Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened their chat.

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## A self-proclaimed rich girl came to our company for an interview today. Her answers were all over the place, yet somehow, she managed to beat out Ivy League graduates. “Oh no, I wasn’t ready earlier. Can we start over?” she said. The panel of interviewers froze, their fake smiles plastered on their faces. And so, the “exclusive” interview began. From morning till evening, it was all about her. By the time the city lights came on, the exhausted interviewers, looking like they’d just aged ten years, announced mandatory overtime for everyone in the company. That night, the rich girl posted a video: “Day 1 of inheriting my family business: Starting with a ‘secret identity’ interview.” I immediately called my mom. “Spill it. Do you have a secret love child, or am I some swapped-at-birth fake heiress?” A self-proclaimed rich girl came to our company for an interview today. Her answers were all over the place, yet somehow, she managed to beat out Ivy League graduates. “Oh no, I wasn’t ready earlier. Can we start over?” she said. The panel of interviewers froze, their fake smiles plastered on their faces. And so, the “exclusive” interview began. From morning till evening, it was all about her. By the time the city lights came on, the exhausted interviewers, looking like they’d just aged ten years, announced mandatory overtime for everyone in the company. That night, the rich girl posted a video: “Day 1 of inheriting my family business: Starting with a ‘secret identity’ interview.” I immediately called my mom. “Spill it. Do you have a secret love child, or am I some swapped-at-birth fake heiress?”

Today was interview day at the office. All the candidates had left, but somehow, the interview wasn’t over. “Didn’t the interviews finish already? Why aren’t the managers out yet?” Zach, who needed some signatures, was pacing back and forth, visibly frustrated. “Shh! You don’t know? The boss’s ‘daughter’ is still in there.” “What?!” “Yeah, the heiress. She even posted about it yesterday.” Suddenly, everyone perked up. Whispers spread like wildfire as gossip flooded every group chat. Curious, I clicked on the link in one of the gossip threads. “Tomorrow’s my big interview—what should I wear?” In the video, the enormous walk-in closet looked disturbingly familiar. And in the back corner? My best friend’s gift—a pair of my silk pajamas. My blood boiled. I immediately called the housekeeper. “Uncle Frank, is everything all right at home?” “Uh… yes, Miss Claire. Everything’s fine…” Uncle Frank’s usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found. His hesitation sent a chill down my spine. Something was definitely wrong. “How’s my mom doing? Is she okay? When are you coming back?” he asked, quickly changing the subject. “She’s still in treatment. I’ll be back soon,” I said, keeping my voice steady. I’d been abroad since high school, receiving a top-tier education. Six months ago, when my mom suddenly fell ill, I brought her overseas for treatment. Her condition had stabilized, and I’d just finished my studies. It was time to return and take over the family business, as my mom had requested. To get a clear picture of how things were running, I decided to apply to the company anonymously, just to see what was really going on. A little undercover “work experience,” if you will. But I wasn’t expecting to walk into a scene straight out of a soap opera: a fake heiress playing dress-up in my house and pretending to be me. Staring at the messy pile of clothes and accessories in her video, all of which were mine, I clenched my fists. This was going to cost me, wasn’t it? No matter. I was going to find out who was behind this nonsense. That night, the fake heiress posted another video: “Day 1 of inheriting the family business: Starting with a ‘secret identity’ interview.”

The next morning, the gossip group chat exploded again. Someone had leaked photos of the fake heiress arriving at work. Wearing oversized sunglasses, “Mia” stepped out of a car—my car. She clutched an Hermès bag—my bag. And from the slightly ill-fitting suit she was wearing? That was my suit too. Of course, it looked a little loose on her, given her short and stocky frame. Before she even made it to the elevator, the fashionistas in the chat had dissected her outfit from head to toe. “She’s the real deal, all right! It’s like she’s wearing a whole mansion on her back!” “I wish I could be friends with a rich girl like that.” “Who wouldn’t want to be her bestie?” But their admiration didn’t last long. On her first day, the fake heiress immediately stole the team leader’s desk, claiming it had better lighting for her videos. The team leader’s polite smile froze on her face. By day two, she outright plagiarized a coworker’s report and passed it off as her own. By day three, she was randomly berating another coworker for “poor performance.” Every day, she updated her followers with videos portraying herself as the ultimate corporate powerhouse. According to her, the bosses were practically begging her to take over. She painted herself as a workplace prodigy, while the rest of us were reduced to her “supporting cast.” Her fans even gave us nicknames: “Useless Coworker #1,” “Useless Coworker #2,” and so on. The managers, spineless and sycophantic, let her do whatever she wanted. My coworkers were furious but too scared to speak up. Watching all of this unfold, my disappointment in the company’s leadership grew. I quietly documented everything in a little notebook, page after page filling up with her misdeeds.

3 It was time for our team’s product presentation. I’d spent several nights working overtime, perfecting the PPT slides. Just as I was about to take the stage, Mia strutted over, holding her phone up for a live stream. “Claire, what are you standing there for? Can’t you see the managers don’t have any water? Go fetch some, now!” She tossed her hair over her shoulder, her eyes darting nervously, though she tried to mask it with an air of superiority. “Such a lack of awareness,” she muttered. Turning to her live stream audience, she added in a sickly-sweet voice, “See, my precious fans? I have to be strict with these employees—they’re just too lazy without me!” I squinted at her, pretending to comply, and walked toward the door. But instead of leaving, I stopped just outside, leaning against the wall to listen. Sure enough, Mia had an ulterior motive. She confidently stepped up to the podium, opened the PPT I’d worked so hard on, and adopted a serious expression. “Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Mia, and I’ll be presenting today’s product overview.” She turned to the managers and added with fake humility, “I just joined the company, so my presentation might not be perfect. Please give me your feedback.” The team, catching on to her sly move, turned to look at me, their expressions a mix of disbelief and amusement. I crossed my arms and glared. My icy demeanor made them all shrink back a little. To her credit, Mia had a sweet voice, and she read through my slides word-for-word, as if they were her own. The room erupted into applause when she finished, and she flashed a wide, self-satisfied smile at her viewers, even winking at the camera. But then, someone interrupted. “So, what’s the design concept behind this product?” The applause died instantly. Mia froze, the question catching her completely off guard. The room fell silent as everyone turned to me. “Uh, the concept? Well, it’s… um… it’s designed to… increase revenue! Yes, that’s it—revenue!” Her face turned bright red as she stammered out a response. The room stayed quiet for a long, awkward three seconds before the department manager finally stepped in to smooth things over. “Well, at the end of the day, it’s all about contributing to the company’s success!” The audience murmured in agreement, but I felt disgusted. A market manager with no principles? How could this company ever grow? I sighed, frustrated. Later, Mia began to notice the growing dissatisfaction among her coworkers. To win them over, she began bringing in snacks and drinks every afternoon. “I ordered everyone some treats!” she announced, grinning. “Thanks, boss!” someone joked. “Don’t call me that—I am trying to keep a low profile!” Slowly but surely, her “sugar bombs” worked. My coworkers began warming up to her, overlooking her antics. But of course, Mia wasn’t about to let me off easy. “Oh no, Claire, I forgot you were here! I didn’t order anything for you—oops!” Her acting was atrocious, but the result was painfully effective. I was gradually ostracized by the team, left out of conversations and projects.

The company’s mid-year product sales meeting was fast approaching. The team leader assigned me to handle “service work.” “Service work? You mean, like a waiter?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, I’m just kidding,” he replied with a smirk. “But seriously, Claire, make sure everything’s perfect. No mistakes.” Mia covered her mouth, giggling as she exchanged smug glances with the others. The toxic atmosphere in the team was grating on my nerves. The team leader had no control over the chaos Mia stirred up, and I was running out of patience. Still, he had one announcement that caught everyone’s attention: “This time, Mr. Grant from Kingsman Group will be attending the meeting. He’s a key client, and his investment will determine next year’s orders. So, bring your A-game.” “Mr. Grant?” someone whispered. “THE Mr. Grant? The George Clooney of Wall Street?” The room buzzed with excitement. My female coworkers looked ready to faint, their cheeks glowing red. Mia’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. I, on the other hand, groaned inwardly. Why does it have to be him? The company was pulling out all the stops for the sales meeting. To secure Mr. Grant’s investment, everyone had been working overtime for a week, ensuring every detail was flawless. The day of the event, Mia, who wasn’t even part of the reception team, showed up early. “Claire doesn’t have the experience for this kind of high-stakes event,” she declared to the team leader. “I should handle the reception instead.” “This is too important to risk,” the team leader replied flatly. “You don’t have the expertise.” “Don’t worry. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility,” Mia insisted, her tone laced with veiled threats. “And don’t forget—I’m going to inherit this company one day.” The team leader caved, unwilling to argue. I, meanwhile, couldn’t have been happier to avoid dealing with Mr. Grant. As the biggest investor, Mr. Grant arrived last, making an entrance that turned heads. Tall, sharp, and effortlessly charismatic, he strode into the room like he owned the place, his piercing gaze sweeping across the crowd. Mia’s face lit up as she rushed forward, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “Mr. Grant, I’m Mia. I’ll be assisting you today,” she said with a forced giggle. He didn’t even glance at her, walking straight past as his eyes scanned the room. “Mr. Grant, you’re so funny!” Mia called after him, mistaking his indifference for teasing. “My dad owns Titan Group. He told me our families go way back.” Mr. Grant stopped abruptly, turning to look at her. His expression darkened, his piercing gaze now cold and scrutinizing. “Excuse me,” he said icily, “but the Grants and the Lee family are not ‘old friends.’” The room went dead silent. In reality, the Grants were close with my family—the Charlestons. Without us, the Lee family was nothing. Mia’s face turned pale as she stumbled back. Quickly, the team leader stepped in, trying to defuse the situation. “Mia, apologize to Mr. Grant. He’s just joking with you!” “Uncle!” Mia whined, her voice trembling, clearly trying to play the victim. Across the room, the other company executives exchanged knowing smirks. No one took Mia seriously anymore—except me. I clenched my fists, anger boiling inside me. Titan Group had been built by my grandfather and nurtured by my family for three generations. It was the heart of the Charleston legacy. And I wouldn’t let anyone—least of all Mia—tear it apart.

The product sales meeting was a disaster. As the chaos wound down, Mr. Grant—aka Ethan—shot me a knowing look, raising an eyebrow. I gave him a small nod in return. At the coffee shop downstairs: “Why are you here, Ethan?” I asked, sipping my coffee. “Someone’s been back in town for weeks and didn’t even bother to let me know. What was I supposed to do? Wait for a formal invitation?” He leaned back in his chair, his usual playful grin on full display. “And don’t pretend you didn’t miss me.” Ethan’s casual charm was in full force, complete with exaggerated winks and flirtatious smirks. “Alright, enough. What’s the deal with this Mia?” “Don’t worry,” I said, smirking. “She’ll be handled soon enough.” We hadn’t seen each other in ages, and the conversation flowed so easily that neither of us noticed the pair of angry eyes glaring at us from outside the café window. When I returned to the office, things felt… off. Everyone was staring at me, their expressions a mix of judgment and disdain. “Hmph, does she even know her place? Imagining she could catch Mr. Grant’s eye?” “Exactly. Throwing herself at him during the company event—what a disgrace! She embarrassed all of us.” Two coworkers who used to be friendly with me were now taking turns mocking me in whispers loud enough for everyone to hear. “Claire, how do you even have the nerve to show your face here?” Mia suddenly interjected, pointing a furious finger at me. “You’re shameless! Flirting with Mr. Grant instead of focusing on your work? Do you even want this job?” Her face was flushed with anger, but her tone was laced with triumph. “That’s ridiculous,” I replied calmly. “Ethan and I are just friends.” My words were met with laughter. “Friends? You? With someone like Mr. Grant?” Mia sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. “Yeah,” one of the others chimed in. “If you want to marry into money, maybe try reincarnating into a rich family first!” I glanced around at their mocking faces, keeping my composure. Then, I let a slow, deliberate smile spread across my lips. “Well, since you’re all in such a good mood,” I said, my voice sweet but cold, “you’ll be thrilled to hear the news: because of Mia’s poor performance during the meeting, the entire marketing department’s year-end bonuses have been canceled.” The office fell silent. The laughter stopped instantly, and everyone turned to me, their mouths agape in shock. Just moments earlier, I had contacted the head of the finance department—one of my mother’s most trusted employees. Ever since Mia had joined the company, the marketing department had descended into chaos. The leadership was spineless, the employees were lazy, and everyone spent more time scheming against each other than actually doing their jobs. When things went wrong, no one tried to fix them. Instead, they pointed fingers and gossiped. If they couldn’t self-correct, they deserved to face the consequences.

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Edward Wellington’s mom, Chloe Wellington, didn’t think I was worthy of being with Edward and offered me 50 million dollars to leave him. My good friend, Ashley Morgan, disagreed and said, “True love is the best of all worlds. Your pure love can’t be tainted with money. If you take the money and leave now, you’ll live with the guilt of Mr. Wellington for the rest of your life.” I believed her and didn’t ask for the money, only hoping that Edward would be nice to me. But later, I found out that Edward had been dating Ashley for a long time. In the end, I had nothing left and got breast cancer out of anger, while Ashley took the 100 million dollars from Chloe and broke up with Edward. I found her in her luxury villa and begged her to lend me the money for the surgery. But I got red wine thrown in my face. She said, “You’re such a dumbass. I stole your boyfriend and took the breakup fee that should have belonged to you. I’m afraid you’ll hold a grudge against me. How could I possibly save you?” In the end, I died of breast cancer. Opening my eyes again, I traveled back to when Chloe offered me 50 million dollars to demand that I leave Edward. I took off my Bluetooth headset and turned my cell phone off, then shook my head at Chloe and said, “Mrs. Chloe Wellington, I’m pregnant with Edward’s baby.”

Edward Wellington’s mom, Chloe Wellington, said, “My son is the president of the Wellington Group and is voted best bachelor, but you’re a factory girl. You are not suitable. Even if you’re together, you’ll end up apart. You’d better listen to me. Take the money and leave Edward. It’s better for both of you.” The check was placed in my palm as if it had hit me on the head. I sat up straight and held the check in both hands, carefully examining the numbers on it. My good friend, Ashley Morgan, said, “You can’t take this money. If you take it, it’s a crack in your relationship with Mr. Wellington. You’ll never be together anymore. True love is the best of all worlds. Your pure love can’t be tainted with money.” Ashley’s voice kept coming over the headphones, pissing me off so much that my breasts hurt vaguely. I thought, “You are the crack and the stinking piece of shit in my relationship with Edward.” I simply removed my Bluetooth headset and turned it off. I sighed and pushed the check to Chloe, shaking my head, “I can’t do this, Mrs. Chloe Wellington.” Chloe got a little angry and took the check back. “You’ll regret it later.” I pressed the corner of the check and said meaningfully, “I’m pregnant with Edward’s baby.” Chloe’s face went gloomy, and she gasped, thinking I wanted to marry Edward because of it. I said, “Mrs. Chloe Wellington, an abortion is quite an expense and physically damaging, even to my spirit…” “I’ll give you 100 million dollars,” interrupted Chloe, sensing what I was thinking. “Deal,” I agreed and took the check back from Chloe. Now, that was right. She had to treat everyone the same. Why did she give Ashley 100 million dollars and only give me 50 million dollars? I went straight from the restaurant to the bank to transfer the money. When I had time, I was going to learn about money management and then deal with them.

All afternoon, I was so excited I wanted to scream. I admitted that I was a woman who loved money. The heat was cool on the cab ride back, and the driver was friendly enough to keep me entertained. In my last life, I told Ashley that Chloe wanted to see me and asked her to advise me. She told me to put on my Bluetooth headset and do everything she told me. When she heard that Chloe wanted to offer me 50 million dollars in exchange for leaving Edward, Ashley was instantly angry and anxious. She said, “True love is what persists under worldly pressures and through all the trials and tribulations. Megan, these are the tests of your love. “You can’t take this money. If you take it, it’s a crack in your relationship with Mr. Wellington. You’ll never be together anymore. True love is the best of all worlds. Your pure love can’t be tainted with money. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be looked down upon.” So, I believed her. I didn’t ask for money and just wanted Edward to be true to me. It wasn’t until Edward proposed a breakup that I realized I was just a stand-in for his dead first love. Coincidentally, Ashley also looked like me, so the two of them had been together behind my back for a long time. Edward said, “You’re conservative and boring. In bed, you’re simply not as interesting as Ashley. “I’m the president of the Wellington Group, but I waste a lot of my time kissing you every day by coaxing and tricking you. “I’ve had enough. I don’t want to keep coaxing you, and I don’t want to keep hiding with Ashley. I’m going to give her an identity.” In the end, I had nothing left and got breast cancer from anger. Ashley had persuaded me to be pure in the first place, but she took 100 million dollars from Chloe and world-traveled while in a relationship. I waited until she returned home and met her in her luxury house, but she threw red wine in my face. She tapped my forehead with her fingertips and looked at me like I was a clown. Ashley said, “You’re such a dumbass. I stole your boyfriend and took the breakup fee that should have belonged to you. I’m afraid you’ll hold a grudge against me. How could I possibly save you? Go to hell.” Of course, I knew she had tricked me. But I had no other choice but to beg them. I had no father or mother and only knew them. In the end, I died of breast cancer in the basement. Perhaps God took pity on my ridiculous and pathetic life. Starting over again, I swore I’d never make the same mistake. The money would be mine, and I didn’t care about Edward anymore.

I joyfully got out of the car and saw Ashley, who was in a hurry at the entrance of the community, at once. Seeing me, Ashley quickly ran over to me, her eyes fixed on the distant cab. “How did you afford to take a cab? It costs two hundred dollars to get here from the center of the city. Did you take her money?” She took a deep breath, looking disappointed. I tried to put my smile away and said, “No, I just got startled and wanted to get home to you quickly.” Ashley’s expression got a little better, and she affectionately took my arm. She said, “Don’t mind if I nag you. Fifty million dollars is nothing. As long as you can stay with Mr. Wellington, you’ll have all the wealth of the Wellington family later. “You have to tell Edward and the Wellington family that you don’t want their wealth and that you really like Edward so that they won’t look down on you. “Otherwise, when you marry Edward, your life will not be easy, and they will bully you. So you have to refuse all those bags and jewelry that Mr. Wellington sends you. Understand?” Along the way, Ashley kept talking. I stopped abruptly and yanked her hand away. “Ashley, stop saying that.” She was stunned and looked at me helplessly. She had her mouth open but didn’t make any sound. I said, “My feelings for Edward and I are pure and sacred. I forbid you to talk about us like that.” Hearing that, she smiled, “That’s what I mean. It’s good that you understand.” “Ashley.” I said, staring into her eyes, “How come you never came back from the party yesterday when you said you were going to the bathroom? I’m surprised you didn’t come home at night either.” Ashley’s face instantly turned pale, and her expression stiffened. “I was drunk, so I slept at the hotel.” I continued, “Did you run into Edward? You guys almost left together. He said something came up at the company. But it was late by then.” Ashley licked her lip and rubbed her nose. “Probably a foreign client. You know how big his business is.” I chuckled, “That’s true.” Ashley took out her keys and ran away, saying she’d open the door. However, I saw her pat her chest and sigh in relief as she ran. It turned out they were already together at this time. I was such a dumbass in my previous life that I hadn’t suspected them at all. I was a bit angry. To prevent getting breast cancer, I took out my cell phone and tapped into the dialog box with Edward. I received his transfer of 100 thousand dollars from yesterday and messaged him: [I have picked out my birthday present. You can buy me the world’s limited edition pink Maserati.] Edward quickly replied: [Do you have a driving license?] In my opinion, it didn’t matter whether I had a driving license or not, as long as the car was expensive enough to keep me from getting angry. I replied: [Edward, how could you say that? You’re not acting like a president at all. Since I said I wanted it, you should just buy it for me. Why are you asking so many questions? Are you having another woman?] Edward replied to me after a long time: [I’m sorry. I was wrong. But I swear that you are my only woman.] I didn’t buy his words. He definitely went behind my back and got together with a lot of women who looked like his first love. However, in this life, I only needed money, and the rest was nothing.

On my birthday, Edward booked the fanciest hotel in Mountna and invited a bunch of his friends. Ashley arrived late, wearing a tight dress that showed off her figure and a fantastic emerald necklace. The necklace, which I had seen an actress wearing, was said to be worth more than 300 million dollars. The same night the actress wore it, it had been bought by a mysterious man. It turned out that the mysterious man was Edward. I held my forehead and smiled bitterly. In my previous life, they were so high-profile, but I hadn’t even suspected them. I was so stupid. Ashley stood fearfully in the doorway, looking over at me, waiting for me to beg her to take the empty seat next to Edward. My smiling face suddenly went cold, and I threw the Maserati keys away. “Edward, you disappoint me so much.” Seeing Edward’s dumbfounded face, I continued, “Ashley is a factory girl who earns two hundred dollars a month, but she wears a global limited edition dress and an emerald necklace worth 300 million dollars. “Look at me. I don’t have a single thing of value. Is this decent? Also, I can’t believe you only gave me a Maserati worth tens of millions of dollars for my birthday present. Are you abusing me?” Everyone around covered their mouths for fear of laughing out loud. Edward turned pale with embarrassment and said, “I thought you said you wouldn’t let me give you expensive gifts and that you wanted to have an equal relationship with me.” I said, “It was Ashley who told me I wasn’t allowed to spend a man’s money to save myself from being looked down upon and to be a person with a backbone.” I frowned and got up, walking towards Ashley, who was overwhelmed, “So where did you get all this? Did you win the lottery?” Ashley looked pale and glanced past me to Edward behind me, so anxious she was about to burst into tears. Edward pulled me back and whispered in my ear, “Those things could be fake. Don’t push her. She’s about to cry. Aren’t you guys good friends?” “Fake?” I raised my voice on purpose. “Don’t diss her. We have been friends for a long time. She certainly wouldn’t be vain enough to buy a fake. Am I right, Ashley?” Ashley met my gaze, tears instantly streaming down her face, her delicate makeup disappearing. Gazed upon by the teasing eyes around her, she was in a state of wretchedness at the moment. Ashley said, “They’re fake. I admit they’re fake. I just don’t want to be looked down upon by you guys. What’s wrong with me? You guys were born into rich families, so I can understand you not understanding me.” With that, she looked at me with teary eyes. “What about you? We’re the same kind of people. Do you not understand me? Or are you making a fool out of me on purpose?” I shook my glass. “Who’s the same kind of person as you? Can you find a handsome and rich boyfriend like Edward? I don’t think anyone would want you if you’re so ugly, right?” I coldly splashed the entire glass of red wine on her white dress. I said, “Yes, I did it on purpose. I can’t stand to see you being so hypocritical. Since you said the necklace is fake, I’ll transfer you 10 thousand dollars, and you give me the necklace. Otherwise, it’s real. I’ll find out exactly who sent it to you.” Ashley clenched her fists tightly and angrily removed the necklace before turning to leave. I continued, “Wait. You have to give me the ring and the earrings as well. They are a set.” Ashley cried as she took them off, and it hurt me to watch, let alone Edward. When he sat down again, he asked me in a low voice, “You’ve always had a good temper, but why are you so mad at her today?” I said, “I think she’s being a mistress. I can’t let her make more mistakes. Do you understand?” Seeing my good intentions, Edward patted my shoulder. “That’s very kind of you. I’ll go to the restroom first.” Watching his back as he left, I smiled because the fish finally took the bait.

After staying for a while, I made my excuses to leave as well. Hiding in the stairwell, I turned on my cell phone. On the phone, Edward had Ashley against the toilet wall, one hand controlling her hands, one hand stroking towards her body, and he was kissing Ashley’s tears over and over. “He’s a busy man,” I whispered mockingly. Ashley pressed Edward’s hand and questioned, “Who’s prettier, me or her? Do you like her or me better?” “You’re pretty. I only like you, baby.” Edward said calmly, “How can she be more interesting than you when she won’t let me have sex with her? Don’t worry. As soon as we have sex, I’m sure I’ll be responsible for you. I’m waiting for a chance to break up with her and give you an identity.” Ashley laughed out loud at his coaxing. I hissed, “That’s just men saying different things to different people.” An ambiguous moan came from my phone just as I finished speaking. My cheeks flushed at the sound, and I stood up abruptly. But my hands shook, and the phone smashed on the floor. I bent down to pick it up, but a big hand picked up the phone faster than me. The man’s eyes fell on the screen, and he smiled meaningfully. I recognized him. Just now, in the private room, his burning eyes made a deep impression on me. It was too normal for a rich man like Edward to have a few evil-minded friends, so I didn’t think much of it. However, I didn’t expect him to follow me. I stood on my tiptoes to grab the phone out of his hand, but I was pinned against the armrest. Surrounded by the unfamiliar smell of his body and listening to the ambiguous moans in the air, I blushed instantly. Suddenly, my cell phone rang. The man glanced at the phone, then connected it and handed it to my mouth. Edward said, “There’s something urgent at my company. You guys play first. I’ll have the driver take you back when you guys are done.” “Okay. Ah!” I then covered my mouth in panic and looked viciously at the man doing bad things in front of me. He actually took advantage of my distraction and lifted the shirt around my waist, followed by placing his palm on my waist.

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After years of helping the company prepare for its IPO, my girlfriend—finally ready to go public about our relationship—was about to make the announcement. But before she could, her ever-smug assistant, who’s never liked me, beat her to it. Stepping onto the stage, he wrapped his arm around her waist, a triumphant smirk on his face. “Didn’t you say we’d wait a few more years? Couldn’t hold out even for that long, huh?” he said, his tone thick with mockery. My girlfriend didn’t bother explaining. Instead, she handed him a document—the transfer of shares agreement—and announced to the room that he was the company’s newest shareholder. The crowd erupted in shock, with murmurs and whispers spreading like wildfire. The assistant, clearly basking in the attention, turned his smugness toward me, throwing out thinly veiled jabs. And my girlfriend? She didn’t stop him. In fact, her tone was cold as ice when she added: “You’ve done a lot for the company, but his talent is what we need to ensure a brighter future.” I didn’t flinch. I didn’t argue. Instead, I smiled, nodded, and graciously handed over my remaining shares to the assistant as well. “Let’s see,” I thought to myself, “how far they can take this company without its biggest investor.” And with that, I walked away.

When Emily announced on stage that Ryan had become the company’s newest shareholder, the room erupted in thunderous applause. I stood there frozen, my mind foggy from too many late nights of overtime. For a moment, I thought I had misheard her. “Look at Jake’s face—it’s priceless!””He’s been with the CEO for years and only got 2% of the shares. Ryan’s barely been here and snagged 20% just like that.””Jake’s always nitpicking Ryan’s work, but now? He looks like a total clown.” The crowd wasn’t even trying to be subtle with their laughter, making sure I could hear every word. They weren’t mocking me for fun—they were trying to curry favor with Ryan. And Emily? She didn’t even bother stopping them. Ryan shot me a smug grin, his voice dripping with fake innocence as he said, “Jake, no applause from you? Don’t tell me you’re upset about me getting shares.” He paused, a theatrical pout forming on his lips. “I mean, if we’re talking seniority, I guess you should’ve gotten them instead.” With that, he lazily extended the contract toward me, like he was handing me a consolation prize. But before I could react, Emily snatched the papers away and pushed them back into his hands with a playful yet firm gesture. “Ryan, you’re too kind,” she said with a soft laugh. “But the company values talent, not tenure.” Then, her gaze turned cold as it landed on me. “And you, Jake, don’t you dare make a scene. Let’s not forget the massive mistake you made last quarter, costing the company millions. The fact that I didn’t fire you outright was already generous. What right do you have to expect shares?” The two of them were perfectly in sync, like actors in a well-rehearsed play. I couldn’t help but find it amusing. That “mistake” she mentioned? It was Ryan’s fault. He panicked when things went south and pinned the blame on me. I’d tried to present evidence and explain the truth to Emily, but she didn’t believe me. She never did. I’d grown used to it by now. Over the years, Ryan had shown little talent but had poured all his energy into undermining me. Fresh out of college, he knew how to charm people with his words. He’d won over most of our colleagues, and even Emily thought he was harmless and honest. So, every time Ryan and I clashed, Emily always assumed I was at fault. And because of that, my coworkers had grown increasingly disrespectful toward me. Ryan’s voice interrupted my thoughts, still dripping with mock humility. “But I’m just worried Jake might feel bad.” As he spoke, he leaned closer to Emily, his head almost resting on her shoulder in an uncomfortably intimate gesture. Emily didn’t push him away. Instead, she shot me a sharp look. “Jake, wipe that sour look off your face!” she snapped. “I thought long and hard about this decision. Stop sulking and ruining everyone’s mood. If you can’t handle it, maybe you should just leave!” The room erupted in agreement, voices chiming in to back her up. I knew Emily was just venting her frustration, but I couldn’t help but laugh. The investors? I had brought them in after countless sleepless nights. The proposals? I had rewritten them over and over again. The IPO? It had only succeeded because of my efforts. And now, with the company finally going public, they wanted to cut me out entirely? They thought a few harsh words could erase all my hard work? I grabbed my bag and strode toward the stage. Ryan, clearly nervous, shrank behind Emily, his eyes wide with fear. Emily immediately stepped in front of him, shielding him like a mother bear protecting her cub. “Jake, what do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, her voice sharp with warning. I pulled a document from my bag and held it out to her. “I just think,” I said calmly, “that Ryan’s worked so hard, the shares you’ve given him aren’t enough.” I smiled faintly. “Take mine too. Let’s hope he can keep up the momentum.” Ryan’s eyes lit up as he stared at the document, practically salivating at the thought of owning more shares. Emily, however, looked at me with suspicion, her expression unreadable. The room fell silent as everyone tried to process what I had just done. They all knew how much I had sacrificed for the company. I’d been there since day one, building it from the ground up. I’d handled everything—from securing investments to juggling the smallest of tasks. Now that the IPO was a success, my shares were worth millions. Everyone had assumed I’d use this opportunity to negotiate for more. No one could have imagined I’d simply give them away. What they didn’t know was that Emily wasn’t just my boss—she was my fiancée. For years, she had insisted we keep our relationship a secret to avoid workplace gossip. But when Ryan showed up, I started to worry. I begged her to acknowledge our relationship, and after much pleading, she finally agreed to announce it on the day of the IPO. Last night, I was so excited I couldn’t even sleep. But when the moment came, Ryan stepped onto the stage first, wrapping his arm around her waist. And Emily… she didn’t stop him. She didn’t even seem uncomfortable. Everyone assumed they were a couple, and Emily didn’t bother correcting them. It wasn’t that she didn’t want our relationship to go public. She just didn’t want this relationship to go public. She remained silent, and I didn’t say another word. I turned and walked away. I had barely made it a few steps when I felt a warm hand grab my wrist. I turned, surprised to see that it was Emily. She had never stopped me before. She always let me leave, knowing I’d inevitably come back to apologize. But this time was different. She pressed her lips together and said, “Jake, you’re too impulsive. Ryan is calm and collected—everything you’re not.” “I didn’t want to cut you out, but after today, I don’t have a choice. These shares need to go to someone who can handle them responsibly.” I couldn’t help but laugh. This wasn’t about my “impulsiveness.” She was just trying to justify giving my shares to Ryan. In the past, I might’ve argued with her. But now, I just felt… nothing. “Okay,” I said simply. Emily blinked, clearly expecting me to put up more of a fight. Before she could say anything else, one of our coworkers called for a champagne toast. Emily shot me one last glance before turning away, the contract in her hand. I watched her walk toward Ryan, then turned and left the banquet hall. Outside, I pulled out my phone and made a call. “Dad,” I said, my voice steady. “You were right. I’m ready to come back and take over the family business.”

My dad owns over a hundred companies and regularly ranks in the top twenty on Forbes. I’m the textbook definition of a trust fund kid. But when I first met Emily, I vividly remember her telling me about how, as a child, her father had been killed in a hit-and-run by some spoiled rich kid. The driver, protected by his family’s wealth and influence, avoided any real punishment and was out of jail within days. Ever since then, Emily has harbored a deep hatred for the wealthy. So, to be with her, I hid my background. I turned down every opportunity my family offered me, moved to a small city with her, and poured my entire savings into helping her start her business. Until yesterday, I naively believed that Emily and I had finally made it, that all our sacrifices had been worth it. But now, I realize just how badly I’ve lost. After hanging up the phone, I returned to the small apartment Emily and I shared. The room was decorated beautifully—warm and romantic. Heart-shaped candles lined the floor, and in the center was a bouquet of vibrant blue roses. Nestled within the roses was an elegant diamond ring. Beside it, there was the deed to a luxury house—the one I’d planned to surprise Emily with. I had imagined her reaction so many times, picturing the joy and love in her eyes. But now, none of that mattered. Emily would never even see it. I grabbed everything—the ring, the flowers, the deed—and tossed it all into the trash. Then, I booked a flight for the next evening. I needed one day to wrap up my work and hand everything over. “Ding.” My phone buzzed with a notification. It was a video from Ryan. In the clip, Ryan was carrying Emily bridal-style, her face flushed as she clung tightly to his neck, burying her face in his chest. They looked every bit the perfect couple. Around them, coworkers cheered and clapped, shouting for them to kiss. The video disappeared seconds later, deleted. Then, a message popped up. “Oops, sorry, sent that by mistake.” Of course, I didn’t believe him. Ryan had always been deliberate with his moves. This was just another one of his games. Over the past few years, he’d pulled stunts like this countless times. Normally, I’d lose my temper, confront Emily, and end up being scolded by her. “Can you stop being so sensitive? Maybe focus more on work instead of this nonsense?” At first, I thought I was overthinking it. But one time, when Emily was sick and half-delirious, she called out Ryan’s name. That’s when I realized her heart was no longer with me. This time, I didn’t feel anything. I simply blocked Ryan without hesitation and deleted his contact. Not long after, my phone rang. It was Emily. “Jake, did you block Ryan?” she demanded the moment I picked up, her tone icy and accusatory. She didn’t care what Ryan had done—only that I had blocked him. “I did,” I replied flatly. “What’s wrong with you? He’s your coworker! How is he supposed to do his job now? He thinks he must have done something wrong and has been blaming himself, crying nonstop. Add him back and apologize!” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you even know what he sent me?” There was silence on the other end, probably as she checked with Ryan. A few seconds later, she replied dismissively, “So what if he sent the wrong picture? It’s not a big deal.” Of course. When it came to Ryan, nothing was ever a big deal. I let out a cold laugh. “You’re right, it’s no big deal. Just like when he ‘accidentally’ sent the wrong pricing sheet to a client, and we lost millions because of it.” That incident had been catastrophic. Ryan had sent our bottom-line pricing to a partner, leading to multiple contract cancellations and negotiations. A week’s worth of hard work—and over a million dollars—went up in flames. Emily hadn’t cared then, either. The line went quiet for a moment. Clearly, she remembered the incident. Then I heard Ryan’s voice in the background, soft and hoarse. “Emily, Jake’s probably just upset about the shares you gave me today. I should apologize to him.” Emily’s tone immediately softened. “No need, Ryan. It wasn’t your fault. Let him cool off on his own.” And with that, she hung up. It was always like this. Whenever we argued, Emily would use the excuse that I needed to “calm down” to spend more time with Ryan instead. But this time, I didn’t feel angry. I calmly drafted my resignation letter and sent it to HR. 3The moment I hit send on the resignation email, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, as if a heavy weight had been lifted. Around 2 a.m., I was deep asleep when my phone buzzed with another call from Emily. “Pick me up. I’m still at the hotel from earlier,” she said. I could hear the lively background noise on her end—probably another one of her work events. Normally, I’d have jumped out of bed, thrown on some clothes, and rushed over to get her. But this time, I simply yawned, my voice calm and lazy. “Call a rideshare,” I said. “There are plenty around that area.” Emily paused, her tone shifting to suspicion. “Are you asleep?” “Yeah,” I replied, nonchalant. In the past, whenever Emily went out for work or networking, I’d stay up worrying about her safety, unable to sleep until she was home. But tonight, I slept like a baby. Even her call felt like an unwelcome disruption to my rest. She didn’t argue further. About half an hour later, she came home. I had just stepped out of the bathroom when we locked eyes in the hallway. “You’re up,” she said softly. “Make me some noodles. I’m starving.” Her tone was gentle, almost coaxing. I knew this was her way of extending an olive branch, trying to smooth things over. Whenever we fought, she’d lean into her vulnerability to reopen communication and bridge the gap. But that only worked because I loved her. Now that love was gone, ground down to nothing, and all I felt was irritation. “Cook for yourself,” I said flatly. “Or order something if you don’t know how.” I turned and headed toward the bedroom, but Emily stepped in front of me, blocking the door. That’s when I caught the faint scent of Ryan’s cologne lingering on her. “Jake, are you seriously still upset?” she asked, her tone a mix of exasperation and disbelief. “I’ve already explained this to you—everything I’m doing is for the company. Just because we’ve gone public doesn’t mean we can relax. If anything, now’s the time to focus even harder.” “Ryan may not be the most capable,” she continued, “but he’s got connections, he’s great at networking, and his family owns businesses we might collaborate with in the future. Giving him shares wasn’t about favoritism—it was about what’s best for the company.” I hadn’t expected her to justify herself like this. But it didn’t matter. Whether she believed her own excuses or not, I didn’t. “Mm-hmm,” I replied dismissively and walked into the bedroom, shutting the door behind me. Emily must’ve been stunned because she stood outside for a moment before angrily kicking the door. “Fine! Act like this all you want, Jake! But don’t come crying to me later when you regret it!” The next morning, I came out of the bedroom to find Emily sitting on the couch, meticulously ironing a brand-new suit. When she saw me, she immediately jumped up, holding the suit out toward me. “Here, try this on,” she said cheerfully, practically shoving it into my hands. I recognized it instantly—it was a limited-edition Chanel suit. Not only was it outrageously expensive, but it was also notoriously hard to get. Social media was full of posts about how it was the perfect gift for a boyfriend. I’d even hinted to Emily once that I thought it looked amazing. After changing into the suit, I stepped out of the bedroom, feeling an unexpected tightness in my throat. I was about to say something, but Emily spoke first, her tone light and teasing. “You and Ryan are about the same size. It fits you perfectly, so it should look just as good on him.” She smiled as she reached out to carefully take the jacket off me. “Be careful not to wrinkle it,” she added. “I spent so much time getting it just right.” Then, she folded the suit back into its gift box, looking pleased with herself, and headed out the door with it. I knew she was doing this on purpose, punishing me for yesterday. But instead of feeling angry, all I felt was a sense of detachment. It was childish, after all. Later that morning, I got a call and made my way to the office to finalize my resignation. The moment I stepped into the building, I spotted Ryan sitting on my desk, surrounded by coworkers fawning over him like he was the star of the show. One of them walked up to me with a smug grin. “Jake, go grab some coffee for everyone.” “Why?” I asked, checking my watch. I wasn’t late. The coworker grinned wider. “Emily said whoever gets to the office last has to buy everyone coffee. And guess what? You’re the last one here.” “Don’t worry about it,” Ryan cut in, standing up and adjusting the suit jacket he was wearing—the same one Emily had taken that morning. “I wouldn’t want Jake running errands for everyone,” he said, his voice loud enough for the whole room to hear. “I’ll go instead.” Of course, he made no move to leave. Right on cue, Emily walked out of her office. Her eyes flicked to Ryan’s suit, and for a split second, her expression faltered before she quickly recovered. She stepped forward, straightening his collar with a smile. “I knew it would look great on you,” she said warmly. The others erupted into cheers and laughter. Emily’s face flushed slightly as she glanced at me, clearly checking to see if I’d react with jealousy or anger. But I didn’t. My heart was like a still lake—calm, empty, and unaffected. Emily didn’t seem satisfied with my lack of response. Her tone turned cold as she said, “I already told everyone—whoever got here last needs to buy coffee. If you’re not going to cooperate, why are you even here?” A coworker pointed at me. “Jake was the last one in.” Emily smirked. “Go on, then. And if you don’t, I’ll fire you.” Apparently, she hadn’t seen my resignation email yet. I didn’t bother hiding it anymore. “I’m not here to work,” I said calmly. “I’m here to resign.” 4 The room fell silent. Some of my coworkers, the ones who still got along with me, couldn’t help but lean in and whisper. “Jake, are you sure about this? The boss just announced raises for everyone. Quitting now would be a terrible move.” “Yeah, didn’t you hear her tone? She was just joking earlier.” I stayed calm, my voice steady. “I’m not joking. I already submitted my resignation to HR yesterday.” Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of excitement in Ryan’s expression. He opened his mouth, ready to say something, but when he saw Emily’s unreadable gaze, he swallowed his words and stayed quiet. Emily frowned, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me. “Do you even realize what you’re doing? Do you understand how much you’re giving up by walking away from this company right now?” Of course, I knew. I was giving up stress, manipulation, and the invisible chains that had kept me tied here for far too long. Ryan, ever the opportunist, put on his usual wounded act. “Jake, I get it. You’re still upset with me, right?” He sighed dramatically. “Maybe I should just leave instead. After all, you and Emily have worked together for so many years. It’d be a shame for you to go now.” As he spoke, he started heading for the door, glancing at Emily out of the corner of his eye, clearly waiting for her to stop him. I almost laughed out loud at how obvious he was. Sure enough, Emily fell for it—or pretended to. She grabbed his arm, her voice soft and affectionate. “This has nothing to do with you, Ryan. No one’s asking you to leave.” Ryan’s face lit up with smug satisfaction. Still, he wasn’t done with his performance. He sighed again, shaking his head as though he were making a huge sacrifice. “But Jake’s been with the company for so long. I’ll try to talk some sense into him.” He walked up to me, putting on a show for the audience. “Jake, come on,” he said, his voice dripping with fake sincerity. “Think it over. We’d all hate to see you go. Honestly, we’ve always thought of you as a good friend.” As he spoke, he patted my shoulder—harder than necessary. And then, when no one else was watching, he pinched me. Hard. The sharp pain shot through my shoulder. Without thinking, I kicked him square in the chest. Ryan fell to the ground, clutching his chest and gasping for air. Emily rushed over, kneeling beside him, her face full of concern and panic. I couldn’t help but think back to the time I’d worked so hard to close a deal that I drank myself into the hospital with stomach bleeding. She hadn’t cared half as much then. Emily shot to her feet, her face twisted with anger. She slapped me across the face. “Are you insane, Jake?” she yelled. “Ryan was just trying to help you, and you attacked him? What kind of person bullies their coworker like this?” At that moment, HR walked into the room, clearly on their way to discuss my resignation. Before they could even speak, Emily snapped, “Process his paperwork and get him out of here. Now.” She signed off on my resignation without hesitation, but she wasn’t done. As if to rub salt in the wound, she added, “This company is making hundreds of thousands in profits every day. Only an idiot would leave now.” Then she turned to Ryan, her tone softening again. “Don’t worry, Ryan. In a few months, you’ll have everything you’ve ever wanted—houses, cars, anything. I’ll make sure of it.” The other coworkers chimed in, their excitement palpable. “Emily’s the best!” “Next month, whoever hits the top sales goals, I’ll buy them a house,” Emily declared confidently. Ryan’s eyes sparkled with greed, and the others cheered louder. Emily’s arrogance grew as she basked in their praise. “And as for certain people,” she said, casting a cold glance my way, “who think they can bully their coworkers and refuse to follow orders—I’ll make sure no company ever hires them again.” The room erupted into laughter and insults aimed at me, their voices growing more frenzied by the second. For a moment, I hesitated. Should I say something? Should I tell them what I knew? That morning, my dad had called to let me know something interesting. Turns out, the biggest investor in Emily’s company for the past two years was… him. When he heard I was planning to quit and return home to take over the family business, he decided to run a full background check on her company. The results weren’t good. He’d already decided to pull the investment, citing breach of contract. Not only that, but he was planning to sue for triple damages. I knew exactly how much weight my dad’s company carried in her investment portfolio. Once he pulled out, forget about buying houses and cars—keeping the company afloat for another month would be a miracle. I opened my mouth to say something but stopped. Emily mistook my silence for regret. She rolled her eyes and sneered. “Well? If you apologize to Ryan now, there’s still time to fix this.” “Otherwise—” Before she could finish, someone burst into the room. It was the head of finance, their face pale and anxious. “Emily, we’ve got a problem,” they said quickly. “Our biggest investor just sent a notice. They found serious discrepancies in our financial records and suspect fraud. Not only are they pulling out, but they’re also suing us for triple damages!” VIP part

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