Category: English

He threatened me, forcing me to be his model. Edgy, disturbing, pushing every boundary imaginable. He made me wear revealing clothes, posing as if I was caught in a candid shot. He’d even fill the bathtub with fake blood and make me soak in it. The thick, metallic scent of it made me nauseous; I’d turn pale with terror, shaking uncontrollably. But my brother, Caleb, would just keep clicking the shutter, murmuring, “Perfect.” Then, right in front of me, he’d compile the photos into a collection and upload them. His smile was manic, his face twisted into something grotesque and eerie. I had to escape! I *had* to! Staying with Caleb Hayes any longer, I’d surely be tormented to death! My name is Aurora Bell, and I work as an alternative model. My daily routine involved using props to create photo collections, which were then sold through special channels. Because I produced a lot of material and the quality was good, I gained a reputation in this industry, and my collections sold at a premium. But I had no money. The one who got me into this business was Caleb Hayes, my step-brother—we shared neither father nor mother. All the money from the photo sales went straight to him. Two years ago, my mom, Eleanor, and I moved into the Hayes household after she married Richard. The very first day, I knew my life here would be hell. During our first dinner, Caleb dumped a bowl of soup, meat and all, right onto my head. Richard Hayes was furious and went to hit him, but my mom held him back. She said Caleb was just a kid, that it was normal for him not to accept us yet, and that we shouldn’t get angry at a child. Then, she told me to go change. From that moment, I clearly realized that in this house, my mother wouldn’t protect me. Caleb obviously realized it too. So, while I was changing, he quietly slipped into my room. The click of the shutter made me whip around in terror. Then I saw Caleb, holding a dark DSLR lens, grinning maliciously as he clicked the shutter again. Caleb had taken photos of me while I was changing. My body, my face—everything was clear as day. Caleb threatened me, demanding I become his model. If I dared disobey, he wouldn’t just kick me out; he’d post all the photos he’d just taken! That same day, he made me wear his button-down shirt and pose in various explicit ways on the couch for his photoshoot. The shirt was barely long enough to cover my thighs. I cried and refused, but that only earned me a brutal beating from Caleb. He warned me this was the first time. If I didn’t cooperate next time, he would absolutely make good on his promise. As he left, he flaunted the DSLR in his hand at me, a smug, triumphant smirk on his face. I was terrified, but I didn’t dare ask my mom for help. I could only wait for Richard Hayes to come home that night, then deliberately roll up my sleeves and walk past him. Richard Hayes clearly saw the bruises on my arms. But he only frowned, said nothing, and went back to looking at his documents. I clearly realized that Richard Hayes wouldn’t stand up for me again. I was utterly alone, resigned to being Caleb Hayes’s model. But Caleb only got worse. He gradually became unsatisfied with me just wearing shirts or short skirts for those “innocent” private shoots. He started buying lingerie and specific outfits that clients requested, forcing me to wear them. Any refusal would always result in a beating. He would even deliberately photograph me covered in bruises, my face streaked with tears. He was careful when he took those photos, though, never showing my full face. Those explicit private photos sold incredibly well, and our reputation in that niche circle grew. Caleb had tasted success and became utterly shameless. The day he threw a piece of lingerie that barely covered my private parts at me, I completely broke down. I cried, begging him not to make me wear such things. He unbuckled his belt without hesitation and started hitting me. I’d truly had enough of this life. I just felt that being beaten to death by Caleb might actually be a release. So I held firm, refusing to compromise. Caleb got tired of hitting me, and he was furious. He cursed, tore my clothes, and then used the tattered lingerie to tie me up like a rag doll. “You ungrateful whore! You don’t want to wear it? Fine, I’ll just shoot you like this!” Caleb angrily snapped photos of me, compiled them into a collection right in front of me, and uploaded them. The result? That collection sold out! And my nightmare truly began.

That collection’s massive sales made Caleb realize that more explicit photos had a bigger market. So, from then on, Caleb’s photoshoots became increasingly extreme. Edgy, disturbing, pushing every boundary imaginable. He’d use ropes to bind me tightly. The red ropes contrasted sharply with my pale skin, making it incredibly provocative. For this, he’d even specifically studied rope art. He’d also take me outdoors, forcing me to wear revealing clothes, posing as if I was secretly caught on camera. I’d cry in terror every time. But if I dared to resist, he’d just tie me up outside and force me to shoot. He’d even fill the bathtub with real blood, making me soak in it. That’s right. Caleb used real blood. The thick, metallic scent of it made me nauseous; I’d turn pale with terror, shaking uncontrollably. But Caleb would just keep clicking the shutter, murmuring, “Perfect.” He said it was the only way to achieve the Gothic private photo style he envisioned. Gloomy, eerie, mysterious, terrifying! I looked at Caleb with dread. His smile was manic, his face twisted into something grotesque and eerie. I felt like the person in front of me was truly insane! I had to escape! I *had* to! Even if he posted all the initial nude photos he’d taken, I didn’t care anymore. Staying with Caleb Hayes any longer, I’d surely be tormented to death! But there was no one in this house who could help me; I had to plan my escape carefully. I thought for a long time and decided the most feasible way was to get into university and leave this house naturally. Some special programs at certain universities offered scholarships. As long as I got in, I could complete my studies without a single dime from home. If I could just make it through four years of university, I’d have the ability to live independently and finally break free from Caleb’s control. If all else failed, I’d just go abroad! So, I studied with every fiber of my being. My university entrance exam scores certainly didn’t disappoint me. I secretly applied for a fully-funded program at a university far across the country. The day I received my admission letter, I was so excited I wanted to cry. I felt like I could finally escape Caleb’s clutches. But then, Caleb suddenly appeared in front of me and snatched the admission letter from my hand. “Going out west? You really were planning to escape.” My blood ran cold; I couldn’t breathe. When did he get here? To keep Caleb from finding out, I’d specifically sent the admission letter to my friend’s house. But how could he know? Caleb smirked, looking at me. “Did you think your little tricks could escape my notice? I’ve been watching you the whole time!” He grabbed both ends of the admission letter, poised to tear it. “No!” I frantically lunged at him, clinging to his arm. That was my only hope! I cried, asking him why he wouldn’t let me go. I knelt on the floor, begging him to give me a chance at life. I don’t know if my pleas worked, but Caleb scoffed and handed the admission letter back to me. “Fine, I’ll let you go, but you have to cooperate with me on one big shoot.” “To be honest, I’ve been shooting you for years, and I’m sick of it. Now I’m famous; I have a bunch of models begging me for shoots every day. I don’t even care about you anymore.” “So, as long as you cooperate fully and we finish this one collection, I’ll let you go.” The temptation was too great. I agreed. I told myself that no matter how hard it was, I had to cooperate with Caleb. But I never imagined that Caleb had no intention of letting me go! The collection he wanted to shoot was called, *Death*! He wanted my life! I never dreamed Caleb would go to such extremes for this photoshoot. That day, he found a bunch of glass shards and old furniture from somewhere and started smashing them crazily in my room, leaving it in utter chaos. Then, he pulled out a long white dress and told me to put it on. I was surprised. Because Caleb almost never made me wear such normal clothes for his shoots. Caleb said this time, he wanted to capture a pure image amidst the ruins. I needed to be clean, untouched by dust, free of any vulgarity. He would make this collection perfect, a university gift for me. When he said this, he smiled so gently. He even reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. I felt a flicker of happiness, a tiny bit of hope, believing he truly wanted to let me go. But as soon as I went to change, I found that he had set my room on fire! Caleb had poured a large amount of solid alcohol in my room. The fire immediately flared up. I was terrified, screaming as I tried to put it out. But Caleb grabbed my wrist, twisting me back. I screamed for help, but Caleb was excitedly taking photos of me surrounded by flames. The fire grew larger, already reaching my clothes. I tried to hide, but the bed behind me had also been set ablaze. I heard Caleb laughing maniacally. He said that capturing the destruction of something beautiful before your eyes was the most impactful artwork! I didn’t want to die! So, I jumped out the window!

Recalling that scene still made me tremble, sobbing uncontrollably. The burns and fall injuries on my body stung with agonizing pain. The IV pole beside me rattled as I thrashed. A female officer beside my hospital bed handed me tissues, patting my back to calm me down. “So, you jumped out the window to escape?” The officer asked once I seemed calmer. I choked out a nod. Officer: “You were on the fifth floor. Weren’t you afraid of dying?” “I wasn’t thinking that far…” Officer: “What was Caleb Hayes doing when you jumped?” “I… I don’t know, he was probably taking pictures.” Officer: “The fire was that big, and he was still taking pictures? He wasn’t scared?” “He’s insane!” My emotions flared up again. The female officer beside me once again patted my back, signaling me to calm down. About five minutes passed. Officer: “So, when the fire broke out, Caleb Hayes kept taking pictures, and when you jumped, he didn’t stop you?” I steadied myself and nodded again. Officer: “Do you know he was burned to death?” “He’s dead?” I looked at the officers in shock. Seeing them nod, an uncontrollable euphoria surged through me. “Good! He’s finally dead! That monster is finally dead! Hahahahaha…” I laughed maniacally, but as I laughed, tears streamed down my face again. “I hate him, I truly hate him! Every single day for the past two years, I wished he would die!” “So you killed him.” The officer’s cold voice sent a shiver down my spine. I immediately retorted, “I didn’t!” Officer: “Don’t be so quick to deny it. Take a look at this first.” The officer handed me a phone. Seeing the images on the screen, my entire body trembled. “Take it away! Get it away from me!” “He forced me! He made me do it all!” I covered my face, sobbing uncontrollably again. The officer had shown me a video. The protagonist of the video was me. I was wearing heavy makeup, a provocative nightgown, with a card bearing a name dangling from my mouth, posing seductively for the camera. And the name on the card was Caleb Hayes. I didn’t have the courage to watch the rest. Because I knew very well that the latter part of the video showed me half-undressed. “He forced me… he really forced me…” I kept repeating the phrase, crying until I felt like I would pass out. But this time, the officers didn’t comfort me. Once my emotions stabilized, I looked up and met their stern gazes. A chill immediately spread through my heart. But what they said next made me feel like I’d plunged into an icy abyss. “Qianying Turner, your testimony does not match the scene’s condition.” “The body’s burning was severe, and the face was completely disfigured. If what you say is true, that he was conscious when you fell, then he couldn’t possibly not have tried to save himself.” “Moreover, the door at the accident scene was locked from the inside. We now reasonably suspect that you murdered Caleb Hayes.” “How can you suspect me?!” I questioned them agitatedly, suddenly sitting up and yanking the IV pole again. But the female officer, who had previously been so gentle in offering tissues, firmly pressed down on my shoulder, forcing me to remain seated on the bed. “We’ve already found that your original name is Qianying Turner, and James Turner is your father.” “Three years ago, James Turner died from a fall. At that time, Caleb Hayes and his father, Richard Hayes, lived in the building your father fell from.” “Afterward, Caleb Hayes and his father Richard Hayes moved. Five years ago, your mother married Richard Hayes.” “If you confess the connection between these events, you might still get a lighter sentence.” The officers’ dark eyes peered at me, as if they could see into my very soul. would be taken for questioning. But I wasn’t worried. I had already guessed that the police would find out about my father. My father was a window cleaner. Cleaning the glass exteriors of high-rise buildings was his daily job.

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Caleb, the billionaire who’d pretended to be dirt poor for seven years, crashed his Maybach, killing my mom and my daughter. A month later, the man finally realized something was off. He asked his assistant, “After I ran over those worthless deadbeats, the old woman and the kid, didn’t their family raise hell for compensation?” Ms. Davies, his assistant, looked grim. She whispered, “Sir, you *are* the victims’ family.” Caleb was completely baffled. “What do you mean?” “That night, when you were drunk, you ran over the old lady and her granddaughter. Your wife tried to stop you, demanding an explanation, but you were so inebriated you didn’t recognize her. You kicked her aside and drove off.” Before she finished, Caleb jolted, his face turning ashen. It all came rushing back to him: how he’d faked bankruptcy and a severe illness, how our family had worked day and night, pouring every penny into supposedly paying off his billion-dollar debt. To buy his life-saving medicine, my mother and daughter had worked themselves to the bone. But during a shift in the rich district, he, in his luxury car, had slammed into them. Their bodies were mangled, their lives extinguished instantly. I cremated Mom and Chloe’s remains in a daze. Afterward, I got a call from my husband’s assistant. His tone was as cold as a debt collector’s: “How much do you want? Name your price!”

“I know my boss ran over your mom and daughter. But they were just two worthless lives, what are they worth? A million dollars is more than enough for two cheap lives.” “My boss will meet you in person the day after tomorrow, at 2 PM.” Listening to the contemptuous male voice on the other end, I felt my blood rush to my head. The lock clicked. Caleb walked in, wearing a jacket that had been fashionable years ago. He smiled, waving a steaming thermos at me. Every cell in my body trembled. Finally, I managed to say to the person on the phone, “Okay.” Caleb didn’t notice anything amiss. Seeing me hang up, a gentle smile touched his lips as he walked towards me. “Harper! I bought you your favorite chicken noodle soup! Come, try it!” He wrapped his arm around my numb body and sat us down on our scavenged couch. He carefully broke apart the forks and handed them to me. A pained expression crossed his face. “My boss raised the price by two bucks again. That’s enough to buy Chloe a drawing book.” Caleb looked around. “Why aren’t Mom and Chloe here? Where did they go? I bought Chloe some desserts with today’s wages. Doesn’t Chloe love sweets? But you need to keep an eye on Mom; she can’t have anything sweet with her condition!” Where are Mom and my daughter? Suddenly, as Caleb’s words sank in, a chilling image flashed in my mind: Mom and Chloe being flung into the air by that Maybach that sped into the market. “Mom— Chloe—” I watched as their bodies, like discarded rag dolls, arced through the air and hit the ground with sickening thuds. Their warm blood splattered on my face. My screams and the horrifying sound of cracking bones were drowned out by the piercing screech of brakes. “What… what the hell? Where did these… beggars come from?” The blinding high beams gradually dimmed. A slurred, drunken voice drifted over. I stared blankly at the driver’s seat. The next second, I saw Caleb, his hands on the steering wheel, frowning as he peered through the window at me, sprawled in a pool of blood. My entire body froze. How could it be Caleb? Wasn’t he at the hospital? How could he be here? He rolled down the window and vomited, the pungent smell of alcohol mingling with the metallic scent of blood, assailing my nose. His eyes unfocused, he looked at me. “Who’s the idiot? Get lost!” I struggled to my feet. “Caleb!” But Caleb didn’t recognize me. He turned the car around and drove out of my sight. Disoriented, I was taken away by the police officer who arrived shortly after. He didn’t show me the accident scene footage. Instead, he sighed and advised me, “The person who hit your mother and daughter is Caleb Shen, the Shen heir. Our suggestion is to settle this privately.” Caleb Shen! The Shen heir? A choked sob escaped my throat. I pressed him, “Officer, can you tell me about… this Mr. Shen?” “Ms. Lin, I know what you’re thinking, but I still advise you not to pursue a lawsuit. The Shen family holds so much power, they could make the whole city shake with a single word. And this particular Shen heir is the most notorious playboy this city has seen in twenty years.” The officer’s eyes held a sympathetic helplessness. Then I heard him sigh deeply. “Instead of wishful thinking, you should try to get as much money as you can when Mr. Shen arrives.” No sooner had he finished speaking than a voice came from outside. “Mr. Shen, this way, please.” As the words fell, two figures emerged from the automatically opening doors. I had never seen Caleb like this. He was wearing an expensive, high-end suit from a luxury boutique, looking distinguished from head to toe. He even had a Labrador on a leash. Victoria, in a striking red dress, walked beside him. “…Caleb!” I instinctively moved forward, wanting to demand an explanation for everything. “Victoria! My bet about pretending to be poor expires next month. If you keep clinging to me then, I won’t be so polite!” What ‘pretending to be poor’ bet? Caleb’s words brought me to an abrupt halt. Victoria shrugged indifferently. “Why are you angry at me? Isn’t this *your* bet with your family?” “I don’t necessarily think you’ll win. Maybe you’ll get tired of playing house with Harper and obediently come home to marry me?” Caleb scoffed. “You’re dreaming! My wife will only ever be Harper!” I stared at Caleb in shock, but his gaze didn’t waver. Even though I stood right in front of him, he could have simply turned his head slightly to see me, the ‘only wife’ he spoke of. But he didn’t spare me a single glance. He held his head high, walking past me with an air of haughty superiority I’d never seen from him before. Soon, Caleb and Victoria entered the glass partition just a few feet from me. Their conversation in the office drifted clearly into my ears. “Mr. Shen, the victims’ family is here. Do you want to meet them?” I couldn’t help but look at Caleb. He had his legs crossed on the coffee table, eyes closed, rubbing his temples. “No need! These poor people, once they latch onto you, they’re like leeches you can’t shake off! Can’t you even handle this small matter?” Caleb’s dismissive attitude instantly ignited my fury. Just as I was about to burst in and confront him, Victoria’s voice floated into my ears. Her red lips curved into a slight smile. “Caleb, I actually have a good idea. Why don’t you have Harper pay this money? If she doesn’t help you, then you lose the bet.” Caleb opened his eyes and glanced at Victoria, sneering. “Don’t dream. Harper has stuck by me all these years I’ve been pretending to be poor and sick. I don’t want to bother her with this kind of thing!” Victoria wasn’t annoyed. She just chuckled. “I wonder if you’re scared. Could it be that Harper won’t cough up a million for you?” I couldn’t listen anymore. But as I took a step forward, a metallic taste filled my throat. I coughed up a mouthful of blood and instantly blacked out. Caleb’s voice pulled me back to reality. He held me in his arms, speaking softly. “Harper, I accidentally ran over someone while delivering goods last night. They’re demanding a million dollars, threatening to send me to jail if I don’t pay.” I stared at him, my eyes bloodshot. “You don’t even know how to drive, do you? How could you hit someone?” Caleb’s eyes darted away, his voice tinged with guilt. “I didn’t want to always be stuck in bed, burdening you. I wanted to earn some money to send Chloe to her after-school classes.” Tears instantly welled in my eyes, but I forced them back. I abruptly pulled closer to Caleb, pressing him. “Caleb! Then I ask you, do you know who you ran over?” Caleb frowned, displeased. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you so emotional?” Watching the nonchalant expression on his face, the anger in my heart burned fiercely. In that moment, I began to doubt myself. Did I truly know the man I shared my life with?! “Caleb!! I’m asking! Do you know who you ran over?!” By now, my emotions were completely out of control. Unstoppable tears mixed with my trembling voice. “It was an old lady and a little girl, I think. They just seemed like they wanted to extort money from me.” I didn’t miss the fleeting look of disdain in his eyes. My strength drained from me in an instant. I said weakly, “Caleb, I don’t have money for you.” This was the first time I had ever refused Caleb’s request. His face visibly darkened. He suddenly stood up. “You’re really that unwilling to part with a million dollars? You’d just stand there and watch me go to jail?! I’m your husband!” In that moment, I suddenly wanted to tear off his disguise. The Shen family was one of the top elite families in the city. A mere million dollars, what was that to him? “Caleb, my mom…” Before I could finish, Caleb impatiently cut me off. “It’s always your mom! How tired could your mom possibly be? She sits there embroidering all day! Selling to rich people, plus her pension, a million should be easy, right?” Watching Caleb storm out, slamming the door in a fit of rage, all my strength was sapped. I collapsed to the floor, silently sobbing, biting my lip. Tears mingled with the blood at the corner of my mouth. All I could see were images of my mother and daughter lying dead in pools of blood, merging with fragments of my seven years of life with Caleb. For a moment, I couldn’t distinguish truth from illusion. Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Mrs. Henderson, who lived next door, showed obvious delight when she saw me open the door. “Harper! Not working today? Where’s Chloe? Look what I brought for your little girl!” “This paint set is a reward for Chloe! Chloe loves to draw, doesn’t she!” “Oh, right! Where are your mom and Chloe?” Mrs. Henderson held a back brace in her hand, peering into the house, looking for my mom and Chloe. My throat tightened. I bit down hard, refusing to let the tears fall. “What’s wrong? Harper, why are you crying?” Mrs. Henderson’s smile slowly faded. As if sensing something, her eyes reddened instantly. She looked at me, incredulous, seemingly hoping for a different answer from my words. “Mrs. Henderson, my mom and Chloe already…” I closed my eyes for a moment, finally uttering the answer. “They’re gone.” “What happened?!” Mrs. Henderson gasped in horror, the gift in her hand falling heavily to the ground. Hearing Mrs. Henderson’s cries, my own tears couldn’t be held back. I choked out, “A car accident.” I dared not look up, my shoulders trembling as I quietly sobbed. A pair of warm arms enveloped me. Mrs. Henderson cried loudly, cursing, “That murderer! Your mom hadn’t even enjoyed life yet, and Chloe was still so young…” “Oh, by the way, does Caleb know?” Those words were like a sharp knife, piercing my heart. Under Mrs. Henderson’s concerned gaze, I slowly shook my head. “He doesn’t know.” To this day, Caleb doesn’t know that he, drunk, killed my mom and Chloe. Thinking about it, I could no longer control the sorrow in my heart. I burst into tears like a child. After seeing Mrs. Henderson off, I buried my face in the covers and cried for a long while, until I received a text message from the cemetery. Five hundred thousand dollars. Looking at that astronomical figure and my bank account balance, I felt utterly desperate. Where was I going to find five hundred thousand dollars for Mom and Chloe’s burial? As I scrolled through my phone book, trying to find someone I could borrow money from, Caleb’s call came in. “Don’t let Mom and Chloe go out to set up their stall tonight. I’ll be home early tonight to celebrate Chloe’s birthday.” My mind was still on the five hundred thousand. I hesitated for a moment before asking, “Caleb, do you have five hundred thousand dollars?” There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, he spoke. “Harper, are you kidding me? Where would I get that kind of money? Haven’t all my wages gone to buying things for Chloe and Mom?” There wasn’t a hint of guilt in Caleb’s voice. He’d told the lie for so long, he even believed it himself. Tears brimmed in my eyes. Suddenly, I cried out loudly, “Caleb!! You’re lying to me! You do! You clearly do! You just don’t want to give it to me!” Caleb’s voice rose several pitches. He snapped, enraged, “Harper! What are you doing?! What kind of person do you think I am? If I had money, would I be unwilling to give it to you? Who have you been listening to, spreading nonsense?!” “Please! Can you just stop making things difficult for me!” ‘Stop making things difficult for me’! What a line! With that, he hurriedly hung up. To gather enough money for Mom and Chloe’s burial plot, I couldn’t afford to wallow in grief. I rushed to the agreed-upon workplace. I squeezed into a heavy mascot costume and was led into a private room. I awkwardly swayed my limbs to the music. After the performance, laughter erupted around me. “So, Caleb, how about this early birthday gift I got for Chloe?” “Caleb dotes on his daughter like she’s the apple of his eye. He stoops so low to earn money, all for his mother-in-law and daughter.”

Inside the mascot costume, it was stifling hot, but I felt as if I were plunged into an ice-cold abyss. It was then that I saw him: in the spacious room, Caleb was sprawled lazily on the sofa, casually swirling the drink in his glass, looking every inch the aristocratic young master of incomparable status. “Looks decent. I’ll call my daughter and ask her if she likes it.” As Caleb picked up his phone, my daughter’s unique ringtone chirped beside me. But soon, he frowned, his eyes instantly filling with confusion and worry, because Caleb had called Chloe several times, and each time, it went straight to voicemail. My body trembled, tears streaming down my face. Caleb, you killed our daughter! You’ll never be able to reach that number again! Victoria was close by. Hearing my fingernails scratch against the mascot costume with a tearing sound, she glanced at me. “Caleb! You truly have incredible patience. Pretending to be poor and sick for seven years, tricking Harper, a graduate from a top-tier university, into selling her eggs for you. It must have been such a sacrifice for a young master like you to play house with them.” Caleb scoffed. “Once I win the bet, I’ll bring them back to the Shen family. They won’t have to suffer anymore.” Catching the hint of guilt in Caleb’s voice, I looked at him sharply. “Now you’re putting on an act of being a good husband and father. Why didn’t you give Harper money when she asked for it just now?” “Mind your own business. She probably asked for my help because my mother-in-law’s condition worsened.” Caleb’s tone was certain. “Next month, I’ll find the best doctors to cure my mother-in-law!” “How could her mom help you pay if she’s sick?” Victoria’s laughter was grating. Caleb felt humiliated. “She’ll definitely help me! If you don’t believe me, I can call her right now and ask her for the money!” My mind went blank. I instinctively raised my clumsy arm, trying to find my phone. It wasn’t until I heard a busy signal that I realized I had left my phone in my bag before work. “Damn it! What time is it? She’s not picking up my call!” Victoria casually glanced at me. “That’s why I say poor people are all the same. When money’s involved, what’s love? There are plenty who’ll sell their dignity.” Caleb’s eyes grew colder and colder. Suddenly, he stood up and walked over to me. The next second, his cold eyes stared directly at me, as if piercing through the bulky mascot costume to see me. Had he finally recognized me?! Just as tears streamed down my face and I prepared to lift my headpiece to demand who I was to him, he suddenly spoke. “Would you sell your dignity for money?” My hand slowly dropped. I didn’t speak. Caleb took a stack of money from a box beside him and threw it at my face. “Kneel for me!” He yanked my arm, coldly laughing as he tipped the entire box of money over my head. Under his icy gaze, I slowly bent down, kneeling before him to pick up the scattered bills on the floor. I had no reason to refuse this money. With this money, I could buy Mom and Chloe a decent burial plot. “Figures, poor people. They grab money as soon as they see it! Hey, tell me, if I gave you money to die, would you obediently go and die?” “But Harper isn’t like you! She’s with me purely because she loves me, not for money. So whatever I say, she’ll believe it!” I looked up, meeting Caleb’s gaze through the headpiece. I laughed self-deprecatingly. “You’re right!” I am one of those poor people you talk about! For money, I too can sell my dignity! Caleb’s pupils constricted the moment he heard my voice. He instinctively reached to pull off my headpiece. But I didn’t dodge. I even felt a strange anticipation of his reaction when he saw me underneath. Victoria pressed his hand down, mockingly saying, “Caleb, even if Harper upset you, you shouldn’t get angry at a mascot, right?” Caleb flung Victoria’s hand away in disgust and glared at me. “Now get lost.” Caleb didn’t come home that night. It wasn’t until early the next morning that I received a text from him. “Harper, my illness relapsed yesterday, and I passed out and was sent to the hospital. I just woke up.” “How’s Mom’s condition? And have you gathered enough money for me?” This wasn’t the first time Caleb had used this excuse to explain his staying out all night. I expressionlessly packed all my belongings and shipped them away, then headed to the address Caleb’s assistant had given me. As soon as I entered the upscale restaurant, I spotted Caleb’s familiar back from afar. In my pocket, Chloe’s phone watch was still buzzing. Caleb had been calling it incessantly since last night.

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After I got pregnant, my husband, a notorious playboy, utterly transformed. He not only cut off all his flirtations but also showered me with affection. Until one day before my due date, I accidentally overheard him talking to his buddy, Jake. “Marcus, that young woman you’ve been sponsoring, is she still bothering you? She’s younger and prettier than your wife. Don’t you feel anything for her?” Marcus scoffed, a sneer twisting his face. “What is she? She’s not even fit to shine my wife’s shoes. I’m just doing something good to earn some good karma for my wife. The sooner she’s gone, the better.” A wave of sweetness swelled in my heart. I thought I’d finally found true happiness. But who would’ve thought? The very next day, as I was on my way to the hospital, that girl drove her car straight into us. She held a terminal diagnosis in her hand, tears streaming down her face, unable to stop them. “Marcus, I don’t have much time left. If you won’t have me, are you forcing me to die to finally feel at peace?!” I was already bleeding, kneeling in the car, begging Marcus to rush me to the hospital. But he ruthlessly kicked me away and locked the car doors. “Get out! If Vanessa gets hurt, neither you nor the baby in your belly will live!” I was trapped in the car for an entire day and night. By the time someone found me and pulled me out, my baby’s heartbeat was gone. At my lowest, Marcus actually called. “Let’s get divorced first. Vanessa’s condition can’t wait. I need to take her abroad for treatment as her husband.” Tears streaming down my face, I agreed to his demand. I clutched my baby’s ashes and left that heartbreaking place. Five years later, I was living in a remote fishing village, scavenging for junk to survive. I never expected to see Marcus again. His gaze fell on my three-year-old daughter in my arms, and his eyes actually reddened. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at home? And what do you do? You’re out here picking up trash with my daughter! Look how thin she is! Are you even fit to be a mother?”

“A five-year-old kid is so thin. Aurora Hayes, how exactly do you take care of her as a mother?” “I thought you were so principled, not contacting me for five years. Turns out you’re just out here picking up trash with the kid, huh? Don’t tell me you knew I was coming for an inspection today and decided to put on this show for me?” My little daughter was in my arms, and my mind went blank, being yelled at by the man who’d suddenly appeared. It took me a while to realize who he was. It was Marcus Sterling, my ex-husband from five years ago. And the woman clinging to his arm, dressed in designer clothes, was none other than Vanessa Bell, the young woman he’d sponsored back then. Seeing them so intimate, I instinctively hugged my daughter tighter. My mind spun, memories dragging me back five years. Back then, I’d just gotten pregnant. Marcus, who was always cold and distant, suddenly started sponsoring a high school girl from an orphanage and even let her move into our home. The first time I saw Vanessa, pale and in worn-out clothes, my heart softened. Even with my baby bump, I cooked her nutritious meals. I’d stay up late, helping her with her studies, tutoring her often. Under my care, Vanessa brightened up significantly, smiling more often. Her grades skyrocketed from last in class to first in her grade, and she eventually got into a prestigious university. But I never imagined that the first thing she’d do after turning eighteen was to hook up with Marcus, betraying me! Seeing that I hadn’t spoken, Marcus’s eyes fell on my daughter. His brows furrowed, and he said with clear dissatisfaction, “Why is it a girl? My mother has been hoping for a grandson for years, and she was already unhappy with you. Now you have another daughter? How am I supposed to explain this to her?” Only then did I realize he thought the child in my arms was his. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. He had the nerve to bring that up? That child, our child, had died five years ago, suffocated to death inside me. And the one responsible for the baby’s death was *him*, the biological father! Anger churned in my chest. I took a deep breath and stepped back, hugging my daughter tightly. “You’re mistaken. This child isn’t yours…”

My clarification was cut short. Vanessa suddenly interrupted me, shaking Marcus’s arm as she purred, “Marcus, I can give you children! My illness is long gone. I can have as many as you want.” Marcus affectionately pinched her nose, smiling. “You’ve just recovered, sweetheart. I can’t bear for you to go through that right now. You just need to be my little princess.” Then, he turned to me, looking utterly disdainful. “Aurora Hayes, for the past five years, Vanessa has suffered so much abroad, endured so much pain. And you? All you know is to compete with her, throwing tantrums all day, not even a single word of comfort. Someone as cold and heartless as you truly doesn’t deserve her kindness.” I rolled my eyes at his words, completely speechless. For the past five years, my email had been flooded with photos and videos Vanessa sent from all over the world. In those pictures, she looked rosy-cheeked and full of life. Where was the sick patient? I had no interest in saying more. I picked up the garbage tongs beside me and waved them in front of him. This gesture instantly scared Vanessa, and she started crying. Marcus looked me up and down, pinching his nose and frowning as he took a step back. “Look at you now, a complete mess! You reek of garbage. What’s the difference between you and a homeless person? So you pretended to be dignified for five years? In the end, you still came crawling back to me, didn’t you?” “Don’t think bringing a child here will make me take you back or start over. We ended things the moment you impulsively blocked me.” My daughter in my arms was startled by his tone and burst into tears. Marcus’s expression softened slightly, and he reached out to her. “Shh, don’t cry, sweetie. Daddy will take you home. Don’t stay with this crazy woman.” What he got in return was Lily’s even more heartbroken scream: “I don’t want you to hug me! You’re not fit to be my daddy! You’re a meanie who bullies Mommy! I hate you the most!” Publicly humiliated, Marcus’s face instantly darkened. He glared at me and said coldly, “Is this how you raise her? She has no manners whatsoever! I lived with you for five years, no wonder you’re full of flaws! My family won’t acknowledge such an ill-mannered child. Don’t show your face to me again until you’ve sorted yourself out.” No one can tolerate someone speaking ill of their child like that. I clenched my fists and spoke coldly, “You’re wrong. This isn’t your daughter. She has nothing to do with you.” Marcus froze for a moment. Then he scoffed, completely uncaring. “Aurora Hayes, always so quick with your words, aren’t you? I hate that fake innocent act of yours. It’s disgusting.” “Still pretending at a time like this? If you don’t get down on your knees and beg me, then just get lost and spare me the sight of you!” With that, he pulled a few bills from his pocket and slapped them against my face. “Look at how poor you two look. Take this and buy yourselves some decent clothes. Don’t go around embarrassing yourselves.” Then, he put his arm around Vanessa and walked away. I looked down at my old, orange work uniform and couldn’t help but curse his ancestors in my mind. Marcus, of course, had no idea that the T-shirt I was wearing underneath was a limited-edition design by world-renowned designer Krena, priced at a staggering one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. My daughter’s cartoon jacket was also a high-end luxury brand. As for me, I had remarried four years ago and had another child. How could I ever go back to the past? My special ringtone rang. I collected myself and answered. A gentle, deep voice came from the other end: “My dearest wife, you must be tired from your business trip. I’ve arranged the lounge for you. Take the baby in and get some good rest.” “I really want to see you right now. I’ll come over right after my meeting this afternoon.” My usually reserved husband was actually whining like a big kid, and my heart warmed. After hanging up, I led my daughter to the lounge door. From inside, I heard faint, intimate sounds of heavy breathing…

Pushing the door open, I saw Marcus and Vanessa entangled on the sofa, in a very intimate embrace. I quickly covered my daughter’s eyes and ears. Marcus angrily picked up a nearby water glass and threw it at me. “Get out! Who let you in? Is this a place for a beggar like you?!” The glass hit my forehead, and the pain made my vision swim. Before I could even recover, Several project managers rushed in, politely apologizing to Marcus. “We’re truly sorry, Mr. Sterling. We were negligent. We’ll take her out immediately.” Furious, I shook off the person holding me and shouted, “This is *my* lounge! What right do you have to kick me out?” The scene fell into a sudden silence. Then, a few people started laughing. Seeing they didn’t believe me, I was about to pull out my phone to prove myself. But Marcus rushed over, snatched my phone, and violently smashed it on the floor. The screen shattered into several pieces. Before I could speak, He sneered coldly, “Have you been dreaming for too long? Is your mind not clear? This lounge is exclusively for Caleb Hayes, one of the wealthiest men in the country. Even I can only sit here to discuss business. Who do you think you are, spouting such nonsense?” “You’ve gone this far to seduce me. You really have no shame.” A few stout middle-aged men eyed me with strange looks. “Mr. Sterling, who is this woman?” Marcus chuckled coldly, casually saying, “Don’t know her. But looking at her, she’s probably selling herself, isn’t she?” Vanessa leaned against him, giggling, her fingers tracing circles on his chest. “Marcus, you’re so mean to my sister.” After hearing Marcus ruthlessly humiliate me, The project managers’ faces immediately twisted with disgust. A barrage of nasty comments followed. “This kind of woman actually dares to come here and seduce Mr. Sterling, and with a child! She has no shame. Be careful not to catch anything.” “With your pathetic appearance, you can’t do anything else. You might as well go beg for food.” “We’ve seen plenty of women like you. They’re full of tricks, willing to do anything for money. If Mr. Sterling doesn’t want her, you can give her to me to play with. I haven’t seen a piece of trash like this in ages.” I kept my daughter tightly hugged, not letting her hear those vulgar words. “Don’t go too far! There’s a child here!” But it still scared Lily. The little girl cried out. Marcus seemed to think it had gone a bit too far. His face darkened, and he roared, “Who told you to talk like that? Are you looking to die?!” The men exchanged glances and quickly shut up. I ignored him, focusing on comforting my daughter in my arms. Just as I finally managed to calm her down, I looked up and saw Marcus staring at me thoughtfully, a hint of complexity in his eyes. He seemed about to say something, but Vanessa spoke first, putting on a generous and gentle facade: “Sister Aurora, it must have been hard for you raising a child alone all these years. My body is still recovering, and I just happen to need a nanny. Why don’t you come and take care of me? I’ll pay you two thousand five hundred a month. It’s much better than picking up trash outside.” As soon as she finished speaking, Marcus pulled her close and kissed her deeply on the lips. “Vanessa, you’re so considerate. You really break my heart.” Vanessa blushed and buried her head in his chest. Watching them being so sickeningly sweet, I felt goosebumps all over my body. Suppressing my disgust, I refused: “Thank you for your kind offer, but I really like my current job.” With that, I ignored Marcus’s grim face, hugged my daughter, and walked straight out. These two lunatics. If I can’t deal with them, I can at least avoid them, right? Behind me, I heard the sound of things smashing, mixed with Marcus’s furious roar: “Aurora Hayes, are you really that useless? You’re still a complete failure, aren’t you? And you still think you can remarry me? No way!” I slammed the door shut.

My phone was shattered, so I had no choice but to find a shady spot to rest with my daughter. The little one leaned softly against me, asking in her tender voice, “Mommy, who were those people just now? Why were they saying mean things? When is Daddy coming to pick us up?” I gently kissed her forehead, softly telling her, “Those were bad people, Lily. Don’t mind them. Daddy will be here soon to pick us up. Let’s wait patiently, okay?” She nodded vigorously, and her expression made me kiss her little cheek again. The weather was getting hotter. I told my daughter to sit quietly here and wait while I went to get some water. But when I came back with the water, I suddenly heard my daughter crying loudly, “Mommy, help me! Let go of me!” The sight before my eyes broke my heart. Vanessa was clutching my daughter by the neck, slamming her onto the ground. Seeing this, my rage erupted. All reason vanished. I lunged forward and slapped Vanessa hard across the face. Just as I snatched Lily from her grasp, Marcus rushed over. Vanessa was already crying uncontrollably, snot and tears running down her face as she threw herself into his arms. “Marcus, I saw her alone there and just wanted to be nice and keep her company. But then this child suddenly bit me! I only said a few words to her, and Sister Aurora rushed over and hit me!” Marcus looked at the red mark on her face and the teeth marks on her hand. His face instantly turned cold, his eyes blazing with fury. “Aurora Hayes, how dare you lay a hand on my woman?! You truly don’t respect me!” He grabbed my hair and ruthlessly kicked me in the chest. The kick was so heavy that I coughed up blood. My chest throbbed with excruciating pain, as if my whole body was falling apart. “Mommy! Mommy!” My daughter’s heartbreaking screams came from behind me. Marcus didn’t seem satisfied. He turned and slapped my daughter, sending her sprawling onto the ground. “You little brute! If your mom can’t control you, I’ll teach you a lesson!” Hearing my child’s cries, my heart twisted with pain. I struggled to crawl towards her, but Marcus stepped on my head, pinning me to the ground. Vanessa walked over, hugged my crying daughter, and clamped her hand over Lily’s mouth, forcibly muffling her cries. Lily’s face turned bright red from holding her breath. “Sister Aurora, since you don’t know how to raise a child, making her suffer so much, why don’t you let me take her?” Marcus looked down at me with a cold sneer. “Stop talking nonsense. This woman doesn’t deserve to be a mother. The child belongs to me today. You’ll never see her again.” His leather shoe pressed down heavily on my back, and he continued with his cruel words: “She can’t even control a child. If this keeps up, this little brat will grow up to be just like you, causing trouble. Might as well get rid of her now.” “Marcus!” I shrieked, suddenly grabbing his ankle, my nails digging into his flesh. I screamed the truth hysterically— “She’s only three! She’s not your child at all! She’s Caleb Hayes’s child! And I’m Caleb Hayes’s wife, the current Mrs. Hayes!”

As my voice echoed. Everyone’s faces instantly changed. Then, piercing laughter erupted. “Hahaha, Mr. Sterling, what is this woman spouting? If she’s Mrs. Hayes, then I must be the richest person in the world! Are you serious? Is she out of her mind?!” “What nonsense! Everyone knows Mr. Hayes’s wife is a beautiful, elegant woman. This tramp, picking up garbage, thinks she can compare?” “Yeah, and the Hayes family only has one young master. That little girl beside her isn’t even fit to carry Mr. Hayes’s son’s shoes.” Amidst the noisy laughter, Marcus grabbed me and yanked me off the ground. “Aurora Hayes, you really don’t prepare your lies, do you? Someone as high-and-mighty as Caleb Hayes, do you think he’d even glance at a woman like you, a woman I tossed aside?” Marcus’s eyes were full of contempt, as if I were a piece of dirt on the ground. “I was actually wondering if you were genuinely remorseful, if I could take you back. But it turns out you’re not only unrepentant, you’re also trying to cling to Mr. Hayes. Aurora Hayes, your very essence is worse than this trash. No matter how much you wash, you’re still garbage.” Before he finished speaking, Marcus picked up a nearby garbage can and dumped it over my head. The putrid smell quickly enveloped me, making me gag. The surrounding managers pinched their noses and laughed. “Well done! That’s how you teach people like her a lesson.” One man offered a suggestion. “Mr. Sterling, rumor has it that Mr. Hayes is extremely protective of his wife. If he knew someone was impersonating his wife, he certainly wouldn’t let her off easily. I know there’s a cold storage nearby. Let’s lock her in there and let Mr. Hayes deal with her personally when he arrives. Then our collaboration project will surely be a go.” Looking at this group of ugly-faced people, my heart filled with hatred. Marcus stared at me and sighed. “Aurora Hayes, I’m giving you one last chance to apologize. Just kneel down and apologize to Vanessa in public, and I’ll let you go. Otherwise…” “You wish!” Seeing my defiance, Marcus’s expression turned completely cold. He gave a look, and several burly men immediately swarmed me, binding my hands and feet before tossing me into the cold storage. In the freezing cold storage, below ten degrees Celsius, my entire body quickly became covered in frost. A strong will to survive made me incessantly bang on the door, desperately scratching at the metal with all my might. My nails were ripped off, exposing raw, bloody flesh. My daughter cried out for Mommy from outside, only to be slapped several times. “Who do you call ‘Mommy’? From now on, *I’m* your only mommy! You little thing!” Seeing Lily continue to cry uncontrollably, Vanessa simply stuffed a foul-smelling rag into her mouth. Suddenly, a roaring sound came from a distance. A black Maybach screeched to a halt beside them. A pair of perfectly tailored long legs stepped onto the ground, and a custom suit outlined the cold, handsome figure of the newcomer. He was holding a cute little boy in his arms. In the split second before my consciousness faded, I heard someone shriek: “Mr. Hayes and the young master are here!” Caleb Hayes stepped out of the car, holding his son. He looked around, but couldn’t spot the familiar figure he was searching for.

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Introduction：He tore my sincerity apart with his own hands, but whispered in my ear in the middle of the night: ‘Your waist is softer than before… Who touched my thing? ‘” Astrid was once the most perfect daughter of the moon god in the wolf pack, until she found out that her destined partner had betrayed her. She took off her gentle mask and was reborn in the fiery eyes of another Alpha- “Ask me for forgiveness?” She curled her red lips slightly, and her fingertips brushed across the abdominal muscles of her new partner, “What a pity… You don’t even have the qualifications to kneel down and lick my toes.” When the old love kneeled down to beg for mercy, when power and desire intertwined, this time, she wanted to let everyone know: the wolf abandoned by the moonlight will eventually rot in the eternal night.. One afternoon, I got news that made my stomach drop—my mate had been rushed to the hospital after nearly suffocating during a hookup in his car. When I arrived, my eyes immediately landed on another familiar face—his Beta’s mate—lying on a hospital bed. A dull pressure settled in my chest, not from heartbreak, just pure exhaustion. The doctor hesitated before speaking. “The patient was using a… device that got lodged inside. We’re in the process of removing it. This is the best we can do for now.” His tone was professional, but the awkward flicker in his expression said everything. Then came the inevitable question. “How are you related to the patient?” I turned slightly, avoiding eye contact. “Just a packmate.” Once, I would have exploded—demanded answers, hurled accusations, let the betrayal tear me apart. But now? I felt nothing. I was too drained to waste my energy on something so disgusting. I filled out the necessary paperwork without a single glance in their direction, my movements cold and efficient. Then, without hesitation, I turned on my heel and walked away. They deserved each other. As I stepped outside, the crisp night air wrapped around me. The scents of the forest, the distant howls of my pack, and the weight of my decision grounded me. I inhaled deeply, pulled out my phone, and dialed my family. “I accept the arranged mating ceremony,” I said, my voice steady. “Three days from now, I’ll bond.” As soon as I hung up, my phone buzzed again. Magnus’s name flashed on the screen. “Astrid, my car got towed. Take care of it when you get back and bring it home.” His voice was as smooth and confident as ever—that same commanding tone that had once made my heart race. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I never would have believed that this so-called Alpha had just been caught naked in a hospital bed with another female. Then, as if the universe wanted to humiliate me even more, a muffled groan filtered through the receiver. “Mm…” My grip tightened around the phone. Before I could say a word, Magnus quickly added, “I kicked the leg of the chair.” The audacity. He muttered a few half-hearted reassurances before cutting the call—completely oblivious to the fact that I had been standing in that same hospital just moments ago. I only responded with two words, my voice void of emotion. “Understood.” I was supposed to be away on a business trip outside the pack. If I hadn’t decided to come back early to surprise him, I never would have walked in on this absolute mess. The car he had used—the one he had so carelessly defiled—was a gift from me. And yet, I still went to retrieve it. When I found the vehicle and pulled the door open, an awful stench hit me. What I saw next made my stomach churn. A crumpled men’s dress shirt lay abandoned on the driver’s seat. Nearby, scraps of torn fabric—a woman’s, judging by the lace—were shoved carelessly to the side. But the worst part? The back seat. The scent of another female clung to the air—too sweet, too heavy. A direct insult to my claim on him. Stains. Sticky, undeniable evidence of what they had done, glaring under the dim moonlight. I felt bile rise in my throat. Slamming the door shut as if I could erase the sight from my mind, I turned away. But it was too late. The nausea hit me in full force, and before I could stop myself, I bent over and vomited. A hand landed gently on my back—warm, steady. I stiffened. The touch was careful, reassuring, yet a shiver ran down my spine. Slowly, I turned my head. The doctor from earlier stood beside me. He had removed his white coat, revealing a well-built frame beneath a fitted black button-down. The fabric stretched across broad shoulders, hinting at the strength restrained beneath. His scent was different now—Alpha. Potent. A presence that made my wolf stir. Gold-rimmed glasses sat on his nose, his deep-set eyes unreadable as they studied me. “Stormholt…” My voice came out quieter than I intended. Seeing him—my childhood friend, once my closest confidant, someone I hadn’t spoken to in years—sent a wave of unexpected emotions crashing over me. I wasn’t ready for this. Not tonight. Not when my wolf was still reeling. “I was worried about you.” His voice was calm, steady. Controlled, like always. But there was something else beneath it—a challenge. A claim. A long pause stretched between us before he spoke again. “You agreed to the arranged mating?” “Mm.” I nodded, unwilling to say more. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Good. Three nights from now, I’ll be waiting for you at the ceremony.” There was something unreadable in his gaze—something primal. A promise. But I was too exhausted to decipher it. “All right.” The words left my lips automatically. I refused his offer to take me home and called for a driver instead. The car was sent for a full detailing before I listed it for sale. I never wanted to see it again. On the ride home, I leaned against the cool window, watching the city lights blur past. My thoughts drifted to the last seven years with Magnus—years that now felt like a complete waste. I could still remember the way he used to look at me, like I was the only she-wolf in the world. His eyes had once been full of love. He used to tell me I was pure, untouched, the most precious thing he had ever known. Now, I understood the truth. I had never been his destined mate. Only a possession. A temporary claim. An Omega he thought he could keep under his rule. But he had underestimated me. And in three days, he would finally learn just how wrong he was.

After Magnus marked me as his mate, he treated me like a trophy, always calling me the perfect Luna—graceful, honorable, a leader in the pack and the ideal partner. For years, I believed him. But now, looking back, I realized his words meant nothing. Seven years together, and yet our moments of true connection had been painfully rare. Maybe he had never really wanted someone like me. Maybe he craved females like Seraphina—wild, reckless, shameless. The moment I walked into our den, I didn’t hesitate. I yanked a suitcase from the closet and started stuffing it with clothes and essentials, barely bothering to fold them. The space I had once lovingly arranged for us—**our home, our future as Alpha and Luna—**felt suffocating now. I wanted nothing to do with it. While rummaging through the study, my fingers brushed against something cold and metallic. Tucked beneath a stack of documents sat a laptop. Not one I recognized. An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. I powered it on. A password screen popped up. I tried my birthday. Incorrect. Frowning, I typed another date—Seraphina’s birthday. The screen unlocked instantly. A sick feeling washed over me as the desktop loaded. Folder after folder, all neatly categorized. With a shaky breath, I clicked one open. Photos. Videos. Dozens of them. Magnus and Seraphina. My stomach twisted as explicit images flashed across the screen. Their betrayal was captured in painful detail—different positions, different settings. Seraphina bound, posed, displayed for the camera. A disgusting catalog of their time together. They had done it everywhere. **His Alpha’s office—**where Seraphina, dressed in a tight secretary outfit, knelt before him. **Our den—**on the bed, the table, the couch. Even here. In this very study. I slapped a hand over my mouth, my body trembling. I barely managed to reach for an external hard drive, copying everything. Every last file. Just as the transfer completed and I placed the laptop back where I found it, the front door creaked open. Magnus was home. It was late—he must have rushed back, worried that I had returned early and discovered his absence. I inhaled sharply, shut my suitcase, and composed myself. When he stepped into the study, his sharp Alpha instincts immediately took in the mess I had made while packing. His eyes narrowed. “Why are you cleaning all of a sudden?” “This place is filthy. I’m getting rid of the mess.” My voice was flat, detached. Disgust curled in my stomach. I couldn’t even look at him. Magnus chuckled, stepping closer. “You must be tired after patrolling with the pack. Why don’t you leave it for tomorrow? I’ll have the Omegas handle it.” His tone was smooth, filled with fake concern. He reached for me, attempting to pull me close. I shoved him away. Hard. “Go shower. You stink of her.” He blinked, then laughed. Oblivious. “Alright, alright, I’ll wash up.” Before leaving, he turned back with an easy smirk. “You should stop worrying about this, too. We’re getting mated under the moon soon. Maybe we should build a new den—deep in the heart of the territory.” He launched into a long speech about our future packhouse, renovations, decorations, furniture. Before, I would have eagerly played along, curling against him, discussing every detail. Now, my wolf was silent. Our bond was already breaking. I said nothing. Mistaking my silence for exhaustion, he kissed my temple before disappearing into the bathroom. I muttered a half-hearted reply and went to my room. Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw those images. Not long after, the mattress dipped beside me. Magnus had finished showering and slid into bed, wrapping his arms around me like he always did. One arm beneath my neck, holding me close—his way of making me feel safe. Once, it worked. Now, I wanted to run. I inhaled slowly, trying to steady my breathing. But the words burned in my throat, demanding to be set free. “Magnus, I want to sever the bond—”

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Eight years ago, I dropped out of college and worked tirelessly to pay for Valerie’s tuition. She clung to me, tears streaming, swearing she’d never betray me, not ever. Years later, she built her own empire, becoming a multi-millionaire CEO. But the night I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I saw her, under a streetlamp, kissing someone else. That same night, she broke up with me. My heart turned to ash. “Valerie, what about our eight years?” She looked at me, her voice icy. “Eight years? That’s not long at all. Not to me.” “Your eight years might have been all about me, but my eight years? They were about so much more than just you.” Yet, when she learned of my death, she completely lost her mind. “I’m sorry, Mr. Alex. The diagnosis is in. It’s late-stage stomach cancer.” The doctor handed me the report, his eyes filled with pity. I felt like I’d been struck by a lightning bolt. It was just a stomach ache, how could it be a terminal illness? A million questions flooded my mind, but a lump formed in my throat, and I couldn’t make a sound. I opened my mouth, and after a long moment, finally managed to ask, “How much longer… do I have?” The doctor adjusted his glasses. “Three months, at most.” I let out a bitter laugh, took the diagnosis, and stood up to leave. It wasn’t until I was outside, sitting in my car, that I covered my eyes and broke down, sobbing. My cries were muffled, a raw, hoarse sound tearing from deep in my throat. Only three months left to live. What about Valerie? How would she survive, alone, after I was gone? The night breeze carried a chilling bite as I stood on the balcony, waiting for Valerie to return. I’d shredded the diagnosis, tearing it into tiny pieces, then watched them swirl down the drain. I waited from day until night. In those dozen or so hours, I finally understood. I couldn’t tell Valerie. Everyone says it’s better to cut ties cleanly, better a quick, sharp pain than a lingering one. But I… I didn’t want her to hurt at all. A familiar silhouette gradually appeared under the streetlamp. I was just wondering why Valerie hadn’t driven home today when, the next second, I saw her pulled into someone else’s embrace and kissed. In an instant, the blood in my veins seemed to freeze. The two figures under the streetlamp looked exactly like a pair of lovers. Valerie didn’t pull away. She let him kiss her on the side of her lips, then watched him leave. The villa’s front door opened, let in by the housekeeper. I waited on the second floor, my mind a blank slate. Soon after, she walked into the room and gently hugged me from behind. “Alex, I’m so tired today.” My body stiffened. I subtly pulled away from her embrace. Valerie looked at me, a hint of complaint in her voice. “What’s wrong?” I reached up and plucked a rose petal from her hair. It was from when she and that other person stood under the roses, kissing. My fingers trembled slightly. I looked up at her, my voice low as I demanded, “Who was that person?” Valerie’s face instantly changed. “You saw?” I waited silently for her explanation, but she just calmly told me, “Alex, there’s nothing between us. You know I only love you.” “You’re the only one I’m truly sincere about.” My heart was practically numb with pain. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Oh, really? Valerie, then your ‘sincerity’ comes cheap.” Perhaps stung by my words, Valerie’s expression gradually darkened. “I don’t want to argue with you.” I repeated her words. “I don’t want to argue either. I want an explanation.” “Tell me, who was he?” Valerie’s expression grew impatient. “You can’t stand it, can you?” She coldly tossed out, “Then let’s break up.” I barely reacted, just stared at her, stunned. “You… what did you say?” Valerie’s eyes darted away, but she still told me, word for word, “I said, if you can’t stand it, then let’s break up.” Suddenly, my nose stung. My voice choked in my throat. “Break up?” My lips trembled slightly as I asked her, “Valerie, what about our eight years?” She looked at me, her gaze icy. “Eight years? That’s not long at all. Not to me.” “Your eight years might have been all about me, but my eight years? They were about so much more than just you.” A sudden, violent pain erupted in my stomach, spreading to my heart. I could barely stand. Valerie ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “I’ll meet many more people. Alex, if you don’t trust me, then what’s the point of dragging this on?” I forced myself to maintain a calm facade, my nails digging into my palms. A coppery taste filled my mouth. I gritted my teeth and said, “Valerie, say ‘break up’ one more time, and I’ll never appear before you again.” She opened her mouth, but in the end, she just slammed the door shut. “I’m staying at the apartment tonight.” It wasn’t until her voice completely faded that I collapsed weakly to the ground. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. I covered my mouth with my hand, but the next second, I violently vomited a large mouthful of fresh blood.

My consciousness gradually blurred, my vision hazy, and I collapsed to the floor. The second before I blacked out, I suddenly remembered the year Valerie and I first met. She was only eighteen. “Stop pretending! You think you can hide?!” A group of girls had cornered someone. The leader viciously slapped the girl, her face contorted with hatred. She grabbed the girl’s hair, cursing and venting, “You slut, trying to seduce men!” I didn’t hear a single sound of resistance. The girl silently endured the violence, so quiet it was as if she felt no pain. “Enough.” I pressed my cigarette against the wall to extinguish it, then turned and walked to the alley entrance, watching them coldly. The girls turned to look at me, their expressions dismissive. “I suggest you mind your own business.” Through a gap, the girl’s eyes fixed on me, her gaze vacant. I picked up a wooden stick leaning against the wall and slammed it against the corner. It snapped with a crack. I threw the remaining half in front of them. “I said, *enough*.” The girls exchanged glances. After a few seconds of silence, they reluctantly walked away from me. Only the girl remained, a clear handprint still on her cheek. I watched for a few seconds, then looked away, turning to leave. Footsteps followed behind me, not too close, almost matching mine. After the second street corner, I finally stopped. The footsteps ceased as well. I turned around. The girl was indeed about a yard behind me. “Why are you following me?” She looked at me in a panic, and tears suddenly streamed down her face, tracing a path over the handprint, making it seem even more stark. I was suddenly lost in thought, realizing, *she hurts too*. “Come on.” Perhaps she thought I was chasing her away. She clutched the corner of her shirt, flustered, but refused to move a single step. I paused for a few seconds, then finished my sentence. “I’ll take you home.” She trusted me without a second thought, and actually led me to her home. In the long, dark alley, she spoke for the first time. “My name is Valerie.” I curved my lips into a slight smile, though it was hidden in the darkness. “Alex.” Valerie lived in the slums, her house surrounded by piles of scavenged junk. She pushed open the yard gate, and a partially-blind old woman emerged from the small doorway. “Valerie, you’re back.” Valerie smiled and called out, “Grandma.” She introduced me to the old woman. “This is Alex. He’s my… good friend.” I paused, slightly stunned. Perhaps afraid I’d contradict her, Valerie quickly ducked into the kitchen. The old woman warmly pulled me into the house, then took out some treasured candies and offered them to me. “Good boy. Valerie has never brought a friend home before.” “You’re the first one.” I gave a bitter smile as I peeled the wrapper, putting the milky candy in my mouth. This elderly, partially-sighted woman would never know what her granddaughter suffered at school, let alone that she had no friends. She held my hand and talked for a long time. When emotions ran deep, she wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “My Valerie has had a very hard life. She was abandoned by her parents by the river when she was just born, and I, a poor, old, almost-blind woman, found her and brought her home.” The old woman took out her sewing kit, dug out a few crumpled bills from the bottom, then tremblingly pressed the largest bill into my hand. “It’s a blessing she met a friend like you. Please, help me look after my Valerie from now on.” My nose stung, my lips parted, but no sound came out. Finally, I just mumbled, “Okay.” From that day on, I started watching over Valerie, becoming almost her constant shadow. “Alex, where’s your family?” The sunset settled on the lake, quickly sinking and taking the last light with it. Valerie asked me this for the first time. I paused for a few seconds, then told her, short and direct, “My mom died. My dad’s in prison. He killed my mom.” The air suddenly grew quiet. Valerie must have realized she’d spoken out of turn, so she immediately fell silent. After a long silence, she took my right hand. In the darkness, I heard her choked voice. “Alex, from now on… I’ll be your family.” She made that promise to me, and I believed her.

My face suddenly felt wet. I slowly opened my eyes. The white furball in front of me was licking my cheek. Seeing me awake, Buddy snuggled into my arms. I reached out and stroked his head, then staggered to the bathroom, turning on the shower to wash away the blood. The person who drove Valerie home that night was quickly identified—Brandon, Valerie’s secretary. He was young, a prestigious university graduate, and strikingly handsome. I wasn’t surprised that someone like him could attract Valerie. Valerie didn’t come home for several nights. I waited in the villa, calm as if insane. Late at night, my stomach pain grew severe. I tremblingly took out my painkillers, poured out a few pills, and dry-swallowed them. In the darkness, I curled up, letting the cold sweat soak the sheets. Just as the pain began to subside, the sound of the door lock clicked. Someone walked into the room, then quietly lay down beside me. She reached out and hugged me from behind, not saying a word. The smell of alcohol drifted into my nostrils, pungent and stinging. I pulled away from her, turning on the bedside lamp. “Have you been drinking?” Valerie’s eyes were red, but she didn’t answer. After a long moment, she finally cried, “Alex, you can’t leave me.” “You’re all I have. If even you leave me, what will I do?” I looked at her, smiling faintly, and gently wiped her tears with my fingertips. A sudden, intense bitterness welled up inside me. “Valerie, it’s not me leaving you…” I trembled as I closed my eyes. “It’s you leaving me.” Valerie gripped my hand, apologizing over and over. “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” “You know I can’t live without you.” Her tears dripped onto the back of my hand, and all my defenses crumbled instantly. “Valerie, tell me, between him and me… who do you choose?” She wrapped her arms around my neck, tilted her head back, and kissed my lips, her voice choked with tears, speaking the most devastating love words. “I choose you, Alex. Only you.” Valerie kissed my Adam’s apple, her passion evident. I cupped the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. My body gradually grew hot. The moment I took off Valerie’s shirt, I suddenly saw the dense scars on her arm. The string in my mind suddenly snapped. *That’s right*, how could Valerie possibly leave me? Everyone only saw Valerie’s dazzling success, but no one knew that she had once suffered from severe depression. The first time I found her, the bathtub water was already stained crimson. She lay there, unconscious, her fate uncertain. But even after being rescued, Valerie didn’t give up on suicide. When I broke into the locked room, her left arm was covered in countless cuts. Valerie sat on the floor, her face blank. I skillfully took out gauze to bandage her. Valerie didn’t pull away, she just looked at me and smiled. “Alex, please don’t save me.” She expressed her pain so calmly. I looked at her vacant stare and remained silent for a long time. “Does it hurt?” Valerie’s right hand still gripped a fruit knife. I took her hand, used its force, and slashed deeply across my own arm. It took her a few seconds to react. Then she screamed and threw the knife away. “Alex! Alex…” Valerie finally burst into tears. She frantically tried to cover my wound, but the blood soaked her palm, seeping through her fingers. “Valerie, it hurts so much.” I pulled her into my embrace, begging her over and over. “Please, don’t die.” “Valerie, let me be your medicine.”

The memories gradually faded, and my gaze refocused on the present. A voice reached my ears. “Sir, Ms. Valerie said you don’t need to wait for her tonight.” Mr. Davies, the butler, spoke and then quietly withdrew. The dinner on the table had grown cold. I quietly listened to the clock strike midnight. This was the third day. The third day I hadn’t seen Valerie. Just as I was lost in thought, the white furball suddenly darted into my arms. It knocked the bowls and chopsticks off the table, making a sharp clattering sound. “Buddy, cut it out.” Buddy’s tongue lolled out, like a grin. I helplessly stroked his head, then bent down to pick up the broken pieces from the floor. A sharp shard of porcelain cut my fingertip, and blood quickly seeped out. I knelt on the floor, looking at the scattered fragments around me. For a moment, I felt a strange sense of unreality. A bitter smile touched my lips. Go back to how things were… as if that were even possible. The room at night carried a chill. Ever since I fell ill, I’d become sensitive to the cold. The heat from the AC gradually filled the room, but even curled up under the blankets, I still shivered violently. Valerie appeared at some point. She gently wrapped her arms around me. “Alex, I’m home.” I strained to press closer to her, desperate for a bit of warmth, but I still shivered uncontrollably. “Valerie, I’m cold.” She gently stroked my back, then hummed a familiar lullaby to lull me to sleep. “Don’t be scared.” I called her name. “Valerie?” She said, “I’m here.” I called her name again and again, and she answered every time. Suddenly, I wanted to cry so badly. Tears welled up in my eyes. My voice choked with sobs as I told her, “Valerie, I’m dying.” Her movements suddenly stilled. “Oh? Well, that’s…” I couldn’t quite hear her voice, so I looked up at her. Valerie’s expression suddenly twisted, her eyes filled with extreme, deranged madness, her smile grotesque. “Well, that’s wonderful.” My heart jolted. I reached out a disbelieving hand toward her. “Valerie—!” When I opened my eyes again, the sky outside was bright. My back was soaked with cold sweat. I sat up, still shaken, unable to fully recover my senses. It had just been… a dream. I closed my eyes, calmed myself, then got up and walked out of the room. A housekeeper walked by in the hallway. I looked at the shirt she was holding and said, “Did Ms. Valerie come back last night?” The housekeeper respectfully nodded. “Yes, Ms. Valerie returned very late last night. She was afraid of disturbing you, so she slept in the guest room.” I took the shirt, glanced at it, then handed it back. “You can go now.” It wasn’t until I was alone that I lifted my fingers to my nose and inhaled. A familiar woody fragrance. I almost wanted to laugh. It was the birthday gift Valerie gave me when she turned twenty. The same scent. On whose body had she picked it up this time? My stomach began to cramp again. I took two painkillers, just barely managing to suppress the pain. A wave of dizziness washed over me. I lifted my hand, trying to grab onto something, but ultimately collapsed weakly onto the bed and passed out again. When I next woke, the window was pitch black. A knock sounded at the door. I reached out, gripping the edge of the table to steady myself. “Come in.” Mr. Davies slowly walked up to me. “Sir, Ms. Valerie sent someone to pick you up.” I paused, slightly confused, then nodded. It wasn’t until I was in the car that I belatedly asked, “Where are we going?” The driver’s voice held a hint of a smile. “You’ll find out when you get there.” A flicker of emotion stirred in my heart. Unease, or perhaps, expectation.

The entire floor of the riverside rooftop restaurant was empty. A waiter pushed open the glass door for me. A cascade of roses bloomed profusely, and amidst them, stood Valerie, dressed in a white gown. She walked toward me, a dazzling smile on her face. “Happy Birthday, Alex.” I was slightly stunned. It was my birthday today? I’d even forgotten myself… She explained that she had deliberately been distant these past few days to prepare this surprise for me. Valerie took a necklace from a box in her hand and fastened it around my neck. As our skin brushed, I felt her breath near my ear. “Alex, this is our ninth year.” She wrapped her arms around my waist, leaning gently against me. “And we’ll have many, many more nine years together.” I almost froze, unable to move for a long time. A sudden, intense bitterness welled up inside me. *But Valerie… we don’t have a future anymore.* She took my hand and led me to the table. A waiter poured our wine. Valerie raised her glass to me. “Alex…” She suddenly smiled shyly. For a moment, I saw the ghost of her eighteen-year-old self. “Have I ever told you?” I frowned, asking, “What?” Valerie’s expression grew serious. “I love you.” My heart lurched, then pounded in my chest with endless echoes. Valerie’s affection had always been quiet, almost shy. Never had she expressed it with such passionate, direct honesty. This was the first time. Her cheeks flushed. She took a sip of her wine, using it to hide her nervousness. I hesitated for a moment, then drained my glass. My stomach cramped painfully. I forced a smile, enduring the discomfort. “I’m very happy.” She was about to say something else when a heated argument suddenly erupted nearby. “Sir! You can’t go in!” By the time I looked up, the man had already walked in front of us. He looked utterly distraught, but his handsome face was still undeniable. His clothes were impeccably neat, yet he reeked of alcohol. “Why did you fire me?” The man’s voice was cold, yet broken, with a hint of a sob. He was fragile, like a wet, abandoned puppy, easily eliciting a protective instinct from others. I instantly knew who he was—Valerie’s secretary, Brandon. Brandon continued to demand, over and over, “What exactly did I do wrong? Was my presence a problem for you?” “But you didn’t reject me then. I thought you felt something for me…” He acted as if I wasn’t even there, passionately pouring out his heart. Valerie’s expression gradually darkened. “Shut up.” Only then did Brandon turn his gaze to me. He stared for a long moment, then gave a bitter laugh. “I see.” He turned and walked away, a look of grim determination on his face. Valerie instinctively rose to stop him. I looked up at her. “Valerie.” My eyes suddenly stung. I asked, almost pleading, “Are you leaving?” She faltered. I gripped her fingertips, forcing a difficult smile as tears traced paths down my cheeks. “Please, don’t go.” Valerie’s eyes flickered with struggle. After a few seconds, it turned to apology. “I’m sorry.” She chased after him. In that vast restaurant, I was the only one left, the only ‘star’ of her show. I stood there for a long time, then covered my eyes with my hand, letting the tears soak my palm, before a low, bitter laugh escaped me. If you’d known this was the last birthday you’d spend with me, would you regret it? Valerie, I almost fell for it. Almost.

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My husband had this strange-looking piece of meat in the fridge for half a year, and he never touched it. I got curious. What was so special about it? I secretly took it for testing. Turns out, it was a two-month-old embryo. When I got home, I frantically searched through every drawer and closet until I found it: a miscarriage report. On it, signed beside my husband’s name, was another woman’s name. My husband. He’d hidden it from me. He’d had a child with another woman. Five years of marriage, a bond that felt unbreakable. In that single horrifying moment, it all crumbled into a sick joke. When Leo got back, that box of meat was gone from the fridge. He rushed into my study, his voice laced with panic. “Skylar, have you seen the box of meat I put in the fridge?” I looked up at him, my fists clenched so tight my knuckles were white. I wanted to scream, to ask him why he’d betrayed me. But in the end, I just set my book down, pretending to be utterly unfazed. “Oh, that weird-looking stuff? I fried it up with some peppers for lunch. Honestly, it wasn’t bad.” “What?! You *ate* it?!” Leo’s eyes went wide, filled with a horrified disbelief. “Skylar, are you out of your mind?!” I let out a cold laugh. “It’s just meat, Leo. Why are you making such a big deal?” His face instantly flushed, his voice trembling as he demanded, “How could you eat *it*? That was mine! You ate my things without asking! Have you become so disrespectful?” “Eating a piece of meat is disrespectful now?” “It wasn’t just a piece of meat!” Leo’s face was beet red, his chest heaving with uncontrolled anger. I just found it darkly amusing. “Then what was it?” He bit down hard on his lip, a flash of profound grief crossing his face. He looked like he wanted to say something, but then he just choked back his tears and said, “Nothing… I don’t feel well tonight. I’ll sleep in the guest room.” With that, he turned and walked into the guest room. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time he’d ever yelled at me, the first time we’d slept in separate rooms. The irony was so bitter, it made my stomach churn. If that box of meat meant so much to him, then why did he let *her* get rid of it in the first place? For five years, Leo had been, in my eyes, the perfect husband. He was gentle, attentive, worked hard, and meticulously looked after my every need. My stomach was sensitive, so he’d spend hours perfecting recipes that were easy on my stomach. I often had social obligations that involved drinking, and he always had a hangover cure ready for me. In front of others, he was an ideal partner. So how could this wonderful man have a child with someone else? I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t accept it. It felt like a venomous sting deep in my heart, a searing, bone-deep pain. The name on the miscarriage report, I recognized it: Chloe Meng, Leo’s college junior. Chloe had pursued Leo for years. Even after we were married, she shamelessly clung to him. She’d cried, begged, threatened to jump into a river, even slit her wrists for him. She’d tried every trick in the book. But Leo had always seemed disgusted by her persistence. He’d constantly complain to me about how annoying Chloe was, how her pursuit bothered him, how he couldn’t stand the sight of her. Then, one night, I took a few friends with me and we jumped Chloe on her way home. We gave her a good beating, leaving her bruised and bloody. I warned her to stay away from my husband. After that, Leo never mentioned Chloe again. I thought she’d finally gotten the message. I never imagined that a year later, Leo’s name would appear on Chloe Meng’s miscarriage report, right there in the “partner” section.

That night, Leo and I went to bed angry. The next day, he met up with his friends for drinks. I put my work aside and secretly followed him. Through a crack in the door of a dimly lit private room at a bar, I caught a glimpse of Leo, his arm intimately wrapped around a woman. She was leaning against him on the couch, her arms around his waist, her face flushed with shyness. Even in the low light, I recognized her instantly: Chloe Meng! If there had been any doubt before, it was now crystal clear: that embryo, that lost life, was Leo and Chloe’s! A surge of white-hot fury rushed through me, and my fists clenched tight. Just as I was about to burst in, I heard one of Leo’s friends speak up. “Leo, Chloe chased you for years, and you never gave her the time of day. What finally changed your mind?” I froze. Leo turned his head to glance at Chloe, a doting smile on his face. “I wasn’t going to accept her, honestly. But then, that time my wife had her jumped and beat her until she was bruised and bloody… Chloe still showed up at my office, crying, saying she’d never give up on me, even if it killed her. I don’t know why, but in that moment, my heart just… softened.” After he spoke, they looked at each other, smiled, and then kissed right there, in front of everyone. The room erupted in hoots and cheers. I stood frozen outside the door, as if struck by lightning. So, my rage, my attempt to protect my marriage, had actually created the perfect opportunity for them to get together? A sharp, needle-like pain pricked at my chest, tightening until I could barely breathe. As my heart twisted in agony, Leo and Chloe finally broke apart, lingering in their embrace. Chloe cupped Leo’s face, her voice thick with emotion. “Leo, I’ll never love anyone but you. Only death can separate us.” Tears welled in Leo’s eyes, his face full of profound emotion. “Chloe, if I’d known being with you would be this incredible, I would have accepted you sooner. Don’t worry, for the rest of our lives, I’ll give you everything, except the title.” I stared at the sickeningly sweet scene before me, my heart aching to its very core. Suddenly, all my strength to confront them, to demand answers, drained away. I turned around and walked away, numb and disoriented. I floated like a ghost, aimlessly making my way to the bar. I ordered several strong drinks and drank until I was completely wasted. Five years of marriage. Eight years together. From college until now, Leo and I had been a couple for eight long years. Back then, to marry him, I’d given up an opportunity to study abroad. I didn’t ask for a dowry, just married him. After we wed, I’d always been a devoted wife, attentive, caring, always making sure he was comfortable. He didn’t want kids, so I’d used the excuse of being infertile to keep both our parents quiet. But in the end, he’d had a child with another woman, behind my back. Eight years of a relationship, shattered by one persistent woman. How utterly laughable.

Drunk, I stumbled out of the bar. Night was falling, the sky a heavy twilight. Suddenly, brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky, dazzling and mesmerizing. As I walked by the river, I ran into Leo and Chloe again. This time, his friends weren’t there. It was just the two of them, passionately kissing beneath the vibrant display of fireworks. They looked like something out of a fairy tale. In that instant, I couldn’t hold back anymore. A monstrous surge of rage erupted within me. I raised my hand and lunged at Chloe, screaming, “Bitch!” Chloe was caught off guard. My slap sent her stumbling back a few steps before she lost her balance and fell to the ground. The back of her head hit a rock, leaving her head bleeding. Leo’s eyes widened in horror. He immediately rushed to her side. “Chloe, are you okay?!” He spun around, his eyes blazing, and yelled at me, “Skylar, what the hell are you doing?! Are you insane?!” Me? Insane? “Leo, that’s what I should be asking *you*!” I pointed at Chloe on the ground, my voice sharp with fury. “Tell me, what were you doing with her just now?!” Leo didn’t even flinch, instead, he frowned in disgust. “Are you drunk again? How many times have I told you, drink less! You always go crazy when you drink, acting like some unreasonable shrew!” Unreasonable? I actually laughed. Leo ignored my anger. He tenderly wiped the blood from Chloe’s head, his eyes reddening, his voice choked with emotion. “Chloe, get up. I’ll take you to the hospital.” The sight of it sliced through me again. My husband, right now, was tearing up for another woman. I angrily raised my fist and lunged at Chloe again. But Leo stepped in front of Chloe and forcefully slapped me across the face. “Skylar, haven’t you caused enough trouble?! Can you just stop your drunken tantrums?!” His gaze was cold, like ice. In five years of marriage, he had never looked at me like that before. I stared at him, suddenly feeling like I was looking at a complete stranger. A fresh wave of agonizing pain ripped through my chest. Leo gently helped Chloe up, his face full of concern, and then he brutally shoved me aside. I stumbled, lost my footing, and tumbled into the freezing river beside us. *Splash!* The icy cold hit me, making me gasp and shiver. Leo didn’t even look back. Chloe called out to him, “Leo, your wife…” “Forget her!” Leo’s voice was as cold as a stranger’s, without a trace of warmth, as he walked away without so much as a glance at me in the water. “She can swim. A little dip will do her good, help her sober up!” With that, he walked away, helping Chloe, not once looking back. I tried to swim to the bank, but my thigh suddenly cramped up. I couldn’t move it. Finally, I sank into the river in despair, letting the frigid water fill my lungs. The violent sensation of drowning choked me, consuming me completely. My heart turned to ash. … When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. A kind passerby had rescued me. Leo didn’t check on me at all. It wasn’t until the next afternoon that he finally called. His voice sounded tired, laced with subtle accusation. “Skylar, Chloe is out of danger. You went too far this time. You hit her head, and she almost got a concussion! Luckily, Chloe is big-hearted and isn’t holding it against you. But in the future, you absolutely can’t be so reckless!” My heart was a barren wasteland. His only concern was Chloe’s injury, completely oblivious that his wife had nearly drowned yesterday. After a brief silence, Leo lowered his voice and tried to explain. “Skylar, you misunderstood yesterday. Chloe and I are just good friends. It’s not as complicated as you think.” “Friends?” I laughed coldly. “Friends kiss?” Leo’s voice immediately turned icy. “You were drunk last night, you must have seen things! Chloe and I didn’t kiss! It was Chloe’s birthday yesterday, and I was just celebrating with her by the river. Can you just let it go? I’ve given you so much these past years. Am I not allowed to have other friends?” I hung up the phone. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I had no strength left to argue with him.

After being discharged, I claimed I had a business trip and didn’t go home for two weeks. Leo seemed busy caring for the injured Chloe and didn’t press me for details. It was Eleanor, Leo’s mom, who called me. It was the same old song and dance. “Skylar, when are you finally going to give me a grandchild?” In that moment, I found her words so bitterly ironic. She probably had no idea that she was supposed to have a grandchild, but her own son had personally snuffed out its life. “I’m not planning on having children.” “Not planning on it?” Eleanor’s voice rose sharply, a furious shout. “If you’re not having children, then what good are you to the Miller family? Your background is nothing special, your career’s a joke, and you can’t even pop out a kid. What good are you? I should have never agreed to Leo marrying you!” I knew Leo’s parents had always looked down on me these past five years. Before, for Leo’s sake, I had always endured it. But now, I didn’t have to keep quiet anymore. “Anyway, let’s not talk about that for now,” Eleanor paused, then lowered her voice. “Next week is Leo’s dad’s sixtieth birthday. You and Leo both need to come home. Make sure to prepare a grand gift for him. Don’t you dare embarrass my son!” I was silent for a moment. Then, I smiled. “Alright.” Oh, I would definitely give them a grand gift. … In the blink of an eye, it was Arthur’s sixtieth birthday party. When I arrived at the Miller family mansion, the grand hall was already packed with relatives and friends, buzzing with conversation and laughter. What surprised me was that Chloe was there too. Leo made no effort to hide her, introducing her to relatives and friends one by one. My face set in a grim expression, I walked towards them and asked coldly, “Leo, it’s your dad’s birthday today. Why did you bring that persistent pest, Chloe, here?” Before Leo could answer, Arthur rushed forward. “Skylar, what kind of talk is that? Chloe is my god-daughter! We met fishing. Don’t you dare be rude to her!” “God-daughter?” I was stunned. I hadn’t realized that not only had Leo’s heart drifted, but even his parents were slowly being charmed by Chloe. I, on the other hand, had become a complete outsider. Chloe suddenly extended a glass of wine towards me, her face plastered with a fake smile. “Sister-in-law, you’ve arrived just in time! I’d like to propose a toast! Honestly, you misunderstood last time. Leo was just celebrating my birthday, nothing more. And even though you almost gave me a concussion last time, thanks to Leo’s careful attention, my injuries are almost healed.” “What?!” Arthur heard her words and looked at me in shock, his nostrils flaring with anger. “Skylar, the injuries on Chloe’s head last time, *you* did that? Chloe has no quarrel with you! Are you insane?!” “Godfather, please don’t be angry,” Chloe said, feigning concern. “My injuries aren’t serious, and I’ve already forgiven Sister-in-law.” Chloe forcefully placed the wine glass in my hand, smiling artificially. “Sister-in-law, let’s drink this glass, and we can put this behind us.” With that, she raised her own glass and chugged it. I glared at her, my fingers tightening around my glass. Then, I abruptly flipped it over, splashing all the wine onto her face. “Chloe Meng, who the hell wants to put anything behind them with you?!”

“Skylar, what are you doing?!” Arthur’s eyes widened in outrage. “Chloe was being nice, toasting you. What is your attitude?!” Eleanor’s face was dark as she scolded me. “Skylar, it’s your dad’s birthday today. Are you deliberately trying to ruin the party?!” Chloe wiped the wine from her face, her shoulders trembling slightly as she feigned hurt. “Sister-in-law, do you have some misunderstanding about me? If I did something wrong, please tell me. I’ll apologize, okay?” “Chloe Meng, you know exactly what you did! Stop pretending!” No sooner had the words left my mouth than Leo stepped forward and savagely slapped me. His eyes were wide with fury, his face terrifyingly grim. “Skylar, don’t you dare take this too far! Chloe was being kind, toasting you, even humbling herself to apologize to you, and you’re still targeting her? What is your problem?!” “My problem?” I laughed, a bitter, angry sound. “I’d like to ask *you* and *her* what your problem is!” Chloe quickly stepped in to mediate. “Leo, darling, please don’t argue with Sister-in-law. It’s Godfather’s birthday today. Don’t let me upset him!” With that, she pulled a gift box from her bag and, like a child showing off a treasure, opened it in front of Arthur. “Godfather, this is the gift I prepared for you. Do you like it?” Arthur’s anger vanished the moment he saw the gift in her hand. “A top-grade red jade!” Arthur beamed, his mouth unable to close. “Chloe, you’re so thoughtful! Truly my good daughter!” “This jade must be hundreds of thousands, right?” Eleanor’s eyes sparkled. “Chloe, I had no idea you were so wealthy!” Chloe smiled, feigning shyness. “It’s just a small token of my appreciation. I hope Godfather likes it.” Then she turned to me, a provocative smirk on her lips. “Sister-in-law, what grand gift did *you* prepare for Godfather? Why don’t you show it to everyone?” “Yeah, let’s see it!” The relatives chimed in, echoing her. Watching Chloe’s smug face, I wanted to laugh with bitter irony. I knew she wanted to humiliate me in front of everyone. But I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction! “A grand gift? Of course!” In front of all our friends and family, I slowly pulled out a sealed, clear plastic box. I parted my lips and spoke softly, “This… is the grand gift I’m giving to my father-in-law!” Chloe froze instantly. Leo’s pupils constricted, his gaze locked on the box in my hand, his face turning deathly pale. Arthur frowned, looking confused. “What is that? A box of meat?” Eleanor exploded in anger, scolding me. “Skylar, Chloe bought your dad jade worth hundreds of thousands, and what did *you* prepare? Something so tacky and inappropriate!” The surrounding relatives and friends began whispering, mocking me for being cheap and embarrassing. I remained calm, my eyes fixed on Leo and Chloe, and slowly began to speak. “Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, haven’t you always wanted a grandchild? What I’m holding in my hand… is the grandchild you’ve been so eagerly awaiting!”

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My husband got a racy photo from his mistress. He raced to the hotel, leaving our three-year-old son in the car. Under the scorching summer sun, the locked car became a furnace. Our son suffocated to death. When I told my husband the devastating news, he answered, panting, “Let’s just get the funeral over with. We can always have another kid.” I was sobbing, choked with grief, but he was disturbingly calm. “Chloe’s already pregnant. Once her baby is born, they’ll be our family’s heir.” “She’ll move into our house, but it won’t affect your status as Mrs. Arthur. I’ll still spend a few nights a week with you.” At his words, my heart completely died. I walked straight into my husband’s arch-rival’s office. “Interested in partnering up to take down Arthur’s empire?” I was a stay-at-home mom, not because my husband made a fortune, but because our son was often sick and needed constant care. On Leo’s third birthday, I’d decorated a private room at a local restaurant. It was all superhero-themed, just like Leo loved, even the cake was a custom flavor. Before the party even began, my husband offered to take Leo out for a stroll, giving me more time to set up. But three hours went by. My husband refused to answer my calls, and I couldn’t track his location. It wasn’t until late afternoon that the police called with the devastating news of Leo’s death. The cramped car had turned into an oven. Leo’s tiny body was already stiff and bruised. Under his small fingernails were marks from his desperate struggle to survive. “What kind of parents leave such a young child alone in a car?” “Look at that mom, all dressed up. She was probably too busy shopping or socializing to even realize her kid died in the car.” Facing the ignorant public’s accusations, I had no strength to defend myself. I collapsed beside the car, sobbing until I had no strength left. It was the female officer who gently pulled me into the patrol car. My hand trembled as I dialed my husband’s number. He answered, panting, “So he died. It’s just a funeral. We can always have another kid.” Then he hung up. I next saw my husband at the police station. Fueled by fury, I slapped him across the face, shrieked, my voice raw with anguish, “Where were you?! Why did you leave him alone in the car?! Why didn’t you answer my calls?!” I thought Arthur would be as heartbroken as I was, but he angrily pushed my hand away. “Can you stop acting like a lunatic?” Arthur went through the procedures in the interrogation room. When he signed Leo’s death certificate, his face showed absolutely no emotion. As if the person who had suffocated to death was a complete stranger, utterly unrelated to him! “Arthur, tell me what you were doing?” I clutched his hand, my voice trembling. “You said you were just taking Leo for a walk. Why was he locked in that car for over two hours?” Just thinking about it, I remembered the dashcam footage. The video showed Leo’s cries, starting strong, then gradually fading, charting every agonizing step of his journey towards death. I couldn’t help but cry again, but Arthur remained indifferent. “I was conducting business, okay? I was too busy. What was I supposed to do, I forgot.” “Enough, stop making a scene. Come home with me. You’re embarrassing our entire family.” Arthur dragged me along, showing no sign of grief even as he practically shoved me through our front door. He even flung his perfume-scented suit jacket at my face. “Get this dry-cleaned. Don’t you dare ruin it.” I stood my ground, speaking coldly. “Arthur, let’s get a divorce.” But Arthur just looked at me blankly. “What tantrum are you throwing now?” “You’re talking about divorce over an *adopted* child? Are you out of your mind, Avery?” “Let me be blunt. Chloe’s already two months pregnant. Once her baby is born, I’ll bring it home, and you’ll raise it just like you raised Leo. It’ll even call you ‘Mom’ when it grows up.”

While Arthur was in the shower, I unlocked his phone using Chloe’s birthday as the password. My heart clenched when I saw the racy photo Chloe had sent him at 1:50 PM that afternoon. So he was in such a rush to hook up with Chloe that he forgot our son in that scorching car?! *Ding-dong*. A new message arrived from Chloe. **[Arthur, you’ll come with me to my prenatal appointment tomorrow, won’t you?]** Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. With trembling hands, I blocked Chloe from Arthur’s phone. Arthur, fresh out of the shower, witnessed this. He quickly snatched the phone, pushing me away angrily. “Who gave you permission to touch my phone?!” Arthur quickly re-operated his phone. He was a tech whiz, and he easily found my block history. Without a second thought, he unblocked Chloe and sent her a voice message: “Avery just went a little crazy and blocked you. Don’t mind her. She’s just grieving for her son.” “Was Leo only *my* son?” Arthur just glanced at me, didn’t even bother to reply. He just barged past me, shouldering me aside, and walked into the room. That night, I lay awake in Leo’s room, wide eyed with grief. Arthur, meanwhile, slept soundly. The next morning, he even loudly demanded I get up and make his breakfast. My tears had long since dried, my eyes horribly swollen. My fingers scrolled through my contacts, but before I could find the person I was looking for, a trending news alert popped up on my phone: **[Arthur Enterprises CEO’s Wife, Preoccupied with Shopping and Socializing, Forgets Three-Year-Old Son in Car, Leading to Tragic Suffocation.]** I clicked on the article. It wasn’t just gossip accounts spreading rumors; even Arthur Enterprises’ official account had reposted it, implicitly confirming the story. Arthur was the one in charge of Arthur Enterprises. No one would dare do something like this without his approval. I rushed out to confront Arthur, who was eating breakfast. He just kept his head down as he answered, “You’re just a stay-at-home mom anyway. If your reputation is ruined, it’s ruined. This can’t be allowed to affect *my* reputation.” “Your reputation? What reputation?” I stormed over to him, smashing the dishes. “Breaking up with Chloe was *your* choice. Marrying me was *your* choice. Even adopting Leo was *your* decision. So why am I the one stuck bearing all the blame now?” “Before my patience completely runs out, you’d better not piss me off again.” Arthur stood up, looking down at me. “Chloe needs extra care during her early pregnancy. I’m having her move into our house. You’ll take good care of her and the baby.” Seeing my continued silence, Arthur casually added. “Even if Chloe has my baby, it won’t affect your status as Mrs. Arthur. So stop being so immature, okay?” It wasn’t comfort; it was more of a warning. But he didn’t know I didn’t care about being Mrs. Arthur. The only reason I stayed in this house was Leo. Now that he’d killed our son, there was no reason for me to stay. On my way, I scrolled through photos from years ago. Arthur was still Chloe’s boyfriend back then. She cheated on him and left the country, and only then did he get together and marry me. Arthur and I had been married for two years without children. It was my idea to adopt, and I chose Leo from a children’s home. The more I thought about it, the more miserable I felt. My eyes were still glistening with tears when I walked into Marcus Group’s office. Marcus looked at me, offering a tissue. “What, your husband treating you badly?” “I’m divorcing him.” “Interested in partnering up to crash Arthur Enterprises and absorb all their assets into your company?”

When Marcus dropped me off, we saw Arthur getting out of a car, his arm wrapped around Chloe. Before I could speak, Arthur frowned and demanded, “Now you’re not only causing trouble at home, but you’re also trying to get back with your ex, trying to make a fool of me?” Chloe deliberately stroked her belly, looking at me with a smirk. “Mr. Marcus just gave me a ride. What about you? You brought your mistress directly into our home.” “Watch your mouth!” Arthur rounded on Marcus. “It’s been five years! Haven’t you given up on my wife yet?” Marcus and I had long since lost any feelings for each other. We dated for three months and had thirty arguments. We even had a huge fight on the day we broke up. So, no, we’re not getting back together. But to provoke Arthur, Marcus deliberately put on a smug face. “You don’t appreciate Avery anyway. What’s wrong with me pursuing her?” “You wouldn’t dare!” Arthur was about to confront Marcus further, but Chloe suddenly let out a little gasp. He immediately rushed to her side, anxious. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” “My feet are a little numb, Arthur. Can you carry me inside?” Arthur didn’t even spare me a glance. He simply scooped Chloe up bridal-style, taking every step with exaggerated care. That scene couldn’t stir my heart anymore; it was already as cold as ashes. Marcus watched, then turned to remind me, “He treats you like this. Don’t you dare go soft on him now.” “Don’t worry. I’ll stick to our agreement.” After saying goodbye to Marcus, I walked inside to find the usually high-and-mighty Arthur kneeling before Chloe, massaging her swollen, pregnant calves. I tried to avoid them, but Arthur called out, “Go prepare lunch for Chloe.” I smiled, looking at him. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll *add something* to her lunch?” “Don’t you dare provoke me, or I can’t guarantee what might happen to her in this house.” With that, I went upstairs to my room. I opened my long-unused laptop. I could still access Arthur Enterprises’ financial data. I spent the entire afternoon in my room preparing for my collaboration with Marcus. I only snapped back to reality when Chloe’s voice cut through the door. “Avery, come out! My legs are aching a bit. Come massage them for me.” I didn’t respond, so she kept knocking and shouting. Only when I finally opened the door did she flash a triumphant smile. “Do you think playing dead will work if you don’t answer? You don’t run this house.” “I’m not Arthur. I won’t indulge a mistress who thinks she can do whatever she pleases.” “Oh, you’ve got some nerve. You still think Arthur loves you, don’t you?” Chloe suddenly burst out laughing. “Wanna bet?” The words were barely out of her mouth when Chloe suddenly smashed a vase beside her and flopped backward onto the floor. “Avery! Why did you hit me?!” Chloe’s trembling, sobbing voice echoed through the house, reaching Arthur, who was working downstairs, and drawing him up.

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I was Darian, the Apex Vampire of the Nether Realm. A decade ago, nine humans willingly traded their souls, signing a pact with me to become my blood servants. They believed that if chosen as my companion at the Grand Embrace Ceremony, they would gain eternal access to my potent blood. Every single blood servant worked tirelessly, collecting soul fragments for me daily, showering me with flattery. All of them, that is, except for Seraphina. She alone disdained to fawn over me. Yet, she was the one I desired most. I even gifted her rare, powerful souls I’d hunted myself. I genuinely believed that by choosing her as my companion at the upcoming Grand Embrace Ceremony, my deepest wish would be fulfilled. But then, Seraphina, who usually showed me no emotion, *dared* to forcefully kiss Caleb, the human boy I had rescued. And Caleb? He was her own brother. They’d become my blood servants to save a dying Caleb. I should have realized it then. Yet, when I granted them their twisted wish, they were consumed by a furious regret.

“Oh gods, the Ceremony is almost here! What if the King chooses *me*?” “What are you scared of? The King despises our attempts at flattery. Just keep up your act, and you’ll be safe.” “Thank goodness for Seraphina. If she hadn’t caught the King’s eye with her aloof demeanor, we might never have been able to stay with Caleb!” “Shh, keep your voice down! She’s the unlucky one, stuck with the King’s attention.” “I’d rather *die* than be chosen by him. I have to marry Caleb. He’s my only light in this damn Realm!” I sat beneath the garden gazebo, my fingertips subtly tightening. So, all this time, their obedience, their excessive flattery, their pathetic attempts to appear inferior… It was all a charade. They were simply infatuated with Caleb, hoping to disgust me enough that I’d reject them as potential companions. Caleb, the one I’d saved a decade ago by sharing my blood, had never signed a pact with me. Naturally, his power couldn’t compare to that of my blood servants, and he couldn’t complete his daily tasks alone. My blood servants would regularly share their collected soul fragments with Caleb, Allowing him to submit his quotas to me. Vampires cannot fall in love with humans. I had always believed their actions were out of pity. It never once crossed my mind that it was *love*. Just then, a strange sound drifted from another corner of the garden. I followed the noise, my gaze falling upon a patch of ground where moonlight dappled through the leaves. There, the usually cold and aloof Seraphina was clinging tightly to Caleb. She kissed him with a desperate urgency, a burning passion I had never witnessed in her before. “Caleb, don’t worry,” Seraphina’s voice was urgent, yet firm. “I will *never* let him choose me.” “Even if he does, I won’t agree to the Embrace. I will *never* become his companion.” Caleb gently pushed her away, a perfectly feigned look of distress on his face. “But, Seraphina, to be embraced by the King grants you his purest blood, eternal life just like him. It’s an opportunity countless souls dream of.” “I don’t care!” Seraphina immediately retorted, cupping his face. “I have no interest in eternal life. I only care about you. I just want to be with *you*.” Standing in the shadows, a chilling realization washed over me. The blood servants I had chosen, the ones who had showered me with flattery… they *all* loved Caleb. I, Darian, the mighty King of the Nether Realm, had become nothing more than a pathetic joke. I was never short of blood servants desperate to be my companion. Since they were so unwilling, I decided to grant them their wish. The next day, I issued a new decree. “Effective immediately, all blood supply to my blood servants will cease.” My blood servants primarily subsisted on the blood I provided, supplied by human thralls. Cutting off this supply meant they would have to hunt humans themselves. “From this day forward, you will hunt for your own blood and soul fragments in the human world.” They exchanged bewildered glances, assuming I was simply in a bad mood. No one dared to object, accepting their fate. With this, they would be constantly busy, traveling between the human world and the Nether Realm, with no time left to coddle Caleb. Without Seraphina and his other admirers “feeding” him, Caleb’s tasks naturally went unfulfilled. He knelt before me, his face ashen, unable to even utter a plea for mercy. “Task failed. You will report to the Sun-Scorched Peaks of the Nether Realm for sun-desensitization training,” I declared, my voice devoid of emotion. The Sun-Scorched Peaks were the closest point to sunlight in our realm, a torture chamber, a living hell for us vampires. When Seraphina heard the news, her face went deathly pale. She raced there without a moment’s hesitation. I watched from a distance as she unfolded her not-so-broad bat wings, Straining every fiber of her being to shield Caleb from the scorching sunlight. The sun pierced through her wings, leaving her almost desiccated, yet she stubbornly held on. I averted my gaze, my heart untouched by a single ripple of emotion.

That night, I led my elite vampire guard in a brutal raid on the human Templar Knights. The battle raged on through the night. Only as dawn approached did we finally claim victory. I had expended a vast amount of blood and dark energy, leaving my body weaker than it had ever been. Even the faint glow of the rising sun on the horizon felt almost unbearable. I stumbled back to the Sun-Scorched Peaks of the Nether Realm, where the intensifying sunlight instantly enveloped me. The rays seared my skin, piercing my very bones. The pain was so intense I could barely stand. Seraphina and Caleb stood not far away. She saw me, saw my agony and my weakness. But she didn’t come to my aid. She didn’t spread her wings to shield me, not even for a flicker of sunlight, as she had done for Caleb. She simply stood there, cold and unmoving, a cruel satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. “My King,” she sneered, “you look utterly pathetic right now.” “This is your karma for punishing Caleb yesterday.” I looked at Caleb, standing so perfectly protected beside her. Suddenly, the decade of favoritism I had shown Seraphina felt utterly ludicrous. While I was recovering, the special Blood Artifact Auction, held in preparation for the Grand Embrace Ceremony, began. Most of the vampires in the Realm would attend, either to choose suitable artifacts for their future companions or to bid on rare, powerful souls. I had no intention of choosing a companion, but I was still intrigued by the countless bizarre blood artifacts on display. The auction was held within a massive cavern, its walls embedded with glowing crystals. My eyes immediately fixed on a potent soul, sealed within a crystal vial. The energy radiating from it was pure and immense, enough to completely heal the wounds I’d sustained in the recent battle. Just as I prepared to bid, I saw Seraphina fiercely competing for that very same soul. “Seraphina, darling, let it go. It’s too valuable. Besides… the King is here too.” He glanced in my direction, his eyes devoid of any reverence. Seraphina shook her head stubbornly, gently patting his hand. “You were burned by the sun, Caleb. You need this to heal.” Then, she abruptly turned to me, her eyes filled with their usual contempt. “Unlike *some* vampires, who only fight a minor skirmish with humans and then need a powerful soul to heal. What a disgrace to our kind!” A vampire’s hearing far surpasses that of any human. Her words, every single one of them, pierced straight into my ears. Fine. *Excellent*. I raised my hand, announcing an even higher price. Seraphina, not one to back down, immediately countered. Whispers began to ripple through the cavern. “Isn’t she the King’s blood servant? Why is she bidding against her master?” “Bidding? She’s using soul fragments granted by her master to compete for an item for *another man*! Isn’t she publicly humiliating the King?” A cold sneer touched my lips. I triggered the final bid. It was the signal for the highest bid, meaning the item was mine. I thought I had won, that I had thoroughly humiliated her. However, as I prepared to draw on my dark energy, to retrieve the soul fragments from my spatial storage to pay, I found my power utterly blocked, refusing to obey. What in the hell was going on? The entire hall fell silent for a beat, then erupted into thunderous laughter. “Hahahaha, have I been out of touch with the royal family too long? Since when was the King nothing but a hollow shell?!” “He just fought *one* battle and now he’s this pathetic?” “Can’t even produce the soul fragments and still dares to trigger the final bid? How utterly clueless!” While they didn’t dare say these things directly to my face, out of respect for my title, My enhanced senses picked up every mocking whisper. The tide of their laughter still threatened to drown me. At that moment, Seraphina, holding Caleb’s hand, slowly approached me. A victorious smile played on her lips as she calmly paid for the soul fragments, claiming the powerful soul. Right in front of everyone, she opened the crystal vial and allowed Caleb to absorb the soul on the spot. Watching the unbridled, triumphant smile on her face, a chilling truth suddenly dawned on me. Last night, she had uncharacteristically delivered my tribute blood herself. She’d said it was the sweetest human blood she’d specially hunted, hoping it would help me recover quickly. She, who had always disdained to flatter me. That sudden warmth, that tainted blood… it was all for this auction. For Caleb, to publicly humiliate me, she had been willing to cast aside her dignity and play me like a fool. “My King, thank you for your generosity.” Caleb, his strength restored, walked up to me, a taunting smile on his face. “If you hadn’t generously gifted Seraphina so many soul fragments before, we really wouldn’t have been able to afford this precious item today.” A sharp, searing pain suddenly tore through my heart. The dark energy within me began to surge uncontrollably. This was… a sign of my transformation into a demon. I couldn’t be bothered to endure their petty, gloating faces any longer. Under the confused and wary gazes of the crowd, I rushed back to my castle. I needed to seclude myself immediately.

The day of the Grand Embrace Ceremony was also destined to be my day of transformation into a demon. All I needed was to infuse my lifeblood into the ancient Blood Artifact, and I would shatter the shackles of my current power, becoming the first true demon in the entire history of the Nether Realm. I sat on my throne in the center of the ceremony hall when a raven descended from the sky, landing on my shoulder. It carried a message from the Divine Realm. It was Astraea. That woman had been stuck to me like glue for centuries. Knowing she was coming, a headache immediately bloomed behind my eyes. I was just about to announce that no companion would be chosen at this ceremony. Suddenly, a violent tremor of dark energy erupted from deep within the castle. Someone had breached the barrier I’d set for my seclusion. The backlash hit me, my dark energy spiraling out of control, forcing the demonic transformation ritual to begin prematurely. Beneath my skin, power surged like boiling lava. “Quick, bring the Blood Artifact!” Seraphina, seeing my state, immediately commanded in a loud voice. A blood servant rushed forward, presenting the ancient Blood Artifact to her. I struggled desperately to control the raging power inside me, cold sweat beading on my forehead, reaching out to take the artifact. Just as my fingertips were about to touch the Blood Artifact, Seraphina suddenly lunged into my arms. Something cold, something radiating a divine aura, plunged violently into my heart. Blinding pain erupted. I shoved Seraphina away with all my might. Looking down, what was impaled in my chest was no Blood Artifact at all. It was a gleaming silver cross—a holy relic of human priests! She had conspired with humans, swapping out my artifact! My dark energy, as if finding an outlet, was being violently siphoned away by the holy relic. Strength drained from me. I crashed to my knees. The hall erupted into chaos. Meanwhile, my nine blood servants, as if on cue, swarmed me, pinning my limbs and body down. Just then, a human priest in white robes appeared before me, seemingly out of nowhere. He chanted arcane words, casting a spell that steadily transferred the dark energy siphoned from my body directly into Caleb. “My King,” one of the blood servants whispered, pressing down on my shoulder, “when you were poring over ancient texts in your private chamber, you must have overlooked that tattered scroll in the corner, didn’t you?” “It records that a vampire’s bloodline and sufficiently powerful dark energy are the keys to becoming a demon.” “Ten years ago, you used your own blood to save Caleb, so your bloodline flows through him.” “Now, by transferring all your dark energy to him, he can take your place and become the Nether Realm’s first demon!” Caleb greedily absorbed my dark energy, while excitedly calling out to the priest, “Father!” Father? It clicked. They had been deceiving me from the very beginning. This wasn’t some impulsive betrayal. This was a ten-year-long conspiracy. “Did you really think we *wanted* to be your blood servants?” Seraphina pressed down harder on my profusely bleeding chest, twisting the holy relic deeper. “You are the most powerful vampire in the Nether Realm, the King of all our kind. To utterly destroy the vampire race, we had to start with you.” “That’s why we orchestrated that pact a decade ago.” “Once Caleb becomes a demon, his power will transcend yours, and our soul pact with you will be null and void.” With my dark energy completely drained, I collapsed, my consciousness fading. Seeing my power gone, the vampire forces below descended into chaos, scattering in a frantic flight. The blood servants, along with the priest, slashed my flesh, broke my bat wings, and gutted my insides. They dragged me to the human world, throwing me into a grand cathedral, where they strung me up high with chains. The skylight above, completely unobstructed, was aimed directly at the scorching sun. They intended for me to hang there, exposed to its relentless rays for ninety-nine days. After hoisting me in the center of the cathedral, they busied themselves attending to Caleb, who was adjusting to his new demonic bloodline. This, ironically, gave me a chance to breathe. I don’t know how long passed. The scorching sun finally receded, and a full moon slowly ascended. Its cold, clear light filtered through the skylight, bathing my broken body. A melodious female voice, laced with a hint of schadenfreude, echoed softly in my ear. “Only a few months apart, and the Nether Realm has fallen so low?” “Tsk, utterly pathetic.” Astraea, the crazy woman who had chased me for centuries. She slowly walked up to me, raising a hand to brush against the chains binding me.

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My boyfriend, Daniel, never lied. He said I had a ‘fat gene’ that would shorten my life, so I needed to diet. I bit back my protest and agreed. He told me I was a bad omen for my parents, that my presence could harm their health, so I had to stay away. After much agonizing, tears blurring my vision, I agreed. Then he claimed my features weren’t ‘right’ for our future, that they needed to be ‘adjusted’ for our marriage to work. After agonizing over it, I still said yes. The day of the surgery, lying in the operating room, it suddenly hit me: I was allergic to a certain anesthetic. As I got off the bed to find a nurse, I accidentally overheard voices just outside the door. “It’s been six years since you broke up, and you still can’t let go of Lily?” Daniel’s voice, sickeningly familiar, came from just beyond the door. “Yeah, Lily’s etched into my very soul. I can’t let go.” “Since I’m destined to marry someone else, I’ll just try my best to make Chloe look more like Lily, then even more…” After a long silence, Daniel’s casual, almost dismissive voice floated back. “Honestly, Chloe is so easy to mold. I tell her anything, and she just goes along with it.” In that instant, I felt like the most ridiculous fool alive. Luckily, it wasn’t too late. The wedding plans could still be adjusted. “Hello, wedding plans have changed. Please replace the bride with a scarecrow.”

All these years with Daniel, he knew I was an introverted social recluse, always needing someone by my side. So this morning, he’d woken up early and prepared everything. When I woke up, all that was left was to eat breakfast and follow him to the plastic surgery clinic. Before he led me into the operating room, he even kissed my forehead, his eyes overflowing with what looked like deep affection. “Chloe, as soon as this surgery is done, we’ll make it official.” “Chloe, you know? I can’t wait to tie the knot with you!” Looking at the man before me, I felt so incredibly lucky and happy, convinced I’d found the perfect guy. Lying in the operating room, I suddenly remembered I was allergic to a specific anesthetic. Just as I reached the door, I saw Dr. Miller, the plastic surgeon, in his white coat. I opened my mouth to speak, but then I heard Daniel’s familiar voice from just outside. “Seriously, I can’t believe it. It’s been six whole years since you broke up, and you still haven’t moved on from Lily? She’s married now, her kid’s two years old! You’re not still fantasizing about her, are you?” After a few seconds of silence, Daniel’s voice came through, filled with a bitterness I’d never heard before. “Yeah, Lily’s etched into my very soul. All these years since we broke up, I’ve dreamt of her every single night. How am I supposed to let go?” “Since I’m destined to never marry Lily, I might as well find a woman who’s easy to mold and reshape her into Lily’s image.” “And honestly? This Chloe, she’s the easiest woman I’ve ever met to string along.” “She believes everything I say. She even believes I never lie? It’s actually hilarious. Who in this world never lies?” Dr. Miller’s voice came again. “But you clearly love Lily, yet you’re marrying Chloe. Is that fair to Chloe?” Just seconds later, Daniel’s indifferent voice replied, “Fair or not, what’s it matter? I’ll treat her well after we’re married, won’t I?” “Besides, Chloe likes me so much. The fact that I’d even agree to marry her? She should buy a lottery ticket, she’s so lucky.” I leaned against the cold wall, and in that instant, I felt my body temperature drop even lower than the frigid surface beneath my back. Before I met Daniel, I never believed anyone in this world truly never lied. But then, I saw him risk everything to speak the truth for an old lady hit by a car, or choose to lose millions to be honest about his company’s finances. Time and again, in countless crises, even life-or-death situations, he always chose the truth. I’d known Daniel for seven whole years, and I’d only ever seen him lie once. And that single lie, though it was for me, almost cost him his life. That’s when I learned that since birth, whenever he lied, his body would break out in rashes, severe enough to be life-threatening. Yet Daniel’s casual ‘easy to string along’ comment effortlessly negated seven years of my love for him. Their conversation wasn’t over. Clenching my teeth against the searing pain in my chest, I picked up my phone and hit record.

“Are you really going through with this? If you do this surgery, you’ll owe Chloe even more!” Daniel’s voice, now tinged with impatience, retorted, “Owe her? What’s there to owe? It’s not like I dragged her here against her will, is it?” “This was *her* decision, okay? What does it have to do with me?” “Even if I *do* owe her, I’m compensating her with marriage. Isn’t that enough?” Daniel’s voice was so familiar, yet utterly alien. All this time, the Daniel I thought I knew—kind, warm, thoughtful—deserved every beautiful word in the dictionary. Now, I realized that even the most profound, uncontrollable love could be faked. He truly was a brilliant actor. The marriage I’d dreamed of, to him, was nothing more than meaningless compensation. At this point, I had no more courage left to listen. I didn’t want to imagine what other ‘surprises’ I’d overhear if I stayed. Ignoring the two outside, I grabbed my coat from the side table and quietly slipped out through another door in the ward. I saw Daniel’s car parked at the entrance, and a bitter, twisted smile pulled at my lips. I’d always wanted to get my driver’s license, but Daniel, under the guise of ‘it’s for your own good,’ insisted he could drive me everywhere, always on call. Now, it dawned on me: he was probably just used to chauffeuring his ‘true love,’ Lily, and didn’t want to change his routine. I walked past the car, standing at a crossroads, watching the vehicles come and go, momentarily lost, not knowing where to turn. Just as I was about to step away, a hand clamped onto my wrist from behind. I knew that touch too well. I didn’t even need to turn around to know it was Daniel. I’d never really liked his cologne; it was always too sweet, too cloying. I could never understand why Daniel, of all people, would wear such a strong, sugary scent—it completely clashed with his aura. But he liked it, and after so long, I’d just gotten used to it. Now, it all made perfect sense. That cologne was probably Lily’s favorite, wasn’t it? The moment my eyes met Daniel’s, a jolt of shock went through me. The man who was always so gentle and patient was now seething with rage. As if sensing my shift, Daniel reined in his anger, forcing his usual gentle smile back onto his face. “Pear,” he said. “Why are you running off?” “Pear, the surgery isn’t done. Let me take you back, okay?” “Pear, I know you’re scared of surgery, but if you don’t do it, how can we tie the knot? Didn’t you want to marry me more than anything, huh?” Hearing ‘Pear’ over and over again, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. Soon after Daniel and I started dating, he started calling me ‘Pear.’ I’d asked him, confused, why he called me that. Everyone else just called me Chloe. He’d ruffled my hair, his eyes full of what I thought was adoration. “My favorite word is pear, and you’re my favorite woman. Of course, that’s what I’ll call you.” Back then, I’d just shyly buried my face in his chest, repeating his special nickname over and over. Now, I realized. All these years, he’d only been using me as a stand-in for Lily.

“Daniel,” I said softly, my voice barely a whisper, “Did you forget? I’m allergic to anesthetic.” I quietly took half a step back, tears stinging my eyes. My words made Daniel frown, but I distinctly saw a flicker of guilt flash in his eyes. He took two steps forward, pulling me into his arms, his voice laced with obvious remorse when he spoke again. “Baby, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault.” “How about we skip the surgery today? I’ll talk to the doctor later and adjust the plan. Will you wait for my call?” I pushed him away, my voice barely a choked whisper. “Daniel, can’t we… just not do this surgery?” “No, we can’t.” His tone was as gentle as always, but his eyes held a rare, unyielding resolve. “Didn’t we agree? As soon as the surgery’s done, we’re tying the knot, babe!” “Alright, just sit in the car and wait for me, okay? I’m going to call the doctor.” His tone was supposedly ‘negotiating,’ but Daniel didn’t wait for my answer. He simply pushed me into the car and casually shut the door. I leaned against the car window, watching him on his phone, a strange, bitter ache coiling in my gut. I pushed the door handle, trying to get out, but found he’d locked the doors. As I sat there, stunned, voices suddenly filled the car. It took me a moment to realize Daniel had forgotten his phone was still connected to the car’s Bluetooth. “What? Daniel, are you insane? You know she’s allergic to anesthetic, and you still want to go through with the surgery? Do you have any idea how painful plastic surgery is without it? Forget her, no one could stand that!” Daniel’s indifferent voice replied, “She can just bear with it.” “What am I supposed to do? Stop the surgery just because she’s allergic to anesthetic?” “It’s fine. She listens to me. I’ll just sweet-talk her later. You just schedule the surgery as planned.” I sat in the car, the heater blasting, yet I felt like I’d plummeted into an ice cavern, shivering uncontrollably. I couldn’t believe it. The man who used to tear up if I just scraped my knee could be so utterly cold-blooded. And there Daniel stood, just a short distance away, mouthing the most tender ‘I love you, baby’ at me while simultaneously uttering the cruelest, most heartless words. I couldn’t even manage a fake smile. Bitterness seeped into every cell, flowing through my veins, poisoning me from the inside out. My phone buzzed in my pocket, perfectly timed. My hand trembled as I pulled it out. It was the wedding planner, asking if there were any last-minute adjustments or additions I wanted for the approaching wedding. Holding my phone, I stared at the man outside the car. After a long moment, I spoke softly, “Yes, an adjustment. Please replace the bride with a scarecrow.”

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My Girlfriend’s Family Had the Most Twisted Animal Fetishes. Now, They’re Trapped in the Beast Realm. My girlfriend’s family harbored a truly disgusting obsession with animal cruelty, their methods barbaric and utterly bizarre. She’d feed hormone-inducing drugs to horses and dogs. Her mother enjoyed tormenting snakes, and her father had a depraved fondness for female monkeys. I brought them all into the Beast Realm. They were ecstatic, believing they could indulge their sadistic urges to the fullest. But then, to their horror, the small animals around them began to undergo bizarre transformations. Now, they’re destined to spend an eternity in endless despair! Cassidy Miller brought me home and showed me an animal courtship video, then told me she wanted to marry me. She said she adored animals and slid a ring onto my ring finger. She proudly showed off her years of “treasures.” “Kael, what do you think? Shocking, right?” It was more than shocking. A whole wall of photos—all evidence of her animal abuse. I stared at the wall, trembling, but she whispered from behind, wrapping her arms around me. “Don’t be scared. I’d never do that to you. After all, you’re human!” My own voice sounded cold and hoarse. “What… if I wasn’t human?” Cassidy traced my face, her other hand taking a photo from the wall. In it, she had a dog tied down, as a horse in heat mounted it… Cassidy’s chilling voice echoed in my ear. “If you weren’t human… I’d throw you into the horse stable!” Cold sweat streamed down my forehead. I suppressed the surge of excitement building inside me. Damn it! My mission was finally complete! The next day, Cassidy took me back to her hometown to meet her parents. Mrs. Miller met us at the airport. She wore horse-hair shoes, a tiger-skin vest, a rabbit-fur hat, and a necklace of unknown animal bones around her neck. A faint, metallic scent hung in the air around her. I smiled and told her she looked quite fashionable and unique. Mrs. Miller’s eyes flickered with a cold gleam, then she forced a stiff smile. “Hehe, just decorations.” Cassidy quickly changed the subject. “Honey, Dad made a lot of delicious food for you. Let’s go home quickly!” I nodded, following the mother and daughter, my eyes narrowing. Lunch was filled with dishes I’d never seen before. Mr. Miller enthusiastically piled food onto my plate. I stared at the deep-fried whole rabbit, the steamed bear paw with fur still attached, the braised snake meat… A wave of fury surged to my head. Beyond their usual games of torture and abuse, their very lifestyle – their food, clothes, shelter, everything – was derived from animals. I fought back the urge to vomit and said awkwardly, “Sir, I’m vegetarian. Cassidy knows.” Mr. Miller paused with his fork, a flicker of displeasure crossing his face, but quickly replaced it with a forced, amiable smile, pushing the vegetable dish towards me. Mrs. Miller looked annoyed, tossing her fork onto the table and leaning back in her chair. “This once is fine. But once you marry our daughter, we’ll be family, and this habit needs to change!” After lunch, her parents pulled Cassidy into a room for a whispered conversation. When they emerged, their eyes were bloodshot and menacing as they looked at me. Mrs. Miller even had an axe hidden behind her back.

My heart sank. No! I had to find a way to make them feel I was valuable, and make them willing to come back to the Beast Realm with me. At that moment, a nature documentary about exotic animals in a primeval forest was playing on TV—it was their favorite channel. I quickly pointed at the screen and cut in. “The animals back home are much rarer than these! The pythons are more beautiful, and we have rare monkey kings too.” All three faces turned to me, their eyes lighting up with excitement. Cassidy was even more eager. “Honey, I can’t wait to go to your place and meet your family!” I curved my lips into a smile. Goal achieved. Go on, go to your deaths! Cassidy didn’t know that where I lived was a secret, in another world entirely populated by beasts. My home village was called Beastkin Village. Don’t laugh, it’s literal! Our family was a rare sight in the Beast Realm—a clan of weaklings. My fox father loved me, but he was constantly worried. “If only my Kael could absorb human vitality daily, he’d surely be the most outstanding child in the Beast Realm.” My mother blamed herself too. “If only I had a little more power, our family wouldn’t be bullied so much in this Beast Realm.” Even my sister’s fiancé cheated on her constantly because of her lack of strength. So, three months ago, my grandmother, the ancient fox spirit, sacrificed herself, her very essence tearing open a rift between the human world and the Beast Realm. She told me to bring back as many humans as I could. “Kael, my dear, if our fox clan can absorb fresh human life force, we will surely rise to power, claiming our rightful place as rulers of the Beast Realm.” And so, I came to the human world with this daunting mission. But most humans were kind. I searched for a long time before finally choosing Cassidy Miller’s family. On the surface, she was a pet shop owner, but in reality, she was violent and twisted. I deliberately let her catch me in the wild. My cat-like, foxy appearance was something she found exceptionally peculiar and captivating. She locked me in a cramped cage and fed me some powder that left me weak and paralyzed. For a long time, I couldn’t process or get rid of the drug, forced to watch her atrocities. When a sick calico cat became ‘useless,’ she simply tossed it from the rooftop. Its agonizing cries echoed through the night as its bloody body lay sprawled on the concrete. Occasionally, passing cars would crush its remains, and Cassidy would snap photos, utterly satisfied. At that time, Cassidy also had a male friend named Blake, who joined her in tormenting animals. Later, when her poodle went into heat and obscenely humped Blake’s leg a few times, Cassidy saw it. Her eyes flashed with cruelty. She choked the dog, forcing it to eat a paralyzing drug, and Blake personally threw the little dog into the horse stable. The two of them laughed maniacally, watching the horse in heat mount the dog… My claws frantically scraped at the iron cage, but the drug’s effect kept me weak. I could only watch as the little dog whimpered and died. And the horse in heat didn’t escape its doom either; just because Blake said it was “a complete eyesore,” Cassidy downed the small horse with a single injection. The two of them were busy in the secret room for half the night, cruelly dismembering the horse. Foxes naturally possess an acute sense of smell, and the thick stench of blood from the secret room assaulted my nose. I absorbed the bloody aura, and my strength returned significantly. I clawed open the cage and bolted out. Cassidy clearly heard the commotion. She grabbed a dissection knife and chased after me. I stumbled, my strength failing, just as I reached the door. I was about to be discovered.

Summoning the last of my strength, I transformed into my human form. Cassidy, seeing me sprawled by the door, approached cautiously. When she saw my face, her eyes widened in shock. The greatest advantage of us foxkin is our stunning beauty, almost beyond reproach. Clearly, Cassidy wasn’t blind. Blake, seeing her embracing a man, looked stunned, his eyes filled with jealousy. My animal instincts told me he wanted me dead. And when I saw the bloody horse tail in his hand, I couldn’t help but shiver. I, too, was wondering how to kill him. Cassidy, I needed to bring back to the Beast Realm and keep around permanently so I could drain her life force. But young Blake? I could certainly bring him back for my family to enjoy. I leaned into Cassidy’s embrace, intensifying the animalistic aura she found so alluring. Foxes are naturally skilled in enchantment, and though I was young, captivating a human for a short time was no challenge. She was helping me to the car when Blake caught up. “Cassidy, you’re taking him back?” Cassidy was twisted, and with her mind clouded, lust quickly took over. “This boy looks unwell. I’m taking him back for a check-up.” Blake was infuriated but clear-headed. “Then send him to a hospital, or just call the police!” “To a hospital for what? Am I not a doctor? And are you insane? Don’t you remember what we just did? You want to call the police?” With that, Cassidy, impatient, turned and didn’t look back. Blake shouted after her, “Cassidy Miller, I think you’re slipping back into your old habits!” Cassidy rented a villa in the suburbs. As soon as I entered, I smelled an unusual scent. But inside, the decor seemed normal, except for a tightly locked basement door. She placed me on the sofa, affectionately stroking my head, her gaze growing obsessive. “What a beautiful face!” I let out a soft whimper. Her eyes darkened with increasingly intense desire, and she tugged impatiently at her skirt hem. She leaned in, her hands exploring downwards. Beast! I cursed inwardly, completely forgetting this was the result of me over-emitting my foxkin allure. After blowing some fox-specialized sedatives into her ear, Cassidy collapsed naked onto the sofa. I tossed a pillow at her. She drifted into a hazy dream, hugging and kissing it, her body movements more lewd than any animal’s. I scoffed. Taking advantage of her deep immersion in her battle with the pillow, I pushed open the basement door. The scene inside shocked me to the core, a pain so profound it stole my breath. Half-dissected living civet cats lay helplessly on the table, neither alive nor truly dead. There were also tigers tied to posts, skinned alive. On the floor lay discarded bodies of rabbits and birds. On the wall, snakes were pinned, writhing. Though I despised snakes, even I trembled with fear. Suddenly, a high-pitched cry echoed from upstairs – Cassidy was about to finish and snap out of it. I immediately returned upstairs. Once clear-headed, Cassidy opened her eyes, looking utterly sated. I clutched the blanket around me, whimpering, feigning the aftermath of being violated. “W-who are you? I’m calling the police, w-w-w…” Suddenly, a handgun was pointed at my face.

“Good boy, what’s your name?” Facing the threat, I feigned terror and told her my name was Kael. Cassidy smiled playfully, lowered the gun, then gently pulled my head to her chest. She clicked on the TV remote. She played an animal courtship video for me and slid a ring onto my ring finger. “Kael, I’m completely smitten with you. You and I, we’re like those male and female animals who’ve never met, but our hormones are destined to draw us together. Let’s get married!” But in the video, the female animal, once rejected, was being torn apart and devoured by the male. She forced me to nod. Suddenly, the villa’s front door burst open. Blake stood there, drenched in the thunder and rain. He held a knife and said he was going to chop me up. “Never seen a male fox demon before. I’m going to tear your face off and preserve it as a specimen!” Heh, he was actually right. I am a fox. Cassidy snatched the knife from him and kicked him into the wall. Blake looked incredulous. “Three years of our relationship! It means nothing compared to this fox demon you just met?!” Cassidy frowned, her eyes icy cold. “Kael has that scent I’ve always dreamed of.” Blake sneered, “Oh yeah? What scent? Fox body odor?” Hearing that, I feigned weakness and hurt, while discreetly intensifying my scent towards Cassidy. Who the hell says us foxes smell bad?! That’s too much, man! While comforting me, Cassidy delivered another kick. Blake was bleeding and was then locked in the basement. Her actions suited me perfectly. Good. After all, the males in the Beast Realm needed men too. However, the passage between the Beast Realm and the human world was closing soon. Shortly after meeting Cassidy’s family, I suggested we quickly go to my homeland to meet my parents. Cassidy, inhaling my scent daily, was impatient. But her parents were slow, preparing many things before joining us. Blake was skilled in making potions, so Cassidy brought him along, claiming he was her brother. Fearing I might be upset, she even took me to the basement to torment Blake a bit before we left, just to prove her heart was only for me. Blake cursed, but he was met with whips and insect bites. Three days later, after much prodding from me, they finally set off for my homeland. My grandmother had placed the entrance to the passage in a poisonous forest in the southwest, a place ordinary humans couldn’t approach. But I had a special potion, and I led Cassidy and the others through the forest without difficulty. Blake, half-dead from exhaustion, didn’t forget to make cynical remarks. “Heh, I’m telling you, Cassidy Miller, what kind of normal guy’s home requires trekking through mountains and over ridges? You two are probably being stalked by spirits and don’t even know it!” Hearing that, Mr. and Mrs. Miller exchanged glances, clearly suspicious. I stopped, looking distressed at the Miller family. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, my home is indeed a bit remote. But otherwise, where would all those rare animals come from?” I pouted, feigning innocence. Mr. and Mrs. Miller nodded, understanding. Immediately, Cassidy slapped Blake across the face. “You almost got to us. You talk too much, you idiot!” At the end of the forest was an invisible wall. Beyond the wall was the Beast Realm. On the other side of the wall, several figures were faintly visible. I happily shouted, “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, look! My parents have come to meet us!” With that, I darted towards my parents, Cassidy following close behind. The humans didn’t notice, but as Blake’s foot stepped across, the passage immediately closed.

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