Category: English

I could control time and space. But after 999 cycles, my fiancé still abandoned me on our wedding day, fleeing with his childhood sweetheart, Chloe, without a second thought. The first time the apocalypse hit, I used my power to trap my fiancé and me forever in the time loop of our wedding night. I just thought that way, we could be in love forever. But when I reset the loop for the 999th time with him, Liam, who was always so cold, suddenly brought a woman home. He knelt, his eyes red, begging me: “If you don’t let her stay here, I’ll choose destruction with her.” Watching them, so deeply in love it hurt, I turned and walked away in silence. Later, I let go of my obsession and tore open a time rift, granting their wish to face oblivion together. But then, his eyes bloodshot, he found me, dropping to his knees, pleading desperately. “Aurora, please, don’t let me leave. I don’t want to die!” “Aurora, your husband ran off! You should just wait here obediently for him!” Another wedding scene, another loop. This time, there was no anticipated blessing or happiness. Only Liam’s escape and his relatives and friends blocking me, trying to stop me from chasing him. “Get out of my way!” The red wedding veil shimmered in the twilight. Trapped by them, I could only watch helplessly as Liam rushed out of the mansion. Then, he tightly embraced Chloe, who was standing right by the door. “This time, I won’t let you die! I *will* keep you by my side!” Hearing Liam’s words, my face went ghostly pale, just like the sky after tomorrow’s endless darkness, destined for the destructive meteor shower. Through countless loops, this moment was supposed to be Liam holding my hand, surrounded by everyone’s blessings. But this one time, the predetermined path of fate had changed. The man by my side no longer loved me. The relatives and friends surrounding me, scolding me, had no idea that tomorrow, meteors would fall, and the world would end. I’d traded my life and health for the power of time and space, trapping Liam and me forever in this wedding night. This was the 96th loop, 96 wedding nights. I thought we would be safe, always in love, always escaping disaster. I didn’t know Liam already regretted Chloe’s appearance when she came to steal him away. This time, before he left, he whispered to me: “Aurora, this time, I don’t want to regret it.” Watching everyone leave, I sat alone in the bridal suite, staring at the increasingly red moon in the sky, and suddenly smiled. Maybe I should just “complete” their story. My phone lit up. Chloe had sent a taunting SnapChat message this time: “Liam said he’d rather die than be without me.” “He suddenly came to me today and said he loved me! That just proves he never wanted to marry you!” “Not only can you two not be together on your wedding day, you’ll never be together in this life! He and I are true love!” Finally, I tapped on the video she sent. Against an extremely dim background, Liam was holding her. The fireworks from *my* wedding exploded, and I was in the dark. In the fierce, blazing light, I clearly saw them. Locked in a desperate, burning kiss. In that instant, all the past memories and sudden, brutal loss exploded in my mind, shattering, raging. Then, my gaze instantly dimmed, like a falling star. After turning off my phone, I sat on the bed, still strewn with red dates, lotus seeds, and peanuts—a messy remnant of his family’s outdated traditions for a prosperous marriage—staring blankly. The next second, I looked up, meeting Liam’s eyes as he walked back in. “How many times have we gotten married, and you still look so unhappy? Can’t you even bother to clear this stuff off the bed?” Every breath pulled at my aching heart. Powerlessly, I tugged at the bedsheet. Some peanuts, sunflower seeds, and walnuts scattered onto the floor. “Your family said it would be lively this way, and we shouldn’t clear it for our wedding night.” He seemed to recall his recent actions; a flicker of evasion crossed his face. “Aren’t I here to spend our wedding night with you?” “You know, no matter how many times we live this night, I’ll never get tired of it.” Breaking character, he even took a red date and popped it into his mouth. A smile played on his lips, his tone confident, “And I know, you can’t leave me. Why else would you keep taking me away from the apocalypse, time and again?” I forced a smile, mumbled a vague reply, and tried to stand up. He coughed, looking at me, his eyes suddenly serious. “Aurora, will you promise me something? Look, I’m here for our wedding. Can you help me preserve Chloe’s memories too?” I froze, looking at him in disbelief. He looked utterly unconcerned. “Don’t you have that power? I asked you to help my family before, and you refused.” “Now I just want to restore Chloe’s memory. Is that too much to ask?!” In that moment, fury boiled within me. No wonder he was saying all those sweet things he hadn’t uttered in ages. It was all for his beloved Chloe. But he knew better than anyone *why* he wanted Chloe to regain her memories! It was so that in the next loop, she would remember today, remember their blossoming relationship, and he wouldn’t have to win her over again. Thinking this, I stared at him, enunciating each word slowly. “Absolutely not!” Immediately, his brief complacency exploded into towering rage. “Aurora! How dare you speak to me like that!” “I’m telling you, if you don’t restore Chloe’s memories too, don’t even *think* about marrying me again!” “Not only that, if I see Chloe doesn’t recognize me in the next loop, I’ll choose destruction with her!” Watching him, so deeply, passionately angry, I felt a fatigue and deadness I’d never experienced before. Even if time stood still, people would change. No matter how beautiful the past, it was nothing but sand slipping through my fingers. I gave a weak laugh, stood up, and forcefully yanked off the bedsheet, scattering everything. Lotus seeds and red dates crashed to the floor. My voice, too, landed flat. “Then don’t marry.” “This timeline is meaningless. We just won’t marry.” As I left, I could still hear Liam’s furious roar behind me. “Fine, Aurora! Don’t you dare cry when I die in this timeline!” I crushed the lotus seeds under my heel. My steps never faltered. No more tears. Liam. I would never cry for you again.

At the start of the new loop, I didn’t go to the wedding ceremony. Instead, I went to say goodbye to Jasper. Jasper, my only friend here who kept all his memories, and the one who gave me this looping ability. However, this time, I hadn’t even seen Jasper yet when I realized the wedding was proceeding as planned, even without me. Following the gazes of the guests, I saw Liam had clearly replaced me with Chloe, who was now wearing the wedding dress. Suddenly, I turned away in shock, only to see Jasper behind me, his eyes filled with fury. But in his familiar expression, I remembered my *first* wedding night with Liam. Back then, as Liam and I were still basking in the thrill of finally opening our wedding gifts, Jasper suddenly appeared, revealing the truth about the impending apocalypse. Before I could even believe him, he said he’d already granted me the power to reset time, then floated away. The next second, darkness tore through the sky. With a pale face, I used the method Jasper taught me, tearing open a time rift to put Liam and me into the moment we most wanted to stay in. The wedding night. It became our only time anchor point we could reset. At first, in the day-after-day loops, Liam endlessly declared his love for me, tirelessly putting the ring on my finger. It wasn’t until the thirty-sixth loop that he spotted Chloe at the wedding venue. He lied, telling me he wanted to go see old friends. I had no idea then that the “old friend” was his childhood sweetheart. Later, their connection grew more and more intense, until the last loop when Liam made me a laughingstock at our own wedding. Even more unthinkable, this loop, with me absent, Liam actually had Chloe take my place as the bride. Thinking this, I pulled back Jasper, who was about to charge forward. “No, Jasper, it’s no use. I’m tired.” He considered many possibilities, then, in a daze, asked me: “Are you planning to skip this wedding and settle the score with him next time?” My face was pale, and I shook my head. “No, I won’t take Liam into another loop again.” “I don’t love him anymore. This is the last time. I want a clean break.” The next second he heard this, Jasper took a moment to react to the news. He had tried to convince me many times that staying in this time rift was futile. Now, hearing that I’d finally come to my senses, he was slow to react. It wasn’t his fault, after all, in these 97 loops. Each time, for Liam, I had silently endured half a day’s worth of pain. Hiding it from Liam, I repeatedly reached out through the pain to accept the ring he placed on my finger. Faced with my tireless desire to restart the wedding night, he would only sneer in front of Jasper. “Who told her she loved me so much? It’s her honor that I stay in this loop with her.” Jasper was furious then, but I talked him down, foolishly celebrating Liam’s words, thinking we were luckier than other lovers, smugly believing that living like this was enough. Now I understood how utterly pathetic I had been in those countless loops. “Even if it repeats a thousand, ten thousand times, Liam will still change his mind. What good are the same time and people if true feelings can change in an instant?” Before the endless darkness descended, my eyes, resolute, stared at the sky as I murmured. “I will tear open the time rift and end this ridiculous timeline, controlled by my own obsession.” “Jasper, when it’s over, can you tell me why you chose me?”

After saying that, the sadness in my eyes was gone, and I quietly watched them complete the wedding. Even though I was prepared for Liam’s change of heart. Still, hearing their intimate voices from the bedroom, I was deeply pierced. Soft, ambiguous moans revealed them doing something explicit on the very same wedding bed Liam and I had shared. They were wrapped in a tight, passionate embrace. Liam, his back to me, held Chloe tightly. Chloe straddled Liam, her eyes meeting mine. She twisted harder, her breathing labored and seductive. “Liam, darling, this is your and Aurora’s wedding bed. Wouldn’t it be bad if Aurora saw us like this?” Liam scoffed, as if she’d made a joke. His wandering hands had already found their way to Chloe’s delicate skin. “Bad? She’s just my doormat. Does she dare get angry?” “Besides, we’ve been together so long, doing the same thing every day, looking at her face I’ve long grown tired of. If it weren’t for you, my life would be so boring.” “And so what if she gets angry? All I have to do is snap my fingers, and she’ll come running back, wagging her tail.” I gripped my hands tightly, my stomach churning with intense nausea. The countless moments from those thousands of loops transformed into a million sharp blades, tearing through the mirror of our beautiful memories, shattering it to pieces. Countless sharp fragments pierced every cell in my body. I was in unbearable pain, and in the end, all that overwhelming love turned into utter deadness. I turned around, unsure how long I stood there before my body finally moved. Slowly, I walked to the safe, taking out the time hourglass locked inside. As soon as I stood up, I met Liam’s gaze. He’d come out for a drink. He jolted, dropping the water bottle in his hand. After a moment of terror, an undisguised triumph crept onto his face. “Now you know to come back and apologize?” Seeing no reaction from me, he scanned me up and down, his eyes finally landing on the time hourglass in my hand. “Last loop you were throwing rings and yanking off bedsheets…” He looked down at me, utterly convinced he had me. “Weren’t you having a grand old time then?” I took a deep, heavy breath, my face cold as I turned to leave. But he grabbed my arm, his voice growing more arrogant. “I’m telling you, now it’s useless even if you try to make up for it with the time hourglass.” “You better quickly preserve Chloe’s memory forever, and then I’ll forgive you. Otherwise, just wait for me to leave this loop!” My body stiffened. I turned around, meeting the disdain in his eyes. I smiled. “Alright, you wait.” While he was still fantasizing about how the next loop would be filled with love for him and Chloe, I walked out the door without looking back. Darkness descended as expected. I opened the time hourglass. A terrifying cascade of black debris and a raging storm swept over everything in an instant. Liam rushed out in a panic, his voice laced with fear. “It’s just preserving someone’s memory, isn’t it? Why is the commotion so huge?!” Even as the world crumbled around us, my face was ashen. He still maintained that arrogant, superior posture. “Now do you realize how hard it is to admit you were wrong? Then why did you make me angry in the first place?” “I’m telling you, my family needs their memories preserved too, otherwise…” I said coldly, “Otherwise, what?” The disdain on his face grew. “I’ll just leave this loop, and then let’s see what you’ll do!” Suddenly, before I could even retort, Chloe burst out and smacked the hourglass from my hand, sending it crashing to the floor. In a fit of rage, I shook off her hand. “Are you crazy?!” The next second, I coughed up blood. My body couldn’t withstand such an impact. The process of mending the time rift had been violently interrupted. I collapsed instantly. Liam, however, didn’t hesitate to help Chloe up, then roared at me. “Aurora, how dare you hurt Chloe?!” “I’m telling you, if you don’t apologize, I’m leaving this loop right now. Then you’ll regret it!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a smile spreading on my lips. “Liam, I won’t regret it. I only hope that when this loop ends, you’re not the one filled with regret.” “What did you say?” Liam stared blankly at my lifeless expression. Chloe, who must have learned about my superpower from Liam, urged him on. “Aurora, don’t be so stubborn. If you don’t apologize, and Liam leaves you, you’ll have nowhere to cry from regret.” At this, Liam regained his smug confidence. “Exactly. Stop pretending, Aurora. Don’t forget why you created this timeline. What’s the point of your life without me?” “I’m telling you, while the time rift is open, preserve Chloe’s and my family’s memories…” “Otherwise, I’ll leave this loop right now and show you!” “What will you do then?!” He was arrogant and conceited, but he didn’t expect me to simply curl my lips. “As you wish.” “What?” Liam frowned. But I picked up the open time hourglass from the ground. The world shattered. The storm intensified dramatically the moment I picked up the hourglass. I reached out and tore open a corner of the sky. “Liam, didn’t you say you wanted to leave this loop?” “Now, the time rift is open. We’re all facing the apocalypse tomorrow, and my superpower has already been withdrawn.” “This ridiculous loop will not repeat. As you wish, face the end!” His eyes widened. The raging wind, violent and without warning. Swept over us… Liam stood frozen, slow to grasp the situation. It wasn’t until the ground beneath his feet cracked that he understood… the apocalypse had truly arrived.

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After my rebirth, I handed in my resignation, left the production department, and broke ties with the Knight family who had raised me. I became known as an ungrateful traitor. All because, in my previous life, Chloe Davis – the supposed gifted musician and the apple of Mason Knight’s eye, the CEO’s only son – died in an accident during a signing selection. And I married him, becoming Mrs. Knight’s daughter-in-law. After our marriage, Mason and I worked side-by-side for twenty years, weathering every storm. I composed hit songs, he sang them to life, and Stellar Entertainment’s entire fifty-year backlog of unsold albums became phenomenal successes under our touch. But Mason Knight, my supposed soulmate, publicly exposed me at my own awards ceremony, accusing me of fraud and deception. He claimed all the key arrangements in my award-winning albums, the very ones that earned me recognition, were based on manuscripts Chloe Davis had recorded with her ‘innate musicality’ before her death. “Scarlett Hayes, you stole the life that rightfully belonged to Chloe Davis.” Even my own students, whom I’d personally mentored, looked at me with open disdain. “Teacher, I never thought a top-tier producer like you would rely on plagiarism to get to the top.” As I saw their scornful gazes, I collapsed right outside Stellar Entertainment’s doors. Every single one of my works was rigorously investigated. Mason dug into my every oversight, leading to my imprisonment for plagiarism and copyright infringement. Behind bars, I was relentlessly attacked online by inmates who held grudges against me, and I eventually took my own life out of despair. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at Stellar Entertainment, on the day they were deciding producers for a new album.

Mr. Knight sat in his office, his expression heavy. “Mason, for this new album, who should we pick as producer? Scarlett or Chloe?” Colleagues around us chuckled. “Is that even a question? Mason and Scarlett are childhood sweethearts! Who else would he pick?” I had grown up in the Knight family, and they had long since unofficially decided I would be their daughter-in-law. The position of producer for this new album was, naturally, assumed to be mine. But this time, Mason Knight abruptly interrupted his father. “Dad, let’s keep personal matters separate. Selecting a producer should be fair. I shouldn’t be making that decision.” It clicked instantly. He had been reborn too. Since he was so fixated on his unrequited love for Chloe Davis last time, I decided this time, I’d make sure they got their happy ending. “Mr. Knight, I honestly don’t think my abilities are sufficient. I’m not a good match for Mason, nor do I think I belong in the core production team.” I grabbed a blank sheet of paper and swiftly wrote out the words, “RESIGNATION LETTER.” Seeing my actions, Mason Knight didn’t say a word. He just turned and bolted from the office. At this exact time in my last life, Chloe Davis had been cornered by furious haters who didn’t want her signed. In the chaos, a deranged hater injured her wrist, making it impossible for her to hold a microphone again. Now that he had a second chance, he was clearly going to protect Chloe from that fate. Mr. Knight exploded in fury, pushing my resignation letter back across the desk. “Scarlett Hayes, what nonsense is this? I taught you everything you know, and now you want to resign?” Mr. Knight, who had raised me like his own daughter, now looked at me with utter disappointment. I met his gaze, wanting to explain, but in the end, I simply bowed deeply. “Mr. Knight, I’m truly sorry. I’ll leave the Knight family. I’ll find a way to repay your kindness in the future.” “Mason’s heart belongs to someone else. You can’t force love, Mr. Knight. Please, let them be together. Mason and I are simply not meant to be.” Mr. Knight wanted to argue, but then he remembered the rumors he’d heard about his son and Chloe Davis. He swallowed all his words. I packed my belongings and moved out of the Knight household for good. The day I left, Mason Knight stood in the yard, casting a distant glance in my direction. Twenty years of shared history from our last life had ended here. Once I finished handing over my work at Stellar Entertainment, I wouldn’t have to see them again. News of their signing and engagement spread throughout Stellar Entertainment. Red, eye-catching contracts were laid out on every colleague’s desk. People in the hallway constantly snuck glances at me, whispering. Everyone knew I had chased Mason Knight for over a decade, from a shy girl to a seasoned producer. They all thought I’d be the one walking down the aisle. But I simply gave the gilded contracts a dismissive glance and returned to my composition report. Chloe Davis often spoke loudly in the recording studio these days, deliberately raising her voice as if afraid no one would hear her. “Mason bought me another necklace yesterday. He said it’s to match my debut outfit.” “He also said once we’re done with promotions, he’ll let me take on bigger projects.” I ignored her boasting, focusing intently on my composition report. Until that day, I overheard Mason Knight and Mr. Knight arguing in the CEO’s office. “Dad, Chloe should be in charge of the new album. You’ve seen her capabilities.” Mr. Knight’s voice was displeased: “Mason, Scarlett has been working on this album for a long time. Replacing her now would cause problems. Besides, Chloe just signed; she doesn’t have enough experience.” Mason Knight was insistent: “But Chloe has her unique talent, she can do this album! Dad, you can’t just favor Scarlett because of personal feelings, can you?” I clearly remembered that in my previous life, I had used subtle clues in the composition to piece together the album’s entire structure, ultimately producing a city-wide sensation. Stellar Entertainment earned major accolades because of it, and I became famous overnight with that album. The title of ‘Top Producer’ echoed through the entertainment industry, and my career skyrocketed. Mason Knight, having been reborn, surely knew all of this. He simply wanted Chloe Davis to gain fame through this project in this life. With that thought, I pushed open the office door and handed over all my composition documents. “Mr. Knight, here are all the materials and reports.” Mr. Knight looked at my calm demeanor, his eyes unreadable. After much hesitation, he took the reports from my hand. “Scarlett, it’s Mr. Knight and the Knight family who owe you an apology.” My voice was calm. “It’s alright, Mr. Knight. You raised me, so consider this my way of repaying your kindness.” Mr. Knight looked up, his eyes filled with guilt. He had nurtured me like a daughter for many years. But ultimately, I couldn’t compare to his own son. The scales still tipped in Mason Knight’s favor.

The moment I voluntarily handed over the reports, a flicker of obvious shock crossed Mason Knight’s face. He probably expected me to argue, maybe even cry hysterically, but I had been surprisingly decisive. These documents were the result of countless sleepless nights, each page filled with my hard work and professional judgment. He clearly hadn’t expected me to let go so easily. “Scarlett Hayes, don’t think this reverse psychology will get my attention.” Mason Knight quickly regained his cold expression, his tone dripping with disdain. “You’ll never measure up to Chloe. You should have realized that a long time ago.” Right. He always believed in Chloe Davis’s casually mentioned ‘innate musicality.’ To my dying day, I never knew what he’d written in his notebook that made him so certain I’d only succeeded by riding on Chloe Davis’s coattails. Mason Knight, standing before me, shoved the thick reports into Chloe Davis’s hands. Chloe took the documents, eager to flip through them, but her face grew increasingly distraught with each page she read. “Mason, why are there only records of the composition process and no final product?” She asked, somewhat flustered. I let out a soft laugh, a hint of sarcasm in my voice: “The finished product? That shouldn’t be a problem for Chloe, right? Especially with your unique talent.” Picking up on the sarcasm, Mason Knight and Chloe Davis both snorted and turned to leave the office. I watched them go, shaking my head with a smile. Chloe Davis was nothing but a rookie who had never even done an independent composition. How could she possibly analyze complex clues and draw conclusions? I was eager to see how Mason Knight would elevate his beloved to fame. At the new album recording studio, just as I expected, Chloe Davis made a fool of herself in front of everyone. “Ms. Davis, could you please hand me the mixer?” But Chloe Davis picked up a metronome and handed it to my old partner, Gary. “Not that one! Ms. Davis, you can’t even tell the difference between a mixer and a metronome? That’s basic stuff!” Chloe Davis’s voice, full of grievance, piped up: “I… I’m just not very familiar with the equipment here.” Mason Knight’s voice immediately cut in, full of protective indignation: “Gary, do you have to be so aggressive? Chloe just started. You were all Scarlett Hayes’s old colleagues, so naturally, you’re biased towards her. You haven’t even seen Chloe’s real capabilities.” Gary scoffed, as if he’d heard the biggest joke. “Capabilities? What capabilities? Is Mr. Knight saying she can produce music with some fake talent? Innate musicality? I’ll believe it when she brings a deceased artist back to sing a few notes!” Several other producers began whispering, skepticism etched on their faces. Seeing the tension escalate, I pushed open the door and calmly interrupted them. “Gary, I’m just here to pack my things.” The office instantly fell silent, all eyes on me. I packed my desk items one by one. Chloe Davis, standing beside me, looked increasingly upset. When I picked up a photo of me with the Knight family, she lunged and knocked over my box. “Scarlett Hayes, are you gloating now?!” The cardboard box crashed to the floor with a loud bang, and the only photo of me with the Knight family shattered into pieces. The piano model Mason Knight had given me for my eighteenth birthday was also smashed to smithereens. The sharp edge of the box cut Chloe Davis’s finger, and blood immediately welled up. Mason Knight’s face instantly changed. He carefully blew on her finger, his voice filled with tenderness: “Chloe, are you okay? Let me see! Don’t move, I’ll take you to get that wound treated!” “Scarlett Hayes, can’t you face reality? You have nothing to do with us, the Knight family, or Stellar Entertainment anymore!”

I looked at the fragments on the floor, the remnants of my entire youth. The last bit of bitterness in my heart vanished. These things, I didn’t need them anyway. As I was about to leave with my few belongings, Chloe Davis grabbed my arm. “Since you’re no longer part of the Knight family, shouldn’t you leave all of Mason’s things behind?” “Mason, isn’t that right?” I looked at the two of them standing side-by-side behind me. Chloe Davis’s face was smug with petty triumph, and Mason Knight, without waiting for me to speak, immediately defended her. “Chloe’s right. Our family’s things, you should leave them.” Their shamelessness made me laugh, a bitter, sarcastic sound. It was true, the clothes I was wearing had all been bought by Mrs. Knight. “Mason Knight, what exactly do you want me to leave behind? Are you suggesting I strip naked and walk out of Stellar Entertainment today?” Mr. Knight, who had rushed over, slapped Mason across the face. “You insolent fool! Even if Scarlett isn’t your wife, she’s still your sister. Is this how you treat her?!” I saw the disgust in Mason Knight’s eyes as he looked at me, and I suddenly smiled. “Mr. Knight, they’re right. We should settle things.” I slowly raised my hand, pointing at Mason Knight from head to toe. “This watch on your wrist? I bought it for you with my first bonus, remember? You said you loved it.” “The cufflinks on your shirt? I specifically tracked them down for you when I was on exchange in Germany. A global limited edition.” “And this necklace on your chest? I ran to every counter in the city to find this specific color for you.” “From head to toe, which one of these items wasn’t bought with my own salary?” Mason Knight’s face instantly darkened. He clenched his jaw. He actually started unbuttoning his shirt, taking off his watch, and removing his necklace, throwing them all on the floor. Seeing this, Chloe Davis immediately pointed at me triumphantly: “Then what about your things? Shouldn’t they be returned to the Knight family too? This dress, those earrings, and the ring on your finger—which of them wasn’t bought with the Knight family’s money?” I ignored her taunts, not even bothering to look down at those items. My gaze remained fixed on Mason Knight, my voice calm yet heavy with unspoken power. “Three years ago, with the New Century Artist contract termination case, I endured immense pressure, working ten sleepless days to piece together the artist’s identity from a pile of terminated contracts, ensuring he could continue his career. That’s how Mr. Knight was exceptionally promoted to his current position as CEO.” “Two years ago, if I hadn’t returned from my business trip early, Mrs. Knight would have… from carbon monoxide poisoning.” I took a step forward, meeting his gaze directly. “Mason Knight, I saved your mother’s career. I helped expand your father’s business empire. How do you intend to repay those debts?” “Now, do you still want me to take off these so-called ‘Knight family possessions’?” Mason Knight was visibly cornered by my questions. His eyes darted away, unable to meet my gaze. After a long silence, he finally squeezed out a reply through gritted teeth: “That’s a separate issue.” I burst out laughing, laughing at the Knight family’s so-called kindness, laughing at my own foolishness in the previous life. From this day forward, I was done with the Knight family, a clean break, no more ties. Chloe Davis saw that Mason Knight was speechless because of me and immediately jumped in to defend him: “Scarlett Hayes, stop with your manipulative words! Take off the Knight family’s clothes immediately!” One by one, I began to remove my necklace, earrings, and bracelet. They hit the floor with crisp clinks, just like my once-shattered heart. All my clothes were neatly placed on my workstation. I changed into my faded, yellowed old work uniform. I thought two lives would have made me strong enough. But looking at his familiar face, the tears still flowed without my permission. I wiped my tears, turning my back and walking towards the door without a second glance. As soon as I stepped out, the whispers of those around me reached my ears: “I heard Producer Hayes wasn’t just resigning, she was fired.” “Tsk, tsk, for a chief producer to fall this low.” “Mr. Knight’s son is ruthless enough to turn on his childhood sweetheart.” My steps faltered slightly, but I didn’t stop. Just as I was about to walk out of Stellar Entertainment’s main entrance, Mason Knight’s voice came from behind me: “Scarlett Hayes.” I paused, but didn’t turn around. “I’ve already spoken to everyone. There’s no place in the entire entertainment industry that will let you continue as a producer.” So, he not only wanted to ruin my reputation but also destroy my future. How cruel, Mason Knight. I strode forward, disappearing from his sight. Turning the corner, I saw a business van. I opened the door and got in. “Ms. Albright, congratulations on finally getting what you wanted.” She smiled, turning and taking my hand. “Scarlett Hayes, it’s a pleasure to work with you.” I quickly moved to the Capital City, joined Galaxy Music, and was appointed Chief Producer. Galaxy Music’s office was decorated festively, with a banner that read, “WARMEST WELCOME TO CHIEF PRODUCER SCARLETT HAYES TO GALAXY MUSIC.”

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My husband, Damon, was a man reborn. He claimed his survival hinged on the happiness of another woman, Ivy – the designated heroine of this twisted plot. But he swore his heart belonged only to me, that he’d never betray me. *Never.* When I learned he had only three years left to live, I mustered every ounce of courage. I wanted to have a child with him, a precious piece of our love story, a future we could hold onto. The very day I found out I was pregnant, I was ambushed on my way home, snatched by kidnappers. They tortured me for three days and three nights, then dragged me onto an operating table. In my darkest, most desperate moment, I heard Damon’s voice from the doorway, mingling with the doctor’s. “Mr. King, are you really going to harvest your wife’s organs? Everyone in our circles knows how devoted you are to her. Are you truly doing this to her?” Damon’s voice was strained, laced with a barely concealed pain, but his words cut deeper than any knife: “Willow will be taken care of. Losing an organ won’t affect her life. But Ivy… if she loses an organ, she’ll fall gravely ill, even die. Once Willow fulfills her role in this plot, standing in for Ivy, I promise I’ll make it up to her a thousand times over!” The words slammed into me like a physical blow, a lightning bolt of pure, devastating truth. As the doctor walked in, I closed my eyes, consumed by despair.

“This woman is tough as nails, still fighting after three whole days! My damn legs are practically jelly, hahaha!” On the dissection table of that shady clinic, countless men came and went. They’d injected me with some kind of drug, pinning me down so I couldn’t move an inch. All I could do was lie there, enduring the mechanical, repulsive acts of those vile men. “Where’s the doctor? Didn’t they say we were supposed to harvest her organs after we were done? Where are they?” Amidst the chaos of voices, I faintly heard Damon’s voice again. “Once they’re finished, go in and take the organs, just like I told you!” The doctor’s voice trembled. “Mr. King, please, let’s just stop. Your wife has suffered enough already…” “No!” Damon’s voice was firm, unwavering. “In the original story, Ivy was first assaulted, then had her organs harvested. Every step must be followed, no exceptions!” Hearing that, my world shattered around me. Damon and I had been married for three years, our love as vibrant as ever. That very morning, when I left for the clinic alone, Damon had insisted on driving me, warning me about the ‘unsafe’ backroads. I thought he was worried. Now I know he was just making sure those monsters didn’t miss their target. Another man climbed off me. My limbs were shattered, my body completely ravaged. I was at the absolute limit of my endurance. Suddenly, a sharp pain tore through my lower abdomen, an uncontrolled spasm that ripped through me. “What the hell is this?” The doctor rushed in from the doorway, taking one look and gasping. “This… she’s *pregnant*?!” “…” The room fell silent. Even the kidnappers, who’d been laughing hysterically moments before, seemed stunned by the sight. My baby… it was gone. It had left my body. Even the animals who had relentlessly tortured me for three days fell silent. But my own heart was filled with a soul-numbing grief, so profound it left me utterly numb. Only tears streamed freely down my face. When I first learned Damon only had three years to live unless Ivy was happy, I had desperately focused on my health, drinking countless cups of vile-tasting herbal teas, all to ensure I could conceive this child so smoothly. Now, this child, who had only just arrived – I’d only found out about him a few days ago – was ripped away from me in such a brutal, horrifying way. “Why did you stop?” Damon’s voice came from outside, confused by the sudden silence. He must have thought the special drug he’d injected me with made me deaf, because he spoke without any attempt to hide his words. The doctor’s voice was shaky, almost filled with pity. “Mr. Ki-King, your wife… she…” “Enough!” Damon’s impatient voice cut him off. “Don’t tell me what she looks like now! I don’t want to hear it! It’ll kill me!” “Your wife is in a critical condition, Mr. King. I believe we should terminate the plan and provide immediate medical assistance.” the doctor advised. Damon was silent for a moment. Just as I thought his heart might finally soften, his voice returned, colder than ice. “Start the organ harvesting. Begin with the heart!” The doctor froze, dumbfounded. “The heart? Mr. King, that’s impossible! Without her heart, your wife…” “Of course I know the heart is vital! Do you think I don’t feel pain? She’s my lover!” Damon roared, his voice filled with a performative anguish. “But it *has* to be done to this extent! If Willow doesn’t take this hit for Ivy, Ivy will be on the brink of death, and then *I* will truly die!” “If I die, who will give Ivy happiness?” “Just take the heart! Ivy’s sister needs it, and the other organs must follow the plot. Once it’s all over, I’ll immediately bring people to rescue her and send her to the hospital for an artificial heart transplant.” Damon’s voice was calm, steady, as if he’d planned this all out long ago. The doctor sighed, motioning for his assistant to bring out the professional tools. My soul was trapped, screaming silently within my broken, exhausted body. But the sharp blade sliced into my chest regardless.

Damon’s plan went smoothly. I had no strength left to fight, not even a tiny bit. The doctor took my heart and left with his team. I tried with every last ounce of will, but I couldn’t move my hands, chained to the table. All I wanted was to touch my baby at the very end of my life. Even though he was no longer in my body, even though he was just a blood clot now… He was my baby! I just wanted to touch him, to tell him not to be scared. A monstrous wave of grief drowned me. My wrists strained against the restraints, leaving only raw, bloody streaks. Damon had told me before that after he was reborn, he needed to protect the story’s heroine. Only if she was happy could he continue to live. But he’d also said I was his one and only, that when it came to anything *within* our relationship, he would always be loyal to me. It was only for things *outside* the scope of our love that he would try to ensure Ivy’s happiness. I had trusted him so completely. I never imagined he would go to such lengths for Ivy. Even without a heart, it felt like a thousand knives were tearing through my chest. Just then, the door burst open with a bang. Damon appeared, frantic, his eyes red-rimmed. “Willow! My Willow, I’m so late! Oh God, your chest…” My body remained limp, showing no signs of consciousness, but he didn’t stop his performance. He clutched my hand, tightly, then barked orders at the people behind him. “Spare no expense! Find those who hurt my Willow, make them pay!” “And immediately find the world’s top specialists! Give Willow the best artificial heart! If she doesn’t live, I’ll make you all regret it!” My soul was calm, numb. Only hatred surged within my empty chest cavity now. I hated that man. I was rushed to the hospital. Just as Damon had promised, the world’s top artificial heart team began my treatment. During this time, my broken limbs and ravaged body also needed treatment. It was three months before I, barely clinging to life, was finally transferred from the ICU to a regular room. Damon stayed by my side day and night, never leaving, showering me with care. When the doctor said I would never be able to have children again, Damon teared up, his voice filled with feigned sorrow. He gripped my hand, repeating, “It’s all my fault, Willow, all my fault! I didn’t find you in time! I don’t care that you can’t have children anymore. I promise I’ll be good to you!” In the past, I would have gently told him not to shoulder all the blame. But *he* cared? What right did he have to care? Everything was *his* doing! Just seeing him made me tremble with rage. So, I pretended to sleep every day, refusing to look at him. Once my condition stabilized, more visitors began to arrive. And finally, one day, I saw the person I least wanted to see. “Damon, darling, I’ve come to see you.” It was Ivy. “I was so heartbroken to hear about Willow. You must have been so sad, unable to sleep, Damon. I brought you some ginseng soup.” Ivy held out a thermos. Damon took it. “Thank you. I’ll feed Willow first, then I’ll drink it.” “Ginseng soup is most effective when hot.” Ivy’s soft voice chimed. Damon hesitated for a moment, then relented to Ivy. Damon always said that when it came to our relationship, he was loyal only to me. He claimed that even when he occasionally helped Ivy, it was only to make her a little happier, all so he could stay with me for a few more years. But look at the way he gazed at Ivy – with such tenderness. I used to lie to myself, convincing myself he treated her well only to extend our time together. But looking at him now, who was the person he truly longed to stay with? After finishing the ginseng soup, Damon received a call from the doctor and left in a hurry. The room was suddenly empty, save for Ivy and me. Ivy smiled, pulling up a chair beside my bed, and fiddled with my IV line. “Are you awake, Willow?” I opened my eyes and stared at her, emotionless. Ivy’s smile was sickeningly sweet. “I heard you had quite the… pleasure, Willow. Served by a dozen strong men for three days and three nights. To survive that? You really have nine lives!” “Nine lives, indeed. As long as I’m alive, you’ll never be Mrs. King, will you? That must be agonizing for you, right?” I’d always known Ivy had feelings for Damon, but I’d never exposed it, hampered by the fact that Damon needed to appease her to survive. Sure enough, at my words, Ivy’s expression darkened instantly, as if I’d struck a nerve. “What’s so great about you, a woman with an artificial heart? Do you know, your heart was given to my ‘sister’ by Damon? And actually, I don’t even have a sister. I just mentioned it casually, and Damon dug out your heart for me.” I remained unmoved. My heart was already gone; whether it went to her or to a dog made no difference to me. Seeing my lack of reaction, Ivy continued, “Just two days ago, I got into Iris’s dance company. Damon introduced me.” I froze. Iris’s dance company was world-renowned, and they had plans to recruit one American dancer this year. Before the accident, they had contacted me. Even after I told them about my pregnancy plans, they hadn’t withdrawn their offer, saying they would keep the spot open for me. Dance was my dream. Even though I loved Damon so much, I had only quietly postponed this dream for the sake of having a child. How could Damon give *my* place to Ivy?! “That spot belongs to me!” I tried to sit up, but Ivy looked at me like I was the most pathetic creature on earth. She pulled out my IV line and all the other life-sustaining machines. “Willow, look at your shattered limbs and your fragile, artificial heart. What makes you think you can compete with me? Not just this spot, but Damon too, he’ll be mine. Just you wait!”

Ivy left, and Damon didn’t return. I didn’t want to die, but Ivy had disconnected all the wires of my life support. Without the machines, my life would quickly fade. I struggled, trying to press the nurse’s call button, but my broken limbs couldn’t even manage that simple movement. By the time the nurse found me during her rounds, I was once again in critical condition, barely clinging to life. My situation rapidly deteriorated. The specialists who had previously treated me had left after my condition stabilized, and the doctors at this hospital, despite their best efforts, couldn’t maintain my vital signs. “Where’s Mr. King? Get him here now! The situation is critical, he needs to sign the critical illness notice and contact the specialists!” “And we can only begin rescue efforts once a family member signs and acknowledges the risks!” “Mr. King seemed to be dropping off Ms. Ivy earlier. Ms. Ivy said it was hard to get a cab from there, so I assume Mr. King drove her himself.” Hearing the conversation outside the room, my mind went blank. I didn’t want to die. I struggled, “Call him, tell him to come back…” The doctors seemed to realize. “Quick, call him!” Only my phone had Damon’s number, so they used it to dial. The call was answered quickly, but after the doctor explained my situation, Damon’s voice was utterly devoid of emotion. “I’m taking Ivy home right now. I don’t have time to come back and sign anything.” The doctors were stunned. Taking a casual friend home versus his wife’s life – wasn’t the choice obvious? “Mr. King, you might not have heard clearly. Someone just stopped the machines. Your wife’s artificial heart is failing, and the risk is extremely high. If we don’t act now, she could die at any moment! We need the contact information for the specialists you had before, and you need to come back! This is about your wife’s life!” Damon’s impatience grew even more obvious. “Stop playing games with Willow! Ivy just left her room, and she was perfectly fine. How could she suddenly be critically ill?” “And when Ivy came out, she even had two slaps on her face! She had enough strength to *hit* someone, but couldn’t reconnect her own life support? Give the phone to Willow.” The doctor hesitated, then placed the phone near me. I barely had the strength to speak. “Damon… save me…” Silence stretched on the other end of the line. It lasted so long that I thought Damon had heard the weakness in my voice. But when he finally spoke, it was a condemnation. “That’s a terrible act, Willow. I know you’re jealous. Why I’m good to Ivy… if others don’t know, how can *you* not? I’m doing this so we can stay together for even longer, you understand, don’t you?” “No… it’s not… I really…” “Stop playing games, Willow. Be good. I’ll come back to you once I’ve dropped Ivy off. She’s a girl, it’s not safe for her to walk alone at night. Wait for me, I’ll be back soon.” I was bewildered, helpless, my heart turning to ashes. Why would he misunderstand me? In the past, when he was good to Ivy, had I ever been jealous? I was truly dying… “Damon!” The urgent desire to live made me call out his name, stopping him from hanging up. “Please come back, please save me. I need you right now… please…” Tears streamed down my face. My desperate plea, stripping away all dignity, only bought me less than five seconds of silence from Damon. Suddenly, Ivy’s voice came through the phone. “I’m sorry, Damon. Maybe I should just go home by myself. I feel so bad that Willow misunderstood and put you in such a difficult position. Just pull over, I can walk… it’s fine, nothing bad will happen in broad daylight.” Damon’s voice filled with tenderness. “Just sit still, don’t move when the car hasn’t stopped… Willow, be good. I know you’re fine. I’ll be back to you very soon, just half an hour.” Damon hung up, leaving me and a silent resuscitation room. I wanted to live, but he thought I just wanted his company? I truly didn’t want to die, but what could I do now? Overwhelmed by anger and despair, I suddenly coughed violently. All the machines attached to me shrieked frantically. The medical staff rushed over. Even without a signed consent, they began resuscitation efforts. But what was the use? My artificial heart was failing. I was dying. I gripped one of the doctor’s hands. “Tell Damon…” Damon had just arrived at Ivy’s house when a sudden chill ran through him, as if he’d lost something incredibly important. And the chill deepened. Ivy was showing Damon her dance outfits. “For the Iris company performance, I’ve got a few options. Which one do you think looks best, Damon?” Damon barely glanced at them. The growing dread made him restless. He suddenly had an overwhelming urge to see Willow. He didn’t know why, just a sudden, urgent need to see her. Just then, his phone rang. It was a doctor from the hospital. “Mr. King, I’m sorry to inform you. Your wife’s artificial heart just failed. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. She has passed away.” Damon shot to his feet, his face etched with disbelief. “What did you say?!” Ivy jumped, flinching back. “Damon? What’s wrong?” Damon’s fear exploded. He felt it was a lie, yet an unsettling premonition gnawed at him.

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I gave up my identity as the heir to a multi-million dollar corporation, all to live a simple life with my wife. Then, my five-year-old son collapsed at kindergarten, his nose bleeding uncontrollably. At the hospital, he was diagnosed with “Advanced Hemolytic Syndrome.” My wife immediately demanded a divorce. She said she didn’t want our son to be a burden on me. My heart swelled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I was so touched, I decided right then and there to reveal my true identity and face this challenge with her. To save our son, I agreed to return home and inherit the family business. I wanted to negotiate with my parents to get him the best possible treatment. My dad advised me, “You can keep your identity a secret for now. Tell her that even after the divorce, you’ll share the medical costs. Just see how your wife reacts.” I didn’t quite get it, but I did as he said. That night, my mother-in-law, Brenda, rushed to the hospital. She started yelling, calling me a monster, and insisted I walk away with absolutely nothing. I was just about to enter my son’s hospital room when I overheard my wife, Chloe, talking with her father, Frank. “Don’t bother saving this dead weight. We can keep it a secret from him, though, and make him pay all the medical bills.” Chloe chuckled, a chilling sound. “I never planned to save him. I just wanted to trick him into giving me everything in the divorce.” “I’ve been sick of living with that poor guy for ages. A son born from such inferior genes is just as useless!”

I stared at them, my wife and her father, in utter disbelief. Chloe used to just run a small nail salon out of a tiny storefront. If I hadn’t been secretly propping them up all these years, they’d never have lived such a comfortable life. I pushed the door open and quickly strode to Liam’s bedside, my voice thick with emotion. “Chloe, let’s take Liam to the best hospital in the city, the capital! I’d sell everything I own, go broke trying to save him! My company… I can sell it!” Chloe and Frank exchanged a quick glance, clearly not expecting me to burst in like that. They were about to speak. But then Brenda, as if on cue, stormed in. She pointed at Chloe and started tearing into her. “You fool! What more do you want? Are you seriously going to sacrifice your entire life for this sick child? This kid is a lost cause, do you hear me! Divorce Alex, right now!” What a perfectly coordinated act between mother and daughter. They played it so well. Chloe immediately lowered her head, wiping away fake tears. She looked like a poor victim, forced by her mother. Then, she turned to me. “Alex, let’s get a divorce. You walk away with nothing, that way… that way you can start a new life without any burdens.” I’d already seen through their whole charade, but I pretended to be heartbroken, unable to believe what I was hearing. I looked at her, my voice strained. “Chloe, you… you really think that too? Tell me, do you genuinely want to get our son treatment?” Frank immediately stepped forward, looking pained as he pointed at me. “Alex! How can you even think that about Chloe? How much has she sacrificed for you, for this family? She’s doing this for your own good, afraid you’ll lose everything, financially and emotionally! And you dare question her noble intentions?!” I scoffed inwardly. This was the true face of their family. I decided to give her one last chance. I looked at Chloe, speaking each word slowly and deliberately. “I’m not afraid of losing everything. Chloe, as long as you’re willing, we can work through this together, face it head-on. We can definitely cure Liam’s illness.” A flicker of panic crossed Chloe’s eyes, but she quickly hid it. She shook her head with a chilling finality. “No, I can’t do it. I can’t accept that outcome.” After saying that, she turned and collapsed onto the bed, staring at our unconscious son. Her tears instantly gushed, and her sobs turned into a heart-wrenching wail. “Alex, don’t push me… I don’t want to hold you back. Liam doesn’t want to be a burden on you. The only reason I want these assets is because… I just want to cling to that last shred of hope. What if, what if there’s a new treatment method in the future? I could still use that money to save my son’s life! This is all for Liam!” She delivered that speech with such passion and emotion, as if she were the long-suffering, sacrificing mother. It was laughable. Beyond ridiculous. My heart, at that very moment, withered and died. Every last shred of warmth, gone. I looked at her, my face devoid of emotion, my voice as cold as ice. “Chloe, I’m asking you one last time. Are you truly set on this divorce?” Seeing how calm I was, Chloe paused, then nodded firmly. “Fine, I agree to the divorce.” I stated flatly. “The house, the car, the savings. I want nothing. I can walk away with absolutely nothing.” The eyes of Chloe’s family instantly glinted with greedy satisfaction. Then, I changed my tone, adding coldly, “But, I will have sole custody of our son, Liam.”

Chloe’s smile froze. She immediately shot back, “No way! Liam is the apple of my eye! I can’t bear to let him go!” Can’t bear to let him go? You mean, you can’t bear to let go of your cash cow, right? I was tired of playing their games. I cut straight to the chase. “Stop the act. I heard everything you said that night by the patient room. I walk away with nothing, you get all the assets, and I get custody of our son. That sounds fair to me.” Chloe and her family’s faces instantly turned chalk-white, then twisted with furious indignation. They realized their original plan was blown, but they immediately seized on my new “weakness”—my love for my son. Frank cleared his throat, speaking in a sneering, condescending tone. “Since you heard everything, let’s lay all our cards on the table. You want custody? Fine, but you’ll have to compensate Chloe for all these years she spent with you, right? Hand over half a million dollars, and we’ll agree.” “Deal.” I agreed without hesitation. My quick acceptance immediately made the shrewd Chloe realize I had far more money than they’d imagined. Her eyes gleamed with even greater greed. She subtly signaled to her parents. Brenda caught on instantly and began to wail dramatically. “Oh, my heavens! My husband and I emptied our retirement savings to pay for our grandson’s medical bills! We even sold our house back home! Where are we supposed to live now? You can’t be so heartless!” Frank chimed in, “That’s right! You need to buy us, the old couple, a house, and give us another two hundred thousand for our retirement! Otherwise, you can forget about taking the child!” “Are you even human?!” I finally exploded, trembling with rage. “Liam is your own grandson! How can you use him like this?!” Frank shot a disgusted look at my son, whose nose was still plugged with tissues, lying in the hospital bed. He pointed at him and snarled, “Just like his father, useless!” Then, Brenda glared at me. “It must be your bad genes! Our Chloe is young, she can still have more kids! Get the divorce over with, don’t hold her back!” Before our son was diagnosed, Brenda used to come to our house every day, holding Liam for hours. Now, she looked at him like he was the plague. Seeing such a stark contrast, I sighed, feeling both helpless and utterly cold. I still held onto a sliver of hope for my wife. I looked at her, pleading, “Chloe, can we please let the doctor check on Liam first?” “No! What if you go back on your word?!” She said, then threw the divorce papers directly at my face. Hearing that, my heart sank completely. I couldn’t believe my wife was so materialistic. I didn’t want to believe she had absolutely no feelings for me. So, almost begging, I said, “I can’t get that much money right away. Can you just let Liam get treatment first?” Brenda’s face contorted into a hideous sneer. “We’ve looked it up online! This ‘Advanced Hemolytic Syndrome’ thing is incurable! It’ll even consume his heart in the later stages! All that talk about treatment rates is just doctors scamming you, believe me. You’ll just end up losing everything, financially and emotionally!!” Brenda, who I once thought was kind, now looked utterly repulsive. Liam, wiping away his nosebleed, started to cry. “Daddy, Mommy, please don’t argue! I don’t want treatment if it makes you mad!” My heart ached as I looked at him. “Don’t worry, son. Daddy will save you, no matter what.” “Tch… what a useless little brat.” Brenda came over, tugged Liam roughly to the side, looking disgusted. “Come here! Don’t get in your mom’s way!” Liam was yanked off the hospital bed. I picked up the divorce agreement, pleading, “Don’t touch him! I’ll agree to everything!”

Watching Chloe act so cold and heartless, I suddenly felt like the woman I’d been married to for ten years was a complete stranger. She used to be so different. Back when I was broke, I’d hand over my entire paycheck to her, thinking I’d ask her for money every time we ate out. But she never took a single cent. I’d just finished signing the papers when Frank grew impatient. “Why hasn’t the money arrived yet?!” “Just give me a little more time. It’ll be in your account today.” But Chloe pulled out a promissory note and made me sign it. As soon as I did, she kicked Liam towards me with a disgusted look. I clutched my son, my heart aching, and immediately called for a doctor. Chloe pulled Brenda’s arm. “Alright, alright, Mom. I’ll talk to him nicely.” When the doctor came in, Brenda reined herself in a lot, but her face still looked menacing. Chloe gently wrapped an arm around Liam, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. But Liam recoiled, pulling away. Seeing that, I let out a cold laugh. Even Dr. Evans added, “The patient’s condition is quite unstable right now. This condition is extremely rare, perhaps only one case in a million. Please try not to agitate him.” After a quick treatment, Liam’s nosebleed finally slowed. He spontaneously threw himself into my arms, listening quietly. Chloe’s forced smile faltered a bit. She gave a strained laugh. “Liam is my son too. Of course, I wouldn’t just stand by. If you need help, I’ll certainly come and look after him!” “It’s just… I can’t accept the thought of my own son passing away before me. If you can’t accept such a reality, I can understand. I’ll try my best to leave you with all the best resources, so you don’t have to face such a heavy blow alone.” Brenda chimed in, “See how considerate Chloe is of you? Why can’t you be the same? Are you even a man, being so petty?” I persisted, “Why can’t we face it together?” Chloe sighed dramatically. “Not everyone can afford to waste their life like that. Dr. Evans just said Liam’s condition is one in a million! What if our future children have the same condition? What if you have a child with someone else outside of our marriage?” I challenged her, feeling utterly powerless. “You don’t trust me?” I honestly couldn’t believe my wife would suspect me to such an extent. From the day we started dating to our ten years of marriage, I had never once given her cause for concern. I’d never been involved in anything even remotely ambiguous with another person. Yet now, she was even imagining me having children with someone else… It chilled me to the bone. I was about to argue further when, at that moment, Dr. Evans rushed over, looking frantic. He said he needed to speak with me privately about Liam’s condition. Seeing the doctor’s urgency, Chloe assumed our son was beyond saving. She quickly grabbed her parents and hurried out of the room. I followed Dr. Evans into his office, my heart pounding with dread. But the doctor immediately bowed deeply to me, apologizing. “Mr. Miller, I am so terribly sorry! Your son’s diagnosis was a mistake, a grave oversight on our hospital’s part.” Once I understood the situation, I returned to Liam’s room and let out a long, shaky breath, looking at my son on the bed. Dr. Evans respectfully handed me a medical report.

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My son had dwarfism. I quit my job, scouring clinics far and wide, giving him growth hormone shots, and accompanying him through rigorous training in all weather. Finally, I helped him become the youngest world champion. But the moment he stood on the podium, he accused me, his father, of being cold-blooded and selfish to the global media. Faced with an overwhelming wave of online hate and abuse, my wife threw divorce papers at me. She said I wasn’t fit to be a father or a husband, then turned around and married the single dad downstairs who cooked gourmet meals. It wasn’t until I was on my deathbed that I found out my wife had cheated on me with that man the very day I quit my job. My son even helped her hide it, claiming that was the only place he could find a moment of peace. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day my son was diagnosed with dwarfism. “Don’t listen to the doctor’s nonsense. Our son is just a late bloomer. Is bothering my mom the only thing you do all day?” Watching my wife and son look at me like an enemy, I curved my lips into a sneer. Fine, then. No treatment. I’m done catering to you all.

“Your son is seven years old now, and he’s only 3 feet 4 inches tall. He’s severely stunted. If you don’t intervene with growth hormone treatments in time, you’ll miss his growth spurt, and it’ll be much harder later on.” Listening to the doctor’s patient explanation, I felt a moment of dizzying confusion. I wasn’t barely clinging to life, hooked up to machines in the ICU anymore. My body felt light, a sensation I hadn’t experienced in years. I… had actually been reborn? Despite the disbelief, my body trembled with excitement. The doctor thought I was too upset and told me to calm down. Using that as an excuse, I rushed out and crouched by the wall. “I told you you were making a fuss. My mom was raising the kid just fine, but you insisted he was sick. Now look, you’re happy that he’s diagnosed with dwarfism, aren’t you? You believe everything the doctor says, even if it’s just nonsense. They’re only after your money.” “Yeah, Dad, Grandma said I’d be a late bloomer, just like Mom. I’m so smart, I’ll definitely get into college and be successful. You just can’t stand us being comfortable, always messing things up.” Even though I’d heard it once before, facing such doubt and mockery from my own flesh and blood still sent a sharp ache through my chest. I had tirelessly raised him until he was three. My mother-in-law only started helping out when he began preschool, under the guise of lending a hand. She brainwashed him daily, telling him I didn’t love him, and now she was openly accusing me of messing things up right in front of him. In my previous life, he inherited my mother-in-law’s side of the family’s dwarfism. I quit my job and poured all my time into him. I traveled the world to find him treatment. Each shot cost $200, given weekly, for years on end. My wife thought I was wasting money and simply washed her hands of it. I gritted my teeth and persevered through everything alone. I also exercised with him every day, and eventually, he was indistinguishable from his peers In fact, his consistent training gave him exceptional physical fitness, and he was chosen by a coach. After two years of training, he became the youngest long-distance running champion at the Junior World Championship. Yet, despite all that, he hated me. He believed I had tormented him all those years, preventing him from seeing his mother and grandmother, and robbing him of a happy childhood. The most agonizing part was that in my previous life, he already knew about my wife’s affair but helped her conceal it. I only found out when I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and wanted to see him one last time. Instead, I saw him excitedly stuffing his championship trophy and prize money into that lowlife’s hands. They… they had already been a cozy, harmonious “family” for a long time. And I, the one he accused of being a lunatic and a control freak, was subjected to overwhelming online abuse even in my final, dying days. Remembering the pain and despair of my deathbed in the previous life, I absolutely refused to be a foolish martyr this time. Since he also thought I was “messing things up,” then I’d just completely pull away and let things fall apart. Let’s see. Without me. Could he still become a world champion?

“Since you both feel that way, then let’s just go home.” Both mother and son looked surprised at my words. Usually, anything involving the child meant a huge argument. My sudden compliance made my wife think I was in the wrong, and she immediately started lecturing me. “I told you you were making a fuss. Go home and apologize to my mom. She helps with the kid every day and still has to put up with your attitude.” My wife’s words made me sneer. My attitude? For years, I juggled work and childcare. Who do you think handled all the big and small matters in this house? For the four years our son was with my mother-in-law, she extracted countless sums of money from me under various pretexts. Then she’d turn around and tell my wife I wasn’t committed to the family. Now, even my own son has been brainwashed to resent me, and she’s still claiming she has to “put up with my attitude”? She always felt that her marrying me was some great favor. She spent my money, enjoyed the life I provided for her. And she’d constantly play the victim to sow discord between us. I endured it all for the sake of family harmony and my son. But then she let my son develop dwarfism, and my wife still blamed me, saying I was “making a fuss.” Sure enough, back home, my mother-in-law started arguing with me again. “I told you you’re just rich and bored, can’t stand to see others doing well.” “The kid was fine, but you just *had* to take him to the doctor. If our neighbors hear our kid has dwarfism, they’ll laugh us to scorn.” After that, she started crying, wiping her tears, saying if I disliked her, she’d pack her bags and go back to her hometown to grow vegetables, so she wouldn’t bother our family of three. Leo watched his grandma about to leave, and I remained unmoved. He looked at me with a fierce, hateful gaze. “Dad is a control freak, selfish and cold-blooded. That’s why he was abandoned at an orphanage! I don’t want you as my dad. Mr. Jason downstairs is funny and makes great food. I want *him* to be my dad!” Those simple words hit me with unbelievable pain. Sure enough, only the closest people know how to twist the knife most painfully. He knew my orphanage past was my greatest wound, and now he was using it to tear me open. Thinking about everything he did to me in the previous life… Indeed, what kind of seed, what kind of fruit. Nature is unchangeable. I sacrificed my career, all my youth, for his healthy growth, only to be told I was worse than a home-wrecker. Seeing my wife’s deeply approving expression. So, without my knowing, that Jason had already infiltrated my home.

Jason had moved into the first-floor apartment in my building a few months ago. He was divorced with a daughter, tall, handsome, humorous, and a great cook – very popular. Within the first week of arriving, he’d added every well-off married woman in the neighborhood on SnapChat. He called it “exchanging parenting tips,” but his true motives were unknown. In my past life, I was entirely focused on my son’s medical treatment and his studies. I had no time to notice my wife’s odd behavior or Jason’s countless boundary-testing moves. “Alright, if you like him that much, then let him be your dad.” No sooner had the words left my lips than the doorbell rang. My wife, being closest, opened the door directly. Jason stood there, holding a box full of cream cakes and a plate of cola chicken wings. “Yesterday, I heard Leo say he wanted cake and cola chicken wings. I had ingredients at home, so I made some.” As Jason spoke, he naturally handed the items to my wife, then took off his shoes and put on slippers. He walked into the kitchen, took out plates, and started portioning the food. His movements were so skilled and natural, like the man of the house. Because of his arrival, not only my son Leo, but even my wife and mother-in-law, were utterly smitten. They immediately put on beaming smiles and squeezed into the kitchen to help. In my previous life, during the holidays, I’d wake up at five in the morning to prepare nutritious meals for my son. In the evenings, I’d massage and stretch him, leaving me with aching back pain. They only thought I brought it upon myself. Leo wasn’t just reluctant; my wife would spread rumors that I was petty and annoying, always finding something to complain about if I did even a little work. But now, with someone else, why was everything so harmonious? “Oh, Dean, you’re here too. I was so busy packing the cake, I didn’t even see you. I’m so sorry. Don’t get the wrong idea, it’s just that Veronica helped me out a few times, and I felt so bad, so I just made some gifts in return.” Jason acted as if he’d just noticed me, standing there awkwardly and nervously. He even looked a bit wronged and fearful, as if I were bullying him. God knows, I hadn’t said or done anything. “Mr. Jason, don’t mind my dad. He just wants to cause trouble and make us all follow his rules. Come quickly and eat with us!” Leo, while devouring the sugar-laden cake and chicken wings, scolded me. My mother-in-law and wife echoed his words from the side. My son didn’t even consider that his dad had been running around all day and hadn’t had a drop to eat or drink. That huge cake – the four of them didn’t even think to offer me a piece. Finally, Jason was coaxed back into the kitchen to eat cake with them. The warm yellow light in the kitchen shone on their faces, making them look blissfully happy, as if they were a natural family. Well, they were just a perfect match made in hell.

Watching that disgusting display, I found an excuse to go on a business trip and left the house. I urgently needed a quiet environment to clear my head. In my last life, I quit my job to treat my son, giving up a promotion that was practically in my hands. This time, I’m getting back everything that belongs to me. And in my last life, because I was so consumed with my son’s issues, I overlooked my wife’s affair and her attempts to transfer assets. As a result, after the divorce, I didn’t get a single dime and still had to pay child support. Now I’m back. The tables had turned. Let’s see if I don’t mess you all up this time. “Hello, Mr. Hayes, I have something I’d like to consult you about…” “Hi, I’d like to install some home security cameras. Yes, I’ll set the date. I need them with audio recording. Price isn’t an issue.” I hung up the phone, relieved that I hadn’t missed anything. Then my phone started buzzing with notifications for card deductions. I looked closely: an amusement park, a fancy restaurant, a clothing store, and even a watch store – forty thousand dollars in total. This card was one I always kept at home as Leo’s education fund. Every year, no matter how hard or poor things got, I’d consistently deposit two thousand dollars into it. And now, the one hundred and forty thousand dollars in it had dropped by over forty thousand in just one day. I instinctively clicked into my wife’s Ins. She’d posted a picture of her holding our son at the amusement park. Though not fully in the frame, a tall, handsome figure was clearly visible beside her. He even reached out to help my wife adjust her hair. That mechanical watch on his wrist must have been the one they just bought, right? We got married eight years ago. As an orphan, I desperately longed for a family. Even though my wife’s family was poor and couldn’t offer much in the way of a dowry, I still gritted my teeth and saved up for a significant sum for her family. I didn’t just buy all the traditional wedding jewelry, I gave her eighteen thousand eight hundred dollars, and threw her a grand wedding. For that, I worked my ass off for two full years, even taking the riskiest assignments the company sent me to. My wife just took my efforts for granted. She never reciprocated anything. And now, she was generously spending money on another man. “Oh, Veronica, is that your husband next to you? It’s rare for your family to go out, so happy!” “That’s not him at all! He’d just spoil the fun. Won’t let us eat this, won’t let us play that. That’s just a friend.” In my wife’s Ins, our mutual friends were commenting. Everyone thought the man adjusting her hair was me. And seeing that “spoiling the fun,” I couldn’t help but sneer. For years, my wife had stomach ulcers and diabetes from drinking and socializing. If she didn’t control it, she’d get stomachaches and cramps, even risking kidney failure. My son, fed by my mother-in-law, had a weak spleen and stomach; he’d get indigestion if he ate anything wrong, leading to fever, vomiting, and needing IV drips. Every time, I was the one rushing him to the hospital. For their sake, I had to give up my own dietary preferences and join them in eating bland, healthy food. And now she called me “spoiling the fun.” In my previous life, I might have endured it to protect my son’s feelings, but now, I didn’t care. “Why are there transactions on Leo’s card? What did you spend over forty thousand dollars on?” I FaceTimed her directly. I could even see Jason feeding my wife a bubble tea beside her. He was about to smile and say something, then suddenly noticed me. He quickly explained that my wife’s hands were full, so he was just helping her with the bubble tea, telling me not to overthink it. The sleazy vibe was practically seeping through the screen. That careful look in his eyes even held a hint of provocation towards me, but neither she nor my son seemed to notice. “It’s just spending, what’s the big deal? Leo accidentally broke Jason’s heirloom watch, so we had to pay for a new one, right?” I remembered this dialogue from my previous life. When I saw the card activity back then, I specifically asked, and she gave the same excuse. But it wasn’t until later that I found out Jason’s original watch cost him only fifty bucks. They had just made up the lie to appease me and to suck up to him. Then my wife went on about how pitiful Jason and his daughter were. After his divorce, he was left with nothing, and they were struggling. His little girl had never been to an amusement park, never eaten good food, and dressed in ordinary clothes. “So… you were just overflowing with sympathy? You spent the money I painstakingly saved for Leo on another man?” My questioning made my wife choke. As a pharmaceutical rep, she earned over ten thousand a month, which sounded decent, but she had so many social engagements. After all the networking, she not only didn’t bring money home, but I often had to cover her expenses. For years, she drove a twenty or thirty thousand dollar car, living a carefree life. She was out early and back late every day, socializing and charming clients. She never fulfilled any motherly duties, but she sure was quick to spend money. “Dad, why are you so selfish? Mr. Jason is so pitiful, of course we should help him when we have money. And that money was yours to save for me, so I have the right to decide how to spend it. If you keep being unreasonable, I won’t recognize you as my dad anymore.” This line had been used to manipulate me countless times in my previous life. Every time he wanted something I wouldn’t give him, he’d say that, and I’d soften and compromise. Because he was the only blood relative I had in the world; I cherished that connection. But thinking about his hatred for me in the previous life, it seemed he had never shown any warmth to me, his father, since he was a child. So this time, why couldn’t I cut my losses? My father-son bond with him, it was time to break it completely. “Okay, then I don’t want you either. From now on, you can live well with your mom and grandma. If you need anything, find them. I’m going away for a month on business.” With that, I hung up the phone. I immediately went to the bank, transferred all the money out of that card, and closed the account. Looking at the remaining cash, I thought, why shouldn’t I spend it on myself? Not a cent of my money would go to those scumbags. I switched off my personal phone, making sure they couldn’t reach me. First, I dropped two thousand dollars at a detective agency to thoroughly investigate Jason. Know your enemy, win a hundred battles. Then, with the rest of the money, I went to a phone store and bought the latest model. Next, I went to a clothing store and bought all the suits I’d admired for so long but never dared to buy. I even went to a foot massage parlor for the first time – turns out foot massages are incredibly relaxing. I got a two-thousand-dollar hairstyle design. Finally, I went to an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet I’d dreamed of my whole life, priced at $299. In a single day, I bought everything I’d ever wanted but never bought in my previous life. Lying on a five-star hotel bed, looking at the day’s spoils, I checked the cash I had left. Even with such extravagant spending, it was only about ninety thousand dollars. In my previous life, to pay for Leo’s growth hormone and meet his daily needs, I scrimped and saved, not spending a single cent on myself. Thinking about it now, it was laughable. It was time I started loving myself. The next day, I arrived at the company looking refreshed, and went straight to the General Manager’s office. The risk control department I worked in was personally built up by the GM. I was one of the first employees, and I’d always been hardworking and reliable, with excellent judgment—almost none of my chosen investments had ever lost money. He trusted me completely. I pulled out the agreement I’d printed. For the upcoming projects I’d take on, if successful, I’d get 5% of the profit. If not, I’d lose everything and even go to jail to compensate. The GM thought I was crazy, but the newfound confidence and wild determination in my eyes convinced him. “GM, let’s go crazy and make a huge fortune!” “Dean, Leo’s in the hospital with indigestion. You need to come back and take care of him. Mom isn’t feeling well and can’t handle the strain.”

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I woke up in a delivery room, intense contractions making me see stars. Somehow, I had become the protagonist of a tragic romance novel, currently giving birth while my cheating husband plotted against me. I knew I was destined to die from complications if I didn’t act fast. Gritting my teeth through the pain, I tried to climb off the bed to save myself. But Quinn coldly shut the door, trapping me inside. “Zoe, stop being dramatic,” he said dismissively. Just as despair started to set in, the door burst open with a bang. A beautiful older woman stormed in and slapped Quinn hard across the face. “You bastard! How dare you mistreat the heroine while I’m around!” she yelled. Looking at her familiar features, so similar to my best friend’s, I realized I might have an unexpected ally in this story world. 0I had somehow woken up in the middle of giving birth, wracked by agonizing contractions. Unfamiliar voices drifted to my ears: “Mr. Quinn, are you sure you don’t want us to perform a C-section? Your wife has a high fever and the amniotic fluid is cloudy. If we wait much longer, we risk losing both mother and child!” Quinn’s icy reply sent chills down my spine: “Wait a bit longer. Once she’s delirious from the pain, have her sign the divorce papers before you operate. And as for the baby…get rid of it. Remove her uterus while you’re at it, to prevent any future complications.” As I listened in horror, I realized I had somehow been transported into the plot of a novel. The man trying to kill me was the cheating husband from the story. My character, Zoe, had married into the wealthy Quinn family five years ago to repay a debt between their families. Though initially happy, everything changed when Quinn’s older brother died in a plane crash. Quinn took in his sister-in-law Megan and nephew Felix, claiming it was to care for them. In reality, he had been having an affair with Megan all along, showering her with money and affection while neglecting Zoe. Once Zoe became pregnant, Megan felt threatened. She began sabotaging Zoe at every turn, even convincing Quinn to divorce Zoe and get rid of the baby. But Zoe loved Quinn desperately and refused to let go, believing he would come back to her. In the original story, she died in childbirth after Quinn and Megan delayed her treatment. Determined to avoid that fate, I summoned every ounce of strength to crawl off the bed towards the door. “Help! Someone help me! They’re trying to kill me!” I screamed hoarsely. But Quinn coldly shut the door, blocking my escape. “Zoe, stop making a scene,” he said coldly. I clutched desperately at his clothes, trying to stop him from closing the door. I felt liquid gushing between my legs as my strength faded. Just as I was about to give up hope, the door flew open with a bang. A well-dressed older woman rushed in and slapped Quinn hard across the face. “You bastard! How dare you mistreat the heroine while I’m around!” I looked at her in shock, noticing how similar she looked to my best friend Summer from the real world. Could it be…? “Summer?” I asked hesitantly. Her eyes lit up with recognition. “Rachel? Is that you?” I let out a huge sigh of relief. My best friend had somehow been transported into this world too – as my mother-in-law no less! With her here, I finally had a chance at survival. 01 Quinn held his reddening cheek, looking bewildered. “Mom? What are you doing here? Why are you hitting me over her?” I suddenly realized my friend had been transported here as well, incarnating as my mother-in-law! This was the best news I could have hoped for. I grabbed Summer’s hand tightly, my voice shaking. “Summer, it hurts so much. Please help me!” Summer snapped into action, shoving the stunned Quinn out of the way. “Get out of here, you’re in the way!” she yelled at him before turning to the doctor. “Give her an epidural immediately and prep for surgery!” “And get your best surgeons in here for my friend. If anything happens to her, your whole hospital will pay!” she threatened. “Offending my best friend means offending the entire Quinn Corporation!” The medical staff scrambled to follow her orders, quickly administering pain medication. As the agony started to fade, I drifted into a dreamlike state. Memories from the original Zoe’s life flashed through my mind, filling in the backstory. I saw how Quinn had slowly turned cold towards her, believing Megan’s lies about Zoe mistreating Felix. Despite Zoe’s desperate pleas and attempts to prove her innocence, Quinn chose to trust Megan time and time again. In my dream, I watched the tragic end of the original story play out – Zoe dying alone and in agony on the operating table while Quinn and Megan delayed her treatment. Just before the dream faded, I saw Zoe’s spirit cradling a baby, whispering in my ear: “Please, you must make Quinn regret his actions. In return, you’ll inherit all my wealth in this world and be able to return to your own. I’m counting on you.” I clenched my fists, silently vowing not just to make Quinn regret his choices, but to make him pay dearly for his cruelty. When I opened my eyes again, Summer was by my side. The cry of a newborn filled the air. Though I knew intellectually it wasn’t truly my child, I felt an inexplicable surge of protectiveness and love. Perhaps some of the original Zoe’s emotions were bleeding through. Summer gently wiped my brow, murmuring soothingly. “You did great, sweetheart. Don’t worry, I’m in charge now. I’ve taken control of 60% of Quinn Corp’s shares. This baby is as good as my own grandchild. I’ll make sure that bastard Quinn never hurts either of you again, even if I have to ruin him to do it.” I nodded gratefully through my tears, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. “God, I can’t believe this. All I did was leave one snarky comment on a trashy novel, and now I’ve been transported inside the story as the tragic heroine! If you hadn’t shown up, I don’t know what I would have done.” “Don’t worry, I’ve got your back,” Summer reassured me, patting my shoulder. “We’ll get through this together.” In the original novel, the heroine was supposed to die today along with her baby. The infant’s organs would then be harvested for Megan’s son Felix. Now that I had survived, who knew what Quinn and Megan might try next? I remembered how in the book, after marrying Megan, Quinn was mauled by vicious dogs she set on him for merely glancing at his secretary. As I fretted over how to avoid their schemes and make Quinn regret his actions, the man himself walked in with Megan in tow. He looked down his nose at me imperiously. “Zoe, how could you be so inconsiderate? Running around during labor and worrying everyone like that? And childbirth isn’t such a big deal – why on earth did you call my mother back? So immature.” He turned to look at the baby, his expression cold. “Since you’re clearly too irresponsible to care for a child properly, I’ll be taking the baby home with me. No need to trouble Mother with it.” I nearly laughed at the sheer audacity of his words. How could he say such blatantly awful things with a straight face? But my main concern was keeping the baby safe – in the book, this child was literally torn apart for organs. I clutched the infant protectively, my face pale with fear and anger. I locked eyes with Summer, silently communicating. “Fine, I’ll sign the divorce papers,” I told Quinn. “But this child will take my surname and have nothing to do with you. We’re going our separate ways from here on out.” Summer immediately caught on to my plan. I had always joked about finding a handsome sperm donor to have kids someday – this situation was oddly perfect. Meanwhile, Megan’s eyes glittered with poorly concealed excitement, though she put on a show of concern. “Oh Zoe, what are you saying? Blood is thicker than water – how could Quinn possibly have nothing to do with his own child?” “Actually, if you hadn’t pushed Felix into the pool that time, Quinn wouldn’t have gotten so angry and wanted a divorce in the first place,” she added slyly. “Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider the divorce?” Before I could respond, Quinn’s cold voice cut in: “There’s nothing to reconsider. We’re signing those divorce papers right now.” 0

“Mom, please don’t try to stop me. I’ve made up my mind to marry Megan. She and Felix need me!” Summer’s hand lashed out, slapping Quinn again. “How dare you make a scene in front of a woman who just gave birth! If you want a divorce so badly, fine – but you’ll leave with nothing but the clothes on your back.” Quinn held his reddening cheek, looking betrayed. “Mom, do you really love her so much that you’d choose her over your own son?” Without hesitation, Summer replied, “Yes, that’s exactly right.” Quinn glared at me venomously. “I see how it is, Zoe. You called my mother back just to force me to stay married to you? How devious.” He threw a stack of divorce papers onto the bed. “Sign them. I don’t care if I lose everything, I’m divorcing you today no matter what.” I had to suppress a surge of excitement. “Are you sure? No taking it back now!” According to the book, the Quinn family’s assets were worth billions. And since our families had been close, Quinn hadn’t signed a prenup. Most of his current wealth counted as marital property – if he really left with nothing, I’d be entitled to a divorce settlement worth hundreds of millions at least. Though Summer controlled the company now, Quinn’s personal assets were still substantial. This would definitely hit him where it hurt. I couldn’t help but smile slightly. Money, a baby, and no cheating husband – wasn’t that many women’s dream? Seeing my calm demeanor seemed to infuriate Quinn further. “What are you plotting now, Zoe? You used to beg me not to leave you, insisting on having this baby. Weren’t you just after the Quinn family fortune, hoping your son would be the heir? Now you’re acting all nonchalant – is this some reverse psychology tactic? It won’t work!” He pulled out another document, waving it in my face. “Whether you sign the divorce papers or not, I’ve already changed my will. I only recognize Megan’s child as my heir. Your son means nothing to me!” “Give up your little schemes. Clinging to the Quinn family won’t do you any good. Just sign the papers and get out of our lives!” I was about to happily agree when a sharp pain lanced through my chest. The original Zoe must be heartbroken right now. After all, she had just given birth to this man’s child, only for him to immediately demand a divorce and disown the baby. If I were truly her, I’d probably be in tears. But the woman who inhabited this body now wasn’t Zoe – it was Rachel Lin, a complete stranger to Quinn. I nodded, wiping away a single tear that had unconsciously fallen. “Alright, we’ll do things your way. I’ll sign the papers. The baby will take my surname and have nothing to do with you.” Quinn nodded in satisfaction. “Good, you’re finally being sensible.” Megan clung to Quinn’s arm, putting on a show of compassion. “I tried to talk Quinn out of making you leave right away. A woman is most vulnerable right after childbirth, you know? He wanted you out of the Quinn mansion today, but I convinced him to let you stay until you’ve recovered. Aren’t I considerate?” My friend Summer – now the Quinn Corporation’s major shareholder – rolled her eyes dramatically at this display. “Oh please, spare us the act. Like I can’t afford to take care of my bestie?” she scoffed. She pulled out her phone, barking orders to her assistant. “Book the best postpartum care center in the city. What, only $5 million a month? Too cheap, upgrade to the $10 million package. And book it for 6 months to start.” Megan’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Mom! What are you saying? When I had Felix, you didn’t book me anything nearly that nice. You have to be fair!” Summer laughed coldly. “You think you can compare yourself to my best friend? Get out of here with your fake nice act. Can’t survive without latching onto a man, huh? The minute big brother was gone you started seducing his little brother. Disgusting.” She turned to Quinn and Megan, her voice hard. “From now on, neither of you are allowed to bother Zoe at the hospital. If you try, you’ll regret it.” “As for you,” she said to Quinn, “I couldn’t care less what you do after the divorce. Go to the moon for all I care. Just stay away from us – you’re nothing but an eyesore now.” “And since you’ve chosen to leave with nothing, you three can pack up and get out of the Quinn mansion. I don’t need an ungrateful son like you around.” Quinn’s face turned ashen. He lunged towards Summer, sputtering in rage. “Mom, how can you kick me and Megan out? And Felix is your grandson! How could you-” “Zoe? What lies have you been telling my mother?” he demanded, rounding on me. I just rolled my eyes, not bothering to engage. At that moment, two huge, muscular men flanking Summer cracked their knuckles menacingly. “Mrs. Quinn said to leave. Now,” one of them growled. I tossed the signed divorce papers back at Quinn, flashing a victorious smile. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!” 0

At last, peace and quiet descended. Summer bustled around, quickly arranging my baby’s birth certificate and household registration. As the mother, I was able to handle all the paperwork myself. The name and other details were entirely up to me. Even the ID bracelet on the baby’s wrist simply read “Son of Zoe Chen.” I thought of the poor woman whose body I now inhabited – the original Zoe who had suffered so much. In her memory, I named the baby Chen An, meaning “peace.” I knew that was likely her greatest wish for her child. Summer handed me the freshly printed documents. “There you go – just like you always wanted. A baby with no pesky husband attached! Even if we never make it back to our world, I promise I’ll make sure that scumbag never treats you like his punching bag again.” Seeing I had gone quiet, she worried I might be upset. She produced another file with a flourish. “Check this out – I’ve officially stripped Quinn and Megan of all inheritance rights. The entire Quinn empire belongs to you and the baby now. And that divorce settlement you squeezed out of that jerk? Just consider it pocket money.” “Even if we’re stuck here forever, the three of us will live like queens,” she declared confidently. Hearing her words, I finally broke down sobbing. Back in our world, I was an orphan with a congenital heart condition. My parents had abandoned me as a baby. Summer was the only one who befriended me in school, never treating me differently. Now here we were in this strange book world, and once again it was Summer coming to my rescue. Through my tears, I told her about the dream I’d had – how the original Zoe’s spirit had spoken to me. I sniffled, wiping my nose. “It’s all my fault, Summer. I left some nasty comment on this stupid novel and shared it with you. That’s how we both ended up transported into the story.” “It wasn’t until I took over Zoe’s body that I realized how much she suffered. Quinn is even more of a monster than I imagined.” “But Zoe’s ghost told me that if I can make Quinn truly regret his actions, we’ll inherit all her wealth in this world. And we might even be able to go back home.” Summer’s eyes lit up at this news. “Really? That’s amazing! I’ve been throwing money around like crazy, but it still doesn’t feel real. Like I’m spending someone else’s cash, you know?” “And I really miss my parents,” she admitted, her own eyes growing misty. I squeezed her hand tightly. “Don’t worry, I’ve read this whole book. After Zoe dies in the original story, Quinn finally realizes how good she was to him. He starts obsessively seeking out women who look like her to be his mistresses. It ruins his relationship with Megan too.” “Eventually he and Megan end up fighting over the inheritance. Oh, and get this – the real reason Quinn got together with Megan is because they had an affair while his brother was still alive. Quinn always thought Felix was his son.” My mind raced as I formulated a plan. “So I think the fastest way to trigger the plot is for me to fake my death with the baby. Then you can reveal the paternity test results to Quinn and watch him implode.” “Once Quinn truly regrets losing ‘the woman who loved him most in the world,’ we should be able to go home. God, I miss your mom’s lotus root and pork rib soup so much.” Summer’s eyes sparkled with excitement at my scheme. Just then, her phone pinged with a new message. It was a wedding invitation from Quinn. The ink on our divorce papers was barely dry, but he and Megan were already rushing to the altar. A sharp pain lanced through my chest again. The original Zoe’s lingering emotions, no doubt. Quinn had refused to hold a wedding when he married Zoe, claiming he disliked flashy events. In reality, he had been sulking because the woman he truly loved – Megan – had just married his older brother. As a result, though Quinn and Zoe were married for five years, the outside world never knew of Zoe’s existence as the Quinn family’s daughter-in-law. I stared at the photo of Quinn beaming as he embraced a white-gowned Megan, my mind made up. After a long moment, I looked up at Summer with steely determination. “Their wedding is in a week. That’s when I’ll stage my ‘suicide’ by jumping into the sea with the baby.” “Can you get my travel documents in order? We’ll flee the country after I fake my death.” “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to record all of that scumbag’s reactions for you,” Summer promised with a wicked grin. She nodded solemnly. Over the next few days, she worked tirelessly to prepare for my staged demise.

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I broke off our engagement without hesitation the day my fiancée’s family went bankrupt. Later, she rebuilt her fortune with the help of a mysterious benefactor, while I struggled to save my family’s failing business. After she snatched away my 88th life-saving contract, I silently used the last of my money to pay my employees’ final wages, then vanished without a trace. Three years later, my secretary accidentally found an old phone. Inside were my late-stage cancer diagnosis reports and a receipt for an anonymous billion-dollar donation. The recipient’s name on the form was my ex-fiancée’s. When the red wine splashed across my face, my first thought was—I won’t be getting the deposit back on this rented shirt. “Ethan, have you no shame?” Olivia’s voice cut into my eardrums like a knife. “How dare you show your face at this high-class event?” The cold liquid dripped from my chin onto the floor. I could hear the muffled snickers around me without even looking. I knew exactly what expressions those former business associates who once fawned over me were wearing now. Three years ago, I was the heir to the Thompson Group. Now I couldn’t even afford my own shirt. “I’m just here to discuss business,” I said, wiping my face. Even the expensive wine stung my eyes. Olivia let out a cold laugh. She was wearing a Dior haute couture dress I’d seen in a magazine last year. Her earrings must be new—I hadn’t seen her wear them the last time we met. Good for her. It seemed Olivia had been taking very good care of herself these past few years. “Discuss business?” Olivia raised her voice, making sure everyone could hear. “You mean beg me for scraps, just like that divorce settlement you so generously handed my family three years ago?” A sudden stabbing pain gripped my stomach, the familiar burning sensation crawling up my esophagus. The doctor had warned me last month that the cancer cells had spread to my digestive system, but how could I afford chemotherapy? It was already a miracle the company had survived this long. “Ms. Foster, you must be joking,” I said, bending down to pick up the broken wine glass. The sharp edge cut my finger. “I apologize for the disturbance. I’ll leave now.” As I turned to go, I heard Olivia’s assistant whisper: “Ms. Foster, Mr. Wang is waiting to discuss the East City project…” My heart clenched painfully. That was my last hope—next month’s wages for the company’s remaining 20 employees depended on that project. “Olivia!” I instinctively called out her first name, turning back. “The East City project—” “Has already been signed over to me,” Olivia cut me off, waving her phone to show the contract photo she’d just received. “Three minutes before you walked in, actually.” “By the way, this is the 88th contract I’ve snatched from you. What an auspicious number.” you. What I stood frozen, letting the blade twist in my heart. Looking at Olivia now, I found her face both familiar and foreign.

Olivia and I had been betrothed since childhood—childhood sweethearts, two peas in a pod. From a young age, my parents told me Olivia would be my future wife and that I should treat her well. Of course, that’s exactly what I did. Before high school, I saw Olivia as a little sister. Until one ordinary day, when Olivia came running towards me in her plain school uniform, ponytail swinging. She stood in the sunlight, and crashed right into my heart. Back then, Olivia’s skin glowed so brightly. As she ran towards me, she also ran straight into my heart. Olivia had always been clingy with me, sharing all her girlish secrets. As she put it: “Whether we end up as husband and wife or just friends, we’ll always be soulmates. You understand me, and I understand you.” At the time, I knew we didn’t have some grand, sweeping romance. Even if I liked her, I couldn’t say it out loud. My father had taught me from a young age that a man’s duty was to build his career. I had to keep my emotions in check—even if I liked someone, I couldn’t show it too much. My main task was to expand the family business. In our social circles, everyone talked about how the Thompson and Foster families would make a powerful alliance. Three years ago, the Foster family suddenly went bankrupt without any warning. My father told me to cancel the engagement. He said the Thompson family couldn’t be dragged down by anyone. It was the first time I’d ever defied my father. I rushed out in the pouring rain to find Olivia, but got into a car accident on the way. The good news was, I wasn’t seriously injured. The bad news was, I was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. Terminal. I cried for a long, long time that day. I don’t know if it was because I couldn’t control the fate of Olivia’s family, or because I was facing my own imminent death. Perhaps it was both. I followed my father’s orders and went to break off the engagement with Olivia. As luck would have it, the Foster family was in the middle of liquidating assets for auction, with many people waiting to watch the spectacle. I knew that even if I had to end the engagement, I shouldn’t humiliate Olivia and her family in front of so many people. Even if I couldn’t offer help in their time of need, I shouldn’t be throwing stones. Unfortunately, my father kept pressuring me, telling me this was the perfect opportunity. I gritted my teeth, unable to look Olivia in the eye. There was a watery sheen in Olivia’s eyes—helplessness, despair. She looked at me like I was her last lifeline. My voice shook as I spoke. Each word was agony. Sadly, there was no turning back for me, or for the Foster family. Olivia was wrong—she didn’t understand me at all. Otherwise, how could she not see my struggle at that moment? That’s when I knew for certain that I loved Olivia. It wasn’t habit or childhood indoctrination. It was that gut-wrenching pain of loss. Once news of the broken engagement got out, Olivia became a laughingstock. I agonized and wrestled with myself, wanting to tell Olivia the truth. But I couldn’t be that selfish—at the very least, I couldn’t make things even worse for her. Later, rumors spread in our social circles that Olivia had found a rich benefactor. This mysterious person had invested in her, allowing her to rebuild her fortune. Seeing her today, the dark clouds that had hung over Olivia had dispersed. She still shone brightly, standing in the spotlight.

It was raining when I left the hotel. I stood under the awning, counting the cash in my wallet: $327. Not enough to pay for the shirt. My phone buzzed with a notification from the hospital. “Mr. Thompson, your test results are ready. Please come in for a follow-up as soon as possible.” I didn’t reply, shoving the phone back in my pocket. The screen had a crack in it, just like my heart. It was late when I got back to the office. The entire floor was dark except for the light still on in the finance room. When I pushed open the door, Emma the secretary was hunched over her computer reviewing accounts. She jerked her head up at the sound, eyes bloodshot behind her glasses. “Mr. Thompson… the East City project…?” I shook my head, tossing my suit jacket onto the couch. The wine-stained shirt had dried, clinging to my body in wrinkles like a layer of skin I couldn’t shed. Emma’s pen clattered onto the desk. She opened her mouth, but in the end just silently took out some stomach medicine from her drawer, pouring a glass of warm water and pushing it towards me. “Pay out the wages tomorrow and then let everyone go,” I said. The pill stuck in my throat, its bitterness spreading. “How much is left in the accounts?” “Including the transfer from your personal account, just enough for three months’ severance pay,” Emma said, her voice shaking slightly. “But sir, R&D’s new product launch is next month…” I held up a hand to cut Emma off. I believe there’s karma in this world. My father died in an accident shortly after my diagnosis. The Thompson family’s former glory left with him. Outside the window, neon lights flickered. The LED screen on the opposite building was playing Foster Group’s latest advertisement, Olivia’s delicate profile especially eye-catching in the night. Three years ago on that rainy night, I had stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hospital, looking at the last message Olivia had sent me on my phone. “Ethan, the biggest regret of my life is ever loving you.” I had just received my stomach cancer diagnosis. The doctor’s words still echoed in my ears. “Late stage. Three years at most.” My phone suddenly vibrated—a notification from the auction house that the payment had gone through. I stared at that string of numbers for a long time before finally opening my banking app and transferring the entire amount to a long-dormant account. The memo field was blank. The cursor blinked on and off, as if mocking my cowardice.

The farewell dinner for the employees was set at our usual hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Over 20 people crammed into the greasy plastic tent. The young guys from R&D brought two cases of beer, while the marketing girls strung up kebabs with teary eyes. No one mentioned the company’s closure—it was as if this was just a regular team dinner. “Try this, sir,” Emma said, putting a grilled chicken wing on my plate. “You’re too thin.” I forced myself to take a bite, but my stomach immediately revolted. As I rushed to the restroom, I heard someone whisper behind me: “The boss has been throwing up more and more frequently these past six months…” The man in the mirror was deathly pale, with traces of blood at the corners of his mouth. I splashed cold water on my face, suddenly remembering my 20th birthday. Olivia had snuck into my office to make longevity noodles, but ended up setting off the smoke alarm. Her face had been smeared with flour as she frantically tried to turn off the stove—so much more adorable than the polished business executive on the LED screen now. When I returned to the table, everyone was already drunk. The HR director, Old Wang, swayed to his feet, raising his glass. “When Thompson Group went bankrupt, it was the boss who shouldered all the debts alone, not letting us end up on the streets… This toast is to Mr. Thompson!” The clinking of glasses rose in waves. Someone started crying. I tilted my head back and downed my beer. The icy liquid burned my ulcerated esophagus, making my fingertips tremble with pain. Emma was the last to leave. She insisted on helping me clean out my office, but I knew she was just worried about me. “This is for you,” she said, handing me a manila envelope. “Your medical report from the hospital last month… I took the liberty of picking it up.” The envelope was light, but it felt like it was crushing my chest. The shadows on the CT scan had spread much further than six months ago, like a net slowly tightening. “Thank you,” I said, feeding the documents into the shredder. “Starting tomorrow, report to Foster Group.” Emma’s head snapped up. “What did you say?” “I recommended you as Olivia’s new assistant,” I said. The shredder’s noise covered my coughing. “She needs someone reliable by her side.” “I won’t go!” Emma’s usually gentle voice suddenly rose. “You know how she’s been targeting you all these years! Those projects, those clients… 88 times now! She’s trying to drive you to your death!” The shredder stopped with a click. The office fell deathly silent. I gazed out at the night sky and said softly: “88 is a good number.”

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I was cycling to my high school reunion when a speeding Cullinan slammed into me, sending me flying. I picked myself up, wincing in pain, ready to confront the driver. But then, my girlfriend stepped out of the car, glaring at me. “Alex, I told you to stay home! Why are you here, making a scene with that old bike of yours?!” Liam Davies, leaning out of the driver’s seat, sneered. “Well, well, if it isn’t our old class president! My bad, I thought it was just some clueless delivery guy.” He casually pulled a wad of cash from his wallet and tossed it at my feet. “Here, that should buy you a new one. Oh, and keep the change. Go rent a decent car. “I know you can’t afford a Cullinan, but seriously, don’t show up to the reunion on that beat-up piece of junk.” I glanced at my bike, sprawled on the ground, and a cold smile slowly curved my lips. This wasn’t just any ordinary bike. Its name was the Trek Butterfly. … I sank to the ground, my palms stinging, a dull ache throbbing in my right knee. An hour earlier, my girlfriend, Chloe, had called me. “Alex, don’t bother coming to the reunion today. I’ll just catch a ride home later.” “Everyone else’s partner is either a senior executive or a rich kid. I don’t want them to know you’re still just a low-level employee who can’t even afford a car.” But I was worried about Chloe, so I rode my bike to follow her. I was approaching the hotel intersection when a black Cullinan ran a red light, speeding straight into me. The car door opened, revealing a familiar face: Liam Davies, my old high school classmate. What made my chest tighten even more was seeing Chloe, my girlfriend, clinging to him, a sweet smile on her face. “Well, well, if it isn’t Alex, our straight-A class president!” Liam’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Haven’t seen you in years since graduation. How’d you end up like this? Showing up to the reunion on a bike?” Chloe frowned, her perfectly made-up eyebrows furrowed, her voice laced with impatience. “Alex, I specifically told you to stay home. Why are you aimlessly riding that old bike of yours around?” I swallowed my anger and reached out to Chloe. “Come here. You’re my girlfriend. Stay away from him!” To my surprise, Chloe instantly bristled like a cornered cat. “Alex, what’s that supposed to mean?! He and I are just friends! Are you just so twisted inside that you see everything as dirty?!” “Liam’s driving a Cullinan at such a young age, and he was my first love! You’re just jealous of him!” She pointed disdainfully at my bike lying on the ground. “If Liam hadn’t specifically driven his Cullinan to pick me up today, did you expect me to sit on the back of your pathetic bike and be laughed at by the entire class?” Liam chimed in, feigning concern, “Class president, I’m really sorry about your bike. Just name your price. Chloe was my first love, after all. I can’t stand to see her living a hard life with you.” “If we hadn’t broken up back then, Chloe, you wouldn’t have…” He trailed off, and Chloe bit her lip, her gaze at me filled with even more resentment. My thoughts drifted away. Chloe was our class beauty. In high school, Liam skipped class all the time and his grades were a mess, yet Chloe always seemed to gravitate towards him. Later, because of his abysmal grades, Liam’s family paid to send him abroad. The day they broke up, Chloe cried her eyes out. I stayed with her on the rooftop all night. She leaned on my shoulder, sobbing, “Alex, you’re the best to me. Will you stay with me forever?” For that sentence, I gave up better opportunities and went to the same university as her. We naturally became a couple. I thought everything would head in a good direction, but then Liam suddenly returned to the country, making a grand show of it. Chloe often showed me his Ins posts, where Liam flaunted his luxury cars and mansions. Her complaints about me grew more and more frequent. I slowly stood up, brushing the dust from my clothes, my voice calm. “Liam Davies, my bike? I don’t think you can afford to replace it.” The two of them looked like they’d heard the funniest joke in the world. Liam even exaggeratedly covered his mouth. “Class president, did you hit your head? My Cullinan cost five million on the lot. You think I can’t afford your junk bike?” “Alex, what are you talking about?!” Chloe shot me a fierce glare, then turned to Liam, flashing a fawning smile. “Don’t mind him. He’s just a low-level employee now, hasn’t seen much of the world. Not like you, Liam, doing incredibly well! I heard your dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings, right?” I watched them in silence, feeling a bit speechless. Meridian Holdings? Wasn’t that one of my family’s companies? Looks like the CEO of Meridian Holdings might need a change. I looked at the bike on the ground. Though it looked ordinary, I’d bid an insane amount for it at an auction last month. It was the only one of its kind in the world. I’d planned to give it to Chloe when I proposed and reveal my true identity, but it seemed… “Alright, take this money and buy a new car.” Liam pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and tossed them on the ground. “Consider the extra a gift.” Chloe looked at me like I was a piece of trash. “Alex, hurry up and take your junk and leave! Don’t embarrass me!” With that, she linked her arm through Liam’s and got into the Cullinan without a backward glance. I pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer. “Mr. Thompson, cancel all gifts in Chloe’s name. Yes, including that villa and the company shares.” After hanging up, I gently picked up the bike and shook my head. This was the one and only Trek Butterfly in the world. It was worth a hundred Cullinans. If Chloe couldn’t appreciate it, then so be it. 2 There was no need for me to go to the reunion anymore. I turned to leave, but then I heard exaggerated calls from behind me. “Hey! Class president! Don’t go!” A black Audi pulled up beside me, and a few familiar faces stepped out. “Old friends, it’s been too long! Let’s hang out.” I politely declined, but Jake threw an arm around my shoulder, squeezing so hard it hurt. “How can a reunion be complete without our class president? Come on, get in our car!” “No need.” I coolly pulled his hand away. “Don’t be shy!” On the other side, Ben had already taken the liberty of lifting my bike, which was still on the ground. “Your bike’s broken. We’ll help you put it in the trunk.” I frowned, about to refuse, but then I noticed them exchange a knowing look, a malicious smile playing on their lips. It suddenly dawned on me that these guys used to be Liam’s flunkies in high school. Clearly, Liam had put them up to this. I scoffed inwardly and decided to play along. “Alright, then. I appreciate your help.” I was curious to see what game Liam was really playing. Inside the hotel’s VIP room, I pushed the door open just as I heard a burst of exaggerated laughter. “Chloe is our class beauty, and she and Liam are a match made in heaven!” Mia, the former literature club president, raised her wine glass. “If only some loser hadn’t swooped in back then…” “Exactly!” Ryan, the former sports captain, chimed in. “Liam’s the young master of Meridian Holdings now. Some people aren’t even fit to tie his shoelaces!” The room suddenly fell silent—everyone had seen me. Chloe’s face instantly soured. She instinctively tightened her grip on Liam’s arm. Liam, on the other hand, flashed a smug, triumphant smile and raised his glass in a toast to me. “Well, well, if it isn’t our class president? Welcome, welcome!” “Alex,” Chloe’s voice was icy. “Who let you in?” “Your lovely classmates, of course,” I swept my gaze around the room, letting my eyes linger on Jake and the others. “Hard to refuse such a warm invitation.” Before I could say another word, Jake suddenly spoke up loudly, “There’s no reason you can’t come to a reunion! Since you’re here, join us!” He pushed me into a seat. “Come on, sit down! Everyone was just talking about you and Chloe!” Then, a snide voice piped up, “I say, Class President, Chloe and Liam only broke up because you took advantage of the situation. Now that the real guy’s back, shouldn’t you be smart enough to step aside?” Laughter erupted through the room. Someone even whistled. Jake stifled a laugh and patted my shoulder. “It’s just a joke, Class President. Don’t take it seriously.” Everyone was staring at me with mocking expressions, waiting to see how I’d react. I simply smiled faintly and clapped. “You’re right. They truly are a perfect match.” I looked directly at Chloe. “I wish you both a fresh start and a happy future together.” Chloe abruptly stood up, her face flushed crimson with fury. “Alex! What do you mean by that?! You shamelessly chased after me just to say something disgusting like that?!” “Don’t be mad, Chloe.” Liam gently put his arm around her shoulder, then turned to me with a cold smirk. “If your own life’s a mess, don’t blame people for speaking their minds.” Another round of grating laughter. “So what if he got good grades? He still has to work for others.” “Liam could just drop a few dollars, and it’d be enough for Alex to live a lifetime.” I stared coldly at these former classmates. “Since I’m not welcome here, I’ll take my leave.” Liam gave a subtle nod, and Ben stepped forward to block my path. “Class president, don’t be in such a hurry. Wasn’t your bike accidentally damaged?” He deliberately emphasized “bike.” Jake also feigned concern, stepping closer. “Yeah, how will you get back so late? Or maybe…” He pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. “How about we all chip in for your taxi fare?” I looked at these pathetic clowns, suddenly feeling utterly bored. So, they called me here just to watch their pathetic performance again. “This kind of boring reunion,” I straightened my collar, “don’t bother inviting me anymore.” Just as I was about to leave, two burly security guards suddenly blocked the doorway. Liam’s voice came from behind me, carrying a dangerous undertone. “Alex, are you… disrespecting me?” 3 The room instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. I slowly turned around, seeing Liam’s malicious grin. “Alright, here’s the deal. What you just said hurt Chloe’s feelings. If you get on your knees and bark like a dog three times in front of Chloe, then crawl between my legs, I’ll let you go. How about it?” Chloe averted her gaze but said nothing to object. All eyes in the room were fixed on me, some mocking, some pitying, but most were filled with schadenfreude. The security guards grabbed my shoulders, their grip so tight it sent a fresh wave of searing pain through my injuries. I stared coldly at Liam. “We were classmates. Do you really need to humiliate me like this?” Liam slowly swirled his wine glass, a victorious smile on his face. “Alex, do you remember high school? You, flaunting your class president status, always meddling, even reporting me to the teacher for being a few minutes late.” “And in the end, you even dared to touch *my* woman!” He suddenly smashed his wine glass on the floor. Glass shards scattered, making the surrounding classmates flinch. “Now, *I* call the shots here!” He stood up, looking down at me. “I booked this entire hotel. My dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings. Here, who dares to disrespect me?” I scoffed. “So? Are you going to illegally detain me?” “Illegally detain?” Liam exaggeratedly spread his hands. “Classmates, did any of you see me detaining him?” Jake and the others immediately chimed in, “No! He’s clearly just refusing to leave!” I pulled out my phone. “Fine, then I’ll call the police.” Liam’s eyes hardened, and he signaled the security guards. “Teach him a lesson!” A guard’s fist slammed into my freshly injured knee. The sharp pain made me grunt, and cold sweat instantly drenched my back. I looked up at Chloe. She stood beside Liam, her eyes flickering, but in the end, she closed her mouth and remained silent. “Chloe,” I questioned her, my voice hoarse, “Are you just going to stand there and watch?” She bit her lip, finally speaking in a cold tone. “Alex, you’re the one who acted like an idiot first. Don’t blame Liam for getting angry.” The surrounding classmates also started chiming in, urging me to back down. “Alex, just swallow your pride!” “You’re just an ordinary guy. Liam’s family has massive wealth. You can’t win against him!” “Yeah, riding a bike, why are you still putting on airs?” I looked at the faces of these people and suddenly found it utterly laughable. Slowly, I straightened my body. Though my knee trembled with pain, my eyes were chillingly cold. “Liam Davies, I’m warning you for the last time. I’m not someone you want to mess with!” The room erupted in laughter. “Hahahaha! Did you hear that?!” Liam laughed, doubling over. “Riding a beat-up bike, and still talking like that?!” He clapped his hands, and two waiters brought my bicycle in. It still had scratches on it. “You said my Cullinan couldn’t afford your bike, didn’t you?” Liam sneered, kicking the wheel. “My car could lose a speck of paint, and it’d be enough to buy ten of these pieces of junk!” I almost laughed out of sheer anger. This Trek Butterfly was the only one of its kind in the world. Its frame was studded with Swarovski diamonds, and the custom craftsmanship alone took two years. When I used to ride it, discerning rich folks would respectfully ask specialists to handle it, terrified of damaging even a single diamond. But now, these people were treating it like some bargain-bin item? I looked at Chloe, deciding to give her one last chance. “Chloe, if you come back to me now, I can pretend none of this happened today.” I pointed to the bicycle. “This bike, I originally intended it as your engagement gift.” Chloe froze for a moment, then looked at me like I was insane. “Alex, are you trying to humiliate me? In your eyes, I’m only worth a pathetic bicycle?!” She clutched Liam’s arm. “Alex, let me tell you, I’d rather cry in Liam’s Cullinan than laugh on your pathetic bike!” Liam smugly pulled her closer. “Hear that? Give up now, alright?” Just then, my phone rang. It was my parents. They’d already heard what happened from Mr. Thompson. “We always thought that girl was ill-intentioned, son. It’s good you cut your losses now! We heard you were hurt. Where are you now? Do you want us to send someone to pick you up?” I thought for a moment, then spoke. “Actually, I do need your help with something.” I looked up, directly into Liam Davies’ bewildered face, and said, word by word. “Dad, can you tell that David Davies to come to the Meridian Hotel now? Yes, the CEO of Meridian Holdings.”

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At the reunion, my CEO husband deliberately lost a game. With his friends egging him on, he planned to tie the knot with his first love and announce it on SnapChat. Everyone present started cheering them on, and my husband eagerly pulled out the divorce papers, demanding my cooperation: “It’s just a game, don’t take it too seriously.” I stayed silent for a long time, and everyone expected me to explode. But I just took the divorce papers and said calmly: “Divorce is fine, but I need you to do three things first.” He readily agreed, rushing me to sign, even promising eagerly: “Forget three things, I’ll do three hundred, as long as you sign! And once we remarry, I’ll give you a lavish wedding!” But he didn’t know that the moment he decided to divorce me, my ‘capture’ mission had already failed, and the system was about to erase me. I could only survive by completing the three tasks the system gave me. Seeing me sign, my husband, Liam Sterling, happily put away the divorce papers. Everyone exchanged glances, a smirk of triumph on their faces. That’s when I finally understood: this reunion was a setup, a carefully laid trap just for me. On the virtual screen behind Liam, four blood-red words screamed: “CAPTURE FAILED.” The system’s electronic voice drilled into my mind: “Host, only if you marry your target for seven years can you offset the life-for-a-life exchange. You’re just an hour and a half short of seven years. In 48 hours, you’ll be erased.” Its tone shifted: “However, seeing your pitiful state, you can survive if you complete three tasks within the deadline.” “Now issuing Task One.” “Make Liam Sterling confess his love to you in public.” I laughed out loud. I just signed divorce papers, and now the system wants him to confess his love to me? Clara Davis stood up, her pretty face tight with resolve: “Liam, if you have to agree to Avery’s unreasonable requests because of me, then I’ll gladly accept punishment. I’ll drink three shots of vodka!” Liam’s eyes were filled with heartache: “It’s fine, she can’t stir up any trouble.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. Seven years ago, on our wedding day, Liam was supposed to elope for love, but Clara ran off with all his savings and disappeared. After that, he firmly believed I was behind it and constantly clashed with me. We went from childhood sweethearts to bitter enemies. I thought that if I genuinely loved him, I could eventually win him over. For the past two years, he had almost accepted our situation, even remembering to leave work early to celebrate our wedding anniversary. But then, Clara came back. Only then did I realize he had never forgotten her, and he’d even set up this elaborate scheme just to marry her. He’d even forgotten that today was our seventh wedding anniversary. Now, the seven stolen years were finally to be returned. But I still wanted to live. I spoke up: “Liam Sterling, the first thing I want you to do is confess your love to me.” “Confess to me exactly how you confessed to Clara Davis back then.” Liam froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. The private room erupted: “Avery, don’t be unreasonable! You’ve already signed the divorce papers, there’s no need to be so petty and embarrass Liam!” “Liam, don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s just trying to cause trouble!” It was truly ironic. These people had received many favors from me in the past. Now that Sterling Corp. was so powerful, they constantly mocked me. Clara’s face was flushed with anger: “Avery, you’re really just messing with him! Liam, I won’t let you suffer this humiliation!” My own husband confessing to me was a humiliation in her eyes? I coldly scanned the room, then yawned: “I’m talking to Liam Sterling. Does it concern you to interrupt?” “Liam Sterling, if you don’t confess, I’m leaving. And I won’t bother with the divorce certificate.” After so many years together, I knew his temper. His brows furrowed, and he said impatiently: “I thought you were being sensible today, but it turns out you just thought of a new trick. If I confess, you’ll obediently get the divorce certificate?” It seemed he was truly desperate to marry Clara and make it official. “Yes.” Liam’s face darkened, and he spoke as if facing death: “Avery, be with me. I’ll buy you two bottles of milk every day and warm them with my body heat, so you always drink them at room temperature…” Clara’s eyes welled with tears, and she murmured: “Liam, you still remember.” Everyone in the room couldn’t help but applaud, marveling at Liam’s deep affection, still remembering his confession to Clara Davis eight years ago. Watching the two exchange increasingly loving gazes, I felt a wave of nausea and left my seat: “I have to go. Something came up.” Behind me, the room erupted in laughter, mocking me for shooting myself in the foot. As I walked out, my best friend, Chloe Miller, somehow heard the news and rushed to the restaurant, demanding answers: “Did you really sign the divorce papers with Liam, are you insane? You begged on your knees to marry him, giving up a marriage alliance with a billionaire’s son, and now you’re just divorcing him, letting that trash Clara snatch him up?” I was silent. Back then, the Sterling family was on the verge of bankruptcy. To help Liam, I gave up a marriage with the son of a billionaire and resolutely married him. My parents were furious and disowned me. I was ostracized by my family, and even as the CEO’s wife, I couldn’t interfere with anything in the Sterling family, leaving me in an awkward position. But Liam, after Clara returned to the country, immediately arranged a Vice President position for her without a word, even putting her in charge of billions of dollars. Love and lack of love, it was very obvious. My sky-high heels had rubbed my heels raw, and I uncomfortably shifted my stance, unable to stop myself from scoffing: “You think she’s trash, but Liam treats her like a treasure. What can I do?” Chloe sighed, giving me a supportive squeeze: “Men are like shoes, if they don’t fit, we just get new ones!” As she spoke, Liam came downstairs, dotingly ruffling Clara’s hair: “Clara, let’s go take our wedding photos first, then buy rings. When we go to the registry office, I’ll have a convoy of thirty cars pick you up!” His gaze met mine, and Liam’s lips tightened into a thin line, his voice cold: “Avery, there are still two things left. If you’re playing games, I won’t make it easy for you!” I lowered my eyes and smiled bitterly. He didn’t know I had wanted to keep my distance from him for a long time; I was only forced to interact with him to stay alive. After he walked away, I called out to the system in my mind: “Was that task completed?” “Barely satisfactory,” the system’s voice was flat. “Now, issuing Task Two.” “Go on a date with Liam Sterling for one day.”

I stumbled. “Are you serious? Liam Sterling barely tolerates me today. If I ask him to go on a date with me, he’ll definitely think I’m messing with him!” The system was cold: “Host has no right to question. You can choose to abandon the task and be erased.” At midnight, I tossed and turned, thinking about the system’s task. Bang! Liam kicked open the door and dragged me out of bed. In the darkness, his angry eyes glowed ominously: “Are you happy now? Because of the scene you caused today, Clara went home sick. I took care of her until past midnight before her fever broke!” I pried his hand off and forced a smile: “It was just a game. Couldn’t you have called it off? Who would take a CEO like you seriously?” Liam choked, then sighed softly: “It was just a game, why didn’t you cooperate?” I said nonchalantly: “Second thing. Tomorrow, you cancel all your work and spend the day with me.” Liam’s face immediately turned cold: “Avery, are you pushing your luck? You’re really taking advantage!” He slammed the door shut and left. A bitter taste filled my mouth. I knew this would be the outcome. The next morning, however, he still knocked on my door, his face sullen: “I lost a million dollars today because of you. What do you want, spill it.” Because of me? More like to get the marriage certificate with Clara as soon as possible. The system told me the date wasn’t the main point; the key was for Liam Sterling to spend six consecutive hours with me. I took Liam to the mall to pass the time. The whole way, he never looked up from his phone. Occasionally, he’d stop outside a women’s clothing store or a luxury boutique and just casually buy a ton of stuff. All of it was for Clara. In our seven years of marriage, he had never bought me anything. The dress I was wearing was worn out and pilled. He retaliated against me by poaching my family’s business. My dad scolded me for betraying our family, and I was blacklisted by the industry. No one knew that beneath my glamorous exterior, I lived on the meager salary from online part-time jobs. I persevered until noon. Liam looked impatient, so I quickly took him to a hot pot restaurant. Just as we ordered, his face changed as he looked at his phone. He made a call, his voice filled with urgent worry: “How can you not eat? No appetite without me? Okay, I’m coming back right now!” He then grabbed his coat and rushed to leave: “Urgent company business. I’m leaving first.” I knew this must be Clara’s doing. “Will you come back?” My task wasn’t finished yet. He seemed to remember something and nodded: “I will.” But I never expected him to return with Clara. Liam carefully tended to Clara, feeding her, wiping her mouth, acting like he was nursing a paralytic patient. They looked like an affectionate couple, while I was just a stranger sharing their table. After that, whatever I wanted to eat, Clara would point to and demand. I lost my appetite and pushed my forks aside. She looked triumphant, saying with exaggerated sweetness: “The food Liam feeds me tastes especially delicious…” Under the table, she deliberately stomped on my foot. I hissed in pain, but Liam paid no attention. Fortunately, we just needed to watch a movie to reach six hours, so I grudgingly endured her. Who knew there were only two tickets left at the movie theater? Clara spoke first, her eyes red: “Liam, you and Avery go watch it. I know she’s using the divorce as an excuse to spend time with you, but it’s okay, I won’t be a third wheel! I’ll leave now!” Liam panicked, quickly grabbing her hand: “What nonsense are you talking about? Forget the stupid movie, I’ll spend the whole afternoon with you instead, okay?” I pleaded calmly: “Liam Sterling, just watch this movie with me, and I’ll let you go, I won’t bother you anymore.” But Liam pushed me away with a shove, and the popcorn I was holding scattered everywhere. “Avery, stop pretending! I’ve already told you I could never like someone as selfish, arrogant, and self-righteous as you. Clara is generous and kind enough not to blame you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll indulge you. I’ve already been more than generous by taking you shopping today!” He held Clara’s hand and turned to leave. “Warning: Host is performing passively. Electric shock penalty. Please convince Liam Sterling to return within one minute.” The next second, a powerful current surged through my body. I instantly collapsed to my knees, my kneecaps hitting the ground with a loud thud, my body convulsing. Gritting my teeth, I begged with all my might: “Liam Sterling! Please, come watch the movie with me, or I’ll die! Please…” Liam turned back frantically, his pupils constricting when he saw me on the ground. He instinctively took a step. “Liam, go ahead. Avery is usually so healthy, but now she’s suddenly fainted. She must be seriously ill. Go with her, don’t worry about me.” Clara suddenly spoke. Liam’s steps halted, and his expression turned cold: “Avery, now you’ve learned to fake falls? What are you trying to prove, playing helpless? Don’t make me look down on you.” He abandoned me. No matter how much I called out, he never looked back. After a long time, the system’s punishment ended. My face was pale, as if I’d been pulled from water. Many people gathered around, offering to take me to the hospital. The system warned sternly: “Task Two completion rate is only fifty percent. If Task Three cannot be completed perfectly, Host, you will still be erased.” The panel changed, displaying only one line of text: “Make Liam Sterling propose to you.” I gave a desolate laugh, losing all my strength and collapsing onto the ground. This was an impossible task. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital. Chloe rushed to hand me water, her eyes filled with sympathy: “The doctor said you have organ failure and won’t live for more than three days. Does Liam know? Is this why you divorced him?” I knew this was a side effect of the system’s punishment. Three days? Only twenty-four hours left. I didn’t want to grovel and make Liam pity me. After all, I had once been a wealthy young woman; I had my pride. I shook my head: “No. Chloe, as friends, I have one favor to ask. After I die, just tell everyone I traveled abroad and settled there. Don’t let them see how miserably I died.” Chloe’s eyes reddened, and she wiped her face: “You saved Liam’s life during the avalanche back then, but he thought Clara saved him. He’s misunderstood and tormented you for so many years, you—” My phone on the table rang urgently. It was Liam. Chloe answered, unable to help herself: “Liam Sterling, do you know Avery is sick!”

I struggled to sit up and stop her. On the other end of the phone, Liam paused for a second, then scoffed coldly: “Did Avery tell you to act? What’s a little fall going to do?” “Tell her to hurry up and state her last demand so we can get this over with. I don’t have time for her games.” Seeing how impatient he was, I took the phone and said seriously: “The third thing is simple. All you have to do is propose to me.” CRASH! A harsh sound came from the other end of the phone; something seemed to have fallen. Liam was frantic: “Clara, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” The next second, he lashed out at me: “Avery, are you crazy? Are you out of your mind? I’m not playing with you anymore! Go get the divorce certificate or don’t, I don’t care. We’ll be automatically divorced in thirty days anyway. I’m not like you, desperate to live. I can wait!” He hung up. My heart ached. I knew Liam wanted to get rid of me, but I never expected him to despise me so much. The system was still urging me to complete the task. But now I had no leverage over him. What else could I do? Fatigue washed over me like a tide. Even if I begged Liam on my knees, he would just think I was pulling tricks. If that’s the case, I might as well die with dignity. With that thought, I called him. He answered impatiently: “If you’re going to talk about me proposing to you again, just go to hell!” He didn’t know his words would turn out to be prophetic. My voice was calm: “I was just kidding. See you at the registry office tomorrow morning.” Liam was surprised: “That’s it? Are you being so cooperative?” “Don’t want to? Fine then.” “No! You better not be playing games!” He quickly agreed. Nine A.M. the next morning, at the registry office entrance. Liam yelled at me for being one minute late: “Avery, what are you doing now? You were really faking being sick yesterday! They say the wicked live forever, so you’ll probably live to be a hundred!” His friends also looked at me with mocking expressions. They were all waiting for Liam to get his marriage certificate with Clara, specially bringing confetti to celebrate. I found it amusing. In the past, when Liam and I made plans, he was never on time, repeatedly breaking promises, deliberately enjoying my distressed reactions. Today, I was only one minute late, and he was so anxious. “That’s right, I was doing it on purpose. I’ve changed my mind. The third thing is, I want you to carry me in to get the divorce certificate!” From where we stood, it was less than a hundred feet to the entrance. Liam looked at me suspiciously: “That simple?” Clara still rushed out to object, as if I were committing an unforgivable sin: “Liam is a CEO! How can you treat him like a servant and make him carry you? We don’t have to get this divorce certificate, I’ll wait for Liam forever!” Everyone else’s faces also darkened: “Avery, you’re shameless! This is clearly a deliberate obstruction! You just don’t want the divorce certificate!” I curved my lips into a smile, composed. Liam, however, declared decisively: “Fine. But if you cause any more trouble inside, I’ll make your life a living hell.” He walked up to me. I jumped onto his back without any hesitation. Liam gave a small “oh.” I was too light. Frighteningly light. You see, I used to have a fiery personality. I loved racing, hiking, rock climbing. My muscle mass was not to be underestimated. He instinctively asked: “Are you starving yourself?” I replied faintly: “You and Clara disgusted me so much I couldn’t eat.” Liam curled his lip: “That’s enough.” When we married years ago, he was practically dragged into the registry office by ten bodyguards, forced to get the marriage certificate, his face filled with disgust. Now, he walked steadily towards the registry office, step by step, but it was to divorce me. In a daze, I remembered when I was seventeen. Liam was caught in an avalanche while skiing. I rushed into the snowy field without a thought, screaming until my throat was hoarse before I found him. At that time, he had snow blindness, and his leg was injured, preventing him from standing. I half-carried, half-dragged him down the mountain for a day and a night, even cutting myself to give him my blood, hoping to restore his strength. In his semi-conscious state, Liam’s hot tears streamed onto my neck: “You’re so good to me! I’ll marry you!” I laughed, coaxing him not to break his promise. By the time we reached the bottom of the mountain, I should have died from hypothermia. The system bonded with me then. It said our love was truly great, and as long as I could marry him for seven years, it would grant me health and a long life. I agreed, secretly delighted that this was a freebie, and that we would surely be happy. But I never expected to wake up and see him confessing to Clara Davis in front of the entire school. He said he would marry me. But what I got was his endless gratitude towards Clara. I tried to explain, but he didn’t believe me. “The person who saved me was gentle like a goddess. You’re so rough and bossy, how could it be you?” Snapping back to reality, I whispered into Liam’s ear: “Liam Sterling, we’re even now.” He stopped walking: “What did you say?”

My throat itched, and I coughed up blood. The system’s punishment yesterday had ruined my internal organs. Even as I covered my mouth, a drop of blood splattered onto Liam’s neck. He flew into a rage: “Avery, are you trying to die? Coughing on my neck, how disgusting! Clean it up!” I wiped the blood from my lips, then gently pushed his head back to face forward. My voice was calm: “Look ahead, not at me.” Liam quickened his pace, walking closer to the divorce counter. Before he could put me down, I jumped off his back and quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe his neck. He still seemed unsatisfied, pulling out tissue after tissue, as if he’d been contaminated with something filthy. I couldn’t help but say: “Liam Sterling, since you’ve decided to be with Clara, don’t let her down.” Liam frowned, finally looking at me properly: “What nonsense are you talking about? It’s just one day, and you’re already this petty and intolerant? Don’t worry, once the game is over, I’ll give you a lavish wedding. I won’t go back on my word.” I curled my lips into a weak smile. On the divorce papers, I fumbled to find where to sign. My eyesight was the most severely affected of all my declining organs. Liam held my finger and pointed to the spot, scoffing: “What’s wrong with your eyes? Are you crying them blind because you’re sad about divorcing me?” I snorted: “It was so sickening it gave me a stye.” Since Clara returned to the country, I hadn’t bantered with him like this in a long time. Liam angrily pushed my arm: “Avery, you just can’t say anything nice, can you!” I grunted in pain, taking a while to recover. His face suddenly changed: “Are you really sick?” I acted nonchalant: “No. Hurry up and finish the procedures. I’m planning to travel abroad for a few days. There are plenty of other fish in the sea, why obsess over one person?” Everyone present couldn’t help but scoff, looking at me with expressions that clearly said, “Stop acting,” filled with disdain. Liam’s face remained grim, and he suddenly stood up. “No divorce.” “No divorce?” Clara exclaimed in surprise, then her eyes welled up with tears, saying aggrievedly: “Liam, if you can’t bear to, that’s okay. I’m willing to be punished. I just have a slight alcohol allergy, I won’t die. I’ll go buy liquor right now!” I was speechless, not understanding what Liam meant. I deliberately provoked him: “Stop messing around. Or are you really reluctant to let me go?” Liam, predictably, couldn’t stand the provocation and quickly signed the papers. “If it weren’t for your pitiful, pale face, I…” He trailed off. Then he took the divorce certificate with a sullen face, turned around, and sat with Clara at the marriage counter. Everyone crowded around them, their faces joyful. My business here was done. I turned to leave, but Liam suddenly called out to me: “Don’t go. Wait until Clara and I get our marriage certificate and post on SnapChat, then I’ll remarry you right away!” Divorce and remarrying? Did he think this was a game? I perfunctorily agreed and walked out of the registry office. On the virtual screen, the countdown showed thirteen hours left—enough time for me to handle my affairs. But I never expected my vision to turn blood-red: “Host Avery Hayes, task failed. Detected official divorce between the two. Countdown reset to zero!” I never imagined the system had this trick up its sleeve. I leaned on the registry office doorframe, collapsing softly to the ground. Inside the registry office, Liam Sterling was posing for photos with Clara Davis, their heads close together. The photographer kept calling out: “Closer, lovebirds! Yes, more intimate!”

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I led our design team, working tirelessly for my husband’s company, and finally secured a multi-million dollar brand collaboration. At the celebration party, however, my husband credited all the success to the new intern, saying her creativity was “the finishing touch.” As a reward, he publicly gifted her a limited edition designer “labubu” worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The team felt sorry for me, but when I confronted him, he pushed me away. He gave me ten dollars and said with a smirk, “At your age, you should go buy a cheap toy from a street vendor.” I finally woke up and resigned the next day, taking the entire design department with me. My husband mocked us, holding the intern, “You think you can find better jobs without any real skills? I’d like to see where you end up!” Three months later, at the industry’s largest brand bidding conference. My ex-husband took the stage with the intern, presenting our proposal and talking about future brand strategies. What he didn’t know was that I had already been hired by a top client company with a high salary, and I was the sole decision-maker for this bidding conference. “Olivia Lin, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Women who’ve lost their youth shouldn’t be jealous of young girls’ opportunities.” He said, turning away with a swagger. I looked down at the crumpled ten-dollar bill in my hand. So, in his eyes, all the hard work of my team and I was only worth a cheap toy. I smiled, but tears kept falling. I wiped my tears and returned to the table. My deputy, Jack, looked at me with concern. “Boss, are you okay?” I slammed the ten dollars on the table, my voice low but clear. “Jack, get ready.” “We’re all resigning tomorrow.” The next morning at nine. I walked into Andrew Chen’s office with resignation letters from the entire design department. He was holding Bella White, both intimately looking at the computer screen, laughing at something. Seeing us come in, he wasn’t surprised at all. He took the resignation letters and tossed them on the desk without even looking. “Olivia Lin, you really dare to make a scene.” He sneered, holding Bella tighter. “You think you can find better jobs without any real skills? I’d like to see where you end up without my platform!” Bella leaned into his arms, glancing at me timidly before flashing a smug smile. Andrew stood up and announced in front of all of us. “Well, I might as well announce something too.” “From today on, Bella White is the new Design Director of the company.” The whole office was in an uproar. An intern who had only been there for three months and could barely use design software was now the Design Director. It was the biggest joke in the industry. The members of my team had looks of absurdity and disdain on their faces. I didn’t say another word and left with my team. Walking out of the company gates, I looked back one last time at the place where I had poured eight years of my heart and soul. I felt nothing but disgust. That afternoon, I consulted a lawyer. The answer I got felt like a bucket of ice water. The legal representative of the company had always been Andrew Chen alone. I didn’t have any shares in my name. When we got married, he had promised earnestly that the company belonged to both of us, and he would give me half the shares after we succeeded. For him, I had resigned from a top internet company in the country and worked day and night by his side. Now I realized that all those promises were nothing but empty checks. Eight years of dedication might all be in vain. I sat in the coffee shop, looking out the window in despair. Just then, a call came in from an unknown number. “Hello, is this Design Director Olivia Lin?” “Yes, it is.” “Hello, I’m the project director from the brand collaboration we just signed. My name is Zhang. I’d like to discuss some detailed design specifications with you for the follow-up.” It was the client’s director. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. “Director Zhang, I’m sorry, but I’ve already resigned from that company.” There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. “Resigne on the other end for a fewd? The whole team resigned?” “Yes.” Director Zhang’s voice suddenly became excited. “That’s great! Director Lin, to be honest, for this collaboration, we were interested in your team, not your company!” I was stunned. “We’ve internally assessed that your design concepts highly align with our brand’s future development direction. To be honest, we were worried that the personnel might change later, affecting the project quality.” “Now that you’re out, things are much easier.” Her words were like a beam of light, shining into my despair. “Director Lin, on behalf of our company, I’d like to formally invite you and your entire team.” “The salary will be double what you were getting before.” “The position is a core brand management role in our newly established group, which you’ll be directly responsible for.” “We hope you can bring your entire team to join us.” Double salary. Core position. The entire team packaged together. I suppressed my heart that was almost jumping out of my chest, my fingers tightly pinching my palm. “Director Zhang, thank you for your appreciation. It’s just that we’ve just completed the resignation process, and there are still some procedures to handle.” “No problem, we can wait. Talented people are worth waiting for.” “I’ll send the formal letter of intent to your email later. Take a look first, no need to rush with a reply.” After hanging up the phone, I looked at the sky outside the window, feeling it was brighter than ever before. My phone buzzed again, it was a WeChat message from Andrew. “Olivia, I know you’re still angry. Stop making a fuss, doesn’t our years of relationship mean more than a moment of anger?” “I know I was wrong, I shouldn’t have said that to you.” “Come back first, help Bella out, finish handing over the project. When this blows over, I’ll give you a grand apology ceremony, okay?” Looking at the words on the screen, I felt nauseous. Help Bella out. How could he say that? I turned off my phone, completely ignoring that message. The game had just begun. I used my savings to throw a grand “resignation party” for the team at the best five-star hotel in the city. Celebrating our escape from trash, welcoming new life. Everyone raised their glasses and cheered, their faces radiating relief and hope for the future. “Boss, it’s a good thing we left with you, or we’d have been infuriated to death in that company!” “Yeah, making an intern the director, has Andrew Chen lost his mind?” “He must be in a panic now!” After a few rounds of drinks, we started to review the collaboration proposal for this project. “The core design language ‘Breakthrough’, and all the VI application standards, the most detailed version is actually only in our heads,” said my deputy Jack. “I held back at the time, only submitting the basic version. Many extended applications and special scenario specifications weren’t included in the final document at all.” I nodded. “Well done. These are our real value.” The new week began. Andrew and his new “Design Director” Bella officially started interfacing with the client. Soon, they ran into trouble. The client needed a complete brand VI usage manual for subsequent material production and market promotion. They searched through all the design files but couldn’t find it. Bella, relying on her own intuition, worked overtime to produce several design drafts. The next day, they were all sent back by Director Zhang. Zhang’s email was copied to everyone, with harsh wording. “These designs completely misunderstand our brand tone. The colors, fonts, and compositions are all problematic! Are you even professionals?” Bella cried on the spot in the office. Andrew’s call quickly came to my phone. “Olivia Lin! What do you mean? You took the design source files and standard manual when you left?” His voice was full of anger. I was in my new company’s office, looking out at the river view, my tone calm. “Mr. Chen, you can eat carelessly, but you can’t speak carelessly. All the files I handed over are on record.” “As for that manual you mentioned, that’s our team’s core creative asset, a trade secret, no comment.” “You dare!” he roared in exasperation, “Don’t you believe I’ll sue you for stealing company trade secrets!” I chuckled lightly, reminding him of a fact he had overlooked. “Mr. Chen, I don’t think we ever signed a confidentiality agreement or non-compete agreement.” “Moreover, according to copyright law, the creative copyright for this proposal is in my personal hands. Are you sure you want to sue me?” On the other end of the phone, there was only heavy breathing left. He hung up. The client side pressured again. Because the design specifications couldn’t be confirmed, the entire collaboration project came to a standstill. Several channel partners who had already signed contracts began to express dissatisfaction. Andrew’s company’s reputation in the industry began to be affected. Bella was completely at a loss, crying every day and complaining to Andrew that the client was deliberately making things difficult for her. The company’s internal morale was low, and rumors were flying. Andrew was in a frenzy. He spread the word that he would spare no expense to hire top designers who could solve this brand design problem. However, a week after the news was released, no one responded. The circle was only so big, and everyone knew this project was led by me. In this situation, no one was willing to wade into these muddy waters, let alone offend me and my new employer behind me. He had pushed himself into a dead end. Just when Andrew was about to despair, a team calling themselves “Wind and Cloud Design” actively contacted him. They claimed that they had been studying my design style and were 100% confident that they could perfectly recreate a VI manual identical to the original. Bella grabbed onto this lifeline. She whispered in Andrew’s ear, saying this team must have seen that I had gone to the client’s side and came specially to help. “Honey, this shows we have more supporters! That Olivia Lin is just petty!” Andrew was convinced by her and gritted his teeth to hire this outsourcing team at three times the market price. Three days later, they delivered a seemingly flawless VI manual. Andrew immediately sent it to the client. After reviewing it, Director Zhang only replied: “We can proceed now.” Andrew and Bella were overjoyed. They thought the crisis was completely over. The next day, Andrew called a company-wide meeting. At the meeting, he singled me out by name, criticizing me for “lacking professional ethics, holding back after resigning, attempting to blackmail the company.” He was beaming, full of vigor. “This proves that the earth keeps spinning without anyone! Some people shouldn’t overestimate themselves!” “From today on, our company officially cuts ties with all resigned design department personnel, no more entanglements!” The employees below had various expressions, but no one dared to speak. I sat in the conference room of the new company, watching the video of his impassioned speech, and smiled. This was exactly what I was waiting for. I immediately had the lawyer send a lawyer’s letter to his company based on this public “cut ties” announcement. Demanding that he pay the multi-million project bonus promised earlier to the entire team, as well as severance pay for everyone. The promise in black and white, plus his public acknowledgment of “no more entanglements,” left him without even an excuse to default. To maintain the company’s reputation, he was forced to pay this huge sum. The company’s cash flow, already tense due to the project stagnation, instantly went from bad to worse. I looked at the string of zeros added to my bank card, feeling no ripples in my heart. This was all we deserved. On the same afternoon. On my desk, I received an email from the group headquarters. The sender was the secretary of the client’s big boss. I opened the email, the title clearly stated: “Notice on Appointing Ms. Olivia Lin as the Overall Responsible Person for Next Year’s Full Product Line Bidding Conference for This Brand”. Three months later. Late autumn. The industry’s largest annual brand bidding conference was held at the International Convention Center. I sat in the center of the judges’ seats, in the capacity of the client’s Brand Director. Below were top advertising companies and design teams from all over the country. My ex-husband, Andrew, and his new director Bella, also came. They walked into the venue with high spirits, their faces wearing confident smiles. Andrew soon saw me. He was stunned for a moment, then a contemptuous smile appeared on his face. He said something in a low voice to Bella beside him. I read his lips. “Look, some people can only come to such occasions to steal ideas after leaving me.” Bella covered her mouth and let out a coquettish laugh, her eyes full of superiority. They thought I was just a former employee coming to listen and learn. The client colleagues beside me and some industry peers who knew me all looked at him with eyes as if looking at a clown. But he was completely unaware. The host began to introduce today’s judges according to the procedure. “First, let’s welcome with warm applause the overall responsible person for this bidding conference, who is also our brand’s core Brand Director – Ms. Olivia Lin!” The spotlight instantly shone on me. I saw the smile on Andrew’s face freeze instantly.

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