Category: English

On the day of the graduation ceremony, I mustered up the courage to confess my feelings to my long-time crush. But I accidentally got hit by a car. When I woke up, my crush was standing in front of me, looking at me with a cold expression. “You’re awake? Perfect timing. Let’s discuss the divorce agreement.” Me: ??? I haven’t even confessed yet, how did we end up talking about divorce? 0On the day of my college commencement ceremony, I finally mustered up the courage to confess my feelings to Aria, my long-time crush. Across the street, Aria was taking photos in her beautiful graduation gown. Excited, I ran towards her, not noticing the red light at the crosswalk. A loud “BANG!” echoed, and I was struck by a car. Everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself staring at a stark white ceiling. To my surprise, Aria was standing by my bedside. She was as beautiful as ever, and this was probably the closest we’d ever been. Aria stood there, her gaze shifting from the IV drip to my face. As I looked at her, I noticed a ring on her left ring finger. My heart sank. Had the girl I’d loved for so long already found someone else? Swallowing my disappointment, I forced a smile and greeted her, “What are you doing here?” As I tried to sit up, I realized my arm was wrapped in thick bandages. Aria sat down on the chair beside my bed, her voice cold and distant. “Mr. Liam, you really know how to make a scene. Risking your life for a divorce? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?” I stared at her, completely bewildered. Divorce? I hadn’t even graduated yet, let alone gotten married. Where did this talk of divorce come from? Just then, a nurse entered the room, carrying a tray of bandages. “Dr. Aria, you’re still here? Sir, you’re so lucky. When you had the accident, Dr. Aria happened to be passing by and gave you emergency treatment. Otherwise, you’d be dealing with more than just a broken arm.” The nurse carefully cleaned my wound as she spoke. As she gently placed my hand down, I noticed something shocking – there was a ring on my right ring finger too! And it clearly matched Aria’s ring. Panic and confusion flooded my mind. After the nurse left, I grabbed Aria’s sleeve. “Your name is Aria, right?” Aria frowned, looking annoyed. She jerked her sleeve away from my grasp and stared at me coldly. “Since you’re awake, let’s discuss the divorce agreement.” 0

This was absolutely insane! I was certain I had been on my way to the commencement ceremony when I got hit by a car. How did I wake up to this scenario where I was supposedly trying to divorce Aria by “risking my life”? I was convinced that either I had gone mad, or Aria had. “Wait a second!” I started, but before I could finish, a little girl suddenly appeared in the room, running straight into Aria’s arms. I was stunned. What an adorable child! I reached out with my uninjured hand, wanting to pinch her chubby cheeks, but she shyly hid in Aria’s embrace. “Hey sweetie, I’m sorry. You’re just so cute, I couldn’t help myself,” I said, trying to sound friendly. Aria looked at me disapprovingly, reminding me that I had called her to wait but hadn’t explained why. “Look, this might sound unbelievable, but I have no memory of what you’re talking about. The last thing I remember is going to the commencement ceremony…” Aria impatiently cut me off. “So, you’re saying you have amnesia now?” Amnesia? Yes, that must be it. It was the only explanation for why I had no recollection of all this. I nodded vigorously and sincerely. Aria’s face remained icy as she pulled out a document from her bag and tossed it in front of me. “This is the divorce agreement. All the terms are as you requested. If you have no objections, sign it quickly.” I opened my mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words. The little girl in Aria’s arms looked at me with a pout when she heard Aria mention divorce. “Maybe we shouldn’t discuss this in front of the child,” I suggested. “It might not be good for her. Perhaps we could put this on hold for a while?” Aria scoffed. “The child? Liam, you’re really playing this amnesia act well. This is our daughter.” I hadn’t even processed her first statement when she continued, “And when you were having dinner with another woman, did you consider whether that was good for our child’s well-being?” My mind went blank as I tried to absorb this information. Not only was I married, but I had a child too? And apparently, I had been unfaithful? The little girl didn’t even look at me, burying her face in Aria’s neck. It was too much information. My brain crashed like an overloaded computer. 0

It took me an entire day to process the situation in my head. It seemed I really did have amnesia. I was still me, and Aria was still Aria. The only difference was that we were married and had a baby. But the divorce papers on the hospital bed silently conveyed another message: our marriage was clearly in trouble. The problem seemed to be that I might have cheated? But how was that possible? Why would I cheat on someone as beautiful and intelligent as Aria? Had I lost my mind? Where did things go wrong? How could I regain my memories? I scratched my head in frustration, feeling completely lost. “Daddy.” I looked up at the sound of a soft knock. The door opened slightly, and the little girl’s cute face peeked in shyly. “Mommy said to remember to disinfect your hand. Here’s the antiseptic. She said you should do it yourself.” Her tiny hands clutched a bottle of iodine solution. I reached out to her, gesturing for her to come in. “Daddy’s hand hurts a bit. Can you bring it over for me?” The little girl looked at me hesitantly but eventually nodded. She timidly ran to my side and placed the bottle on my bedside table. I picked her up with my good arm and sat her on my lap, studying her features closely. She had my eyes – big, round, and bright. Her nose was like Aria’s, high and straight. She had Aria’s oval face shape too. She was absolutely beautiful. This was my daughter with Aria. I couldn’t help myself. I hugged her close and planted a big kiss on her cheek. The little girl smelled like milk, and I found her utterly adorable. When I looked up, I saw that her face had turned bright red. She froze in my arms for a moment, then wrapped her little arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. She whispered in my ear, “Daddy, you smell nice.” She was the sweetest thing in the world. As I basked in the joy of being complimented by my baby, the door opened. Aria’s familiar figure appeared in the doorway and walked towards us. “Mommy!” The little girl in my arms immediately ran to Aria, stretching out her arms to be picked up. Aria had clearly just showered, wearing casual home clothes that made her look both sexy and relaxed. Her hair fell naturally over her forehead, with droplets of water sliding down her neck into her collar. I swallowed hard, feeling the allure of her beauty. As she came closer, my heart began to race even faster. However, Aria’s words quickly doused my excitement. “Mr. Liam, don’t you think it’s a bit late to start being nice to Coco now?” “I’m not… I…” I wanted to explain, but one look at Aria’s cold expression told me she wouldn’t believe anything I said. In the end, I chose to remain silent. “Never mind. You can go about your business. I’m leaving,” she said. As I walked out of the study, Coco peeked out from Aria’s neck and glanced at me. Seeing how close they were made my heart ache. What good was having a wife and child if my wife wanted to divorce me and my child was closer to her mother? I started to wonder why we had chosen to get married in the first place. Outside on the balcony, a full moon hung high in the sky. The night breeze blew in, scattering my thoughts. Everything else remained the same. It seemed I was the only one who had changed. 0

The master bedroom had only one large bed. The room’s decor was minimalist, with a simple black, white, and gray color scheme. Apart from that, the room was kept immaculately clean, with a faint scent of gardenia wafting through the air. I remembered that this was a fragrance I liked. I walked to the walk-in closet, hoping to find some of my pajamas, but all I saw was a sea of black clothing. … With no other option, I knocked on the study door. “Honey, I’m sorry to bother you,” I said, trying to sound as respectful as possible. Aria, who was working at her computer, looked up at me. “Do you know where my pajamas are? I looked in the master bedroom closet but couldn’t find any.” Aria stared at me for a few seconds without saying anything. Just as I thought she wasn’t going to answer and was about to leave, she suddenly stood up from her chair and walked towards me. Aria smirked, hands in her pockets. “What, are you planning to keep up this amnesia act?” I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. The problem was, even if I told the truth, she wouldn’t believe me. Fortunately, she didn’t press the issue this time and walked past me towards another room. I stood there, unsure of what to do. She glanced back at me. “Aren’t you coming?” I immediately followed her like an obedient puppy, making sure to keep a respectful distance. “Thank you.” Two minutes later, when I happily opened the closet door to get my pajamas, I immediately slammed it shut. My face turned bright red. It was too embarrassing to look at! “This is…” I didn’t finish my sentence, but I was sure Aria understood. She was leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, silently watching me. Her eyes seemed to say, “Go ahead and keep pretending. I’ll just watch without saying a word.” … I took a deep breath and slowly opened the closet door again. The clothing style inside was so revealing that I could hardly believe it. The worst part was that Aria was still standing there, showing no intention of leaving. I tried my best to ignore her gaze. With my back to her, I rummaged through the clothes from top to bottom, unable to find a single “normal” piece of clothing. … I sighed inwardly, turned around, and not knowing what came over me, I asked Aria, “Honey, which one do you… prefer me to wear?” Then, I clearly saw Aria’s eyes darken. She scoffed and walked out, slamming the door shut behind her so hard it made me jump. Why did she get angry? As I took my pajamas to the bathroom, a thought suddenly occurred to me. Could our impending divorce be due to problems in our intimate life? After showering, I put on a robe and went to Coco’s nursery. The nursery was decorated warmly, showing that Aria cared a lot about the child. I tiptoed in. Coco was already in a sweet dream, hugging a stuffed animal. I gently tucked the kicked-off blanket back around her and carefully removed her thumb from her mouth, wiping it with a tissue. It was at this moment that I truly felt like a father. But I only knew her name was Coco; I didn’t even know how old she was. I looked at my marriage certificate with Aria. The date was four years ago. So Coco must be around three years old. I stroked her head and then left her room. As soon as I closed the door and turned around, I saw Aria standing in front of me. My heart started racing so fast I thought it might jump out of my throat. “Are you done?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied. The atmosphere was awkward, and I didn’t know what to say. “So… are you going to bed?” I asked. Aria didn’t respond or make any move. “I’ll go to sleep then,” I said, and quickly escaped to the master bedroom. Without another word, I lifted the covers and lay down, keeping myself as still as possible. Not long after, the bedroom door opened, and Aria walked in. Seeing me lying in bed, she paused for a moment, her footsteps stopping as she just stood there looking at me. Her gaze made my scalp tingle. “Honey, which side do you usually sleep on?” I asked. She didn’t answer. I was starting to feel that Aria’s personality had become quite strange in the years I couldn’t remember. She always liked to stare at people coldly without saying a word. I forced a smile and got out of bed. “You choose first,” I said. Petty Aria! I cursed her in my mind, knowing she couldn’t hear my thoughts. But this time, she moved. She walked to the other side of the bed, lay down, and ignored me, turning off the bedside lamp with a sharp click. I… I fumbled in the dark, getting back under the covers. The person beside me was breathing evenly. Everything around was quiet, but I couldn’t sleep at all. I couldn’t even think straight; my mind was a jumbled mess. But I could feel that she was very close to me, so close that our breaths seemed to mingle silently in the air between us. “Honey, are you still awake?” I asked softly. “What do you want?” she replied. “What?” “You were the one who wanted to get married, and you were the one who went to great lengths to get a divorce. Now you’re lying here with me, trying to seduce me. Liam, I don’t have time to play your games. If you want something, just say it.” “Seduce?” I stared at her with wide eyes, suddenly feeling a chill run through my chest. I looked down and realized how revealing the outfit I was wearing actually was. No wonder Aria thought my current behavior was an attempt to seduce her. “I… I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry,” I stammered. But Aria clearly didn’t want to continue sharing a bed with me. She got up and left the bedroom, leaving me with these parting words: “Liam, I don’t care what you’re thinking right now. I have no feelings left for you. I hope you understand that. Whether you’re pretending to have amnesia or trying to seduce me, it doesn’t matter to me anymore.” “I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight. Do whatever you want.” Aria left. In the vast space of the bedroom, I was left alone with nothing but my sorrow. 0

I couldn’t sleep. I lay there, wide awake until dawn. Around seven, I heard Aria talking outside, along with another woman repeatedly saying “okay, okay.” I guessed it must be the housekeeper. A moment later, the front door closed, and the sound of a car engine starting up told me Aria had left for work. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind in chaos as I began to reflect. I had never been an outgoing guy; otherwise, I wouldn’t have secretly harbored a crush on Aria for so many years. But now, finding out that not only had my crush been successful, but I had become her husband, I felt shocked, yes, but more than that, I felt an undisguised joy. I thought this was a chance given to me by fate, but I never imagined I’d mess up this marriage so badly. Low emotional intelligence really is a fatal flaw. Lost in my thoughts, the bedroom door suddenly opened. A woman wearing a housekeeper’s uniform walked in. Seeing me, she quickly apologized. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize anyone was in here.” “It’s alright, I was just about to get up,” I said with a smile. She seemed relieved and slowly entered the room. “Ms. Aria left for work. I thought this room was empty. Didn’t you used to sleep in your own room?” she asked. My own room? I suddenly remembered that when I went to get clothes yesterday, there was indeed a bed in that other room. So, I had been sleeping in a separate room all along. Does this mean we were living separately? Thinking about it this way, all of Aria’s unusual behavior yesterday started to make sense. I felt utterly embarrassed. I buried my face in my hands, already regretting my actions many times over. Coco must have heard our conversation because she came running to the bedroom door, barefoot. She looked at me expectantly but didn’t dare to come in. “Coco, come here to Daddy,” I said gently, holding out my arms to her. Hearing this, the little one excitedly ran towards me. She pounced on me, knocking me back onto the bed, and flashed her little tiger teeth in a big smile. “Daddy,” she said, nuzzling her head against my chest. My heart melted. She really was my adorable baby girl. No matter how much Aria might hate me right now, Coco was still my daughter, and I was determined to be a good father to her. I said goodbye to the housekeeper and took Coco out for a day just for the two of us. We went shopping, and I bought her lots of pretty clothes. I also bought some normal clothes for myself. After all, my post-marriage style was a bit hard to accept. I carried Coco in my arms as she happily ate ice cream, her face covered in cream. I gently wiped her face clean. “Coco, what was Daddy like before?” I asked. Coco looked at me, pouted a little, and said in a slightly hurt tone, “Mean to Coco.” Then she added, “Grumpy.” Children don’t lie, and her words made my heart ache. It seemed the old me had changed so much that even I couldn’t recognize myself. So why did Aria choose to marry me? Was it because she liked me? If so, she must have had quite unusual taste. “Daddy, I want that!” Coco suddenly pointed her chubby little hand at a poster for the latest McDonald’s family meal deal. Ah, the irresistible appeal of fast food to kids. “Sure, let’s get it!” I said. An hour later, Coco and I sat with our heads down on the couch in Aria’s office, looking very much like two kids who had been caught doing something wrong. The cause of our predicament was the aromatic family meal deal sitting on the coffee table in front of us. It all started with Coco’s filial piety. She felt that while we were out having fun, her mom was working hard alone, so she wanted to share her “delicious food” with her mom. Aria’s workplace happened to be near the mall, and I couldn’t bear to refuse the little one’s request. So, we cheerfully went to Aria’s office. But in Aria’s eyes, Coco’s “delicious food” was nothing but “junk.” And that’s how we ended up in this interrogation.

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I was the daughter of the city’s wealthiest family. But I had a secret: once a month, I’d transform into a Ragdoll cat. My dad, terrified this secret would get out, handpicked five fiancés for me. They had all grown up alongside me, a gesture of shared history. Each of them was a high-flyer, but their eyes held nothing but ambition and greed. Only Liam Hayes was different. When I, as a cat, was lost outside, he would always pick me up and bring me home, caring for me. On a day that was supposed to be special for us, I had planned to gift him a vintage piano worth millions and set our engagement date. But I transformed into a cat again. On the couch, Liam held me close, promising Chloe Miller, our housekeeper’s granddaughter: “Marrying Skylar is just a stepping stone. Once the Sutton empire is mine, the only one standing by my side will be you, Chloe. As for her… a payout will keep her quiet.” “Chloe, you’re the one for me.” The engagement party was just around the corner, and Dad asked me who I’d finally choose. The greedy glint in those men’s eyes flashed through my mind… I said, “When choosing a husband, I definitely need the one who’s the least trouble… and the most handsome. Let’s go with Julian Thorne from the Thorne family.” Dad’s teacup shattered on the floor. “Skylar! Julian Thorne was in a car accident three years ago… he’s been in a vegetative state ever since. Are you sure?” “Why?” Dad was incredulous. “Wasn’t Liam a good kid? The others are all the cream of the crop, and you…” “You know about… my situation. What would happen to the Suttons if word got out? What would I become?” Dad’s face instantly turned grave. “But Julian Thorne… he’s been like that for three years. My child, you’d be tied to a man who’s essentially gone, so young! How can I be at peace with that!” The Thorne family’s eldest son, once one of the most eligible bachelors in the city, had been in a car accident three years ago, leaving him in a medically confirmed vegetative state. Dad had picked those five back then, fearing I’d be alone someday, hoping at least one of them would genuinely care for me. But he couldn’t guard against the treacherous nature of people’s hearts. I leaned softly on Dad’s shoulder. “Dad, having you is enough. I’m fine on my own.” At least Julian wouldn’t harm me, nor would he have ulterior motives because I could turn into a cat. Dad sighed, finally giving up his objections. After Dad left, my heart felt icy. Who would’ve thought Liam, who seemed pure as driven snow, was actually calculating furiously with Chloe Miller behind my back! If he knew I could turn into a cat, he’d probably see me as a monster, or even… eagerly pack me off to some secret research lab, right? Just the thought sent a shiver down my spine. I had just returned from the company when four figures blocked me at the villa entrance. Everyone was there, except Liam. Dylan Reed, the investment banker, was the first to lose his patience, speaking with a languid drawl: “Skylar, darling, we’ve supported you for ages. How come there’s still no word on that five-million-dollar investment Mr. Sutton promised? You’re not playing dirty, are you?” Next to him, Dr. Alex Gray, still in his scrubs, hands in his pockets, chimed in: “Skylar Sutton, are you going to get me that Chief Resident title or not? Spit it out! My time is far more valuable than yours. A single wasted minute could mean a life lost, and you think you can afford that?” Ben Stone, the lawyer, adjusted his glasses. “No one understands the Suttons’ intentions better than I do. Are you trying to burn bridges now? Either sign a ten-year contract with our firm, or I can’t guarantee what the Sutton name will become.” Even Lucas Blackwood, who always prided himself on his artistic integrity, spoke up, full of indignant betrayal: “What about us? Forget us! What about Liam? He’s too pure for this world; he wouldn’t have gotten involved in this mess if your family hadn’t forced him! You have to compensate us!” In their mouths, I was an ungrateful, unforgivable liar. But which one of them wasn’t where they were today because of the Suttons? From their tuition for prestigious overseas education to their connections for high-paying jobs back home, the Suttons had paved the way for everything. And now they were turning around and accusing me? I pointed at the main door. “Done talking? If you’re so wronged, you shouldn’t have come in the first place. This is perfect, now get out! Isn’t it better for everyone to be free?” Their faces instantly twisted into ugly grimaces. I tugged at the corner of my lips, finding it somewhat amusing. “What? You’re free and not happy? Is it because you won’t have the chance to rightfully covet the Sutton fortune anymore?” “Stop pretending, you pillars of society. When you were falling over yourselves to get your foot in the Sutton door, why didn’t you show so much pride?” Dylan and the others flushed, their faces turning pale, but they stubbornly tried to argue. Alex forced out a defense. “Wh-what’s with the nasty talk! We… we’re from ordinary families, how could we dare challenge a family as wealthy as the Suttons? It was your dad who insisted on choosing us…” Ben echoed, “Exactly! What right did we have to refuse? Beggars can’t be choosers!” Their shamelessness almost made me laugh in exasperation. Before I could even process their ridiculous accusations, Liam and Chloe appeared. The moment Chloe saw me, she clutched Liam’s sleeve like a startled little bunny. Liam instinctively pulled her behind him, and the four others immediately surrounded them, as if I was about to tear Chloe apart. This scene was so familiar. Five years ago, when Chloe first came to the Suttons with her grandmother, she shyly handed me a small, carved wooden charm on a red string, saying it was a protective amulet from her village. I saw her genuine sincerity and was touched. Thinking little girls loved pretty things, I immediately gifted her a diamond bracelet in return as a welcome present. Who knew that just two days later, Liam would angrily confront me, holding that wooden charm. “Chloe said she’s had this since birth, that her mother had practically begged for it on her knees for days! And you’re trying to take it from her too?!” I was stunned, looking at Chloe, hoping she’d speak up for me. Instead, she sank to her knees, tears welling up instantly. “Liam, don’t blame Skylar! It was… it was my fault for insisting on giving it to her! Skylar is very good to me, she even gave me such a beautiful bracelet… *sob*… I’m not upset, really…” She cried and bowed her head, her forehead quickly growing red. This display of utter helplessness and false martyrdom instantly ignited the fury of those self-proclaimed knights in shining armor. “Skylar Sutton, just because you’re a Sutton, you think you can push people around like this?” “Someone gives you a heartfelt gift, and you throw money in their face?” “Don’t be scared, Chloe! We’re here, she won’t dare touch you!” From then on, whenever Chloe shed a single tear in front of me, no matter what I had or hadn’t done, Liam and the others would immediately decide it was my fault. Chloe, meanwhile, never once explained. Later, when I turned into a cat, I personally saw her casually toss that wooden charm into the trash, not caring about it at all. In front of those men, she’d lavish me, a cute little cat, with affection, but secretly, she’d pull my fur, even pinch my tail until I cried out in pain and fled. One time, I couldn’t stand it anymore and suggested to Dad that we send Chloe to school, to learn a skill. My mom passed away early, and Mrs. Miller had been with our family for nearly twenty years, taking devoted care of Dad and me. Because of Mrs. Miller, I had always shown Chloe a lot of patience. Sending her to school was truly for her own good. But Chloe immediately burst into tears and ran out. Those men instantly came running again, without bothering to understand the situation, accusing me: “Skylar Sutton! Chloe never got much schooling growing up, aren’t you just rubbing salt in her wounds?!” “She’s already so insecure and sensitive, can’t you just be nicer to her? Do you have to provoke her like this?” “How can you be so malicious! Can’t stand to see anyone do well, can you?!” They became even more convinced she was pathetically vulnerable and innocent. And I, through and through, was nothing but a spoiled, manipulative, and utterly irredeemable villain. My thoughts snapped back to the present. Looking at the faces of these five men, I felt a wave of nausea. “Take your pathetic little saint and get out!” Accusations once again rained down on me, overwhelming. “Skylar Sutton! How dare you speak like that! You’ve gone too far!” “Chloe came to see you out of kindness, don’t you know what’s good for you!” Chloe’s tears started to well up again. She peeked half her head out from behind Liam, pulling out a few crumpled bills and offering them to me. “Skylar, please don’t be angry… this is my allowance I’ve saved for ages, it’s not much… please don’t blame Liam and the others…” Again? I swatted her hand away, scattering the bills across the floor. “Cut the sickening act!” *SLAP!* Liam’s palm slammed against my cheek. My face instantly swelled, burning with stinging pain. “Skylar Sutton! Are you done with your tantrum?! Chloe was just trying to be kind! How dare you humiliate her like that?!” Liam’s tone was laced with condescending arrogance. “Skylar Sutton, if you still want to marry me, you *must* respect Chloe!” “And Dylan and the others, you need to compensate them properly!” He ticked off my supposed misdeeds on his fingers, one by one: “Dylan’s boss is constantly chewing him out these days; can’t the Suttons pull some strings for him?” “Alex can’t get promoted and is constantly bossed around by his supervisor; are you blind?” “Who even understands art these days? Lucas’s gallery is barely staying afloat. Is it so hard to buy a few paintings to help him out?” He paused, his voice turning threatening. “My orchestra has an overseas tour coming up in a few days. If you keep acting like this, don’t blame me if I don’t come back!” Dylan and the others looked profoundly touched.

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I was notorious in our circle: a frail socialite with an unhinged reputation, my delicate constitution supposedly sustained by the mysterious power of blood. I despised the fiancé my father had chosen for me, Julian Vance. So, to spite him, I kept nine male companions at home. Each time Julian, the richest man in the city, whose very being was a living remedy, questioned me, his eyes blazing with fury, I’d merely scoff at him. But then, those nine men poisoned the blood I drank, and absconded with all my assets. As blood streamed from every orifice, Julian, his eyes red-rimmed, tortured them to death. Their screams died out as their blood stained the entire mansion. He then severed a major artery, offering his blood to my lips, tears streaming down his face. “Elara, my love, my blood can cure all ills. Please, live for me, okay?” But I never opened my eyes, even as his lifeblood drained away. It was then I finally understood the depth of his devotion. I reopened my eyes, reborn to the very day my father was choosing my husband. This time, I sent all my male companions away. I wanted only him. I truly believed we would live happily until the very end. But then, to bail out his cousin, Valerie Reed, who’d gambled away everything at the casino, he and my father delivered me straight to the opponent’s poker table. … At the poker table, my body wouldn’t stop trembling. In my last life, Julian would sever a major artery, bleeding himself nearly to death to save me. Just three minutes ago, he willingly subjected himself to drugs, making me drink his sedative-laced blood. He sighed, his warm thumb gently wiping away the tears at the corner of my eye. “Elara, I’ve replaced everyone at the casino with my own people. They won’t hurt you. You just need to act the part, to soothe Valerie’s bruised feelings.” “You ruined her dress yesterday, so consider this your apology.” Even my doting father chimed in, “Consider it character building. If it weren’t for you, Valerie wouldn’t have been so heartbroken she ran off to the casino.” I was shaken, trembling all over, unable to believe these words came from my doting father’s lips. Yesterday, Valerie saw the dress I was wearing at the mall. She came at me, all flailing limbs and furious intent, only to slip, tearing her dress and humiliating herself in front of everyone. She claimed I made her barely clothed, leaving her to be photographed by strangers. Then, heartbroken, she went to the casino and lost everything, utterly ruined. My pupils constricted violently, comparing them to the two men who had loved me so deeply in my previous life. Could it be that they, too, had been reborn? My body stiffened, but my mind was terrifyingly clear. Tears instantly streamed down my face. Julian then arranged me into a pose that seemed to satisfy everyone. The poker chips, heavy with their weight, teetered precariously on my barely covered body. “Young Master Vance, this is the unhinged beauty from the Sterling family; you’re going to get us in trouble… Isn’t the cousin a safer bet?” The playboys eyed me with lust, yet recoiled in fear. Their sticky hands cautiously brushed against my skin. Julian leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the changing room, his expression cold. “Since I brought her, feel free to enjoy yourselves. Her body, cultivated by daily blood, just a touch and she’s ready.” My body shook like a sieve. Julian, who’d painstakingly nursed himself back to health, used to fuss over a mosquito bite for half a day. Now, he was personally offering me up. Seeing me like a fish on a cutting board, ready to be carved, those men rubbed their hands in anticipation. They tore at the few remaining inches of fabric on my body. A wave of intense humiliation washed over me. My heart shattered into a million pieces. From across the room, Valerie emerged, her eyes red. Julian tenderly pulled her into his embrace. His doting tone made her giggle sweetly. Those who’d dared disrespect her instantly fell to their knees, groveling for forgiveness. My heart twisted with a mix of emotions. I remembered. Before, if anyone so much as glanced at me too long, he’d taught them a lesson they’d never forget. Valerie looked at me, her eyes suddenly red, but a vicious glint shone within them. “Sister, even if you’re used to being arrogant and overbearing, you shouldn’t walk around without clothes. So many men, it’s embarrassing. Why don’t you all get close to Elara, so she doesn’t get cold.” The words had barely left her lips when Julian stepped forward, his large hand possessively covering her eyes. “Don’t look. She’s dirty.” My fingertips dug deep into my palms, my heart aching and trembling as large tears fell. It was June; how could Julian not understand what she meant? He was indulging her, backing her up. A man with such severe germophobia, who in my previous life held me, covered in blood, and kissed me gently. Why was he so cruel this time? Seeing Julian leave, the men no longer held back, crowding around the poker table, indulging themselves wildly. Once they were satisfied, they discarded me. Their laughter in the room drowned out my heart-wrenching screams. Even my breaths were tainted with the sickly sweet taste of pain. I stumbled home on trembling legs. But at the doorstep, I froze, my breath hitched. My hands, hanging at my sides, clenched into tight fists. Valerie and I shared the same birthday. At this moment, my father and Julian were at the table, celebrating hers. Countless gifts were piled high in the living room. Everything that should have been mine in my last life, and even now, meant nothing to me. The three of them laughed and chatted around the dining table. That warm and harmonious scene was all I had ever craved, in this life and the last. It turned out Valerie could get it so easily. I averted my eyes, taking the back stairs to the second floor. The moment I closed the door, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I broke down, sobbing. I had clearly changed my temper for him. So why had he and Father acted so strangely? This time, I wanted to love him truly, but he wouldn’t give me a chance. My face was ashen as I pulled out my phone. “Leo, I’m coming to you, I’m not marrying him.” The man on the other end sighed, his voice cold. “Little sister, it’s good you finally understand. Caleb will be very happy when he hears this.” After hanging up, I lay sleepless on the cold floor all night. My phone vibrated, shattering my already frozen heart. It was a SnapChat video from Valerie. My hands trembled as I tapped it open. When I saw the end of the video, my body went rigid. “Sister, did you sleep well last night? I’ve arranged for the baby in your belly to return and repay your kindness. I specifically chose prime genetic material. No need to thank me.” I froze, a bone-deep chill spreading through me. I couldn’t move an inch. Valerie had replaced the casino staff… And then I saw someone injecting something into me. I rushed to the bathroom, retching until blood appeared in my vomit. I scrubbed my skin raw with a steel wool scrubber until blood mingled with the water, tears streaming down my face. In my last life, Valerie, though adopted, had always behaved herself in the Sterling household. But this time, she was like a completely different person. A chilling realization dawned on me: they had all been reborn. I dragged my broken body, frantic, into the hospital, begging the nurse, “Please, I need an abortion.” The words had barely left my lips when I heard the click of heels behind me. I looked up to see Julian, his face darkened ominously, striding towards me. “Sister, you’re pregnant? Why are you asking the nurse for an abortion? Do you really not want Julian’s child?” I rushed forward, clutching Julian’s hand tightly. “I’m not pregnant. This isn’t my child. Valerie replaced the people at the casino. She had someone inject…” Julian, his eyes blazing, pinned me against the wall, gritting his teeth. “You’re still trying to frame Valerie? I thought your temper had improved, but you’re still so inconsiderate of others.” Even my father, who had rushed over at the commotion, slapped me hard across the face. “You demon child! When will you learn to be as obedient as Valerie? This is your own child!” Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. I swallowed the coppery taste in my throat. I looked at them and laughed, tears streaming down my cheeks. The two men who loved me most had personally sent me to the casino, preferring to trust an outsider over his own daughter. They wouldn’t even ask their own daughter a single question. In my previous life, I distinctly remembered that if I coughed just once, they would have all the doctors on standby at the mansion. Helpless tears, which I could no longer hold back, streamed down my face. Seeing me in such a state, a sharp pang hit his chest, and he stepped forward. But Valerie chose that moment to let out a delicate sob. “I’ve already forgiven Elara, why must you still try to frame me? I’m a victim too, I almost…” Her perfectly timed, dramatic pause fueled Julian’s rage. Her eyes gleamed with triumphant malice as she looked at me. My blood boiled. I glared at her viciously, stumbled to my feet, and lunged towards her. But the moment my fingers brushed her hair, Julian shoved me away violently. I crashed into a cart, and the IV drip shattered all over the floor, pain radiating through my entire body. As blood gushed from beneath me, I saw Julian tenderly blowing on Valerie’s hair. And my usually composed father frantically called for doctors and nurses. I smiled, then blacked out. When I woke up again, I was tightly bound to the hospital bed, unable to move an inch. My hands and feet were bound until my limbs were bruised and swollen. Envious whispers from the nurses drifted into my ears. “When will I meet a man like Mr. Vance? His fiancée pulled out a single strand of his adopted sister’s hair, and he brought in the top hair transplant specialist.” “Right? And to prevent her from harming Miss Reed again, he’s treating her like a mentally ill patient. It’s the first time I’ve seen restraints used like this!” Their voices faded. I looked up, and Julian appeared at the doorway. Was there a hint of heartache in his eyes as he looked at me? I scoffed. He noticed my gaze, loosened the restraints on me, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Elara, you’re being so unreasonable. Valerie said you were just having your period and not pregnant at all. Your paltry attempt to gain my sympathy is too clumsy.” My breath hitched. He believed Valerie’s words just like that. “You should apologize to Valerie. As compensation, give her your Four Seasons Estate. You don’t use it anyway.” I gasped, my eyes widening. The Four Seasons Estate was divided into four sections—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—and was my mother’s specifically designed wedding gift for me. Before she passed, she clung to life just to ensure I signed for it myself. Julian once held me, promising that we would let Mother witness our happiness. How could I just hand it over to someone else? “I refuse!” I snapped. Julian’s face twisted, and he stared at me coldly. “Valerie’s health isn’t good. The Four Seasons Estate has special climate control for each season, perfect for nursing her body. Don’t be so petty.” My face drained of all color, but I stood my ground. “You’re a living remedy; if her health isn’t good, use your blood to heal her!” Julian’s expression flickered. “No! Valerie isn’t like you; she can’t stand the smell of blood. It’s settled.” I looked at Julian, a profound sorrow gripping me. Then I suddenly remembered my father. Right! Father and Mother loved each other so deeply; he surely wouldn’t agree! I rushed out of the hospital and went home. But when I approached my father with a glimmer of hope, he slapped me hard across the face, his rage blazing. “Is this how your mother taught you to be so cold-blooded? For a useless relic left by a dead woman, you’re willing to let her be frail and sickly!” My pupils violently constricted, and my entire body trembled. Mother had been so good to Julian. She’d even managed Father’s company until her dying breath. Yet, this same man now only offered a cold back and cruel words. My lips were bitten raw until they bled. Julian flinched, stung by the hatred in my eyes. He was about to say something when Valerie strutted out, holding an authorization form, flaunting it in front of me. “Thank you, Elara, for your apology. Our grievances are now completely erased.” As she spoke, she pulled out two racing tickets from the file. “Sister, I invite you to my race tomorrow. Father and Julian will both be there.” My hand trembled violently when I saw the tickets. I looked at the two men, my face filled with panic. When I was a child, a race car had crashed through the barrier and hit me. I lay in the hospital for two years, the cold machines making it hard to hold on. “I’m not going!” I tried to escape, but Valerie grabbed me, her nails digging into my flesh, as if tearing a piece of me away. Valerie suddenly arched backward uncontrollably, too fast to react. “Ah, don’t push me…” She fell straight into the fireplace behind her, flames leaping up. Julian pulled her out, and she sobbed uncontrollably in his arms. “What if my hair is burned? Sister must resent me. I didn’t mean to take anything from her.” I looked up. “Would you believe me if I said I didn’t?” “Elara Sterling, what are you doing?” Julian’s eyes were crimson, as if he wanted to gouge me out. I merely sneered at him, seeing no need to explain. He knew how terrified I was of cars, yet he still wouldn’t believe me. Seeing this, Valerie ran off crying. Julian raised his hand, ready to deliver a fierce slap. He went after her like a madman. In the dead of night, I curled up in bed, my pillow soaked with tears. “Mom… why didn’t you take me with you?” In a blur, I heard someone push open the door and lead me downstairs. When I reopened my eyes, the screech of tires against the pavement was deafening, and everything blurred before me. I bit my lower lip hard, the sensation of impending death washing over me. My body was covered in vomit mixed with blood. I instantly understood: Julian was getting revenge for Valerie. This time, I couldn’t even shed a single tear. The car door opened, and I rolled out like a dead weight. The smell of burning filled the air, but I no longer had the strength to struggle. I didn’t understand why this life had turned out this way. Julian and Father were like different people. But it didn’t matter anymore. Everything was about to end. I curled my lips into a relieved smile and slowly closed my eyes. ———-此处为截断点———- “What unhinged socialite? I’d say she’s a promiscuous socialite, ha…” “Ah!” The unrestrained laughter came to an abrupt halt.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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