Category: English

My wife was reported for embezzling company funds, and I took the fall, serving time in prison for her. She promised she’d wait for me in our home, but she never visited, not once. I figured she was busy and didn’t think much of it. Until the day I was released. I found my wife, Serena, leaning into a man’s embrace, gazing happily at two little kids, a boy and a girl, playing in the yard. No wonder she didn’t have time to see me. She was too busy living her happily ever after. I’d sacrificed four and a half years in prison, thinking I was a martyr, but they hadn’t cared at all. The little boy caught my eye, still crouched behind the iron fence. He turned, screaming with excitement: “Mom, Dad, look! A beggar’s here for food!” The man’s gaze fell on me, and a chilling cold spread through my chest. Wasn’t that Vincent Blackwood, the man who’d reported my wife all those years ago? … Vincent Blackwood pulled the two children behind him, his eyes wary. “Go on, sweethearts, play with Mom.” The two kids bounced around Serena. She just looked at me, her brow furrowed. Vincent reached out as if to pat my shoulder, hesitated for a few seconds when he saw my ragged clothes, but completed the standard guy-to-guy greeting anyway. “Next time you visit us, remember to call ahead and make an appointment. You… nearly scared the kids.” “I don’t recall you being due out so soon.” Vincent pulled out a cigarette and offered it to me. I didn’t take it. “Good behavior, got some time off,” I repeated his words in my head, the taste bitter. “The property deed for this house is still in my name, you know.” My life’s work, all those years of struggle, now just a freebie for Vincent because he started a family with *her*. Vincent fell silent. He lit the cigarette himself and took a drag. Serena Miller approached, and his free hand naturally rested on her shoulder. Serena’s eyes swept over me, making me uncomfortable. She let out a soft sigh, those expressive eyes looking at me. “You’ve lost weight.” As if we were truly long-lost lovers, finally reunited. I desperately wanted to ask her if her words from back then still held true, if she’d thought of me at all during all these days. Vincent suddenly clapped his hands, the cigarette still dangling from his lips. “I almost forgot! My mind’s a mess, all thanks to your son.” “Honey, don’t eat that.” He picked up a dog bowl, still wet with dog drool, and haughtily tossed it at my feet. Then, with a sneer, he blew a puff of smoke directly into my face. “Liam, I’m not trying to insult you. Our dog’s monthly food bill is definitely more than what you got in prison. The food won’t be bad.” “I’m just curious, I heard people who’ve done time would eat anything, even rotten scraps, and find it delicious. I just want to see if that’s true.” I had arrived hungry, but in my rush to see Serena, I hadn’t eaten anything before coming. And it wasn’t as if I’d relish rotten scraps, as he suggested. I just hadn’t expected Serena to already have two children. She had forgotten me completely, forgotten my sacrifice. Vincent treated me like dirt, and Serena just offered a faint smile. Infuriated, I grabbed Vincent by his collar with one hand. “What are you showing off for? You framed my wife and stole my family, and I haven’t even settled that score with you yet!” Serena’s fingernails scraped my arm. She snapped, annoyed: “Liam Anderson, Vincent was just joking with you. Why are you overreacting like this?” I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth and let go. The moment I released him, Serena quickly took Vincent’s arm, meticulously smoothing out his collar. “Serena Miller, aren’t you going to give me an explanation? He and those twins…” Serena raised her hand to check the time, her voice cold and distant. “We can talk about this minor issue later. It’s almost time for Leo and Mia to go on the swings.” They treated me as if I were invisible, walking away hand in hand. My anger felt like shouting into a void; no one cared. Serena pulled a hundred-dollar bill from behind her phone and tucked it into my hand. “You’ve worked hard for over four years. Go buy yourself something nice.” I stood there, stunned, clutching the hundred-dollar bill. Keeping cash behind my phone was a habit I’d had for years. That was from a trip with Serena long ago. She’d fainted from heatstroke, my phone had died, and I had no cash. I’d asked countless passersby before finally borrowing money from a girl who’d had a previous spat with Serena. The condition was five bucks for every slap to my face. Since then, to be prepared for any emergency, every morning before leaving, I’d check both our phones to make sure there was cash behind them. Serena’s actions still carried a shadow of my influence, but she no longer loved me. Only this house, where we’d lived for so many years, told me. Those loving memories, they were real. I suppressed the bitterness in my heart, felt under the rug, and found the key, ready to enter the house and change into some slippers. Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, suddenly shouted, accusing me loudly. “Mr. Anderson, what are you doing? Your muddy footprints are all over the tiles! Can’t you think about how hard we work to keep this place clean?” Mrs. Jenkins was a housekeeper I’d hired years ago, back when I was just starting out. She had been incredibly grateful to me at first. I hadn’t expected that in four and a half years in prison, Serena wouldn’t be the only one to change. Ignoring Mrs. Jenkins, I reached for a pair of slippers. Mrs. Jenkins shrieked again, “Mr. Anderson, you still don’t know the rules! These slippers are for guests!” I was about to explode, but Mrs. Jenkins rushed back, bringing me a pair of my old shoes and two red plastic bags to use as shoe covers. She patted my back like an elder. “Mr. Anderson, don’t be mad at me. I have to follow the orders of whoever pays me, right?” “Your things? Mrs. Miller already had me put them all in the storage room. Hurry up and take that pile of junk and move out.” I shook my head and went to the storage room. Expensive watches and custom suits were haphazardly piled on the floor. But on the top shelf of a spotless glass cabinet sat a single shoe box. I quickly and carefully took it down, only to find a pair of canvas shoes cut into shreds, with several burn holes on the upper and traces of cigarette ash. When I carried the shoe box out, the cozy family of four had returned. Seeing my grim face, Serena stepped forward and touched my forehead. “No fever. Why do you look so pale? I’ll have Mrs. Jenkins make you some chicken soup later to perk you up.” “I just discussed it with Vincent. Since we’ve known each other for so many years, you can continue to stay in our house. We won’t kick you out to wander the streets.” I took a few steps back to avoid her touch and opened the shoe box. “Who ruined my shoes?” Serena glanced at them. “Oh, the pair your mom sewed for you, right?” I nodded. Serena pointed at me, letting out a clear laugh. “Vincent, look, a twenty-dollar pair of old-fashioned sneakers, and he treats it like a treasure.” “Who could stand such a mama’s boy? He wore those worn-out shoes every single day, and if it rained, he put them in a safe. Why didn’t he just spend his whole life with his mom?” The little boy, who had been hiding behind Vincent earlier, bravely stepped forward, raising his hand high. “I ruined them! Don’t blame my mom.” He seemed proud of himself. Serena gently ruffled his hair. “If you ruin someone’s things, you have to pay for them. Go buy him a new pair.” Then, she said to me, seemingly helpless: “Liam Anderson, don’t fuss over a kid. He’ll pay you for a new pair, just let it go.” The chubby boy ran over with an alligator-skin wallet, pulled out a handful of coins, and scattered them all over me. He grinned, his smile strikingly similar to Vincent Blackwood’s. Serena praised the boy for being sensible, but then she saw me again, and her brow furrowed. “This is over. Kids are always mischievous. Giving you twenty bucks for those old-fashioned shoes is already generous of him.” Vincent extended a cigarette butt, making a cryptic gesture. The shoes had been placed so high, a child of a meter tall couldn’t have reached them. Besides, there was cigarette ash on them. Serena followed my gaze, playfully punching Vincent’s arm. But when she turned back to me, her face was cold as ice. “You’re not still suspecting Vincent, are you? Even if he knew those old shoes were your family heirloom, Vincent wouldn’t bother with your trash. Can’t your mom just make you another pair?” She couldn’t make another pair. This was the last pair of shoes my mom ever sewed for me. In all those years I suffered in prison, my mom only visited once. She even specifically told me to be good to Serena when I got out. But was it my fault that I couldn’t have a good life with Serena? For five years, I yearned for her. She was laughing in another man’s arms. Serena ignored me, picking up the children. “My darlings must be hungry. Let’s go eat. Hubby, you too, hurry up.” Vincent casually glanced at me. “Honey, it’s been so many years, and the kids and I don’t like Spicy Tripe Stew. I’ve never even seen you touch your fork to it, so why do you still insist Mrs. Jenkins makes it?” Spicy Tripe Stew was my favorite dish. Before, Serena had disliked it, calling it a strange, unpresentable dish. Only on holidays would she allow Mrs. Jenkins to make it for me. Serena froze, her back to me, not answering Vincent. “Liam Anderson, stay and eat. I don’t want the neighbors seeing our guest leave looking upset, thinking we’re bad hosts.” The phrase “our home” had stabbed at me countless times today. Vincent gritted his teeth, then put his arm around my shoulder, acting friendly. “Liam, tonight, we drink until we drop.” A few years ago, he’d solemnly told me he would pursue justice and the law to the very end. His face hadn’t looked like this then. At the most prominent spot on the table, a steaming bowl of Spicy Tripe Stew sat. Seeing me staring at the dish, Serena picked up the bowl and dumped it into the trash can. She didn’t look at me, but smiled sweetly at Vincent. “I can’t believe I used to put such a disgusting dish on the table.” “Only someone with a psychological defect would enjoy a dish like that.” More than her sarcasm, I thought of our marriage, just an empty piece of paper. She must have regretted it long ago, right? I wasn’t incapable of accepting Serena falling in love with someone else, having children with another man, but why didn’t she tell me sooner? Even a message through someone else would have been enough. My place setting was still on the table, but I knew that in this home, which I had fought so hard for, there was no longer a place for me. Serena and Vincent, with their two children, harmoniously enjoyed dinner, while I was isolated outside. I directly asked the question that had been haunting me. “Was what happened five years ago a joint effort between you two?” Serena pressed her lips together and handed the two children to Mrs. Jenkins. Vincent stared at my face and laughed. “Liam, you’re too full of yourself. If I wanted to go against you, it wouldn’t have been just four and a half years. Besides, look in the mirror, see that receding hairline? If I played dirty with you, my subordinates would laugh me to death.” Serena laughed too, glancing at the top of my head with a look of disdain. “What’s past is past. Liam Anderson, you’re just not generous enough. After all these years in the industry, you’re still just an upstart.” Could four and a half years of repetitive prison life just be brushed off with “what’s past is past”? My buzz cut, it was a mark left by them both, yet they laughed so happily. Serena suddenly turned serious, glaring at Vincent. “That’s enough laughing, it’s getting excessive. Show Liam Anderson some respect. I think a buzz cut isn’t bad at all.” She picked up a chicken drumstick and placed it on the plate in front of me. I wiped the fork, which had the little boy’s drool on it, and gently turned over the chicken skin, seeing specks of white maggots lying on the drumstick. It felt like the entire universe was telling me to leave, to stop being moved by little things. Finally, I made up my mind. “Serena Miller, let’s get a divorce.” Serena’s lips turned pale. “Are you sure? Once we divorce, there’s no turning back.” I nodded. “This house has the traces of your partner and children living in it. I don’t want it. Sell it to me at market price.”

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The night before the college entrance exam, my stepsister poured boiling water all over me. My forehead, face, and hands were all burned to varying degrees. The doctor told me I needed to be hospitalized immediately. I refused. I still had to take the exam. This was the biggest turning point in my life, and I couldn’t miss it. The doctor shook his head as he prescribed burn cream and antibiotics. My dad impatiently scolded me: “Why did you provoke her in the middle of the night?” I was already in pain, and years of pent-up resentment finally burst out! Standing on the empty street, I shouted: “How did I provoke her? I was sound asleep, how could I have provoked her?” “Dad, your favoritism is too much! That kettle in our house had just boiled water! She was trying to kill me!!!” “People in hell always try their best to drag others down with them!” My dad slapped me across the face. I was stunned. The burn layered with the slap, and I was in so much pain I could barely breathe. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I was just a child no one cared about. In the eyes of my dad and my birth mom, I was always unwanted… I kept thinking over and over: “Why didn’t I just die? All these years, why did I fight so hard to stay alive?” My trembling hand touched my face. The burning, stinging areas had indeed broken skin. My dad didn’t continue scolding me. He turned and walked towards home, and I silently followed behind him.

My dad had a mistress. I knew about this since kindergarten. My mom would cry and threaten suicide every other day. Later, one afternoon, she heard my dad was at a hotel with that woman and rushed over. But then a once-in-a-century earthquake struck. My mom was crushed under a concrete slab and lost a leg. My dad and his mistress escaped unscathed. It was May 12, 2008, in Hanwang, Sichuan province. That year, there were many heartwarming stories in the news. Influenced by the overall atmosphere, my dad didn’t divorce. But my mom lost her job due to her disability. Her personality became even more volatile and weak. She would threaten suicide frequently, saying she wanted to die to spite my dad. The following year, my dad divorced my mom against all odds and married that woman, moving to a new city. I went with my dad. First, because my dad was in a better financial situation, while my mom had no job. Second, my mom didn’t want me. She said I was from the Parker family, so why should she raise a Parker child? As for that woman… Her name was Bella White. She was my mom’s best friend. When she got together with my dad, she was already married. In other words, she and my dad were having an affair with each other. When she married into our family, she brought along a daughter who was the same age as me, just two months younger. She claimed the girl was my dad’s child. From then on, I had a stepmother and a stepsister. What’s it like having a stepmother? Like the evil queen in Snow White, always plotting to kill the daughter of the original wife? Or treating the original wife’s daughter like her own, no matter how much the daughter hates or mistreats her, always having a kind and forgiving heart, leading to a happy ending? Reality isn’t so extreme. It’s hard for anyone to be completely fair, let alone a woman who had an affair and even stole her best friend’s husband. What could you expect? Those years… Whatever my stepsister had, I had too! Whatever my stepsister didn’t have, I still had! My stepsister’s clothes would eventually become my clothes. When they were old, short, or no longer liked, they became mine. My stepsister was a picky eater. The dishes she didn’t want to eat, leftover snacks, stationery she thought was ugly or didn’t like – those all became mine. We were in the same school and same class. Everyone knew we were sisters. Some people secretly asked me: “Zoe, were you adopted?” “No.” “If not, why do you always take Olivia’s leftovers?” I explained over and over that I was my dad’s biological daughter, that my mom was my dad’s legal wife, and that Olivia’s mom was the mistress who stole my dad. This spread quickly, passing through countless mouths, embellished countless times. By the time it reached my ears again, it was completely distorted. Because of this, Olivia became famous at school. Many people cursed her for being the daughter of a mistress, stealing what belonged to others. My dad and stepmom beat me harshly. They said I was an ungrateful wretch, that when they divorced they shouldn’t have kept me, they should have left me to fend for myself with my crippled mom. They transferred Olivia to the best and most expensive private school in the area. Her clothes, shoes, and stationery were all replaced with better ones. My stepmom said to give me the old ones. Olivia screamed, smashing the old stationery on the ground, using scissors to cut up the clothes, poking holes in the shoes, saying she’d rather destroy them than give them to me. I stood at the bedroom door. Not waiting for Olivia to finish her tantrum, I turned and went back to my room. This was my and Olivia’s room: “Two closets, one bed, one floor mat.” The bed had a pink mosquito net and matching pink bedding. The first time I lay on that bed, it felt so comfortable! Lying there, I felt like I had become a princess. A few minutes later, Olivia screamed again: “Zoe Parker! You rotten person, how dare you sleep on my bed? Get off right now!” My stepmom ran in with Olivia. Together, they grabbed my hair and dragged me off the bed, throwing me to the floor. I clutched my aching scalp, looking at them defiantly and angrily: “I’ve been sleeping on the floor for 4 years. It’s time I slept on the bed!” Back then, when we first moved to this city and this home, my dad and stepmom had told me and Olivia to discuss who would sleep on the bed and who on the floor, or to take turns. I was so stupid! I volunteered to let Olivia have the bed. My dad and stepmom praised me greatly, saying I was sensible and knew to let my sister have it. To get their praise, many things after that followed the same pattern. New clothes – Olivia wears them first. New stationery – Olivia uses it first. New toys – Olivia plays with them first… Whatever Olivia doesn’t want, don’t waste it, just give it to me… In this family, I was basically treated like a beggar. My stepmom walked up to me and kicked me, looking down at me condescendingly: “Zoe Parker, people need to know their place. In our family, you’re just a dog.” “If we want to keep you, you’re a house dog. If we don’t want to keep you, you’re a stray dog.” Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word dripped with viciousness.

I didn’t want to be a dog. I’d rather fend for myself with my mom. I took the $300 I had stolen from home and returned to my hometown. My mom lived in resettlement housing, still unemployed, surviving on welfare. My mom didn’t welcome me. She snatched away the $300 I had, then told me to get lost, to go find my dad. In that moment, my whole world collapsed. I was unwanted. In my mind, the thoughts of ‘suicide’ and ‘clinging to life’ were like two little people pulling desperately at each other. In the end, I gritted my teeth and returned to the place where I was treated like a dog. Waiting for me were cold mockery and sarcasm. My dad beat me, saying I was up to no good, running away from home. A few days later, Olivia finally discovered her allowance was missing. My dad was about to beat me again, telling me to hand over the money. I shouted that my mom had taken the money, if he had the guts he should go ask her for it! My dad fell silent and let go of me. That night, Bella covered my mouth with one hand and viciously pinched my thigh over a dozen times with the other. I was in so much pain I broke out in a cold sweat. I struggled and bit down hard on the webbing between her thumb and index finger. I asked her: “My mom was your best friend. Aren’t you afraid of going to hell for treating me like this?” She sneered: “Your mom doesn’t even care about you. What do I have to be afraid of?” I was momentarily speechless. I went to the bathroom and took off my pants to look. My thigh was covered in bruises. After that day… It was as if Bella had discovered a new world. Whenever she was in a bad mood, she would pinch my thighs. This spot was good – hidden, wouldn’t be seen by others. Olivia’s grades weren’t good. She had been below average in our class before, and remained below average at her new school. Bella felt embarrassed, especially after comparing Olivia’s grades to mine. She would curse loudly at home… “Look at you! All the family’s money is spent on you, and what’s the result? As stupid as a pig! Can’t even do better than Zoe! I’m telling you, if you don’t score higher than her next time, don’t call me mom anymore!”… Olivia hated me. Besides secretly cutting holes in my pants, hiding needles in my coat, she would also steal my homework notebooks, tear up my textbooks, pour ink on my books… This went on for several years. One night, after I finished washing up and was about to apply face cream, I noticed obvious signs of tampering in the baby lotion, with a faint smell of nail polish remover. I hesitated for a moment, then decisively scooped out a dollop of cream and applied it to my face. My face immediately felt like it was on fire. To be honest, compared to my dad hitting me or Bella pulling my hair, this really wasn’t much. But I screamed and ran into the bathroom to look in the mirror. My cheeks turned red at a visible rate, with countless small rashes appearing on the skin surface. I angrily ran back to the bedroom, scooped out a large glob of cream, and lunged at Olivia to smear it on her face. Olivia screamed too. My dad and Bella rushed in and pulled me away to save Olivia. I shouted at my dad, accusing him of favoritism, asking if he would only be happy once Olivia killed me. Bella was very calm. She interrupted me, saying we should go to the hospital first, that a girl’s face couldn’t be ruined. My dad nodded. Then they took me to a clinic. Again, a clinic… They had just said we’d go to the hospital, but we ended up at a clinic. Hah, all these years, every time Olivia got sick it was the big hospital, while for me it was always the small clinic. That’s right, Olivia was the precious darling who couldn’t risk anything going wrong. I was just a pebble on the roadside – keeping me barely alive was enough. The doctor asked what I had used. I angrily pointed at Olivia and shouted that it was the baby lotion she had poisoned. Bella rushed forward and slapped me across the face, saying I was talking nonsense, that I was just a child making baseless accusations without seeing anything! The clinic fell silent. Everyone looked at us. I planted both hands on the doctor’s desk, my chest heaving violently. I bit my lip as big teardrops fell onto the desk… People around us pointed and whispered, saying Bella had hit me too hard. Bella panicked and explained that things had happened so suddenly, that she was just worried I would develop bad habits. The result of this incident was… Bella gave me $50 to buy a new bottle of baby lotion, telling me to keep the change as pocket money and not to talk about this outside. My dad finally gave up the facade of family harmony and fairness, telling me to live in the school dorms.

I laughed. I had traded a brief allergic reaction on my face for a degree of freedom, no longer having to see those three people every day. In the years that followed… In 8th grade, my grades plummeted from the top 3 in the class to the bottom 5-10, especially in math and science. I was always last on every test. I often cried under the covers on weekends at home. I wouldn’t speak during the day, and would pull my hair out while doing homework. Every time I couldn’t finish my homework, a clump of hair would fall out. Bella sneered countless times: “Hmph, I thought you were some kind of academic genius. Now you’re showing your true colors!” “Whether you’re a donkey or a horse, you only find out after running a few laps!” In 9th grade, my grades stabilized at second to last in the class. Why second to last? Because the last place was firmly occupied by the king of underachievers in our class, Ethan. On 100-point tests, I would hover around 60 points. But him? He didn’t even hover. He was always below 60, occasionally in the 30s. Very eye-catching. During this time, without the pressure of my academic superiority, Olivia had an easier time at home. Then came the high school entrance exam. I scraped by, accidentally performing poorly and scoring just a few points higher than Olivia. My dad couldn’t bear to send his precious daughter to a regular high school, so he spent $5000 to get Olivia into a key high school. As for me, of course I went to a regular high school. In my dad’s words, Olivia had underperformed, while I had overperformed. In 10th grade, as luck would have it, Ethan and I were classmates again. On registration day, he whistled at me, his smile incredibly smug: “What a coincidence! Eternal second-to-last.” I finally understood. He was like me – those terrible grades we got all year were deliberately achieved. With our actual scores, we couldn’t have gotten into high school at all. I walked over and looked him up and down: “Mr. Method Actor, what score did you actually get?” He told me a number. Wow! My score was already barely scraping by. His was even lower, just barely above the admission cutoff. “You didn’t do your research, did you? The admission scores for the past 5 years have varied by less than 3 points.” His smile held a hint of mockery: “We’re in high school now. Want to keep competing with me?” “For last place?” I smiled back. He raised an eyebrow. High school material was much harder than middle school, especially math. For some people, it was like entering hell mode. Olivia’s grades plummeted. No matter how much Bella watched her study, how many tutoring classes she signed her up for, how many practice books she bought her, it was all useless. I still went home every weekend. First, to maintain my image as a student driven crazy by poor grades. Second, to see how Olivia was doing, and to witness Bella turning into a roaring beast every time she heard about Olivia’s grades. Olivia would occasionally rebel. “You’re so amazing, why don’t you do it? You can’t even do middle school math, what right do you have to yell at me? Zoe’s a bad student too, how come you don’t yell at her?” … “Are you just projecting what you can’t do onto me?” … “I hate studying, and I hate you!” My dad couldn’t stand it anymore. He pointed at me countless times and told Bella: “Don’t push too hard. Let the kids find their own way. Don’t drive Olivia crazy!” Bella was both distressed and exasperated. She turned to take out her anger on me, her claws swooping towards my waist. Did she think I was some pushover who would be afraid of her? As soon as her hand reached out, I slapped it away. Then I curled up in a ball in the corner, pulling my hair and screaming hysterically. “Aunt Bella, have mercy, have mercy!” Bella cared about face to some extent. Afraid the neighbors would hear and spread rumors of an “evil stepmother”, she had no choice but to back off. After that, my life got a little better. I would scream.

Ethan shamelessly held onto last place in the entire grade. Converting to a 100-point scale, he would score in the 30s for math, physics and chemistry each time. His language, English, history and politics were slightly better, in the 50s! I really didn’t want to comment, but I had secretly flipped through the “5 Years of College Entrance Exam, 3 Years of Simulations”, “Golden Exam Papers”, “Must-Do Exam Questions” and “Dragon Gate Special Topics” hidden in his drawer… Damn, this guy was doing even more practice problems than me! His handwriting was messy and rushed. “Ethan, what exactly are you doing?” I asked one day at lunch when no one else was in the classroom, drumming on his desk. “What’s the point of scoring so low every time?” “There is a point,” he suddenly looked up and stared at me intently, his eyes bright. “More valid than your reasons.” I couldn’t help but clench my jaw, wanting to ask if he had investigated me. Before I could speak, he smiled. … “Zoe, want to make a bet?” … “Bet on what?” … “See who can get into Clearwater University.” Clearwater was my goal too. I had been preparing since elementary school and had some confidence. “Alright, loser buys dinner.” “Let’s add one more condition – loser has to be the winner’s girlfriend.” Me: “…” Ethan and I weren’t dating, except for that vague hint of attraction. Olivia knew how to dress up and was pretty. She often had many boys surrounding her like stars orbiting the moon. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t envious at all. Occasionally when we ran into each other on the way to and from school, Olivia would roll her eyes at me and whisper something to the group of boys. The boys would hiss at me and throw trash at me. One time, on the way back to school on a Sunday, a group of people were waiting for me at a street corner. They started walking towards me as soon as they saw me. Olivia was chewing gum as she walked in the middle. I took two steps back and turned to run. But I couldn’t outrun them… Someone grabbed my clothes from behind and flung me hard to the side. I slammed into a wall. The group swarmed me. Some kicked my legs, some punched my stomach. I was in so much pain I could barely scream. After the group finished beating me, Olivia told them to hold me down. She took out a razor blade and walked towards me. She said she was going to cut up my face. That day I was lucky. Among the people who shouted and tried to stop them was a teacher from their school. He yelled: “Which class are you from?” I vaguely heard someone say “Mr. Song” with a hint of fear in their voice. The group scattered. I slid down the wall. My body hurt and my legs were weak. I couldn’t stand up at all. “Young lady, are you alright? Should I take you to the hospital?” Mr. Song asked. I curled up in the corner, shaking my head as tears streamed down my face. Olivia and the others received major demerits at their school. Everyone in town was gossiping about this incident. Bella pinned Olivia to the bed and beat her viciously with a clothes hanger. However, she still felt I was the root cause. She thought I shouldn’t have run at the street corner, shouldn’t have screamed, and most of all, shouldn’t have freeloaded in their home all these years, making people dislike me. When she beat Olivia, she would beat me too, cursing me for being vicious. By now she no longer feared the reputation of being an evil stepmother. I avoided them whenever I could, and gradually stopped going home on weekends. Teenage boys and girls are at their most rebellious stage in life. Olivia didn’t feel there was anything wrong with getting people to beat me up. On the contrary, she thought it was cool! She grew even closer with that group of boys. I hid at school. Without all the chaos at home, I frantically did practice problems every day. If I wanted to change my fate and leave this family, studying was the only way.

There were three days off before the college entrance exam. I reluctantly returned home. To create a good study environment for Olivia, my dad and Bella tiptoed around like cats. Olivia was a poor student. She sat at her desk either spacing out or chewing on her pen, frowning. I couldn’t be bothered with these people. I just sat cross-legged on my floor mat and read. No matter what happened, once the exam was over, this family would have little to do with me. Two days later, the night before the exam. As if summoned by fate, I woke up in the middle of the night. A huge shadow inches away startled me! Olivia was standing next to my floor mat, holding a kettle of water motionless in both hands. I shot up… “What are you doing?” Olivia let out a piercing scream, as if she was the one who had been frightened. A large kettle of freshly boiled water splashed towards my face. I instinctively pulled up the blanket to shield myself… This was my first time in a hospital since 2008. My dad brought me. Bella stayed home to comfort the “traumatized” Olivia. My forehead, face and hands all had varying degrees of burns. What do burns feel like? It’s like the flesh under a thin layer of skin has been scalded and cooked. It’s a constant, unrelenting pain that no nerves can block out. You can’t sleep, and it’s a living hell! Even with my writing skills, I still can’t fully describe it. The doctor told me I needed to be hospitalized immediately. I refused. I still had to take the exam. This was the biggest turning point in my life, and I couldn’t miss it. The doctor shook his head as he prescribed burn cream and antibiotics, telling me to be very careful these two days and not let the skin break, to avoid infection. Afterwards, on the way home, my dad impatiently said: “Why did you provoke her in the middle of the night?” I was already in pain, plus I was anxious and worried about not getting enough rest affecting the exam tomorrow. On top of that, years of pent-up resentment finally burst out. My temper flared up like a volcano erupting. Standing on the empty street, I shouted: “How did I provoke her? I was sound asleep, how could I have provoked her?” “Dad, your favoritism is too much! That kettle in our house had just boiled water! She was trying to kill me!!!” “People in hell always try their best to drag others down with them!” My dad slapped me across the face. I was stunned. The burn layered with the slap, and I was in so much pain I could barely breathe. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I was just a child no one cared about. In the eyes of my dad and my birth mom, I was always unwanted… I kept thinking over and over: That year, when my mom snatched away the $300 I had stolen and told me to get lost, why didn’t I just die? All these years, why did I fight so hard to stay alive? My trembling hand touched my face. The burning, stinging areas had indeed broken skin. My dad didn’t continue scolding me. He turned and walked towards home, and I silently followed behind him. That night, the moon was high, clear and bright. The shadows were long. I didn’t sleep at home. I took my exam admission ticket, packed my bag and left. I didn’t have money for a hotel, so I found some steps outside the exam school and sat there all night, hugging my knees with my eyes closed. The next day, exam takers started arriving early. I didn’t want to move at all. Exhaustion swept over my whole body, and my mind was foggy. “Zoe Parker!”

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My sister Emily is dead. Someone threw her into a den of beggars, where she was abused to death by more than a dozen vagrants. The person responsible for this is Olivia Johnson, the wife of Alexander Thompson. All because my sister accidentally overheard one of her secrets. Before marrying Alexander, Olivia had an illegitimate child with another man. My sister begged Olivia on her knees, pleading that she had no parents and only a younger sister still in school who needed care. She even offered to have her tongue cut out if it meant sparing her life. But Olivia still had her dragged away. I clutched the friendship bracelet in my palm tightly. Sisters united, we were. Our family was poor, and our parents passed away early. Emily became a hostess at a high-end nightclub, using the money she earned to support my education and raise me. She always held me close and said, “Don’t be afraid, Lily. Your big sister will always protect you.” Now my world has crumbled. I’ve lost my sister. And I’ve come to hate Olivia Johnson. I’m planning my revenge. Olivia made me lose the person I loved most, so I’ll make her lose the person she loves most. Of course, the person Olivia loves most is her husband, Alexander Thompson! If she loses him, she’ll probably go insane. The thought alone excites me. I picked up a photo of Alexander Thompson. In Oceanville, Thompson Corp has always been the dominant force. In the picture, Alexander looks young and handsome. His status, power, and position make him particularly charming and alluring. The key is, he’s also a good husband. Married for three years, he an he and Olivia have been deeply in love, with no other women on the side. I laughed out loud. Is that really true? I gently traced Alexander’s handsome face in the photo. Olivia, what do you think? If I try to seduce your husband, will he take the bait?

I entered the Thompson mansion, becoming one of their maids. In the evening, I went to Alexander and Olivia’s master bedroom to make their bed. Just then, two bright headlights shone through the sparkling floor-to-ceiling windows. I knew Alexander was back. I reached out to turn off the wall lamp in the room. As darkness fell, I heard a “click” – the door was pushed open. Alexander had returned. He walked over and suddenly embraced me from behind. The man had been drinking. His slightly tipsy voice was low, mellow, and magnetic as he softly called out right next to my ear, “Honey~” I wanted to laugh. What a good husband indeed! But then, what about my sister’s life? I squirmed a little, my delicate body wriggling in his arms like a small water snake. Alexander’s large hand fell on my waist and pinched it, saying with a hint of confusion, “Why is your waist so slim today? So thin and soft.” I heard his breathing quicken. Soon, his hand slipped under the hem of my clothes, kneading gently as he said in a husky voice, “So big~” I smirked inwardly. Do you like it, Alexander? Years ago, when my sister and I went to Heavenly Paradise, Madame Rose had her eye on me immediately. With my delicate figure, slim waist, and ample bosom, she said I was blessed by the heavens, born to please men. If I was willing, the position of the top hostess at Heavenly Paradise would be mine. It was my sister who protected me. She corrected Madame Rose, saying that her little Lily was meant for studying, destined to live an upright life. I knew I was alluring. In college, those rich kids and campus heartthrobs would follow me with just a crook of my finger. Sister, I don’t want to live an upright life anymore. I just want to drag them all to hell with me! Alexander’s body was pressed tightly against mine. I could feel his scorching body heat and the iron-hard thing in his pants. I immediately began my performance. I struggled to turn around, my hands pressing against his chest as I called out timidly, “Sir, please don’t!” Hearing my voice, Alexander froze. “Who are you?” I reached out and turned on the wall lamp with a “click.” My watery eyes, like those of a startled fawn, looked up at him. “Sir, you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m not your wife. I’m Lily, the maid here!” Alexander stared at my face, frozen in place. Just then, “click, click, click,” the sound of Olivia’s high heels suddenly echoed from outside.

Olivia was coming! I was truly excited, but my doe-like eyes were filled with panic. My small hands pushed against Alexander’s arms. “The madam is coming, sir. Please remove your hand…” Only then did Alexander realize his hand was still inside my clothes, cupping my soft, ample flesh. He quickly withdrew his hand. “I’m sorry, I thought you were my wife.” As he said this, he turned to leave. But I grabbed his arm, continuing to feign panic. “The madam doesn’t allow us maids to get close to you, sir. If she sees us alone together, she’ll surely be angry. What should we do now?” Soon, with a “click,” the door opened and Olivia walked in. Olivia was a beautiful woman with red lips and curly hair. She looked up and saw Alexander sitting at the desk. She curved her red lips into a sweet smile and said, “Honey, you’re back?” Olivia only saw her husband sitting in the chair. She certainly couldn’t see where I was at that moment. Earlier, I had pulled Alexander over, made him sit down, and then I crawled under the desk. The space under the desk was too narrow. Alexander’s long legs, wrapped in black trousers, were spread apart, and I was crouching between them. Alexander lowered his handsome gaze to look at me. I tilted up my exquisitely beautiful face, looking back at him with incredibly innocent, pure eyes. I shook my head pitifully at him, begging him not to expose me. I knew this look of mine was the most alluring – a mix of purity and seduction that was irresistible to men. Sure enough, Alexander played along. He nodded at Olivia, “Honey, I just got back.” Olivia didn’t come closer. Instead, she opened a package containing a sexy lingerie set. She held it against herself, looking at Alexander provocatively. “Honey, do you like it?” Alexander raised his head to look at Olivia. I knew Olivia was quite experienced. Before marrying Alexander, she had dated several well-endowed, skilled lovers and even got pregnant, giving birth to a son. Later, when the Thompson and Johnson families arranged their marriage, those boyfriends and her illegitimate child were all “taken care of.” How much blood was shed for this marriage of hers? I curved my red lips. Olivia might be experienced, but wasn’t I too? Alexander’s crotch was right in front of me, its outline clear and massive. To be fair, Alexander was even younger and more handsome than in his photos. He was well-endowed, making Olivia’s ex-boyfriends pale in comparison. No wonder she, a former wild girl, was now so devoted to him. I immediately pretended to accidentally bring my small face close to him. My innocent, soft face, looking almost childlike, barely touched the man’s swollen black trousers. Through the thin fabric, I exhaled softly. This kind of teasing – what man could resist it? Alexander tensed up. I saw that part of him grow even larger. Soon, I heard him say to Olivia, “I like it.” The words “I like it” were said extremely perfunctorily. After saying this, his gaze fell on my face. I knew I had succeeded. I had drawn his attention away from Olivia. I played innocent, my doe eyes darting around in fear, my small face quickly retreating. But as I pulled back, my red lips “accidentally” brushed against him. Alexander shuddered. I was overjoyed inside. Alexander, how does it feel to be unfaithful with me? Olivia, oblivious, said happily, “Honey, then I’ll go take a shower and put it on for you to see.” Alexander’s voice was very hoarse. “Okay.” Olivia walked towards the bathroom. I felt a bit urgent. How could we let Olivia leave like this? She should come and see what her good husband was hiding between his legs, see how her good husband was trembling with excitement for another woman. That would be truly thrilling. I deliberately knocked my hand against the table, making a “thud” sound. Olivia’s footsteps immediately stopped at the bathroom door, her sharp eyes darting towards where I was.

Olivia quickly turned back. “Honey, what was that sound?” Hidden under the desk, I saw Olivia’s diamond-studded stilettos approaching step by step. My eyes gleamed with excitement. Thump. Alexander deliberately knocked some files off the table, then bent down to pick them up. “It’s nothing, just some files falling.” Olivia walked over. She was wearing a red dress and leaned against Alexander. She noticed the swollen area on Alexander and reached out with her small hand, painted with bright red nail polish, to stroke it from top to bottom. “Honey, why are you so excited already?” I wanted to hear what Alexander would say. Alexander looked at Olivia. “Baby, it’s all because that nightgown was too sexy. I’m already captivated by you.” Hah. I laughed inwardly. Men’s mouths, full of lies. But I was laughing on the inside. The one who actually laughed out loud was Olivia. She laughed with joy and rewarded Alexander with a kiss on his thin lips. “Wait for me, honey~” Olivia entered the bathroom. I didn’t stop Olivia. The noise I made earlier was just to tease her. This was only the beginning; I’d let her see even more exciting things later. Alexander immediately stood up, distancing himself from me. I stood up as well. Alexander turned his back to me, his handsome figure taut with annoyance. “Get out! Don’t ever come into this…” Before he could finish saying “room,” I had already turned and run away. Alexander watched my figure, running like a little rabbit, and smiled a bit helplessly. … That night, Alexander, fresh from the shower and wearing a black silk robe, leaned against the headboard. Olivia, wearing that sexy lingerie, straddled his muscular waist. The atmosphere was intimate. Olivia wiggled a bit, her eyes seductive. “Honey, do I look good?” Alexander’s desire had reached its peak. His clean, long hands gripped Olivia’s waist. Soon, he let out a meaningful chuckle. “Honey, have you gained weight recently?” Olivia pouted her red lips. “No, I haven’t.” Alexander’s hand slipped under her clothes. Olivia was also well-endowed, but Alexander had touched better today. He narrowed his eyes and applied some force. Olivia felt like he was on drugs tonight. She melted like water on top of him, moaning softly, “Ah, it hurts. Be gentle, honey~” Alexander’s eyes, full of desire, stared at her. “Would being gentle satisfy you?” Olivia kissed his thin lips. Alexander’s hand fell on her shoulder, pushing her down, indicating he wanted her to pleasure him. Olivia gave him a coquettish look, then buried her head… The room was full of spring passion. What they didn’t know was that at this moment, a pair of eyes was peeking through the door crack. This person was me. I stood outside, watching this live erotic show, watching Alexander touch Olivia with the hands that had just touched me. Alexander, are you comparing my body to Olivia’s in your mind? Do you prefer me? Now, are you imagining Olivia as me? I clutched the friendship bracelet tightly in my hand. You two are so loving and intimate, but did you hear my sister’s heart-wrenching cries that night? I went to see my sister for the last time. Her body was tortured beyond recognition, covered in cigarette burn scars, her body broken. Madame Rose told me to accept my fate, saying that in your eyes, our lives were as worthless as grass. I refuse to accept this fate! If heaven is unjust, then I will become the devil rising from hell. Evil will be met with evil! Alexander, Olivia, let the game begin! … The next morning. I was working in the living room when Olivia stormed in with a group of people. “Catch Lily!” Two maids grabbed me, one on each side. I was startled and looked at Olivia fearfully. “Madam, what have I done wrong?” Olivia looked down at me coldly and sneered, “Lily, I’ve seen many women try to seduce my husband. Did you think you could get away with it right under my nose?” My heart skipped a beat. Had I been exposed before the game even began?

I quickly explained in panic, “Madam, I didn’t, I didn’t try to seduce the sir!” Olivia snorted coldly and pulled out a long hair. “This hair was found on my husband’s trousers. Don’t try to deny it.” I became more flustered. “Madam, that hair isn’t mine. You’ve misunderstood.” Olivia glared at my face viciously, then came to my waist and pinched the soft flesh hard. “You little slut, you think you’re a match for me?” My face turned pale with pain. Just then, from the corner of my eye, I saw Alexander approaching. My eyelashes trembled, and large tears began to fall. I pleaded pitifully, “Madam, it really wasn’t me. Please, forgive me.” Olivia pinched my waist hard twice more. “You like seducing men, don’t you? Come on, strip her clothes off and throw her out on the street!” The maids started pulling at my clothes. I cried helplessly, “No, please don’t.” At that moment, Alexander strode over. “Stop!” The maids immediately stopped. My legs gave way, and I collapsed onto the carpet. My small face was covered in tears. I hugged my exposed shoulders and looked up at Alexander with a tear-stained face. Without looking in a mirror, I knew how pitiful and alluring I looked to men in this state. Alexander looked at Olivia and spoke up for me. “She didn’t try to seduce me.” Olivia held up the long hair. “Honey, this was found on your trousers. How can you still defend this little slut?” Alexander took the hair and held it up to the sunlight. The hair had a reddish tint, while my hair was black. Alexander angrily said, “Look for yourself. This hair isn’t Lily’s!” Olivia was dumbfounded. Just then, a maid in her fifties ran out in panic. “Madam, that hair is mine. It must have fallen on the sir’s clothes when I was tidying them. At my age, I would never try to seduce the sir!” It turned out to be a misunderstanding. Olivia stood there, frozen. Alexander looked at Olivia. “Olivia, apologize to Lily!” Olivia’s face turned ugly. She stamped her foot in anger. “Honey, how can you ask me to apologize to a lowly maid?” I couldn’t help but curve my lips. Actually, I had planted that hair there! Olivia, are you surprised? Shocked? I knew exactly how to provoke Olivia. I decided to teach her another lesson. I reached out my small hand, like a pitiful little cat, and timidly grabbed Alexander’s trousers. Playing the role of a master manipulator, I sobbed, “Sir, please don’t argue with the madam because of me. It’s all my fault.” Women have an innate ability to detect manipulation, and recognizing my act, Olivia exploded in anger. “Lily, shut up!” Alexander’s tone became cold and hard. “Olivia, don’t make me say it a third time. Apologize!” Olivia was fuming but had to swallow her pride. She lowered her noble head. “Lily, I’m sorry.” I shook my head pitifully. “No, madam. You’re not wrong. It’s all my fault.” Olivia: “…” Her gaze could kill now. … I returned to my room and sat on the bed. Then, with a “click,” the door opened and someone came in. I knew he would follow me in. It was Alexander! I looked at him with my watery doe eyes and shrank back a little. “Sir, please don’t come near me. If the madam finds out, she’ll beat me again~” Alexander reassured me, “She won’t beat you anymore.” I looked doubtful. “Really?” Alexander: “I promise.” I immediately gave him a sweet smile. “You’re so kind, sir~” Alexander put a tube of ointment on the bedside table. “Apply some of this yourself.” He turned to leave. I called out to stop him. “Sir.” Alexander turned to look at me. I said, “Sir, I can’t reach. Could you help me apply the ointment?” In front of him, I reached down and lifted the hem of my clothes, revealing my soft, pale waist.

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My girlfriend returned from a month-long business trip with her old flame, only to find that I had changed. She helped her old flame steal my project, but instead of quitting in anger, I busied myself helping him write proposals. For the sake of her old flame’s year-end bonus, she ruined the design I had worked so hard on. But rather than trying to prove myself, I took all the blame and accepted her punishment. Even when she wanted to promote her old flame to general manager, breaking company rules, I didn’t get angry. Instead, I voluntarily gave up all my shares for my girlfriend to distribute freely. My girlfriend was puzzled by my sudden obedience. Her old flame was smug. “See? I told you the cold treatment would work. Make him lose you once, and he’ll become docile.” My girlfriend had a moment of realization and smiled, saying I was being good and that she would promote me. She even unexpectedly suggested I propose to her. But she seemed to have forgotten that during our cold war, she had already signed my resignation letter. And I had already broken up with her. From now on, we would have a clean break, with no more entanglements. 0

“This project proposal is urgent. Have it done before you leave work,” Fiona said coldly, dropping a thick stack of documents on my desk before turning to leave. As soon as she disappeared around the corner, my colleagues gathered around, chattering away. “Isn’t this Zack’s project?” “His projects are the hardest, with lots of requirements and difficult research. Forget finishing by tonight, it might not even be done by tomorrow evening.” “The boss is really biased towards him. He doesn’t do his own projects but pawns them off to others.” “…” They clustered around me, speaking without restraint. I knew full well they weren’t really speaking up for me, just stirring up drama. Everyone knew that CEO Fiona was my girlfriend, yet she heavily favored my rival, Zack. Back then, she not only broke protocol to promote Zack to project manager, but she even handed him the million-dollar project I had spent a month securing and over a month of sleepless nights nearly completing. When I protested, Fiona put it to a public vote to decide the project’s ownership. These colleagues who pretended to speak up for me unanimously voted for Zack when it came time to cast ballots. Afterwards, they explained to me that they were pressured by Fiona’s intimidation and asked me to look after the new colleague. This kind of thing happened many times after that. My colleagues were still “sympathizing” with me, but this time I didn’t storm off to Fiona’s office to confront her like before. Instead, I calmly accepted the project brief. Seeing this, my colleagues’ eyes widened. They were about to say something more when Fiona came down from upstairs. They immediately fell silent and hurried back to their desks. Fiona seemed to be in a good mood and ignored their little movements. She reminded me to leave the completed proposal on her desk. Seeing me nod, she turned on her heel and left without looking back. She had put on elaborate makeup and was wearing a skirt that barely reached her knees. It didn’t take much imagination to know she was off to meet Zack. This had been happening frequently over the years. It all started when I discovered Fiona and Zack’s goodnight messages to each other. When I confronted her about it, Fiona thought I was being petty and angrily brought Zack into the company, breaking protocol. To punish me for my suspicions, she deliberately favored Zack, taking him to various social events, and even feeding him and wiping his mouth in front of everyone at company dinners. When I got angry, she gave me the silent treatment. When I apologized, she would use it as an opportunity to team up with colleagues to lecture and criticize me. Everyone said I wasn’t being a big enough man. I often reflected on this, wondering if I wasn’t open-minded enough, which led to our current situation. But later, when I accidentally discovered that Zack was her first love, I finally understood. She was just using the excuse of desensitizing me to my “pettiness” as a cover to openly maintain her connection with her old flame. Even without the incident of me seeing their chat history, Fiona would have found other excuses to be with Zack. After they returned from their recent business trip together, although they still frequently met for meals, drinks, and sports like before, I could sense that their relationship had become more subtle. But fortunately, I no longer cared. Our five-year relationship had come to an end. This farce needed to end too. After finishing the proposal, I was the only one left in the office. I opened my phone to find that Zack had posted several updates on SnapChat. The background was a fancy restaurant, with a romantic candlelit dinner on the table in front of them. Fiona was elegantly cutting Zack’s steak for him. The caption read: “Steak cut by the lady boss herself must taste extra delicious.” In the comments, several colleagues were praising how sweet they looked together. Zack jokingly boasted further that Fiona, who usually doesn’t drink, had half a bottle of red wine to help him celebrate the project’s success. The comments section became increasingly lively with various speculations. Fiona didn’t explain, only saying “It’s what I should do.” Some clueless person asked when they could drink to their wedding. Fiona replied with three dots, while Zack sent a “naughty” emoji. I didn’t get angry and call Fiona like I used to, only to be scolded by her for their ambiguous relationship. Instead, I sent her a message saying I had finished the proposal, then left the file in her office before driving home. When I got home, I saw that Fiona had replied to my message. “Lucas, this is Zack. Thanks for your hard work on the project. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.” Fiona always kept her phone close and would get angry if I so much as checked the time on it, accusing me of invading her privacy. Now she had handed it to Zack, letting him read our chats and reply to my messages. I let out a scornful laugh. Different status in her heart indeed led to different treatment. However, I felt strangely calm at this moment. Things that used to feel earth-shattering now seemed trivial. Feelings always change, only hard work never betrays you. I pulled up my calendar and checked the date. Not long ago, when Fiona and Zack went on a “business trip” that was really just a vacation, I took the opportunity to submit my resignation. As expected, when Fiona was with Zack, all her attention was on him. She approved it without even looking. Now, I just had to wait three more days for the handover to be completed, and I could leave for good. After some thought, I called my former advisor at the research institute abroad. I had joined the institute as an outstanding graduate, enjoying preferential treatment. But when Fiona said she needed people to start her company, I quit without hesitation. Despite my advisor’s repeated attempts to dissuade me, I resolutely returned to China to help her build the company from scratch. Looking back now, I realize how foolish I was. When the call connected, I explained my intention. I thought I’d be scolded, but to my surprise, my advisor sighed and told me he had known about my situation for a while and had been planning to invite me back. “But this time, have you really thought it through?” he asked. I nodded, “Yes, I’ve thought it through. I’ve already taken care of the resignation process.” “Resignation? What resignation?” A startled cry came from behind me. I turned around to see Fiona pushing open the door. 0

Looking down, I saw that my advisor had already hung up. I naturally turned off my phone. “A friend who’s planning to quit his job,” I said. Fiona frowned, suspicion rising in her mind. “What kind of friend talks about work stuff with you this late?” As I was pondering how to explain, her phone suddenly pinged with a message from Zack, saying he had encountered a stray kitten on his way home and had specially gone to buy a sausage for it. A smile involuntarily lifted the corners of Fiona’s lips. Seeming to realize I was still there, Fiona suppressed her smile and said perfunctorily, “Don’t chat about negative things with your friends. Use that time to learn more about the project instead.” Her cold tone was completely different from how she spoke to Zack. I didn’t argue or complain that the project had already been given to Zack. Fiona didn’t pay me any more attention either, smiling as she replied to the message while heading to her room. Soon after, her hearty laughter could be heard from the room. She had completely forgotten how I had been by her side all these years, working tirelessly day and night, cutting off all contact with my friends. But it was just as well, saving me the trouble of arguing with her. I returned to the small study converted from a storage room and took out the English materials I hadn’t finished reading. After five years, the direction of the research institute had changed. If I wanted to go back, even with my advisor’s help, I needed to have strong skills myself. Fortunately, my foundation was solid, so it wouldn’t take too long to pick things up again. “You’re reading English magazines?” Just as I was engrossed in my studies, Fiona suddenly entered the room. She reached over and took the magazine, flipped through a couple of pages, then tossed it back. With a sneer, she said, “Why are you reading this? Can you even understand it?” “Just browsing,” I replied coldly. I put away the materials and asked, “Did you need something?” In the past, whenever Fiona came to me on her own initiative, I was always very enthusiastic. Perhaps not expecting me to be so cold, she was taken aback for a moment. Her expression became somewhat unnatural. “There is something,” she said. “Zack just completed a big project, and I’m planning to promote him. It’s also a good way to encourage other employees. What do you think?” Fiona looked at me. She asked for my opinion, but I knew this was just a notification, not a real consultation. I still nodded, “I have no objections.” “But there need to be penalties as well as rewards, otherwise the team will be hard to manage,” she continued. “You haven’t completed a project in such a long time, so I’m thinking of temporarily transferring you to an entry-level position. I’ll bring you back later when the time is right.” “Don’t worry, it won’t be for too long. I’m thinking of the overall situation here. You’re my boyfriend, so you should support me, right?” I laughed inwardly. So even now, she didn’t know about my resignation. She could deduce Zack’s mood from the slightest hints and know what he liked from small details. But now, as her boyfriend, my resignation letter had been signed by her own hand, and she was completely unaware. Indeed, care and indifference can be seen in just a few words. Seeing that I didn’t speak, Fiona thought I was going to argue with her like before. Her expression immediately darkened. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree. I’ve already sent out the notice, and your office has been given to Zack.” “Either you accept the transfer, or you leave,” she threatened. “But let me advise you, the company is about to go public. You should think carefully before you walk away.” Her tone was confident that I wouldn’t leave. This kind of thing had happened too many times. In just one year, because of a few words from Zack, my position in the company had been lowered again and again. If I could endure it then, Fiona was sure I would be even less willing to leave now. I smiled bitterly. “I didn’t say I disagreed.” “Alright then, that’s settled,” Fiona said, her mood lightening. I didn’t say I disagreed, so that meant I agreed. Just as she was about to leave, she seemed to notice something and came back. “I remember you used to have our photo on your desk. Where is it now?” I finally realized what she meant. Actually, not just on the desk, but on the walls of my room and in my wallet, there were photos of us everywhere. I had been constantly reminding myself that no matter what Fiona did to me, she still loved me. But when I learned about Zack and Fiona’s relationship, I realized how ridiculous I had been. These photos, each one of them, were mocking how much of a clown I was. I didn’t want to explain much, so I said flatly, “The frame broke accidentally, so I put it away.” “Why are you so clumsy with everything?” Fiona frowned in disgust, immediately looking down to check if there was any broken glass on the floor. “Make sure you clean up properly when you have time. Don’t let anyone get hurt.” With that, she stood up and walked out of the study. Watching her back, I couldn’t help but laugh self-mockingly. Of course, she wasn’t concerned about me. Her words clearly meant she didn’t want Zack to get hurt. This was our home, but she had brought Zack here many times. At first, she came secretly. Later, when I questioned her about the strange occurrences, she immediately produced evidence that it was just for work. She then took the opportunity to rebuke me for being jealous and petty, and subsequently began bringing Zack home openly out of spite. As time went on, I fell into self-doubt. Every day I reflected on whether I was wrong. Now that I think about it, if I had used that time to focus on anything else, I could have been successful. The next morning, Fiona announced the good news of Zack’s promotion, as well as my demotion to the lowest level. My colleagues didn’t know I had already resigned. While they congratulated Zack, their eyes were full of sympathy when they looked at me, secretly speculating whether I would throw a tantrum again. To their disappointment, I remained calm, as if nothing had happened. Over the next few days, while Fiona was hosting a celebration party for Zack, I was applying for a visa. When they were relaxing at an amusement park, I was clearing out my things. In the end, the stuff I wanted to take with me didn’t even fill one suitcase. When they were entertaining clients at a club and being urged to drink from the same glass, I was handing over all my work. … Two days later, on my last day at the company, I completed the final procedures at HR. “Go to the CEO’s office before you leave. The boss is looking for you,” the HR person said without looking up. I was about to refuse, but then I thought, I’m leaving tonight. If Fiona goes out with Zack as usual and doesn’t come home, this might be our last meeting. After all, we’ve been together for five years. There should be some kind of farewell ritual, right? Thinking of this, I went upstairs to the CEO’s office. Just as I was about to push open the door, I saw through the glass wall that Fiona was sitting on the sofa wearing a short skirt, while Zack was lying down with his head on her lap. They looked very intimate. 0

I hesitated. I was considering whether I should step back when Zack spotted me first. He cried out in surprise and hurriedly sat up. “Brother Lucas, why are you here?” Fiona’s face also showed a hint of nervousness. She hastily pulled down her slightly disheveled skirt, then angrily said to me, “Lucas, who allowed you to come up?!” “Didn’t I say before that without my permission, you’re not allowed to come upstairs and disturb me?” Fiona had mentioned this rule before. But the original wording was that except for Lucas, no one was allowed to come upstairs and disturb her without permission. Before, I thought Fiona was giving me special treatment, but now I understand what she really meant. However, I’m used to it now. Not wanting to dwell on it, I said flatly, “HR said you were looking for me.” Fiona snorted coldly, strode to her desk, and angrily pressed the intercom. Less than two minutes later, the HR person came upstairs. “Did you tell Lucas I was looking for him?” Fiona asked coldly. Sensing the tense atmosphere, the HR person looked at Fiona’s icy face, then at Zack, and became so nervous they couldn’t speak. After a while, they finally said, “I don’t remember.” “Hmph.” Hearing this, Fiona seemed like a victorious general, coldly glancing at me and speaking sarcastically. “Interesting, isn’t it, Lucas?” “I thought you had really learned your lesson, but I didn’t expect you to still be so scheming. Since you’re so worried about me, why don’t you move upstairs and keep an eye on me all the time?” “Or maybe put a camera on me to satisfy your curiosity?” I was speechless. “Fiona, don’t be angry. I believe Brother Lucas is just concerned and didn’t mean any harm,” Zack gently rubbed Fiona’s back, then looked at me and said, “Brother Lucas, don’t misunderstand. I was just tired earlier, my head was hurting, and the boss wanted to help me feel better so I could continue working.” “Everything we do is for the company, don’t overthink it.” I looked at his smug expression, as if he wanted me to overthink. Even though I didn’t know the whole story, I was sure this was Zack’s mischief. The HR person was shrewd, knowing Zack was Fiona’s favorite. So when they sensed the atmosphere was off, they didn’t dare to tell the truth. But even if they had, Fiona probably wouldn’t have believed it. I remained silent, but Fiona was still fuming. She angrily said, “No need to explain to him.” “Personal matters are personal, company matters are company matters. Since we’re at the company now, let’s follow company rules!” “Lucas didn’t follow company regulations, so all of this month’s bonus will be deducted, and his salary will be cut in half.” The HR person hurriedly said, “Boss, Lucas has already…” They probably wanted to mention my resignation, but before they could finish, Fiona glared at them. “I don’t want to hear any of his excuses. Do as I say!” The HR person didn’t dare say anything more and turned to go downstairs. I thought for a moment and prepared to leave too, but Fiona suddenly called me back. Perhaps because she had vented her anger, she now looked calmer. She spoke earnestly, “Lucas, I’m not deliberately targeting you, but this is the rule I set. If I don’t punish you, it might be hard to convince others in the future.” Zack nodded in agreement, “That’s right, Brother Lucas. Next time when you’re unsure about something, you should ask the boss first. If not, you can always ask me too.” Hearing him say this, Fiona nodded approvingly. “Zack cares about the company. He knows more about company affairs than anyone else.” Then she glared at me again, “Unlike you, what can you do besides being jealous? Can’t you learn from Zack?” Learn what? Learn how to deliberately interfere in other people’s relationships, or learn how to deliberately steal other people’s achievements and set them up? I sneered but couldn’t be bothered to expose them anymore. Seeing that I didn’t speak, Fiona thought I had realized my mistake. She took a couple of steps towards me, straightened my collar that wasn’t even messy, and said earnestly, “I know why you’re doing all this, and I’m really disappointed in you.” “But I have to say, since coming back this time, you’ve indeed become more sensible. To reward you, we’ll go take wedding photos tomorrow and put the wedding on the agenda. But don’t get too excited, marriage is just…” “Marriage?” Before she could finish, I let out a light laugh. I brushed off her hand. I handed her the resignation letter I had prepared. “But we’ve already broken up.” “Also, I’ve resigned. From now on, we have no relationship whatsoever.”

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I’m a forensic pathologist. While shopping at the grocery store, I discovered human flesh displayed at the butcher counter. After reporting it to the police, I immediately contacted my niece to warn her to be careful. A friend reminded me that I should also be concerned about my daughter. I angrily cursed: “It would be better if she died out there. I never want to see her again.” But what I didn’t know was that she had already seen me. I failed to recognize that the pile of flesh in front of me, waiting for my examination, was my own daughter. In the trash bin behind the butcher counter at the grocery store, there was a pile of yellowish fatty tissue that turned out to be human remains. Detective Johnson rushed to the scene as soon as he received the report. I felt relieved when I saw my old partner arrive. “Johnson, this is a serious situation,” I said. Detective Johnson nodded with a frown. Finding dismembered body parts at a grocery store butcher counter – any part of that phrase was enough to send the whole city into a panic. To avoid causing public alarm, Detective Johnson sealed off all the meat counters in the entire store. He asked me, “How long will it take you to examine all these samples?” I had a grave expression. As a dedicated and responsible forensic pathologist, I replied, “At least two days.” I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With my mother’s skills, she would surely be able to help catch the real culprit quickly. Detective Johnson’s brow relaxed a bit. “Make arrangements at home. You should stay at the station for the next few days.” I nodded and pulled out my phone. The moment the call connected, the normally serious and professional female pathologist became gentle and affectionate. “Emma, sweetie, Mom has to work overtime for the next few days. Be good and stay at home. Don’t go out. If anything happens, contact Mr. Wilson next door, okay?” After giving detailed instructions, I hung up the phone feeling reassured. As I turned to get in the car, Detective Johnson called out to stop me. “Shouldn’t you call Abby too? Tell her to be extra careful.” My face instantly darkened: “It would be better if she died out there. I never want to see her again.” I smiled bitterly to myself. Who knew that even souls could feel pain! Mom said she never wanted to see me again, but I was already right in front of her. Many of the samples she was intently focused on examining came from my own body. She just hadn’t recognized me yet.

After two sleepless days and nights of hard work, I finally managed to separate the human tissue from the animal tissue. The results shocked everyone. Detective Johnson looked at me in disbelief: “You’re saying only a quarter of this is human?” I nodded coldly: “That’s right.” Everyone’s faces were grim. They had originally thought only the head was missing, but now it turned out so much of the body was gone too. If human tissue had made its way onto citizens’ dinner tables, it would cause huge waves of panic across the city. The higher-ups were taking this very seriously. The situation was becoming more and more difficult to handle. Detective Johnson’s gaze swept over the display rack nearby, landing on one of the tissue samples. He took down the sample and handed it to me: “What’s this?” My soul began to get excited. They were finally going to discover it was me. I believed that as soon as Mom realized the victim was me, she would surely be able to find the real killer. I had a serious expression: “I was just about to tell you about this. It’s currently our only lead.” “There’s a scar on the victim’s ankle. DNA comparison will take time, but this clue can effectively shorten the comparison process.” Detective Johnson’s brow furrowed slightly: “Doesn’t Abby have a scar on her ankle too? I remember…” Detective Johnson wasn’t just my parents’ old partner, he had also been our neighbor for over 20 years. The scar on my ankle was from when I was riding on the back of his bicycle and got caught in the wheel. He still remembered that incident! Before Detective Johnson could finish speaking, Mom angrily interrupted him. “Johnson, stop it. I know you’re trying to improve my relationship with Abby and get me to show more concern for her. But whenever I think of her, I’m reminded of my husband’s death. I can never forgive Abby.” “She’s the one who caused my husband’s death.” My heart was suddenly pierced with pain, my soul trembling. After all these years, Mom still couldn’t forgive me. I was the one who caused Dad’s death. I deserved to die! Years ago, my aunt and uncle died in an accident, leaving my cousin Emma an orphan. Dad felt sorry for Emma having no one to rely on, so he took her in to raise. But Emma and I didn’t get along well, and we often argued over trivial things. Three years ago on a rainy night, Emma and I had a huge fight and she angrily ran out of the house. Dad drove out to look for Emma. He got into an accident on the way and died at the scene. Mom cursed me as a murderer, saying I had caused Dad’s death. She kicked me out of the house and stopped taking care of me. Mom said Emma was the only blood relative left in the Su family, and she treated Emma like her own daughter. Now, I had been killed in the most cruel way. I, the “murderer”, had received the harshest punishment! Could Mom forgive me now?

As we left the police station, Mom’s phone rang. My grandmother’s anxious voice came through the speaker: “Olivia, Abby is missing.” The moment I heard Grandma’s voice, my heart clenched. If she found out about my death, that kind old lady would be heartbroken. Ever since Mom kicked me out of the house, Grandma had taken me in. Grandma and Mom’s relationship wasn’t good to begin with. After taking me in, they completely cut off contact. Mom snorted disdainfully: “She’s pulling this childish stunt again. Does she think she’s still three years old?” Grandma said worriedly: “But I haven’t been able to reach her for three days…” Before Grandma could finish, Mom angrily scolded her. “I’ve told you before, don’t talk to me about that troublemaker anymore.” Mom hung up the phone and blocked Grandma’s number. After returning home from the police station, Mom immediately went to Emma’s room. “Emma, Mom’s home,” she called out in a gentle, affectionate voice. The kind of loving voice all doting mothers use. I once had that kind of love too, but now it no longer belonged to me. She was only Emma’s mom now. Emma got up and threw herself into Mom’s arms, acting coy. “Mom, you work too hard. I’ve missed you so much these past few days.” Mom stroked her head lovingly: “Don’t worry, once Mom finishes the case I’m working on, I’ll take some vacation days and bring you to see the capital.” The capital! The place I had always dreamed of visiting to see the flag-raising ceremony. Now, all those wonderful things were given to Emma instead. Emma nodded with a smile, then casually asked: “Is this dismemberment case Mom’s working on very troublesome? Will they catch the killer?” With her professional instincts, Mom immediately picked up on the key point. “Emma, how do you know it’s a dismemberment case?” My heart leapt. If they pursued this lead from Emma, they might be able to find the killer quickly. Emma paused for a second, but reacted quickly, snuggling into Mom’s arms. “That day when you called me, I was worried something had happened to you. I know the rules at the station so I didn’t dare ask directly. I just searched online myself and heard about the dismemberment case.” Although Detective Johnson had quickly suppressed the news, we’re in an era of rapid information spread. There were still plenty of rumors circulating. Mom’s brow immediately relaxed. She hugged Emma tightly. “Don’t worry, nothing will happen to Mom.” I shrank dejectedly into the corner. This lead had been cut off too!

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“I’m going on a business trip for a month. Could you feed my cat at my place? Oh, and the mango juice in the fridge is about to expire.” It was two in the morning, and the vibration of my phone jolted me awake. I picked up my phone and saw it was a message from my best friend. The next second, all my sleepiness vanished. A cold sweat broke out. First, she’s a freelancer. “Business trips” aren’t really her thing. Second, she doesn’t own a cat. Third, she’s allergic to mangoes. “Aubrey, I’m going on a business trip for a month. Could you feed my cat at my place? Oh, and the mango juice in the fridge is about to expire.” It was two in the morning, and the vibration of my phone jolted me awake. I grabbed the phone from my nightstand. It was a message from my best friend, Chloe. I’m a light sleeper. No exaggeration, a needle dropping on the floor at night would wake me up instantly. Chloe knew this, which was why she never messaged me in the middle of the night. The next second, a realization hit me. All my sleepiness vanished, replaced by a cold sweat. Chloe and I had been friends for over a decade. She was my closest friend, and no one knew her better than me. First, she’s a freelancer. “Business trips” aren’t really her thing. Second, she doesn’t own a cat. Third, she’s allergic to mangoes. A while ago, Chloe and I watched a thriller about the safety of women living alone. There was a scene where two best friends agreed on a secret code word to alert each other if they were in danger. “Aubrey, if I ever send you a weird message, you *have* to come save me.” My heart pounded with panic. My first instinct was to call Chloe. But then it hit me. If she was using these bizarre messages to hint at something, instead of just telling me what was going on, it could only mean one thing: the attacker was right there, watching her every move. It was two-thirty in the morning. Outside, the power seemed to be out; everything was pitch black. In the darkness, it felt like countless eyes were secretly watching me. My heart hammered against my ribs, the rapid thumping echoing clearly in my ears, as if it would burst out of my chest. I quickly pulled out my medication from the drawer and dry-swallowed two pills. It took a while for me to calm down. Once I had my composure, I called Asher first, then the police. Asher is my boyfriend. He’s incredibly smart and tall. Whether it was facing the police or going to find Chloe, having him by my side always made me feel safer. The moment I saw Asher, I threw myself into his arms and started crying, completely ungracefully. “Don’t be scared, Aubrey. I’m here. No one’s going to hurt you anymore,” Asher whispered, gently patting my back. Breathing in his subtle scent, my fear slowly dissipated. Thank goodness, I still had Asher. About five minutes later, the police arrived. I sat on the sofa, listening to Asher talk to them. “Aubrey Jiang?” a slightly surprised voice from the police rang out. I finally looked up, toward the doorway, and saw the familiar face of the lead officer. I was surprised too. It was Devin. Funny enough, Devin and I were old acquaintances. We were middle school classmates. If you really went back, he was even my first love. However, the way we broke up was quite brutal, something I’ve never forgotten to this day. Back then, we were young and naive. That kind of childish, pretend-play romance wasn’t meant to be serious. Still, seeing Devin in this situation made me feel strangely awkward. Devin, however, was professional. He had no intention of reminiscing. He stated matter-of-factly, “We understand the situation. We’re heading to Chloe’s place now.” “I’m coming with you,” I said, mustering my courage. Devin shot me a disapproving glance, as if he thought I’d just be in the way. Asher also tried to persuade me, “I know you’re worried about Chloe, but it’s better to let the police handle this.” I bit my lip, stubbornly insisting, “Chloe is my best friend. I have to see her safe with my own eyes to rest easy. Plus, I have her house key. I can help.” Seeing my persistence, Asher and Devin had no choice but to compromise. They knew how stubborn I was, that I’d always stick to something once I’d made up my mind. Left with no other option, Devin brought Asher and me along.

As an heiress, Chloe lived in a luxury townhouse with top-notch security. Devin immediately sent his team to check the surveillance footage, while he, Asher, and I headed straight for Chloe’s private residence. The moment we reached the door, a strong metallic smell of blood hit us. I shivered, a chilling premonition gripping me. My breathing became shallow. I reached into my bag for the key, but the more nervous I got, the less I could do anything right. The key, which was usually in the outer pocket of my backpack, was nowhere to be found. As if sensing my fear, Asher gently wrapped his arms around me from behind, softly reassuring me, “Aubrey, don’t be scared. I’m here.” I took a few deep breaths, forcing myself to stay calm, and finally found the key, handing it to Devin. Devin shot me an annoyed look, probably thinking I was too slow. Without a word, he turned and unlocked the door. Chloe’s house was dark. The pungent, sickening smell in the air made it hard for me to breathe. I stared at the closed door, an inexplicable dread filling me, as if a flesh-eating monster would leap out of that dark doorway any second. I clung tightly to Asher’s arm, as if it could bring me some peace. The door opened. Devin went in first, fumbling to switch on the living room light. Still reeling, I looked at the center of the living room. This scene, I will never forget. Chloe was dead. In her own living room, in a terribly gruesome state. She was kneeling, crucified, her face slashed beyond recognition, and her body stabbed countless times. Blood was everywhere. I screamed, terrified, and almost collapsed. Thankfully, Asher caught me in time and pulled out the pills he always carried, handing them to me. After taking the medication, I felt a little better, but I was still sobbing uncontrollably. “It’s all my fault. I came too late. If only I had come sooner.” Devin stood a short distance away, glaring at me irritably. “The killer is extremely brutal. If you had come sooner, there’d only be one more body.” I flinched. Devin’s words were as cutting as ever. Still, good to know he hadn’t changed. The police quickly secured the scene, taping it off. The officer who went to check the surveillance footage came back empty-handed. “The surrounding cameras were destroyed.” I sat blankly on the steps outside the door, a wave of numbness washing over me. My best friend, brutally murdered in her own home. It was hard for anyone to accept. Just as I was lost in thought, a fluffy head suddenly appeared in front of my face, scaring the living daylights out of me. Thankfully, Asher was still by my side and immediately pulled me into his arms. “Buddy! Back!” Devin called out sharply. That’s when I saw it clearly: it was a police dog. “Excuse me, Aubrey is afraid of dogs. Could you please keep your dog on a tighter leash?” I heard Asher’s displeased voice. Devin, holding the dog’s leash, shot me a thoughtful glance. I guessed he was probably wondering when I became afraid of dogs. After all, when we were dating back then, we even adopted a puppy together. But people change. As the person who reported the crime, Devin questioned me privately as standard procedure. “What was your relationship with the deceased, Chloe Chen?” “She was my best friend.” I thought, Devin should know the answer to that question without asking. The three of us were middle school classmates, and Chloe and I had been closest ever since then. More than just my best friend, she was my *only* friend.

My father was a compulsive gambler, always buried in debt. My mother… well, she ran a massage parlor in our town. You know, one of *those* places. The news spread like wildfire, and soon, the whole school knew. No one wanted anything to do with me, except Chloe. My entire adolescence, thanks to Chloe’s companionship, didn’t seem so bleak. She meant more to me than my own parents, with whom I had long since cut ties. “What was her job? Did she have any enemies?” “She was a food influencer. She rarely got into arguments with people. I honestly can’t imagine anyone hating her enough to kill her so brutally.” As I spoke, I started to choke up again, lowering my head and covering my face. “Did she have any romantic entanglements?” I racked my brain for a long time, then shook my head blankly. “I don’t know. I didn’t really pry into her love life.” “Weren’t you best friends?” Devin narrowed his eyes slightly. I felt a little awkward. “Even best friends don’t tell each other *everything*, do they?” Devin said nothing, then continued to ask, “What about you? What do you do for work now?” I paused, then answered truthfully, “I just quit my job recently. I’m currently unemployed.” “Why did you quit?” “Officer Devin, how are these questions relevant to Chloe’s death? Or are you implying *I’m* the killer?” I was angry, but Devin coldly continued, “Chloe died in her home. There were no signs of forced entry. The killer must have been someone Chloe knew, someone she let in, or someone who had her house key.” “You reported receiving a strange message from Chloe, but we haven’t found Chloe’s phone at the scene.” When he put it that way, I understood perfectly: he was genuinely suspicious of me. I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping me. “So you think I, someone with no stable job or income, killed my best friend out of jealousy because she lived a better life than me?” “Answer my question.” His voice was devoid of warmth. I caved. “Fine. I quit my job because I suffer from severe anxiety. It makes it impossible for me to live and work normally.” I kept my head down, not wanting to see pity or sympathy in his eyes. Honestly, his distrust disappointed me. But then again, when we were together all those years ago, he never really believed in me with that much conviction either. To him, I was, at best, a familiar stranger. Why *should* he believe what I said? Devin stared intently at me, seemingly trying to read guilt or panic on my face. We sat in silence for a long time. Then, he suddenly pulled out an evidence bag and gently placed it on the table. “This phone, it’s yours, isn’t it?” It was an outdated, old phone. The screen was lit up, displaying my selfie. Given Chloe’s family wealth, she wouldn’t own a generic phone like this. Her phone had always been the latest model from a certain fruit company. I stared at the phone for a long time before nodding. “It’s mine.” “Can you explain why your phone was found at the crime scene?” Devin asked. That’s when I noticed the bloodstains on the back of the phone. I shook my head. “I have no idea. Honestly, I lost this phone three years ago. The one I’m using now was a gift from Chloe.” My expression must have been terrible. Otherwise, Devin wouldn’t have been staring at me with such a complex look. “Tell me, what happened?”

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I was Julian’s Nine-Tailed Kitsune slave, his kept woman – fragile, obedient, and compliant with his every demand. Everyone thought I was madly in love with him. Then came the day of his engagement party, when he planned to send me back to the Beastkin Containment Facility. “My fiancée can’t stand the sight of dirty things like you. Be a good girl, I’ll visit you later.” I cried my eyes out in front of him, then turned around, shifted into my true form, and burrowed my large tail right into his best friend’s arms. Much later, Julian regretted it, thinking he could give me a chance to tempt him again. But by then, I was already in Arthur’s bed. The man, usually so composed, had eyes blazing red with urgency. His pale fingers fumbled shyly with my white shirt. “Just let me touch your tail, please. I’m begging you.” … It was an ordinary evening when I found out Julian was getting engaged to Chloe, the heiress of the Sterling family. He was lounging in his bathrobe, a cigarette between his fingers, his face still holding a hint of lingering satisfaction. “You should pack your things these next couple of days. I’ll have someone send you back to the Beastkin Containment Facility.” My heart sank. I clung to his arm, delicate and sweet, my voice laced with a tempting purr. “Did I do something wrong?” His gaze swept over my body, indifferent, as if stating the most mundane fact. “I’m getting engaged.” “Chloe is pure and innocent; she can’t tolerate dirty things like you. Be a good girl, and I’ll visit you later.” His words felt like a chokehold, suffocating me, tears threatening to spill. But meeting Julian’s dismissive stare, I swallowed them back. Julian hated weepy women. I had no right to cry in front of him, especially since I was just his kept Beastkin slave. Still, I couldn’t accept it. I’d gone through so much to escape that place and cling to him. For five years, I’d been utterly compliant, hoping for freedom one day. I lifted my wet eyes. “But Willow can’t leave Mr. Julian. You could keep Willow outside, or… release my indenture contract. I’ll go far away, I promise not to bother Ms. Chloe.” He didn’t respond, just blew out a smoke ring, his eyes distant. “Go wash up.” I rose, quiet and obedient, not daring to let the tears fall until I was safely in the bathroom. I was Julian’s indentured Beastkin, considered lower than a mistress in the eyes of the world. In this world, Beastkin are born inferior. Some people with specific preferences keep a portion of Beastkin as slaves for the wealthy to choose from. The Beastkin Containment Facility is where these Beastkin are bred. Rules there are strict, and Beastkin are treated no differently than commodities. I’d been with Julian for five years, assuming he’d release my bond when he married, granting me my freedom. I never imagined that the first thing he’d do after his engagement was send me back to that hell. I hated that place, but unless a human was willing to buy me and set me free, I had no options. Seeing my tear-reddened eyes, a flicker of secret triumph crossed Julian’s gaze. He spoke, as if granting a reward. “I have a reception tomorrow. You can come with me.” Our Nine-Tailed Kitsune tribe is naturally beautiful. Whenever I accompanied Julian, different men would always stare at me with awestruck eyes. Before, I never cared, but today was different. My eyes darted around, assessing the men in the room. Married men were out. Men who wouldn’t dare offend Julian were out. Unattractive men were out. Finally, only two viable targets remained: one was Julian’s best friend, Arthur. But he was known for his impeccable character, a paragon of virtue who maintained strict personal boundaries. He’d never be interested in someone like me, and might even tell Julian. The other was Dorian, Julian’s sworn enemy. Since they had a feud, seducing him would be twice as effective. Even an idiot would know who to choose. I picked up a glass of red wine and, while Julian was chatting with someone else, discreetly made my way toward Dorian. He was leaning against the railing, practically radiating “do not approach.” Men like that are the easiest to hook. I’d just get close, pretend to accidentally spill red wine all over myself. I slowly approached him, mentally rehearsing the script a hundred times. But just then, I was bumped hard. The wine glass flew from my hand, the red wine splashing entirely onto the white suit in front of me. The room went silent for a moment. Arthur looked down at his stained suit. His excellent upbringing kept him calm and gentle even now. “Ms. Willow, you’ve soiled my suit.” I hadn’t expected this. I stepped back, testing the waters. “So, do you want Julian to pay for it?” His eyes lowered slightly, a gentle smile curving his rosy lips. “That won’t be necessary. Your dress is stained too. Let’s go upstairs and change.” Only then did I notice the red wine on my own dress. I had no choice but to follow him upstairs. I deliberately lingered in the room for a long time, assuming he would have left. When I finally opened the door, I found myself face to face with him. “What a coincidence.” He had changed into a gray suit. Under the bright lights, the clean lines highlighted his lean, strong waist. I didn’t want to talk to him. I mumbled a few perfunctory words and descended the stairs, one step behind him. As soon as I reached the bottom, I headed straight for Dorian. I was confident that with my looks and Dorian’s terrible relationship with Julian, I could make something happen with just one move. I composed myself, putting on an innocent, harmless facade, and walked toward where Dorian had been standing, only to find the railing deserted. Arthur came up from behind me, swirling his wine glass, his expression mild. A fleeting smile seemed to flash in his dark eyes. “Are you looking for Dorian?” “He had an emergency and just left.” My hopes completely deflated. I hung my head dejectedly. I really didn’t want to go back to that place. My gaze shifted, landing on Arthur beside me.

I shifted, then turned back to him with a innocent smile. “No, why would I be looking for him?” “I just thought the view here was nice, and quiet.” “Do you like it here too, Mr. Arthur?” He adjusted his shirt, looking around as if unsure what was so appealing about the corner of a staircase. “I think the people are more beautiful.” “Huh?” I was taken aback, then followed his gaze to the crowd in the main hall. Julian was among them, holding the hand of a girl in a white dress, protectively cradling her. Unlike the perpetually cold and arrogant expression he always wore for me, he was melting with tenderness. I secretly scoffed, realizing this must be the young Sterling heiress. She was indeed very different. Unlike my feigned innocence, she exuded a pure, untouched cleanliness, like someone raised in a crystal vase, shielded from the world by money. I lowered the corners of my mouth in self-derision. Someone like me, who had to struggle and roll in the dirt to survive, probably didn’t even have the right to envy her. After watching for a long time, I finally tore my eyes away, feeling a bitter ache. Arthur shrugged. “Looks like he won’t be taking you home tonight. I’ll drive you.” Under the bright crystal chandelier, his smile was clean, like an easy mark. I smiled. “Alright, that would be helpful.” Unlike Julian’s coldness and cruelty, Arthur’s chivalry seemed ingrained in his very being. He gently opened the car door for me. Noticing my nose reddened by the cold wind, he took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. A soft woody scent enveloped me. As I buckled my seatbelt, I subtly brushed against his arm, feigning an accident. He didn’t react. I wiggled my hips slightly, then spoke in a soft, quiet voice. “It’s so late, and going upstairs alone can be a little scary.” He gripped the steering wheel, not even glancing at me. “I’ll drop you off downstairs and wait until you’re upstairs before leaving. The lights are on, there’s nothing to be scared of.” I fell silent. The car was about to pull into my apartment complex, and all the tricks I’d learned to seduce people failed me. I couldn’t think of anything suitable. I sighed inwardly. Fine, I’d just have to find a way to approach Dorian another day. Suddenly, the smoothly driving car screeched to a halt at the side of the road. Arthur’s face was flushed, his breathing rapid. He leaned against the steering wheel, struggling, as if hit by a sudden illness. I gasped, forgetting all about seduction. I quickly leaned over. “What’s wrong? Do you have any emergency medicine in the car? Should I call your assistant or 911?” He seemed to be in immense pain, his voice trembling slightly. “No need. They can’t help.” I grew even more frantic. If something happened to him while he was with me, I didn’t know how many people would want to skin me alive. “Then what do we do?” He lifted his head, the corners of his eyes red. He seemed to be struggling with something difficult to confess, hesitating for a long time before finally speaking. “This is a psychological trauma from my childhood… I need something to soothe it.” “If… if it’s okay, could I… touch your tail?” I froze. He seemed equally embarrassed. “I know it’s a huge imposition, but my condition is very particular…” “I… forget it… just let me suffer… it’ll pass in a bit…” He lowered his head, gasping with difficulty, as if he was about to collapse. After a moment of hesitation, I released my tail from behind me. In the human world, I was always careful to hide these Beastkin features. To humans, they were symbols of our otherness. Julian particularly hated my tail; I never dared to show it in front of him. But on Arthur’s face, I saw no disgust. He stared at my fluffy, large tail, his eyes even showing a hint of pathological craving. “Can I?”

With my permission, he immediately wrapped his arms around it, burying his face in the soft fur. The snowy white fluff brushed against his face, and he let out a comfortable sigh. His hand stroked my tail tip, slowly moving downwards. A shiver ran from my tailbone up my spine, then spread through my entire body. With each movement of his fingers, I couldn’t help but blush, and my fox ears uncontrollably popped out from the top of my head. I felt a little embarrassed. When he buried his face in my tail for the third time, I couldn’t help but ask softly, “Are you feeling better?” “Much better.” He wiped his face and released my tail, sitting up straight as if nothing had happened. Only his ears remained bright red. I finally managed to compose myself and retract my tail. But then he held out two snowy white strands of fur to me. “I’m sorry, I accidentally pulled these out just now.” I didn’t understand what he meant, and hesitated before replying, “No, it’s… it’s okay?” He cleared his throat. “This condition of mine usually comes on suddenly, and for so many years, I haven’t found any effective way to relieve it. I heard Julian is sending you back… could you stay with me?” “Huh?” I was stunned, never imagining things would turn out this way. On his face, he seemed to feign a certain nonchalance, adjusting his clothes, putting on the air of a perfect gentleman. “Don’t misunderstand, it’s just that my condition is quite peculiar. I’ve tried many things, but nothing makes me as comfortable as you just did… I’m not that kind of person; I don’t mean to do anything to you.” His earnest expression looked exceptionally gentle in the moonlight. I nodded demurely. “Then you can send me back first. When Julian sends me back in a few days, you can come pick me up.” He smiled. “Didn’t you just say you were scared because it’s dark? Don’t go back then. You’ll be coming with me anyway. I’ll just tell him to bring the paperwork over.” With that, he picked up his phone and called Julian. Julian’s voice on the phone held a hint of laughter, seeming very pleased. When he heard I was in Arthur’s car, he chuckled. “Perfect! I’m going to be with Chloe these next few days. You can handle her for me.” “I was wondering what to do with such a big nuisance. You truly are my best friend. I’ll have someone send you the paperwork right away. You can help me send her back.” I sat beside him, the voice from the phone clearly audible in my ears. Arthur’s face changed. He carefully watched my expression. “Willow has been with you for so many years; this is a bit too… humiliating.” Julian’s voice was nonchalant. “You don’t understand, Beastkin like her are cheap. She’s desperately in love with me. What’s wrong with me sending her back?” “Later, when I have time, I’ll go see her, and she’ll still come crawling back.” “Alright, alright, I’m busy setting up the proposal venue for Chloe. Just deal with it.” As Julian hung up, the car fell silent. Arthur looked at me cautiously, as if apologizing for his friend’s words. “Julian, he… he just has that kind of temper.” But I didn’t feel as humiliated as I expected. Hadn’t I known this all along?

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Before the wedding, Alpha Lawrence’s first love, Sandra Barlow, was betrothed to none other than Emmett Wright—the most infamous rogue Alpha along the Mississippi River. A wolf so ruthless, even the werewolf Council preferred to pretend he didn’t exist. Alpha Lawrence, ever the noble hero, couldn’t bear to see his precious white moonlight thrown into the fire pit. So, what did he do? With the werewolf army of the Blue Moon Pack, he stormed into the rogue den and snatched her away from Alpha Emmett. That very night, they registered their marriage and held a wedding. And me? Oh, the entire Blue Moon Pack was practically at the thought of watching Gamma Audrey Gilbert—the strongest female warrior in the pack—get humiliated. After all, my years of loyalty, my unmatched skills, my blood spilled for this pack? Worthless. Why? Because their beloved Alpha had chosen another. I braced myself for the whispers, the pitying glances. But then— The very next day, Alpha Emmett, the same rogue who’d been so cruelly robbed of his mate, climbed onto my villa’s security wall like a damn cat burglar. He perched there, arms crossed, watching me with an infuriatingly lazy smirk. “Wife pays for her husband’s debt,” he drawled, his voice carrying the rough edge of a wolf who lived lawless and free. “Alpha Lawrence stole my mate. So I figured—you should compensate me by becoming my rogue Luna.” He grinned, canines flashing. “ That’s fair, isn’t it?” I nodded. “Fair.”

“I’ll marry you and become your Rogue Luna.” Alpha Emmett seemed completely taken aback that I would agree to such an absurd condition.he stood there, frozen like a statue, his jaw slack, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion. “You… you, you—are you serious?” he finally stammered, his eyes wide as if he’d just seen a ghost. “Three days from now, I’ll come to marry you. No backing out.” I shrugged with a smirk. “Yes，I said it, Never take-backs.” The poor guy practically tripped over his own feet as he scrambled down the wall, clearly terrified I might change my mind. Just as he reached the ground, he stumbled and almost faceplanted. I laughed, the sound light and genuine. For someone with the reputation of being a rogue Alpha to the core, Emmett was unexpectedly… charming in an awkward kind of way. Not the arrogant brute the rumors painted him to be. My amusement was cut short when a voice interrupted my thoughts, sliding into my mind through the pack link. “Gamma,” came the calm, measured voice of my servant. “Alpha Lawrence is waiting for you in the living room.” The laughter vanished from my face in an instant. My wolf, usually heard this will be happy or wag her tail, but now went deathly silent. By the time I reached the living room, my smile was gone, replaced by a mask of cool detachment. Alpha Lawrence was standing there, his posture as confident as ever, but the forced smile on his lips gave him away. “Alpha Lawrence,” I said evenly, “shouldn’t you be at home with your new Luna? What urgent business brings you here?” His grin faltered for a split second before he forced it wider. “Audrey, you know I wouldn’t come if it wasn’t important.” I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe with an arched brow. “Important enough to leave your honeymoon?” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Sandra’s too soft. She’d be ruined if I let her marry that rogue. You know she wouldn’t survive in a life like that.” I tilted my head, my tone laced with mockery. “And yet, you didn’t hesitate to ruin me and my family’s reputation. Funny how that works.” His face fell, but he quickly recovered. “Audrey, let’s not do this. I didn’t have a choice. You know I care about you.” “Alpha Lawrence,” I said, voice cold and steady, “our engagement is over. There’s nothing more to say.” He took a step closer, his hand reaching out as if to placate me. “Audrey, don’t be rash. Just because I married her doesn’t mean things have to change between us.” I stared at him, incredulous. He actually believed the garbage coming out of his mouth. “Sandra won’t mind, She’s sweet, understanding. You just need to be patient for now. Be my girlfriend until things settle. When you have my pup, I’ll bring you back to my estate. We’ll be together—all three of us.” ““You and Sandra are both important to me, and I swear I’ll treat you equally. Neither of you will feel neglected.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The audacity of this man, to ask the strongest female Gamma in the pack to be his mistress. Even if I were willing, my family would never tolerate such humiliation. I laughed, a sharp, humorless sound that made him flinch. “I, Audrey Gilbert, won’t be anyone’s mistress.” His smile faltered, annoyance flickering in his eyes. “Audrey, don’t make this difficult. Being my mistress isn’t as bad as you’re making it out to be. I’ll make sure no one disrespects you.Why make this so difficult for me?” I’m making it difficult for him? I almost laughed in disbelief. Was I the one who had disrupted someone’s wedding, dragged another woman to the registry office, and left my family in disgrace? I looked at him mockingly and repeated, “I said, I, Audrey Gilbert, will never—never—be anyone’s mistress.” He scowled. “You’re being unreasonable! The entire Blue Moon Pack knows you’re my mate. Do you think anyone else would want you now? You’re already ruined.” His words were like a dagger, but I didn’t flinch. My wolf growled low in my mind, her hackles raised. If she had her way, she’d rip his throat out for daring to speak to me like that. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control. I stood taller, my voice steady and unwavering. “I, Audrey Gilbert, would rather live alone for all of my life than settle for being your second choice.” “Beta Audrey,Without me, no one else will ever want you.” “He stormed out, his word lingering like an unwelcome guest. The slam of the door echoed in the room, but I didn’t move. My hands clenched into fists and a bitter ache in my chest. From the moment I turned 18, I had taken over my father’s Gamma position, thanks to my rare white wolf. That same day, I found my mate. When I first saw Alpha Lawrence, my wolf howled with joy, “Mate!” The golden boy of the Blue Moon Pack was my destined mate. Even now, years after we graduated, we were still the star couple of the Blue Moon Pack’s No 1 Academy. But the Alpha Lawrence who once adored me, who couldn’t bear to see me suffer even the slightest pain—that Lawrence was gone. The man before me now was Sandra’s mate. The moment he chose Sandra over me, ignoring my love and trampling on my heart, I should have let go. But I couldn’t. Ten years of history between us—I couldn’t believe it would lose to their mere six months of knowing each other. Yet, I was wrong. Completely, utterly wrong. chapter 2 Alpha Emmett didn’t give me a chance to change my mind. The very next morning, a convoy of wolves from the Rogue Den arrived at the gates of my villa. Their cargo? Twenty-five chests of gold. Yes, you heard that right—one chest for every year of my life. When Alpha Emmett opened those chests in my living room, the dazzling gold nearly blinded me. Honestly, I didn’t know if I should be impressed or worried about getting robbed. My parents weren’t thrilled about Alpha Emmett. “Are you sure about this, Audrey?” my mom asked for the tenth time. “Alpha Emmett’s reputation isn’t exactly… spotless,” my dad added. But my mind was made up. “Love or power,” I replied with a shrug, “at least I’ll have one of them.” Now, was Alpha Emmett’s reputation as the Rogue Alpha of the entire Rogue Den a little intimidating? Sure. But he was powerful. His pack is tucked away in the remote Mississippi River region, but it was vast and fiercely strong. That kind of strength came with its own allure. And besides, if Sandra Barlow hadn’t turned him down, I wouldn’t even have this opportunity. Just as I was contemplating how to store all this gold , the door swung open. In walked Alpha Lawrence with Sandra trailing behind him. Upon seeing the scene before them, both seemed to jump to conclusions. Alpha Lawrence raised his chin with an expression that practically screamed, “I knew it.” Sandra, on the other hand, had a glint of greed in her eyes. “Audrey,” she cooed, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, “is this all your dowry?” Sandra Barlow is the unwanted product of a drunken night between Delta Kingsley and a stripper. The Barlow family barely tolerated her existence, sending her off on her wedding day with nothing more than a box of pastries. I frowned. “No, it’s not.” Lawrence scoffed. “Come on, Audrey, drop the act. Yesterday, you were all about not getting married, and now you’re stockpiling your dowry?” “Yes, Audrey,” Sandra chimed in, her voice sickly sweet. “We’re all family now that you’re marrying Lawrence.” Before I could tell her to shove her idea of “family,” she turned to Lawrence. “Didn’t you prepare a gift for Audrey? Go on, show her!” she said, tugging on his arm. As she moved, a glint of green around her neck caught my eye. My chest tightened. That necklace—a stunning emerald piece—was an heirloom from Lawrence’s family, meant for the future Luna. I’d dropped more hints about it than I cared to admit, but he’d always dodged the subject, refusing to part with it. Yet there it was, now sitting smugly on Sandra’s neck. Noticing my stare, Sandra adjusted her collar, ensuring the necklace sparkled under the light. And then, as if that weren’t enough, Lawrence pulled out a small box from his pocket, opened it, and tossed its contents at me. A ring. A cheap, ugly ring made of stainless steel. “Here,” he said, his tone laced with mockery. “It’s for you.” I picked up the ring, its chipped rose-gold paint flaking off in my hand, and couldn’t help but laugh. He was so generous with Sandra, yet so miserly with me. “Wow, Alpha Lawrence,” I said, handing it back to him. “This masterpiece should definitely go to your Luna.” Alpha Lawrence’s face darkened instantly. Furious, he snatched the ring and hurled it out the window. “If you don’t want it, then it’s trash!” Sandra pouted dramatically, stomping her foot. “Audrey, this ring was chosen specifically for you by Lawrence and me. It’s a token of our goodwill.” “Oh, and Audrey,” she continued with a saccharine smile, “I designed a wedding dress for you myself. I hope you’ll like it.” She gestured to a maid, who handed her a pink gown. I was so angry, I laughed. In Blue Moon Pack tradition, pink wedding dresses were reserved for second marriages or mistresses. Watching Sandra’s smug expression, I finally understood their purpose for coming today. They wanted to humiliate me. Without caring whether I agreed or not. Sandra handed me the dress with a smug grin, clearly enjoying herself. In front of Alpha Lawrence, I reiterated, “I’ve already told you, the wedding is off.” “If there’s nothing else, you two may leave.” But it was clear they didn’t take my words seriously. Sandra grabbed my arm, trying to drag me toward the fitting room. “Don’t be ridiculous, Audrey. At least try it on!” Annoyed, I shoved her hand away. “Get out. Don’t touch me.” I hadn’t even used much force, yet Sandra dramatically staggered backward, collapsing to the ground with the dress in hand. Tears quickly welled in her eyes. “Audrey, I… I was just trying to help,” she whimpered, clutching the dress like I’d ripped her heart out. Alpha Lawrence, seeing this, shoved me hard. “Audrey Gilbert, This dress was Sandra’s gift to you,She spent days designing it and made sure it was finished in time for the wedding. And this is how you repay her?” “An ungrateful, jealous shrew like you deserves to be alone forever.” With that, he scooped Sandra into his arms and stormed out. Sandra glanced over his shoulder, smirking triumphantly. That smirk reminded me of the first time I met her. chapter 3 Back then, she was just the illegitimate daughter of the Barlow family, a stray among nobles, tolerated but never truly accepted. At a grand banquet, her sister, Miss Fiona, treated her like a mere servant. When she accidentally spilled wine on Fiona’s silk gown, the entire hall fell silent. A hush of anticipation rippled through the crowd as Fiona, ever the perfect lady in public, cracked her fan shut with an audible snap and delivered a sharp slap across Sandra’s cheek. “Know your place,” Fiona hissed. “Kneel.” Sandra hesitated, her hands trembling. No one moved to help her. No one ever did. That was when Alpha Lawrence stepped forward. His golden eyes flashed with barely restrained fury as he caught Fiona’s wrist mid-swing. “Enough,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “She’s still your sister.” The crowd gasped. Fiona’s face burned with anger, but she swallowed it down, retreating with forced grace. From then on, Lawrence became Sandra’s silent protector. He offered her food before anyone else, took her on runs through the pack lands, even made sure she had the best training gear. I should’ve seen the signs. Whenever I pouted about it, he’d ruffle my hair and laugh. “I just feel sorry for Sandra,” he’d say. “She’s had it rough.” And I believed him. Like a fool. Until the day Sandra was set to marry Alpha Emmett, the most feared rogue Alpha along the Mississippi River. Lawrence stormed the rogue den like a man possessed, challenging Emmett in broad daylight. He didn’t just stop the wedding. He married her himself that very night. And to make sure no one could ever take her away, he marked her under the moonlight. That was when I finally understood. Pity had nothing to do with it. The night before my wedding, the Blue Moon Pack held its annual harvest festival—my favorite time of the year. Every year, Lawrence and I would set off fireworks together, laughing like pups as they painted the sky with streaks of silver and gold. But this year, I stood alone in the empty streets. The vendors were gone. The familiar scent of caramel apples and roasted nuts was missing. Something was off. Then, I heard two women chatting nearby. “Alpha Lawrence really went all out for Luna Sandra this time. Did you hear? He bought every single firework on this street just for her.” “No kidding. If I were Luna Sandra, I’d be moved to tears.” “That’s not even the best part. Alpha Lawrence went as far as offending the Rogue Alpha for her and even made Gamma Audrey to be a mistress. Alphas this good only exist in TV dramas!” Hearing that, I scoffed mockingly. I was about to leave when a familiar voice called out from behind me. “Audrey.” Instinctively, I turned around and saw Alpha Lawrence and Sandra standing not far away. Sandra was holding a sparkler and ran over to me, beaming. “Audrey, are you here to set off fireworks too?” Alpha Lawrence was still angry about what happened yesterday. Seeing me, he let out a cold snort. Sandra, ever the show-off, extended the sparkler in her hand toward me. “I’m sorry, sister. Lawrence bought all the fireworks on this street for me. Why don’t you take this one?” “No, thank you.” I stepped back, wary of her trying to frame me again. Besides, I had no interest in using something that had already been touched by someone else—whether it was an object or a person. Hearing my response, Alpha Lawrence’s expression turned icy, and his tone dripped with sarcasm. “Gamma Audrey wouldn’t deign to accept anything from us. Leave her be, Sandra. Let’s go.” With that, he pulled Sandra toward the riverbank. As they walked away, a man in a suit approached me. “Gamma Audrey, this is from Alpha Emmett,” he said.

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Damien Thorne, the ruthless underworld kingpin, confessed his love for the ninety-ninth time. And for the ninety-ninth time, I rejected him. That very night, he drugged me and held me captive. Damien’s eyes were wild, possessive. He held me close, whispering his love over and over, a chilling litany. I scoffed, my heart burning with hatred for him. I managed to escape, barely, only to be kidnapped by his enemies. To save me, Damien took three bullets. The first shot crippled his arm. The second blinded an eye. The third stole his life. As he lay dying, covered in his own blood, Damien stared at me, his gaze stubborn, yet heartbreakingly fragile. “Evelyn, why couldn’t you just love me, just once?” I opened my eyes again, and I was back. Back to the day Damien Thorne first confessed his love. This time, I took his hand. I thought we’d grow old together. But Damien, the man who died for me, betrayed me three times instead. On our wedding night, he deliberately ‘mistook’ rooms and slept with someone else. I swallowed the bitter pain and forgave him. Another time, a two AM call from someone else, and he left me stranded in the pouring rain in the middle of nowhere while I was three months pregnant. I miscarried. I wiped my tears, letting it go. But the third time? He threw my elderly mother off a sheer cliff, hundreds of feet above the crashing ocean.

The ocean wind howled, whipping my tears away before I could even try to stop them. Just a few steps away, my mother was brought forward, a burlap sack over her head. Her frail, elderly frame trembled violently. Even though I couldn’t see her face, I knew the utter despair consuming her. Damien’s face was a mask of cold indifference. A cigarette dangled from his lips, and in his right hand, he idly twirled a sleek, black handgun. Behind them, hundreds of feet below, stretched the vast, endless ocean. It hit me in an instant what he was about to do. My legs buckled. I fell to my knees, trembling, before him. “She’s my mom… my only family left in this world. Please, just spare her. Do whatever you want to me, but don’t hurt her…” Damien glanced at me, a casual, dismissive look. He lifted my chin with his hand, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Did you ever think about Tiffany’s feelings when you recklessly hurt what she cherished? Now that the stick is hitting your own back, does it finally sting?” I stared at him, my heart heavy with a profound sadness. Just hours ago, Tiffany’s dog accidentally fell into a mud pit. Tiffany, feigning illness, had subtly ordered me to take on the ‘burden’ of bathing her pet. All because I accidentally got a little water in its nose while bathing it, Tiffany had cried hysterically, claiming I was trying to drown her dog. For years, Damien had treated her like a precious gem, so of course, he was utterly heartbroken for her. Damien gently comforted her, his smile easy and unbothered. I thought that would be the end of it. I never imagined that after comforting Tiffany, he would bring my mother here. I knew Damien’s methods all too well. I wouldn’t dare gamble with my mother’s life. So, I could only lower myself and beg him. “Damien, I truly didn’t mean to. Please believe me? My mom is old and her health isn’t good. Don’t scare her…” Damien scoffed. “You wanted to drown Tiffany’s dog, didn’t you? Then I’ll just have to let you taste what it’s like to have someone close to you drowned, Evelyn. When you do something wrong, there’s always a price to pay.” He looked into my eyes, a cruel smile twisting his lips. “Wouldn’t you agree?” A chill shot through me. I clutched desperately at his pants leg, pleading with him over and over again. But Damien was dead set on getting revenge for Tiffany. The next second, he slowly raised his hand, and his men immediately understood. “No! Don’t!” It was too late. My mother was thrown over the edge, like a rag doll— She plummeted downwards. *Splash!* The calm ocean surface erupted with a violent spray. My heart ripped into a million pieces. I lunged forward like a madwoman, only to be roughly held back by Damien’s men, pinned to the ground. Tears blurred my vision. In a daze, Damien’s blood-stained face from my past life, and his desperate, fragile eyes, flashed before me. Because of that look, I had made a solemn vow. If I ever got another chance, another life, I would love him truly. Fate, it seemed, had heard my plea. But tragically, in this second chance, the man from my memories had become utterly unrecognizable. Facing his repeated cruelty, I chose to bite my tongue and swallow the pain. I kept brainwashing myself: he didn’t mean it, if I just treated him well enough, he’d eventually remember his feelings for me. But reality slapped me hard across the face. My stubborn delusion had cost me an unbearable price. I had lost the only person in this world who truly cared about me: my mom. My tears became a torrent, and despair threatened to swallow me whole. Damien watched me for a long time, seemingly quite pleased with my reaction. He walked over, his fingertips tracing my face, gently wiping away my tears. Then he slowly pulled me into his embrace. “Sweetheart, do you finally understand your mistake?” His face held none of the loving warmth he once showed. Only cold indifference remained. The man who once died for me was long gone. Wrong. Of course, I knew I was wrong. I was wrong to keep softening my heart for him. Wrong to not walk away the first time he crossed my line. Wrong to bring the grievances of my past life into this one. I was terribly, utterly wrong. Time seemed to stretch endlessly. Eventually, Damien’s men retrieved my mother’s body from the water. Suddenly, I found a surge of strength from somewhere deep inside. I shoved him away, scrambling, trembling, to my mother’s side. Just as I reached out to open the burlap sack, Damien’s voice cut through the air again. “Alright, alright, I’m just messing with you. It’s just a dummy in there, not your mother.” I froze. Damien continued, “Sweetheart, if you ever dare to ‘misbehave’ again, what’s placed before you truly *will* be your mother’s body.” “Tiffany took a bullet for me. She’s my savior. Don’t provoke her again, understand? Be a good girl. Don’t make things difficult for me.” I stared blankly at him until his figure vanished from my sight. Only then did I wipe away my tears, my hand trembling as I dialed a number. “I’ve made up my mind,” I choked out. “I’m leaving Damien Thorne.”

After hanging up, as I dragged my numb, lifeless legs, ready to leave, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Tiffany. “Ms. Price, I assume the dummy has been retrieved. Why don’t you open the bag and take a look? There’s a little surprise for you.” My eyes involuntarily darted to the burlap sack containing the ‘dummy’ a short distance away. My entire body stiffened, a chilling dread blossoming in my chest. I was shaking uncontrollably, my feet heavy as lead. I couldn’t even move my legs. Suddenly, the burlap sack shifted. A muffled cry of pain seemed to come from within. I couldn’t take it anymore. I stumbled, half-ran, half-fell towards it. My hands trembled violently as I desperately clawed at the sack, tearing it open… Tiffany’s second text followed immediately. “I had someone switch your mother with the dummy, Ms. Price. This is the price of provoking me. I hope you can afford it.” My mother’s face was ashen, blood stark against her skin. She lay bound, soaked, barely clinging to life. At the sight, I nearly fainted. When I finally managed to get her to the hospital, practically dragging her, I was told all medical resources had been diverted to save a dog that had merely choked on some water. The nurse pursed her lips, sighing helplessly. “Just a dog, yet it’s worth more than a human life! I swear, my life isn’t even worth as much as that dog’s!” “Exactly. If a dog has issues, take it to the vet, right? Why waste all these medical resources on it? Besides, that dog looks perfectly fine, jumping around. People are making a fuss over nothing!” “Shhh! Keep your voice down! That dog belongs to Damien Thorne’s beloved! You want to talk trash about the Kingpin’s favorite, you’ve got a death wish!” My mother was barely breathing. Any more delay and it would be too late. There was no time to think. I had to find Damien. I found him in a VIP room upstairs. The moment I walked in, I saw Tiffany sitting on his lap, their bodies pressed intimately together as they passionately kissed. Normally, seeing such a scene would tear me apart with jealousy. But now, I didn’t even have the energy for it. I rushed over, grabbing Damien’s hand. “My mom… something’s happened to her. She’s in critical condition. Please, will you save her?” Damien impatiently shook off my hand, looking annoyed, as if I’d interrupted something important. “I threw a dummy into the ocean, Evelyn, not her. What could possibly happen to her in such a short time? Stop this drama. I don’t have time for your games.” As every second ticked by, helpless tears streamed down my face. “I’m not lying… My mom is really hurt. Tiffany swapped her with the dummy. She hit her head on a rock when she was thrown down, and she’s barely clinging to life. She’s right here in the hospital. Please, tell the doctors to go see her!” At my words, a flicker of uncertainty crossed Damien’s eyes. “Ms. Price, what are you implying? How could I possibly harm your mother? I haven’t even brought up you trying to drown my dog, and now you’re trying to frame me?” Tiffany started to cry as she spoke. Seeing her tears, Damien’s expression instantly darkened. He stared at me, a cold fury in his gaze. “Apologize.” My mother was teetering on the brink of death. For her sake, I had no choice but to endure. “I’m sorry, Ms. Reed. I was wrong. Please, for my elderly mother’s sake, save her!” A flash of triumph crossed Tiffany’s eyes, but before she could speak, Damien cut in again. “Good. Now, it’s its turn.” Damien pointed at the dog behind me, a sneer on his face. “You almost drowned it. Is it really too much to ask for you to apologize to it?” Even after enduring so much humiliation, I still couldn’t believe my ears. Damien Thorne was actually telling me to apologize to a dog. All color drained from my face. I stared at him, utterly incredulous. “You want me to apologize to a dog?” Damien chuckled, “What? Feeling wronged? Don’t you want me to send someone to save your mother? Just apologize to it, and I’ll agree.” I looked into his eyes, biting down hard on my teeth. The humiliation was so profound, I wished I could just die. But then I thought of my mother’s ashen face, and I realized I didn’t even have the luxury of death.

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Just because my son poured a glass of cold water for the coughing bodyguard, my wife immediately declared he was trying to hurt someone: “Don’t you know cold water makes a cough worse? You’re so young and already trying to harm people. What will you become when you grow up?” My wife grounded Leo and locked him in his room for 24 hours, saying she needed to teach him a lesson. I begged her desperately, explaining that our son had a high fever and urgently needed medical attention. I told her to punish me instead. But Quinn scoffed dismissively: “You’ve spoiled him rotten, letting him run wild. And now he’s faking illness to escape punishment? He needs to be locked up for two more days to learn some discipline.” She was afraid I’d cause trouble, so she locked me in a different room. I slammed myself against the door, not caring about the consequences, but it was too late. Leo died right there, his high fever untreatable. Three days later, as I was packing up Leo’s belongings, Quinn returned from a trip with the bodyguard. She was in a cheerful mood, plucking a single rose from the massive bouquet of 999 roses she’d received from him and handing it to me: “Stop acting. So what if he was grounded for a few days? What could possibly happen? At worst, I’ll take you two on a trip in a couple of days and cheer him up.” But she had no idea our son was dead. And I knew, then and there, that I couldn’t spend another day of my life with her.

Before, if she’d given me a flower, I’d have been too excited to sleep. But now, clutching Leo’s tiny clothes, my heart was torn to shreds, numb from the pain. Her raised arm must have gotten tired because she angrily flung the flower at my face: “I only brought Declan with me for protection. Nothing happened between us. Who are you putting on this face for?” A thorn from the stem left a small cut on my cheek, a thin line of blood welled up. A flicker of concern flashed in Quinn’s eyes, and her temper softened slightly: “Whatever, I’m not going to waste my breath on you. Just so you know, I’m going away on a business trip for a year. You manage our son, don’t cause any trouble, I…” As she spoke, she suddenly gagged. Declan immediately rushed to pat Quinn’s back, feigning carelessness and letting a pregnancy test slip fall from his pocket. I picked it up. It read: four weeks pregnant. No wonder. Before, her trips with Declan would last for months. This time, she barely left before coming back. So, she was pregnant. She said she was going on a year-long business trip, but she was clearly trying to escape and secretly give birth to this child. My poor Leo. To try and please Quinn, he saw Declan, the one Quinn pampered the most, coughing. So, he copied what his teacher taught him and poured Declan a glass of water. But because it was cold water, Quinn decided he was being malicious, trying to harm Declan. Even though he was burning with fever, she ignored my desperate pleas and locked him in his room. I fought with all my strength to break free from the bodyguards’ grasp, slamming myself against the door to save him, not caring if it killed me. My tiny son was hot as a furnace, but his last flicker of consciousness was still shaking his head: “No, Daddy. Mommy said three days. The time isn’t up yet. Mommy will hate Leo if she knows.” They say real men don’t cry easily, but that day, I couldn’t control myself. Tears streamed down my face: “No, we don’t need this mommy anymore, Leo. I’ll take you to the hospital…” Tragically, it was too late. He couldn’t be saved. Before he took his last breath, he clutched my sleeve and choked out, “Why didn’t Mommy come see Leo? Was Leo a bad boy?” Looking into his hopeful eyes, my throat was raw. I couldn’t utter a single word. Now, seeing this pregnancy test, I only felt a bitter irony. If Leo had known that the mommy he adored had poured all her energy into another child, how heartbroken would he have been? I couldn’t control my rage any longer. I flung the pregnancy test slip in front of Quinn: “Quinn, this is what you call ‘nothing happened’? Have you ever considered how Leo felt?” A flicker of shock crossed Declan’s face. He hadn’t expected me, who usually endured every injustice in silence, to actually resist. He quickly lowered his head and explained to Quinn: “I’m so sorry, Quinn. I was just so overjoyed about being a dad that I kept the pregnancy slip in my pocket. I didn’t mean to drop it, and I certainly didn’t expect Caleb to see it. Please punish me.” Quinn raised an eyebrow and soothed Declan: “It wasn’t intentional. Don’t overthink it.” Then, she glared at me: “You have the nerve to bring up the child? Aren’t you the one who caused all of this?” “Caleb, everything happening today is your just desserts.” My gaze darkened. Years ago, Quinn wanted to use IVF to have a child for her idealized first love, Julian, who was supposedly dying of cancer. It turned out Julian was faking a terminal illness and then absconded with the charity funds. Her Grandma Evelyn, fearing Quinn would lose her mind, asked me to tamper with the IVF procedure. I refused point-blank. Though Quinn and I had a marriage certificate, we’d signed a contract long ago. We were only a marriage of convenience, not allowed to interfere with each other’s private lives. But Grandma Evelyn knelt before me, pulling out records of all the tuition fees she’d paid for me, from elementary school to my PhD, begging for my help: “My son and daughter-in-law are gone. Quinn is my only grandchild. If anything happens to her, I won’t want to live either.” Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I couldn’t refuse. I had no choice but to do as she asked. Quinn gave birth to my son, believing he was Julian’s orphaned heir, and cared for him meticulously. For a while, seeing how good I was with Leo, her attitude toward me improved significantly. She even suggested canceling our contract and genuinely building a life together. Then Declan appeared. She became completely infatuated with Declan’s face and mannerisms, which were ninety percent similar to Julian’s. She started spending nights out. She thought I didn’t know. At first, she met him in secret. Later, she even arranged for him to be her personal bodyguard, always by her side. But life was relatively stable, so I turned a blind eye. When Quinn eventually learned the truth and decided to send Declan away, he threw out a paternity test, accusing me: “Caleb used your trust to tamper with the IVF procedure, ensuring the man you love would have no descendants. And you, Quinn, you’re so foolish, enduring and sacrificing for him? You’re a complete joke!” Quinn flew into a rage on the spot. From that day on, her attitude toward Leo and me completely reversed. It was constant abuse, harshness, and punishment. I could suffer, but I never imagined Leo would lose his life because of it. Now, facing Quinn’s accusations, I couldn’t help but want to reveal the truth: “Quinn, about what happened back then…”

Just as I was about to speak, my phone vibrated. Grandma Evelyn’s name flashed on the screen. I looked up and saw the security camera in the living room blinking with a red light. I forced a bitter smile. Grandma Evelyn had been monitoring me. She would never allow me to reveal the truth. “Caleb, if you’ve got Leo’s clothes packed, come over. He’s waiting.” Grandma Evelyn’s voice was kind, yet a chill ran down my spine. I nodded and hung up. Quinn watched me suddenly pack my things without a word, raising an eyebrow: “What about what happened back then? Don’t tell me you’re going to say you had a reason too?” A flicker of anxiety crossed Declan’s eyes. He quickly interjected: “Quinn, no man can accept his wife having a child with someone else. You should consider his dignity as a man.” Quinn exploded in anger. She snatched a glass from the table and hurled it at me: “A good-for-nothing parasite living off my family, and he has the nerve to talk about dignity?” I didn’t say a word. As the glass shattered, I walked out of that suffocating house and headed to Grandma Evelyn’s old estate. The moment I arrived, Grandma Evelyn pressed a bank card into my hand: “Caleb, you and Leo have suffered so much. Take this money.” I knelt before her: “I don’t want money. I just have one request.” Grandma Evelyn quickly helped me to my feet: “If you want to leave, I’ll allow it. You’ve endured so many years of hardship. The favor I did for you back then has long been repaid. You don’t owe me anything.” I looked at Leo’s lifeless body, my eyes reddening: “Besides that, I want to take Leo with me, change his last name, and bury him in our family plot back home.” Grandma Evelyn hesitated. After all, I had married into Quinn’s family, and Leo not only bore Quinn’s family name but was also entered into their family tree. Knowing she wouldn’t easily agree, I handed her the crumpled pregnancy test slip: “Quinn is pregnant. She’ll have other children. But Leo only has me as family.” Grandma Evelyn remembered what Quinn had done to Leo. Unable to bear it any longer, she finally nodded in agreement. After handling Leo’s funeral, I cradled his ashes and returned home to get my documents. *Click!* The lights flickered on. Quinn was sitting in the living room, waiting for me, while Declan stood beside her with a smug, almost triumphant look. The atmosphere was eerily tense. Quinn was the first to break the silence, angrily declaring: “Look at what your son has done.” I raised an eyebrow, confused. Leo was dead. What could he possibly have done? Declan slowly patted Quinn’s back: “Calm down, honey. Don’t upset the baby.” “Leo added peanuts, which you’re allergic to, to your nutritious meal. He was just jealous of his unborn brother and wanted to harm him. It’s our fault, we didn’t discuss having a second child with him. He’s young, he doesn’t know any better. You shouldn’t be mad at him.” Quinn was furious: “It seems the last punishment was too light. He hasn’t learned his lesson.” He was just a three-year-old. How could he know anything about that? Besides, he was already dead… “Leo didn’t do it.” He was such a good, considerate boy. Until his last breath, he regretted pouring cold water and making Quinn angry. But Quinn believed someone else’s malicious lies and wanted to punish him. Ultimately, Quinn had transferred all her hatred for me onto our son. I’m so sorry, Leo. Mommy hated you because of me. You didn’t do anything wrong. I hugged the urn tightly, fighting back tears. Declan sighed: “If he didn’t do it, then did you?” Quinn became even more enraged, grabbing a tissue box from the table and throwing it at me: “It’s because you always cover for him that he became so unruly at such a young age! He needs a lesson today, to learn some discipline.” “Hand Leo over right now, don’t make me punish you instead.” He was so small. How could he possibly take the blame for such a serious accusation? I couldn’t take it anymore. Holding up the urn, I yelled: “Quinn, Leo was locked in his room and died from a high fever because of you!” “His ashes are right here! How could he possibly harm you?”

Quinn shot to her feet. “What did you say?” She rose too quickly, nearly stumbling. Declan quickly steadied her, his voice full of exasperation: “Quinn, he’s lied to you before. How can you still believe him?” “This afternoon, I clearly saw Leo wandering around the kitchen with a bag of peanuts, and then Grandma Evelyn picked him up.” Quinn immediately breathed a sigh of relief. She pulled out her phone and video-called Grandma Evelyn: “Grandma, is Leo with you?” Leo was dead. She would soon realize how terrible her actions had been. On the other end of the line, Grandma Evelyn smiled warmly: “Yes, he’s with me.” “Leo, do you want to talk to Mommy?” I lunged forward. And then, on the screen, I saw a child, crouched among a pile of toys, shaking his head, burying himself in his play. Grandma Evelyn sternly chided Quinn: “It’s all your fault for being so harsh on Leo. Now he doesn’t even want to talk to you.” My face turned ashen. I almost forgot. Quinn’s Grandma Evelyn had the most authoritative high-tech team in the world. Years ago, even before AI was prevalent, she’d used AI in a video call to let me assume Julian’s face, allowing Quinn to say her final goodbyes to him. Now, she was using someone else’s child to impersonate Leo, just to keep Quinn at ease. In this house, Leo and I were nothing more than tools, completely insignificant. It’s okay, Leo. Even if the whole world doesn’t love you, Daddy will always love you. I stroked the urn, speechless with grief. Quinn’s face darkened. She hung up the phone and snapped: “Caleb, you dared to lie to me again!” “Fine, your son is with Grandma Evelyn, so I can’t punish him. Then I’ll punish you.” “Declan, smash that useless thing in his hands.” I fought desperately to stop them, but I was no match for several bodyguards who quickly overpowered me. Seeing Declan raise the urn high, I fell to my knees, pleading: “Quinn, I beg you, give Leo back to me.” “I’ll do anything you want, please!” Quinn’s heart twisted in her chest. Just at the crucial moment, she suddenly called out, stopping Declan, and waved her hand: “Forget it. It’s just a broken box, no fun smashing it. Give it back to him.” Declan, looking disappointed, practically threw the urn back at me. I lunged forward, catching the box securely. With Leo back in my arms, I clutched the urn tightly, a mix of relief and despair washing over me. Declan sighed: “Quinn, you’re truly too kind.” “It’s okay. I’ll keep a closer eye on things from now on. After all, protecting you and the baby is my job.” Quinn’s hand went to her stomach. She suddenly called out to me as I was about to leave: “Wait. I said I wouldn’t punish Leo, but I didn’t say I wouldn’t punish you.” “Since you love taking the blame for your son so much, you can experience what an allergic reaction feels like.” “Order ten thousand lobsters for him. He’s not allowed to leave until he’s shelled every single one.” She knew I had a severe lobster allergy; even touching it would make me break out in hives. Even when our relationship was at its worst, she never allowed a single lobster on the table. Now, she must be completely insane with rage. I clutched the urn tightly. Looking at the enormous basin of lobsters before me, my eyes stung. The moment I picked up the first one to shell, my fingers began to turn red from the allergic reaction. Quinn turned her face away, standing with her back to me: “I’m tired. I’m going to rest. Don’t even think about slacking off. I’ll have someone watch you.” Declan helped her to the room. Facing the row of muscular bodyguards, I didn’t resist. I numbly continued shelling lobsters. As time passed, my entire body became covered in red hives, and my breathing grew increasingly difficult. In a haze, a pair of gleaming leather shoes appeared before my eyes. Declan grabbed my chin, his voice cold: “Just shelling lobsters is too light a punishment. You’re allergic, right? Then eat them.” He grabbed lobster meat and tried to force it into my mouth. With one quick move, I easily pushed him away. With his weak physique, he was no match for me. His only reason for being a bodyguard was Quinn’s longing for Julian. Seeing my resistance, Declan’s anger flared: “If you struggle again, I swear I’ll smash your son’s ashes.” I glared at him. He knew. He’d been deliberately trying to provoke me earlier! Declan saw me compromise and viciously shoved a handful of lobster meat into my mouth. For Leo, I didn’t dare to resist. Just at that critical moment, Grandma Evelyn appeared behind me, tapping her cane. She angrily confronted Declan: “You dare bully my family’s son-in-law? Get out.” Declan looked like he wanted to say more but eventually left, defeated. Grandma Evelyn dismissed all the outsiders. Ignoring the grease on my hands, she helped me up: “Caleb, stop shelling. You’re severely allergic now. I’ll take you to the hospital first, then help you leave.” I nodded, wiping the grease off myself before picking up the urn. A flicker of shame crossed Grandma Evelyn’s eyes. She explained: “Quinn is pregnant. Her emotions can’t be too volatile. I thought I’d wait until she’s more stable to tell her about Leo’s death.” “You and Leo have suffered so much again, Caleb. You *must* take this money.” As she spoke, she pushed two more cards toward me. I shook my head: “No, thank you. You’ve given me more than enough. I just want to leave peacefully with Leo.” Grandma Evelyn pressed the cards into my hand with more force, hinting: “Take it. Years ago, when Quinn’s first love ran off with her money, I forced you to switch the IVF samples, to make Quinn pregnant with your child.” “But I never imagined that my decision, the decision of this old woman, would lead to poor Leo’s death.” “I regret it deeply. I shouldn’t have forced you back then.” “This money isn’t much, but it’s my apology. I hope you’ll accept it.” “And please don’t blame this old woman. Quinn is my son’s only daughter, after all. She is my life.” She seemed to be pleading, but in reality, she was threatening me. If I didn’t take this hush money, I wouldn’t be leaving with Leo today. “Then, thank you, Grandma Evelyn.” I had no choice. Just as I was about to take the cards, *Crash!* A glass shattered. Quinn, in her pajamas, stood frozen in the doorway.

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