Category: English

My wife had left a box of oddly shaped meat in the fridge, and for over half a year, she hadn’t touched it. Curious about this precious meat, I secretly took it for testing. The result? It was a two-month-old embryo. Back home, I tore through drawers and cabinets until I found it: an abortion record. On the record, my wife’s name was signed, alongside another man’s. My wife had secretly aborted someone else’s child, right under my nose. Five years of a perfect, inseparable marriage – it all became a cruel joke in that single moment. When Chloe returned, the box of meat in the fridge was gone. She rushed into my study, her voice laced with panic. “Adam, have you seen that box of meat I put in the fridge?” I looked up at her, my fists clenched so tight my knuckles turned white. I wanted to scream, to demand why she had betrayed me. But in the end, I just lowered the book in my hands, feigning a casual nonchalance. “Oh, that weird-looking stuff? I fried it with some chili for lunch. Surprisingly, it tasted pretty good.” “What?! You ate it?!” Chloe’s eyes widened in horror. “Adam, are you out of your mind?!” I sneered. “It’s just meat. Why are you making such a fuss?” Her eyes instantly welled up, her voice trembling as she accused me. “How could you eat it?! That was mine! You ate my stuff without permission! Have you become so disrespectful of me?!” “Eating a piece of meat is being disrespectful?” “It wasn’t just a piece of meat!” Chloe’s face flushed crimson, her chest heaving with rage. I just found it hilarious. “Then what was it?” She bit her lower lip hard, a flash of grief crossing her face. She looked like she wanted to say more but held back her tears. Finally, she choked out, “Nothing… I’m not feeling well tonight. I’ll sleep in the guest room.” With that, she turned and disappeared into the guest room. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time she had ever yelled at me. It was also the first time we’d slept apart. I found it utterly ironic. If she cared so much about that box of meat, why had she aborted it in the first place? For five years, Chloe had always been the perfect wife in my eyes. She was gentle and considerate, meticulously taking care of my every need, managing every household detail. I had stomach issues, and she’d meticulously research special recipes for me. When I had business dinners and drank too much, she’d always thoughtfully prepare a hangover cure. In public and private, she was the ideal partner. But how could such a wonderful woman get pregnant with another man’s child? I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t accept it. My heart felt like it had been viciously stung, the pain piercing me to the bone. I recognized the name on the abortion record: Liam Scott. He was a guy who’d pursued Chloe relentlessly back in college. Liam had chased Chloe for years. Even after Chloe and I got married, he still shamelessly clung to her for several more years. For her, he’d cried, begged, even jumped into a river and cut his wrists, trying every desperate stunt imaginable. But Chloe always claimed she found his advances repulsive. She’d constantly complain to me about how annoying Liam was, how his pursuit bothered her, how she didn’t like him at all and got irritated just seeing him. Later, I took a few of my buddies and went to find Liam. Under the cover of darkness, my friends and I ambushed Liam on his way home. We beat him senseless, leaving him with a bloody, swollen face. I warned him to stay away from my wife. After that night, Chloe never mentioned Liam again. I thought he’d finally heeded my warning and stopped bothering her. I never imagined that a year later, his name would appear in the “partner” column of her abortion record.

That night, Chloe and I parted ways on bad terms. The next day, she made plans to go shopping with her friends. I dropped everything I was doing and secretly followed her. I trailed them all the way to a bar. Through the crack in the door of a dimly lit private room, I caught a glimpse of Chloe intimately settling into a man’s lap. The man had his arm around her waist, leaning back on the sofa, a look of doting affection on his face. Even in the low light, I instantly recognized him: it was Liam Scott! If I had any doubts before, they were completely erased now. That aborted embryo had to be Liam’s! A surge of white-hot fury instantly shot through me. My fists clenched tight. Just as I was about to burst in, I heard Chloe’s friend, Maya, speak up. “Chloe, Liam chased you for years, and you never budged. What finally made you give in?” I froze. Chloe tilted her head, glancing at Liam, and chuckled shyly. “I wasn’t going to accept him, but then… that time, my husband had someone beat him up. He was left bloody and bruised, but he still came to my office, crying and saying he’d rather die than give up on me. I don’t know why, but in that moment, I suddenly softened.” After she finished speaking, they exchanged a knowing smile and kissed passionately right there in front of everyone. The private room erupted with cheers and jeers. And I stood outside the door, stunned, as if struck by lightning. So, all that time, I was furious, defending her honor, only to accidentally create the perfect opportunity for them to get together? A sharp, piercing pain spread across my chest, like a thousand needles, making it hard to breathe. As my heart ached, Chloe and Liam reluctantly pulled apart. Liam cupped Chloe’s face, declaring his love deeply. “Chloe, besides you, I’ll never love anyone else in this life. Only death can separate us.” Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes, her face filled with emotion. “Liam, if I’d known being with you would be this wonderful, I would have accepted you sooner. Don’t worry, for the rest of my life, I’ll give you everything, except for my official status.” I stared blankly at the intensely affectionate scene before me, my heart aching to its very core. Suddenly, all the strength to confront them drained out of me. I turned around and walked away, feeling utterly lost. I felt like a wandering ghost, making my way to the bar, where I ordered several strong drinks and drank myself into a stupor. Five years of marriage. Eight years of dating. From college until now, Chloe and I had been together for a full eight years. Back then, to marry her, I gave up a chance to move abroad and even swallowed my pride, agreeing to live with her family and effectively put their needs before my own. After we married, I was always good to Chloe. I handed over my paycheck, always attentive to her every need. She didn’t want kids, so I even made up a story about my own fertility issues, just to keep both our families from pressuring us. But in the end, she got pregnant with another man’s child, all behind my back. Eight years of a relationship, undone by one shamelessly persistent man. How pathetic.

I stumbled out of the bar, completely drunk. Night was falling, heavy and dark. Suddenly, bright fireworks burst across the sky, dazzling and mesmerizing. As I passed by the riverbank, I saw Chloe and Liam again. This time, no friends, just the two of them, passionately embracing and kissing under the brilliant fireworks. They looked like a pair of star-crossed lovers. In that instant, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. A colossal rage erupted inside me. I swung my fist, charging hysterically towards Liam. “You bastard!” Liam was caught off guard by my punch, stumbling back a few steps before losing his balance and falling to the ground. The back of his head hit a rock, splitting open and bleeding. Chloe gasped in horror and immediately rushed to his side. “Liam, are you okay?!” Her eyes blazed with fury as she turned and snapped at me. “Adam, what are you doing?! Are you insane?!” Me? Insane? “Chloe, that’s what *I* should be asking *you*!” I pointed at Liam on the ground, my voice rising in a furious demand. “Tell me, what were you doing with him just now?!” Chloe showed no remorse, instead wrinkling her nose in disgust. “Are you drunk again? How many times have I told you to drink less! You always go crazy when you drink, acting like some barbaric brute!” I’m the brute? I let out a bitter laugh. Chloe ignored my rage, her face filled with tenderness as she wiped the blood from Liam’s head. Her eyes turned red, and her voice choked. “Liam, get up quickly. I’ll help you to the hospital.” This scene stabbed at my eyes once again. My wife, her eyes red with concern for another man. I furiously raised my fist, charging at Liam again. But Chloe stepped in front of Liam, and slapped me hard. “Adam, have you caused enough trouble?! Can you stop being such a drunken maniac?!” Her gaze was cold, like ice. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time she had looked at me with such eyes. I stared blankly at the woman before me, suddenly feeling like she was a complete stranger. A piercing, bone-deep pain flared in my chest again. Chloe tenderly helped Liam away, and as she did, she gave me a harsh shove. My foot slipped, and I stumbled precariously, falling into the frigid river beside us. *Splash!* A bone-chilling cold engulfed my entire body, making me shiver violently. Chloe didn’t bat an eye. Liam called out to her. “Chloe, your husband…” “Forget him!” Chloe was as indifferent as a stranger, not even glancing at me in the water. Her voice was utterly devoid of warmth. “He can swim. A little dip might help him sober up!” With that, she helped Liam and walked away without looking back. I tried to swim to shore, but my leg suddenly cramped, leaving me powerless. In the end, I could only despair as I sank into the river, letting the icy water flood my lungs. A fierce sense of suffocation, like a beast, brutally consumed me. My heart was dead. … When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. A kind passerby had rescued me. Chloe made no effort to check on me. It wasn’t until the next afternoon that she finally called. Her voice on the phone was tired, laced with a hint of complaint. “Adam, Liam’s out of danger, but you went way too far this time! You hit the back of his head, and he almost got a concussion! Luckily, Liam is generous and isn’t holding it against you. But from now on, you absolutely cannot be so reckless!” My heart felt utterly dead. Her only concern was Liam’s injury, completely unaware that her own husband had almost drowned in the river yesterday. After a brief silence, Chloe lowered her voice, trying to explain. “Adam, you misunderstood yesterday. Liam and I are just good friends; it’s not as complicated as you think.” “Friends?” I scoffed. “Do friends kiss?” Chloe’s voice instantly turned cold. “You were drunk last night; you must have imagined it! Liam and I didn’t kiss at all! It was Liam’s birthday yesterday, and I was just with him setting off fireworks by the river. Can you stop overthinking everything? I’ve given you so much over the years; am I not allowed to have other friends?” I hung up immediately. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I had no strength left to argue with her.

After being discharged from the hospital, I made an excuse about a business trip and didn’t go home for two weeks. Chloe seemed busy taking care of the injured Liam, and she didn’t press me much. It was my mother-in-law, Mrs. Davies, who suddenly called me. It was the same old, tired conversation. “Adam, when are you finally going to give me a grandchild?” In that moment, I found it incredibly ironic. She probably had no idea that she *could* have had a grandchild, but her own daughter had personally destroyed it. “I don’t plan on having children.” “Don’t want them?” Mrs. Davies shrieked, her voice sharp and loud. “If you’re not going to have kids, what good are you to our family? Your background is ordinary, your job isn’t great, and you can’t even produce a child. What’s the difference between you and a good-for-nothing? I never should have agreed to Chloe marrying you!” I knew. For five years of our marriage, my in-laws had always looked down on me. Before, for Chloe’s sake, I had always chosen to endure it. But now, I had no reason to swallow my anger. “Anyway, let’s not talk about that,” Mrs. Davies paused, then suddenly lowered her voice. “Next week is your father-in-law’s sixtieth birthday. You and Chloe both need to come home. Remember to prepare a big gift for your father-in-law. Don’t you dare embarrass my daughter!” I froze for a moment. Then, I chuckled. “Alright.” When the time comes, I’ll definitely give you all a *big* gift. … In the blink of an eye, it was my father-in-law’s sixtieth birthday banquet. When I arrived at the Davies’ family home, the grand hall was already packed with relatives and friends, drinks clinking, buzzing with lively chatter. To my surprise, Liam was there too. Chloe made no attempt to hide him, introducing him to every relative and friend one by one. I walked towards them, my face set in a dark scowl, and coldly demanded, “Chloe, it’s your dad’s birthday today. What are you doing bringing this pesky leech, Liam, here?” Before Chloe could reply, Mr. Davies rushed over. “Adam, what kind of talk is that? Liam is my godson. We met fishing. You have no right to be rude to him!” “Godson?” I was stunned. I had no idea that not only had Chloe’s heart wandered, but even my father-in-law was gradually falling under Liam’s spell. I, on the other hand, had become a complete outsider. Liam suddenly extended his wine glass towards me, a fake smile plastered across his face. “Brother-in-law, you’re just in time. I’d like to propose a toast! You actually misunderstood last time; Chloe was just celebrating my birthday. Nothing more. Even though you almost gave me a concussion last time, thanks to Chloe’s careful nursing, my injuries are almost healed.” “What?!” Mr. Davies stared at me in shock, his nostrils flaring in anger. “Adam, *you* caused Liam’s head injury last time? Liam has no grudge against you. Are you insane or something?!” “Godfather, please don’t be angry. My injuries are fine, and I’ve already forgiven brother-in-law.” Liam forcefully shoved the wine glass into my hand, feigning a polite smile. “Brother-in-law, drink this glass, and we’ll let bygones be bygones.” With that, he raised his own glass and drained it. I glared at him, clutching the wine glass in my hand. Then, I suddenly flipped it, splashing all the contents directly onto his face. “Liam, who the hell wants to let bygones be bygones with you?!”

“Adam, what are you doing?!” Mr. Davies’s eyes widened in outrage. “Liam was being kind enough to toast you! What is wrong with your attitude?!” Mrs. Davies’s face also darkened as she scolded me. “Adam, it’s your father-in-law’s birthday today! Are you deliberately trying to ruin the party?!” Liam wiped the wine from his face, his shoulders slumping slightly as he feigned a wronged expression. “Brother-in-law, do you have some misunderstanding about me? If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me. I’ll apologize, okay?” “Liam, you know exactly what you’ve done. Stop playing innocent!” As soon as the words left my mouth, Chloe stepped forward and slapped me hard. Her eyes were wide and blazing, her face terrifyingly dark. “Adam, don’t go too far! Liam was kind enough to toast you, and he even humbled himself to apologize! Why are you still targeting him?! What do you mean by this?!” “What do *I* mean?!” I laughed, enraged. “I’d like to ask *you* and *him* what you mean!” Liam quickly stepped in to mediate. “Sister Chloe, please don’t argue with brother-in-law. It’s Godfather’s birthday today; let’s not make him unhappy because of me!” With that, he pulled a gift box from his pocket and presented it to Mr. Davies like a treasure. “Godfather, this is the gift I prepared for you. Do you like it?” Mr. Davies’s anger instantly vanished when he saw the gift in Liam’s hands. “Top-grade red jade!” Mr. Davies beamed, unable to close his mouth. “Liam, you’re so thoughtful. You truly are my good son!” “This jade must be worth hundreds of thousands, right?” Mrs. Davies’s eyes lit up too. “Liam, I didn’t realize you were so wealthy!” Liam gave a bashful smile. “Just a small token of my appreciation. I hope Godfather likes it.” Then, he turned to me, a provocative smirk on his lips. “Brother-in-law, what grand gift did *you* prepare for Godfather? Why don’t you bring it out for everyone to see?” “Yeah, let’s see it!” The relatives chimed in. Watching Liam’s smug expression, I felt a mocking urge to laugh. I knew he wanted to publicly humiliate me. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction! “A grand gift? Of course!” In front of all our relatives and friends, I slowly pulled out a sealed, clear plastic box. My lips parted slightly. “This is the grand gift I’m giving my father-in-law!” Liam froze. Chloe’s pupils contracted sharply, staring intently at the box in my hand, her face instantly turning ghostly pale. Mr. Davies frowned, asking doubtfully, “What is that? A box of meat?” Mrs. Davies bristled with anger, scolding me. “Adam, Liam bought your father-in-law jade worth hundreds of thousands! And you? What kind of shameful thing have you prepared?!” The relatives and friends gathered around began to whisper, scoffing at my cheapness and calling me an embarrassment. Unfazed, I stared at Chloe and Liam, and spoke in a low, chilling voice: “Mother-in-law, Father-in-law, haven’t you always wanted a grandchild? What I’m holding in my hand… is the grandchild you’ve been eagerly awaiting!”

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Ten years into our marriage, my CEO wife, Victoria, flaked on our plan to spend the May Day holiday together again, claiming a last-minute business trip. But then, a message popped up from Julian, the man she’d always carried a torch for. It was a photo of his whole family on a trip, Victoria in the picture, laughing and playing with a kid. “Alex, if I’m not mistaken, she told you she had to go on a business trip again, didn’t she? After all these years, it’s hilarious how you still fall for that excuse.” “Guess where she’s taking me this time?” My gaze fixated on the corner of the plane ticket in the photo. It clearly said “Fairbanks.” I typed out a reply and sent it back: “Even if she goes to hell, it has nothing to do with me.” Moments later, Victoria’s furious call came through. “Julian was just sharing a moment from his life. Why are you so petty, snapping at him for something like that?” “Go apologize to Julian right now. I’ll make time to take you on a trip when I get back from my business trip.” Listening to yet another one of her empty promises, I mumbled a few perfunctory words and hung up. But she had no idea. I already knew about the twins she had with someone else. Three days from now, my divorce petition would go through. It was time for this marriage, built on lies, to finally end.

I stared at the dozen or so accusatory calls, all from my wife, Victoria Sterling. All I did was snap back at Julian, her first love, and she immediately jumped to his defense, practically demanding I kneel and apologize to him. Anyone who didn’t know better would think Julian was her actual husband. The screen went dark again. Perhaps his patience had run out, as the frantic ringtone didn’t sound a second time. Instead, a few messages popped up on Snapchat. They were from Victoria: “Alex, apologize to Julian right away. I promise, I’ll take you on a vacation when I get back.” “Haven’t you always wanted to see the Northern Lights? We’ll go to Fairbanks to see them.” The thought that she was going to Fairbanks this time too instantly hit me. I couldn’t help but sneer. Did she have to take Julian to every place I wanted to go first? I didn’t want to deal with it and was about to turn off my phone when another message from Julian popped up. It was a family photo. I didn’t even need to zoom in to recognize the slender figure in it as my wife. “Alex, I genuinely can’t believe it. You know your wife has another family out there, yet you’ve endured it for years. How do you do it? You must have been a spineless turtle in your past life.” “Given how much you’ve put up with all these years, I’ll tell you one more thing: about Victoria’s hospitalization abroad three years ago.” “She told you she had uterine fibroids and needed to go abroad for treatment, but that was a lie. It was the excuse I came up with for her. I just never expected you to believe it so easily, even giving her your life savings so thoughtfully. In reality, she went abroad that year to have my children. I wanted her to give birth in a local hospital, but she considered you and insisted on flying abroad to deliver…” The long, rambling text that followed, I didn’t read. I had no desire to read any further. Three years after we got married, all my friends had families that felt complete, and I was so envious. I went back and told Victoria I wanted a child, but she said her career was on the rise and a child would only be a burden right now. Two more years passed, and just when I finally got her to agree, she cried and told me she had uterine fibroids and had already contacted a doctor abroad, claiming a small surgery would cure her. She was gone for three years. When she finally returned home, she tearfully told me the surgery had gone wrong, and she could never have children. I still remember her tears streaming down her face that day as she said, “Alex, I’m so sorry. I made you wait all these years, and I still couldn’t fulfill your dream of becoming a father.” Looking at her red-rimmed eyes, I said with a pang of sadness, “Vicki, it’s okay. As long as you’re healthy, just being with you like this for a lifetime is enough.” I thought Victoria and I would adopt a child and live out the rest of our lives. But then, Julian, her first love, suddenly sent me an ultrasound report with my wife, Victoria Sterling’s name, clearly written on it. I thought it was a prank, one of Julian’s tricks to fool me, and I dismissed it several times. Deep down, I still believed Victoria’s heart belonged only to me. It wasn’t until I received another photo from Julian, showing a child strikingly similar to Victoria, that I had no choice but to believe that the ultrasound report was real. She had truly given birth to Julian’s children behind my back—twin children, at that. She’d even gone as far as to use her health as a cruel excuse to deceive me, just to prevent me from suspecting anything. A sharp pain tore through my heart at the thought. The stinging pain in my palm brought me back to reality. I quickly blocked and deleted Julian from Snapchat. A moment later, Mr. Davies, the butler, came over with a gift box. “Mr. Alex, this is a birthday gift from Miss Victoria.” With that, Mr. Davies opened the box directly. Inside was an exquisite watch, clearly custom-made. My heart froze when I heard what the butler said. Looking at the expensive watch, I suddenly remembered Victoria’s promise years ago: she would spend every one of my birthdays with me. Since Julian appeared, her earlier promises had become empty words. Whether she spent it with me or not, she still prepared a gift for me every year. Except, this watch, she had already given it to me three times. With this one, it was the fourth. Yet, the things she gave Julian were never repeated, and each gift was clearly more thoughtful than this watch. I snapped a few photos of the watch with my phone and casually posted them on an online auction site, setting the starting bid at $10. Mr. Davies, seeing me smile, thought I was chatting with Victoria and said, “Seeing you two so in sync makes me feel at ease.” I didn’t reply. After a couple more words of concern, Mr. Davies left. Just as I was about to go upstairs, my phone buzzed with an update on my divorce application. The paperwork would be finalized in three days. I gripped my phone, my eyes hardening. This marriage, full of lies, was finally coming to an end.

No sooner had I packed the watch than Mr. Davies came in with a parcel. “Mr. Alex, this package arrived with some damage. The delivery person requested a direct signature. Could you please check if there’s anything wrong inside?” I took the package Mr. Davies handed me, feeling suspicious. I hadn’t ordered anything recently. I instinctively knew it couldn’t be from Victoria, as she never ordered things online; I personally bought all her daily necessities. She wouldn’t touch such things. It wasn’t until I saw the recipient’s name on the package that my shocked expression softened. It was Victoria’s package. At Mr. Davies’ urging, I opened the box. Inside were two pairs of children’s shoes. Mr. Davies also looked a little shocked. “This… could Miss Victoria be pregnant? Didn’t she say she could never—” Before Mr. Davies could finish, Victoria’s call came through. Her voice was a mix of urgency and nervousness. “Alex, did a package just arrive at the house? Did you…” Before she could finish, I already knew what she was going to say. Looking at the children’s shoes in the box, I calmly replied, “Just received it. Don’t worry, I’ve already signed for it.” She paused, then after a long silence, said, “Good. Don’t overthink it. Those are gifts for a friend’s kids. He helped me out a lot before; I’m just showing my appreciation.” I couldn’t help but sneer when I heard that. They were clearly for Julian’s twin sons, and she was still making up excuses. I couldn’t resist snapping back, “That friend of yours, is his name Julian?” At my words, Victoria’s tone immediately changed. “Alex, what are you stirring up now? Are you mad I didn’t spend your birthday with you? Didn’t I promise you? I’ll make it up to you when I’m back from my time off.” “Stop dragging Julian into everything! How many times have I told you, we’re just friends!” I gripped the gift box in my hand and asked with a laugh, “Then why are you so anxious to call back? Isn’t it because you’re afraid I’ll go confront Julian?” I expected her to lash out, but she just said a few casual words: “You’re being completely unreasonable. I was just worried you’d overthink it if you saw the package. I never imagined you’d think so little of me. Looks like my concern for you was completely wasted!” I was somewhat surprised. In the past, whenever I mentioned Julian to her, she’d explode like a lit fuse. But the doubt that had just arisen vanished the next second when I heard a child’s tender voice through the receiver. I realized she hadn’t changed; she just didn’t want to argue with me in front of the kids. Before I could speak, she hung up, leaving me with a dial tone. She kept telling me that she and Julian were just friends, but then she went and had his children. Were they really just friends? Just then, Victoria’s Ragdoll cat, Whiskers, suddenly ran over. My eyes hardened, and I was about to leave, but it was too late. Red spots had already started to appear on my arm. In moments, what were just a few scattered spots had spread all over my body. They were incredibly itchy, and there were even signs of swelling. I’m allergic to cat hair, but Victoria insisted on keeping a cat, simply because Julian had given it to her. I even gave her the silent treatment for a month because of it. She just shrugged it off, a look of disdain on her face. “It’s just a little allergy, isn’t it? I can just buy you some allergy medicine. Only a cold-blooded person like you would shut out such a cute cat!” The swollen areas on my body were growing larger, so I quickly went to find allergy medicine. But I rummaged through the medicine cabinet several times, and there was no allergy medicine inside. I felt worse and worse, even my breathing became difficult, and my head felt heavier and heavier. The next second, I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I overheard Mr. Davies on the phone with Victoria. Mr. Davies was elderly and accustomed to using speakerphone. Victoria’s cold voice, distorted by static, cut through the air: “It’s just a minor allergy. Is it worth calling me in the middle of the night for? Just buy him some allergy medicine! You’ve been with the Sterling family for years; do I still need to teach you such basic things?” “And by the way, don’t bother me with trivial matters like this ever again!” Through the crack in the door, I saw Victoria had already hung up before Mr. Davies could even speak. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. I should have expected this outcome. What was I still hoping for? Mr. Davies came into the room, looking at me with sympathy.

After a day of observation, the doctor finally discharged me. No sooner had I completed the discharge procedures than I received a message from the Registry Office. With the divorce certificate in hand, I took a taxi home. As I approached the main gate, I heard a burst of cheerful laughter from inside. I thought Victoria had returned early. I was planning to give her the divorce certificate and explain everything to her face. The next second, I heard Mrs. Sterling and Aunt Carol’s voices from inside: “If Vicki hadn’t been so insistent on marrying him back then, and I couldn’t sway her, I certainly wouldn’t have allowed him to step foot in my Sterling family home!” “Anyway, Vicki and Julian have children now, and Alex is completely useless. When he comes back, we’ll just have him sign the divorce papers!” Aunt Carol quickly chimed in, “Exactly, the children grow up in the blink of an eye. You should enjoy the blessings of a house full of grandchildren.” I couldn’t help but clench my fists. So, their entire family knew Victoria had given birth to twins outside of our marriage, and I was the only one kept in the dark, foolishly believing her all these years. I pushed open the door, my face a mask of cold fury. The two women turned, startled. “Are you a ghost? Make some noise when you walk!” Mrs. Sterling shot me an impatient glance, her face darkening. “What are you standing there for? Go make some tea! I don’t know what you learned from all those etiquette lessons over the years; you’re still so unrefined, annoying to look at.” Years ago, Mrs. Sterling despised my humble background. Although she agreed to my marriage with Victoria, she secretly arranged various etiquette lessons for me. She implied, both overtly and subtly, that I wasn’t good enough for her daughter, and if I didn’t practice diligently, her daughter would embarrass the Sterling family when taking me out. Despite my strong reluctance, I endured everything and complied with Mrs. Sterling’s wishes, thinking about how Victoria had faced her mother’s coldness and difficulties because of me. But I never imagined that after all these years, she still looked down on me. As I brought them two cups of hot tea, Aunt Carol exchanged a knowing look with Mrs. Sterling. Just as I was about to go upstairs, Mrs. Sterling casually flung a divorce agreement at me. She said coldly, “Wait a minute. Sign this divorce agreement first.” She paused, then added, “This is Vicki’s wish too. She’s too shy to say it herself, so as a mother, I naturally have to help her.” “I’m sure you heard what Aunt Carol and I were saying. I won’t hide it from you, Vicki has already had children outside of this marriage. This divorce was bound to happen sooner or later.” I looked up at her. Regardless of whose wish it was, I already had the divorce certificate in hand. This marriage was over no matter what, so what harm was there in signing another agreement? With that thought, I quickly scribbled my signature. Seeing how decisive I was, both women looked stunned, as if they were dreaming. “Can I go now?” I asked, looking at their shocked expressions. Aunt Carol instantly recovered, disdainfully saying, “You certainly should. You’re no longer the Sterling family’s son-in-law. There’s no reason to linger.” Mrs. Sterling immediately chimed in, “Mr. Davies, quickly have someone pack his things. Tell him to get out of the Sterling house today.” Mr. Davies heard this and was about to call for staff when I stopped him. “No need. I’ll pack myself.” Aunt Carol’s eyes darted around when she heard this, and she scoffed, “Someone should watch him, just to make sure he keeps his hands clean. If anything goes missing, it’ll be our Sterling family’s money lost!” I ignored her and went straight upstairs to pack a few of my most used clothes. I didn’t touch any of the clothes Victoria had given me. I also placed the divorce certificate in a gift box and asked Mr. Davies to give it to Victoria. After I finished everything, I dragged my luggage out of the Sterling house. I hadn’t walked two steps past the main gate when I heard a servant mention that they were preparing to welcome back the young masters who had been living outside in a couple of days. It was then that I realized Mrs. Sterling was in such a hurry to get me divorced because she wanted to welcome Julian’s two sons back into the family. The next day, Victoria returned from her time off, with Julian following behind her. She stepped inside and looked around. Not seeing me, her heart inexplicably began to pound. Julian, however, was scanning the living room. “Vicki, Whiskers is gone. Did Alex get rid of him while you were away?” Whiskers was the Ragdoll cat’s name. Victoria frowned, remembering my allergy. She wanted to say something but held back. It wasn’t until Mr. Davies said the cat had been sent for vaccinations that Victoria’s expression softened slightly. Then she asked, “Mr. Davies, where’s Alex?” Before Mr. Davies could reply, Mrs. Sterling spoke from the top of the stairs, “Alex has already left the Sterling house.” Victoria was puzzled. “Mom, what do you mean?!” Mrs. Sterling had always had issues with me, and putting me down was a common occurrence. She was about to say more when her gaze shifted to the gift box in Mr. Davies’ hands. Mr. Davies handed the gift box to Victoria. “Mr. Alex asked me to give this to you.” Victoria’s eyes flickered with hesitation as she saw the familiar gift box. She remembered it as the box she’d used the very first time she gave Alex a gift. She never thought he’d kept it for so long. Julian, noticing the strange look in her eyes, scoffed, “That box looks so old. Did Alex just find some broken old box to gross you out on purpose? Vicki, you shouldn’t even look at it.” “What good could possibly be in such a piece of junk? He’s probably just messing with you. You’ll regret opening it.” The next second, Victoria opened it right in front of everyone. When she saw what was inside, her face instantly went ashen. Everyone looked utterly bewildered. It was a divorce certificate. Julian was the first to react, his tone dismissive. “Vicki, what’s Alex’s game with this fake certificate? Does he think you wouldn’t dare to actually divorce him?”

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After my wife died, our entire family spoiled our son rotten. We treated him like a prince. My mom worked tirelessly for three years for the principal of the most elite high school, just so our son could get in. My dad drove Leo to and from school every single day. One rainy morning, he slipped on the way out and shattered his spine. On Leo’s 18th birthday, my sister, Skylar, painstakingly prepared a gift for him. But on her way there, she got into a car accident. I answered the FaceTime call from Skylar. Her face was a bloody mess on the screen. “Alex… I saw… I saw Seraphina…” As her phone camera moved, Seraphina, who was supposed to be dead, appeared in the frame. She looked utterly impatient after hitting someone. Next to her, a handsomely dressed man casually pulled out a wad of cash and flung it at my sister. “Seraphina, this kind of person clearly just wants to scam us. It’s more important to get to Leo’s coming-of-age party.” “If I miss Leo’s party, he’ll definitely blame me, his father.” At that instant, a cold dread washed over me, chilling me to the bone. Our son, whom our family had cherished for eighteen years, wasn’t even related to me by blood?!

“Seraphina, don’t just stand there. Ten grand is already more than enough for this lowly beggar. We need to hurry and see Leo; we can’t miss his coming-of-age party!” In the video Skylar had sent me, the man hooked his arm through Seraphina’s, about to get into the car. I recognized him. It was Victor, Seraphina’s childhood sweetheart, the one she’d grown up with! And my wife, who had been dead for eighteen years and now suddenly reappeared, didn’t even recognize the person she’d hit, lying injured on the ground—it was my sister, her own sister-in-law! She just gave Skylar a dismissive glance, then turned to comfort Victor: “Alex and I couldn’t have kids back then, so I borrowed your help to get pregnant just to make him feel better.” “You’re Leo’s biological father. He won’t blame you.” Watching the two of them, so cold and arrogant in the video, my head reeled. So, Seraphina’s death was a lie, and tricking me into raising her son was the truth! What did all our family’s sacrifices over the past eighteen years even mean? A crushing pain seized my heart, but I had no time for grief. Skylar was still barely clinging to life on the ground. I frantically rushed to the city hospital. When Skylar was wheeled into the operating room, she was still clutching Leo’s coming-of-age gift in her hand—a custom-made gaming controller. “Alex… don’t be sad. Leo… he’ll definitely side with you…” As she was pushed into surgery, I clenched the blood-stained controller so tightly my nails almost dug into my flesh! If it weren’t for delivering Leo’s gift, she wouldn’t have gotten into an accident. After three long hours of frantic rescue efforts, the operating room light finally went out. The doctor told me Skylar was out of critical condition. But her left leg had sustained a comminuted fracture, and she had a concussion. Her recovery would be long and arduous, with potential lasting complications. My knees buckled, and I nearly fell, my heart ripping apart. It took me a while to collect myself and call my parents to reassure them. I pulled out my phone and instinctively clicked on Leo’s latest update on Ins. In the photo, my son stood center stage in a sharp suit, a brilliant smile on his face. In eighteen years, I’d rarely seen Leo smile at me like that. With me, it was mostly annoyance. I’d always just told myself he was going through his rebellious phase. The last photo showed Leo intimately linking his left arm with Seraphina, who was supposed to be dead, and his right arm tightly pressed against the man from the video. The three of them smiled brilliantly at the camera, a picture of pure, unadulterated family happiness. The sight burned my eyes. Below the image was a caption. “Thanks, Mom and Dad, for my amazing coming-of-age party! This is the best gift ever! Love you guys!” And then, a follow-up: “Unlike some people’s crappy handmade junk, so cheap and tacky, it was an embarrassment.” The ‘junk’ he spoke of was the celestial model I had personally polished for three months. It lay silently in my bag now, like a silent taunt. I had painstakingly carved that celestial model from a treasured piece of rare rosewood, a leftover from before Seraphina’s “passing.” Leo had loved the stars since he was a child. I had promised him that for his 18th birthday, I’d give him a truly one-of-a-kind gift. For three months, I’d pulled countless all-nighters, my fingers raw and blistered multiple times, just to finish it before his birthday. I’d even imagined his surprised expression when he received the gift. Turns out, Leo knew everything. He knew Seraphina wasn’t dead. He knew his biological father was Victor. And my eighteen years of pouring my heart and soul into him, had been a complete and utter joke.

I suppressed the turbulent storm of emotions raging within me and called my parents, who were on their way to the hospital to see Skylar, telling them not to panic just yet. No sooner had I hung up than Seraphina’s figure appeared at the ward door. Eighteen years. The moment our eyes met, her brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed in her gaze. A maelstrom of emotions churned within me. I didn’t know how to even begin speaking to her. Before I could even question why she faked her death and disappeared for eighteen years, Victor followed her in, his tone laced with mockery. “Alex, really, what are you doing here? On such an important day as Leo’s coming-of-age party? Leo was just asking about you, saying he felt unsettled without you there.” Seraphina’s face instantly darkened, and she looked at me with an accusing gaze. “Alex, what is wrong with you? How dare you miss Leo’s coming-of-age party?” “My faking my death back then was just to test your sincerity, to see if you’d take good care of Leo in my absence.” “You did well for the first eighteen years, but now it seems you haven’t taken my words to heart.” A test? My sincerity? In that moment, I felt all my strength drain away. My heart was pricked by countless steel needles, the sharp pain spreading through me. Her casual declaration of a “test” erased my eighteen years of walking on eggshells, erased all the sacrifices our entire family had made for her son. Seraphina, you’re truly heartless! Seeing my silence, Seraphina’s expression grew even uglier. “I’m taking Leo and Victor on a trip abroad tomorrow. You stay home and reflect on your mistakes.” With that, they turned and walked away, a united front, leaving me alone outside the cold hospital room, facing my sister’s closed door, a chill spreading through me. I never imagined that after eighteen years, our first reunion would be like this. I remembered when I first married her, how I’d come home dead drunk from work dinners. Even though Seraphina would complain I wasn’t ambitious enough, she’d still clumsily get up in the middle of the night to make her homemade hangover remedy, carefully blowing on it to cool it before bringing it to my lips. Her eyes red-rimmed, she’d say, “Honey, don’t push yourself so hard. From now on, I’ll shoulder this burden with you.” She once said she’d love me for an eternity and give our child the happiest home. But those sweet memories now felt like sharp knives, slicing my heart to bloody ribbons.

Not long after they left, I dialed Leo’s number with trembling hands. I wanted to ask him what was going on. Since he already knew the truth, why hadn’t he said a single word to me? Did he also think this was some kind of “test” for me? The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered. “Hello? What do you want? I’m busy!” Leo’s voice was utterly impatient. In the background, I clearly heard Victor’s voice: “Leo, do you like this Patek Philippe watch? It perfectly suits our Leo’s status.” Seraphina’s gentle voice echoed, “Yes, Leo, wear this, and you’ll be the handsomest young man around.” So, after leaving the hospital, they had gone straight to a luxury store with Leo. Leo must have been at the hospital earlier too, or rather, he’d come with Seraphina and Victor all along. He just couldn’t be bothered to even step into the ward to take a look. On the phone, Leo responded to their every word, his tone filled with genuine intimacy, as if they were the real family. Yes, they were the real family. I was just an “outsider” who had raised their son for free for eighteen years. But I still couldn’t give up, and I spoke: “Leo, your Aunt Skylar… she got into a car accident. She’s still unconscious in the hospital. Can you come see her?” “Oh, okay.” Leo’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion, even carrying an undertone of annoyance at being disturbed. He didn’t care at all about the aunt who had doted on him since he was little, who would have plucked the stars from the sky for him if he’d asked, who loved him the most. “If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up. I still have things to pick out!” Before I could say anything else, Leo abruptly hung up. The buzzing dial tone finally severed the bond between us, father and son. For eighteen years, our entire family, the Alex family, had cherished him, Leo, like the apple of our eye, sacrificing so much, giving so much for him. My mom’s presbyopia, my dad’s back injury, my sister’s severe injuries now… Who knew that all our efforts, our everything, would only nurture a cold-hearted, ungrateful viper! Since Leo didn’t value this family anymore, there was no point in us demeaning ourselves any further for an outsider. A week later, Skylar’s condition stabilized, and she was discharged from the hospital. The four of us, with no regrets, quietly left the city that held too much pain, returning to our quiet little hometown we’d left behind long ago. We had originally moved to the big city just for Leo’s schooling. Now… there was no need anymore! I never thought Seraphina would still be sending me messages at a time like this. She was publicly and lavishly throwing a grand birthday gala for Leo. The dozens of messages she sent me were still in her usual imperious, princess-like tone. She ordered me to bring the whole family to Leo’s birthday gala on time, even saying she had arranged a suit for me and that I should dress appropriately, so as not to embarrass the Seraphina family. I looked at those condescending words and found them utterly ridiculous. I casually turned off my phone and tossed it aside. At the birthday gala, Seraphina waited for a long time, but I never showed up. She clearly couldn’t bear to lose face in front of the numerous dignitaries and celebrities. “Go, bring Alex to me!” ———-此处为截断点———- Annoyed, she sent her assistant to the apartment I rented. Another hour passed, but the assistant returned alone, looking flustered.

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The day college applications were due, my childhood sweetheart, Asher, who’d pretended to be poor for three years, was finally going to confess his true identity as an heir to a vast fortune to his goddess, Seraphina. He claimed he’d found true love – someone who didn’t care about his family background. But recalling how Seraphina had secretly seduced other rich guys behind his back, I couldn’t help but step in. I stopped her, waved a million-dollar check in her face, and told her to get lost. The next morning, his eyes blazing red, Asher told me he’d seen through the gold-digger. He decided we’d go abroad for college together. Yet, Seraphina, in a fit of spite, married an abusive man. She was beaten to death while pregnant; she and her unborn child perished. Asher hugged me, saying he didn’t care. But the day my family’s company went public, Asher, who was now my husband, teamed up with outside rivals to launch a hostile takeover, bleeding my family dry of all our assets. My father went bankrupt overnight and jumped to his death. My mother was tormented by Asher until she died. When I confronted Asher, demanding to know why, he dragged me to Seraphina’s grave. “Seraphina died because of you! How dare you, a murderer, live as a high-society lady?” “If you hadn’t humiliated her with your money, how could she have become so heartbroken and desperate that she married that scumbag?” “You made me lose the love of my life forever. I’ll make your entire family pay for her!” He pushed me off a cliff with his own hands. My body was never found. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Asher, dressed in cheap, off-the-rack clothes, about to deliver a coffee to Seraphina. I simply turned away, a cold resolve settling in my heart. This time, I was going to watch closely. Would his true love still want him when he was just a penniless nobody?

I was back on the day college applications were due. After Asher revealed his identity as a wealthy heir, he successfully proposed to Seraphina. Amidst the cheers and teasing of the crowd, I quietly slipped away. “Aubrey, stop right there!” I ignored him. He strode after me, grabbing my wrist with a force that felt like he wanted to crush my bones. I winced, struggling against his bruising grip, my eyes on the livid finger marks blooming on my skin. “Why are you hiding? Trying to play hard to get again?” “I just wanted to tell you, I’m not going to Cambridge. I promised Seraphina I’d go to vocational school with her.” Seeing me lower my head in silence, his tone softened slightly. “I know you’ve always struggled academically. You studied day and night just to keep up with me, barely managing to get second place in the entire school for this exam.” “But let me make this clear: Seraphina is the woman I’m going to marry! Stop bothering me.” Seraphina, in her high heels, came strutting over, clinging to Asher, playing the innocent. She twirled a can of soda in her hand, her eyes glinting with a clear challenge. “Asher, don’t be so mean to Aubrey, dear.” “You’re so smart, from such a good family background, and you’re willing to go to vocational school for me… I’m so touched.” “But now that you have me, you need to keep your distance from Aubrey. After all, there’s no room for a third person in a relationship.” Asher shot me a triumphant look, pulling Seraphina closer. “For Seraphina, I can give up Cambridge, give up everything!” “All your so-called efforts? They mean absolutely nothing to me.” Before he met Seraphina, he always told me that if he got a special admission slot, it would definitely be for me. That’s why I, who was never a straight-A student, had worked so hard. All I wanted was to get into the same college with him. Now, just to appease Seraphina, he was willing to let that slot go to waste. As they spoke, Seraphina’s hand suddenly slipped, and the entire can of soda spilled all over my portfolio. “Oh my! Aubrey, you pushed me so hard!” I was stunned. I hadn’t even touched her. “You clearly drenched my work on purpose! How dare you accuse me first?” Asher instantly became protective. “Aubrey! What are you trying to pull now?” “Seraphina is the kindest girl I’ve ever met. Don’t you dare falsely accuse her!” Seraphina nestled into his arms, her eyes welling up. “Asher, my hand hurts so much.” “Don’t blame Aubrey. It’s not the first time she’s picked on me, anyway.” Asher’s rage completely flared. He grabbed my chin, then, in front of everyone, he locked lips with Seraphina in a passionate, mocking French kiss. “Look closely! Seraphina is my true love! If you dare to bully her again, don’t blame me for forgetting our childhood friendship!” He pulled a crystal hairpin from his pocket and tossed it casually at my feet. “This is your compensation. You’ve always been obsessed with me since we were kids. This should be enough.” “This piece of trash? Only you would value it. Don’t bother me with your cheap affections ever again.” I recognized the crystal on the hairpin. It was from a fancy Parker fountain pen. When I was fifteen, I’d worked a summer job for two months, saving up to buy that pen, hoping to make his birthday gift more meaningful. He’d once said that with this pen, his grades would skyrocket. I suppressed the icy chill in my eyes, looking at him calmly. Seraphina laughed, picking up the hairpin and putting it in her hair. “Asher, wasn’t this what you promised to give me? Why did you give it to Aubrey?” “The crystal is so pretty. As a hairpin, it’s much more valuable than on a pen.” Asher gently took her hand. “You’re my fiancée now. Such a cheap hairpin isn’t good enough for you.” “I’ll take you to buy something better right now.” Then, right in front of me, he deliberately stomped on the fountain pen lying at my feet, crushing it. “Aubrey, you’re not going to Cambridge anyway. These things are useless to you now.” “Better to throw them away early, so you don’t feel sad later.”

I pushed open the front door. My dad was ironing the shirt I needed for tomorrow’s interview. My mom brought out a warmed glass of milk. Our home was filled with a comforting scent. Seeing them so healthy and vibrant, my eyes welled up, and tears streamed down my face. My parents, confused, looked at me with concern. Just then, Asher’s mom, Mrs. Hayes, arrived at our door. The moment she stepped inside, she grabbed my hand, her eyes brimming with tears. “Aubrey, dear, I know you’re the most sensible one.” “Asher has been completely charmed by that wicked girl. His father and I, we’ve always believed you are our future daughter-in-law.” “Please, talk some sense into him. Being with that woman will only ruin his future.” I subtly pulled my hand away. In my previous life, she had begged me just like this, only to later tell Asher that I was just jealous and meddling. “Mrs. Hayes, he’s your son. I can’t control him.” Mrs. Hayes’s face stiffened, then she cried even harder. “How can you say that?” “You’ve always wanted to go to Cambridge with Asher since you were little, haven’t you? You worked so hard, so afraid of falling behind him?” “Don’t you feel bad seeing him completely give up his Cambridge future?” “He could even get someone else in with him!” My phone suddenly rang. It was Asher. I answered in front of Mrs. Hayes and put it on speaker. Asher’s icy voice came through the phone. “Aubrey, did my mom come to find you?” “I’m warning you, I will never let you ruin my life again.” “Whether I go to Cambridge or not, I will absolutely never take a vicious woman like you with me.” Mrs. Hayes heard her son’s words and instantly fell silent, her face fluctuating between pale and flushed with embarrassment. I looked at her and said, every word distinct. “Did you hear that?” Then, I hung up. Mrs. Hayes stood there, dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long time. My dad walked over, frowning. “How could Asher talk like that?” “What has our Aubrey ever done to him?” My mom also looked displeased. “All these years, for the sake of our children’s friendship, our family has provided significant business support to your Hayes Corporation.” “If Asher chooses someone else, then our business dealings will be a different matter from now on.” Mrs. Hayes’s face turned green and white. “No, no, Asher is just confused for now.” “Aubrey, don’t worry, I’ll talk to him properly later.” I looked at her coldly. “I don’t care for his charity, either.” Mrs. Hayes stomped her foot in frustration. “But without Asher, how will you get into Cambridge?” “Your grades are so bad, you cried every time there was an exam.” “Besides following Asher, what other way do you have?” I smiled faintly. “You don’t need to worry about that, Mrs. Hayes.” My dad walked over, his tone serious. “Since Asher isn’t willing, then forget it.” My mom nodded too. “Exactly. My daughter is so outstanding, why should she have to rely on anyone else?” Seeing their reaction, Mrs. Hayes slinked away. She reached the door but reluctantly turned back. “Aubrey, are you really not going to reconsider?” “Without Asher, you really can’t get into Cambridge.” I closed the door, ignoring her desperate pleas. My parents looked at me, their eyes filled with affection. “Sweetheart, don’t listen to her nonsense.”

The next day, I walked into the Cambridge admissions office’s video interview room. During the interview, I performed exceptionally well, confident and poised. I was a completely different person from the nervous, insecure follower I was in my previous life. After the interview, I ran into Seraphina, who had been waiting downstairs for a long time. She was dressed head-to-toe in designer clothes. Seeing me, she immediately puffed out her belly. She deliberately waved an ultrasound photo in front of my face. “Aubrey, dear, Asher and I are having a baby.” “He’ll have to take care of us from now on, so he can’t be like when we were kids, letting you follow him everywhere.” I glanced at the ultrasound. The date was last week. They’d only been together for half a month. “I know you saw me shopping at the luxury store with the hot guy from the next class last time. So what?” “Asher only believes me now. I’m going to be the future Mrs. Hayes!” Her voice was deliberately sweet, but it couldn’t hide the mockery in her eyes. She even deliberately caressed her belly, as if it held the utmost honor. She pressed closer, practically backing me into a corner. “That Cambridge special admission slot originally belonged to Asher. He can give it to anyone he wants.” “Now he’s given it up for me and the baby. Do you really think you still have a chance?” “Someone like you, you’re just not cut out for it. You keep struggling, it’s honestly exhausting to watch.” Seeing my indifference, Seraphina’s eyes became even more vicious. She suddenly swayed, gasped, clutched her stomach, and fell backward. “Ow! Aubrey! Why did you push me?!” A tall figure abruptly rushed over. Asher’s face was livid as he quickly caught Seraphina. He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face! The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the empty hallway. My cheek instantly stung, and I stared at him in shock. “Aubrey! You vicious woman!” Asher roared, his eyes bloodshot. “How dare you push Seraphina? She’s carrying my child!” “You think you got an interview and you’ll pass? Without me to secure you a special admission, you’ll never even get close to Cambridge!” He pointed a finger at my nose, every word dripping with extreme insult. Seraphina leaned into his arms, sobbing weakly. “Asher, my stomach hurts so much… did Aubrey hurt it?” “Don’t blame her, dear. She probably didn’t mean it.” Asher’s gaze grew even colder. He stared fixedly at me. “Get lost! Don’t you ever appear in front of me again!” Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fiercely held them back. I didn’t explain, didn’t argue. I just dragged my heavy steps away from that toxic place. Behind me, Asher was still raging. “Let her pretend! Without me, she’s nothing!” Seraphina’s voice, laced with victorious glee, softly echoed his words. “Asher, don’t be angry. She’s not worth it.” “She’ll regret it. Just wait until she comes crying to you.”

I stood backstage in the school auditorium. Today was the senior class appreciation event, held after college application submissions. Seraphina walked in, arm in arm with Asher, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. Her designer gown was a stark contrast to my plain white tee. Students immediately gathered around, showering them with compliments. “They look amazing! A goddess and a genius, a match made in heaven!” “Asher actually chose to stay and study domestically for Seraphina! Who could compare to that kind of devotion?!” “Seriously, he was a shoo-in for Cambridge, and he just gave it up like that. So impressive!” Seraphina echoed their laughter, her voice filled with gloating. “Aubrey, dear, don’t blame Asher.” “After all, a place like Cambridge is truly an unreachable dream for ordinary people.” Students on the other side chimed in. “Is Aubrey still standing there? Does she regret not holding onto Asher?” “With her grades, does she really think she could get into Cambridge on her own? Overestimating herself!” “She’s been his annoying shadow since childhood, now she’s finally been completely dumped!” Asher waved his hand dismissively, looking even more smug. “It’s nothing. That special admission slot? I can activate it anytime.” “Worst case, once Seraphina gets tired of staying in the country, I’ll just take her to Cambridge for a couple of years of fun.” His gaze fell on me again. “Aubrey, who told you to push Seraphina that day?” “You want to go to Cambridge with me? Heh, that’s absolutely impossible now.” I looked at him calmly, without a single ripple of emotion. Asher, seeing my indifference, his eyes grew colder. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and opened an email. “Perfect, Cambridge sent an email today.” “It should be the final confirmation notice for that special admission slot.” His voice was loud, as if deliberately letting everyone around him hear. “It’s good to make some people give up completely. Don’t always covet things that don’t belong to you.” Seraphina excitedly leaned over. “Wow, an email from Cambridge!” Just as Asher was about to open the email, the auditorium doors suddenly burst open. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes walked in, their faces ashen. They clutched a thin piece of paper tightly in their hands. It was the vocational school admission letter that had arrived at their house a few days ago. Mrs. Hayes spotted Asher immediately and rushed over. “Asher! You ungrateful brat!” She waved the admission letter, almost poking Asher’s nose with it. “What is this?! Southwood Vocational School?!” “Didn’t you say the Cambridge spot was yours, and you could go anytime?!” Asher’s face instantly went pale as a ghost. “Mom! What are you doing?!” Mr. Hayes walked forward, his face grim. “You rotten kid, did you really think you could hide this from us?” “You better tell me honestly, what’s going on? You’re still lying!”

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My boyfriend, Mason, was crippled and deep in debt after a brutal attack. In just one month, he tried to end it all four times: slashing his wrists, jumping from a building, carbon monoxide poisoning, and even mixing prescription pills with liquor. Every single time, I found him just in time to stop him! To make him abandon his suicidal thoughts, I worked multiple jobs and even pawned my mother’s heirloom jade bracelet to pay off his debts. To get him back on his feet, I decided to be a living donor, offering my own spinal cord stem cells. Just as I was thrilled about his improving health, I accidentally discovered that his legs were never paralyzed, and he wasn’t in debt at all. Turns out, he was actually Mason Blackwood, the heir to the colossal Blackwood Conglomerate. His poverty, his paralysis, our entire relationship… it was all a sick, drunken bet among his trust fund friends: A “pauper’s love test”! Ha! Well, I’d give *him* a test. But then, why did *he* suddenly crack?

I pushed open the door and saw Mason, a bottle of liquor in one hand, a handful of pills in the other, lifting them to his mouth. My heart seized. I practically flew across the room, swatting the deadly combo from his grasp. “What are you doing?!” I cried out, my voice trembling with a raw, panicked sob. Mason’s voice was dead, his smile a tragic grimace. “What am I doing? Isn’t it obvious? I’m dying…” His eyes pleaded with me, filled with tears. “Please, Riley, have a heart, just leave me alone! Let me die!” “I’m ruined. There’s no point in living.” I buried my face in his chest, shaking my head frantically. This was his fourth suicide attempt this month. The last time, he tried carbon monoxide poisoning. Before that, he tried to drown himself. And before that, he tried to slash his wrists. Every single time, I found him just in time. I couldn’t bear to imagine what would happen if I were even a moment too late. “Mason, please don’t do this.” I cupped his face, my voice shaking. “We’ll face this together, okay?” Mason shoved me away roughly. “Face what? The debt collectors?” He pounded his fists on his own legs. “Look at these legs! They’re useless, they can’t move! How can I work like this? How can I earn money?” “Don’t you get sick of looking at these useless legs every day? Because I do!” My heart ached as I watched him. Ever since that brutal attack by the debt collectors, he hadn’t been able to stand. Mason aggressively reached for the pills and liquor I’d knocked over. “Better to just end it quickly now, and get it over with! I won’t drag you down!” I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his hands. “You’re not dragging me down! You’re all I have in this world! If you leave, what will I do…?” I desperately tried to convince him he was still needed, still useful. “Without you, how can I live?!” Tears blurring my vision, I choked out, “If you can’t work, I can! It’s just money! I’ll pay it back, I’ll pay it back with you! I’ll even get your legs fixed, I’ll get you back on your feet…” “So please, just don’t die!” Mason scoffed, a cold, cynical laugh, calling me naive. “You’ll pay? You’ll even fix my legs? Do you know how much five million in debt, plus medical costs, adds up to? At least six million!” He pointed at me, then at himself. “Look at you, then look at me. You earn next to nothing! Even if we saved every single penny, it would take us over a century to clear five million! Do you honestly think we’d live that long? Do you think those loan sharks would wait that long?” I bit my lip, silent. Mason continued, “You say you’ll pay off my debts now, but what about later? When you’re exhausted, when you crave something decent to eat but can’t afford it, when you have to pinch every single penny… you’ll resent me! You’ll resent why I’m such a cripple! You’ll resent ever trying to save me!” His voice suddenly turned icy. “Wealthy people stab each other in the back for profit. What makes you think *our* love, as commoners, is any different?” “Wake up.” I gripped his hand, my eyes locked on his. “That’s not how it works, Mason. Yes, I’m barely making minimum wage now, but I’ll get promoted. My salary will increase. And I can pick up extra jobs…” “Mason,” I said firmly, “we’ll figure this out together.” Mason turned his head away, refusing to look at me. I stood up, grabbed my bag, and headed for the door. “Where are you going?” Mason asked. “To find work,” I said, without looking back. From that day on, I plunged into a frantic work-life. During the day, I worked at the office. In the evenings, I tutored. On weekends, I delivered food, even squeezing in errands for colleagues to earn extra cash during my work breaks. I was like a wound-up machine, working non-stop. I slept only three hours a day, for a solid month. I calculated my earnings for that grueling month: $36,880. The number was auspicious, but it made my eyes dry and ache. It wasn’t even a fraction of five million.

I collapsed my head onto my desk, softly banging it against the surface, choking out, “Only thirty thousand… just thirty thousand…” It wasn’t even a fraction of five million. If I couldn’t pay off the debt, Mason would try to kill himself again. Mark, a colleague, passed my cubicle and sighed when he saw me. “Riley, you can’t keep going like this,” he said softly. I looked up, my eyes red-rimmed. Mark hesitated, then lowered his voice. “If you’re really desperate for money, I have some freelance design projects. Do you want to take them on?” I shot up from my seat. “Yes!” Mark was startled by my reaction. “I’ll take them under my name. We can negotiate a higher fee, but I’ll take a commission.” “Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not—” I nodded vigorously. “I understand. Taking them under your name means you’re taking a risk on a newcomer like me. I won’t get the wrong idea. I’m incredibly grateful you’re helping me, Mark. Thank you.” And just like that, I had yet another job. Once again, I went three days without sleep, finally completing five design drafts that satisfied the clients and sending them over. My phone chimed with the notification of the payment hitting my account, and I managed a tired smile. In that year, at my peak, I worked seven jobs simultaneously, sleeping three hours a day. I earned almost five hundred thousand. Finally, it was a respectable fraction of five million. I was about to accept another project when, with a breath, a sharp pain shot through my chest, as if someone was violently twisting my heart. My body broke out in a cold sweat, my ears rang, and my vision swam. “Riley! Are you okay? Riley!” I vaguely heard Mark calling my name, but his voice drifted, now close, now far away. Then everything went black. When I regained consciousness, I saw white walls everywhere and IV lines connected to my arm. I realized I was in a hospital, and no one was beside me. I pressed the call button. A young doctor with glasses and a nurse came in, their faces stern, to examine me. “How do you feel now that you’re awake?” I nodded blankly, a little guilty, and mumbled that I was fine. “Hmph!” Dr. Alex scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’ve been asleep for two days, of course you feel fine!” “Stress-induced coma! Gastritis, myocardial ischemia… You’re practically a walking medical textbook at your age! Impressive dedication to self-destruction!” The nurse was startled by his sharp tongue, discreetly tugging at his shirt to remind him to be gentler, while offering me appeasing smiles to prevent me from complaining. Two days! I quickly latched onto the key point. I hadn’t been home for two days. What about Mason, alone at home?! I panicked, wanting to demand discharge, but facing the doctor’s cold gaze, all my words caught in my throat. My eyes darted away, and I obediently listened to his lecture, burning with impatience. “No matter how important the job, no matter how much money, you need to be alive to do it, to spend it…” He continued to scold me as he checked my symptoms, finally clicking his tongue in dissatisfaction. “Stay for a few days for observation to see if there are any other issues. And you better explain how you managed to run yourself into the ground like this!” I suddenly raised my head, ready to protest, to refuse hospitalization. But under the doctor’s oppressive gaze, I offered a sheepish smile. “Dr. Alex…” “You stay put, young lady! You’re staying here to save your sorry hide!” Dr. Alex shot me a stern look, then warned the nurse that I was prone to ‘pulling stunts.’ I lowered my head, looking miserable and silent. Just thinking about the hospital bills made my chest ache again. Just as I was mentally plotting eight hundred escape plans to avoid Dr. Alex and the hospital, Mark arrived. I excitedly grabbed his hand. “Mark, Mark, please help me with the discharge papers.” Mark refused. He said the doctor had informed him of my terrible condition and advised me to listen to Dr. Alex, to stay for a few days of observation. “Just relax for a few days. I’ll count it as paid leave for you.” I insisted on being discharged. Not only was I worried about Mason being home alone and paralyzed, but I was also incredibly reluctant to spend money on hospital fees when I usually didn’t even buy medicine for a cold. Mark frowned, clearly unable to accept my attitude. “Riley, Mason is an adult. And he’s in a wheelchair, not missing his hands! He can order takeout, he can take care of himself.” But I still insisted on going back. “Riley, you’re too much with him…” He cut himself off mid-sentence. He looked like he was searching for the right words, then finally just patted my shoulder gently. “Sometimes, what you see isn’t the whole truth. You need to open your eyes and really *see* people. Don’t believe everything you’re told.”

After Mark spoke, he walked out of the room with a complex expression to handle my discharge papers. I didn’t understand what he meant, and my urgency to get back home left me no time to ponder his words. I shakily stood up and quickly gathered my belongings. I slipped out, slinking past the nurses, and headed straight home. As I rushed home from the hospital, I tried calling Mason, worried something might have happened, while also mulling over Mark’s cryptic words. “Open your eyes and see people”? Was someone betraying me? Was someone trying to trick me? Or was he trying to hint at something? I shook my head, discarding those chaotic thoughts. Mason still wasn’t answering my calls, making me even more worried that something had happened to him. The most important thing now was to get home and check on Mason. The moment I pushed open the front door, my already anxious heart pounded even harder. The apartment was a disaster zone, shattered fragments everywhere, furniture overturned like a hurricane had ripped through it. Mason lay sprawled next to his wheelchair, unmoving like a dying fish. A group of men surrounded him. One of them banged a stick against Mason’s overturned wheelchair. “Pay up, or we’ll carve out your kidneys!” “Mason!” My voice cracked, a desperate shriek. I rushed forward to help him up, but a rough hand seized my wrist. “No money to pay, but you’re still wearing jewelry!” The man glared at me, menacingly reaching for the jade bracelet on my wrist. “No! That’s from my great-grandmother!” I struggled desperately, but his strength was overwhelming. He easily ripped the jade bracelet from my arm. “Fine, we won’t leave empty-handed today. This bracelet will serve as collateral. We’ll hold off on the kidneys for now.” I told them it was genuine antique jadeite and, at market value, it should clear a million of their debt. The man laughed, calling me naive. He said collateral never goes by market value. “And it’s a dead person’s jewelry, bad juju! We’ll give you thirty-five thousand for it, at most.” I opened my mouth to say something, but ultimately, I remained silent. After the men left, I quietly began cleaning up the mess. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was the rehab hospital where Mason was getting treatment. “Ms. Riley… International rehabilitation specialist Richard… next month… Yes… you can book an appointment…” The nurse’s excited voice came through the receiver. “If we can get him to see Mason, the chances of recovery will be much higher!” Finally, a piece of good news amidst all the bad! I nodded excitedly, agreeing to book the specialist’s appointment. My gaze involuntarily fell on Mason. His dull eyes subtly shifted, meeting my tear-filled, hopeful gaze. His expression was complex, with a look I couldn’t decipher, but at least he seemed a little more human. I hung up the phone, my heart hammering, a frantic drumbeat against my ribs. Finally, there was hope.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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