Category: English

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296911”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

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

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

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

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

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

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My wife went on a 3-year business trip abroad. When she returned, I went to pick her up at the airport. To my shock, she wasn’t alone – there was also a 6-month-old baby. My coworkers joked: “The kid may not be yours, but at least your wife still is!” But then my wife handed me divorce papers. This time, I was the one who didn’t want her anymore. Amber was my wife. She was a stunning beauty, a real knockout. Soon after joining the company, she quickly climbed the corporate ladder. Three years ago, she left for an overseas assignment. “Three years for a million dollars,” she said. “When I come back, we’ll be set for life.” Today was the day of her return. I took the day off specially to pick her up. At the airport, I spotted her from afar. After three years apart, my wife’s figure had filled out a bit, which suited her well. I waved to her, then noticed a woman in her 50s next to her, holding a baby. As they got closer, Amber took the baby in her arms. I was stunned, then assumed she must be helping out. How kind of her. “Honey!” I called out excitedly. Amber walked over and handed the baby to the older woman. “You two go wait in the car first.” The baby started crying. The woman comforted him: “Don’t cry, sweetie. Mommy will be back soon!” I froze. Mommy? I stared at Amber. “What did she mean by ‘mommy’?” Amber said grimly: “Jack, we need to talk.” She walked to the side and I hurried after her. Up close, I noticed she smelled of baby powder. Her body also had the shape of a new mother. “Amber, what’s going on with that baby?” “Don’t tell me you were gone for 3 years and had a kid!” Amber’s face was cold. “You’ve seen it all. I won’t lie to you. The baby is mine, but I’ll explain everything.” “Go home first. I’ll contact you after I wrap up some work stuff. That’s all for now!” Without another word, she turned and left. I was dumbfounded. It took me a while to react and chase after her. But I saw her being embraced by Eric as they got into a Mercedes. Eric! My heart sank. Three years ago, Eric had also gone abroad on business. When he left, I’d given him some expensive gifts and asked him to look after Amber. Looks like he took “looking after her” way too far! I clenched my fists and drove back to the office. With the baby, Amber would surely go home first. I didn’t care which home – it certainly wasn’t mine anymore! Red-eyed with anger, I stormed into the office. I overheard some people gossiping in the break room. “Amber got promoted as soon as she came back. Goes to show how being pretty helps your career!” “More like she used her son to get ahead. Eric can’t marry her officially, so he had to give her something!” “Jack’s pretty chill about it though. Doesn’t seem to mind his wife being a surrogate!” Hearing their words felt like a knife to the gut. They all knew Amber had hooked up with Eric abroad, and kept it from me! I’d been played for a fool, left in the dark while joking with them about missing my wife. I’d told Amber I wanted to visit her abroad, but she made excuses about it being inconvenient and a waste of time and money. She’d pleaded: “Jack, I’m doing this for our future. Can’t you just be patient?” Patient? I’d waited faithfully for 3 years, only to get this result. I cleared my throat. The group turned and saw me, their faces turning awkward. “Jack, uh… came for some coffee?” “Yeah, and to hear you guys gossip,” I replied coldly. One of them boldly said: “Hey Jack, it’s really not a big deal. Most guys would kill for this chance!” “You got your full salary these 3 years while your wife was making bank abroad. Now she’s back as a director!” “How’s it feel? Got any tips to share?”

He looked at me smugly. I knew he’d never respected being on my team and slacked off constantly. He was good at kissing ass though. Team 2 had asked for him, and I’d planned to transfer him at the end of the month. Now I realized I couldn’t fire him anymore – might as well let him go early. But before that, I had to put him in his place! I smiled at the guy who spoke. “For a grown man, you sure love to gossip. You’d make a great busybody.” “You know, I do have some advice. Want to hear it?” to hear it?” I beckoned him closer. He leaned in and I growled in his ear: “How about you strip naked and sell yourself, asshole!” “What did you say?!” I shrugged. “Isn’t this the advice you wanted? Can’t handle the truth?” “Jack, you’ve got some nerve! Yeah, you’re fine with being a kept man. The kid’s not yours, but at least you’ve still got your wife! When Eric moves to HQ, you can have her pop out another one. Two for one deal!” The group burst out laughing. I snapped and punched him, pinning him to the ground. This chicken-legged punk was no match for my fists. He wailed and begged for mercy. The others watched and laughed at first, but when they saw I was really going to town on him, they rushed to pull us apart. I shook out my hand. “Who’s the kept man now, loser?” “Jack, I’m calling the cops!” “Go ahead!” Just then, Eric showed up. “What’s all this commotion about? Who’s calling the cops?” “Mr. Cui, Jack beat me up! Look what he did to me!” Eric glared at me. “Jack, what’s wrong with you? This is a workplace, not a boxing ring!” “Your performance bonus is getting docked this month!” Mike sneered. “Jack, I won’t press charges. Just pay me $5000 and we’re good.” I laughed. “Sure, go ahead and call the cops. I recorded your trash talk earlier. If this gets out, none of us will look good!” Mike was about to explode but Eric held him back. “Enough! Everyone get back to work. Adults need to take responsibility for their actions. Mike, come with me.” Mike stormed off angrily with Eric. I looked around coldly at the group. “Anyone else want to gossip behind my back? This is what you’ll get!” “Jack, aren’t you afraid of getting fired?” “Yeah, you’re being pretty cocky!” I shrugged. “What’s there to be afraid of? Worst case, I find a new job. I’m not worried – can you guys say the same in this economy?” That shut them up. I may not brag, but my skills speak for themselves. To be honest, I would never have joined this company if Amber hadn’t insisted. In 5 years, my performance was outstanding. We all knew how Amber got her management position. At first she was grateful, but over time she started believing it was all her own merit. No rush. I wanted to see what they were really thinking. When Mike came out half an hour later, HR was with him, watching him pack up his desk. I was surprised. “Listen up everyone. From now on, anyone who harasses or provokes others at work will be fired immediately!” “Mike is the example!” Everyone turned to look at me. My heart sank. They were doing this on purpose! As Mike passed me, he sneered: “Jack, you sold out your wife to get ahead. You disgust me!”

I laughed but said nothing, just watched him leave. Then I turned to look at Eric’s office. The bastard was clearly trying to provoke me. I was about to storm into his office when HR stopped me. “Hold on, Mr. Cui is in a video call. You can’t go in.” I glared at him. “I just beat up Mike and got away with it. What do you think will happen if I punch you? Will Eric fire me or you?” The HR guy froze, not daring to stop me. I was about to go in when Eric came out. Seeing me at the door, he frowned. “What do you want?” “Mr. Cui, you seem to have forgotten. Didn’t you say you’d give me an explanation?” “Or would you rather discuss this here?” Eric thought for a moment. “Let’s talk outside. Follow me.” He gestured for me to come along. I followed him, watching his furrowed brow. In the parking garage, Eric handed me an envelope. I felt it – about $1000. “What’s this supposed to mean?” “Jack, take the money and you can keep working here normally. Don’t make a fuss about this.” “Keep working normally? You slept with my wife and you want me to act like nothing happened?!” I grabbed his collar. “Tell me the truth. When did it start?!” Eric’s face darkened. “I don’t need to give you details. Besides this, there’s also a bank card with $3 million. That’s $1 million for each year – not a bad deal.” “You have 3 days, Jack. This is my final offer. For each day you delay, I’ll deduct $1 million!” I was about to say more but he cut me off. “Think it through before you speak to me again.” “After all, I call the shots at the company now. If you don’t agree, once word gets out, I can crush you easily!” He was threatening me! I scoffed and slapped him hard across the face! I dragged him out of the car and started beating him! Eric was 7-8 years older and half a head taller, but he was all talk. He was no match for me at all! Soon I had him pinned on the hood. He yelled furiously: “Jack, you dare hit me?! I’ll fucking kill you!” I kneed him hard. His face went white with pain. I grabbed his throat and roared: “Eric, you bastard! How dare you touch my wife!” Suddenly a strong force knocked me over. Security had arrived and pinned me to the ground. Eric got up, livid. “Call the police! Call the police!” “Don’t call the police!” It was Amber. She came through the emergency exit. I realized she’d been there the whole time! “Let him go. I need to talk to him.” Eric waved the guards off and got in his car. The guards released me but stood nearby, ready to jump in. I glared at her with bloodshot eyes. “You told me you were forced into it. Just say the word and I’ll help you get justice!” Amber sighed impatiently. “Don’t be stupid! Jack, let’s end this peacefully!” I stared at her, suddenly filled with rage. “Amber, we’ve only been married 4 years! You’ve been cheating for 3!” “How could you do this to me?!” But Amber was eerily calm. “Should I call you naive or just plain dumb? When has a newbie like me ever gotten an overseas assignment?” The company had a policy of only sending men on foreign projects. I was shocked when Amber was chosen. But she said she was talented enough to be the exception. Even with the policy, they’d make an exception for her. Now she was using this to mock my naivety. She glanced at her phone. It showed a family photo of the three of them. How ironic! “Jack, you can’t give me what I want. Let’s get divorced!”

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I had dedicated years to figure skating, and to repay the immense sponsorship from the Harrington family, I married Julian Harrington. In our seven years of marriage, he’d taken on dozens of women, even setting them up in the same exclusive community. His twisted excuse? It made it easier for me, his legitimate wife, to ‘manage’ them. I became adept at handling the women he grew tired of, all while maintaining my grueling training schedule. Just as I was on the brink of winning the Grand Slam, a teammate accidentally grazed my neck with her skate blade during a competition. Streams of blood dripped onto the ice, freezing into crimson streaks. Julian merely glanced at me. “If you’re not dead, then get back on the ice and win!” Only later did I discover she was Julian’s new favorite. This was her twisted display of power, his warning. When I regained consciousness, I stared at the familiar room, yet couldn’t recall where I was. All I knew was that my debt was paid. I could finally leave…

“You’re finally awake! I’ll call the family doctor!” Julian’s sister, Elara Harrington, immediately sprang from the chair, rushing out to usher a team of doctors into my room. “Skylar Xu is our Harrington family’s treasure! Make sure you check her thoroughly!” I lay there like a fish on a chopping block, pinned to the bed, letting them poke and prod. Just answering a few robotic questions confirmed I was mostly fine. As they left, I overheard someone sigh softly: “Treasure? More like a cash cow, if you ask me.” I looked down at the countless scars, old and new, etched onto my body from years of intense training. Even if they saw them, they never once asked if I was in pain or if I was tired. The only thing they ever cared about was whether my performance on the ice could generate more income for the Harrington family. “Elara, I’ve done everything you asked. Can I leave now?” She stared at me, surprised. “Why the sudden urge to leave?” My gaze dimmed as I shifted my eyes from her face to the window. Soon, her secretary rushed in, breathless, reporting everything that had happened during the competition. Listening to him, she took a deep breath, her voice low and stern as she gave an order: “Bring Julian to me!” The usually decisive businesswoman, after hearing the full story, seemed to feel a pang of compassion. Pity, regret, and a touch of helplessness mingled in her gaze as she looked at me. “I’m so sorry, Sky. I thought he’d settle down once he’d had his fun. I never imagined he’d let some outside woman hurt you…” I shook my head. “It’s fine. It was my obligation to repay their kindness. Once it’s fully paid, please let me go.” My phone rang at an inconvenient moment. I answered, and a voice, arrogant yet deceptively sweet, came through the line: “Skylar Xu, you’re 27 now. It’s time for you to step down.” “You should thank me. That cut was merciful; I didn’t aim for your face, but it’s enough to end your glory days.” “Whether it’s the Ice Princess or Julian Harrington’s wife, that position will finally be mine!” As soon as she finished speaking, she let out a delicate giggle and quickly hung up. I lifted my head and met Elara’s gaze. The unspoken understanding between adults kept us silent. Recalling Tiffany’s words, I almost wanted to laugh. Did she really think being Julian’s wife was as glamorous as it seemed? Learning how to discreetly handle the women Julian grew bored of. Knowing how to deal with those who would threaten suicide to demand legitimacy. These were my mandatory lessons. From clumsy fear and cluelessness at the start, I had evolved into someone who handled it with practiced ease. Outsiders only saw my calm exterior, unaware it was the result of five years of emotional attrition. Five years that had mercilessly tortured a vibrant, beating heart until it barely clung to life. Perhaps it was a woman’s empathy, but Elara didn’t try to persuade me to stay. She sighed deeply. “The doctor said you injured your head, and it might cause stress-induced memory loss.” “You need to avoid strenuous exercise and excessive fatigue for a while.” “Once you’ve recovered, I’ll help you get a divorce and send you abroad.” “As for Celeste Johnson, I don’t want to hear that name from outsiders ever again.” She was warning me, subtly telling me not to leak the old scandal. I softly replied, “I know.” My family was poor when I was little, but I was discovered to have a talent for figure skating. The Harrington family covered the substantial cost. The price of accepting their sponsorship was marrying Julian Harrington. To win the Grand Slam and help launch Harrington Sports’ brand. Originally, this kind of good fortune wouldn’t have fallen to me. Julian Harrington had a long-term girlfriend, Celeste Johnson, who he’d grown up with. But then Celeste cheated on him with Julian’s brother-in-law. Elara caught them in bed. She didn’t want this incident to ruin the relationship between her and her brother. So she found some random excuse to divorce and sent Celeste abroad. To completely sever this toxic connection, she even went as far as to drug Julian and me, ensuring we ended up in bed. Unexpectedly, Julian agreed to marry me without any fuss. When we first got married, I had just graduated, at an age when my heart was easily stirred. Plus, I’d secretly admired Julian for a long time, so marrying him felt like a dream. During that time, besides training, I would carefully inquire about Julian’s preferences. I knew the staff looked down on me, thinking a country girl like me wasn’t worthy of their young master. But I liked Julian. Even enduring their cold stares and impatience, I’d brazenly ask them to teach me how to make Julian’s favorite dishes and his preferred soups. I meticulously remembered he disliked spicy food, loved sweets, preferred plain, understated clothes that made him seem composed. Even for water, he liked… What temperature was it again? I suddenly couldn’t recall. I shook my head, but it didn’t help; instead, it triggered a headache, making me gasp. Elara looked worried and asked, “Are you okay?” “I’m fine. I’ll only stay for one more week at most.” Because in one week, I would be joining Team E, becoming their youngest-ever head coach for figure skating. She nodded her agreement. Before sleeping that night, I felt a faint blank spot in my memory, specifically about Julian. I tried hard to recall it, but it wouldn’t come back. Instead, it only brought on palpitations. It didn’t matter. Let it be forgotten. From the moment he started bringing various women home, being intimate with them right in front of me. Whispering sweet nothings, entwined with them on the very bed we shared on our wedding night. I should have given up on him then, instead of lowering my standards, endlessly tolerating him. He knew I was allergic to smoke, yet after every session, he’d light a cigarette and blow the smoke in my face. He’d mock me in a contemptuous tone: “The moment you worked so hard to climb into my bed, and said all those bad things about Celeste in front of my sister, you should have foreseen this outcome.” “Skylar Xu got rid of Celeste Johnson, taking her place like a homewrecker. So you should know that after marriage, there will be other ‘Skylars’ who will get rid of you in the same way.” “Do their actions on my body look familiar to you?” “Are they just like the night you begged me for intimacy?” “If so, you’re practically their mentor.” He suddenly leaned close, the smoke from his nostrils stinging my eyes, making tears stream down my face. He clasped the back of my neck, a warning in his grip. “No matter how many I’ve slept with, none of them feel like you did that night.” “Why don’t you personally teach them a few tricks, so they can please me better?” “Or perhaps…” He narrowed his eyes, looking at me like a predator about to bite my neck. His gaze sent a shiver down my spine, an indescribable emotion swelling within me. His hand expertly found my sensitive spots, leaving me utterly paralyzed. “Is your body’s sensitivity and softness the result of all that scandalous figure skating practice?” I stared at him, wide-eyed in disbelief, unable to believe those words came from his mouth. In that moment, the romanticized image of him I’d held since childhood shattered into a million pieces. I saw the ugliest, most primitive state of a man in him: vulgar and perverse. I couldn’t bear it any longer. Tears welled in my eyes, my nails digging into his arm. “Julian Harrington, you can say whatever you want about me, but don’t you dare desecrate the sport of figure skating…” Amidst a whirlwind of thoughts, my pillow grew damp, my wet hair sticking to my cheeks. It was itchy, and a little painful. Drowsiness prevented me from discerning whether the pain came from my face or from the depths of my heart… I just felt certain memories drifting further and further away…

Julian returned the next day around noon, bringing Tiffany along. The staff were all discussing it: “The young master has so many women outside, but this is the first time he’s brought one home.” “Looks like the Lady Harrington position is about to change hands.” They never bothered to hide their discussions from me, nor did they ever show me the respect I deserved. Tiffany overheard their words and shot me a challenging look across the room. It was as if she was saying, ‘You can’t even control the staff, how could you ever hope to keep Julian’s heart? The position of Lady Harrington will definitely be mine!’ I pursed my lips, a soft laugh escaping my nostrils involuntarily. How to keep Julian’s heart? His heart was as hard as stone; no matter how sincerely I treated him, it wouldn’t stir him in the slightest. He’d even think I was trying to flatter him or grab his attention. It would only make him despise me more. Julian pulled out a chair at the dining table and said, “Get me a glass of water.” The staff didn’t budge. For five years, they’d silently agreed that serving Julian was my job. Just a little longer, I told myself. Five more days, and I’d be free. I picked a clean glass and poured him some water, handing it to him. He frowned slightly, took a sip, and set it down. “Are you trying to scald me with this temperature?” “I only drink water at 55 degrees. You’ve never messed up before. What’s wrong today?” Before he could finish, I reached for the glass, but he pressed my hand down. “New tactics now? Trying to provoke me, get my attention?” “Are you jealous?” I calmly met his cold gaze, speaking with detached composure. “I forgot.” A flicker of surprise crossed his face at my reaction. After all, I used to be obedient to his every word, quick to explain if I fell short. My indifference today piqued his suspicion. But he said nothing more. At the dinner table, he proposed that I retire. The Harrington family’s club was planning to sign Tiffany. He wanted me to coach her. I had thought that by winning the Grand Slam and making my name known worldwide, Providing free advertising for the Harrington brand, and helping Julian expand his business empire, That would be enough. Now, even my life after retirement—was that to be invaded and exploited too? It turns out that in his eyes, I had always been an inexhaustible, free resource. “My contract with the Harrington family is almost up. As for a club coach, I can recommend someone to you.” Thinking back, this was the first time I had ever refused Julian’s demand. As I expected, he flew into a rage. “So, you think your wings have grown strong enough to leave the Harrington family, huh, Skylar Xu? I’m telling you, don’t even think about it!” “You would never have achieved what you have today without the Harrington family!” With that, he abruptly stood up and went upstairs with Tiffany. I silently bowed my head, picking at my rice, tears steadily falling into it. He wasn’t wrong, but my contributions to the Harrington family over the years had long exceeded the amount of their sponsorship. I wanted to leave. I wanted my own life, my own plans. To no longer be a puppet subservient to the Harrington family. Heading upstairs to pack my bags, I passed Julian’s door and heard quite a commotion inside. “Julian, please divorce Skylar, okay?” “Anything she can give you, I can give you too. Anything she can’t, I have it all.” “Touch my skin, isn’t it softer and firmer than hers?” If I had known it was going to be such a disgusting conversation, I would never have stopped. Just as I was about to leave, Julian’s sharp voice cut through the air. “I will not divorce her! Get rid of those inappropriate thoughts of yours.” “Do your job, become the next Skylar Xu, and don’t waste my investment in you.” Why wouldn’t he divorce me? There was no love left between us, only hatred. Perhaps this was his revenge, for me occupying Celeste’s place. To bind me in this marriage and torture me for the rest of my life. At that thought, my head felt like it was splitting open, the pain radiating from my scalp to the tip of my nose, half my face going numb. I lay rigidly on the bed, taking half an hour to recover. When the pain finally subsided, the blank space in my brain, that missing memory, began to expand. I felt like I had forgotten something, but I just couldn’t recall what. The following days, I was busy with preparations to go abroad. As the contract still had a few days left, I had to follow Julian’s instructions, spending my free time training Tiffany. The day I received my passport, I was called to the training rink. Tiffany, wearing my competition outfit, paraded in front of me, tossing her head as she said, “Julian said your support team and costume designers are all mine now.” I just softly said, “Oh.” Suddenly, she lay down on the ground, placing her arm near my skate, and with her other hand, grabbed my clothes. I momentarily lost my balance, and the tip of my blade carved a shocking gash on her arm. “Skylar Xu!” Julian strode quickly towards us, roughly pushing me to the ground. He bent down, picked Tiffany up, and placed her on the mat. Then he told someone to call the team doctor and dragged me into an empty changing room. “Are you insane! If you want to hurt someone, can’t you find a place without cameras?” “If this gets out, accusing you of bullying a teammate and intentional injury, what about your reputation? What about the Harrington family’s standing?” His actions lately, I understood them less and less. His words contained no reproach for me harming his new favorite; instead, he seemed to be considering my welfare. I was about to reply when he bent down and picked up a piece of paper from behind me. “What is this?” He leaned closer to read it. “An offer from Team E?” My heart instantly clenched, sweat breaking out on my palms. I took a steady breath, then calmly pulled the offer letter from his hand. “Didn’t I say I’d recommend a coach last time? Many people want to join Harrington Sports, so I had them submit their resumes for screening.” His expression visibly relaxed, then turned stern again. “When did I agree to let you leave?” “Here’s the new contract, another ten years.” He tossed a stack of documents into my lap. I pretended to agree, but secretly, I deliberately misspelled my name on the contract, like random scribbles. I also slipped a divorce agreement among the papers, watching him sign them all. The huge weight on my heart finally lifted.

The day before I left, Celeste Johnson returned to the country. She hadn’t changed at all, still as arrogant as before, tossing her jacket onto me. “Are you enjoying your role as Lady Harrington?” “I know you had a crush on Julian back then. My five years away gave you a five-year trial.” “So, you should probably be kneeling and thanking me.” “Still, Julian never forgot me, did he?” I released my grip, and her jacket dropped straight to the floor. I stepped over it. “Was cheating fun? What do you think Julian’s reaction will be when he finds out the truth?” She hadn’t expected me to know about it and, enraged, raised her hand and slapped me. It was too fast; I couldn’t dodge. When I registered it, my face was stinging. Seeing Julian approach, Celeste began to play the victim, clinging to his arm and whining, “Julian, I’m back now. It’s time for this stand-in to leave, isn’t it?” I held back my tears, turning to go upstairs and change my flight. I’d leave tonight. Julian sensed something was wrong. He paced outside my room, wanting to explain but unsure what to say. When he finally twisted the doorknob and saw the empty room, he froze. Realizing what had happened, he roared, “Where’s Skylar Xu?!” Just then, Elara returned from her office, her brows furrowed in confusion at her brother’s frantic demeanor. “Didn’t she tell you? She’s becoming the head coach of Team E’s figure skating team tomorrow.” It was as if a light bulb went off in his head, finally understanding the source of his deep-seated unease all this time. But he simply couldn’t accept the fact that I had truly left. “Impossible! We signed a renewal contract just two days ago! If she just leaves like this, I can pursue legal action!” The undisguised fury in Julian’s eyes was fully directed at Elara. It was the first time Elara had ever seen her brother speak to her in such a tone. His strong, hot hand gripped her shoulder, his gaze sharp, radiating an intense pressure. Elara had a fiery temper herself. After their parents died, she truly became like a mother to her younger brother. As the elder, she wouldn’t tolerate her brother treating her this way. She raised her hand and slapped him directly. “You can’t even keep your own wife in line, and now you’re coming to me asking where she is?” “That contract isn’t valid.” Julian rubbed his stinging cheek, a bewildered look on his face. “What do you mean, not valid?” Elara sighed, a helpless expression washing over her face. “She intentionally misspelled her own name. Her message was crystal clear.” “For all these years, the revenue she brought to the corporation has long surpassed the Harrington family’s initial kindness.”

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For ten years since I was found and brought home, my relationship with Chloe, the fake heiress, was as close as real sisters, practically inseparable. Even my mother, Eleanor, used to say that Chloe didn’t care for her as much as I did. I once swore I’d give my life to protect our unique family of four. But then, Chloe’s sudden cerebral aneurysm ruptured, and she was on the brink of death in the ER. Yet, I refused to operate. I chose instead to practice a basic suturing technique. My boyfriend, Dylan, yelled at me, his voice raw with disbelief. “Audrey! Only your microscopic dissection technique can save your sister! All the specialists in the hospital are waiting for you! The surgical window is closing, less than an hour left! What are you still hesitating for?!” He was right. I was the only person in the country who could perform that level of surgery. But I just calmly hummed in response, continuing to tinker with the medical model. My parents, Eleanor and Richard, rushed in, tears streaming down their faces. “Audrey! That’s the sister you swore to protect with your life! How can you just stand there and watch her die?!” I gently pulled away from them and held out my right hand This hand, which had once performed countless medical miracles, was now trembling ever so slightly. “I’m sorry, Mom, Dad. This hand of mine… it’s ruined.”

The air in the room instantly froze. The expressions on their faces morphed into pure shock. They stared intently at my right hand. That slight, yet fatal, tremor was a death sentence for any top surgeon’s career. My mom’s lips trembled. “How… how can this be?” she stammered, disbelief etched across her face. “It was fine yesterday! Are you just overtired?” “It’s idiopathic tremor. The cause is unknown,” I said, pulling my hand back and sliding it into my lab coat pocket. “Maybe it’s fate.” “Fate?” My dad, Richard, frowned, his voice laced with accusation. “Audrey, don’t talk nonsense! Are you… are you still blaming us?” I didn’t answer. My gaze simply returned to the surgical simulator. Eighteen years ago, I was found in a small, forgotten town and brought back to the Stevens family. It turned out that Chloe, the precious daughter they’d raised for eighteen years, was an imposter. And I was the true heiress. My adoptive parents had died young, and my life had been incredibly difficult. When I returned to the Stevens’ home, I was sensitive and insecure. It was Chloe who gave me the most warmth. She taught me etiquette, bought me beautiful clothes, and defended me everywhere, saying we were real sisters and that I shouldn’t feel constrained. My parents also said that Chloe was their daughter too; they loved both of us like their own, equally cherished. Because Chloe’s original family background was very poor, they couldn’t bring themselves to send her away, so they decided to raise both of us. I was grateful to them, and I was grateful to Chloe. I studied hard, pushing myself to become their pride, swearing I would protect our family of four. Until now… Seeing my silence, Mom’s tears suddenly gushed out. She yelled at me, “Audrey! Are you still holding a grudge?! Just because we doted on Chloe a little more, you’re holding it against us, and now you’re going to just let her die?!” “Did you forget how much Chloe cared for you?! When you stayed up late studying, who was it that constantly made you nourishing soups?!” Her words pierced my heart, and for a fleeting second, it ached. Dylan quickly stepped forward to support my mom. “Eleanor, please don’t get upset. Audrey isn’t like that!” He then turned to me, his eyes filled with heartache. “Audrey, I know you have your grievances, but Chloe is innocent! You can’t let your personal feelings overshadow your duty as a doctor!” My dad, Richard, who was always a dignified university professor, had reddened eyes and a hoarse voice. “Audrey, even if your hand is injured, you could at least go in and guide them! Chloe is your sister, you can’t just stand by and watch her die!” But I remained unfazed, simply continuing to adjust my equipment. My mom finally broke down. She dropped to her knees with a thud, sobbing hysterically. “How could I have raised such a cold-blooded, heartless daughter?! Chloe is so kind, she always let you have your way, and now… now you’re going to force her to die?!” Her cries were piercing, as she pounded the floor, drawing curious and judgmental stares from other medical staff outside. I just smiled faintly. “Then that’s her fate, I suppose. There’s nothing I can do.” Then, I sat back down and picked up the operating stick of the surgical simulator again. On the screen, the robotic arm began its work once more. I was completely focused, as if everything outside had nothing to do with me. Seeing my cold demeanor, my dad swayed slightly. Dylan looked at me, seemingly utterly disappointed. He took a deep breath, as if making a momentous decision. “Richard, Eleanor, don’t beg her anymore.” He turned to my parents, his voice firm. “Let me do it!”

Dylan stepping forward instantly rekindled hope in my parents. “Dylan! You… do you really have confidence?” My mom, Eleanor, gripped his hand excitedly. Dylan glanced at the two elderly people on the ground, then at me, a look of profound compassion on his face. He spoke with a heavy heart, “Audrey isn’t willing to act, and I understand. After all, she carries the prestigious title of ‘The Hand of God,’ she cannot afford to fail. But I can’t just stand by and watch Chloe die!” His words, while seemingly understanding of me, subtly nailed me to the pillar of shame for “abandoning someone to die out of concern for my reputation.” The colleagues who had rushed over to see what was happening now looked at me with even greater disdain. Dylan turned back to my parents, requesting again, “Richard, Eleanor, please trust me! I’ve followed Audrey’s microscopic dissection technique in every surgery she’s done. I’ve memorized all the theory and the essence. Please allow me to combine traditional surgical methods with her theories to take a risk for Chloe!” “Good! Good boy!” My dad, Richard, was so moved that old tears streamed down his face. “Dylan, if you save Chloe, our Stevens family… half of our family fortune, it’s yours!” Upon hearing those words, I, who had been silent all this time, finally lifted my eyes. I looked at my ecstatic parents and the righteous Dylan, calculating silently in my mind. Half of the Stevens family fortune was at least a hundred million. But… I slowly stood up, looking at Dylan, and said mockingly, “You want to use my technique? Did you get my authorization?” Dylan froze for a moment, then looked at me, exasperated. “Audrey Stevens! What time is it now? You’re still arguing about this? Saving a life is what matters!” “Saving a life is one thing, patents are another,” I said, shrugging indifferently, my tone firm. “Without my authorization, if you dare to touch that scalpel, I’ll sue you until your reputation is ruined, and you’ll never wear a lab coat again for the rest of your life.” “You!” Dylan’s face turned pale with anger. My dad, Richard, was trembling all over, pointing his finger at my nose. “Audrey Stevens! You’re utterly unreasonable! For money and a patent, you’re willing to disregard your sister’s life?!” I looked at him coldly, as if he were a stranger. “Make your decision quickly. The patient can’t wait.” Time ticked by, second by second, and the murmurs around us grew louder, but I showed no sign of impatience. “Fine! I agree!” Finally, my dad gritted his teeth and accepted my terms. “As long as you authorize it, I’ll immediately hire a lawyer afterward and transfer half of all the shares in my name to you!” I smiled, pulled a voice recorder from my pocket, and pressed the record button. “Dad, please say it again. You are voluntarily granting me half of the Stevens Group’s shares as authorization fees for my patent.” My dad’s face turned purple with rage, but he humiliatingly repeated the statement. I pocketed the recorder with satisfaction, then nodded at Dylan. “Go on. I hope your hand is steadier than mine.” With that, I walked straight out of the office, ignoring the disgusted looks from my parents and Dylan’s disappointed gaze. I didn’t go home. Instead, I went to a coffee shop across from the hospital and ordered the bitterest black coffee. Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, I could see the lights on in the surgery ward building. They got what they wanted. And so did I.

For the next few days, I took leave. Hashtags like #TrueHeiressLetsFakeHeiressDie, #EvilSisterAudreyStevens, and #TheViperWithin took turns trending. My entire background was dug up. Netizens concocted a vulgar drama: “Country Bumpkin Heiress Returns to Rich Family, Jealously Harms Kind Sister at Every Turn.” Chloe’s social media accounts were unearthed, filled with heartwarming anecdotes of how good she was to me, accompanied by gentle captions, making me appear even more despicable. I didn’t look at my phone. I simply locked myself in my apartment, polishing an old photo frame over and over. Inside the frame was a gentle, scholarly middle-aged man – my mentor, Professor Hayes. Three days later, the news exploded: “Devoted Boyfriend Steps Up, Miraculously Saves Girlfriend’s Sister,” “A New God Is Born! Dr. Dylan Successfully Completes Ultra-Difficult Intracranial Surgery!” The reports painted Dylan as a hero. He faced the camera, saying emotionally, “I only did what I had to do. Audrey Stevens is my beloved, and her sister is my sister.” This statement made me, the actual sister, seem even more cold-hearted. Online, the condemnation against me reached its peak. Then, an even bigger piece of news broke. TheraMed Innovations, a domestic medical device giant, grandly announced a deep strategic partnership with Dr. Dylan to jointly develop and promote a改良版 (improved version) microscopic dissection technique and related surgical instruments. A week later, I received a call from the hospital director. His tone was an unrefusable command. “Audrey Stevens, tomorrow at 9 AM, the hospital is holding a city-wide neurosurgery expert consultation meeting, which will be live-streamed. As the patent holder of this technology, you must attend.” I knew it wasn’t an invitation. It was a summons. They wanted me to witness Dylan’s triumph with my own eyes. The next day, I arrived punctually at the hospital’s International Conference Center. The hall was packed with neurosurgery experts from across the city, and reporters from major media outlets, flashbulbs constantly firing. As soon as I walked in, I saw a dazzling sight. Dylan and Chloe, seated in a wheelchair, were surrounded by a group of reporters, with my parents, Eleanor and Richard, hovering around them. The true family of four. Suddenly, just a second before the meeting was about to begin, Chloe tearfully addressed the cameras. “Everyone, I’m sorry to take up your valuable time. But today, I need to reveal the truth!” Her pale face was streaked with tears, making her appear utterly fragile and instantly capturing everyone’s attention. “My aneurysm rupture wasn’t an accident! It was… it was caused by my sister, Audrey Stevens, from long-term poisoning!” The revelation hit like a bombshell! The entire room erupted, and all the cameras instantly swiveled to point at me. Chloe cried even harder, clutching my parents’ hands, sobbing, “From the day she came back to the Stevens family, she’s constantly bullied and ostracized me! I endured it, for the sake of Mom and Dad raising me, not daring to ruin our family harmony! But I never imagined she would be so cruel as to try and take my life!” Dylan gently stroked her shoulder, seemingly giving her the courage to speak the truth. He then produced several lab reports. “I didn’t dare say anything before, fearing it would harm Audrey Stevens’ reputation. But after this surgery, I obtained irrefutable evidence proving that Chloe was poisoned with a chronic neurotoxin! I can’t let her continue to harm Chloe!” The live stream exploded. The comments section scrolled wildly. The hashtag #TrueHeiressPoisonedFakeHeiress shot to the top of the trending list at rocket speed. I stood at the entrance of the conference hall, surrounded by countless eyes filled with revulsion. Reporters’ questions bombarded me. “Dr. Stevens, did you really poison your sister?” “Why would you do such a thing? Was it out of jealousy?” “Do you even have the right to be a doctor anymore?” I ignored everyone and walked towards my biological parents. I looked at them, my voice trembling slightly. “Dad, Mom.” “Do you also believe I’m that kind of person?” My question brought a momentary silence to the room. “Audrey, we gave you a chance…” My mom cried, “Chloe presented the evidence… we… we’re so disappointed in you!” My dad, Richard, turned his head away, his face etched with sorrow, unable to look at me. “See? A true monster, even her parents disown her!” “What a monster hiding in plain sight. After doing something like that, the Stevens family should never have taken her back!” “She absolutely cannot be allowed to practice medicine again!” The malicious whispers filled my ears. I stood under the spotlight, isolated and helpless, like a criminal already condemned by the whole world. Just then, several uniformed police officers entered the hall. Their expressions were serious, their voices loud. “We received a report about intentional poisoning. Who called it in?” Everyone’s eyes landed on me. Even Dylan and Chloe couldn’t help but let a smirk tug at their lips. In the police officers’ sharp gaze and the deathly silence of the entire room, I calmly raised my hand. “Officers.” “I made the call.” For a moment, time in the entire conference hall seemed to stand still. Everyone looked at me as if I were insane. Calling the police on myself? What kind of move was that?

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The moment I took my last breath, he was holding another woman in his arms. I vowed to make him remember the pain I brought for the rest of his life.] “Miss Avery, here’s your medication. Please take it.” I took the white pill bottle, muttering a quick thank you. With these sleeping pills, I could finally get some decent sleep tonight. From now on, I was going to change everything. Sitting in the taxi, I thought about the message Liam had just sent: “Got a business dinner tonight, won’t be home.” I knew exactly who that “business dinner” was for – Scarlett was back. That woman was something else. Just one year with Liam, and she had him completely wrapped around her finger. I’d been with Liam from when he was twenty-one to twenty-seven, a solid six years, but it couldn’t compare to a single tear from Scarlett. I had actually died once. The end result was Liam marrying Scarlett. And at their wedding, I had a complete mental breakdown and jumped. I gained absolutely nothing. How could I possibly accept that? So, in this life, I returned to when Liam was nineteen. According to fate’s original trajectory, I would meet him at twenty-one, just as he was starting his business. I’d become his most capable assistant. My family always undervalued me, focusing all their attention on my brother. His family, on the other hand, was already a shattered mess. We relied on each other, finding comfort in our shared pain. For six long years, we even talked about marriage. But then, everything changed at a party – Scarlett returned. She not only came back to the country but openly confessed her undying feelings for Liam right there at the event. They quickly rekindled their old flame, and my six years of youth were just tossed aside. Nineteen-year-old Liam was still the epitome of a rich heir, having everything, wanting for nothing. At that time, his romance with the beautiful Scarlett was in full bloom. At twenty, his family fortune crumbled. Scarlett went abroad, and his life plummeted. I remembered everything. So, I entered his world early this time. I didn’t interrupt his relationship with Scarlett because that love was destined to become a sharp blade. The very period Liam cherished as the most important in his life would be the target of my revenge. I watched Liam and Scarlett hold hands, embrace, and kiss. Those sweet nothings he used to whisper only to me now played out right before my eyes. For an entire year, my heart was steeped in their sickeningly sweet romance, rotting away into nothingness. I kept my poker face on, waiting, just waiting for that day to come. When Scarlett left, flying overseas, I approached a broken Liam with my deepest sincerity, filling the void during his entire period of emptiness and despair. How stubborn was twenty-year-old Liam? Childish, biased, pushing me away again and again, yet foolishly waiting for Scarlett. There’s a saying, companionship is worth more than a thousand eloquent words. Ultimately, he still chose me. We endured the hardest days together. Then, everything slowly unfolded according to my memories. He climbed step by step from an unknown nobody to the peak of his career. Our relationship evolved from hesitant glances to planning a future. Until – this party. “Miss, we’re here.” The driver’s voice pulled me back to reality. I glanced down at my phone, the screen showing my message history with Liam. Last message sent: 11:35 PM “Do you want me to pick you up?” “Don’t drink too much, I’m worried about you.” He hadn’t replied. I got out of the car, doing something I’d never dared to do before. This time, I would turn the tables with my own hands.

The bar’s lights were a chaotic, blinding mess. My eyes immediately landed on the person sitting with his back to the entrance. He was wearing a suit, standing out in the crowd, almost out of place. Next to him was Scarlett, her black dress outlining her perfect figure, also out of sync with the noisy crowd, yet somehow, she and Liam looked perfectly matched. I knew all the people sitting around them – Liam’s so-called “brothers” from his rich heir days. I stood there for a long time, not expecting much. Suddenly, a burst of laughter erupted nearby. They seemed to be egging someone on, having a great time. Then, Scarlett stood up and lightly pressed a kiss onto Liam’s lips. I raised my phone and captured the moment, zooming in until the image froze. Though I couldn’t make out Liam’s expression, the satisfied smile on Scarlett’s face was impossible to hide. My phone trembled in my palm, my heart aching as if pierced by needles. Turns out, the intimate moments I thought hadn’t happened were secretly playing out without my knowledge. As if feeling my gaze, Liam suddenly turned and looked outside. I quickly pulled down my hat to cover my face and turned to leave. He still didn’t see me. Back home, it was empty and silent. This place was supposed to be my warmest refuge, but now it felt even colder. After showering, I sat on the couch, staring intently at the pendulum. At 1:28 AM, the sound of the door finally broke the silence. I opened my eyes and rushed towards Liam as he stepped in, clinging tightly to him. He caught me, gently stroking my hair. He murmured, “Aren’t you cold, walking around barefoot?” I placed my hand on his cheek, tracing the spot where Scarlett had just kissed him, my voice muffled: “Where were you? So late, and you didn’t reply to my messages.” He paused, but didn’t answer. Instead, he simply carried me to the couch, sat me down, and helped me put on my socks. I playfully kicked him a couple of times, feeling a bit sulky. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” He ruffled my hair, sighing, his tone weary: “It was an important client. I didn’t drink. My phone was off, so I didn’t see your messages.” I looked at him, my eyes filled only with the face of the man I loved most. Liam, you’re lying to me. But I didn’t ask anything else. I just nestled into his arms, clinging to him in the way I knew best. 2 Early the next morning, Liam left for work. After he was gone, I sat up in bed and went to the study. The room was filled with documents and classic books. Among them, I found my diary. I pulled it out and flipped through the pages, filled with past emotions, from the day I met Liam until now. During the years Scarlett was gone, I felt a care and affection I’d never experienced before. Perhaps it was because I stayed by Liam’s side during his lowest point that he always treated me differently. Though I always knew his heart belonged to Scarlett. Sometimes, I’d wonder if this time would be different. But then I’d think about those six years I spent by his side, only for Scarlett to reappear, wearing the wedding dress I’d personally ordered for myself. And on that very day, they’d be kissing and celebrating my absence in each other’s arms. Thinking about these things, my heart twisted with a hatred that felt like madness. Liam, you must suffer as I did, living every single second in a hell of emotions. Tears blurred the pages, my fingers tracing the photo I’d secretly taken that night. Replaying it again and again, it felt like my heart was being repeatedly sliced open. I thought it wouldn’t hurt anymore. “I went to pick up Liam, and saw a girl kiss him. She was so happy, but I felt so sad.” These shaky words were scrawled across a new page. My emotions were both agitated and suppressed, a tangled mess. It was a contradictory feeling, yet there was a strange thrill to it. I closed the diary and put it back in its place. I put on light makeup and changed into a white dress. The girl in the mirror looked quiet and gentle. Completely unlike Scarlett’s flamboyant and passionate style. A smile touched my lips, and the girl in the mirror mirrored the action. My faint dimples seemed to hold all the sweetness in the world. Liam had complimented my smile several times, saying it was beautiful. But now, I no longer loved to smile, not after being reborn. I preferred to cry. Only truly released emotions made me feel alive, gave me a strong sense of reality, made me feel like a normal human being. Crying made me remember: I remembered Liam’s cold gaze, and Scarlett’s mocking smiles, time and time again.

After leaving the house, I went straight to Liam’s company. Most of his employees recognized me, but their eyes seemed to flit away, as if they were hiding something. I had a pretty good idea what it was. Sure enough, before I even reached his office, I heard female laughter inside. Peeking through the glass, I saw them both sitting at a table, eating. Scarlett picked up a piece of carrot, about to feed it to Liam. Liam frowned slightly, but still opened his mouth and bit the carrot. He actually hated carrots. I froze for a few seconds, standing at the door before I reacted, unable to stop myself from kicking the door open and rushing in, my hand already flying to slap Scarlett across the face. “Don’t you know he has a girlfriend?! How dare you be so unreasonable! Get out, now!” Her eyes widened, looking at me in shock after I hit her. Tears instantly welled up, and she stammered, defending herself: “I didn’t, I really didn’t know who his girlfriend was. We’re just friends. Avery, you must have misunderstood, right, Liam?” I looked at Liam, who remained silent. He paused for a few seconds before slowly speaking. “Avery, why are you so impulsive? Scarlett is an old friend of mine. You shouldn’t just hit people without reason. Apologize to her.” I held the lunchbox in my hand, my whole body trembling. Liam, you’re lying again. The atmosphere grew tense. Scarlett’s cries were like a knife, slowly chipping away at Liam’s dwindling patience. “Avery, you’ve gone too far today. You hit someone, you need to apologize! Apologize to Scarlett now!” He frowned, his fingers tapping on the table, the rhythm quick and agitated. It had been a long time since I’d seen that expression on him. Suddenly, a memory flashed in my mind: Liam when he was twenty. I tried everything to please him, but he was so stubborn, repeatedly telling me, “Avery, I’ll never like you. Just give up.” His face now was exactly the same as it was then. —Everything, it was all for Scarlett. Memories churned, and tears blurred my vision once more. I forced out two words. “I’m sorry.” Hearing me, Liam’s frown slowly eased, a faint smile gracing his lips. “Avery, you should sit down and eat with us too.” Scarlett, nearby, quickly echoed him, her tone soft but tinged with triumph. “Yes, Avery, join us. I specially bought this lunch for Liam; it’s from his favorite restaurant.” She looked at me, a hint of disdain and gloating in her eyes. I said nothing more, suppressing the raging storm in my chest. Liam, on the other hand, looked pleased. I put the lunchbox I was holding back on the table, and he seemed to remember something, freezing. I knew what he was thinking. I prepared his lunch every day; it had become our unspoken agreement, even a habit. And today, he had accepted food from someone else. I smiled subtly. “I brought you lunch. Since you’ve already eaten, I’ll just take it back.” Liam opened his mouth, and after a long pause, only one word escaped. “Okay.” I didn’t linger, turning and leaving without looking back. Once I was far enough away that I couldn’t see him anymore, the delayed surge of hurt finally spilled out. The employees standing outside the office were all looking at me with strange expressions, but I pretended not to notice, walking out with a smile. Even as I left, I faintly heard their hushed discussions. “How could this happen? The CEO’s current girlfriend can’t even compete with his ex.” “Shh, be careful what you say. I went to college with the CEO. That woman in the office is actually his ex-girlfriend. They used to have a great relationship, quite famous on campus.” “Oh, I see. So, who will the CEO end up with?” “Who knows. Anyway, his current girlfriend is really pitiful.” Yes, I really was pitiful. I gave a bitter smile, then walked briskly away from Liam’s company.

The sunlight was blinding. I shielded my eyes with my hand. “Excuse me, miss, would you like to see this?” Lowering my hand, I looked up to see a mascot bear standing in front of me. Its round body waddled clumsily towards me, looking a bit comical. He handed me a flyer, an advertisement for a new coffee shop. “I’ll check it out, thank you.” A memory flashed through my mind – the days I spent handing out flyers with Liam. The streets then were like a giant oven, and we were baking inside it. I nodded at the mascot bear, and just as I was about to turn and leave, I heard a cheerful voice say: “Miss, you look really beautiful when you smile.” My body stiffened, his words echoing in my ears. *Avery, you’re so beautiful when you smile.* “Really?” I didn’t even know why I said that. He raised his furry paw and gently touched my cheek, a slightly clumsy but very soft movement. “You’d be even prettier if you didn’t cry.” “Don’t be sad, Miss.” I reached up to touch my eyes, my fingertips feeling damp. I was crying again. I shouldn’t be sad anymore. I paused, and a smile slowly returned to my face. I gave the mascot bear a hug, and he accepted it. “Thank you.” Maybe I was being a bit silly. I just sat there, watching him hand out flyers, greeting everyone he saw. He advised me to go home early. I didn’t listen, shaking my head to refuse. He wasn’t impatient either. He just stood there in his heavy costume, blocking the sun for me. This feeling of being cared for, it was so warm. Evening came, and the sky was painted with a red glow. He took off the mascot suit and sat next to me. Beside him was a bottle of water he had specially bought. The weather was really hot; his hair was stuck to his forehead, making him look a bit disheveled. I pulled out a tissue and handed it to him. He took it, wiped the sweat from his face and neck, and casually pushed a few strands of hair back from his forehead. That fleeting moment, he looked so handsome. Completely different from the steady, quiet Liam. I kept looking at him. He suddenly raised his hand and waved it in front of my eyes, smiling, “Miss, am I super handsome? You were spacing out just now.” His goofy face made me laugh. I waved his hand away and stood up, saying, “Don’t flatter yourself.” “I’m going home now. You should head back early too.” My ride’s horn had honked a few times, reminding me. I waved to him and got into the car. In the rearview mirror, I saw him holding the mascot suit, smiling with the setting sun behind him, waving vigorously at me. I hadn’t told anyone, but his smile was truly radiant too. Memories from a few years ago surfaced – back then, the one wearing the mascot suit and blocking the sun for others was me. It was stifling hot inside the mascot suit, like an oven, making it hard to breathe. I remembered my complaints and Liam’s arrogant temper back then. What was I doing? Perhaps I just wanted to know what it felt like to have someone clumsily care for me like that. Why was I thinking of him again? I touched the corner of my eye again – this time, nothing. Back home, the empty feeling was as usual. Scarlett somehow added me on SnapChat. I had accepted her friend request, but she still hadn’t said anything. I knew exactly what her little game was. I opened her profile on Ins, and sure enough, there was a playful caption and a photo: “Dinner for two was so delightful, even the lemon water tasted sweet~” The picture showed two yellow drinks, with an array of rich, exquisite dishes on the table. The most crucial detail was a man’s hand – no doubt, it was Liam’s. He was pretty smart; he’d specifically taken off the watch I’d given him. I opened my diary again and wrote: “Today, Liam forgot about the lunch I’d prepared and ate with another girl. That girl even fed him carrots, which he hates. I was so upset that I slapped her. But Liam defended her and made me apologize. I’m so heartbroken.” After that day, Liam barely came home. I often suffered from insomnia; even the sleeping pills stopped working. Sometimes, I’d finally fall asleep, only to wake up with a jolt.

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My daughter was diagnosed with kidney failure and urgently needed a transplant. When I found out I was a match, I was overjoyed to lie on the operating table. But when I woke up, I heard my daughter’s cheerful laughter. “Dad, has Aunt Rachel woken up yet? How’s the transplanted kidney working? Finally, we don’t have to pretend in front of Mom anymore. Once Aunt Rachel recovers, we’ll go to the amusement park together!” My blood ran cold. It turns out my husband and daughter had staged this act to get me to donate a kidney to someone else. If that’s how it is, I don’t want this family anymore. 0 The smell of antiseptic assaulted my nostrils as I struggled to open my heavy eyelids. In the pitch-black hospital room, I could only see the faint moonlight filtering through the window. I slowly pushed myself up, a searing pain radiating from the incision site. “Emily…” I instinctively called out my daughter’s name, but my throat was too dry to form complete words. I called out for a while, but no one responded. Just as I was about to lie back down, I suddenly heard familiar voices from the hallway. “Dad, Mom won’t find out, right?” That voice made my whole body freeze. It was clear, cheerful, with a lightness I had never heard before. It was my daughter’s voice. I stumbled out of bed, ignoring the possibility of tearing my stitches. Staggering to the door, I peered through the glass panel and saw her swinging a phone in her hand. Bouncing around… nothing like a patient who had just received a kidney transplant. “Dad, Mom’s still asleep. I snuck out to make a phone call!” “Has Aunt Rachel woken up? Is she feeling okay anywhere? Finally, we don’t have to pretend in front of Mom anymore. Aunt Rachel, do you think I did a good job pretending these past few months?” “Mom’s kidney is finally with you!” “Aunt Rachel, once you’re better, we’ll go to the amusement park together!” Suddenly, my mind went blank. Every word felt like a nail being driven into my eardrums. I couldn’t believe these words were coming from the mouth of the daughter I had lovingly raised for 10 years. Pretending in front of Mom? Did a good job pretending? Aunt Rachel? Was that my best friend of over a decade? My kidney is with her? I bit my lip hard. So for you, this so-called “illness” was just an act you put on? A sharp pain shot through the surgical wound on my waist, but I could no longer feel it. My entire body felt as if it had been submerged in ice water, chilled to the bone. Emily hung up the phone, humming a happy tune. As she turned around, I forcefully dragged myself back to the bed, pulling the covers over myself. The door was gently pushed open. “Mom? Are you awake?” Emily’s voice was deliberately lowered, carrying a fake concern. I kept my eyes tightly shut, struggling to control my breathing. “Still asleep, thank goodness…” She immediately sighed in relief, then started humming again as she left. The sound of footsteps gradually faded away. 0

When the door closed again, I finally opened my eyes. Tears immediately blurred my vision. I trembled as I touched the wound on my side. Beneath the bandages was where my missing right kidney had been. I desperately needed to know some truth. I found my phone on the bedside table. The moment the screen lit up, the lock screen photo of Emily’s radiant smile stabbed at my eyes. That child who I thought needed a kidney transplant to save her life. Now it seemed utterly ironic. I opened the chat history with the contact labeled “BFF”. It was full of mundane conversations. Then I instinctively checked Rachel’s social media profile. Most of it was just daily life updates, nothing unusual. Until I saw Rachel’s last post from three days ago. “In a few days, I will welcome my new life.” The photo showed her in the hospital. But in the corner was a familiar deep black suit jacket. That was the one-of-a-kind custom-made jacket I had specially ordered for him!! I stared at the screen, my fingertips trembling uncontrollably. My chest felt like it was being crushed by a boulder, even breathing became difficult. Tears kept falling from the corners of my eyes. Why? We were all familiar with each other, all known each other for over a decade. One was my best friend, the other my husband of 11 years. I never imagined that the man who once revolved around me, keeping me warm and comfortable, and the daughter I was so proud of would one day deceive and betray me. We were once the couple everyone envied from college. I always thought we would walk hand in hand through life, growing old together. But I never expected that after so many years of trust and companionship, it would all turn to ashes in the face of reality. Now, he had crushed my future with his own hands. Seeing this suit, I was almost certain Jack had cheated on me. There was no need to torture each other anymore. I wiped away the tears I had unknowingly shed for him all night. I wanted a divorce from Jack. As for Emily, I was willing to give her one more chance! Perhaps she had only been manipulated by Rachel. 0

The next morning, Jack entered pushing a breakfast cart. He was wearing that light blue shirt I loved most, carrying a small bouquet of yellow lilies. The flower meaning: Get well soon. To me, it felt bitingly cold. “Wendy, are you feeling better?” His voice was still so gentle, but now it made me nauseous. “I bought the rice porridge you like.” I forced myself to squeeze out a smile. “Much better, just the incision still hurts a bit.” Jack set down the flowers and naturally adjusted my pillow height. This practiced feeling, as if he had done it countless times. “Where’s Emily?” I asked casually. “Oh, she went for a follow-up check. Dr. Zhang said the transplant was very successful, she’s recovering faster than expected.” I stared at him intently. He remained outwardly calm! Even now, he was still lying to me. If I hadn’t accidentally overheard Emily’s conversation with you last night, would I have been kept in the dark forever? When he leaned in close to me, a familiar perfume scent suddenly assaulted my nostrils. It was the fragrance Rachel always wore. After being around her for so many years, I couldn’t mistake it. “When did you change your cologne?” Jack visibly stiffened. Then he nonchalantly pulled away, raising his hand to rub his shirt collar. This motion fully exposed the faint red mark on the side of his neck. A hickey. In all these years, he never allowed me to kiss his neck, saying he wasn’t used to it. Later, I carefully avoided it. “I felt like I’d gotten used to the scent of the cologne you gave me before,” he said, avoiding my gaze. “I switched to a different fragrance, I think it smells nice. I’ll let you try it next time.” My gaze was fixed on his neck. That glaring mark felt like a slap across my face. No wonder he suddenly wore such strong cologne, it was to cover this up. “Is that so?” I said softly, my nails digging deep into my palm. “What brand is it? I’ve been wanting to change my perfume too.” Jack’s eyes began to dart around. “It’s just… something I bought at a regular mall. I don’t remember the name.” I almost laughed coldly. He had grown tired of our relationship of over a decade, just like he’d grown tired of that bottle of cologne I gave him. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, each beat bringing pain. The spoonful of hot porridge in my mouth, no matter how I tried to swallow, wouldn’t go down. Noticing my discomfort, he frowned slightly. “What’s wrong? Is it not to your taste? I specially went to that place you liked in South Bridge to buy it.” I suddenly gave a bitter smile. My smile made him look at me with a hint of confusion. You probably bought it out of convenience. Then, I shook my head at him. “It’s nothing, I just feel like you’re so good to me! If only it could always be like this!” He looked at me adoringly, raising his hand to stroke my head as usual. “It will be. Don’t think too much, your only job now is to rest well.” I subtly dodged that hand. That hand that had touched who knows how many people. I turned over, pulling up the blanket. “I’m tired, I want to rest. You should go check on Emily.” “Alright… you sleep for a bit then.” “Oh, could you bring me a fresh set of clothes from home later? I’m not used to the hospital gowns.” “Sure, I’ll be back soon.” That hand hovering in mid-air finally stroked my head a few times. I instantly widened my eyes, my scalp tingling. 0

When the door slammed shut, fighting the urge to vomit, I reached for the call button by the bed, summoning a nurse. When the nurse entered, I was vigorously wiping the hair Jack had touched with disinfectant wipes. I only stopped when my scalp was burning with pain. “Hello, could I see Emily Leaf’s medical report and my kidney transplant report?” I asked, forcing a weak smile. “I’m the patient’s mother.” The nurse didn’t suspect anything and gave me the two authentic hospital reports. Both were ones I, the person involved, had never seen before. The reports showed — Patient diagnosed with acute respiratory infection, otherwise normal. What a “normal” diagnosis. And my report at the end — signed by Rachel Song. I took out my phone and quickly snapped a few photos for evidence. By the time I had everything prepared, it was already evening. Jack still hadn’t returned. Home was less than 20 minutes from the hospital!! I gripped my phone tightly, my fingertips almost turning white. Where had he gone? The answer was obvious. I still masochistically dialed that familiar number. The call was answered after just a few rings. Laughter could be heard on the other end, mixed with a soft woman’s voice. “Wendy.” Jack’s voice suddenly became guilty. The background noise instantly went quiet. “Jack, when exactly are you going to bring me the clothes I asked for? I need them tonight.” My voice was frighteningly calm. “Emily was just clamoring to go out and buy some things. I lost track of time!” I stared at the ceiling, my fingertips digging into my palm. Inwardly, I laughed coldly. This one little thing I asked you to do, you still can’t manage for me now. “Didn’t Dr. Zhang say Emily needed to rest? How can she go out?” Jack was momentarily speechless. Until our daughter’s sweet voice came through. “Mom’s the best, don’t blame Dad. I was the one who asked Dad to take me out.” My nails dug deep crescents into my palm. I took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the anger and desolation welling up inside. “Emily, don’t lie to Mom. I’ll ask you one more time, did you want to go out or did Dad make you go?” I still held a glimmer of hope for my daughter. The other end of the line suddenly went quiet. Then, Emily’s voice became shrill. “Mom, you don’t believe me now? I’m telling you, I asked Dad to take me out!! I—” “…….” One sentence was enough to shatter my illusions. Before she could finish, I abruptly hung up and threw the phone forcefully onto the bed. I lowered my head, laughing bitterly as I muttered. “Why? I gave everything for this family. Jack is one thing, but why is even my daughter the same?!” At this moment, I felt like a failure in marriage. My husband, cheating midway through. And with my best friend, no less. My daughter, now breaking my heart. If that’s how it is, I no longer hold any illusions about them. There’s no point in wasting my breath. I raised my hand and forwarded those “evidence” that didn’t quite look like evidence to my alternate social media account. Though it didn’t have many followers, it was enough to reach internet celebrity Rachel’s eyes. Along with a caption: “Shocking! Husband conspires with daughter to fake illness, tricks wife into donating kidney to mistress!”

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