Category: English

I was in the late stages of a terminal illness, with only days left to live. The doctors told me to notify my family and make arrangements for my funeral. But my brother, Liam, had believed Seraphina’s lies, convinced I had bullied her for three years in high school. He’d blocked me ages ago. While I was fighting for my life in the emergency room, Seraphina merely had a low-grade flu fever. Yet, Liam waited outside her film set all night, his face, usually so indifferent, etched with frantic worry. “Please, go see a doctor, okay? Even a small cold can be serious if you push yourself.” His fans on Ins gushed about his overwhelming devotion. As I was fading, barely clinging to life, I called the cemetery salesperson. “Everything’s arranged, right? No funeral, just cremate me directly.” “And the music sheets Liam wrote for me… burn them too.” I died on my twentieth birthday. Liam never knew. He never knew it was Seraphina who had bullied me for three years, and that she’d even swapped my terminal diagnosis records.

Dr. Miller sighed softly as he covered me with a white sheet. The piercing beeps of the monitor reminded me that, yes, I was indeed dead. A flash of white light, and I found myself outside Seraphina’s film set. Liam held her close, his heart aching, as she snuggled into his chest, a cooling patch on her forehead. She murmured playfully, “It’s just a little cold, you didn’t have to cancel work to be with me.” “No matter where you are, I’ll wait patiently for you. I’ll take good care of myself.” She nestled completely into his arms, her smile saccharine sweet. Liam repeatedly checked her temperature, finally relaxing when he saw she was truly fine. Seraphina took his hand, her voice tinged with feigned regret. “I prepared a special surprise for you, but I didn’t expect you to arrive even earlier than the gift.” Liam ruffled her hair, his voice dripping with affection. “Forget the surprise, I just want you healthy and happy, always by my side.” Seraphina’s fans excitedly captured their sweet interaction on their phones. They raved about Liam’s profound love. They felt so bad for Seraphina, who was sick but still had to work through the night. A bolder fan spoke up first, “Mr. Hayes, did you really give up a nine-figure deal for Seraphina? Just to be with her while she’s sick?” Liam held Seraphina close, his voice calm. “I was following up on a spiritual premonition from a renowned mystic. Heeding his warning brought me back. Seraphina will always be my top priority.” Seraphina blushed, saying, “He worries too much about me. The mystic told him he might suffer a painful loss, and he insisted on seeing me immediately.” “I won’t let Liam or my fans down. I’ll take better care of myself and work harder from now on. The flu is going around, everyone, please take care of yourselves too!” With that, she smiled and waved at each fan. Liam stated earnestly, “Even if the mystic hadn’t warned me, I would have rushed back the moment I heard Seraphina had a cold.” The fans burst into a chorus of admiration. “Seraphina is beautiful and hardworking, she’s definitely going to be huge!” “Mr. Hayes is handsome and powerful, and so selfless! Seriously envious!” “When are you two getting engaged? We’re all waiting for your good news!” Fans aimed their phones at the couple, snapping photos. “Mr. Hayes, giving up such a huge project, do you really not regret it?” Liam usually hated being posted online, but this time he stood calmly beside Seraphina. “I never regret my choices. Besides, my motivation for working is to give Seraphina a better life.” Someone in the crowd muttered with a frown, “Liam Hayes? I thought he had a sister, too. I saw her at the hospital today. Maybe I was mistaken.” His whisper was swallowed by the crowd’s noise. Just like me, I was always the overlooked one. Chapter Two Perhaps it was the bond of blood, but my soul was trapped beside my brother. After Liam carefully helped Seraphina into the car, his assistant, Sarah, hesitated. “Are you still planning to celebrate Mia’s birthday today, sir?” Liam’s movements froze, then his brows subtly furrowed. Today was my twentieth birthday. He’d rushed back to the city, but it was for Seraphina. He casually scrolled through my social media. I always posted my birthday wishes right at midnight, but this year, there was nothing. A flicker of irritation crossed his eyes. Seraphina peered over curiously. “You rushed back from abroad, working non-stop, and she didn’t even send a single message asking if you’re okay? What a terrible sister.” Liam irritably clicked off his phone. “She’s just used to being spoiled and throwing fits. Who knows what she’s mad about this year. I’m not celebrating her birthday anymore. First, we’re going to the hospital to get you checked out.” With that, he thoughtfully adjusted the AC higher and gently covered Seraphina with a blanket. Seraphina lowered her voice, feigning hurt. “Liam, she must be upset because she saw the news about you coming to be with me.” “After all, it’s her birthday today. I should apologize to her… I don’t want you two to be unhappy because of me.” Liam’s fist clenched and then relaxed. After a long moment, he gave a repressed “Hmm.” A flash of resentment crossed Seraphina’s face, but she quickly composed herself, forcing a smile as she pulled out her phone. After seeing a text from her assistant, a cruel glint flashed in her eyes. She then called my phone. She called many times, but the call never connected. When the phone finally announced it was off, Liam said coldly, “Don’t bother. If she wants to act out, let her. You don’t need to humble yourself for her.” With that, he urged the driver to speed up. I watched Liam calmly. Aside from a faint annoyance, there was no concern on his face. I should have faced reality long ago. Liam hated me so much because of Seraphina, how could he possibly care about me? Even if he was in the city, he wouldn’t celebrate my birthday, too proud, too cold, or too annoyed to even utter a simple greeting. Ever since Seraphina barged into his world, I was forced to get used to his favoritism and targeted hostility. He always said I was difficult and willful, always making trouble for Seraphina. He said I was petty and jealous of Seraphina’s success. My piano room, once mine, became Seraphina’s exclusive domain. The custom gifts meant for me were engraved with Seraphina’s name. Even when I was sick and bedridden, he only believed Seraphina’s words, convinced I was scheming and faking my illness for sympathy. I always silently wished, foolishly hoping he could go back to how he used to be. But I was wrong. Because of Seraphina, his misunderstanding of me grew deeper and deeper, to the point he didn’t even want to acknowledge me as his sister anymore. I would never get his apology. I was dead. We would never see each other again in this life. Chapter Three Liam took Seraphina to the best private hospital. Even the hospital room was decorated to her liking in advance. Because, in Liam’s eyes, Seraphina was the person he owed the most. In high school, everyone mocked me for being an orphan with no parents. And the one who led the bullying against me for three whole years was Seraphina herself. After high school graduation, I left the city, thinking I had finally escaped. But I never expected that in just three short years, when I saw Seraphina again, she was already my brother’s girlfriend. I tried to let go of the past, to stay out of their way. But Seraphina wouldn’t let me. She twisted the truth in front of Liam, claiming I used my position to bully her for three years in high school. From then on, Liam never gave me a kind look. He kept saying I had to pay for what I’d done. So he arbitrarily cut off all my funds, and even tried to strip my right to study abroad. In Liam’s eyes, I had become a barbaric, wicked person. While Seraphina, in his eyes, was a rare and precious gem. He pitied Seraphina’s past, and out of guilt, he became even better to her, practically spoiling her to the moon and back. Which was why he was still by Seraphina’s side, dark circles under his eyes. Even though the doctor repeatedly stressed that Seraphina just had a common cold. Seraphina was about to say something when the door to the room suddenly burst open. It was Caleb, Liam’s old friend, who was also an investor in Seraphina’s new show. “Unbelievable, your social media buzz is even higher than my new show.” “Why don’t you let me piggyback on your traffic? This show will definitely be a hit.” “Mr. Hayes, sacrificing a nine-figure project for your beloved, tsk-tsk…” Liam shot him a displeased look, motioning him into the hallway with his eyes. “My feelings for Seraphina don’t need media hype to prove.” “Seraphina doesn’t need that kind of buzz. If she wants it, I’ll pour money into promoting her, not put her under public pressure.” “I, on the other hand, want to ask you, why are you putting so much work pressure on Seraphina?” Caleb looked at him incredulously. “Out of respect for you, everyone on set has been treating Seraphina like she was royalty, waiting on her hand and foot. The overtime was even her idea.” “I was wondering, she was perfectly fine all day, why did she suddenly fall apart right after midnight?” Liam scoffed, “Seraphina always tries to be strong. She never complains when she’s upset.” “It must be your set’s grueling schedule that wore her out.” Caleb shrugged, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Mr. Hayes, you’re truly a devoted man. I’m almost envious of Seraphina.” “You’ve never cared this much for Mia.” Seeing Liam’s face instantly darken, Caleb wisely stopped talking, hesitating for a long moment before finally speaking. “Today is Mia’s birthday, you know. I verified the on-site audio, and she was indeed at the hospital today.” After Liam watched the hospital surveillance video on Caleb’s phone, the anger in his eyes intensified. The Mia in the video looked terribly frail, blood stained her sleeves, her eyes lifeless, leaning weakly against the wall. Liam didn’t even finish watching before he impatiently closed the video. “So what if I didn’t celebrate her birthday? She even resorted to faking self-harm!” It wasn’t like that! The video had been maliciously edited! I hadn’t harmed myself. The blood on my sleeves was from the fresh blood I’d coughed up during an attack. I spun around in distress, but Liam couldn’t hear my voice at all. Caleb was still trying to reason with Liam. “No matter what, Mia is still your biological sister. Seraphina will be family once she marries in. There’s no need to make things so tense.” Liam looked at my disheveled figure in the video, his expression complex, his throat subtly bobbing. My heart ached beyond words. Even outsiders cared about me, but Liam instinctively suspected the worst. Chapter Four Liam’s face remained impassive. After Caleb left in a hurry, he began pacing back and forth in the hallway. He pulled a small velvet jewelry box from his coat pocket. Inside was a sapphire necklace. So, he had prepared a birthday gift for me. Once, Seraphina had stolen my mother’s heirloom, which was also a sapphire necklace. But Liam had scolded me, saying it was just a necklace, and that my bullying had driven Seraphina to depression and almost suicide, and I owed her for the rest of my life. Now, the sapphire in his hand was even larger and brighter than the one I had lost. Unfortunately, items imbued with meaning are uniquely irreplaceable. He repeatedly caressed the gem, carefully putting it away. Only then did his emotions completely calm. He went back into the room, grabbed his car keys, and was about to head home to find me when the sleeping Seraphina woke up. “Liam, where are you going?” Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m scared being alone in the hospital. Can you stay with me, please?” Liam stepped forward, holding her in his arms to comfort her. “Just get your IV first. I’ll be back soon, I won’t abandon you.” Seraphina’s hand, gripping his sleeve, refused to let go. She cautiously probed, “Is it because of Mia?” Liam nodded. “She’s the only person in this world I’m related to by blood. I can’t fail Mom and Dad’s last wishes.” Seraphina lowered her head, looking wronged. “It’s fine, I understand. I’ll wait for you to come back.” Liam still left. The moment he closed the door, I clearly saw Seraphina clench her fists in resentment, her eyes filled with venom. I followed Liam back to the empty house. Seeing no shoes by the entrance, he impatiently burst into my room. The room had been tidied meticulously. Even the sheet music he’d personally written for me, which I used to cherish the most, was gone. Liam sat dejectedly at the piano, staring at the stickers we’d put on the keys together. Through the moonlight, I seemed to see the Liam from years ago. Back then, he taught me to play piano, wrote music for me. As long as he was there, my face always held a content smile. After Seraphina appeared, I never played the piano again. Liam’s fingertips brushed the keys. He looked at his dust-covered fingers and murmured, “Mia… why did we end up like this?” His figure looked especially forlorn in the moonlight. He stood up, took one last look at my room, and fled as if escaping. From childhood, Liam never initiated an apology to me. When he made mistakes, he would always avoid and gloss over them. I used to think he was just too proud, and as his sister, I shouldn’t hold it against him. Seeing Liam scroll through my Ins again, I scoffed at his terrible memory. He probably forgot he couldn’t see my updates, not because I wasn’t contacting him, but because he had blocked me. I sat in the corner of the sofa, calmly watching his panicked expression. What if he knew I was dead? What if he knew that Seraphina was the one who bullied me, that she had swapped my terminal diagnosis records, indirectly causing my death? Would he still stubbornly believe he was right, and run away like before? Unfortunately, he would never have the chance to apologize to me. It wasn’t until dawn that a sudden ringtone startled Liam awake. I leaned closer. It was Kyle, the cemetery salesperson. “Are you Mia Hayes’s brother?” The voice on the other end sounded uncertain. Liam frowned impatiently. “Yes, I am. What dramatic stunt is she pulling now?” “I’m Mia Hayes’s agent. Cremation requires a family member’s signature. Do you have time to come over?” Liam’s expression froze. He gripped his phone, suppressing his anger. “Tell me the truth, how much money did Mia give you to go along with her act?” Before the other side could speak, Liam frantically hung up. He took a few deep breaths. “Mia is so afraid of dying, how could she ever actually die? Right! It must be another one of her pathetic attempts to get me to celebrate her birthday!” He hastily grabbed his coat. “Seraphina is still waiting for me at the hospital. I need to go be with her…” “I won’t fall for it again.” My heart turned cold. It seemed in his mind, Seraphina was always the most important. But his panicked retreating figure betrayed him. Maybe, just maybe, he’d be moved by our blood relation. I was a little curious about the day the truth would finally come out. Chapter Five The moment Liam opened the hospital room door, Seraphina threw herself into his arms. “Liam, I waited for you all night! What took you so long?”

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My best friend got scammed out of seventy-five thousand dollars through an AI face-swap impersonating me. She dropped to her knees right there in the public square, a dramatic spectacle designed for virality. She cried that it was her entire life savings. She begged me to pay her back, claiming I was an influencer and made money easily. The entire internet rallied against me, guilt-tripping me into paying her. Even my own brother said Chloe was pathetic and blamed me for the whole mess. I just smirked. Trying to get rich off my back? Dream on! Chloe stood in the middle of the plaza, my photo glaring from the giant screen behind her. “Serena Hayes, you’re a beauty influencer with millions of followers. You make tens of thousands of dollars from a single video. But that seventy-five thousand dollars is all I have! Please, just give it back to me!” “If I hadn’t trusted you so much, if we weren’t best friends, how could I have possibly been scammed out of seventy-five thousand dollars?” “Serena, you spend thousands on an outfit. But this seventy-five thousand dollars? I slaved away for years to save it! My parents are counting on that money for their medical bills and retirement! I’ll do anything for you, be your slave, just give me my money back!” Chloe sobbed, tears streaming down her face, her forehead hitting the ground with loud thuds. Onlookers whipped out their phones, some snapping photos, others starting live streams. “What’s going on? Serena scammed her friend?” “Are all influencers this heartless? She makes thousands so easily, but she’ll still rip off her friend’s life savings?” “No one would beg like this in public unless they were truly desperate. Serena definitely stole the money.” “Influencers like her should be blacklisted! She’s a menace to society. I’m embarrassed to even say I live in the same city as her.” “She’s just standing there, watching her friend bow and scrape, not even a word of comfort. See? Only the shameless ones get rich these days.” Suddenly, a guy, a male fan, charged at me, pointing his finger right in my face. “Serena Hayes, you scammer, pay her back!” The scene erupted into chaos, many people shouting, “Pay her back!” I calmly pulled out my phone and dialed the police. At the same time, I raised my voice. “Chloe, I truly sympathize with you for falling victim to a deepfake scam. What you should be doing right now is reporting it to the police; maybe you can recover some of your losses. I’ve already called 911 for you.” Chloe shrieked, “That account *was* yours! It had your voice, your videos, even private details only you and I knew! You’re the one who scammed me! You just don’t want to pay me back, do you?” I turned to the police officers who had just arrived, shaking my head regretfully. “She’s very agitated right now. I’m worried she might be susceptible to further scams.” “You’re still lying!” Chloe suddenly lunged at me, slapping me across the face. “Serena, you must have scammed so many people! I have proof! It was you!” “You make so much money off your fans, why would you still steal my hard-earned cash? You’re shameless!” Chloe hurled insults, trying to hit me again. The police officers quickly intervened, restraining her. I touched my stinging cheek, tears welling in my eyes. I slowly turned, making sure every camera angle caught my vulnerable, pathetic expression. Just then, my brother, Caleb Hayes, rushed onto the scene. Caleb didn’t even glance at me, immediately launching into an accusation. “What is wrong with you? It’s just seventy-five thousand dollars! Just give it back to Chloe and this whole thing is over. Now everyone knows, have you even considered the impact on your image?” “Chloe lives so frugally, unlike you. You rake in tens of thousands from one ad deal.” “You make money so easily, you should be more understanding of your friend’s struggles. Don’t you agree?”

My eyes widened, staring at my brother in disbelief. A female officer stepped forward to explain. “Sir, please try to understand the situation first. Chloe was a victim of an AI deepfake scam; Serena is also a victim here.” “Caleb,” I said, my voice tinged with disappointment, “Chloe just slapped me. It really hurts.” Caleb glanced around, seeing the crowd holding up their phones, hungry for drama, and waved his hand impatiently. “Oh, please. Chloe was scammed out of seventy-five thousand. She’s way worse off than you are. How can you be so heartless?” I continued to numbly play the role of the internet celebrity betrayed by her own brother. “Caleb, am I your sister or your enemy?” He tried to grab my arm, but I pulled away. Noticing everyone around us was filming, I pretended to wipe my face, a subtle smirk playing on my lips. Caleb and I headed to the Cybercrime Investigation Center together. “Stop pouting,” Caleb grumbled loudly. “So what if Chloe was a little emotional? She lost seventy-five grand, it’s understandable. Can’t you just be the bigger person?” When there was no audience, I simply looked at Caleb, my expression cool and collected. He sheepishly shut his mouth. Caleb was my actual brother, and my fans all knew him as my valuable “assistant” in my career. After I blew up online, I started to pivot, creating couple-themed content, with Caleb playing my boyfriend. But in reality, he was nothing more than a convenient prop I’d carefully selected. Now, with Chloe’s little stunt, I figured it was time to cut him loose. As I quickly strategized how to sever ties with Caleb without hurting my account’s numbers, I asked the staff about Chloe’s situation. Soon, investigators confirmed that Chloe had indeed fallen victim to an AI deepfake scam. On a niche social media platform called “GlamMirror” with only about ten thousand users, someone had used AI technology to synthesize my photos and videos, mimicked my voice, and impersonated me. Chloe, thinking it was me, didn’t verify and simply believed the scammer’s request for money, transferring seventy-five thousand dollars to a specified account. But Chloe still insisted the account was mine, that the money was in my hands, and that I needed to pay her back. Caleb sighed after hearing the details. “Chloe was so good to you, lending you seventy-five thousand just like that. So loyal. And you? She’s on her knees begging you, and you won’t budge. You’re truly ruthless.” I ignored Caleb and raised a question. “Chloe was scammed at 5 PM yesterday. I was in my storage room selecting products at that exact time, and she lives right next door. Why didn’t she just ask me directly?” Chloe retorted, “Everyone knows you’re a big influencer, you’re so image-conscious. That’s why you didn’t want to ask me for a loan face-to-face, you just SnapChatted me. So I transferred the money.” “If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have given you the money. Officer, I have proof, that account was definitely Serena’s,” Chloe said excitedly. A familiar female officer next to me shook her head helplessly. Caleb sighed again, “Chloe, you’re truly something. Don’t worry, Chloe, I’ll make sure Serena gives you an explanation.” I elbowed Caleb hard. Caleb winced. “Serena, you really are partly responsible for this. You’re a public figure, and you’ve even done anti-scam PSAs before. You should take more responsibility.” “If you had just registered an account on that platform earlier, you wouldn’t have been impersonated, and Chloe wouldn’t have fallen for it,” Caleb said, as if it were obvious. I threw my hands up, exasperated by my cluelessly naive brother’s comments. Chloe clung to her story, insisting the account was mine, crying endlessly about how important the money was to her. Caleb was even more indignant. “Don’t worry, Chloe, I’ll give you Serena’s debit card. You can use it to buy whatever you need these next few days.” In an unnoticed corner, Chloe suddenly turned to me. “Serena, who told you to be an influencer? It’s your fault you make money easily. I swear, I’ll make you pay me back for this.”

It clicked. Chloe was doing this on purpose. She knew perfectly well she’d been scammed, but she didn’t want to bear the loss herself, so she planned to make me pay for it. The only thing that puzzled me was why Chloe, knowing my personality, would think I’d ever ask someone for money. Even more, I was in my storage room selecting products at the time, my phone left in my room. There was no way I could have SnapChatted her for a loan. Chloe’s room faced the storage room; she couldn’t *not* have seen me. Yet she still transferred the seventy-five thousand. I was pondering the strange inconsistencies. Chloe started sobbing again. Caleb, who had just returned with a glass of water, quickly handed her a tissue and tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry, Chloe. Since this whole thing involves Serena, I’ll make sure she takes full responsibility. You won’t lose seventy-five thousand for nothing.” Chloe clutched Caleb’s arm tightly. “Really? I know you two run a million-follower account together, you don’t lack this kind of money. You’re such a good person, but Serena… can you guarantee she’ll pay me back?” “Caleb.” I frowned, my gaze like a knife. Caleb wriggled free from Chloe’s grasp. “Just stop crying, okay? We’ll figure it out when we get there.” Not getting a clear promise from Caleb, Chloe’s expression stiffened slightly. I pretended not to notice the silent exchange between them. I mused that this incident might be the perfect opportunity for my account’s transformation. And I could finally shed Caleb and operate the account independently. As I was leaving the police station, Officer Davis, who I knew well, called out to me. “Serena, you’ve always cooperated with us on anti-scam campaigns. I’ve seen all your hard work.” “But this situation with your friend has had a terrible impact. Your role as a Cyber Safety Ambassador might have to be put on hold for a while.” I froze. As a top beauty influencer, I’d seen too many peers lose followers and plummet in engagement due to various unforeseen events. I’d been planning for all possibilities for a long time. The Cyber Safety Ambassador role was a strategic move to diversify my presence. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t hide my feelings. “Officer Davis, Chloe is too emotional right now, and I can’t really reason with her.” “I know this money is important to her, but if I pay her back, it sets a bad precedent for anti-scam efforts.” In the future, anyone who encounters a similar situation might demand compensation. Officer Davis understood my point. “You’re right, you shouldn’t have to pay. Legally speaking, no one can force you to compensate her.” “Thanks, Officer Davis. Actually, I was thinking, if people are willing to start a fundraiser for Chloe, I’d contribute a significant amount myself to help her through this.” I voiced my true thoughts. Everyone wanted to guilt-trip me into paying seventy-five thousand. But when an actual fundraiser began, I wondered how generous these people would really be. Officer Davis looked surprised. “Serena, you’re really too kind.” I smiled, accepting her praise. Little did she know, the transformation from a small-town girl to a million-follower influencer had nothing to do with kindness; it was all about calculated moves for maximum gain. Back at my apartment, I finally had time to check the online chatter. Chloe’s public kneeling video was already attention-grabbing. My influencer status only added fuel to the fire. The comment section of my latest video was a warzone, flooded with angry netizens. They demanded to know why I wouldn’t pay her back, why I’d just stand there while my best friend knelt. I opened various beauty forums and social media platforms; everywhere, people were calling for a boycott against me: *This kind of unethical influencer should be blacklisted! Everyone unfollow her! Like if you agree!* Responses poured in. A few reasonable people said, “It was an AI deepfake scam! Go after the criminals! Why should a rich person pay just because someone got scammed?” Unfortunately, most people were selectively blind, continuing to hurl insults at me. Until the police released an official statement. Major beauty communities and influencer groups also put out alerts: *Ms. Yao, the best friend of a well-known beauty influencer, Ms. Fang, was scammed out of seventy-five thousand dollars through an “AI deepfake impersonation” on a social media app. At the time of the incident, Ms. Fang and Ms. Yao were living together in their shared apartment. Ms. Yao believed the AI-synthesized video call without verification and transferred the money, resulting in a loss. We hope all netizens learn from this and remain vigilant.* Both the police and social media platforms had made their statements. After the incident was officially classified, Chloe became even more frantic. She went straight to the apartment rooftop, claiming I had driven her to despair and she was going to commit suicide. She was eventually rescued by firefighters. She caused the scene, but I was the one getting dragged.

Chloe’s suicide attempt immediately trended online. My comment section was drowned in a flood of hateful messages: “Are all influencers this heartless? Serena’s face just screams bad news. She definitely set up the scam.” “A twenty-something girl kneeling in public and attempting suicide? That alone tells me she’s not faking it. There’s definitely a twist to this story; wait for the police investigation results.” “Even if the police investigated, everyone knows that money from AI scams is impossible to get back. Chloe fell for it because of Serena, so Serena should be responsible!” “Didn’t Serena always say she donated to charity every year? Now her own best friend is in trouble, and she’s playing dead?” “Can you trust an influencer’s persona? It’s probably just a scripted drama for views. Serena is so shameless, using her best friend for popularity.” “Haha, Serena finally crashed and burned, serves her right! Chloe used to appear in Serena’s videos, and Serena always used Chloe to make herself look better. Hope everyone sees Serena’s true colors soon.” I’d been in the social media game for so long, I knew exactly how many of those comments were from paid trolls. Clearly, Chloe didn’t just want my money; she wanted to destroy my career. An idea began to form in my mind. Because of this media storm, two major makeup brands had already said they were pausing their partnerships with me. My brother, Caleb, was furious when he found out. “How can you be so brainless? It’s just seventy-five grand! You should’ve just paid Chloe and been done with it. Now you’ve jeopardized the whole account. If you can’t handle this, maybe I should take over.” I scoffed. “Caleb, what the hell are you talking about?” I started my social media journey in my freshman year of college. Back then, when my followers first broke fifty thousand, I convinced Caleb to film some fake couple videos with me to attract more traffic. Those videos unexpectedly went viral because Caleb’s good looks attracted a ton of new followers. My account growth had hit a plateau, and simple beauty and fashion videos weren’t attracting new fans anymore. After much thought, I realized I could use the “sweet couple” persona with Caleb to pivot and attract more views. Even though my brother had plenty of flaws, for the sake of my career, I still convinced him to keep playing along. I meticulously planned every video, laying groundwork for when I’d eventually split the account. After this whole mess, I figured more and more fans would demand I go “solo.” I silently listened to Caleb’s unpleasant words. His current behavior was exactly what I needed for my next step in the rebrand. After parting ways with Caleb on bad terms, I contacted Officer Davis. “Officer Davis, this ten thousand dollars is my personal donation to Chloe. Could you please discreetly transfer it to her? I don’t want to hurt her pride.” The entire internet was calling me heartless. But as long as I occupied the moral high ground first, no one could guilt-trip me anymore. And Chloe? She was now leveraging her “victim” status, starting live streams to milk sympathy. Chloe began live streaming in the apartment living room, day and night. “Serena, I don’t even have money for food now. My parents passed away, so I can only rely on live streaming to make money. You don’t mind, do you?”

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In our three years of marriage, my wife hypnotized me three times. The first time, when her childhood friend and I were competing for a board position at the company, my wife personally broke both my hands, turning me into a cripple. The second time, when her childhood friend needed liquid capital, she sold my luxury cars and mansion, and took out massive loans in my name. The third time, when her childhood friend was severely injured in a car accident, she forcibly harvested our son’s eyes and liver for transplantation. Each time, I furiously demanded a divorce, wanting to cut all ties with her. But she would cling to me, crying, saying she’d go insane without me. She even forcibly hypnotized me to forget everything, just to keep me by her side as if nothing had happened. It wasn’t until the day of our son’s funeral that I accidentally discovered the whole truth. “Ms. Chloe, this is the fourth hypnosis session. One more could cause irreversible damage to your husband’s brain. He might become mentally unstable. Are you sure you want to proceed?” the doctor asked. “He must forget what happened today! If not, he’ll definitely leave me. I can’t allow him to pose any threat to Marcus!” Chloe insisted. The doctor sighed, “Why do you need to trample on your husband’s sincere love to this extent?” “I have no choice. Who told him to possess exactly what Marcus needs? For Marcus’s happiness, I’m willing to be the villain,” Chloe replied coldly. Hearing this conversation, I felt as if my blood had frozen. My fists clenched involuntarily, but I kept my eyes tightly shut, pretending to be asleep. I had only been looking for my absent wife at our son’s funeral when I accidentally stumbled upon her hosting a lavish birthday party for her childhood friend at a five-star hotel. Before I could confront her, someone knocked me unconscious. When I came to, I overheard this conversation between the doctor and my wife. The doctor continued heatedly, “But your husband’s hand injury was severe. You made the hospital deliberately misalign his tendons. He endures excruciating pain every day.” “You lied to him, saying he had a gambling addiction and owed debts. You told him there wasn’t enough money for pain medication, yet you emptied his bank account to throw this extravagant birthday party for Marcus! Do you really hate him that much?” Chloe shook her head, “How could I possibly hate him?” “It’s all for Marcus. His greatest dream is to be the company’s leader, so I’ll be the woman who silently supports him from behind.” “As for Jack, if he must blame someone, blame him for shining too brightly and blocking others’ paths. I had to turn him into a helpless cripple to feel at ease…” The doctor wanted to say more, but Chloe coldly cut him off. “Enough. Watch your mouth. If you let slip even half a word to Jack, I won’t let you off easy!” “Hurry up and erase his memory. Make him think he caused some trouble today. That way, he’ll stay by my side out of guilt, never leaving me.” Chloe’s hand gently caressed my face. But I could no longer feel any of the love I once thought was there. Five years ago, when Chloe’s family company went bankrupt, I gave her a billion dollars to help her rebuild. When Marcus was kicked out of his family for being an illegitimate child, I was the one who kindly took him in at the company, gradually promoting him to a high position. At the time, Marcus knelt before me, saying he would repay this life-saving kindness someday. Chloe also confessed her love to me, saying she had liked me for a long time. But I never imagined that later, Chloe would steal my assets for Marcus, then trick me into believing I had gambled away all my money. She even put on a complete act, moving with me to a tiny apartment in the poorest part of town, living a life of extreme poverty to save every penny. Later, when Marcus was in a car accident, she cut open our son and harvested his organs to save Marcus’s life. While our son was dying in agony, Chloe was busy wiping Marcus’s body and feeding him. I had angrily argued with her countless times. Each time, Chloe would kneel and beg my forgiveness, pleading with me not to leave, saying she would go crazy without me. If I insisted on leaving, she would use hypnosis to make me forget everything. I had already forgotten three times, and this was nearly the fourth. When I opened my eyes after the hypnosis ended, I saw Chloe looking at me with reddened eyes. Seeing me awake, she hugged me and burst into tears. “Jack, thank goodness you’re awake,” she sobbed. “You were so devastated by our son’s death that you got into a fight at the hospital. When I saw your head bleeding, I thought I would go mad. If you left me too, I really couldn’t go on living!” The concern in her eyes seemed so genuine, but I no longer felt any trace of being moved. Chloe didn’t notice anything amiss. She turned and took out a takeout container from a cheap plastic bag, holding it preciously before me. “Jack, you must be hungry. Look what I brought you! I snuck this out while working as a cleaner at the hotel. It’s high-grade steak and Wagyu beef.” Ever since our family went bankrupt, Chloe would always cry about how all the money she earned from work went to pay off debts. Feeling sorry for her, I would eat very little each day, enduring dizziness and hunger pangs. But today I had clearly seen at Marcus’s birthday party how abalone and sea cucumber were served endlessly. This steak was merely scraps. Marcus had even deliberately stepped on the container and spat in it, telling the waiter to add raw blood to make it disgusting and inedible, saying it was food for dogs. In the past, the so-called gourmet food Chloe brought back always tasted terrible, but I would force myself to eat it all, not wanting to waste her kindness. Now I felt nauseated. I discreetly pushed her hand away, not acknowledging her gesture. But Chloe wasn’t angry. Instead, she looked surprised and delighted as she grasped my hand, examining it closely. “Your hand can move now?” she exclaimed.

“That’s wonderful, you’re finally starting to recover!” “You used to always say your hands were useless, that you didn’t want to be my burden and wanted a divorce. Let’s see if you still dare say such discouraging things now!” She excitedly found a hot water bottle to warm my hands, then gently massaged them. She looked as happy as a wife seeing her husband recover. But I could no longer trust her. I forced a smile and pushed Chloe away from me. “Don’t you have to go to your part-time job? Hurry along, don’t be late for work.” She paused at my unusual reaction, but after carefully checking that I seemed normal, she just kissed me on the cheek and hurried out the door. “Wait for me at home!” Shortly after she left, I went out too. I had been holding my son’s ashes before being knocked unconscious. Now they were gone, presumably left at the hotel. I needed to find them. But I had only walked a few steps when I suddenly felt dizzy. When I opened my eyes again, it was pain that woke me. Someone had viciously struck my wrist with a club. Agonizing pain spread throughout my body. In the darkness, I couldn’t make out the attacker’s face. I only heard him speaking into a phone in a thick accent. “Ms. Chloe, I’ve crippled that man’s hand. This time I guarantee he’ll never be able to lift it again.” “We were very discreet. We didn’t let him see our faces.” A cold female voice came through the phone, devoid of emotion. “Last time you guaranteed the same thing, yet he was able to lift his arm again after just three years. Are you certain it’s completely ruined this time? I want to ensure he has no chance of recovery ever again!” After getting confirmation, Chloe finally sounded satisfied. “Very good. I’ll double your payment!” “I’ve drugged his water with enough sedatives to last all day. Just leave him there barely breathing. I’ll go deal with him after I finish up things with Marcus.” My heart was pounding with shock. I was already crippled, yet Chloe still wasn’t satisfied. She was willing to go to such lengths to destroy me for Marcus! But for all her calculations, she never anticipated that I had only taken one sip of that water. After the man hung up, he turned to give my hand another blow. I seized the opportunity to strangle him unconscious with the iron chains on the ground, then staggered out. Once outside the room, I realized this was the underground warehouse of Lin Corporation. Just as I was about to leave, I saw two people talking in the garden. Chloe was leaning against Marcus, her head buried in his chest, seemingly full of endless affection. She sighed, “Marcus, your embrace is so warm. I wish I could stay in your arms forever. If only this moment would never end.” “I’m in so much agony. Countless times I’ve wanted to divorce Jack, but I’m afraid that once we divorce, he’ll be out of my control and pose a threat to you.” “For the sake of him once saving you, I can only grit my teeth and care for that cripple.” Marcus didn’t push her away, but instead wrapped his arm around her waist. He sighed, “You’ve suffered so much for me, Chloe. I’ll always remember everything you’ve done.” “But I set my life’s goal long ago to focus on my career. If I can’t achieve great success, I’m afraid I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.” “I’m about to negotiate a deal with a major corporation. I heard their CEO has a grudge against Jack. What if I hand Jack over to him? Wouldn’t that help seal the deal? I just don’t know if you’d be willing…” Chloe replied without hesitation, “Of course I’m willing. Just tell me when you need him. Back when my family went bankrupt, it was you who gave me a billion dollars to help. Otherwise, Lin Corporation wouldn’t be where it is today.” She paused, then added, “Just… no matter what they do to him, make sure to leave him alive in the end.” “You can’t bear to let him die?” Marcus asked. “No, it’s because his blood type and bone marrow match yours. In case anything happens to you, he can donate blood or organs.” I laughed coldly. So Chloe believed that billion-dollar investment came from Marcus. No wonder she was so obedient to him, treating him like her savior. I wondered how she would react if she knew the truth. I took out my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t called in years. “Dad, I’m done being stubborn. I admit I was wrong.” “I’ll agree to your demand to divorce Chloe. Please send someone to pick me up and bring me home.” After hanging up, I prepared to leave. But just as I exited the company, I ran into Marcus. He stood with his arms crossed, looking at me with a mocking expression. “Did you enjoy eavesdropping? The once high and mighty Jack, how have you fallen to such a pathetic state? Covered in blood, thin as a rail. Didn’t eat the gourmet meal I specially prepared for you?” My clothes were stained with blood from the attack, and I looked utterly disheveled. My wrist throbbed with pain at the slightest movement. I could only be grateful I had stopped that man from striking a second time, or my hand might truly have been beyond saving. I didn’t want to engage with this ungrateful bastard. I just gave him a cold look and prepared to leave. But Marcus pulled out a small urn, dangling it before me. “Looking for this?” he asked.

The urn was tiny, barely the size of his palm. He mused, “Who would have thought a six-year-old child would be reduced to just a small handful of ashes? Just days ago, he was standing before me alive, calling me uncle. Too bad Chloe soon cut him open.” “Chloe said his only value in life was to be my blood bank and spare organ donor. Now that he’s dead, you’re next. Looks like you father and son have a hereditary occupation.” He burst out laughing, tears of mirth in his eyes. Rage ignited in my heart. I lunged at him, trying to snatch the urn. “Give it back! That’s my son!” But my strength was no match for his. He easily dodged me. “I can’t just give it to you for free. After all, Chloe wanted to throw it away, but I kept it for you. You should be thanking me!” As he finished speaking, several bodyguards suddenly appeared and kicked the back of my knees, dragging me to the company lobby. It was bustling with people, including many former colleagues and acquaintances. They all stopped to stare at my wretched state. “Isn’t that Jack who disappeared? I thought he had retired after making his fortune. How does he look like he’s on death’s door? He’s practically a cripple!” “I heard he gambled away all his assets and got his hands broken by loan sharks. He even caused his own son’s death. What a burden on poor Chloe!” “He’s probably here to beg Marcus for money, playing on their past relationship. Those two are so unlucky to be saddled with him.” Contemptuous and scornful gazes fell on me, their disdain nearly drowning me. Marcus smirked, “You want your son’s ashes? Then crawl between my legs to get them! I’ll give you five seconds. Time’s up after that!” He started counting down, “Five, four, three…” As I gritted my teeth, agonizing over the decision, he paused midway and laughed. Then he suddenly opened the urn and dumped all the ashes into a nearby flower pot. The white fragments and powder scattered, then were ground deep into the soil by his raised foot. In an instant, they vanished without a trace. Now there was no way to retrieve them. I could no longer contain my fury. I raised my hand and punched him hard in the face. “Marcus, he died for you! How can you be so heartless? Aren’t you afraid of karmic retribution?” Marcus sneered and said in a low voice, “Are you trying to tickle me? A cripple is still just a cripple.” “No wonder your wife says you’re useless, completely unable to satisfy her. Yesterday we went at it until the bed nearly collapsed. She kept praising me, saying how amazing I was. She screamed in pleasure so loudly the whole office outside could hear clearly!” He grinned maliciously, “You know what? Back when you were kidnapped and tortured, we watched the whole livestream from outside. She felt guilty midway and wanted to send someone to save you. But after I pressed her down on the couch, she was too caught up in ecstasy to care anymore. In fact, the more we heard your agonized screams, the more aroused and thrilled she became.” My whole body shook with rage. Memories of being tortured to the brink of death flooded my mind, making me sick with anger. But Marcus suddenly grabbed my hand and used it to punch himself hard in the face. “See, that’s how you throw a punch!” he taunted. Just then, we heard Chloe’s piercing scream. She quickly shielded Marcus behind her, then slapped me across the face to avenge him. Her face was colder than I had ever seen as she said, “Jack, stay away from Marcus. If a worthless cripple like you hurts him, he’d wake up dissatisfied even in his dreams!” “If you dare touch him, I’ll pay you back tenfold!” I laughed mockingly, “Didn’t you cause me to become a cripple in the first place?” A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. She frowned, “What are you talking about? Stop being ridiculous!” But Marcus held her back. “Chloe, Jack did me a favor in the past. Let’s consider this punch as repayment for that kindness. We should be magnanimous and not quibble with petty people!” He took Chloe’s hand and left. Their backs as they walked away together stung my eyes. But I didn’t chase after them to beg. Instead, I went home to pack my bags. The doorbell suddenly rang. A courier had delivered a package. When I opened it, a bloody, mangled finger fell out. From the birthmark, I immediately recognized it as my son’s. The note inside read, “Chloe accidentally chopped this off while harvesting his liver. A keepsake for you.” Just then, my phone rang. Chloe’s voice came through, “Jack, I was a bit hasty earlier. Don’t take it to heart. Marcus told me he picked out a gift to apologize to you. Do you like it?” Suppressing the hatred in my heart, I said in a trembling voice, “I love it. Tell him I’ll return the favor.” I hung up and left behind divorce papers, then departed from the place I had called home for years. Chloe, thinking I had finally learned my lesson, hung up with satisfaction. She was accompanying Marcus at the company, waiting for their business partner. But as the appointed time passed, there was still no sign of them. Just as Chloe was feeling uneasy and about to make a call, a panicked employee rushed in. “M-Ms. Chloe,” he stammered, “Someone saw our business partner leave by helicopter with Jack! And Jack asked me to tell you something before he left.” “He said he now knows everything you’ve done to him. His biggest regret was giving you that billion dollars five years ago to help you rebuild. If he could do it over, he’d rather have fed that money to dogs!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296797”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

I was born a wellspring of good fortune; simply being married to me, sharing intimacy, could amplify one’s luck. My husband, Julian, however, was a magnet for bad luck, a hex. Only I could nullify its devastating effects. For a lifetime, we spent countless nights baring our souls, our bodies intertwined. His fortune skyrocketed, his assets multiplied, building an immense business empire and making him the wealthiest man in the world. Yet, after enjoying a lifetime of luxury, the day he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, he had me brutally beaten, my limbs shattered, and left me at the foot of a desolate tombstone. I was stunned, utterly horrified, but he just sneered, a cruel twist on his face: “All these years, I never loved you. The only one I ever loved was Seraphina!” Time had faded my memory; I couldn’t even recall who Seraphina was. All I could do was beg for mercy, but Julian mercilessly plunged a knife into my heart. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the very day Julian became the nation’s wealthiest man. A furious voice cut through the air: “Seraphina! Can you please just stay away from me? I don’t like you at all!” Watching the melodramatic scene unfold between the man and woman before me, I simply smiled: “Since your feelings are so strong, then by all means, stay.” This time, I was eager to see if, without my luck aura, Julian still had the resources to live happily ever after with Seraphina. 0

The moment my words left my lips, both of them, tangled together just moments before, froze. They clearly didn’t expect me to butt in like that, to utter such a thing. A moment later, Julian turned to me, his eyes flickering with a hint of doubt. I knew he didn’t believe I was being sincere. Reliving this life, having endured the betrayal of the last one… I’d already come to terms with the fact that Julian held no true love for me. No, he just wanted my body, playing a calculated part. As I pondered this, Julian resumed his act. “We’re not even in the same league, Seraphina. You’re just an intern doctor. Do you even realize the gap between us?” An intern doctor? At that, a long-buried memory surfaced in my mind. In my previous life, Julian had met an intern doctor at the hospital while he was admitted for an illness. Their relationship had clearly developed at lightning speed behind my back. By the time I found out, I’d already sensed something was off. But back then, I was far too naive. I intended to investigate, but Julian preemptively distanced himself entirely from that relationship. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I assumed it was just the intern doctor being overly persistent, so I naturally lowered my guard. But recalling it now, it was probably a carefully orchestrated charade by Julian himself. He might have already discovered I was investigating, so he reacted in advance. Thinking of this, all I felt was self-mockery. I couldn’t believe I’d been so foolish. Kept in the dark for so long, without the slightest inkling. Now, knowing the whole story, it was like a sudden epiphany, everything clicking into place. Fine, Julian. This time, I’ll grant your wish. Since you like Seraphina, I’ll step aside. A divorce is nothing; I have all the time in the world. I made my decision. My tragic death in the last life had left me utterly clear-headed now. I wasn’t about to jump into the same pit of fire twice. “Just leave. You’re not welcome here.” When I snapped back to reality, I heard Julian’s voice, his tone ice-cold. And I, without hesitation, cut in. “Julian, why are you being so heartless towards a girl? Is there anything wrong with her staying here?” “Anya, I don’t want her to affect our relationship.” “Oh? Is our relationship so fragile that one girl’s appearance can shatter it into pieces? Hah, well, in that case, she definitely doesn’t need to leave.” At this moment, I’d already anticipated the subsequent events. In my last life, I hadn’t stopped Julian. In fact, I continued to target Seraphina, which ultimately led to Seraphina’s death in a car accident. I suspected that this very incident was the cause of my eventual tragedy. Because of this, I had no intention of repeating my past mistakes. I even wanted to fulfill the desires of that toxic couple. But as my words fell, Julian’s expression subtly shifted, looking extremely serious. “Anya, she certainly can’t affect our relationship or our feelings. I just worry you’ll overthink things. You know I’m a man of integrity.” “Overthink? She’s not that important. You don’t need to drive anyone away for my sake. I don’t want people to think I’m petty and jealous.” With that final remark, I had no intention of meddling in their relationship any further. Yet, even so, Julian still swore to me, full of conviction. “Alright then, Anya. But I swear, Seraphina and I are completely innocent!” Watching Julian’s seemingly sincere expression, all I felt was sick to my stomach. 0

The charade ended soon after. I returned home alone to rest. By the time Julian and Seraphina came back, it was already deep into the night. I stood by the window, watching them downstairs. After a brief farewell, Seraphina left first. Julian, standing there seeing her off, looked utterly reluctant to part. The emotion in his eyes was like a torrent. It wasn’t until Julian saw me later that he reined it in. As if everything had just been my imagination. But now, I saw right through Julian. I was no longer the naive woman he could deceive and manipulate. “Anya, if you don’t like her, you really don’t have to keep her here for my sake.” Julian put on a show of considering my feelings. But I felt not a shred of gratitude. Hah, his words? Could they be trusted? I shook my head, then simply ignored him and returned to my room. But the next moment, Julian rushed in from behind me. Before I could react, he had me pinned to the bed. His eyes were filled with raw desire. But I’d already seen through Julian. And I knew that, from beginning to end, he only saw me as a tool to make money. Because of this, I almost instinctively pushed him away. “It’s not convenient these past few days.” I just made a quick excuse to brush him off. Julian’s face showed a hint of displeasure, but in the blink of an eye, he put on a happy expression. “Hmm, then another day. Oh, by the way, Anya, I’ve just become the wealthiest man in the nation, and it’s all thanks to your help. How about we throw a celebration party? I’ll let everyone know about all your hard work behind the scenes all these years?” Julian changed the subject. But I had no interest whatsoever in a so-called celebration party. I just mumbled a couple of vague replies. “We’ll see.” The night passed without a word. The next morning, a call from the hospital broke the silence. “Hello, Ms. Anya Reed. We’ve found a kidney donor for your Grandma.” At that, I rushed to the hospital in a frantic hurry. When I arrived, Grandma Helen was sitting by her hospital bed, as lively and cheerful as ever. “Sweetheart, why are you so sweaty? You’re so grown up, yet you’re still so clumsy and scatterbrained?” Grandma Helen’s tone carried a hint of scolding, but her eyes were full of concern. “I’m just so happy, Grandma! Do you know your illness can be cured? They found a matching kidney for you!” “I know, I know. Look how excited you are.” “Of course! Grandma, you’ve been in the hospital for so long, I’ve missed you so much! Oh, and for the surgery, you have to be ready…” “I know, I know. You nag more than an old woman! It’s just a small operation, don’t worry so much.” Grandma Helen stroked my hair, her face full of doting affection. Seeing her looking so relaxed, my worries gradually faded. In my last life, Grandma Helen’s surgery was incredibly successful. I remembered she had passed away peacefully in her sleep many years later. Because of this, I slowly let go of the anxiety in my heart. Meanwhile, Julian, who had accompanied me, also chimed in with some empty assurances. “Anya, Grandma’s always been tough as nails. Don’t worry, this surgery will go perfectly.” As Julian’s words fell, I suddenly felt a surge of unease for some reason. I turned to look at him. He still maintained a gentle and humble demeanor. But the more he did, the more panicked I became. Ultimately, I didn’t overthink it, and the surgery began soon after. I stood outside the operating room, waiting for several hours. Until the doctor opened the door and walked over to me, his face grim. “During the surgery, an unexpected rejection reaction occurred. The patient…” “Please prepare for the worst.” 0

For a moment, it felt like the world had lost all sound. Grandma Helen was dead? No way. In my previous life, her surgery was perfectly successful! Why? Why was this happening? “I’m sorry, we did our best.” “This isn’t about doing your best! Why is my grandma dead? You guaranteed me earlier that this surgical technique was very mature!” My mind replayed what he’d said about a rejection reaction. Why would this happen? My brain practically shut down. I felt like the very ground beneath me had vanished. At the same time, Grandma Helen’s hospital bed was wheeled out of the operating room. Her face was pale, and she looked utterly peaceful in her sleep. Seeing this, my tears wouldn’t stop flowing. But unexpectedly, a fleeting glance caught my eye: a doctor standing at the back of the crowd. She wore a mask, and her eyes darted away, but I instantly sensed something. Without a moment’s hesitation, I rushed forward, and the next second, I tore off her mask. “Seraphina, it’s you? Where’s the lead surgeon?!” I’d found the source of all this wrongness. And my furious questioning brought the entire crowd to a stunned silence. I finally understood the reason for Grandma Helen’s death. It was because I had indulged Seraphina, and it ultimately led to Grandma Helen’s demise! My original intention was just to expose their affair, but in the end, I lost the person who loved me most. It was all because of Seraphina! In an instant, my grief was consumed by rage. “Is this your hospital’s professional conduct? An intern doctor as the lead surgeon for an organ transplant?! You’re killing for profit!” My expression grew increasingly agitated. Just as everyone else was at a loss for what to do, Julian suddenly stepped in front of me. “Seraphina, what’s going on here? With your skill, an accident like this shouldn’t have happened!” Julian and Seraphina exchanged glances. Snapping back to reality, Seraphina quickly replied. “The rejection reaction was too strong this time, and the patient’s physical condition wasn’t good, which led to this tragedy. I’m very sorry.” Hearing this, Julian turned back to me, taking my hand and continuing. “Anya, I know Seraphina’s skills. No one wanted a tragedy like this to happen. I understand your grief right now, but rejection reactions are an inherent risk in transplant surgeries. Grandma Helen was old, and you know her physical condition. This time, even if we had an experienced surgeon, it might not have been successful. Don’t let this upset you too much and harm your own health.” Julian appeared to be seeking justice for me, but every word he spoke was an attempt to cover for Seraphina. And his lengthy defense gained the approval of most of the doctors and nurses present. Seeing this, I found it utterly laughable. With my previous life’s experience, how could I not guess the true situation? But to my dismay, the female nurses around me all stepped forward to defend Seraphina. “Mr. Hayes is right. This was purely an accident. Doctor Seraphina did her best at the first sign of rejection. She took every possible emergency measure. So, please, Ms. Reed, accept our condolences.” As more and more people started voicing their support for Seraphina, Julian eventually took me back home. But as soon as we arrived, Julian received a phone call. After glancing at it, he explained to me that it was work-related. He left the room, even stepping into the hallway before answering. He looked so careful and cautious, little did he know, I was listening in. “Julian, I’m scared something will go wrong.” Seraphina’s voice came from the other end of the line. “Don’t worry, I promise you, Anya won’t give you any trouble. It was just an accident; everyone thinks so. No one will suspect you.” “Every lead surgeon starts as an intern. You just got some early practice. You don’t need to blame yourself too much.” Hearing Julian’s reply, I froze instantly. In a daze, it felt like a vital thread, connecting us, suddenly snapped. That was the luck aura bound between us. I hadn’t expected that besides divorce, a broken heart could also sever the luck. At that moment, I regretted my decision to let Seraphina go even more. If only I had known, Grandma Helen might not have died… My heart turned to ash as I returned to my room. Soon after, Julian opened the door. His face was somber, and he immediately started comforting me. “Anya, don’t be too sad about Grandma Helen. It was purely a medical accident; the main reason wasn’t the doctors’ fault. Grandma Helen was old; it was to be expected.” He was defending Seraphina. I sneered inwardly but felt no surprise. Perhaps because of my silence, Julian changed the subject after a moment. “Anya, are you still coming to the celebration party?” Celebration party? I abruptly lifted my head, gritting my teeth. “Yes, of course, I’m coming.” Not only was I going, but I was going to see him fall from his pedestal. 0

Grandma Helen’s funeral arrangements were completed two days later. And today was also the celebration party Julian had prepared. I thought Julian would take me, but then I received a message from him on my phone. “Sorry, Anya, I have some company matters to handle today. Please take a cab there by yourself.” I’d seen excuses like this far too many times this week. Julian hadn’t even attended Grandma Helen’s funeral. He always claimed it was work issues. But in reality, he was just off seeing that wretched Seraphina. But I didn’t care. Julian and I had long since lost any affection for each other. All that was left was hatred. In the end, I didn’t bother to dress up. I checked the time and headed to the party venue. Soon after I entered, everyone around me turned their gazes my way. “Is that Mr. Hayes’s wife? She’s dressed so shabbily.” “I know, right? Her clothes are stained, and she smells faintly of smoke. I don’t know how Mr. Hayes ever fell for her. She doesn’t even deserve such a brilliant young man.” I heard every whisper around me. However, I felt no emotional stirring whatsoever. Not even being compared to someone else bothered me. I didn’t deserve Julian? Sorry, they had it all wrong. Suddenly, the crowd stirred. “Wow, is that the doctor who saved Mr. Hayes? She looks so elegant! Looking at them, they’re truly a match made in heaven! As for that so-called wife, she’s just a piece of trash!” Following everyone’s gaze, I saw Julian and Seraphina slowly approaching from a distance. And everyone in the room had their eyes fixed on Seraphina. They kept talking, comparing me to Seraphina. Julian didn’t stop them. In fact, his expression grew even more delighted with the compliments. It wasn’t until a moment later that Julian finally noticed my presence. Immediately, his smile vanished, and he walked towards me with a sorrowful, troubled look. “Anya, I’ve been so busy with work lately, I haven’t been able to pay attention to you. Please don’t be angry.” Hah, busy with work? You couldn’t bother with me, but you could bother with that cheap woman, Seraphina. Listening to Julian’s flimsy excuses, I didn’t even want to argue. He must have realized something, then quickly added. “As for Seraphina, I just ran into her on the way. She said she wanted to attend my celebration party, and of course, I couldn’t refuse. After all, you know she saved my life. But don’t worry, there’s only one leading lady tonight, and that’s you.” I glanced at Seraphina, who was standing not far away. She was wearing a luxurious gown, her entire demeanor refined and elegant, as if she were the center of attention. Anyone who didn’t know might have thought she was tonight’s main attraction. Thinking of this, I found Julian’s words even more laughable. The gown Seraphina was wearing, purely in terms of its purchase price, was astronomical. With her intern doctor’s salary, she definitely couldn’t afford such an expensive dress. So, it could only have come from Julian. Hah. He kept saying I was the lead, but behind my back, he was supporting another woman. Julian, do you honestly think I’m a complete idiot? He didn’t know what I was thinking. After his explanation, he began to mingle. Soon after, the banquet began. Julian, as the host, stood at the front of the stage, giving a speech. He spoke emotionally about his entrepreneurial journey and my silent contributions behind him all these years. If I hadn’t already seen through him, I might have even been moved. As the speech continued, Julian extended an invitation to me. He still looked at me with tender affection, his eyes filled with love. “Anya, thank you for all your silent contributions these past years. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. In the future, I will continue to work hard to grow this company, making it bigger and stronger, reaching global heights! And you, will you continue to walk this path with me?” Julian’s impassioned speech deeply resonated with the audience. However, as his last sentence fell, many onlookers expressed their displeasure. “Hah, does a woman like that even deserve Julian? What is she? She’s not even fit to carry his shoes!” “Exactly! Compared to Ms. Seraphina, she’s like heaven and earth! I have no idea how Julian ever liked her!” The crowd’s constant praising of Seraphina while putting me down made Seraphina, sitting in the middle of the room as if surrounded by stars, very pleased. A hint of smugness entered her gaze as she looked at me. But I didn’t care. I even thought, since everyone believes I don’t deserve Julian, Why don’t I just grant their wish? “I don’t.” My ice-cold reply stunned Julian for a moment. “What? She actually refused? Does this woman think she can do whatever she wants just because she has Mr. Hayes’s affection? Or is she out of her mind? Such a great opportunity, and she refuses? Doesn’t she look in the mirror and know her place?” “I think she’s just playing hard to get. This woman is so cunning! I knew Julian couldn’t possibly like her; looks like this b*tch really knows how to play games!” The people below looked incredulous. Clearly, they had never expected me to reject Julian’s proposal. But even so, the crowd continued to hurl insults at me. After a moment, Julian snapped back to reality. Just as he thought I was joking and wanted to inquire further, His assistant suddenly burst into the hall. “Boss, it’s bad! Our company’s stock has crashed!” 0Julian froze. A moment later, he came back to his senses and gasped, demanding to know. “Crashed! How is that possible! It was just fine a moment ago!”

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I had been caring for my husband Marcus for over forty years after he was paralyzed in a car accident shortly after our wedding. It wasn’t until he passed away that I discovered he had left a will, bequeathing all our assets to Olivia, a younger woman he knew from college. I was evicted from the house we had lived in for decades. Leaning on my cane, I shakily made my way to a law firm, hoping to reclaim the property as his wife. To my shock, I was informed that Marcus had secretly divorced me years ago. Before I could process this betrayal, Olivia sought me out, taunting me with cruel words. “You didn’t know, did he? He was worried about my well-being, so he’s been sending me your salary and his pension all these years.” “When you were younger, he didn’t want children with you because we already had a child together. Come to think of it, I should thank you for paying to raise our kid.” I was devastated and enraged. But before I could react, Olivia shoved me into a muddy puddle. Later, her daughter and a group of delinquents beat me to death after trapping me in a sack. When I opened my eyes again, I saw my young, newly paralyzed husband Marcus crying pitifully before me. “Rachel, the doctor says I’ll never walk again. How will I find work now?” he sobbed. I quietly put away the credit card I had prepared to give him and sneered, “What can we do? I guess I’ll just have to throw you a grand funeral when you starve to death.”

“What did you say?” Marcus asked, perhaps not hearing me clearly, looking at me with puppy dog eyes. Those deep, soulful eyes had fooled me in my previous life. I believed he only loved me, but in the end, he had deceived me for an entire lifetime. “Marcus, Rachel earns a good salary. She can definitely support you. Plus, she’s still young. She can just work two jobs,” Olivia, a sunny-looking young woman, patiently comforted him. “Don’t worry about these things. The most important thing now is to keep your spirits up. That’s the key to a quick recovery.” Marcus had said Olivia saved him during the accident and was his savior. In my previous life, I was so focused on the devastating news of Marcus’s paralysis that I didn’t notice how familiar their interactions were, as if they had known each other for a long time. Perhaps seeing no reaction from me, Marcus’s tear-filled eyes secretly glanced at Olivia. She immediately understood his meaning and decided to speak to me directly: “Rachel, let me be frank. Men’s hearts are fragile, especially now that he’s in this condition because of you. He’s bound to have some insecurities. As his wife, you should give him a sense of security. For example, you could put your savings in his name. It would be good for the stability of your family.” It was the exact same words as in my previous life. On the day of Marcus’s accident, I had just returned from a business trip abroad. I had finished my work early and wanted to surprise him, so I only told him I was at the airport after I had already arrived. Marcus rushed to pick me up and got into an accident on the way. Because of this, I spent my entire life drowning in guilt and pain, trying everything I could to make it up to him. It wasn’t until just before I died that I learned Marcus had been in Olivia’s car that day, and they weren’t even on their way to pick me up. But he never told me the truth, allowing me to be consumed by guilt day after day. Coming back to my senses, this time I didn’t anxiously hand over my credit card to him like I did in my previous life, apologizing and swearing my loyalty. Seeing that I still hadn’t moved, Marcus became angry: “Rachel, I’ve become like this, and this is your attitude? What does this mean?” Olivia also seemed anxious but still tried to persuade him: “Maybe Rachel is still in shock from hearing this terrible news and hasn’t recovered yet.” My salary was quite high, and I had always been generous with him. Whenever he asked for money, as long as it wasn’t excessive, I would give it to him. Perhaps he also felt that handing over my credit card wasn’t a small matter, so he didn’t become suspicious. He sighed and said, “No matter what, Olivia is my savior. She saved my life, so you should at least show some appreciation, right?” “You probably haven’t prepared a gift, so why don’t you give Olivia a check for $2,000 as a thank you?” “Oh, I couldn’t possibly accept that!” Olivia immediately refused. Marcus insisted: “No, you must. When I give it to you, you have to take it.” The scene was playing out just like before. In my previous life, after Marcus said this, I immediately wrote a check for $3,000, even adding an extra thousand because I believed that a life was priceless. Later, I sent her many more gifts to express my gratitude. At the time, the look in her eyes was strange, but I thought she was just shy. Now I understood that it was clearly mockery at my stupidity. This time, I didn’t move. Seeing this, Marcus, annoyed at my hesitation, reached for my phone himself. He knew my bank account password and had secretly transferred money to Olivia many times before. Whenever I asked about it, he would use the “life-saving debt” to silence me. This time, I moved away from Marcus’s hand and walked to the side: “It’s fine to give money as thanks, but I have a few questions first.” Marcus was clearly surprised that I, who had always been quick to give money, would suddenly challenge him. He looked puzzled. Olivia also froze for a moment, glancing at Marcus before saying, “What questions?” I looked at Olivia: “I heard that the car doors were all jammed shut. How did you manage to pry them open?” This was Marcus’s version of events, but many details in his story had holes. In my previous life, whenever I questioned these details, Marcus would get angry. He would eventually explode, accusing me of being heartless, saying he was almost dead and I was focusing on such trivial matters. Later, I gradually stopped daring to ask. To avoid bringing up painful memories, I even avoided mentioning the accident altogether. Olivia’s eyes darted around: “I’ll tell you about this in private later. Let’s not talk about the accident in front of Marcus. He’s already very upset, and I’m afraid it might cause him further trauma.” I laughed and asked, “Are you really afraid of hurting him, or are you just looking for a chance to get your stories straight?” Olivia and Marcus’s faces darkened. They spoke in unison: “What do you mean by that?” Their synchronization was impressive. No wonder they had been able to fool me for an entire lifetime, leaving me penniless and alone in the end. Swallowing my hatred, I smiled coldly and said, “Olivia doesn’t look like she has the strength to force open a car door. How did she manage it?” “Besides, if you had to use force to open the door, your hands should have been badly injured. But the injuries on your hands don’t look like they came from prying open a car door. They look more like self-inflicted cuts.” “Also, the accident happened two days ago. Why didn’t you come then, and why are you only showing up now? I heard you were in a car accident yourself a couple of days ago? What a coincidence, isn’t it?” “…” “Enough!” Marcus angrily interrupted me before I could finish. Olivia was clearly flustered by now. She said pitifully, “Marcus, I never thought Rachel would be so suspicious of me. If that’s the case, then forget it. I’ll leave now.” Marcus grabbed her wrist, refusing to let her go. Then he turned to me with angry eyes: “Rachel, what’s wrong with you? Is this how you interrogate someone who saved my life?” “I order you to transfer the money to her account right now and apologize to Olivia!” It was clear that he was truly furious. I chuckled lightly and asked innocently, “What is there to apologize for? These are perfectly normal questions. If she’s not lying, why is she so flustered?” “Besides, she’s your savior, not mine. If anyone should be transferring money, it should be you.” But I knew that over the years, he had secretly transferred all his money to Olivia behind my back. He couldn’t possibly come up with any money now. Sure enough, Marcus flew into a rage. He grabbed the fruit knife from the bedside table and threw it at me forcefully. I dodged just in time; the blade barely grazed my face as it flew past. He acted as if he hadn’t seen how close it came to hitting me and pointed at me, shouting, “Is this how you treat me? Fine! Why are we even staying together? As soon as I’m discharged, we’re going to file for divorce!” “Divorce?” I repeated these two words questioningly. Marcus thought I was scared and a flash of satisfaction crossed his eyes. He was about to say something, but I calmly interrupted him and asked: “Aren’t we already divorced?”

In my previous life, when I painfully walked into the law firm, hoping to claim a share of the property as Marcus’s wife, they told me we had divorced just days before the car accident. Later, when I wanted to have children, Marcus kept refusing. I guess he was afraid I would discover this fact. Clearly struck by my words, Marcus’s face turned pale for a moment. But he was certain I couldn’t produce any evidence right now, so he continued to deny it: “What nonsense are you talking about? Rachel, is it because you see that my legs are injured, so you want to abandon me?” “How can you be so heartless? Have you forgotten all I’ve done for you? We’ve been married for six years. During this time, I’ve brought you lunch every day because I was worried about your stomach. Three years ago, when your health was poor, I went to the temple to pray for you for three months, reciting scriptures and eating vegetarian food every day…” Marcus choked up, tears streaming down his face. We had met through a matchmaker and got together because our views aligned. It wasn’t a passionate love, but after spending time together, feelings naturally developed. Over the years, I had taken on the responsibilities of our family, and he had indeed taken good care of me. But later I found out about Olivia’s existence. When he brought me lunch, he would first deliver a portion to Olivia. The gifts he bought for me, he would inflate the price, then use the extra money to buy something better for Olivia. As for going to the temple to pray for three months… I sneered inwardly, guessing that was probably when Olivia gave birth to their child. Unfortunately, all these years, in order to provide the luxurious life he wanted – the mansion, the luxury cars – I had been so busy earning money that I had left this opening for them to exploit. Olivia also tried to smooth things over for Marcus: “Rachel, don’t let this situation escalate because of me. I know you might be worried about the future expenses, so you’re a bit reluctant to part with the money. It’s okay, I didn’t save Marcus for money anyway. Actually, I don’t need the money…” She pretended to be generous. I knew she was trying to provoke me, but I didn’t fall for it. Instead, I said to Marcus, “See? She says she doesn’t need the money. Why are you insisting on giving it to her? Is the money burning a hole in your pocket?” Marcus’s face turned purple with rage. Olivia also glared at me resentfully. Just then, the doctor came in, urging us to pay the continued hospitalization fees. Actually, Marcus had already met the standards for discharge, but he had been reluctant to leave. In my previous life, he had me pay for two more months of hospitalization. A week’s stay in a private room at this top-tier hospital cost $7,000, just for the room. He said he wanted a better treatment environment, and I supported him, struggling to earn money to give him the best conditions. But later I found out that he stayed in the hospital just to make it easier to meet Olivia. Hearing about the hospital fees, the two exchanged a glance, and Marcus coldly said to me, “Rachel, I don’t know why you’ve become so stingy, but we can’t delay the treatment. Aren’t you always busy? Just transfer the hospital fees to my card, and I’ll pay it myself.” Asking for money so brazenly? I laughed bitterly and asked the doctor, “I remember he’s already met the discharge standards. Let’s cancel this room and process the discharge today.” Marcus’s eyes widened: “Rachel, are you trying to kill me? What if my legs get worse at home?” Before I could speak, the doctor interjected, “That won’t happen. The critical period has passed. Staying at home now is the same as staying in the hospital.” Marcus’s face turned ashen. Olivia was about to say something, but I spoke to Marcus first: “I don’t have money for you to stay in the hospital anymore. If you insist on staying, either pay for it yourself or borrow from her.” I pointed at Olivia: “Didn’t she just say she has money?” Their faces looked as if they had eaten something bitter, but I didn’t bother with them anymore. I turned and walked out of the room. I didn’t have time to argue with them. Right now, I urgently needed to get evidence that Marcus’s car accident had nothing to do with me, as well as proof that he and Olivia had been together for a long time. This would help me keep all my assets if we ever ended up in court. After all these years of hard work, I could let the past go. But now, even if Marcus took a single cent, I would feel disgusted. After leaving the hospital, I immediately called a lawyer and asked him to investigate the accident vehicle from when Marcus had the accident. In my previous life, I had noticed some suspicious details, but because I was taking care of Marcus, it was a long time before I had someone investigate. By then, the scene inside the car had been destroyed, and the dash cam was missing. After a car accident, this kind of situation was quite normal. Later, because I was busy earning money to pay for Marcus’s medical expenses, working three jobs a day, I simply didn’t have the energy to think about these things anymore. This time, Olivia hadn’t been discharged yet, so she shouldn’t have had time to destroy the evidence. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the lawyer called back. The first accident scene hadn’t been tampered with. He had already collected fingerprints and obtained some hair and blood samples. Finally, he sent me the video from the dash cam. At the time of the accident, Marcus was sitting in the passenger seat, anxiously asking Olivia, “I’ve already divorced Rachel. When are you planning to marry me?” Olivia was stunned for a moment, then carelessly said, “There’s no rush. Let’s talk about this after you’ve transferred all the assets to your name. Otherwise, what if your wife finds out?” Marcus looked at her anxiously: “But you always say that. I’ve given you a car, and I’ve given you all the savings my wife entrusted to me for you to invest, which you lost completely. Every time you say you’ll marry me to thank me. You’re not… lying to me, not wanting to marry me, are you?” “How could that be?” Olivia said, and as if to prove it, she leaned over to kiss Marcus. With that one action, Marcus’s doubts were dispelled. At this point, I also understood why Marcus had divorced me so early but had delayed marrying Olivia. Olivia was clearly deceiving him, but he didn’t know. Or perhaps he did know, but was willingly deceived. The lawyer added, “The DNA test will take some time. It should be ready in about three days.” I nodded and was about to hang up when I remembered another matter: “Also, help me find a child.” By my calculations, their child should have been born by now, about three or four years old. Every weekend for the past couple of years, Marcus would find various excuses to go out alone in his wheelchair, probably to see the child. I told the lawyer about the places Marcus frequently visited, then went to the hospital for a physical examination and froze all the assets in my name. In this life, everything was just beginning. My body hadn’t suffered from heart failure caused by working three jobs non-stop, and not too many assets had been transferred away. That night, for the first time, I “irresponsibly” went home alone. Perhaps sensing something was wrong, Marcus called me on his own initiative. Seeing the incoming call, I hung up directly. As a result, not long after, I saw a post he made on Facebook. It was a series of accusations against me, ending with how he had sacrificed so much for me, but now that he was injured for my sake, I was abandoning him. To garner sympathy, he even posted the doctor’s diagnosis and a pitiful photo of himself sitting in a wheelchair, looking haggard. But he didn’t notice that in the smooth metal armrest of the wheelchair, Olivia’s reflection was visible. Perhaps to provoke me, in one of the photos, if you looked carefully, you could see that Olivia was kissing him in the reflection. On one hand, he was asking me for money and cursing me, on the other hand, he was giving his love and money to another woman. Marcus was playing everyone for fools. The comment section was full of spectators, not one person noticing the cat in the picture. Everyone was comforting him and using the vilest words to curse me as a scumbag. I pretended not to see it and blocked Marcus. The next two days went on as usual, but Marcus seemed to have gone crazy, cursing me every day and posting screenshots of me deleting him, accusing me of having a guilty conscience. Friends who didn’t know the whole story all spoke up for him, urging me to come back. I didn’t explain, just waited until the third day when the test results came out. To my delight, the lawyer had also helped me find their child.

Before I could go find Marcus, on the third day, perhaps because he had no money to stay in the hospital, or perhaps because he sensed something was wrong, Marcus returned home early in the morning. Behind him were his angry parents, Robert and Linda, as well as my parents, John and Mary. Unlike Robert and Linda’s imperious manner, my parents followed behind them looking somewhat guilty. “In-laws, judge for yourselves! Is this how she should treat my son?” Linda began as soon as she saw me. “What’s even more unbelievable is that she secretly divorced my son without telling him, unilaterally dumping him!” Linda’s spit flew as she yelled. I realized what was happening and laughed bitterly. Marcus had really turned things upside down. But the civil affairs bureau records weren’t open to the public, so they had no way of knowing the truth and could only listen to what Marcus said. My parents, feeling guilty, allowed themselves to be scolded. Finally, they said in a low voice, “We shouldn’t interfere in the children’s affairs, but since things have come to this, we can compensate.” “Compensate?” Linda became even more agitated when she heard about compensation: “No matter how much you compensate, can you compensate for my son’s legs?” I interrupted her: “Your son’s leg injury has nothing to do with me.” Hearing this, my parents hurriedly pulled me aside, advising me not to argue with them. Linda had a fiery temper and had given my parents a lot of grief over the years. Especially after learning that Marcus’s legs were injured because of me, they would come to my mom every few days demanding compensation and money for nutritional supplements. My parents were worried I would get angry, so they didn’t dare tell me about this. I only found out about it by accident later. Seeing that Linda was about to lose her temper again, I took out the dash cam recording and test results and handed them over. After watching the video, Linda’s previously haughty face finally weakened, but she still said angrily, “How do I know you didn’t fake these?” “You can check,” I looked at Marcus, whose face was pale with shock: “Or we can go to court.” “Forget it, let’s not air our dirty laundry in public,” Robert, who had been silent until now, said. “Both children are at fault in this matter, but divorcing without a word is still wrong. Let’s talk about compensation.” My parents were about to speak, but I stopped them: “We won’t pay a single cent in compensation.” “What do you mean? My son married you for so many years, is this how you treat him?” Linda yelled. I sneered: “I was also married to your son for so many years and supported him for so long. Isn’t this how he treated me?” Linda’s face turned red with anger: “Just based on one video, you can’t prove my son had an affair.” Seeing that I didn’t respond, Linda became more agitated. She stood up and went to open the door: “I’m not talking to this girl anymore. Let the neighbors judge.” Her high-pitched voice had already attracted many neighbors to gather outside the door. Seeing her open the door, they all looked a bit embarrassed. But Linda didn’t care. She recounted what had just happened, embellishing it with exaggerations, glossing over the evidence with a couple of dismissive sentences. The neighbors listened and tried to mediate, saying to me, “It’s really not that serious, just a small matter. Marcus surely still cares for you in his heart.” “Yeah, you’ve been husband and wife, there’s still affection there. Leaving him with nothing seems a bit harsh.” “…” Seeing me being pointed at and criticized, my mom felt uncomfortable and said, “In-laws, let’s discuss this in private.” “Now you want to talk in private? Where were you earlier?” Linda suddenly pushed my mom. My mom wasn’t prepared and stumbled, almost falling. I hurriedly supported her. Just as I was about to get angry, a chubby little girl suddenly pushed through the crowd of onlookers and ran over. She hugged Marcus’s legs in the wheelchair and shouted loudly, “Daddy, you haven’t come to see me for so long. I’m going to punish you by making you buy me a Barbie doll.”

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I was a world-renowned professional angler. After marrying Grant Sterling, the eldest son of the Sterling family, I helped him close dozens of deals by using our shared passion for fishing to build connections, doubling the company’s profits. The day after I found out I was pregnant, I suffered an accidental miscarriage in the middle of the vast ocean. His childhood friend, Summer Hayes, hooked the bit of tissue that had slipped from my body, then gave me a sly, taunting wink: “Quick, cast a line while it’s fresh! I bet the fish out here have never tasted bait like *this* before! You’re not angry, are you, Harper?” I looked at Grant Sterling, pleading for help, but he just chastised me: “You’re just on your period, right? You can single-handedly lift those heavy water coolers, why are you acting so delicate? Next time, remember to bring tampons! You’ve made a mess of my boat!” I begged him to turn back, but a fish bit his line, and he told me to wait. Only after he reeled in the fish did Grant have time for me. “Didn’t you say you had something to tell me today?” The air was silent. “Nonsense. Say it or don’t.” Grant said impatiently. I closed my eyes. Suddenly, I felt like *I* was the one who was wrong.

It was a marlin, its head bristling with long, sharp spikes, weighing about a hundred pounds. Grant and Summer had fought it for almost an hour. Summer excitedly posed with the fish from different angles for photos: “Fishing is so much fun! I’ve decided I’m going to enter the sea angling competition Grant is sponsoring! Grant, you can fish with me, and since Harper isn’t feeling well, she can just drive the boat for us.” “Sounds good. She’s the most familiar with all the trivial stuff like picking out tackle and preparing bait anyway.” I shoved her away like a maniac, desperate to pry open the marlin’s mouth. Summer let out a delicate gasp, her legs buckled, and she almost tumbled into the sea. My two-month-old baby hadn’t even fully formed. That bloody tissue was already torn apart, its shape unrecognizable. “Slap!” A stinging slap landed on my face. Grant held the startled Summer in his arms: “What kind of animalistic behavior is that? Is this how you act as Mrs. Sterling? If you’re done with being my wife, just say so!” I grew up by the sea, the daughter of a fisherman. After marrying Grant, I spent every waking moment learning proper etiquette and bearing, never daring to relax. But thank goodness I wasn’t some fragile, helpless rich girl, otherwise, how could I have endured such pain? Beneath my dark athletic shorts, a horrifying gush of blood streamed down my thighs. By the time the boat docked, it had already dried. Many of the fishing enthusiasts showered Grant and Summer with compliments: “This beautiful lady caught Mr. Sterling’s exclusive lucky fish on her first try! It seems you two really are meant to be!” “If it were just a little bigger, it could break the record of the one in the center of the Sterling Group’s lobby, right?” Summer’s face was flushed crimson from the sun, looking utterly adorable. She tilted her head towards Grant: “How big does it need to be to break the record?” Grant stroked her head. The corners of his lips, usually stern and aloof, curled into a rare, doting smile: “You don’t need to break any records. As long as you want it, we’ll turn *your* fish into a specimen and hang it in the Group’s lobby. How about that?” “Then I’ll really have to try my best!” The marlin specimen displayed in the Sterling Group’s lobby? Grant caught that one under my guidance. It was 3.4 meters long, weighing a massive 450 pounds – three times the size of today’s catch – and it broke the national record for marlin sea fishing. No one has beaten it since. That fish that made him renowned throughout the entire fishing community. That fish that made him see me as his lucky charm. That fish that symbolized the Sterling Group’s unyielding spirit. Somewhere along the way, it had become utterly worthless. Grant went into the boat cabin to pack his fishing gear, his gaze on me filled with disgust: “Wait until Summer and I are far away before you leave. Don’t let anyone see you looking so disgraceful.” “Grant Sterling, let’s get a divorce.” My voice was hoarse. I cupped a handful of seawater, poured it into my insulated bottle, and hugged it tight. Grant froze for a moment, seeing the utter despair in my eyes. Then, he reluctantly softened his tone: “The Sterling Group and the Hayes Corporation have many collaborations ahead. I’m just playing nice with Summer to keep old Mr. Hayes happy, understand? You’re on your period, so just go home and rest. I’m letting today’s incident slide. But tomorrow, when Summer goes fishing, you still need to be there. You’re strong; half a day’s rest is plenty.” “I’m not going back. Tonight, I’m sleeping with the ocean.” He paused for a moment, seemingly unable to comprehend why I had suddenly become so sullen and rebellious. But he still forgave me magnanimously: “Alright, alright, fine. Consider this your sincere devotion to the sea tonight. Just make sure tomorrow you help Summer catch a fish even rarer than that golden moonfish she posted on her Ins, so she can post about it and be happy, okay?” I frowned, but then burst out laughing. My heart didn’t ache as it usually did. That child, as it left my body, took with it the last shred of my illusions about him.

The next day at noon, I bought my own fishing yacht. Before that, I went to the hospital and picked up a pile of vitamins and medication to help with the miscarriage, scattering them loosely on the boat deck. Next to the pills was a registration notice for the sea angling competition. The competition was set to start the day after tomorrow. I had pulled some strings in the fishing community to get a spot. I was sick of being Grant Sterling’s business tool. I needed to return to my own world. Grant and Summer walked up together. Summer innocently asked: “Is this our fishing yacht for today? Harper chose it herself, so it must be good!” Grant glanced at the items on the yacht and chuckled: “I’ve already spoken with the organizers about Summer joining the competition as a sponsor… But since you helped her register, that was thoughtful of you. Let’s go to a nearby shop and pick out some fishing gear for her. You’re the professional; you know best.” I just stared at him, speechless. I pulled out a signed divorce paper from my bag and handed it to him. Grant didn’t take it. Instead, he pulled me aside, and for once, he tried to softly coax me: “You actually like Summer too, don’t you? She’s such a spirited, free-spirited girl. When I look at her, it’s like seeing a younger you. If we had a child, they’d probably be just like her.” My heart ached for a second. Treat her like a child? He must be treating me like an utter fool. Summer was only three years younger than me. I pulled away from him: “We’re getting a divorce. There won’t be any children.” Grant’s face hardened: “Harper, don’t be so ungrateful!” I scoffed and walked directly toward the tackle shop. I needed to buy a new set of gear for my competition the day after tomorrow. Grant wrapped an arm around Summer’s waist, leaving me behind. The tackle shop was run by a local fishing association, with a wall covered in medals and trophies from its members. I had a wall like that in my own room, but it was all mine. Grant and Summer whispered to each other, pointing at the trophies. They exchanged knowing glances and shared a quiet laugh, just like a couple of young lovers. Suddenly, Summer walked over, frowning as she looked at the fishing gear I had carefully selected: “This rod isn’t good. I don’t like blue. And this lure is so ugly! I need to take pictures for my Ins that day!” Grant coldly ordered me: “Get a lighter set. It’s too heavy for Summer to hold. But not too light either, or the fish will pull it away. No colors other than black. Hurry up; we need to go to dinner soon.” I was baffled. “I’m buying fishing gear for myself. What does that have to do with you two?” “Are you out of your damn mind?” Grant thought I was just throwing a tantrum and laughed, annoyed. My fishing gear was already very complete; buying a whole new set now was indeed unnecessary. But Summer had used my most comfortable set that day, and I found it disgusting. I left the fishing gear with the shop owner. As I stepped out, I received a message from Grant: [We’re already at the restaurant. Here’s the address. Hurry up, don’t delay Summer’s fishing trip this afternoon.]

I still went to that restaurant because I learned that his assistant, Chris, would be there to deliver some documents to Grant. “Mrs. Sterling, is everything alright?” Chris’s hand trembled as he took the divorce papers from me. “I don’t have time to chase him to sign this. You can hold onto it for me,” I said curtly. Suddenly, a pink figure descended from upstairs. It was Summer. She sweetly called out to me: “Harper, you’re finally here? Come quick, that bluefin tuna is waiting for you!” I frowned, then heard a few servers, who had been standing by the door for a long time, whispering: “Didn’t Ms. Hayes say she invited the sea angling champion to our restaurant? Who’s this?” “Ugh, I even prepared my camera for a photo op…” My brow twitched. I had been a sea angling champion five years ago, so of course, no one remembered me. But a bad feeling still rose in my gut. The next second, several chefs walked out, carrying a fresh bluefin tuna. “Harper, I’m worried the restaurant won’t prepare this fish well. Only a professional like you can slice it properly.” I scoffed. This kind of high-end seafood restaurant—if someone catches a rare fish offshore, they’ll buy it for a high price immediately. Their chefs can handle any fish. Summer walked up to me, all pretense of innocence gone from her face. It was replaced by intense mockery and arrogance. She whispered in my ear: “If Grant hadn’t married you, you’d probably be just like the guy who caught this fish – bowing and scraping, just to get it onto someone else’s table after a quick photo, wouldn’t you? I’m giving you a chance to slice it for me. You should really appreciate it.” The servers watched as the fish was taken to the private room, and they started whispering again: “Ugh, what champion? She’s just a fish butcher.” “Probably some champion from a bush-league competition. Ms. Hayes is just being nice by saying that.” I looked at Grant, who stood not far away, watching me with a smirk, as if enjoying a show. I knew he was telling me that without him, I was nothing. My phone vibrated. It was a photo from the movers I’d hired. They cautiously asked me: “Should the things in the trophies… be packed too?” The photo showed a trophy accidentally knocked over, spilling out a sticky, damp mess of used condoms. Every single trophy contained them. My temples throbbed. Grant would never have allowed that when he was with me. It could only be Summer and him. Recalling their snickering at the tackle shop, I sneered. I casually pulled out the small knife I always carried and, with one swift, clean cut, gutted the fish. Its internal organs spilled out onto the floor. Summer screamed, covering her eyes. Grant put his arm around Summer and snapped, “Harper Vance, aren’t you disgusted with yourself?!” He’d once praised the exact same action, calling me free-spirited and charming. Now, his eyes were full of nothing but disgust. “Not as disgusted as you two make me!” Grant froze, seemingly shocked that I dared to talk back. I turned to leave, and my phone immediately buzzed. It was a voice message from Grant. He was truly enraged: [Harper Vance, I didn’t want to tell you, but I only liked you at first because of the suspension bridge effect. You got off easy being Mrs. Sterling for five years; it’s gone to your head!] The suspension bridge effect: It means when you’re in a high-stakes, exciting situation, you mistake your racing heart for actual feelings for the other person. That night, we had fought that marlin for almost seven hours. The fishing yacht had nearly capsized several times. It was certainly stimulating enough. So that’s what he considered our love. But I no longer cared. Seeing that I didn’t reply, he assumed I was intimidated and added: [You scared Summer. I’m ordering you to drive the boat for her during her competition tomorrow, to apologize with your actions! Otherwise, don’t blame me if I actually sign the divorce papers!] I scoffed and replied: [My pleasure.]

The next day, it was the sea angling competition. I arrived at the beach early with my gear, looking for my boat. From a distance, I saw a scattering of white and yellow medicine boxes floating in the water around my fishing yacht. It suddenly dawned on me that I hadn’t taken a single one of the pills I got from the hospital. I let out a bitter laugh, then noticed the entire fishing yacht was shaking unnaturally. As I got closer, the sickening sounds of their tryst from inside the cabin drifted into my ears, carried by the waves. I took a deep breath, stepped onto the boat to pick up the remaining medicine boxes, and through the cabin window, I met Grant’s gaze. Grant squinted at me, a taunting smirk on his face, and then deliberately intensified his movements. The fishing yacht rocked even more violently. Fighting back nausea, I left, returned to the tackle shop, and rented a new fishing yacht. Just then, I received another message from him: [This is your punishment. Every time you’re stubborn, I’ll punish you again.] I scoffed, amused, but I had no time for him. The competition was still two hours away, and I had something important to do. I arrived at a small, weathered chapel by the sea. Growing up, before my father went fishing, we always visited a similar shrine to offer prayers. I carried that insulated bottle, knelt, and bowed my head three times, praying that this child’s soul would find peace. The chapel was quiet. A kind-faced attendant wearing simple robes approached me. “Hello, ma’am, would you like to buy a blessed charm?” “Do you have any that bless children?” I asked hesitantly. Just then, Summer’s laughter drifted in from the doorway. She had red marks on her neck and twisted her body, looking innocent, as she walked up to me: “Harper, you really are here! I told Grant you fisher-folk loved to come pray at this chapel, but he didn’t believe me! What are you looking at, Harper? What are these?” The attendant was interrupted and seemed to momentarily forget what I had just asked. He instinctively pulled out two charms: “This one’s for a harmonious marriage, and this one for fertility and a blessed child. Which would you prefer?” I fell silent. Grant’s expression turned playful. He pulled Summer’s hand and walked into the chapel: “If you don’t appreciate your own blessings, no charm in the world will help you.” My brow twitched. I suddenly remembered my insulated bottle was still beside the prayer mat. Sure enough, the next second I heard Grant’s voice: “Harper Vance, are you ditching your crappy insulated bottle?” Then came a jarring clatter. He kicked the bottle aside with his foot. But I’d unscrewed the cap, hoping to receive the chapel’s blessing for the seawater inside. With that kick, the seawater spilled onto the ground, not a single drop remaining. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. I had planned to go out to sea today and pour the blessed water from the bottle back into the ocean, hoping it would allow the child’s soul to rest. But I hadn’t expected that even this private wish would be denied.

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Jasper is a renowned philanthropist in his circle, and I am his assertive wife. He has a cherished muse, and I went to great lengths to make him marry me. During a covert mission, his muse disappeared. In his quest for vengeance, he broke my legs, locked me in a dungeon filled with water, and tormented me relentlessly. “I don’t want you dead; I want you to live a life worse than death, repenting for your sins day and night.” I pleaded with him, insisting I didn’t kill her, but he refused to listen. He whipped me, the barbs tearing into my flesh. Until, as an agent constantly protecting him, I was tortured to death. Then, his fragile muse appeared, pointing a gun at him and revealing her true identity as an assassin, leaving him in a state of madness over his regrets. The 99th lash broke during the beating, blood slowly dripped down my scarred legs, echoing in the dim, damp dungeon. My legs had long lost feeling, hanging unnaturally, my hands bound with rough ropes, shoulders dislocated. I couldn’t remember how many days had passed. Jasper’s bodyguard couldn’t bear it, “Boss, if you keep this up, the madam will die.” Jasper’s face was full of hatred, “I can’t let her die so easily. I want her to kneel at Lydia’s grave every day, offering incense in repentance.” “A lifetime of torment is the greatest punishment for her.” The rope suddenly loosened, and I fell heavily to the ground, my broken legs twisting grotesquely. My face scraped against the rough ground, burning with pain. But compared to the tearing in my heart, this physical pain was insignificant. Jasper grabbed my hair, dragging me to a pristine tombstone. It was a blank monument he had erected for Lydia. He gripped my neck, slamming my head onto the ground. “Who do you think you are? Just because I married you, you think you’re Mrs. White?” “Aren’t you an agent? Agents are supposed to be tough. Why are you crying? Stand up!” He roared, “I protected Lydia for five years, never raising my voice, afraid of her slightest grievance.” “How dare you harm her, who gave you the courage?” “Bang, bang, bang…” A series of crashes, I felt my head was about to shatter, ears buzzing. I was the best agent, bleed but don’t cry, I couldn’t cry, even if my teeth shattered, I had to swallow them. But why does my heart hurt so much? Jasper, how could you bear to treat me like this? Why do you treat me like this? I wanted to argue, but only weak whimpers came from my throat. Jasper’s sharply defined face was inches away, but those eyes no longer held any of the past tenderness. He stepped on my already deformed hand, grinding it, the sound of bones breaking was clear. I lay on the ground, curling up and whimpering. Seeing me in such a humiliating state, Jasper finally smiled with satisfaction, “Call the doctor, I’ll give you the best treatment, with the best medicine.” “Tomorrow… I’ll come see you again.” He was like a demon from hell, giving me despair again and again. Watching Jasper’s departing figure, my thoughts drifted back to the past. Jasper’s business spanned the globe—finance, medicine, weapons, technology—he was involved in almost every industry, and his public identity was a philanthropist. Many assassination organizations wanted him dead to take over his business empire, and I was sent to protect him. To avoid suspicion from enemies, I forced him to marry me, so I could be by his side 24/7. But I made a fatal mistake, I fell in love with him. Over the years, I’ve used my life countless times to shield him from assassinations, but it was all in vain! He didn’t listen to my explanation, directly accusing me of a baseless crime. To him, I was just an unimportant tool. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Since that’s the case, I should leave.

Jasper arranged the best medical team to treat me. He personally took the ointment handed by the doctor, gently applying it to my wounds. He fed me ginseng soup spoon by spoon, but his words were so cold, “Seeing you so obedient, I won’t punish you today.” I knew he didn’t want me dead; he wanted to torment me every day to vent his anger for his beloved. I struggled to speak, “When I arrived that day, Lydia was already gone. I didn’t kill her, I really didn’t…” Before I finished, Jasper’s gaze turned icy, he smashed the soup bowl in his hand, “You don’t deserve to mention her name!” “I’ve already investigated, it was you who pushed her into the basement during the explosion, stop denying it.” He turned and ordered the guards, “Increase the intensity of the electric shocks.” Then he walked out the door without looking back. My heart grew numb, maybe soaked in icy water for too long, I couldn’t feel the pain anymore. He never believed me, not even a sliver of trust. The electric shocks were too strong, my consciousness began to blur. Before I fainted, I heard Jasper and the bodyguard talking outside. “Boss, if you only love Lydia, why did you agree to marry Adeline?” “With your strength, no matter what means Adeline used, she couldn’t force you to marry her.” Jasper was silent for a moment, his voice carried a gentleness I’d never heard before, “You don’t understand what it feels like to truly love someone.” “Lydia is a pure good girl, unlike me, I live on the edge of a knife, I couldn’t bear her to suffer if enemies involved her.” The bodyguard suddenly understood, “So you married Adeline, all the enemies would target Adeline, in reality protecting Miss Lydia.” Jasper softly responded, “Adeline is different…” “Even facing all kinds of torture, she can easily cope with the training she received since childhood.” The bodyguard hesitated, “What if she can’t withstand it?” Jasper’s voice was cold, “Then it’s her fate.” I felt all the blood in my body freeze, my heart turned cold. So, I was just a shield Jasper used to protect Lydia. No wonder, many times when I was kidnapped, the kidnappers directly targeted Mrs. White. It was all part of his plan. The feeling of being deceived and used was more painful than any torture . I don’t know how long it was before the sound of high heels echoed outside the door. A familiar figure appeared at the door, Lydia! “You’re not dead!” Lydia chuckled, “Surprised? I’m alive and well, fooled both you and Jasper.” “Men, you can’t get emotionally involved. Tsk tsk, look at you, tormented like this for a man, you disgrace the agents.” Her slender fingers brushed over the blank monument, “He’s such a clever person, yet I played him like a fiddle, it’s really amusing.” “Jasper is rich, devoted, handsome, and in bed… top-notch, it feels great to play with.” Lydia was not the weak woman needing protection from Jasper. She used his love for her. And I became a pawn in her scheme. “Who exactly are you?” Lydia’s lips curled into a meaningful smile. “I’m only after wealth, not lives.” “I want him to watch his financial empire, built over years, crumble.” “You better protect your husband, many people want him dead.” She made a “shush” gesture with her fingers, “And… Jasper actually loves you, he just doesn’t realize it yet. I can’t wait to see his face when he realizes it after you’ve been tortured to death…” “We’ll meet again.” Lydia quickly disappeared into the night. When Jasper forced me to bow and repent again, the blank monument suddenly broke. Lydia had tampered with the monument! Jasper was furious, kicking and hitting me, “Your repentance is insincere!” I looked at his angry face, feeling only deep sorrow. This man, blinded by love, had become someone else’s pawn without realizing it. I closed my eyes, letting tears silently fall. This was the last time I cried for Jasper, also for my foolish self. Goodbye, Jasper. I sent a message to the organization using a secret communicator, “I should return to the agency.” “I don’t want to protect him anymore.”

The next day, Jasper entered the dungeon, his expression both gentle and mad. I hung in the water dungeon, with any slight movement, my fingers felt excruciating pain. He carefully untied me, gently washed my body. He patiently dressed me in a dress, combed my hair, even applied a light lipstick. He finally spoke, “Last night I dreamed of Lydia.” “She said she’s lonely down there, I plan to send you to accompany her.” My blood froze instantly, he was going to bury me with Lydia. His tone was so gentle, as if coaxing a child, “Don’t be afraid, it won’t hurt, it will be over soon.” I wanted to escape, but dragging my severely injured body, I couldn’t run. Like a puppet, I numbly let him manipulate me. The car stopped before a desolate cemetery, the surroundings were deathly silent. Jasper carried me, walking through a long gravel path, arriving at a grave with a blank monument. He pointed at the monument, his eyes filled with pathological madness, “Look, this is Lydia’s home.” My blood ran cold. He wanted me to be buried with Lydia. His voice was gentle, as if coaxing a child, “Don’t be afraid, it won’t hurt, and it will be over soon.” I wanted to escape, but with my severely injured body, I couldn’t run away. I was like a puppet, numbly letting him control me. The car stopped in front of a quiet cemetery, surrounded by a deathly silence. Jasper held me, walking through a long gravel path to a tomb with an unmarked headstone. He pointed at the headstone, his eyes filled with a pathological madness, “Look, this is Lydia’s home.” “Don’t be angry, Lydia. I didn’t put your name on it to keep anyone from disturbing your sweet dreams.” He then pointed to a freshly dug grave next to the unmarked stone and said to me, “Adeline, this is your new home.” I wanted to laugh at myself, but I couldn’t. I wanted to cry, but no tears came. This was the real Jasper, a madman smiling while burying me alive. He placed me into the cold, damp grave. At that moment, my heart was ashen. Just as the grave was about to be sealed, an offering on a nearby gravestone was knocked over, making a noise. Jasper turned around sharply, his gaze fierce. The moment he saw who it was, his body froze. His face went from blank, to surprised, to ecstatic, finally turning into a near-mad longing. He trembled as he spoke, “Lydia… is it you?” Jasper, like a child who had lost his mind, stumbled toward her and hugged her tightly, almost crushing her into his body. The once-calculating Jasper was now crying uncontrollably. “Lydia, you’re alive… Is this a dream?” “I missed you so much, why didn’t you come to find me?” Realizing she had been discovered, Lydia decided to play along. “I thought I would never see you again, I was so scared.” “I barely escaped, and all I could think about was finding you. But I was afraid you’d moved on, so I just watched from afar. Brother still cares about me…” Jasper looked pained, “Silly girl, you’re my most precious person. My heart could burst with pain.” Watching their intimate display, I realized how unnecessary I was. Since she was discovered, Lydia continued her act. She collapsed weakly into Jasper’s arms, sobbing softly. “I thought I’d never see you again. I was so scared.” “I barely escaped, and all I could think about was finding you. But I was afraid you’d moved on, so I just watched from afar.” “Brother still cares about me, that’s wonderful.” Jasper cupped her face, his eyes full of pity, “Silly girl, how could I not care about you? My heart could burst with pain.” I had never seen him so out of control. This man, who was so heartless and ruthless to me, dropped all his defenses in front of Lydia. It seemed Jasper had forgotten my existence, eagerly entwined with Lydia. Completely ignoring me, still in the cold grave. The sounds of their intimacy intertwined. At that moment, I felt utterly pathetic and ridiculous. Suddenly, Lydia smirked at me. She deliberately nudged the grave lid with her foot, and with a dull thud, the lid closed. Darkness swallowed me instantly, and the air in the grave became increasingly thin. Breathing became harder and harder. I gasped for air, desperately pounding on the walls, leaving bloody scratches on the wood. But there was no response. My brain started hallucinating, and my consciousness blurred… Just when I was about to give up, there was a frantic knocking from above the grave. Fresh air rushed into my lungs. Jasper’s bodyguards nervously pulled me out of the grave. The cemetery was already devoid of Jasper and Lydia’s presence. I was completely disheartened, with no lingering feelings for Jasper. But when I got home, Jasper suddenly began to take care of me meticulously, as if making up for something or hiding something. I knew he still needed me as a “wife” to face danger and protect Lydia. It didn’t matter anymore; I no longer cared about anything here. Anyway, I would leave first thing in the morning. Given my special status, I didn’t need divorce papers or anything like that. When I decided to leave, I had my ways to disappear completely from Jasper’s world, making sure he could never find me. But before I could leave, an unexpected situation arose. The organization sent me an order: “Attention, the Black Scorpion Assassination Group has appeared. Head to the charity site immediately to protect Jasper.” I intended to leave quietly, but it seemed I had to meet Jasper again. At the charity gala, I silently stood in a corner. It was the best observation spot. Years of training had made my senses unusually sharp, and nothing escaped my eyes in the crowd. On stage, Jasper looked at Lydia with deep affection. She cooperated with a happy expression, “I once thought silently protecting you was enough. Now I want the whole world to know I love you, only you.” “Tonight, I’m transferring all my financial assets to your name, so you can always be a carefree princess.” “Anything you want, I’ll give you!” The audience burst into applause, and flashes went off one after another. “So this is Jasper’s true love? They really are a perfect match, a match made in heaven.” “He’s got the looks and talent, and she’s so much gentler than that shrew Adeline. Even I, as a woman, want to cherish her…” Listening to the mockery directed at me, I was long past caring. At that moment, Jasper’s gaze swept the crowd, unintentionally meeting mine in the corner. His once gentle eyes flashed with impatience and disgust. Maybe he thought I was there to pester him. After all, I used to claim my territory at similar events, but he always let me. What I thought was favoritism was a complete deception. Suddenly, an unusual signal interference appeared inside the venue, and the lights went out, plunging the scene into chaos.

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The wolf who raised me tore Genevieve’s childhood friend’s favorite white shirt. In response, she called a butcher to cut off the wolf’s paws and throw him into acid. I held him, barely clinging to life, and shouted at Genevieve. “I told you wolves raised me. How is this any different than severing my own father’s limbs?” But Genevieve just stared at me coldly while shielding Asher’s eyes. “You’re just a stray my stepfather picked up from who knows where, trying to deceive me with your words!” The wolf struggled, bloodied, to crawl towards me. I crawled over and held him close. “I stayed to repay the Aiden family’s kindness in giving the wolves a home. You couldn’t bear to let me go and chased me for miles, but it has only brought you harm.” That night, I knelt with the wolf before Nolan’s memorial, bowing several times. “Nolan, the Aiden family’s animal parks are now everywhere. They don’t need my ability to command animals anymore. I should have left long ago.” …… I was about to blow the bone flute around my neck when she struggled to stop me. Wolves repay kindness. The Aiden family took in the weak and sick animals, giving them a home. I knew he wouldn’t want me to destroy the Aiden family unless it was absolutely necessary. The vet shook his head, looking at the bones soaked and cracked by the acid. “Doctor, he used to be the fastest wolf in the forest. Just because he can’t be restored doesn’t mean he should die, right?” I cried out in despair. The wolf tried to wipe my tears with his broken limbs but, realizing he had no paws, curled up dejectedly. I watched over him all night and eventually cried myself to sleep. With a bang, the door was kicked open. The butler dragged me to kneel before the Aiden family hall. Asher lay limply on a soft chair, his collar open, looking lifeless. I was just about to get up when Genevieve slapped me hard. “Asher was bitten by those ungrateful beasts while surveying in the wild! Tell me, did you order them?” She pointed to a nearby iron cage, and I saw a few wolf pups inside, beaten and barely alive. Ignoring the pain on my swollen face, I crawled to the cage to release them, but the butler dragged me away. Genevieve looked down, “You don’t care about the injured people; instead, you care about these beasts! Bury them alive for me!” I dragged myself to the cage. The wolf pups had leg bands I had personally put on them. I had helped deliver them in the forest. Their soft paws rested in my palm as if telling me not to worry. But their low whimpers pained my heart. I gritted my teeth and glared at Genevieve, “They didn’t harm Asher. They said they saw Asher being kidnapped and scared off the bad guys to save her!” Genevieve hesitated, a hint of doubt in her eyes. Asher immediately got up weakly and grabbed Genevieve’s hand. “It was these beasts that hurt me, Genevieve. When have I ever lied to you?” “It must be him up to his tricks again. Who can understand what animals are saying?” “If he really understood, wouldn’t he have let his snake bite you, proving he intentionally hurt you?” Genevieve glared at me angrily and ordered the whole cage to be taken to the back of the villa. Previously, to find a way to save Genevieve, I got bitten by that snake, suffering many wounds, but it turned out the snake wasn’t venomous. And why did the usually docile snake suddenly attack Genevieve? I couldn’t figure it out. Before I could finish, Genevieve approached and grabbed my neck, as if to strangle me. “Then how did I get poisoned? Declan, even lying has its limits! If Asher hadn’t brought the serum, I’d be dead by now.” I broke free from her grip, mimicking a wolf’s posture, baring my teeth on top of the cage. Everyone was too scared to approach. “Anyone who dares to touch them will have to step over my dead body!” Genevieve saw my strange posture and her eyes widened, her tone softening, “I really don’t understand you. Why do you care so much about these beasts and even imitate them?” My heart was full of bitterness. Before, she allowed me to keep all kinds of animals in the villa because I loved them, even saying I was as cute as a little wolf. But after she got bitten by the snake, all those companions were sent away, leaving only the wolf by my side. Yet now she says she doesn’t understand me. I glared at them with red eyes, not letting them approach, but suddenly my head was hit hard, and everything went black. When I woke up, my scalp was in intense pain, and I held my head, rubbing it continuously. A familiar cold voice sounded in my ear, “Didn’t I tell you to go easy? Why isn’t he awake yet?” The butler bowed repeatedly, apologizing. Seeing I was awake, he quickly informed Genevieve. She hurried to the bedside, but just as she was about to sit down, she stopped and couldn’t help but mock me, “Now you know it hurts? You were so stubborn just now. Those beasts are already dead. Just apologize to Asher, and this will be over.” I grabbed her clothes, my voice trembling, “Genevieve, why are you doing this to me?” Her eyes flashed with indifference as she shook off my hand. “Nate was a homewrecker who caused my mom’s death. You’re just a stray he brought back, letting a snake bite me to take over my family’s wealth. What else do you expect?” “I’ve said that as long as you behave, I can let you live well in the Aiden family, but you keep defying me for those beasts.” “Nolan wasn’t a homewrecker! After your mom’s suicide, he and Madam Luke met because of their love for animals—” Crash! Genevieve knocked all the cups and saucers off the table, interrupting me. “You’re going to tell that ridiculous story about being raised by wolves again. I must have been under a spell to believe you before!” With that, she stormed out, her face cold. Watching her back, I felt utterly hopeless. Years ago, Nolan stopped a hunter from shooting me in the wild. He cautiously approached me and was shocked to find I was a naked teenager. I bared my teeth and growled at him, but he extended his hand to me. From then on, he taught me to read and walk upright. With the Aiden family’s wealth, he expanded a large wolf habitat. And I used my unique ability to communicate with animals to help him gather rare data, making the Aiden family a global leader in animal research, earning many patents. He brought me back to the Aiden family, and a few years later, I fell in love with Genevieve. She held my hand and said she’d marry no one but me. Until her childhood friend Asher returned from abroad with photos of her mom cheating with Nolan, and then suddenly got poisoned. After that, Genevieve changed, seeing me as an enemy. My only trusted ally, Nolan’s assistant, came in with a heavy expression. “Young Master Declan, I’ve investigated everything. You need to be prepared.” The assistant handed me the materials. The photos nearly knocked me off my feet! When we got married, Genevieve swore to me. The Aiden family would only send abandoned cubs and animals unable to hunt to zoos, never training them for dangerous performances out of greed. But the documents showed that over the years, the Aiden family built zoos everywhere, capturing rare animals under the guise of animal welfare to expand their collection. In the photos, various animals were cramped in small cages, unable to stand. They used whips to force tiger cubs to jump through fire hoops and monkeys to hold their breath underwater. Cheetahs had their sharp teeth and claws removed for photo ops, and brown bears were chained, unable to move, having bile extracted daily. The cheap and useless ones were euthanized, the valuable ones sold cheaply to circuses. Many of the poor beasts in the photos were my childhood companions. I remembered the joy of running together in the forest, but now their eyes were filled with fear. They lost their habitat to a forest fire, suffering severe injuries. I thought the Aiden family’s zoo would be a refuge, but I unknowingly sent them to hell. Their original habitat was developed into a hunting ground for the rich. Seeing them holding animal heads for photos made me sick to my stomach. I was responsible for their suffering… The assistant supported me with concern, “Young Master Declan! Protecting animals was Nolan’s lifelong goal. Now it’s up to you.” I nodded firmly, gritting my teeth. I had to take the wolf away, blow the bone flute, and make the Aiden family face the consequences! I had the wolf placed in a locked room and limped to the door, but saw a trail of blood leading from the room to the back of the villa. Sensing something was wrong, I rushed over. Before I reached the exit, I heard Genevieve’s voice from inside, “If you want wolf fur, I’ll find you another one. Why—”

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In my previous life, my mother-in-law secretly had a daughter with another man, unbeknownst to my father-in-law. She knelt down and pleaded with me to treat this child as if she were a twin sister to my own. I hesitated but eventually agreed. Later on, the child developed kidney failure. My husband was a compatible donor, but my mother-in-law refused to let him donate a kidney. The child passed away, and only after her death did I discover she was actually my child. When I confronted my mother-in-law upon learning the truth, she pushed me down the stairs, leading to my tragic demise. I opened my eyes to find myself back at the moment when my mother-in-law was begging me. I blinked, a bit disoriented. Sitting on my living room couch, I could almost feel the pain of the fall down the stairs. I couldn’t believe that I had been given another chance. Overwhelmed, tears streamed down my face. A familiar voice echoed in my ears. “Phoebe, please, can we say they’re twins?” My mother-in-law looked at me, imploring. I clenched my fists tightly, resisting the urge to lash out. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself. Feigning ignorance, I replied, “Mom, what are you talking about? Whether it’s twins or a single birth, we know from the start.” “Why would you want me to claim I had twins? Where would I find an extra child for your son at birth?” My mother-in-law looked flustered and stammered. “Well, I’m pregnant.” I feigned shock, raising my voice. “Mom, what are you saying? You’re pregnant? Father-in-law has been working abroad for over a year.” “You’ve got a love child?” She quickly moved to cover my mouth, visibly tense. I sidestepped her attempt. My mother-in-law spoke, displeased. “What love child? This is my child. Your father-in-law and I lost feelings for each other long ago.” “We only stayed together for Declan.” I looked at her with disdain. “No feelings, yet you cheated and got pregnant with a love child.” I emphasized “love child” intentionally. She was furious and wanted to scold me. But recalling her need for my help, she held back. “Phoebe, I’m begging you, your child and this one are about the same age. By then, we can hide it.” I raised my voice, “Mom, what are you saying? You want me to help raise it too?” She hurriedly explained, “No, just under your name. I’ll raise it myself, don’t worry.” I replied, “Mom, why are you being so soft-hearted? It’s early, just terminate it.” But my mother-in-law became agitated, “No, this is the child between me and Uncle Gary. I can’t terminate it.” I felt a wave of nausea. A love child, really? Ugly and audacious.

I pretended to be in a difficult position. “Mom, I can’t decide this. I’ll discuss it with Declan.” She looked embarrassed. I said, “Your belly will only grow. This can’t be hidden from him.” My mother-in-law could only nod. In my previous life, it was the same. I told my husband about her pregnancy. He didn’t agree with her having the child. He insisted on taking her to the hospital for an abortion. She refused and hid away. She only returned when she was about to give birth, making it too late for an abortion. She knelt on the ground, begging me and my husband. My husband had no choice but to agree to treat the child as a twin. When my husband came home, I told him about my mother-in-law’s pregnancy. He was so angry he shook all over. He immediately stormed into her room. “Mom, are you out of your mind? Cheating on Dad and getting pregnant?” Embarrassed by her son’s words, my mother-in-law felt ashamed. My husband was furious, “Go and abort it tomorrow.” “You might not care, but I do.” Hearing about the abortion, my mother-in-law panicked. She held her belly, “No, this child can’t be aborted.” My husband was livid, his eyes almost spewing fire. “Why not? You want to keep this abomination?” My mother-in-law was furious, “What abomination? This is your brother.” My husband retorted, “What kind of brother? It’s not Dad’s kid.” “Have you thought about how to explain to Dad after giving birth?” My mother-in-law looked at him with bright eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ve thought it through. This child and Phoebe’s are about the same age. We’ll pretend they’re twins.” “Your dad won’t know.” My husband pointed a trembling finger at her. “You’re insane. I’m telling you, I don’t agree. This child must be aborted.” My mother-in-law pointed at him, face twisted. “You don’t agree? I’m your mom. What right do you have to control me?” “I’m telling you, I’m keeping this child.” My husband was too angry to speak. It took him a while to say anything. “If you insist on having this child, handle it yourself.”

The conversation between my mother-in-law and my husband ended on a bad note. I lay in bed, memories of my past life flooding my mind. In my past life, after I went into labor, my mother-in-law insisted on a C-section. She claimed it was to save my husband from the hassle of taking care of two babies at different times. The newborns looked similar. My mother-in-law switched the babies while we slept at night. Due to her age, her child was not healthy and often sick. Whenever the child was ill, she was more anxious than I was. At the time, I was glad she cherished her granddaughter. In contrast, she neglected her own child after giving birth. The child often cried from hunger, but she refused to breastfeed. She insisted on formula, often leaving the child hungry or overfed. Sometimes, I couldn’t stand it and helped feed the child. As the child grew, my mother-in-law either hit or scolded her. The child always looked timid. In contrast, my daughter was spoiled by her. She became bratty and demanding. Whenever my husband and I tried to discipline her, my mother-in-law intervened. She even scolded us for being too harsh. The two children grew up as opposites. One was a little princess, the other a little servant. Thinking of the child’s last moments, I was heartbroken. A tiny person, lying quietly on the bed, almost skin and bones. At four years old, my mother-in-law’s child was diagnosed with uremia. My husband and I actively sought treatment. My mother-in-law was indifferent and blamed us for wasting money. Finally, a kidney transplant was necessary. My husband, feeling sorry for his sister’s plight, went for matching. He was a match. Upon learning this, my mother-in-law threw a fit and blocked the donation. In the end, seeing no other choice, she disappeared with the child. When my husband and I found them back in our hometown, the child was already lifeless on the bed. 5 My husband and mother-in-law had a huge fight over this. After the child’s passing, I came home early one day. I overheard my mother-in-law on the phone. That’s when I discovered the truth. I broke down on the spot. I lunged at her, hitting her with all my might. Then I ran out to report it to the police. Hearing my intention to call the police, she chased after me. The elevator was taking too long, so I wanted to use the stairs. Unexpectedly, she pushed me hard from behind. And with that, my life ended. Lying on the ground, close to death, I seemed to see something familiar flash by. And my daughter stood beside her. Later, under her influence, my daughter claimed I accidentally fell. My husband was devastated but didn’t suspect our four-year-old. The faint sounds outside my room interrupted my thoughts. I knew my mother-in-law must have sneaked out again, just like in the past life. If she insists on having this child, I’ll let her. After all, I have a big surprise waiting for her. When my husband realized she was gone, he was frantic and wanted to search. He called all our friends and family but found no leads. He even went back to our hometown but she wasn’t there. He wanted to report it to the police. I stopped him. “Honey, she’s deliberately avoiding you. You won’t find her.” He was anxious. “She’s so old and pregnant. What if something happens?” I thought, what could happen? She’s probably with her old lover. “She’s hiding because she’s afraid you’ll make her abort. Don’t worry, she’ll return when she’s further along.” “If you report it and everyone finds out, how will she face them?” He nodded weakly. 6 Soon, I reached late pregnancy. One day, I came home and found my mother-in-law had returned. My husband angrily confronted her. She suddenly knelt before me. Startled, I quickly stepped aside. He rushed to help her up. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at both of us. I said, “She was probably hiding because she feared you’d pressure her to end the pregnancy. Don’t worry, she’ll likely return when she’s further along.” “If you call the police and everyone finds out, how will mother-in-law maintain her reputation?” My husband nodded, looking helpless. 6 Soon, I was in the later stages of my pregnancy. One day, I came home to find my mother-in-law had returned. My husband angrily confronted her. Suddenly, she knelt down in front of me. Startled, I quickly stepped aside. My husband rushed to help her up. With tears in her eyes, she looked at both of us. “I’m begging you, please. Otherwise, I don’t know what else I can do but end my life.” My husband glared at her, breathing heavily. “Where were you when I told you to deal with it? You wouldn’t listen.” “Now you come to us? Figure it out yourself.” “I’m not handling this.” Hearing this, she began to cry softly. “Declan, I know I was wrong. If your father finds out, what will happen to us? This family will fall apart.” “Please, just help me this once.” My husband turned his head away, silent. She then turned to me. “Phoebe, if you don’t help me, I really can’t go on.” “If people find out, what will I do?” My husband said, “Now you’re worried about disgrace? Why didn’t you think of that before?” She became upset, “Fine, I’m ashamed. I’ll just go and end it. If you won’t help me, I can’t live anyway.” With that, she rushed towards the balcony. My husband wanted to stop her, but I held him back. She reached the balcony and realized no one was stopping her. She didn’t have the courage to climb onto the windowsill. So she just stood there awkwardly. My husband understood her intention. He just looked at her coldly, saying nothing. I almost wanted to laugh. If you’re going to pretend to do something drastic, at least make it convincing. You can’t even climb up. I feigned concern and went to stop her. “Mom, please don’t do anything reckless. What will you do with such a big belly?” “Your secret will come out anyway.” “Father-in-law will be furious.” She shot me an angry glare. My husband snorted. In the end, my husband agreed to her request. I also agreed, which made him feel very sorry for me. He was very considerate towards me. Without keeping the child, the pretense couldn’t continue. Soon, I went into labor. Just like before, my mother-in-law insisted on being with me. My husband hurriedly took us to the hospital. Once there, she was taken aback. 7 Aunt Lydia was waiting at the hospital. My husband was also shocked. I looked at her with a cold smile. I had secretly set up a small account long ago. As soon as I went into labor, I sent a photo of her large belly to Aunt Lydia. I even thoughtfully noted the hospital. Aunt Lydia stared intently at her belly. Suddenly, she rushed over and slapped her hard. She didn’t react in time and fell to the ground. Soon, cold sweat was beading on her forehead. She clutched her belly, curled up on the floor, and kept groaning in pain. Many onlookers gathered around Aunt Lydia, whispering among themselves. “How can you hit a pregnant woman?” “Is the baby her husband’s?” “She’s so old, yet still having kids—absolutely shameless.”

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The instant a five-million-dollar transfer hit my bank account, my mind went blank. The note on the transfer read: “Leave my husband.” I thought it was some kind of mistake, a wrong transfer, and my first instinct was to tell Landon. Just as I turned, a text message popped up on my phone: “Mia, this is Landon’s wife. Do the smart thing and take the money. Get away from my husband.” My world shattered, plummeting from heaven to hell. He had a wife? What did that make me? After everything blew up, our mess became public, known across the entire internet. Heartbroken and disillusioned, I left the city. But then, Landon, against all odds, chased me to this quiet, secluded town. He cornered me, tears dripping onto my collarbone, begging me to come back to him. After a passionate night, an endless emptiness gnawed at my stomach. I snuggled closer to Landon, teasing, “Can we grab some late-night takeout?” Landon lowered his head, licking my lips again, his voice husky, “Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you want, I’ll pay.” Gasping after a breathless kiss, I picked up my phone, ready to open the food delivery app, only to see a transfer notification pop up. I stared at the unexplained five million dollars in my account, utterly bewildered. Then, a text message followed. “Mia, hello. I’m Landon’s wife. I hope you’ll be sensible and take the money to leave Landon.” My fingers instantly went numb, a cold dread creeping down my spine. Landon and I started a business together. For six years, we worked side-by-side, day in and day out, pouring our blood, sweat, and tears into building it, turning him into a top-tier online personality. But he was married? And I had no idea when? What did that make me? Noticing my silence, Landon reached out and pulled me into his arms again. He turned his head to kiss me. “Mia, what’s wrong?” I twisted away from his embrace, pushing my phone into his view. “Your wife sent me five million dollars, telling me to leave you.” Landon frowned, took my phone, glanced at the text, and without a moment’s hesitation, he pushed me away, swinging himself out of bed. Then, in the dead of night, he just turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness. I lay awake all night, tears streaming down my face, but I never got a single explanation from him. It used to be that no matter where he went, he’d text me, send me his location, even FaceTime me every half hour, checking in constantly. When Landon and I first met, he was a small-time streamer nobody had heard of. He had big dreams, and I stayed by his side, helping him. Eventually, he made it big, becoming a recognizable name in the influencer world. He hugged me, crying hysterically, sobbing that he finally had the courage to confess his feelings and ask if I would be with him. I was so touched, tears streaming down my face, and I responded with a kiss right then and there. As his fame and fortune grew, I became more and more anxious. Sometimes, I’d suddenly start crying, feeling insecure, like I didn’t deserve him. But he brought me into his streams, into the eyes of all his followers, right there beside him in the spotlight, showing me through his actions that I was his greatest love. I believed him completely. We were inseparable for six years, never once fighting. I even started making plans for us to get married. The love he gave me was so openly displayed, for the whole world to witness. That’s why, when he left without hesitation, it left me gasping for air, my heart aching. For six years, our lives and work were so intertwined. When did he get married? I never even noticed. A sleepless night later, I dragged myself to the office, feeling like a soulless shell. Landon placed a cup of coffee on my desk and casually reached to hug me. “Mia, look at those dark circles! Didn’t get any sleep last night?” I looked up, tears spilling from my eyes, and forcefully shoved him away, screaming, “Get lost! Go find your wife!” Landon smiled gently, completely ignoring my outburst, and pulled me into his arms. “Come on, Mia, she’s my wife, you’re *you*.” “Please, stop saying things that try to separate us, pushing me towards another woman.” With that, he leaned in to kiss me. I opened my mouth and bit him hard. The metallic taste of blood instantly filled my mouth. He finally dropped his carefree facade, his face darkening as he asked, “Mia! How long are you going to keep this up?” “Landon, are you serious?! You’re disgusting! If you’re done being a pathetic creep, then get lost!” Landon didn’t say anything. Instead, he grabbed my arm and dragged me outside. He pointed down at the street. “Mia, look. This whole building, all this height, we built it all from the ground up! This is *our* shared business. I can’t leave you, and you can’t leave me. Isn’t it great for us to just stay like this?” From up here, the people on the ground looked like tiny, indistinguishable specks. This was *our* business. But no one knew better than Landon how desperately I wanted a home of my own. Yet he ignored it, insisting I stay in this hidden, secret relationship with him. Tears streamed down my face. I violently shook off Landon’s hand, unable to stop myself from yelling, “What about me, then?! You have a warm home now, but what about *me*?!” Landon fell silent, then walked over and gently wiped away my tears. “Mia, you love me so much. I have a family now, and that’s like you having one too. And…” He leaned in close, whispering in my ear, “If you want to leave, don’t forget the one hundred million dollar penalty clause in our influencer contract.” In that moment, our eyes met. I saw pure manipulation in his gaze. In that moment, I felt a suffocating helplessness. My expression must have satisfied him. Landon shrugged, chuckling softly, and pulled me up. “Alright, just kidding. I love you too much to let you go, you know?” “Just be good, and we’ll be exactly like before. Whatever you want, I’ll give you.” Looking at Landon’s smile, countless sharp thorns pierced my heart, making me double over just to breathe. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and fled, running as fast as I could. Landon, he always knew how to control me, and he always knew exactly what to say to hurt me the most. Six years of ‘love,’ and finally, his true colors showed. The next few days were relatively calm. Landon didn’t appear. But then, one day as I walked into the company building, an unwelcome visitor stood in the lobby downstairs. Camilla stood in front of me, clutching her bag. “Mia, I told you to take the five million and leave.” Camilla showed up, asserting her status as the rightful wife. Her condescending smirk stung my eyes. “I’ve already broken up with him,” I said. But Camilla still wore that superior expression. “When I said ‘leave,’ I meant you need to leave this company, this city, and never come back.” I was speechless, my lips pressed into a tight line. “Ms. Camilla, I wouldn’t stay involved with Landon, knowing he was married. But I also have my own career.” Camilla looked at me, then suddenly laughed. “Ms. Mia, you’re smart, you know money’s great, but I’m not stupid. What I mean is, both the money *and* the man are mine.” She made no effort to hide her ambition. I pursed my lips, coldly refusing. “I told you, what’s mine, I won’t let go of.” “As for Landon, I’ll reduce our work interactions. I’m quite well-off, you know. I’m not so desperate as to cling to a two-timing jerk.” Camilla’s eyes widened, clearly shocked I’d talk about Landon like that. She bit her lip, a flash of malice flickering in her eyes. “Since you won’t leave, then just wait.” With that, she turned and walked away. At the time, I just thought she was making empty threats. I never imagined she’d be so utterly insane. In the early hours of the morning, my assistant, Chloe, blew up my phone. “Mia, check the trending topics!” I opened Ins, clicked on the trending list. Camilla had posted photos of Landon and me, along with our chat logs. Every single word accused me of seducing Landon. She was clever, alright. The photos she released included one of Landon and me when he was angry, his face cold, and me standing on tiptoes to kiss him. I didn’t even know who took that picture. I rushed to the company that night, where the senior management was already gathered. Their gazes all landed on me. “Mia, Landon isn’t just our company’s biggest shareholder, he’s also an incredibly influential top influencer. He can’t afford to have anything happen to him, do you understand?” I understood. Which meant I was the one who deserved to be sacrificed. A tidal wave of nasty accusations came crashing down on me from across the internet. Third Chapter Completely devastated, I returned home, only to find the front door blocked by countless media reporters. I covered my face, scared senseless, and fled. I ran to a twenty-four-hour drugstore, bought a mask, and then checked out of the hotel, feeling the judgment from the front desk. I’d barely laid down and sighed in relief when my phone rang, relentlessly ringing like a death knell. Unknown numbers—I ignored them all. Until I was added to a SnapChat group chat, and a video call started ringing. I hesitated, then answered. My parents, divorced for over ten years, appeared on the screen together for the first time in ages. It was a scene I’d always dreamed of, but they both glowered at me, then started tearing into each other. “Look at the daughter *you* raised! A homewrecker, seducing married men!” My mom immediately shot back, “She’s just like *you*, isn’t she? Cheating and keeping a mistress!” I just sat there, stunned, as they ripped each other apart, wave after wave of bitter ache swelling in my chest. Their insults grew nastier and nastier until I finally couldn’t take it anymore and roared, “What do you two even want?!” They finally looked at me. “Mia, it’s all because of you! My house is swarming with reporters!” “Mine too!” Then my mom decreed, imperiously, “You go clarify right now! Tell them you left with your dad years ago, that we cut ties, and nothing you do has anything to do with me!” My dad chimed in with the same demands. Just like the year they divorced, they both just wanted to shake off the ‘problem’ that was me. I hung up, feeling their eyes burn into me like I was their worst enemy. Instantly, tears streamed down my face like rain. I don’t know how long I cried. Trembling, I logged onto Ins and recorded a video, stating that I had long since cut ties with my parents, then posted it. It only brought on another wave of public condemnation. I thought if I just hid in the hotel for a few days, the whole thing would blow over. But to my surprise, a few days later, my parents, who had just claimed to cut ties with me, sought me out again. This time, their eyes weren’t filled with disgust anymore, but pure, unadulterated greed. “Mia, honey, we heard you got a huge sum of money after being kicked out of the company.” “It wasn’t easy raising you, your dad and I. You owe us something, right?” My dad nodded vigorously, giving me a look that said, ‘Your mom’s right, just listen to her.’ A wave of bitter sadness washed over me. They hadn’t gotten along in twenty years, yet here they were, peacefully discussing how to squeeze money out of their daughter. I forced a stiff smile. “Where did you hear I had money?” Their eyes darted nervously, and they mumbled evasively, “Oh, well… someone sent us a text, you know.” I pulled out Camilla’s phone number and read it aloud. “Was it her? Tell me the truth, and then I’ll give you the money.” As soon as they heard that, they both nodded emphatically. “Yes! It was her!” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I buried my head in my knees, quietly sobbing. My mom named a number, and then they hung up. It was the exact amount the company paid me for my shares, no more, no less. I wiped away my tears, transferred the money, and severed the already fragile ties between us. I pulled the covers completely over my head. The stale air under the covers suffocated me; each time I threw them off, it felt like being reborn. After a few times, I finally managed to calm myself. Just then, my phone started ringing relentlessly again. All unknown numbers. As soon as I blocked one, another would call right back. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and picked up. “I am NOT a homewrecker! Stop harassing me!” Landon chuckled on the other end, his voice soft and coaxing. “I know you’re not, honey. In a few days, no one will even care. Did you miss me?” All this mess was his wife’s doing. How did he even have the nerve to call me? I screamed into the phone, “You pathetic loser, get lost!” I hung up decisively. I organized all the major and minor details of my six years with Landon, complete with a timeline and photos, into a document. I made it into a presentation and gave it a catchy, attention-grabbing title. Without hesitation, I posted it online.

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