Category: English

Today was the first day after my courthouse wedding with Celeste Harper, and she hadn’t come home all night. Yet, there she was, clear as day, on her childhood friend Liam Everett’s social media. A post appeared around midnight—a photo of them leaning close together. The caption read: “I knew that no matter what, one call and you’d be right by my side.” Content Celeste finally came back around noon after staying out all night. When she saw me sitting on the couch, she didn’t say a word. The silence grew so tense that I finally had to speak up. “Where were you last night?” With an annoyed expression, she replied, “I’m exhausted. Can we talk tomorrow?” I looked around at all the red-and-white wedding decorations and couldn’t help but feel a bit of self-mockery. Celeste—beautiful, smart, practically perfect. She’s a senior executive at a major corporation, with looks, status, and charm to spare. Everyone says I was lucky to get her, that I’m the one who “married up.” I’d always held onto the memories of us, all the good she’d done for me. I’d tried so hard to be the best boyfriend, the best husband I could be. But now that we’re officially married, I just want out. I didn’t reply to her. Instead, I sent a message to everyone who’d known we were getting married. They scolded me, and my family tried to talk sense into me. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone the real reason. Only my closest family knew, and after their initial anger faded into silence, they eventually nodded in support. That night, I went through more than I could process. I didn’t look at Celeste, and she didn’t care to ask, heading off to her room. I packed my suit for the next day neatly, took down all the decorations, and threw them in the trash. If I was leaving, I didn’t need the “newlywed home.” As I was about to leave, I glanced at her room. Since we’d just moved in, we hadn’t been sleeping in the same room yet. I paused a long moment, then left. On the way out, I texted her: “Let’s get a divorce. I’m leaving.” I put my stuff down where I was going, turned off my phone, and went to sleep. What might come next wasn’t even on my mind.

I slept until evening. When I turned on my phone, I saw over twenty missed calls from Celeste and a stream of messages on WhatsApp. The first few were sharp and questioning, but later, her tone grew softer. “What are you doing? We just got married!” “Say something! Don’t just ignore me. Where are you?” … “Where are you, babe?” “Can we please meet and talk this over?” I blocked all her contacts and slept alone till the next day. When I woke, a loud knock came at my door. I deliberately took my time to open it. Celeste stood there, looking exhausted, but the second she saw me, it was as if a light had turned back on in her eyes. “Gabe, can we please stop this?” Hearing her words felt like a cruel joke. What right did she have to ask me to stop this? She saw me staring in silence, and finally sighed, reaching for my hand. “Let’s go home, alright? Don’t do this. I’m really tired.” Her eyes were soft, pleading, but I pulled my hand free. “Miss Harper, are you here to finalize the divorce?” “And I’m not playing around. Please take this divorce seriously.” Right in front of her, I grabbed a disinfectant wipe and scrubbed where she’d touched me. She looked deeply hurt, mouth open as if to speak, but she stayed silent.

“Celeste, I suggest you stop making things so messy. After all, our families have always been close.” Her expression was one of pained innocence. “You canceled the wedding ceremony without telling me. I had to ask everyone why it hadn’t started.” “A crowd gathered, pointing and whispering, and now I have to chase you to come back with me. I’m exhausted. I found out about everything only after seeing your message, and you couldn’t even be bothered to tell me directly?” “Is it my fault you didn’t check your phone? You’re that busy?” “Funny how you’re not busy enough to run off with someone else—and take pictures!” She looked at me, hurt but determined. “Guess they were right,” she said. “A dirty mind only sees filth.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I’m the one with a dirty mind. So when my own wife’s in bed with someone else, should I assume they’re just playing a game?” Celeste’s mouth opened to say something, but she stayed silent. Yesterday, seeing her like this would’ve made me want to hold her tight, tell her it was all okay. “Let’s put off the divorce discussion until later. My parents are waiting for us for lunch,” she added. “Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Sam are there too.” Hearing that, I froze. Her parents had always been good to me. Realizing how harsh I’d been, I reluctantly nodded and followed her back to her parents’ house. The moment we walked in, her dad greeted me warmly. I’d expected anger or blame, but there was nothing of the sort.

I felt out of place sitting in their living room. When I offered to help Aunt Rebecca in the kitchen like always, she waved me off. “Just relax, Gabe. Lunch is almost ready.” Uncle Sam and Aunt Rebecca acted like nothing had happened. Celeste even brought me a plate of my favorite fruit, her eyes twinkling with a smile. A strange guilt tugged at me, but it didn’t change my decision to end things. “What’s with the cold shoulder?” she asked, watching me closely. “I’m here to end this, Celeste. This is the last time I’ll be in your parents’ house.” She turned pale, biting her lip, trembling slightly. Silence filled the room until lunch was ready, and Aunt Rebecca urged me to eat. Celeste kept her head down while Uncle Sam sensed the tension and tried to lighten the mood. “Look at you, Gabe. You’re looking sharper than ever!” he said, chuckling. “Celeste, you’re a lucky woman!” I opened my mouth to correct him, but Celeste pinched my sleeve under the table, giving me an embarrassed look. It was clear she hadn’t told her parents about us. I felt a sudden, overwhelming sadness. Her parents had always treated me with kindness, so I’d tried to do the same for Celeste, supporting her through every little thing, even waiting with hot food if she worked late. But it was never me on her mind.

As I thought about it, my grip on my bowl tightened, my knuckles whitening. Aunt Rebecca noticed and nudged Celeste to serve me a dish. Celeste gave her mother an annoyed look and reluctantly plopped a shrimp onto my plate. I’m allergic to seafood. After all this time, she didn’t even know. From that moment on, I barely tasted a thing. That shrimp stayed untouched on my plate, like a neon sign. After we finished, I thanked Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Sam. “Thanks for the lovely meal,” I said, trying to keep steady, “but I need to make something clear. Celeste and I are separated. I’m sorry to disappoint you.” They looked stunned, and Celeste gripped her fists tightly. Before they could speak, the doorbell rang, and Celeste glanced at me, her eyes dark, before heading to answer. I had a sinking feeling about who it might be.

Sure enough, the voice that greeted Celeste from the doorway was all too familiar—Liam Everett, her childhood friend. She called out cheerfully. “Hey, Liam! What’s for lunch? Smells amazing in here!” Liam froze a second when he saw me but quickly gave a polite nod. “Ah, Gabe’s here, too. That explains it.” He slipped off his shoes and set a gift on the table, making himself at home, even pulling out a chair to sit between us. Like he belonged there more than I did. I glanced down and saw them both wearing matching slippers—the same pair I’d noticed her wearing recently. I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. Liam broke the silence, glancing between us. “What’s with the mood in here?” Celeste shot me a warning look. Uncle Sam and Aunt Rebecca kept their heads down, focused on their food. I looked straight at Liam and spoke, my voice calm and clear. “Celeste and I are done. The divorce papers aren’t signed yet, but hey, feel free to go after her.” Celeste threw her chopsticks on the table. “Gabe, enough! I told you, he’s like a brother to me. You’re the one making it something else!” And just like that, I knew what I had to do.

I stood up and brushed off the imaginary dust from my shoulders, barely giving Liam a glance. “Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Sam,” I said with a slight smile, “thank you for the lovely meal. You’re kind to have me, but I don’t think I belong here anymore. Please, enjoy the rest of your lunch.” They walked me to the door, with Aunt Rebecca’s voice thick with unspoken words. I waved goodbye to them, knowing the only two people in that house who genuinely cared for me were them. Once outside, I sped off to my friend’s place. This friend had helped with every part of the wedding preparations, going above and beyond. Now, he deserved to hear the truth. By the time I reached his place, he was waiting for me with a look of sympathy. I sat across from him, explaining the situation carefully. Though I tried to leave out the ugliest parts, he caught on quickly. With a heavy sigh, he clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Man, I knew that woman wasn’t good news. But hey, this is your fresh start. I got some friends to introduce you to.” We shared a laugh, a few drinks, and finally, I was able to breathe. The next day, when I got to work, a couple of colleagues came over, asking if I had wedding treats. After all, I’d taken leave to get married. It felt strange to say anything, so I just laughed it off, dodging their questions as best as I could. For the next few days, I went out of my way to avoid Celeste. I didn’t think it would be that easy, but it was. Eventually, I sent the divorce papers to her email, though she didn’t respond. It didn’t matter. I was moving forward—she’d find her own way. After work, I grabbed my takeout and headed downstairs, only to spot a woman in a red dress waiting outside, holding a bouquet of red roses that matched her perfectly. People passing by were glancing her way. The sight brought back a flood of memories—she was just like that the first time I saw her. It had been junior year, at a party organized by some friends. The moment Celeste Harper walked in, she became the center of my universe. I stood there, spellbound, unable to think straight. Lost in thought, I didn’t realize she was walking toward me, roses in hand, eyes soft and intent. She was impossible to ignore when she looked like that, all glowing.

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After five years of marriage, my wife Vera returned from a six-month trip abroad, bringing her first love Nolan back home with her. Vera was already three months pregnant, and Nolan, with a thick skin, said he was worried I couldn’t take good care of Vera and wanted to temporarily stay at our house. I refused, and Vera cursed me for being ungrateful. She glared at me with disgust, seemingly forgetting that I was the one who let her live in the lap of luxury, spending money like water. Did this shameless family think they could ride on my neck and become the masters? This time, I’ll let them feel what it’s like to fall from cloud nine! I smiled and called my secretary, “Draft a divorce agreement immediately. I want to make the pretty boy and the gold digger leave empty-handed.” My wife, who had been traveling for half a year, told me last night that she was coming back. I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep all night. Early in the morning, I asked Mrs. Lee to prepare a table full of Vera’s favorite dishes. The front door was pulled open from the inside, and Vera was carefully held by the man beside her as they swaggered in front of me. I looked at the two overly intimate people in shock, my gaze falling on Vera’s slightly protruding belly. “Honey, you’ve become more handsome in the half year we haven’t seen each other.” I stared at her with a dark face, anger rising. Vera seemed to sense my angry emotions and immediately let go of the man’s hand. She hurriedly came to my side and acted coquettishly, “Honey, you know you can’t perform in that area, right?” “Nolan is a top graduate with a good background. Most importantly, we know each other well, so the child born will be reassuring, right?” “You wouldn’t want me to suffer through IVF treatment, would you?” Vera’s words made me choke with anger. She actually made cheating on me sound so fresh and innocent. I clenched my fists tightly, wanting to punch Vera in the face. Nolan, who had been standing behind her, rushed forward with concern, pulling Vera behind him. He smiled sycophantically at me, “Mr. An, I’ve heard about your situation from Vera. It’s not shameful.” “Vera and I have known each other since childhood. Even if the three of us live together in the future, I can accept it.” I was burning with anger, but Vera looked at Nolan with tender affection, “Nolan is always so considerate.” Hearing Vera’s tender voice, I stood there stunned. In our five years of marriage, when had she ever been like this to me? Vera nestled into Nolan’s arms like a little bird, pointing at the room upstairs, “We’ll live there from now on.” Watching the two of them go upstairs, I clenched my fists tightly. Soon, the driver came in carrying three large suitcases. Close behind them were Vera’s parents. They walked past me with cold faces, as if they hadn’t seen me, and quickly went upstairs. Since it was so lively upstairs, I decided to go take a look too. I saw Vera caressing her belly and acting coquettishly with her parents, “I could have kept it from you, but you’re not supposed to tell anyone during the first three months of pregnancy. Nolan was also concerned about my safety.” Seeing Vera’s behavior, my heart ached terribly. In our five years of marriage, whenever I had disagreements with her parents, she always stood on their side, complaining that her parents were old and couldn’t get angry, asking me to be more tolerant. I always thought that was just her nature. Women are delicate, it’s nothing. Until this moment, seeing her protecting Nolan, I realized I had always been a clown. Nolan naturally took Vera’s mother’s hand, “Auntie, you know I’ve liked Vera since we were kids.” “My feelings for Vera are genuine. I hope Uncle and Auntie can understand.” Vera’s mother’s face relaxed a bit, then she turned to look at me with a frown. I knew she was hesitating, weighing me against Nolan. In the five years of my marriage to Vera, I had replaced her family’s old house with a villa, and I transferred money to her parents’ card every month for their living expenses. Seeing Vera’s mother’s hesitant look, my heart instantly sank to the bottom. Vera, as my wife, not only got pregnant with someone else’s child without telling me in advance, but she also brazenly brought the man back to humiliate me. Did she really think that because I loved her, I could unconditionally tolerate everything she did, including her cheating on me? Seeing the tense atmosphere, Vera suddenly burst into tears, “The child in my belly is innocent. No matter how much you scold me, I will give birth to it.” Vera cried pitifully, and Nolan, seeing this, suddenly knelt down in front of us, “Auntie, the child in Vera’s belly is your own grandchild.” “If it weren’t for Vera not being able to conceive for five years and fearing blame from the An family, she wouldn’t have done this…” Vera’s parents had been urging Vera to have a child to secure her position since the day we got married. But after five years of marriage, Vera’s belly had never shown any movement. After a check-up, we found out it was my problem. I had consulted doctors. Although I couldn’t conceive naturally, IVF treatment was not a problem. Because of this, Vera’s parents had never had a good attitude towards me, blaming me for making Vera suffer criticism. I knew all this and had always been compensating Vera. But how could she do such a thing? “Since you’re pregnant, give birth to it. No matter whose child it is, you’re still its mother.” After Vera’s father finished speaking, he turned to look at me again, “This matter is settled.” I couldn’t help but laugh coldly, “Settled?” “What right do you have to settle it?” Vera frowned at me, “Everything has been said. What are you dissatisfied with?” I laughed in extreme anger. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for her to go out and have fun, and she not only brought back a child but also a man. What right did she have to be imperious towards me? Nolan looked at me with difficulty and said hypocritically, “I know it’s because of me. I can leave, but you must take good care of Vera.” As soon as Vera’s mother heard this, she immediately became displeased, “How can you leave? Vera is in a good mood when she sees you, and moreover, with the child’s father around, the child will grow better.” Vera glared at me fiercely, “If you insist on making Nolan leave, then I’ll leave too.” Vera’s mother carefully protected Vera, “That won’t do. You both stay. In this house, I, as the mother-in-law, have the final say.” Nolan looked at Vera’s mother pleadingly, smiling smugly. Seeing their harmonious appearance, I could no longer stay and turned to leave. I stayed in the study for the whole afternoon. Occasional laughter could be heard from the living room. After dinner, Mrs. Lee came to see me, “Nolan originally wanted to occupy your study, but he was stopped by Madam’s mother.” “She said that after all, you are the CEO of the An Group, and all the expenses of the family, big and small, depend on you. They can’t completely break ties with you, so he should behave himself.” Mrs. Lee has been taking care of me since I was a child, and she knows my temper. She looked up at me, and seeing no reaction from me, she continued, “They said all the expenses after Madam’s pregnancy should still be borne by you. Since you can’t have children anyway, letting you experience the joy of being a father is not bad.” At this point, I could no longer maintain a good face and clenched my fists, asking, “Anything else?” Mrs. Lee continued, “They said since you have no children to inherit the An family, this child will be adopted under your name in the future, and the An family’s property will…” I laughed coldly. Vera’s family really knew how to calculate. Since they were so shameless, I would play along with them. In the evening, hearing the sound of cars starting outside, memories from five years ago kept forcing their way into my head. Back then, I insisted on marrying Vera, no matter how my parents tried to persuade me. At that time, my parents had already expressed their intention of an alliance marriage to the Shen family, and the Shen family was very agreeable. After all, both the An and Shen families were at the top of the pyramid in Ning City. Who wouldn’t agree to such a strong alliance? But I had no interest in the Shen family’s daughter and only saw her as a sister. Since I met Vera, my whole heart was set on her, and I had even less interest in Miss Shen. I always told my parents that Vera was different from ordinary girls, hoping they would give her a chance to meet her. They would surely like her. But my parents said that I had given Miss Shen hope, which was why she kept coming to our house to “accidentally” meet me. At that time, I didn’t care what Miss Shen thought. I just wanted to marry Vera quickly. The day I met Vera, it was raining heavily. She was wearing a white dress, standing under a tree to shelter from the rain. Her hair was wet from the rain and stuck to her face. Her big eyes were as pitiful as a little deer’s. Ignoring my roommate’s mockery, I ran over with an umbrella, wanting to “be helpful,” and very gentlemanly sent her back to her dormitory. She said she wanted to thank me, but I shamelessly asked for her SnapChat. That night, I added her on SnapChat. After I introduced myself, she immediately sent me a voice message. Her voice was as crisp as a silver bell, “Mr. An, I’ve heard about you before.” From that day on, I deliberately “accidentally” met Vera under her dormitory building. I even forced myself to attend 8 am classes, which I never liked, just to have more contact with her. Love at first sight. That’s how I willingly became Vera’s devoted knight. After marriage, Vera said she didn’t want to be just an idle wife and wanted to enter the company to help me, even if it was just as a small employee. How could I let her be a small employee? I directly made her my secretary. Vera was very smart and quickly learned and mastered everything. Soon, with my help, she achieved some success in investment. She said she wanted to do bigger things and walk side by side with me. I felt I should help her, but my parents and brothers thought I should think it through. Before the wedding, my parents had repeatedly reminded me that Vera wasn’t good enough for me. But I didn’t care. I only wanted her to love me. After marrying me, Vera’s parents lived an enviable and comfortable life. They quit their jobs that didn’t make much money and lived off the living expenses I gave them every month, enjoying an early retirement life. They often boasted that Vera was the vice president of the An Group and would soon become the CEO. Relatives of Vera’s family who hadn’t been in contact for generations came to ask for Vera’s help. Vera was thin-skinned and couldn’t refuse, so I did my best to help her handle everything. Even for weddings and funerals, people came to find Vera. Facing these poor relatives of Vera’s family, I didn’t feel there was anything wrong. After all, with the strength of my An family, this little help was nothing. But Vera didn’t know that a few days before our wedding, Miss Shen came to see me. She wanted to transfer her 10% of shares to me and said that if I ever regretted it, she would wait for me no matter when I turned back. I laughed at her for thinking too much. I’ve always had good taste since I was young and had never misjudged. I believed I wouldn’t misjudge Vera either. I didn’t expect to be slapped in the face so quickly. Everyone could see Vera’s true face clearly, except for my blind self. After marriage, even when I tried to go along with her, she would find all kinds of faults. She said I didn’t know how to do housework, she hated me drinking and smoking, complained that I always worked overtime, and that I wasn’t as considerate and gentle as other husbands in her social media circle. At that time, I was completely devoted to Vera. If she told me to die, I wouldn’t hesitate. So, I quit smoking and drinking, and immediately went home after work without accepting any social engagements. To please her, I even hired chefs from various countries to cook for her in different ways. My good friend Ryan always teased me, saying I had been trained by Vera into a 24-hour loyal dog. Vera’s parents had nothing but praise for me, telling everyone they met that Vera was lucky to have married me. But even though I was so good, Vera could still find faults with me. I always thought I wasn’t doing well enough, but now I realize she was just using me as a stepping stone on her path to success. She didn’t love me. No matter what I did, she would never be satisfied. They didn’t care about my opinion at all and let Nolan move into my house. In the evening, Nolan personally knocked on my door to ask me to come down for dinner. After I refused several times, he started that worthless green tea act again. He blamed himself loudly, “Mr. An, are you still blaming me?” “We’re all doing this for Vera’s sake. If you really hate me, I won’t appear in front of you in the future, okay?” I frowned and opened the door unhappily. Nolan had a bitter face as if he had been wronged. Vera came up holding the handrail, looking at Nolan with concern and comforting him, “It’s not your fault. You don’t need to act like you owe him anything.” “You go down and eat first.” Nolan refused to leave and took out a watch from his pocket, “This is a watch I modified myself. I know Mr. An has seen a lot and won’t think much of this watch.” “But I don’t have anything presentable to give. This is just a gift for you. Can we get along peacefully for Vera’s sake in the future?” I snorted coldly, “If you can’t give something presentable, then don’t give anything. How shabby.” Vera angrily slapped me in the face. “Andrew, Nolan has already lowered himself so much, yet you still humiliate him.” “I’m telling you, I’m pregnant and can’t get emotional. If you keep giving Nolan a hard time, it’s like you want to anger me to death!” Vera looked as if I was a heinous criminal. This slap broke all my lingering affection for her. I stared at the dog couple in front of me and raised my hand to slap Nolan twice in the face. I used all my strength, and soon blood flowed from the corner of Nolan’s mouth. Vera looked at me in disbelief and screamed, “You actually dared to hit Nolan!” I snorted coldly, “If it weren’t for the fact that you’re pregnant, this slap would have landed on your face.” “I, the CEO of the An Group, am not someone you can cuckold as you please.” Vera’s mother heard the commotion and immediately ran up to mediate, “Andrew, Vera is pregnant and got a bit emotional. Don’t take it to heart.” Seeing that I didn’t say anything, Vera’s mother immediately pulled Vera’s sleeve, “Vera, apologize to Andrew. What you just said was too harsh.” Vera pouted and stared at me. It had always been me apologizing to her. How could it be her turn to apologize to me? She turned her face away, unwilling to give in. “Vera!” Vera’s mother lightly slapped her, knowing that if they continued like this, they definitely wouldn’t get any benefits. “Apologize!” Vera unwillingly stared at me, “It was my bad mood. I shouldn’t have hit you, but you shouldn’t have hit Nolan either.” This wasn’t an apology at all. She was just accusing me. My heart was completely cold. I couldn’t eat dinner either. I stayed in the study all night, unwilling to go out. In the end, it was Mrs. Lee who felt sorry for me and brought me dinner. The next day, I slept until noon before waking up. Seeing them preparing lunch, I turned and left without looking back. The company secretary told me that somehow everyone knew that Vera had gone out to play for half a year and came back pregnant. There was a lot of unpleasant gossip about me in the company. Soon after I left, Vera sent me a message asking me to come back and bring her some supplements. She also wanted me to buy her the new bag that came out the day before yesterday to make her happy. Through the text on the screen, I seemed to see Vera’s high and mighty, imperious appearance. In the past, I would have granted her every request. But now, who was she to me? I quickly replied, “Let the child’s father buy it for you. That would be more reassuring.” As soon as the message was sent, Mrs. Lee told me that Nolan had snatched away all the supplements my mother had just sent over, saying it was good for the child in Vera’s belly. “What else did they say?” I asked. Mrs. Lee snorted angrily, “Vera’s parents didn’t blame Nolan at all. They were even pleased, saying that as long as it was something Vera could eat, they shouldn’t be polite and should just take it.” Because of my poor health, my mother would send some nourishing supplements every now and then. I never expected that my mother’s love for me would be taken advantage of by these bastards. Even Vera’s mother, who usually knew her manners, acquiesced to this. Since they were so shameless, I had no need to give them face anymore. I went directly to the company, called a high-level meeting, rearranged the work, deployed staff positions, and directly removed Vera from the position of vice president. “From today on, Manager Vera will no longer hold any position in the company. She is not allowed to set foot in the company.”

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“Do you know, there was never a Esme Winters, much less an Freya Winters. There’s only Zoe Winters, who’s determined to make you maggots pay for what you’ve done.” On the day of the arrest, the man who had forcibly kept me by his side knelt before me, his eyes red as he begged me not to abort the innocent child. I looked at him with the same contemptuous gaze he once used on me: “The child may be innocent, but what makes you think a maggot like you deserves to have a cFreyahild?” “Boss, this batch of goods is from Colombia, top quality.” When the hood was removed from my head, I found myself in an opulent room. A man sitting on a cream-colored sofa, cigar in hand, was being fawned over by another man who had been beating us for days due to our disobedience. He was eagerly trying to sell his ‘merchandise’ – us, the trafficked people. “These two are virgins, and not bad looking either. Want to take a closer look, Boss?” The trafficker pulled me and another girl out of the line, forcing us to kneel in front of the man called ‘Boss’. The Boss’s calm eyes lit up for a moment when he saw me. Though the spark vanished instantly, I caught it precisely. “Keep her. Do what you want with the rest,” the Boss said, indicating me. The girl brought out with me spoke up, somewhat disgruntled, “Why her? What’s wrong with me?” I remembered this girl. She had sat next to me in the trafficker’s van. According to her, she had sought out these traffickers herself, even paying them some money, all for the chance to be brought before this so-called Boss and potentially become his ‘wife’. Because of this, unlike us, she didn’t have to wear a hood except during mealtimes. The Boss glanced at her, and the girl’s face lit up with a bright smile. But his next words sent her plummeting into an icy hell: “Cut out her tongue and feed her to the dogs.” After the trafficker left with over a dozen young men and women, the Boss gestured for all the bodyguards to leave. In an instant, only the two of us remained in the vast room. He tilted up my chin, his narrow phoenix eyes full of curiosity. “What’s your name?” “Esme Winters.” “‘Esme’ – a flower of purity and rebirth. It seems your parents put some thought into naming you. However, from today on, your name will be Freya Winters.” I nodded in compliance. But he wasn’t satisfied. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why do I get the feeling you’re not really this obedient?” As he spoke, he pointedly looked at the bruises on my arm left by the trafficker. I laughed coldly, “My life is in your hands now. What choice do I have but to obey?” He sneered, “At least you’re sensible.” Then he released my chin and patted it lightly. A man dressed in a butler’s uniform I had only seen in TV dramas before walked in at his signal, head bowed, awaiting orders. “Prepare a room for Miss Winters.” The butler nodded in acknowledgment and led me away. I was bathed and attended to by three maids. Although I tried to engage them in conversation in both English and Spanish, they acted as if they hadn’t heard me, not even sparing me a glance. Ryan didn’t touch me that night, just held me as he slept, reeking of alcohol. This was the first time in a week I had slept in a bed, so I slept particularly soundly. When I woke up the next morning, he was already gone, leaving only a note telling me I could move freely within the villa. Freedom, but not much of it. There were many servants here, but no matter how much I talked, none except the butler would say even a word to me. The butler, however, promptly handed me a glass of water the first time I swallowed. I figured I probably wasn’t the first woman brought into this villa, and certainly wouldn’t be the last. I had to escape. I didn’t believe that a man who had risen to such prominence in this obviously unsavory place would fall in love with me at first sight. I was also well past the age where I might be enticed by the romanticization of bad guys in novels or other literature, like that girl who was killed on his word. The southern border of this state leads to Mexico. This is a hotbed of crime, a paradise for drug dealers and arms traffickers. As a proper, ordinary girl who had been kidnapped by traffickers, I should try to escape. My first chance to escape came soon enough. I don’t know who they had offended, but on the evening of the thirteenth day of my forced stay in this villa, Ryan’s estate suddenly came under heavy attack. Since Ryan wasn’t staying here tonight, the security wasn’t as strict as usual. The attackers came in force, and even the maid assigned to watch me constantly had fled. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I slipped out of the villa and jumped into the river that ran through the estate. I had been swimming since I was young, earning national athlete certification at sixteen. Although an accident later cost me the chance to become a professional athlete, I had never let this skill lapse. I had noticed this river on my first day of being held here. Over the past few days, I had feigned exceptional obedience, and occasionally the butler would allow me to get some fresh air in the garden under the watchful eyes of the servants. Today, I had just ‘strolled’ to the northernmost part of the estate and discovered that this river connected to the outside. However, the estate’s fence didn’t seem to stop at the water’s surface but extended straight into the riverbed. Sure enough, there was a fence underwater just like above. But fortunately, I was slender enough that, although it took some effort, I managed to squeeze through. Once out of the estate, I didn’t dare relax. I held my breath and swam hard, only daring to surface and rest when the sound of gunfire and explosions was no longer intense. Ryan had lived up to his criminal status; even after swimming for so long after leaving his estate, I was still in the midst of a dense forest. Thanks to the relatively low pollution here, I could see the stars in the sky. If I followed the North Star, I would eventually make it home, or at worst, back to the States. In my haste to leave, I had brought nothing but the clothes on my back. Although I was hungry and tired, I didn’t dare slack off. After all, the firefight on the other side might stop at any moment. If the troublemakers won, that would be fine. But if the butler won, he would surely come looking for me first thing when he discovered I was missing. I don’t know how long I walked, but as dawn was breaking, a hand suddenly grabbed my ankle, and then someone struggled to crawl out from under the fallen leaves on the ground. I struggled, kicking hard at the person’s body with my free foot. “Stop kicking, stop kicking, it’s me,” the person finally poked their head out, speaking in a somewhat familiar voice. I calmed myself and managed to make out the person’s identity from that dirt-covered face – it was the girl who Ryan had ordered to be fed to the dogs that day. “What are you doing here?” I asked. She rolled her eyes at me, “Escaped, of course. Who knew Ryan Carter could be so ruthless, actually having someone take me to feed the dogs. Luckily, that trafficker thought I still had some value and could be sold again, so he secretly saved me.” “Ryan Carter?” I frowned. She rolled her eyes at me again, her tone sour: “You’ve been by his side for so long and don’t even know his real name? Looks like he doesn’t like you as much as it seemed.” I remained silent. Seeing my lack of response, she waved her hand and spoke again, “Well, I won’t say more about what’s between you two. But for you to escape from Ryan’s heavily guarded villa, seems you’re not as weak as you look.” I spoke flatly, “Just lucky, that’s all.” She pulled out a bag from a nearby pile of leaves, taking out an unopened package of compressed biscuits and offering it to me. Seeing that I didn’t take it, she opened it, broke off a piece, and put it in her mouth. “It’s not poisoned. I stole these from the trafficker’s car.” I hadn’t seen a grain of rice since yesterday afternoon, and after walking all night, I was starving. Once I was sure the biscuit was edible, I promptly took it and wolfed it down. Honestly, I had never found compressed biscuits so delicious before. A rustling sound of leaves being stepped on came from the distance. The girl and I exchanged a glance, quickly pocketed the biscuits, and climbed a tree. The trees here were lush and leafy; as long as we controlled ourselves and didn’t make a sound, the people below wouldn’t discover us. Soon, several men in camouflage carrying guns stood in the spot where we had briefly rested. “How did that damn woman run so fast? Just wait till I catch her, I’ll teach her a lesson,” a bald man said through gritted teeth. “She’s the boss’s woman. If you rough her up, won’t we be the ones in trouble?” another man cautioned. The bald man snorted coldly, “She’s just a plaything. You think she means more to the boss than us brothers who’ve been through thick and thin with him?” The man who had cautioned him patted his shoulder, “You’d better give up on that idea. I was in the room that day when Aiden brought them in. Her face, it’s almost identical to Miss Freya Winters’.” The bald man’s attitude changed instantly upon hearing the name Freya Winters. “Really?” The man nodded, “Why else do you think the boss would send us out to look for a woman? Come on, it’s dawn already. That woman’s probably exhausted after running for so long. If we keep going, we’ll likely find her soon.” The bald man stopped complaining and led the small team forward with the other man. Once we could no longer hear their footsteps, the girl and I carefully climbed down from the tree. She scanned me up and down with a strange look. Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, I took the initiative to ask where she planned to go next. She sighed, “Try to get back to the States, I guess. What else can I do, stay here and run phone scams? What about you?” “I’m going home.” Our goals were the same, but we disagreed on which direction to take. Although any direction would eventually lead to a road if we walked long enough, given her knowledge of Ryan and her idiotic decision to voluntarily get trafficked, I didn’t trust her to lead us out. So we walked in the direction I had originally planned. We encountered that group of men once more, again using the tree-climbing method to avoid them. After walking for two days, we finally heard the sound of car horns. We had finally made it out. But as soon as we emerged from the forest, I saw that familiar face. Surrounded by a group of bodyguards, the scene was identical to when we first met, except for the setting and the characters’ actions. Including his visibly aristocratic demeanor and my disheveled state. He looked at us with a half-smile, merely beckoning with his hand. The girl who had walked with me for two days immediately ran to his side. “Boss, I brought her out safely as you ordered. How are you going to reward me?” Her face no longer bore the bitter resentment she had shown while recounting her escape from the traffickers. Instead, it was full of ingratiating obedience. Ryan nodded to her, “Well done. Go see Butler Brown for your reward.” She pouted, somewhat dissatisfied, but said nothing more. I felt my whole body turn cold, as if all my blood had reversed its flow. Running away now would only anger him and serve no other purpose. I could only stand there, watching as he approached me step by step. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes nearly drowning me in their displeasure. “Didn’t I tell you that you could only move around within the villa? Why are you being so disobedient?” As he spoke, the hand that had tucked my hair suddenly gripped my neck. An intense feeling of suffocation enveloped me. But I didn’t try to beg for mercy. I just quietly closed my eyes – dying like this would be fine, at least better than living without freedom. But he wasn’t willing to let me go so easily. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, he released his hand. Taking a handkerchief from Butler Brown, he meticulously wiped the entire hand that had touched me, then carelessly tossed the handkerchief to the ground. “Bring Miss Winters back intact. I’ll deal with her personally when I return.” He particularly emphasized the word ‘intact’. The men who had been chasing us for two days immediately understood his meaning. They beat me at the roadside until I was nearly unconscious before tying me up and stuffing me into the car. Back at the villa, the butler dragged me to a room they had previously forbidden me to enter. Opening the door, I realized it wasn’t a room at all, but a dungeon. There was only a small window opposite the door, letting in a sliver of sunlight so those inside could distinguish day from night. There were four cages in the dungeon. Butler Brown locked me in the one nearest to the door. Fortunately, he didn’t turn off the small lamp that barely provided illumination when he left. I could clearly see the scene in the dungeon. All four cells were covered in mottled bloodstains. Mine was the cleanest, but even here, the remaining bloodstains showed that the previous occupants had suffered no small amount of torture. Various instruments of torture, some familiar and some not, hung on the wall opposite the door. In contrast to the dirty and messy environment here, these torture devices looked spotlessly clean. “Where did you come from?” A woman’s startled cry brought me back to reality. I looked up and saw a person suddenly appear in the diagonal cell. I forced a smile and greeted her. But when she saw my face, she unexpectedly fell to her knees, tears instantly flowing down her face, repeating: “Miss Winters, I was wrong. I’ll never dare to frame you again. Miss Winters, I was wrong…” She seemed to have completely lost the normal demeanor she had when asking where I came from. Unable to get any useful information from her, I walked to the corner straw pile and closed my eyes to rest. After running for so long, I was truly exhausted. I was awakened by cold water. Opening my eyes, I saw Ryan standing in front of me with a cold expression, a wooden bucket that had held water at his feet. He yanked me up from the straw pile, gripping my chin and crouching in front of me, his eyes nearly drowning me in impatience. “I told you that you could only move around within the villa. Didn’t you understand?” I suppressed the unease in my heart and answered word by word: “Those people came so fiercely, how was I to know your men would definitely win? Besides, didn’t you already arrange people to intercept me on the road? Whether I ran or not, what difference did it make to you?” He flung my face to the side and stood up, no longer looking at me. “Since you don’t realize you’ve done wrong, then just stay here until you’re willing to admit your mistake.” With that, he left without looking back. Perhaps fearing I would starve to death, Butler Brown came to bring me food at regular intervals. On his tenth visit with a tray, I asked him to let Ryan come see me. When Ryan came, he seemed to be in a good mood. He looked down at me and asked if I realized what I had done wrong. I said my mistake was going to Mexico for vacation and not immediately jumping out of the car when I realized I had been kidnapped. He left in a rage, turning off the small lamp that had been on day and night, and taking away the crazy woman who had been staying with me. The sky outside brightened and darkened seven more times. My psychological defenses had truly reached their limit. When Butler Brown came to deliver lunch, I begged him again. His response was, “The last time you angered the master, I also suffered and had a month’s salary deducted. This time, I dare not so easily pass on your message.” Without a word, I knelt down on the spot, earnestly promising him that I would never think of escaping again and would stay here to serve Ryan well. Only then did he agree to plead my case when Ryan returned that night. Ryan came back in the evening. As soon as he turned on the light, the tears I had been preparing all afternoon gushed out. My hands frantically reached for his body. He frowned slightly in disgust and turned to instruct Butler Brown to take me out of the dungeon. That night, he no longer just held me and muttered those words of love he hadn’t had a chance to say to the real Freya. Instead, he tore off my dress and vented his desires on my body. Before leaving, he put on his clothes and instructed me without turning back: “Have Butler Brown take you to remove that mole on your left cheek later.” Without that mole, I would truly be identical to the former Freya Winters. Knowing I couldn’t successfully escape on my own, I became increasingly obedient. After being a caged bird in the villa for two years, he finally decided to take me out to meet people. I deliberately acted according to what the servants who finally agreed to talk to me described as Freya’s behavior. The wariness in his eyes towards me decreased day by day, replaced by surging love. When he proposed having a child, I also made the most ‘outrageous’ request in two years. “I want to see the company.” He hesitated for a moment before agreeing. The next afternoon, I went to the company with him. His company was located in the courtyard behind a bank. To get there, one had to pass through the bank’s VIP room. Who would have thought that the headquarters of Mexico’s largest drug trafficking organization would be right behind Mexico’s largest bank? Some people in the company recognized my face. They looked at me with eyes full of pity, yet had to respectfully call me ‘Mrs. Carter’. Although I was just a substitute, Ryan’s willingness to bring me to the company already proved that this substitute held no small place in his heart. Ryan held my shoulders and introduced me to their company’s R&D base. With some pride in his voice, he told me that in recent years, many new drugs had been born in this R&D base. He even said that after I gave birth to our baby, he would name a new drug after the baby. I wore a harmless smile on my face, but inside I couldn’t help feeling sick. Naming a drug after my child? What a vicious idea. Yet he could say it so seriously, as if he thought it was some great honor. The moral compass of these drug dealers truly made me, a normal person, unable to comprehend. As he was talking enthusiastically, a middle-aged man ran over breathlessly. He looked at Ryan, then at me, with a troubled expression. I spoke up tactfully: “You two talk. I should head back anyway.” Ryan handed me over to Butler Brown, who had been accompanying us on the side, instructing him to take me back safely. When we reached the bank’s entrance, I suddenly heard someone call out that name I had almost forgotten myself. “Esme Winters?” I froze for two seconds before turning around. The person who called me ran to my side excitedly. It was Ethan White, my nominal brother. “Esme, it really is you. I just called out on a hunch because your back looked familiar.” He scanned me up and down, and seeing I wasn’t missing any limbs, he tentatively asked: “Why haven’t you called home for so long? Uncle Mark and Mom have been looking everywhere for you.” I glanced at Butler Brown, and seeing he was keeping his head down without any intention of intervening, I replied, “I’ve been out of the country and it wasn’t convenient. Now that we’ve run into each other, help me tell them I’m doing well here and they don’t need to worry. I’ll visit when I have the chance.”

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[If you’re reading this, do whatever it takes to wake yourself up immediately—because it’s watching you.] Content A blaring alarm jolted me awake. Maybe it was because I stayed up too late last night finishing assignments, but waking up today felt particularly hard. Reluctantly, I got up and smacked the alarm clock. April 11th. 6:00 AM. Time for school. The curtains were drawn tightly, leaving the room dim. Mom and Dad had probably already left. I shouted a few times, but the house was empty. It looked like they didn’t have time to make breakfast today. I sighed at the bare dining table. Guess I’d have to eat at school. A gloomy, overcast sky greeted me through the faint light at the edges of the curtains. Unusual for a town like ours—Will it rain? I reached into the side pocket of my backpack and found the crimson umbrella. Thankfully, Mom always prepared for things like this. Breakfast at Meadowfield High was the usual: a carton of milk and a packet of peanut butter cookies. Everyone seemed to love it. The classroom was eerily silent as my classmates ate, completely absorbed in their meals. By the time I finished, the bell for morning study rang. Today’s reading was for English Lit: Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. I don’t know why, but my mind kept wandering. I normally loved Lit class, but today I just couldn’t focus. While my classmates recited in perfect unison, I glanced around, restless. That’s when I noticed someone slip quietly into the back row, taking a seat. It was Daphne Collins. She usually kept to herself, and as far as I knew, she was a model student. Why was she late today? The teacher didn’t seem to notice. When Daphne glanced at me, confusion flickered in her eyes before she quickly looked away. Everyone was reading aloud in perfect synchrony—so much so that it felt unnerving. Maybe it was the pressure of upcoming finals? After morning study, Mr. Eric Stone, our homeroom teacher, called me to his office. The English teacher had called out sick, so English class would be a self-study session. As the class rep for English, I went to pick up the worksheets and brought them back to the room. Avery Carter, the class president, kindly helped me hand them out. Lunch at the cafeteria was stew. It was my favorite, so I grabbed an extra serving. In the first period after lunch—Math class—I noticed Daphne was absent. For PE, I had an excuse ready. I stayed in the nurse’s office due to cramps, though Dr. Rachel Monroe wasn’t there. Then, during evening study, something bizarre happened. Daphne’s parents showed up. They said she wasn’t feeling well and needed to take her home. Midway through the session, Mr. Stone came into the classroom with Daphne’s parents and Mr. Thomas Griggs, the security guard. The room fell silent as everyone kept their heads down, scribbling on their papers. When Daphne saw them, she suddenly began screaming and tried to run, but Mr. Griggs grabbed her. Her parents covered her mouth and dragged her out of the classroom, kicking and struggling. Yes, dragged her out. Something felt off. When I turned to look, the rest of the class was acting as if nothing had happened, heads down, furiously writing. My seatmate, Mia Porter, turned to me, smiling. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her lips curled into a grin, though her eyes remained strangely still. A shiver ran down my spine. I shook my head and returned to my work. From outside the window came a faint, scraping sound—difficult to describe. I pretended not to hear it. Finally, school let out. I practically bolted for the door, but as I passed by the back exit, a crumpled piece of paper lying in the corner caught my eye. Something told me it was Daphne’s. Making sure no one was around, I quickly pocketed it. The rain started on my way home. Just my luck—I’d forgotten the umbrella. Soaked, I made it home. Mom and Dad still weren’t back. The living room was pitch black. The ceiling light was broken and wouldn’t turn on no matter what I tried. I gave up and went to my room. Remembering the note, I pulled it out of my bag. Under the dim light of my desk lamp, I saw words hastily scrawled in red pen: “Wake up now!” I didn’t understand what it meant. The next moment, everything went dark. A blaring alarm jolted me awake. I felt drained, like I hadn’t slept at all. Was it because of last night’s homework? I glanced at the clock on my desk— April 11th. 6:00 AM.

Breakfast was the same today: milk and peanut butter cookies. But I wasn’t hungry, so I only took a couple of bites. Something felt off, like I was forgetting something. I couldn’t focus during morning study, either. The English teacher was still out sick, so we had another self-study session. Avery helped me pass out the worksheets. But when we finished, there was an extra copy left. Shouldn’t there be 46 sheets? Was I mistaken? Did I count wrong? Wait—how many students were in our class? 46 or 45? My head spun with confusion. Lunch was stew again. I wasn’t in the mood, so I barely touched it. In Math class, Mr. Stone’s lesson kept everyone fully attentive. But something kept nagging at me. I glanced at the back row, where an empty seat stood out. Someone used to sit there, right? Daphne wasn’t here. My mind felt like it was trying to remind me of something, but the thought slipped away before I could catch it. Wait… who is Daphne? “Wake up now!” Those words suddenly flashed in my mind. Daphne Collins! She was my classmate, and she’s missing! Our class has 46 students. I didn’t count wrong! Today is April 11th. Yesterday was too! A chilling realization hit me, and my body broke out in a cold sweat. Something is wrong. Very wrong. I turned to Mia and whispered, “Where’s Daphne? Why isn’t she here today?” Her face was expressionless as she replied, “Who’s Daphne?” My heart sank. Daphne was gone. The atmosphere was suffocating. I sat frozen in my seat, barely daring to breathe. When class ended, everyone headed to PE. I feigned cramps again and snuck back to the classroom. Daphne’s desk was shoved into the corner, covered in dust. It looked like no one had touched it in ages. Was this a dream? Or was my memory the dream? What day was it yesterday? Was there ever a Daphne Collins in our class? A tangle of questions clawed at my mind, each one tightening like a noose. My trembling hands reached for her desk. It was empty inside, except for a layer of dust. As I pulled my hand back, it brushed against something taped to the underside of the desk. A black leather journal, worn and frayed. I ran to the girls’ restroom and locked myself in a stall, flipping through its pages. The first few had been torn out, leaving jagged edges behind. The most recent entry read: “Today is April 11th. Again. This is my 87th April 11th. I know it’s watching me, but no matter what I do, I can’t find it…” The entry ended abruptly. A chill crept down my spine. My fingers trembled as I flipped to the back cover and found a piece of paper tucked inside. Scrawled across it, in dense, chaotic handwriting, were a series of rules: 1. If you’re reading this, do whatever it takes to wake yourself up immediately—because it’s watching you.

“My name is Daphne Collins. If you’re reading this guide, please—please—make sure to follow these rules to the letter!” … [2] Do not eat the school’s food. If you’re hungry, go to the snack bar in the cafeteria on the first floor. But whatever you do, don’t buy the milk or peanut butter cookies. [3] Do exactly as the teachers say. Don’t stand out or behave differently. Blend in. Don’t let it notice you. [4] Make sure to get home before it gets dark. Home is safe. If it traps you, the science lab might be a secure fallback. [5] If you’re alone in a classroom, the nurse’s office, the lab, or any space, double-check that the door is locked. If the door suddenly opens, something has come in. [6] When passing the 7th-floor staircase in Founders Hall, don’t look at the mirrors on the wall. [7] The faucet in the sinks will always drip. Do not try to turn it off. If the dripping stops, lock the stall door, close your eyes, and count to 100. No matter what touches you, don’t make a sound—and do not open your eyes. [8] Some students and teachers have been replaced by “those things.” Find a way to identify them as soon as possible. [9] Don’t trust anyone. [10] And most importantly, find whatever extra presence is among us—and kill it. If you don’t, it will kill you. … The writing grew increasingly frantic as it went on. I strained to make out every word, but my anxiety and panic only grew stronger with each line. If this was real, it meant I was trapped in some kind of unknown loop. And at any moment, I could end up like Daphne Collins… My eyes lingered on Rule #10. Did Daphne disappear because “that thing” killed her? That’s when I noticed something—something I had been vaguely aware of but hadn’t fully realized until now. The dripping from the faucet had stopped. My mind went blank, like an explosion had gone off in my head. “Lock the bathroom door.” The rule from the journal flashed vividly in my mind.

“23… 24… 25… 26…” I squeezed my eyes shut, holding my breath as I counted silently. The air around me seemed to grow colder with every passing second. My heart pounded uncontrollably. Something was here. My legs felt weak, and my entire body froze. A sickening, putrid stench hit me like a freight train, sharp and overwhelming. Then came the sound. Something was dragging itself across the tiled floor. A wet, sticky, squelching noise that made my stomach churn and bile rise in my throat. My mind conjured up the image of decaying flesh. “48…” The sound stopped suddenly, just outside my stall door. Then—THUD. It pressed itself against the door. It was listening. My breathing hitched, and I clamped my hands over my mouth to keep from screaming. “63… 64…” Each second dragged on for an eternity. The silence stretched so long that I started to believe it was gone. Then, a cold droplet hit the top of my head. Followed by another. Drip… drip… The sound was rhythmic. Was it just the faucet again? Or… Or was it the thing—right above me? “…89… 90…” I could feel it.

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After getting my cartilage pierced, I went to wash my hair at Haven Hair Studio. I specifically told the stylist to avoid my ear. But not only did she smudge half the foundation off my forehead, she deliberately aimed the sprayer directly at my ear. The pain brought me to tears. When I stopped her, she sneered, “If you can’t even handle this pain, how do you have the guts to go after someone else’s man?” I was dumbfounded. Then she accused me of being “a fake, acting all innocent like a two-faced dove.” I’d had enough. I grabbed the blow dryer from her hand and shoved it into my brother Ashton’s arms. “You’re the boss—your turn!” Content 1 After getting my ear pierced, I remembered there was a family dinner tomorrow. Too lazy to wash my hair at home, I decided to head over to my brother Ashton’s salon, Haven Hair Studio. He wasn’t there, but he thoughtfully arranged for a stylist who, he said, had a gentle touch. The stylist walked over with an irritated scowl and muttered under her breath, “So now I’m washing some side chick’s hair? What a filthy man.” I raised an eyebrow at her and simply reminded her, “Please don’t get any water on my ear.” The skin around the fresh piercing was still sensitive, and getting it wet could lead to an infection. “Got it. But let me make one thing clear—I hate being interrupted while I work. So zip it!” she snapped, her tone brimming with hostility. Her sudden outburst left me stunned. Was she mad at me? “What’s with your attitude?” Before she could respond, a sharp pain shot through my ear. She had deliberately sprayed water directly onto the freshly pierced cartilage. “Ahh!” I clutched my ear, tears streaming down as the pain throbbed relentlessly. “I told you not to get my ear wet. You even said you heard me—so what’s your deal?” “Oh, my bad,” she replied with mock indifference. “Didn’t mean to. But seriously, you’re so fragile. It’s just water; you won’t die from it. Stop being so dramatic.” I was speechless. “I’m paying for a service. You’re treating me like this, and I’m not allowed to complain?” “Oh, please. You’re probably spending someone else’s money anyway. Girls like you who chase other people’s men? You deserve it. If you’re going to be a homewrecker, at least toughen up. What would you do if the wife came looking for a fight? Let her kill you?” She sneered at me, clearly imagining me as some desperate mistress. “What nonsense are you spouting? Who’s a mistress?” Her words lit a fire in me. Anyone would be furious if they were wrongly accused like that. “Oh, so you’re not a mistress? Then you must want to be one. No respectable woman gets her cartilage pierced. Stop pretending. What, you think I can’t see through your act, you two-faced little dove?” Her ridiculous logic made me laugh. “If you don’t want to wash my hair, get someone else to do it.” I didn’t want to waste another word on her. Her worldview was obviously warped. But she yanked my hair back and started lathering shampoo aggressively. I tried to sit up, but her grip was too strong. The sound of blow dryers filled the salon, drowning out my attempts to call for help. Helpless, I clutched my ear protectively and grimaced through the entire ordeal. When I finally sat in front of the mirror, I noticed something horrifying—half my foundation near my hairline was completely gone. Can someone explain where the makeup on my forehead went? 2 I glanced at the nametag on her chest. “Tiffany Carraway.” “Miss Carraway,” I said, pointing at my forehead. “Care to explain why half my foundation vanished while you were washing my hair?” She blinked, her expression unapologetic. “Oh, you were caking. I did you a favor and washed it off. No need to thank me—it was nothing.” Then, as if to top off her masterpiece, she yanked a towel around my hair, pulling out several strands in the process. I winced in pain, watching as she picked up the blow dryer. “You don’t need to dry my hair—” She pretended not to hear me. The dryer roared to life, and she aimed it at my scalp, holding it so close that the heat scorched my skin. I quickly grabbed the blow dryer from her hand and turned it on her face. “Oh, you like blowing? Here, let me help you!” Just then, Ashton walked in. “What’s going on here?” Tiffany quickly launched into her sob story, looking pitiful. “This customer seems unhappy with my service. Maybe I’m just not skilled enough.” Ashton nodded, ever the straightforward one. “Riley’s picky. You’re still new; it’s normal that she’s not satisfied. Go take a break.” Tiffany looked like she’d been slapped. She clearly expected some sympathy, but Ashton’s bluntness left her on the verge of tears. I tossed the blow dryer into Ashton’s arms and smiled sweetly. “Big bro, her skills are awful. Why don’t you take over?” Tiffany’s eyes widened in disbelief. Ashton, personally drying my hair? And I’d even called him “big bro” so affectionately—something she’d never done. From the mirror, I caught her hateful glare. It was immensely satisfying. When it was time to pay, I pulled out my phone to scan the code, but Ashton stopped me. “Why are you paying? This is my salon—just head home.” I smirked at Tiffany. “But your stylist seems to disagree?” Tiffany forced a smile. “I just didn’t want the books to get messy…” Ashton frowned. “Put it on my tab, then.” Her face turned even paler. Humming a tune, I left in high spirits, only to be stopped by Tiffany just outside the door. “You little tramp! Stay away from Ashton!” Ashton—my brother. I turned to her with an amused smile. Her overly delicate makeup and colorful highlights clashed with her faux-innocent vibe. She looked exactly like a TikTok E-girl trying too hard. “And what authority do you have to warn me? You’re out of your depth.” “He’s my man! You’ll never have him. He’d never choose someone like you!” “Really?” I rolled my eyes. “Keep dreaming.” As I turned to leave, she stepped in front of me and slapped me hard across the face. Caught off guard, I stumbled, scraping my palm on the concrete. “Ah!” I stared at the blood trickling from my hand. My ear throbbed from the impact of her slap. Furious, I stood up and returned the slap, hard. I’d wanted to do this ever since she sprayed water on my ear. “You’re insane!” I snapped and walked off without looking back. Behind me, she yelled, “Try going after Ashton again, and you’ll regret it!” 3 The next morning, I dragged myself out of bed early and went to Bayside Medical Center. My ear was inflamed from all the torture it had endured and hurt so badly I couldn’t sleep. After picking up my prescription, I ran into Harper Winslow, an old high school friend who was there for a prenatal checkup. With the family dinner set for later that afternoon and nothing urgent to do, I decided to keep her company. The clinic was bustling with people. Early pregnancy could be risky in such a crowded place. While waiting outside for Harper, I suddenly heard a shrill voice: “It’s you!” I looked up. Of course, it was Tiffany Carraway, the crazy stylist from yesterday. I rolled my eyes and turned away, not in the mood to engage. But Tiffany, true to form, wouldn’t let it go. “What are you doing at Gynecologist? Oh my God, are you pregnant? Whose kid is it? You’re out here having a baby and still chasing Ashton? Have you no shame?” How could someone jump to such insane conclusions? “You’re nuts! Whatever I’m doing has nothing to do with you!” I shot back, annoyed. Her eyes darted around before she turned and began shouting for attention. “Everyone, look over here! This woman was flirting with my boyfriend yesterday, then hit me when I called her out. And now she’s here, probably carrying some random loser’s baby. Maybe she’s even selling herself!” As she ranted, she jabbed her finger at my shoulder and gave me a hard shove, making me stumble back. People began gathering, eager to witness the commotion. “She looks so pretty, but she’s doing this? The world is going downhill,” someone muttered. “Pregnant and still causing drama? Some women just love attention,” another sneered. I was shaking with anger. This wasn’t just slander; it was public humiliation. “What the hell are you even talking about?” Harper’s voice cut through the noise as she walked out of the exam room. “You’re committing defamation. Do you realize that?” “Oh, so now you’ve got backup?” Tiffany sneered. “You know your behavior disgusts everyone, so you brought a friend to defend you? Where’s the baby daddy? Or are you two part of some organization? Gross! Stay away from me; I don’t want to catch anything from you!” “Tiffany, enough! Don’t think I won’t call the police!” I pulled out my phone and dialed 91

Seeing this, Tiffany lunged for my phone. “You’ve already thrown your dignity out the window by being a homewrecker. What’s the point of pretending now?” “Stop!” During the scuffle, Tiffany pushed Harper, who was holding her stomach. Harper fell to the ground with a cry of pain. “My stomach… it hurts…” Harper’s face turned pale as blood pooled beneath her. “Harper! Someone, get a doctor!” I shouted, rushing to help her. The crowd backed away, not wanting to get involved. Thankfully, we were already at the hospital, and a nurse quickly wheeled Harper into the emergency room. I turned to Tiffany, furious. “I already called the cops. If anything happens to Harper’s baby, you’re done.” Tiffany collected herself and scoffed, “That’s her problem! Not like she’s some saint. The kid would’ve been a bastard anyway.” When the police arrived, Ethan Garrison, Harper’s husband, came with them. The first thing he asked was, “How’s the baby?” When the doctor explained the situation, Ethan turned to Harper with a scowl. “Useless woman!” he snapped. Meanwhile, Tiffany stood before the police with her usual arrogance. “She fell on her own. Don’t even try to pin this on me.” Ethan stormed toward her, but when he saw her face, he froze, staring dumbly. 4 I watched Ethan’s reaction, frowning. The officers, seeing Harper’s husband had arrived, suggested resolving the matter privately. Noticing Ethan’s fixation on her, Tiffany’s expression shifted from disdain to faux innocence. With teary eyes and a trembling voice, she looked up at him like a fragile dove caught in the wind. “I didn’t mean to push your wife. Please forgive me,” she pleaded. Ethan’s expression softened immediately. “Okay… okay…” “What?! Harper could lose her baby, and you’re forgiving her?” I demanded. Ethan waved me off impatiently. “If the baby’s gone, that’s Harper’s fault. I’m her husband, so I get to decide. You don’t have any right to interfere.” “You—!” I started, but Tiffany cut me off. She grasped Ethan’s hand and murmured, “Thank you.” Ethan’s face flushed as he squeezed her hand, his thumb grazing her skin. “No problem,” he said, leering. I was speechless. Harper married this guy? It made sense, though. What kind of husband lets his pregnant wife come to the clinic alone? The police, clearly uncomfortable, prepared to leave. “Her public defamation of me—surely you can press charges for that?” I asked. One officer hesitated. “Do you have any recordings or videos? Without evidence, it’s hard to proceed.” I sighed, wishing I’d slapped Tiffany harder earlier. Tiffany, smirking triumphantly, threw Ethan a flirtatious glance before strutting off. Ethan remained, staring after her, completely unaware that Harper had already been wheeled out of the operating room. Realizing Ethan had no intention of helping Harper recover, I arranged for a reliable caregiver to assist her during her recovery. Later, I recounted everything to Harper, urging her to consider whether Ethan was worth staying with. The Harper I remembered from high school was bold, strong, and decisive—the kind of woman other girls aspired to be. Ethan wasn’t her match, and she definitely wasn’t the type to settle for someone like him. I trusted she’d figure it out. That evening, during the family dinner, I shared all of Tiffany’s antics with Ashton. Ashton listened, stunned by the sheer drama and venom Tiffany brought into his salon. “I mean, seriously. Her attitude’s awful…” As I finished recounting the story, I reached for my glass of water, but before I could drink it— SPLASH! Cold water drenched me, and I looked up to see Tiffany standing there, trembling with rage. “You b*tch! I told you to stay away from Ashton! How dare you get close to him again?” Everyone at the table froze in shock. “Who is this woman? Ashton, get her out of here!” a family member finally said. Ashton, just as stunned, stood and grabbed Tiffany’s arm to drag her out. But Tiffany wasn’t done. “I’m Ashton’s girlfriend! You must be his family, right? Is this some setup to marry him off? Let me tell you, Ashton already has me! And this woman you brought here? She’s nothing but a tramp. I saw her at Gynecologist earlier, probably pregnant with someone else’s kid, hoping Ashton will play stepdad!”

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The Fourth of July coincided with the fifth anniversary of my marriage to Serena Sinclair. We had planned a trip to Napa Valley for the holiday, but on the morning of our departure, Serena hastily packed her suitcase and said, “There’s a last-minute work trip I need to attend to for the company.” I believed her—until later that night when I scrolled through Instagram Stories and saw a post from her first love, Lucas Stone. In the photo, the two of them were close, fingers intertwined, their matching silver bracelets glaringly prominent. I let out a bitter laugh. Serena had made it to Napa Valley, just not with me. I didn’t call to confront her. Instead, I calmly gave the post a like. A minute later, Serena called me, her voice frantic. “This is just a misunderstanding. We just happened to run into each other while on business. I promise I’ll make it up to you next Fourth of July.” I chuckled disdainfully. “No worries. Have fun.” She paused, confused. “Why aren’t you jealous this time?” … When Serena returned a week later, dragging her oversized suitcase through the door, I stayed seated on the couch, my eyes on the TV. In the past, I would have rushed to help her, taken her bag, and even swapped her shoes. Not this time. Serena leaned against the door, frowning at me. “Elias, where are my slippers?” I nodded toward the shoe rack. “In the cabinet. Help yourself.” Her brows furrowed tighter, but after a brief hesitation, she relaxed and fetched the slippers herself. Walking over to me, she glanced at the empty dining table and pouted. “I’m starving. Can you make me some chicken soup?” Normally, I would’ve jumped up at any time, even at 3 a.m., to make her something. Today, I simply replied, “No time. Order takeout.” Serena’s face flickered with annoyance, but she sighed and softened her tone. “Honey, I know the sudden trip upset you. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I even brought you a gift. Can you forgive me?” I didn’t look at her. “You’re overthinking it. I’m not mad.” She froze, clearly surprised, before knitting her brows again. From her suitcase, she pulled out a plain-wrapped gift. Inside was a navy-and-emerald tie. She smiled expectantly. “Do you like it? I picked it out just for you.” Three days earlier, Lucas had posted about a Fourth of July mall promotion: spend over $10,000 and get a complimentary tie. That exact tie was now Serena’s “thoughtful” gift. I kept my composure, took the tie, and thanked her flatly. “Appreciate it. You’re so thoughtful.” Serena blinked, stunned. “That’s all you’re going to say?” “Mm-hmm. What else would you like to hear?” Her frown deepened as she clutched my arm, trying to explain. “You’re still mad, aren’t you? I already told you, Lucas and I just ran into each other at the airport and had a meal. That’s it.” I nodded. “I know. I’m not mad.” She stared at me, shocked. “Why aren’t you jealous this time?” “Because I’ve stopped caring.” I grabbed my coat and headed for the door. Serena stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “Where are you going? And what about my anniversary gift?” A month earlier, I had won a sapphire charm bracelet at an auction, and Serena had seen the news about it. Instead of explaining, I took out my phone and transferred $5,000 to her account. “Forgot to prepare one. Buy yourself whatever you like.” She stood in stunned silence. In five years of marriage, I had never once failed to prepare a thoughtful gift for any occasion. After a few seconds, she grew angry, grabbing my hand. “Where’s the bracelet?!” I let out a cold laugh and pointed at her wrist. “What bracelet? Isn’t that matching bracelet with Lucas enough?” Serena flushed with embarrassment. “It’s… just something he gave me as a friend. Don’t overthink it. I’ll take it off now.” After living together for five years, I knew her micro-expressions well. The way her fingers fidgeted with her shirt revealed her unease. Having lost faith in her, I had no desire to argue. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I turned and left.

For five years of marriage, I put Serena first, which meant I hadn’t seen my old friends in forever. I booked a flight to Charleston and called up my closest buddy, Adrian Starr. Adrian immediately arranged a gathering. Three rounds of drinks in, the guys eyed me curiously. “We thought you abandoned us after you got married. Does Serena know you’re here?” I took a sip and smiled. “From now on, call me anytime. No permission needed.” My phone buzzed incessantly with calls from Serena. Ever since Lucas returned to the States, there had been countless nights when Serena didn’t come home, leaving me anxiously dialing her number. When I confronted her about not answering, she once snapped, “Did the sky fall? Every time I see a bunch of missed calls from you, I feel sick.” Now, she was the one endlessly calling. We stayed out until late, nearly midnight, when Serena suddenly burst into the bar, looking disheveled. She pulled out a chair and sat beside me as if nothing had happened, taking my glass and scolding, “You shouldn’t drink so much when you’ve got stomach issues. Do you even care about your health?” Her sudden concern felt jarring, almost foreign. I glanced at her, my tone icy. “What are you doing here?” The guys greeted her politely, and she smiled before gripping my hand tightly. “You didn’t answer my calls. I had no choice but to come find you.” I shook her off, my voice cold. “Serena, I’ve already told you. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. Don’t overstep.” She froze, staring at me in disbelief. I ignored her and left with Adrian, brushing past her. Serena followed us outside, shouting after me. “Elias, I’ve come all this way to make amends. What else do you want me to do?” “Grow up. We’re almost thirty. Do we really need to play these disappearing games after an argument?” She climbed into the car with me and Adrian, determined to follow us. In the car, she clutched my arm, begging to talk. I refused, and she grew flustered. “Enough is enough. You’ve had your fun, drowned your sorrows, and now it’s time to come home.” “You’re jealous, aren’t you? But I swear, Lucas and I are completely innocent. Why are you hurting yourself over this?” I smirked. “You’ve misunderstood. I drank tonight because I was happy to see my friends. Nothing more.” I pushed past her, heading into Adrian’s home, ignoring her frantic knocking at the door. That night, I slept like a baby.

The next morning, Adrian knocked on my door. “Serena’s here.” Dressed and ready, I went downstairs to find her sitting at the table, face clouded with anger. In the past, even the smallest frown would have me rushing to cheer her up. This time, I walked past her without a word, flagged down a cab, and headed to the airport. At the gate, I ran into Serena again. She marched up, her tone sharp. “Elias, we’re married. There’s no need to avoid me over something so trivial.” Without looking up, I typed on my laptop and replied, “You’re overthinking it. I’m not avoiding you.” Before I could finish, her phone rang, the ringtone indicating her priority contact. From where I sat, I heard Lucas’s voice. “Where are you? Don’t forget tonight’s event. Whether or not we close this deal depends on it.” Lucas had been back in the States for three years, and Serena had quietly leveraged my name to help him numerous times. I had tolerated it, choosing to look the other way. But the tender smile on her lips and the sweet tone in her voice were things she had never given me. Whenever I asked for more warmth in our conversations, her response was always the same: “Work already drains me enough. Can’t you stop being so demanding?” I sent a message to my assistant, instructing him to inform our partners that Serena and I were beginning divorce proceedings. After ending her call, Serena turned to me, her earlier smile gone in an instant. “There’s still work to do, and flights are fully booked. Give me your ticket. You can take the next one.” I stayed put. Serena repeated herself, her tone more insistent. “I didn’t buy a ticket back to Charleston,” I replied flatly. Her face twisted in frustration. “So this is all a show, huh? You’re just trying to make me jealous?” “You’re being ridiculous!” she snapped before storming off. I watched her retreating figure, a pang of bitterness rising in my chest. No matter where she was or what she was doing, Lucas always came first. As Lucas had once posted: true devotion is when someone’s priority is always you.

I didn’t buy a ticket back to Charleston because my destination was Seattle. After taking over Ford Enterprises, my primary goal was to expand into retail chains, and the land in Westfield District seemed like the perfect location. Adrian Starr had recommended a mentor to me, someone who was a close friend of his father. He assured me that one dinner with this man could teach me a great deal. From the moment we met, we hit it off. Over dinner, Professor Nathaniel Huxley helped clarify many of the challenges I was facing. He liked me and suggested that I join his company for six months. He assured me that, during this time, I’d not only learn the ropes but also secure a foothold in the retail business and carve out my own path. With such an opportunity handed to me, I couldn’t refuse. After dinner, as I was about to drop him off at his residence, my phone started ringing incessantly. Serena was calling. I dismissed the calls repeatedly until Professor Huxley, noticing the affectionate name I had saved her under, asked, “Shouldn’t you inform your spouse that you’re in Seattle?” I shook my head, correcting him. “She’s no longer my spouse. I’ve already decided to divorce her.” After dropping off Professor Huxley, I finally called Serena back. As soon as the call connected, she launched into accusations: “Elias, what’s going on? Why did the corporate partners tell me they’ll only discuss matters with you directly?” “What’s happening? Haven’t I been managing all the company’s operations for years? Don’t you realize how important tonight’s deal is for me?” Her commanding tone was the same as ever, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “And?” Before she could respond, I heard Lucas’s voice in the background: “Serena, you have to help me with this. You’re my only hope.” Serena’s tone immediately softened as she reassured him, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything.” Hearing this, I clenched the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white. Serena had repeatedly claimed that her relationship with Lucas was strictly professional, yet here she was, offering him a level of warmth and care she’d never shown me. The pretense was sickening. I coldly declined further conversation and hung up, turning off my phone.

I spent two days in Seattle. Between sipping tea with Professor Huxley and completing onboarding paperwork, I also scouted a place to live near the company. I had my assistant notify several business partners about my plans to move abroad and took the opportunity to thank them for their support over the years. The house showed no signs of Serena’s presence, and everything seemed as usual. I changed the door lock code. After a day of rest, my business partners started calling, insisting on a farewell dinner. Unable to refuse, I agreed. When I arrived, the door to the private room was slightly ajar, and I could hear Lucas and the partners chatting. I hesitated, puzzled as to why a simple farewell dinner included Serena and Lucas. After a brief pause, I walked in. Lucas sat close to Serena in the seat of honor. When she saw me, she glanced up and said, “Everyone here is a friend, so just sit wherever you like.” “There were some misunderstandings during the last event. Now that everyone’s here, let’s clear the air.” All eyes were on me. I didn’t speak, and the room fell silent. Lucas’s smug expression radiated as he smirked at me. I avoided sitting near them, pulling out a random chair and taking my seat. Throughout dinner, Lucas raised his glass frequently, enthusiastically toasting the partners while boasting about the bright future of their newly signed deals. He was clearly enjoying himself. Meanwhile, my phone kept buzzing with messages from Serena. “I need to make an announcement later. Just play along. Whatever concerns you have, we’ll talk about them at home.” “You’ll see tonight that there’s nothing improper between Lucas and me. There’s nothing to hide.” I read through her messages until the latest one popped up: “Lucas will probably drink too much tonight. I might need to take him home afterward.” Raising an eyebrow, I responded with a curt, “Do as you like.” After a few rounds of drinks, Serena decided the time was right. She stood with Lucas, clinking glasses as she addressed the room. “Starting today, Lucas Stone will be the new project manager for our company. He’ll be your primary point of contact moving forward. Please take care of him.” A business partner sitting closest to me raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Point of contact? For what? Ford Enterprises has already decided to pull out of Charleston, and we’ve made plans to withdraw as well. Who’s he supposed to work with?” “What? Pull out of Charleston? Elias, you…” Serena’s face turned pale as she whipped her head toward me. I nodded calmly. “That’s right. I’m planning to move Ford Enterprises overseas.” Serena’s eyes widened in shock, her expression frozen. “You’re moving Ford Enterprises abroad? What about me?”

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Seven years after marrying Adam Brown, I find a girl named Natalie Walker in his chat history. She is innocent and lively, always sending cute emojis with her messages. Adam’s replies are all short and to the point, but that’s what is most odd about it. I pretend to be curious and ask who she is. He says she is someone he’s saved during a mission. Adam works as a lawyer but also volunteers for a rescue team. He tells me she is pitiful, and that is why he can’t ignore her messages. But Adam never likes small talk. That day, Natalie and I are both taken hostage by kidnappers, and he can only save one of us. At that moment, he hesitates. When Adam Brown showed up with our son Lucas Brown, I was busy with the final preparations for my performance. It was the first show of my dance tour, “Rhythms”, and the whole company was taking it very seriously. Lucas rushed into my arms like a little puppy, saying, “Mom, you look so beautiful today.” His eyes, full of admiration and affection, sparkled like grapes, and I couldn’t help but smile back. But that joy faded the moment I saw Adam. He gave a little sigh, walked over to me, and quietly said, “Don’t be mad, okay? I didn’t mean it that way, honey, forgive me.” His apology was sincere, but it did nothing to ease the frustration I’d felt the day before. It all started about two weeks ago when Adam was working late every night. One evening, I happened to be free, so I decided to make dinner and bring it to him. But when I got there, there was already another lunchbox on his desk, and the owner of that lunchbox was chatting nonstop with Adam, who looked exhausted. Still, he tolerated her rambling on about her wild ideas. And when she said something particularly interesting, I even saw him flash a small, barely noticeable smile. I knew who she was, Natalie Walker, the girl Adam had rescued during a mission a year ago. I stared, lost in thought. Adam was a serious, reserved man, and he only ever showed that kind of gentle expression to people he was really close to. When had he started hanging around with someone like her? A chill ran through me, and my gut told me this girl had ulterior motives. When Adam saw me, a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. “Chloe, what are you doing here?” “I brought you dinner.” I kept it short and simple, my gaze sweeping over the cute lunchbox on the desk. “But I guess mine might be a little unnecessary.” Adam frowned slightly. “No, not at all. I’m glad you brought me dinner.” Natalie’s face twisted into a displeased expression, and she bit her lip. “Adam…” Her expression was so fake, it made me feel sick, but Adam’s brow furrowed deeper. “Chloe, don’t overthink it. Adam saved me. I brought some food to thank him.” I snorted softly. She was too young, and her flimsy excuse seemed pathetic to me. “Have you studied social etiquette? Bringing someone dinner in the middle of the night isn’t exactly the best way to show your gratitude.” I didn’t like playing nice when I didn’t mean it, and I wasn’t afraid to speak my mind. Natalie’s eyes immediately filled with tears, and she looked helplessly at Adam. Adam stayed silent. Natalie’s face was a mix of confusion, resentment, and even a little hatred toward me. Typical of someone her age. She couldn’t keep her emotions in check. “Sorry, Chloe. I was too forward. Adam, I’m sorry for causing trouble.” Natalie quickly grabbed her lunchbox and rushed out of the office. After she left, Adam turned to me and met my eyes calmly. “She’s young, Chloe. You don’t need to be so hard on her.” His words were cold and flat, with no emotion behind them, but they made me shudder. From that moment on, Adam and I started a cold war. What was the cause of the silence between us? Was it just because of Adam’s offhand comment, which wasn’t even a real expression of anger? No, it was because Adam had defended another woman in front of me. He had started shifting the affection he once gave me onto someone else. The cold war was painful. Adam pretended to be consumed by work, staying out all night, and leaving all the household responsibilities to me. I was lost, unable to understand why sending away a girl who had feelings for him, just like I always had, would make him so angry. He had even once questioned my feelings for him just because I wasn’t the jealous type.

“Honey, please don’t be mad at me. The bed in my office is so cold and hard, I can’t get used to it. Please let me come home,” Adam said. “Oh, so now you want to come home? What, do you think I’d stop you?” I replied sarcastically. Adam rubbed his head against my neck, his usual way of trying to win me over, and my heart couldn’t help but soften. “Honey, I really am sorry. Don’t stay mad.” “I made a reservation at that restaurant. Let’s go after your show. They have your favorite blueberry cake today.” Adam kept rambling, and all the resentment I’d been holding onto seemed to deflate, like air escaping from a balloon, fading away completely. “Will you still argue with me over her?” I looked at him sideways. “No, I won’t. You’re the most important person in my life.” I didn’t respond to that. Instead, I simply said, “Their seats are in the second row. You take Lucas over there.” A smile crossed Adam’s face as he picked up Lucas in his arms and leaned in to give me a quick kiss on the lips. It was annoying. He smudged my lipstick, but I couldn’t stop the happiness from bubbling up inside me. I hated the coldness in a home, and I didn’t want to keep fighting with Adam. The “Rhythms” performance went wonderfully, with thunderous applause from the audience. As I left the backstage area, I overheard people excitedly discussing the show. At the door, Lucas was standing next to Adam, holding a bouquet of flowers that was almost as tall as he was. When he saw me, he turned his body and ran over. “Mom, these flowers are from me and Dad. Do you like them?” I took the flowers and gave Lucas a kiss on his soft, chubby cheek. “Thank you, Lucas. I love them.” Lucas, shy, covered his face with his hands and burrowed into Adam’s arms. In a little boy’s voice, he said, “Mom, I’m a big boy now. You can’t kiss my face like that anymore.” Adam and I exchanged a look, and in that instant, we both shared a quiet, amused smile. This was how things should be between Adam and me, not changed because of some woman who’d only been in the picture for a year. The meal was lovely, filled with Lucas’ childlike chatter. When Lucas had finished half of his cake, he smiled and made a wish. “I hope every day is like this, happy, and that Dad and Mom always love me.” The mood was peaceful and harmonious, until suddenly Adam’s phone rang, the caller ID showing an unknown number. Adam hesitated for a moment before he hung up, but the caller didn’t give up, dialing again twice more. I turned my head, a little confused, and asked, “Who’s calling? Why aren’t you answering?” “It’s someone unimportant. No need to pick up,” he said. Hearing this, I didn’t press the matter. But then, the phone rang again. And just as I turned my head, I clearly saw the name on the screen, Natalie. “Adam, there’s a power outage at my place. I’m so scared.” In an instant, I could picture Natalie’s pitiful expression. What kind of emotions must have been behind the words she’d sent? I could hear Lucas singing a childish song off-key in the background, but my gaze was fixed on Adam’s face, searching for any sign of change. His expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever. But Adam must have sensed my suspicion. He pulled me close into his arms, “Chloe, don’t overthink it. I won’t go see her. I know where my boundaries are. The person I want to spend my life with is you.” I leaned into him, the steady beat of his heart soothing against my ear. Was this reassurance meant for me, or for himself? That fleeting worry in his eyes… Was he afraid I’d be upset, or was he concerned about Natalie?

After that night, life with Adam seemed to return to normal. Kisses and hugs, flowers and gifts were a regular part of my life again, and we were once more the picture-perfect couple that everyone admired. I wanted to lose myself in this blissful illusion, but Adam’s phone kept ringing nonstop every day, with messages coming in one after another, constantly reminding me that Natalie hadn’t completely disappeared from my life. I asked Adam to delete her number. But Adam said, “Her background is pretty sad, and she’s sensitive and insecure. If I just delete her, it might hurt her feelings. Right now, she sees me as her savior. If I cut her off abruptly, it might make her overthink things. But Chloe, you have to trust me. There’s nothing between us.” I stared silently at Adam, my emotions unreadable. With a helpless sigh, Adam handed me his phone. “If you don’t believe me, check it yourself. I really don’t have anything to do with her.” I glanced at his phone, but just for a second before I quickly turned my head away. I’ve always believed that trust is the most important thing between a husband and wife. I’d never checked Adam’s phone before. “I don’t need to check. I trust you.” A smile tugged at Adam’s lips, and he pulled me into his arms. “Chloe, you’re the best.” I whispered, “But don’t let me down, okay?” “I won’t. I’ll never disappoint you.” Despite his reassurances, Adam’s phone continued to ping with messages from Natalie every now and then. Every time I saw Natalie’s messages, written in that sweet, almost playful tone, a wave of anger surged inside me. I had never seen someone so shameless. Adam had already made his feelings clear. Why couldn’t she just let it go? But I had forgotten that sometimes, a little pain can be the beginning of love, and I had underestimated the saying, “When a woman chases a man, even a thin layer of paper is a barrier.” So, Adam started getting busy again. On the night of my second performance, Adam had told me he was busy with work, even though I knew he had the evening free. Instead of joining me, he sent a bouquet of flowers. But later, I found out that he had actually left work early that day, and I had no idea where he went. He had lied to me. When Lucas got sick, Adam said he was busy, leaving me to take Lucas to the hospital alone. Lucas had a high fever and kept calling for his dad. I tried calling Adam, but he quickly hung up. Before he hung up, I heard a woman crying in the background. On Lucas’ fifth birthday, Adam had promised to get him a retired police dog. He’d even put in a request to the station early. With his position, getting a retired police dog should have been easy. But on Lucas’ birthday, Adam apologized to him, saying the dog hadn’t been approved yet, and asked him to wait a little longer. Lucas was disappointed, and the next day, I saw Natalie walking a retired police dog in the park. What really set me off, though, was when I found a woman’s lipstick mark on Adam’s shirt. The bright red imprint felt like a hammer hitting me in the head. All I could hear was a buzzing in my ears, and the blood seemed to drain from my body. Adam had cheated.

Adam stepped out of the bathroom, rubbing his damp hair. When he saw the shirt in my hands, his eyelids twitched involuntarily. He quickly walked over to me, and when he saw the lipstick stain on the shirt, his 6’3″ frame seemed suddenly stiff and awkward. I threw the shirt in his face, my voice trembling with fury. “What’s this? A challenge?” He steadied me with his hands, urgently saying, “Chloe, Chloe, I can explain!” “Explain what? Adam, do you really think I don’t know anything? Were you really working that night during the performance? The woman on the phone when Lucas was sick… Wasn’t that Natalie? And the retired police dog you promised Lucas… You gave it to Natalie, didn’t you? You promised you wouldn’t disappoint me, but everything you’ve done lately just breaks my heart! This lipstick mark? What did you two do? You hugged her, didn’t you? After that, did you do anything else?” This past month had been pure torture. I watched as Adam grew more and more involved with Natalie, and I kept forgiving him. But Adam didn’t wake up. He chose to lie to me, and I was on the edge of confronting him. I just never expected the disgusting truth would come out this way. My emotions were so intense I could hardly breathe. I gasped for air, my chest burning with pain as if I’d been stabbed. Adam’s touch made me feel sick. “I didn’t! I pushed her away! There’s nothing between us, I swear! She’s just so pitiful, alone and bullied by everyone. She didn’t even tell me at first, I only found out when I saw her being mistreated. I felt sorry for her, but that’s all. I just wanted to help her, nothing more!” “Then why lie to me?” “Because I was afraid you’d get angry! Chloe, you care so much about Natalie, and I didn’t want her to come between us.” “Do you even hear the nonsense you’re spouting? If there was nothing between you two, why would you be afraid of me getting mad? Can’t you see she’s trying to seduce you? Tell me. Do you swear you have no feelings for Natalie Walker?” By now, Adam’s face was no longer full of fear; it was replaced with irritation. He kicked the edge of the bed in frustration. “Do you have to speak like this? You’ve never been like this before!” I gave a bitter laugh. How could he still act so righteous after everything he’s done? “Remember that debate we had back in college? Whether emotional cheating was worse or physical cheating? You said it was all cheating, and that men like that weren’t worth anything. You promised me you’d never cheat, but look at what you’ve done now!” Did twenty-year-old Adam know that thirty-year-old Adam would completely forget those words? His face went pale, and his lips trembled uncontrollably. “Adam Brown, you’re disgusting.”

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In college, I dumped the most popular heiress on campus. Three years later, my apartment flooded in the middle of the night. I went to crash at my buddy’s place, but accidentally crawled into her bed instead. She smirked coldly: “What, trying to rekindle our old flame?” I panicked and tried to leave, but she grabbed me. “Where do you think you’re going? You can’t just show up and leave like that.” In my dream, I was holding a soft, warm body. Just as I was about to really enjoy myself, a sharp pain in my ear jolted me awake. I opened my eyes to find myself staring into those mesmerizing almond-shaped eyes I’d been dreaming about. The owner of those eyes was speaking: “Beckett, it’s been so long and this is how you choose to see me again? What, trying to rekindle our old flame?” Terrified, I quickly freed my ear from her grasp and jumped out of the bed, my face flushing red and pale in turns. Lark. My ex-girlfriend. How did I end up in bed with her?! Her long hair was loose, and she was wearing only a sheer nightgown that left little to the imagination. I stuttered, “W-what are you doing here?” “I could ask you the same thing!” she retorted. At this point, I was so embarrassed I just wanted to run away. But she grabbed me before I could escape. “Where do you think you’re going? You can’t just show up and leave like that.” How could I have possibly guessed that after my apartment flooded, I’d sneak into my buddy’s place in the middle of the night only to end up in my ex-girlfriend’s bed? The commotion woke up the owner of the house. Gideon came over in his pajamas, his voice preceding him: “Cousin, what’s all the noise about?” When he saw me, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. “What the hell? What are you doing here?” I gave a bitter smile. “My apartment flooded. I had nowhere else to go but your place.” My buddy pulled me aside and winked at me suggestively. “She’s my cousin. Did you two sleep together?” I was so embarrassed I wanted to crawl into a hole. She was the last person I ever wanted to see again. This girl I had once cared for with all my heart – we just weren’t meant to be.

Back in college, she was the untouchable ice queen of our school. I fell for her at first sight when I saw her at a club meeting. Everyone said she was a wealthy heiress with impossibly high standards. Then one day, she sprained her ankle in the locker room. She limped out, her face pale with pain and covered in cold sweat. I happened to be passing by and immediately carried her to the infirmary on my back. After that, we became friends. I discovered that although she seemed cold on the surface, she was actually quite warm and friendly in private. She was also quite forgetful and always losing things. She would often message me asking for help buying this or fetching that. She said I was the most attentive man in the world, remembering all her likes and dislikes and providing the best emotional support. She teased that I must have a girlfriend to be so experienced. I laughed and said no, she was my first. Her eyes sparkled as she quietly took my hand. The more I got to know her, I realized she wasn’t called the campus goddess just for her beauty. She was also the cream of the crop among the wealthy elite. They had their own exclusive social circle that partied together. It was a completely different world from mine. But she told me she hated the fakeness and pretension of that circle. She said I was the most real. That made me happy. I introduced her to down-to-earth experiences of ordinary life. When I earned some money from helping my professor with research, I would treat her to a big meal. Sometimes she offered to pay, but I refused. I told her, “Paying is a man’s job.” I might not be able to give her a better life, but I would do my best with what I had. During that time, we were as close as could be. It was just an ordinary relationship, unable to withstand even a bit of wind and rain.

One day, a guy named Kieran from another department approached me. “I’m her fiancé. Please stay away from Lark.” I was shocked. “Lark never told me she had a fiancé.” “Our parents arranged it long ago. You can’t possibly be her boyfriend.” “What can you offer her besides dragging her down?” I didn’t believe him and argued back. He arched an eyebrow haughtily. “Let me show you her real life.” He had me disguise myself and took me to a fancy mansion. There I saw her with perfect makeup and an elegant updo, wearing a designer evening gown. She moved gracefully through the party, charming and poised. As the hostess, she worked the room effortlessly, completely in her element. Indeed, she and I seemed to be from different worlds. “See, she’s like a queen on high. And you? You’re just an ant on the ground. She doesn’t need some guy to take her to street food stalls. She needs someone who can build an empire with her.” I looked down at my sneakers and jeans, so out of place in this setting. I argued stubbornly, “But she likes me just the way I am.” Kieran laughed. “There are plenty more like you. Want proof? Check her phone contacts.” “She has her contacts sorted into groups. Our circle is in one group, while you and others like you are in a separate group.” The next day when I met Lark, I checked her phone while she was in the bathroom. Sure enough, my contact was saved under a code name and number. There were 7-8 others with similar names, all grouped together. When she came back, I asked her directly. “Do you find being with me boring?” She blinked coyly. “Not at all. I love being with you. You let me relax and not have to keep up appearances all the time.” “Are there others like that too?” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “A few, I suppose.” My heart sank. “Will I be part of your life in the future?” “Of course! We’ll work together at the company. There’s a trendy term now – ‘live-in son-in-law.’ What do you think?” She looked at me mischievously, as if she had just made a harmless little joke. My heart plummeted. This wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted an equal partnership. Finally one day, we had just finished watching a sad movie. The plot left me feeling suddenly disillusioned. “Let’s break up,” I said. She looked at me in shock, her temper flaring. “Fine, let’s break up then. Don’t come crying back to me later!” After that, when she messaged me, I blocked her. We had no contact for three years. I heard she went abroad.

Gideon’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “So that’s what happened between you and my cousin! No wonder she was so depressed for a while, locking herself in her room and refusing to talk to anyone.” I couldn’t imagine her being heartbroken over me. Those 7-8 guys in her phone contacts, each with their own code name. I was just one of many. “Getting dumped always hurts. It’s not that surprising,” I said. I had to go to work the next day and also needed to get my apartment fixed. I left early in the morning, not wanting any more interaction with her. I’m now a project manager at an IT company. Today we had a meeting with a big corporation about a new project. My team and I rushed to the company, only to find that our contact person was none other than Lark, who I had just awkwardly parted ways with. My scalp tingled, but there was no avoiding her. “This project has a tight timeline and heavy workload. The team will need to work overtime often, and many business requirements will need to be confirmed with me in person,” she said. I nodded. “Since we’ve won the bid, we’ll give it our all.” She pointed at me. “Beckett, please come to my office to discuss some details.” I followed her into her office. It had an austere, elegant style that didn’t quite match her soft beauty. What suited her best was the sharp business suit that accentuated her figure as she walked. I steadied myself. She first went over the project details, which I responded to one by one. Then she suddenly asked, “Our project schedule is very tight. Will your girlfriend mind you getting home late?” I shook my head. For some reason, I found myself asking, “You’ll be working late with us too, right? Will your boyfriend mind?” She answered languidly, “My boyfriend? He has quite a temper. Very willful.” I guessed she meant Kieran. My heart twisted with an indescribable sourness. “Then you shouldn’t stay so late with us. I can report any issues to you the next day.” She stared at me for a moment, then suddenly stood up and sat down next to me.

I stiffly shifted away. She suddenly grabbed my sleeve. “Why did you block me? Even if we couldn’t be lovers, couldn’t we at least be friends?” My heart ached. As if I had a choice in the matter? She leaned in close, her sweet-smelling breath on my face. “Beckett, I…” Before she could finish, there was a knock and Kieran walked in. “Lark, sorry, I didn’t know you had someone here.” He turned and saw me, freezing in surprise. “Well if it isn’t our campus heartthrob Beckett! Long time no see. I hear you’re a project manager now.” Seeing him brought back memories of before, filling me with bitterness. He walked over and put his arm around Lark’s waist intimately. “What do you want for dinner? I’ve made a reservation.” He looked at me. “Beckett, want to join us?” I suddenly stood up. “Sorry, I have plans. My girlfriend made a reservation too. I’ll be going now!” Lark looked stunned. I fled under Kieran’s mocking gaze. My heart, which had long been frozen over, shattered completely at the sight of them together. This time hurt even more than in college. Back then, I had cut things off myself. This time, I was the one being cast aside. My heart turned cold. Kieran was right about one thing. The games of the wealthy were not for ordinary people like me to play.

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On the day my usually well-behaved son killed his classmate and jumped off the rooftop of his school, my sister was frantic, making hundreds of calls and even contacting my husband to involve the police, urging me to identify his body. I, his biological mother, was in no rush. Instead, I ordered a fried chicken feast and casually watched TV. In my previous life, I had poured everything into raising my son, Gabriel. I nurtured him with care and love, molding him into a humble, bright, and kind-hearted young man. I ensured he had a healthy diet, tended to his every need, and was physically perfect without a single scar on his skin. Yet, on the day of the SATs, he killed his classmate Logan and leaped from the rooftop of Ashwood High School. When I rushed to the scene, devastated, my younger sister Lauren suddenly broke down, accusing me of abusing Gabriel for 18 years. She cried loudly, claiming I had caused his death. The coroner lifted the shroud covering Gabriel’s body, revealing scars of varying ages. My husband, Nathan, erupted in rage, releasing videos of me strictly disciplining Gabriel. The internet exploded in outrage, painting me as a monster. Online hatred culminated in strangers finding my location. Fueled by fury, they stabbed me ten times. I died in pieces, unable to understand: Why did my beloved son, whom I had never laid a finger on, end up killing someone, jumping to his death, and bearing scars I never inflicted? When I opened my eyes again, it was the day before Gabriel’s SATs. …… Content

“Abby, relax. Gabe’s a bright kid; tomorrow’s SATs will be a breeze. I bet he’ll get into Harvard without breaking a sweat.” Lauren, my sister, patted my back with a warm smile, offering kind words. I froze for a moment. The phantom pain of ten stab wounds in my abdomen lingered, making my head spin. The shock of Gabriel’s broken body and the agony of being murdered left my vision bloodshot. Lauren pulled me into a hug. “You’re so stressed out. Just stay home and rest. You’ll only distract him if you go over there.” “Trust me, Abby. Tomorrow, you’ll see that all your hard work will pay off. Gabe’s going to make you proud.” Her words, full of confidence, left me trembling. The surreal feeling of déjà vu was overwhelming. Lauren was my only family left. We had always been close, so I could never have imagined that in my past life, she would stand by Gabriel’s shattered body and accuse me of abuse. I pushed her away gently, my eyes red but my smile firm. “Fine. We’ll wait and see.” I swore I would save my son and uncover the truth. In my previous life, I had listened to Lauren’s advice. To avoid distracting Gabe, I stayed home. I even bought him a Lego set and Universal Studios tickets as a surprise for when the exams were over. I had poured years of careful attention and boundless love into raising Gabe. As a full-time mom, I devoted my every moment to him. With Nathan always busy with work, I took it upon myself to manage everything for our son. I never let Gabe do chores, encouraging him to exercise while I handled everything at home. I cooked him balanced, nutritious meals, tailoring them to his tastes. I even studied various subjects to help him whenever he struggled. I raised him as a kind, moral, and brilliant young man—every parent’s dream child. On the day of the SATs, I was full of hope, waiting outside the exam hall. Instead of my smiling son, I was met with his broken body, unrecognizable after the fall. I collapsed, heartbroken. Lauren wailed beside me, accusing me, “Abby, why did you push Gabe so hard? Did his grades matter more than his happiness?” “You hit him and stressed him out so much that he killed someone and jumped off a building. Are you happy now?” I crumpled to the ground, pale and speechless. Around us, the parents of other students murmured harshly: “So that’s how her kid was so perfect. She must’ve been ruthless. No wonder he jumped.” “Poor boy. And what about the classmate he killed? What a tragedy.” Their cruel words were unbearable. My son’s success had already drawn jealousy, but now their malice was like a tidal wave. Nathan arrived, furious. He shoved me to the ground and, in front of everyone, played a video from our home cameras. In it, I was sternly telling Gabe to finish his homework before playing video games. That single clip unleashed a storm of hatred online. People branded me a tyrant who had robbed Gabe of his freedom. Driven by blind rage, strangers found my address. They stabbed me repeatedly. The physical pain paled in comparison to the agony of losing my son and being betrayed by those I loved most. I couldn’t comprehend why my cheerful, kind-hearted son had done such terrible things before taking his own life. I had to stop this from happening. I needed to go to Ashwood High School and prevent him from killing Logan. I needed to rewrite this tragedy.

Gabriel’s school had a rule: Students had to stay in the dorms for a week before the SATs. Lauren kept insisting I stay home and not bother Gabe. I forced a smile and agreed. “Alright, you go ahead. Tomorrow, we’ll pick Gabe up together.” She smiled warmly, giving me a reassuring hug. “Everything will be okay.” In my previous life, she had always supported me with kind words. After our parents passed, I dropped out of school early to work and support her education. My life before raising Gabe had been dedicated to her. Yet, in the end, she publicly accused me, revealing mysterious scars on her own body. “Abby, you used to beat me too. How could you do the same to your son?” Her accusations were a knife to my heart. Watching Lauren’s car drive away, I changed into fresh clothes and raced to my garage. The thought of Gabe’s broken body tortured me, making me slam the gas pedal. When I arrived at Ashwood High School Dormitory, I rushed to the entrance, where Mrs. Spencer, the dorm supervisor, stopped me. “Whoa there! Parents aren’t allowed in. It’s SAT week!” “Please, I need to see my son. It’s urgent!” I pleaded desperately. She shook her head. “Rules are rules. I can’t let you in.” I relented and asked if she could call Gabe down instead. Soon, I heard footsteps on the stairs. When I saw Gabe alive and standing before me, my tears fell uncontrollably. I grabbed his hands, trembling, and asked, “Have I ever made you unhappy with how strict I’ve been?” Gabe looked confused. “Mom, what’s wrong? Of course not. I know you’ve done so much for me, especially with Dad working so much. The least I can do is study hard to repay you.” He smiled and hugged me. “Tomorrow’s the SATs. Don’t worry. I’ll make you proud.” Shaking, I asked, “How are things with your classmates? If there’s anything wrong, you can tell me.” He looked puzzled. “Everything’s fine, Mom. I get along great with everyone.” Gabe had always been well-liked, playing basketball with his friends and being kind to everyone. So why would he ever kill someone? I stroked his hair. “Alright. I’ll stay at a hotel nearby and meet you first thing tomorrow, okay?” “Okay, Mom.” He gave me a curious look but agreed. As I watched his tall figure disappear up the stairs, I wondered. At eighteen, he was strong and confident. There was no way he was being bullied. So why would he murder Logan and then jump to his death? I couldn’t figure it out. Bound by the school’s rules, I booked a room at The Elmwood Inn, overlooking the exam hall. That night, I sat wide-eyed, unable to sleep. The following day, I watched Gabe enter the exam hall. Everything was calm until the final ten minutes. For a moment, I closed my eyes. But when I opened them again, I saw Gabe standing on the hallway ledge, holding a bloodied knife. His face twisted in agony as tears streamed down. I could see his lips moving, shouting something I couldn’t hear. Then he climbed the railing. The memory of his shattered body from my past life flashed through my mind. “No!” I screamed, my voice cracking with despair.

But he couldn’t hear me. He shouted something I couldn’t make out, then suddenly leaned forward and vaulted over the railing. I saw his tall, sunny figure plummet like a kite with its string cut, crashing to the ground below. I opened my mouth to scream, but no sound came out. A metallic taste rose in my throat, and I coughed up blood. Staring at the distant ground where my son lay, I was thrown back to the memory of my previous death—stabbed ten times by enraged strangers. My fingers gripped the railing as I followed Gabe’s path, leaping off without hesitation. The impact shattered my bones, and I felt my insides heave up through my throat in a wave of iron-sweet pain. When I opened my eyes again, I was standing by the window of my house. Down below, I could hear the hum of an engine as Lauren’s car prepared to leave. I clenched my fists as if bracing myself for an irreversible decision. I drove straight to Ashwood High School, reaching Gabe’s dormitory without delay. This time, I demanded that Mrs. Spencer bring him down. When Gabe appeared, I didn’t exchange pleasantries. I grabbed his hand and said, “You’re coming home with me.” He stared at me, shocked. “Mom, the SATs are tomorrow. Are you feeling alright? Do you have a fever?” He reached out to touch my forehead. I caught his hand. “Gabe, I’ve let you make your own decisions for years, but you’re going to listen to me this time.” Mrs. Spencer looked baffled and stepped forward. “Ma’am, you’ve got to be kidding. You’re pulling him out the night before the SATs?” I brushed past her. “I’m his parent. I have the right to take him.” Her jaw dropped. “With a mom like you, no wonder the kid’s doomed.” Gabe frowned but followed me home, clearly confused. “Mom, what’s going on? You’re acting like a completely different person.” “In my eyes, you’ve always been calm, graceful, and composed. I’ve never seen you like this before.” For years, I had solved every problem independently, never raising my voice or losing control. Now, I didn’t know how to explain to him that his life was at stake. Tears streamed down my face as I asked, “Tell me the truth. Have I ever pushed you too hard? Are you unhappy?” He hesitated, thinking. “Well, of course, there were times it was hard, but when I saw my grades improve, I felt good about it.” I hugged him tightly. “But Gabe, I’ve realized none of that matters. All I want is for you to be happy and healthy.” His confusion deepened. “Mom, I am happy.” I couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Gabe, is there something you’re hiding from me? Please, just tell me!” Startled by my outburst, he shook his head. “Mom, you’re scaring me. Are you okay?” He brought me a glass of milk. “I’ll stay home tonight to calm you down, but tomorrow, I’m still taking the SATs.” I forced a smile and nodded. That night, I sat outside his bedroom, watching him sleep. Each time I closed my eyes, I saw him crying on that rooftop, jumping to his death. The SATs were the culmination of years of hard work. But what were their grades compared to his life? I grabbed his exam folder in the living room and tore his admission ticket. As long as tomorrow passed, Gabe would survive. I leaned against his bedroom door and closed my eyes. I was startled awake by the sound of shattering glass. Lightning flashed outside, illuminating the window, and rain poured down in torrents. Gabe was standing on the windowsill, his figure silhouetted against the storm. He turned to look at me, his eyes filled with despair, tears streaming down his face. He forced a smile in the rain, then fell backward into the darkness. I lunged forward, screaming, “No!” But all I heard was the sickening thud of his body hitting the ground. I collapsed, sobbing, “Why? I brought you home. Why couldn’t I save you?” Despite everything I’d done—even giving up his SATs—he still chose this path.

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I was preparing to take my girlfriend to Alaska to see the Northern Lights when I found photos of her lying naked with her male best friend in my drawer. Along with the photos were a bunch of lab reports checking male fertility. The date on the reports was the same day I had my stomach cancer surgery. So when she said she was busy, she was actually busy testing her male best friend’s fertility. When I confronted her about it, she lashed out at me impatiently. “We were just lying together, nothing happened.” “This was purely medical treatment. Can’t you stop being so dirty-minded?” Looking at the explicit video that came through on my phone, my heart sank into dead silence. After a long pause, I called my parents. “Mom, Dad, I agree to come back and inherit the family business.” After I hung up the phone, there was a violent knocking at the door. The door shook with the urgent, grating knocks. Whoever was outside was clearly furious. “Nash, open the door!” It was my girlfriend Nadia’s voice. In the past, I would have rushed to open the door for her, helped her change into slippers, and welcomed her home. I always felt bad about how hard she worked managing the company and wanted to do whatever I could to take care of her and ease her worries. But today, I just sat there, my expression blank. Seeing no one was opening the door, Nadia had someone break it down. The first thing she did when she came in was rush to my side and slap me hard across the face. “Why did you attack Kieran?” “You know his health is poor. Why would you hurt him?” Looking at Nadia’s near-crazed expression, my heart clenched painfully. Today I had bought plane tickets, planning to come home and pack our bags to take her to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. I wanted to surprise her. Instead, I found those “treatment” photos of her and Kieran in the drawer. When I went to confront Kieran, I was beaten up by him and his friends. Now somehow I was the one who had attacked him. “Say something. Cat got your tongue?” Nadia’s pupils were bloodshot, her eyes looking like they wanted to kill me. “You dare to do it but not admit it? Some man you are.” I lowered my head with a self-mocking smile, no longer having the energy to argue with her. I just tossed the photos at her feet. “What is this?” When she saw the photos, a flash of guilt crossed Nadia’s eyes. Her hands involuntarily clenched, and she spoke with less confidence. “It’s not what you think.” “Kieran was diagnosed with fertility issues and might not be able to have children. I was just helping the doctor treat him.” What kind of medical treatment requires lying naked in bed with a woman? Such a ridiculous excuse, yet she believed it. I just found it laughable. But Nadia kept talking, becoming more convinced she was right. “That’s right, this was purely medical treatment. Kieran and I are completely innocent, heaven knows.” “How can your mind be so dirty? You really disgust me.” I looked at her, shocked and grieved. What was I still hoping for? I should have understood long ago, when she kept abandoning me for Kieran time after time, shouldn’t I? Nadia and I were college classmates. We went from campus sweethearts to where we are now, the model couple in everyone’s eyes. For her sake, I fought with my parents and stayed in this city. When she wanted to start a company, I emptied my pockets and worked hard with her to build the business from scratch. When she saw me vomiting uncontrollably after drinking too much at business dinners, she would hold me preciously, tears welling up in her eyes out of distress. “Nash, you’ve worked so hard. When we make it big, I’ll never let you push yourself like this again,” she would gently comfort me, wiping the sweat from my brow. “Then we’ll get married, have the wedding at the best hotel, the most luxurious ceremony.” “I’ll make everyone envy you.” Those words still rang in my ears, but the person before me was no longer the same. When she looked at me now, there was only disgust in her eyes. “I’ve already explained everything clearly. Stop being difficult,” Nadia said impatiently, reaching out to pull me. “No matter what, you were wrong to hit someone. Come with me now to apologize to Kieran.” Before I could break free, her phone rang. After answering, her expression instantly changed. She shot me a vicious glare. “Kieran is still coughing up blood from your beating. You’d better pray he’s okay, or I won’t let you off easy!” After Nadia left, I stared at the door that could no longer be closed and thought for an entire night. As dawn approached, I finally went inside to pack my bags. Something already broken can never be restored to its original state, no matter how much you try to fix it. I had always thought about what I could do to keep her, but I forgot that someone who doesn’t love you won’t stay no matter what. Taking one last look at the room I had lived in for years, no matter how reluctant and nostalgic I felt, I had to let go. It no longer belonged to me. Voices of laughter came from outside. When I opened the bedroom door, I was stunned by the scene before me. Nadia was helping Kieran sit down, her face full of concern and distress. But the moment she looked up and saw me, her expression instantly turned cold. “You slept well, didn’t you?” “Kieran couldn’t sleep all night because of you. I was so worried I didn’t sleep either. How dare you sleep?” Kieran patted her back soothingly. The atmosphere between them was so intimate, it seemed no third person could intrude. It made me, the real boyfriend, feel like the shameful mistress. My heart trembled with pain, and even my newly operated stomach began to ache faintly. Kieran took Nadia’s hand, smiling magnanimously. “Nadia, don’t blame Nash. He only hit me because he loves you too much.” Before I could say anything, Nadia couldn’t sit still. “You don’t need to speak up for him. I know him too well. He’s just a born bad seed, jealous and selfish, who can’t stand seeing me be good to anyone else.” Nadia completely ignored the pain in my eyes and continued righteously: “Kieran is in this state because of you. I brought him home to help you atone for your sins.” Saying this, her expression turned haughty, speaking as if granting me a favor. “These next few days, you’ll personally take care of Kieran. Once he recovers, I might forgive you.” “If you don’t agree, hmph, we’ll break up.” Her arrogant demeanor suggested she was certain I would give in. In the past, I would have already lowered myself to appease her. Because I loved her and couldn’t bear to see her suffer even a little bit of grievance. But all of my compromises and concessions had become leverage for her to manipulate me in her eyes. “Fine, then let’s break up.” Time seemed to freeze. Nadia’s smug expression instantly cracked, her whole being filled with disbelief. It took her a long time to react, pointing at me with trembling fingers. “What did you say?” Over the years, we had our quarrels and conflicts, but as long as she mentioned breaking up, no matter how angry I was, I would immediately calm down and beg her not to leave me. But today, this usually foolproof tactic wasn’t working. Nadia felt like she was losing control of something. Her eyes trembled fiercely. No longer wanting to argue with her, I picked up my suitcase and strode out. In the room, Nadia stood frozen. When she came to her senses and wanted to chase after me, Kieran stopped her. “You don’t need to go after him. He’ll naturally come back in a few days.” “He’s just doing this on purpose to get your attention. I’m a man too, I understand.” Seeing her still wavering, Kieran immediately put on a pitiful expression. “I’m still feeling unwell. Can you stay and keep me company?” With those words, he successfully kept Nadia from leaving. I went to the company dormitory, planning to go home after resigning. The company I’m currently working at is Nadia’s. All these years, I’ve worked myself to the bone to bring in business and secure investments for the company, striving tirelessly to realize her dreams. I thought that once her career was more established, we could go home together. Then my parents wouldn’t object to us being together anymore. Now it seems there’s no need for that anymore. I called my mother. Before I could speak, tears welled up in my eyes. Mom didn’t ask anything, just sighed. “My dear boy, you’ve suffered out there.” Like a child who had endured too much hardship finally returning to his mother’s embrace, I broke down sobbing. After I calmed down, I said softly, “Mom, I broke up.” She seemed to have guessed it already, her tone very calm. “If you’re tired, just come home. We’ll always be waiting for you.” Dad jumped up angrily when he heard the news, but was calmed down by Mom. “You calm down. I won’t let anyone who dares bully my son off easy.” My mind felt emptied. I hung up the phone, exhausted. After a few days, I went to the company and submitted my resignation. As soon as I submitted the resignation letter, my phone rang. When I answered, Nadia’s agitated voice came through. “Nash, what are you up to now?” “This project is very important for the company. You need to know your limits. Get back here and entertain the clients right away.” I cut off her words. “I’ve resigned. Find someone else to take over these things.” The other end of the line went quiet for a moment before erupting with even more intense emotions. “You really want to do this, huh?” “Fine, there are plenty of people who can do your job. Don’t think you can threaten me like this.” As if to punish me, Nadia immediately approved my resignation application. She thought I wouldn’t last half a day before begging her to take me back. But a whole morning passed, and I showed no signs of giving in. She started to get a bit antsy. She called my coworkers several times to pressure me. I ignored it all and continued doing my own work. It turns out when you stop caring about someone, nothing they do has any effect on you anymore. After lunch, I returned to my desk to find Kieran sitting in my chair, strutting around like he owned the place. My things had been thrown all over the floor. When he saw me, he slowly stood up. “Nash, this was all Nadia’s idea. She said to have me take over your position.” Then he walked over to me and lowered his voice next to my ear: “Who told you to be so stupid and resign? From now on, I’ll be the one enjoying the good life here.” Seeing his smug expression, I suddenly found it quite amusing. I don’t know where he got the confidence to say he could replace me. All these years, I’ve poured my heart and soul into maintaining this troubled company. Yet he thinks my position here was about enjoying the good life. Well then, I wish him success. Seeing his face fall, I forced a detached smile, took the box of belongings an employee had helped gather, thanked them, and strode out. I spent a few days saying goodbye to friends before bending down to pack my bags. From now on, I would be leaving this city for good. This place held my youth from recent years, as well as my first love that ended without closure. Bitterness welled up in my heart. I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to think about it anymore. My phone rang abruptly, Nadia’s furious voice coming through. “Nash, you’ve gone too far. You deliberately sabotaged things with the business partners, causing Kieran to be ostracized.” Before I could explain, she imperiously ordered me, “Get your ass back here right now. This big deal is crucial for the company’s performance in the second half of the year. If we lose it because of you, we’re finished.” Her absurd yet confident words made me feel truly ridiculous. What gave her the right to think I would still care? “Didn’t you say you’d be fine without me? Then go find someone else,” I said. Ignoring her angry tone, I hung up and blocked her number. Once everything was packed up, I opened the door and set off for the airport, about to say a final goodbye to the city I had lived in for so many years. I had barely left when a silver BMW cut me off. The door opened and Nadia rushed over, violently throwing her bag at me. It hit me right where I had just had surgery. My face instantly went pale as I gasped in pain. “Are you done throwing your tantrum?” she yelled furiously, kicking my luggage aside and grabbing my collar to slap me hard across the face. “Is your heart really that small? Just because the project wasn’t given to you, you had to sabotage it?” I was in so much pain I was sweating, but I gritted my teeth and bore it. “The deal falling through was because of Kieran’s own incompetence. It had nothing to do with me.” Nadia scoffed coldly, her eyes full of contempt. “You think I’d believe that?” “You could close the deal, how could Kieran possibly fail?” “I can see you’re just jealous of his abilities.” I laughed bitterly, my eyes bloodshot. “If he’s so capable, why don’t you just go to him? Why come find me?” On one hand she looked down on my abilities, on the other she wanted me to come back and work for her. Was I really that cheap in her eyes? The partnership she thought was so simple was actually the result of me pouring my heart and soul into it, disregarding my health to fight for it desperately. With one casual sentence, she negated all my years of effort, making all my hard work seem worthless. Nadia’s face cycled through shades of red and purple, looking extremely ugly. Seeing I was about to leave, she forcibly dragged me into the car. “No matter what you say today, you have to come with me.” I was already in so much pain I could barely move. I weakly begged her, “My stomach hurts. Can you take me to a pharmacy first?” She laughed mockingly. “Are you addicted to acting now?” “Even if you’re in pain to death today, you still have to go close this deal for me first.” My fingers had gone completely cold. I clutched my stomach with difficulty, looking at her in disbelief. The woman I had loved for so many years could actually say such things. She could actually watch me suffer to death without batting an eye. Fine. How lovely. Hatred surged in my heart. My eyes turned bloodshot as I stared at her fixedly.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295209”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #校园School #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic