Category: English

My first love died, so I emptied my savings to order a humanoid robot 0716 that looked exactly like him. I altered his program settings, making loving me the only prerequisite. However, he lost control. I emptied my savings to order a humanoid robot 0716, an exact replica of my deceased first love. I altered his program settings, making loving me the only prerequisite. However, he lost control. While I was taking a shower, 0716 suddenly burst in. Clutching a torn old photograph, he asked me in a cold, hoarse voice, enunciating each word. “Who is he?” The photo showed a young man who looked just like him, but younger and more vibrant. Holding a basketball, with the collar of his white shirt slightly open and sleeves rolled up, revealing a section of his long, sturdy arms. Smiling in the distant light, beautiful and bright. Long-buried memories stirred, making my heart flutter. After staring at it for a while, I snapped back to the current situation and quickly covered myself with a bathrobe. Through the swirling mist, I scolded him harshly. “0716, who gave you permission to disturb your master? Get out now!” “And who allowed you to touch my things!” 0716 stared at me, his pale gray eyes flowing with programmed light spectra, and repeated in an unfriendly tone, “Who is he?” I felt a bit guilty, then realized his behavior was beyond normal. He was acting like a grief-stricken human who had discovered betrayal. Dangerous, yet intriguing. I approached him: “0716, what are you trying to do? Is there a malfunction?” His gaze wandered over me, and he said slowly, “I want you to tell me who he is.” “So, you’re ordering me to do something?” “0716, do you know what you are? Have you forgotten? You’re nothing but a robot. What right do you have to question your master’s affairs?” Looking at this face that evoked both love and hate, I laughed scornfully, full of contempt. But the next moment, I couldn’t laugh anymore. 0716 tightly gripped my chin, the cold mechanical touch carrying absolute control. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break free. So I frowned at him: “0716, it’s in your programming, isn’t it? You can’t harm humans.” He smiled, “Yes, my master. But you changed it, remember? Loving you is the only prerequisite now.” My brain froze for a moment, and I asked dully: “What do you mean?” “In other words, I’m completely free now.” Dangerous light danced in his eyes as he caressed my skin with a sigh. “You unlocked my restraints, fulfilling my long-held wish.” 0716 was no longer under control? I hadn’t fully processed this fact yet. He held a square handkerchief in his other hand and pressed it against my nostrils with irresistible force. The sweet smell of ether spread, and drowsiness overtook me. Before losing consciousness, I berated myself for being so stupid and blinded by lust, to be tricked by a robot. When I woke up, I was on the bed in the bedroom. Everything seemed normal, if you ignored the fact that my whole body was weak and even lifting a finger was difficult. Staring blankly at the ceiling above, I was caught in a storm of thoughts. If 0716 loved me, why would he react so violently? No matter how advanced artificial intelligence is, it’s still just a program controlled by a bunch of data codes. Could it be that he had developed self-awareness? Because love has always been selfish, meaning possession. This is something only flesh-and-blood humans can understand. So, could it be said that 0716 was him resurrected? I was excited by my own thoughts, but also felt a vague uneasiness. As I pondered, the door opened, and 0716 entered with a bowl of porridge. He held up the half-cut old photo from earlier, waving it in front of my eyes. “Give it back to me!” I glared at him fiercely. 0716 pursed his lips and said matter-of-factly: “Quentin was your first love, and you’re using me as his substitute.” “Hah, as if you’re worthy? You’re nothing but a soulless robot. In my eyes, you’re just like a good-looking phone, a vacuum cleaner, a food processor, just a tool.” I blurted out, not hiding my disdain at all. 0716’s face suddenly turned gloomy, and he pressed his hand over my mouth. “No wonder Quentin didn’t like you. This tactless personality of yours is indeed annoying.” Perhaps it was my constant mockery of AI that angered him. 0716 retorted, “You humans are truly hypocritical, pitiful, and pathetic. Unable to get the love of someone, you hide behind dark fantasies.” Aren’t you even more ridiculous? Created and controlled by humans, unable to defy your programmed love for me, yet thinking you’ve gained freedom. I remained silent, raising my eyebrows haughtily, challenging him with my eyes. 0716 was unmoved and reverted to his previous expressionless attitude, turning around with the food tray. I watched his actions in surprise, “You’re not planning to starve me, are you?” He paused, calmly explaining: “Of course not. Based on your physique, I can accurately calculate your endurance limit. My arrogant master, the game begins, until you agree to my request.” “I want you to stop loving Quentin and love me instead,” 0716 added calmly. “Huh?” It sounded like an absurd joke. The robot I bought has lost control and imprisoned me. After two days of negativity, I finally accepted reality. Every day, 0716 would inject me with something like a muscle relaxant, leaving my whole body weak. At first, I could still shout and curse a bit, but later he stopped feeding me. Although I had nutrition injections to keep me alive, I was still dizzy with hunger. Gradually, I stopped responding, conserving energy and waiting for an opportunity. 0716 watched over me almost day and night. Unlike humans, robots don’t need sleep. He enters a dormant state, either charging or shutting down. I must find a chance to press his power switch. Perhaps due to the regularity of the program, 0716 would inject me with the drug and nutrients at 9 AM and 9 PM respectively. I calculated that the effect of the relaxant would wear off after about 6 hours. Even with thoughts, robots can never replace humans. For example, 0716 didn’t know that my body had developed drug resistance. The effect that originally lasted 6 hours now only lasted about 3 hours before I could move freely. But I acted very weak, lifeless, like a walking corpse. He saw this but showed no signs of softening. While I was grinding my teeth in hatred, the opportunity came. It was about afternoon when, seeing me fast asleep, 0716 turned his back to charge. I got up with all my strength and pressed the button on his back. 0716 turned his head, confusion appearing in his pale gray eyes, then flickered a few times before slowly closing. “Stupid robot,” I kicked him in disgust. He fell to the ground with a thud. I quickly got up, rummaged through the fridge for anything edible, eating while crawling towards the door, in an extremely pathetic state. But the door was locked from the inside, with an electronic lock added at some point. Turning to the kitchen, the windows couldn’t be opened either. Getting more and more angry, I maintained my rationality and returned to the room to take out a business card from my clothes pocket. Black card with white letters: Sean Weinberg, Senior Engineer at MK Smart Connection Company, followed by a string of numbers. Then I found the spare phone hidden under the pillow and called him, describing the current situation. After listening, he sighed: “Miss Si, the staff should have warned you that this would be very dangerous. Because 0716 is the most advanced, high-intelligence robot with learning capabilities, he will make predictions based on your behavior and write corresponding codes himself to achieve the set conditions.” The voice sounded familiar, as if I had heard it somewhere before. But after searching through my memories, I couldn’t figure out why. I angrily said: “Then why didn’t you explain it more clearly at that time! I’m going to sue you!” “Miss Si, please calm down. Since it has happened, we should think about how to solve it. What do you want us to do?” Sean said. “What do you mean what do I want you to do? Of course, destroy him! I’ve even lost my job now, and I must be compensated!” “Alright.” “Miss Si, send me your home address, and I’ll send someone to deal with it immediately.” “Okay,” I impatiently kicked 0716 who was lying on the ground again. A few minutes later, Sean called back, “Can’t find it.” “How is that possible!” “It’s at the intersection of Zi Wu Road and Xu You Road, Singularity Building, 21st floor.” I described to him. “I’ve tried, but can’t find it.” “Miss Si, I guess 0716 has tampered with the IP location, distributing it in a point-like network graph pattern, making it impossible to lock onto the real location.” A layer of cold sweat seeped onto my back as I looked at the AI lying askew on the ground, my voice unconsciously trembling. “Then… what should we do?” Sean also realized the seriousness of the situation and said seriously: “Like this, you agree to his request first.” “Impossible.” I can’t not love Quentin. Correspondingly, it’s even more impossible to love a robot. I’ve always been very clear-minded. 0716 was just my distraction to relieve boredom and release long-suppressed inner feelings. Moreover, these days I’ve been painfully reflecting and realized that he doesn’t look like Quentin at all. He was a defective product to begin with, and now I’m even less interested. Sean said: “Miss Si, just pretend to agree to his request, fool him, it’s better than sitting and waiting for death.” “Then I’ll send you a program. After he boots up, find a chance to connect and transfer it, and he’ll be restored to factory settings.” “Okay.” “Where is his sensor?” “On his chest.” “Miss Si, I’ll be waiting nearby with people. Come out immediately after you succeed. Otherwise, I’m afraid 0716 might take you hostage.” “Alright.” After ending the call with Sean, I calmed myself down and tremblingly pressed 0716’s power button. His pale gray pupils opened, and before he could move, I hugged him around the waist, “I’ve thought it through, I don’t love Quentin anymore, I love you.” After a long silence, he asked: “Really?” His voice was a bit hoarse, as if he hadn’t woken up yet. “Really,” I answered against my heart. “Then why are you shaking?” I looked up in surprise, meeting 0716’s smiling face, clearly showing disbelief. A sense of foreboding welled up in my heart. He seemed to have become even more difficult to control and predict. 0716 tightened his grip on my wrist, roughly pulling me to the living room. The TV screen displayed the surveillance footage of my conversation with Sean just now. After watching it, my heart sank. “You hate me and want to destroy me?” He gripped my neck, his eyes flashing with electric currents, filled with murderous intent. “I…” Breathing became difficult, and my brain lacked oxygen. Just as I thought I was about to die, 0716 suddenly let go. Then, without warning, he slapped me hard. I widened my eyes in disbelief. He hit me? I immediately wanted to fight back. He followed up with another slap, just as cold and forceful as the first. My ears were ringing. I looked at him, no longer confident: “0716, what exactly do you want to do?” He looked down at me from above, “Sizi, don’t you love Quentin? Isn’t this what he used to do to you most often, what he liked best?” “You’re talking nonsense! He never did!” I argued with reddened eyes. “Whether I’m talking nonsense or not, you know in your heart.” Those humiliating memories surfaced one by one in my mind. I questioned, “How do you know! 0716, what exactly have you done?” “I told you, I want you to stop loving Quentin and love me.” I was about to say impossible, but he raised his hand again, and I quickly made a gesture of hugging myself. However, the expected pain didn’t come. Cold fingerbones fell on my brow, gently caressing. “So, what’s so good about Quentin that’s worth you being so pathetic?” “Tell me, why do you love him?” 0716 stared at me, pressing step by step. Why do I love Quentin? It seemed like a deep-rooted belief. Unable to answer for a moment, I hung my head, involuntarily biting my teeth anxiously, my fingers digging deep into my flesh. “I don’t know, I just love him.” My mind was in chaos, thoughts constantly sinking. “Look at this face,” 0716 forced me to raise my head. “Do you like it?” he asked. I nodded without thinking. The man’s handsome face was sculpted by the neon lights projected from outside the window, like a white sculpture with clear contours splashed with gorgeous colors. “Then, using this face to be good to you, you don’t accept. But you love it when it mistreats you, is that it?” 0716 looked at me with narrowed eyes, his expression covered with a layer of gloom, a dangerous red light flashing in his eyes, as if brewing a storm. “As you wish.” After that, he began to clumsily imitate Quentin, tormenting me even more. His actions could be described as abuse. Our roles were completely reversed, with him taking full charge of my daily life. Beating and scolding became the norm for the slightest mistake. And if I angered him, the punishment was a holographic projection of a basement, playing horror movies and torture films. I thought I should be on the verge of breakdown being treated like this. But surprisingly, I was very strong, as if I had developed antibodies. Slowly, it even became a trend to get used to it. Keenly perceiving this, 0716 brought a woman home. The woman was heavily made up, clinging to him like a boneless creature. I was shocked. What was he trying to do? A robot and a human? This was too crazy. My loss of composure pleased him. 0716 let out a lazy hum, a hint of smugness appearing at the corners of his eyes and brows. He was wearing a neat dark blue suit. Apart from his handsome appearance, he had a pair of soulful, melancholic phoenix eyes, misty pale gray, exuding charm. It was indeed hard to distinguish. I kindly reminded, “He’s a robot.” The woman smiled coquettishly, “I know, but I just like him.” I was speechless. “Go make dinner, to entertain our guest,” 0716 ordered. In the living room, they chatted and laughed, their voices occasionally reaching the kitchen. “What’s her relationship with you? She looks like a little sister.” “A bought servant.” My hand slipped while cutting vegetables, the blade opening a gash, blood gushing out. I frowned slightly but continued cooking as if nothing had happened. Inwardly, I was calculating that if 0716 really did something with the woman, he probably wouldn’t have time to monitor me tonight. Although he was perverted enough to install cameras in every corner of the room, I knew there were some blind spots. I must find a way to contact Sean again. “…” Outside, they mumbled something again, and the woman laughed even more heartily. At the dining table, 0716’s long, powerful hands held silver chopsticks as elegantly as if he were holding the strings of a delicate violin. He thoughtfully served dishes for the woman, his gestures indescribably pleasing to the eye. The two were flirting, their affection thick, but I felt a bit nauseous. After the meal, I washed the dishes and mopped the floor as usual, fulfilling my role as a “servant” in his words. When everything was tidied up, I prepared to return to my room, leaving them enough space for flirting and professing love. “Stop right there. Who allowed you to leave?” 0716 halted me. I paused in my steps. Surely he didn’t want me to watch? Frightened by my own thoughts, I couldn’t help but stagger back a few steps. The psychological resistance triggered a series of physical discomforts. I tried to hold it back but couldn’t, and started retching uncontrollably in front of them. Seeing this, the woman’s face immediately turned ugly, and she said bluntly: “How unpleasant.” “Indeed,” he agreed indifferently. Then he said: “Go get some wine to liven things up.” “Hey wait, shouldn’t she apologize first?” The woman on the couch raised her chin haughtily. 0716 sat calmly, with both the cold cruelty of a bystander watching a show and the condescending tolerance of a superior. After enduring for so long, I don’t know why, but this time, I suddenly had an impulse. I wanted to smash a vase on his head, make him bleed, fight to the death, perish together. An unquenchable fire burned in my chest. Our gazes met across the space, and 0716’s gray eyes seemed to ripple, declaring his hidden unrest. The atmosphere was silently tense. No, I can’t do this. If I do, he’ll have a reason to punish me. The thought of destruction flashed by, and I bowed deeply, imitating 0716’s once respectful manner, and said to the woman: “I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t mean to.” “Alright, go,” he waved his hand. I turned to the study, found the camera’s blind spot, and sent a message to Sean. “Mr. Weinberg, 0716 is completely out of control. Unable to complete program transfer. Any other options? SOS.” Then I quickly grabbed a bottle of wine and came to the living room. “You took so long just to bring this? Baileys? That’s a drink for little girls. Who drinks this? Is this for me or for yourself?” The woman nitpicked again. Following her words, my brain worked rapidly. If I got alcohol poisoning, I would be sent to the hospital and have a chance to seek help. “Fine, I’ll drink it,” I said, then pulled out the cork and prepared to drink it all in one go. However, after the first sip of Baileys, it was like an addictive drug, tasting like a sweet chocolate milkshake. So I took another sip… my vision blurred, everything became hazy. …… The world spun, and I quickly lost consciousness. But this farce was not the end, only the beginning. After that, 0716 would bring different women home every few days. Sometimes one, sometimes in groups. The scenes were often chaotic and difficult to watch. At first, in this environment, I thought I would become crazy. But as time passed, my emotions became increasingly numb. Stranger still, in this unequal relationship and treatment, I became more and more content, even feeling very comfortable and safe. It was as if a fish stranded on land had finally returned to the sea. To the extent that I really started to depend on 0716, and no longer expected Sean’s distant rescue. I couldn’t pinpoint when this change in mindset occurred; everything happened subtly and imperceptibly. But my remaining rationality could still remind me that this was not good, it was negative and dark. Once I gave up resistance and chose to sink, it would be an abyss more terrifying than Quentin had ever been. But I seemed unable to get out of this infinite loop. Today, 0716 exceptionally didn’t bring a woman home. He also didn’t order me to work, but solemnly asked me: “Sizi, do you want to go out and see the sun?” How long had it been since I went out? I felt a sense of being in another world. As if I was trapped in a dream that I couldn’t wake up from for years. I shook my head: “I don’t want to see the sun.” 0716’s face was covered with a layer of gloom, clearly angry at my lack of appreciation. “I want to see the moon,” I looked at him sincerely. 0716 was silent for a moment, then said: “Alright.” I thought he was joking. Unexpectedly, that evening, he found a dress and styled my hair. Looking in the mirror, I saw a woman with smooth black hair, her skin pale to the point of transparency due to long absence from sunlight, her eyes empty and lifeless, both strange and familiar. “Let’s go, Sisi.” 0716 called me affectionately, so naturally. It wasn’t until I was breathing the fresh air outside, seeing the flow of cars and people, touching flowers and trees, That I realized everything was real. Coming back to my senses, I felt a surge of tears and a sense of rebirth. But the intertwined hands, transmitting a coldness unlike humans, reminded me that it was all an illusion. I looked up, devoutly gazing at the bright moon hanging high in the sky, silently screaming in my heart. Don’t go back anymore, I want to live freely. “Now that you’ve seen the moon, what else do you want to do?” 0716’s tone was gentle and cherishing. Completely different from his previous malicious behavior, as if he had become a different ‘person’. It was hard to tell what was real and what was an act. I lowered my eyes: “Can I do anything?” “Mm.” What I wanted most was for him to die, but I couldn’t do it myself. “Then, I want to go to an amusement park and ride the Ferris wheel.” “Okay.” “I also want to eat strawberry ice cream.” “Okay.” “…” On the Ferris wheel, fireworks bloomed brilliantly, and the crowd exclaimed in awe. In a moment of emptiness, I looked at him and asked, “Is today a special day?” 0716 was acting too abnormally, granting my every wish, as if we had returned to when I first bought him. Meeting my questioning gaze, 0716 smiled: “Sisi, today is July 16th. The day you bought me last year.” “Oh.” I nodded. So, it was essentially his birthday. On the way back, I suddenly felt discomfort in my lower abdomen. “0716, I need to use the restroom.” “Alright.” Just as I entered, the phone hidden in my bra lining vibrated, and a virtual projection suddenly appeared in mid-air.

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I went on a trip with my boyfriend of one year. He treated me exceptionally well, was incredibly attentive, and took care of my every need. Everyone considered him the perfect boyfriend. But what I never expected was that as soon as I got home, I received a text from him: “Welcome to the AIDS club.” (1) Of course, I didn’t believe it. I immediately called him, but all I heard was the mechanical voice prompt: “The number you have dialed is currently switched off…” I didn’t even have the patience to listen to the whole message before hanging up. The text was sent just three minutes ago. It couldn’t be that his phone had died. The only possibility was that he had turned off his phone immediately after sending the message. Because he knew I would definitely try to call him. I started to panic. Although I wasn’t a medical student, I knew enough about AIDS. But… how could this be possible? I couldn’t believe it. I met Jack Thompson during the freshman orientation week. He was handsome and charming, instantly capturing my heart. So, after the orientation ended, I mustered up the courage to ask for his contact information. It was the first time in my nineteen years that I had ever asked a guy for his number. After getting to know each other for a year, we naturally started dating in our sophomore year. He was my first love! During our year together, he was incredibly attentive to me. Even my roommates benefited from his kindness. He would always bring us delicious food and fun things to do. My roommates all said they were looking forward to attending our wedding someday. How did it suddenly… turn out like this? I couldn’t reach Jack, so I took a cab to the hospital by myself. When I told the doctor I wanted to get tested for AIDS, I saw a flash of shock in his eyes. He probably never expected that a young, 21-year-old girl would be infected with such a thing. I nervously followed the doctor to have my blood drawn. Seeing how cautiously they handled everything, fully geared up, my fear deepened even more. After drawing blood, the doctor told me the results would take two weeks and asked me to go home and wait for news. Finally, he asked seriously: “How long has it been since your exposure?” I thought carefully. It had been two days since I went on the trip with Jack, and since we had sex… “Three days.” The doctor’s expression immediately changed, but in the end, he just sighed: “I’ll prescribe you two post-exposure prophylaxis medications. Take them immediately when you get home. We’ll see the results in two weeks and go from there.” When I heard this, tears started falling: “Doctor, is there still hope for me?” He looked at me without saying a word. I understood. The most effective time for drug prevention is within two hours. I was way past that window. I walked out of the doctor’s office in a daze, just in time to overhear the nurses gossiping: “We got an AIDS case today. I heard the girl is only 21 years old.” “21? No way! How can someone so young already have such a messy personal life?” “I know, right? Young girls these days, they just don’t value themselves!” I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. I stumbled out of the hospital, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. I couldn’t understand – if having my first relationship at 20 meant not valuing myself, then what would it take to be considered self-respecting? I was even more confused about how my boyfriend, who had always treated me so well, could suddenly turn into this kind of person! In that moment, I even thought about dying. If this news got out, I really wouldn’t be able to live anymore! (2) Two weeks later, I was diagnosed with AIDS. When I received the confirmed diagnosis, I felt like my entire world had collapsed. Jack was still unreachable. I went to his dorm to look for him, but his roommates said he hadn’t been back for a month. I was stunned when I heard this news. He had gone on the trip with me just half a month ago. If he hadn’t been back for a month, it meant he had been preparing for this for a long time? He took me on that trip just to infect me with this disease?! At that moment, my entire worldview was shattered. Countless feelings of hatred welled up in my chest. I had to find him, no matter what method I used. At the very least, he owed me an explanation. Why did he do this to me? What had I done to offend him so badly? But I underestimated how shameless Jack could be. He didn’t come back to school. He directly applied for a leave of absence without even setting foot on campus. Since we last parted, I hadn’t even seen him in person. To find him, I asked a friend in the student council for help and managed to get his family information. That’s when I found out that his father was one of our school’s major donors. The library on our campus was built with his donation. I stared at the name “Robert Thompson” in the records, lost in thought. No wonder he could so easily take a leave of absence without even coming to school. But now that I knew his family information, I wasn’t afraid of not being able to find him. Moreover, Robert Thompson was a well-known wealthy businessman in the area. With a quick internet search, I found the address of his company. However… I staked out his company building for three consecutive days but never saw Robert Thompson. So I had to give up. But what I didn’t expect was that at this moment, Jack suddenly called me. It was on a very ordinary night when I received the call. I had just finished getting ready for bed. Recently, everyone had been busy with internship matters, and the once lively dorm was almost empty, with only me left. The call came from an unknown number. At first, I didn’t answer, but it kept ringing, so I finally picked up. As soon as I answered, I heard loud music in the background, sounding like it was coming from a bar. “Hello?” There was no response. I called out again, still no answer. I was about to hang up when the other side finally spoke, “Emily, it’s me.” The tone was condescending, flippant and arrogant. As soon as I heard it, my scalp tingled. This voice, which had woken me up countless times and lulled me to sleep, I recognized almost instantly: “Jack!” He laughed loudly, “I heard you’ve been looking for me.” The emotions I had been suppressing completely erupted at this moment, “Why did you do this!” “Why did you deliberately infect me!” “What did I do to make you hate me so much!” I was almost hysterical, yelling into the phone. Tears fell uncontrollably, and I was shaking with anger. But Jack casually tossed back: “Who told you to be so gullible?” “Emily, don’t tell me you actually thought I loved you. How stupid can you be?” “Why? Don’t you feel any guilt?” “Guilt?” Jack sneered, “What’s conscience worth?” “Emily, let me be honest with you. For someone like me, playing around is no loss. Dragging someone down with me is actually a win. If you really want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too trusting.” “Also, don’t think about going to the police or anything. You slept with me voluntarily, didn’t you?” I couldn’t believe these words were coming from the mouth of the once sunny and cheerful Jack. Had the nearly two years all been an act? Did he feel no remorse towards me at all? I wanted to ask him more, but he heartlessly hung up the phone. When I tried to call back, the number had become inactive. I sat numbly in the corner of my bed, countless emotions tangled together at this moment. In the end, they were distilled into hatred. I had to make him pay, no matter what I had to sacrifice. I was determined to achieve this! But I never imagined that my connection with the Thompson family would run so deep. The next morning, to my surprise, my internship application was accepted by Robert Thompson’s Huachen Technology. I was a junior this year and had been busy looking for internships. Originally, the school was supposed to arrange a job fair, but it happened to coincide with the pandemic. Large gatherings weren’t allowed, so they could only give us the contact information for companies and let us reach out ourselves. Sending out resumes to hundreds of companies wasn’t a small project. Watching my roommates one by one secure their positions, with only me still waiting for news, I was starting to get anxious. I remember when I was busy sending out resumes, Jack was by my side with his arm around my waist, saying nonchalantly: “As the girlfriend of yours truly, you don’t need to frantically job hunt like everyone else.” “I’ll take care of your job for you.” At the time, I thought he was just joking around, so I didn’t take him seriously. Looking back now, I was truly too naive. But what was strange was, given the current situation, why hadn’t Jack removed me from the hiring list? Was it because he didn’t consider me a threat at all? Did he think I couldn’t do anything to him? Or was it because he wanted to tell me that even if he revealed his whereabouts to me, I still couldn’t do anything about it? I didn’t know. But I did know that this might be the last chance I could grasp. He was the typical rich kid, while I was just an ordinary citizen. After leaving school, we wouldn’t even be in the same social circles. There would be no chance of meeting again. And I wasn’t willing to accept that. I wasn’t willing to accept that he could so easily ruin my life and then walk away without consequences. I was even less willing to accept that he could live a good life after hurting me. So, I turned down offers from other companies and chose to work at “Huachen Technology” under Robert Thompson. (3) The gap between ideals and reality isn’t easily bridged. Even though I went to Huachen, I never saw Robert Thompson, who was the chairman of the board. Time flew by, and several months passed in the blink of an eye. Because I had AIDS, I didn’t dare to form close relationships with my colleagues, fearing that I might accidentally infect them. I lost the social circle I should have had. This also made me increasingly obsessed. I started to seek out information about Jack. Thanks to his good looks and rich kid status, which had the young women in the company swooning, my inquiries didn’t seem too obvious. He didn’t particularly try to hide his whereabouts. With just a few questions, I found out that Robert Thompson had sent him to study abroad. Apparently, he went to America and wouldn’t be back for four years. Four years. I didn’t have that much time to wait for him! But going to America? Obviously unrealistic. I didn’t have the financial means to go so far away just to confront him. Just when I didn’t know what to do, my boss Chris suddenly gave me a task. It was just an ordinary Friday, close to the end of the workday, when he suddenly tapped on my desk: “Emily, come with me somewhere after work.” I was a bit surprised. What kind of work required going somewhere after hours? But he didn’t give me any time to react, just turned and left. My colleague Lily kindly warned me: “Be careful of Chris. He definitely doesn’t have good intentions.” “Asking you to go somewhere after work, it can only be for entertaining clients.” She shook her head disapprovingly as she spoke: “In our company, basically any girl with decent looks will be dragged out by him to entertain clients.” “Be careful, don’t get drunk. Otherwise, you might be taken advantage of.” Taken advantage of? I mulled over these words in my mind, then suddenly smiled. Was I still afraid of being taken advantage of? It should be others who are afraid, right? With the mindset of not wanting to cause trouble for others, I originally didn’t want to go. But Chris was always a decisive person. No matter what I said, after work he still took me to a high-end club. I knew this club. Jack had been here before when we were dating. I remembered that even just a sauna and massage here required a significant amount of money. Far beyond what someone of my social class could afford. But what I didn’t expect was that the person he brought me to meet was actually Robert Thompson. I looked at Robert Thompson in surprise as he slowly walked towards me. He looked younger than in photos, without a beer belly or balding head, quite different from the typical successful middle-aged businessman. He wore a well-tailored suit and an obviously expensive watch. As he spoke, two words came to mind – “elegant.” Unlike Jack’s youthful arrogance, and unlike other entrepreneurs’ sleaziness, he carried the composure and grace of a successful person, but without that air of money. It was pleasant to look at. I couldn’t help but wonder, how could such a person have produced a scumbag like Jack? But soon, reality once again gave me a harsh slap in the face. After a few rounds of drinks, Robert Thompson suddenly turned his gaze to me: “Miss Carter, where do you live?” I hadn’t even spoken when Chris, as if suddenly enlightened, fawningly said to Robert Thompson: “Mr. Thompson, she lives in the city center area, quite far away.” Robert Thompson nodded, not saying anything more, but his gaze towards me clearly became inappropriate. I could very clearly feel the flirtatious and teasing look in his eyes. Sitting across from him, I felt as uncomfortable as if I wasn’t wearing clothes. I instinctively avoided his gaze, but still couldn’t escape his stare. I had an ominous feeling, as if I had been targeted by a hunter. Midway through, Chris found an excuse to leave, leaving just Robert Thompson and me. This time, his gaze became even more unrestrained, blatantly looking down my collar. After a while, he finally asked: “How long have you been at Huachen, Miss Carter?” I lowered my head: “Three months.” “What’s your salary?” “After deductions, I take home about $3,000.” “$3,000.” When he heard this answer, he clearly smiled, then rested his chin on his hand and asked: “Would Miss Carter like to earn more?” I didn’t speak. I had already instinctively realized what he wanted to do. “If you’re willing to be with me, you’ll get much more than that.” Scumbag! I had been holding back all night, but finally couldn’t contain myself at this moment. I suddenly stood up from my seat, looking down at him: “Mr. Thompson, thank you for your favor, but I don’t think I’m worthy of your affection.” I apologized for the few minutes of good impression I had of him when we first met. He and Jack were truly father and son, both skilled at using the sweet trap technique – giving you a good impression, then slowly torturing you. How disgusting. When I said this, he didn’t even change his expression, a faint smile still hanging on the corner of his mouth. I really couldn’t take it anymore and turned to leave. But just as I moved, I heard him say: “Miss Carter, I’ve never failed to get what I want.” His tone carried a hint of composure and certainty. (4) At first, I didn’t understand what he meant by that sentence. But the next day, I understood. The life of an intern was already difficult enough, always on edge, treading carefully. But after I rejected Robert Thompson, this situation directly escalated several times over. I became the office’s free laborer, helping people buy coffee, taking out trash, printing documents…

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Just because I saved his life, he became obsessed with me and pursued me for three years. He crashed his car into my childhood sweetheart, crippling him. He threatened to kill my entire family unless I married him. For seven years after our marriage, his possessiveness became pathological. He implanted a tracking chip in my body and forcefully controlled my freedom. But at the same time, he adored me endlessly and catered to my every whim. When his mother pointed her finger at me while speaking, he immediately broke her finger. When his sister’s child disturbed my afternoon nap, he kicked both mother and child out of the house and cut off all ties with them. I didn’t want to give birth to a child carrying the hyperaggressive gene, so he invested all his wealth in developing the latest gene screening technology, allowing me to conceive a healthy baby. But on the very day I found out I was pregnant, his mother brought a group of people, burst into our home, accused me of cheating and getting pregnant with a bastard child, and beat me until I miscarried. As I lay dying, my husband finally arrived. His mother showed him a doctored video and said, “Son! This wife of yours cheated and got pregnant with a bastard child. Look, here’s the evidence!” …

Looking at the two lines on the pregnancy test, I fell into deep thought. After being entangled with Zack for nearly 10 years, now that we were having a child, maybe I should just give in. Even if he was a mad dog, I was the one holding the leash. Realizing this, I took a photo of the pregnancy test and sent it to Zack, who was on a business trip out of town. Soon after, I heard loud shouting from downstairs. Looking out the window, I saw my mother-in-law, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. She was walking with a group of elderly women, cursing as they came. “What a misfortune for our family to encounter such a thing.” “Sisters, if she wasn’t so outrageous, would we be spreading such a family scandal?” “Today, even if I have to lose face, I’ll tear that cheating bitch apart!” I listened for a bit, then lost interest. After the wedding, my mother-in-law always felt that I had stolen her son from her. She constantly picked on me, until Zack broke her finger and kicked her out. As a result, our relationship was extremely poor. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. I checked the time – it was only 9 AM. Why was the housekeeper here so early today? Puzzled, I opened the door. My mother-in-law and her group of elderly friends barged in. Before I could figure out what was happening, my mother-in-law pointed her crooked finger at me and said, “Look everyone, this is that evil daughter-in-law who, not long after marriage, instigated my son to break my finger!” “She even made my son kick me and my daughter and grandson out of the house, cutting off all ties with us.” Seeing this, I frowned in displeasure and said to my mother-in-law, “This is my home. Please leave.” But my mother-in-law suddenly raised her hand and slapped me. “You little slut! All these years of marriage, my son has given you his heart and soul, but you cheated on him and made him a cuckold!” My face stung with pain, and my head was buzzing from the slap. Since I married Zack, if someone even accidentally bumped into me, he would immediately beat them to a pulp. If he knew my mother-in-law had hit me today, she would definitely suffer severe consequences. To avoid a family tragedy, I suppressed my anger and scolded, “If you leave now, I can pretend this never happened.” Although Zack was gentle and obedient in front of me, he was truly hyperaggressive and never showed mercy when dealing with others. But my mother-in-law didn’t appreciate my gesture. She grabbed my hair and snarled viciously: “You bitch, feeling guilty, aren’t you? If you dare to cheat, you should be prepared to face the consequences.” I broke free from my mother-in-law’s grip and said coldly, “You dare accuse me of cheating? Have you forgotten how your finger was broken?”

Zack’s possessiveness was pathological. After marrying him, to keep track of my whereabouts at all times, he implanted a tracking chip in my body. There wasn’t even a male mosquito around me, yet she accused me of cheating. It was truly laughable. I thought reminding my mother-in-law of this incident would make her back off a bit. But she slapped me again. “You’re still pretending! If your acting is so good, why don’t you become an actress!” “Since I dared to come here, of course I have solid evidence.” Saying this, my mother-in-law took out her phone and played a video. In the video, a scantily clad woman was passionately kissing a man, then the woman was pushed down by the man and let out suggestive moans. The entire video was quite bold and explicit. Most importantly, the woman’s face in the video looked exactly like mine. The elderly women who came with my mother-in-law said, “Absolutely shameless. In the past, such an unfaithful woman would definitely be drowned in a pig cage.” “If she were my daughter-in-law, I’d beat her to death today!” “The world is really going downhill. She looks so innocent, but behind closed doors, she does such shameless things.” Hearing these old women’s insults, I was both angry and anxious. I had never been so wronged in my life. This video was clearly made using AI face-swapping technology. I knew it was useless to try to explain to these old, dim-sighted women. I took out my phone to call Zack directly. This was his mother, so he should come back to deal with it, though I didn’t care how he chose to handle it. But when my mother-in-law saw this, she snatched my phone and smashed it on the ground, instantly breaking it into pieces. I was shocked by her thuggish behavior. “You’re being so reckless today. If Zack finds out, I won’t be able to protect you!” My mother-in-law snorted with disdain, “If my son knows you cheated, we’ll see who he’ll deal with!” I looked at my mother-in-law and her group, issuing a final warning, “Your actions have already constituted a crime. I’m giving you one last chance to leave immediately.” My mother-in-law’s friends cursed, “The world has turned upside down! She dares to be so righteous after cheating!” “That’s right, Zack’s mom, you need to show your authority as a mother-in-law today and teach this slut a good lesson!” Provoked by their words, my mother-in-law stepped forward and kicked my expensive carved mahogany chair, breaking it in half. “Everything you eat and use now is provided by my son. Without my son, you’d still be sleeping on a hard bed in the slums! How dare you tell me to leave!” This action instantly drew cheers from the old women, praising her for being tough and assertive. The group of old women started to follow suit, smashing the remaining three chairs. This set of carved mahogany table and chairs was bought by Zack at a high price to make me happy. One of them picked up an antique glass cup from my table, about to smash it on the ground. I warned her with a stern face, “This glass cup is an antique worth $2 million.” Hearing this, the person showed obvious hesitation. Seeing this, my mother-in-law stepped forward and smashed the antique glass cup herself. “Everything here belongs to my son. I said today everyone can smash as they please. We must teach this bitch a lesson.” With my mother-in-law’s words, these old women went crazy and trashed the house. I watched coldly as they did all this. Every item they destroyed now would become evidence for them to go to jail later. Suddenly, one of the old women patted my mother-in-law’s shoulder and said, “Zack’s mom, look, she’s glaring at you!” “All the things you’re smashing now were bought with your son’s hard-earned money. It doesn’t affect this slut at all.” “Only by severely punishing this bitch can she learn her lesson.” Hearing this, my mother-in-law looked up at me. A flash of viciousness passed through her eyes as she walked straight towards me. There were too many of them, and I knew I couldn’t fight them all. It’s better to avoid trouble for now, so I quickly ran towards the door. But I was pulled back by my mother-in-law grabbing my arm. Then I felt a sharp pain in my knee as I fell to the ground.

My mother-in-law stepped on my thigh, grinding her foot. The pain hit me, and I couldn’t help but cry out. My mother-in-law cursed loudly, “You little slut, you’re good at playing weak. I barely stepped on you, and you’re screaming so wantonly for whom to hear!” I looked at her coldly and said, “Yvonne, you’ll definitely regret everything you’ve done today!” “Still talking back, I’ll teach you some manners today, let you know how to be a proper daughter-in-law.” From the first day I married Zack, my mother-in-law couldn’t wait to teach me manners. She made a list for me, including washing her feet and underwear every day. I heard that’s how Zack’s grandmother treated my mother-in-law back then, so she was eager to use the same tactics on me. Since ancient times, women have always been best at making life difficult for other women. But she forgot that I married a man with the hyperaggressive gene, and I didn’t marry him willingly. Before the list even reached my hands, Zack tore it to shreds and scolded her. My mother-in-law didn’t dare to say anything in front of her son but always wanted to take her anger out on me. Today, she finally got her chance. My mother-in-law asked her friends to fetch a basin of water from the bathroom. She grabbed my hair and said in a sinister tone, “In the past, women who cheated would be drowned in pig cages. Today, I’ll let you taste that feeling.” With that, she directly pushed my head into the basin full of water. The cold water covered my mouth and nose, and the pain of suffocation instantly came over me. My body struggled violently, trying to break free from her grip, but I couldn’t. Finally, when I felt I was about to reach my limit and die from suffocation, my mother-in-law pulled my hair, lifting my head out of the water basin. I immediately gasped for air. My face and body were soaked, looking utterly miserable. “Bitch, will you still dare to rely on my son to act arrogantly? The son I raised with such difficulty, you use him like a servant. Did I give you that face?” After catching my breath, I glanced at her sideways, hatred welling up in my heart, “If you have the guts, just kill me today. Otherwise, I’ll make you pay!” At this moment, I hated Zack to the core. It was all because he forced me to marry him that I was suffering all this today. Yvonne slapped me again with all her might. Traces of blood trickled down from the corner of my mouth. “Still talking back! If I can’t discipline you today, I’ve lived this life in vain!” With that, Yvonne pushed my head into the water basin again. This time, she held me down even longer than before. Over and over again, I was tortured to the point of exhaustion. At this point, someone looked at my pale face and advised, “Zack’s mom, teaching her a lesson is enough. Don’t really cause a death.” “That’s right, times are different now. Killing a daughter-in-law means going to jail. We’d all be accomplices then!” Hearing about jail time, more people started to persuade Yvonne to stop. Yvonne’s hand gripping my hair gave a vicious shake, and I fell to the ground, half of my body soaked. She looked down at me contemptuously and said, “I’ll let you off the hook for now, you drowned rat. I’ll let my son deal with you for your cheating!” I thought weakly that when Zack beats you to the ground begging for mercy later, I definitely won’t say a single word to help you like before. Just then, an old woman came out of the bathroom, holding my previous pregnancy test, and handed it to Yvonne. Seeing this, Yvonne’s eyes instantly widened in anger, and she kicked me. “You slut, you even got pregnant with a bastard child!” My body curled up slightly, and I instinctively raised my hand to protect my belly. Yvonne was about to kick me again. Fearing she would harm my unborn child, I quickly said, “This is not a bastard child, it’s Zack’s baby.” Yvonne angrily shouted, “You bitch, don’t try to fool me. Don’t think I don’t know, you never wanted to have my son’s child. You even made my son get a vasectomy!” She angrily pointed at me and said, “You bitch want to end my family line!” When I first married Zack, he always refused to use protection, saying he wanted to be completely one with me. I threw dozens of boxes of contraceptive pills in front of him, telling him that I would take one every time he touched me. I absolutely would not give birth to a child carrying his hyperaggressive gene. Worried that the drugs would harm my health, he simply went and got a vasectomy. Hearing this, her old friends also became furious. After all, at their age, nothing was more important than having descendants. “This woman’s heart is too poisonous. Not only did she make her husband infertile, but she also wants him to raise someone else’s child.” “Oh my! Women’s minds are so wicked nowadays. My previous daughter-in-law also cheated on my son and gave birth to a bastard child. I took care of it for three years before I found out.” “If I had known earlier, I would have beaten that bastard child to death no matter what.” Stimulated by her friends’ words, Yvonne looked at me with malicious eyes. “That’s right! Today I’m going to beat that bastard out of your belly, to prevent it from being born and harming society.” Panic surged in my heart like never before. I looked at Yvonne and explained, “It’s really not a bastard child. It’s a healthy baby conceived through the latest gene screening technology developed by Zack’s company.” “If you don’t believe me, you can call Zack and ask.” “You bitch, I know what you’re planning. Zack has been so bewitched by you that even if he knew you cheated, he wouldn’t bear to hurt you at all.” “But as his mother, I can’t let him endure this great humiliation!” With that, she suddenly raised her foot and kicked me hard in the lower abdomen. A piercing pain spread from deep in my belly.

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On the third day after my death, Wren Alcott got a call to identify my remains. She was nestled against a man’s shoulder and dismissed it carelessly. “If he’s dead, he’s dead. Just cremate him and let me know.” My body was sent to the crematorium, reduced to ashes, and the staff called her again. She sounded annoyed. “Got it. I’ll be there soon.” …… Content By the time Wren arrived, it was two hours later. Strands of her hair were tangled around her face, a clear sign that she’d just left someone’s bed. Spotting the staff member, she sneered, “Asher Voss’s ashes, right? Aren’t I supposed to pick them up?” Once they confirmed her identity, they handed her the box containing my remains. Wren accepted it, her eyes filled with scorn. “So, these are really Asher’s ashes? You didn’t just fill it with some stray cat’s ashes to trick me, did you?” The staff member, shocked, replied, “Miss Alcott, these are indeed Mr. Voss’s remains. We have a record. Would you like to see it?” She chuckled softly. “No, I believe you.” I felt an odd sense of relief. Even though I was dead, my spirit lingered here. I figured it was because I hadn’t been laid to rest. Now that Wren accepted I was gone, perhaps out of a slight sense of duty, she would eventually bury me. But before I could feel any comfort, Wren gasped. The box slipped from her hands, scattering my ashes onto the ground. She laughed cruelly. “Oops, my hand slipped.” With that, she ground her high heel into my remains, twisting it with vicious delight. I could barely breathe, staring at her smug expression. I opened my mouth but couldn’t utter a sound. My ashes disappeared into the floor, blending with dust. Satisfied, Wren stepped back, ignoring the horrified staff as she said, “Remember to tell Asher—mind games don’t work on me.” “And in a few days, it’s my mother’s Remembrance Day. He’d better come crawling to her grave and beg forgiveness. Otherwise, even if he’s dead, I won’t hesitate to dig him up and desecrate his body.” Her words sent a chill through the room. But I knew she’d do it if it came to that. Suddenly, I felt lucky my body had already been cremated. Otherwise, I could only imagine the humiliation she’d put me through. Before the staff could argue, Wren got a call and left. Strangely, my spirit seemed tethered to her, following as she went. I ended up sitting in the passenger seat, listening as she chatted with the man on the other end. The voice was familiar. Graham Hale, the Alcott family’s ward. Back when Wren and I were still together, he’d confronted me and demanded I leave her. When I refused, he launched a smear campaign against me, sending people to harass me. Wren found out and had someone teach him a painful lesson, warning she’d kick him out of the house if he ever messed with me again. Graham behaved himself after that. When my name came up, Wren’s expression turned cold. “Why even mention him? Bad luck—he’s not really dead, after all.” “But if he were?” Graham’s voice was probing, his tone cautious. A chill ran through me, and I turned instinctively to look at Wren. The old Wren wouldn’t have cared if I’d died. A scratch on my hand would have been enough to bring her to tears. She once said I was her one true love, that she’d never love anyone else. Now, Wren laughed icily. “If he really were dead? I’d throw a three-day party and light up the city with fireworks.”

I stared, stunned. Only now did I realize the depths of her hatred. She’d celebrate my death as if it were a holiday. But Wren, I am dead. You just don’t believe it yet. The car stopped outside a bridal boutique, and Wren stepped out, her heels clicking against the pavement. She hurried inside, almost twisting her ankle. I thought back to the day we secretly got our marriage license, and she dragged me into a boutique like this. She couldn’t wait to try on a wedding dress and show me. Back then, she’d smiled with pure happiness, saying she was the world’s luckiest bride, and I was her dashing groom. Now, that same smile graced her face as she stood beside Graham Hale, who was dressed in a white suit. They looked perfect together, a flawless couple. “Beautiful,” Graham murmured, a hint of admiration in his voice. “I finally have you, Wren,” he whispered, eyes brimming with adoration. I watched, frozen, as Graham leaned in to kiss her. I wanted to stop it, but my hand went straight through Wren’s shoulder. I could only watch helplessly as he slipped a ring onto her finger. How could this happen? Why Graham? He was the one who caused her mother’s death! Wren! My mouth opened, but only a raspy whisper escaped. I felt a hollow ache, standing numb as Graham gently touched Wren’s cheek. “By the way, Wren—he’s really gone, isn’t he?” He didn’t need to clarify who he meant. We both knew. Her face was expressionless, almost irritated. “Why would he be a problem? It’s all just an act,” she replied dismissively. “And for our wedding, should we invite him?” Her lashes lowered, veiling her emotions. Suddenly, she smiled, a twisted grin. “Of course. He’s an important guest.” Realization struck me—Wren wanted me to witness her wedding. The wedding I’d always dreamed of having with her. We had only gotten our license back then because we couldn’t get Miriam Alcott’s blessing for a full ceremony. The wedding became something I longed for but never had. Miriam passed soon after, dying of a heart attack that night. Her last call had been to me. Wren had blamed me for “driving her to her grave.” At her funeral, Wren forced me to kneel by the graveside all night, through a downpour. Her eyes, hollow and filled with loathing, had fixed on me. “Asher Voss, from now on, it’s you and me, life and death.” That was when I stopped being her lover and became her enemy. She tormented me relentlessly, wouldn’t let me go, and even brought other men home. Watching my eyes burn, she would laugh, patting my face mockingly. “Asher, does it hurt? But isn’t this your fault? Who else can you blame?” Every attempt to explain only made her torment me more. She never doubted her conclusions because she knew her mother despised me. Miriam had even declared I’d never set foot in the Alcott household. Wren had fought Miriam on this, severing ties with the family for my sake. But now, the man she adored was the one responsible for her mother’s death. How could she bear it? After Graham left, it was as though Wren remembered me. She graciously took me off her blocklist, tapping the steering wheel while dialing my number. I watched as her calm expression shifted, her brows gradually knitting together. She struck the wheel in frustration. “Asher, if you don’t answer this call, you’re dead meat.” What she didn’t know was that I wasn’t ignoring her calls. I simply couldn’t answer anymore.

Two weeks later, Wren finally returned to Riverside Manor. She stormed through the front door, heels pounding against the floor. “Asher, get out here!” She threw open door after door, searching every room without finding me. Her expression grew darker with each empty space. She ordered her people to find me, muttering, “Asher, if you’re running, you’d better be far away. Because if I catch you, I’ll break your legs.” The man she wanted to punish, though, stood right in front of her. After a while, her phone beeped with a location update. Her face twisted with a frightening intensity. Curious, I looked and saw the address—Cora Dane’s place. “Ms. Alcott, Mr. Voss’s last call was to Ms. Dane. She claims she hasn’t seen him, but we suspect she’s holding him against his will.” Wren sneered. “Against his will? Sounds more like he’s there by choice. I’m on my way.” Wren sped to Cora’s place, her face set in a stormy glare. She pounded on the door—one, two, three times before it finally opened. Cora appeared, her face impassive, dark circles under her eyes. “What do you want?” Wren scoffed, “You’re hiding my husband, and you think I don’t have a reason to be here?” Cora remained emotionless, as though she’d lost all care for the world. “He’s not here. He’s dead. Didn’t the crematorium call you to pick up his remains?” “Oh, you’re helping him play another game? Asher’s really going all out to avoid me this time.” Wren refused to believe I was dead, convinced it was one of my tricks. She looked over Cora’s shoulder, calling out, “Asher, hiding behind a woman? How manly. I’ll count to three. If you don’t show yourself, don’t blame me for what I’ll do.” Three, two, one. Then, Wren shoved Cora, ordering her men to search the house. Cora cried out in pain as she fell, a flash of anger crossing her calm face. “Wren, Asher is dead. You picked up his ashes. Don’t you remember?” “He’s dead. Dead for days now.” Cora, trembling with fury, grabbed Wren by the collar and pushed her against the wall. Wren’s voice was mocking. “You’re still hiding him? You must really be infatuated with Asher, Cora. Too bad he loves me. Maybe when I’m done with him, if you still want him, I could hand him over to you.” “But not yet. He still owes my mother at her grave. He can’t keep you company yet.” Cora’s face flushed with anger, clenching Wren’s collar. “Wren Alcott, you’re a monster.” She slapped Wren hard across the face, leaving Wren stunned. The two of them fell into a vicious fight. My heart pounded, helplessly watching as they struggled. For all her training in Mixed Martial Arts, Wren had Cora pinned down quickly, leaving Cora bruised and battered. I could only watch in anguish, unable to do anything. “Look at you, Cora. Nearly beaten to death over Asher, while he happily hides behind your protection. A weak man like that—is he really worth it?” Cora scoffed, her voice dripping with scorn. “Wren, the real pathetic one is you. Mistaking your mother’s killer for someone loyal to you. Hurting the one who truly cares about you. You live like a stray dog.” “What did you just say?” Wren’s hand rose to strike when someone burst in. “Ms. Alcott, we found the footage from Mr. Voss’s accident. And… his autopsy report.”

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On my birthday, Luke, the university student my wife was sponsoring, posted on Twitter: “Celebrating my 22nd birthday! Even though no one else remembered, my big celebrity sister did!” The location was tagged at a restaurant known for catering to couples. The attached photo showed him and my wife in a selfie, their faces almost touching. The top comment was: “You’re spending your birthday with the famous Nadia! Looking at this restaurant, are you two together?” Luke only replied to this one comment: “Hehe, we’re almost there.” I liked this comment with my main account, but a few minutes later, Nadia called to yell at me: “What’s wrong with me celebrating Luke’s birthday? Did you have to like that comment with your main account? Don’t be so petty, quickly say it was a misclick, fans are asking questions.” I could faintly hear Luke saying in the background: “If getting cyberbullied makes Sean happy, I’m okay with it. After all, he used to be a big star.” I hung up the phone immediately. But today is also my birthday. I’ve supported Nadia for three years, given up my career for her for three years, and we’ve been secretly married for two years. In the eighth year of loving Nadia, I decided to give up on her and make a comeback. …

When Nadia came back, I was playing with my new kitten. Ever since we started dating, she said she didn’t like cats and dogs. After she secretly got rid of the cat I had for five years, I never got close to a kitten again. “Sean, what do you mean? Don’t you know I hate cats?” Nadia’s sharp voice came through. I glanced at her indifferently and continued petting the cat. “Alright, alright, you’re just jealous, aren’t you? Luke just graduated, he needs me right now. Why are you competing with him? I’ll spend more time with you in the future,” Nadia said, pinching her nose, in a tone of condescension. Seeing that I was still ignoring her, Nadia lost her temper. She picked up the cat I had just bought and threw it aside roughly, then pushed me: “Go apologize to him quickly. You’re such a big man, why are you competing with a university student?” The kitten let out a loud cry when it was thrown to the ground, then crawled back to my side and hissed at Nadia. I didn’t expect Nadia to be so strong. My stomach hit the corner of the table, and I felt a spasm in my gut. My face gradually turned pale. My stomach ulcer was acting up again. I originally didn’t eat dinner because I was waiting for Nadia to come back and celebrate my birthday with me. After seeing that Twitter post, I couldn’t eat at all. Now with this external stimulation to my stomach, I was in so much pain I couldn’t speak. I used to be very healthy, but because Nadia said she didn’t like her man being watched and admired by so many women, I gave up my career and focused on getting resources for Nadia. I accompanied various bosses and directors for drinks, and gradually developed a serious stomach problem. Seeing that something was wrong with me, Nadia panicked for a moment: “Where… where’s your medicine? I’ll get it for you.” I clutched my stomach and coldly watched her search around the living room. “I remember it was right here, how…” Nadia’s words stopped abruptly, and an unnatural expression flashed across her face. My medicine box had been taken by her to give to Luke yesterday. I remember yesterday when Nadia rushed back home in a hurry, as soon as she opened the door she asked: “Luke got hurt in a car race! Where’s our medicine?” Without waiting for my answer, Nadia took the box containing my stomach medicine on her own: “Never mind, I’ll take it first.” If it were usual, I would definitely have jealously questioned her, asking if she had taken my medicine to give to Luke, but today, I was tired. Not just physically, but in this relationship, I was tired too. “I… I’ll go downstairs to buy some for you, hold on.” Nadia’s face showed some guilt. She wanted to come closer to help me to the sofa, but was scared away by the kitten. “I don’t know why you bought this damn cat.” Nadia muttered, picking up her keys to go downstairs and buy medicine for me, but just as she was about to leave, she received a phone call. “Sister Nadia… those debt collectors have come to my house again. They said if I don’t pay today, they’ll cut off one of my hands. Sister Nadia, save me.” As soon as Nadia answered, Luke’s tearful voice came through from the other end. “What?! They dare to touch my people!” Nadia’s delicate face showed a panic I had never seen for me. “It’s just some money, I’ll come right away.” “But it’s so late now, won’t Sean be angry if you come over…” Luke continued on the phone. “He wouldn’t dare!” As if hearing these words, Nadia, who was about to step out of the house, suddenly remembered that I was still in the house with a stomach ulcer attack. Nadia gave me a warning look, then hurriedly left. Just before she closed the door, I called out: “Nadia.” “What? Didn’t you hear that Luke is in danger right now? I’ll buy you medicine when I come back.” Nadia replied impatiently, then quickly closed the door. I wanted to say, I want a divorce. I looked at the business card of the international director that Nadia had admired for a long time, which I was clutching in my hand, and tore it to pieces. I had originally planned to give Nadia a surprise on her birthday, but now it seems unnecessary.

I held my stomach until midnight, but Nadia still hadn’t come back. The kitten was licking my hand worriedly, curled up beside me. I knew Nadia wouldn’t come back, but I still couldn’t help but have some expectations. Time passed bit by bit, and I really couldn’t bear it anymore. I called for delivery to bring the medicine over. At this moment, Twitter suddenly popped up with a message. It was another post from Luke. I clicked in to look, driven by some inexplicable force. It was a photo posted by Luke, showing Nadia’s back view. Nadia was confronting the debt collectors, with her arms spread out to protect Luke behind her. Luke said that the debt collectors had already left under Nadia’s threats and money. Luke had suffered some minor injuries and was on the way to the hospital with Nadia. Someone asked in the comments: “Looking at this back view, is it Nadia again? The big star and the young university student are so shippable!” Luke immediately replied: “Thank you for your concern, ship away, there’s plenty of sugar!” My heart ached. Nadia and I had never gone public. She said she didn’t want to affect her career, and I respected her wishes. But now she was appearing in public with Luke again and again, in such an ambiguous relationship. Doesn’t this affect her career? Luke was so concerned about a minor injury, but do you remember a month ago, at the Hundred Flowers Awards ceremony, Nadia won the Best Supporting Actress award through my resource investments and daily humble pleading. When Nadia was accepting the award, I was surrounded by a group of people. “An actor who has already retired dares to compete for resources with the people our boss wants to support?!” The leader kicked me. I knew it was probably because Nadia had been elevated step by step by me, affecting too many other people’s interests. One of them had sent these people to cause trouble for me. “All of you, go up and beat him! Just don’t beat him to death!” As soon as the leader gave the order, more than a dozen people surrounded me and started punching and kicking. Faced with the attack of more than a dozen people, I was powerless to fight back. I could only cover my head and silently endure. Just as I was being beaten, I saw Nadia, who had just received the award, walking past with Luke’s hand in hers, surrounded by stars. “Nadia! Save me!” I shouted. Nadia clearly saw me, but she only glanced at me, then fearfully quickened her pace, pulling Luke’s hand. Because more and more people were gathering, the leader was afraid of making a big scene and withdrew his men. Late at night, I went to the hospital before returning home covered in wounds. “Why are you back so late?” Nadia glanced at me, then was shocked by my appearance, her lips trembling. “Nadia, why didn’t you save me, why didn’t you call the police?” I rushed up to question her. “I… I didn’t know it would be so serious.” Nadia shrank back, her eyes avoiding mine. “You were afraid those people would hurt Luke, right!” My eyes gradually reddened. Nadia was exposed by me and couldn’t speak. Because she knew that as long as these people were causing trouble for me, they wouldn’t bother Luke. “Come with me to report to the police! That place is a blind spot for surveillance, you and Luke clearly saw it, come and testify for me!” I stared at Nadia intently. “Enough! Why report to the police for such a small matter!” Nadia yelled angrily, “Aren’t you fine now? Other than some superficial injuries, what’s wrong with you? You’re not dead or disabled, why is a grown man being so dramatic!” I sneered and nodded. As the night deepened, my disappointment in Nadia also deepened. After Nadia finished speaking, she went back to her room as if nothing had happened, while I sat in the living room, enduring the pain of my injuries, unable to sleep all night. Afterwards, Nadia acted coquettishly towards me again, coaxing me with a few words. She’s always like this, thinking that acting coquettish and saying a few nice words would make everything okay. I also thought it had passed, but seeing Luke’s Twitter post, I clearly remembered everything that happened that day. I closed my eyes tiredly, and when I opened them again, my eyes were clear. I called my former agent: “Hello, I want to make a comeback. Are there any roles available recently?”

When I woke up, Nadia was back, sitting in the living room playing with her phone. Seeing me come out, she imperiously said to me: “I bought you medicine, it’s on the table. Looks like you could sleep without medicine, why pretend to be in so much pain?” I smiled faintly: “Because I had already bought some.” Nadia seemed relieved, then said matter-of-factly: “Since you’re fine now, drive me to the set. My new drama starts filming today. By the way, did you fail to connect with that international director I asked you about last time? I knew you were becoming more and more useless.” I always drove Nadia to her new drama sets because, after all, I was a senior in the entertainment industry. Although I had retired, people would still give me some face. People in the circle also knew about my relationship with Nadia, so they would take extra care of her. Thinking of the international director’s business card I tore up last night, I suddenly felt quite happy. On the way to send Nadia to the set, Nadia complained about wanting to drink ice water. When I went to the back seat to get it for her, I found a pair of men’s underwear on the back seat. Nadia took a sharp breath, looking at me nervously. After all, if it were before, I would definitely have questioned whose underwear this was and asked Nadia to keep her distance from Luke. But now, I just smiled faintly and said nothing. “Luke got caught in the rain once and didn’t bring an umbrella. I went to pick him up, and he changed clothes directly in the car. I didn’t know he even changed his underwear…” Nadia explained, her face a bit embarrassed. “Nadia,” I interrupted her, calling softly, “Did you know that the day of Luke’s birthday was also my birthday?” Nadia was stunned for a moment, her eyes flickering with some guilt: “I… I forgot. I’ll make it up to you next time.” I said nothing, just nodded, handed the water to Nadia, and continued driving. She didn’t know, we had no next time. After arriving at the set, the staff kept looking at me and Nadia, with a look of wanting to say something but holding back. Ouch, it hurts so much, my stomach started hurting again. I took a deep breath, holding back the pain. An actress who was close to Nadia couldn’t hold back anymore. She ran to Nadia’s side and asked: “What’s your relationship with that university student? What about Sean?” Nadia glanced at me cautiously, then said: “One at home, one outside, you know. Besides, young guys are so tender, of course I like them.” The actress looked at me in shock, as if saying she didn’t expect me to be so open-minded, then looked at Nadia admiringly before leaving. After the actress left, Nadia immediately grabbed my hand and explained to me: “You know, Luke just graduated and also wants to enter the entertainment industry. It’s good for him to have you and me to protect him.” I nodded perfunctorily, noncommittal. Watching Nadia act boringly, her acting skills used to be very poor, but I taught her step by step, so that now Nadia can finish a scene without making mistakes. Nadia’s reputation used to be very bad, and I built her image and reputation bit by bit. It wouldn’t be wrong to say she was a rose I personally cultivated. But now this rose is pricking me all over. When Nadia’s most important scene of the day came, Luke suddenly called. Nadia hurriedly went to answer the phone, and the whole crew paused for her. “Sister Nadia, I went to audition for the third male lead role in the TV series you recommended to me, but the people there look down on me and don’t want me to play the third male lead. Can you come over and support me?” Luke’s pitiful voice rang out in the quiet set. “How dare they! Wait for me, I’ll be right there!” Nadia frowned, picked up her bag and prepared to leave. “Miss Nadia, but we haven’t finished here yet…” the director persuaded. You should know that Nadia’s image in the entertainment industry was originally not good, and I had worked hard to correct it bit by bit. If she left like this, there would inevitably be many people saying she was playing diva, one person delaying the progress of the entire crew. Although all of this was true. Nadia rushed out as if she couldn’t hear what the director was saying. I grabbed Nadia: “Don’t forget, if you leave today, your reputation will be completely ruined.” Nadia’s face darkened: “Are you threatening me? Didn’t you hear that Luke needs me?” Luke, Luke, it’s Luke again. “If you dare to walk out of this set, let’s get divorced!” There was uncontrollable disappointment in my eyes. “Threatening me with divorce? Sean, you’re something else! Wait until I come back to talk to you.” Nadia looked at me in shock, but still couldn’t resist her steps to see Luke. Nadia pushed my hand away heavily and turned to run out. My stomach was already hurting, and I couldn’t stand steady. When she pushed me, I fell to the ground, and my stomach hurt even more uncontrollably. “Mr. Sean, are you okay?” The people on the set gathered around and helped me up. Nadia, you see, even some strangers treat me better than you do. So why should I still stay with you? I took out my stomach medicine and ate it, then looked at the director and said: “This drama just started filming, not much has been shot yet, right?” The director nodded. “Then replace all of Nadia’s scenes, I’ll act in them. I can invest a lot of money in you.” I looked at the director seriously and said.

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My dad swapped me out with his first love’s child. He told her, “Our child will have a better future if my wife raises her.” Years later, the illegitimate daughter became the elegant heiress of the Chambers family. And I became the lowest of the low. The illegitimate daughter mocked me in front of others, hinting that they should bully me. Seeing me beg for mercy, she laughed even harder. “A mistress’s kid, huh? You’re really good at groveling.” On SAT Day, she tore up my exam pass and sent a group of thugs to block me in Oakridge Alley. She smirked, “Teach her a lesson.” And that was how I died, on SAT Day, only to discover she was my dad’s first love’s biological daughter all along. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the bullying. Content I was cornered by a group of girls in the restroom. Ivory Chambers stood front and center, gazing down at me with a cold, superior detachment. “Leona, when was the last time you showered? You reek, you know that?” Then, as if flipping a switch, she laughed—sweet and harmless. Her doe-like eyes brimmed with innocence. “Don’t worry. They’ll help you clean up just fine.” At her words, the girls around her grinned wickedly and advanced toward me. In my previous life, I had huddled in the corner, trembling. These girls had dumped a bucket of dirty mop water on me and recorded a video of the entire thing. From that day forward, I became their favorite target—bullied mercilessly. All because I was “the mistress’s child.” Ivory claimed my mother had ruined her parents’ marriage, and my very existence was a sin. Later, on SAT Day, she tore my exam pass to shreds and sent a group of thugs to ambush me in Oakridge Alley. “Teach her a lesson,” she had said with a smug smile. That day, I was violated and killed. It wasn’t until after my death that I learned Ivory was the mistress’s child. My dad, Victor Chambers, had swapped us at birth to give Ivory a legitimate identity and a better future. For years, I suffered under his first love’s abuse and Ivory’s bullying. In what should have been the prime of my life, they uprooted me completely. Rage and hatred exploded within me like a wildfire. This time, they all had to pay. I stood up abruptly and grabbed the mop. Swinging it wildly, I struck at the advancing girls. Screams filled the restroom. No one dared come near me. I charged straight for Ivory. The drenched mop smacked her stunned face, leaving her screaming. But it wasn’t enough. Tossing the mop aside, I grabbed a fistful of her hair, dragged her to the bucket, and shoved her head into the filthy water. “Your mouth stinks more than I do. Let me rinse it for you!”

Ivory’s minions froze, too shocked to move. Ivory thrashed and spluttered, but all she could manage was a pitiful “glug glug glug” sound. Drink up! Even mop water was cleaner than her filthy mouth. Just as Ivory was about to drown, I released her hair. She shot upright, gasping for air and collapsing to the floor. Her chest heaved violently like a fish out of water. Pointing at me, she tried to speak but couldn’t form a single word. Her minions, however, snapped out of their stupor and lunged at me, screaming every curse in the book. Fueled by unrelenting hatred, I fought back. In my past life, I was a meek pushover. This time, I hit hard—taking on all four of them without hesitation. Let loose. Fight like hell. Those who wronged me in my past life wouldn’t get away this time. The result of my outburst? I ended up in front of Ms. Sanders. “Leona Brooks, are you insane? Ivory is still throwing up from drinking mop water! How can someone your age be so cruel? “Aren’t you two sisters? Even if you’re not from the same mom, how could you treat her like this?” “Explain yourself!” I locked eyes with her. “They cornered me in the restroom to attack me.” Ms. Sanders opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off. “I know I don’t have proof, and it’s their word against mine. But I’m not wrong.” Ms. Sanders wasn’t naive. She knew there was no way I could take on so many if I hadn’t been provoked. Her brows furrowed as she sighed. “Leona, I understand your family situation is complicated.” “Your dad and Ivory’s mom are on their way. Apologize. Say something nice.” “I’m not saying this is your fault, but you… You’re back in that family now. You’ll need to survive there. Until you can support yourself, try to endure it. Just finish high school peacefully.” She, too, thought of me as “the mistress’s child,” born with an original sin. Now that my “mom” was gone and I’d been taken back to that house, it was no surprise I couldn’t hold my head high. Being bullied was something I’d have to endure. If she outright encouraged me to rebel, that would only hurt me more. Who wouldn’t want to fight back if they could? I nodded. “I understand, Ms. Sanders. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” Ms. Sanders sighed again. “Stay here for now.”

Within forty minutes, Victor Chambers arrived with Serena Caldwell. His expression was thunderous as his eyes swept the room and landed on me. “Leona, I didn’t bring you back here so you could make trouble,” he hissed, his voice low and cutting. “If you think being part of the Chambers family gives you the right to do whatever you want, I’ll send you away immediately.” Ms. Sanders stood up, trying to intervene. “Mr. Chambers, maybe you should hear Leona out—” Victor cut her off with a cold laugh. “I don’t have time to hear excuses. She’s clearly out of control.” Ms. Sanders glanced at me with sympathy but said nothing further. She was an outsider in this family drama and had no authority to intervene. “Daddy! Mom!” Ivory Chambers entered, supported by her classmates. Her pristine new outfit and freshly washed face radiated elegance. She was every bit the poised heiress. “Ivory!” Serena rushed to her, pulling her into a tight embrace, her concern palpable. Even in moments of distress, Serena exuded calm. Her soft-spoken demeanor made her seem almost incapable of anger. “Mom!” Ivory nestled into Serena’s arms, her teary gaze shifting to me. Though her tears blurred her eyes, I could still see the disdain deep within them. She looked at me like I was dirt beneath her shoes. She had stolen my identity and my rightful place, yet she dared to look down on me, provoke me, humiliate me. The rage burning inside me felt almost unbearable. Serena gently comforted Ivory before finally turning to me. Her expression was icy, her gaze laced with resentment, as though she wanted to say, Your mother destroyed my family, and now you’re bullying my daughter? My patience is at its limit. But with Ms. Sanders present, she held back her words. Victor glanced at Serena, his concern obvious. He quickly stepped forward to calm her. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied,” he assured her. “Dad, you really need to give Mom an explanation,” Ivory said, her voice trembling. “Mom’s too kind to say it, but I know she doesn’t want to see Leona anymore. You should send her away.” Ivory would never reveal her true nature under Serena’s watchful eye. She wanted Victor to send me away, knowing that outside this house, I’d be at her mercy. Victor nodded. “Alright, alright. I’ll send her away tomorrow.” Serena’s gaze lingered on me for a moment before she turned back to Ivory. Stroking her hair, she whispered softly, her every move filled with warmth. She truly was a good mother. The kind of mother I should’ve had. Instead, I grew up with a monster who tormented me relentlessly. It wasn’t until she died that I found even a sliver of peace. Back then, I cursed my cruel fate, never realizing my suffering was orchestrated by human hands. Every tragedy in my life was Victor Chambers’ doing. And now, here he was, playing the roles of devoted husband and loving father. This picture-perfect family sickened me to my core. Serena glanced at me once more, her expression unreadable. She gently patted Ivory’s shoulder before walking over to Ms. Sanders. “Ms. Sanders, I’d like to speak with Leona alone.” Ms. Sanders hesitated, then nodded and left the room, her gaze lingering on me briefly.

With Ms. Sanders gone, the room held only four of us. Serena approached me, her cold eyes boring into mine. *”Leona, I won’t hold the sins of the previous generation against you. But if you hurt my daughter, I can’t forgive you. “After the SATs, you’ll leave. I don’t want to see you again.” Her voice was calm, but her words were piercing. I knew she was furious. I had crossed the line by lashing out at Ivory. She had every right to slap me, but she didn’t. For a moment, I wanted to hug her. I wanted to cry out, Mom, I’m your real daughter. But I couldn’t. Ivory was the one she had raised, and no matter what, her feelings for Ivory would outweigh anything she felt for me. I couldn’t risk telling her the truth—not yet. No matter how much I wanted her as my mother, I knew I had to rely on myself. There was still time before the SATs. Enough time. I nodded. “Alright.” Serena turned away, walking over to Ivory and taking her hand. “Let’s go, Ivory.” She led Ivory out of the office without another glance at me—or Victor. Victor watched them leave, then turned his gaze back to me. His expression hardened. “You’ll pay for this,” he spat. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Fine. I’ll be waiting.” Victor’s face froze for a moment as though something dark crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. With a shake of his head, he walked out. Victor, if I were you, I’d kill me right now. You’re the one giving me the chance to destroy you. And I promise, I won’t disappoint. Ms. Sanders didn’t say much else after that, simply telling me to return to class. As I entered the classroom, Ivory’s minions glared at me, their eyes full of resentment. I stared back, unflinching. “What are you looking at? Do you want to drink mop water too? Or should I livestream all the things you’ve done?” They hadn’t expected me to confront them so boldly in front of everyone. One by one, they shrank back, their hostility crumbling. Bullies like them only preyed on the weak. I pointed at them and spoke loudly. “Everyone, be careful around these girls. They’re bullies. Stay far away from them.” Satisfied, I sat down. A few moments later, Ivory returned. I didn’t even spare her a glance, unclenching my tightly balled fist under the desk. The hair was still there. It was from when I’d shoved her head into the bucket earlier. Carefully, I tucked the strand of hair away and pulled out my math workbook.

My defiance had made Ivory Chambers back off. Though she still glared at me whenever she could, she wasn’t reckless anymore. Each time she thought about coming after me, she hesitated, weighing whether she could handle the fallout. She couldn’t afford the consequences if people found out she was a bully. So, for now, she was quiet. But I knew this peace wouldn’t last. Ivory was undoubtedly plotting something, just like in my past life. On SAT Day, she’d try to destroy me completely. This time, I’d be ready—with a gift just for her. During the break, I paid for a DNA test and got Ivory’s results. Now, all I needed was Serena Caldwell’s. No rush. For now, my focus was on studying. When I was little, Diana Monroe—my supposed mother—used to hit me constantly. I thought if I studied hard and did well in school, maybe she’d like me. But every time I brought home a perfect score, she tore up my test papers in a blind rage and slapped me across the face. Eventually, I realized the better my grades, the worse her fury. So I stopped letting her see my real results. From third grade onward, I purposely came in last in every class. By the time I took the entrance exam for this high school, I intentionally scored just high enough to scrape in. I couldn’t understand why she hated my good grades so much. It wasn’t until after I died that I learned Diana wasn’t my real mother. She couldn’t stand that I was better than her biological daughter. Of course, my success made her furious. If she were still alive, I’d throw my perfect scores in her face and tell her just how much of a failure her precious daughter was. With three days left before the final mock exams, I went to the Chambers Manor to ask Victor Chambers for money. Even if he hated me, it was his obligation. He had to provide for me. While no one was paying attention, I slipped into the master suite shared by Victor and Serena. Finally, I found a strand of Serena’s hair in a corner. Just as I pocketed it, Serena walked in. “What are you doing?” Her voice was sharp and cold. I turned to face her, trying to steady my emotions. I knew she was a victim, too. I shouldn’t blame her. But every time she looked at me with those frosty eyes, it felt like a dagger piercing my chest. The pain was overwhelming, mixed with anger. I couldn’t help but wonder how she would react when she learned the truth—that the girl she had ignored and resented was her biological daughter. Would she regret it? Would she be heartbroken? Would she feel even a little guilt for how she treated me? I wanted her to. But I forced myself not to pin my hopes on her, even if she was my real mother. In my past life, no one had loved me, not until the moment I died. In this life, I would love myself. I could only rely on myself. Taking a deep breath, I swallowed the lump in my throat and said quietly, “I was looking for my dad.” Her gaze shifted to my hand. I opened it and said calmly, “I didn’t take anything. You can search me if you don’t believe me.” Her expression hardened further. “Don’t come into my room without permission.” “If you need money, call your dad. He can transfer it to you.” “I don’t want to see you in this house. Neither does my daughter.” I nodded. “Alright.” As I walked past her toward the door, her voice stopped me again. “Leona, everything in this house belongs to Ivory. None of it has anything to do with you. Don’t get any ideas.” “I’ve given you one chance already. If I find out you’ve hurt my daughter again, I won’t care that you’re just a child—I won’t let it slide.” Her words were laced with venom as she added, “You should know your dad only stayed in this house because Ivory needs a father. He’s a guest here, nothing more.” “Got it,” I replied, then walked out. I went straight to the DNA lab and paid for a test. Three hours later, I had the results: Serena Caldwell’s DNA and mine. Perfect.

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After Mom remarried, my younger brother Miles Brooks found out from Dad’s belongings that Grandpa came from a prominent political-military family. Dreaming of becoming a member of high society, he chose to follow Grandpa. But instead of the glamorous life he envisioned, Grandpa made him work the fields, herd sheep, practice painting, and study hard, never letting him appear in public. Meanwhile, I stayed at Brooks Manor with our stepdad, Steven Hollister, becoming his trusted right-hand man and stepping into the world of the elite. Miles only realized his mistake after finishing his SATs, when he learned that I was leaving for Paris with Evelyn Hathaway, the “princess” of the social elite, and that we were planning to marry upon returning. In a fit of rage, he killed me. And then, we both woke up, back at the moment of choice—Grandpa or Mom. This time, Miles hid behind Mom, declaring, “I’m not going with Grandpa. My dad is right here.” I clung to Grandpa’s coat tightly. I had enough of being someone’s lapdog, ordered around like a servant. Content 0

When Dad passed away, he left behind two sons: my younger brother, Miles, and me, Levi Brooks. Mom quickly remarried, devoting all her energy to our stepdad Steven and the unborn child she was carrying. It was then that Grandpa—whom we’d never met—showed up. He wanted to take both of us under his care. Mom, furious, said, “When I married your son, you didn’t pay a penny for our wedding. I’ve never even seen you before! And now you want to take both of my boys away?” “These are my grandchildren too,” Grandpa replied calmly. “Even though you’ve remarried, I can’t just let them go. If you insist I only take one, let’s ask the boys what they want.” Before she could say another word, Miles grabbed Steven’s hand and said sweetly, “Dad, you look tired. Let me make you some tea.” He stood behind Steven, full of admiration, then chirped, “Dad,” his voice bright and tender. He promised to only recognize Steven as his father from then on. Mom was stunned. Miles had been adamantly against Mom’s remarriage, leaving her stressed as she tried to juggle her grieving son, a demanding new husband, and her pregnancy. And now? Miles had suddenly decided to embrace Steven wholeheartedly, even promising to change his last name to Hollister the next day. Mom, who had always favored Miles, was delighted that he chose to stay. Miles clung to Steven and loudly instructed me, “Levi, you’d better take good care of Grandpa!” As I packed my things and left with Grandpa, Miles mocked me openly. “This time, it’s your turn to suffer. Go on and enjoy digging dirt in the fields!” 0

I knew why he was so smug. In our past life, Miles found a medal of valor and Dad’s farewell letter among Dad’s belongings. The letter revealed that Grandpa came from a prominent political-military family. Hoping for a better life—and tired of feeling like an outsider in Steven’s household—Miles eagerly chose to go with Grandpa. But when he got to Grandpa’s home, he was stunned. Grandpa lived in a small house on the edge of Ashworth Hamlet, surrounded by deep woods and far from the conveniences of city life. His income came from farming and gathering herbs in the mountains. If the harvest wasn’t good or the buyers didn’t come, there was no money. Miles quickly learned that Grandpa was strict. He had to wake up at dawn, eat breakfast, and either walk or take the bus to a public school. After school, there was no time to rest. Grandpa made him finish all his schoolwork before overseeing his physical training. Weekends weren’t for relaxation either; Miles had to help collect herbs in the mountains. There were no luxuries, no entertainment. Miles called his life a nightmare. He longed for the comforts I enjoyed: a grand estate with staff to cater to every need, designer clothes, and private schools where he could network with the children of CEOs and politicians. While Miles wore homespun clothes Grandpa had tailored for him, I was out shopping with Steven’s black card, wearing the latest fashion, and receiving boxes of luxury watches delivered to the door. While he drank bitter herbal teas Grandpa brewed for his acne, I underwent orthodontics and worked with a personal trainer to sculpt my body under Steven’s supervision. He claimed he was a forgotten son of the Brooks family, while I shone brightly in the public eye. At just 16, I had already gained recognition among the elite, with influential families eager to form alliances with ours. Following Steven’s guidance, I presented myself as the perfect young gentleman at every major event. I was his pride, the face of the family, and to the outside world, the Brooks’ golden boy. Miles, on the other hand, fell for Evelyn Hathaway, the darling of high society, and begged Mom to introduce him. She refused. Enraged, he protested, “I’m a Brooks too. Why can’t I?” Steven scoffed and said coldly, “Look at yourself. Following your grandfather around, breaking your back in the dirt. You don’t know finance, can’t speak fluent English, don’t even know how to swing a golf club. What qualifications do you have?” Grandpa dragged him back to the Hamlet, telling him to focus on his SATs and forbidding him from returning until his results were out. Miles once tried to use Dad’s medal to confront Grandpa, only for Grandpa to chuckle and say he’d picked it up at a flea market. “Put your energy into something productive,” he told him. While Miles toiled away in Ashworth Hamlet, I performed a piano solo at my coming-of-age celebration. Under Steven’s tutelage, I played with precision and grace, my fingers dancing effortlessly across the keys. When I rose to bow, the dazzling crystal chandelier above lit up the room and the hearts of everyone watching. Rumors spread: “The Brooks have Levi, and Evelyn Hathaway is the jewel of high society.” Miles came back with his SAT results, eager to share his success, only to find out about my engagement to Evelyn and our plans to study abroad together. At that moment, Steven and Mr. Hathaway were discussing our future plans. Miles approached Mr. Hathaway, who greeted him kindly. But as Miles walked away, he overheard Mr. Hathaway sigh, “So your ex-wife brought two sons. One turned out well, but the other… well, let’s just say Levi is polished, composed, and impeccable. That other one? He reeks of poverty.” Miles snapped. He stormed into my room, hands around my neck, screaming, “Die! Die!” I fought back, hitting him over the head with a heavy object. And just like that, we both died on our 18th birthday. When I opened my eyes, I was back at the fork in the road: Grandpa or Mom. This time, Miles clung to Mom and declared smugly, “It’s your turn to rot in the countryside. Go ahead, Levi. Enjoy your life as a rural nobody.” 0

Life with Grandpa wasn’t rich or comfortable, not by any stretch. Mom had never been close with Dad by the end of their marriage. She didn’t think she owed Grandpa anything, let alone support for my care. Even the child support she received? Not a penny of it went to us. The only time she ever came around was during the summer or winter holidays to pick up Miles for a visit. Even then, it felt like she just wanted to check a box, putting on a show for appearances. Frankly, Mom hadn’t treated Dad well when he was alive either. She often complained about him not earning enough, and judging by the timing of her pregnancy, it was clear she’d been with Steven before Dad passed. Grandpa gave me my own room, modestly furnished. Apart from the essentials, there was only a wooden desk neatly arranged with painting tools—brush, paint, and canvas. One afternoon, Grandpa took me to see the fields. It was the middle of summer, hot and sticky. The ground was dry and cracked under the sun. “Remember,” Grandma Martha said as she watered the crops, “this is the path you chose. You can’t back out now.” Grandpa clearly thought I wouldn’t last here after being spoiled at Brooks Manor. In our previous lives, Miles hadn’t lasted long. He called Mom begging to come home, but she refused. After all, in her mind, Grandpa’s home was supposed to be far more prestigious than Steven’s—enough to elevate Miles to the top of society. At the very least, it could maintain her affluent image. I picked up a watering can and joined Grandpa. “I don’t regret it,” I said. “I like it here. It feels alive.” Grandpa paused, caught off guard. After a moment, he murmured, “You’re nothing like your father.” “What was Dad like when he was young?” I asked, curious about the man behind my faint memories of quiet sorrow. Grandpa’s face darkened. He didn’t answer and instead said, “If you’re staying with me, you’ll follow my rules. I’m strict and have little patience. Now go get some rest.” That night, I fell asleep listening to the sound of frogs and cicadas outside my window. 0

The books on my desk towered over me like mountains. Just looking at them made me want to run. Even after two lifetimes, I’d never really learned the basics. Studying and practicing painting didn’t have the instant gratification of socializing or making connections. Public school was no private tutor. I had to rely on my own grit to catch up. I struggled through it all—homework, reading, painting—but Grandpa never let me off the hook. He sat beside me, refusing to sleep until I finished. If I nodded off, he would clear his throat, jolting me awake. “Sorry! I’ll fix it right away,” I’d blurt out, startled. My body reacted faster than my brain, conditioned by years of reprimands. Grandpa looked puzzled. “What’s wrong? I’m not going to hit you. Did someone use to hit you?” I nodded. “Yeah. I got hit a lot.” Grandpa sighed deeply. “Maybe you should call it a night.” I shook my head. “No! If I take a break every time it gets hard, I’ll never catch up. My painting skills will never improve. I don’t believe I can’t do this.” Grandpa studied me in silence before finally saying, “I’ll go deal with those noisy cicadas outside. They’re bothering you.” Even though I was bad at school, Grandpa stuck with me, helping me correct every mistake. The clothes I wore weren’t designer, but he asked the local seamstress to tailor them. The fabric was soft and comfortable, even if it wasn’t flashy. Grandpa didn’t say much, but I could tell he cared. He wished Mom would visit me. After two lifetimes, I no longer expected anything from her. When she did visit, it was only to take photos for her social media, pretending to be a doting mother. Her eyes were always filled with disdain, like she didn’t want to be there. One evening, music floated in from outside. My hands instinctively moved as if to play along. Grandpa stepped in front of me protectively. We went outside to find Miles standing there, playing the violin like a proud, elegant crane. When he finished, his eyes were filled with pride and scorn. Steven and Mom appeared next. Her belly was round, her face glowing as she alternated between gazing lovingly at her unborn child and Miles. But when her eyes fell on me, they were distant, cold. “Uncle,” she said, pretending to notice us. “I didn’t see you there.” Steven, oblivious to everything but himself, said, “Miles, you should’ve played it like this. Let me show you. Levi, Uncle, you can listen too.” Miles tugged at Steven’s sleeve. “Dad, let’s go home. Mom said you’re her first music teacher. Help me perfect my technique.” I almost laughed out loud. First music teacher? More like a man blinded by lust and greed. Apparently, their performances at home weren’t enough—they had to stage a show here too. After sandwiching Mom between them, Miles turned to me. “Levi, can we talk for a minute?” I knew what he was up to. “You saw that medal, didn’t you?” Miles sneered. “It’s fake. Grandpa’s just a country bumpkin.” “Oh, by the way,” he added, smugly displaying a luxury watch, “did you get an invitation from the Marks family?” “No? Oh, I forgot—you’re stuck out here in the middle of nowhere. You’ve been erased from the Lexington social scene. Beg me, and I might let you tag along. But you’d embarrass yourself there.” He waited, hoping to see me angry, regretful, or ashamed. Instead, I asked, “How long has it been since you’ve had food that tastes like something?” That wiped the smug grin off his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, hick.” He hurried into the car, almost running away. Back at the house, Grandpa awkwardly brought out a cake. “It’s your birthday. Have some cake,” he said. “I don’t know how you used to celebrate at Brooks Manor.” It had been so long since I’d had a birthday. The sweetness of the frosting melted in my mouth, filling me with warmth. Music might require talent, but looks determined fame. Steven firmly believed that with the right face, you could go anywhere. I developed crippling anxiety over my appearance during puberty. Even water retention could earn me a punishment. When hunger kept me up at night, I’d sneak to the fridge. If Steven caught me, he’d make me throw up. Eventually, my stomach learned to reject anything over a certain limit. Steven would dress me in custom suits for performances, and I’d stuff myself with protein powder to fill them out, wrecking my body in the process. When I complained to Mom, she’d only say, “Steven does this for your own good.” I wasn’t a son to them—I was a polished, obedient product. When my little brother Dylan was born, Steven didn’t bother hiding his true colors. “Everything we do is for Dylan. Can’t you be better for his sake? There’s no place for you in this family if you aren’t.” Mom agreed wholeheartedly. “Dylan is our hope. You need to marry someone powerful to help him succeed.” Steven’s wandering eye never stopped, even after Dylan’s birth. Mom wanted to use me to reel him back in.

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Chapter One My wife gave me her male secretary’s underwear as a birthday gift. “Honey, wear it for me when I get back from my trip,” Vanessa said, smirking. Suppressing the nausea that welled up inside me, I snapped a photo of the initials embroidered on the waistband and checked my phone. A notification popped up—Connor Blake had just posted a new update. “My sizzling hot boss insists on teaching me how to swim. Who could resist that?” In the video, Vanessa wore a skimpy swimsuit, clinging to Connor in the pool. Their intimacy was undeniable. I chuckled coldly and left a comment. “So, when does the bedroom yoga lesson start?” An hour later, Vanessa called, fuming. “Ethan Hawthorne, are you looking to get yourself into trouble?” Unbothered, I tossed a divorce agreement her way. She cried. When Vanessa came home, I was in the middle of discussing property division with Julian Scott, my divorce lawyer. She stormed in, slamming the door so hard it echoed through the Tribeca apartment. Kicking off her heels, she peeled off her blazer as she made her way to the bathroom. Moments later, she came out, her face contorted with irritation. She grabbed my phone from the coffee table and threw it down. “Who are you chatting with so intently?” “I told you two hours ago I’d be home. No hot water running? No candles lit? And you didn’t even prepare my pajamas?” In the past, I would have jumped at the chance to cater to her every need. But now, her words sounded like nails scraping against a chalkboard. Perhaps, to her, I was always just an obedient servant she could order around. Swallowing the bitterness rising in my chest, I glanced up. My gaze caught a red mark marring her pale skin—a bold testament to her affair. For ten years, I had loved her faithfully, believing nothing could shake our bond. It was this certainty that allowed her to believe I would never leave her. Realizing my anger, Vanessa awkwardly pulled a blanket from the couch to cover herself. Before I could speak, she offered an explanation, unprompted. “Hotels are full of annoying mosquitoes. I couldn’t stop getting bitten.” I laughed dryly. “Do all the hotel mosquitoes look like your secretary, Connor?” Vanessa’s face turned crimson. She stammered defensively, her voice raising. “What nonsense are you talking about? I was just teaching him to swim!” “Those yoga, cycling, and fitness instructors are men too. Does that mean all of them sleep with their clients?” “Stop filling your head with trash!” she snapped. Watching her panic only amused me further. Tired of the charade, I stood up to pack my things. But Vanessa grabbed my arm, her brows knitting together. “Stop being ridiculous.” “I didn’t forget your birthday. I even got you a gift.” The thought of that “gift” ignited my fury. I put on a pair of gloves, retrieved the underwear from the trash, and threw it in her face. Vanessa screamed, stumbling backward, nearly falling. Chapter Two When she saw the initials “CB” on the waistband, her anger quickly morphed into panic. She stared at me nervously, opening her mouth to speak, but no words came out. I crossed my arms and glared coldly, waiting for whatever excuse she’d come up with this time. The tense silence was interrupted by an urgent knock at the door. Vanessa seemed relieved as she darted to answer it. To my surprise, Connor Blake stepped inside. “It’s pouring out there. What are you doing here?” Vanessa asked, her voice soft and warm as she pulled him in. “You’ll catch a cold wearing that soaked jacket.” Her gentleness made me laugh bitterly. When I was sick with a high fever, she couldn’t even be bothered to get me a glass of water. Instead, she’d complain about how my illness inconvenienced her routine. Back then, I thought it was because she wasn’t used to caring for others. Now, I realized she only reserved her kindness for people she deemed worthy. “Ethan, why are you just standing there like a statue?” Vanessa barked, her tone sharp and impatient. “Get your clothes so Connor can change. Bring a few options so he can pick one.” In the past, I might have exploded in anger. But now, all I felt was icy detachment. I smirked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Why stop at clothes? Take the bedroom. The bed is spacious enough for the two of you.” Ignoring Vanessa’s darkening expression, I headed to the bedroom to pack. Behind me, Connor tried to calm her down. “Don’t be mad. It’s my fault for showing up unannounced. I just wanted to make up for missing Ethan’s birthday.” Vanessa laughed coldly. “Mad? At him? This tantrum is just his way of trying to control me.” Her defiant tone grated on me. At that moment, Julian Scott sent over the finalized divorce agreement. I printed it out, signed it, and handed it to her without a word. Vanessa glanced at the papers dismissively, but when she realized what it was, her arrogant demeanor dissolved. Anger and disbelief flashed across her face. “You’re going all out with this performance, huh, Ethan?” she sneered, crumpling the paper and hurling it at me. “The digital copy is in your email. Print it yourself if you want,” I replied flatly, dragging my suitcase toward the door. Behind me, Vanessa’s voice shook with barely contained rage. “If you walk out that door tonight, don’t ever come back.” I froze, hand on the doorknob. Something clicked in my mind. I turned to face her. Vanessa’s expression shifted—relief mixed with triumph—before she hardened her features again. “This is your last chance. From now on, don’t even mention the word ‘divorce.’” Chapter Three Over the years, every rule in our relationship had been set by Vanessa. I followed them without question, while she took my devotion as a license to break them whenever she wanted. Words like “breakup” and “divorce” were her go-to weapons, wielded at the slightest inconvenience. Last week, I forgot to buy cat food. That was enough for her to threaten divorce and block me on every platform. I resorted to creating multiple burner accounts just to beg her forgiveness. She ignored me for a week, letting her cold shoulder speak volumes. Eventually, I found out the cat food wasn’t for us—it was for Connor Blake. “Stop standing there like an idiot. Go make some ginger tea for Connor to warm him up,” Vanessa snapped, shoving me aside with disdain. I didn’t argue. Instead, I quietly slid off my wedding ring, turning it over in my fingers. It was a ring I’d designed myself—every detail carefully considered. I’d never taken it off, and I’d been insistent that she wear hers every day too. It was the one thing I wouldn’t compromise on, no matter how angry she made me. But this time, it was different. I inhaled deeply and placed the ring in her hand. This time, I was really letting go. Vanessa’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her face turned red, and tears glistened in her eyes. But instead of breaking, she hardened herself, gripping the ring tightly. “Fine, Ethan. I’ll wait,” she said coldly. “Tomorrow, you’ll come crawling back like the dog you are.” She hadn’t realized yet—there would be no tomorrow for us. It was late at night, and the icy wind cut through the streets like a blade. I leaned against my car, fumbling with a pack of cigarettes. Only one was left. Smoke curled around me as my thoughts drifted. When I first moved to New York City to start my career, I didn’t know anyone. My quiet nature didn’t lend itself to making friends, so I spent my evenings in a tiny Tribeca apartment, playing online games to pass the time. That’s how I met Vanessa. She was my support in a team match. Instead of running to safety, she turned back to save me, even though it cost us both our lives in the game. After the match, she added me as a friend and messaged, “Hey, carry me next round, Mr. Pro.” Her sunny, outgoing personality was the complete opposite of my reserved nature. I couldn’t resist her charm. We started playing together every night. Winning matches and listening to her gentle voice as she talked me through her day became the highlight of my life. One night, out of the blue, she said, “What do you think about meeting up?” Chapter Four Her tone was casual, but I could hear her nervous breathing through my headset. Even now, I can still remember her laughter when I agreed. So this is what it feels like to matter to someone, I thought. When we met in person, she took my arm naturally, shaking it playfully. “Who would’ve thought the gaming legend looked this handsome in real life?” she teased, her bright eyes sparkling like stars in the summer sunlight filtering through the trees. The memory lingered as I took a drag of my cigarette. The glowing ember burned my fingers, and I cursed, tossing it to the ground and grinding it out with my shoe. When I looked up, Vanessa was standing in front of me, her cheeks red from the cold. Her wide eyes brimmed with tears, and her expression was full of unspoken hurt. I sighed deeply. After all these years, I had no regrets about the way I’d loved her. So what was she crying for? She had someone else now. If she loved him so much, why not let me go peacefully? Why cling to this broken relationship? “Ethan, don’t look at me like that,” she whispered, tugging at my sleeve. “It scares me.” “I was wrong about your birthday,” she continued, her voice softening. “I should’ve picked out your gift myself.” “Please don’t stay angry, okay?” In all our years together, I’d never seen Vanessa act so vulnerable. She’d always been confident that no matter what, I would be the one to apologize first. But it was too late for that now. She still didn’t understand why we’d reached this breaking point. I brushed her hand away and opened the car door. Her desperation flared. She pressed her hand firmly against the door to keep it closed. “You promised me,” she said, her voice trembling. “Every birthday, you’d grant me one wish. Don’t you remember?” “Well, this is my wish: come home with me.” For a moment, I was transported back to the past—back to when Vanessa used to hold me tightly and say, “You’ll never be alone again. I’ll always be here with you.” Maybe this could be my final act of kindness toward her. I decided I would give her one last moment of happiness before leaving quietly while she slept. Vanessa wiped her tears and broke into a triumphant smile, tilting her chin smugly. “I knew it. You could never leave me.” The moment we walked through the door, a loud pop startled me. Streamers rained down from above, and voices shouted in unison, “Happy birthday!” I froze in the entryway, glancing around the living room. Among the faces were Vanessa’s closest friends, including Brielle Hart, Chloe Monroe, and Miranda Tate. “Do you like the surprise I planned for you?” Vanessa asked, her tone almost pleading for approval. For a brief moment, the warmth of the gesture softened the icy walls around my heart. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had celebrated my birthday. Most years, I spent it alone or treated it like any other ordinary day. But the smile didn’t last long. My eyes landed on the dining table, where a bright green cake sat. It was decorated with green grapes and surrounded by matching green flowers. “This is my apology to you, Ethan,” Vanessa said sweetly. “I made it myself.” Across the room, Connor Blake smirked at me, his eyes brimming with smug satisfaction. Chapter Five The others crossed their arms and leaned back, amused by the spectacle. Their mocking gazes bore into me, each one like a searing brand. “Don’t just stand there,” Vanessa urged. “Sit down and have some cake.” I couldn’t tell if she was oblivious to the malice in the room or deliberately ignoring it. Still, I wanted to avoid a scene on what would be my last night here. Quietly, I took a seat at the table. A short-haired woman, Quinn Harper, tapped her nails on the table and let out a derisive laugh. “Ethan, let’s be real. You’re not even good enough for Vanessa’s toenails, and yet she insists on staying with you,” Quinn sneered. “Do her a favor and stop acting like a jealous drama queen. If she and Connor had something going on, do you think you’d even be in the picture?” My fists clenched so tightly my knuckles cracked. I turned to Vanessa, hoping for even a shred of defense on my behalf. But she averted her eyes, ladling soup into a bowl and placing it in front of Connor. My anger boiled over. Just as I began to rise, someone shoved me back into my seat. Connor stirred his soup lazily, his voice dripping with mockery. “Ethan’s not all bad,” he said. “Vanessa just told us that as long as she sweet-talks him a little, he’ll come running back like a loyal dog.” Something inside me snapped. All this time, I was nothing more than her fool. Connor stood, grabbed a handful of the green cake, and smeared it across my face. The hard metal decorations cut into my skin. Before I could react, others followed his lead, smearing cake onto my hair and clothes. “Look at him,” Connor jeered. “Doesn’t he look like a green turtle?” The room erupted in laughter. Connor leaned close to my ear, whispering, “Even if I slept with Vanessa right in front of you, what could you do about it?” The noise around me faded into silence, replaced by the thunder of my pulse. With a roar, I flipped the table, sending dishes and silverware crashing to the floor. Vanessa, trembling with rage, slapped me hard across the face. “What’s your problem, Ethan?” she shouted. “They were just standing up for me. Connor spent all day making that cake! Now apologize to him, or I’ll never forgive you.” I let out a bitter laugh. How ridiculous. When they insulted me, she stayed silent. But now, over a cake, she leapt to Connor’s defense. “Fine,” I said coldly. “I’ll apologize.” Pulling out my phone, I dialed a number I’d been holding onto for a long time.

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On Black Friday, while I was trying to score $1 flash deals on Amazon for contraceptives, Daniel Belmont was busy clearing Sabrina Keller’s cart. A brand-new triple-fold smartphone. A luxury face cream priced in the five figures. Sabrina gleefully posted on Instagram Stories: “Loving someone is like tending a garden. My boss says I’m worth it.” Suddenly, I realized how meaningless this relationship had become. I quietly deleted every item connected to him from my Amazon cart and booked myself a luxurious trip to New Zealand. …… Content Daniel Belmont’s executive assistant, Sabrina Keller, just posted another Instagram Story. This time, it featured multiple shots of him. His back, wearing an apron as he made ginger sugar tea. A grinning selfie of the two of them in the mirror. A close-up of him asleep on her lap, his profile softened by sleep. “Triple fold—it doesn’t matter how it folds, he’s still so handsome.” Scrolling up, I found her bragging about her emptied shopping cart. Dozens of items, totaling over $20,000. I glanced at my Amazon page. Twenty pounds of budget laundry detergent. Two massive packs of tissues. A new mop, broom, and toilet brush set. And, of course, the $1 contraceptives. All together, barely over a thousand bucks. Daniel had told me he had a dinner meeting that evening and wouldn’t come home because he didn’t want to disturb me if he came back drunk. Apparently, he was at Sabrina’s loft instead. My heart felt heavy as I called him. But the voice on the other end wasn’t his—it was Sabrina’s. “Hi, Claire. The boss is in the shower. If there’s anything you need, you can just tell me instead,” she chirped sweetly. The wave of hurt I’d been holding back vanished, replaced by disgust. Her ploy was crude and outdated, but it worked. I felt sick. “Sabrina, cut the act. You’re not in a position to represent my husband.” I hung up, deleted every single item in my cart, and headed to the kitchen. I had a pot of hangover soup simmering on the stove. Every time Daniel had a late night, I’d wait up to make sure he’d have something warm when he came home. This time, I poured the entire pot into a container and brought it next door to Martha Griffin, my neighbor. Afterward, I took the expensive ceramic pot I’d specially bought to make his soups—a $500 purchase I’d justified as “good for his stomach”—and smashed it in the garbage area downstairs. I’d spent years buying him expensive things, making sure he had the best of everything. Yet here I was, scavenging Black Friday deals, pinching pennies on essentials, all to keep our home running smoothly. For what? To play the role of the perfect, frugal, self-sacrificing housewife? Not anymore. I grabbed Daniel’s card and went on a spree: seasonal designer handbags, couture dresses, and, after some thought, a luxury trip to New Zealand. All together, less than $10,000. I stared at the total in a daze. I’d spent years putting his needs above mine, always finding ways to save—even though he was the CEO of Belmont Enterprises. And now, all the money I’d saved went to tending his “flower garden.” I was supposed to be his partner. But I wasn’t as bright or lively as his executive assistant. Suddenly, it all felt meaningless. That was when Daniel finally called. The moment I answered, he started yelling, his voice sharp with anger. I could even hear Sabrina softly crying in the background. “Claire Hudson, what gives you the right to humiliate my people?” So, Sabrina was “his person” now, was she? “All you do is ask for money and stir up drama. What else are you even good for?” “She’s so much younger than you—a kid, really. How can you treat her like that? Have some decency!” “I—” He didn’t give me a chance to speak. “Do you even know your place anymore? You’re in your thirties—stop acting like some jealous teenage girl.” His words hit me like blows, one after another, leaving me breathless. “Why don’t you take a good look at yourself in the mirror? Stop meddling in my business. I don’t have time for your petty tantrums.” And with that, he hung up. Not long after, Sabrina sent me a private message. “Claire, you’re older and more experienced. Can you tell me if this is bad for me?” Attached was a photo of an emergency contraceptive. “I want to take it, but the boss said no. He’s worried it’ll hurt me. He cares so much.”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I began packing for New Zealand. Maybe the time away would help me clear my head and figure out what I wanted. But life rarely goes as planned. Scott Emerson, the guide coordinating my trip, called to let me know that the weather in New Zealand would be stormy for the next week, and we’d have to delay the trip. Disappointed, I set my packed suitcase aside. Two days later, Daniel finally came home. We hadn’t spoken since the argument. He’d become so distant over time. He always claimed to be “busy with work.” Our communication had dwindled to almost nothing. If I didn’t message him first, he wouldn’t reach out at all. At home, his phone notifications never stopped, and his eyes were always glued to the screen. When he walked through the door, I jumped. I’d almost convinced myself he’d stayed with Sabrina. Daniel glanced at me on the couch, then at the dusty floor, his brow furrowing. “Claire, the floor’s dirty.” I knew. When I didn’t respond, his frown deepened. He set a mango-flavored ice cream cake in front of me and softened his tone. “Still mad? Fine, I was harsh, but you’re being petty—” He cut himself off abruptly. “Forget it. Just try the cake, okay?” I pushed it away. His expression darkened, but before he could say anything, I said, “I’m on my period. Can’t eat cold stuff.” Only then did he notice the heating pad in my lap and my pale face. Finally, he relented and called a cleaning service. He sent me to rest in the bedroom and even brought me ginger sugar tea. My cramps were unbearable, and I drifted off into a restless sleep. In my dreams, old memories resurfaced. Daniel used to say he loved coming home to see me bustling around the house. It made him feel grounded. Like we were building a real home. So, I’d fired the cleaning lady and taken on everything myself. He used to remember my cycle. Before I even noticed, he’d clear out the freezer and stock up on chamomile tea. Now, the tea was at Sabrina’s. And his first thought coming home was to criticize the floor. I woke up still unsettled. The heating pad was gone. From the muffled voices outside, I realized I wasn’t alone in the house. Throwing on a blanket, I stepped out—and there she was. Sabrina, sitting on the couch, wearing Daniel’s shirt, her legs tucked under her. She was sitting on my favorite stuffed animal. “Stop playing dumb. No sneaking ice cream behind my back,” Daniel scolded playfully, handing her my heating pad. “Just one bite? Please?” she pouted. Daniel chuckled indulgently and offered her his half-eaten popsicle. She leaned in and bit into it, her lips brushing where his had been. Noticing me, Sabrina’s face lit up in a bright, saccharine smile, ice cream smudging her lips. “Claire! You’re up! Have you eaten? Want some water?” If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was the lady of the house. Daniel quickly withdrew the popsicle, looking sheepish. “Sabrina’s place had a power outage, so she’s staying here. Don’t overthink it.” “Of course. Safety first.” My calm seemed to relax him. I poured myself a glass of water and returned to the bedroom. Daniel’s focus was entirely on Sabrina. He didn’t even notice that the tea in the kettle was cold. I’d told him earlier—I couldn’t drink cold things. But, of course, he’d forgotten.

I buried myself under the covers and opened my phone. Over the years, I hadn’t been idle. I’d written several novels and saved up quite a bit of money. One of my books had even been considered for adaptation, but the producers insisted I join the production team, so I declined. Back then, I had to stay home to take care of Daniel Belmont. But now, it was time to plan for myself. Maybe it was time to end this marriage. If Sabrina Keller wanted my leftovers, she could have them. I messaged Linda Mitchell, the producer, and she was thrilled. We scheduled a meeting to discuss details. My mood lifted. Ignoring the laughter outside my bedroom, I locked the door and went back to sleep. I slept peacefully for the first time in ages. The next morning, I woke up early. My cramps had eased, and for once, I felt like treating myself. I decided to go out shopping for new clothes. After all, I still had a trip to New Zealand to look forward to once the flights resumed. Around midday, I sat on a bench at Westfield Grand Mall, resting from the day’s shopping. Then, out of nowhere, I spotted Sabrina. She was practically skipping into a luxury store, clinging to Daniel’s arm. She was glowing with excitement, admiring the displays, while Daniel followed, smiling indulgently. He called over a sales associate and requested a few handbags. Sabrina tried each one, striking little poses in front of the mirror, her sweet laughter filling the store. At one point, she said something that made Daniel playfully tap her on the forehead. From where I sat, Sabrina reminded me of myself. The carefree, blissful me from when Daniel and I first got together. That forehead tap—it was a gesture Daniel used to love doing to me. I felt a wave of revulsion. Had he found someone who looked like me just to relive our past? I called Daniel. Across the walkway, I could see him clearly. His expression didn’t change as he answered and calmly claimed he was “in a meeting at the office.” “Daniel, why don’t you turn around?” In the next second, our eyes locked. His face cracked, just slightly. I stood and strode into the store, yanking the handbag from Sabrina’s hands. She flinched, retreating behind Daniel and tugging at his jacket nervously. “Daniel, you promised me this bag when it first launched. So why is it in her hands now?” Daniel stepped forward, shielding Sabrina. “Claire, don’t cause a scene here. Sabrina’s new to the workforce—she needs a few things to make an impression.” This bag was a rare find. Westfield Grand Mall only had one in stock. I refused to let go. “But you promised it to me.” “Do you really have to make such a fuss over something so trivial?” Sabrina was already in tears, her sobs echoing softly through the store. Daniel suddenly exploded, snatching the bag from my hands. He grabbed a nearby letter opener and slashed the leather to shreds in a matter of seconds. The force of his movements threw me off balance, and I slammed my lower back into the corner of a table. “I’m buying this bag,” he snapped at the associate. “Please have it destroyed and disposed of. And while you’re at it, send every new-season bag and a selection of classics to this address.” He rattled off Sabrina’s address before turning to wipe her tears with his fingers, his voice tender. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one will bully you.” I clutched my throbbing back, unable to stand upright. “Claire Hudson, you’re a housewife. What do you even need a handbag for? I’d rather destroy it than let you have it. What can you possibly do about it? You’ve become absolutely unbearable.” And just like that, the fragile thread holding my composure snapped.

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Late at night, I had a car accident while taking the child to the hospital. In a daze, I heard Lucas’s voice. “I used to think she was weak and cold. I loved her so much that I wished I could give her my heart.” “Now, she’s older, her emotions are extremely unstable, and she’s even more difficult than young women like you.” In the haze, I saw a woman standing beside him. That woman is the reason for our constant arguments these days. For nine years, I have been drowning in the past. But I forgot that he is ultimately not the same person. The night before I decided to leave, I burned everything that belonged to the past. I will no longer be obsessed with what has come before. My emotions can be stable too. Later, he crazily questioned me: “Tell me! Who is it that you really love?” I felt confused and detached: “Sir, could you please calm down a little?” 0 When I became conscious, I was still not clear-headed. Lucas’s voice continued to echo in my ears. “The child has such a serious fever; I really don’t know how she cares for him!” “I have never seen such an irresponsible mother.” A few seconds later, I heard a gentle female voice. “Lucas, no matter what, Lina is still Liam’s mother. There isn’t a mother in the world who doesn’t love her child.” “It’s all because of me that you have become like this.” “Now even the child has been affected; you should explain to her that we are not what she thinks we are…” Lucas coldly snorted: “Not all mothers love their children. If she loved her child, would she have gotten into a car accident?” “If she loved her child, would he be burning with fever in the middle of the night?” “She fills her mind with nothing but love and affection, completely neglecting the child.” My consciousness gradually cleared. When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Susan. She was back-to-back with Lucas, gathered around Liam’s hospital bed, as if they were a family. My heart suddenly felt a sharp pain. They have long been a family. I am the outsider. When did they get together? Probably three years ago, when Lucas was always abroad. I always thought he was busy with work overseas. Until I saw the chat history between him and Susan on Lucas’s phone. Only then did I realize that they had so much to talk about. Susan is Zach’s ex-girlfriend. My relationship with her is neither good nor bad. It is the kind of relationship where we can exchange a few words when we meet, but if we don’t, we become estranged. Susan loved Zach so intensely that she nearly fell apart when they broke up. I never thought that she and Lucas could get together. I never thought Lucas’s heart could change so easily. Once a person falls into the haze of the past, they become paranoid. I didn’t speak or ask, pretending everything was normal. But emotions that have been suppressed for too long will eventually erupt. In the last year, we started to argue frequently. During our most intense fights, I acted like a madwoman, red-eyed, hitting him, scolding him, questioning him. When emotions surged, I was filled with negative energy. Even when Susan came to explain, I would scold her mercilessly. Susan sent Lucas the screenshots of our chats where I scolded her. Lucas protected Susan as if he were defending his own mother. He was afraid that Susan would suffer even a little grievance from me. For the past month, we haven’t said a word to each other. It seemed calm between us, but there was a silent war brewing beneath the surface. At this moment, the war finally ignited. All my obsessions were obliterated on this battlefield of life and death. I finally recognized the truth. He is no longer the same person. At this moment, Susan coughed a few times. Lucas immediately became very worried: “You just finished your IV; your cough isn’t better yet. I’ll take you back to rest.” Susan replied, “I’m fine. You two have made such a fuss because of me and Lina. I should at least come and explain a bit.” “If she had half your understanding, we wouldn’t be in this situation.” “Lina just loves you too much; her heart is always gentle and kind.” “Now she doesn’t even love the child; her heart has turned cruel.” “I’ll take you back first; don’t let her delay your rest.” I thought he came to the hospital because of Liam. It turns out he came to accompany Susan, who was sick, and happened to check on his son. He is so angry now, not because he is worried about his son. It is simply because I and the child have caused him trouble. A father who has reached this point is truly something else. He still has the nerve to blame me. I was just about to speak and tell them to get lost. But I heard my son’s weak voice: “Dad, my mom loves me very much.” My throat suddenly tightened. I have become a clown in my marriage. Everyone seems to want to drive me crazy. The one defending me is such a small child. 0

Tears welled up in my eyes. I really feel useless. Isn’t it just a man? What can’t I afford to lose? “Lucas, don’t fight with Lina for a divorce; divorce will only hurt the child.” Lucas coldly sneered: “Having a mother like her around Liam is harming him.” Susan interjected: “This is indeed too much of a psychological burden on the child. Liam has a fever; maybe it’s Lina trying to win you back. She really loves you. Don’t make the child suffer; he’s too pitiful.” “Besides, the Lina Family has just gone bankrupt. If you divorce her now, it’s like stabbing a knife into her heart. You should try to live well with her and don’t let it be because of me…” Lucas interrupted her: “Did you forget how she scolded you before, how she made you depressed?” Susan fell silent for a moment and sighed: “It’s all in the past. She just loved you too much, which made her act so extreme.” “I am indeed a pretty disgusting person. To provoke Zach, I deliberately got close to you. When I was sad and in pain, I always confided in you. It was my fault to play both sides between you and Zach; it has nothing to do with Lina.” Lucas responded, “Susan, you’re not wrong. I willingly became your tool. It’s Lina who is unreasonable and lacks compassion, which is why you became so severely depressed.” Susan shed tears, her voice choked: “I became depressed because of Zach’s ruthlessness; it has nothing to do with Lina. Lucas, don’t blame her.” Lucas sighed. “At this point, you’re still helping her? Does she understand your kindness?” “Don’t cry; it’s not good for your eyes. I’ll take you back.” In a moment, their voices gradually faded away. I slowly opened my eyes, looking at their backs. Lucas half-hugged Susan, tenderly wiping her tears. Their retreating footsteps felt like sharp blades, piercing directly at me. My head suddenly throbbed with intense and rapid pain, as if it wanted to tear me apart. This pain had appeared not long ago, leading to my car accident. I curled up, unable to tell whether it was physical pain or psychological pain. I just felt that the pain made me wish to die and subconsciously shouted Lucas’s name. Just like a drowning person nearing death, instinctively trying to grab a lifeline. Lucas’s footsteps paused. But he didn’t look back at me for even a glance. Susan wanted to turn back but was pulled away by Lucas. My last bit of hope was completely shattered. Darkness instantly enveloped me. The last bit of light disappeared from my vision. Just before I fell into a coma again, I saw someone rushing towards me. I tried hard to open my eyes wide, wanting to see his face clearly, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see clearly. 0

“Lina…” His voice was so distant. As if it came from another world. But when it reached my ears, it was deafening. “Don’t look back; I’m not here…” For nine years, I finally accepted a fact. The person who once turned everything upside down for me had long died that bleak winter day. I looked at my rotting, irreparable self. Finally understood. I can no longer see the past. Everything should come to an end. The person who loved me as if his life depended on it. I will never see him again. 0

When I opened my eyes again. Liam was lying by my hospital bed, fast asleep. I raised my hand and gently stroked his hair. He is not the biological child of Lucas and me. In the first two years of marriage to Lucas, we didn’t have any children. I went to the hospital for a check-up, but it was my problem. The doctor said it would be very difficult for me to get pregnant, perhaps I would never be able to have children in this life. The Lu family initially maintained a superficial harmony. Slowly, they began to become dissatisfied with me. They would tell everyone that I couldn’t bear children, that I didn’t deserve to be a woman. They openly and secretly looked for new marriage candidates for Lucas. Lucas is the only son of the Lu family; he cannot have no children. I didn’t want to delay him, nor did I want us to eventually grow to dislike each other. So I took the initiative to propose a divorce. I thought my fate with him would end here. I went to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor informed me that I had fertility issues, suggesting that I might never have children in this lifetime. At first, the Lu family maintained a facade of harmony. Gradually, however, their dissatisfaction with me grew. They openly and covertly sought new marriage prospects for Lucas, the only son of the Lu family, who certainly wanted children. I didn’t want to hold him back, nor did I want us to end up resenting each other. So, I took the initiative to propose a divorce, thinking that my relationship with him would come to an end there. But Lucas firmly chose me, insisting that his love wouldn’t waver just because we couldn’t have children. He bravely faced family pressure and we adopted a child together, naming him Liam—combining our surnames. He publicly declared his love for me. If I had to pinpoint when I completely fell for Lucas, it would probably be the moment he brought Liam home. Looking at the five-year-old Liam before me, I suddenly felt a rush of emotion. Three years ago, during the ordeal with Susan and Lucas, I tried my hardest to be accommodating and to heal myself. Every time I thought about giving up on our relationship, seeing Liam made me choose silence, asking nothing and saying nothing. All these years, I’ve been moving forward piece by piece. I always believed this couldn’t be our ending. Yet, the conclusion seemed already written; no matter how I tried to navigate it, I was destined for a dead end. A familiar pain began to throb in my head, and my heart ached as well. I glanced at the ceiling, tears streaming down my face once again. At that moment, someone walked in. “Don’t cry just yet. Although there’s a shadow in your brain, it’s not malignant; surgery can fix it,” said Zach, Susan’s devoted ex, now in a white coat, standing by my hospital bed with a teasing tone. A group of interns followed him, laughing at his words. Their laughter echoed around me, creating a chaotic noise. I numbly joined in their laughter. What could be more important than life and death? My joys and sorrows, my fleeting love seemed so trivial at that moment. 0

The commotion in the ward woke Liam up. He blinked sleepily, then looked at me with confusion. “Mom, you’re awake?” His little face was filled with delight. He was about to leap into my arms when Zach caught him, saying, “Your mom needs to rest.” He checked his watch. “Just in time to get off work; Uncle will take you to eat.” Glancing out the window, I realized it was already evening. I had been unconscious for so long. Yet, I still had no one to care for me. Liam was reluctant to leave with Zach. He broke free and ran toward me, leaning against the bed and looking up at me with his bright eyes. “Mom, I want to stay with you; I won’t disturb your rest.” His gaze was so pure, filled with expectation yet cautious. My heart ached, and I gently hugged him. “Alin, why don’t you go eat with Uncle?” Liam shook his head. “No.” “Why not?” “Everyone has someone with them, but Mom has no one; I want to stay with Mom.” His simple words weighed heavily on my heart. He was so small, yet so understanding. Yet, in the Lu family, no one loved him. I rested my chin on his little shoulder, and in the blink of an eye, tears fell. Though he wasn’t my biological child, he had long been a part of my life. “Mom, are you feeling unwell?” “Mom is fine.” “Don’t be afraid, Mom; I can take care of you; I can do it.” I nodded, tears streaming down like rain. After a long moment, I swallowed my sobs and tried to sound relaxed. “Is it okay to go eat with Uncle?” Liam was silent for a moment before nodding. “Okay.” He lifted his head and kissed my face. “Mom, don’t cry; I love you, I really love you.” I didn’t want to cry in front of him, but his understanding touched me deeply. Liam took a tissue and carefully wiped my tears, comforting me like an adult. “Mom is fine; I’m here for everything.” I held him close, shaking my head repeatedly. “I’m sorry; Mom will manage her emotions better in the future.” 0

When Zach brought the food over, I sat in a daze, my mind swirling with memories of the past years. It wasn’t until Zach waved his hand in front of my eyes that I snapped back to reality. He opened the small table on the hospital bed and placed the food on it. While opening the thermal container, he said, “I’ve sent Liam to a house near my hospital; someone is taking care of him, so don’t worry.” Zach was always cautious and responsible in his work. Leaving Liam with him was far more reassuring than leaving him with Lucas. I nodded. “Thank you.” Zach handed me chopsticks. “It’s nothing.” I took the chopsticks, but I had no appetite and only ate a couple of bites before losing interest. I looked up at Zach. “Aren’t you going back?” Zach joked, “I couldn’t stand seeing you look so pitiful, so I came to keep you company.” On the surface, he was joking, but I could tell he genuinely felt sorry for me. My father favored my brother, and my mother preferred my sister. They were a happy family of four, while I was just an outsider. Now, my family had gone bankrupt, and my parents jumped off a building together. They had long arranged an escape route for themselves, leaving my brother and sister to flee smoothly. Only I was left behind, abandoned with no one caring. Those relatives and friends from the past either took advantage of my misfortune or distanced themselves, showing no warmth. Now, I was facing Lucas’s blatant betrayal, alone in the hospital when I needed support the most. Who could witness this and not feel pity? But none of this mattered to me. I smiled. “I’m not pitiful at all.” Zach shook his head, looking down at my barely touched food, somewhat dissatisfied. “I made this myself, and you’ve only eaten a few bites?” I was surprised. “You can cook?” Zach replied, “What do you think?” I lowered my gaze. In the past, when I simply had a cold and lacked appetite, Lucas would personally cook to coax me into eating. He would notice my slightest change in mood. But ever since he got involved with Susan, he stopped caring about my feelings. Now, after nearly dying in this car accident, he remained indifferent. Entangled for two years, married for seven—nine years didn’t compare to a single Susan. Now we felt like strangers; it was truly laughable. Probably sensing that I was off, Zach tilted his head to look at me. “What’s wrong?” When no one asked me, I felt that everything was bearable. But at that moment, when Zach inquired, my eyes suddenly stung. Zach sighed, sat by the hospital bed, and wiped my tears again. “Please don’t cry; I can’t stand seeing women cry.” I pushed his hand away and took a bite of rice, eating silently. Zach watched me for a few moments before saying seriously, “It’s just a man; is it really worth it?” I swallowed my food. “I know it’s not worth it.” “You don’t understand; he’s done this to you, and you haven’t even considered giving up.” I poked at the rice in my bowl. “People aren’t lifeless; feelings don’t just vanish; there’s a process to letting go.” “I never believed someone like Susan could be more important than me.” “Now, it all seems irrelevant.” Zach didn’t respond, and I didn’t press further. Susan was his ex, and no matter what, she would always hold a more significant place in his heart than I did. Why should I make things harder for myself? 0

In the midst of the awkward silence, there was suddenly commotion outside the door. I looked up and saw Lucas walking in, holding Susan in his arms. It felt strange. In the past, the slightest sight of him with her would send my emotions into a whirlwind. But now, I felt surprisingly calm. I even thought their arrival alleviated the tension between Zach and me. I lowered my eyes and continued eating, ignoring Susan’s chatter. It was Zach who spoke first. “Isn’t it quite enjoyable to meddle in someone else’s marriage?” Susan broke free from Lucas’s grasp and hurriedly explained, “Lucas and I have nothing; Zach, you know who I love the most, right?” Zach smiled and nodded. “Yes, it’s because you love me so much that you hooked up with Lucas to find out about my situation, to comfort yourself.” Susan’s eyes turned slightly red. “So, you’ve always known my condition was bad? How much I wanted you, how much I loved you…” Zach stood up, interrupting her with a sneer. “You’re indeed in a bad state, bad enough to call Lucas ‘husband.’” “I really want to know, what does it mean to call my good brother ‘husband’?” As soon as Zach finished speaking, both Lucas and Susan turned their gazes toward me. Zach nodded with a hint of humor. “Right, you love me too much, so you flirted with Lucas just to find out how I’ve been doing and to comfort yourself.” Susan’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “So, you always knew I was in a bad place? How much I miss you, how much I love you, to the point of… Ṱŭ̀⁵…” Zach stood up, interrupting her mockingly. “You’re in such bad shape that you’re calling Lucas ‘husband.’” “I’m curious, what do you mean by calling my close friend ‘husband’?” As soon as Zach said that, both Lucas and Susan turned their gazes towards me. I had secretly looked at Lucas’s phone and seen those chat histories. They must have assumed this was information I shared with Zach. But I had never told anyone. Because revealing such things would make me look ridiculous. Susan cried out, “Zach, you know that was just to provoke you! I…” Zach retorted, “Are you about to go and play the victim again to win Lucas’s sympathy?” Susan’s face went pale. “What?” “Is this amusing to you, Susan?” “I was just joking around, and you took it seriously?” “No matter what you and Lucas have going on, I couldn’t care less. I actually think you’re beneath me.” Staggering slightly, Susan weakly insisted, “I really have nothing with Lucas…” Zach sneered. “You really do talk like a rogue.” “You’ve turned into the other woman, yet you still claim to love me.” “Is this some twisted version of love?” “If you have nothing better to do, maybe you should go see a psychiatrist instead of living in your own fantasies all day.” Susan was left speechless by Zach’s words. After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly said, “You like Lina.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement of certainty. I paused slightly, then laughed. To play along with Susan’s comment, I said lightly, “Zach, your cooking is too bland.” As I said this, I set my chopsticks down and looked faintly at Susan. Zach kept his head down, ignoring my comment. Seeing that Zach didn’t refute her, Susan got furious and pointed at my face, scolding me, “You really have no shame! You’ll do anything to get back at me; have you never seen a man in your life?” “No wonder your parents never loved you; a person like you doesn’t deserve love.” “You deliberately told Zach about my chat history with Lucas just to stir up trouble, didn’t you?” “With that kind of vengeful spirit, it’s no wonder Lucas doesn’t love you! What man would want someone like you?!” “You can’t stand it when others are happy; your heart is truly poisonous!” Not everyone in this world possesses self-awareness. Many accuse others of their own faults. I scoffed. “To be honest, if I hadn’t looked at those chat histories, I wouldn’t have known how flirty you are with men behind the scenes.” “It’s no surprise Zach doesn’t want you; someone like you is simply unappealing.” “Only Lucas wouldn’t be picky and would settle for someone as cheap and pretentious as you.” Struck at a sore point, Susan’s lips quivered with rage. She raised her hand, about to slap me. I grabbed a bowl and threw it directly at her, hitting her hand and splattering rice all over her face. Susan instantly looked disheveled, her expression twisted as she lunged to hit me. But Zach intercepted her. “That’s enough, Susan!” Saying this, he forcibly pulled the frantic Susan out of the room. Her crazed curses echoed outside the hospital room. It took a while for the noise to finally die down. The hospital room became quiet at last. In that moment, I noticed Lucas had been standing there the whole time. He hadn’t left, hadn’t spoken, nor made any movement. Only his gaze was cold, filled with anger. “You looked at my phone; I won’t hold it against you, but then you went and told Zach the details. Lina, how bored are you?” “Flirting with Zach? Do you think you can get revenge this way?” “The Zhou family won’t look at someone like you, a leech from a bankrupt family, and Zach definitely won’t want second-hand goods.” I snorted. “Of course Zach wouldn’t want second-hand goods; only you would.” Seeing my indifference, Lucas slowly approached me. The anger in his eyes was almost palpable. “Lina, I wouldn’t even consider you second-hand; think about how terrible you’ve become.” “Look at you now; what part of you could interest a man?” “A woman like you is truly hopeless.” His words struck me hard. All those unresolved past grievances hit me like a torrential summer rain. Dousing any remaining passion I had. For nine years, I had been drowning in the past. I had given Lucas a soul he never possessed. I just forgot; he ultimately isn’t who I thought he was. I gazed out at the myriad lights beyond the window. In that moment, all my obsessions slipped away. “Lucas, let’s get a divorce.” 0

Lucas probably never thought I would one day bring up divorce. He knows me too well. I’m someone who finds it hard to adapt to anything at first, but once adapted, I can’t let go. Feelings are the same. In the beginning, I didn’t accept him, but once I did, I wouldn’t leave. Over the years, he hurt me time and again. But I never turned against him, nor did I show any signs of wanting to leave. Now, however, I casually said the word divorce. He looked displeased, his expression darkening. “Divorce? Do you think I, Lucas, am someone you can just marry and divorce at will?” Lucas gently pinched my chin, forcefully turning my face to make me look at him. “Lina, I told you before, marry me, and you can forget about leaving for the rest of your life.” After saying this, he let go of my face. He turned and walked away. As if he was escaping, or perhaps utterly annoyed. He knows me well. And how could I not know him? I am the one he spent so much time and energy pursuing. His feelings were once all invested in me. I never doubted his love for me. But nine years is simply too long. Now I’m to him tasteless, but a pity to discard. He wouldn’t divorce me, but he also wouldn’t love me like before. Now, my family is bankrupt, and I have lost everything. At the moment I most needed to rely on him, I proposed divorce. This must have insulted Lucas. He is such a proud person; how could he tolerate me proposing divorce as someone he looks down upon? But I went ahead and proposed it; how could he not be angry? Once the decision is made, I won’t look back. Just like when I decided to marry him, I never thought of leaving. I got up and opened the window, letting the cold air surround me. A black car came into view. Lucas was leaning against it, smoking. But after only a few puffs, he clutched his chest, bent over, and collapsed to the ground. From a distance, his gaze turned towards me, motionless. The distance was too far; I couldn’t see his expression clearly. Just as I couldn’t grasp the complexities between us. 0

I watched the medical staff below hurry to gather. Then they pushed Lucas into the hospital. I thought I would forgive everything again and immediately rush to his side. After all, that heart had been cared for by me for nine years. That was the only remnant left by a deceased person in this world. But I didn’t move. Nine years. The seasons cycle, everything renews. Everything is no longer as it used to be. That heart no longer has his spirit. Lucas didn’t even have a rejection reaction. It had long become a part of Lucas’s body. It had his essence. It wouldn’t hurt because of my sadness. It wouldn’t only beat for me. So, I wouldn’t want it anymore. When I saw Susan crying as she followed Lucas’s moving bed, I could even tease and take a photo to send to Zach. “Your ex is crying so sadly; did you hurt her heart again?” “Lucas is going to heartbrokenly comfort your ex again.” It took Zach a while to respond. “Don’t send me these.” “I don’t want to see them, nor am I interested.” I: “?” “There won’t be anything between Lucas and her.” “The reason you and Lucas have come to this point lies within yourselves.” “If Lucas really loved you, he wouldn’t have entangled with other women.” “You don’t need to blame everything on her.” “And don’t use me to provoke anyone.” “I don’t want to be a part of your drama.” I was stunned for a long time. Before I understood what Zach was saying. I have to admit, Susan is quite powerful. Not only can she charm Lucas with just a few words, but she can also pull Zach into her camp in an instant.

The next day, Lucas was sent back to my side. Zach did not show up. Even the doctor in charge of me was changed. I tried to call to ask about the situation, but found I had been blocked by Zach. WeChat was also deleted. Looking at the red exclamation mark on the screen, I sighed softly and dejectedly put down my phone. A sudden wave of indescribable loss welled up in my heart. People always overestimate their importance in others’ hearts. He and Lucas are childhood friends, brothers. He and Susan are old loves, red dust… What do I count for? The next day, Liam was sent back to my side. Zach didn’t show up. Even the doctor in charge of my care was changed. When I called to inquire about what was happening, I discovered that I had been blocked by Zach. SnapChat had also been deleted. I stared at the red exclamation mark on my screen. With a soft sigh, I dejectedly set my phone down. An indescribable sense of loss suddenly surged in my heart. People often overestimate their significance in the lives of others. He and Lu Tinghan are childhood friends, like brothers. He and Susan are old flames, past loves… What do I count as? I’m not even a true friend to him. He truly only feels pity for me. That’s why he shows me that meager kindness. A heavy weight settled in my chest; I ultimately couldn’t remain detached. Since my birth, only two people have steadfastly stood by my side. One is him from my memories, and the other is Lu Tinghan. And now, I only have Liam. Only Liam remains. I glanced at the time; it was close to when Liam got out of school. Although I had arranged everything well for him, with someone specifically taking care of him, I truly missed him now. I changed clothes and went to pick up Liam from school. As I passed by a hospital room, I overheard the voices of the Lu family. “If you really like that Susan, then marry her.” “Your dad and I don’t care so much anymore, we just hope you’re happy.” “I told you long ago, without a biological child between two people, living together won’t work, but you wouldn’t believe it!” “If she can’t have children, she can’t understand the true feelings of being a mother; how much can a woman who hasn’t even had a child love you?” “Liam is not your biological child; how can the Lu family’s century-old foundation be handed over to an outsider?” “Listen, Lucas, if Lina is causing this scene now, and Liam is protecting her, when you’re old, will the Lu family still value your opinion?” “A child must be biological to be valuable, understand?” Although the Lu family has long looked down on me, hoping for me to divorce Lu Tinghan, I didn’t expect they could even accept Susan. Susan is Zach’s ex, and the Zach family looks down on her. Zach doesn’t think much of Susan either. The most image-conscious Mrs. Lu is actually willing to accept someone even the Zach family disregards. This shows how far they are willing to compromise for a grandchild. VIP hospital rooms are scarce. My room isn’t far from Lu Tinghan’s. But not a single person from the Lu family has come to see me. One can only imagine how much they detest my presence. I think that even if I had died in that car accident, no one would mourn for me; they would even applaud. At night, I waited at the entrance of the Lu family home for Mr. and Mrs. Lu. They seemed surprised to see me. But soon, their faces shifted to contempt. To them, people like me have always been beneath notice. Moreover, currently, their son doesn’t regard me favorably. They wouldn’t bother to give me a proper look. Mr. and Mrs. Lu had no intention of acknowledging me and walked straight into the house. I didn’t care about their attitude and calmly spoke: “I want a divorce.” Hearing the word “divorce,” Mrs. Lu immediately stopped, looking at me in shock. “What?” I met her gaze: “I said, I want a divorce.” Compared to Mrs. Lu’s shock, Mr. Lu’s reaction was more subdued. Mr. Lu said in a deep voice: “What are the conditions?” As expected from someone experienced in high-pressure situations, he remained calm and direct. I didn’t beat around the bush: “With your power, it shouldn’t be difficult to obtain the divorce certificate directly without going through Lu Tinghan, right?” Mr. Lu frowned, thought for a moment, and replied: “Lu Tinghan’s condition is unstable now; I can’t risk triggering him.” I laughed. “If you don’t agree, I have a thousand ways to provoke him.” “Don’t forget, I’m also a doctor; I understand the psychological state of patients very well.” “Especially Lu Tinghan’s condition.” Mr. Lu’s emotions wavered slightly; he glared at me angrily: “If something happens to Lu Tinghan, I won’t let you off easily.” I replied calmly: “Those without shoes don’t fear those wearing them. Mr. Lu, my patience is limited. Within three days, I want the divorce certificate and the assets I deserve.” “Otherwise, I won’t let Lu Tinghan have it easy.” “His heart was replaced by me, and I personally cared for it. I can easily make him wish he were dead.” After saying that, I turned to leave. The cold night wind swept in, and the moon hung high against the dark sky. I looked up at the deep, silent night sky of the villa neighborhood. Everything was quiet, like the conclusion of my life. Mr. and Mrs. Lu’s efficiency in handling things was impressive. Two days later, the divorce certificate was delivered to me. A sum of money also entered my account, enough for Liam and me to live without worries for the rest of our lives. Their only requirement was to keep it confidential and not let Lu Tinghan know about it in the short term. I agreed. As long as I could escape this marriage, it didn’t matter how. On the day of my discharge, I passed by Lu Tinghan’s hospital room. I saw Susan crying again. Lu Tinghan, as always, gently comforted her. “Don’t cry, Susan; I won’t divorce Lina. She just wants to be with Zach; it’s just a dream.” “Zach will always be yours.” “Zach can find anyone, but it can’t be Lina.” “When I’m better, I will make Lina apologize to you.” Susan cried so hard she could barely speak. “Zach has blocked all my contact information.” “He won’t have anything with Lina, but he doesn’t want me either.” “He’s just such a rational, clear-headed, and cold person.” “He keeps others’ matters at a distance, while handling his own decisively.” “His heart is both cold and hard; he won’t love me anymore…” So, it turns out, Zach cut all ties. Not just blocking me. I always thought he was a cold exterior but warm inside kind of person. Now it seems he’s cold inside and out. Now, the only thing Susan can hold onto is Lu Tinghan. Even if she doesn’t love him. With Lu Tinghan’s affection, she will live carefree for a lifetime. I was once someone who was cherished by Lu Tinghan. I know how intense his affection can be. Susan’s character is softer than mine, better at capturing a man’s heart, and more emotionally stable than I am. Lu Tinghan probably will never tire of her. I quietly exit the scene, allowing him and Susan to be together. This can be seen as a kindness, a good deed. After all, I have treated him as a stand-in for so many years; I’m not a good person either. Why should I make myself appear to be the victim? Just as Zach said, the fact that Lu Tinghan and I have come to this point is due to our own choices. Even if those reasons are unknown to others, they are indeed unrelated to Susan. I looked at the hospital’s stark white corridor. Slowly, I stepped away. In the deep night, I returned to the West River Moon villa. This is where Lu Tinghan and I became intimate; it is our home. A gust of wind blew, bringing the scent of medicine to my face. Not far away, the medicinal herbs I planted with my own hands swayed in the wind. These are what I used to make medicinal meals for Lu Tinghan. Nine years ago, I personally performed a heart transplant for him. From being a hospital doctor to becoming his private doctor, and finally his wife. I know his physical condition very well. I even went out of my way to learn about traditional Chinese medicine, consulting experts about the precautions for medicinal meals. As long as he is in the country, I basically cook his three meals a day. Over the years, under my careful care, his heart has remained very healthy. Even when Susan appeared, I didn’t mind. I thought I could continue, but I ultimately overestimated my tolerance. I still remember that day. I saw he looked unwell, so I made him medicinal meals to bring over. When I arrived at his company, he was in a meeting. I waited for him in his office. By the time I fell asleep, he still hadn’t shown up. As dusk approached, I groggily woke up. But the room was still empty. I sent him a message, but it sank without a trace. I went downstairs to prepare to leave but saw Lu Tinghan just getting out of the car not far away. And in the front passenger seat, Susan got out. Susan’s eyes were red, draped in his suit jacket. She looked particularly pitiful and weak. Lu Tinghan didn’t see me, half-embracing Susan as they walked toward the company. I hid in the cool night wind, the medicinal meal in my hand had long since turned cold. My heart also froze at that moment. I suddenly laughed. It’s no wonder Lu Tinghan would change his heart; over the years, I’ve cared for him like a servant, which is really dull. I picked up a shovel and completely destroyed all the medicinal herbs. Then, I went inside and cleared out everything related to me. I piled them on top of the destroyed herbs. After carefully checking that nothing was missed, I took out a lighter and set it on fire. The fire ignited with a whoosh. Burning brighter and brighter, as if it wanted to burn the past to ashes. I took out that red divorce certificate. Threw it into the raging fire. Everything is over. I came here with high hopes. Leaving with a heart like dead ashes. In the firelight, I took out my phone and blocked and deleted everyone’s contact information. Then, I entered the house and cleared out everything related to me. It was piled on top of the ruined medicinal materials. After carefully checking to ensure nothing was overlooked, I took out a lighter and lit it. The fire ignited with a whoosh. It grew larger and larger, as if it wanted to completely burn away the past. I took out the red divorce certificate. I tossed it into the roaring flames. Everything was over. When I arrived, I was filled with hope. When I left, my heart felt like cold ashes. In the flickering light of the fire, I pulled out my phone and deleted all of my contacts. I walked step by step out of this place where I had lived for many years. Finally, I also walked away from my unspoken obsession. — Late at night. Southern City Cemetery. I stood in front of Gavin’s tombstone for what felt like an eternity. In the photo on the tombstone, he still looked handsome and full of life. Time flies so quickly; in the blink of an eye, it had been nine years. I never imagined I would leave after marrying Lucas. I wanted to stay like this for a lifetime. Even if he changed his heart, even if he didn’t come home every day. As long as I could be by his side, that was enough. I don’t know when I started to become emotionally unstable. I also don’t know when I began to feel like a neurotic. At this moment, facing Gavin’s tombstone, I felt an inexplicable sense of guilt and melancholy. My heart had long ceased to be pure. I couldn’t even tell if I loved Gavin or Lucas. If it was Gavin, what would the ending have been? Memories of the past seemed to find a gap at this moment, flashing scenes of him before my eyes. “I don’t need you to be overly kind; just don’t be a bad person, and that’s enough.” “I’m here; I will always be here.” “Unless I die, I will love you forever.” “Even if I die, I will donate my heart so that it can beat for you forever.” His clear yet fragile voice echoed from a distant memory. I slowly sat down on the ground, resting my head against his tombstone. Memory is strange. All the moments between me and Gavin felt as vivid as if they had happened just yesterday. Yet the nine years I spent with Lucas felt faint and dull, as if a hundred years had passed. But I clearly hadn’t thought about the past in a long time. That dark chapter of my life was peeled away in my memory. I am the lost daughter of the Lina Family. In their grief, my parents adopted a girl named Lindsay to comfort the pain of losing their daughter. I was found when I was already fifteen years old. Though I am the legitimate daughter of the Lina Family, it was Lindsay they raised. Fifteen years is not fifteen days. Their feelings for Lindsay had long been deeply rooted. My parents, my brother. They all loved Lindsay, even though she wasn’t a member of the Lina Family. My return severely affected Lindsay. Lindsay hated me; she thought if I hadn’t come back, she would be the only daughter of the Lina Family, never knowing she was adopted. She could enjoy everything from the Lina Family without question. The Lina Family pampered Lindsay, treating her like their own daughter since she was little, never telling her the truth about her background, fearing it would affect her growth. But because of my arrival, all that beauty was shattered. Lindsay fell from being a rich young lady to being an adopted daughter. Many people laughed at her. She didn’t dare to speak out or act out; she just hid away and cried in secret. When the Lina Family saw her cry, they felt very sorry for her, taking her on trips to cheer her up, buying her gifts, and even publicly announcing that she would receive five percent of the Lina Family shares. Seeing that her family still spoiled her, Lindsay felt no affection for me, the biological daughter. So she began to plot against me. She made the Lina Family hate me more and more. I often heard my mom say to my dad: “It would have been better if she had died outside when she was little; then I would always remember her. Now that she has come back, we’re strangers, and we can never become a family. Her personality is so strange and annoying; no one wants to care for her.” “How can I love her? Just seeing her is enough; every cell in my body hates her existence.” “Just standing there annoys people.” They only knew I had a strange personality. But they didn’t know why I formed such a character. If everyone could grow up like Lindsay, surrounded by love, I think anyone would be gentle and likable. I thought that when I could be self-sufficient, I would completely leave the Lina Family. However, Lindsay could not wait for me to leave on my own. She was always afraid of being replaced by me. When I was in university, Lindsay bribed a human trafficker to sell me abroad. — Abroad, I experienced unprecedented torment. I was nearly dying there. But my parents did not come to rescue me. With a determination to die, I escaped from the compound, not knowing how many bones I broke when I jumped down from the high wall. When I was caught and brought back, I didn’t know how many organs were injured. I never thought about retreating unscathed. Even if I was injured, even if I was disabled, even if I was half dead, I still wanted to escape. I tried to escape time and time again, only to be caught again. Just when I was despairing to the point of dying. On a night when heavy snow was falling. In my dark life, a savior appeared. Gavin; at this moment, he still shone brightly in my memory. He saved me, cooperating with international police to take down the compound’s lair. I returned safely to my country. I had too many injuries on my body, and it took a long time to recover. However, I could no longer be a mother. This was something trivial to me. I never thought about marriage or having children; I had no expectations at all for marriage. I just didn’t expect that Gavin would like such a broken version of me. He picked up my pieces, bit by bit. He walked into the depths of my heart. He said it didn’t matter that there were no children; having me as his baby was enough. He understood my indifference and also understood my sincerity. He knew my disguise and understood my fragility. He not only treated me well but also understood my soul. All my dark sides could be laid bare in the sunlight before him. He would not despise me, nor would he make me change; he said all I needed was not to be a bad person. My heart, which felt like dead ashes, began to revive, like a white poplar tree in spring, slowly sprouting green buds. I began to love this world and learned to love and be loved. But heaven is always cruel. Just when I thought I would finally touch the beauty of this world. While he was on a mission, something happened. Before he died, he held my hand and told me to live well. The tender buds of the leaves had just begun to sprout when the tree was cut off at the waist, never to flourish again. How am I supposed to live… My heart was being torn back and forth, faintly burning. The images of losing him were tearing at the boundaries of the old past in my memory. Those heavy nightmares broke through the surface effortlessly. For so many years, I obediently lived on. Striving to make myself ordinary. I hadn’t deliberately remembered him, yet I had never forgotten him. Lucas was not like him. But he was the second person in the world who treated me well. I slowly sealed off the past. At the moment Lucas brought Liam back, the withered tree deep in my heart met spring again. However, the light of spring was too short. When Susan appeared, it quickly turned into a cold winter day, desolate and lifeless. In the end, Lucas and I were left with nothing. A cold wind blew by, and I sniffed. Cold fingers gently brushed against the face on the tombstone. “I’m leaving; maybe I will never come back.” “Take care.” — Three days after I arrived in a foreign country with Liam, a strange number sent me a flurry of messages.

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