Category: English

Every time I see her flirting with those men, I feel so embarrassed! What’s most confusing to me is that she’s in her mid-forties, yet she still yearns for love. I always mock her for it. “With the way you act, Mom, I’m probably the only one in this world who’ll still love you,” I’d say. She’d just smile at me, tugging at my cheek while laughing. “Plenty of men are chasing me, kiddo!” And honestly, that was true. There were a lot of men interested in her. But she didn’t care about any of them, except one—a man who was sixteen years younger than her. And she was the one who made the first move. That man was named Axel Whitlock. He had this whole “refined bad boy” thing going on, with gold-rimmed glasses that somehow made him look even more dangerous. He was good-looking, with sharp brows, striking eyes, a straight nose, and lips that always looked like they came straight out of a fashion ad. He was tall, around six feet, and his pale skin made the tattoos on his arms stand out even more. The first time I saw him, I was frozen for a moment. For a while, Axel Whitlock was a regular at Hawthorne’s Smokehouse, my mom’s barbecue joint. Every time, he’d call me over to take his order, get him a drink, or bring him some more food. He always stared at me, openly complimenting how pretty I was. Honestly, I felt shy and a little annoyed by it. I didn’t want to run errands for him, but when he handed me a twenty-dollar tip, suddenly, I didn’t mind so much. Axel always ordered a huge amount of barbecue, claiming he couldn’t finish it all, and then smiling as he passed me some of the food. I had barbecue to eat every night, and I could eat as much as I wanted without my mom getting on my case. So, my impression of Axel wasn’t all that bad. Until that one night. My mom brought Axel into the back room, where she and I slept. They were in there for a long time. I stood by the door, listening. I heard my mom giggling, sounding more flirtatious than usual. Then there were sounds of chairs scraping across the floor. After a moment, I heard Axel laugh, too. When my mom finally came out, I angrily confronted her. “What were you two doing in there?” “Just talking,” she said, laughing as she ran her fingers through her hair. But her eyes were scanning me, up and down. That only made me angrier. Her look seemed to say, “You’re just a kid; you wouldn’t understand.” “Just talking? You were alone with a guy in a room for an hour, and you expect me to believe you were just talking?” My mom suddenly laughed, reached out, and pinched my cheek affectionately. “Relax, honey. Axel’s going to take care of me for the rest of my life.” I was stunned. First, I couldn’t believe how fast she’d found someone. And second, was Axel seriously into my mom? Was he blind? I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I knew there was no way I could stop my mom from being with another man. After all, when I was just five, she divorced my dad and raised me alone, too afraid to remarry in case a stepdad might treat me poorly. Now that I was grown, I had no right to stand in the way of her happiness. Besides, she’d found a guy she liked. And he wasn’t just good-looking—he was wealthy, and he’d promised to take care of her for life. But that night, I still buried my head in my pillow and cried hard. I couldn’t help but feel that soon, I’d become the forgotten child. My mom would be like my dad—she’d build a new family and forget all about me. The day after my mom told me Axel would take care of her for life, we moved. Axel bought the house. It was a three-bedroom apartment in Aspen Ridge Apartments, just a thirty-minute drive from Maple Creek High School, where I went to school. It was my first time living in such a nice place. It wasn’t just clean and spacious—it was peaceful. And when you turned on the lights, it was like something out of an influencer’s Instagram post.

At first, I resisted the move, but after seeing my new bedroom with a giant bed all to myself, I quickly changed my mind. That change of heart took about thirty seconds. As I lay on that soft, comfortable bed, I started thinking, maybe Axel wasn’t so bad for my mom after all. Still, one thing had me nervous. I was going to be living under the same roof as Axel. A week later, he finally moved in. And when he did, he brought along a little girl who couldn’t have been more than five years old. “Say hi to everyone, Ivy,” Axel said, looking down at her with a warm smile. “Hi, Auntie! Hi, big sister!” She was adorable, round-faced and pale, looking just like a little doll. I smiled warmly at her. It didn’t take more than a day for us to get along. I found out she was Axel’s daughter from his ex-wife. “Look, this is my mommy,” Ivy said, pulling a picture out of her backpack. It was a family photo, and her mom had this graceful, almost aristocratic look to her. I couldn’t help comparing her to my mom, and, honestly, they were worlds apart. One was a high-society lady, the other, well, just a regular woman. I had to wonder—did Axel have a problem with his vision, or was there something else going on? “Mom loves my brother more than me. She doesn’t love me, so she left me with Daddy. I don’t like her anymore,” Ivy said, her little lips pouting and her eyes welling up with tears. Seeing that she was about to cry, I quickly handed her a doll and said, “Hey, how about we play house?” “Okay!” Ivy cheered up instantly. I looked up and saw Axel standing in the doorway, watching us with a smile on his face. The whole situation felt weird. I quickly got up and left the room. But I could still feel his gaze following me until I shut the door. After that, things only got stranger. My mom was with Axel, but at the same time, it didn’t feel like they were really together. I understood why they weren’t having a wedding, since it was a second marriage for both. But why weren’t they even getting a marriage license? Plus, they didn’t sleep in the same room. Actually, Axel never stayed in the apartment at night. As soon as it got dark, he’d grab his car keys and leave. My mom always laughed it off, saying he was some sort of night owl, always busy after dark. But something about the whole situation seemed off. After thinking about it all night, I came to a conclusion. It must’ve been because I was around, so they couldn’t have their alone time. After giving it some thought, I decided to move into the school dorms. But when I brought it up, my mom got furious. “Living at school is out of the question! Don’t bring it up again!” she snapped. I was confused. They were newlyweds, right? Wouldn’t they want me out of the way? At the same time, though, a part of me felt happy. My mom still cared about me more. “If she wants to live at school, let her,” Axel said as he came in from outside. My mom looked surprised but quickly regained her composure. She turned to me with a softer expression. “Well, if Axel says it’s okay, then fine, you can go.” Even though she’d been calling him “Axel” this whole time, hearing it again made me pause for a second. I thanked him, addressing him as “Uncle Axel” out of habit, and started to head back to my room. Normally, I tried to avoid being around Axel whenever he was at home, just to give them some space. But this time, as I stood up to leave, I noticed Axel frowning. Suddenly, he grabbed my arm and pulled me back onto the couch. He stared at me seriously for a while before finally saying, “I’m only ten years older than you. Calling me ‘Uncle’ feels weird. How about just calling me by my name?” “I’m pretty laid-back. I don’t care about formalities.” A wave of unease washed over me, and I glanced over at my mom. “Young people are easygoing like that. It’s fine. I’m easygoing too,” she said with a smile, raising her hands behind her head as she leaned back on the couch. But the way she looked at Axel didn’t seem like she was looking at a husband. I shook my head and hurried back to my room. Then I heard my mom calling after me from the living room. “Looks like my girl’s all grown up—she’s even getting shy!” And then Axel’s deep, carefree laughter followed. My heart felt more tangled than ever. Something was off—I just couldn’t put my finger on it. When I finally moved into the school dorms, I learned something shocking about Axel Whitlock. Something I never would’ve guessed.

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The Night I Accidentally Slept with the School Hunk: He Offered Me $30,000 to Do It Again The day before school started, I slept with the school hunk . Morning sunlight spilled across his chiseled abs as he propped himself up, looking at me with an unsatisfied expression. I panicked and stammered, “I’ll give you $20,000, but please don’t tell anyone about this.” He smirked and wrapped his arm around my waist possessively. “How about I give you $200,000 and we do it again?” Chapter 1 You took the initiative last night I threw a party at home and got so drunk that I found myself crying in my best friend’s arms. “You know, my dad secretly picked a fiancé for me,” I wailed. “That means I’m going to marry a man I’ve never even met! What if he’s ugly? Woohoo…” My best friend, equally tipsy, patted my shoulder with sympathy. I felt utterly depressed and kept drinking until two in the morning. After the party, my high school classmates trickled out one by one. As I made my way back to my room, I stumbled and felt someone catch me as I swayed. I looked up to see a handsome, muscular face, his brow slightly furrowed in concern. So… incredibly handsome. At that moment, a sentence popped into my mind: Instead of living an ordinary life with a man you have never even met, it is better to choose a handsome guy, at least he is handsome. So, under the influence of alcohol, I put my arms around his neck and said, ” It’s you , handsome boy, come with me. ” He was stunned for a moment and narrowed his eyes: “Where to?” I hooked my arms around his neck and used all the methods I had seen in my life to seduce men, and tried my best to lead him into the room . I pretended to be casual and said , ” Just come back to my room and chat for a while .” He smiled and followed me obediently. He even supported my waist when we went upstairs. With a bang, the door closed behind me. I shuddered, looked at the chocolate-colored abdominal muscles exposed in front of me , and hesitated. I was drunk just now and my mind was full of thoughts like “I want to rebel against fate.” But now a man and a woman are alone in a room… He took off his clothes completely and put his big hands on my face : ” Why, are you scared?” I have always been a boss lady since I was a child , and I hate it most when people say that I am “scared”. So I stretched my neck to pull his belt: “Who is afraid?” However, my hands slipped, and I accidentally brushed against some parts of his body. He groaned, his eyes darkened, and he grabbed my moving hands: ” Jessica , are you serious?” I was struggling with his belt, sweating and feeling a bit anxious. “What’s the big deal? There’s nothing I can’t handle, including men!” I’m the best at making threats. It’s so easy. Unexpectedly, he suddenly stopped moving and lowered his head dangerously: “You know a lot?” I puffed out my chest: “That’s it.” The next second, the world was spinning. He hugged my waist and threw me on the bed: “Then don’t regret it.” Halfway through , I started to cry out in pain. His whole body was burning, and his voice was hoarse and broken: “I didn’t expect…” I bit his arm. “Shut up!” What are you doing when the sound is so nice? He lowered his head and looked at me lovingly, but his little white teeth were exposed—— I covered my chest and said, “What the hell are you doing?” The man’s eyes were dark as if he wanted to drag me in . A drop of sweat dripped onto my body : ” Sorry, I couldn’t help it.” …The morning sunlight came in, I held my waist and sat up, meeting his deep gaze. His clean, tan skin was in stark contrast to the horrible state of mine. I dressed listlessly. A strong smell of hormones came from behind, but he licked his lips in satisfaction and pretended to wrap his arms around my waist: “Do you need my help?” I jumped away like a frightened bird: “Stay away from me.” He leaned against the bed with his arms around his chest and smiled: “That’s not what you said yesterday.” I blushed at his smile. It was the first time I saw such a handsome man. No wonder I lost control of myself last night due to the alcohol. but– I touched my coat and took out a bank card: “I’ll give you 15,000 dollars. Don’t tell anyone about what happened last night.” The smile on his lips froze for a moment as he squinted his eyes . I stared at him for a moment, and he suddenly sneered, ” Who do you think I am ?” I glanced around and said, “Of course not. This is just hush money.” had paid for it anyway , so I closed my eyes and said: ” It’s not easy for a student to make money. You can get 15,000 dollars just by sleeping. Don’t take advantage of me.” His expression became visibly ugly. Just when I thought he was going to hit me, he suddenly laughed. But this smile looks so gloomy … The boy stood up, approached me, pushed me against the wall, took the bank card from my hand and threw it on the ground. Then he came close to me and said in a very oppressive tone: “I’ll give you two hundred thousand dollars in exchange for sleeping with you again.” Sounds tempting though. But I reluctantly refused: ” You… don’t come over, I’m only doing this to reject the fiancé my dad found for me .” He crossed his arms and glanced at me lazily, emphasizing, ” You were the one who took the initiative last night.” Talking about this brings tears to my eyes. I just wanted to talk a little, but I didn’t expect him to put it into practice. I have already made a big mistake, I can’t make it again. Chapter 2 The freshman representative is him What saved me was a phone call from my dad: ” Jessica , did you forget that school starts today?” I walked to the balcony trembling: “No.” “I’m at the gate of your school,” my dad said, “I want to see you in fifteen minutes.” After saying that, he decisively hung up the phone. When I returned to the room, I found that he was also on the phone. He frowned and looked impatient: “Got it, I’ll be there right away.” After hanging up the phone, he looked at me meaningfully again. I walked over and said, “Um…” The man picked up his coat and said, “Not today, save it for next time.” I:? What is he talking about? “What’s your phone number?” The man walked up to me and fiddled with his phone: “I’ll save it.” I laughed dryly and changed the subject : ” Don’t you have something else to do? I’ll be leaving first. Bye.” “Don’t want to sleep with me?” The man raised his eyebrows and smiled again: “Okay, sooner or later, you will beg me.” … My father’s Rolls-Royce was parked in front of my school, catching the attention of many female college students. I reluctantly opened the car door and got in. My dad glanced at his watch: “Fifteen minutes late.” I answered him expressionlessly, “I had breakfast . You complained that it smelled bad, so I came here after I finished eating.” He frowned and said, “You are late. Your Uncle John and his son just left.” Uncle John is the father of the fiancé my dad found for me . “You don’t want to meet?” I shook my head. My father looked at me and his face began to look unhappy. ” Say that again?! ” He held my credit card in his left hand and a pair of scissors appeared out of nowhere in his right hand… “You don’t want next month’s living expenses?” “Absolutely not!” For a student, living expenses are very important. After a while, I sighed and said in a half-compromising manner , “You decide.” ……. After the busy start of school, there is the freshman party . We were taken to the venue early in the morning . The school leaders spoke passionately on the microphone. I looked at the bright makeup on the girls’ faces and sighed with my roommate, “They are so exquisite.” My roommate lowered his voice and said, “Because this year’s freshman class includes Alan .” I muttered, ” Who is Alan ?” As soon as the voice fell, the host’s voice, raised several degrees, sounded from the radio: “Now, please welcome the freshman representative, Alan, to give a speech.” With thunderous applause, a tall and slender young man walked up to the podium. Even wearing the most ordinary black suit , it is difficult to conceal his masculine temperament and handsome looks, and he stands out from thousands of people. “What the hell?!” I looked at that handsome face and my eyes widened. My roommate said excitedly, “He is Alan , the first handsome guy in the history of our school who was named the school idol because of a photo before he even entered the school. How handsome, isn’t he?” He is handsome. Especially the way he was sweating last night. But now I just want to shout for help. After morning lecture , my best friend came to me from other faculty to have dinner. In the cafeteria, Chloe was stunned when she heard what I said: “You slept with Alan ? He’s the new school idol! ” I quickly covered her mouth and said, “Keep your voice down.” Chloe nodded in understanding and lowered her voice to ask, ” What about the fiancé your dad found for you ?” “What else can I do? He should take care of himself . How can he control me?” “That’s true. I heard you say last night that your fiancé is ugly and weak . It’s not a loss to give your first time to Alan .” I ate my meal in silence. My mind automatically began to recall the scenes of last night. Chloe suddenly poked my arm, ” How was Alan last night ?” I blamed myself for not being naive. I understood what she meant in a second and blushed as I stammered, “Not bad.” “What does ‘not bad’ mean? I heard that tall and broad-shouldered boys are all very capable. Are you kidding me?” I recalled. A face that was almost red: “It’s quite impressive.” “What’s so impressive?” A sexy male voice suddenly came from above my head . In the hot weather, the sound was like a bottle of ice cola . I shivered from the cold . Alan was holding a plate with two boys beside him. The three of them seemed to be passing by. He stared at me with his proud and sexy eyes , with a teasing smile on his lips. I don’t know how much he took Chloe and I into account. I immediately got scared and hid away like a kitten . A boy asked curiously, ” Alan , do you know each other?” I subconsciously retorted: “I don’t know him!” Alan nodded and said, “She said she didn’t know him.” “…” The two of them instantly looked like they understood, then talked and laughed while encouraging Alan to sit down next to me. I lowered my head and ate my meal. ” Are you free this weekend? ” Alan ‘s voice suddenly sounded. I looked up blankly, and the next second, he put two concert tickets in my hands . Chloe covered her heart with her hands, looking as if she had been hurt. Two boys were cheering on the side. My hands holding the chopsticks were unsteady, and I asked Alan , “What are you doing?” Alan said as a matter of course: ” A girl just confessed to me and gave me two concert tickets. I don’t like watching concerts , so you can accompany me .” After that, he narrowed his eyes and asked me, ” You owe me something , so you definitely won’t refuse me, right?” I:…… I think I have to talk to him. Chapter 3 Put on your clothes and let’s talk But before I could invite him, my dad called again. He got straight to the point and said, “The house your uncle John bought for his son near the school hasn’t been renovated yet, so he’ll be staying at your place for a while.” I widened my eyes: “Why?” My dad’s voice was louder than mine: “You two are going to get married anyway , so this is a good opportunity to cultivate your relationship.” He hung up without hesitation after he said that. After a few seconds, my dad pushed the other party’s phone number and social account to me. And the message is: friendly communication. I reluctantly sent the add. The other party passed it in seconds. Without thinking, I sent a message: “Are you there? Look at your face. Send me a photo ? ” After all, I’m a bit of a face-control freak, so if you’re not good-looking, keep your distance. After a few seconds, the other party replied to me: “…” Come on, his reaction clearly shows he must not be good-looking. I didn’t have classes in the evening, so I went back to the apartment early. After heating up the cold pizza from last night and cutting a plate of watermelon, I crossed my legs and comfortably curled up on the sofa to play with my phone . The mobile page is a chat box between me and my fiancée . The message stayed at the address I shared with him. At this time, the doorbell rang.

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I went to get my marriage license with my fiancé, but my younger cousin sent a photo of the two of them in bed as a “celebration.” She even went out of her way to tag me in the family group chat— “Cousin, I tested your fiancé’s skills for you. He’s really amazing.” My younger female cousin Sunny sent a photo inMonuments. It was a bed photo of her and Jim. In the image, the two of them were lying naked together, kissing towards the camera. The group, which usually only had the gossips of aunts and uncles, exploded instantly. They all inquired about what was going on. Sunny seemed to realize her mistake and quickly withdrew the photo. She tagged me in the group: “Sister, I’m sorry. I originally intended to send this photo to brother – in – law as a keepsake. I didn’t expect to accidentally send it to the group. It was just that one time with brother – in – law. Please don’t mind. Just consider it as I tested brother – in – law’s ability for you in advance.” At the Registry Office, Jim was holding the queuing slip and running towards me cheerfully: “Lina, let’s go get the marriage license now!” I looked at him with red – rimmed eyes and sneered: “Jim, explain what this is all about?” “What?” Before Jim could react, I threw the photo at him. Then, without waiting for his response, I turned and left. When I got home, I saw that in the living room, my mother was being punished to kneel, and Jim had also chased after me. Granny was scolding harshly: “Look at you. You came back divorced and brought shame to our family. Now you can’t even control your daughter!” Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary were crying and wailing beside her: “Our Sunny is still so young. She’s a simple and kind – hearted good girl. It’s all because you can’t control your own daughter and let her find such a son – in – law to harm our daughter! What are we supposed to do?” I walked over, helped my mother up, and looked at them coldly as I asked – “It was Sunny who shamelessly seduced my fiancé. Why are you blaming my mother?”

Since I was a child, my parents divorced. My father was a philanderer and a scoundrel who fooled around with various women and even committed domestic violence against my mother and me. My mother couldn’t endure it any longer in her husband’s family and divorced my father. She took me, who was young, back to her mother’s house. Unfortunately, what awaited her was not comfort from her mother’s house but ridicule and sarcasm from Granny, Uncle Joe, and Aunt Mary. They believed it was normal for men to cheat and play around with women. As long as my mother gave birth to a son, life would be better in the future. Aunt Mary said bitterly: “Oh, you still have the nerve to say that? Then what do you think we should do now? Your fiancé slept with my daughter. He can’t just get away with it, can he? Sunny is still so young. If this gets out, her reputation will be ruined. How will she get married in the future?” I sneered and asked rhetorically: “Why isn’t Sunny here? Is she too ashamed to face me?” Sunny emerged from the inner room, still being stubborn: “I want to marry Brother Jim! You should give your fiancé to me!” I retorted: “Why should I?” Sunny looked at me with a hint of guilt in her eyes and said: “Because I slept with Jim, he has to be responsible for me!” I snorted: “It’s Jim who should be responsible for you, not me. You’re a mistress. Why should I care about you?” I folded my arms and said: “How about this? Let’s invite all the relatives and friends and let them decide who’s right and who’s wrong?” Aunt Mary jumped up: “Lina, I didn’t expect you to be so vicious, deliberately trying to shame our family!” I said: “It’s your daughter who’s brought shame. She even sent the bed photo to the group. Do you still care about this?” The whole family was left speechless. I continued: “If you don’t want to make this a big deal, I have another proposal…” “All the money my mother earned working outside over the years, including the property she received from the divorce with my father, should be returned to us!”

My father’s family was fairly well – off. Additionally, when they divorced back then, since my father cheated and committed domestic violence, my mother received a large sum of money from the divorce. However, Granny withheld it all and gave it to Uncle Joe. Just a few days after my mother and I returned, she drove my mother out to work. She made it sound nice that she would take care of me, her granddaughter, but in reality, she just wanted to drain the resources of our mother and daughter. When I was a child, their family often beat me and humiliated me by saying that I was an unwanted bastard. The clothes I wore were Sunny’s hand – me – downs, and I wasn’t even allowed to sit at the table to eat. I lived a life worse than their dog. Granny shouted: “You’ve been eating and wearing from our family all these years. Didn’t that cost money?” I directly threatened: “Give it or not, just one word. Otherwise, we’ll make this a huge issue and see who will be the one to lose face in the end!” Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary fell silent. Finally, Sunny knelt down and cried: “Mom, Dad, this bitch wants money. Just give it to them and let them go far away and never come to bother our family again! I like Brother Jim. I want to marry him!” Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary gritted their teeth and agreed. In the end, after calculating the total amount, they needed to give us two hundred thousand dollars. Sunny wiped her tears and was overjoyed. Without waiting for the money to be handed over, she couldn’t wait to go to the room to pack my luggage. She packed the luggage of me and my mother and threw it all at the door. Just then, Jim, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke: “The person I want to marry is Lina. I don’t want to marry Sunny!” He was extremely embarrassed and also a bit scared. He glanced at Sunny tentatively before saying – “It was Sunny who deliberately seduced me and said that I didn’t need to be responsible. She has no self – respect. Why should I be responsible for her?”

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In the third year since I passed away, my enemy got stood up at his own wedding. I was floating around, enjoying the spectacle. Then, out of the blue, he turned his head. His gaze seemed to pierce through the space where I was, and his voice cracked as he spoke: “Did it take all this for you to show up?” “Go ahead and laugh if it makes you feel better, but don’t you dare leave again.” “Olivia, I miss you more than words can say.” ChapterWhen I got Nathan Gray’s wedding invite, I was really upset. I grabbed the invitation and stopped. Holding the invitation, I was lost in thought, and before I knew it, my rival had taken me for a ride. I lost a bundle to them. A kid ghost peeked over my shoulder. “Nathan? He’s the one who sent a lot of flowers to you from the other side.” The invitation was written by Nathan. No one would burn an invitation to me on purpose. Considering Nathan’s habit of sending me flowers whenever he got the chance, I decided to forgive his audacity. The group lost interest in rolling the dice and gathered together with a mischievous air, gossiping animatedly: “He was so wealthy; I would have loved to go and check out his wedding.” I gave a wry smile: “Come on, he was quite the character. If you really got to know him, it would have broken all your romantic notions.” Chapter

I’ve known Nathan for over ten years and we’ve been at odds for most of that time. When I was young, Nathan was shy. I was bold. I grabbed a frog and shoved it into Nathan’s hand. I told him to kiss it and make it a prince. Nathan was scared and cried. My parents beat me. I was beaten up, but I didn’t care. I disliked Nathan for being timid. Nathan said I was treacherous, wanted to see the frog turn into a prince, but didn’t dare kiss it. When I started junior high, I began to pay attention to my image and learned to moderate my words and actions. I’m not reckless anymore. I even put on the little white dress that I never touched before. Nathan laughed so hard he crowed, saying I was imitating the school belle, cause she usually dressed like this. I was angry, so I put mustard in his cake. In high school, I liked the gym student in my class. I wrote a love letter and asked Nathan to give it to him. I didn’t expect that after he embellished the story, he directly handed the love letter to my mom. My mother ridiculed me. I’m still angry about that love letter. I wasn’t weak either. I cursed Nathan and couldn’t send any more love letters. The ghostbuster asked, “Will you go to the wedding?” “Yes, why not? The invitations have been sent.” Chapter

Nathan has burned me a handwritten note before. In the past three years, Nathan has sent lots of notes, as if they were text messages. “Olivia, I took ugly pictures of you, right? I won’t delete them.” “Olivia, you can’t win by hiding. Our fight is not over.” “Olivia, if you scare me, I’ll admit I’ve lost.” “Olivia, I was in a car accident and had a concussion. I remember now. I’ll never forget what you did to me. You know I’m holding a grudge. It’s too late!” I didn’t get any flowers from Nathan for half a year. He’d bring me a lot of flowers before, so that I could show off in hell forever as someone still remembered me and loved me. I locked the note in the safe, took the money and went to the biggest casino in hell. After turning into a spirit, I was very lucky. I won a lot of money at the casino. I used my winnings to help build hell. The King of Hell was happy. I was not chased by the casino boss. Nathan burned a lot of clothes and bags too. This time was different. Nathan burnt me a wedding dress. Layer upon layer of romantic tulle, intricate and delicate lace embroidery, and the perfectly placed off-the-shoulder design were my favorite elements and designer creations when I was alive. The child ghost looked surprised. “Hey, is this dress for Nathan’s wedding?” Who would wear a wedding dress to a wedding, unless they were there to steal the spotlight? I shook my head, angry. “The jerk, he must be mocking me, like I don’t even have the chance to wear a wedding dress.” The wedding dress and invitation came with the mail. There was also a note. It rambled on with a paragraph: “Olivia, I’m getting married, and I won’t be bringing you any more flowers. You must be angry. Just keep all the flowers and I’ll enjoy them with you after I die.” Chapter

You think I’m a florist? Nathan is getting married and will have a wife and kids to memorize him. He still thinks about my assets. Capitalists are all the same. I was angry. I can’t share half my property with Nathan. That would put me second on the rich list. I won’t agree to that. I’ll accept a 60-40 split: six for me, four for him. I went to the Hall of Hades and asked to go to Earth. Ghosts can’t just enter Earth. I made outstanding contributions to Hell. I still have that privilege. The King of Hell gave me the pass. He also asked if I wanted my bodyguards to come with me. ‘The earth isn’t safer than hell,’ he said. I shook my head and said no. “I’m just going to a wedding, I don’t need a bodyguard.” I’m not going to rob a wedding. Besides, as a spirit attending Nathan’s wedding with a few bodyguards, if something goes wrong, how would I handle the aftermath? As a nemesis, I would love to see Nathan’s jokes. Who asked him to always oppose me in the past? I don’t want that. I want Nathan’s wedding to be grand and successful. He should take everyone’s blessings and walk towards his life with peace and stability. Chapter I held the pass and, with the help of the King of Hell, appeared at Nathan’s house. The villa was empty. It was strange here. I thought there was a wedding today, but there’s no sign of celebration at home. It makes people feel cold. What a weirdo.

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My daughter knelt before me, begging after a hit-and-run accident. “Mom, I just got accepted to Harvard. I have a bright future ahead of me. If I go to jail, my life will be over. Please, save me…” I agreed. During my two years in prison, neither my husband nor daughter visited me once. After being released, I discovered it had all been a scheme by my husband and daughter. They had already transferred all my assets. The daughter who had once cried and begged me to take the blame now cursed me as an ex-con, ugly and old. She kicked me in the chest. I died from cardiac arrest. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day we received the college acceptance letter. “Mom, Dad, I got accepted to Harvard!” My adopted daughter Keira exclaimed excitedly. “That’s my girl! Harvard is one of the top universities in the country. You’ve really made your parents proud. Honey, didn’t you just get a $500,000 year-end bonus? Let’s use all of it to buy our daughter a BMW,” my husband Jack said. This conversation felt so familiar. I suddenly realized I had been reborn. “Dad, I’m still young. Buying a car would be too flashy. Besides, Mom worked hard for that money. I don’t want to spend it,” Keira said sweetly. In my previous life, I always thought she was a considerate, filial, and kind girl. It wasn’t until I went to prison that I realized she was a vicious white lotus flower. “But sweetheart, Daddy promised to reward you with a BMW if you got into Harvard, remember?” Jack looked at me as he spoke. He was a stay-at-home dad, and all our household expenses came from my money. In my previous life, I felt guilty for not giving him a child. “Why are you looking at me? You promised her, not me,” I said coldly. Father and daughter were stunned, their eyes wide with shock. In my previous life, they always acted in concert – one playing the sweet daughter, the other the good father – constantly extracting money from me. And in my previous life, I always thought my adopted daughter was sensible and my husband was generous, treating our adopted daughter like his own. Seeing them act again now made me feel indescribably disgusted. “Have you lost your mind today? Our daughter got into Harvard. That’s great news! You won’t even buy her a car? Are you even fit to be a mother? Or is it that you’ve never truly seen Keira as your own daughter?” Jack shouted at me. “Dad, don’t say that. $500,000 isn’t a small amount. Mom’s company needs working capital too. It’s fine if we don’t buy a car,” Keira continued to act “sensible.” “Well, how about a $300,000 car then? Surely that’s not too much to ask?” Jack yelled at me. “Have you been out of touch with reality for too long? Since when is a $300,000 car considered cheap? Why don’t you buy it for Keira yourself if you’re so capable?” I said mockingly. Jack was dumbfounded that I would say such things. Keira also had a “how could this be happening” expression. In my previous life, this routine worked on me every time. I always fell for it and thought they were good people. “Mom, Dad, I don’t want a car anymore. Please don’t fight because of me. It’s all my fault,” Keira said pitifully, tears welling up on command. In my previous life, I would have hugged her and fulfilled all her desires. But in this life, I knew she was a vicious demon. Seeing her cry made my teeth grind with hatred. Slap! I gave her a hard slap across the face. Father and daughter stood there in shock. Keira looked at me with fear and confusion in her eyes. “Oh, there was a mosquito on your face. I was too hasty and hit too hard,” I said, pretending to be loving as I reached out to caress her red cheek.

The next day at the company, I immediately changed all my bank card PINs and mobile payment passwords. I also began planning to transfer my assets. In this life, I couldn’t let Jack get his hands on my money again. Afterwards, I asked the school for Keira’s candidate number and checked her SAT scores. I was shocked – she only scored 1050. Even with an extra 400 points, she wouldn’t get into Harvard. In my previous life, Keira had shown me several mock test score reports, all above 1450. At the time I believed them completely, but now I realized those mock test scores must have been fake. In the afternoon, I went to a private detective agency and asked them to thoroughly investigate Jack and Keira. I suspected they were actually father and daughter. Twelve years ago, Jack took me to an orphanage. Among dozens of children, he chose Keira. When Keira first met Jack, she showed a natural affinity for him. At the time, I just thought they had a connection, that it was fate. I liked her too. But thinking about it now, the fact that they could work together to deceive me – there could be no other explanation besides a father-daughter relationship. If that was true, it was truly terrifying to think about. They had been playing this long game for twelve years, slowly emptying my assets bit by bit. A week later. At the company, I received a text message from my credit card – the supplementary card had been used to spend $300,000. I had overlooked canceling the supplementary card. To make it convenient for Jack to buy groceries and cover household expenses, I had given him a supplementary card. Without even thinking, I knew the $300,000 must have been for the car. I quickly called the bank and canceled the supplementary card.

In the evening, as I approached our building, I saw a new BMW X2 without license plates in the parking lot. As soon as I entered the house, Keira sweetly brought me slippers. “Welcome home, Mom. You must be tired from work.” Seeing her fake smile, I wanted to slap her, but I couldn’t reveal my hand before the investigation was complete. “Hmm, your dad bought you a car?” I asked casually. “Mom, I kept refusing, but Dad wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t do anything about it,” she said, putting on an innocent and helpless expression. “I’ve canceled your supplementary card. From now on, I’ll give you $10,000 a month for household expenses. If you need to buy anything big, let me know and I’ll handle it,” I said. “What do you mean? Our daughter got into Harvard. Doesn’t she deserve a reward?” Jack angrily demanded. I almost exposed them. With her grades, she’d never get into Harvard in a million years. Fortunately, I held back. “I’m thinking of our daughter too. She’s still young and just got her license. What if there’s a car accident? How could we bear to bury our child?” I said seriously, cursing them. Jack jumped up, slamming the table. “How dare you curse our daughter?” At that moment, I was certain Keira was Jack’s biological daughter. “I’m just worried about her safety. I care about her too,” I said. “Hmph, you’re just stingy,” Jack shouted. “Mom, are you upset that Dad spent your money to buy me a car?” Keira immediately got into character, asking me with tears in her eyes. I stroked her head and said gently, “How could Mom begrudge spending money on you? I’m just worried about your driving skills. What if you had an accident? If something happened to you, how could Mom go on living?” You can act, but so can I! “Mom, I got into Harvard! One of the top universities in the country. If it were someone else’s mother, they’d throw a celebration party and buy expensive gifts. But you haven’t done anything. Don’t you love me anymore?” As she spoke, the tears started flowing. Her acting was truly superb! I continued stroking her head and said, “A party would be too extravagant and wasteful. Besides, we should stay low-key. Being too high-profile will make people jealous. As for gifts, isn’t that BMW a gift?” “Mom, you don’t love me anymore. You know, I didn’t want the car to show off or for my own convenience. I had a dream – Mom, you’ve sacrificed so much for me over the years. I wanted to drive you on a road trip across the country.” “I’m touched that you have such a filial heart, but don’t you think something’s odd?” I asked. “What’s odd?” she asked, puzzled. “You should earn money yourself to buy a car, then take me on a road trip. It’s like saying you’ll treat me to dinner, but I end up paying. Isn’t that strange?” I said seriously. She was stunned, wanting to argue but unable to. “Rachel Johnson, are you even a mother? How can you discourage our daughter’s filial piety?” As Jack spoke, he winked at Keira. “Mom, you’re too much. You don’t love me anymore…” With that, she ran out. “Keira…” Jack chased after her. I suddenly remembered the notice at the entrance to the community: Last night the security cameras were damaged. Property management has contacted repair personnel. Residents are advised to secure their belongings and lock doors and windows. Were they setting me up? I was alone now, and with the security cameras broken, there would be no witnesses if they framed me. Thinking of this, I immediately called Chris, my assistant. Chris lived only a mile from my house. Then I called five other employees, saying there was an urgent meeting and asking them to come to my house as quickly as possible. I said I would reimburse their travel expenses. At 9 PM, I heard the door open and came out of the study. “Have you been home the whole time?” Jack asked. “Yes,” I replied. “I don’t believe you. Didn’t you go out looking for Keira?” “She’s not a child anymore. She can take care of herself.” “Are you even Keira’s mother? How can you say such heartless things?” “We can’t protect her forever. She has to walk her own path in life,” I said calmly. After arguing with him for about 15 minutes, Keira returned in a panic. As soon as she entered, she knelt before me: “Mom, I hit someone and ran away. Can you take the blame for me? Please save me. I don’t want to go to jail. I just got accepted to Harvard. My life is just beginning…” Hearing these familiar words, I was filled with rage. I wanted to strangle her right then and there. In my previous life, I was truly foolish to take the blame for her. “Keira, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid,” I said, pretending to comfort her as I hugged her. “Mom, will you help me?” she asked pitifully. “Of course I’ll help you. You’re my precious daughter.” “Mom, I knew you wouldn’t abandon me. You still love me. I swear, after you get out of prison, I’ll be extra filial to you.” “What do you mean, get out of prison?” I pushed her away, pretending to be surprised. “Mom, didn’t you say you’d help me? Aren’t you going to take the blame for me?” she asked, confused. “When I said I’d help you, I meant I’d hire a good lawyer for you to seek leniency,” I said. Keira was dumbfounded. “Rachel Johnson, if you hadn’t upset our daughter, she wouldn’t have run out. If she hadn’t run out, this wouldn’t have happened. You should take responsibility and take the blame for our daughter,” Jack argued forcefully. “Why don’t you take the blame for our daughter? Keira, listen to Mom. Your dad is just a stay-at-home dad. It wouldn’t be a big deal for him to go to jail for a few years. But Mom is different. Mom runs a company. We need Mom to earn money. If Mom goes to jail, who will pay for your college?” I said. Jack was speechless, his face turning red as a beet. “Mom, Dad can’t take the blame for me. After I hit that woman, I got out of the car to check on her. The woman suddenly grabbed my ankle. I screamed. The woman who was hit didn’t see me, but she must have heard my voice,” Keira explained. I sighed and put my hands on Keira’s shoulders. “Keira, don’t try to run away when you encounter problems. You need to bravely take responsibility. Go turn yourself in. You’re still young – spending a few years in jail isn’t a big deal. Besides, you still have Mom. When you get out of jail, you can come work at Mom’s company.” Keira’s mouth formed an O shape, unable to believe that the adoptive mother who once loved her like her own had changed so much.

“Rachel Johnson, have you gone mad? Telling our daughter to turn herself in? If you don’t take the blame for her, I’ll report you. I’ll say you were the one who hit and ran,” Jack shouted. “Dad, don’t hurt Mom. Besides, Mom would have been recorded by security cameras when she came home from work and entered the community,” Keira said. “The cameras broke down last night.” “What?” Keira put on a very surprised expression. “Rachel, aren’t parents supposed to sacrifice everything for their children? What’s wrong with sacrificing a bit? Can you really bear to see Keira go to jail?” Jack held my hand, trying to persuade me emotionally. “Oh no…” Keira suddenly cried out, looking at me with fear and guilt. “Mom… I think I dropped your key card at the accident scene. If the woman who was hit finds it, she’ll definitely think you were the one who hit her.” “It’s fate. It’s all fate. Rachel, given the circumstances, you should take the blame for our daughter,” Jack said. I smiled and said, “What if I refuse?” “Then don’t blame me. For our daughter’s sake, I’ll have to frame you,” Jack said with a smug expression. “Feel free to frame me however you like,” I said, turning to go to the study. “Rachel Johnson, you think I won’t dare?” He chased after me. I opened the study door. Inside sat six of my employees. Jack stopped in his tracks, shocked into stillness. Keira followed closely behind, also freezing in place. They never dreamed there would be my employees in the study. “Did you all hear that?” I asked my employees. “Ms. Johnson, we heard the entire conversation clearly. I even recorded it,” Chris said, waving his phone. Jack and Keira broke out in a cold sweat, terrified. “Keira, you’re an adult now. Adults should face the consequences of their mistakes. Will you turn yourself in, or should I call the police?” I asked sternly. “Mom… Mom… don’t call the police,” she said in panic, grabbing my hand and begging. “Why don’t we try to settle with the woman who was hit? We can pay her off.” “Alright,” I said with a smile. I wanted to see what other tricks they had up their sleeves.

Early the next morning, I went to a DNA testing center and got the paternity test results for Jack and Keira. As expected, Jack was Keira’s biological father. As I left the testing center, I received a call from the detective. At the agreed-upon cafe, the detective showed me the investigation report. Jack had an affair in our second year of marriage with a woman named Sharon Wilson who worked at a massage parlor. The following year she gave birth to a daughter who was never registered. After raising the child for 5 years, she suddenly sent her to an orphanage. That daughter was Keira. Over the years, Jack had transferred over $3 million to Sharon Wilson. This money had all been obtained by the father-daughter pair weaving various lies to trick me. For example, they claimed it was for elite tutoring classes, buying study notes, purchasing various learning materials, charitable donations, gifts for teachers, and so on. Sharon Wilson used this money to buy two houses and a car in her hometown. Recently, Sharon Wilson had fallen down the stairs in her hometown and broken her leg, landing her in the hospital. Then she came to the city where I lived. The three of them plotted the hit-and-run to frame me, then steal all my assets. In my previous life, they succeeded! “Sharon Wilson came here three days ago and is staying at a hotel. My colleague obtained a used paper cup of hers, then did a DNA test with the hair sample of Keira you gave me. It confirms Sharon Wilson is Keira’s biological mother. Here’s the DNA test report,” the detective said. “Additionally, we have collected the recording of them plotting the hit-and-run to frame you, video of them scouting locations, and evidence of all the money they’ve swindled from you over the years. With a direct lawsuit, we can ensure Jack loses everything in the divorce and force Sharon Wilson to return all ill-gotten gains.” “Thank you,” I said. The next morning, while I was at work, I received a call from Keira saying they had found the woman who was hit. She was in the hospital. I said I’d meet them at the hospital entrance at 2 PM. At 2 PM, I went with them to a private room in the inpatient department. Sharon Wilson’s left leg was wrapped in bandages and elevated. When she saw me, she wailed, “It hurts so much! My leg is broken. How will I live from now on?” “Your voice sounds pretty strong. You don’t look too bad,” I said mockingly. “Are you blind? Can’t you see my leg is broken?” she snapped. “It’s not like they amputated it. A broken leg will heal,” I said with a smile as I sat down. “Ms. Wilson, we’re so sorry. It’s our fault as parents for not raising our daughter well. We’ve caused you to become disabled,” Jack began his act, dramatically emphasizing the word “disabled.” “Auntie Sharon, it’s all my fault. Please tell me what you want. As long as you don’t call the police, we’ll do anything,” Keira pleaded tearfully. “My demands aren’t high. Give me $1 million and we’ll call it even,” Sharon Wilson said, opening her mouth wide. Jack and Keira both looked at me. “Fine!” I agreed readily. The three of them lit up, barely able to hide their joy. I called the company finance department and transferred $1 million to Sharon Wilson’s account. Soon Sharon Wilson’s phone received a bank deposit notification. “Well, you know what’s good for you. This matter ends here,” Sharon Wilson said smugly, looking at the $1 million deposit. “No, this matter isn’t over yet,” I said with a sly smile. The three of them were stunned. The money had been paid – how was it not over?

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I was diagnosed with cancer, and my son’s gold-digging girlfriend immediately took everything from my family. She had the audacity to claim it was all her “engagement fund” and told my son that even if I died in a ditch, I wasn’t worth a single penny of her money. Because of her, I missed the best time to seek treatment, and my condition worsened. With my life dwindling, I finally snapped and dragged her down with me in a fatal fall. But when I opened my eyes again, I was back to the first time I met her. And this time, I could hear her thoughts. It turned out she wasn’t the gold-digger after all. Content “Travis told me that Clara won’t even look at a bracelet worth less than five thousand dollars. But the one I bought was only eight hundred dollars, even though it took me a whole semester of work-study to save up for it. I already gave it to her days ago. I haven’t seen her wear it, so I guess she just thinks it’s cheap.” I blinked as Hazel’s hesitant voice drifted into my ears, cutting in and out. I opened my eyes to the familiar surroundings of my home and quickly realized I’d been reborn to the moment when my son, Travis, first introduced Hazel to me. In my last life, this so-called gold-digging princess had full control of his paychecks before they’d even married, demanding our family scrape together hundreds of thousands of dollars for her engagement fund because “that’s just how things were done in her family.” By the time I was diagnosed with cancer, we had nothing left to afford treatment. When I tried to talk with her about returning some of the “engagement fund” money to help cover my medical expenses, she refused and even told Travis, “All the family money belongs to me. Your mother’s old life isn’t worth saving, and even if she dies in the streets, she doesn’t deserve a single penny of my money.” Because she was so insistent on not helping, I missed the chance to treat my cancer early, and it progressed to a terminal stage. In the last of my days, as she came to “visit” me, I couldn’t hold back. I pulled her down with me in my final fall. But now, I was back here again, and in a haze, I could hear her voice saying something about a gold bracelet. What did she mean? I looked up, staring at the slightly anxious Hazel in front of me, and her thoughts echoed in my mind again. “Clara’s looking at me so seriously. Is she upset with me? I shouldn’t have listened to Travis about giving her the bracelet early instead of in person. I should’ve just asked my parents for more money to buy her a bigger one, then maybe she’d think I cared more about meeting her.” Her lips hadn’t moved at all—yet I kept hearing this voice. Was it her inner thoughts? When had she ever given me a gold bracelet? In my last life, from the moment we met, she made sure to show me who was in control. She demanded that fruit cost no less than $5 a pound, that our meals be on par with five-star dining, and even insisted on celebrity-endorsed slippers before she’d set foot in our home—and wanted a big cash gift upon leaving. She never paid a dime herself, and every gift she gave me came from the supermarket’s freebie bin. Still in shock, I noticed her glance over at Travis and excuse herself to the bathroom. The second she left, Travis grabbed my arm and whispered, “Mom, why are you just sitting there? Aren’t you going to give her a cash gift? Hazel doesn’t look happy.” “Besides, this fruit and food aren’t even what she asked for. Aren’t you just trying to give her a hard time?” I froze. He had said the same thing in my last life, and I’d thought Hazel was just too materialistic to be a good match for him. That impression only worsened my view of her. But if her thoughts earlier were genuine, it didn’t seem like she was trying to be that way at all.

I shot a few skeptical glances at Travis, beginning to question him too. Last time, he was so weak, all he could think about was his girlfriend. When I tried to press him to return the money, he’d stopped me every time, saying, “Don’t make things too tense—we’ll have to live together in the future.” He’d kept telling me he’d handle it himself. I waited for his solution, but it never came, and my illness only worsened. I couldn’t trust this ungrateful son again. My face darkened. “What do you mean by ‘giving her a hard time’? Just because I didn’t treat her like royalty, I’m ‘giving her a hard time’? I’ve prepared gifts and a cash envelope, yet she comes to me with a supermarket toothbrush. I guess she doesn’t think much of our family, either.” “Mark my words—even if you marry her, I’ll never accept it.” Travis looked shocked at my sudden outburst. He pulled me aside and whispered, “Mom, I already told you, Hazel doesn’t come from much and has had a hard life. We should be the ones spoiling her, not making her uncomfortable. Just try to get along with her, alright?” Just then, Hazel returned. She looked at our uneasy expressions, and her thoughts appeared again. “I was giving Travis the look to have him smooth things over with Clara. Why is she even more upset?” Watching her sit down uneasily, I grew more suspicious. Clearing my throat, I said, “Hazel, you’re still a student. I don’t need gifts from you. Just come by when you can—that’s enough for me.” Hazel’s face looked confused, but her thoughts filled in the blanks again: “What do you mean no gifts? Didn’t Travis give her the gold bracelet? Even if she doesn’t like it, it’s unfair to say I didn’t give her anything.” I glanced calmly at Travis and pulled a few toothbrushes from under the table, placing them on the coffee table. “Travis said you were so thoughtful you even brought me some freebie toothbrushes from the store.” Hazel’s face turned pale, and she immediately looked at Travis. “Since when did I give Clara toothbrushes? Where’s the gold bracelet? Didn’t you give it to her?”

Travis’s face went rigid, but he recovered quickly, grinning as he pulled the gold bracelet out of his bag. “I must’ve forgotten. Here, it’s more official if you give it to her yourself.” Hazel sighed in relief, immediately fastening the bracelet around my wrist while her thoughts continued, “Travis is so careless—how could he forget? Thank goodness Clara brought it up, or I would’ve looked terrible.” I frowned. Hazel was nothing like I remembered. Could it be that she really did try to give me the bracelet in the last life, but Travis never followed through? And because I didn’t feel it was appropriate to ask her about it directly, it turned into a misunderstanding? Why didn’t Travis ever give it to me? After securing the bracelet, Hazel lifted my hand and smiled brightly. “It looks so good on you, Clara. Really suits you.” I stared down at the bracelet, feeling a strange emotion. Because of our awful first meeting, we hardly saw each other after that, and I never knew she could be so sweet. Hazel glanced playfully at Travis. “When are you going to start paying attention to me? I bought that skincare set for Clara, and you said you’d give it to her. But not only did you forget—you used it yourself! You even forgot about something this important?” The skincare set—I remembered that clearly. A month ago, during a video call, I’d appeared on camera briefly with my usual cream in hand. Hazel noticed the brand and even chatted about it with me. The second the call ended, Travis told me she was upset, saying, “Hazel thinks at your age, you shouldn’t waste money on fancy brands. You should save it for your future grandkids and just stick to basic lotion.” I had been furious and told Travis she wasn’t suitable for him. But now, it seemed like I’d gotten things completely wrong. Travis gave me a sheepish glance and put his arm around Hazel, laughing, “I know, babe, I messed up. From now on, I’ll take care of everything you and Mom need.” My heart felt heavy. Had Hazel really been so innocent of everything I blamed her for? And if she hadn’t taken my family’s money, who had? I finished dinner, still plagued with questions. Travis dropped Hazel off at school, and I immediately scheduled a full exam at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. The doctor pointed at my scan and confirmed a small abnormality in my stomach. After a biopsy, it was confirmed to be an early stage of stomach cancer. Luckily, I’d caught it in time, and surgery could completely remove it. I left the hospital feeling relieved, grateful to have a second chance. When I returned home, Travis was slumped on the couch, head in his hands. The moment he saw me, he burst into tears. “Mom, Hazel says we need two hundred thousand for the engagement. What am I going to do?”

Travis wiped his tears. “Hazel says two hundred thousand is the bare minimum her family expects. If I can’t come up with it, she’ll leave me.” He grabbed my hand, eyes pleading. “Mom, I love her. I want to marry her. Please, help me. Once I make good money, I’ll take care of you—two hundred thousand is nothing compared to what I’ll give you back!” I looked at him coolly. “First, you’re going to explain that skincare set business with Hazel.” Travis’s eyes darted as he said, “I just thought you had enough already and wouldn’t need it right away. Besides, haven’t you always given me extra things? So, I figured I’d just use it myself.” “And when did you tell me she thought I should use cheaper products?” Travis rolled his eyes. “It’s just a little misunderstanding. Let it go, will you?” “Now back to Hazel. You bring her over for dinner again. If she passes my test, I’ll scrape together not just two hundred but three hundred thousand dollars for you.” Travis’s eyes lit up, but he looked at me cautiously. “Just don’t mention the money to her, okay? She’s already upset. I don’t want her calling things off.” I raised an eyebrow. “More likely, you don’t want me asking her questions.” The very next day, Travis brought Hazel over again. But this time, she seemed distracted, barely acknowledging my welcome.

While I was still trying to make sense of it all, I heard Hazel’s inner voice: “Travis said his mom’s always been a bit demanding, but I didn’t expect her to insist on a $200,000 dowry, even claiming I couldn’t marry into the family without it. Where am I supposed to get that kind of money? This feels more like a business transaction than a marriage! I thought Clara was always nice when we met, but behind my back, she’s doing things that make her look pretty low.” My heart sank. I had never mentioned a dowry—clearly, this was something Travis came up with on his own. Two hundred thousand from me, two hundred thousand from Hazel…what exactly was he trying to do? Thinking back to the conflicting stories Travis and Hazel had spun, my mind flashed with a realization. Could it be that, in my previous life, Hazel had never held on to that dowry at all? Was it my own son who had hoarded every penny? No wonder he had been so afraid of me confronting Hazel. I fought to keep my emotions in check and called Hazel over to sit with me, sending Travis to the kitchen to fetch the food. Once he was out of earshot, I pulled out my phone and, right in front of Hazel, transferred ten thousand dollars to Travis with a message: “Son, use this to buy Hazel a new outfit. A girl as lovely as Hazel should never have to hold back on dressing her best.” Hazel’s expression turned skeptical, like she thought I was just putting on a show. I didn’t bother explaining, pretending instead to head to the bathroom. When I came back, I noticed Hazel’s expression had changed; she was staring at Travis with a mix of confusion and suspicion. Her thoughts echoed, “Why did Travis say Clara hates my wardrobe and wants me to dress better? Clara didn’t say that. She even gave him ten thousand dollars to buy me something. What’s his game?” I interrupted her thoughts, saying, “Hazel, I asked you here today because I want to talk about the dowry.” Hazel looked stunned and locked eyes with me, finally beginning to understand something wasn’t right.

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My fiancé fell for the girl who saved his life—a mute—and now he wants to call off our engagement. I offered him some advice: “The Holt family isn’t easy to get into; she might want to think it over.” The girl took offense and poisoned herself. Ten years later, after taking over the Holt Group, Nick’s first order of business was to ruin my family and come for my life. “This is what you owe Ella.” I open my eyes again and find myself back at my 23rd birthday party. Mr. Theodore Holt asks what my birthday wish is. “If Nick Jr. and Ella truly love each other, then let’s make them the perfect match.” Content I died on one of the coldest winter nights. I thought I could hold on until spring, but Nick didn’t want to wait. With no anesthesia, he sliced open my chest, his scalpel cutting in bit by bit, and my blood poured out like a fountain. It still didn’t satisfy him. Raising his arm, he drove the cold blade right into my heart. The pain nearly made me pass out. I struggled to ask, “Why?” I really couldn’t understand. Nick and I were childhood friends, our families inseparable. My father had supported the Holt Group all these years, helping Nick rise to the top. Even after he took over the company, we never took advantage of our connection. And yet he manipulated the market, spread scandals, and drove my family, the Jensens, to ruin. “Why, Nick?” I gasped, gripping his tie with all my strength. Nick stared into my eyes, as if I’d somehow betrayed him, even though he was the one killing me. “This is what you owe Ella,” he said, his cold voice more frigid than the wind outside. Ella? Ella Snow? The name stirred an old memory, and slowly, her fragile, tear-streaked face came to mind. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. It had been ten years. So Nick had never forgotten her. He actually blamed her death on me, on the entire Jensen family. “Nick, you really are a—” Idiot! I didn’t get to finish. He yanked out the scalpel, and scarlet blood sprayed, clouding my vision. The pain was unbearable.

“Miss, is your headache acting up again?” There was no icy basement, no howling wind. Instead, the room was warm, the sounds of laughter and music filling the air. Neon lights flickered outside, with cars streaming down the streets below. I was standing on the balcony of the Lexington Grand Hotel, looking out over the city that never sleeps. It was my 23rd birthday party. I’d come back to life. Not only was I alive and well, but I was five years in the past. This was the year the Jensen Group completed a major international merger and went public. And this was the year I hadn’t yet become Nick’s wife. “Oh, what a headache.” Behind me, I heard a bitter whisper. “Nick Jr. has been on every major media channel for three days straight, declaring that he wants to cancel his engagement with the Jensen family.” I stopped Rachel, my assistant, from responding. This was more than just canceling an engagement. This was the year Nick had been in a car accident while visiting a rural project, and a local girl had saved him after he fell off a cliff. The girl was delicate and beautiful, and in her desperation to help him, she’d eaten an herb that damaged her voice. Nick had been so moved that he’d brought her back to the Holt Mansion. For three days, he’d been making public statements. He was going to marry her—only her. He was determined to make her the future Mrs. Holt, wife of the Holt Group’s CEO. “Miss, don’t believe all that nonsense. You and Nick Jr. have known each other since childhood. All these years of friendship…” I shook my head, gently refusing Rachel’s comfort. I knew exactly what she was going to say. Three days ago, I’d woken up at the Jensen Estate. Three days was all I needed to piece together everything, both past and present. “Miss,” Rachel said softly, looking excited, “Nick Jr. just arrived.”

I turned and saw Nick approaching, wearing a crisp suit and surrounded by a crowd. The whispers around us went silent in an instant. Nick and I had grown up together. Our engagement had been arranged early on by our families to cement our business alliance. Anytime someone spoke ill of me, he was the first to stand up for me. Anytime he got into trouble at home, I’d be the first to help smooth things over for him. Until now, everyone had assumed I was Nick’s only love—the future Mrs. Holt, without question. Yet here, at my 23rd birthday party, he brought another woman with him. Ella Snow was draped in a fancy dress and perfectly made up, though it looked like she was wearing someone else’s skin. She clung to Nick’s arm, practically hiding behind him for protection. Nick leaned down and whispered something to her, his eyes filled with affection. Ella looked at me, her expression quickly shifting to one of uneasy fear. She stepped forward. With a soft thud, she dropped to her knees in front of me.

How familiar this scene was. Even the tear at the corner of her eye, ready to fall, was the same. In my previous life, her frail, helpless look had deceived me. I’d actually been willing to help her and Nick figure things out. As a Jensen heiress, I certainly didn’t need Nick. Yes, her presence had stung, but it hadn’t made me lose my composure. When Nick wanted to break off our engagement, I didn’t cause a scene. Out of respect for our history, I sincerely offered him a few words of advice: “Miss Snow is new in Lexington and has lost her voice, even though she saved you. But as for making her the next Mrs. Holt? Even if you convinced every board member, I don’t think Mr. Holt would approve. It’d just make things harder for her.” “Nick, maybe you should take a step back. Why not let her start as an intern at the company, and then, down the road…” My words had a double meaning: “After all, can’t you do whatever you want in the future?” That little suggestion saved her from immediate trouble but landed me in endless torment.

Slap! Slap! Slap! In my previous life, the moment Ella knelt, I rushed to help her. This time, I just watched as she gave herself three loud, sharp slaps. Rachel tugged at my sleeve. The room was filled with guests, and many had already pulled out their phones, aiming them in our direction. Rachel wanted to intervene, but I held her back. What was the rush? “Ella!” Nick’s expression was starting to sour. Within seconds, Ella’s cheeks had reddened and swollen. Tears brimmed in her eyes, adding to her pitiful look. She looked from Nick to me, bit her lip, and kept hitting herself. I took a calm sip of champagne. I was curious—how far would she take this performance?

Yes, it was all an act. Her muteness was an act, her delicate “damsel” persona was an act, and even her “suicide” in my past life was an act. Outside a secluded club lounge, I’d overheard her distinct, delicate voice pleading with a doctor: “Doctor, I’m just a poor girl with nowhere to go. If I don’t play the sympathy card, how could I ever get through the Holts’ front door?” “Please give me some medication that’ll put me in a brief state of shock!” “Doctor, I really love Nick Jr. With my background, being his lover is already reaching too high, but since he’s promised to marry me, I need to make sure he feels guilty for me forever.” “Please, just help me! If I fake my death once, he’ll always remember he owes me.” What a scheme. She’d fooled Nick, she’d fooled me, and she’d fooled every high-society figure in Lexington. I’d once asked Nick why he was so taken with Ella. “I was born a Holt heir. Everyone treats me with respect, but only because of my title. Even you, Mila—if I weren’t the Holt heir, would you have cared about me?” At the time, I didn’t know how to answer. If he hadn’t been the Holt heir, there wouldn’t have been any engagement, no shared childhood, no question of love. “Only Ella was willing to give her life for me without knowing my identity. How could I not be moved by such pure love?” He almost had me convinced. As a high-society heiress, I’d always been cautious and thoughtful. I had to consider my parents, my family—I wouldn’t just give my life for someone. We’d all overlooked another possibility. Even if Nick had been unconscious after the car crash, his tailored suit and Patek Philippe watch would’ve made it clear he came from wealth. Whether he was the rich son of an elite family, a business mogul, or a group heir, Ella had known from the start. She’d planned to climb the social ladder from day one.

“Enough!” Nick’s sharp voice cut through the crowd. The room went silent. Ella flinched, slowly raising her head, her eyes wide and pleading as she looked at me. Her message was unmistakable: she’d broken off my engagement and turned me into the town’s laughingstock, and she felt deeply remorseful about it. If I didn’t step in, she wouldn’t stop. Perfect. I lifted an eyebrow and took a leisurely sip of my champagne. Ella clenched her teeth, bowing her head as if she was about to slap herself again. Then, with a loud smack, Nick strode over and slapped the champagne glass from my hand. “Camilla Jensen, you’ve gone too far!”

“Camilla, do you even know what decency is anymore?” Nick’s cold eyes narrowed, his voice simmering with anger. He turned and helped Ella up, gently brushing his hand over her swollen cheek. “Camilla, apologize,” he commanded. “Do it now in front of everyone, and we’ll call it even. I won’t hold it against you.” I almost burst out laughing. How naïve I’d been back then. After uncovering Ella’s scheme, I’d messaged Nick to tell him everything I’d overheard. I even asked him to keep an eye on her. The next day, Ella took her own life by poisoning—not a staged attempt but the real thing. The media had a field day, speculating she’d ended her life over the relentless public pressure. Nick left me a voice message after it happened: “Thanks for the heads-up, Ms. Jensen. Those who betray me will always be punished.” And that was it. For years, I’d thought he confronted her, forcing her to take real poison. I thought he was the same unforgiving Nick I’d always known. I never realized, not until the end, that when he said, “those who betray me,” he was talking about me. Camilla Jensen, did you hear me?” “Ella didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who insisted on marrying her. It’s me, Nick Holt, who’s calling off our engagement.” I stared at him, and a bitter smile tugged at my lips. I’d really been blind. I’d actually thought he was a clear-headed business genius. “Rachel,” I turned to my assistant, “aren’t all the heads of the Big Four here on the top floor?” Rachel blinked, stunned, then nodded. Gathering up my gown, I made my way to the elevator. Nick followed me. “What are you trying to do?” “The old man made a private visit tonight,” he said, clearly nervous. “He didn’t make a big announcement about being here.” I knew that already. After all, a birthday party for a “rising star” in business like myself wouldn’t usually draw the heads of the four most powerful families in the city.

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After losing passion with my husband, I asked my best friend to take me to relax, who knew that she had taken me to a different club, and experienced a night that I will never forget in my life …… Yesterday, I had a fierce argument with my husband Kevin over his ambiguous relationship with a female colleague. Kevin is an executive at an international trading company. Young, successful, and handsome, he’s often surrounded by women with ulterior motives. We’ve argued countless times about this. Yesterday, I decided to surprise him by bringing lunch to his office. To my dismay, I walked in on a voluptuous woman in a low-cut top, leaning over his shoulder under the pretense of delivering documents. My temper flared, and we ended up in a heated argument. That night, Kevin didn’t come home. He always uses this tactic when we fight. Trembling with anger and feeling lost, I impulsively decided to visit my best friend Rachel. Little did I know that this spontaneous decision would alter the course of my life. Rachel and I are close enough to know each other’s door codes. I called her first, but there was no answer. Assuming she was asleep, I decided to go over unannounced. At her place, I used the code to let myself in. As I reached the living room, I heard passionate moans coming from her bedroom. Confused, I wondered, “Isn’t her husband on a year-long business trip?” Then a shocking thought crossed my mind – Rachel was cheating! Driven by curiosity, I crept to her bedroom door. Through the crack, I saw two entwined bodies. The man’s body was young and muscular, his strong arms gripping Rachel’s slender waist. Her pale skin contrasted with his chocolate-colored body as they moved together rhythmically. Rachel was indeed cheating! And with a younger man! I had only dared to fantasize about such things in my loneliest moments. But beyond my embarrassment, I realized I felt… envious. In all my years of marriage, I had never experienced such passion. Our intimate moments were always rushed and perfunctory. Deep down, I longed for a young, vigorous man to satisfy me thoroughly… As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, I heard the bathroom door open behind me. A startled voice called out, “Who’s there?” Snapped back to reality, I realized the sounds from the bedroom had stopped abruptly. Rachel and her companion were now staring at me. … “I… I didn’t mean to… I called but you didn’t answer, so I…” I stammered, trying to explain to Rachel. To my surprise, she waved it off nonchalantly, dismissed the two young men in her room, and casually pulled me to the couch to chat as if nothing had happened. “Another fight with Kevin?” she asked, seeming unsurprised. Seeing that she didn’t seem to mind what I’d witnessed, I let out a sigh of relief and poured out all my frustrations. To my shock, after listening, she rolled her eyes at me. “If he’s out there fooling around, why don’t you do the same?” she said bluntly. Then, to my amazement, she started telling me about the two young men I’d just seen. She said they were personal trainers. I’d heard of that profession before, but I knew it was often a cover for more illicit services. At first, I refused. But Rachel, undeterred, pulled out her phone and showed me a video she’d taken. In the video, she was lying on a hotel bed. At her feet were several shirtless, muscular men kissing her feet… As Rachel’s moans grew louder in the video, I lowered my head in embarrassment. … I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued. But as an educated adult, I found it hard to justify something that went against my moral principles. “I can’t… I’m married. If Kevin found out…” “You’re so considerate of Kevin, but has he ever considered you?” Rachel interrupted impatiently, then grabbed my hand. “Emily, I can’t stand seeing you so uptight. You’re coming out with me right now!” That night, I reluctantly put on the clothes Rachel had prepared for me, and she took me to a private club in the city center… Rachel gave her name at the front desk, and we were led to a private room. The lighting was soft and intimate, and the decor was luxurious, reminiscent of a five-star hotel suite. In the dim light from the large TV screen, I saw several sofa beds and three scantily clad men. As soon as they saw us, they approached with welcoming smiles, taking our bags. “Hello, ladies,” they greeted us. They all had incredibly fit bodies, clearly the result of rigorous training, and handsome faces too. They were obviously carefully selected for this job. They wore only tight shorts, showing off their strong shoulders and toned abs. Looking at their impressive physiques and the subtle contours beneath their shorts, I couldn’t help but blush. Youth certainly has its advantages. Rachel had been quietly observing my reactions. Seeing my shy demeanor, she smiled with satisfaction. “Come on, don’t just stand there. Why don’t you help this lady relax?” she said, pushing me into the arms of one of the young men, giving me a conspiratorial wink. “Don’t be so uptight. You’re here now, so just enjoy yourself. Stop worrying about that unfaithful man of yours. You might as well have some fun too!” “What about you, Rachel?” asked a dark-haired young man as he stepped forward with a grin. His skin was deeply tanned, and I immediately recognized him as the man from Rachel’s house earlier. Rachel had mentioned his name was Jason. Jason put his arm around Rachel’s neck and asked, “The usual?” “Of course,” Rachel replied, wrapping her arms around his neck, her eyes smoldering. “We weren’t quite finished earlier. Let’s continue.” With that, they began kissing passionately, seemingly oblivious to our presence. Rachel boldly pushed Jason onto the sofa behind them and started to remove her clothes, swaying her hips seductively. She was so daring. The young man was visibly aroused, his eyes reddening with desire. He pulled Rachel down and climbed on top of her. Completely uninhibited, they began their passionate encounter right in front of us. The previously quiet room was soon filled with suggestive sounds. In the throes of passion, Rachel’s pale feet were stretched taut, and she couldn’t suppress her moans of pleasure. I could feel the man holding me begin to breathe more heavily, his body responding to the scene before us. “Does having an audience excite you, babe?” Jason asked teasingly. “You’re one to talk… I’ve never seen you this enthusiastic before…” Rachel replied breathlessly. Although I was married, our intimate life had always been conventional. Witnessing such an erotic scene and hearing the intense sounds of their lovemaking left me breathless. This was a bit too much… Rachel, her eyes hazy and cheeks flushed, noticed my reaction. Between stifled moans, she turned to me and said, “Sweetie, see? There’s nothing to be afraid of. Kevin wronged you first, so why shouldn’t you do the same?” She then wrapped her legs tightly around Jason’s waist. “Honey, let’s go to the inner room. I want to use some toys,” she purred. “Whatever you want, babe,” Jason replied, picking her up. He exchanged a knowing look with the man holding me, and the three of them disappeared into an adjoining room. Soon after the door closed, we could hear Rachel’s excited cries. Hearing their activities, the man holding me, whose name was Mark, finally spoke up. “Would you like to relax here first? Or should we go straight to a private room?” he asked, his hands naturally falling to my hips, his body heat making me shiver. “I… I don’t know,” I replied nervously, lowering my head to avoid his gaze. Mark chuckled softly at my response. “You’re so gentle. It must be your first time here, so you’re probably feeling shy. How about we just go to a private room?” The implication in his words was clear even to the most naive person. I felt my face flush again. But this time, I didn’t refuse. “Okay,” I whispered. The private room was set up for intimacy. A warm yellow light illuminated a large circular bed draped with gauzy curtains. Opposite the bed was a full-length mirror. You could clearly see yourself on the bed… Several pieces of lacy lingerie were laid out on the bed. This kind of sensual setup was something Kevin had never provided for me. Imagining what was about to happen, my heart started racing. Noticing my reaction, Mark smiled and pulled me into his arms. “Your heart is beating so fast. Don’t be nervous. Just think of me as your young boyfriend,” he said soothingly. Seeing his initiative, and considering we were already in the room, I tried to convince myself to go along with it. I turned and buried myself in his embrace. His body really was impressive. It reminded me of my first love from my youth, when we first became intimate. The firm feel of his muscles sent waves of excitement through me. It had been so long since I’d been this close to such a young, testosterone-filled body… “So you like pecs, huh?” Mark whispered, kissing my ear lightly. “But my abs are pretty good too. Want to feel them? Or… maybe you’d like to touch somewhere else?” His words grew more suggestive, his breath on my ear increasingly hot, his large hands beginning to roam over my body. I was starting to lose control. But a small part of my mind still clung to reason. “But… I’m married. Isn’t this wrong?” I asked, my mind still conflicted. Even though we had progressed this far, when I closed my eyes, I could still see Kevin’s cold, disdainful face. This thought prevented me from fully giving in, even though Mark and I were nearly naked. I felt so confused. “Does your husband treat you well?” Mark suddenly asked, his hand sliding to a sensitive area. Feeling the tremors he was causing, I couldn’t help but recall Kevin’s indifference towards me. “I… I don’t know,” I replied hesitantly. “I think you’re just making excuses for him. If he treated you well enough, you wouldn’t be here, would you?” Mark said softly. His words hit me hard, seeming to release all my pent-up tension and guilt. I began to cry quietly. “How about I give you a massage? You’re so tense,” Mark offered. “Okay,” I agreed. At this point, I had started to let go of my inner conflict and accept this somewhat absurd situation. I allowed him to remove the last of my clothing and begin massaging my entire body. Although he called it a massage, his hands never stayed in appropriate places, constantly teasing and arousing me. Just as I closed my eyes, ready to fully enjoy the experience, we suddenly heard Jason’s voice from next door. “Babe, can you wear this?” “I want to try the largest size.” His words were followed by Rachel’s passionate cries. I was surprised they were using such intense toys… But then again, Rachel had studied abroad for years, and her ex was a blonde, blue-eyed foreigner. It made sense that she’d be more open-minded… The two rooms were very close, separated only by a thin wall. Rachel’s increasingly loud cries filled my ears. Combined with Mark’s hands roaming my body, I soon found myself responding… I could no longer suppress my inner desires. I threw myself at Mark, and we became entangled. Soon, I too was lost in passion, just like Rachel. He was truly experienced, knowing more positions than even I, a mature woman, could imagine. After all, I had been somewhat of a campus beauty in college. At first, I was able to maintain some control, matching his movements. But when he opened a nearby drawer and I saw the blindfolds and other toys prepared in advance, I lost all reason. Those things were downright kinky. I tried to shy away, stimulated by the sight, but Mark’s testosterone-filled body pressed me down firmly. “Don’t think about anything, just enjoy,” he whispered. And so, in the end, I blacked out from pleasure. In my hazy state, I only felt Mark lifting me up and walking towards the door. I didn’t know what he was planning. My mind was blank until I felt a cold sensation on my back, slowly bringing me back to awareness. He had carried me out of the room. I was now lying on a table, directly in front of the window of the private room. Mark hadn’t separated from me. Noticing my movement, he smiled slightly. “Exciting, isn’t it?” he asked. “Mmm…” I buried my face in his chest, greedily inhaling his scent. “Ah… if only my husband paid half as much attention to me as you do, I’d be content,” I sighed. At this point, I had completely let go of my reservations, boldly expressing my emptiness to him. This statement seemed to stimulate Mark. His arms tightened around me, and he became even more passionate. Just as I was about to reach another peak, I suddenly heard several gasps nearby. I turned my head to look. Rachel and Jason had also come out, and in other corners of the room, several other couples were entwined. Their cries of pleasure soon drowned out ours. My gaze was fixed on Rachel. Under the efforts of two young men, she had completely lost her senses, her movements and sounds growing increasingly frantic. Compared to Mark, Jason’s skills were clearly superior. Seeing her eyes glazed over and her face flushed, I suddenly imagined myself in a similar situation with Jason. I was certain he was interested in me too. When we first arrived, his gaze had lingered on me, like a predator eyeing its prey. Although I appeared reserved, I secretly craved some contrast. But Kevin could never satisfy me in this way. However, I quickly banished these wild thoughts from my mind. I really couldn’t sink any lower… But Mark beneath me had already been captivated by Rachel’s seductive display. He stopped moving and deliberately held me, waiting for quite some time. It wasn’t until Rachel and Jason had finished that he carried me over to them and said, “Shall we try something new?” “Sure, what did you have in mind?” Jason rolled over and got up, his gaze falling on my half-conscious form. Finally, the two exchanged a knowing look. Seeing Jason’s predatory gaze, I suddenly sobered up, feeling weak in the knees. I understood what they were suggesting. But we had just… I looked pleadingly at Rachel for help, but to my surprise, she didn’t object at all. In fact, she seemed excited, urging the two men to get started. I didn’t want to spoil their fun. After Rachel’s persistent coaxing, I gave in and went along with them…

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Three years after breaking up with my ex-girlfriend, she dragged me to court. She wanted me to pay back everything she spent during our relationship. It wasn’t about the money—her husband was just bored and thought it’d be amusing. She knew I was in poor health. She knew I struggled with depression after losing my parents in a car accident and relied on medication to sleep. She knew I’d attempted suicide once and ended up in the hospital, even receiving a critical condition notice. And yet, she did it anyway. In court, I looked at her face—familiar yet distant. I’d known her for seven years. We dated for five. Later, she went to study in the U.S. Through the hardest times, I never thought about giving up on us. Los Angeles was so far, but I flew back and forth a dozen times. The court ruled that I had to repay $15,023. The extra $23? It came from the time I wanted to buy candied fruit on the streets of Chinatown in Los Angeles. It cost $3 per stick. I couldn’t bring myself to spend the money, but she smiled and bought it for me. Now that small, sweet gesture had turned into a blade at my throat. What she didn’t know was that the $15,000 in my bank account was everything I had—money meant for my next cancer treatment. Content

After the court ruling, I ran into Valerie Morgan in the hallway. It had been years since I’d last seen her. She’d changed so much. The struggling student I’d known, working odd jobs in a cramped apartment while trying to launch her career, was now a CEO in the renewable energy sector. She stood there in a cream sweater, her gaze cold and distant as it landed on me. Instinctively, I froze, thinking I could just avoid her and walk past. But then she spoke, her words slow and deliberate: “Do you regret it now?” I hesitated, startled. “What?” I replied. A mocking smile tugged at her lips. “Leaving me for money. You must regret it now, don’t you?” The chill of the late autumn breeze crept into my bones. I clenched my fingers against the cold but still felt its sting. After a moment, I took a deep breath and offered her a perfect, practiced smile. “Miss Morgan, the money’s been repaid, and we’re done. Saying things like that—aren’t you afraid your husband might misunderstand?” I turned my head to find Brian Chambers standing there, his face dark with anger. He quickly masked it with a smile, smoothing over the last traces of venom. Brian strolled over, casually draping an arm around Valerie’s shoulders. “Babe, how should we spend that $15,000? Clothes? Shoes? Or maybe that model I had my eye on last week?” He gave me a pointed look, smirking. “Doesn’t seem like enough, though, does it? You should’ve been more generous with your ex, Valerie. That’s barely enough for a new pair of shoes.” Valerie leaned into him, laughing softly. “It’s fine, honey. Think of it as pocket money. If you need more, I’ll cover it.” Brian’s grin widened as he kissed her cheek. “Babe, you’re the best.” Then he turned back to me, all false cheer. “Ethan, I’m really sorry about this. We don’t actually need the money. Valerie and I just had a little bet, and she wanted to cheer me up, so…” He reached out, gripping my hand with a smug, almost gloating look in his eyes. “Thanks for making me so happy—and for showing me just how much my wife loves me.” My chest tightened, a dull ache spreading through me like needles under my skin. I watched them walk away, hand in hand. Valerie would never know. The money she’d used to buy Brian his new shoes was meant to save my life.

I dragged my battered body home. The tiny trailer at the edge of Rustwood, West Virginia, shook with every gust of wind, the sharp clash of metal sheets robbing me of sleep on stormy nights. Summers were worse—an oven with no air conditioning, where I’d collapsed from heatstroke more than once because I couldn’t afford the electricity bill. I never thought Valerie would find me again. But I never imagined our next meeting would be in court. I stared at the newspaper clippings on my wall, then began tearing them down one by one. Each article bore her picture: Valerie Morgan, the rising star of the renewable energy industry; Valerie Morgan, one of New York City’s Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs; Valerie Morgan, radiant at her lavish wedding to Brian Chambers. I swallowed hard, stuffing the crumpled pages into a box beneath my bed. At the bottom of the box was a photo of us—a younger, softer Valerie leaning against me, her shy, radiant smile brimming with hope. The woman in court had been a stranger. Cold. Unforgiving. She was a CEO now, a philanthropist, a beloved wife. Everything but my girlfriend. I laughed bitterly, shoving the photo into the box with the clippings. Then I picked up my phone and called the bar manager. “Put me on the night shift,” I said. At night, the bar drew wealthy women looking for entertainment. Their desires could be twisted, their wallets deep. It was degrading, but it paid well. And I needed the money. I needed to live. What I didn’t expect was to see Valerie there. She stood at the center of a crowd, the spotlight catching her elegant figure. My fingers clenched as my face burned. She saw me too. Her expression flickered—shock, disbelief—and then settled into mockery. “So, this is where you work now.” Sweat pooled in my palms, but I forced myself to stay composed. “Your drink, ma’am,” I said calmly. Her gaze was scornful, like she was watching a rat crawl out of the gutter. “Figures. Women who come here can set you up for life. Fits your style.” I took another deep breath. “Your drink, ma’am,” I repeated. She arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “How long have you been here? Don’t you know how to serve properly?” She pulled a checkbook from her purse, scribbled something, and dropped it at my feet. “Serve my friends well, and this is yours.” Pain shot through my knee as I bent down to pick it up. When I saw the amount—$15,023—my chest constricted, air squeezing from my lungs. It was the exact sum I’d paid her in court. She was using it to humiliate me. I straightened slowly, meeting her gaze. After a long silence, I spoke: “This is payment for my services, Miss Morgan. I assume… I won’t need to repay it?”

The doctor had told me I shouldn’t drink alcohol. But I had no choice—I needed the money. For years, just staying alive had cost me my dignity. I would do anything. What were a few bottles of alcohol compared to that? That night, Valerie’s friends came to the bar. Of course, they all knew our story. Three years ago, when Valerie was desperate, struggling to secure funding, on the verge of being driven to suicide by the banks, I left her. She’d searched for me like a madwoman, even getting into a car accident that landed her in the hospital. She begged me not to leave her, but I didn’t look back. These women hated me for it. They wanted to take revenge on my behalf. They didn’t hold back. I was so drunk I collapsed onto the table, nothing more than a puddle of humiliation. When I reached for another bottle, Valerie grabbed my wrist, fury etched into her features. “Will you really stoop this low for money?” I raised my head, dazed, and held out my hand like a beggar. “Valerie… the money. You said… if I drank, if I took care of your friends, you’d pay me. You said you wouldn’t take it back…” Her gaze softened for a fleeting moment, her eyes trailing to my wrist. Her fingers brushed the scars there. The reminders of my depression, the countless times I’d tried to end it all after my parents’ fatal car accident. It was Valerie who had pulled me back from the brink, holding me close, pleading: “Ethan, you still have me. Live, even if it’s just for me. Please.” Now, though, her touch withdrew like I was filth. She scoffed bitterly, her voice dripping with venom. “I did promise. But tell me—look at my friends. Have you satisfied them?” The room erupted into cruel laughter. Their eyes bore down on me as if I were a circus act, a clown there for their entertainment. I chuckled despite the stabbing pain in my stomach, forcing a smile as I said, “Then I’ll try again. I’ll keep going until you’re happy.” When I reached for the bottle again, Valerie snapped. Her foot shot out, flipping the table. The crash of shattering glass filled the room. I fell hard, shards of broken bottles slicing into my palms. Seconds later, Marcus burst into the room, rushing to my side. “Ethan! Are you okay?” he cried, pulling me into his arms. He turned on Valerie, his voice trembling with rage. “Valerie Morgan, are you even human? After everything Ethan’s done for you, you force him to drink like this?” He paused, his voice breaking. “He has stomach cancer. Do you know this could kill him?!”

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My boyfriend has a buddy who he treats like a sister, and they’re practically inseparable. On the day we were supposed to get engaged for the ninth time, he ditched me at the venue. Why? Because it was their 20th “friendship anniversary.” “It’s just a delayed engagement. No need to rush. Are you really worried that no one will marry you?” Her latest Instagram Story popped up, and it felt like a thorn in my eye. “Twenty years of friendship. How could someone like you ever compare?” They hugged, looking way too cozy for “just friends.” I didn’t cry or create a scene. Instead, I calmly liked the post. Then, without a word, I vanished from his life. Six months later, he called, trying to win me back: “I got you that wedding dress you wanted. Come back, and let’s get married!” But it wasn’t my voice that answered—it was a man’s. “My wife’s pregnant. What do you want with her?” Content The day our engagement fell apart, I tossed the ring into a trash can. A cab driver waved me over and asked, “Where to?” “Just drive,” I replied. “Anywhere but back.” When Carter Delaney’s calls started coming in, I turned my phone off. It stayed off for three days. The night breeze by Santa Monica Pier felt calming, lifting the hem of my red dress. It reminded me of the first time Carter told me he loved me. He had been so young and awkward, his feelings written all over his face, impossible to hide. I had fallen hard for 20-year-old Carter. I even left my hometown of Austin, Texas, and moved to the unfamiliar Midwest for him. I quit a job I loved to become his secretary, a role I held for nine years. Fate sure has a twisted sense of humor. We got engaged nine times. And each time, she got in the way. Her name is Brielle Stokes. We fought about her more times than I can count. “I’ve told you, Brielle and I are just friends. Why are you so insecure?” “We’ve shared everything since we were kids—even baths. Do you really think it’s anything more?” “Skylar Quinn, you’re acting like a jealous maniac! Brielle’s already forgiven you for stalking us. What else do you want?” Carter’s expression darkened during those arguments. After each fight, I’d pick up my feelings, wipe my tears, and apologize. I was terrified of losing him, so I always gave in first. But this time, I felt nothing. No anger, no sadness—just a calm desire to stay by the ocean, doing nothing and feeling at peace. Carter found me without much trouble. I forgot that the hotel I booked was one of his. He burst into my room without warning. “Skylar Quinn, running away is such a childish move.” “It was Brielle and I’s 20th anniversary as friends. We were just celebrating! Can’t I have friends besides you?” Friends. Right. Friends who kiss? I kept that thought to myself. I knew he’d dismiss it as “just a game.” Not like it would be the first time. “Brielle and I have nothing going on. Stop sulking, okay?” His furrowed brows softened as he looked at me, almost concerned. “I’ll make it up to you with a bigger wedding. Brielle can even be your maid of honor. Will that make you happy?” His voice had a soothing tone. I remained silent, making his brows knit together again. “Skylar, if you don’t—” “Fine,” I interrupted. The old me would’ve argued until I caved and apologized. But now? I just smiled faintly. My unexpected compliance caught him off guard, but he quickly masked it with a relieved smile. He reached for my hand. “Let’s go home.” I pulled my hand away coldly and walked ahead of him. Carter paused, stunned for a moment. No fight? He didn’t know how to deal with that. When I reached his car, Brielle was already waiting. “There you are, Skylar! Carter’s been freaking out trying to find you!” She pouted, playfully scolding him. “I told you we should’ve brought her to the anniversary, but nooo. Look what happened—she’s jealous again!” “Skylar, I’m really sorry for him. Don’t be mad, okay? If you are, I’ll hit him for you!” She pretended to punch Carter’s chest but ended up in his arms. “Still the charmer, huh?” Carter smirked at her. “Ugh, stop holding me like that!” Brielle blushed and squirmed, glancing at me. “Skylar’s watching. Are you trying to scare her off again?” 2 I ignored them and quietly took the backseat without looking up. I’d fought so many times over the front passenger seat. If Brielle was around, it was always hers. “She gets carsick unless she’s next to me,” Carter explained. I seethed, baffled. He thought I was being petty. This time, I said nothing, and Carter looked a bit surprised. As the car started, Brielle turned to me. “Skylar, you’ve lost so much weight in just two days. Let me take you to dinner to apologize for Carter?” “Next time, I promise you’ll be invited to our hangouts!” “No need,” I replied sharply. “Just take me home.” Carter ignored me and drove to a restaurant instead. “You look like you haven’t eaten properly. Stop being stubborn.” The car stopped in a busy area filled with restaurants. Brielle tugged at his arm and said, “Carter, I want a Matcha Latte!” “You’re about to start your period. No iced drinks.” They acted like a couple. He knew her body better than he ever knew mine. At the restaurant, the server brought us lemon water. Brielle grabbed Carter’s glass, sipping it. “Yours is so sour!” she giggled, scrunching her nose. Carter smiled fondly, pinching her cheek. “You’ve got to stop stealing my stuff.” Then Brielle turned to me. “Skylar, you’re not mad, right? We’ve always shared everything since we were kids.” Carter froze, realizing how inappropriate that sounded. “Doesn’t bother me,” I replied. “You’ve shared everything since you were kids, right? Makes sense.” Carter exhaled in relief, even smiling faintly as if impressed by my “maturity.” For the first time, I didn’t care if they flirted. When Carter peeled a shrimp for me, Brielle snatched it before it reached my plate. “How sweet! You remembered I love shrimp!” she teased, placing it on her plate. Carter shook his head, amused. “Slow down. No one’s taking it from you.” Then Brielle slid the shrimp to my plate. “Here, Skylar. Have some. If it’s not enough, I’ll make Carter peel more for me.” “I don’t like shrimp,” I replied coolly, leaving it untouched. Carter’s brows furrowed. He must’ve been confused—shrimp was my favorite. But I don’t eat food that’s been taken from someone else’s plate. Brielle was allergic to seafood. She took it just to get Carter’s attention. Her face broke out in hives on the way back. Carter dropped me off on the roadside, insisting, “Brielle needs to go to the hospital. Call a cab.” “But—” He didn’t listen, focused solely on her as he drove away. The street was dimly lit. A couple of tall guys emerged from the shadows. “She’s got a nice body. Let’s grab her.” 3 I froze in panic, my heart racing as fear washed over me. My legs felt weak, and when I tried to run, I stumbled and fell. The two men closed in, stinking of sweat and booze. “All my money is in my bag. There’s about two thousand in cash and a few grand on my cards,” I stammered, blurting out my finances, hoping they’d just take the money and leave. Their eyes lit up as they rifled through my bag, confirming my words. “Don’t worry. I won’t call the cops. I didn’t see anything,” I begged, voice trembling. “I’ll leave—right now…”

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