Category: English

James’s first love was diagnosed with a terminal illness and didn’t have much time left. Just as we were about to board a plane for a family vacation, James received the news and immediately abandoned his family, leaving them with me while he rushed to be by his ex’s side. Furious, I suggested we break up. He retorted, “She’s dying. Is it too much to ask that I help her complete her bucket list?” Later, after fulfilling his ex’s last wishes, he knocked on my door and asked if I was still angry. The little munchkin behind me mimicked my response in a cute voice: “Go cool off somewhere else!” James had always been attentive to detail, while I tended to be more carefree. During our three-year relationship, he pampered me like a child. He remembered my menstrual cycle, all my food allergies, would warm my cold feet on his thighs when we slept in winter, and in summer, he’d drowsily cover me with a blanket in the middle of the night to prevent me from catching a chill. Our friends, seeing how he’d hold my hand even when crossing the street, urged us to get married and have kids soon, telling us to stop showing off and experience the hardships of married life. James would laugh and pull me close. “Even if we get married and have kids, Sophia won’t suffer one bit. We’ll book the best private hospital and the best postpartum care center.” During a long weekend, James wanted to introduce me to his family and had arranged an international family trip. They say that traveling together before marriage is the best test for a relationship. All flaws are magnified during a trip, and you’ll know if you can make it work after just one try. I was even more nervous about being tested along with his whole family. But James assured me that I didn’t need to worry about anything, just focus on looking beautiful, and he would take care of everything else. Only then did I feel at ease. The night before our departure, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I thought he was worried about overlooking something in the arrangements, so I gently patted him, but he said nothing, just let out a long sigh. At the airport, after meeting up with all his family members, he still seemed distracted, checking his phone every few minutes. James’s sister and brother-in-law had already gone through the boarding gate with their little daughter. I tugged on James’s sleeve, signaling him to show our tickets. Instead, he pulled me aside. “I’m sorry, Sophia. I can’t go. Please take care of my family for me.” Even as his running figure disappeared from view, I couldn’t process what had just happened. For the past three years, no matter when I messaged James, he always replied instantly. But this time, he didn’t answer my calls or respond to my messages. He didn’t even offer a proper explanation. What was going on? I was so angry that tears welled up in my eyes. “Ma’am, the boarding gate is about to close. Please board quickly.” This was James’s parents’ first trip abroad, and his sister had a three-year-old child with her. I couldn’t imagine how panicked this family would be in a foreign country, so I had no choice but to go ahead and board. As I walked across the jet bridge, my phone buzzed. I thought it was James, but when I opened it, I saw it was a message from my best friend, Olivia. “Did you know James’s first love, Nora, is back in the country? I heard she has a terminal illness and came back for treatment.” “Hey, I’m just gossiping with you. James is so good to you, whether she’s back or not shouldn’t affect your relationship.” Reading these lines, I took a deep breath, my hand trembling slightly. Thinking back on James’s recent strange behavior, everything suddenly made sense. My boyfriend, who had always showered me with affection, had abandoned his entire family and left them with me, all for his first love. James, who was usually so meticulous in his interactions with others, had done something so outrageous. I couldn’t help but steady myself against the nearby handrail, suddenly feeling dizzy. Once on the plane, faced with James’s waiting family, I hurriedly made up an excuse, saying James had an urgent matter at work. His mother seemed displeased. “Sophia, dear, why didn’t you try to persuade our James to stay? It’s a holiday, and we finally got to go on a trip together. He works too hard.” “If James isn’t going, what’s the point of us going?” I was taken aback. James probably couldn’t face me, not even offering an explanation, let alone giving me a chance to persuade him. The cabin door had already closed, and nearby passengers, hearing their conversation, began to whisper worriedly, concerned it might delay the takeoff. “When we finally get to go on a trip, we should try to overcome any obstacles and enjoy ourselves as much as possible.” I said this to James’s mother, but I was also saying it to myself.

Back in my seat, I couldn’t help but tear up. All of James’s past kindnesses now seemed distorted, unable to withstand scrutiny. Faced with his entire family, I still had to make excuses for him and comfort them. What sin had I committed to deserve such torment? “Miss, do you know the passenger who was supposed to sit next to you? They checked in but didn’t board. Our plane is about to take off…” A pleasant male voice sounded beside me. I looked up with teary eyes at him, suddenly feeling emotionally overwhelmed. “He… left.” The flight attendant panicked and hurriedly offered me tissues. “Left?” “Yes, he… just left.” My anger, grievance, and heartache completely overflowed at that moment. “I’m… so sorry for your loss. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.” The flight attendant looked at me with sympathy and surprise. Only then did I realize how ugly my crying must have been, leading him to misunderstand the situation entirely. The flight attendant was exceptionally attentive to us throughout the flight, giving James’s father an extra meal and even gifting James’s little niece with an airline mascot toy. As we were disembarking, I wanted to thank the flight attendant, but seeing him coldly refuse a female passenger who asked for a photo with him, I just quietly followed the crowd off the plane. I might as well consider James dead. Thinking this way, I actually felt a bit better.

Leading this big family through immigration, with the elderly complaining about the long wait and the little one crying from hunger, was overwhelming. All the things James said I wouldn’t need to worry about now fell on my shoulders, leaving me feeling utterly helpless with nowhere to vent my frustrations. When I received Olivia’s call, my mind was in a fog. “Sophia, why did it take you so long to answer? Is James with you? Have you seen Nora’s Instagram post?” “That person in the photo looks a lot like James!” Urged by Olivia, I hung up and checked Nora’s Instagram post. In the photo, there was a stark white hospital room with flowers and a card on the table. In the blurred background was a figure I knew all too well. Nora’s caption read: “The doctor asked what regrets I had in life. I made a long bucket list. But when I see the moonlight on your brow, with you by my side, what regrets could I possibly have?” In the comments, Nora’s readers expressed concern about her condition. Some began to speculate about Nora’s love life, guessing who the person in the photo might be. I sent Olivia a message. “I’ve seen the photo. It’s probably my soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, James.” We had once promised each other that even if we argued, it wouldn’t last more than a day. We would communicate clearly about any issues and never resort to the silent treatment. But in the days since we left, James hadn’t contacted me at all. James wasn’t answering his parents’ calls either, only sending them brief messages saying he was busy with work and would explain everything when he got back. His uncle and aunt were worried but didn’t want to say much. His sister pulled me aside. “Sophia, tell me the truth. What’s really going on between you and James? Did you two have a fight?” “James went to the hospital to take care of Nora.” “What? They broke up years ago! This is ridiculous!” Right in front of me, his sister dialed James’s number, but after a few rings, the call was disconnected. I gave a bitter smile. Perhaps he was also feeling guilty and couldn’t face his family’s questions. Ever since I started thinking of James as my deceased ex-boyfriend, I felt a touch of pity when looking at his family members. It wasn’t until we returned home and I led the whole family out of the arrivals area with their luggage that I saw James again.

It turns out that when people feel guilty, they can’t look you in the eye. From the moment I first saw James until he sent everyone home, he kept avoiding my gaze. By the time the car stopped in the underground parking of our building, it was already 11 PM. “Give me an explanation, right here. I don’t want to go home to argue, I have work tomorrow.” On the flight back, I had already thought of various reasons for him, but I still wanted to hear it from his own mouth. “Nora is back. She has late-stage cancer, the doctors say she doesn’t have much time left…” “Hmm, and then?” James turned his head to look at me, probably not understanding why my response was so cold. “She has no family or close friends here. I’m the only familiar person she has in the country, so she asked if I could go to the hospital to keep her company. I really couldn’t refuse… You know, I owe her too much.” “I know I didn’t handle this well, and I’m sorry you had to suffer through the trip. But I promise, there’s nothing between us. It’s not what you think.” I opened the car’s dashcam records, only to find that the footage from the past few days had been completely deleted. “I wasn’t thinking anything about you two, but James, what exactly are you feeling guilty about?” “I just didn’t want you to get angry, but I swear, I didn’t do anything inappropriate. You should trust me.” Suddenly, I realized that our past tenderness had blinded me, making me completely unaware of the huge difference between James and me in our views on relationships. He felt that as long as he didn’t do anything substantially out of line, he had nothing to be ashamed of in our relationship. But what I wanted was undivided attention in a relationship. I stared at that face, the face I once adored, now feeling utterly unfamiliar. “James, I’ve been thinking about this the whole way back. Let’s break up.” “Sophia, how can you be so cold? Nora is dying. Is it too much to ask to help her fulfill her last wishes? Do we really have to break up over this?” “If marrying you was her dying wish, would you agree to that too?” James wanted to say something but couldn’t get the words out. It seemed James didn’t have a clear line in his mind. He didn’t know what he needed to stand firm on for the sake of our relationship. “Find somewhere else to stay tonight. I’ll move out tomorrow.” I suddenly felt so exhausted, not wanting to argue for even one more minute.

James was a local, always living a comfortable, well-off life. I came here for college and stayed for work, only managing to buy a small apartment after working for a few years. After moving in with James, I had planned to sell my small place so we could buy a bigger apartment together. Fortunately, due to the poor market conditions, the apartment hadn’t sold. Now I still had a place to return to. As I took my clothes out of the boxes and hung them back in the closet one by one, the past few years felt like a dream. Before I could catch my breath, my Instagram blew up with messages from strangers hurling insults at me. It took me a while to piece together what was happening. Nora’s new book had been released, and in it, she had written a heart-wrenching account of her relationship with James. When they first fell in love, their passion was intense and all-consuming. The explicit words in the book left little to the imagination, making readers blush. The book claimed that even after Nora went abroad, their feelings hadn’t faded. Every brief encounter was worth more than countless ordinary moments. And it all came to an abrupt end because of my appearance. In the book, I was portrayed as someone who took advantage of the situation and would stop at nothing. All her deep, enduring love couldn’t compete with my shameless seduction. Although she didn’t use real names in the book and repeatedly emphasized that it was all fiction, her eager fans still managed to find my Instagram account through the deliberate hints scattered throughout the text and began their barrage of insults. What chilled me even more was that her book mentioned several times when she returned to the country to see James, which I calculated had all happened after James and I got together. “When he waited for me, he stood under the kapok tree at the street corner. We embraced in the wind, melting in a moment of passion. In that instant, I still loved him.” “Stir-fried green peppers with pork, spicy pig blood, ginger-spiced chicken feet – we drank two dozen ice-cold beers at a street stall. His lips were swollen from the spice, and I joked that this time it wasn’t my doing.” I believe these were all true. The cities mentioned in the book perfectly matched the places where James had gone on business trips over the past few years. When James pursued me, he and Nora had already been broken up for years. But now, in her book, she deliberately portrayed me as the one who broke them apart. As the situation escalated, various strangers claiming to be former colleagues and classmates I didn’t recognize emerged online. They fabricated one story after another, painting me as someone who bullied classmates, seduced teachers, and flirted with clients, sparking wave after wave of verbal abuse. Some even went as far as collecting this information, along with various vulgar images, compiling it into a 36-page document, and sending it to everyone in my company’s email list, urging my boss to fire me for my moral depravity. I was about to confront James when he called. “Sophia, are you still angry? Why did you move all your things out?” Laughable. Now I wasn’t just angry, I was on the verge of exploding. “Tell Nora to explain what’s going on with her book. I’m being cyberbullied. If she doesn’t clear things up, she can expect to hear from my lawyer.” He paused for three seconds, then spoke slowly. “Calm down, Sophia. You know how that circle works. Sometimes they need to write something sensational to get readers. The book clearly states it’s all fiction. Don’t take it to heart.” “So, you knew what she wrote in the book all along? Did you approve of her smearing me?” “She said her fans all know it’s fiction, and you know she needs a lot of money for her treatment right now. All the money from this book is for saving her life.” “There are many ways to save her life. Dragging my name through the mud isn’t the only option. James, if I don’t see an explanation tomorrow, she can expect to receive a lawyer’s letter.” “Do you really have to make such a big deal out of this? Sophia, you’ve changed.” “Did you go to see her behind my back, James?” “Let me explain…” I hung up the phone and threw it on the couch, not wanting to hear another word of excuses. Three years of relationship crumbled in an instant. I could no longer distinguish what was true or false in our past sweetness. In my world, James was already dead.

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Zombie hordes were taking over the city, and the last iron door protecting my home was on the verge of collapse. I ended the call when my sister-in-law tried to contact my brother for help. That day, my brother opened the protective gates of the safe zone, allowing the zombies to raid and pillage everything from everyone. He ordered a highly intelligent zombie to cruelly claw the unborn child from my sister-in-law’s womb and even demanded that my skin be flayed. “If it weren’t for your jealousy, Phoebe wouldn’t have been disfigured by the zombies!” he exclaimed. “Now, with the umbilical cord blood and your skin, I can give Phoebe a complete transformation. She’ll be even more beautiful than before!” With the last bit of strength, I crawled to my sister-in-law’s lifeless body, only to find my fiancé, having discarded his suit, gently holding my skin and coaxing softly, “Silly Phoebe, this cheap skin doesn’t match your gentle and kind heart. But it’ll have to do.” They kept me barely alive, just enough to witness as they drained my body for their experiments. When I opened my eyes again, I heard my sister-in-law desperately calling my brother.

I awoke abruptly to the sound of fighting beyond the iron gate. “Declan! Hurry back and save us! Zombies have broken through the outer city and reached the neighborhood!” My sister-in-law’s words jolted me back to reality. I had truly been reborn! Suddenly, I heard my brother’s impatient voice on the phone: “Women are such a hassle. Aren’t you already pregnant? Why are you bothering me?” “Today’s Phoebe’s twentieth birthday. She’s been alone her entire life. Only I, her mentor, can give her a proper celebration.” “You two always exclude her. Can you stop causing me trouble?” “Every time there’s a zombie attack, you call me with excuses. I’ve had enough! No matter what happens tonight, it won’t stop me from celebrating Phoebe’s birthday!” Seeing the zombies about to break through the gate, I pressed my sister-in-law’s phone, “Brother, we got it. Zombies are out tonight. Be careful.” Then I hung up and quickly pulled my sister-in-law to the armory. She looked at me, confused and panicked, asking, “Cora! Why won’t you let your brother come save us? He’s an elite guardian martial artist of the City of Laurel. No matter how busy he is, he shouldn’t be out now!” The explanation caught in my throat. My sister-in-law still believed my brother was a peerless hero, not realizing that beneath his cool, restrained exterior lay a black heart. He claimed he was discussing defense strategies with a senior martial artist, but he was actually preparing a fireworks display at the beach with his junior student, Phoebe Carter. The fireworks we could only buy with high honors were casually used for Phoebe, enough to fend off zombies for three months. After two failed attempts to unlock the armory, a message appeared: only one chance left, or it would lock permanently. Meanwhile, the sound of zombies approaching grew louder. My sister-in-law couldn’t resist and called my brother a fifth time. Again, I heard my brother’s impatient voice: “I knew you would try to bring me back. Do you want to open the armory and face the zombies yourselves?” “Luckily, Phoebe reminded me to prevent you from using the armory at home! I’ve changed the password remotely, so don’t bother trying!” My muscles tensed. I couldn’t believe that even in this reborn life, even without asking my brother for help, he gave us no chance to survive! He was so heartless, sealing off the armory completely. How would two women, unarmed, escape the zombies’ grasp? My sister-in-law sobbed, overwhelmed by the stench of blood. She cried, “To your brother, is Phoebe more important than his wife, child, and sister?” “Groaning sounds!” Before I could respond, a skeletal hand with decayed flesh appeared over the wall and leapt into the yard. My pupils shrank as I grabbed a stick and smashed the small zombie’s head, sending it rolling across the ground. Seizing the moment, trembling, I grabbed my sister-in-law’s wrist to flee. In the basement, she clutched her aching abdomen. I hugged her tightly, placing her hand on her stomach and reassuring her, “Sister-in-law, hold on! Now’s not the time to be sad. We have to save ourselves!” “My brother isn’t coming back. We have to find a way to survive!” “The City of Laurel is the most important defense barrier! If it’s overtaken, more of our family will perish!” I called my brother’s superior, Heath, for help. After five rings, someone lazily answered, with fireworks crackling in the background.

“Cora, your brother told me there’s no zombie invasion. It’s just your sister-in-law’s pregnancy causing drama. You shouldn’t get involved in their couple’s quarrels!” My sister-in-law and I couldn’t help but plead with Heath not to believe my brother. But we were met with cheers and applause from the martial artists. “Phoebe’s got real archery skills! No wonder Declan favors you. You found the zombies’ weak spot and killed them in one shot. Impressive!” Heath joined in their games. Meanwhile, outside the secret chamber, zombies dismantled the iron gate. They followed their scent to the chamber, moving in an orderly fashion under the highly intelligent zombie’s command, attacking the strong families first. Their familiarity was like a rehearsed routine. In my previous life, my brother returned quickly under Heath’s orders. But now, even Heath joined him at the beach for Phoebe’s birthday. Pressing matters left no time to ponder this twist. Heath’s unexpected absence felt like a heavy weight on my back. With zombies blocking every road, we had no way out unless we could fly. Our secret chamber had a passage leading outside, but… I hesitated at the path leading to my fiancé Jasper’s home. On our wedding day, he conspired with the zombies to give my skin to Phoebe. It was fresh in my mind. If I sought help from him again, it would be the height of foolishness! The other path led to the Night Beast King’s territory. My sister-in-law, seeing me glance that way, quickly wiped her tears and pleaded, “Cora, Dad warned us never to open the gate to the Orc Dark Territory!” Behind us, the foul stench and clattering footsteps of zombies drew closer. Clutching my sister-in-law’s hand, I hesitated. Though unarmed, with her pregnant, I finally pressed the switch for the passage to the Orc Dark Territory as the zombies broke in. Just then, my sister-in-law’s phone vibrated. It was a taunting message from Phoebe. In the ocean-view room, Phoebe sat disheveled on a strong man’s lap. Her soft voice begged, “Declan, am I really no match for Lin Yu?” “I heard she’s pregnant. Has it been difficult for you?” “You prepared such a grand birthday party for me. I don’t know how to repay you.” Under bright lights, she slowly lifted her skirt, her purple-pink satin butterfly dress clinging to her hips. “I learned from a private tutor just to please you… Don’t you want my first time to be yours?” My sister-in-law shook, struggling to type on her phone. The video showed my brother pouncing, eyes filled with fierce desire, too impatient for foreplay, already entwined with Phoebe. Their silhouettes blended on the translucent curtains. Furious, I threw the phone, cursing, “Declan, you dog! The City of Laurel is surrounded by zombies, and he abandons his wife and sister to sleep with his mistress? He’ll die for this!” Suddenly, zombies flooded the passage within minutes. My sister-in-law quickly released every obstacle to block them. Two robots activated, guarding us. “Cora! Go get help!” “If you can’t, save yourself!” “Reach the next safe zone and warn them to resist the zombies!” Tears of determination streamed down her face. “Two robots can’t hold off the zombies!” “I’ll stay and buy you time!” Tears of helplessness poured down my face. “Go! If one survives, it’s something!” Two robots sprang to life instantly, standing guard behind us. “Cora! Hurry, go outside and get help!” “If you can’t find help, escape on your own!” “Quickly reach the next safe zone, and tell them to resist the zombies!” Tears of determination welled in her eyes. “Just two robots won’t hold off the zombies!” “I’ll stay here to buy you some time!” Tears of helpless fear streamed down my face. “Go! If even one of us survives, it’s worth it!” “Your brother is no good; we can’t let everyone in the City of Laurel die because of us!” I stumbled a few steps, witnessing the bloodthirsty madness of the zombies. In the endless darkness, skulls with sharp mutated teeth glinted coldly. Some zombies, having recently feasted, still had fingers and leg bones in their mouths. I made a swift decision. “Sister-in-law, take care! I’ll come back to save you!” My sister-in-law’s phone had taunting messages from Phoebe Carter. “Are you surrounded by zombies now?” “Who told you to ignore me just because you’re Declan’s wife?” “Honestly, those zombies are after Cora. Her innate spiritual blood is full of yang energy, the only thing that can restrain zombies.” “Once Cora is dead, I won’t have anything else to worry about!” In the long, endless secret passage of the chamber. I suddenly realized that I might never have truly understood my brother. Or this world. And I never deeply thought about why Phoebe Carter wanted to harm me and my sister-in-law. In my past life, my brother ordered my skin to be peeled off. My sister-in-law was even torn apart by zombies competing for the child. Was our previous disaster really just a simple zombie siege? I felt like I was overlooking something important. The secret passage I used to play in as a child seemed different now. I remembered there should be a fork here. With a “thud,” I stepped into dark, muddy ground, and the sound of trickling water reached my ears. A branch pierced through my wrist, and crimson blood mingled with the silver-bright dark river. I was stunned. It felt like something eerie beneath the dark river was about to awaken. At the same time, I realized that it had been a long time since the world had such clean, sweet water. Suddenly, I felt a mysterious calling. It was as if a voice told me: [You must cross the dark river! Once you do, you can gain the help of the Orc Dark Territory!] But at this moment, there were suddenly some faint, shadowy knives on the ground. A familiar figure emerged from the darkness. My eyes couldn’t withstand the dazzling light ahead. “Cora?” “I’ve been waiting for you at home for so long. Why haven’t you sent a distress message yet? This isn’t like your past life behavior.” I vaguely remembered that in my past life, I also frantically sent distress messages to my fiancé, Jasper. But Jasper said he was busy and couldn’t come to save me, asking me to wait. In the end, someone set fire to the armory in the City of Laurel, attracting the attention of surrounding cities. My brother’s superior, Heath, led everyone to fight the zombies. In my past life, my brother was forcibly recalled by Heath, which finally stabilized the City of Laurel against the zombies. Although my brother saved many people after returning to the city, the City of Laurel lost its survival resources, making the city defense more vulnerable. People had to evacuate with their families to the rear! It seemed like a victory for self-defense, but in fact, after the evacuation, zombies quickly took over the City of Laurel! Now I faced Jasper’s bright, shining eyes in the darkness. A sudden, sharp fear surged in my heart.

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In the eighth month of my pregnancy, I caught Lucas Reed cheating for the ninety-ninth time. He tossed shredded lingerie in my face, his smile a mix of mockery and disdain. “You’re as appetizing as a dead fish in bed. How dare you accuse me of cheating?” After a long silence, I calmly proposed divorce again. Everyone around us groaned in exasperation, while Lucas raised an eyebrow and pulled out his phone. “See? I told you she’d only suggest divorce. Pay up, ten grand each.” “Aria, if you’re going to be a doormat, at least try a new tactic. Have some self-respect.” “Haha! She’ll be begging to come back within two days, the ultimate pushover!” Lucas smirked, silently agreeing with his friends’ remarks. But they didn’t know I had already bought a one-way ticket to Germany. Since Lucas had given all his affection to his mistress, And harbored such deep hatred for me, his lawful wife, I would set him free. This time, divorce. I meant it. The air reeked of sex, making my stomach churn. I turned to leave, but Lucas suddenly called out to me. He threw a thong in my face. “Wash it before you go. You’ve been doing this for five years, should be second nature by now.” I dug my nails into my palms until blood dripped onto the floor. Only then did I slowly bend down, cradling my belly, to pick up the underwear. In six years, he had brought Ruby home to fool around ninety-nine times. And I had washed ninety-nine pairs of various underwear. I still remember the time I refused because of a fever. He forced me to kneel in the snow for a day. I was unconscious for three days and nights. The doctors issued countless critical condition notices. I had endured for six years; one more time wouldn’t matter. Bearing the mocking gazes of everyone around, I numbly scrubbed the underwear. Unexpectedly, Lucas’s hoarse voice broke the silence. “If you get on your knees and beg me now, I’ll pretend none of this ever happened.” As soon as he finished speaking, Ruby suddenly collapsed, clutching her chest and gasping for air. Ethan’s face changed instantly. He held Ruby anxiously, fumbling like a lovesick teenager. “Where’s her inhaler? The inhaler!” Lucas’s panicked expression made me momentarily dazed. Last night, when I had slipped and fallen hard, Lucas was about to leave to pick up Ruby. Even though I was lying in a pool of blood, clutching his pant leg and begging him to take me to the hospital, he stepped over me without a change in expression. Before I lost consciousness, I heard him speaking tenderly on the phone. “Just buying vanilla flavor isn’t enough. We’ll try all the flavors tonight.” I lowered my gaze, hiding the self-mockery in my eyes. While his heart and eyes were full of Ruby, I dropped the underwear and stood up to leave. But before I could reach the door, a strong hand yanked me back. “Aria, you know Ruby is allergic to perfume, yet you sprayed it on her clothes. How could you be so vicious! Take off your clothes!” My ankle slammed against the coffee table, and I turned pale from the pain. But it was nowhere near as painful as Lucas’s words. It felt as if all the blood in my body had frozen, even my vocal cords were trembling. “You… want me to take off my clothes?” “You’ve always been so cheap, why act like you have dignity now?” Lucas stood with his hands in his pockets, his eyes full of disgust and hatred. After marrying Lucas, when I begged him to have a good life together, he called me cheap. When I swallowed my pride and tried to please him in bed, I was cheap. When I brought him stomach medicine in the pouring rain, interrupting his “good time,” I was even cheaper. For six years, I couldn’t bear to hear it anymore. I dug my nails deep into my flesh, forcing words through gritted teeth. “Fine, I’ll strip.” With that, I began removing my clothes with shaking hands. My outer garment fell to the floor. Despite it being summer, goosebumps immediately rose on my exposed arms and shoulders. I reached behind to unzip my dress, the thin collar slipping down. Half of my shoulder and the curve of my chest were exposed. Immediately, lewd whistles and laughter erupted around me. I couldn’t help but tear up, but my hands didn’t stop. I gritted my teeth and continued undressing. Lucas’s gaze grew increasingly heated, his chest heaving more and more. Just as the dress was about to fall completely, he whirled around and threw his jacket over me, his face ashen, nearly grinding his back teeth to dust. “Aria Shaw, you’re truly disgusting!” I clutched the dress tightly, looking at him impassively. “Can I leave now?” “Get out! If you have the guts, go die out there!” “Lucas, I feel so awful…” Ruby moaned, and he immediately rushed to her side. I didn’t hesitate to walk towards the door, getting into the car that was already waiting outside. Even as I rushed to the airport and heard the boarding announcement, I felt dazed. I lifted my foot to walk forward, my steps getting faster and faster. Suddenly, two bodyguards appeared in front of me, blocking my way.

In the hospital, I was tightly strapped to a bed, my face streaked with tears. “Let me go!” “Lucas Reed, the baby is only eight months along. If you force me to have a C-section now, I will never forgive you!” “Lucas, let me go!” I struggled frantically against the restraints, my hair wild like a madwoman, my body shaking uncontrollably. Through a half-open door, I could hear every word of Lucas’s conversation with the doctor. “Mr. Reed, inducing labor two months early will not only cause irreversible damage to the mother, but the fetus’s immune system isn’t ready either. Ms. Sanders’ condition can wait for other options…” Lucas coldly interrupted the doctor. “Ruby can’t wait that long.” “Prepare for surgery.” As the anesthetic was injected into my arm, my body grew heavier and heavier. I was truly terrified now, my voice breaking into sobs. “Lucas, I’m begging you, don’t do this to me.” “He’s your child too…” Lucas stared at me, his gaze hard to read. He walked to my bedside, his tone softening slightly for the first time. “Ruby needs the cord blood to save her life. Besides, if you hadn’t deliberately triggered her attack, she wouldn’t be suffering like this. Bear with it, it’ll be over soon.” “Mr. Reed, Ms. Sanders has fainted.” Lucas’s face changed instantly. He strode out, leaving behind only one sentence: “Do the C-section now!” Tears fell uncontrollably as all the pent-up hatred and grievances poured out. I screamed in despair. “Lucas Reed! You monster! I hate you! I hate you!” Lucas’s figure paused for a moment, but his steps didn’t stop. My shattered heart froze completely in that moment. Cold instruments kept probing inside me. I could clearly feel something being slowly separated from my body, until I felt empty and cold. After a long while, I heard faint, panicked voices. “Doctor, the baby has no heartbeat. It’s a stillbirth…” My eyelashes fluttered slightly, and finally, only endless despair and desolation remained in my eyes. A single tear silently slid down. I seemed to have a dream, where I was back in that small alley. A frail me dragging a bloodied Lucas, hiding from those thugs. The Cinderella and Prince Charming story had descended upon Lucas and me. When we were most in love, he even knelt in front of the Reed family ancestral shrine, swearing in front of everyone that he would marry no one but me in this life. But the scene changed, and I saw the corpses of his parents and mine. Blood spread out on the ground like a long river. I helplessly listened as the traffic police ruled that my parents’ drunk driving had caused this accident. Lucas seemed to become a completely different person after that. Even though I apologized over and over, begging for his forgiveness. But four lives became an insurmountable chasm between us. On the day of his parents’ funeral, Lucas brought people to smash up the memorial hall. I collapsed on the ground in despair: “My parents also died in this accident. Isn’t that enough?” He grabbed my neck, his hands covered in wounds, his eyes bloodshot and desperate. “They deserved to die! But what about my parents! Can their deaths bring my parents back?!” But after the funeral, he still used every means to marry me. Only it was no longer out of love, but hatred. There was no wedding and no marriage certificate. I lived in the Reed house like a rat in the gutter. Until I saw Ruby again, all my strength crumbled at that moment. She looked… exactly like myself at twenty-two. A substitute carefully selected by Lucas. Later, he gave all his love to this substitute and vented all his torture on me, the original. For six years, my heart’s blood was consumed in these six years of love and hate, just as he wished.

When I woke up again, it was three days later. Lucas sat by the bed, his face expressionless as he brought over a bowl of porridge, making to feed me. I discreetly avoided him, my voice hoarse. “When will you give me the divorce papers?” He barely lifted his eyelids, his voice low. “Open your mouth.” “I’m willing to leave with nothing. The divorce papers, you…” “Ugh—” The moment he forcefully shoved the porridge down my throat, I instinctively bent over, violently retching. A lot of it splashed onto his legs. He seemed oblivious, his face ashen as he smashed the bowl on the ground, forcefully gripping my neck, his tone icy cold. “Aria Shaw, don’t play the divorce card with me. You’re destined to be trapped in the Reed family for life, struggling and atoning forever!” “If you have the guts, just die! Otherwise, you’ll never get rid of me.” He paused, his gaze falling on my flat abdomen, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “You should be grateful that this bastard was stillborn. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let it live either. Carrying the Shaw family’s bloodline only disgusts me!” I was choking, struggling to breathe, but I masochistically dug my nails into my palms, looking at him, slowly breaking into laughter. The laughter grew louder and louder, yet tears streamed down my face. So, so my six years had been this pathetic and laughable. I closed my eyes in despair, my voice trembling: “Lucas Reed, just strangle me to death.” Lucas stared at me intently, his eyes bloodshot, his grip tightening. Until a jarring phone ringtone suddenly broke the silence of the room. His whole body shuddered. He glanced at the caller ID and roughly pushed me away, leaving without looking back. I sprawled on the bed pathetically, clutching my neck and coughing violently like a drowning person, tears smearing my entire face. The next moment, Ruby sent a picture. It was a pregnancy test. It clearly showed: 4 weeks gestation, threatened miscarriage. Another message quickly followed. “On your sixth anniversary, we tried all sorts of new positions under the starry sky where you two first fell in love. This child was conceived that night.” “Aria Shaw, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave the Reed family on your own.” My hand holding the phone turned white at the knuckles. On our sixth anniversary, Lucas had disappeared until dawn before coming home. He smelled of Ruby’s perfume. I was already asleep and was roughly awakened by him. He ignored my pleas and cries, seeming to have lost all reason as he ravaged me all night. Until I started bleeding and was rushed to the hospital to save the pregnancy. And that day, Lucas had actually come to me straight from her bed. My stomach churned violently. I could no longer control myself. Ignoring my torn wounds, I rushed to the bathroom and vomited until I saw stars. I collapsed on the floor, hugging myself, breaking down in heart-wrenching sobs. Later, I lay alone in the hospital for half a month. I never saw Lucas again until the day I was discharged. Three hours before my flight to Germany, I still went back to the old mansion for my parents’ ashes. As I was driving away, suddenly, out of nowhere, Ruby rushed in front of my car. My pupils constricted as I slammed on the brakes. The tires let out a sharp screech, barely stopping an inch from her knees. Yet Ruby collapsed to the ground, covered in blood. “Ruby!” Lucas, who was behind me, saw this and his face changed. He quickly ran over to embrace the bloodied Ruby. Ruby clutched his hand tightly, blood continuously spurting from her mouth. “Lucas, don’t blame Mrs. Shaw. She definitely didn’t mean to.” I stumbled out of the car, instinctively looking towards Lucas, urgently saying: “It wasn’t me, she ran in front of…” But before I could finish, Lucas suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at me, his neck flushed red with bulging veins. The bone-deep hatred in his eyes rendered me speechless. “Aria, wasn’t killing my parents enough? Do you have to harm everyone around me?! What the hell did I do to deserve this from you?! Do you have to destroy my entire family?!” By the end, his eyes were crimson, glaring at me viciously. “Aria Shaw, you really deserve to die!” A chill inexplicably rose in my heart. The next second, he carried Ruby to the car, then sat in the driver’s seat himself. As the engine roared to life, Lucas’s eyes grew increasingly red. The next moment, he floored the accelerator, driving straight towards me.

With a sharp screech of brakes, my entire body was thrown into the air. The moment my body hit the ground, I seemed to hear my bones shattering. The pain blinded me. Every bone ached excruciatingly. “If anything happens to Ruby, you’re dead!” “Lock her in the room, don’t let anyone release her!” Throwing down these words, Lucas sped past me with the moaning Ruby. I didn’t even have the strength to struggle, helplessly allowing the bodyguards to lock me in the room. The pain made me break out in a cold sweat. I don’t know how long I lay on the ground. The will to survive told me I had to save myself. I gritted my teeth and slowly crawled up from the ground, staggering to find the first aid kit. I cleaned my wounds myself and took several painkillers. Just then, a knock sounded at the door. “Mrs. Reed, Mr. Reed instructed us to take you to the hospital to apologize to Ms. Sanders.” “Mrs. Reed?” “Mrs. Reed!” When they received no response from me, the bodyguards began forcefully twisting the doorknob. But I had already locked the door from the inside. Expressionlessly, I took out a lighter and began setting fire to this bedroom I had once lovingly decorated. The flames devoured the past, as if burning away a ridiculous dream. As the raging fire engulfed me, I closed my eyes and allowed the flames to consume me. Billowing black smoke seeped out from under the door. The door was suddenly pounded with thunderous force, but showed no signs of giving way. Amidst the chaotic footsteps and screams, I tightly hugged my parents’ ashes and jumped out the window, limping away from the villa. Until that mansion was far behind me, the explosive “BOOM” still pierced the quiet night sky. The shackles that had confined me for six years finally fell away at this moment. Just as Lucas and I’s lives would never intersect again. Check-in, ticketing, baggage drop, security… Before boarding, I took out my SIM card, snapped it in half, and casually tossed it in the trash. Then I headed towards a brand new future without looking back.

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Even past sixty, my mother-in-law was naturally pregnant due to her fertile health. I suggested she consider terminating the pregnancy and perhaps get a tubal ligation. She wasn’t happy with my suggestion, but I respected her decision. Unexpectedly, her nine daughters were against it. They gave her sleeping pills and took her for an abortion that very night. The next day, they blamed me entirely, claiming I couldn’t accept the child. In her fury, my mother-in-law killed me. When I opened my eyes, I found myself back on the day she announced her pregnancy. I looked at the excited sisters-in-law chatting around me and the bashful mother-in-law on the sofa. It hit me instantly—I had been reborn. It was the very day my mother-in-law called the family together to announce her pregnancy. I was so overwhelmed with gratitude that I clasped my hands in thanks. “Thank you, heavens, for granting me another life!” Some sharp-eyed sisters-in-law noticed and frowned, asking, “Nora, what’s wrong with you? Acting all strange? It’s your turn to share your thoughts!” Everyone turned to me, some even hinting at me to stick to what we had agreed on the day before. In my past life, it was the same. The nine sisters-in-law were all afraid of their mother, so they begged me to be the “bad guy,” to convince her to have an abortion and get a tubal ligation. They reasoned that since I was the only daughter-in-law and favored by my mother-in-law, I was the best one to speak up. Wanting to consider her health and not make them uncomfortable, I agreed. Little did I know, they turned on me. I could only watch helplessly as my mother-in-law attacked me with a kitchen knife, while they remained indifferent. After burying me in the backyard, they deceived my husband, saying I ran away after a fight with my mother-in-law. Thinking about my tragic end in the previous life sent shivers down my spine. Someone else can be the “bad guy” this time! I let out a cold snort, and with a stern face, I said, “I have no opinion. Whether to keep the baby or not is Mom’s decision.” With that, I got up and went into the bedroom. My mother-in-law was overjoyed. “My daughter-in-law is still the best. Educated people are different. I have the freedom to give birth if I want, and the baby has the right to be born too.” “Alright, meeting adjourned!” Soon, the nine sisters-in-law rushed into my room. As soon as they entered, they angrily complained, “Nora, what’s going on with you? We agreed yesterday that you’d convince Mom to handle the baby. Why did you suddenly change your mind? We didn’t expect you to be so two-faced.” Seventh Sister and Eighth Sister chimed in, “Nora, do you realize how serious this is? Mom is so old. Who’s going to care for the baby? And Big Sister already has a grandchild. Does it make sense to have another sibling? If word gets out, won’t people laugh at us?” I put down the clothes in my hands and sneered, “You’re her daughters, you tell her! I’m an outsider and just the daughter-in-law. What right do I have to dictate to my mother-in-law?” Hearing this, they immediately shouted at me, “Now you say you’re an outsider? When Dad and Mom wanted to transfer the house to you, why didn’t you say you were an outsider?” “Nora, if you don’t want to say something, then you take care of the baby when it’s born! Anyway, you’re young and have plenty of energy. Plus, we’re daughters, always outsiders. You’re the real mistress of this house.”

I let out a snort, looking at Seventh Sister, Eighth Sister, and Ninth Sister. “Aren’t you all unmarried? You’re part of this family too! Anyway, you don’t work, just stay home and take care of the baby, help out your parents, isn’t it your duty?” As soon as I said this, the three of them immediately glared. “Why should we? We don’t know how to take care of a baby! And even if it has to be done, it shouldn’t fall on us.” First Sister frowned upon hearing this. “If it’s to be done, start with Second Sister, don’t count me in! I still have to babysit my grandson!” After saying this, she walked out without looking back. Second Sister and Third Sister, who are twins, exchanged a glance, then held their heads, feigning headaches. “Ah, time spares no one. I’ve been having random headaches since last month, I don’t know why?” With that, they both held their heads and quickly slipped away. Fourth Sister, Fifth Sister, and Sixth Sister didn’t bother explaining, simply saying, “We’re not dealing with it,” and left. Seventh Sister, Eighth Sister, and Ninth Sister were left, seeing their sisters leaving one by one, they became anxious. They exchanged glances and, understanding each other, turned their attention to me. “Nora, we’re ordering you as your sisters to tell Mom to handle the baby. Otherwise, I’ll make my brother divorce you!” I couldn’t even be bothered to respond, my face full of indifference. “Fine, divorce then, find your brother right now. If I, Nora, say a single word of refusal, then I’m not human!” “Why don’t you say it? Aren’t you afraid of offending Mom and Dad, fearing they won’t leave you an inheritance? I’m telling the truth now, I’m afraid too. So don’t use me as a pawn, I’m not falling for it!” Hearing this, their anger was palpable, Ninth Sister gritted her teeth and said, “Good for you, Nora, you finally spoke the truth! I’m going to tell Mom and Dad you’re after their inheritance.” I snorted, “Are Mom and Dad fools? Can’t they tell who’s eyeing it? I have my own house and car, and my beauty salon, why would I need their peanuts? But some people stay home all day, don’t work, just mooch off their parents!” My words instantly infuriated them. “Nora, whether we work or not is none of your business! Did we spend your money? Our parents haven’t said anything, why do you get to yap?” “Whether you’ve spent or not, you know in your hearts. With your parents’ monthly pension of over five thousand, can you really live off that? You frequently ask my husband for money, isn’t that spending my money? And those two cars I bought, who’s driving them every day? Who gets free maintenance at my salon every week, isn’t that money too?” They were speechless at my retorts, but their faces showed increasing anger. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with them, so I packed my suitcase into the car. Then, I went to my mother-in-law’s room and told her, “Mom, from today, Ethan and I are moving out. Once you have the baby, this house will be too small, and we won’t fit. Also, if it’s a son, the second floor will be perfect for him in the future, as his elder siblings, we certainly won’t compete with him.” My mother-in-law was all smiles upon hearing this. “Great, great! Everything will be as you say. You think things through so well, we as parents are truly happy from the bottom of our hearts.” But Seventh Sister, Eighth Sister, and Ninth Sister were not happy about it. “Mom, you can’t let her leave, it’s clear she doesn’t want to help you with the baby, she’s trying to escape! And if she leaves, who’s going to pay the nanny? Who’s going to do the housework? We don’t agree, no way. Unless she compensates us five thousand a month, we won’t let her leave.” After Ninth Sister said this, Seventh Sister and Eighth Sister kept nodding. “Yes, Ninth Sister is right, if she doesn’t compensate us, she can’t leave this house.” Seeing their calculating faces, I said nothing and slammed the door, leaving.

When my husband found out I finally decided to move out, he was even more excited than I was. Being oppressed by his sisters since childhood, he had longed to move out. If it weren’t for me being an only daughter, always longing for sibling companionship, he wouldn’t have put up with me to continue living there. When my husband came back from work to our newly renovated home, he was so excited that he stripped naked and ran around the house. “This is great! My ears can finally have some peace!” Then he looked at me with joy. “Honey, how did you suddenly come to this decision? Before, even when Eighth Sister and Ninth Sister made you cry, you never thought of moving out. Why so sudden today?” Looking at my earnest and adorable husband, Ethan, I burst into tears. In the previous life, he got into a car accident while looking for me, became comatose, and remained in that state until he passed away. His parents and sisters initially cared for him, but over time, they saw him as a burden and dumped him in a small village to fend for himself. Seeing me cry so sadly, he got angry. “Honey, did those three bully you again? I’m going to find them now.” I quickly stopped my irrational husband and explained, “No, no, no, don’t get upset, I was just heartbroken seeing you like that! I also regret not moving out sooner.” “Oh, so that’s it, you scared me.” After saying that, he excitedly got up to organize his gaming room, saying as he did so, “Honey, do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? I just want the two of us to be together quietly, without anyone disturbing us.” “Hey, babe, are those three bothering you again? I’ll go have a word with them.” I quickly stopped my husband, who seemed ready to lose his temper, and explained: “No, no, no, don’t get upset. I just felt bad seeing you so stressed earlier! I also regret not moving out sooner.” “Oh, so that’s what it is. You startled me for a moment.” With that, he got up, visibly relieved, and started to tidy up his game room. As he cleaned, he said: “You know how long I’ve waited for this day? I just want to be with you, peacefully, without anyone disturbing us.” “Growing up, there were many kids at home, and I was the only boy, so I became the target of their teasing. My parents were too busy to notice. Honestly, having many siblings isn’t always a blessing. It really depends on the personality. If someone has a selfish nature, even siblings will try to exploit you, always taking without giving.” “You know, I’ve been working for almost six years, and I haven’t saved a single penny. As soon as I get paid, my sisters take it all and think it’s perfectly normal.” “Sigh! I really have no one to confide in! We’re going to have kids in the future, and there are expenses everywhere. How can we keep living like this with them constantly taking advantage?” … My husband went on, and tears were already streaming down my face. Finally, I couldn’t hold back anymore and interrupted him, my voice choked with emotion. “I’m sorry, honey. I shouldn’t have insisted we live with them from the start.” Ethan smiled, “Silly girl, there’s no need to apologize. You just wanted everyone to get along.” Suddenly, I made up my mind, stood up, walked over to him, and said seriously: “Honey, from now on, let’s focus on our own little family and not worry about others. It might be difficult considering your family, but can you promise to always be on my side no matter what I do?” “Of course! I’ll always be on your side. You’re the one who’ll be with me for the rest of my life. I’ll do my duty to my parents. As for my sisters, I think I’ve done enough. We’ll do what’s necessary, but I can’t do more than that.” So, my husband and I reached an agreement. From now on, our little family is the most important. Everyone and everything else can step aside. I didn’t expect them to shamelessly contact me the next day. Just after noon, I had left the beauty salon and was about to head home for lunch when my phone buzzed with a series of messages. [Ninth Sister: Nora, why didn’t the cook show up today? Are you trying to starve us?] [Eighth Sister: Nora, are you out of your mind? Even if we don’t eat, are you going to ignore Mom and Dad? Mom’s pregnant. How’s she supposed to cook for us?] [Seventh Sister: Sis-in-law, isn’t this too extreme? We’re family, do you have to be so harsh?] I couldn’t be bothered to reply and directly blocked all three of them. About half an hour later, my husband’s phone suddenly received a payment request from Ninth Sister. Then she sent another message: [Ethan, we just had lunch at DineWell with Mom, Dad, Seventh Sister, and Eighth Sister. The bill is 1386. Pay up.] My husband frowned, handed me the phone, and said helplessly: “What should we do? Maybe we should just send it to them?” “No way. Don’t bother! They’re all over thirty and can’t even cook? If they dared to eat out, they must have counted on you to cave in and pay. What about tomorrow? The day after? Are you going to pay every day? What did we agree on yesterday? Did you forget?” He sighed, “How can they keep asking me for money like this?” “Because you always give in!” Without another word, I blocked Seventh Sister, Eighth Sister, and Ninth Sister from his SnapChat too. In less than five minutes, my husband’s phone rang. He saw it was Ninth Sister. After taking a deep breath, he answered, but before he could speak, Ninth Sister started yelling. “Ethan, are you crazy? You dared to block me? I’m telling you to send the money right now, or else…” Before she could finish, Eighth Sister grabbed the phone. “Ethan, we’re family. Don’t let Nora, that outsider, get between us. Be sensible and send the money. Can you really stand to see us sent to the police station by the restaurant?” Before Ethan could respond, I grabbed the phone. “If you can’t pay, you deserve to be sent to the police station. We have one thing to say: no money!” With that, I hung up. After hanging up, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Speaking my mind felt so liberating. Even in the afternoon at the salon, I was in a great mood, feeling like everything was perfect. But just as I was enjoying myself, my husband came to the salon with a gloomy face. “Babe, my parents want us to go home right now!” Ha! I laughed coldly. What’s meant to happen will happen, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon! “Fine, let’s head back then!” As soon as we walked in, my father-in-law, with a frown, laid into us, “You just moved out, and now you act like you’re not part of this family? Do you have any idea? If I hadn’t run into someone I know and borrowed money, your mom, your sister, and I would’ve ended up at the police station.”

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My wife was infuriated when our son accidentally kicked Rosalie’s dog, and she locked him in the cage meant for aggressive dogs. I knelt in front of the iron cage, frantically pleading: “I can go in and apologize on behalf of my son. He’s severely allergic to dog hair. If we don’t get him to the hospital, he could die!” My wife stood by Rosalie, looking at me with disdain. “It’s your indulgence that spoiled our son into such a brat! Today, as his mother, I’ll teach him a lesson!” “Don’t worry, the therapy dog won’t harm him. It’s just one night—consider it a minor punishment for a serious lesson.” All I could do was watch as my son’s injuries worsened, his struggles weakened, and eventually, he fell silent. I collapsed in despair, begging my son to wake up and call me “Dad” one more time. Three hours later, the cage was finally broken open. Adeline posted on Facebook, sharing a picture of a pregnancy test. “Finally welcoming my little darling.” My heart felt lifeless. After signing the divorce papers, I took Liam to the funeral home, and I left a like and comment on her Facebook post. “Wishing you happiness.”

When Adeline called, I was at the funeral home. The mortician was stitching Liam’s body, covered in scars like centipedes. “Nolan, how dare you comment on Facebook! Declan and I grew up together, pure and innocent. What’s wrong with having his child?” “You hurt Coco and took Liam away, and I let it slide, but you have the nerve to provoke with comments! Do you know Declan’s depression flared up after seeing them?” “This time, I won’t be lenient. When Liam returns, he must kneel in front of the dog cage for three days and nights!” A stabbing pain shot through my heart, with the cries of Liam being bitten replaying in my mind. I gripped the phone, taking a deep breath. “Adeline, Liam can’t come back for you to torment. He’s dead!” Adeline scoffed dismissively. “Nolan, you’ll say anything to separate me and Declan, won’t you? It was just three hours in a cage, how could anything happen!” “You think dragging Liam out as an excuse will make me believe your nonsense?” I wanted to explain but felt a wave of helplessness. Adeline had a new child now; why would she care about me and Liam? My nails dug into my palms as I forced myself to stay calm. “I’ve signed the divorce papers. Adeline, we’re divorcing. You and Declan are free from interference.” Adeline was silent for a few seconds before hanging up directly. “Has that rebellious daughter realized her mistake?” My father-in-law hunched over, tapping the ground with his cane. I shook my head. “I’ve decided to divorce her.” My father-in-law looked at me with pity, sighing deeply. “Our family has wronged you.” He touched Liam’s bruised hand, tears falling. “What a sin! A good child tortured like this! How could there be dogs in the suburban area? It must be that vile woman bringing in wolfdogs!” “Why is Adeline so foolish!” Bitterness spread from my chest. Adeline wasn’t foolish; she just didn’t care. She once forbade a dog within miles so Liam could sleep undisturbed. But everything changed when Declan returned. Not only did she bring Declan’s dog into the villa, but she also opened a dog kennel at home, calling it “animal rescue.” The whole villa was constantly filled with barking. I took the terrified, pale-faced Liam to Adeline multiple times, but she just sat lazily in Declan’s arms, saying, “Think of it as desensitization training for Liam. Besides, these dogs are very tame; they won’t hurt him.” But these dogs were clearly aggressive breeds! Anyone entering their territory would be viciously attacked! I could barely stand, Liam’s painful struggles before death replaying in my mind. His body was bloodied by bites, one eye gouged by claws, helplessly calling “Daddy” through the cage. I futilely pounded the cage, watching Liam’s blood drip from the dog’s mouth, his struggling arm growing paler until it stopped moving. Even as he sighed, he looked towards the house, hoping his mother would come save him… My throat choked up, the grief almost knocking me off my feet, veins bulging on my forehead. “Sir, the little master is ready.” The mortician finished his work, looking at me with sympathy. I nodded, picking up Liam to head to the crematorium, feeling the resistance on my sleeve. My father-in-law spoke mournfully. “Let Adeline see him one last time; she is his mother after all.” 2 I remembered Liam’s final look, hesitating as I called Adeline. The phone rang a few times before she answered, and I spoke before she could. “Liam is leaving. If you still consider him your child, come send him off one last time.” Hearing my words, Adeline laughed. “Nolan, how vicious you are, cursing your own son to chase away Declan!” “I’m telling you, don’t use Liam to threaten me! Even if he’s dead, it has nothing to do with me. The child in my belly is my real child!… Declan, be careful with the baby…” Adeline’s voice suddenly turned tender, panting softly. I couldn’t bear the voice on the other end anymore and hung up. My father-in-law turned pale with anger, clutching his chest in pain. “Rebellious daughter! I’ve spoiled her, now she denies her own child!” He grabbed my hand that supported him. “Rest assured, I’ll teach her a lesson, make her apologize to you!” I shook my head, my eyes showing the relief after despair. “No need, if she doesn’t want us, I won’t hold on.” “We’ll leave.” The soft touch of Liam still lingered in my hands, but in a moment, it turned into a cold urn of ashes. I hailed a cab, taking Liam home. If possible, I didn’t want to return to this place of sorrow. But Liam’s belongings were here, and I didn’t want to leave them to be ruined by Adeline. As I got out of the car, the laughter from inside hit me. “Congratulations to our sister Adeline and brother Declan for reuniting as lovers!” The divorce papers were thrown on the floor by Adeline as she sat in Declan’s lap, laughing. “Nolan, a son-in-law, dares to talk divorce with me? Without me, he doesn’t even deserve to carry Declan’s shoes!” “Exactly! He dared threaten sister Adeline with that illegitimate child. Better that the kid died, he looked like he wouldn’t live long, embarrassing for our sister Adeline!” Such a joyful atmosphere froze the moment I walked in. The entire house was decked out in red, filled with roses and balloons. Everyone’s faces were full of happiness, making me, dressed in white, feel out of place. Adeline glanced at me casually, leaning against Declan, touching her belly. “Don’t say that, I only have one child, the one in my belly. Right, Declan?” Declan nodded smugly, one shoe pressing on a photo frame. My pupils shrank at the sight. It was a photo of Liam as a newborn, the only one with Adeline holding him. Liam needed to touch this photo every night to fall asleep. He said it felt like his mom was holding him to sleep. And now, this photo was trampled under Declan’s feet, lying with dust and dirt. I trembled with anger, my eyes bloodshot as I lunged at Declan. “How dare you step on that photo! Give it back!” Adeline slapped me, shielding Declan behind her. “Nolan, what’s wrong with you! It’s just a photo. Declan has depression, can’t you give him a break!” My nose bled from the hit, the hand holding Liam squeezed tightly with a creak. “Adeline, Liam just passed away, and you’re celebrating at home with someone. You’re that eager!” “Still acting! With a malicious dad like you, no wonder your kid was full of lies!” Adeline looked at me with disgust, her gaze settling on the urn in my hand. 3 “Knowing I’m celebrating, you brought such a disgusting thing to disgust me!” As she spoke, a bodyguard snatched Liam from me while I wasn’t paying attention. “Liam!” I tried to reach out, but the bodyguard pinned me down, kicking the back of my knee and forcing me to kneel before Declan. Watching Adeline take the urn, my heart leapt to my throat, and I spoke harshly. “Don’t touch him, you’ll regret it!” Swallowing, I softened my voice. “Give him back to me, I’ll leave immediately, never disturbing you and Declan again.” Adeline’s eyes turned dark, smirking. “I’ll give him to you, but you must kneel and apologize to Declan. You hurt Declan’s dog and disrupted his celebration, don’t think you’ll get away so easily!” Hearing this, Declan’s hand slipped, a glass shattered on the floor, glass shards everywhere. “Sorry, slipped.” Declan straightened, mocking me. “If you don’t kneel, I’ll flush this down the toilet!” Adeline urged. I clenched my hands, resolutely kneeling to Declan. The glass shards embedded deep in my knees, blood splattering. Yet I seemed unaware of the pain, bowing to Declan again and again. People around laughed, amused, but Declan shook his head. “He hit Coco, he should bow to her too. Bring Coco here!” “What are you waiting for, bow. Coco disciplined your disobedient son, shouldn’t you thank her?” “Sorry, my hand slipped.” Declan straightened up, looking at me with disdain. “If you don’t kneel, I’ll flush this down the toilet!” Adeline urged me on. I clenched my fists and knelt before Declan. Glass shards pierced my knees, and blood splattered, but I seemed numb to the pain, bowing to Declan repeatedly. People around us chuckled, but Declan shook his head. “He hit Coco; just bowing to me isn’t enough. Bring Coco here!” “Why are you just standing there? Bow. Coco helped discipline your unruly son, and you still haven’t thanked it properly?” Anger boiled within me, and I dragged my bleeding legs to lunge at Declan. The bodyguards quickly restrained me, pinning me to the ground. “You ungrateful fool, I should never have let you off!” Adeline kicked me hard and lifted the urn, smashing it into the toilet. The urn shattered, the ashes scattered into the water, and with a flush, Liam’s ashes were gone. “No, no, no!” My eyes burned with rage as I glared at Adeline, my voice filled with anguish. “Why! Why can’t you leave Liam in peace even after his death!” Adeline, frightened by my gaze, forced herself to shout back. “You’re insane! Get him to the mental health facility now!” The bodyguards dragged me out, just as my father-in-law arrived. “What is going on here?” He walked in with a cane, his hair graying, looking as if he’d aged ten years overnight. He looked angrily at the room’s decorations, his hand shaking as he pointed at Adeline. “Liam just died, and you’re celebrating here. Do you have any conscience?”

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My grandfather is the wealthiest man in Country A, and as his only granddaughter, I’m on the brink of inheriting a massive conglomerate. However, my two uncles are letting their mistress take over my identity. In front of the national media, Nora Johnson snatched the share transfer document and looked at me with arrogance. “Someone like you, from the lower rungs of society, wouldn’t even dream of stepping into the conglomerate if it weren’t for me!” “I suggest you behave, or you might find yourself with no place to rest!” In my previous life, I was deceived and intimidated by my uncles, constantly backing down to Nora, allowing her to trample over me to rise higher. But this time, I’ve been given another chance. Seeing Nora’s smug face in front of me, I raised my hand and slapped her to the ground. “A woman kept as a mistress dares to act insolent in front of me!” My unexpected action stunned everyone there, and the room fell silent. My two uncles rushed forward to protect Nora, glaring at me. They couldn’t hide the pity in their eyes for their mistress who was slapped without warning. Third Uncle was furious, stepping forward and shoving me hard. “Lydia Johnson, who gave you the audacity to touch our niece!” Looking at their faces full of disdain, I couldn’t help but mock my past self for foolishly expecting any family affection from them. I sneered, lifting my eyes to look at Nora contemptuously, taunting, “A mere mistress, and I, the rightful heir of Country A’s Leading Conglomerate, the granddaughter of the richest man, don’t have the right to discipline her?!” Upon hearing this, my uncle flushed with anger and rushed over, pretending to choke me. “Lydia, what nonsense are you spouting?! Nora kindly sponsored your education, and you repay kindness with betrayal!” “Everyone listen up, Nora is my father’s real granddaughter, the heiress of Country A’s conglomerate!” I was shocked at his audacity and angrily retorted. “Second Uncle, she’s just a woman you picked up from a nightclub. How dare you say she’s a Johnson Family heiress and the conglomerate’s successor?” “Even when lying, you should know when to stop!” Third Uncle interrupted me, trying to cut me off. “Lydia, did you forget the doctor’s advice to take your medication?” Seeing this, Nora quickly chimed in, looking pitiful. “It’s all my fault. I knew Lydia had delusions and accidentally told her about inheriting the conglomerate.” The three of them twisted the truth, putting all the blame on me. For a moment, the media turned their focus on me. “Lydia is indeed just a nobody sponsored by the Johnson Family heiress. No wonder she looks so shabby.” “Miss Johnson is so kind-hearted, not caring even when slandered by such a lunatic.” Then Second Uncle waved over Assistant Manager Luke from the conglomerate. “Someone! Get Lydia out of here within a minute. Without my permission, she’s not allowed to step into the company again!” I glared icily at Assistant Manager Luke, who was leading the bodyguards towards me. “Assistant Manager Luke, my mother assigned you to help me manage the conglomerate. Don’t you recognize who the real heiress is?” Luke paused, guilt flashing in his eyes: “This… I…” Third Uncle, looking impatient, spoke sharply. “Assistant Manager Luke, my brother is the future heir of the conglomerate. Do you dare defy him? Are you risking everything?” Luke’s expression shifted instantly. He spoke to me, pained: “Miss, I’m just an employee. My whole family relies on me. I can’t lose this job. Please, stop causing trouble.” Saying this, he gestured to the bodyguards to take me away. Seeing a group of strong bodyguards surround me, I picked up a teapot from the table and smashed it on the ground. “I’m not only the heiress of the Johnson Family, the granddaughter of the richest man, but also the sole successor of the conglomerate. I dare anyone to touch a single hair on me!” Chapter Two The teapot shattered, the loud crash and my furious yell echoing through the hall. The crowd burst into scornful laughter at my words. “Reckless! First, she claims to be the granddaughter of the richest man, now the conglomerate’s heir. Fool!” “Even if she is the Johnson Family heiress, the richest man has two sons! How could it ever be her turn?” Looking at my two uncles’ smug faces, I asked coldly. “Second Uncle, are you sure you and Third Uncle have the right to inherit the conglomerate?” Third Uncle pursed his lips, briefly unnerved, then turned to Second Uncle, acting nonchalant. “Brother, today’s a big day. All the important figures are coming soon. Don’t let outsiders see a joke.” Hearing Third Uncle, I guessed he remembered his status and got scared. After all, Grandpa is the richest man in Country A, the actual power behind the conglomerate. My dad is his only son, and naturally, I am his only granddaughter. As for my two uncles, they are just sons of Grandpa’s elder brother. After Grandpa’s brother died, Grandpa took pity on them and took them in at the Johnson Family. So they have no direct blood relation to Grandpa, and naturally, it won’t be their turn to inherit the conglomerate. They were just given a chance to work in the conglomerate. But Second Uncle was too foolish to understand the implication in my words, frowning and looking displeased at Third Uncle. “She’s so unruly today, even hitting Nora. She can’t be let off easily.” “Lydia, I think your delusions have worsened. Don’t force me to send you back to the mental institution!” The mention of the mental institution reignited my fury. It reminded me of the inhumane torture I suffered before dying in my past life. Last time, they manipulated me with so-called familial affection and morality, forcing me to retreat step by step, leaving me in a sorry state. In the end, to satisfy Nora’s curiosity about how much blood a living person could lose before dying, they tricked me into the mental institution and watched coldly as I was tortured to death. Even though we were family, and after they came to the Johnson Family, I treated them sincerely for decades. But they indulged her in impersonating me to please a mistress, disregarding even a shred of familial bond. Now I understand. In my two uncles’ eyes, I, a living person, was less than their noble love. I could be discarded at will. But I’m curious, if given a choice between Nora and power, which would they choose? Returning to the present, I curled my lips into a cold smile. “Do you dare say again in public who really is the Johnson Family heiress and the conglomerate’s successor?” Before my uncles could answer, a woman came running out of the crowd, claws bared. She raised her hand and slapped me, her sharp nails scratching my cheek. “Wretch, this is the territory of Country A’s Leading Conglomerate. What right do you have to shout here?!” Caught off guard, I was furious and saw clearly the woman in front of me. She’s not a big deal, just an illegitimate daughter of a small manager under the group. Since meeting my two uncles, she’s been fantasizing about marrying one of them. Later, she heard that Nora was the Johnson Family heiress. To appear more in front of my uncles, she followed Nora around like a shadow. It’s a pity… She’s a fool, completely wrong. Nora isn’t the real heiress but the mistress kept by her lover! I narrowed my eyes and then returned the slap to the illegitimate daughter. Taking advantage of her unpreparedness, I kicked her hard, sending her tumbling to the ground. “Who are you, a stray cat or dog, to act up in front of me?! Believe it or not, a word from me could have your whole family begging on their knees!” She rolled on the ground, clutching her stomach, screaming in disbelief. “Lydia dared to hit me?! No one has ever dared to hit me before! “Just you wait, I won’t let you off!” Nora stepped up to help her, “Yara, don’t be angry. Lydia has some mental issues. I’ll apologize on her behalf, okay?” I rolled my eyes in disdain, coldly mocking, “Nora, you’re really shameless! Why not just enjoy being a well-kept mistress? Do you have no self-awareness pretending to be the Johnson Family heiress in such a setting?” Saying this, I sighed and turned to the two uncles beside me. “You have one minute to take your mistresses and leave, or don’t blame me for being rude!” The teapot shattered, the loud crash and my furious yell echoed through the hall. The crowd burst into cruel laughter at my words. “Reckless! First, she claims to be the granddaughter of the richest man, now the conglomerate’s heir. Fool!” “Even if she is the Johnson Family heiress, the richest man has two sons! How could it ever be her turn?” Looking at my two uncles’ smug faces, I asked coldly. “Second Uncle, are you sure you and Third Uncle have the right to inherit the conglomerate?” Third Uncle pursed his lips, briefly unnerved, then turned to Second Uncle, acting nonchalant. “Brother, today’s a big day. All the important figures are coming soon. Don’t let outsiders see a joke.” Hearing Third Uncle, I guessed he remembered his status and got scared. After all, Grandpa is the richest man in Country A, the actual power behind the conglomerate. Seeing the smug faces of my two uncles, I retorted sharply. “Second Uncle, do you really think you and Third Uncle have the right to inherit the conglomerate?” Third Uncle pursed his lips, guilt flashing briefly across his face before he quickly looked away towards Second Uncle. “Brother, today is a big day. Important people will be here. Let’s not make a scene.” His words suggested that he was reminded of his own status and felt intimidated. After all, my Grandpa is the richest man in Country A and the true power behind the conglomerate. My father is his only son, which makes me his only direct granddaughter. As for my two uncles, they’re merely the sons of Grandpa’s late older brother. After their father passed away, Grandpa took them in out of pity, allowing them into the Johnson Family. They aren’t directly related by blood to Grandpa, so they have no claim to the conglomerate’s inheritance. They were only given jobs there. Yet, Second Uncle, oblivious to the undertones of my words, frowned at Third Uncle with displeasure. “She’s been too unruly today and even hit Nora. We can’t let this slide.” “Lydia, it seems your delusions are worsening. Don’t force me to have you sent back to the institution!” The mention of the “institution” triggered my anger again, recalling the torment I endured before my death in my previous life. They had used fake family love and morals to manipulate me into conceding, all for Nora Johnson. They pushed me to retreat, step by step, leaving me in a miserable state. In the end, they even conspired to trick me into an institution to satisfy Nora’s morbid curiosity about how much blood a person could lose before dying. I was their real family, having genuinely cared for them since they joined the Johnson Family, sharing decades together. Yet, they preferred to indulge Nora, letting her assume my identity, disregarding familial bonds, just to please their mistress. Now, I understood. In my uncles’ eyes, a living person like me was insignificant compared to their so-called noble love. I could be discarded at will. But I’m curious, if they had to choose between Nora and power, which would they choose? Returning to the moment, I smirked coldly. “Do you dare to publicly declare again who the true Johnson Family Heiress and the conglomerate’s heir is?” Before my uncles could respond, a woman stormed out of the crowd, looking aggressive. She slapped me, her sharp nails scratching my cheek. “You have no right to make a scene here in Country A’s Leading Conglomerate’s territory!” Caught off guard, I took the hit, but even in my anger, I recognized the woman. She wasn’t anyone significant, just the illegitimate daughter of a small manager under the conglomerate. After meeting my uncles, she fantasized about marrying one of them. Later, she heard Nora was the Johnson Family Heiress, and to increase her chances of meeting my uncles, she followed Nora around like a loyal puppy. Too bad for her… she doesn’t realize how wrong she is. Nora isn’t any legitimate heiress; she’s just the cherished mistress! I narrowed my eyes, then slapped the illegitimate daughter back. While she was unprepared, I kicked her to the ground. “Who do you think you are, to act so insolently in front of me? Believe it or not, with just one word, I can have your whole family begging on their knees!” She rolled on the ground, clutching her stomach in disbelief, and screamed. “Lydia dared to hit me?! No one has ever dared to hit me since I was a child! “Just wait, I won’t let you off!” At this moment, Nora came forward to support her. “Yara, don’t be mad. Lydia has some mental issues. Let me apologize on her behalf, okay?” I rolled my eyes and mocked coldly: “Nora, you really have no shame! Why can’t you be content as a well-kept mistress? Do you have no self-awareness to impersonate the Johnson Family Heiress in such settings?” Sighing, I turned to the two uncles standing nearby. “You have one minute. Take your little lovers and leave, or don’t blame me for being rude!” Chapter Three My uncles stood still, their faces grim. “Lydia, I’m warning you, we have real power in the company now, and you’re just a poor student who hasn’t even entered the company. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you!” “Hey?—” A sudden middle-aged woman’s voice interrupted. “What are you all doing here? The shareholder meeting is about to start, hurry up and get inside!” The newcomer had an elegant aura, exuding a mature woman’s charm. It was my mother, Adeline. But she didn’t even glance at me, walking straight to Nora’s side. While wiping Nora’s tears with concern, she anxiously asked. “What happened, Nora? Who bullied you…?” “Let me deal with that blind fool!” Upon hearing this, Second Uncle immediately pointed at me, accusingly. “Sister-in-law, you arrived just in time! This poor student dares to impersonate the Johnson Family Heiress and spread lies here!” “As the main lady of the Johnson Family, you must teach her a lesson!” My mom was instantly furious, raising her hand to slap me. “Lydia, just because I haven’t been strict with you for a while, you think you can act so recklessly?” “Kneel and apologize to Nora now, or leave the Johnson Family and never come back!” Listening to my own mother’s malicious scolding, ignoring the facts, disappointment flooded my heart. Just like in my previous life, she stood with my uncles on Nora’s side. Pain throbbed in my chest. I never understood, I’m her daughter, while Nora is just a mistress of my uncles. But after knowing about Nora’s existence, my mother was overjoyed and went out of her way to be good to her. Later, when she found out my uncles were both keeping Nora, she was furious and threw a huge fit. That day, seeing my mom scold my uncles, I even spoke up for them. But my mom took her anger out on me, whipping me several times, leaving ugly scars on my back. Yet in the end, my mom allowed my uncles to continue keeping Nora and even arranged for Nora to be packaged as a wealthy, foreign-educated girl. She also told my uncles they must treat Nora well. They had to compete fairly, letting Nora decide who to be with. And whoever she chose would inherit all of my mom’s estate. Comparatively, Nora seemed more like her biological daughter. I only realized the truth after I died in my past life. Nora was actually the child my mom had with a lover before marrying my dad. Back then, to marry into a wealthy family, she hid the fact that she was pregnant and abandoned Nora, who was just a baby. Now, years later, finding Nora again, she naturally tried every way to make up for it. Poor Dad, who died young, never knew the woman he loved for years had a child behind his back. Thinking of this, a wave of nausea washed over me. “I’m not wrong! Why should I apologize?” “It’s my uncles who falsely claimed Nora is the Johnson Family Heiress and the heir to the conglomerate, Mom, don’t you have anything to say?” Upon hearing my words, Nora, with a pale face, shrank into my mother’s arms, tears streaming down her face. As expected, my mother couldn’t bear to see Nora suffer and became angry, slapping me twice again. “Lydia, stop being unreasonable! Nora is my daughter, the Johnson Family Heiress!” At that moment, all my grievances erupted, and I shouted at her. “Adeline, she’s your daughter, but what about me? How can you do this and face my dad?!” Adeline ignored my cries, coldly turning to instruct my uncles. “What are you waiting for, get this girl who bullied Nora out of here!” I felt a deep sadness. Is this the mother I’ve respected for eighteen years? The wife my dad loved for over twenty years? Dad probably never imagined that the two brothers he cared for would hurt his own daughter for a mistress. And his wife would nurture an illegitimate child while letting me be humiliated. At this moment, I truly felt it was all in vain, for me and my dad all these years. As the guards were about to grab me, I straightened my back, defiant. “Stop! This is the Johnson Family’s territory, who are you outsiders to give orders here!” I emphasized “Johnson Family” heavily. My words seemed to provoke Adeline, who lunged and grabbed my hair. She instructed my uncles to hold me down firmly, keeping me immobile. Swearing all the while. “The Johnson Family?! Over the years, I’ve managed everything inside and out, which matter in the conglomerate wasn’t handled by me, why should you inherit it?” Mom crazily slammed my head onto the floor, leaving my face bloodied. “Let me tell you! The conglomerate is mine, and I’ll decide who gets it!” My scalp felt like it was being torn apart, sweat pouring from my pain, yet my voice was firm. “The conglomerate is Dad’s. I’m his only daughter, I’m the heir!” Adeline’s anger intensified, kicking me repeatedly. “Lydia, stop dreaming about things that aren’t yours! I’ve decided to give the conglomerate to Nora as a dowry, you won’t get a single cent!” Mom, in a fit of rage, slammed my head against the floor, leaving my face covered in blood. “Listen here! The Conglomerate is mine, and I’ll decide who gets it!” The skin on my head felt like it was tearing apart, and cold sweat poured down from the pain, but my voice remained firm. “The Conglomerate belongs to Dad. I’m his only daughter, so I’m the rightful heir!” Adeline’s anger flared even more as she kicked me repeatedly. “Lydia Johnson, stop coveting what isn’t yours! I’ve already decided to give the Conglomerate to Nora as her dowry. You won’t get a single cent!” With these words, the crowd erupted in shock, their gazes toward Nora Johnson becoming more intense. At the same time, a deep, commanding male voice sounded from behind. “Adeline, who gave you the audacity to offer my Conglomerate to your illegitimate daughter as a dowry?” Chapter Four Upon hearing Grandpa’s authoritative voice, Mom and the two uncles quickly stopped what they were doing. As I saw the familiar old man before me, tears welled up in my eyes.

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I found myself in a novel as the malicious supporting character. But I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve even become friends with the heroine and married the gentle second lead. I always thought I was happy until I stumbled upon my husband’s diary. It turns out he was reborn. All these years of kindness were just to prevent me from harming the heroine… Holding the pregnancy test result and touching the tiny life inside me, I felt an unprecedented sense of security. I’ve been living in this world for 13 years, and at this moment, it feels like I’ve finally found a complete sense of belonging and attachment. I transmigrated into this novel world after my death, becoming the malicious supporting character with the same name as mine. But I thought I was lucky. I arrived before the story unfolded, so I hadn’t done anything to wrong the main characters. In fact, because of the female lead’s cheerful personality, we became best friends who could talk about anything. I turned into a guardian of love, encouraging her to pursue her romantic interests actively, watching her fall in love with the male lead, and sending her off as a bridesmaid when she married the man she loved. The female lead is the second person I want to share my good news with; as for the first, it’s obviously my husband. My husband, Declan, was originally the gentle second male lead in the novel, always silently protecting the female lead. Perhaps due to the butterfly effect of my changes, he no longer follows the female lead but focuses all his attention and affection on me. Walking together for 13 years, I truly felt loved, so I married for love without hesitation. Now, our little family is about to welcome a new life, and I can’t wait to share this good news with him.

I thought about it, and instead of saying it directly, I decided to let him discover it himself. I sneaked into the study, sat in his chair, and casually opened a drawer. An old notebook caught my eye. It stood out because it didn’t match the neat and uniform files around it. It should have been at the bottom, but a corner was accidentally exposed in the owner’s rush. I carefully picked up the notebook and couldn’t help but laugh. It was the type of girly notebook cover we used in our school days, worn with age, but the owner likely opened it frequently to record things, as the edges were curled, and the pages were yellowed. We never had secrets between us as a couple, so I opened it without any hesitation. On the title page was written in large English handwriting: Forever Love. I lowered my head with a shy smile, my face flushing. Could this be a love letter he wrote for me? I took out the pregnancy test result, planning to place it inside. I wanted to give him my most precious “love letter.” I carefully opened the first page and was instantly dumbfounded—my eternal love, Cora. Cora is the female lead in the story. Suddenly, I felt my blood reverse, and my whole body froze as if my throat was stuffed with heavy cotton, making it hard to breathe. My fingers trembled, yet uncontrollably, I read page by page. With a kind of obsessive self-torture, I read the entire diary word by word. Rather than a diary, it’s more like a love letter that can’t be sent, summarized in just a few words: Declan loves Cora but can’t be with her. It turns out Declan was reborn; it turns out Declan always loved Cora deeply; it turns out all of Declan’s care and affection for me was just an act! He needed to keep an eye on me to prevent any possibility of me harming the woman he loves. The joy of being pregnant vanished, leaving only bitterness in my heart. For 13 years, I never thought of harming Cora, but at this moment, I truly envied her. I envied her for the brief kindness and warmth she once gave, which made a man remember her deeply for 13 years, even at the cost of entangling with the malicious supporting character to ensure her happiness. My heart was in turmoil, tangled with pain and despair, and I couldn’t even remember how long I cried, just feeling that everything around me turned into a terrifying illusion.

Exhausted, I fell asleep on the sofa until Declan came home and woke me up. He was reeking of alcohol, staggering as he walked. “Honey, I’m back…” he said with a smile. “Sorry, I had a business dinner tonight, so I came back late.” I smiled bitterly, the smile not reaching my eyes, yet I still fulfilled my duty as a wife. I went to help him, undoing his tightly buttoned tie and loosening the collar. “Thank you, honey, you’re so good.” I gazed at Declan, realizing his gratitude was very perfunctory. If he paid a bit more attention, he would have noticed the redness and swelling in my eyes. Perhaps pretending to deal with me has become a habit for him. I helped Declan to the bed, undressed him, and prepared to clean his face and body. Drunk, Declan’s willpower slackened, as if he let down his guard, revealing his true feelings with weary vulnerability. “Cora…” I flinched, thinking I was hallucinating. I stared at Declan, my nails digging into my palms. “Cora.” The cruel reminder echoed again. In a self-destructive manner, I subconsciously imitated Cora’s tone. “Declan.” Declan suddenly grabbed my hand tightly, his drunken eyes filled with tenderness and affection. “Cora, as long as you’re happy, everything I do is worth it.” A short sentence fixed me once again in the cage of deception. I felt breathless, everything before me becoming bizarre, and I fled from the bedroom in a mix of running and hiding. It turns out the love I chose without hesitation was a joke from start to finish.

I didn’t sleep well. The various things the malicious supporting character Phoebe did in the novel replayed crazily in my mind. Phoebe bullied the female lead with her group, hired thugs to humiliate the female lead, and used her family background to oppress the female lead, and so on… In the dream, Phoebe suddenly turned back, with a face identical to mine. That face was twisted and ferocious, even I found it terrifying. In dreams, time flies, the male lead and the second male lead quickly grow and then take revenge on me. Declan’s cold, indifferent eyes calmly stared at me, as if looking at a dead object. “Since you like ruining others’ innocence, go experience it yourself.” In despair, I was humiliated to death and discarded by a filthy garbage pile, dying in agony. “No!” I shouted, waking myself up! I looked up into Declan’s concerned eyes, overlapping with the brutal and fierce image in the dream, and I trembled in fright. Declan was covering me with a blanket, looking confused. “Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you sleeping on the sofa, you’ll catch a cold.” “Honey, are you mad at me for drinking too much last night? Sorry, the client was important.” I shook my head, engulfed in fatigue and fear, not wanting to say anything. There’s no guest room in our house. Declan once promised he would never make me mad enough to send him to sleep in a guest room. Even if he did upset me, he’d be sensible enough to sleep on the floor beside me. But when conflicts really arose, I didn’t even have a space of my own. I was indeed under his watchful eye. Declan didn’t notice anything unusual about me, frowning pitifully. “Honey, I had a tough time at the business dinner yesterday, my head hurts a lot, where’s the hangover soup?” “I forgot.” I didn’t make any at all. Declan’s family isn’t wealthy, while I’m a typical rich second generation. He always said he wanted to earn my father’s approval through his own efforts, to achieve more to deserve me. So Declan worked hard. He didn’t accept help from the Aiden family, choosing to start his own business. In the early years, to secure projects, he drank heavily with partners, almost getting a stomach ulcer. I loved Declan deeply, and as his wife, I always took care of him personally. For the sake of his health, I found many remedies and often stayed up all night to help him recover from hangovers. If I were unaware of his true feelings, I might have continued being a dutiful wife. However, in reality, my efforts were all one-sided. [Phoebe used her family background to harm Cora, I can’t let her have any chance to harm Cora. I must achieve success in the business world, have enough power to rival Phoebe’s old man. If they harm Cora like the last life, I’ll make the Phoebe family pay a painful price!] Declan’s desperate efforts were merely to gain real power, to protect his true love.

“Honey, what’s wrong today? You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell? Let me take you to the hospital.” I stared blankly at the man before me, wondering how much sincerity was in his concern. I hesitated about confronting Declan when suddenly my phone rang. The caller ID showed two big words—Cora. Declan quickly picked up the phone and handed it to me, signaling with his eyes, “Take it.” I numbly pressed answer, and Cora’s cheerful voice came through. “Phoebe, darling, remember we’re going to the art exhibit today?” “I remember.” “Let’s meet at the Coffee Shop in front of the Art Gallery, okay? Old Ho is dropping me off on his way to work.” “Okay.” Before I could speak, Declan said, “You have plans with Cora today, let me drive you there.” “No need, your office isn’t on the way.” Declan lovingly touched my cheek. “Silly, driving my wife anywhere is on the way. Go change your clothes!” Declan went back to the room to freshen up, his back radiating happiness. He’s going to see his beloved, of course, he’s thrilled. “Remember.” “Let’s meet directly at the Coffee Shop in front of the Art Gallery. He can drop me off on his way to work.” “Alright.” I hung up the phone, and before I could say anything, Declan spoke first, “You have plans with Cora today? Let me take you there.” “No need. Your office is out of the way.” Declan affectionately touched my cheek. “Silly, taking my wife anywhere is always my pleasure. Go get changed!” Declan got up to freshen up, his back radiating happiness. Of course, he’s thrilled to see the one he loves. He seemed to have forgotten that he just mentioned taking me to the hospital because I looked unwell. In Declan’s world, nothing is more important than Cora. — When Declan dropped me off at the Coffee Shop, Cora was happily sipping a Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino. She naturally handed me a cup of hot milk, greeting me cheerfully. Declan gently reminded me, “Girls shouldn’t drink too many cold beverages. It’s bad for your health and can cause discomfort at certain times. You’re not a kid anymore; you should be more careful.” Cora teased with a smile, “Wow, showing off your affection right in front of me.” Declan replied with a smile, “You too, drink less cold stuff!” So much preamble for a simple reminder to her. The hot milk in my hand felt uncomfortably warm. Actually, I don’t like cold drinks. His concern was never really for me. “Got it, got it. You’re so naggy. Only Phoebe can put up with you.” Declan chuckled and turned to me, “I’ll pick you up for lunch. I remember you saying you wanted to try the new Spanish restaurant in Phoebe City.” Once doubt creeps in, you realize how insincerely his concern is acted. It wasn’t me who wanted to try the Spanish restaurant; it was Cora. But I was blindly in love, and he played his part well. Now that the truth is out, I see I was just blinded by my own ignorance. Cora held me close. “Okay, okay, you should go. Don’t interrupt our girl time.” She pulled me inside, mumbling non-stop. “Phoebe, I’m so excited for Master Gu’s work…” I instinctively looked back at the man in the distance. He was watching us with a scrutinizing gaze, but when our eyes met, he quickly hid his emotions. He put on a performance of deep affection, acting all affectionate. Declan, aren’t you tired? Certainly! 7 After the art exhibit ended, we had just stepped out of the Art Gallery when Declan’s car approached slowly. He had asked me several times when he should pick us up. If it were in the past, I would have thought it was a sign of his love and care.

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I used to think I was the luckiest person in the world. Even though I have breast cancer, and my daughter was born blind in her right eye. But fortunately, I have a gentle doctor husband who never gave up on me. On the day of my surgery to remove one of my breasts due to worsening cancer, I accidentally overheard a conversation with my husband, Declan. “What if your wife finds out she isn’t sick at all, and you were just deceiving her to make Celeste happy? What would she do?” “What could she do? After today, she’ll be left with one breast and a blind daughter. It would be too late to beg me not to leave!” Laughter came from the consultation room. “Her daughter wasn’t blind to begin with, wasn’t it you who took one of her corneas at birth to give to Celeste’s daughter? Why only take one? You should have blinded both of her eyes!” “Don’t rush, this is just to see if Celeste’s daughter has any rejection reaction. I’ll arrange for the other eye’s surgery next week.” Next week? That will be Declan’s downfall. 01 If I hadn’t left my patient wristband in my husband’s office, And went back to hear all of this, I would already be on the operating table, having one of my breasts removed! Hearing the laughter from the office, I suddenly felt a wave of nausea. Am I just a pawn to Declan, someone he can manipulate and destroy just to please Celeste? “Dr. Declan, your wife’s surgery is about to start, aren’t you going to check on her?” Declan’s assistant’s voice came from inside. “What’s there to see? Even if she dies on the operating table, I wouldn’t care. She’s not even a complete woman anymore, just thinking about it makes me more disgusted!” Declan replied impatiently, and I could imagine his disdainful expression behind the door. “Sigh, aren’t you going too far? Her body is perfectly fine…” The assistant’s voice sounded hesitant, perhaps battling with the last bit of conscience. Suddenly, there was a sound of something being smashed on the ground, followed by Declan’s slightly angry voice. “Who told her to have a better figure than Celeste! It’s normal for Celeste to dislike her! Besides, it’s just one breast, there’s still the other one!” “And her blind daughter, too, leaving her with one cornea was already a grace! Letting her enjoy these four years of light!” “Next week, I’ll take her left cornea for Celeste’s daughter!” Listening to Declan’s angry voice, the assistant dared not say another word. I quietly left the office and went into the operating room to tell the attending physician, Gideon. “I suddenly have an urgent matter today, can we cancel the surgery?” Gideon actually looked relieved, “I always said you didn’t need the surgery, it’s great to hear you say this…” Gideon was my senior in university, and six months ago, he transferred to this hospital as the chief oncologist. When he first took over my case, Gideon showed a puzzled expression. “Maeve, which hospital diagnosed you with breast cancer? I looked at your CT report, and everything seems normal.” “It’s just some mild breast nodules, caused by long-term anxiety, it’ll go away when you’re in a better mood.” But under Declan’s influence, I was more willing to believe my own husband. I still remember the first time Declan told me I had breast cancer, I felt like the sky was falling. Declan held me tightly, looking at me with deep affection and said, “Honey, we’ll actively treat this, I won’t leave you.” So under his guidance, I underwent chemotherapy again and again, soon after losing hair and losing weight rapidly. I became as withered as a tree. “Honey, the side effects of chemotherapy are quite severe, I’ll stay with you through it.” Just like that, under Declan’s manipulation, I was convinced I had cancer. Even though Gideon raised objections multiple times, I only refuted him with Declan’s words. “My husband said, cancer isn’t something you look at on the surface, you have to look at it in the long term!” “I still need to watch my daughter grow up, I must eliminate any factors that could cause cancer in the future!” I had my doubts too, why would Gideon, an ophthalmologist, know so much about oncology? It was full of loopholes, but for love, I chose to deceive myself. Seeing Gideon in the operating room breathe a sigh of relief, I said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Dr. Gideon, I trusted the wrong person before.” Gideon waved his hand, looking relaxed and said, “It’s not too late now, if you underwent this surgery today, there really would be no turning back.” I looked up, staring directly at Gideon, a plan for revenge forming in my heart. “Dr. Gideon, I want to ask you to help me put on a show.” 02 When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed, my upper body wrapped in bandages. It took a while before Declan came into the room, with Celeste following behind! He walked to the bedside, gently held my hand, and said affectionately, “Dr. Gideon said the surgery was a success, but the bandages can’t be removed yet.” I nodded weakly, not saying a word. Celeste, however, sat on the couch and started eating the snacks on the table. “Maeve! You really had one of your breasts removed! Tsk tsk, what a pity.” “Remember in high school, the boys were all after you because of those two pieces of meat!” Celeste has been my best friend since childhood, and since puberty, she’s consciously competed with me. Whether it’s grades, looks, or love, she must always be first. I developed better than her, so she would join with the boys to ridicule my physical features, making me only dare to wear loose clothes for years. In high school, when a boy and I had a mutual affection, Celeste found out and confessed to him first. After getting together with the boy, she quickly dumped him, as if just to prove to me that she got him first. As for grades, she often sabotaged me the night before exams. Either by setting up prank calls in the middle of the night to wake me, or by calling some hooligans to shout outside my building at night. And today I found out, She had already been involved with my husband! Watching her smug look on the couch, I wanted to tear her face apart. “Celeste, it was you the boys were after.” “Weren’t you with almost every one of them?” I said quietly from the hospital bed. Celeste froze for a moment, clearly not expecting me to say that. She suddenly stood up, pointing at me. “I think you’re just jealous! Trying every way to grab their attention with tight clothes!” “Didn’t expect they preferred me! It’s only Declan you managed to fool! If you don’t believe me, ask him!” “Declan, I’ll give you another chance, who do you choose, me or Maeve?” She said, throwing a flirtatious glance at Declan, which I caught. Declan coughed awkwardly, then slowly said, “Do you want the truth or a lie?” Celeste looked down at me, smugly saying, “Go ahead and tell the truth, Maeve doesn’t like hearing lies, right?” Declan didn’t look at me, instead, he looked at Celeste with amusement. “It should…be you, Celeste. I’ve been with my wife too long, it’s not about liking or disliking anymore.” “It’s more of a family responsibility.” Celeste laughed triumphantly, looking at me with a winner’s posture. But I stared at Declan, asking him, “Honey, are you sure you want to say you prefer Celeste right after my surgery?” Declan, annoyed by my question, answered with a hint of anger. “This is just hypothetical! See, you’re taking it seriously again.” “You take things too seriously, that’s why I find Celeste more interesting.” Watching the two of them acting in sync, I couldn’t help but smirk internally, Enjoy it while it lasts, your good days are numbered. 03 Early the next morning, I went through the discharge procedures, Normally, I should stay in the hospital for 3 days. But I didn’t actually have surgery, and Gideon approved my discharge backstage. As soon as I got home, my daughter ran to me, jumping up and down and hugging me, “Mom! Dad said you were having surgery in the hospital! Are you okay!” “Lark missed you a lot, but she was very good about eating and sleeping on time.” I kissed my daughter’s little cheeks twice, “Mom’s fine! From today on, Mom won’t leave you for a single day!” My daughter twirled around happily, then excitedly told me, “Mom, tomorrow there’s a play at school! I’m going to perform on stage!” “The teacher said I can invite my mom and dad! Will you and dad come to watch me?” Seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, of course, I wanted to go, but I wasn’t sure if Declan would have time. “Sweet Lark, of course, Mom will go. I’ll call Dad right now.” With that, I took out my phone to call Declan. It rang for a long time before his impatient voice came through. “Didn’t I say no calling during work unless it’s important!” Afraid my daughter would hear Declan’s impatient tone, I went to the balcony before replying. “I saw it’s lunchtime…so I called.” “Our daughter has a school play tomorrow, let’s go watch together?” Looking into my daughter’s hopeful eyes, I wanted to say yes, but I wasn’t sure if Declan was available. “Sweetheart, Lark, of course, I’ll go. Let me call your dad right now.” With that, I took out my phone and dialed Declan. The phone rang for a long time before he answered, sounding impatient. “Haven’t I told you not to bother me at work unless it’s an emergency?” Worried that my daughter might hear Declan’s impatience, I stepped out onto the balcony before responding. “I noticed it was your lunch break, so I figured it was a good time to call.” “There’s a play at our daughter’s school tomorrow. Do you think we can watch it together?” To my surprise, Declan got angry on the other end of the line. “Don’t I deserve a break during lunch too? My life doesn’t revolve around you!” “I’ve already promised Celeste that I’d be at her daughter’s performance. Lark and her daughter go to the same school. Just let her know I’ll be there.” “I’ll be there anyway. Kids don’t understand much.” Before hanging up, I heard Celeste’s teasing voice in the background. “Who’s bothering us during lunch~” I ended the call and returned to the room, putting on a smile for my daughter. “Dad said he’ll come! But he’s too busy to leave with us.” “But he’ll be there watching Lark perform!” My daughter jumped with joy and ran back to her room to practice her lines for the play. The next day, I arrived at my daughter’s school early with a camera to capture the precious moments. I quietly made my way backstage, planning to film my daughter getting ready, when laughter erupted from the dressing room. “Lark Jiang, you’re a one-eyed pirate! A little blind girl, hahaha!” “My mom said you can’t see with one eye! You’re a one-eyed pirate!” Peeking through the crack in the door, I saw my daughter dressed as a pirate, her blind eye covered with an eye patch. Suddenly, Celeste and her daughter appeared. Celeste looked at Lark with disdain. “Lark Jiang, this role suits you perfectly. You’re missing an eye, and your mom’s missing a breast. What a pair of incomplete mother and daughter.” The kids didn’t understand Celeste’s words, but they found them funny. So, they all laughed, pointing at my daughter and calling her a one-eyed pirate! I rushed in and picked up my daughter, whose eyes were red with hurt, but she didn’t cry until I came in. Then, she clung to my neck and sobbed. “Mommy, I don’t want to perform anymore. I want to go home…” I gently patted Lark’s back to comfort her. “It’s okay, Lark. If you don’t want to perform, we won’t. Let’s go home.” But Celeste wasn’t done, smiling wickedly at me. “Maeve, kids are just playing around. They don’t know any better. You’re taking it too seriously.” “Declan will scold you again when he sees this.” Seeing her brazenly hurting Lark, I made up my mind. With a slight smile, I looked at Celeste and said, “If I remember correctly, your daughter also can’t see out of one eye?” Celeste got defensive upon hearing my words. “What nonsense are you talking about! It’s fine if your daughter is one-eyed, but why drag my daughter into it?” Her daughter mimicked her, arrogantly glaring at Lark. “Yeah! I’m playing the princess, and you’re a pirate! My mommy said pirates are thieves of the sea!” “Lark Jiang, you’re a thief!” My daughter, who had just calmed down, began to sob again, muttering softly. “I’m not a thief…” Seeing my daughter’s hurt expression broke my heart! “Kids, it turns out someone who can’t see out of one eye can be a princess! So our Lark is a princess too!” “Nora can’t see out of one eye either! If you don’t believe me, cover her right eye, and she won’t see a thing!” The kids, hearing this, rushed over playfully, covering one of Nora’s eyes. Sure enough, she immediately couldn’t see, stumbling around. Celeste hurriedly pushed the kids away and held Nora tightly in her arms. She glared at me, saying, “Maeve! You used the kids to harm my daughter! How can you do this to a child!” I scoffed, questioning her back. “Didn’t you teach them? If you hadn’t brought it up, would the kids have been so malicious?” Celeste opened her mouth to retort, but the teacher and other parents walked in, and she had to stop. I picked up my daughter and was about to leave, but she insisted on staying. “Mommy, Nora can’t see out of one eye, but she can be a princess. Why can’t I?” I crouched down, stroking my daughter’s head, and gently explained. “Lark, do you know why pirates wear an eye patch?” “It’s not because they can’t see out of one eye. It’s to quickly adapt to darkness and defeat their enemies.” “Our Lark is the same. Wait for the enemy’s weakest moment in the dark, and take them down.” Lark suddenly looked up, her eyes shining brightly. “Mommy, I want to continue performing!” The performance that day went smoothly. Lark’s portrayal of the little pirate overshadowed the lead, drawing applause from the audience.

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Three years after leaving the country, I arrived at Capital Airport with my twin children. The always cold CEO sent a message: “Returned?” Without hesitation, I lied, “No, I’m still in the U.S., about to go to bed.” But in the blink of an eye, he was standing right in front of me, his gaze fixed intently on my two kids. “Is this why you disappeared?” “Do you realize I never agreed to the divorce? What you’ve done is betrayal!” I let out a cold laugh and touched the prayer beads on his wrist. “You didn’t want to have children with me, so I found someone who did.” When we got married, Asher promised he loved me deeply. He said he’d do anything for me, except break his vows. But then, his first love returned. She claimed that if she could make Asher break his vows nine times, I should willingly leave him. I lost that challenge, utterly defeated. After Beatrix returned, she challenged me, suggesting we see who could make Asher break his vows nine times first. I smirked and wrote down the terms of the bet on the spot: “If you win, I’ll bow out. But if you lose, I’ll make it impossible for you to stay in Beijing City.” But only I knew how uncertain I truly felt. In our three years of marriage, Asher would do anything I asked, except break his vows. Within a week, he started coming home less frequently. Determined, I put on the new lingerie I bought and walked into his quiet room. I took his hand and guided it down my body… I could feel his breath becoming heavier, his eyes filled with a new desire. But then his phone rang, and he snapped out of it, pushing me away and storming out. He didn’t return for three hours. I stood there, feeling the warmth drain from my body, unable to think. Until Beatrix appeared, flaunting a used strawberry-flavored item, showing me the sticky substance inside. “Adeline, this marks the ninth time.” “I told you, Asher loves me. Why don’t you believe it?” “A bet is a bet.” Looking at her smug expression, I thought of how I had just humiliated myself, begging Asher for attention. A wave of dizziness hit me. Why was I degrading myself like this? Before I married, I was the prized daughter of the Beijing Circle. Why was I now reduced to competing with Beatrix for a place in bed? Feigning indifference, I took out the signed divorce papers from the bedside drawer. “Take it and leave.” Beatrix raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You confronted Asher?” I shrugged nonchalantly. “No, Asher said I could decide about the divorce on my own.” “He’s just a man. If you want him, he’s yours.” But seeing Asher’s name on the papers… My heart felt pierced. This was Asher’s wedding gift to me. Asher always kept his promises. He stopped my hands from undoing his buttons, saying he had to keep his vows for three years and asked me to wait for him. But if I ever grew tired… I could sign my name on the divorce papers anytime, and he would accept my decision. At that time, I was overjoyed, thinking I had him for life. Now I realized how foolish I was. Was he setting me free or just making it easy for him to escape anytime? Beatrix reviewed the papers twice, showing a satisfied smile. “Miss Adeline, as decisive as ever.” “Everyone in Beijing City knows you spent five years pursuing Asher. I thought you’d cry.” “How about this, in a week, when Asher fully leaves his vows behind, I’ll give him these papers as a gift.” “You both won’t have to torment each other anymore.” I coldly showed her out. But I had to admit Beatrix was right. Keeping someone who doesn’t love me by my side for five years, if not torture, then what is it? I opened my phone and found the tickets to Iceland for Asher and me next week. Asher doesn’t like traveling abroad, but I insisted. Was he thinking how troublesome I was, always asking for so much, when he agreed? I used my finger to cancel Asher’s ticket. If that’s the case, I’ll let him go. This mistake shouldn’t continue.

Not long after Beatrix left, I went to bed. In a daze, someone lay beside me, wrapping their arm around my waist from behind. I irritably pushed his hand away. “Why aren’t you in your quiet room? What are you doing here?” His breath was warm on my neck, and after a long silence, he asked, “Why did you cancel the Iceland tickets?” My heart grew even more annoyed and frustrated. I replied, “Can’t I just not want to go?” while pushing his body away: “Stay away from me.” But when my hand pressed on his chest, Asher let out a muffled groan, as if in great pain. I felt something odd on his chest and lifted his shirt. At that moment, I felt the world spin. A piercing was right on his chest! And next to it, two small letters were tattooed: QZ. I didn’t know if my eyes were red, just felt like tears were about to overflow, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “What is this?” Does Asher like Beatrix so much that he’d do anything for her? Back when Asher’s parents died, and his relatives took everything, even hiring thugs to bully him, it was me who smashed heads with a beer bottle to ensure he wasn’t humiliated. Asher said he wanted to become a monk. I stayed by his side, never forcing him to do anything, loving him with all I had. Until he opened his heart and agreed to marry me. How laughable. He wouldn’t break his vows for me. But he could pierce his body for another woman, like a pet marked by its owner? If Asher was unwilling, who could force him? Was this their idea of fun? Or did Beatrix want me to see how low Asher could stoop for her? Asher frowned, pulling down his shirt. “No need to make a fuss, it’s just something strung. If you don’t like it, I won’t wear it.” “As for the letters, Adeline, I’ll explain them to you later.” Then he hesitated and walked out of the bedroom. “I’m going to copy Buddhist Scriptures, you should sleep early.” I noticed his prayer beads had been replaced with a string of white Bodhi beads—not the Rosewood beads I climbed thousands of steps to get for him. I gritted my teeth and called the butler. “Find out where Asher went today and who he was with.” “And where his bracelet went.” Soon after, a surveillance video was sent to me. In the video, Asher was taking drink after drink from Beatrix’s hand, looking utterly drunk. Several friends at the table were amazed. “I heard Asher is a Buddhist, doesn’t drink a drop. Beatrix, you’re quite something.” “Right, back in school, Asher only treated Beatrix well. Seems her going abroad didn’t change a thing.” “I heard Asher’s married now, his wife at home is quite something.” Beatrix laughed, holding Asher’s hand. “If I hadn’t gone abroad, how could Adeline have married Asher?” “And I told Asher not to touch Adeline, and he really didn’t. What kind of love is that, need I say more?” My heart took a hard hit. What does Asher take me for? He climbed out of life’s muck with my help, yet he faithfully obeyed the so-called true love’s command, keeping absurd chastity for her? Beatrix patted Asher’s face, waking him from his daze. “Throw this bracelet away, I bought you a new one, you can only wear mine from now on.” The man seemed hesitant. But under Beatrix’s prodding, he took off the bracelet and tossed it on the ground. Perhaps even the heavens couldn’t bear it. The moment it hit the ground, the string snapped, beads scattering everywhere. Just like my heart, shattered into pieces. The butler handed me two of the beads. “Miss, the rest of the beads were taken by cleaning staff, should I retrieve them?” I laughed bitterly. “No need.” “What’s the point of retrieving a few beads.” Asher, like these prayer beads. Once a treasured jewel I painstakingly sought and held dear. Now fallen to the ground, dirtied—it’s nothing.

I ordered Asher’s belongings to be packed and sent back to his own home. Asher entered with breakfast, brushing past the movers. Seeing his incense burner, Buddhist Scriptures, and meditation mat being carried out, he was bewildered. “What’s going on?” “Adeline, are you moving?” I gave him a big smile. “Yes, I’ve lived here too long, it’s annoying now.” Then I glanced at the tray in his hand. A dish of pickles, a bowl of white porridge, and a few slices of bread. Not even an egg. Asher doesn’t eat meat, so I’ve also eaten vegetarian for years. So I grabbed my bag and headed out. “You keep it for yourself.” Ignoring his surprised look completely. I no longer cared what Asher thought. That night, I gathered with some Beijing Circle sisters at a bar for drinks, also planning to say goodbye. My friends teased me non-stop. “Miss Adeline out drinking, aren’t you afraid your precious, fastidious husband will be mad?” “Yeah, the little princess has been so virtuous since marriage, what changed today?” I sneered. “Being virtuous should be for someone worthy.” Just then, a commotion erupted in a corner of the bar. Two people were having a drinking contest. Whoever downed twelve cocktails first could take a woman home that night. I ignored his look of surprise entirely. I don’t care what Asher thinks now. That evening, I gathered a few friends from the Beijing social circle for a farewell at a bar. My friends teased me relentlessly. “Miss Adeline is out drinking. Aren’t you worried that your fussy, neat-freak husband will get upset?” “Yeah, the darling of the Beijing Circle has been the perfect wife since getting married. What’s changed today?” I let out a cold laugh. “Being faithful should be reserved for someone who deserves it.” At that moment, a commotion erupted in the corner of the bar. People were saying that two individuals were about to have a drinking contest. Whoever finishes twelve cocktails first gets to take a woman home tonight. My friends went to check it out, but they returned looking troubled. “Adeline, you should go see. It’s your husband, Asher.” I didn’t react. I knew I should be surprised—that a husband who never drinks would go to such lengths for another woman. But inside, I felt nothing. It was as if my love for Asher had died yesterday. I even led everyone over with a sense of amusement. “Let’s go watch the spectacle.” Asher stood at the long table lined with drinks, visibly shocked to see me. But as soon as he took a step, the bartender reminded him. “Sir, leaving now means forfeiting. Are you sure you want to give up?” He glanced at me, then at Beatrix, hesitated, and turned away. “No forfeiting.” Beatrix leaned in, speaking maliciously under the cover of the loud bar music. “Adeline, maybe you should try to talk to Asher?” “After all, you won’t be husband and wife much longer. You can still ask him a few more times.” “But then again, if Asher doesn’t listen to you even once, that’s pretty sad, isn’t it?” I ignored Beatrix and just stared at Asher’s face. His eyes never met mine, intentionally avoiding me. He kept fiddling with his Prayer Beads. I know him; it’s a sign he’s nervous and guilty. The onlookers were moved by his and Beatrix’s supposed love. “Drinking all twelve would definitely land you in the hospital. This guy must really love his girlfriend.” “True love indeed, wish them eternal happiness.” The veins on Asher’s forehead pulsed. He shouted, “Shut up.” Then, turning to me, he whispered, “Adeline, I have my reasons. I’ll explain everything when we get home.” I smiled. I gently reminded him. “Asher, you promised to keep your vows for three years. Just three more days.” “If you drink this, our agreement means nothing.” His expression froze. He was silent for a long time before nodding. “Then it means nothing. Let’s go home tonight. I’ll make it up to you.” I knew he meant consummating our marriage. But now, I just wanted to laugh. He finally chose to break his vow for me, after having done everything he shouldn’t for another woman. I took off my wedding ring. Dropped it into his drink, then turned to leave. But with so many people around, I accidentally knocked over a champagne tower. Countless glasses crashed down. I heard Asher shouting my name. But in the crucial moment, he protected Beatrix instead. Glasses shattered on the ground, and as my vision faded to black, I saw Asher running toward me. I knew he picked me up, his hands trembling. He whispered in my ear over and over that he loved me. But the words made me sick. When I woke, it was three days later. My friends said that after I was rushed to the emergency room, Asher stayed outside the whole time, refusing to bandage his own bleeding injuries. They said Asher stayed by my bedside these past few days, doing everything himself, not letting anyone else even wipe my face. They also said Asher prepared a huge banquet hall filled with my favorite cornflowers, though they didn’t know what for. I called the butler: “Take me to the airport.” As the car left the hospital, I saw Asher’s car arriving. When our cars passed, I rolled up the window. Asher was genuinely happy. He had owed Beatrix twelve wishes, and the drinking contest was the last one. Asher thought he could finally let Beatrix go and wholeheartedly love his wife. But when he entered the hospital room. The bed was empty. Every inch of the sheets was perfectly smooth, with no sign of wrinkles. In that moment, his face showed confusion, doubt, and finally, indescribable panic. Beatrix handed him a document with a bright smile. “Asher, you’re finally free!” “This is the divorce agreement Adeline signed. We can finally be together again!” It appears the text you provided is incomplete or missing. Could you please share the specific text you need translated? ### Chapter 2

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Three years ago, I entered into a business arrangement for the sake of my family’s company, agreeing to a three-year marriage contract with Gideon Reed of Reed Corporation. During these years, whenever rumors surfaced about Gideon and Phoebe Walters from Walters Corporation, I would always step forward to clarify the situation on their behalf. But today, when Phoebe confronted me with ultrasound results, I had to face the truth. “Gideon hasn’t been with you all these years, has he? You’ve held this title for three years. It’s time you acknowledge reality and stop dreaming about something that’s not yours.” At that moment, I knew it was time. “Let’s get a divorce.” I presented the divorce papers to Gideon. After three years, this contractual marriage was finally reaching its end. He sneered, tapping his elegant fingers on the table. “Don’t forget, I paid for you!” I laughed. The next day, at the company’s shareholders’ meeting, I attended as the CEO. Holding another man’s hand, under Gideon’s pale gaze, I calmly announced, “I am divorced, and this is my new fiancé.”

Three years ago, I stood by the floor-length window in the top office of Reed Corporation, clutching the newly signed marriage agreement. The edges of the paper were crumpled from my tense grip. “Miss Adeline Reed, I hope you remember your role.” Gideon’s voice came from behind, cold and businesslike. “This is merely a transaction.” As I turned to leave, Phoebe Walters passed by me, her eyes filled with challenge and disdain, silently reminding me that I was just a pawn bought with money. She threw herself into Gideon’s arms, his eyes soft and tender as he looked at her. But when he looked at me, his gaze was always distant. Three years ago, when my father suddenly fell ill, our family business faced a crisis. Even in decline, our company held valuable core nanotechnology. My father agreed to Reed Corporation’s investment proposal, with the condition that Gideon and I marry. Gideon, always the astute businessman, agreed after some thought but demanded that I sign a marriage contract in private. For three years, Gideon consistently reminded me that ours was a contractual marriage. So, when rumors about him and Phoebe frequently emerged, I always remembered my role and helped clear them up. But today, Phoebe invited me to a café and confronted me with the ultrasound results. “Gideon hasn’t been with you all these years, has he? You’ve held this title for three years. It’s time you acknowledge reality and stop dreaming about something that’s not yours.” “Will you leave voluntarily, or do you need Gideon to force you out? Let’s keep this dignified, shall we?” When I returned home in the evening, finding Gideon there was unusual. His usual cold gaze sent a shiver down my spine. After hesitating for a moment, I finally said the words that should have ended this farce long ago. Unexpectedly, we both spoke at the same time. “Have you eaten?” “Let’s divorce.” The atmosphere instantly cooled. I saw Gideon’s slight frown. “Adeline, you don’t have the right to bring this up. Don’t forget, you were bought for a high price. I decide when it ends.” He dropped these words and headed to the bathroom. I was grateful to him for spending three billion to save the Reed Family, but every time he humiliated me, my heart still ached. Touching the wedding ring on my finger, its cold texture reminded me of the essence of this marriage—a three-billion-dollar investment in exchange for the empty title of Mrs. Reed. On our wedding night, Gideon didn’t even toast with me. He signed the marriage agreement and rushed back to the company for a ‘meeting.’ Not long after he left, Phoebe sent a photo of herself nestled in Gideon’s embrace, with a hotel in the background. The sound of water in the bathroom suddenly stopped. I hastily wiped my eyes. Gideon emerged in a robe, his hair still dripping. Upon seeing me, he frowned noticeably: “Why are you still here?” Since our marriage, we had slept in separate rooms. Gideon confined my activities to the guest room. “I…” I stood up nervously and accidentally knocked over the scented candle on the table. The sound of glass shattering was particularly piercing in the silent bedroom. “Sorry, I’ll clean it up right away…” He grabbed my wrist. “No need.” I froze, smelling the faint scent of cedarwood and shower gel on him. This was the first time we were so close. Close enough for me to see the shadow his eyelashes cast. “Mrs. Reed,” he let go of my hand, his tone warning, “remember your role. Play your part well. You have no right to have your own thoughts.” Role. What a ridiculous word. I crouched down to pick up the glass shards, not realizing my palm was cut and bleeding. It wasn’t until I heard the sound of the master bedroom door being locked that I realized I was crying. As night deepened, I curled up in the guest room bed, staring at the message my father sent me. “Adeline, you’ve worked hard all these years.” Suddenly, lightning flashed outside, followed by pouring rain. Driven by a strange impulse, I walked to the master bedroom door, raising my hand to knock—when I was little and afraid of thunder, I always hugged a stuffed animal and went to find my mom. But my hand fell back down, remembering this wasn’t home, and Gideon wasn’t someone who would comfort me. Just then, my phone screen lit up, a text from an unknown number appeared. “Miss Reed, how have you been? You’re such a heartless woman. I was planning to propose to you when I returned to the country.” I stared at the unknown number, my heart skipped a beat. I knew who it was. Asher Greene. Gideon’s biggest overseas business rival, and… my first love.

The rain battered the floor-to-ceiling windows. I stared at the text, my fingers hovering above the screen, unable to reply. Asher Greene— That name was like a sharp knife, easily cutting open the memories I had carefully sealed. The phone suddenly vibrated, startling me nearly into dropping it. It was an unknown number, and I couldn’t resist pressing the answer button. “Hello?” I lowered my voice, fearing to wake the person in the master bedroom. “Adeline, long time no see.” A deep male voice came from the other end, with a lazy smile. “How’s life as Mrs. Reed?” I gripped the phone tightly: “How do you know my number?” “I always know what I want to know.” He paused, “Like I know you’re hiding in the guest room crying right now.” I quickly looked around, feeling as if he was watching me from a corner: “Are you spying on me?” “I just happened to see your husband with another woman going to a hotel yesterday after I returned to the country, so I guessed you weren’t doing well.” I bit my lip, a sharp pain piercing my heart. His voice suddenly turned serious, “Open the door, I’m downstairs at your house.” “What?” I rushed to the window and indeed saw a black Maybach parked in the rain, its headlights casting blurry halos in the rain. “Are you crazy? This is Gideon’s mansion!” “So what?” He chuckled, “Afraid your husband will be jealous?” “Your husband already has a new girlfriend. I don’t mind being your boyfriend. It’s fair like that.” I bit my lip, not answering. He always teased like this, often leaving me blushing and at a loss for words. In the sound of the rain, I heard the car door close on the other end, followed by the sound of leather shoes stepping into a puddle. He really got out of the car. “Asher Greene! Don’t you—” “Either you come down, or I ring the doorbell.” He interrupted me, “Choose one.” I hurriedly put on a coat and slipped downstairs barefoot. As I opened the side door of the mansion, cold rain splashed on my ankles. Asher stood at the bottom of the steps with a black umbrella, his tailored suit accentuating his broad shoulders. In three years, a small scar had appeared at the corner of his eye, adding a dangerous allure to him. “You…” I was about to speak when he suddenly stepped forward, tilting the umbrella to cover me. Too close. Close enough for me to smell the faint ebony scent on him, just like I remembered. “Why are you crying?” He wiped my tears with his thumb, the warmth of his touch making me flinch. Then he lifted my arm, placing my foot on his shoe. “Did Gideon bully you?” I quickly stepped back, my back hitting the cold door frame. “It’s none of your business.” Asher’s eyes darkened, and he suddenly pulled a shell from his pocket. “Remember this?” In the moonlight, the crack on the shell was clear— It was from when I accidentally cut him by the sea in our junior year. Memories surged like waves, merging the Asher who stayed on the phone with me all night because I was afraid of the dark, with the dangerous man before me. “Adeline…” He took a step forward, the umbrella shielding us from the world, “I can help you.” “Help me with what?” “Leave Gideon.” His voice was a soft sigh, “Just say the word.” Suddenly, the sound of glass breaking came from the second floor. I looked up, the master bedroom curtains swaying violently—someone was there. Asher followed my gaze, a smirk forming on his lips. “Looks like your husband is awake.”

The master bedroom lights suddenly blazed, the glaring light cutting through the rain and shining down. I froze, while Asher calmly stepped forward, shielding me in the shadows. “Looks like Mr. Reed is a light sleeper, interrupted sleep can affect a man’s married life.” “Don’t you think so?” He seemed to be probing something. Once again, I blushed, biting my lip, unsure of how to respond. **2.** The sound of glass shattering suddenly echoed from the second floor. I glanced up to see the master bedroom curtains shaking violently—someone was there. Asher Greene followed my gaze and smirked coldly. “Looks like your husband’s awake.” **3.** The master bedroom lights blazed on, the intense brightness cutting through the rain. I froze, but Asher Greene calmly stepped forward, shielding me in the shadows with his body. “It seems Mr. Reed is a light sleeper. A restless man can have a troubled marriage.” “Don’t you think so?” He seemed to be probing. I blushed again, biting my lip, unsure of how to respond. He seemed quite satisfied with my reaction. Lowering his voice, he gently rubbed the shell with his fingertips, “I’ll give you three days to think it over.” A gold-embossed business card was slipped into my palm, with a hotel room number scrawled on the back. Before I could decline, the second-floor window flew open, and Gideon Reed’s cold voice shouted down. “Who’s there?” Asher Greene elegantly took a half-step back, raising the umbrella to reveal his smiling eyes. “Mr. Reed, sorry for the late visit.” His fingers brushed my wrist, seemingly by accident. “I came to pick up something I left with Adeline.” He pronounced ‘Adeline’ with intimate familiarity. The rain suddenly intensified. I clutched the hot business card, watching Gideon’s expression flicker in the lightning. He stood motionless in his robe, like a cold statue. “Leave.” The word splashed to the ground, mingling with the rain. Asher Greene bowed gracefully, leaving one last whisper in my ear before leaving. “There’s a surprise hidden in the shell.” The Maybach’s taillights disappeared into the rain as I turned to face Gideon’s brooding gaze. He had somehow moved to the staircase, his robe’s collar wide open, revealing ambiguous red marks on his collarbone— The marks left by the Walters heiress on last week’s finance magazine cover. “Explain.” I thought he meant Asher, but then I saw him holding out my antidepressant medication, the one I’d been taking since we got married. I reached for the bottle, but he grabbed my wrist, pinning it against the wall. Pills scattered everywhere, sticking to the wet floor. “Mr. Reed is concerned about what his wife takes, huh?” Before I could finish, he suddenly kissed me, a punishment tinged with the taste of blood. My back hit the doorframe hard, blacking out my vision with pain. When he finally let go, I heard my own ragged breathing mixed with his hoarse questioning: “Where did he touch you?” I licked the split on my lip and suddenly laughed. “Do you really care?” Gideon’s eyes darkened. As he moved closer again, the butler’s panicked voice came from upstairs. “Mr. Reed! The video conference from New York has been moved up!” He released me, his knuckles turning white: “Wait for me to return.” Watching his retreating figure, I slowly uncurled my clenched palm to reveal the shell. Inside the crack was a tiny USB drive— Engraved with “Southeast Asia project vulnerability analysis for Reed Corporation.” The rain stopped, moonlight casting over the mess of scattered pills, each one reflecting my shattered reflection. **4.** The next evening, I opened the USB drive on my computer. As it loaded, the financial vulnerabilities of Reed Corporation spread out on the screen like a web. I stared at those deliberately hidden deficit numbers, my fingers unconsciously tracing the marks Gideon had left on my neck. In the study, my phone suddenly vibrated. A message from Asher Greene: “Did you see the surprise?” I was about to reply when footsteps sounded in the hallway. In a hurry, I pulled out the USB drive, accidentally knocking over the coffee cup. The brown liquid soaked into the divorce agreement, staining the spot where my name was written. “Not asleep yet?” Gideon’s voice came from behind me. He was in a suit, carrying the chill of the night, though his tie was crooked— Unlike his usual meticulous self. “Waiting for you.” I closed the laptop, pushing the wet document into the drawer. “Weren’t you supposed to be in New York for three days?” He loosened his tie, his gaze landing on my neck. “Changed plans last minute.” He suddenly leaned over, pressing down on the hand I was using to close the drawer. “What’s this?” The coffee-stained paper still showed the stark words “divorce agreement.” Gideon’s pupils shrank, and I could smell the strong scent of whiskey on his breath. “Explain.” His voice was soft, but his knuckles were white. “As you see.” I pulled my hand away. “The three-year contract is up.” Gideon suddenly laughed. He threw a stack of documents from his briefcase, the top one being a letter of intent from Walters Corporation. “You think divorcing now will allow the Reed Family to walk away unscathed?” I flipped through the documents, my heart sinking—Walters’ investment terms clearly stated: Gideon’s marital status must remain stable. “Such a pity.” His cold fingertips traced my collarbone. “Old Mr. Walters and your father have agreed, using nano core as leverage, your father has planned the rest of your life.” “Now, your freedom is worth five hundred million.” Suddenly, lightning and thunder lit his eyes with madness. As he lowered his head to kiss me, my phone lit up. The latest email from Asher Greene: “Complete chain of evidence regarding Reed Corporation’s financial fraud.” “No need.” I opened the email in front of him. “Mr. Reed, my father will respect my choice, but do you think Walters will still invest after seeing this?” Gideon’s expression froze. I stood up, slapping the soaked divorce agreement against his chest. “Sign it before dawn.” I’m sorry, it seems there’s no text provided for translation. Could you please provide the specific content that you want translated? 5. Gideon Reed’s hand paused as the divorce agreement slipped to the floor. “And by the way, I’m aware that Phoebe Walters is pregnant. I won’t hide your affair any longer.”

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