Category: English

I was a renowned surgeon at Seaside Hospital. Three years ago, I fainted on the operating table due to an allergic reaction, and the patient couldn’t be saved from the excessive bleeding. As the lead surgeon, I was prosecuted and sent to prison because of the family’s influence, enduring three years of unimaginable torture. The day I was released, my husband and son came to take me home. I was moved by their unwavering support and loved them even more, never doubting their words. Until one day, I unintentionally overheard a conversation in the study between my husband and son: “Dad, when are you going to marry Aunt Nora? I don’t want a murderer as my mom.” “Enough. If you hadn’t put peanut powder in your mom’s food back then, causing her allergy, she wouldn’t have ended up in jail.” “I only did it because Aunt Nora lost the department head election to Mom. And Dad, you didn’t oppose it either.” My husband angrily slammed the table: “I told you never to bring this up again. If it weren’t for Nora being upset, I wouldn’t have agreed to your plan.” I stepped back, covering my mouth as tears streamed down. “Dad, do you really want Aunt Nora to be with someone else? Didn’t you say she would be my mom?” Declan hesitated, furrowing his brows. “Are you worried that woman will find out? Don’t worry, she’s so naive, she listens to us without question and won’t suspect anything. But Aunt Nora, if you don’t act soon, she’ll marry someone else.” My son tugged at his hand, seeking affection. Declan tapped his forehead with a mix of indulgence and worry, “For now, don’t let her find out. Nora needs to become Master Blake’s disciple and needs that acupuncture manuscript of hers. Once she hands it over…” He was interrupted by his son’s excitement: “Then we can be a family, and that murderer woman can go away.” “Keep your voice down, don’t let her hear.” My son nodded, covering his mouth: “Got it, Dad. You better explain to Aunt Nora. If it weren’t for that murderer, Aunt Nora wouldn’t have misunderstood us. I hate her so much, why didn’t she die in prison?” The child who usually wore an angelic smile now spoke with disdain and hatred. It seemed my existence was their biggest obstacle. Three years ago, I was confused and dragged to court due to a medical accident. A health report falsely stating I had no allergies sent me to prison. Declan and my son assured me they’d wait for me. During those three years in prison, I endured endless torture, with anyone in a bad mood taking it out on me. At the worst, eight of my ribs were broken. The monthly visitation day was my only hope. But Declan and my son never showed up. When I was released, my foster parents had passed away, and my former friends, classmates, and teachers distanced themselves. Everywhere I went, people pointed and whispered, and the mark on my wrist became my life’s label, always drawing ridicule. Thankfully, Declan and my son stayed by my side, encouraging me, giving me confidence and courage. They said that no matter what others thought, they’d never leave me, because I was their most loved one. And I made them the only light in my darkness, willingly becoming a housewife, taking care of them with all my heart. That became my best way to express my love. I never imagined that all my suffering was thanks to them! The love I felt was just a facade to help Nora. Tears welled up uncontrollably. At that moment, I couldn’t hold back any longer and fled. Back in the bedroom, the walls were covered with photos of Declan and me. From when I was seventeen to after we got married. Each photo held different memories. But gradually, someone else appeared in our photos. Nora was an intern I brought in. Wherever Declan was, she was there too. I warned Declan, but he dismissed it. He even said, “Adeline, do you lack confidence in yourself or doubt our relationship?” So after I dismissed my suspicions, they worked together to send me to prison. Even my child, whom I carried for ten months, wants me dead. I held my head in despair, their words echoing in my mind. The pressure in my chest made it hard to breathe, and tears kept flowing. On one side was the desperate truth, on the other, years of love and family ties. What should I do? I bit my lip hard, my body trembling in silent sobs. Declan and my son came in without me noticing. Seeing my tear-streaked face, my son jumped into my arms, nuzzling against me, and comforted me with practiced ease. Declan held me gently, murmuring softly: “Adeline, it’s okay. Just be yourself, I’ll handle the rest! My son and I will always be your support.” Feeling his tenderness, I couldn’t stop asking myself, can I really rely on them? If I hadn’t heard their conversation, I’d be happy, but now all I feel is trembling and nausea. If not for Nora, they wouldn’t have to act with me. Late at night, I booked a flight for the next day. I didn’t expect Nora to come to my house the next day. They were having a meal. My son sat beside her, acting spoiled, calling her mom. Nora looked at Declan with a shy smile. Declan lovingly stroked her hair. But in this beautiful, warm scene, I was the odd one out. Nora was the first to see me. She smiled brightly. “Oh, Adeline, sorry, I forgot you were here. Sit down, I’ll get you a bowl of rice.” Nora quickly returned, placing a white bowl in front of me, contrasting with their pink ones. I gripped my chopsticks so hard my knuckles turned white. I remembered when I had just come back, I grabbed those three bowls from the cabinet, and Declan got so angry. “Adeline, after being away for years, I’ll tell you what you can and can’t touch.” Even my son angrily dumped his food and hid the bowl like a treasure. Now I realized those were the bowls for their ‘family of three.’ Nora followed my gaze to the bowl, smirking, and spoke with satisfaction, “Adeline, don’t mind. This set of bowls was specially made by Declan for Lachlan. Kids like quirky things. Adeline, eat more, try my cooking. Declan and Lachlan say I cook well, give me your opinion.” Declan smiled, placing a chicken drumstick in her bowl, “Adeline won’t overthink. But you, don’t just care about others, eat more too.” My son pouted, pretending to be unhappy. “Dad is so biased, only nice to Aunt Nora. Why don’t you give me food?” Declan helplessly gave him another drumstick. “Just two drumsticks, one for you and one for Aunt Nora.” My son happily gnawed on the chicken, while Declan casually wiped the oil from Nora’s mouth. “Grown-up, yet eating like a messy cat.” Nora blushed, glancing at me, and pretended to be shy: “Adeline is here, don’t let her misunderstand.” “Adeline is understanding, not a little girl, she won’t get jealous or misunderstand.” I forced a bitter smile. They seemed like a family, while I, the real wife, was the unnecessary outsider. The next moment, Declan ordered with a justified tone, “Adeline, Nora is practically your half-student. She wants to apply for Acupuncture Master Blake’s disciple exam. I remember you have an ancient acupuncture manuscript, you don’t need it anymore, give it to Nora!” I’ve carefully kept that manuscript, it’s the only clue to my real family. He knows that. I clenched my fists, my voice hoarse and bitter, “That ancient acupuncture manuscript is the only token my birth mother left me, I need it to find her, how could you…” Declan’s face darkened, and his tone turned impatient. “After all these years, if your mother wanted to find you, she would’ve appeared. I’m helping you, so you won’t dwell on unrealistic things. This isn’t a discussion, I’ve promised it to Nora, get it out, the exam deadline is in three days, Nora needs to start studying.” Nora looked at me with a smug expression, “Adeline, Declan is doing this for your good, I think you should accept reality!” Yes, with everything laid out, what am I holding on to? I put down my chopsticks, stood up, and spoke slowly: “Declan, let’s get a divorce.” As soon as I said it, their faces changed. My son and Nora were full of joy. Declan, on the other hand, frowned in shock, then looked displeased. “Adeline, you’re divorcing over a manuscript? When did you become so unreasonable?” “Declan, don’t say that to Adeline. The manuscript is hers, it’s okay if she doesn’t want to give it to me, I’ll get in with my own efforts.” At this moment, Nora had already put on a pitiful look, tears in her eyes, pulling my arm. I set down my chopsticks, rose to my feet, and said quietly, “Declan, let’s get a divorce.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, their faces changed. My son and Nora looked thrilled, while Declan seemed shocked, his brows knitting in displeasure. “Adeline, you’re asking for a divorce over some old book? Since when did you become so unreasonable?” “Declan, don’t speak about Adeline like that. The book is hers. If she doesn’t want to give it to me, that’s okay. I’ll earn it through my own efforts.” At this point, Nora had already adopted a pitiful demeanor, tears shimmering in her eyes as she grasped my arm. “Adeline, I know you’ve never really liked me. Now that you’re back, I shouldn’t be here in your home. But I truly care for Lachlan. If that’s how you feel, I won’t come anymore, and I don’t need the book. It’s all my fault. Please don’t divorce Declan because of me.” My son jumped off his chair and glared at me fiercely. “If you don’t like Aunt Nora, then you should leave. You’re just a murderer. What right do you have to dislike Aunt Nora?” Watching my seven-year-old son hitting me and shoving me to defend another woman broke my heart. Amid the struggle, Nora let out a scream and fell to the ground. The next moment, my son charged at me, head-first into my stomach. I stumbled several steps back, my head hitting the wall hard, pain blurring my vision. Before I could recover, Declan’s furious eyes met mine. He slapped me hard across the face, yanked my hair, and said coldly: “Adeline, how dare you, an ex-con, lay a hand on Nora? Apologize to her right now!” I endured the sharp pain in my scalp, stubbornly looking at the man who once cherished me. Back then, even if my eyes just welled up, he would feel guilty and comfort me for ages. But now? He would hit me for another woman. At that moment, I truly felt my heart shatter. “Declan, is this what you meant by having me rely on you?” Declan let go of my hair, a flicker of panic in his eyes, about to speak when Nora’s soft sobs interrupted. “Declan, Adeline, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come between you. I’ll leave now!” My son clung to her hand, glaring at me as he spoke, “If anyone should leave, it’s you. I don’t have a murderer for a mother.” Declan also agreed with our son, “Adeline, it seems I’ve been too good to you. You should go out and clear your head. Think it over and then come back with the ancient manuscript for Nora. A useless person like you shouldn’t hold onto something so valuable.” When I was pushed out and the door shut, I clearly saw Nora give me a triumphant, mocking smile. I’m glad I discovered their true nature early on, so I’m not as devastated now. That place is no longer my home; staying would only make me feel sick. I sat outside all night. At dawn, I knocked on the door slowly. With a flight this afternoon, I have to retrieve my documents from the bedroom. Nora opened the door in a slip dress, deliberately adjusting her hair over her shoulder to reveal her neck and the trail of hickeys down to her chest. “Adeline, I’m really sorry. I wanted to come out to find you yesterday, but Declan was just too vigorous. We didn’t stop until almost dawn. Fortunately, you came back on your own.” Even though I already knew about their relationship, seeing it with my own eyes still tightened my heart. I said nothing, just walked inside. At the bedroom door, I ran into Declan coming out. When he saw me, he was startled and spoke in a fluster. “Adeline, when did you get back? I… let me explain, something came up last night, so Nora stayed over.” I glanced at the messy bedroom with clothes torn on the floor. Clenching my fists, I shook my head nonchalantly, “It’s fine. When can I come in?” Seeing my expressionless face, without anger, Declan was the one who became embarrassed and angry. “Adeline, aren’t you mad? Seeing me with another woman, don’t you have any reaction?” I blinked, “What reaction do you want from me? To make a scene or hit her? What’s the point? You wouldn’t allow it anyway.” Declan didn’t expect me to respond like that, his brows furrowing tighter. At this moment, Nora chimed in, standing by Declan’s side, “Declan, today we need to go to Washington D.C. early. If it’s inconvenient, I can go by myself.” Declan wrapped his arm around her waist, ordering me, “Two days from now, Nora needs to register. Our son and I will accompany her to Washington D.C. today. We won’t be back for a while. Find the ancient manuscript quickly. Nora needs it for her exam in six months!” I nodded. It’s just an ancient manuscript, right? I’ll give it to her. If I don’t, they’ll definitely keep pestering me, making it harder for me to leave. When Nora got the ancient manuscript, her eyes were glowing. Watching their backs as the three of them left, I gave a bitter smile. I turned to the study, copying the recording of Declan’s conversation with our son from that day and took photos of the bedroom mess. Just then, I received a text from Nora. [Adeline, you’re really stupid. Did you really think that just giving me the manuscript would mean Declan would stay with you forever?] [I’m not afraid to tell you, we’ve actually been together since before you went to prison. He said he fell in love with me long ago, and you’re just his responsibility.] [Even your own son has called me mom for three years. The reason they never visited you during your three years in prison is because we lived together every day. What you thought was your home, I’ve actually lived in for three years.] She sent pictures after that. There were intimate photos of her and Declan, and family photos with our son. I didn’t reply, just saved them one by one. Everything about me in the bedroom, along with those photos, I threw into the trash downstairs. After doing all this, I placed the signed divorce papers and wedding ring on the table. As I was about to leave with my luggage, Declan called. His tone was gloomy, sounding conflicted: “Adeline, I haven’t forgotten my promise to you. I still have you in my heart.” “Actually, I…” Before he could finish, I heard Nora calling him. I replied calmly, “You go ahead.” “Adeline, I’ll explain things when I get back. Wait for me.” I was tired of his fake promises and hung up, blocking all his contacts. I’ve never felt so clear-headed as I do now. Before boarding the plane, I sent all the evidence to my attorney. Declan, weren’t you helping Nora step over me to succeed? Then I wish you smooth sailing. I hope you like this big gift. But I never expected another accident to happen along the way. I’m sorry, but the text to be translated is missing. Please provide the Chinese text you would like translated. 5 Two days later, Declan and Nora celebrated registering at a hotel suite. They kissed passionately, and as emotions intensified, Nora boldly asked, “Declan, when can we be together openly? Didn’t you say you’d divorce Adeline once you got the ancient acupuncture manuscript?”

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I’m a relationship tarot reader. At a party, my husband’s female colleague asked me to read her love fortune. My husband suddenly became anxious, “You always talk nonsense! You’ll make her cry!” But his colleague had already drawn the tarot cards on the table. Looking at the cards, I answered honestly: “This man is very handsome and a high-level executive in the company, but he’s already married.” The female colleague glanced at my husband, “Will we have a future together?” My husband’s breath caught for a moment. I deliberately curled my lips: “No, you won’t. If you insist on being together, you’ll end up in a terrible situation.” The once pleasant weekend gathering suddenly became tense. The men tried to use me as a fire extinguisher, desperate for me to say something comforting: “What’s all this talk about terrible situations? How could you scare our team’s lucky charm like that!” “Sis, you’re in the wrong here! Tarot cards aren’t supposed to predict life and death! Quick, say something nice!” I ignored them. I picked up my fork and helped myself to a tender and flavorful pork rib. Today was my third wedding anniversary with Jack. I had been preparing this meal, including these ribs, since 1 PM. I even started the soup three hours in advance. He had promised me a week ago that he would set aside the whole day to celebrate our anniversary. I waited for him to come home with excitement. When he opened the door, He brought his noisy project team members home with him. Our promised anniversary celebration turned into his team’s success party.

Seeing that I had no intention of speaking, His colleagues turned to Jack for help: “Boss! You can’t cover for her this time! You have to take a drink as punishment for your wife!” I glanced at Jack. His usually calm eyes involuntarily drifted towards the corner where the little crybaby sat with rabbit-like eyes. When he looked back at me, his expression returned to its usual rational and indifferent state: “Tarot cards are just a Western method of predicting weather using astrology. It’s not as accurate as our Chinese zodiac predictions. Besides, talking about fate like this breaks the spell and makes it invalid. “Although Alice is my wife, I’ve always been objective and fair. In this case, Alice was indeed wrong, so I’ll take a drink as punishment for her.” Jack, who had gastritis, had been abstaining from alcohol for half a year at my request. But seeing Fiona with her red eyes, he gripped the glass tightly and downed it without hesitation. As he drank, the chill in my heart grew deeper. There was clearly no point in continuing this meal. But Fiona’s tears kept flowing: “I have no right to blame you, sis. I heard you used to be a tarot streamer, so you must be accurate.” She sobbed. Raising her wet eyes to look at Jack, She seemed to make a painful decision: “I’ll definitely listen to you, sis. I’ll cut ties with this man completely.”

After the gathering, The table of leftovers looked just like the anniversary that someone had forgotten today. Jack, who usually helped clean up the table, suddenly changed his habit. He walked over to me. Still with an overly rational tone: “I know today is our anniversary. “If you’re just upset because I broke our promise and decided to pick on the softest target among my colleagues, then any guilt or regret I had is now completely gone.” After saying this, He lit a cigarette and went to the balcony, smoking one after another. Through the glass door, I saw the chat message he sent: “She’s not accurate, you don’t need to listen to her.” I watched him for a long time, until I lost myself in thought. That face of his. I had originally planned to love it for a lifetime.

From the moment I was born, my birth mother didn’t want me. The foster parents who took me in raised me until I was five, but after having their own child, they didn’t want me either. The kidnappers who took me away had their den busted by the police in the second month after abducting me. I finally managed to convince a kind-hearted couple to take me in. But a blind fortune teller told them: “This child’s fate is too strong, you won’t be able to handle her.” They adopted me anyway, but within six months, the couple divorced, and I had nowhere to go again. I wandered half-dead until I was twelve. I set my sights on a homeless tarot reader who was very accurate in fortune-telling and seemed to have an even tougher life than me. To make him adopt me, I deliberately occupied someone else’s begging spot and was almost beaten to death in a deserted street corner. I got my wish and was rescued by him, but he refused me again: “Calling me brother, uncle, or even dad won’t work! I won’t adopt you forever, I’m only six years older than you, I can barely take care of myself!” Despite saying this, I knew he was kind. Even his refusal seemed clumsy: “I’m warning you! I’m destined to be alone! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have ended up as a homeless person! If you insist on following me, I’ll teach you tarot, and once you have a skill, you can leave and be independent.” Zack, who always said he was short-lived and destined to be alone, ended up becoming family with me without any issues. I inherited his skills and started doing tarot readings for people everywhere. Because I was accurate, I helped many girls who were about to fall into traps, and even accurately predicted the direction of their true love. So, I really did fulfill what he said. I started to have the ability to be independent. In the year when live streaming became popular, I gradually built a stable client base online by doing tarot readings. At eighteen, I bought the pork ribs we used to crave but couldn’t afford, and returned to the house we had bought together with our family savings. Even ten years later, I can still clearly remember my pounding heart as I thought about how to confess my feelings to him, facing the sunset that had dyed the horizon red in early summer. But when I opened the door, All I saw was a note he left behind: “Our fate together has come to an end, and there’s no possibility of meeting again in this life. But I will always protect you.” At that moment, I knew I was done for. My life was like that bag of pork ribs that couldn’t be eaten by my loved one. In the days to come, it would only slowly rot and stink with time.

I frantically searched for him for two years. The tarot cards told me he was gone, and I even found out the location of his grave. But I didn’t believe he was dead. I kept looking for him while living a free and easy life in Dali, until one day, while setting up a tarot stall on the old street, I saw a man whose features were 99% similar to Zack’s. My heart was instantly gripped. I stared at him intently, as if traveling through time and space, seeing Zack. “Hello, are you a tarot reader? Can you do a reading for me?” He crouched down, his eyes sincere, as if it was the past me asking Zack: “Hey tarot reader, can you do a reading for me?” Time seemed to intersect at that moment. I couldn’t tell for a moment if the man in front of me was Zack I had imagined, or if my memory was playing tricks on me. How could there be two people in this world who looked exactly the same? I chatted with him for a bit, and he said his name was Jack and wanted me to predict when his lucky person would appear. So I let him draw a few tarot cards. He drew several cards in succession: The Magician, Six of Cups, The Sun, and The Tower. Looking at the cards, I immediately understood. I said honestly: “You will have a female benefactor who will help you. As long as you’re with her, your career and relationships will be full of opportunities. “But with The Tower present, it means you won’t have any ability to protect yourself in front of her.” I always have an instant feeling about tarot cards. I even had a rough impression of this female benefactor: “This woman is very mysterious, her work is related to Western mysticism, but I can’t see what her feelings for you are, the tarot cards didn’t say anything about that.” Jack crouched in front of my stall, a flash of shock crossing his eyes: “The only girl I know who’s into Western mysticism is you, isn’t it?” Ever since I met Jack, I suspected that he might be the one sent by Zack to protect me. After all, even their names were so similar. I loved making pork rib soup for him. Especially on early summer evenings when the sunset dyed everything red, I would serve him a bowl of rib soup and listen to him say over and over: “Alice, I love you so much. “I will love you forever.” Then I would walk over, completely satisfied, hug him, and kiss his eyes, jaw, and the corners of his mouth. I almost believed that he wasn’t sent by Zack. He might actually be Zack. Later, we had a child. I cherished him immensely. I believed this child Would be my only hope for the rest of my life.

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My best friend’s brother has returned from abroad, and word is, he brought back a sister-in-law for her. The next day, my friend invited me over to meet her brother. When I realized who the man in front of me was, my legs felt weak. Because three years ago, I broke up with him. Fiona insisted I come to her house for dinner. Her brother had just come back from abroad, and she was adamant I meet him. When I arrived after work, the dim streetlight cast a long shadow of a man. You could tell he was handsome. But, unfortunately, not someone for me. Fiona mentioned her brother had returned with a sister-in-law. He had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and was 185cm tall—quite striking. “Brother!” Fiona shouted, and the man turned around. I was stunned for a moment: “He’s your brother?!” “Fiona, I just remembered I have something urgent to do, I have to go.” I swallowed nervously, trying to leave in haste. Fiona pulled me back: “Adeline! Why are you leaving? My brother is treating us to a feast!” Before I could refuse, the man had already approached. I grew more anxious, unconsciously gripping Fiona’s hand tightly. Fiona patted my hand to reassure me: “My brother is intimidating, right? I’m quite scared of him myself, that’s why I wanted you to come with me.” No wonder she’s my best friend, a champion at setting me up for forty years. Fiona dragged me along, eagerly introducing me to her brother: “Brother, this is Adeline, my best friend! Treat her just like a real sister from now on.” “Adeline, this is my brother, Declan.” After saying this, she looked behind Declan a few times: “Where’s my sister-in-law?” Declan ignored Fiona’s question, chuckled a few times, and stared at me: “Real sister?” His words made the atmosphere slightly tense. Fiona laughed to ease the tension: “Brother, what’s with you? Adeline and I are so close, can’t she be your sister too? Besides, Adeline doesn’t even mind.” She nudged my shoulder: “Right, Adeline?” Please don’t involve me, my legs felt weak. I hastily nodded. Declan chuckled softly. “If being my sister doesn’t interest you, what would you prefer? To be Fiona’s sister-in-law?” he raised an eyebrow, his tone casual. But his words made my heart skip a beat. I couldn’t muster a reply. However, Fiona was straightforward: “Brother! Show some decency! Don’t I already have a sister-in-law? You player!” Declan clicked his tongue: “That makes me a player? Then some people must be players to the extreme.” I didn’t dare speak until the three of us got in the car. Declan was indeed good-looking, a classic kind of handsome. When you saw him, you couldn’t possibly find him unattractive. Our eyes met in the rearview mirror, I was startled and immediately closed my eyes. I heard him laugh softly. My face turned red. Declan lowered the car window, and Fiona asked him, puzzled, what he was doing. He simply said: “My sister’s face is flushed, opening the window to cool her down.” My face turned even redder. Fiona glanced at me and even praised him for being more considerate. A dozen minutes later, the car stopped at a private restaurant’s parking lot. Declan got out and opened the door for me, looking at me with a half-smile: “Watch your head, sis.” As luck would have it, I did bump my head, but Declan’s hand was there to cushion it. Fiona sighed seriously: “My sister-in-law must be amazing to have trained my brother to be like this, I should thank her profusely in the future.” Declan glanced back at me, his gaze carrying some deeper meaning. I quietly swallowed and whispered: “Fiona, that’s not necessary.”

Declan ordered a variety of dishes, leaving Fiona astonished. “Brother, why did you order everything that Adeline likes?” “Oh, really? I ordered according to your sister-in-law’s taste.” Declan lounged lazily in his chair, hands folded, exuding an indescribable nobility. My heart skipped a few beats. “Adeline, my sister-in-law’s taste is really similar to yours, you two might even become good friends.” When all the dishes were served, Declan’s phone rang. When I looked at him, his eyes were full of tenderness as he looked at the caller ID, and I was taken aback. “It’s your sister-in-law calling, I’ll take it outside.” Looking at the table full of dishes, I suddenly lost my appetite. So Declan really has a girlfriend, and her taste is really the same as mine. I silently scorned myself, what was I getting all worked up about earlier? “What’s on your mind, sis?” Declan raised an eyebrow, adding a piece of braised pork to my plate. He seemed to genuinely treat me as his sister, using that term naturally. The atmosphere was slightly awkward, especially since Fiona went to the bathroom. I picked out the braised pork from my plate: “Sorry, brother, I don’t like this anymore.” My hand trembled a bit, but I tried hard to suppress it. He just chuckled softly and didn’t respond. The atmosphere remained tense, and internally, I was calling out for Fiona. “Oh, I forgot your taste changes quickly, after all, it’s only been a few days, and you already like pretty boys.” Fortunately, Fiona pushed the door open and came back in. In front of my best friend, I pretended to be calm, acting like nothing happened. But Declan wouldn’t let it go. He clapped his hands and asked the waiter to change the dishes. Fiona hadn’t had a chance to eat much: “Brother, why change the dishes? These are delicious!” Declan looked at me with a cold expression. “Adeline said she doesn’t like them.” His voice was pleasant, especially when he called my full name. Soon, the table was filled with green vegetables. Declan was definitely doing it on purpose. “Brother, how can you eat so much green!” Fiona complained quietly. Declan replied with a completely unrelated comment: “You think it’s too much green too?” This meal was so uncomfortable for me. On the way back, as I looked at Declan’s profile, I remembered the first time I met him. In my sophomore year, I was dumped by my ex-boyfriend. It was raining that day, and I gave my only umbrella to my ex. He and his new girlfriend were using my umbrella, while I got soaked. He had pursued me for almost a year, and we were together for only a few months before he cheated. Later, I heard from others that he never stopped having girlfriends even when he was pursuing me. When you’re down, it seems like everything goes wrong. Getting wet was one thing, but I slipped on the wet ground. Feeling wronged, tears mixed with rain streaming down my face. The street was empty, so I just cried out loud. In the midst of my sorrow, suddenly there was an umbrella over my head. I looked up, and though my vision was blurry, it was unmistakably a handsome man, mature and steady. “Take it.” He handed me the umbrella, I was a bit stunned. He stood for a moment, then impatiently shoved the umbrella into my hand. Holding it, I felt like the umbrella was hotter than his fingers. It had the Rolls-Royce logo. He turned away into the rain. A moment later, he returned, silently picking me up in his arms. His voice was low and nice: “Didn’t you know your leg is hurt?” My body was stiff, and so was his. It was the first time my heart raced like that. I never thought I would find a sense of security in a man other than my dad. I’m not very daring, but the bravest thing I did was ask Declan for his contact info. Under the pretense of returning his umbrella, I invited him to a meal, and he treated me back. I felt bad and invited him again. He remembered my taste, even set aside a day to go shopping with me. He was gentle and thoughtful, caring for me in every way. It was thanks to Fiona that we finally broke through that barrier. She took me to a bar, and I got drunk. The next day, I woke up with Declan lying next to me. He said: “Adeline, come home with me.”

In my senior year, I was struggling with my thesis and worried about meeting Declan’s parents. But in the end, I never got the chance. I saw him in a restaurant, smiling at a woman, cutting steak for her, his every gesture filled with affection. I had already been through this once. I knew what it meant, I was cheated on again. To save face, I spent 200 bucks to hire an underclassman to pretend to be my boyfriend. That day I calmly broke up with him. I thought Declan would try to keep me. Turns out, he didn’t love me anymore. He was so calm, he didn’t even take my words seriously. He asked: “Adeline, what do you mean?” “It means nothing, I don’t love you anymore.” Why could he move on so quickly, and I couldn’t? In the end, Declan smiled faintly. “Adeline, you’re doing great.” After that, I didn’t see him for three years. —— “We’re here.” My memories were cut short, and I got out of the car with Fiona. How could Declan still have the nerve to be sarcastic with me? He was the one who betrayed me first! I didn’t expose him, already giving him enough face. But I was still a bit sad. Declan was the most intense light in my otherwise dull youth. “Adeline, why do you seem off? Did my brother steal your soul?” Fiona was excited: “It’s such a pity, if I didn’t have a sister-in-law, I would’ve set you two up.” “Did you know? My brother is so devoted, he’s been with my sister-in-law for over three years now.” In stark contrast to Fiona’s joy, my heart felt cold at that moment. I couldn’t quite describe the feeling. Was I mad at Declan for betraying me? Not really. Just a bit resentful. Seeing I was down, Fiona quickly arranged a gathering to cheer me up. I almost never attended such chaotic events. But thinking of Declan, I gritted my teeth and went. Fiona, being the little rich girl she is, gathered a room full of men. Some were up-and-coming celebs. These young boys kept calling me: “Sis.” Who could resist that? In the latter part, I got a bit tipsy and grabbed Fiona’s hand, asking what her sister-in-law was like. I can’t really put the feeling into words. Am I angry with Declan for betraying me? Not exactly. It’s more of a lingering resentment. Fiona noticed I wasn’t in the best of moods and immediately organized a get-together with some friends to lift my spirits. I almost never attend these chaotic gatherings. But thinking of Declan, I decided to grit my teeth and go. Fiona, true to her little rich girl style, had filled the room with guys. Some of them were even up-and-coming celebs. These young men kept calling me “sis.” Who could resist that? Later on, feeling a bit tipsy, I clung to Fiona’s hand and asked her what her sister-in-law was like. “Is your sister-in-law prettier than me?” “Does she have a better figure than me? A bigger chest?” Fiona shouted, “No! Definitely not!”

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Because of the blizzard, Ryan’s first love was stranded on the snowy mountain. Ryan was severely injured and fell unconscious trying to save his first love. Due to the lack of resources, I couldn’t bear to watch him suffer. I had no choice but to bite my wrist and use my blood as water to save his life. Unexpectedly, the first thing he did when he woke up was to try to leave with his first love. I had lost too much blood and could only watch helplessly as he left with his first love. He looked at me apologetically: “I’ll send a rescue team to save you.” The wound on my wrist kept me painfully awake, but it was nothing compared to the fear of death from my body losing heat. “No…” My weak groan didn’t make Ryan turn back. He walked away, carrying Sophia in his arms, getting further and further from me. In the freezing cold, there were only their silhouettes, supporting each other like a couple in distress. Sophia hugged Ryan tightly, deeply moved. I could hear their voices: “Ryan, if we make it out alive this time, I’ll marry you. I’ve finally realized that you’re the only one who truly loves me.” I couldn’t see Ryan’s expression, but I saw them kiss passionately as the snow fell around them. “I love you too, Sophia.” I felt waves of cold and heartache wash over me. The pain from my wound had even subsided somewhat due to the numbness from the cold. I could only tear off part of my inner clothing to roughly bandage my wound. But it was far from enough to ease my despair and pain. My eyes remained fixed on Ryan, desperately hoping he would look back at me one last time. But his steps, though slow, were determined. He never glanced back in my direction. I leaned my body against the snow cave. Watching their silhouettes disappear before my eyes. My eyes stung with unshed tears, my body nearly frozen stiff. “Don’t cry, the tears will freeze,” I told myself. I tried my best to hold back my tears. Until my blood gradually stained the snow red. I waited from dawn to dusk, but the rescue team Ryan promised never came. After two whole days, my body was too cold to move. We had been stranded on the snowy mountain for five full days. I had only come along to save Ryan in the first place. I hadn’t brought much food with me at all. The hypothermia even made me feel feverish. I had no strength left. My heart was filled with despair. Stranded on this endless snowy mountain, dying here. My heart was full of resentment. And despair towards Ryan. If I had known this would be the outcome, I never would have come to the mountain with him. Before losing consciousness, I thought helplessly: If I can make it off this mountain alive, I will never love Ryan again. In my hazy state, I seemed to see a figure walking towards me. My body had warmed up enough that I could feel the heat from another person. I desperately clutched his hand. “Save me…” [CUT-OFF POINT]

When I slowly opened my eyes, I found myself not in a hospital, but in a strange warm place. Alarmed, I quickly sat up. But as soon as I tried to stand, my body collapsed weakly to the floor. “Why are you getting up? Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, you still need more rest.” A strange man helped me up from the ground. I instinctively looked up at him. The young man supported my body and helped me back into bed, then sat down beside me. Compared to Ryan’s striking good looks, the face before me could only be described as fresh-faced. He handed me a bowl of medicine. “Drink this.” I looked at him hesitantly. “What is it?” The bitter herbal smell alone made me wince. I’ve never liked bitter things. “It’s medicine I found to drive out the cold from your body. You were frozen for so long in the snow, if the cold isn’t expelled completely you’ll get sick.” “Were you the one who saved me?” The young man nodded, still holding out the bowl to me. Seeing his boyish smile revealing dimples, I smiled back slightly and took the bowl from his hands. The man introduced himself as Ethan Chen. His family lived at the foot of the mountain and ran a traditional medicine clinic. He said Ryan and Sophia had come to his clinic earlier to use the phone, and that’s how he learned there was still someone stranded on the mountain. So he went up specifically to rescue me. I felt incredibly grateful and thanked him profusely. Ethan blushed in embarrassment. “By the way, could I borrow your phone? I’ve imposed on you for so long, I should…” Ethan didn’t say anything, just went to get his phone from across the room. I instinctively took the phone, but as soon as I turned it on, I saw news flooding the internet about an engagement celebration. Seeing two familiar names, I couldn’t help but click on the article. The report showed Ryan and Sophia in hospital gowns. As I scrolled through photo after photo, the final image showed the two of them in formal attire, faces radiating happiness. The internet was flooded with stories praising their undying love on the snowy mountain. There wasn’t a single mention of me anywhere. I held back my tears and looked up at the awkward Ethan. “Why… why are you crying?” I sniffled, trying to contain my heartache, and asked: “Was I unconscious for a long time? Did any rescue teams come up the mountain?” Ethan instinctively shook his head. “I live here and I didn’t see any rescue teams…” Seeing my tears fall harder, he hurriedly tried to explain: “Maybe I just didn’t notice. Hey, don’t cry. Your body hasn’t recovered, you can’t get too emotional.” I forced myself to hold back my tears and nodded slightly. Mountain rescues are always a big operation. How could Ethan, who runs a clinic at the foot of the mountain, not have noticed? I gritted my teeth and still dialed my brother’s number. “Brother…” As soon as the call connected, I couldn’t hold back my sobs. “Emily? Is that you? Where are you right now?” I told my brother my location in detail, my throat tight with emotion. My brother didn’t say much, just promised he would come get me soon. “By the way Emily, there’s one more thing I need to tell you. The Parker family notified us that they want to break off your engagement.” My brother sounded hesitant, as if afraid of hurting me. But surprisingly, I felt nothing at this point. “It’s okay brother, let’s talk about it when we get back.” “Alright, I just wanted to give you a heads up. Never mind, I’ll head back now.” With that, I reluctantly hung up the phone. At the same time, I reconsidered my feelings towards Ryan.

I didn’t know exactly when my brother would arrive, so I had no choice but to stay at Ethan’s house for now. I felt bad about imposing, but he had a mature, composed demeanor despite his youth. “Your body still hasn’t fully recovered. When you go back, make sure to rest well and avoid catching cold for a while.” “Okay, thank you Ethan.” Hearing me call him by name, the young man’s ears turned red. “No need to thank me. You should rest now, I’ll go make you some food.” I stayed one more night at Ethan’s house, and was woken up by my brother the next morning. As soon as I saw him, I couldn’t control my emotions and threw myself into his arms, crying. Ryan and I had studied abroad for years, only seeing our families once a year. Thinking of that now, I felt incredibly touched. My brother was worried about my health. This time he not only came by helicopter, but even brought a medical team with him. But Ethan was different. No matter how much we tried to pay him, he refused to accept any money. He looked at me steadily. “If possible, if you’re willing, just give me your address. I’ll come visit you in the city someday.” I smiled and nodded, exchanging contact information with him. “Anytime you come to the city, you can reach out to me. I’ll show you around.” As I left with my brother, I felt like I was emerging from another world. My brother looked at my expression and hesitated for a long time before speaking: “Emily, today is Ryan’s engagement party. We…” “Brother, I’m tired. I won’t go. Just send a gift on my behalf and wish them a happy marriage.” With that, I leaned against my brother and fell asleep. When the helicopter reached the city, there were signs of romance everywhere. A helicopter scattered rose petals across the entire city. Some even landed in my hair. I looked at the tall tower in the city center. “Are they having their engagement party there today?” It was the tallest building in the city, with a view of the entire skyline from the top. It suited Sophia’s adventurous personality. My brother glanced at my expression, but still confirmed it. “Don’t worry brother. This time, I’ve come to my senses. I don’t love Ryan anymore.” “You don’t love him anymore? You…” I turned back, my expression very calm. My brother swallowed whatever he was going to say. “It’s good you don’t love him anymore. We don’t need him anyway.” We got in the car to head home. I had clarity about the situation with Ryan. From the moment he returned with Sophia and immediately got engaged, without a single word about me, things were over between us. I just never expected our car to be stopped by the wedding convoy. Ryan’s figure hurriedly walked towards our car. He leaned against the window, standing in front of me. I only glanced at him before quickly looking away. Surprisingly, seeing him this time, my heart was calm. There were no more waves of emotion like before. “Emily, you’re back? Why didn’t you tell me? What happened back then, I didn’t mean to. Sophia’s health was poor, I was worried and forgot about you in the moment.” His face showed rare uncertainty. I deliberately exposed the ugly scar on my wrist. I had always been vain, and this scar would remain on my body forever. “Ryan, it doesn’t matter anymore. Since we’ve run into each other today, let’s clear things up. We should break up.” “No! I won’t agree!”

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On the third day after my brother-in-law’s death, I heard a man’s heavy breathing coming from my sister-in-law’s room. I couldn’t resist going to take a look. The door was slightly ajar. Through the gap, I saw a man in my sister-in-law’s bed. The man’s silhouette was eerily similar to my husband’s. My heart suddenly leaped into my throat. Earlier that day, my mother-in-law had suggested that my husband should father a child with my sister-in-law, to take care of her. But my husband had firmly refused. My sister-in-law also disagreed, saying she wanted to remain faithful to my late brother-in-law. How did it turn into this by nightfall? I took a few more steps forward, wanting to get a clearer look at the man’s face. But before I could get closer, the door slammed shut. I looked up to see my mother-in-law’s angry face. She snarled at me, “What are you looking at? Your sister-in-law has suffered enough. Doesn’t she deserve a chance at happiness?” My mother-in-law’s words left me bewildered. I just wanted to see who the man in the bed was. It had nothing to do with whether my sister-in-law deserved happiness or not. I said, “Mom, you’ve misunderstood.” My mother-in-law glared at me and shouted, “Misunderstood? I saw it with my own eyes. What else is there to explain? You’re just jealous of your sister-in-law because she has a man who loves her. You’re uncomfortable with that, aren’t you? Let me tell you, no matter whose child Ruby bears, it will be registered under your late brother-in-law’s name. Don’t think you can hog all the family’s assets for yourself.” My mother-in-law’s attitude towards me was terrible. Earlier in the day, she had wanted my husband to father a child with Ruby. But my husband had refused. So my mother-in-law believed I had whispered in his ear, and she resented me for it. I said, “Mom, I just thought the man in Ruby’s room looked a bit like Lucas. I wanted to get a closer look, that’s all.” As soon as I finished speaking, my mother-in-law became even angrier. She pointed at my nose and yelled, “Mia Collins, do you have any conscience? Lucas has been so good to you, and yet you still suspect him. Are you even human?” Lucas had indeed been very good to me. He was the CEO of a major corporation and was always busy, but he still made time to be with me. He would accompany me to pottery classes, leaving our marks on clay pieces like ordinary couples. He would even attend concerts of obscure singers with me. At one concert, there were barely any people, only about 80 or 90 in the audience. I casually remarked, “It would be nice if there were more people.” Lucas then called in a crowd of thousands, and the quiet concert suddenly became packed. When reporters caught Lucas there and asked why such a wealthy heir would attend the concert of an unknown singer, Lucas kissed my forehead in front of the cameras and said, “Because of my wife. Whatever she likes, I like.” Lucas’s words were reported by all major media outlets, and the unknown singer became an overnight sensation. People believed in Lucas’s taste. If a singer could capture Lucas’s interest, they must be talented. Seeing that I remained silent, my mother-in-law glared at me again and said harshly, “How did Lucas end up marrying an ingrate like you? You don’t know how to appreciate him at all. All you do is suspect him. Now get out of here!” I nodded, “Alright.” I walked towards the door. Because Lucas had refused to father a child with Ruby, he was being punished by kneeling in the courtyard. As long as Lucas was still kneeling in the courtyard, it meant I was just being paranoid. I went to the courtyard, the lights were on, but Lucas wasn’t there. Where had he gone? Just as I was feeling confused, Lucas came running back hurriedly. His clothes were wrinkled, and his face was sweaty. I even caught a whiff of perfume on him. It was Ruby’s perfume.

My heart sank again. A bad feeling crept over me. I was terrified that the man in Ruby’s room might be Lucas. Lucas ran up to me, patted my head, and said breathlessly, “Mia, why did you suddenly come out here? Go back inside, it’s cold out here.” I instinctively looked at Lucas’s knees. They were clean, with no trace of dirt or any signs of kneeling. I clenched my fists tightly and stared at Lucas, asking, “Where did you just go?” Lucas laughed nervously, stumbling over his words, “I… I just went to the bathroom.” Lucas and I had been together for 5 years. I knew his habits well. Whenever he lied, his eyes would look down at his shoes. But why was he lying to me? Could he really be the man in Ruby’s room? No, that’s impossible. Lucas loved me so much. How could 5 years of love change so suddenly? Lucas wasn’t that kind of person. He came from a wealthy family, and there were many beautiful women who wanted to get close to him. But in all our years of marriage, he had never been involved in any scandals. I trusted Lucas. But I was still anxious. I calmly said, “Lucas, you’re lying. You can’t fool me. Where did you really go just now?” Lucas was stunned for a few seconds. His brows furrowed, and his expression turned unpleasant. It seemed I had guessed correctly. He had lied to me. Lucas grabbed my shoulders and said, “Mia, you’re acting strange today. Did you hear or see something?” I removed Lucas’s hands and said angrily, “I’m just asking where you went just now. What does that have to do with whether I heard or saw anything? Why do you seem so guilty? You haven’t done anything to betray me, have you?” Lucas was visibly upset. He said with a hint of anger, “Mia, for your sake, I was punished to kneel in the courtyard and was beaten by my father. Now you’re saying these things to provoke me. Can’t you consider my feelings? Stop being so suspicious. Ruby and I are innocent. I can’t give Ruby a child. At most, I’ll just take good care of her for my brother’s sake.” I laughed coldly to myself. I hadn’t even mentioned Ruby, Lucas had brought her up himself. And his tone of voice betrayed his guilt. I smiled and said, “Lucas, I just asked where you went just now. Why are you telling me all this? Don’t you think you’re protesting too much?” Lucas frowned deeply, growing irritated. “I really went to the bathroom just now. If you don’t believe me, that’s your problem. I still need to continue my punishment. You go back upstairs.” With that, Lucas knelt down on the ground. He looked at me with impatience and anger in his eyes. I was angry too. “Lucas, you still won’t tell the truth. I can smell Ruby’s perfume on you. I smelled it.” I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to shed tears in front of Lucas. Lucas was stunned for a few seconds, a flash of guilt crossing his eyes. “We all live in the same house. We’re bound to run into each other. Of course I might accidentally pick up her scent. Stop being so suspicious.” I smiled bitterly and said, “Then why don’t I smell like her?” Lucas stood up, clearly exasperated. “Mia, can you stop making a fuss? What exactly do you want? Why won’t you believe anything I say? You used to believe everything I said. What’s wrong with you?” I thought I wouldn’t cry, but tears started falling uncontrollably. I choked out, “I just saw a man in Ruby’s room earlier. His back looked a lot like yours. Was that man you?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Lucas hugged me tightly. He whispered in my ear, “It wasn’t me. That was a man Mom found for Ruby. Mia, you have to believe me.” I pushed Lucas away and looked into his eyes, saying, “Don’t lie to me!” Lucas panicked and hurriedly said, “I’m not lying to you. It really was a man Mom found for Ruby. When Ruby gets pregnant and gives birth, they’ll say it’s my brother’s posthumous child. You can’t tell anyone about this.” Seeing that I didn’t respond, Lucas picked me up in his arms. “Mia, it’s too cold outside. Let’s talk inside.” Lucas held me tightly and carried me into the house. He threw me onto the bed and looked into my eyes, saying, “Mia, I swear, I will only love you in this lifetime. I will never betray you. You have to believe me.” Lucas’s words now were exactly the same as what he had said on our wedding day. On our wedding day, I thought his scent was sweet, and I wanted to hold him close and breathe it in. But now, his scent had changed. It had become a smell I didn’t like. After saying this, Lucas tried to kiss me. But my body instinctively resisted. In the past, I would have leaned in, but today I couldn’t do it. I turned my head away. Lucas thought I was still upset and smiled foolishly, saying, “Mia, let me comfort you to sleep. Early to bed, early to rise. You’re getting dark circles under your eyes.” Lucas held me in his arms, trying to comfort me to sleep as he usually did, telling me a bedtime story. But I had no interest in listening to stories. The smell on him was too unpleasant. It made me uncomfortable, even nauseous. I forced myself to accept Lucas, but I couldn’t accept the smell on him. I instinctively turned away, facing away from Lucas. Without Lucas near me, the air felt fresh. It smelled comfortable. Lucas said, “Mia, drink some water before you sleep.” I nodded and drank the water. After drinking, I suddenly felt very tired and sleepy. My eyelids were heavy, and I couldn’t keep them open. I quickly fell asleep. I was awakened by the sound of heavy breathing. I opened my eyes to find myself alone in bed. Lucas was gone. I heard the breathing sounds coming from upstairs again. Upstairs was Ruby’s room. I had a bad feeling. I opened the window and looked out into the courtyard. Lucas wasn’t in the courtyard. Where had he gone so late at night? I carefully went up to the second floor. I stopped outside Ruby’s room. The door was still slightly ajar. Through the gap, I saw Ruby entangled with a man. The man was still facing away from me. Ruby giggled and said, “Brother-in-law, how many sleeping pills did you give her? Will your wife suddenly wake up?” “I gave her three pills. She won’t wake up.” Hearing the man’s voice, my tears instantly fell. This voice was too familiar. It was Lucas. The man who had just been comforting me to sleep was now entangled with another woman. What an ironic scene. I thought I had found true love, a love that would last a lifetime. But in the end, I had misjudged him. My love couldn’t tolerate even a grain of sand. I didn’t want this marriage anymore. I carefully went downstairs, picked up my phone, and dialed my brother’s number. “Brother, I want a divorce.” There was silence on the phone for a few seconds, then my brother laughed and said, “My dear sister, I told you long ago that in our wealthy circles, there are no truly devoted people. A lifelong, monogamous relationship is impossible. Come to France. The estate and handsome men are all ready for you.”

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At the wedding, Asher’s secretary called him, saying the client was behaving inappropriately with her. Fearing that Adeline might be in danger, Asher abruptly left me and the wedding. The guests laughed, eagerly waiting for me to become the subject of ridicule. Soon after, I received a message from Adeline on Snapchat, showing a picture of Asher holding her. “See? The moment I call, Asher comes running to me,” she wrote. “So what if you’re having a wedding? The person he truly cares about is always me.” At the same time, a message from Asher appeared on my phone: “Adeline is really drunk. I’ll take care of her first and then I’ll come back for the wedding.” “Our families are just forming an alliance anyway. It’s only a formality, so please bear with it.” Reading his cold words, I took a deep breath and looked at a corner of the wedding hall, grabbing the microphone from the host. “Declan, want to get married?” The man in the corner strode forward eagerly, “Yes!” A moment ago, people were just watching the drama unfold, but after hearing the deep male voice, they turned to look. He wore a perfectly tailored suit with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, striding confidently until he stood in front of me, “I, Declan, have waited all these years, and finally, the wait is over.” If the groom is gone, you simply replace him. There are plenty of men in the world. After the wedding ended and the crowd dispersed, I picked up my phone and saw that Finn had messaged me two hours ago with just a few words, “The wedding is off.” I had painstakingly prepared for this wedding for two months. How could it be canceled just because of Finn’s words? As I was looking down at my phone, a furry head rested on my shoulder. Declan hugged me from behind, “Nora, marry me, and you’ll be happy. I promise. ” Saying that, he took my phone, “Stop looking at it. You’ve been tired all day. Rest well at the hotel, and we’ll get our marriage certificate tomorrow.” I raised an eyebrow, “You’re letting me stay at a hotel?” I had no home of my own in this city. The only place I could call home was Finn’s. Luckily, I had my documents with me, so I didn’t need to go back there. Declan avoided my gaze, “We just had a wedding, but we aren’t really married yet, so we can’t stay together.” I didn’t expect him to say that, finding it amusing. Declan avoided eye contact with me, his ears turning red down to his neck. I found it interesting and reached out to touch his ear. “Don’t!” Declan quickly dodged, but his ears turned even redder, “I’ll take you to the hotel.” On the way, the car was silent except for the sound of our breathing. After arriving at the hotel, Declan’s ears returned to their normal color. “I won’t go up with you. Get some rest today.” He spoke while looking at the ground. We had known each other since we were young, and I’d rarely seen him like this, so I felt playful. I hooked my pinky around his and rubbed it with my thumb, “You too.” Declan’s face turned red, and he drove away. Watching Declan almost flee, my bad mood from the day eased. But I didn’t expect to run into Asher and Adeline as soon as I got out of the elevator. Adeline was flushed, practically clinging to Asher. Asher, supporting her, frowned upon seeing me, “What are you doing here?” I couldn’t believe Asher could act so justified. He and Adeline had come out of the same room. His once neat tie was gone, and the open collar revealed faint kiss marks. I didn’t respond and planned to walk past him. When I didn’t reply, Asher suddenly grabbed my wrist, “I’m asking you!” “Why aren’t you at home at this hour? What are you doing at the hotel?!” Seeing his angry face, I almost thought he was worried about me. Pain shot through my wrist, and I shook his hand off, “What’s it to you?!” “I’m your boyfriend, your fiancé, why wouldn’t it concern me!” The next second, Asher’s anger faded, and he sighed softly, “Nora, be good. Don’t throw a tantrum.” I laughed out of anger, “I’m throwing a tantrum?” He claims to be my boyfriend, yet he’s holding another woman. He says he’s my fiancé, but he left me at the wedding for another woman. Now, he shows up at the hotel with all these marks on him. Asher, with patience, tried to soothe me, “Didn’t I explain before I left? Even if you’re angry, you shouldn’t run away. Let’s go home.” His so-called explanation was his concern that Adeline might get drunk while entertaining clients. “Adeline is a girl hanging out with customers. I was worried she’d get drunk and something might happen, so I went to check. I’ll be back soon.” I’ve heard pet owners comfort their dogs before leaving, saying they’ll be back soon, but I’ve never heard it applied to a wedding. What am I to him? What is this wedding to him? At that thought, anger surged to my head, and I started trembling, “Get lost!” Asher’s face turned grim, and his patience ran out after my repeated refusals, “Nora, I’m telling you for the last time, come home with me!” “Adeline is drunk and has a terrible headache. Go back and make her some hangover soup.” I thought he wanted me to go home to comfort me, but it was still for Adeline. I glared at him, a thousand words stuck in my throat but unable to come out. While we were at an impasse, Adeline, who was just in a daze, spoke up, “Nora, why are you here?” One after another, they asked why I was here, not thinking they were the ones who shouldn’t be here! “Mr. Asher, don’t be so harsh. Girls don’t like that,” she giggled, “If Nora doesn’t want to go back, she must have her own reasons.” At a hotel, besides sleeping, what else could one do? Adeline said it intentionally, hinting at Asher to think otherwise. And he didn’t disappoint her scheming, glaring at me, “Who did you meet?” I shook my head, but the room card in my hand was snatched away. When I reached to grab it back, Asher, in his rage, pushed me hard. Bam—my lower back hit the door handle painfully. Holding my waist, I crouched down, still trying to catch my breath when Asher dragged me into the room, pushing doors open one by one, “Where’s your lover?! Let him get out!” The pain lingered, and I stumbled as Asher dragged me, “No! I didn’t!” He didn’t believe me, but after searching the room and finding no one else, he pushed me onto the sofa. With his hands on either side of me, his gaze was dark, “Nora, if I find out you’re cheating, just wait and see.” I was in so much pain tears welled up, but I retorted, “Ha, fine, I’ll wait!” We’d fought before, but even during our worst argument, if I pouted and teared up, Asher would give in, even if I had been harsh. But now, Asher grabbed my chin, speaking in a voice only we could hear, “Think about those paintings~” With that, he let go and left with Adeline without looking back. With a loud bang, the door closed, and I slumped to the ground, tears silently streaming down my cheeks. Because of Finn’s words. Finn is an artist, running his own art company. When we first met, he couldn’t even be called an artist, just a broke student who could paint. At that time, I had just had a falling out with my family and moved to San Francisco alone. My living expenses were running out, and my credit card was stopped. To afford food, I worked as a model. My first and last client was Finn. We never made eye contact during the process. He painted, and I earned money. After he finished, I was about to leave when I heard things being thrown in the studio. Curious, I asked, “What happened? Did I pose wrong?” Finn was startled but quickly explained he was upset because he couldn’t get the painting right. Indeed, from proportions to color composition, there were issues. I happened to be bored that day and helped him correct the painting. A week later, he excitedly told me his painting was praised by his teacher, and he wanted to treat me to a meal. From then on, we stayed in close contact, growing into a couple. I continued to help him with his paintings when he struggled, pointing out errors and correcting them, until he became known as an artist. In love, everything was romantic and meaningful. We met because of life drawing, and naturally, left behind many such artworks during our passionate moments. But now, Asher is using those tokens of our love to threaten me. The next morning, after a sleepless night, Declan arrived and noticed my dark circles. He opened his mouth several times but said nothing in the end. The journey was quiet again, but the atmosphere was different from yesterday. I was uneasy, and Declan was uneasy. The car passed by the marriage office but didn’t stop. “Aren’t we getting the certificate?” Declan pursed his lips, “We’re going to take wedding photos first, then pick out the wedding dress.” Exhaustion from the sleepless night overwhelmed me, and I didn’t question why he changed the plan. Upon arriving, Declan went to park the car. I just entered the store and saw Finn and Adeline. Adeline stood under the lights in a white wedding dress, smiling blissfully, “Asher, do I look good?” Finn, in a matching suit, stood opposite her, kissing her hand, “Beautiful.” I stood at a distance, clearly witnessing their sweet interaction. Adeline is Asher’s secretary, always calling him Mr. Asher, but just now, she called him Asher, so intimate. The exhaustion from a sleepless night hit me hard, but I didn’t dwell on why he changed his plans. Once we arrived, Declan went to park the car. As soon as I entered the store, I saw Finn and Adeline. Adeline was standing under the lights in an immaculate wedding dress, smiling blissfully. “Finn, do I look beautiful?” she asked. Asher, dressed in a matching suit, stood across from her, lowering his head to kiss her hand gently. “Very beautiful,” he replied. I watched from a distance, clearly seeing their sweet interaction. Adeline was Asher’s secretary and always called him Mr. Asher. Just now, she called him Finn so intimately. They didn’t look like they had a superior-subordinate relationship; they seemed more like a couple… They didn’t notice me. Adeline walked over to Asher, snuggling up to him. “Then let’s go with this one. Let’s take some photos.” Asher didn’t move. Just when I thought he might refuse, he spoke up, “Adeline, wait a little longer for me.” Tears welled up in Adeline’s eyes. “Finn, I’ll wait for you, but you have to tell me how long.” “Do you know how much it hurt me yesterday?” They embraced tightly, while I stood there, feeling cold all over. Even though I had suspected their hidden relationship yesterday, hearing this made me think there was more to it. The next second, Asher raised his hand to make a promise, “Adeline, once I’m completely established, I’ll marry you!” “You know marrying Nora was just a reluctant move. Everyone in the industry knows about our relationship. I’m still in my rising phase, and I need her.” Yes, everyone knows Asher’s fiancée is me. Not just because we’ve been together for a long time, but because over the years, I’ve been the one supporting Asher. An artist isn’t worth much before they become famous. For years, I worked hard alone, supporting Asher with his artistic dreams. After he gained some success, I decisively quit my job to manage his studio. The overlap in our work made many people aware of me. People are judged not by their professions but by their worth. Managing the studio inevitably brought me into contact with people with ulterior motives. Even though Asher really needed that contract, money, and fame, he would still block those who disrespected me, refusing to work with them ever again. When a female client asked him for a portrait, Finn would stubbornly say, “The only leading lady in my paintings is my girlfriend, Nora!” But when did it all change? When did Asher stop needing me, stop painting for me, and even stop allowing me into the studio? “Asher, you know I’ve only ever had you in my heart,” his words interrupted my thoughts. “From high school until now, for so long, you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.” “Look, I even have a couple’s tattoo on my chest with your birthday. You have to trust me.” The world spun around me. Asher had a half-winged butterfly and four numbers tattooed over his heart. I once curiously asked, “Why a half butterfly? What’s the meaning?” He explained it was art—”The beauty of imperfection.” He said the numbers represented the day he fell for me. I believed him. I even naively got a flower tattoo on my waist, thinking, “Butterflies always love flowers.” I stared at them unblinkingly, not noticing when Declan came in. “What are you looking at?” Declan’s voice drew Asher and Adeline’s attention. The moment Asher saw me, his face flashed with panic but quickly returned to normal. “Why did you follow me here? I told you to go home. Are you stalking me?” I stared at him steadily. Ignoring me, Asher was displeased. “I’m talking to you! When are you going home?” He came over to grab my arm, but Declan blocked him. “Dude, talk if you have something to say, but don’t lay a hand on my wife.” “Your wife?” Asher furrowed his brows. “Nora, enough with the nonsense. You don’t have to go this far to spite me by hiring someone to act.” Adeline slowly approached. “Mr. Asher, maybe Nora is just jealous. You should comfort her.” Just then, she seemed to step on her dress and suddenly fell forward, landing right in Asher’s arms. “Are you okay? Did you hurt anything?” Asher forgot to pretend in front of me, his concern glaringly obvious. I took a deep breath and couldn’t help but say, “Disgusting.” I was about to leave with Declan, but Asher stopped me. “Wait! I haven’t asked you, who is this guy?” Suddenly, he seemed to realize something. “Is this your fling from last night?!” His words became nastier, dragging Declan into it, forcing me to turn and face him. “Asher, did a donkey kick your brain? What right do you have to question me? The moment you ditched the wedding, we were done!” He seemed to find it hilarious. “Break up? Did I agree?” He said this while reaching for me again. This time, Declan didn’t hold back. As Asher reached for me, Declan grabbed his wrist, pulling him back and pinning his shoulder. “Buddy, I warned you to be respectful to my wife.” “Who the hell is your wife!” Asher’s words played right into Declan’s hands. He smiled, pulled out his phone, and showed a wedding photo of us as his screen wallpaper. “My wife. Beautiful, huh.” The next second, he turned to me, winking to reassure me. “Wife, when are we getting our marriage certificate?” Seeing Asher defeated made me feel good. “Let’s do it now!” I wasn’t lying. I had my documents with me. Declan was stunned for a second, then let out a playful whistle. Asher recognized the wedding setting, eyes wide, shouting, “Nora, who gave you permission to marry?!” I looked at him coldly. “Isn’t this perfect? Now Adeline doesn’t have to wait for you. We can all marry our first loves. It’s fair.” With that, I ignored both Asher and Declan’s shocked expressions and left without looking back. As I brushed past Adeline, I looked her up and down. “If Asher really cared, he wouldn’t have let you wear that wedding dress.” “What do you mean?” “The dress has a high neckline. It makes your big chest and short neck look bulky. If you’re taking wedding photos, you should wear something that makes you look beautiful.” Adeline looked at me deeply. After I left, Declan quickly caught up to me, wide-eyed. “What did you mean by what you said earlier? Marrying our first loves?” Meanwhile, Asher shouted from behind, “Nora, wait till those paintings spread everywhere!” I’m sorry, but it seems that the text to be translated is missing. Could you please provide the content that needs translation? A studio in San Francisco caught fire due to inadequate fire safety measures. Thankfully, there were no casualties, but renowned artist Asher’s paintings were entirely destroyed. When I saw the news, Declan was pestering me. “Come on, tell me, what did you mean by what you said that day?”

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I cherished Gideon more than anything. I proposed to him a hundred times just to marry him. As I was about to propose for the 101st time, Gideon was suddenly kidnapped. In my desperate attempt to save him, I took a fatal blow that was meant for him. When I awoke from a coma, Gideon willingly put on the wedding ring I had prepared. “Adeline, let’s get married.” From that moment, I became the envy of everyone, Mrs. Gideon. After our marriage, Gideon’s behavior didn’t change. He brought countless women home, but I didn’t mind. I even stood by and opened small umbrellas for them. Outsiders thought I was pitiable, unwilling to let go of the luxury and wealth Gideon provided. But no one knew that my relentless pursuit to marry Gideon was never about him or his money. It was for the heart beating in his chest. I watched the drunken, sleeping Gideon and placed my hand over his beating heart. “Gideon, you must live a long and healthy life.” A soft, melodious sound came from the guest room. I looked at the closed door, unable to recall how many women Gideon had brought back. Since he agreed to my 101st proposal, aside from a brief period of being a faithful husband shortly after marriage, he quickly reverted to his old ways. His handsome demeanor remained unchanged. An hour later, the noise from the room finally ceased. Following his usual habit, I opened the door and offered a glass of freshly poured red wine. Gideon watched me walk in calmly, a satisfied smile on his face. He pulled me onto the bed where he had just been with another woman, holding me tightly in his arms. He gently tapped my nose with his finger and said, “Adeline, you are the most understanding.” “Marrying you was indeed the right decision.” He drank the wine in one gulp and went into the bathroom to freshen up, leaving the woman and me staring at each other. Once the bathroom door closed, I discreetly rubbed my nose where Gideon had touched. The woman Gideon chose this time was different from the usual ones. She was pure, with a face so fair it seemed to glow. Seeing my indifferent reaction to my husband’s betrayal, she boldly flaunted her good figure in front of me. Despite her innocent appearance, her eyes were full of mockery and disdain. “You’re the ‘pathetic’ Mrs. Gideon everyone talks about.” In a lowered voice, she revealed, “I’ve been with Gideon for two months. He often tells me he likes me very much. If he weren’t already married, he would definitely marry me.” Worried about Gideon overhearing, she leaned closer and whispered in my ear, “I advise you to leave Gideon soon, or I won’t let you have an easy time.” Before I could respond to this familiar threat, the bathroom suddenly went quiet. When Gideon emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist, she suddenly fell backward, hitting the floor hard. Before he could help her up, she tearfully accused, “Gideon, she hit me!” Pointing at me, she continued, “She threatened me to leave you, or she wouldn’t let me go easily.” Watching this scene, I found it amusing. Such poor tactics, Gideon wouldn’t fall for it. But this time, Gideon showed a worry I had never seen before. He nervously held the woman in his arms. “Cora, where does it hurt? Do you need a doctor?” Gideon looked at me standing emotionlessly and frowned, “Adeline, you pushed Cora. Apologize to her now.” I glanced at Cora’s smug expression in his arms and remained unmoved. Seeing this, Gideon became furious, “Didn’t you hear me? Apologize now!” Perhaps sensing my unyielding attitude was different than usual, despite his repeated orders, I remained unmoved. Suddenly, Gideon clutched his chest, breathing heavily. This sudden change left Cora bewildered. Seeing this, I immediately took out the medicine I always carried, pushed Cora away, and forced the medicine into Gideon’s mouth. Listening to his gradually calming breath, I glanced at the surgical scar on his chest and said to Cora, “Ms. Lin, I’m sorry.”

Probably to punish me for my rebellious act yesterday, Gideon brought the meticulously dressed Cora to the company’s anniversary celebration. Everyone looked at me with mocking eyes. Even the interns who just joined the company covered their mouths, waiting to see the joke of the infamous ‘gold-digger wife.’ Ignoring their looks, I quietly stood aside, watching Gideon and Cora mingle with the partners. But in her self-importance, Cora forgot herself and cursed at a young woman who accidentally stepped on her dress. “Are you blind?” “This dress is the only one in the city. You can’t afford it even if you sell your life!” Furious at the dirty hem, Cora pushed the young woman into the champagne tower. The tower toppled, drenching the woman in wine, and she began to cry. The commotion caught the attention of Gideon and the partners. The main partner’s face turned pale, and he rushed over to help the young woman. He demanded, “Daughter, who did this to you?” Under her finger, Cora’s face turned white. Instinctively, Gideon shielded Cora, demanding, “Adeline, apologize to this lady immediately.” I was stunned, looking at his tense muscles, ready to comply. But the partner stopped me, displeased with Cora, “It was she who pushed my daughter. Why is Mrs. Gideon apologizing?” The young woman, eyes red from crying, added, “Mr. Gideon, if she doesn’t apologize, I’ll have my father cancel the partnership with Gideon Corporation. ” Facing the threat, Gideon rubbed Cora’s head to comfort her, then ordered me, “Adeline, even if you have to kneel, you must earn Mr. King and Miss King’s forgiveness.” With that, he took Cora’s hand and left the hall. I vaguely heard their conversation. “Gideon, I was so scared. Fortunately, you were by my side.” Gideon replied tenderly, “I can’t bear to see someone as pure as you get hurt.” Watching them leave, I took a deep breath, turned to King, and forced a smile. Picking up a freshly opened bottle of wine, I apologized, “Miss King, I’m sorry for what happened. I sincerely apologize.” Raising the bottle to drink, Miss King stopped me, her eyes full of pity. She took the bottle from my hand, saying, “Mrs. Gideon, you don’t need to do this. Consider the matter closed, but our companies will never cooperate again. ” Before leaving, she looked at me with disdain, changing her address, “Miss Summer, a man like that isn’t worth it.” Her words left me with mixed feelings. The scene of Gideon and Cora leaving replayed in my mind. I touched the silver chain on my wrist and smiled bitterly.

Despite my chronic stomach issues, the alcohol caused burning pain in my abdomen. After the event, I struggled to reach the car waiting at the hotel’s entrance. As I opened the door, I saw them in an intimate moment. Hearing the door, they paused. Cora, displeased, got off Gideon’s lap and gave me a look. Gideon glanced over, asking, “How did the matter with Mr. King go?” I relayed Mr. King’s statement about ‘no further cooperation.’ Hearing this, Gideon’s expression changed. Mr. King was not only the company’s biggest partner but also a primary source of income. Canceling the partnership risked a financial crisis. Clearly, Gideon understood the consequences. He looked at me with reproach, about to speak, but Cora interrupted. “Adeline, you’re useless. Can’t even apologize properly. What are you still doing by Gideon’s side?” She poked Gideon’s chest with her manicured finger, adding, “Gideon, maybe we should give Adeline a little punishment.” “Otherwise, she might ignore your advice again.” Cora’s attitude seemed to deny any wrongdoing on her part. Hearing this, Gideon affectionately ruffled her hair and slammed the door shut. The car door locked with a click. Gideon lowered the window, coldly demanding my phone, “Cora’s right. You need a lesson.” She pointed her carefully manicured red-tipped finger at Gideon’s chest, suggesting, “Gideon, why don’t we teach Adeline a little lesson?” “Otherwise, Adeline will keep ignoring your advice,” Cora said, acting as if she wasn’t the one who stirred up trouble this time. Hearing this, Gideon gently tousled her hair before slamming the car door shut. With a click, the door locked. Gideon rolled down the window and curtly demanded my phone: “Cora’s right; you need to learn your lesson.” “This time, I’ll be kind and let you walk back to the villa from the hotel.” With that, he told the driver to start the car. But just as the car sped up, it suddenly stopped. Cora leaned out the window and shouted, “Adeline, don’t forget to buy ribs on your way back.” “Whenever Gideon and I go out, he often brings your homemade braised ribs.” “Hurry back to the villa; I’m eager to have them!” As thunder roared in the sky, the car sped away. Cold rain poured down, drenching me in an instant. My heart grew colder with each heartbeat. When I finally returned to the villa, my soaked body was stiff and hard to move. I was about to head to the bedroom to change clothes when I opened the door to a scene of chaos. Especially the photo album I had hidden in a secret corner—it had been maliciously torn and thrown on the ground. The few intact photos bore dusty footprints. The smiling father and daughter in the photos were my deceased father and me. I squatted down, touching the photos, and cried out in agony. Hearing my cries, Cora, wearing a dress Gideon had given me for our wedding, swayed over to me. “What’s with all the yelling? I just picked a few clothes from your closet, no need to shout.” I clutched the photos tightly, my eyes bloodshot as I glared at her, questioning, “Who told you to dig out these photos?” Cora casually replied, “They’re just old photos, nothing valuable.” She snatched the photos from my hand and, with malice in her eyes, deliberately commented, “The man in these photos looks like he’s doomed to die young. He must be suffering in hell after death!”

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Because of his religious devotion, my husband Charles could only break his vows with me once a month. After each time, he would shake his head in regret, saying he had let down God. I always thought he didn’t enjoy that kind of thing, until he brought home a black exchange student. At first, he said: “Lena is a follower I met while doing charity work in Africa. Don’t overthink it.” Later, he said: “Lena has been poisoned by a tribal love potion. If I don’t save her, she’ll die.” Finally, he said: “Lena is carrying my child. I plan to transfer our marital home to her. You don’t mind, do you?” I calmly replied: “Of course not. Add another house too, in case it’s twins.” Seeing how understanding I was, a rare look of satisfaction appeared on Charles’ usually expressionless face. “You don’t need to make dinner tonight,” he said, as if bestowing a favor upon me. The next second, Lena’s coquettish voice rang out: “Charles, darling, I suddenly have a craving for durian.” She and a group of her black classmates had just come out of the music room, which used to be my piano room. Charles indulged them to make noise in there every day. Charles immediately turned to me: “Go, open a durian for Lena.” I looked at the large, spiky durian on the coffee table. Charles had flown in a plane full of them from Lena’s home country last week. However, our housekeeper had taken leave to visit her hometown two days ago. “We don’t have a knife for opening durians, I…” “Use your hands,” Charles interrupted me. “Lena likes to eat them freshly opened, it’s fresher that way.” He said it casually, as if he was just asking me to peel an orange. Lena leaned on Charles’ shoulder, looking at me with a victorious attitude. I took a deep breath and walked over to the durian. The sharp spikes easily cut through my skin. The strong smell of durian mixed with the metallic scent of my blood, filling the living room. One of Lena’s black female classmates, sitting on the sofa, glanced at me with a look of amusement, making tsk-tsk sounds. “My, Mrs. Shaw is so virtuous, even peeling a durian is such a ceremonious affair.” “She’s just clumsy though. Look at that blood, hope it doesn’t drip onto the fruit. That would be quite unlucky according to our customs,” another shrill voice added. I shakily placed the peeled durian on a plate and pushed it in front of Lena. Lena picked up a piece and elegantly put it in her mouth, closing her eyes in satisfaction. “Mmm, Charles is so good to me, he knows I love this.” She didn’t even glance at me, as if the wounds on my hands had nothing to do with her. Later that evening, Charles suddenly announced: “From now on, Lena will be in charge of the household finances.” I was stunned. “You spend money recklessly and you’re stupid. You can’t even keep the accounts straight,” he said. “Lena is a college student. She’s smarter than you and knows how to save money.” I felt nothing but absurdity. When had I ever been reckless with money all these years? Charles’ parents were in poor health, frequently hospitalized and needing medication. Which expense hadn’t I carefully calculated, even using my own private savings to make up the difference? Charles had used the startup capital I gave him to build his business, and later to run his so-called African charity. He used those fake projects and tragic stories to scam donations from followers and wealthy businessmen. The pain from the spikes on my hands grew worse, red and swollen. Even the slightest touch was agonizing. Lena and her black classmates giggled nearby. One of them pointed at my hands and said: “Tsk tsk, how will you play the piano with those hands now?”

Late at night, Lena had already gone to bed. Surprisingly, Charles came over with a first aid kit and took my battered hand. I inhaled sharply as the alcohol swab touched my wounds. He lowered his head, carefully applying ointment. In the lamplight, his focused profile made me momentarily flash back to the past. Back then, we had just gotten married and our relationship was still good. Once, I accidentally cut my finger while cutting fruit. He had been like this too, nervously and caringly treating my wound while scolding me for being careless. He had said: “Let me handle these things in the future. Don’t hurt yourself again.” “You know I can’t stand the sight of blood now that I’m devoted to my faith.” A few days later, Lena complained in a coquettish voice that her skin had become rough due to pregnancy and needed beauty treatments. I never expected Charles would turn his attention to me. The private doctor he brought in told me that Lena needed stem cell injections to improve her skin, and my stem cells were the most compatible with hers. I lay on the cold operating table, watching my blood being slowly drawn from my body and injected into another container. Charles stood not far away, watching expressionlessly. The doctor glanced at the markings on the blood bag beside him, frowning involuntarily. “Mr. Shaw, if we continue, Mrs. Shaw’s body may not be able to take it. Extracting stem cells isn’t a matter of ‘the more the better.’ Too much could actually…” “Continue,” Charles’ voice was unwavering. “Lena has a weak constitution, and this is her first pregnancy. Of course we need to use the best.” “You’re using my life to give her the best?” I barely managed to squeeze out these words from my parched throat. Charles finally turned his gaze to me. “This is my first child, and it’s your blessing too,” he said. “Although I’m devoted to my faith, I still need an heir. As my wife, you should understand.” It was his child with another woman, yet now my flesh and blood were being used to nourish it. I could even imagine Lena lying in a comfortable bed, enjoying high-end care, while I was reduced to being her living health supplement. The doctor tried to speak again: “Mr. Shaw, this dosage is really… very dangerous. It could cause irreversible damage, even…” “I said, continue,” Charles emphasized. “Everything is cause and effect.” Lena’s classmates had somehow appeared at the door, peering in curiously. “Charles is so good to Lena. We’ve never seen such a good man in our tribe.” “As long as Lena gives Charles a child or two, Charles will surely increase his investment in our tribe in the future.” “Religious people are supposed to be compassionate. Besides, how could Charles bear to see our superior race suffer?” Another voice chimed in. His compassion, it seemed, was selective. My body grew colder and colder. “That’s enough, Mr. Shaw. We really can’t extract any more,” the doctor’s voice trembled. “If we continue, it could be fatal!” Charles seemed to walk over, his figure swaying in my blurry vision.

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. The sunlight outside the window was piercing, yet I felt chilled to the bone. Lena sauntered in, her high heels clicking. “Sister, you’re awake?” she said. “The doctor said your stem cells worked wonders. Look at my skin, isn’t it smooth and tender?” She stroked her cheeks boastfully. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see her smug face. “Oh, right,” Lena suddenly seemed to remember something and leaned in closer. “Charles took all those artistic photos of you from before and shared them with his religious friends to study, you know. For designing some custom maternity dresses for me.” “He said your body proportions are similar to mine, so he wanted them to use those as reference to make the most fitting and beautiful clothes for me.” Those photos were taken years ago when Charles had been kidnapped by a gang of thugs and beaten bloody. They had forced me to take revealing photos to spare his life. After that incident, Charles became devoted to his studies, not only improving his grades rapidly but also getting into a PhD program and later studying theology. Seeing his lofty ambitions, I finally agreed to marry him after his 99th proposal. Now, to please his new love, he actually took my shameful past and offered it up for others to ogle. Lena watched my face turn deathly pale, her smile growing more smug: “Don’t look at me like that. Charles is just doing it for the baby’s sake. He said those friends all praised your figure, just that it’s a pity you’re too prudish and don’t know how to be sexy.” Lena didn’t seem to notice my distress, or perhaps she simply didn’t care. She took out a dazzling diamond necklace from her crocodile skin handbag and dangled it in front of me: “Look, Charles bought this for me yesterday. He said it complements my skin tone.” “He said someone with a healthy complexion like mine looks good in anything, unlike some people who are as pale as paper, with no vitality at all.” She changed the subject, bringing up those photos again: “Charles said that although your old photos were artistic, they were still too conservative in the end.” “The girls from our tribe are much more open-minded than you. Charles even said if he wasn’t worried about scaring you, he would have taken me to shoot much racier ones long ago.” Lena glanced at me contemptuously: “Sister, I’m not criticizing you, but you’re just too old-fashioned, out of touch with the times. Charles may look like a devout Christian, all pure and abstinent, but his needs in that department are huge!” She giggled shrilly, her voice grating on the ears. “He said it’s because when he’s with you, he can’t get in the mood, can’t get excited, so he feels like he’s desecrating God.” Lena leaned in even closer, her overpowering perfume making me nauseous. “Do you know why Charles married you in the first place?” “Because your grandfather and Charles’ grandfather were war buddies who fought against Russia together. The two old men hoped your families would be joined through marriage.” Lena’s lipstick-stained mouth kept moving. “Charles said touching you makes him feel like he’s dirtying his hands. If it wasn’t for the sake of completing his spiritual journey and putting on a show for others, he would have divorced you long ago.” “A woman like you is just wasting oxygen by being alive. You might as well give up your place early, stop occupying a space you don’t deserve.” She laughed raucously, the diamond necklace on her chest glittering painfully in my eyes. “Oh, and you think your grandfather was some kind of good person? Back then, he…” “Enough!” A stern female voice interrupted Lena. An older nurse strode in, her face livid: “Young lady, this is a hospital ward. Patients need peace and quiet! How can you make such a racket here? Have you no sense of decency?” Lena was startled by this sudden scolding. She pouted, reluctantly sashaying out. “Nutcase,” the nurse muttered under her breath before turning to me. “Mrs. Shaw, how are you feeling? If you’re uncomfortable in any way, just press the call button.” I nodded woodenly. The nurse sighed, tucking in my blanket before leaving.

Lena’s last words reminded me of my grandfather’s instructions. I picked up my phone and dialed that number. I had just put down the phone when Charles burst in, bringing a chill with him. “Lily! What did you do to Lena again? She came back crying, saying you cursed at her and tried to hit her!” “And you shamelessly sent those photos of yours to my friends. They’re all laughing at me now!” Just then, the older nurse came in with a medicine tray. Seeing Charles, her face immediately lit up with a smile. “Mr. Shaw, you’re here? Mrs. Shaw just woke up, her spirits seem good.” “These past few days while she was unconscious, you’ve been here day and night without rest. You’re truly a model husband.” “And such a devout Christian too. Mrs. Shaw is so blessed to be married to a man like you.” Blessed? I almost laughed out loud. As before, the medical expenses were deducted from our joint account. He used my money to buy his reputation as a compassionate soul, openly transferring our marital assets. Hearing the nurse’s words, the dark clouds on Charles’ face instantly dispersed, replaced by a gentle expression. He walked to my bedside and took my hand: “Lily, we’re husband and wife. Taking care of you is what I should do.” “Your health isn’t good, so don’t overthink things, and don’t quarrel with young girls.” He even bent down and lightly kissed my forehead in front of the nurse. As those cold lips touched me, I felt a wave of nausea. The nurse nodded approvingly. “She’s just too willful,” Charles sighed, his tone indulgent yet helpless. “Alright, the doctor says you can be discharged. I’ll take you home.” With that, he bent down and scooped me up in his arms, ignoring my wishes. I stiffly allowed him to carry me, smelling the faint sandalwood scent on him, feeling nothing but irony. Back home, the house was a mess, filled with unfamiliar odors. My precious antique zithers were all gone, replaced by a shiny drum set. Several Western instruments were strewn haphazardly nearby. Charles followed behind me. Seeing me frozen in place, he impatiently waved his hand: “Come on, they’re just messing around. I’ll buy you new ones later, it’s not a big deal.” Lena’s gang of black classmates were gathered around the sofa, making faces and snickering at me in hushed voices. Charles ushered them into his room. If saving one soul was good, saving many was even better. When Charles came to me that night, he caught me sending messages. Seeing him with beads of sweat on his forehead, I quickly stepped forward and snatched the phone from his hand. “Your body hasn’t recovered yet. What are you doing playing with your phone?” he said. He tried to unlock it, his fingers swiping the screen a few times, but it remained dark. He had forgotten that the password was our wedding anniversary. He grew impatient but eventually tossed the phone back to me, probably thinking I couldn’t cause any trouble in my current state. “Get some rest early,” he said curtly before turning to leave. The TV in the hospital room was playing a local news segment. On screen, Charles wore a well-tailored suit, looking spirited and energetic. Beside him were a radiant Lena and her classmates. The news headline read: “Philanthropist Charles Shaw’s Boundless Love: International Aid and Cultural Integration Across Races”. The host praised Charles’ charitable deeds in passionate tones, saying he had promoted cultural exchange and understanding. The scene switched to Lena nestled against Charles, smiling charmingly at the camera. “Charles has always taught us that all beings are equal, and love knows no boundaries of nation or skin color,” she said. “His acceptance of me and my people is the greatest kindness and respect he could show us.” Her tribespeople also expressed their gratitude to Charles on camera, praising his compassionate heart and magnanimous spirit. Charles had indeed held another charity gala to boost his image. Lena was invited as a special guest to share her experience of being helped, while also promoting Charles’ company. I attended in simple attire. When Charles saw me, he said: “Lily, there are many important guests today. It’s good that you’re dressed like this, it shows purity.” Lena, on the other hand, wore a fiery red dress dripping with jewels, hanging on Charles’ arm like the hostess. On stage, Charles spoke at length about Christian teachings and universal love. Lena gazed at him adoringly from the side, while her classmates chimed in with their broken English. Just as Lena was thanking Charles, the lights in the banquet hall suddenly went out. Amidst the screams, several dark figures rushed in. After a moment of chaos, the big screen lit up, showing an image of me beaten bloody. The leader of the kidnappers pointed a gun at me, grinning viciously at Charles on stage: “Charles Shaw, want your wife to live?” Charles’ face turned ashen. Lena screamed and hid behind him. The kidnapper sneered: “It’s simple. Strip naked in front of everyone and kowtow three times to the screen. Then we’ll let her go.”

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Just after class ended, news spread like wildfire—everyone knew I was diagnosed with AIDS. The test results were positive, and I was left speechless. In the span of a single day, I had gone from being a respected teacher to being branded as morally corrupt. When I sought my husband’s help to clear my name, his family mocked me: “Lydia, how can you even show your face outside? Every place you’ve been needs to be disinfected. No one dares to step there.” “Who knows what you’ve been up to to catch such a disease? It’s disgusting.” “What else could it be? A chaotic private life, perhaps. Who would’ve thought Lydia had such habits, not even settling down after marriage.” Behind the door, Asher quickly posted several more messages using a fake account, muttering, “Vera finally got a chance to substitute, but she insists on teaching herself. She’s showing off and needs to learn a lesson.” Only now do I realize that the man who claimed to love only me had long since changed his heart. I touched my abdomen, realizing this child had come at the worst possible time. — “Our store strictly refuses service to AIDS patients. If you’re sick, stay away of your own accord, have some decency, and don’t harm others!” “If she accidentally cuts herself and touches something, others might get infected too. Oh my God, people like her shouldn’t even leave their homes!” The most liked comment read: “She’s a teacher—anyone with kids at that school should be cautious!” I knew this was posted by Asher. His intentions were clear—he wanted me out of the school to appease Vera’s anger. The overwhelming online insults and accusations left me numb. I couldn’t even cry. In despair, I looked up at the sky, contemplating scheduling an abortion at the hospital. But as soon as I stepped out of the school gates, a group of parents rushed toward me, pelting me with stones. “Does someone like you deserve to be a teacher? Teaching with AIDS?” “Everyone knows how you got this disease. Don’t corrupt my kids. If anything happens to them, I’ll kill you!” Already in a daze, a parent slapped me across the face. Unable to dodge, her long nails scratched my face, drawing blood. “Oh my God, I’ve made her bleed! It’s transmitted through blood; am I infected?” “Panic ensued as people shouted, ‘Go get a blocking shot at the hospital!’” Despite the chaos, I tried to stay calm and shouted, “Those are all rumors online. I don’t have the disease; someone framed me.” But no one believed me. The attacks grew more intense. “If you claim it’s slander, why aren’t they slandering others but you?” “Exactly, with the diagnosis out, you’re still lying. You’re really twisted, trying to make others suffer because you’re sick, deliberately retaliating against society!” The woman who scratched me fainted from fear. Her husband dialed emergency services while hurling a brick at me. “I swear, if my wife gets infected, I’ll kill you, you scum, to avenge her!” His words resonated with everyone. They threw more things at me, and I struggled to fend them off. “If you don’t leave the school, I’ll complain to the Principal, to the Department of Education. We’ll sue you for malicious virus spreading!” I curled up in a corner, holding my head, too scared to make a sound. The physical and emotional pain intertwined, leaving me a mess. Just then, Asher rushed over, shielding me behind him. “You’re pregnant and still running around. If anything happens to you or the baby, what am I supposed to do?” Vera appeared behind him, intentionally unbuttoning two buttons on her blouse. The red kiss marks were clearly visible. “Lydia, are you okay? Asher is worried about your health. I’ll take over your classes, so you can rest at home.” Due to this incident, my classes were already suspended, and I didn’t expect Vera to take over. Since they dislike me and like to take my things, I’ll just disappear completely and not show up in front of them. Looking at Vera’s meticulously made-up face, while I was covered in blood and dirt, I felt pathetic and ugly. I was about to leave, but Asher grabbed me, then disgustedly released his hand when he saw how dirty I was. “Vera’s lesson plan isn’t ready. You should guide her.” Seeing Vera’s fake smile, my chest felt heavy with anger. “I’m suspended. It’s not my job.” Asher’s concern vanished, and he frowned impatiently. “You’re more experienced than her. What’s wrong with helping out? It’s decided.” He wasn’t asking for my opinion; he just made the decision for me. He dragged me to an abandoned classroom, pushing me inside and locking the door before I could react. — The students had left, and the teachers were off work. Even in the daytime, no one would come to this abandoned classroom. I sensed danger and tried to escape, but a force grabbed my collar. I turned to see a man reeking of stench, drooling as he approached. “What are you doing? This is a school!” He sneered at me, his eyes full of mockery. “You’re the woman with AIDS, right? You look cheap. Did you catch it from too many men outside?” “But I don’t mind. I have AIDS too. Infected ten people this month. Since you’re already sick, let’s have some fun.” He reached out with his filthy hand. I kept banging on the door, hoping someone would hear and save me. Outside, I heard Vera’s coy voice. “Asher, how long are you going to stay with this cheap woman? It makes me uncomfortable knowing she’s your wife. And a backbone teacher? Does she deserve it?” Asher chuckled lightly. “After this, she’s nothing. Just a rat everyone beats. She’ll lose her job for sure.” “She has nothing on you. She’s ugly. Best if she never leaves the house again, saves everyone the embarrassment.” Behind the door, I felt his disdain. Suddenly, the man behind me yanked my hair, forcing me to look up. His stinking mouth approached my face. “Help!” I shouted, but he covered my mouth, his other hand pulling at my pants. Just as he was about to succeed, the door flew open. I ran out with all my strength, trying to call for help, but people already crowded the doorway. The man immediately pointed at me in panic, cursing. “This cheap woman seduced me, trying to infect me. She blocked the door so I couldn’t escape!” He twisted the truth, and everyone believed him, glaring at me. An old woman rushed over, slapping my face repeatedly. “You shameless slut, seducing my son with AIDS! My son isn’t even married. Do you want us to be childless?” “People like you should be arrested. I’m calling the police! Police!” The Principal rushed over, seeing the scene, felt ashamed, and coldly issued an ultimatum. “Lydia, you’re fired. Leave our school immediately!” After the Principal left, Asher’s friends gave me disdainful looks. “Lydia, really? Catching a disease and wanting revenge on society? You’d even go for a beggar or homeless man?” “Seriously, just go to the hospital for isolation or stay home. You’re already affecting our normal lives.” Asher pretended to arrive just then, pulling me out of the crowd. “You…” He pointed at me, speechless, looking pained and pitiful, earning sympathy. “Wife, I’ve been busy with work and haven’t been with you. But that’s no excuse for your behavior! What have you done?” He acted convincingly, playing the clueless, heartbroken good husband. His words made everyone understand one thing. I’m a restless woman fooling around, and my husband knew nothing. It also subtly explained that he never touched me, so he’s not sick. What great acting and plotting. Asher tried to hug me but seemed repulsed, struggling to touch me. “Wife, no matter what, we’ve been married. I’m on your side. We’ll solve this together.” He spoke nicely. But he’d just used his small account to post everything online. Letting everyone know I was a promiscuous woman who caught AIDS. And now, I was retaliating against society, trying to infect more people. I never knew, the seemingly dull Asher had such a sharp mind. Everyone’s accusations made him a bit embarrassed, so he awkwardly looked at me. “Wife, there’s a party tonight for Vera’s new job. It’s all familiar faces. Why not use this chance to apologize on video, and it’ll be over.” I looked at him in disbelief, wondering why I had to apologize when I did nothing wrong. And attending this party would make me a bigger target. “No, I’m going home.” “Lydia!” Asher called out, his eyes full of reproach, all his words defending Vera. “Don’t overthink. Vera got the job because of her real talent. I just want the school to do better.” “Honey, we’re celebrating Vera joining tonight. It’s just people we know, so why not take this opportunity to apologize in a Snapchat message and let this whole thing blow over?” I looked at him in surprise, not understanding why I should apologize when I did nothing wrong. If I went to this gathering, I’d just be setting myself up for more scrutiny. “No, I’m going home.” “Lydia!” Asher called after me, his eyes full of reproach, and his words all in defense of Vera. “Stop imagining things. Vera got the substitute teacher position because she’s genuinely talented. I’m doing this for the School’s benefit.” I hadn’t said a word, yet he was assuming all sorts of things. Every word was defending Vera, making me out to be petty. But I lost my job due to all the overwhelming slander and was exhausted, both mentally and physically. He acted as if nothing happened, even wanting to push me further into despair. In the end, Asher dragged me to the gathering by force. As soon as everyone saw me, they acted as if they’d seen a ghost, avoiding me as if I were contagious. It was like being near me was a threat to their lives. “I heard AIDS doesn’t spread through the air or saliva?” “Can you guarantee she doesn’t have any mouth ulcers? I heard people with AIDS have their whole body rot!” “Then stay far away; it’s really scary.” Hearing their words, I saw a smug glint in Vera’s eyes. Then she pouted, “We’re all friends here, don’t be so harsh. She’s still here, give her some dignity.” With that, she pretended to offer me some food. But Asher immediately blocked her chopsticks, keeping her away from me. His protectiveness over Vera was truly something else. To outsiders, this move made it seem like even serving me food could lead to infection, and Asher was protecting Vera. Then, a waiter, wearing gloves and a mask, brought me a bowl of some unknown concoction on a tray. 3 “Phoebe, please try to understand. Once you catch a disease like this, it’s incurable. It’s better if you eat somewhere else so that others can dine without worry.”

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Boyfriend planned for us to get our marriage certificate on 5/20, but I waited all day from morning till night, and he never showed up. I called him dozens of times, but it was always busy. Half an hour before City Hall closed, I received a photo from Phoebe. In the photo, Jasper was holding a pregnancy test report in one hand and caressing her not-yet-showing belly with the other, looking utterly doting. The message was quickly deleted. A moment later, Jasper called me. “Adeline, I was drugged a month ago and made a mistake, but the child is innocent. I have to take responsibility.” “Don’t worry, once she has the baby, I’ll send her abroad. It won’t affect your position as my wife.” “Don’t you like kids? Once the baby is born, I’ll have them under your name, and you’ll be their only mom.” When I didn’t say anything, he added, sounding a bit guilty. “Phoebe is very emotional because of her pregnancy and needs constant care. You should go home first. We’ll talk about the certificate after she has the baby.” I clenched my phone, smiling bitterly. Jasper, why would you think I, the heiress of New York’s Johnson family, would want a man with a tarnished reputation? I took a picture of the scene and sent it to his arch-enemy. “Does your offer still stand?” 0

Over the phone, I heard the doctor’s reprimand. “Phoebe’s family, she’s been pregnant for over a month. How could you sleep together? What kind of husband are you, so irresponsible?” Jasper instinctively wanted to explain but was distracted by Phoebe’s weak cough, so his explanation turned into an apology. “Sorry, I’ll be more careful.” My fingers tightened as I took a deep breath and made a decision. “Jasper, let’s break up.” Hearing my words, the initial guilt evaporated, replaced by a flood of blame. “Cora, what are you throwing a fit about? Is it fun to compete with a pregnant woman for attention?” “Every time there’s a problem, all you do is threaten to break up. Have you ever really left? After eight years, who else would want you? Do you dare to really break up?” His words were like sharp knives, stabbing straight into my heart. This was the 99th time Jasper stood me up for Phoebe. The previous 98 times, Phoebe always had some excuse to call him away whenever we were about to get our certificate. The first time, she had just returned to the country and needed a pick-up. The second time, she twisted her ankle in high heels, and Jasper rushed to take her to the hospital. … The 98th time, she got drunk and was being followed by some men. She called Jasper crying, and without hesitation, he left me on the roadside and sped off. That night, without my phone, I walked over ten kilometers to get home. When I opened the door, I saw him holding Phoebe on the sofa. Seeing me, Phoebe sat up first, tears in her eyes, pitifully explaining. “Adeline, I’m sorry, it’s not what you think. I was just so scared, and Jasper was just comforting me.” I looked at her, my words sharp with sarcasm. “What kind of comfort needs you to be in each other’s arms?” Jasper shielded her behind him, reprimanding me. “She was just frightened and couldn’t sleep. I just lent her my shoulder for security. She’s just my junior. Cora, can’t you be more generous? Stop being jealous over everything, you seem so bitter and mean.” That night, we had a huge fight. And just like now, I suggested breaking up. But back then, the breakup was mixed with sadness and grievance, wanting comfort, wanting someone to coax me. Every time it was the same. Every time he stood me up for Phoebe, I’d get angry and suggest breaking up. But within a couple of days, I’d fall for his sweet talk and forgive him. Never thinking that this would become a weapon he could use to stab at my heart. Not hearing my answer, Jasper realized he was too harsh and softened his tone. “Alright, Adeline, stop being petty. I didn’t mean it. I just made a mistake every man makes, and it was planned. You know, in our line of work, these things happen often. I really couldn’t prevent it.” “I promise you, I won’t let her threaten your place as my wife. Once the baby is born, we’ll get married, and I’ll give you a grand wedding. Don’t be sad, okay?” “Where are you now? Still at City Hall? I’ll come pick you up.” Before I could speak, he was drawn away by Phoebe’s groans of pain. “Phoebe’s not feeling well, she can’t be left alone. You take a cab back first, and later, I’ll buy you your favorite crawfish.” The call ended, and I stared at the black screen of my phone, laughing until tears came to my eyes. Jasper, why do you think I, the heiress of New York’s Johnson family, would want a man with a tarnished reputation? And why do you think someone like me, a beauty queen of Southwest F4, would be unwanted? Watching the crowd disperse at City Hall, I snapped a picture and sent it to his arch-enemy, Lachlan, the playboy of New York. Captioned: “Does what you said about the certificate still count?” 0

As Lachlan was entering the airport, he saw the message and didn’t think twice. He delayed his flight, jumped on a helicopter, and rushed over, afraid he’d miss his chance. When I saw him, he was breathless, drenched in sweat, clearly having run over from the helicopter. Without a word, he grabbed my hand and headed to the counter. Just in time, the staff stamped the papers, and I could hear his sigh of relief. Outside City Hall, he waved the red certificate in my face, looking smug. “Now you’re really mine, don’t even think of escaping.” Watching him, as happy as a child, I was in a daze. Was this the same Lachlan I knew? I remember once when Jasper left me in the pouring rain because of Phoebe, Lachlan drove by and splashed water all over me. Already soaked, I broke down in tears right in front of him. The usually rebellious Lachlan suddenly panicked. He took off his jacket, draped it over me, awkwardly pulled me into a hug, and half-jokingly said. “What’s the big deal about getting married? Does it have to be Jasper? What about me?” “He loves competing with me over business, so I’ll steal his wife. Marry me? I promise no cheating, no divorce, just till death do us part.” Back then, when my heart was all about Jasper, I pushed him away and slapped him. He didn’t get mad; instead, he was more serious than ever. “I’m serious. Think about it.” The sincerity that night and the innocence now seemed nothing like the playboy rumored to be all about partying. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you regretting it?” Lachlan’s voice pulled me back, and I shook my head at him. “No.” He then relaxed, taking my hand and saying. “Come on, I’ll take you home.” Thinking about how he rushed here breathlessly, he must have something urgent, so I said understandingly. “If you have business, you can go ahead. Don’t worry about me.” As soon as I said that, his assistant, who had been waiting for a chance to speak, finally interjected. “CEO, the lady has spoken. We need to hurry, or we’ll miss it.” Lachlan then explained that he was supposed to fly to the Middle East for a big project today but delayed it to rush over when he saw my message. This reminded me of a time when Jasper, as a core researcher of airplane parts, was invited for international exchange. It was right when I was having surgery for a cervical tumor, and I reluctantly asked if he could leave a day later. He held my hand and comforted me helplessly. “I’m going for work, it’s an organizational arrangement, not for fun. Stop fussing, I’ll come back as soon as it’s over, okay?” But that night, just out of surgery, I saw on Facebook someone sharing a photo of him passionately kissing Phoebe abroad. Turns out, love and not-love were already clear. Feeling moved, I patted Lachlan’s shoulder, signaling for him to go. He instructed the driver to take me home and then left reluctantly. As we parted, I noticed a familiar Porsche Cayenne parked at 12 o’clock in the distance, with Jasper getting out of the car. 0

Jasper approached, looking at Lachlan’s departing figure, and asked. “Who was that?” Caught off guard, thinking about whether to come clean, he suddenly looked at me, unconcerned, and started berating me. “Why are you still here and not answering your phone? How long are you going to keep this up? Do I have to come pick you up personally every time? When will you change your spoiled heiress attitude?” “Our Jasper family has always been kind and gentle. If you don’t tone down your drama, how will you marry into our family?” Looking at him like this, my earlier worries seemed unnecessary. I smiled bitterly. Just as I was starting to feel anxious, considering whether to reveal everything, he suddenly looked at me. Unconcerned, he immediately began a stream of criticisms. “Why haven’t you returned after all this time? You don’t answer calls either. How long are you going to keep this up? Do I have to come and get you myself before you’ll stop your spoiled behavior?” “Our Meng family has always been kind and gentle. If you don’t curb this dramatic attitude, how will you marry into our family in the future?” Seeing him like this, my earlier worries seemed unnecessary, and I gave a bitter smile. “Jasper, we’ve already broken up. I’m not going to marry you. What you’re worried about won’t happen. You can leave.” He froze, then tried to soothe me as he used to. “Adeline, I made a mistake, but I explained everything over the phone. Once she has the baby, I’ll send her abroad. She won’t be in your way.” He stepped forward to grab me, but I subtly dodged. He paused awkwardly, his hand dropping to his side, his temper flaring up again. “I’ve explained so many times and even came to get you. What more do you want? Do I have to pay forever for one mistake?” I wasn’t feeling wronged, yet he was acting like he was. It was amusing. “You did nothing wrong, and there’s no need to apologize. I’m just tired. Let’s end things amicably without making it ugly.” Seeing my determination, he got a bit panicked, grabbing me with a voice desperate and humble. “Adeline, please, my dear, I really messed up. There’s nothing between me and Phoebe. She’s just a junior colleague. That incident was an accident. I love you, only you. Please, let’s not fight. Come home with me, okay?” I stepped back to avoid his touch and bluntly exposed him. “Last month was an accident, but what about last night?” “When I was excitedly waiting at the City Hall to marry you, where were you? At the office, a hotel, or in Phoebe’s bed?” He staggered back, clearly flustered, and after a moment, apologized sincerely. “I’m sorry, I drank too much last night.” As he spoke, he tried to grab me again, attempting to sweet-talk like before. But Phoebe’s call interrupted him, and hearing the familiar ringtone, he hesitated, looking at my expressionless face. I knew it was a ringtone he set specifically for Phoebe. I mocked him. “Go ahead, answer it. She might get emotional and affect her pregnancy.” He didn’t catch the underlying meaning, genuinely released me, and answered the call. As he stepped away, he even complimented me. “You’re so understanding, thank you.” Watching him pace back and forth, getting increasingly anxious, I found it amusing. At that moment, eight years of relationship felt like a joke. Silently declaring my foolishness. As the call wrapped up, he turned towards me, looking conflicted. When I looked back, there stood a man marked by time, respectfully addressing me. “Madam, Mr. Lachlan sent me to pick you up.” Jasper returned just in time to see this, his eyes filled with unease. “Who is he, and why did he call you madam?” I had the driver Lachlan sent wait aside before explaining. “He’s my family’s driver, Uncle Zack.” “When did your family change drivers?” Jasper was preoccupied with the situation at home involving Phoebe, thinking it was a personnel change in my family, and had already dismissed his earlier curiosity about why the driver called me madam. Even asking when the driver changed was more of an afterthought, with no intention of delving into the truth. So, after asking, he ignored my resistance and dragged me into his car. On the way back, he didn’t forget to scold and warn me. “It’s your attitude that’s causing the problem. Phoebe was worried and insisted I come find you. Now look, she tried to make something to eat and ended up falling.” “When we get back, control your temper. Phoebe is also a victim in this. Don’t be so malicious.” As he endlessly criticized me, he seemed to forget that just minutes ago, he was apologizing and asking for forgiveness for cheating last night. I didn’t respond, just glanced in the rearview mirror to see the concerned Uncle Zack. I waved him off, signaling him to go back. Back at the house, the first thing I saw was Phoebe struggling to get up. Jasper quickly released my hand and rushed to pick her up. In his arms, Phoebe wore a smug smile. Jasper anxiously carried her to the sofa, thoroughly checking for injuries. Only when he found none did he relax. He didn’t notice that when he passed me, he bumped me aside, causing me to hit the corner of the dining table with a sharp intake of breath. Looking at me leaning against the table, he ordered unhappily. “What are you standing there for? Phoebe got hurt because of you. Go make some light dishes and apologize to her!” His cold demeanor felt unfamiliar. Seeing me motionless, he got annoyed and, surprisingly, put on a cartoon apron. As he headed to the kitchen, his grumbling continued. “I know I made a mistake, but I’ve apologized. What more do you want? Holding onto this endlessly, is it fun?” “I’ll make this meal for you. Use this time to think clearly. I hope when we eat, you won’t sulk like everyone owes you.” Watching his skilled cooking, I felt a sense of disorientation. In our eight years together, he never cooked. Every time I cooked, he never hesitated to praise me. “Adeline, you’re wonderful. Having you is happiness.” But when I asked to try his cooking, he always said his hands were for research, not cooking. Yet now, this skillful scene, who is it for? The answer was clear. Watching his adept cooking, emotions surged, and tears silently fell. I turned away and went to the bedroom to pack my things. Upon entering, I found all my belongings replaced by Phoebe’s items. Even my custom wardrobe was filled with her various outfits. I rushed to the bedroom, opened the nightstand, and found my important documents replaced by a box of glaring condoms. Overwhelmed with anger, I stormed out to confront Phoebe. “Where are my things?” Unexpectedly, Phoebe, who was leisurely eating watermelon, suddenly acted like she was facing a formidable enemy. She answered timidly. “Adeline, I’m sorry. Your things were moved to the storage room by the maid.” I grabbed her hand, my anger palpable. “Who gave you permission to touch my things?” Hearing this, she dropped her pretense, gazing past me with a smirk. “What do you think?” The watermelon in my other hand slipped away. She grabbed my hand, and in the commotion, she deliberately stepped on the watermelon rind and fell hard.

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