Category: English

After successfully winning Olivia’s heart, I could have left, but I chose to stay in this world because I loved her. After staying, I happily proposed to her ninety-nine times. But she always had excuses to put it off: “I’m not in a good mood, maybe next time.” “Women age quickly after marriage and children, let’s wait a bit longer.” I loved her, so I waited. Not only did I wait, but I also put all my effort into helping her develop her company. I thought Olivia probably lacked a sense of security, and things would be better if we earned more money. But when I went to her office to get her signature on a million-dollar project I had secured, I saw her sitting naked on top of her newly hired male secretary, saying: “Jack can’t go back to his original world anyway, so why bother getting married? Once I’ve had my fun, I’ll go back and sweet-talk him, and he’ll eagerly hand everything over to me again.” Late at night, on the empty double bed, I gritted my teeth as I typed out floating comments. [Olivia, Jack loves you so much.] [Olivia, he can’t leave you, don’t worry.] I knew that Olivia felt so secure because she could see these floating comments. But she didn’t know that I had already reached a new agreement with the system to leave, The moment she disappointed me for the hundredth time would be when I left. It was three in the morning when a drunk Olivia returned home. She turned on the lights and saw me still sitting on the sofa waiting for her. A flash of disgust crossed her face. But she hid it well. “Oh, honey, didn’t I tell you not to wait up if it’s too late?” She hugged me from behind, switching to a cute tone. “I know you’re worried about me, but go to bed now. It’s not good to wear yourself out.” Suppressing my anger, I placed the phone containing evidence of her cheating face-down on the sofa. With clenched fists, I heard my own voice become unusually serious. “What about you?” “I won’t bother you, honey. I’ll sleep in the study, I have to work a bit more tonight.” The red marks on her body were glaringly obvious, but she still pretended she had just come from a business dinner. It was sickening. “Olivia, how long are we going to keep this up?” I tried to control my anger, but my voice trembled, along with my shoulders and the hand holding the phone. “Jack, not this again. Why are you getting angry? Didn’t I say we’d get married once we’ve earned enough money?” She irritably let go of me and started typing furiously on her phone. “What’s the point of pressuring me like this every day?” I wanted to clear things up with her. But her gaze fell on the slightly open door of the study, I knew her male secretary was hiding behind that door. “Miss Olivia, why did you call me over when Jack is still home? What if something goes wrong?” “It’s exciting, isn’t it? And why are you still calling me Miss? Call me sister.” “Haha, waiting for you, sister.” Olivia’s phone screen had lit up as soon as she entered the door, I had installed a message sync app on her phone, I saw clearly the message her new male secretary Luke sent her. “Let’s leave it at that, Jack. I’m tired today, don’t make a fuss.” Olivia brushed me off, not even bothering to look at me, turning her back to continue replying to her male secretary. “I’m coming right away, don’t worry. Even if you come to sister’s house every day, he won’t leave me.” With a click, Olivia turned off the living room lights and went into the study. Completely ignoring me, frozen in place. I went back to the bedroom and turned on the surveillance I had installed in the study earlier that day. In the footage, Olivia was hanging on Luke, one hand grabbing his collar, the other gently caressing his abs, her eyes full of adoration. [The female lead is really playing around.] The system’s voice chimed in inappropriately. I laughed coldly through my tears. Olivia really didn’t take me seriously at all. The next morning, Olivia and Luke were waiting at the dining table. “Jack, Luke is my newly hired secretary. He drank a lot last night for the company’s business. As the boss, we should treat him to a good breakfast to show our appreciation.” Olivia’s hand rested on Luke’s shoulder, clearly intimate. Towards me, however, was a cold command, so matter-of-fact. She didn’t even think about explaining to me why another man suddenly appeared in our home early in the morning. Luke looked at me challengingly, “Well… thanks, Jack.” As Luke passed by me, he made no effort to hide anything. His neck was covered in intimate marks, clearly showing how intense things had been last night. “The ninety-ninth time.” Olivia turned back, pretending to be gentle, “Hm? Honey, what did you say?” “I said, why should I make breakfast for him? Who does he think he is?” Olivia’s face instantly darkened: “Jack, Luke is just my secretary. Don’t be so petty as a grown man.” “Olivia, ask yourself honestly, haven’t I been generous enough all these years?” I stared at her coldly. Olivia walked over to me somewhat guiltily, taking my hand: “Jack, I know you’ve sacrificed a lot for me. You’re my fiancé and the most important person in the company. If you love me, please don’t make this so difficult, okay?” “Huh, fiancé.” “Then tell me, when exactly are we getting married?” I pressed her. She had disappointed me ninety-nine times, with only one chance left. “Don’t make a scene, honey. We have a guest, it’s not appropriate to discuss this now.” “Oh, and make the breakfast light, Luke doesn’t eat spicy food.” Olivia tossed out these words lightly and prepared to go back to the study with Luke. It was always like this. She never said no, but she never said yes either. She just kept putting me off, saying sweet nothings to deceive me. Not caring at all that I’m human too, that I have feelings. I took a deep breath as I walked into the kitchen. I had anticipated this outcome, but I didn’t expect it would still hurt so much. I didn’t make breakfast for Olivia as I usually did. In fact, since the first time Olivia cheated, I had started to regret staying in this world for her after successfully winning her over. But the new conditions for leaving hadn’t been met yet, and I wanted to give her one last chance. After all, she had been so pure and lovely back then. I secretly used the floating comments to tell her how much I loved her, but she took advantage of my love and became even more reckless. Now that the conditions were almost met, she had repeatedly proven to me through her actions that a cheater cannot be changed by love. It was time to leave. I ignored the noises coming from the study and slowly ate my breakfast. An hour later, Olivia finally emerged from the study, looking satisfied and fully dressed. “What? Jack, how come you’re eating by yourself?” “Why didn’t you make any for us?” “If you want to eat, make it yourself.” I didn’t bother with her, slowly finishing my last bite. Olivia’s face turned ugly. “Jack, you’re really disappointing me more and more. You rely on me to support you, and you can’t even be bothered to make breakfast.” “I’ll give you one more chance. Make two portions of breakfast in ten minutes.” Olivia looked at me with contempt in her eyes. Silence. I still didn’t move. Perhaps afraid that I was really angry, Olivia changed her approach and came to hug me. “Alright, honey, is it because I’ve been too busy with work lately and haven’t been spending time with you? Are you upset?” “I’ll make it up to you tonight after work, okay? Do you want me to wear black lace or cat ears? I’ll do whatever you want, just give me some face today, okay?” It was always like this, always the same. Olivia only sweet-talked me when she wanted to achieve some goal. Thinking a few sweet words would make me soften. Why should I? I sneered, “Olivia, you don’t really think everything is a given, do you?” “That clothes clean themselves, food magically appears on your table, the house somehow stays clean, and all you have to do is open your mouth?” She was stunned, not expecting me to suddenly say this. “Wasn’t it you who said you liked taking care of me, so I fired all the maids? What’s this about now?” Yes, five years ago, to win Olivia’s heart, I couldn’t wait to stay by her side every day, becoming her personal butler, meticulously taking care of her every need.

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“Ma’am, just a moment. There’s still an outstanding bill for $50,000.” I was about to leave after using the restroom when the owner of the buffet restaurant stopped me dead in my tracks. My jaw dropped at the outrageous sum she mentioned. This place was supposed to be $75 per person, tops! “$50,000? What are you talking about? I already paid for my meal.” She plastered on a sugary-sweet, fake smile. “Our premium restroom is only free for three minutes. Every minute over that costs $10,000. You were in there for twenty-one minutes, so that comes to $50,000.” I frowned, utterly bewildered. “I’ve never heard of any place with such a rule! This is extortion!” “Ma’am, our pricing and operations are perfectly legal and compliant. Our restroom is equipped with luxurious facilities and top-tier amenities. Charging a fee is completely normal.” I almost laughed at her utterly self-righteous attitude. “So, you’re saying if you don’t have money, you can’t even use your bathroom? I’m not paying a cent!” Seeing my refusal, she immediately turned on a megaphone. “Someone’s enjoying premium services and refusing to pay! Everyone, come and judge this for yourselves!” As a crowd started to gather, I quickly SnapChatted the restaurant name to my assistant. “Look up the company behind this place. Acquire it immediately!” … At Brenda’s shout, people swarmed from every direction, surrounding me. “Well, look at her, all dressed up, but won’t pay for a fancy restroom?” “Seriously, if you don’t have the money, don’t use their premium services! This place has a top-notch restroom. If you’re broke, just don’t use it!” A few words of manufactured outrage made Brenda positively gleeful. She stood in the center of the crowd, speaking with a condescending tone. “Ms. Vance, I see you’re a regular here. I’m not completely heartless.” “How about this: pay the $50,000 today, and I’ll give you our most exclusive membership. You’ll get twenty percent off all meals from now on. What do you say?” I nearly choked on my own laughter at her shameless logic. In my entire twenty-something years, I’d never been called a poor, freeloading cheapskate to my face. I took a deep breath, my voice cutting clearly through the buzzing whispers. “Ms. Stone, I will pay every cent I owe for my meal.” “But could you please tell me which law in this country states that a citizen must pay extra for using a restroom provided by a business?” “Law?” Brenda scoffed, a harsh, mocking laugh bursting from her like I’d just told the funniest joke in the world. “Everyone listen! Ms. Vance has such shallow knowledge! Our deluxe restroom package uses top-tier materials and space-grade nano-cleaning technology. Spend an hour in there, and you’ll get a year younger!” “Don’t you understand what high-tech is? Don’t you understand health investment?” Her words immediately sent the crowd into a frenzy. “What? A year younger! Owner, let me in there to try it out, I’ll pay!” “Some people are just cheap, then they blame others for being expensive. They just don’t know quality!” The mood in the room flipped instantly. Just moments ago, there were merely glances of disdain. Now, intense hostility burned in their eyes. Brenda stood on her moral high ground of “technology and health,” watching me smugly. What in the damn hell kind of cult brainwashing was this? Brenda was crazy, and the customers in this place were even crazier! “Fine!” I laughed, fueled by pure rage. “Ms. Stone, since you’re so convinced you’re operating legally and compliantly, then let’s invite the relevant authorities to make an assessment.” I pulled out my phone and called the police right in front of everyone. “Hello, 911? I’d like to report a massive extortion…” 2 Soon, two police officers parted the crowd and walked in. Brenda instantly put on a wronged expression and rushed to meet them. “Officers, thank goodness you’re here! This Ms. Vance enjoyed our premium services but refuses to pay.” “We’re a legitimate business; every single service is registered and approved by the city’s consumer protection board. You have to side with us!” She was quick to throw dirt on my name. The police, of course, wouldn’t just listen to one side. I concisely recounted the events, emphasizing the ridiculously high fee and her so-called anti-aging claims. The lead officer, a middle-aged man, frowned. He looked at the approval documents Brenda handed him, then paused for a moment. My heart sank a little. This shouldn’t be happening. Could Brenda Stone really have such powerful connections? “Ms. Vance, we understand the situation. After verification, this restaurant’s premium restroom service, its pricing standards, and relevant qualification documents… are all in order. On paper, it falls within the scope of legal operation.” Meaning, the charging procedures were all complete. As for the effectiveness of the service, that was commercial advertising and not within their jurisdiction. A louder uproar immediately erupted from the crowd. “Just pay the money, cheapskate!” “The police said there’s no problem, yet she’s still stubborn as hell, how embarrassing!” Brenda’s triumphant smile was blinding. But she still feigned a sigh. “Ms. Vance, why make such a fuss? I run a business, and honesty is the most important thing…” Integrity, my ass! I clenched my fists, barely suppressing the urge to just utterly lose it. If there wasn’t something seriously messed up behind this, I’d eat my hat! I ignored them, quickly unlocking my phone and messaging Chloe Davies, my assistant. [Find out the company behind this buffet restaurant and prepare for acquisition.] [I want the acquisition contract on my desk tomorrow!] After sending the message, I looked at the smug Brenda again. “Ms. Stone, I’ve paid for my meal, but for any illegal charges, I won’t give you a single cent!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with this crazy woman anymore and turned to leave. Back home, the entryway light was on. Derek was actually home at this hour. Normally, he’d either be out at a work function or working late. I’d just kicked off my heels when he stormed out of the living room, clutching a few sheets of paper. “Aurora Vance! Look what you’ve done!” I glanced at the falling papers – it was a lawyer’s letter. Brenda Stone’s name was signed at the bottom. Huh, she certainly worked fast. “And this!” Derek shoved his phone screen right into my face. Trending on Ins, “Aurora Vance: The Buffet Freeloader” was number one. I tapped on it, and sure enough, there was a candid video of the scene. The comments were absolutely vile. “Freeloading AND calling the cops? This woman has some nerve!” “Girls, doxx her! Make her pay!” My name, my ID — everything had been dug up and laid bare. Brenda, that crazy witch, dared to start a whole online smear campaign! Yet, my boyfriend didn’t care about what I’d suffered. He just kept demanding to know why I’d gotten into such trouble. “Trouble? Derek Hayes, your girlfriend is being falsely accused of extortion, dragged through the mud, and cyberbullied, and all you care about is me embarrassing you?” I pointed to the lawyer’s letter on the floor. “That lunatic owner started this whole mess just because I didn’t pay $50,000 for using her restroom. Does that sound reasonable to you?” Derek’s brow furrowed into a tight knot. “But the police said it was legal, so why didn’t you just pay what you owed? It’s just $50,000, right?” “Just hurry up, record an apology video, pay the money, and this whole thing will be over.” I looked at him as if he were a stranger. “Derek Hayes, are you out of your mind? If you want to be a sucker and a spineless pushover, then go pay her yourself, but don’t drag me into it!” “Aurora Vance!” Derek’s face flushed crimson. He pointed a finger at me and yelled, “You’re utterly unreasonable! Don’t you know the company will fire you for this?” I stared at him coldly, saying nothing. The company was *mine*. If anyone was getting fired, it would be him! Seeing that I still wouldn’t budge, he violently threw his hand up. “Fine, you’re so righteous, so above it all! Let’s see how you get out of this mess!” He grabbed his jacket from the sofa, glared at me, and slammed the door as he left. I lay back on the small living room sofa and checked my SnapChat. Messages from friends popped up continuously. And on Ins, Brenda seemed to have deliberately posted an update to actively spite me. [Taught some cheapskate a lesson today! Couldn’t afford our premium restroom package and still called the cops! What a world!] The post included a smug selfie of her flipping off the camera, with the blurry sign of her pathetic restaurant visible in the background. She really had the nerve! Cyberbullying and acting so arrogant, even after breaking the law. My finger unconsciously scrolled down, curious to see if any mutual friends had commented. Then, in the likes section, I saw a familiar profile picture. It was Derek’s! 3 My mind instantly exploded, buzzing loudly. Luckily, my hand moved faster than my brain, and I immediately took a screenshot. When I refreshed Ins, that red heart ‘like’ had vanished. I clutched my phone, my fingers icy cold. How did Derek know Brenda? All this time, whenever we went to restaurants, I was the one who ordered and paid. Derek never got involved, did he? Suddenly, a hazy memory flashed into my mind. Two months ago, it was Derek who had his arm around my waist, excitedly telling me about this newly opened buffet restaurant. After trying it, I was indeed impressed by their high-quality ingredients. I even considered holding the company’s group dinners there. I stared at the screenshot on my phone, took a deep breath, and called Chloe Davies. There were some things I absolutely had to get to the bottom of. The next day at noon, just as I arrived at my office, the front desk’s internal line rang. “Ms. Vance! Someone’s causing a scene at the front desk, specifically asking for you.” Hearing the panicked tone from the front desk, I had a pretty good idea who it was. Sure enough, as I walked into the office area, I heard Brenda’s shrill, grating voice. “Where’s Aurora Vance? That freeloading bitch who didn’t pay, get out here! Too scared to show your face?” “It’s all because of that jinx! She made me lose a huge contract. So unlucky!” The employees were silent, casting complicated glances my way. “Looking for me?” I pushed past the employees blocking my way and walked toward Brenda, who was surrounded by a few of her restaurant staff. “Well, well, the coward finally dares to show her face?” She swayed her hips, her finger nearly poking my nose. “Aurora Vance, if you know what’s good for you, pay the $50,000 right now! Do you have any idea how much money you’ve cost me?” “Like I give a damn.” I raised my hand, wiped the spittle from my face, and disgustedly pushed her hand away. “It’s all you! Freeloading, then calling the police, causing me bad luck!” She suddenly shot a look to the side. “Hey, Liam, David, drag her out and make her scrub the floors to cleanse this place of her bad juju! Otherwise, business will be impossible!” Those two restaurant employees actually started moving towards me. A collective gasp went through the office. In broad daylight, on my own turf, she dared to have her people lay hands on me? A surge of pure, unadulterated rage shot through me. To hell with reason, to hell with my image! I lunged forward and slapped her hard. “Ah!!!” Brenda clutched her face, stunned for a full three seconds. “Aurora Vance, you dared to hit me!” “Yeah, I hit you! I’m hitting you, you foul-mouthed hag.” I shook my stinging palm. “I haven’t even settled the score with you for cyberbullying me, and you dare to come here and provoke me?” “You just wait!” Brenda was shaking with fury. She pulled out her phone and made a call. “Honey, your company’s employee hit me! Come quick and stand up for me! She’s completely out of control!” Honey? My heart plummeted. No, it couldn’t be that exact connection. After hanging up, Brenda’s expression changed in a flash. “Hear that? My husband is coming out right now to deal with you!” “I advise you to get on your knees and apologize immediately, otherwise, I’ll have my husband fire you!” I laughed, livid. Fire me? I’d like to see who has the guts. The elevator chimed, stopping on my floor. Everyone’s gaze turned towards it. The doors slowly opened. Derek’s anxious face appeared before everyone. Brenda instantly flung herself at Derek like a giddy schoolgirl, clutching his arm tightly. All the employees present gasped. “Honey, you’re finally here! It’s that bitch who freeloaded at my restaurant yesterday, she hit me today! Fire her, make her leave!” Brenda pointed at me, her face alight with undisguised malice and triumph. However, Derek’s face froze. He hadn’t expected such a grand spectacle. So, he didn’t even look at Brenda. His gaze was fixed, unblinking, on me. “Wife? You… why are you here at the company today? If something was wrong, couldn’t you have just told me?” The triumphant look on Brenda’s face instantly shattered. She abruptly released Derek’s arm, stumbling back a step. “You… you called her what?” I didn’t spare a glance at their pale faces. Instead, I turned to Chloe, my assistant. “Chloe, what’s the acquisition progress on The Epicurean Feast? Get the investors behind it here with the contract immediately!” Brenda seemed to snap out of her shock, bursting into loud laughter. “Aurora Vance, have you lost your mind? A broke cheapskate who can’t even afford $50,000 for a restroom, trying to acquire our restaurant? Dream on!” No sooner had she spoken than the elevator chimed again. A middle-aged man in an expensive custom suit stepped out. Brenda’s face instantly lit up with the smugness of finding her backup. “Mr. Sterling! You’re finally here. You have to stand up for me, this bitch, she…” But before she could finish, Mr. Sterling, whom she considered her savior, quickly walked up to me with an almost fawning smile. “Ms. Vance, why are you here in person? I’ve brought the acquisition contract. When would you like to sign?” 4 “Mr. Sterling, what did you call her? She… she’s just a…” The joy and triumph on Brenda’s face instantly crumbled.

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I was about to leave the upscale restaurant Julian owned when the manager stopped me. “Excuse me, ma’am, you haven’t paid your bill.” I looked at the unfamiliar face, figuring she was new and didn’t recognize me. So, I politely explained, “Just put it on Julian’s tab. He knows.” The female manager swept a disdainful glance over me. “Ma’am, our restaurant is a Michelin three-star. We’ve never had a policy of charging to an account.” She finished speaking, then handed me a printed bill. I glanced down, and my eyes widened. A single meal for half a million dollars. Cutlery Gleam Maintenance Fee: Thirty thousand. Exclusive Air Purification Fee: Fifty thousand. VIP Serenity Service Fee: One hundred thousand. And a bunch of other ridiculous charges. I had no idea my brother was running such a rip-off joint. I was so furious, I actually laughed. “I’m Stella Cross, Mr. Cross’s sister. Tell him to come home and talk to me if there’s a problem.” But she wouldn’t back down. “Can’t afford it, huh? Don’t pretend you’re someone important, trying to mooch off Mr. Cross.” I immediately texted my assistant: *Tell Julian. Either fire this woman, or I’m pulling all my investments.* 1 “Ma’am, don’t waste everyone’s time. Just pay the bill.” Her tone was utterly certain, cutting, as if she’d already branded me as a vain gold-digger trying to skip out on the bill. Several curious glances from other patrons were already turning our way. I frowned, not wanting to waste time on such a ridiculous matter. I pulled out my phone and dialed my brother’s number directly. However, only a cold busy signal answered, and repeated attempts yielded the same result. What the hell is that kid up to on a weekday? I put down my phone and faced the aggressive woman, enunciating each word carefully. “I’ll say it again. My name is Stella Cross. I am your boss, Julian Cross’s, older sister.” “His phone is unreachable right now, but you can check his company account. My picture and information are linked to it.” I thought this was the most direct and effective way to solve the problem. But when the female manager heard my name, instead of verifying anything, she burst into a sharp, grating laugh. She cackled, shaking with malicious glee, drawing even more attention. Then, she abruptly leaned in close to me, lowering her voice to a volume only we two could hear. “Still pretending? I’ve seen that face of yours in my husband Julian’s Ins feed countless times!” “You shameless hussy, secretly seducing my man!” “Now you have the audacity to waltz into his restaurant and try to charge everything to his account? Do you have no shame at all?” I froze for a second, then glanced at her name tag—Tiffany Reed. An overwhelming sense of exasperation washed over me. Julian’s girlfriend, the one he’d been keeping under wraps, not even a single picture he’d bothered to show me. It turned out to be this foolish, venomous woman in front of me. How could his taste be *this* bad? Suddenly, I understood. This half-million-dollar “exorbitant bill” today wasn’t a misunderstanding at all. It was a premeditated humiliation. Before I could even open my mouth, she’d completely lost her patience. “Since this woman wants to dine and dash, we’ll have to restrain her until the police arrive!” She waved her hand backward, and two burly security guards, who had been standing nearby, immediately stepped forward. One clamped his hand over my mouth, while the other wrenched my arms painfully behind my back, twisting them like rope. I struggled violently, but the sheer difference in strength between us made all my resistance futile. They ignored my furious glares and the horrified stares of the other patrons, roughly dragging me toward the back of the kitchen. Then I was thrown heavily into a storage room reeking of disinfectant mixed with stale food. The door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sound from the outside. 2 In the darkness, the female manager said nothing, but raised her high-heeled foot and brutally kicked me in the stomach. The excruciating pain instantly made me curl into a ball, my stomach churning violently. “That’s for spending my man’s money!” “That’s for trying to seduce him!” She shrieked, her voice distorted by jealousy and rage. She looked down at me, towering over me, and ordered the two brawny men: “Beat her! Beat her senseless!” The two security guards, clearly her loyal cronies, didn’t hesitate for a second. A barrage of punches and kicks rained down on me. I bit down hard, swallowing every cry of pain and groan. My bones felt like they were being shattered, my internal organs dislocated. Her shrieks continued. “What do you think you are? Nothing but a pathetic hanger-on!” “I told you I’m his sister! If you don’t believe me, ask Julian! Call him right now, I’ll tell him myself!” I struggled to explain, but the woman in front of me was deaf to my words. Only when my head was swimming and my vision blurring did she raise her hand and call a stop. Her high-heeled foot pressed onto my shoulder as she smiled, looking down at me. “You’d better pay that bill today, and then fork over another five hundred thousand.” “That’s your punishment for seducing my man and spending his money.” “I’m not afraid of things getting messy. Julian will have it all smoothed over for me.” I lay curled up in pain, weakly protesting, “That’s my own money. I told you, if you don’t believe me, ask him.” Her face twisted in anger, and she kicked me again. The two security guards immediately understood, and their fists and feet came down on me once more. I knew she wouldn’t listen to anything I said. If this continued, I might actually die here. After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used the last of my strength to fumble for my phone on the cold floor. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.” She seemed pleased with my submission, motioning for the two security guards to stop. She knelt down and patted my swollen cheek. “See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do it the easy way? You had to learn the hard way, didn’t you?” “One million, not a penny less.” I lay on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning. I ignored her and dialed my best friend Maya’s number. The call connected quickly. “Maya, bring two million to Julian’s restaurant.” “I need it now.” Maya on the other end paused, then a note of alarm crept into her voice. “Stella? What’s wrong? Your voice sounds…” “Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut her off and hung up. When Tiffany heard “two million,” her eyes instantly lit up, a flicker of avarice in her eyes. She probably thought I’d been beaten into submission and was voluntarily increasing the payment to beg for mercy. The smug triumph on her face was now impossible to hide. “Smart move.” 3 Maya’s speed was astonishing. Soon, the storage room door was violently pushed open from the outside. Maya stormed in, flanked by two bodyguards. When she saw the blood at the corner of my mouth, my disheveled clothes, and my pathetic form curled on the floor, she gasped in shock. She rushed forward and helped me up. I shook my head, signaling her not to speak, then took the bank card with the sticky-note password from her hand and tossed it to Tiffany. Tiffany took the card and didn’t bother me further, waving her hand dismissively. “If that’s a fake card, I have plenty of ways to find you. Now get out.” I endured the excruciating pain that pierced my bones, and with Maya’s help, I limped out of that disgusting place. Once at the entrance, I thanked Maya. “Thanks, Maya. I’ll pay you back as soon as I sort this out.” She looked at me worriedly. “Don’t worry about the money. But what happened to you?” I let out a bitter laugh. “My brother’s found himself quite the girlfriend. I’ve got a score to settle with him.” I pulled out my phone and found the number for the restaurant’s Vice President. This VP was the actual manager of the restaurant, someone I had personally headhunted, and he was fiercely loyal to me. The call connected. I didn’t waste a single word, my voice devoid of emotion. “You have ten minutes. Fire a manager named Tiffany Reed.” “Otherwise, the Cross family will withdraw all investments from the restaurant, every last penny.” The VP on the other end was scared him witless the moment he heard my voice. He must have heard the weakness and the unsettling tone in my voice, as he frantically agreed, not daring to ask a single question why. I hung up, not pausing for a second, and hailed a cab directly to the police station. Using the clearest, most logical reasoning, I explained everything that had just happened to the officer who received me. After giving a detailed statement at the police station, I went to the hospital for a medical examination. Holding that thin report, the fury of betrayal in my heart felt like it had been doused with hot oil, burning even more fiercely. I needed an explanation. I needed Julian Cross to give me an explanation himself. My assistant located Julian at his own house. My driver and bodyguards were already en route to Julian’s villa. That villa, too, was a gift from me. However, when I arrived, I was greeted by deafening heavy metal music. And the boisterous sounds of men and women emanating from the doors and windows. He was throwing a party. No wonder he hadn’t answered my calls. The villa’s front door was ajar. On a whim, I didn’t push it open immediately. Soon, I heard a familiar female voice, choked with tears. It was Tiffany. She was crying to everyone in the house, painting herself as a poor victim bullied by an arrogant mistress, who was then falsely accused. “…I just asked her to pay her bill, and she threw a million dollars in my face, and then had me fired…” “Julian, she’s too much. She has absolutely no respect for you!” “She just wants to humiliate me, she just wants to break us up!” Inside, Julian’s group of fair-weather friends all indignantly echoed her sentiments. Julian, meanwhile, was loudly comforting Tiffany in his arms, his voice full of tenderness and indulgence. “Tiffany, don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer this kind of injustice!” Then, as if to prove his resolve, he confidently promised everyone: “When I catch that woman, I’ll make her kneel and apologize to you!” Inside, the group of spoiled brats continued to champion Tiffany, shouting about how they would make me pay. “Julian, just say the word, and we’ll drag her out right now!” “Yeah! Let her know who really runs things here!” I couldn’t listen anymore. I raised my hand, and a bodyguard kicked open the villa door. The party music screeched to a halt, and the boisterous laughter instantly vanished. Dozens of stunned eyes collectively turned toward the doorway. “No need to drag me out. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?” 4 The air seemed to solidify, leaving only the sharp click-clack of my heels on the floor. Step by step, I walked toward the embracing couple in the center of the living room.

The Antarctic research team had an unofficial ‘dry spell’ ranking, and my name was a permanent fixture at the top. That’s because for eight years of marriage, my wife and I never shared a bed, never touched. Yet, I stubbornly refused to divorce her. She loathed me, saw me as pathetic and malicious, believing I’d selfishly caused the death of her beloved childhood sweetheart. I hated her for being so utterly blind, so heartlessly oblivious. I swore to cling to her for an eternity, ensuring that even in death, her tombstone would bear *my* name, and mine alone. But then the glacier collapsed. She pushed me away, burying herself alive under the ice and snow. “Ash,” she whispered, her voice fading, “if there’s a next life, I’m begging you… please, don’t love me anymore.” By the time they rescued her, she had already suffocated. Not long after, I died in a new mission. When I opened my eyes again, I chose to actively forfeit our engagement. “This research mission,” I declared, “I’ll go.”

“The engagement with Scarlett, wasn’t that something you begged for? Are you really willing to give it up, and take Brandon’s place in Antarctica?” My mother, the Director of the Research Institute, fixed me with a cold, probing gaze. Everyone in the facility knew: Brandon and I weren’t blood brothers, and certainly not by choice. There was no affection, no bond between us. Give up Scarlett, take Brandon’s place suffering under the Antarctic glaciers? Impossible! “You’re just seven days away from finally becoming Scarlett’s husband. And now you want to forfeit?” I parted my tightly pressed lips, cutting off my mother’s probing questions. “Didn’t you always say I was born three minutes before Brandon, and that as the older brother, I should always step aside for him?” Ever since I returned to this family, my mother’s biggest concern wasn’t whether I’d suffered while I was away. No, her fear was that Brandon would be upset by the arrival of an ‘outsider’ in *his* home. In my past life, if I hadn’t reminded her of my father’s dying wish, she would’ve undoubtedly thrown me into that mission in Brandon’s place without a second thought. Seeing my insistence, my mother sighed in relief. She submitted my name to the Antarctic research team and sent notice to the Vance family of the change in their long-standing engagement. The moment I stepped out of the Director’s office, Scarlett walked directly into me. In my past life, she had volunteered to go in Brandon’s stead. When my mother refused, Scarlett went on a hunger strike. I used every method imaginable to coax her into eating. I even had the institute doctors administer IV drips, practically dragging her to complete the wedding. Now, I walked past her, my gaze unwavering, but Scarlett grabbed my arm. I spoke in a cold voice, “The Antarctic expedition is urgent. It’s an order from the higher-ups.” Scarlett clenched her fists. “You know that’s a death sentence! There must be another way!” I chuckled dryly. Nations worldwide are racing to find ways to unlock breakthroughs in human genetics. If we don’t act now, our country will fall drastically behind in the global scientific race! One of us, Brandon or I, had to shoulder the responsibility of venturing deep into the Antarctic storm zone, even if it was a suicide mission. “The higher-ups demanded the Director lead by example, sending her own flesh and blood to Antarctica. No one could stand in the way.” She stared at me intently. “Then why isn’t *he* going?” Her thoughtless question made my pupils dilate almost imperceptibly. I instantly swallowed the urge to tell her the truth. “Think what you like.” “Maybe the outcome you wished for has finally arrived.” I ignored her gaze and walked away. I had intended to tell Scarlett about the change in names, but then thought better of it. Consider it my selfish desire. I couldn’t bear to see her face remain utterly indifferent when she realized *I* was the one being sent to my death. In my past life, at the moment the glacier collapsed, Scarlett pushed me onto the only life raft, burying herself alive beneath the heavy ice and snow. I thought that if I kept giving, kept sacrificing, her heart would eventually warm to me. She gave her life to save mine, and on the very same glacier that had claimed Brandon’s life, she pleaded with me not to love her in the next. So be it. This time, as I head to Antarctica, consider it me repaying the life debt I owe her.

Back in my dorm, I began searching for information on the Antarctic storm zone. It was a place of perpetual, violent storms, incredibly dangerous. In my past life, Brandon had spent six months locating the fossil, but after transmitting the signal, he was immediately engulfed by a storm, his body torn apart on the spot. Later, when the research project resumed, Scarlett was buried alive by a glacier, triggered by a storm, as she tried to save me… I meticulously recalled the storm phenomena observed in my past life, attempting to summarize patterns. After a sleepless night with no breakthroughs, I headed to the cafeteria to grab some food. The moment I sat down, my entire tray of food, soup and all, drenched me. Scarlett grabbed my collar, her dissecting scalpel, still gleaming from its last use, pointed directly at my wide, startled eyes. “Asher Hayes!” I tried to push her away, but she shoved hard, slamming me back against the chair. “Are you insane?!” I twisted her hand, redirecting the blade, but she lunged forward, plunging it towards me. “You knew going into the storm zone was a death trap, yet you still sent a congratulatory message to Brandon! How utterly disgusting are you?” “Just to make me marry you?! Have you no self-respect left?!” The spot on my back where the blade had narrowly missed felt like it had been hit by a jolt of electricity. The icy days and nights of my past life flashed before my eyes, merging with the raw hatred burning in hers. Snapping back to reality, I instantly raised my arm, elbowing the one pinning me down. The scalpel clattered to the floor. “Researcher Vance, are you going to use your life-saving scalpel to kill me?” She froze. “Are you okay? I just… I just…” I picked up the scalpel, placing it on the table, cutting her off. “No matter how dangerous the storm zone is, someone has to go. Will it be any less dangerous if I go?” “Perhaps the wedding isn’t as bad as you think. Maybe it’s something worth celebrating.” Scarlett was speechless. “Watching Brandon die, marrying you… what part of that is worth celebrating?” My limbs felt like they were on the verge of losing control. I clenched my fists and turned to leave. Scarlett, this time, everything will be worth celebrating. Deleting the approval status from my phone, I watched Scarlett, still relentlessly heading towards the Director’s office. I returned with my storm zone research materials, just in time to see Scarlett carefully wiping dust from a good luck talisman with a fine brush. Brandon saw me and asked, “What’s that? For me?” Scarlett, without looking up, replied, “It’s nothing. Just some worthless trinket. I’ll get you something better later.” My turning footsteps startled Scarlett. In her hand was… the good luck talisman my father had specially commissioned from a spiritual advisor after he learned I’d been accepted into the National Academy of Sciences. He said he was just a businessman, too preoccupied with money to truly help me with my academic path. He didn’t care how far I went, only that I stayed safe. Later, when Scarlett suffered a chemical burn during a lab experiment, I gave it to her. Despite Scarlett calling out, I didn’t turn back. Late that night, still unable to sleep, I went out for some air. The good luck talisman, hanging on my doorknob, fell to my feet. I scoffed. I just glanced at it and slammed the door shut. It wasn’t until the soft patter of rain began that I stood by the door for a long time before picking up the talisman.

At the send-off party, Brandon stood, glass in hand, soaking in the mix of colleagues’ fawning praise and barely concealed resentment. The electronic screen in the hall only read, “Farewell to Director Chen’s Son, Journeying to Antarctica,” without specifying a name. The person speaking hadn’t expected me to show up. He paused for a few seconds, then stubbornly continued, “What are you looking at? Brandon is just better than you, his older brother! I heard you grew up in the countryside, right? No wonder you’re such a coward!” Someone else chimed in, “Exactly! They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but *this* guy is too chicken to even go to Antarctica! It’s a damn insult to Director Hayes’s and Mr. Hayes’s legacy!” Brandon strode forward, calling out to me by the entrance. “Mom said you *volunteered* for this suicide mission in Antarctica. Smart move. Scarlett loves me so much, if I died down there, would she be so heartbroken she’d live the rest of her life as my devoted widow?” “I’m being so generous, giving you this chance to make history for the Institute. But if our colleagues want to think that, what can I do…?” “I guess I’ll just have to make sure to throw a bigger party when you’re gone, to thank you for ‘looking after’ my wife all these years~” I scoffed, giving him a pointed, knowing look. “You going is certainly a suicide mission. But why would it be for me?” “You barely scraped by with your master’s and doctorate, and now you think you’re better than me—a direct recruit, top of my class at the National Academy? Mom’s been covering for you, cheating you through every assessment. Did you actually believe your scores were anywhere near mine?” Before I could finish, he suddenly staggered backward, feigning alarm. “Brother, even if I shouldn’t be so close to Scarlett, you shouldn’t…” The sound of footsteps was all it took; I knew it was Scarlett. I was about to turn. A burning slap landed across my face. Before I could even register it, another one followed on the other side. Scarlett shielded Brandon behind her like a mother hen protecting her chick, the fury in her eyes almost solid. “I truly underestimated you!” “Brandon is going to Antarctica for everyone’s sake! And at this critical moment, you target him? Are you trying to get him killed?” I shook my head. “There are security cameras here, you…” “Shut up!” Scarlett’s voice rose, her eyes like daggers. “You’ve always been a cowering coward, running from the Antarctic expedition. Fine! But your brother is going to such a dangerous place in your stead, and you not only show no gratitude, you try to harm him!” “An ungrateful snake like you! I shouldn’t have saved you back then; I should’ve just let those kids beat you to death!” “You’re nothing but a stain on Mr. Hayes’s legacy!” My body went rigid, my breath catching in my throat. I couldn’t hear anything, only saw her lips moving. But the lanyard around my neck was violently yanked, snapping me out of my daze. I raised my bloodshot eyes, staring intently at the good luck talisman Scarlett shoved into Brandon’s hand. “What are you doing?!” Brandon whined piteously, “I’m going to Antarctica anyway, Ash, can’t you just let me have this? I just wanted Dad’s blessing and protection…” My eyes never left her face, watching Scarlett’s expression intently. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what that talisman means to me!” Scarlett’s face paled. Seeing Brandon’s hurt expression, she stepped forward and grabbed my arm. “Brandon is leaving for Antarctica soon, Ash! This is about national interest! Don’t be so petty!” “We’re both Mr. Hayes’s sons. I just wanted it to protect Brandon. Mr. Hayes wouldn’t mind…” “After the wedding, I’ll buy you ten, a hundred talismans to make up for it, okay?” I shook off Scarlett’s hand, reaching for Brandon. With a sharp rip, the talisman tore into two halves. Brandon mumbled, “I didn’t mean to!” but the smug triumph in his eyes, fixed on me, was unmistakable. I was about to throw a punch when Scarlett pulled out her scalpel, pointing the tip directly at my forehead. This was the second time she’d used her lab scalpel on me. “Didn’t you hear Brandon say it was an accident?” “Do you really want me to report you for insulting a national hero?!” I let out a bitter laugh, then pulled the corrosive chemical vial from my uniform pocket and rattled it, deliberately showing her the identification number. Watching her panic, my mind flashed back to our past life, how we constantly glowered at each other, each wishing the other dead. Through my hazy vision, I almost saw the look in her eyes as she pushed me, for the very last time. Thwack! Through my tear-blurred vision, I watched the spreading crimson. Scarlett’s hand went slack, her gaze fixated on the scalpel now buried in my chest. Just like every bitter confrontation in our past life, she was always the one going for the kill, and I, always the one holding back. Clutching my chest, I tried to support myself, stumbling towards the door. But my legs gave out, and I fell back into a welcoming embrace, filled with the sweet scent of jasmine. The dampness trickling onto my neck felt unnervingly cold.

Luckily, no vital organs were hit. When my lab colleagues visited me, they mentioned that Scarlett had taken a leave of absence during my recovery to go to the mountains and pray for good luck charms. I bundled up warmly, preparing to leave. As if to help me acclimatize to the cold, it had started snowing here too. Following the fresh footprints, I looked at my door. A pile of good luck talismans hung on the doorknob, the topmost one tattered but mended with clear tape. A sticky note on the door read, “Apology.” I calmly averted my gaze and headed towards the Research Institute’s main gate, turning back for what might be my last look at it. The roar of a helicopter’s propellers filled the air. Scarlett, breathless, lunged towards me. She touched a small patch of skin on my forehead not covered by my fleece hat. “I’m useless. I couldn’t convince the Director.” “Don’t worry. Even if I marry him, my heart will only ever be yours.” She spoke earnestly, snowflakes dusting her hair. I watched her retreating back, a little surprised. Pulling my suitcase towards the helicopter, the festive crackle of firecrackers stopped me in my tracks. It was only then that I remembered: today was also Scarlett and Brandon’s wedding. Scarlett had just sent me an apology gift. Soon, she would receive mine. Reaching the helicopter, the escort personnel took my luggage. As I was about to step inside, I was tightly embraced, the sweet scent of jasmine filling my nostrils. “Are you… angry because I’m marrying Brandon?” So, all those promises were for Brandon. She continued, “I’m so sorry…” “I’ll wait for you to come back, no matter what our circumstances are then. Please, can you stop pushing me away?” She sobbed uncontrollably, as if making a difficult, pre-emptive promise. “If—if you truly don’t come back, I’ll live the rest of my life as your devoted widow…” I grabbed the ladder and silently climbed up, wishing the noise of the helicopter’s propellers was even louder. Through the densely falling snow against the window, I shifted my gaze to the ground. Scarlett, covered in goose-down flakes, looked drained of life amidst the vast whiteness. She pushed away the red wedding umbrella offered by her colleagues, tearing her heart out as she screamed into the sky: “Brandon!” Only when the helicopter’s black speck vanished into the sky did Scarlett, shoulders heavy with snow, return to the Research Institute. Her colleagues entered her room, helping her into a stunning red wedding gown and applying her makeup.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298497”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller

Twenty years ago, a day that should have been filled with joy turned into the darkest pivot point of my life. My wife, rushing back to celebrate my birthday, was tragically caught in a multi-car pile-up on the highway. Her life ended right there, in that moment. From then on, an endless wave of guilt drowned me. I always felt like my birthday was what killed her. Carrying this unspoken burden, I became a yes-man to my in-laws, doing everything they asked, as if that could somehow lessen the罪 in my heart. I handed over my publicly listed company, which I’d meticulously built over years, to my in-laws without a second thought. That was the culmination of my life’s work, but at the time, I didn’t spare a single thought for my own future. Not only that, but I also transferred every piece of real estate I owned, one after another, to them. Watching my assets slip away, I felt no hesitation. Stripped of all my income, my life instantly plunged into crisis. To make ends meet, and to pay off escalating medical bills, I had to swallow my pride and become a delivery driver. Rain or shine, I zipped through the city streets, just to earn a little more. But the constant strain eventually broke me. One day, I collapsed from exhaustion and ended up in the hospital. The doctor told me I needed urgent surgery or my life would be in danger, and the surgery would cost ten thousand dollars. For me then, it was an astronomical sum. Left with no choice, I swallowed my shame and asked my in-laws for a ten-thousand-dollar loan for my surgery. To my shock, they showed no pity. Instead, they viciously called me a “vampire,” accusing me of trying to scheme money out of them. No matter how much I begged, they remained indifferent. Finally, because I couldn’t pay, the hospital heartlessly kicked me out. I lay there, alone, on the hospital steps, watching the crowds pass by, my body wracked with pain, my heart consumed by despair. Slowly, I lost consciousness. It wasn’t until after I died, my soul hovering above, that I witnessed the heartbreaking truth. My wife hadn’t died in that car crash at all! She and the male nanny I’d hired to care for my in-laws were living it up, enjoying my money. It was then I understood: everything that had happened was a meticulously planned charade by her entire family, all designed to swindle me out of my fortune! As I was engulfed in boundless regret and fury, the world suddenly spun around me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back twenty years, on the very day my wife was supposed to return for my birthday.

“Alex, did you see the news?” Brenda, my mother-in-law, clutched my hand, her face a mask of panic. Her thousand-dollar manicure dug into my flesh like sharp claws. “Celine was in a multi-car pile-up on her way back! I can’t reach her on FaceTime! What are we going to do?” I gazed at her face, no longer young but impeccably maintained, and a chilling realization hit me: I had been reborn. Seeing my silence, Brenda grew more frantic, tightening her grip until her nails practically pierced my skin. “Say something! My daughter was rushing back for *your* birthday!” Just then, Arthur, my father-in-law, burst into my bedroom, his voice booming. “She’s right! Go to the highway right now! Maybe you can still save her!” The familiar dialogue, identical to my previous life, sent shivers down my spine. I scrutinized the two of them. Their faces were etched with anxiety, their expressions panicked. At first glance, they genuinely looked like worried parents. But as I focused, I caught a flicker of calculation in their eyes, a subtle glint that betrayed any genuine concern for their daughter. In my past life, I was completely fooled by their deceptive act. I rushed to the highway, not even bothering to verify the truth. The result? I was severely burned by the explosion, my face practically disfigured, and I didn’t even find a trace of my wife. When I woke up in the hospital, my in-laws cried hysterically, telling me my wife had died in the crash and blaming me for not getting there sooner, which they claimed delayed the rescue. Overwhelmed by self-reproach, I believed it was all my fault. Without a moment’s hesitation, I transferred my company and all my properties to them. Because of my severe burns and grotesque face, no respectable company would hire me. To survive, I had to wear a balaclava to hide my disfigurement and become a delivery driver. I left before dawn and dragged my exhausted body home late at night, earning barely enough to cover my own medical expenses. But I never complained, always believing I owed them. It wasn’t until I met my tragic end under a bridge, my soul hovering above, that I finally saw my wife, who had been “missing” for twenty years. She was sweetly nestled in Marcus Lee’s arms, with their twenty-five-year-old daughter by their side! Marcus Lee was the male nanny my wife had recommended to look after my in-laws. It turned out she had betrayed me long ago. Doing the math, she must have gotten involved with Marcus and had their daughter the year I went abroad. Reborn, I would never let such a disgusting travesty repeat itself. “You’re still hesitating? Are you even human? I should never have let my daughter marry a loser like you!” Brenda saw I was unmoved and, furious, her nails nearly poked my eyes out. Marcus chimed in, feigning concern. “Don’t worry, Auntie. Alex isn’t like that. He loves Celine so much, he wouldn’t just ignore this. He’s probably figuring something out.” “Alex, you must be looking at routes, right? I told you about Celine’s accident half an hour ago.” I glanced at my phone. He had indeed sent me a message half an hour ago. But strangely, the accident had only happened twenty minutes ago! I put on a worried facade, my heart growing colder by the second. “Mom, Dad, after all these years of marriage, I’ve always cherished Celine. Anything she wanted, I bought it for her without a second thought. But –” I said, my face turning red with feigned urgency, “the accident happened in another state. It’ll take at least a dozen hours to drive there. For a flight, only first-class seats are available now.” “The company lost a lot of money recently, so I –” I pretended to be embarrassed to speak, “I really don’t have any money left.” Arthur gritted his teeth and declared, “I’ll buy it!” My teeth instantly clenched in fury. He was a notorious penny-pincher, usually making me pay even his phone bill. The fact that he was willing to spend over ten thousand dollars on a first-class ticket for me now showed how desperate they were to swindle my money. I didn’t want to die in an explosion like in my past life, so I tried to stall for time. “I still have so many things to arrange at the company. But don’t worry, I’ll contact the local rescue team right away. We’ll definitely find Celine.” Seeing that he couldn’t convince me, Arthur suddenly clutched his chest, his legs buckling, and he collapsed onto the floor. Brenda wailed dramatically beside him. “Oh, the horror! My daughter, she’s practically gone, and he won’t even go find her!” “My dear! You can’t be sick! Otherwise, I won’t live either!” I acted even more frantic than them, immediately pulling out my phone and dialing 911. “Dad, don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you!” Arthur immediately yelled anxiously, “An ambulance costs money! Are you crazy?” I put on an innocent face. “Dad, Celine is so filial. If she knew I didn’t save you, she’d definitely divorce me. I can’t lose her.” Brenda couldn’t hold back. “No! Celine said you have to go!” I seized on her slip of the tongue. “Celine said that? When? Is she okay?” Marcus quickly pointed out the window. “The ambulance is here!” I didn’t get a chance to press further. I had to follow my in-laws into the ambulance. Marcus didn’t come along, saying, “Alex, you go ahead. I’ll help Uncle Arthur pack some clothes.” I didn’t know what trick he was planning, but I knew it wasn’t good. However, in front of my in-laws, I couldn’t say anything. I just needed to get to the hospital – as long as I didn’t go to the highway. At the hospital, Arthur was wheeled into the emergency room. I pulled a doctor aside and spoke to them in a low voice for a while. When Brenda finally hurried over, breathless, I looked flustered, my words jumbled. “Dad is almost – no, Dad’s perfectly fine.” The doctor looked relaxed. “Your husband is fine. He just had a surge of anger. He’ll be fine after some rest.” The more he said it, the more scared Brenda became. She grabbed the doctor’s hand, urgently asking, “He’s not going to make it, is he? Tell me the truth!” I interjected, pretending to be anxious. “Doctor, my wife took them for a check-up a while ago, and she said my father-in-law has lung cancer.” In my past life, my wife used this exact trick to swindle a huge sum of money from me for Arthur’s “treatment.” I later found out that money was used to raise her and Marcus’s child! Even after I lost everything, they still used “lung cancer” as an excuse to keep demanding money from me. During that time, to earn money, I didn’t even dare to eat vegetables, subsisting on stale bread and instant ramen, sometimes even picking up leftover food from others. Meanwhile, they were living lavishly with my money, scamming me my entire life! “Doctor, no matter how much it costs, as long as you can save my father-in-law, I’m willing to pay.” Brenda’s small eyes darted around. She suddenly collapsed to the floor, sobbing dramatically. “Oh, my poor husband! How could you be so miserable? Your daughter is in a car crash, and now you’re dying too!” “And your son-in-law won’t even go save your daughter! What are we going to do!” The surrounding people instantly looked at me with disdain. I cried out, more distraught than Brenda. “Mom, don’t worry! As long as we can save Dad’s life, I’ll cooperate with the hospital even if it means open-chest surgery!” “I’ll also have someone keep an eye on Celine. Even if she really passed away, I’ll always take care of you. I’ll transfer the house you live in to your names.” Brenda’s eyes lit up. “Really?” She quickly realized her expression was wrong and, remembering my mention of open-chest surgery, asked, “What open-chest surgery?” “Lung cancer can be operated on. They just need to remove the bad part of the lung.” “Don’t worry, I’ll find the most expensive surgeon to operate on him. There definitely won’t be any problems. Even if he can’t be saved, I’ve already bought a prestigious burial plot for him.” Brenda shot up from the floor. “We’re not having surgery!” “He’s not sick! No surgery!” I insisted that Arthur was sick, even pulling out the old lung cancer report they had shown me before and handing it to the doctor. The doctor immediately opened a fast track and sent Arthur to the CT scan room. While waiting for the results, Brenda kept her back to me, texting on her phone. I didn’t need to look to know she was sending messages to Marcus. I also opened my phone and checked the surveillance cameras at the house. That villa was meant for their retirement. Fearing the old couple might not be safe living alone, I had cameras installed, but I never told them, worried they’d feel uncomfortable. Now, it had become a tool for my revenge. On the monitor, Marcus entered my bedroom. He rummaged around for a long time but found nothing. He then called Celine. Less than five minutes later, Celine appeared. She had been hiding nearby the whole time! I watched as she walked straight to the safe, punching in the code. She tried several times, but it was wrong each time. A pang of pain shot through my chest. That code was our wedding anniversary – she didn’t even remember it. Marcus had to remind her, and she went to fetch our marriage certificate. The cabinet was empty; there was nothing there. Celine angrily kicked the wall, cursing, “That bitch! If the property deeds aren’t here, where could they be? And his private seal, why can’t I find any of them?” My body trembled. She actually wanted to transfer all my company assets and properties, so even if I managed to divorce her, I’d be left with nothing, and her family could live happily ever after. Thankfully, a couple of days ago, I had used them as collateral with the bank to expand the company. Finally, Celine declared decisively, “You go to the hospital and find Mom and Dad. Make them figure out a way to get rid of Alex. I’ll think of other ways.” With that, Celine leaned in and kissed Marcus. The two of them couldn’t control themselves and started making out right there. I felt an overwhelming wave of nausea. I wanted nothing more than to rush over and beat those two senseless. But I held back. I knew it wasn’t time yet.

Ten minutes later, the two hastily ended their secret meeting. Celine turned to Marcus. “Go tidy up the bed. Alex isn’t stupid. Don’t leave any traces.” Marcus nodded. “Considering he’s been funding our daughter all these years, I won’t be too hard on him.” “But only if he’s obedient,” Celine added coldly. Hiding in the shadows, listening to their conversation, a chill ran down my spine. All these years of marriage, she always claimed she had health issues and couldn’t get pregnant. I felt sorry for her, not even wanting her to try IVF. I never imagined she had already had a child with someone else behind my back. She wasn’t infertile; she just didn’t want to have *my* child! Then, Celine urged Marcus, “You need to get to the hospital quickly. You have to handle Alex there. If all else fails, have Dad fake his death. Alex is such an idiot, he’ll believe anything.” Half an hour later, Marcus arrived at the hospital empty-handed. He asked me, his face anxious, “How’s Uncle Arthur? Auntie said he was doing really badly. Is it true?” I deliberately raised my voice to attract the attention of those around us. “My father’s still being examined! How could you curse him like that?” Marcus awkwardly glanced at Brenda, then said with a wronged expression, “Auntie, I didn’t mean it. Please put in a good word for me with Alex. My family relies entirely on my salary. If I lose this job, they’ll all starve.” Brenda’s eyes widened. She glared at me, yelling, “Alex! When you’re not home, Marcus takes care of us. He’s like my own son!” “If we’re talking about who’s closer, he’s far more important than you!” Brenda accidentally blurted out her true feelings. What surprised me even more was that Marcus even suggested transferring Arthur to another hospital. From a distance, I saw the attending doctor from that hospital already waiting at the entrance. Even though only her eyes were visible, she looked incredibly familiar. I couldn’t help but stare a little longer. It wasn’t until my gaze fell on her name tag that I understood and smiled. It was Marcus’s sister, Maria. Maria stopped us outside the examination room. She busied herself inside for a while, then had the nurses push my father-in-law into the operating room. I asked, my face full of urgency, “Doctor, why is he going straight to surgery?” “Is it serious? I know a lung cancer specialist in New York who can fly over for the surgery.” Maria looked down, avoiding my gaze. “There’s no time for that. His condition is progressing very rapidly.” “We need to operate and remove the lesion now. I suggest you, as the family, resolve his worries first, give him some hope to live.” Marcus also chimed in, sounding worried. “Alex, Uncle Arthur will definitely want to see Celine when he wakes up. You should go quickly.” I scoffed inwardly. “I’ve already arranged for a rescue team. We’ll have results in an hour. We just need to wait.” Marcus looked agitated. He subtly shot Maria a meaningful glance. Maria understood and turned to enter the operating room. To my surprise, Maria emerged just half an hour later, her face filled with sorrow. “I’m sorry, we did our best. The patient’s will to live was weak. He didn’t make it. He left with regrets.” Even at the end, she didn’t forget to cast blame on me. I asked to see Arthur one last time, but Maria refused without hesitation. “His illness is contagious. You cannot see him.” I pondered for a moment, then pulled out my phone and called the funeral home. “My father-in-law has passed away. Please send someone immediately to pick him up.” “His illness is contagious, so I need the fastest cremation and funeral plan. The burial plot should be the most prestigious. Money is not an issue.” I deliberately spoke loudly. “Even if it bankrupts me, I want him to have a grand send-off!” Brenda, who had been trying to snatch my phone, lunged at me, hitting me and cursing. I dodged her slaps and pressed the doctor again. “Is it still contagious after death? Are the organs contagious?”

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In my past life, I endured a heart-wrenching fate. My husband, Norman Ballard, held me in utter contempt for bearing a low-class Black Dragon. Without a shred of mercy, he took the life of our innocent child. Then, he summoned a thunderstorm to end my life as well. As I lay dying, filled with rage and despair, I spat out a curse, “Drop dead right now!” With my blurry vision, I witnessed our bodies plummeting into the depths of the Dragon Pool. To my astonishment, I awoke to find myself back on the day when Norman was choosing a bride. He wasted no time in picking my sister, a Blue Dragon just one rank above the Black Dragon. The disgust in his eyes was palpable as he looked at me. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that he, too, had been reborn. In the previous life, my sister was a Blue Dragon of humble standing, while I was a Yellow Dragon, second only to the noble Golden Dragon. Back then, Norman had readily chosen me. But life took a cruel turn. My sister married a Yellow Dragon and gave birth to a high-class Golden Dragon, becoming the envy of all. Meanwhile, I gave birth to that low-class Black Dragon after tying the knot with him, and he became the butt of everyone’s jokes. This time around, Norman was convinced that choosing my sister would guarantee him a Golden Dragon offspring. But here was the thing—like begets like. How could a Black Dragon masquerading as a Golden Dragon ever give birth to the real deal? ***** Suddenly, thunder boomed across the sky. Dozens of lightning bolts ripped through the thick clouds and lunged straight at me. I was scorched and battered by the fierce lightning. As I plummeted through the air, I spotted my husband Norman standing outside the reach of the lightning. He stared at me with a cold and vicious look as I sank lower and lower. “With the blood of the Dragon Clan as a curse, I wish Norman to drop dead right now!” I murmured the curse with my last bit of strength. I watched as Norman shifted into his dragon form and fell. Eventually, we plunged into the Dragon Pool together. “Megan, what are you daydreaming about?” Someone beside me gently nudged me. I slowly opened my eyes, and it was my father, Ryan Wesley. Wasn’t I just killed by the thunderstorm? I rubbed my eyes, opened them again, and looked around. This wasn’t a dream. I was reborn, and it was the day when Norman was choosing a wife. Ryan, a high-class Yellow Dragon, asked, “Norman, which of my two daughters will you pick?” Our eyes met. I recalled that in my past life, his eyes were full of tenderness when he looked at me, and he gave me his golden scales without hesitation. But now, all I saw in his eyes was disgust. “Sure, my younger daughter, Sally, is just an ordinary middle-class Blue Dragon. But she’s kind-hearted and virtuous, and she’s got feelings for you. If you two get along, it’d be a great match.” Ryan stroked his beard. My sister Sally Wesley was shyly stealing glances at Norman. The bride-selection of a Golden Dragon was a big deal in the Dragon Clan, crucial for the bloodline. The clan elders had come to witness it. Even though Ryan said that, everyone knew that Norman, a high-class Golden Dragon, should pick me, a high-class Yellow Dragon. However, Norman gave his scales to Sally. Everyone present was shocked. Sally also looked at Norman in disbelief. At that moment, I was sure that Norman, my husband from the previous life, was also reborn. In the previous life, as expected, Norman chose me, the one with a higher rank. And Sally was arranged by Ryan to marry a high-class Yellow Dragon through his connections. At first, Norman doted on me, and we were the talk of the town in the Dragon Clan. But things took a turn after I laid a Black Dragon egg. A Golden Dragon laying a black egg was a huge laughingstock in the Dragon World. Everyone said Norman was a loser. On the contrary, Sally laid a glowing golden egg. Since then, people flocked to their door, and everyone praised her husband for his strength. The humiliated Norman became extremely bad-tempered towards me. He not only scolded me but also often rued not choosing Sally as his wife in front of me. In the Dragon World, there were four attributes—Black Dragon, Blue Dragon, Yellow Dragon, and Golden Dragon, and three ranks—low-class, middle-class, and high-class. The higher the attribute and rank, the rarer and more powerful the dragon, and the higher the family’s status. So, dragons in the clan usually chose mates with higher attributes to have offspring with better bloodlines. Of course, there were exceptions where high-class dragons gave birth to low-class ones and vice versa. Dragons in the Dragon Clan could transform into human forms after reaching adulthood. The humiliation drove Norman to the brink of madness. In a desperate bid to salvage his shattered pride, he started spreading malicious rumors. He claimed I’d had an affair with a low-class dragon, and that was the reason I’d given birth to a low-class Black Dragon egg. In a fit of rage, he punched the unhatched egg, shattering it into pieces. Then, with a wave of his power, he summoned a terrifying thunderstorm. The sky darkened, and thunder roared as if the heavens themselves were angry. Lightning flashed across the sky like fiery whips, and I knew my end was near. Before I could even expose his true identity, I was engulfed by the storm. Norman was a fraud. Beneath his false guise of a high-class Golden Dragon, he was nothing but a low-class Black Dragon.

Ryan was stunned by the outcome, whereas my mom, Emma Wesley, was overjoyed. Without hesitation, she pulled Sally close and began showering her with praise right in front of Norman. “I get you all are curious to know why I didn’t choose Megan,” Norman said, giving a little bow to the elders of the Dragon Clan. My eyelids fluttered. “I won’t marry a two-timing dragon like her,” he said, jabbing his finger at me angrily. The place erupted in a flurry of confusion. “Hey, watch your mouth!” Ryan barked. After all, I was his flesh and blood. “Chill out, sir. Let me explain. I’ve caught her fooling around with those low-class dragons more than once. That’s why I’m off the idea of marrying her,” Norman retorted. “Prove it! You’re just badmouthing me!” I feigned the innocence of my younger self, not keen on letting Norman know I’d been reborn. “Do you really think I, a noble Golden Dragon, would lie about you?” Norman sneered. Ryan eyed me warily, and Emma shot me a dirty look, thinking I’d brought shame to the family. Before I could get a word in, Norman rambled on. “She’s got a rotten moral compass. Even if she’s a high-class Yellow Dragon, her kids would be low-class. Let’s see if I’m right.” Golden Dragons could make predictions, but it took a toll on their essence and blood. Not many dragons were willing to go through with it. Once he said that, the elders and relatives started whispering and gossiping about me. “Fine, we’ll wait and see!” I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay composed. I was biding my time for his dragon egg to hatch and expose his true colors. Sally’s wedding was a grand affair. Norman spared no expense, and it became the talk of the Dragon World. As for me, thanks to Norman’s slander, my reputation was in the gutter. Dragons who used to come knocking for marrying me stopped showing up. They were more worried about having low-class offspring than my so-called disloyalty. In the Dragon World, a Golden Dragon’s prediction was no laughing matter. With Norman stoking the fire, the rumors got wilder. People were saying I’d slept with three dragons in one night, and they painted the picture so vividly. Emma thought I was a disgrace and gave me the cold shoulder all day. Ryan was at a loss. I didn’t give a damn. I was done with the whole marriage thing after my past life. Three days after the wedding, Norman brought Sally back for a visit. When he saw me, he started taunting, “Megan, I bet no one wants to marry you now, huh?” “Thanks to you, I’m having a peaceful life,” I shot back. Norman sized me up and scoffed, “Without a mate, your mating season is gonna be a nightmare. You might end up with a wild snake and pop out some freakish thing.” “Yeah, Megan. Stop being so choosy. Just marry a Black Dragon. Otherwise, not just the Dragon World but other races will laugh their asses off at you,” Sally chimed in. It had only been a few days since she tied the knot, and she was already on Norman’s side. The two of them were like two peas in a pod. Of course, Sally and I had never seen eye to eye. Emma was Ryan’s second wife, and Sally and I were half-sisters, so there was never any real bond between us. “Don’t worry about me. Worry about having a high-quality dragon baby first. After all, like father, like son,” I said, smiling as I glanced at Sally’s belly. Norman’s eyes darkened with rage. “What are you talking about? Norman is a rare Golden Dragon. His kids will at least be Golden Dragons. You’re just jealous that Norman picked me,” Sally snapped, raising her hand as if to hit me. Just like old times, she still wanted to push me around. I stepped back, not in the mood to argue. “Good-for-nothing who can’t even lay an egg.”

From behind, Norman’s voice, as gloomy as a storm cloud, echoed through the air. He casually slung his arm around Sally’s shoulders, shouldered past me with a nonchalant air, and sauntered ahead. At the dinner table, Norman was all over Sally like a lovesick puppy. He kept piling her plate high with dishes and dabbing at her mouth with a napkin. They were the picture-perfect newlyweds, in total sync. Ryan, who’d been wary of Norman after his prophecy, seemed to have softened his stance. In the old days, Norman was only mildly considerate of me. But serving me? That was out of the question. In his eyes, I was beneath him, born to serve. Now, he was clearly rubbing it in my face. There were other Golden Dragons out there, not just him. Maybe I could find one to “borrow” sperm from. Borrow sperm! It wasn’t half-bad of an idea. No need to get married, and no one would lose out. Having a Golden Dragon baby would really stick it to Norman and make up for my past-life regret of not becoming a mother. But all the Golden Dragons I could think of were either too old or too young. Where on earth could I find a proper one? ***** “You’re looking for a young Golden Dragon?!” Carol Wilson blurted out. I quickly slapped my hand over her mouth. “Keep it down, will you?” Carol was a magical herb and my alien buddy. “Mmmph.” I let go, and she lowered her voice. “Well, I actually know about an extraordinary Golden Dragon.” “For real?” “Rumor has it that there’s a high-class Golden Dragon living in the Golden Dragon Pool on Elysian Peak. It’s a high-attribute dragon, a once-in-a-century sight in your Dragon World. Even the elders of your Dragon Clan would bow down to it.” “Is it really that amazing?” I was skeptical. Carol had a knack for exaggerating. “Absolutely! They say the golden light from that dragon is so bright it can blind other dragons. Since it went up to Elysian Peak, it’s never come down. And we can’t get up there, either. So, Elysian Peak has turned into a forbidden area.” I lowered my head, lost in thought. Come to think of it, when I was a kid, the clan elders had always warned me to stay away from that mountain. I asked, “How do you know more about this than I do, a full-fledged member of the Dragon Clan?” “I’ve lived for almost a thousand years. How could I not know?” Carol rolled her eyes at me. “Then… hypothetically, if I wanted to ‘borrow’ sperm from it, is it even possible?” “Eh? What!” Another ear-splitting exclamation. I had to clap my hand over her mouth again. “Shh! Don’t let the whole world hear.” “Did I hear you right? Not to mention it’s impossible to get up the mountain now. No one knows what’s going on there after all these years. You still want to go find that Golden Dragon and ‘borrow’ its sperm? You’re just asking for trouble!” I said, “Unless you give it a shot, you’ll never know. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find that Golden Dragon. I’ll use some aphrodisiac incense and sleep with it. By the next day, it’ll have completely forgotten about that steamy night.” Carol was so shocked by my words that her mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg. I knew the way into that mountain. In my past life, I tagged along with Norman. Desperate to conceal his true self as a Black Dragon, he went on a mad dash to collect forbidden tomes and esoteric cultivation secrets. One particular book made an indelible mark on me. It said that if one mashed up the Elysian Gilded Weed into a pulp and slathered it on one’s scales, one’s body would transform into a gorgeous, long-lasting golden sheen. Norman was hell-bent on getting his hands on that herb. He spent God knew how many hours sifting through over 10 thousand ancient scrolls just to crack the code on entering the Elysian Peak. There, at the southwest foot of the mountain, lay a rock. It was like a fortress, completely unyielding. However, there was a workaround—use high-class dragon blood as a trigger and draw a specific rune on it, and the mountain’s protective barrier would crumble. And amazingly, the image of that rune was still crystal-clear in my head. Back then, Norman took nearly half a bowl of my blood. I was crossing my fingers that he’d return with the herb, but it was a no-go. Instead, he showed up battered and bruised. When I asked him what in the world had happened, he just clammed up and kept his lips sealed. “You’re really out of your mind. That’s a high-class Golden Dragon. If it finds out a low-rank dragon like you has such crazy thoughts, it’ll swat you into pieces with one claw.” Carol waved two leaves around like claws. “What do you mean by ‘a low-rank dragon’? I’m at least a high-class Yellow Dragon.” Carol asked, “Are you serious about this?” “Dead serious.” “I’ve heard about what went down with you in the Dragon World. Considering all the fertilizer you’ve given me, this is the most I can do to help.” With that, Carol plucked the tenderest leaf from her center and held it out to me. “Actually, I’m a fertility herb. If you eat this, you’ll get pregnant on the first try, no doubt about it.” “So, that’s your real deal. You always told me eating you would boost my power and extend my lifespan.” I couldn’t help but let out a couple of chuckles. “Stop laughing at me!” “Okay, okay.” Carol said, “Please come back in one piece. I’m counting on you to fertilize me again.” “Got it.” I waved her off and started making my way towards Elysian Peak.   I followed the method and managed to break the barrier. Suddenly, Elysian Peak revealed itself in all its rawness. From the outside, it was all misty and looked like a magical wonderland. But up close, the whole peak was shrouded in an eerie black haze. The mountain path wound upwards, covered with dry leaves and broken stones. There were no signs of any spiritual animals or the slightest hint of spiritual energy. It was so quiet that even the wind seemed to have deserted the place, just dead silent. “Can’t even see the sun, so why’s it getting hotter and hotter?” I grumbled, wiping the sweat off my face. I remembered what the elders said, that Elysian Peak was full of spiritual energy and perfect for cultivation. But what I saw now was nothing like that. I decided to put off the search for that dragon for a bit. First, I needed to find some water, or I’d die of thirst right there. As soon as I stepped into the mountain, my body started to heat up. I felt dizzy, and a sense of unease crept over me. Thankfully, after a short while, I heard the sound of water. I followed it and found a small pond. I didn’t care if it was dangerous or not. I was burning up, and my mind was a mess. So, I transformed into my dragon form and plunged right in. But the cool water did little to quench the fire in me. I could feel a strange heat down there, and my body became overly sensitive. Damn it! Why did I have to go into heat at this moment? I tried to calm myself down by circulating my inner energy, but it didn’t work well. Even though I was a dragon, sexual desire was a natural thing. That was why our kind looked for mates when we reached a certain age. Otherwise, some of us might just be tortured to death. Damn it! It’d be great if there were another dragon around. I looked around in frustration. Hey! There was a cave in the pond, and it was giving off a faint golden glow. Could this be the Golden Dragon Pool? And inside the cave, was the Golden Dragon? I held my breath and swam into the cave slowly. Sure enough, there was a Golden Dragon coiled around a pillar, eyes closed. This Golden Dragon was even more dazzling than any I’d ever seen. His figure was top-notch among our clan. I didn’t dare to make a sound. I flew over to him and nervously took out the aphrodisiac incense, holding it near his nose. After seeing this Golden Dragon, my desire had become even stronger. In no time, the Golden Dragon suddenly opened his eyes and quickly slid off the pillar. With a loud crash, the pillar collapsed. I quickly flew away, but the dragon charged at me. Judging by those fierce eyes, did the aphrodisiac incense not work? I tried to run, but my body was so weak that I just fell to the ground. The Golden Dragon let out a roar, brushed past me, and flew out of the cave, stirring up the pond water like crazy. Then he rushed back into the cave. Just when I thought it was going to kill me, he said, “Finally, you’re here.” The Golden Dragon started circling around me, then lifted my body up. His body was also burning hot. Our breathing became rapid and chaotic. When our eyes met, I could see the same desire in his eyes. The Golden Dragon spread his scales and wrapped his body around me tighter and tighter. My mind was in a blur. I looked at our intertwined tails. “What? Those are so big!” Under his scales, something was stirring. My heart skipped a beat, and I swallowed hard. I suddenly wanted to run away. Even though I thought so, the heat of passion clouded my mind. I was so weak that I could only let the Golden Dragon have its way with me. This Golden Dragon knew all the tricks. He made me feel so good that I couldn’t help but wonder if the aphrodisiac incense had any effect on it at all. “Like it?” he asked in a hoarse voice, the second thing I’d heard him say. His body entangled with mine, as he took away my last bit of sanity.

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I Became the Cruel CEO’s Wife, But I Have a First Love Who Looks Just Like Him Everyone knows I bear a striking resemblance to Adrian’s late wife, Ava. They think I’m just her replacement. What they don’t realize is that Adrian himself looks uncannily like the boy I fell for years ago. The difference is, the boy I loved was gentle and refined. Adrian, on the other hand, often radiates a volatile, tyrannical aura. One day, he killed my first love. Little did he know that even a docile puppet can bare its claws. 0 I had barely reached the entrance of Adrian’s office when a body covered in a white sheet was carried out. A crowd of people knelt outside. Inside, Adrian was drunk, half-lying on an intricately carved chair. His brows were furrowed, eyes tightly shut. Shards of porcelain cups and jade plates littered the floor. As I stepped in, a blue and gold vase suddenly shattered at my feet, its fragments cutting my arm. I cried out in pain, clutching my hand as crimson blood seeped through my fingers and dripped onto the floor. The sight of blood on the ground made me dizzy. I looked up to see Adrian beckoning me. “Aria, come here.” I had grown all too familiar with that name. I obediently walked over. He stroked my head like one would pet an animal. His palm was warm, but I didn’t dare lower my guard. For some reason, the hand resting on my head always made me uneasy. The next moment, pain shot through my scalp as I was forced to meet his cold, dark eyes. “Who gave you permission to wear Ava’s hairpin?” He yanked out the pin and glared at me coldly. Even after a year, facing those eyes still filled me with fear. They were the eyes of a lone wolf – a flash of red in the vast desert, locking onto its prey. I knew he disliked seeing fear in my expression, so I skillfully put on the gentle smile I had practiced countless times. “My dear, you’ve had too much to drink. Do I need permission to wear my own accessories?” His eyes lowered, long thick lashes hiding his expression. After a long moment, he burst into laughter, wrapping an arm around my waist and burying his face in my chest. “Aria can wear whatever she likes, as long as she never leaves me…” Ava… that was his late wife’s name. My name is also Aria, but written with a different character meaning “distant.” 0

“Are you here to beg me to release those refugees too?” He held my hand, his tone casual and disinterested. I lowered my eyes submissively. “I wouldn’t dare.” “My Aria would never say she doesn’t dare.” I changed my words. “I won’t.” He looked pleased, his expression softening. Happy with my response, he waved his hand, ordering the staff outside to clean up his office. I saw the head butler breathe a sigh of relief, giving me a grateful look. Adrian had renamed his office “Ava’s Study,” while my quarters were now called “Ava’s Tower.” Back in my room, my father was already waiting. “Mrs. Blackwood.” My father is the company’s CFO. He used to dote on me, but since I became Adrian’s wife, it had been a long time since he called me Aria. “Father, have you come because something’s happened at the company again?” My father stared at me intently. In the few days since I’d last seen him, he seemed to have aged a decade. Silver strands sprouted at his temples, and his eyes held a pleading look. He knelt before me. “Please, ask your husband to help the people suffering from the layoffs.” I didn’t move. This wasn’t the first time my father had knelt before me for the sake of the employees. But I clearly remembered the first time he knelt before his own daughter – it was to persuade me to marry the cruel Adrian. Just because my face was 80% similar to Ava’s, he offered me to Adrian. Not for family honor, but so that I could use my resemblance to Ava to stop Adrian when he was about to do something cruel. He wanted me to influence Adrian’s decisions. I admit he’s a good executive, but he’s not a good father. He used our family bond to bind me, sending me to this cold, loveless marriage. Enduring the mix of adoration and torment that Adrian’s unstable moods brought me. Now, he doesn’t even call me Aria anymore. It’s always “Mrs. Blackwood” this and “Mrs. Blackwood” that. I lowered my eyelids, hiding the hurt in my eyes. “What’s happened?” “There’s unrest at the factory in Springfield. The leader’s been arrested and is scheduled for execution tomorrow.” With Adrian imposing such heavy workloads and pay cuts across the company, I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire workforce revolted. Without looking up, I picked up my unfinished embroidery and continued stitching a plum blossom pattern, my tone flat. “Springfield is far from here. Even if Adrian ordered a stay of execution today, it would take two days for the order to reach Springfield. You can’t save him.” “What if that person is Marcus?” The familiar name struck my ears. My fingers slipped, and the needle pricked my fingertip. A drop of blood fell onto the plum blossom I had just embroidered. “Marcus has already been brought to the city. If you don’t persuade Adrian to stop, Marcus’s head will be on display in the town square tomorrow!” My heart clenched. I slowly put down the needle and stood up. Marcus… was the boy I loved. 0

Years ago, when I was fourteen, I went with my mother to a temple. We were attacked by bandits who killed all our guards. The horses pulling our carriage panicked and bolted, nearly running off a cliff. In that moment of crisis, Marcus saved me. He wore white, cutting a dashing figure – a spirited young man. With just one glance, my heart was captured. I could never love anyone else. I had never run so frantically through the house before. Adrian had deliberately built my quarters close to his office out of his love for Ava. I ran through the winding corridors, dragging my long skirt, seemingly out of breath after running for a long time. My dress tripped me, but I paid no mind. I got up and hurried to Adrian’s side. When I burst in, a blood-stained prisoner was kneeling before Adrian, who sat lazily in his chair. My sudden appearance startled them both, and they turned to look at me. As my gaze swept over the prisoner’s face, I froze momentarily. It wasn’t until Adrian chuckled softly that I snapped out of it, hastily averting my eyes and scurrying to Adrian’s side. Adrian gently stroked my head. “Aria thinks he looks similar too, doesn’t she?” I kept my eyes lowered. “I was startled by the blood just now. I didn’t get a clear look at his face.” Adrian laughed softly, twirling a lock of my hair around his finger. “If you didn’t see clearly, go take a closer look.” I couldn’t fathom why he wanted me to look. Perhaps Marcus didn’t even remember someone like me. Up close, his injuries were even more apparent. There were at least ten wounds of varying sizes all over his body, flesh torn open and bleeding. His white prison uniform was stained black and red, the original color indiscernible. I had heard that after the leader of the Springfield uprising was captured, he endured severe torture without revealing his accomplices. I never imagined that leader would be Marcus. Marcus stared at me coldly, all traces of his former gentle demeanor gone, replaced by ice. I couldn’t help but take a few steps back, only to bump into Adrian’s chest. I hadn’t noticed him standing behind me. “Did he frighten you?” Before I could answer, Adrian kicked Marcus hard in the chest. The kick was so forceful that Marcus coughed up a mouthful of blood. “In my presence, you’d better keep your claws sheathed.” Marcus laughed coldly and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. “A cruel and incompetent tyrant has no right to call himself ‘I’.” The bloody spittle landed right on Adrian’s shoe. Adrian’s expression remained calm, but my heart began to race. “Aria.” When he called my name, my body trembled slightly.

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I became the queen of a tyrant, but I had a first love, and they looked alike. Everyone knew I resembled the late queen and was her replacement, but they didn’t know the tyrant also looked like the boy I had loved since childhood. However, his personality was completely different from the one I loved. The boy I loved was gentle and refined, while the tyrant often exuded a cruel and violent aura. One day, he killed my first love, not knowing that even a docile puppet could turn against him with sharp claws. 0 As I approached the entrance of the great hall, a body covered in white cloth was being carried out. A crowd of people knelt at the doorway. Inside, the man was heavily drunk, half-lying on an intricately carved dragon throne. His brows were furrowed, and his eyes tightly shut. Shards of porcelain cups and jade plates were scattered everywhere. As I stepped in, a blue and gold vase suddenly shattered at my feet, its fragments cutting my arm. I cried out in pain, clutching my hand as crimson blood flowed through my fingers and dripped onto the floor. The sight of blood on the ground made me dizzy. When I looked up, I saw the tyrant beckoning to me. “Aria, come here.” I was all too familiar with this name by now. I obediently walked over, and he stroked my head as if petting an animal. His palm was warm, but I didn’t dare let my guard down. For some reason, the hand resting on my head always made me uneasy. The next moment, pain shot through my scalp as I was forced to meet his cold, dark eyes. “Who gave you permission to wear Aria’s hairpin?” He yanked out the hairpin and looked at me coldly. Even after a year, facing those eyes still filled me with fear. They were the eyes of a lone wolf, a flash of red in the vast wilderness, locking onto you, hunting you. I knew he didn’t like to see me looking scared, so I skillfully put on the gentle smile I had practiced countless times. “Your Majesty must be drunk, no? Does your humble servant need permission from others to wear her own hairpin?” His eyes lowered, his long, thick lashes hiding his expression. After a long moment, he burst into laughter, wrapping an arm around my waist and burying his face in my chest. “Aria can wear whatever she wants, as long as she doesn’t leave me…” Aria… was his late queen. My name was also Ava, but my “Ava” meant distant. 0

“Have you also come to beg me to release those refugees?” He held my hand, his tone carrying a hint of indifference. I lowered my eyes submissively, “Your humble servant wouldn’t dare.” “My Aria would never say she wouldn’t dare.” I changed my words, “Your humble servant won’t.” His expression softened, showing satisfaction. He was pleased and waved his hand, ordering the servants outside to clean up the inner chamber of Aria’s Palace. I saw the head eunuch breathe a sigh of relief and give me a grateful look. Aria’s Palace was originally called the Royal Study, while the Queen’s chambers had been renamed Aria’s Tower. Back at Aria’s Tower, my father was already waiting for me. “Your Majesty, the Queen.” My father was the current Prime Minister. He used to dote on me, but since I became queen, he hadn’t called me Ava in a long time. “Father, have you come to see me because something has happened at court again?” My father stared at me steadily. In just a few days, he seemed to have aged ten years. Silver strands had appeared at his temples, and his eyes were filled with earnestness. He knelt before me, “I beg Your Majesty the Queen to save our people.” I didn’t move. This wasn’t the first time my father had knelt before me for the sake of the people, but I clearly remembered the first time he knelt before his own daughter was to make me enter the palace and become the tyrant’s queen. Just because my face was eighty percent similar to the late queen’s, he offered me to the tyrant. Not for family glory, but so that I could use my face, so similar to the late queen’s, to stop him when he became violent. He wanted me to whisper in the king’s ear. I admit he was a good official, but he wasn’t a good father. He bound me with familial ties and sent me to this cold palace. Enduring the love and torment brought by an unpredictable tyrant. Now, he didn’t even call me Ava anymore, always addressing me as “Your Majesty the Queen.” I lowered my eyelids, hiding the hurt in my eyes. “What has happened?” “There’s unrest in Westbrook. The leader has been captured and is to be executed tomorrow.” The king had imposed heavy taxes nationwide. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole country rebelled. Without looking up, I picked up the embroidery I hadn’t finished yesterday and continued stitching plum blossoms. My tone was flat, “Westbrook is far from the capital. Even if the king issued an order today to spare his life, it would take at least two days to reach Westbrook from here. You can’t save him.” “What if that person is Marcus?” The familiar name entered my ears, and my fingers lost control of the needle, pricking my fingertip. A drop of blood fell on the plum blossom I had just embroidered. “Marcus has already been brought to the capital. If Your Majesty the Queen doesn’t persuade the king to stop, Marcus’s head will surely be hanging on the city wall tomorrow!” My heart clenched. I slowly put down the needle and stood up. Marcus… was the man I loved. 0

That year, I was only fourteen. I had gone with my mother to pray at a temple when we encountered bandits. All our guards were killed, and our carriage horses were spooked, galloping wildly towards a cliff. At the critical moment, it was Marcus who saved me. He was dressed in white, a graceful and spirited young man. With just one glance, my heart could no longer accommodate anyone else. I had never run so anxiously in the palace before. The king had loved the late queen so much that he had Aria’s Tower built very close. I ran through the winding corridors, dragging my long skirt, as if I had been running for a long time, out of breath. My skirt tripped me, but I didn’t care. I got up and hurried to the king’s side. Our country was called Aldoria, and the king’s name was Alaric. When I burst in, a man in blood-stained prisoner’s clothes was kneeling at the bottom of Aria’s Palace. Alaric sat lazily in the main seat. My appearance was very abrupt to them, and they all turned to look at me. My gaze swept over the man’s face, and I was momentarily stunned. It wasn’t until Alaric chuckled softly that I broke out in a cold sweat, hurriedly averting my gaze and running to Alaric’s side. Alaric gently stroked my head, “Aria thinks he looks similar too, doesn’t she?” I lowered my brows, “I was startled by the blood just now and didn’t see his face clearly.” Alaric laughed softly, twirling a lock of my hair around his finger. “If you didn’t see clearly, then go take a look.” I couldn’t fathom his intentions. I didn’t know why he wanted me to look, and perhaps in Marcus’s memory, there wasn’t even a person like me. Up close, his wounds were even more apparent. There were no less than ten injuries, large and small, with flesh turned outward, oozing blood. His white linen prisoner’s clothes were stained black and red, the original color indiscernible. I had heard that after the leader of Westbrook was captured, he still didn’t reveal his accomplices even after severe torture. I never imagined this leader would be Marcus. Marcus looked at me coldly, no longer the gentle and refined person he once was, only ice-cold. I couldn’t help but take a few steps back. At some point, Alaric had stood behind me, and I bumped into his chest. “Did he scare you?” Before I could speak, Alaric kicked Marcus hard in the chest. The kick was so forceful that Marcus coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. “In my presence, you should retract your claws.” Marcus laughed coldly and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. “A foolish and cruel person, how dare you call yourself ‘we’?” The bloody saliva just happened to land on Alaric’s shoe. Alaric’s expression remained calm, but my heart began to race. “Aria.” When he called my name, my body trembled slightly.

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0 In the eighth year of Emperor Xander’s reign, I spent my last winter in the servant quarters of the imperial palace. “I knew it was you who stole it, you little thief! Kneel here for three hours, not a minute less!” the matron yelled as she walked past, kicking me for good measure. I instinctively wanted to dodge but forced myself to stay still and take the blow. If I avoided it this time, there would just be worse punishment later. “How dare you, you insolent wretch! From now on, you’ll kneel here every day. When you finally die kneeling, we’ll roll you up in a ragged mat and toss you in the paupers’ graveyard like your dead mother!” The snow was falling heavier, piling up on my shoulders as if trying to push me into the ground. I stared blankly at the distant snowy landscape, lost in thought. I knew this would only enrage the old hag further, but over the years I had tried every approach – meek submission, fierce resistance. None of it made any difference. They would never let me have peace. I was the daughter of a disgraced official. If my family hadn’t fallen from grace, I would have been their mistress. Once that line between mistress and servant was crossed, we became enemies. Class hatred knew no bounds. “Who’s kneeling there?” “Your Highness, it’s likely a maid being punished for some wrongdoing.” Most of the time my mind was in a fog, but on that day, breaking through the crowd of palace attendants, I looked up and met those eyes. Beautiful eyes sparkling with life, an exquisitely painted flower adorning her forehead – the only splash of red amidst the heavy snow, piercing through the bitter cold of deep winter. But those eyes merely glanced over me before moving on. I lowered my head again, counting the footsteps of the departing entourage. “Get up and come with me.” At last, I was leaving this place where human life was cheaper than dirt. The thick snow quickly covered the footprints I left behind. Little did I know then that in the vast imperial palace, the servant quarters were just one small corner of the man-eating machine. I followed the palace maid for a long while before arriving at a magnificent palace surrounded by red plum blossoms. “This will be your bed. Unless Her Highness summons you, just do some sweeping and cleaning outside the hall,” she instructed. “Yes, I understand.” I gently touched the first real bed I’d had in years. The servant quarters were far behind me now. For the next two weeks, I kept my head down and focused on my work. Eventually I learned that my new mistress was Duchess Keera, who had recently entered the palace. Though a newcomer, she was already highly favored by the Emperor. “Just look at all these plum blossoms – Her Highness clearly loves lively scenes. We must make sure the flowers bloom as vibrantly as possible,” said Luna, the maid who slept next to me. She was refreshingly warm and lively. “But with the weather so cold, surely Her Highness won’t come out to admire the blossoms?” I wondered. Luna sighed. “Even if Her Highness doesn’t come out, how else will she know we’ve taken such good care of the plum blossoms?” “Senior Flora picks plum blossoms for Her Highness every day. The flowers do make it into Her Highness’s chambers.” “You’re quite carefree about it. I wonder when I’ll get to serve inside the chambers.” It was only after leaving the servant quarters that I realized even the lowliest palace maid had clear life goals and plans to achieve them. I had always drifted through life in a numb haze, never thinking about the future. But now I just wanted to tend these plum blossoms well for Her Highness. Perhaps Luna’s constant grumbling moved the heavens. One day the weather suddenly turned fine, and we heard Duchess Keera had invited the other consorts to come admire the flowers. Luna had been inspecting every branch in the garden since dawn, even praying for the blossoms to bloom more vibrantly. She put on the new uniform she’d been saving and the hairpin she’d asked the eunuch buyer to bring back last month. “Once I get to serve inside, I’ll make sure you eat and drink well too. We’ll be able to casually eat or toss out those fancy cakes from the imperial kitchen without a second thought.” Before she could finish daydreaming, the servants preparing for the gathering told us to move further back. Though disgruntled, Luna had no choice but to retreat with me behind the crowd. “Look how arrogant they are. Palace maids really are divided into different ranks. Don’t take it lightly.” I smiled and shook my head, my gaze drifting to the distance. I had never truly seen Her Highness up close. That fleeting glimpse on that snowy day – I felt the entire garden of plum blossoms couldn’t compare to half of Her Highness’s beauty. 0

“Take them away!” I had been sleeping fitfully when I was jolted awake by the commotion outside. Opening my eyes, I saw a group of guards bursting into the room. They grabbed Luna and me, then started ransacking the place, searching for something. My heart sank. In the past, the matron would order people to grab me like this, then always manage to find her belongings in my quarters. After a while, they did indeed find what they were looking for. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse – it was Luna’s new hairpin. We were escorted to the main hall. There, I saw Her Highness and… the Emperor for the first time. I was forcefully pressed to my knees. In front of me, a large group was already kneeling. The hall was deathly silent, the air heavy with the smell of blood and a woman’s agonized screams. The Empress Dowager set down her prayer beads and asked, “Whose hairpin is this?” I heard Luna trembling as she answered, “It… it’s this slave’s, Your Majesty.” “Forgive me, Your Majesties. I have failed in my duties. The Noble Consort has gone into premature labor. The only way to save her life now is to terminate the pregnancy, but I’m afraid she may have difficulty conceiving in the future.” “So be it. It’s fate,” the Empress Dowager sighed softly, approving the imperial doctor’s recommendation. She then turned to look at the Emperor. “Beat her to death,” he ordered. From start to finish, those were the Emperor’s only words before he left. “No… no! Your Majesty, please spare me! Empress Dowager, please have mercy! This slave knows nothing, truly nothing!” Luna struggled desperately, her eyes filled with disbelief and despair. But she was quickly dragged away by the guards. The last time I saw Luna was when she was rolled up in a grass mat and tossed onto a cart. I secretly retrieved her hairpin and placed it in her hand. The hairpin, trampled beyond recognition, had become as dull and lifeless as its owner. This place was still the servant quarters after all. Duchess Keera’s palace lost its former liveliness overnight. Though it was determined that the incident was caused by the hairpin’s scent mixing with the plum blossoms and driving the Empress’s pet parrot into a frenzy that crashed into the Noble Consort, Duchess Keera’s maid was still implicated. Now even the plum trees in the garden had been cut down. Palace dwellers always curry favor with the powerful and step on the weak. Rumors spread that Duchess Keera had offended the imperial heir as soon as she entered the palace, causing the Emperor to completely lose favor with her. With no more duties, I had time to overhear many rumors. Some said the Noble Consort threw a fit after waking up traumatized. Others claimed the Empress Dowager and Empress had been copying Buddhist scriptures for over a month to pray for the lost child’s soul. There were even whispers that the Empress had secretly copied scriptures for the executed parrot as well. But for me, not much had changed. If anything, I had more chances to see Her Highness now. Her Highness often stood at the hall entrance admiring the snow. She would stand there all afternoon, only returning inside after repeated urging from her personal maids. “Do you think Her Highness is heartbroken because His Majesty doesn’t visit anymore?” “Most likely. Our mistress has clearly fallen out of favor. The household department used to be so eager to please, but Senior Flora said she got quite an earful when she went to collect coal today.” I listened to the two young maids whispering in front of me. I had been hearing such talk for days now – surely it must have reached Her Highness’s ears as well. But Her Highness continued to admire the snow and drink tea daily as if nothing was wrong. I privately felt she wasn’t too troubled by it all. One day as I was sweeping snow in front of the hall, I heard a commotion in the distance. “Keera, you poisonous witch! Come out here!” A woman in resplendent palace robes was storming towards the hall with a large group of attendants, clearly intending to barge in. Her Highness happened to be coming out just then. I watched as the woman raised her hand. I knew my chance had come. Slap! I flew forward to block the slap aimed at Her Highness’s face. Noble Consort Liliana sneered, “So you’ve trained yourself a loyal dog!” She raised her hand to strike again. The attendants on both sides finally snapped out of their shock and moved to restrain her. Of course – Noble Consort Liliana. The one who had lost her child and had been causing trouble in the palace for over a month now. The commotion was finally stopped by the Empress, who rushed over. “Liliana, I know you’re devastated by your sudden miscarriage. But His Majesty and I have thoroughly investigated the matter. Duchess Keera was not involved at all. You shouldn’t have made such a scene today.” The Empress sat in the main seat, patiently trying to reason with Liliana. She reached out to take Liliana’s hand in a gesture of comfort. But Liliana violently pulled her hand away. “I lost my child in her palace! It was her maid who did it! How can you say she wasn’t involved at all?” “His Majesty and I personally conducted the investigation. Noble Consort Liliana, do you have any objections?” The Empress’s tone turned cold and stern, all previous gentleness gone. “To think I considered you a newcomer and showed you extra care because of my old friendship with your sister. You invited the entire harem to admire flowers, and I came despite my pregnancy. Keera! Do you have no conscience? My child was only four months along!” Liliana cried hysterically. After a while, she just kept mumbling softly, “My child never even got to call me mother… my poor child…” The Empress looked utterly exasperated. She ordered attendants to carefully escort Liliana back to her palace, then spent quite some time comforting Duchess Keera before finally departing. “Does she make such a fuss every day? Has His Majesty not intervened at all?” “There seem to be urgent matters in court. His Majesty hasn’t entered the harem for over two weeks now.” Duchess Keera nodded in understanding, then turned and asked me to raise my head. She studied me carefully for a long while. Her gaze was still as light as clouds drifting across the sky. “What’s your name?” “This slave is called Aria, Your Highness.” “That’s a good name. From tomorrow on, you’ll be called Morning Dew.”

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For five years of our secret marriage, Victoria always believed I was just some down-on-his-luck guy, a gold-digger from a family that had lost everything. But she had no idea. I was Julian Hayes, the sole heir to the Hayes Group, the largest venture capital firm in the world. When she tricked me into attending a gala for her male best friend, then forced me to kneel and toast my sworn enemy, that was the breaking point. I was so furious, I shattered the champagne flute in my hand: “Victoria Caldwell, you dare make me kneel? Believe me, with one word, I could make your company vanish from the stock market tomorrow!” A flicker of panic crossed her eyes before she instantly turned, burying her face in my chest. “Oh, darling,” she cooed, “I just needed your help. I’m so sorry you had to deal with this.” Then she personally fed me a detox drink and gently escorted me to a private lounge. But when I woke up, I found myself strapped upside down on a drop tower ride. Her male best friend pressed a button, and the ride flung me dozens of feet into the air before plunging me straight into the water below. The impact left me dizzy and disoriented. I fought through the haze, forcing my hand to dial an emergency number. “Alfred, contact every major news outlet worldwide. I want to see them begging on the streets by sundown!”

The phone clicked off, and the icy pool water swallowed me whole once more. Brandon Miller covered his mouth, doubling over with laughter. Victoria, standing beside him, watched with a tolerant smile. “Victoria, did you hear that? Julian said he’s going to make you beg on the streets! Who does he think he is?” Genevieve Stone, Victoria’s rival, joined in the mocking. She pointed at me with disdain. “Is your husband completely out of his mind, Victoria?” “Contact every global media outlet? Does he think he’s the UN Secretary-General?” The surrounding guests erupted in a chorus of piercing laughter. They stared at me with eyes full of scorn, as if I were nothing more than a pathetic joke. Victoria’s face stiffened, clearly embarrassed that I was making a scene and humiliating her in front of everyone. She spoke coldly to Brandon. “Brandon, make him sober up. He needs to stop talking nonsense.” “You got it, Victoria!” Brandon excitedly pressed a red button on the control panel. The ride’s seat jerked violently, hurling me back into the sky at high speed. The zero-G sensation made my stomach churn, the mix of champagne and that detox drink from earlier making me gag. “Aah—!” My scream was swallowed by the wind. Then, the seat plummeted down even faster, slamming into the pool water with a bone-jarring impact. Massive splashes erupted, and the chlorine-scented water instantly enveloped me, making me cough violently. I was tightly strapped to the chair, unable to move, subjected to being repeatedly tossed up and down. Every plunge and ascent was a suffocating torment. I stared intently at Victoria on the shore, the woman I had loved for five years. Five years ago, my family’s company faced a crisis. My father, to protect me, publicly announced our family’s decline and sent me abroad. Overseas, I met Victoria, who was still a struggling student. I hid my identity, ate cheap takeout with her, lived in the shabbiest apartments, and backed her entrepreneurial dreams. I genuinely believed we shared a true love, enduring hardships together. When she returned home to start her company, I followed, willing to be the man behind her success. To avoid burdening her, I never mentioned my family background, not even calling my parents often. She used to hold me, crying like a child, “Julian, I swear, I’ll never let you suffer, not ever.” Her promises still echoed in my ears, yet now, she was the one personally sending me straight to hell. On the shore, Brandon pulled out his phone, frantically filming my pathetic state. “Everyone look! A drowned rat! Ha ha ha, he looks absolutely pathetic from this angle!” “Victoria, look at Julian’s face, it’s hilarious!” Victoria didn’t stop him. Instead, she handed Genevieve a bottle of champagne, a fawning smile on her face. “Genny, are you enjoying the show? My husband will do anything you want, as long as you’re pleased.” Genevieve swirled her glass with satisfaction, her eyes raking my drenched body with a light, teasing gaze. “Not bad, this is quite entertaining.” “Victoria, if you can make your husband kneel and beg me today, I’ll have my father consider investing in your project.” Victoria’s eyes instantly lit up. “No problem! Just watch, Genny!” She turned, yelling at me as I struggled in the water, her voice cold and commanding: “Julian Hayes! Do you hear me?! Hurry up and beg Genny! Kneel before her!” The icy pool water and the biting wind were nothing compared to the chill her words sent through me. I looked at her and suddenly laughed. “Victoria Caldwell, you will regret this.” “I promise you, you will pay a price worse than death for everything you’ve done today!”

My words seemed to sting Victoria’s pride. “Regret? Julian, I think you’re the one who’ll regret this!” She pointed at me, her voice dripping with disdain. “Do you think you’re still the same young master Hayes from five years ago? Your family went bankrupt long ago!” “Now, you’re just a gold-digger who relies on me to survive!” “I give you food and clothes; making you kneel is me showing you respect!” Brandon immediately chimed in, “Exactly! Julian, don’t be ungrateful!” “Victoria is the CEO of Caldwell Tech now; countless men are lining up to marry her!” “If it weren’t for her sentimental attachment, you wouldn’t even be fit to tie her shoes!” The surrounding guests also began to whisper. “Oh, so his family went broke. No wonder he’s so pathetic.” “I thought Victoria married some rich husband. Turns out he’s just dead weight.” “Serves him right, no ability and still so arrogant. He’s just asking for humiliation!” Every harsh word pierced me like a knife. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and forced myself to calm down. There was no point in arguing with people who were already dead. Memories flooded my mind. That winter, Victoria’s company suffered a cash flow crisis, hitting dead ends everywhere. She got drunk and collapsed in the snow. It was I who carried her home from the snow, used the living expenses I secretly earned from part-time jobs to pay her rent, and bought her warm food. She used to hold me, crying like a child, “Julian, I swear, I’ll never let you suffer, not ever.” How laughable those vows seemed now. Today, for a mere investment, she treated me like a toy, humiliating me at will. The drop tower ride continued, and my strength gradually faded. My consciousness began to blur. Each impact with the water made my head ache as if it would split open. My phone had slipped out of my pocket during my struggles and sank to the bottom of the pool. It didn’t matter. Alfred had already received the message. “Victoria, he looks like he’s about to pass out.” Brandon, seeing my unresponsive state, started to get scared. “What are you afraid of?” Victoria scoffed. “Men like him are stubborn. If we don’t teach him a lesson, he’ll never know his place!” She turned to Genevieve with a sycophantic smile. “Genny, how about we try something more exciting?” Genevieve’s interest was piqued. “Oh? Do tell.” Victoria pointed to a water slide not far away. “Let him slide down that tallest slide without a life vest.” “How’s that? Exciting enough?” My gaze instinctively darted to the slide she indicated, and a sudden shock gripped my heart. That slide was a thousand feet high, a newly installed attraction that hadn’t officially opened because it hadn’t passed safety tests. Genevieve clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, that’s brilliant! Brilliant! I love watching handsome men get wet!” Brandon shrieked, “Victoria, you’re a genius!” With that, I was unstrapped from the drop tower and carried to the top of the highest slide. Looking at the nearly 90-degree slope, fear constantly gnawed at me. Victoria didn’t know I had a fear of heights. Sliding down from here would almost certainly kill me. She walked up and personally held the rope that bound me. I looked at her with pleading eyes. “Victoria, please, don’t let go of me.” But she simply gave me a look of disgust, then released her grip without hesitation. I slid down the chute. Since I had no protective gear, I was thrown off the slide halfway down, flying through the air. I tumbled through the air, my screams echoing, and plunged straight into the pool, creating a massive splash. This time, I felt like my internal organs had been shattered into pieces.

From the shore, Brandon’s triumphant laughter echoed. He held up his phone, recording the entire process. “Victoria, look! Julian’s expression is priceless!” Genevieve smirked playfully. “Your husband is quite entertaining, Victoria. All talk and bravado, but his body is so honest, performing acrobatics for us. I wonder if he’s as much fun in bed?” The vulgar remarks drew a round of knowing laughter from the surrounding guests. Victoria’s face showed no trace of anger. “Genny, don’t mind him.” “He’s just an immature man. I apologize on his behalf.” “As long as you’re happy today, the project…” “The project is negotiable.” Genevieve cut her off. “But this isn’t fun enough. To make me happy, it’s simple…” “Just make him drink all the water in this pool, as an apology to me.” Victoria froze for a moment. Genevieve pointed at the pool, a malicious smile on her face. “Drink one cup, and I’ll have my father invest ten thousand dollars in your company!” At these words, the entire crowd gasped, then burst into even louder laughter. Victoria’s eyes widened with wild joy. “Genny, are you serious?” “Of course. My word is my bond.” “Great!” Victoria immediately agreed, as if afraid she might change her mind. She turned to me, still struggling in the water, and yelled with an undeniable command: “Julian Hayes! Do you hear me?! Quick! Drink all the water in this pool to apologize to Genny!” Hearing her words, I felt as if I were suffocating, forgetting even to struggle. “Victoria, he doesn’t seem to be cooperating,” Brandon instigated from the side. “This won’t do; it’ll delay Genny’s show.” Victoria instantly erupted in fury, jumping into the pool and pulling me out. She gestured to two of her henchmen to hold me up, completely disregarding my weakened state. “Julian Hayes! Are you deaf?! I told you to drink!” She roared, grabbing a highball glass, scooping up some pool water, and forcing it toward my mouth. “It’s just a few cups of water, it won’t hurt you. One cup is worth ten grand, such a good deal, why are you refusing?!” “Today, you *will* drink all the water in this pool!” I looked at her exasperated face and let out a cold laugh. That only made her angrier. “What are you laughing at? You eat my food, live in my house; what’s wrong with you sacrificing a little?!” “Still dreaming of your days as a young master? Let me tell you, I’m not supporting you for free. You *will* pay for this today!” She scooped another cup, ready to force it down my throat. Just then, the amusement park manager, accompanied by several security guards, rushed over, drenched in sweat. “Mr. Hayes! Ms. Stone! What are you doing?! Stop it! Someone’s going to get killed!” The manager’s face was ashen. Victoria impatiently waved her hand. “What’s the panic? I’m just playing a game with my husband! I’ll take responsibility if anything happens!” The manager looked like he was about to cry. “Mr. Hayes, this is not a game!” “We received a notification from above, saying… saying that a distinguished guest from the Hayes Group is here with you.” “They told us to ensure his safety at all costs!” “Hayes Group?” Victoria froze for a moment, then scoffed. “You’re mistaken! There’s no distinguished guest from the Hayes Group here!” Genevieve also looked disdainful. “Hayes Group? The number one venture capital firm in the world?” “Their distinguished guest would come to a place like this? Don’t be ridiculous!” The manager, sweating profusely, pointed at me, half-conscious and half-asleep, his voice trembling: “No mistake! The person from above, he is… he is your husband!” In an instant, everyone’s smiles froze. “No, that’s impossible!” Victoria muttered to herself. “His… his family didn’t go bankrupt, did they?!”

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