Category: English

The plane plummeted rapidly. Amber Rose, Caleb Anderson’s first love, had a heart attack from the shock. I stopped Caleb from unbuckling his seatbelt and snatched the medicine from his hand to throw to her. But she still ended up being the only fatality in this plane malfunction. Afterwards, engagement, marriage, pregnancy – everything fell into place smoothly. Until I had complications during childbirth and was struggling for my life on the operating table. Caleb, now Chief of Surgery, watched me slowly lose consciousness with an expressionless face. “Olivia Parker, now you know how terrifying it is for a patient when someone stands by and does nothing?” It turns out he had hated me all along. I opened my eyes, reborn. This time, I let Caleb unbuckle his seatbelt. “Go on, fulfill your duty to save lives!” The plane was plummeting rapidly. Screams and cries erupted throughout the cabin. Except for Caleb, no one noticed Amber clutching her chest and quietly begging for help. The cabin announcement was playing: “The plane is experiencing technical difficulties. Please fasten your seatbelts…” Caleb raised his hand to unbuckle his seatbelt. He was ready to sacrifice his life without hesitation. If I hadn’t accidentally discovered a photo of Caleb and Amber kissing before I died in my past life, I probably would have thought Caleb was just acting on his professional ethics as a doctor. But in reality, he just couldn’t bear to let his first love die here. At that moment, the plane was shaking violently. People who weren’t wearing seatbelts were even thrown high into the air before crashing back down, their heads bleeding. Worried he would get hurt, I desperately tried to stop him from unbuckling his seatbelt and threw the heart medication in his hand to Amber. I said, “Caleb, you need to ensure your own safety before you can save others!” In the end, the plane malfunction resulted in 1 death, 5 severe injuries, and 8 minor injuries. Amber died. The night the news came out, Caleb proposed to me. He said we had been through life and death together, hand in hand. I was so touched that I burst into tears. But when I confronted him with the photo of him and Amber, he angrily pushed me, pregnant, down the stairs. All the deep affection vanished in an instant. Only intense, bone-deep hatred remained. “Olivia Parker, you’re a doctor too!” “Have you never had nightmares all these years about watching a patient die right in front of you?” I was rushed to the hospital with severe bleeding. As I lay on the operating table desperately struggling, the doctors were slow to arrive. Only Caleb, now Chief of Surgery, entered the room. He watched me slowly lose consciousness with an expressionless face. “Olivia Parker, now you know how terrifying it is for a patient when someone stands by and does nothing?” “You selfish woman, you’ve finally experienced Amber’s pain.” “How wonderful.” After ten years of marriage, there was not a trace of pain or pity in his eyes. His venomous gaze pierced me like a sharp blade, wounding me all over. Living this life again, I stepped aside to let Caleb go save Amber. He said with disgust, “Olivia Parker, thankfully you didn’t stop me this time, otherwise—” My heart skipped a beat. Had Caleb… been reborn too?

Amber was extremely lucky this time. After taking the medicine and receiving CPR from Caleb, she slowly regained consciousness. But Caleb’s luck wasn’t so good. Without his seatbelt on, he was thrown high into the air by the violently shaking plane and hit his head, immediately losing consciousness. He had multiple fractures all over his body as well. Especially his hands. He became one of the severely injured. After three days in the ICU, Caleb was moved to a regular ward. The doctor said he was in a deep coma and if he didn’t wake up within seven days, he would become a vegetative patient. Mrs. Anderson wailed and screamed at the hospital, blaming me for not taking good care of her boyfriend. She lunged at me and grabbed my clothes: “This is a disaster! He’s my only son, I raised him with such difficulty!” “Olivia Parker! If anything happens to Caleb, you’ll have to pay with your life!” I couldn’t help but laugh coldly. Caleb’s father had passed away early, leaving his mother to raise him alone. But Caleb was very successful, a top student since childhood. He later went straight to graduate school and got his PhD, sailing smoothly through life. Mrs. Anderson always thought her son was heaven’s chosen one, and no one was good enough for him, including me. Even though my mother was the hospital director and my father was a big shot in the medical field, even though Caleb became Chief of Surgery within just a few years of graduating thanks to my family’s influence, Mrs. Anderson still thought I wasn’t good enough for her precious son. A crowd had gathered around us, with many people taking out their phones to record. Not far away, the door to the ward was pushed open by a woman wearing a mask and covered from head to toe. I recognized that figure even in my dreams. I grabbed Mrs. Anderson’s hand and pointed at Amber. “Mrs. Anderson, if you’re looking for someone to blame, it shouldn’t be me.” “That woman over there is Caleb’s precious darling. He unbuckled his seatbelt to save her, and now he’s in a coma!” Amber’s movements froze. When she heard this, she turned to run. Mrs. Anderson rushed over and slapped her hard across the face. The mask and hat were all violently torn off, exposing Amber’s face to the cameras. “Amber Rose, it’s you!” Mrs. Anderson scratched Amber’s face: “If my son doesn’t wake up, I’ll kill you!” “Are you crazy?!” Amber let out a shrill scream. The angelic face was filled with impatience and anger. “I didn’t beg your son to save me. He chose to be a simp and rushed over recklessly when he saw I was uncomfortable!” “It has nothing to do with me?!” “I even came to see him out of kindness. With your attitude, forget it!” Amber fled in a panic. Mrs. Anderson collapsed to the ground, her face full of resentment.

Mrs. Anderson followed me into the ward: “Anyway, I don’t care. You all share responsibility. If Caleb doesn’t wake up, you’ll all have to take care of him and me…” I rolled my eyes and glanced at Caleb’s condition on the hospital bed. Still no improvement. His face was bruised and swollen, almost unrecognizable. I wonder how he would feel if he knew that Amber, whom he had tried so hard to protect, had actually said such things. Unfortunately, he was in a coma now and couldn’t know anything. I clicked my tongue in regret, about to turn and leave, when suddenly I saw a thin, transparent human form sit up from the bed. I was so startled that I stumbled backwards, stepping on Mrs. Anderson’s foot. “What the hell, why are you stepping on me?” Mrs. Anderson angrily shoved me, her hand passing through Caleb’s soul. She couldn’t see him. I didn’t dare look directly either, only daring to observe the soul’s state from the corner of my eye. I saw Caleb first shocked, then panicked, and finally, he ran in front of me and waved his hand. “Olivia Parker, can you see me?” I could even hear him speak. Could it be because I had been reborn? I pretended not to see or hear him. Caleb sat back down by the bed with a disappointed look, muttering to himself. “Where’s Amber? I wonder how Amber is doing.” “This time, did I manage to protect her?” “Why hasn’t she come to see me?”

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During Memorial Day weekend, Lucas suggested our family take a road trip to Yellowstone National Park. I said it was too dangerous to go to such a remote area without a professional guide, and we should go somewhere else. Mom thought I was ruining Lucas’s excitement. She slapped me across the face and told me to go if I wanted, or get lost if I didn’t. In the end, our family still hit the road. That night, we encountered someone blocking our car. I warned Dad not to open the door, but he called me selfish and forced me to open it. Outside was a bear-man, and it immediately clamped its jaws on my arm. Instead of saving me, Mom pushed me out with all her might. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Lucas suggested going to the wilderness. I warned them again, but Mom still told me to get lost. Alright, that’s exactly what I was waiting for. “Wash my clothes and iron them properly when they’re dry,” Lucas said as he walked past me, kicking my basin with his foot. Water splashed onto my feet, making me shiver from the cold. That’s when I truly felt that I had been reborn. Lucas walked into the living room where Mom and Dad were sitting on the couch watching TV. He plopped down casually and suggested, “Dad, let’s drive to Yellowstone for Memorial Day. My classmate went during spring break and said it was amazing.” “We already promised Grandma we’d visit her in the countryside this year,” Dad said with a troubled expression. “What’s fun about the countryside? Come on, Dad. We just got a new car, and we’ve never taken a road trip before,” Lucas whined to Dad. I watched this scene, feeling a bit dazed. It was the same in my previous life. Lucas pestered Dad about going to Yellowstone because his deskmate had gone during spring break and bragged about it every day. As Dad was hesitating, Mom came out of the bedroom. She had a face mask on and frowned when she saw I hadn’t finished washing the clothes. “Aria, you’ve been washing these two pieces of clothing all morning. When are you planning to do the dishes?” Hearing this, I quickly sped up, hung up the clothes after washing them, and then went to the kitchen. Mom thought doing housework would ruin her hands, so she never did any. Dad was afraid of trouble and good at using technology. So we had a dishwasher and a washing machine, but as long as I was home, I wasn’t allowed to use them. When I finished washing the dishes and came out, Mom and Dad had already agreed to the plan of driving to Yellowstone. Lucas was excitedly browsing items to buy on his phone. Seeing this, I asked, “Where are we going for Memorial Day?” Mom said, “Yellowstone. You’re lucky. If it weren’t for Lucas, you wouldn’t get to go to such a nice place.” I kindly reminded them, “I read online that it’s best to avoid such remote areas. Even experienced explorers can get into trouble.” Lucas immediately became unhappy. “Mom, look at her. She’s always ruining the mood.” Sure enough, just like in my previous life, Mom raised her hand and slapped me. “You think you’re so smart? Go if you want, if not, then get lost.” My face stung from the slap. I held my cheek and thought for a few seconds. Then I started to act crazy. I swept everything off the coffee table with one hand, sending glass cups crashing to the floor. “I’ve had enough! You tell me to go, but I won’t!” I had always been the obedient punching bag at home, so this outburst startled all three of them. Taking advantage of their shock, I ran back to my room to grab my backpack and headed for the door. As I reached it, Mom finally reacted, her voice loud. “Aria, if you have the guts to leave, don’t come back!” I didn’t look back, slamming the door shut with a thunderous bang. Once outside, I couldn’t help but smile. After this scene, even if I wanted to go, Mom and Dad probably wouldn’t let me anymore.

Luckily, our high school required students to live on campus. It was Sunday, the day to return to school. I stayed out until 5 PM before going back. Lucas and I went to the same school. During evening study hall, I went to find him to ask for this week’s allowance. When I got to his classroom, Lucas was bragging to his classmates about going to Yellowstone for Memorial Day. “My parents have already bought everything. I’ll take photos for you guys. This time I’m going further than Tim.” Tim was Lucas’s deskmate, who supposedly went to Yellowstone this month. Hearing this, Tim said, “You can’t go further than me. My dad said we reached the boundary. Going any further would be dangerous.” Lucas raised his chin arrogantly, “That’s because your dad’s not capable. My dad used to be in the army. He can kill a wolf with his bare hands.” I remembered from my previous life that we drove to a place in Yellowstone where there was a sign warning that going further would be very dangerous. Dad was hesitant and didn’t want to continue. But Lucas wasn’t happy and said his classmate had gone that far, so he had to go further. So Mom pressured Dad to keep driving. Dad drove for a while but then couldn’t find the way back. We had entered in the afternoon, but by nightfall, we still didn’t know how to get back to the main road. That’s when we saw someone waving at our car. Dad, who had been looking for a way out all afternoon, felt hopeful and stopped in front of the person. The person started knocking on our windows. Mom and I were sitting in the back, and Dad said to me, “This must be a local. Aria, open the door for the man. We can give him a ride and he can show us the way out.” I remembered reading in a book that if you encounter someone waving in a remote area, you should never stop. Because in this situation, there are only two possibilities. One is that it’s a real person, but in a place with nothing around, a real person you encounter is either a robber or a fugitive. The other possibility is that it’s a bear-man, which are very clever and can mimic human actions. The person outside kept knocking on the window but didn’t speak. I felt the second possibility was more likely. I told Dad about this and said, “Let’s just drive away.” Usually, whatever I said, Lucas would argue against it. This time was no exception. Lucas said, “Aria, do you have some kind of paranoia? There aren’t that many bad people in the world.” Mom poked my head with her fingernail, “You think you’re so smart after reading a few books? You think you have better judgment than us two adults?” Dad also frowned in the front seat, “Just open the door when I tell you to. Why so much nonsense? Open it quickly.” I didn’t want to. Mom reached over me, cursing as she opened the door herself. The moment the door opened, a furry big head thrust in. My arm suddenly hurt terribly as it effortlessly dragged me out. Up close, I saw it was indeed a bear-man. “Dad, Mom, save me!” The bear had my arm clamped tightly in its jaws. The pain made my whole body tremble, but I still struggled desperately. But how could human strength resist a bear? Amidst my screams, Mom quickly closed the door. The bear threw me straight up into the air, and I fell vertically to the ground. I felt like all my bones were shattered and my nerves severed. The bear bit open my stomach with one bite. Mom and Dad drove away.

Thinking of this, I felt as if I could still feel the bear-man tearing at my flesh. My legs trembled slightly. Until someone tapped me on the shoulder, I was finally freed from the terror. Looking up, I met Lucas’s sullen face. “What do you want?” I held out my hand, “Give me this week’s allowance.” Lucas and I were only a year apart, but we were well-known throughout the school. I was in the top ten of my grade, while Lucas was dead last in his. Every pair of Lucas’s shoes cost over a thousand dollars, and all his clothes under the school uniform were designer brands. Meanwhile, I wore the same pair of shoes all year round and only had four outfits to rotate. At first, Mom and Dad said they’d give us each fifty dollars a week for living expenses. But fifty dollars wasn’t enough to live on at our school, so I skipped dinner every day, ate just an egg and a glass of milk for breakfast, and two steamed buns with some chili sauce for lunch. Lucas lived much better than me, ordering stir-fry dishes in the cafeteria every day. When I saw this and asked Mom about it, she scolded me, “You don’t focus on your studies, always comparing yourself to your brother. How could I possibly give him money?” I asked her, “Then why does Lucas eat stir-fry dishes in the cafeteria every day?” “His friends must be treating him,” Mom sneered. “Your brother has many friends, unlike you who doesn’t have a single one.” I felt so wronged at the time. Was it that I didn’t want to make friends? It was that I had no time to make friends. Whether it was holidays or weekends, I always had endless housework to do. I barely had time to do my homework. Later I found out that Mom really hadn’t given Lucas extra money. She had just pre-loaded five thousand dollars onto his meal card, and would reload it whenever it ran out. Lucas said, “Mom and Dad didn’t give you any.” I asked, “Then what am I supposed to eat?” Lucas sneered, “How should I know? That’s what you get for talking back to Mom!” I knew it would be like this. It was the same before. Whenever I did something that made Mom unhappy, she would directly cut off my living expenses. Sometimes she even threatened not to let me go to school. I always thought Mom wouldn’t be so heartless and always held onto a glimmer of hope for her. So every time I would compromise and do whatever she told me to do. But what did I get in return? She pushed me out of the car without hesitation and didn’t even look back as they drove away. After I died, Mom stared out the car window for a long time. But she said to Dad, “It’s good that she’s dead. Now no one will say our Lucas isn’t as good as his sister.” That’s when I realized my family had no feelings for me. Whether I ranked first or was obedient, Mom only cared about Lucas. Seeing Lucas’s smug expression, I felt a bit disgusted but still asked him for money, “If they won’t give it to me, you give it to me.” Lucas’s face changed immediately, “Why should I?” “If you don’t give it to me, I’ll tell Mom about you chasing that girl in your class.” Lucas had been pursuing a girl in his class, and everyone knew about it. But the girl wasn’t blind and wasn’t interested in a mama’s boy like him. After my experience in my previous life, I realized that Mom wasn’t just favoring her son over her daughter – she hated all females. She didn’t just dislike me; she disliked all girls who appeared around Lucas. Once before, when another girl was pursuing Lucas and the family found out about it, Mom went to the school and hit that girl, calling her nasty names to her face. When Lucas heard this, he immediately became anxious. He grabbed my collar and raised his fist at me, “Aria, who gave you permission to talk to me like that? Say it again and I’ll beat you to death!” I looked at him fearlessly, “You’re already threatening to beat me to death, so I might as well tell. Besides, Mom calls me every day to ask about you anyway.” Lucas’s expression changed, and he finally let go of me, blurting out a curse. In the end, he took out fifty dollars from his pocket and threw it on the ground. I said coldly, “I want a hundred.” Lucas cursed at me under his breath and took out another fifty. He pointed at my face and warned, “Don’t you dare say a word more.” Although I had a hundred dollars now, I still didn’t dare spend it carelessly. But life was a bit better than before. At least I dared to order a plate of potato strips for lunch. I remembered that in my previous life, school continued until the Monday of the following week, and we started the holiday on the 30th. When Mom and Dad found out about this, they specially took two days off in advance and picked us up from school on the afternoon of the 29th to drive straight to Wyoming. This week, Mom hadn’t called me to ask about her son’s situation. I thought that no matter what, she wouldn’t take me along. But on the afternoon of the 29th, the teacher called me over and said my parents were waiting for me at the gate. I reluctantly and slowly went out of the school gate. This time, Mom was sitting in the front passenger seat, and Lucas was in the back. “Aria, what are you dawdling for? Get in the car quickly. We’ll hit traffic soon,” Dad shouted at me. I opened the car door and got in, “Didn’t you say you weren’t taking me?” Dad said, “We’re a family. We should do everything together.” But Mom sneered beside him, “You treat her like family, but does she treat you like family?” I expressed my thoughts again, “I don’t want to go.” Mom got annoyed and bared her teeth at me, “Don’t push your luck. Go when I tell you to go. Say another word and I’ll hit you.” When Mom said she would hit someone, she really would. I once had three ribs broken by her. So every time she bared her teeth, my whole heart would tremble. I didn’t dare say anything more. Lucas let out a nasty laugh beside me. The car quickly left the school, getting further and further away as we looked back. We were about to get on the highway. I thought and thought, and finally came up with an idea. “Ouch, ouch!” I clutched my stomach and started yelling, “Ah! My stomach hurts!”

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For years, our relationship was a secret. Finn Foster was a dazzling superstar, while I was his invisible little assistant. I accompanied him from obscurity to nationwide fame, and now he was embarking on a global tour. I arrived in the foreign country a day early to arrange everything for him. But upon landing, he received news of an earthquake. Fearing I might take the last available seat, Finn left without a word. He stole the car I had reserved and successfully rebooked a flight to escape, all without saying a single word. As the earthquake approached, I desperately messaged Finn, demanding to know why he had cut off my escape route. But my messages sank like stones in the sea. Taken advantage of by traffickers in the chaos, they stuffed me into a dumpster where I suffocated to death, harvesting all my useful organs. Just before I died, the screen of a nearby phone lit up with the latest message. “I’m home safe. Hope you’re okay.” 0 I died. On Finn Foster’s 27th birthday. A long, agonizing pain enveloped me, every minute and second before death was torture. An unfamiliar street corner in a foreign land. A dark, cramped dumpster. Rotting, foul-smelling garbage. And my corpse. My body had been hollowed out. Hollowed out in the physical sense. They had dug out my kidneys, liver, corneas… Yet left behind a gray heart. I thought, if a heart could truly stop beating from heartbreak, My time of death would have been two and a half hours earlier. The moment Finn abandoned me alone at the epicenter and left by himself. He really did keep that promise. “Zoe Lin, after I turn 27.” “I won’t care whether you live or die.” I withdrew my thoughts and floated towards the sky. After the earthquake, the world looked devastated. People came and went, not noticing this stinking dumpster. They would even cover their noses and walk away with frowns. This was fine too, no one would see me. That sight would scare them. Not far away were some friendly Asian faces, I floated towards them. Several girls huddled together in a corner, holding handfuls of photo cards. The white lightsticks in their hands emitted a dim glow, like scattered stars. They were Finn’s fans. At this moment, the girls’ faces were streaked with tears, their beautiful makeup ruined. I saw a wandering soul floating above them, a woman in her 40s. She hovered anxiously around their heads. She looked at one of the girls, muttering incessantly. “Sweetie, why didn’t you listen to mommy?” My heart ached a little. “Finn, you’ve let everyone down.” 0

At 3 AM, my body was discovered. The finder was a middle-aged foreign woman. She seemed too hungry and couldn’t help but come to the dumpster to find food. I’m really sorry, there’s no food here, and I scared her. She collapsed on the filthy ground and screamed. The dumpster lid was opened, the phone screen still lit. The screen was frozen on the chat with Finn. “You stole the car I reserved?” “Why?” “You knew about the earthquake beforehand, didn’t you?” “Finn, if you do this, I’ll die.” There was a two-hour blank in between, the timeline of my dried tears. In the last second before my heart stopped, I saw his reply. “I’m home safe. Hope you’re okay.” Seeing that cold message again still hurts. Oh, that’s right. I don’t have a heart anymore. The middle-aged woman shakily got up and took my phone. Then, she disappeared into the alley. I felt a bit sad, but comforted myself. If my phone could help her, that’s not bad. Only, Finn would never be able to contact me again. I think, if he knew, I wonder how happy he’d be. I stared blankly at my own corpse in the dumpster. If Finn doesn’t come, no one will claim me. 0

I floated towards home. In the suburban villa, Finn was writing a song on the couch. His expression was indifferent. Just like the photo on the TV cabinet. That was our only photo together. He wrote songs, washed up, and went to bed as usual. Until the next day, he still had no intention of contacting me. Seeing no breakfast in the kitchen. He frowned. I always used to get up early to make porridge for him. He irritably ruffled his hair, opened a food delivery app, glanced at it for a few seconds, then casually tossed his phone aside. There was a noise at the entrance, it was Sophia Baker, a popular young actress. She was also Finn’s dream girl. “Finn, I made you some porridge.” Sophia wore a pure white dress, her smile innocent and lovely. Finn finally showed a rare smile. “Isn’t Zoe here?” “Is she throwing another tantrum and not coming back?” Hearing this, Finn’s expression darkened. “Why mention her?” “It’d be better if she died out there.” My nose stung. Even though I was dead. Hearing these words, I still wanted to cry. “Finn, your wish came true.” “I really did die out there.”

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Amidst a room full of distinguished guests, my fiancé snatched away my bridal bouquet. He then dropped to one knee, proposing to my sister, who accepted with tears of joy. The wedding suddenly had a new bride, and I became the laughingstock of everyone’s gossip. But then, Lucas Reed, Hong Kong’s golden boy, stepped in with a marriage contract, boldly proposing to me. After our wedding, Lucas showered me with affection, and I once again opened my heart. On the night of my birthday party, I pretended to be drunk and fell asleep in Lucas’s arms. As people discussed how much one could truly love another, I heard him say, “I married the sister my true love despises the most, just to clear the path for her.” Every word fell like thunder in my ears. Nestled closest to his heart, I listened as he professed his love for my sister. I felt my blood run cold, as if plunged into an icy abyss. The room fell silent for a moment before erupting into a chorus of cheers. “As expected of the golden boy! Willing to share a bed with someone he doesn’t love for the sake of his true love.” “Mr. Reed is such a romantic, silently loving Chloe for so many years, even sacrificing his own marriage.” Lucas’s voice was low but tender: “As long as Chloe can be happy, I’m willing to do anything.” His friend teased, “I heard Chloe and Samuel are getting divorced. Doesn’t that mean you can rekindle your romance soon? When are you planning to come clean about your current situation?” Lucas paused before replying coolly, “Olivia can’t live without me. We’ll deal with this slowly.” “Don’t any of you mention this in front of her. I don’t want to see her make a fuss.” Everyone agreed, not daring to upset the golden boy. Someone, emboldened by alcohol, joked, “But Mr. Reed isn’t losing out either. A movie star must be quite the treat in bed.” Lucas chuckled, his fingers absently caressing my earlobe: “Indeed, she is.” I clenched my jaw, holding back tears. I had thought Lucas was my salvation from a bottomless pit. Little did I know, he was the knife cutting the rope. Seven years of marriage had become a joke. Be it Samuel or Lucas, they all loved Chloe. No one loved me.

As the party ended, Lucas personally carried me to the car. He quietly instructed the driver, “My wife is asleep, drive carefully.” Still attentive and considerate, he even lowered his head to nuzzle me gently, his breath warm against my ear. Half-lying in his arms, memories flashed through my mind like a slideshow. Years ago, Samuel Shaw, my childhood sweetheart, suddenly backed out of our wedding. Overnight, I became the laughingstock of all of Hong Kong. That’s when Lucas appeared with a marriage contract. He said he had just inherited his company and needed a stable, suitable marriage to help him establish his position in the group. At that time, disillusioned with love, I didn’t hesitate to agree to this arranged marriage. He gave me a grand wedding that stunned all of Hong Kong, with fireworks lighting up Victoria Harbor all night long. Originally determined to lock away my heart forever, I gradually softened to his unwavering devotion over seven years, opening my heart to him. Now I realized, what I thought was a jar full of honey was actually filled with poison. Immersing myself in it would have been fatal. “Honey,” I murmured, feigning just waking up. Lucas immediately adjusted me to the most comfortable position, letting me lean on his shoulder. “Baby, you drank so much. Are you feeling unwell? I’ll make you some hangover soup when we get home.” I clung to his arm, whining softly, “I was just happy today.” My voice was as sweet as ever. It was all an act, after all. If an amateur like him could keep it up for seven years, how could I, a professional actress, not manage? Lucas was clearly pleased, kissing my forehead lightly. “I have a new project coming up, so I might not be able to visit you on set often. Take care of yourself while filming.” “I’ll arrange for meals to be sent to the set regularly, and have your assistant make sure you eat everything… If you don’t behave… I’ll have to punish you…” Lucas’s suggestive hand lightly pinched my waist. I suppressed the urge to vomit and twisted away. “Stop it, that tickles…”

Late at night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I thought of the hidden safe in Lucas’s study, which I had never opened before. This time, it took me only a second to open it. Because I finally knew the password was Chloe’s birthday. Inside, contrary to my expectations, there weren’t any mementos of Lucas and Chloe. There was only one company seal. The company name on it struck me like lightning. It was a company I had no connection with, but its name was very familiar to me. Because all the movies, TV shows, and commercial projects Chloe had been involved in over the years were heavily invested in by this company. I had always been puzzled. Why did Chloe, whose acting skills were constantly criticized, have even better resources than me, a wealthy socialite? The mystery was finally solved at this moment. It was Lucas, always paving the way for her. Once, a famous director personally invited me to be the lead actress in his latest film. The script and creative team were all to my satisfaction. To prepare for this role, I cleared half a year in my schedule, worked out to build muscle, and endured a lot of hardship. I had expressed to Lucas more than once how important this project was to me. But he said, “Baby, why work so hard? Isn’t it better to stay at home and be Mrs. Reed?” However, before the film started shooting, the director, willing to pay me a hefty breach of contract fee, replaced me with Chloe as the female lead. It was this company with the mysterious legal representative that tripled the investment, snatching the role away from me for Chloe. I put the seal back in its original position and closed the safe. In the dark and silent room, my eyes were misty with tears. My phone chimed with a notification, the suddenly lit screen particularly glaring in the darkness. “Miss White, have you really thought this through?” “Yes.” It was time to exit their love triangle game.

The next morning, the company’s car came to pick me up for the set. Lucas personally saw me off, kissing the corner of my lips before I left. “Baby, take care and don’t work too hard.” I voluntarily reported my schedule for the day: “We’re shooting an explosion scene today.” Lucas paused: “Wasn’t that scheduled for next week?” “It was changed last minute. We’re changing locations in a couple of days, so this saves us from having to set up the scene again.” He hugged me again, completely oblivious to my probing: “Make sure all safety measures are in place. Be careful.” My heart sank. In the past, whenever I had to film dangerous scenes like explosions, car crashes, or wire work, Lucas would always make time to personally oversee the set. Time and again, he would check the safety measures himself to ensure my wellbeing. But now… With news of Chloe’s marital problems just out, he couldn’t even be bothered to pretend to care deeply anymore. If that’s how it is, I might as well step aside for these star-crossed lovers. During a break in filming, I spotted Lucas’s Rolls-Royce in the parking lot of the neighboring set. Remembering that Chloe was the lead actress for that production, I felt a sudden urge to see him one last time. This impulse drove me towards his car. However, only the driver and his assistant were in the car. Seeing me, they hurriedly got out, looking flustered. “Mrs. Reed, Mr. Reed went to the restroom…” But their eyes kept darting nervously towards Chloe’s trailer nearby. Understanding dawned on me. I walked up and knocked on the trailer door. It was Lucas who opened it. Behind him on the couch, Chloe’s hair was slightly disheveled, her buttons done up crookedly. Seeing me, Lucas panicked for a moment before quickly composing himself. “Olivia, I came to see you and happened to run into Chloe. We were just discussing some business.” I forced a smile: “Oh? What business do you have with my sister that you didn’t tell me about?” “Just some boring work stuff. You wouldn’t be interested,” Lucas brushed me off gently. I was about to speak when his assistant came running up with a work phone: “Mr. Reed, it’s an overseas call from our partners.” Lucas patted my head, coaxing me: “Wait for me a moment, I’ll be right back.” He took the phone and walked away. Chloe uncrossed her legs and sauntered over, looking smug: “Curious about what Lucas and I were discussing, aren’t you? Oh, Olivia, my dear little sister.” “His company is about to announce me as their new brand ambassador across all lines.” “Soon, the whole world will know that Mrs. Reed’s husband chose his wife’s rival as their spokesperson…” “Isn’t that like rubbing your face in the dirt?” “Olivia, just you wait. I’m going to take everything that belongs to you, one by one.” She flashed a bright, challenging smile. She lifted her hair, deliberately showing me the fresh kiss mark on her neck. Chloe and I are half-sisters, sharing the same father but different mothers. She was raised elsewhere until my mother passed away, and then our father brought her home. Once, I had hoped to have a good sisterly relationship with her, but she always hated me and refused to get close. “Olivia, I hate you. You and your mother stole my father, stole everything that should have been mine!” “Chloe, my mom married dad in an arranged marriage. She didn’t know he already had a pregnant girlfriend… My mom was a victim too!” “Shut up! If it weren’t for your mom, dad would have married my mother! You’d better remember, you’re not my sister!” Our father always felt he owed Chloe, and from childhood, he always told me to give in to her. Even when she publicly stole my groom at my wedding to Samuel, dad only scolded her briefly before directly changing the bride on the spot. I fell into self-doubt and even depression for a while. It was Lucas who pulled me out of that quagmire with his love and gentle care. Chloe repeatedly snatched away my resources. Lucas always advised me: “Just treat your acting career as a hobby. I’d rather you spend more time at home with me.” I felt incredibly sweet inside. Meanwhile, Chloe took on several roles I had originally been interested in, greatly increasing her national popularity. Thinking about it now, my rival in the entertainment industry wasn’t just Chloe. It was also my dear husband, who shared my bed but not my dreams. “Oh, by the way, Lucas came to give me a script. He’s investing in a new movie for me, hired the most famous director, the most luxurious creative team. We’re starting production soon.” She handed me the paper script from the table. The cover bore the title in large letters – “Redemption in the Clouds.” Flipping through a few pages, my heart began to tremble violently. On the computer at home, there was a script I had been polishing for seven whole years. It was adapted from my story with Lucas, recording the journey of our seven-year marriage, from strangers to lovers, every little detail. Now it had been handed over to Chloe as a gift from Lucas. I was about to question her when I saw Chloe flash a meaningful smile. Then she raised her hand and slapped herself hard twice on the face, messed up her own hair, and screamed loudly: “Ah—” “Olivia, what are you doing!” Lucas, who was about to step onto the trailer, rushed over at the sound. He looked panicked, not even glancing at me as he pushed me aside and rushed to Chloe, urgently asking: “Chloe, are you okay?” Chloe covered her face, her eyes brimming with tears, looking pitiful. “Lucas, I don’t know… I didn’t do anything, I just invited her in for tea, and she rushed over to hit me, calling me a slut…” Lucas looked up at me, his gaze cold and harsh in a way I had never seen before: “Olivia, I know you have hostility towards Chloe, but how could you hit her for no reason! Look at what you’ve done to her face, how is she supposed to film?” “There are paparazzi outside. If they catch wind of this, how do you plan to deal with it?” I stared straight at Lucas, my eyes red but without a single tear. I didn’t explain that I hadn’t hit Chloe. I only asked him: “Why did you give my script to Chloe?” Lucas’s eyes were cold: “What script? Didn’t I tell you not to be so utilitarian? It’s just a script, does it matter who films it? Didn’t we agree that you’d gradually step back from the entertainment industry and come home to be a wife and mother?” I turned away, my fists clenched so tightly that my nails nearly dug into my palms. All I felt was exhaustion and disappointment. Be a wife and mother? That would never happen now. Perhaps struck by the emptiness on my face, Lucas softened his tone: “Olivia, I’m sorry for losing my temper. I was just worried about the paparazzi twisting this story, which wouldn’t be good for you.” “After all, the fact that Chloe is your sister is already all over the news. You’re my wife, I don’t want people speaking ill of you.” He reached out to ruffle my hair, coaxing softly: “Go back to filming now. I’ll have lunch with you. Be good.” I nodded. Turning away, I let out a cold, mocking smile. Poor Lucas, having to juggle between two women.

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I had been with Lucas for eight years. Every Valentine’s Day, he would surprise Olivia with a special gift, trying to win her heart. In the eighth year, he finally succeeded. I tore up the wedding invitation he handed me and walked away. Later, when he burst into the office to confront me, I was just leaving with an ultrasound report in hand. He loosened his tie and smirked, “I haven’t touched you in two months! If you’re trying to compete for attention, at least come up with a better excuse.” I slammed the pregnancy test report on the table— Four weeks pregnant, coinciding with the night he was trying on wedding suits with Olivia. He stared at the date on the report, his Adam’s apple suddenly bobbing violently. It was our eighth Valentine’s Day together. As usual, I prepared dinner, waiting for Lucas to return after his failed attempt to win Olivia’s heart. This time was different. He didn’t come back. Because this time, he succeeded. On TV, my boyfriend was holding another woman in his arms, kissing her passionately in public. Gentle, restrained. A side of him I had never seen before. The image was so clear, I could even see his eyes reddening with emotion. In my freshman year, my father became addicted to gambling, losing not only our savings but also our only house. With no other choice, we had to move back to our hometown, and I was forced to transfer schools. One day, I was cornered in an alley by a group of girls. They surrounded me, raining punches and kicks on me while hurling insults like “slut” and “shameless.” I fought back like a trapped animal, but the more I resisted, the harder they hit. Just when I was feeling desperate, a voice suddenly came from the alley entrance: “I don’t hit girls. Don’t make me intervene.” He walked over, stood in front of me, and coldly told them: “Get lost.” That’s how Lucas entered my world, dazzling my entire youth. Snapping back to reality, I stiffly put down the soup bowl in my hand. I took out my phone and opened Instagram. The trending topics already included “Popular actress Olivia and Young CEO Lucas announce happy news!” Olivia had posted a response. 【I used to belong to everyone, now I belong to you. Please sign for the rest of our lives, no returns or exchanges! @Lucas】 With this post, the topic’s popularity skyrocketed. #LucasIndustriesOlivia# #PerfectMatch# Each hashtag mercilessly trampled on my self-esteem. In the comments section, countless people were celebrating. 【Can you share more sweet moments? We want to see your love!】 【I hereby declare today as the first day of my heartbreak!】 【You deserve the best love, we’ll always support you!】 I took a deep breath, my fingertips trembling as I closed the phone. Did I not care? How could I not? But I loved Lucas, loved him to the point of self-deprecation!

I tossed and turned in bed until dawn. When I went downstairs, I saw Lucas lying on the couch. His hair was a mess, his brows furrowed, probably feeling unwell. I ignored him and went straight to the kitchen to make breakfast for myself. Just as the water in the pot started to bubble, he suddenly pressed against my back, his alcohol-laden breath hot on my neck: “Headache. Make me some hangover soup.” I dodged his chin, “Go wait on the couch.” Instead, he tightened his grip on my waist: “Let me hold you for a while.” “You stink.” I struggled free, “You need a shower.” Lucas laughed and kissed the most sensitive spot behind my ear, “Wait for me.” While he went upstairs, I threw some ginger and brown sugar into the pot. As I stirred, my nose suddenly stung. For eight years, I thought I had warmed his heart. We ate together, went shopping like a normal couple, he remembered to give me birthday gifts, and even brought flowers on Valentine’s Day. Until I saw the live broadcast yesterday—him kneeling with a diamond ring, his hands shaking as he kissed Olivia. Only then did I realize that I was just a substitute all along. “Congratulations,” I put the hangover soup on the dining table. Lucas’s hand paused as he was drying his hair: “What do you mean?” “Congratulations on getting what you wanted.” He picked up the hangover soup, indifferently saying: “You saw the TV? Olivia’s been having some trouble lately, she needs a status to clear up misunderstandings.” I tried hard to control myself, not letting tears fall. “She needs status, but what about me?” Lucas’s voice was hoarse from the hangover, “Haven’t I been good to you all these years? Letting you live in the villa, giving you a credit card to use as you please…” “Lucas, am I just a kept woman in your eyes?” I angrily questioned, “Have I ever used your card?” Lucas was stunned. Before he could reply, I continued. “I buy groceries, cook, do your laundry, clean the house. Isn’t that more than enough to cover the rent?” He paused, the alcohol slowing his reaction: “You know that’s not what I meant. Olivia needs the title of Mrs. Shen to deal with the media, we…” “I don’t want to get involved in your affairs, but we need to clear things up between us. What exactly am I to you?” Lucas drank the hangover soup in one gulp, “What do you think?” “Not a couple! Not lovers!” My voice suddenly raised, “What exactly am I?” “Emmy.” Lucas stepped forward, taking my hand. “It’s just borrowing a status to deal with the media, you know the entertainment industry is complicated…” I pulled my hand away as if burned, “Did you ever consider my feelings?” “Emma. I told you, I’m just lending Olivia a status, we can still be together like before. You’re still my girlfriend.” “Lucas, do you think I’m a fool who’s easy to fool?” His pupils suddenly contracted, the bottom of the bowl hitting the marble countertop hard, “Don’t make a fuss. “When this is over, I promise…” His phone suddenly vibrated on the coffee table, Olivia’s selfie in a bathrobe flashing on the screen the moment it lit up. “Lucas…” A coquettish voice came from the phone, “My stomach hurts so bad…” As Lucas grabbed his suit jacket from the sofa, I suddenly remembered that snowy night three years ago. Before he fell unconscious from a perforated ulcer, he gripped my hand tightly and said: “Emmy, if I die, you’ll be the only beneficiary in my will.” But now his back as he rushed to the entrance, gradually overlapped with that blue figure being pushed into the operating room. “Emmy, Olivia’s pregnant, she needs my care more.” Lucas instructed me as he put on his shoes, “Wait for me to come back…”

The next morning, I had just sat down at my desk. Little Lin from the next table leaned over, lowering her voice mysteriously: “Emmy, did you see yesterday’s trending topics? Young CEO Lucas publicly acknowledged at the press conference that the baby in Olivia’s belly is his!” Before I could speak, Ms. Zhang snorted: “Hmph, who can be sure about things in the entertainment industry? One moment they say it’s movie star Jack’s, the next they say it’s Lucas’s. It’s all a mess.” “It must be Lucas’s!” Little Lin excitedly slapped the table. “Would someone of his status casually claim a child? Lucas has been pursuing Olivia for eight consecutive years, now he’s finally gotten his wish. If you ask me, this is true love!” Ms. Zhang raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile on her face: “If you ask me, this child could be anyone’s. I heard Olivia was working on a film with Jack recently, and they were very close on set…” “But Lucas publicly acknowledged it…” Little Lin argued unconvincingly. I listened to their discussion, feeling a mix of emotions. Olivia was indeed pregnant, but the child wasn’t Lucas’s. The baby’s father, movie star Jack, was a married man, and his wife’s family was powerful. He wouldn’t, and couldn’t, acknowledge this child. Olivia stubbornly wanted to keep the baby, but was afraid the rumors online would affect her career. Lucas… he was quite willing to be the “fall guy”. I didn’t want to hear anything more about Lucas, so I got up to get coffee. Behind me, I heard Ms. Zhang’s lowered voice: “Hey, have you noticed that every time we mention Lucas, Emmy’s expression seems off…” Just as I had a moment of peace, the manager notified me to go to the meeting room to receive clients. The moment I opened the door, I froze. “Emmy, long time no see.” The woman wore sunglasses and a baseball cap, dressed very discreetly. But I still recognized her at a glance. Olivia, the popular actress. Also the woman Lucas had been proposing to for eight years. Lucas handed water to Olivia, saying softly: “The temperature is just right, drink up.” My heart ached, as if pricked by a needle. The usually carefree Lucas had never been so attentive to me. It turns out he wasn’t incapable of being considerate, his gentleness just never belonged to me. Olivia smiled at me and said: “Emmy, Lucas and I have decided to have the wedding soon. He says if we wait too long, the baby will be too big, and he’s worried I’ll get tired. Plus, it won’t look good in a wedding dress. “We’ll plan the wedding according to Lucas’s preferences, I like whatever he likes. You know Lucas best, so having you plan the wedding will definitely be twice as efficient.” “Oh, congratulations.” I said, then turned to leave without looking back. Lucas chased after me, cornering me at the stairwell, “Olivia is pregnant, can’t you be a little more considerate of her feelings?” “Taking care of her is your business, what does it have to do with me? I’m not her mother.” Lucas frowned, “Emma…” I didn’t want to hear him ramble, so I cut him off directly, “There are so many planning companies, please, find another one, okay?” “Your company has the best reputation in the industry, I want to give Olivia a dream wedding with no regrets. Besides, Olivia is right, you know us best, I feel at ease leaving the wedding to you.” “You’re sick.” I cursed and turned to leave. I was called to the manager’s office, “You know who just came, right?” “Oh, yes.” I replied indifferently. “One is the young master of Lucas Industries, one is a popular actress. Their wedding will not only bring us a lot of profit, but also greatly improve our reputation. “They specifically requested that you plan the wedding.” “I refuse.” “You don’t have the option to refuse. Otherwise, you and your team members can all get lost.” I returned to my seat, my emotions in turmoil. I didn’t understand why Lucas was being so cruel. He didn’t come home all night, and then prepared such a huge “surprise” for me. For eight years I loved him wholeheartedly, was he so confident because he was the one being loved? I couldn’t refuse this job, I could quit and leave. But what about the other team members? Most of them had elderly parents and young children to support. They were burdened with car loans and mortgages, I couldn’t be that selfish.

In the evening, a friend invited us out for their birthday dinner. Just as I was about to enter, I heard Lucas’s cold voice coming from inside the private room: “Every Valentine’s Day she has to make a fuss.” “Ignore her, I bet within two weeks, she’ll be back crying and begging to make up.” I gripped the door handle, not pushing it open. Ryan next to me quickly explained: “Emmy, don’t listen to him, he’s drunk and talking nonsense! I’ll scold him for you!” He was about to push the door open. I held him back, shaking my head. I had loved him for eight years, giving my all, thinking even the coldest heart could be warmed. Ryan was still muttering: “They’re just chatting nonsense, you know they’re never serious…” I took a deep breath, handing the gift to Ryan: “Help me give this to Jason, wish him happy birthday, I won’t go in.” “Okay, hey…” Just as I was about to turn and leave, the door to the private room suddenly opened. Jason stood in the doorway, we both froze for a moment. He didn’t know I had already heard Lucas’s words, and pulled me in: “Emmy’s here, come on in!” This dinner was not only to celebrate Jason’s birthday, but also arranged to persuade Lucas and me to reconcile. Jason made me sit opposite Lucas: “Lucas, Emmy is so good, you’ve been together for so many years, don’t let things get so tense.” Lucas didn’t look at me once, but the veins on the back of his hand gripping the glass were bulging. Ryan quickly gave Jason a look. Before Ryan could pull me up, Lucas finally spoke: “Emma, I’ve said before, I’m just helping Olivia out, giving her the title of Mrs. Shen. We can still be like before.” “I’ll wait for you at home.” I coldly replied: “I came to celebrate Jason’s birthday, not to listen to your nonsense.” Lucas irritably took a sip of wine: “Jason is my friend, why do you need to come celebrate his birthday?” Jason couldn’t stand it anymore and directly confronted him: “Lucas, you’ve gone too far! Emmy is my friend too, I invited her here.” I looked up, meeting his gaze seriously: “Lucas, think it through. Her or me!” With that, I got up to leave. As I closed the door, I heard Ryan say: “Lucas, choose Emmy, otherwise you’ll definitely regret it.” “Shut up.” Lucas’s voice was full of anger. I didn’t look back.

That night, I had insomnia again. By the time I got to the company, the manager was pacing anxiously by my seat, muttering: “Why are you only coming now? I’ve been calling you but you didn’t answer, it’s really nerve-wracking!” I casually replied: “Sorry, my phone was on silent, I didn’t hear it.” The manager quickly pushed me towards the meeting room, not forgetting to remind me: “Young Mr. Lucas and Miss Olivia are both waiting inside, mind your attitude!” As soon as I entered, Olivia said in a coquettish voice: “Emmy, I thought you didn’t want to see me and deliberately didn’t come.” As she spoke, she leaned on Lucas’s shoulder, looking very intimate. I didn’t respond to her words, and asked directly: “Miss Olivia, Mr. Lucas, do you have any specific requirements for the wedding?” Olivia smiled and said: “I don’t have any requirements, I like whatever Lucas likes. You were together for so long, you must know his preferences better than anyone.” I closed my notebook, put down my pen, and nodded: “Indeed. Then for future details, I’ll communicate directly with Mr. Lucas, no need to trouble Miss Olivia to come again.” Olivia was stunned. Lucas frowned, speaking up for Olivia: “Emma, can’t you speak properly?” I replied indifferently: “I’m sorry, Mr. Lucas, this is how I usually speak. If you’re not satisfied, you can request a change of person.” Before Lucas could respond, several reporters suddenly rushed in from outside, holding microphones and cameras, asking a flurry of questions: “Is the news of your marriage true?” “Miss Olivia, didn’t you publicly deny your relationship with Mr. Lucas before? Saying you were just good friends.” “Miss Olivia, what made you decide to marry Mr. Lucas?” “There are rumors online that the child belongs to movie star Jack, is that true?” The reporters crowded together, surging towards Olivia and Lucas. One is pregnant, one is the man I love. I didn’t want anything to happen to them, so I had to stand in front of them, trying to block the reporters. Suddenly, a reporter rushed towards Olivia with a microphone, and Lucas immediately pulled her behind me. I was knocked off balance by the reporter, my waist hitting the corner of the table hard, the pain making me unable to straighten up. In that instant, my heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly, the pain almost making it hard to breathe. Lucas’s first reaction was to protect Olivia, while I became the shield he casually pushed away. It turns out, in his heart, I was no longer the one who needed protection. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I bit my lip hard, not letting them fall. Fortunately, security quickly arrived and chased all the reporters out. Olivia wiped her tears, saying softly to me: “Thank you, Emmy.” No wonder she’s a top actress, just one sentence sounded so pitiful and touching. I forced a smile through the pain in my waist: “You are our VIP clients, this is what I should do.” The bodyguards escorted Olivia out. “Come back to me, I can give you everything except status.” Lucas said before leaving. But that push earlier had already broken my heart. I looked down at my slightly trembling hands, feeling a chill in my heart. So loving someone can be so humbling, yet so clear-headed. His gentleness, his promises, no longer belonged to me. I took a deep breath, silently telling myself: Enough, it’s really enough. I don’t want him anymore, nor do I want this feeling that only brings me pain. Working overtime until midnight, just as I left the company, a heavy rain poured down, drenching me instantly. I didn’t bother to take shelter anymore, letting the rain wash over me. As I walked, my steps gradually became heavy. I crouched down, hugging myself tightly. Amidst the sound of rain, I cried silently, my tears mixing with the raindrops. I don’t know how long it had been, but suddenly the rain above my head stopped. I looked up in confusion to see Ethan standing quietly beside me, holding a black umbrella. “Mr. Lu?” I was a bit surprised. He bent down slightly, his long fingers grasping my arm, gently pulling me up. My thin dress clung to my body, wet and disheveled, outlining a sorry figure. His gaze fell on me without avoiding it. Our eyes met. “Ethan, want to come to my place tonight?” The implications between adults were already very clear. I suddenly remembered the rumors I had heard, saying that Ethan was famously uninterested in women. I was about to explain that I was just joking: “Don’t take it seriously.” Unexpectedly, he agreed. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Ethan pulled me into his arms and kissed me fiercely. His kiss was urgent and fierce, leaving me breathless and dizzy. “There… there are cameras…” I reminded him softly, my face red. He looked up at the security camera, without a word, simply turned me around to face away from the camera, and kissed me again. When we reached the door of my apartment, he swiped the door open, then suddenly stopped his actions and looked down at me: “Emma, it’s not too late to regret now.” “Regret what?” I looked up at him, my fingers hooking his tie, pulling him closer, “Or is it you who regrets?” Ethan smiled, his arm wrapping around my waist, pulling me towards him: “Yes, I regret not making a move earlier.” Our first time, Ethan didn’t even make it to the bedroom. My back was against the wall, rubbed a bit painfully, and I couldn’t help but bite his shoulder: “Ethan, be gentler…” His hand gently stroked my back, his voice hoarse: “Emmy, I can’t hold back anymore…”

The next morning, I woke up with an aching waist. Ethan reached out to help me sit up, handing me a glass of milk. “I made noodles, I don’t know if they suit your taste. Try them later and tell me what you like to eat, I’ll cook for you.” I stared at him blankly, asking: “Why?” “Why what? Girls should be pampered and loved.” This kind of treatment was something I had never experienced in the previous eight years. Ethan handed me a bowl of soup and said: “I heard Lucas wants to give that actress a dream wedding. Have you considered getting married?” “I don’t understand what you mean.” “Let’s get married.” Ethan said directly. “Why?” I asked, puzzled. “Because I think you’re suitable, and we have good chemistry.” I couldn’t help but twitch the corners of my mouth, “Forget it, I don’t want to jump out of one pit only to fall into another deeper one.” I rejected him outright, “Let’s just consider last night as mutually beneficial, Mr. Lu. You don’t need to take it to heart.” Ethan reached out to stop me, “I heard your mother isn’t in good health, she’s always hoped for you to settle down. Do you have a more suitable marriage candidate than me? “In terms of looks, family background, and ability, how am I inferior to Lucas?” I looked up at him seriously. He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was a thousand, no, ten thousand times better than Lucas. Six months ago, I had personally planned the opening ceremony for Ethan’s branch company, and at that time I had seen his detailed profile. A diamond bachelor who had never had any scandals and was extremely capable. Moreover, he had hit my weak spot. A few days ago, my mother was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, and her greatest wish was to see me married with children. Half an hour later, Ethan and I walked out of the civil affairs bureau. Looking at the marriage certificate in my hand, I still felt a bit dazed. “Let’s go,” I said. “Where to?” “To earn money for baby formula.” Ethan dropped me off at the company entrance, patting the top of my head, “I’ll pick you up after work tonight.”

That evening, Chloe asked me out. I sent Ethan a message. As soon as she sat down, she downed two glasses of wine: “Is Lucas sick? He’s handing out wedding invitations everywhere now, not even sparing the electronic screens on the streets, showing off his love in all sorts of ways. He’s so eager to let everyone know he’s going to be a father.” Lucas becoming an unexpected father was something everyone in our circle knew about. I held my wine glass and calmly spoke up: “I got married.” Chloe’s words came to an abrupt halt, “Are you joking?” She didn’t believe it at first, until she saw the marriage certificate, then exclaimed in surprise: “Ethan? Isn’t he rumored to be uninterested in women? Everyone was even guessing whether he was gay or not.” Remembering his vigorous performance last night, my face immediately turned red. Chloe noticed my unusual reaction, “Emmy, you didn’t…” I didn’t shy away at all, “Isn’t it normal between husband and wife?” She gave me a thumbs up, “Too amazing, you actually conquered the Ice King.” She immediately shook off her previous dejection, “This must be celebrated properly, it’s on me tonight.” On the way, I went to the restroom. I ran into Ryan. “Emmy, you’re here too. Lucas is with us, come over quickly.” I waved my hand, “Lucas and I have no relationship now, we’re strangers. Hope you have a good time.” Ryan thought I was just upset: “I know Lucas went too far with that incident, he regrets it now. When he’s drunk, he unconsciously calls out your name. “Why don’t you give Lucas a chance to apologize face to face?” Saying this, he forcefully pulled me to the door. I heard familiar voices, Jason was trying to persuade Lucas. “That’s enough, aren’t you afraid of going too far? Emmy hasn’t contacted you for so long.” “Yeah, Lucas. Emmy truly loved you. What’s so good about Olivia? She deliberately strung you along before, and now she’s even made you an unexpected father. Everyone’s laughing at you.” “Ryan just sent a message saying he saw Emmy. He’s bringing her over, when she comes, you should apologize and admit your mistake.” Lucas’s expression was cold, “Who told her to come? We’ve already broken up.” Ryan smiled awkwardly at me, I pushed open the door and entered. Everyone’s gaze turned to me at the same time. The hickeys on my neck were too obvious, Lucas stood up abruptly. “What’s that on your neck?” I curled my lips, “Mr. Lucas, we’re all adults, there’s no need to spell it out, is there?” “Emma, you’ve grown bolder, daring to find another man behind my back. Is it still comfortable to wear?” “Which law states that I must remain chaste for an ex-boyfriend who cheated?” I greeted everyone one by one, saying: “Lucas and I have no relationship anymore, and I’m already married. I appreciate your good intentions, but let’s stop here. If we say or do anything more, we can’t even be friends.” With that, I turned to leave. Behind me came the sound of something being smashed. When it was time to leave, Ethan came to pick me up. Chloe waved at me, saying: “Wishing you two an early arrival of a little one!” Ethan smiled, “Thank you.” Chloe looked shocked, whispering in my ear: “Too scary, I actually saw the Ice King smile, this is enough for me to brag about for a lifetime.” On the way back, I teased Ethan, “I’m not incapable of smiling, but I only smile at people I care about.” After saying this, he smiled at me again. I raised my face in response, “Stunningly handsome.” He asked, “With such a handsome husband, don’t you want to post on Facebook to claim your territory?” I was taken aback, “Won’t it cause you trouble?” “You’re my lawful wife, how could you cause me trouble? You bring me surprises and happiness.” After saying this, he gently kissed my forehead, and with a click, he captured this moment. We posted photos of each other on Facebook together, with the caption: 【You and me.】 My phone exploded, everyone was arguing in the comments section of my post. 【Ice King, am I seeing things?】 【Heard you got dumped? No need to Photoshop to save face, right?】 【What Photoshop? This is the real Mr. Lu, are you blind?】 Chloe retorted on my behalf. Ethan’s phone was also constantly ringing with messages and calls. He kept responding. “Yes, I finally won her over, couldn’t wait to make it official.” “We’ve already registered our marriage, the wedding is still being planned, I’ll definitely send you an invitation when the time comes.” “Thank you for your blessings, I’ll do my best.” In the end, he got fed up and simply turned off his phone. Ethan took my hand, “From now on, you’re marked as mine, you can’t run away.”

Lucas also saw my news from his friends, he came faster than I had imagined. A few minutes later, he was already standing at the door, his face looking terribly grim. “Emmy, come back with me.” “Is that how you should address her? This is my wife, you should call her Mrs. Lu.” Ethan blocked him at the door. Only then did Lucas truly look at Ethan. “So you took advantage when we were arguing? Shouldn’t I be the one demanding an explanation from you?” “Explain what? We’re already legally married, she’s my lawful wife.” Lucas laughed coldly, his gaze meeting mine from afar. “Emma, you’ve really grown bolder? You dare to go out and get married behind my back? Come back now, and I’ll pretend nothing happened.” He reached out a hand in my direction. Every time before, as long as he reached out, I would grasp his hand without hesitation. But this time, I didn’t move. “Lucas, we’ve already broken up, we’re strangers now, with no relationship whatsoever.” “Emma, we were together for eight years, you want to sever all ties with just one word? Do you have no heart?” Lucas’s eyes were bloodshot, Ethan momentarily let his guard down and was pushed aside. My hand was grabbed by him, my wrist feeling like it might snap from his grip. “Go get a divorce from him right now, didn’t you want to get married to me? After the divorce, we’ll get married immediately, and you’ll be the rightful Mrs. Shen from now on.” With my free hand, I slapped Lucas hard across the face. It took Lucas a while to react to what I had done. “Lucas, are you sick? Late-coming passion is cheaper than a dog, haven’t you heard that saying? You gave Olivia the title of Mrs. Shen as you wished, what more do you have to make a fuss about, isn’t it better if we both let go?” Ethan stepped forward, shielding me in his arms. “Lucas, if you dare to come and make trouble again, I’ll sue you for harassment. You don’t think I lack the ability to protect my own wife, do you?” I was still a bit shaken. This was a scene I had never imagined before. I thought when I left, Lucas would feel relieved, after all, he had now married his dream girl as he wished. Now putting on this act of deep affection, who was he trying to fool? “Ethan, aren’t you disgusted by the secondhand goods I’ve slept with for eight years? Does it still fit comfortably?” The hand held by Ethan suddenly went stiff and cold. Cold sweat seeped out of my palm, layer by layer. Perhaps seeing my face turn pale, Lucas laughed: “See, such a realistic thing, you two couldn’t have not thought about it, right? “Emma, come home with me. No one else will want you except me.” “Lucas.” Ethan suddenly let go of my hand. “Before, I only thought you were a fickle playboy, not a good person, but not entirely despicable. “But now I realize.” Ethan stepped forward, grabbing Lucas’s collar and slamming him against the wall. “You’re not only despicable but also scum.” With that, Ethan threw the first punch, hitting Lucas squarely. “And a useless piece of trash. I’m not like you, I like Emma for who she is.” “But Emma is no longer pure.” Ethan didn’t let him finish, landing another hard punch on his face. In the end, the scene became chaotic, but fortunately, Ethan won. “This is the first and last time. Next time, we’ll settle this in the business world.” I closed the door, leaving Lucas outside. Ethan held his face, leaning on my shoulder, “It hurts, wife, blow on it for me.” “You know it hurts, why did you fight?” “If I didn’t stop him, what if he took you away?” Ethan looked at me seriously. I stood on tiptoes, kissing his cheek, and looked at him earnestly: “We’re legally married.” Before he could reply, his kiss had already fallen.

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I developed aphasia due to childhood trauma. My parents, Eric Cox and Sharon Wilson, disliked me and made me marry my cousin Laura Cox’s vegetative fiancé, Roman White, on her behalf. After three years of my meticulous care, Roman miraculously woke up. But the first thing he did after waking up was to ask for a divorce from me. He mistook Laura for the one who had taken care of him during these three years and said that he would marry no one but her in his life. Later, I heard his good friend explain to him that it was I who had taken care of him during those three years. He smiled casually and said, “I already knew that, but my wife can’t be a mute.” I was completely disappointed and asked a hypnotist to erase my memories to treat my aphasia. When I woke up, I looked at the man in front of my hospital bed and asked in confusion, “Who are you?” The man in front of me panicked… Roman had been in a coma for three years, and when he woke up, the first person he saw was me, and he was quite disappointed. I didn’t notice the disappointment in his eyes. I happily helped him sit up and then told all our friends the good news. Soon, the hospital room was crowded with people. And I was pushed into the corner, and no one paid the slightest attention to me. Laura arrived late, wearing a beautiful blue evening dress, having just finished a party. Roman took Laura’s hand and said emotionally, “Honey, thank you for taking care of me these three years.” Everyone in the hospital room was stunned. I stood aside, nervously tugging at the corner of my clothes, but I couldn’t speak up to defend myself because I had aphasia. His friend awkwardly explained, “Roman, Megan is your wife.” Roman frowned and looked at me with cold eyes, as if I had ruined the relationship between him and Laura. I had always known that he loved Laura. They should have gotten married, but because of a car accident, he became a vegetable. My cousin didn’t want to take care of him, so she went to Eric and Sharon and cried. I agreed to their request and married Roman instead of Laura. However, I never expected that after taking care of him carefully for three years, this was the result I got. I immediately picked up my phone and started typing, trying to explain, but was stopped by Laura. She looked at me and said, “Megan, Roman has just woken up. He probably can’t accept so much information at once. You’d better go out first.” The others in the hospital room sensed that something was wrong and made excuses to leave one after another. When everyone had left, Laura cried and threw herself into Roman’s arms. She said, “Roman, you’ve finally woken up. I’ve been waiting for you for three years…” My heart ached, and my hand holding the doorknob trembled slightly. I had no idea how long it had passed. Laura opened the door of the hospital room, and there were still a few tears on her face. I walked into the room curiously. A glass cup was shattered at my feet. Roman said, “Megan, you went to great lengths to marry me! It’s disgusting that you used such a trick!” The flying glass shards scratched my calf, but my heart hurt even more. Roman grew up with me, and he had been the only one who didn’t dislike me for having aphasia and encouraged me to actively seek treatment. But after he met Laura, he was unconsciously attracted to her. The man who once said he would marry me gradually fell in love with her, and now he even regarded me as the villain who was ruining their relationship. I was anxious and made some sign language gestures, then remembered that he couldn’t understand them. I shakily picked up my phone to type and explain. Laura looked at me provocatively and knocked the phone out of my hand. The phone fell to the ground, and the screen went black. She said, “Megan, please let us be together!” I stood there in a daze. Besides sign language, the phone was the only tool I could use to communicate with others. And now I couldn’t even defend myself. I shook my head desperately, but the world was cruel, and it was even more cruel for someone like me who couldn’t speak.

Eric and Sharon rushed to the hospital when they heard the news. I saw hope again and stopped them, wanting them to help me explain. They could understand a little simple sign language. Sharon nodded slightly, but Eric pushed me aside and got into the room. They exchanged some pleasantries, and then Sharon hesitated and said, “Megan…” Laura realized what she was going to say and interrupted her, “Sharon, Megan just likes Roman too much. Don’t be angry.” I opened my eyes wide in disbelief, grabbed Laura, and gestured vigorously with my hands. “You’re lying! You’re lying!” She rubbed her wrist, snuggled up in Roman’s arms, and said pitifully, “I’m sorry, Megan. Don’t be angry. I won’t say anything.” I gestured desperately towards Sharon, almost in tears. I wanted to say, “Tell him it’s not like that!” She avoided my gaze. I felt powerless. During the three years I took care of Roman alone, I had never been more desperate than I was today. Eric said angrily, “It was you who forced Laura to leave Roman, and you even said that he wouldn’t know anyway.” If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears, I wouldn’t have thought that my father would slander me like this. These words made my heart ache. At first, it was Laura who disliked Roman for being in a vegetative state and didn’t want to marry him, so Eric and Sharon asked me to marry Roman. Roman sneered, “Megan, fortunately, I woke up. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known all these things.” I bit my lower lip tightly. I was so despicable in his eyes. Sharon pulled me out of the room and said guiltily, “Don’t blame Eric. We really owe Laura this.” Laura’s parents died to save my parents. Then, my parents took her home and doted on her. They thought they should do that, so I had to give in to her in everything. As long as I refused, Laura would cry and say that if her parents were still alive, things would be different. When I developed aphasia and needed company, she made my parents take her on a trip abroad. Three years ago, Laura taunted me, “A mute marrying a vegetative person is a perfect match!” Sharon continued, “Now that Roman is awake, he will divorce you sooner or later. Laura leaves a good impression on him in advance, and she will have a higher status in the future, won’t she?” With tears in my eyes, I pounded my chest hard, and only in this way could I relieve the pain in my heart. They felt guilty, but they made me bear all this humiliation. Roman decided to divorce me in the morning, and in the afternoon, he had already drawn up the divorce agreement. He was so afraid that I would cause trouble that he found a few bodyguards to watch me sign my name. I smiled bitterly and slowly wrote down my name. He once saved my life, and I took care of him for three years. From now on, we were even.

The autumn wind in the evening was cool. After my phone was fixed, I immediately sent a message to my doctor, Walter Reed: [I want to try the hypnotherapy you mentioned to me last time.] Walter quickly replied to me: [After hypnotherapy, you will lose some of your memories. And a family member needs to sign the consent form to ensure that someone will take care of you during the recovery period.] I looked at these words and smiled bitterly, not even being able to think of who could help me sign the consent form. I kept flipping through my contacts and saw a name, Quinn Hall, but I didn’t click on it for a long time. Unexpectedly, he sent me a message: [I’m coming back today. Will you have dinner with me?] I quickly replied to him and made an appointment with him for the place. I looked at the scenery outside and recalled the past. Quinn was the son of my sign language teacher. Because I always went to his home for classes, I gradually got to know him well. Three years ago, when he learned that I was going to marry a vegetative person, he angrily threw the birthday present he was going to give me and said that it was a waste for me to learn sign language. I retorted with sign language, and my words were mean. Later, he went abroad to study. I thought we would never meet again in this life, and didn’t expect that he would come back. We hadn’t seen each other for a few years, and he had become much more mature and didn’t seem very easy to get along with. I directly asked him, “Can you pretend to be my family member and help me sign the form?” He was a bit surprised. After learning the whole story, he clenched his fists tightly, as if he were very angry. He asked, “Have you decided?” I nodded. These memories meant nothing to me anymore. And after erasing the memories, I would be able to speak again. He agreed. It was already evening when I got home. My things were casually thrown in the corridor of the villa. Roman glanced at me and said, “Megan, you can move to the guest room from now on.” I nodded slightly. He didn’t expect me to be so calm and looked me up and down. I would forget him soon, and I didn’t care about these things anymore. Suddenly, a little dog ran out of the house. I was stunned and instinctively grabbed Roman’s arm. He frowned unhappily and shook off my hand violently, saying, “Megan, know your place.” His strength was so great. I didn’t react in time and fell to the ground, and my wrist hurt. I’d been afraid of dogs since I was a child, and the man who once said he would protect me for a lifetime had now let go of my hand. He seemed a bit annoyed and wanted to reach out and pull me up. I pretended not to see it and stood up while enduring the pain. Laura came out of the room, took Roman’s hand, and acted coquettishly, saying, “Tom doesn’t like to be restricted. Let’s find a bigger room for him.” Roman doted on her and ruffled her hair, saying, “Okay, then we’ll give the newly tidied guest room to Tom. Megan, you move to the basement.” It was ridiculous. In his eyes, I was even less important than the stray dog they adopted. When packing my things, I suddenly smelled a strange smell, and then I saw a large puddle of yellow liquid on my red coat. This coat was a birthday present from Roman. Since my birthday was on the same day as the memorial day of Laura’s parents, Eric and Sharon didn’t allow me to celebrate my birthday. Roman secretly gave me the coat and said to me seriously, “Megan, I will spend every birthday with you in the future.” Promises only counted when they were just made. I cherished this coat very much and never even wore it once. It seemed that I wouldn’t be able to wear it in the future either.

When Roman saw that coat, he was a bit moved and ordered the housekeeper, Lisa, to take it to the dry cleaner. But I directly threw the coat into the trash can. Along with it, I also threw away the photos of Roman and me taken over the years. I didn’t want to have any relationship with him anymore. He stared at me and said, “Laura is kind and adopted Tom. If you make her sad, I will not let you off.” It seemed that he had completely forgotten that I was afraid of dogs. Probably because Roman had told the servants, none of them helped me move my things. I endured the pain in my wrist and packed until the evening before I cleared away all the things related to Roman. This was the first time I had lived here in three years. After he became a vegetative person, I almost lived in the hospital. At first, there were still people visiting him, but later, the White family gave up on him. Most of the time, there were only he and I in the ward. I had just fallen asleep in a daze until dawn, when I was awakened by cold water. Roman looked down at me and said, “Megan, you’re getting lazier and lazier. You’re no longer my wife, but you still dare to sleep in.” Feeling a headache, I nodded slightly to show that I understood. I wiped the water stains off my face and got up to change my clothes. The servants in the villa were busy going about their business. Lisa glanced at me and ordered me to clean the piano. Then, I realized that today was Laura’s birthday. My fingers glided over the piano keys, and beautiful music sounded. Roman once said that my hands were born for playing the piano, but now they were used to cleaning it. I gave a self-deprecating smile, thinking that love words were only sincere at the moment they were spoken. After a while, I received a message from Walter: [Ten o’clock tomorrow morning.] I quickly replied to him and forwarded the message to Quinn. Just thinking that I would be able to speak in the future made me feel much better. I thought that this banquet had nothing to do with me, but I didn’t expect Roman to pull me into the dressing room. I was flattered and took the dress. He said impatiently, “Put it on. If you don’t attend the banquet, everyone will blame Laura.” It turned out that he was just afraid of others gossiping about Laura. I touched the large stains on the dress and had already become numb. I remembered the post she sent an hour ago: [It doesn’t matter if I get the dress dirty. Roman will prepare two dresses for me.] Laura stood beside the cake like an elegant princess, while I was like a clown for others to make fun of. I tried my best to lower my presence and sat down in the corner, but I still heard the whispers. “What’s on her clothes? It’s so disgusting!” “She’s shameless, stealing her cousin’s fiancé.” “I heard that she’s a mute.” The mocking voices kept coming. I clenched the hem of my dress tightly. Laura sat down beside the piano. The light focused on her, and everyone’s eyes were drawn to her. The sound of the piano stopped abruptly. She exclaimed, “It hurts! Why are there pieces of a dagger in the piano?” Lisa pointed at me in the corner and said, “Only Ms. Cox has touched the piano!” Roman glared at me furiously, roughly pulled me in front of the piano, and pressed my hands on the piano keys. The pain made me almost unable to breathe. “Megan, this is the price you pay for doing something wrong.” After he said that, ignoring my bleeding hands, he picked up Laura and walked towards the door. I saw Laura give me a triumphant smile. Later, the ambulance took me to the hospital. But all the doctors in the hospital were called to give Laura a consultation. Before I fainted from excessive blood loss, I heard a nurse shout angrily, “If her hands don’t receive timely treatment, she will be permanently disabled!” I shed tears and wished that I had never met Roman. The doctor thought Roman looked somewhat familiar and took the initiative to greet him, “How is your wife? She took care of you for three years, and now she’s finally getting something in return.” Free Point Roman frowned, wanting to figure out what the doctor meant. Laura pretended to shed tears and cried out in pain, “Roman, my hand hurts so much. Will I never be able to play the piano again?”

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At Finn’s birthday party, Daphne burst in with no clothes on. “My sister cut up my clothes and said I’m nothing but an adopted stray in the Carter family, unworthy of attending Finn’s birthday…” Finn believed I was being spiteful and sent me off to Mermaid Island to reflect on my actions. The next time we met, I was holding raw fish in my hand. “Sister, don’t you love raw fish? I’ll make sure you get your fill.” Finn tossed me into an aquarium, thinking I’d plead for mercy. Little did they know, I had already transformed into a mermaid; this was my realm. 01 Six months later, Declan Carter arrived on a lavish yacht with our parents and a host of friends to bring me back. They dressed me in a pure white gown. As I faced the crowd’s amazed and inquisitive stares, I blinked blankly, my pupils reflecting a peculiar blue-green hue in the sunlight. Declan scrutinized me with a probing gaze: “Nora Carter, I hope this time you’ll have learned your lesson and won’t let me down again.” I slightly tilted my head, instinctively licking my dry lips with curiosity. Declan paused at my gesture, then showed a hint of satisfaction: “It seems the island has indeed washed away your hostility. I’ve prepared a welcome party for you on the cruise ship to celebrate your return to the family.” He reached out to take my hand, but the instant his fingertips touched my skin, he quickly pulled back. “Why is your body so cold?” His words were complex, and I struggled to comprehend them. Cora Bennett came over and took Declan’s arm: “Declan, sister has been at sea for six months and has gotten used to the seaside climate, so her body temperature is naturally different from ours.” A warning alarm went off in my head, an instinctual sense of threat making me tense up. I instinctively backed away, a low, strange, dolphin-like sound escaping my throat, and my feet unconsciously came together. Cora covered her face, almost crying: “Sister… do you still hate me? I… I only wanted to care for you…” Declan immediately shielded Cora behind him, angrily scolding me: “Nora Carter! Cora is kind and pure, always thinking of you. Why can’t you learn from her tolerance and generosity?” Our parents also came over, looking at me with disappointment and heartache. “Nora, the Carter family doesn’t lack another mouth to feed. Cora just wants to fit into this family. Can’t you tolerate her? Don’t be so narrow-minded!” “Your brother sent you here for your own good. Why haven’t you made any progress at all?” The accusations and misunderstandings swarmed me like a tide. I felt extremely uneasy and scared, wanting only to find a place to hide. I saw a large decorative glass aquarium not far away. The clear water and swaying aquatic plants gave me an inexplicable sense of closeness and safety. Ignoring everything, I ran toward the aquarium, wanting to climb inside. “Nora Carter! What madness are you up to now!” Declan roared as he rushed over, grabbing my arm to pull me back. He pulled too forcefully, and with a rip, a patch of skin on my arm came off, revealing newly grown, pearl-like scales beneath! The intense pain made me cry out in a dolphin-like wail. I curled up on the ground in pain, rubbing my arm against the cold deck to ease the burning pain, then shrank in horror into a corner, my body curling up. Declan stared at the piece of skin in his hand, with bloodstains and strange scales, his pupils contracting as if struck by lightning. Disregarding his image, he squatted down: “Nora… what’s happened to your skin? What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?” Cora immediately interjected: “Brother! The UV rays on the island are so strong, sister’s skin is delicate, she must have gotten sunburned and peeled! It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, brother wouldn’t have been angry and sent sister to the island…” “Sunburn?” 02 Mom came over, looking at the small, neatly arranged scales exposed on my arm, which, though tiny, reflected a strange luster in the sunlight, definitely not the appearance of sunburn. Her face turned pale, lips trembling, as if she wanted to say something but was choked by overwhelming shock. Dad also gasped, pointing at my arm, his voice trembling, “What… what is this?” Declan’s face instantly turned exceedingly grim. He grabbed my shoulders abruptly, forcibly dragging me out from the corner and exposing me to everyone. “Nora Carter! Are you playing the sympathy card again to make us feel guilty, even at the cost of hurting yourself?” The scales I had just grown were painfully abraded by the rough deck, even seeping with blood droplets. Declan remained indifferent, his eyes coldly fixed on me: “I just sent you to the island for six months to enjoy the natural scenery. Do you have to resort to self-harm to get back at me?” I didn’t understand his anger, and the weakness from blood loss and pain made me desperately need to replenish my energy. On the banquet table was a platter of fresh fish for sashimi, one of which, probably due to lack of oxygen, jumped onto the floor. The fresh, ocean-scented vitality instantly captured all my attention. A glimmer of desire flashed in my eyes, and almost on instinct, I lunged forward without hesitation. Under everyone’s horrified gaze, I bit into the struggling fish, tearing it apart in a few bites, then swallowing it with satisfaction, even leaving traces of blood and scales at the corner of my mouth. Mom let out a shrill scream, almost fainting, “Is this still my daughter? What did you go through on the island? How… how did you end up like this?” Declan’s face turned as white as paper, “Nora… I know you’re afraid of water. But apart from being remote, it’s just an ordinary island! Even if you’re mad at me, you don’t have to degrade yourself like this.” Before he finished speaking, Cora suddenly knelt on the ground with a “thud,” crying and slapping her own face. “It’s all my fault! I ruined sister! If it weren’t for me, sister wouldn’t have become like this! Brother, Mom, Dad, take sister back. Let me stay on the island, redeeming sister’s sins!” Mom’s cries stopped abruptly. She pointed at me, her voice sharp and scolding: “Nora Carter! Look at what you’ve become! To drive Cora away, you degrade yourself to this extent! Eating raw fish! Aren’t you disgusted? How could the Carter family raise a daughter like you?” Declan’s eyes were bloodshot, staring at me as if he wanted to pierce through me. He suddenly let out a low laugh, but it carried a chilling coldness: “Sister, don’t you like eating raw fish? Then I’ll make sure you eat your fill.” He snapped his fingers, and immediately, a servant brought over a large tank filled with ice and live fish, placing it heavily in front of me. His cold gaze cut through me like a knife: “Either apologize to Cora and promise never to bully her again, or I’ll throw you into this tank!” Seeing I had no reaction, only warily eyeing the tank, a fleeting hesitation crossed Declan’s eyes but was quickly masked by anger. “Throw her in! Let her out when she admits her mistake!” 03 The bodyguards ignored my struggle, lifting me up and throwing me into the icy water tank! The ice-cold water enveloped me, its biting chill making me shiver violently. However, as the water flowed over my skin, especially touching the more pronounced mutations on my legs hidden by the long dress, a strange comfort and sense of belonging emerged. Water… I really liked it. The fish in the tank, startled, scattered everywhere, their bodies brushing against my skin and bringing waves of tingling itchiness. Declan and everyone else stood outside the tank, waiting to see me scream in terror and beg for mercy. Cora nestled beside Declan, her eyes gleaming with pleasure. Once, I was indeed terrified of water, scared to death. But the six months of transformation on the island had long stripped fear from my bones. The research institute people, to enhance my underwater survival ability, had thrown me into deep seas filled with various aggressive marine creatures. Fish, in my eyes, were no longer things to fear but rather… kin, or food. In the stunned gaze of everyone, instead of screaming, I slowly relaxed my body, stretching out my limbs. The cold water brought me an unprecedented calm. I reached out and gently caught a small fish swimming to my mouth. Declan’s certainty and anger gradually turned into disbelief and shock. He didn’t know a small fish couldn’t satisfy my body’s energy needs. And this tank of lively fish was an unexpected gift for me. Under the almost tearing gaze of Declan and my parents, I suddenly opened my mouth and bit down hard on the fish in my hand! Blood spread through the clear water. “Nora! Stop it.” Declan roared, ignoring the icy seawater, reaching into the tank and pulling me out, snatching the struggling fish from my hand and throwing it away. He held me tightly, his voice trembling uncontrollably, “Nora, let’s not do this, okay? Stop hurting yourself like this!” I looked at him blankly, not understanding why he took away my food. Under the piercing eyes of Declan Carter and my parents, I suddenly sank my teeth into the fish I was holding. Blood swirled in the clear water. “Nora! Stop.” Declan Carter shouted and, ignoring the frigid seawater, plunged his hand into the tank, yanking me out and tossing the struggling fish aside. He hugged me tightly, his voice shaking with emotion, “Nora, let’s not do this anymore, okay? Don’t hurt yourself like this!” I stared at him blankly, not understanding why he took my food away. At the research institute, they conducted all kinds of horrifying experiments on me to secure more funding, even trying to train me to lure certain targets with my “singing” for the entertainment of sponsors with peculiar tastes. I knew I had to meet their demands to survive. Maybe… he needed me to please him? So, I lifted my arms, slick and scaly, and wrapped them around Finn’s neck. I tilted my head slightly, emitting a low, melodious sound from my throat, like a dolphin’s song, as a signal to please. I nuzzled my cheek against his neck like a creature seeking solace. Declan Carter stiffened suddenly, gripping my shoulders and pushing me away, his eyes locked onto mine, his voice trembling with intensity: “Nora Carter! What did you learn on that island for six months?! Don’t you remember you’re the eldest daughter of the Carter family?” His face was filled with pain and disbelief: “How could you do something so shameless?!” He gripped my shoulders painfully, and I didn’t understand why he was angry. He had sent me to that island, where my body was altered to resemble a fish and my mind was twisted and trained. To survive, every part of me was forced to “please” others against my will. But now, he was blaming me for having no shame. As I looked at him in confusion, Declan Carter seemed unable to meet my gaze. He closed his eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and his voice trembled uncontrollably: “Investigate! Now! Find out what happened to Miss Carter during those six months on the island!!” The wait for the investigation results felt interminable. Declan Carter had someone wrap me in a clean blanket, holding me in his arms, trying to warm my cold body with his own. But he didn’t know, my circulatory system had been altered; no matter what he did, I couldn’t regain a normal body temperature. Half an hour later, two bodyguards dragged the woman responsible for my care in front of Declan Carter. “I entrusted Miss Carter’s daily life to you; now, don’t you think you owe me an explanation? How did she turn out like this in just six months?” Declan Carter’s voice was icy, carrying a weight of looming anger. The old woman trembled, kneeling on the ground, repeatedly pleading for mercy. “Mr. Carter, please have mercy! Have mercy!” “Speak! What happened exactly?” “It’s… it’s Miss Carter… she couldn’t handle the isolation on the island, her mind snapped… she kept running to the sea, saying she wanted to become a fish… then her behavior became more and more bizarre…” The old woman’s eyes flickered, clearly lying. Declan Carter’s gaze sharpened, and the bodyguards stepped forward. Terrified, the woman screamed, “I’ll tell! I’ll tell! It was Cora Bennett! She bribed me! She gave me a lot of money to hand… to hand Miss Carter over to those madmen at the island’s research institute!” It seems there is no text available for translation at the moment. Could you please provide the specific content you would like translated? “Research institute? What research institute?” Declan Carter’s voice was tense, each word forced out through gritted teeth. “The old abandoned marine biology research institute! There are still people secretly conducting experiments there… They’ve been trying to combine human and marine creature genes… Cora Bennett told them that Nora Carter was alone, and even if something happened to her on Mermaid Island, no one would come looking. She allowed those researchers to use Nora as a test subject—if they succeeded, she’d take the credit, and if they failed… they’d just get rid of her…” The elderly woman revealed everything, including how Cora Bennett contacted her, transferred money to her, and instructed her to cooperate with the researchers. She even presented threatening messages from Cora as evidence.

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On our way home for New Year’s, my husband Felix Shaw and I were involved in an accident. When I opened my eyes again, we had gone back in time to before we started dating. In our previous life, we had been married for 7 years, living together respectfully, but he never gave me a child. Later I found out that my husband could never let go of his first love. After being reborn, I decided to let him go. We silently deleted each other’s contact information, kept our distance, and chose different paths in life. Seven years later, he had become a top stock trader on Wall Street. At a class reunion, he officially announced his relationship with his first love, Yvonne Zhang. Seeing that I was still single, he couldn’t help but tease me. “Sophia, I know I’m the best man you’ve ever had in both lifetimes, but you don’t have to wait for me forever.” I ignored him and took my son’s hand. Felix’s face suddenly turned pale, and he asked with bloodshot eyes. “Didn’t you say you’d love me for a lifetime and only have children with me?”

Felix and I met again at a class reunion seven years later. I had just finished several surgeries and was too tired to dress up, so I went straight into the banquet hall. Felix stood in the center of the crowd, his arm around Yvonne’s waist, enjoying everyone’s compliments. “Felix, you’re amazing! You’ve only been on Wall Street for a few years, and you’ve already become the most promising trader! You’re the pride of our high school!” “That’s right, I heard that those Wall Street bigwigs are paying to have dinner with Felix. They say his consulting fee alone is nearly six figures, which is a whole year’s salary for us ordinary folks!” “Felix, I’ve been dabbling in stocks recently. I hope you can give me some insider tips, for old times’ sake!” Someone in the crowd curiously asked, “Felix, are you and Yvonne engaged?” Felix looked at Yvonne in his arms tenderly. “Yes, we’re getting engaged on December 20th.” The surrounding crowd erupted in congratulations. An old classmate asked, “Felix, are you still in touch with Sophia? You two were so in love back then. I heard your first song was written for her!” When my name was mentioned, I noticed Felix’s smile freeze, his eyes narrowing slightly. Yvonne, standing beside him, smiled gracefully and replied. “Oh, come on, Felix and I are about to get married. Teenage crushes don’t last, and neither does young love. He’s long over Sophia!” Everyone laughed and continued to compliment how well-matched they were. But I knew that song was written by Felix when he confessed his love to me. In our previous life, we were high school sweethearts. It was love at first sight. He once looked at me sincerely and said, “Sophia, look into my eyes. I like you, and eyes don’t lie.” I believed him. Unfortunately, in our previous life, he still lied. I entered the banquet hall with a calm expression. Some sharp-eyed classmates spotted me. “Sophia! Why are you so late?” “Why did you come in casual clothes? Couldn’t you have worn something more formal?” “Did you just get off work? Where are you slaving away? We have successful people here among our classmates, let them help you find an easier job!” Many people around me started mocking my appearance. I didn’t care and just smiled, maintaining basic decency. Felix hadn’t taken his eyes off me since I entered the hall. I politely said, “Long time no see.” Felix was slightly stunned, his expression unreadable. Then he sneered, “Sophia Carter, after all these years, you haven’t changed a bit. Still not striving for success.” Yvonne looked at me with venom in her eyes. She deliberately tightened her grip on Felix’s arm and pouted, as if claiming ownership. She spoke in a coquettish tone right in front of me. “Felix, how can you talk about an old classmate like that! She might be having a tough time, but we shouldn’t rub salt in her wounds. Sophia’s life is hard enough as it is.” She looked me up and down, her face full of contempt. “But Sophia, what kind of outfit is this? It’s neither here nor there… You’re not getting any younger. Women should take care of their appearance. Otherwise, you’ll end up not being able to get married. What man would like a slovenly woman?” “Do you want to borrow some of my makeup?” As soon as she finished speaking, the classmates couldn’t help but laugh. After all, Yvonne was dressed head to toe in luxury brands, with perfect makeup and not a hair out of place. Every gesture exuded the natural grace of a rich girl. I, on the other hand, had just come from the operating room and hadn’t slept for nearly 24 hours. I looked completely exhausted, as if I had lost my soul. I was wearing the most comfortable casual sportswear, nothing branded, just bought from a small shop on the street. I couldn’t compare to her at all. “No need to be polite, I don’t need it for now,” I answered simply, sitting down to eat. After all, I hadn’t eaten for a day after the intense surgery. As I sat there, savoring the food, Felix suddenly walked over to me and placed a check for $100,000 in front of me. “This money is out of consideration for our past relationship. I’m helping you. From now on, take better care of yourself, find a more decent job, buy some new clothes, learn to love yourself.” “Sophia, what’s in the past is in the past. Don’t dwell on it.” “If it wasn’t for you… never mind, it doesn’t matter.” “What matters is that you shouldn’t completely lose your zest for life and give up on yourself because I left, okay?” I looked up at Felix, puzzled. His unfinished sentence made me curious. What on earth did I do in my previous life to make him abandon me without hesitation after being reborn? In our previous life, we went from school uniforms to wedding dresses. He had his own musical dreams, while I wanted to study medicine. Both were careers that consumed money and energy. Naturally, one of us had to sacrifice. Because I loved him, I gave up the opportunity to pursue a master’s and doctorate in medical school without hesitation. I started working early to support both of our dreams on a single income. He failed again and again, got discouraged again and again, became depressed again and again. And I was like his never-dying power bank. Every time I came home exhausted, I had to patiently comfort his emotions. I thought he would understand my love. Unexpectedly, when he wanted to buy a new guitar again and I refused due to lack of funds, he angrily smashed the guitar. “You know what! If I had listened to Yvonne back then and gone to study in America with her, I wouldn’t have to live this miserable life!” “I really regret being with you.” Later, he stopped playing the guitar and lost his dream. And I, because of that sentence “I really regret being with you,” often cried in the middle of the night. But I made one last struggle, hugging him and saying softly. “Felix, I want to have a child for you.” He pushed me away, his eyes full of disgust. “Can we afford to have a child in our current financial situation? Besides, I’ve told you before, I hate kids! I don’t want to have children with you!” These two sentences completely shattered the last hope in my eyes. During the New Year, an oncoming truck ended our lives. At that moment, I wasn’t afraid, only relieved. Now that we’ve both been reborn and chosen to keep our distance, there’s absolutely no need to dwell on old feelings. I silently pushed the check back, “No need, I don’t take things from strangers. Thank you.”

He frowned and questioned me, “Sophia Carter, am I a stranger to you? What do you mean?” I replied, “I can buy my own clothes. Whatever my job is now, I think it’s decent and nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t think I’m giving up on myself, and this money, you should keep it for those who need it.” He stood there holding the check, his lips tightly pressed together. Yvonne walked to Felix’s side, looked at the check in his hand, and seemed to understand something. Her eyes flashed with anger, but she still had to pretend to be gentle. “Sophia, you don’t want our goodwill? Then let me offer something more practical.” “I recently opened a nail salon on City Avenue. You can come directly, I’ll arrange for you to be a nail technician apprentice. The salary isn’t high, about $2000 a month, but the main thing is you can learn a skill. Even if you’re down on your luck in the future, you can still open a nail salon.” “How about it? Interested in giving it a try? This job should be much more decent than your current one.” I calmly ate my food and declined their offer. “Thank you for your kindness, but I’m very satisfied with my job and have no plans to change at the moment.” The surrounding classmates shouted at me, “Sophia, why aren’t you appreciating their kindness! Felix and Yvonne are being so nice, offering you money and a job. You should take it!” “That’s right, you’re in such a sorry state, why care about face? Coming to a class reunion in such a miserable condition, aren’t you here to get resources? Why are you pretending now?” Yvonne chimed in with fake sincerity, “Don’t say that, everyone! Maybe Sophia really likes her current job!” She turned to me, “Sophia, this is our goodwill, and we’re offering you this job out of consideration for our past relationship. Don’t miss this opportunity just to save face!” I really didn’t understand why they were so insistent on giving me money and a job. “Really, I don’t need it. Thank you.” Yvonne still smiled very gently, but her eyes were full of mockery and disdain. Felix clutched the check tightly and sneered. “A hopeless case indeed. I guess even if someone wants to help you, it’s impossible! You’ll die poor for sure!” Right after this taunt, many of the male classmates swarmed over. They wanted to make me drink. “Sophia, seeing how pitiful you are now, if you drink one glass, I’ll transfer $1000 to you.” “If you’re really that desperate… I’ll add some more money!”

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Five years ago, the Chen and Brooks families decided to arrange a marriage between their children through a random draw. Lucas Chen, who had always been fond of my younger sister, ended up being matched with me. After standing me up 99 times at the courthouse, he resolutely chose to go on a business trip to Kenya, a country with harsh living conditions. He left for five years. The day after he left, my sister Rachel abandoned her arranged fiancé and emigrated to Kenya as well. Five years later, Lucas returned to the country with Rachel and their daughter Lily. He arrogantly informed me: “Since we have to follow the arranged marriage rules, I will only marry Rachel.” “As long as you stay at home and take good care of her and Lily, I won’t embarrass you in front of others.” The man who was originally waiting for my response looked down at my daughter Emma, whom I was holding hands with, and suddenly smiled: “So you got pregnant after just one time? Looks like you have no choice but to agree now.” I covered Emma’s mouth as she was about to call him “Daddy” and whispered to her: “How about I find you a new daddy? Is that okay?”

Five-year-old Emma immediately understood my meaning. She jumped up and down excitedly, clapping her hands, and looked up at me to whisper: “Is it that handsome uncle who always takes me to the carnival?” I forced a smile and nodded at her. Seeing us smiling instead of getting angry, Lucas, who was affectionately holding little Lily, frowned, seemingly displeased: “What are you two whispering about?” Seeing that I had no intention of answering him, the man’s tone turned cold again: “It’s settled then. I’m sure you understand the situation. Rachel and I have known each other since childhood. You’re just getting in the way. Since you’ve given birth to my child, I won’t abandon you, but remember to behave yourself.” Emma and I had waited for Lucas for five years. I had to comfort her almost every day, telling her that her daddy was just working abroad and would be back soon. Countless times, I saw the longing in Emma’s eyes when she saw other children with their fathers. She even developed autism because of it. My heart ached as if it was being squeezed. If it weren’t for Rachel’s ex-fiancé taking care of us, Emma’s autism might have gotten worse. But after enduring these five years, what we got was Lucas returning with Rachel and their daughter, demanding that I become their housekeeper. Although Emma liked her new dad, seeing Lucas, her biological father, holding another little girl, she couldn’t help but show a pitiful expression of envy. Lucas noticed Emma’s gaze and handed Lily to Rachel before crouching down to caress Emma’s little face. But the next second, Lily ran over and scratched Emma’s face, leaving a bloody mark. She pouted arrogantly: “This is my daddy, you can’t steal my daddy!” Emma endured the pain with the scratch on her face, biting her lip to hold back tears. Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears. Growing up without a father’s companionship had taught her to be strong beyond her years. She seemed to know that she didn’t have a father to stand up for her, but as her mother, my chest hurt so much I could barely breathe. I turned my gaze to Lucas, who remained unmoved. He instinctively shielded Lily behind him and defended her: “It’s just children being naughty. Are you really going to make a fuss over this? That’s enough.” Hearing his completely biased words, I lowered my head and laughed bitterly. Why did I still feel disappointed when I knew this would be his attitude… When Lily tried to run over to hit Emma again, Lucas stopped her with a look. She halted in her tracks. Rachel knowingly took Lily into her arms and deliberately raised her voice: “Don’t be angry, sweetie. Daddy built a princess fairy tale kingdom especially for your birthday, and even bought you a star. Even your little braids today were done by daddy. Of course, daddy only loves you, his one and only daughter.” After saying this, Rachel, who was crouching down, tugged at Lucas’s pant leg and blinked her eyes, asking: “Lucas, am I right?”

Lucas didn’t answer directly, but his tender gaze towards Rachel and Lily answered everything. Rachel, who had been gloomy because of Emma’s existence, suddenly became cheerful. She stood up and linked arms with Lucas. “Sis, we’re just comforting the child. Don’t take it seriously.” She emphasized the word “we” as if they were a loving couple who had been together for years. Emma heard about all those enviable father-daughter interactions that Rachel mentioned. The word “Daddy” that she had been holding back for five years was once again swallowed timidly. Lily straightened her back proudly and clamored to go see her grandparents. Lucas immediately picked her up lovingly. Before leaving, he glanced coldly at the red mark on Emma’s face and didn’t forget to instruct me: “Come to the family house tonight for Lily’s birthday celebration. Remember not to say anything unnecessary. Just say Emma bumped into something.” Watching the family of three laughing and joking as they got into the car, Emma finally showed her vulnerable and grieving side, mumbling: “Then let Uncle Ethan be my daddy. Mom never cries when she’s with him. I don’t want mom to be sad…” Hearing her say this, I realized that there were faint tear tracks on my face. After returning home, Emma eagerly called Ethan. He quickly responded: “It should have been this way long ago. Wait for me, Emma. Uncle will take the earliest flight back home.” I originally thought that no matter how much Lucas disliked me, he would at least treat his biological daughter well and take good care of Emma wholeheartedly. But now that he has Lily, he can no longer be a competent father to Emma. I think a stepfather might not necessarily be worse than a biological father. In the evening, Lucas personally drove back to pick up Emma and me. He leaned against the car, not even bothering to step into the marital home he hadn’t set foot in for five years. Seeing Emma’s face covered with a large bandage, Lucas made a move to check on her, but Emma dodged him. Although the child is young, she understands everything. I silently got into the car with my daughter, watching Lucas’s hands awkwardly freeze in mid-air. After a long while, he angrily sat in the driver’s seat and looked back at me dissatisfied: “Sophia, did you teach Emma to ignore me?” “I didn’t expect you to still be so jealous. Let me ask you, how long are you going to hold a grudge against me?” Perhaps in the past, I would have really been jealous and angry that he only had eyes for Rachel. But now, I just looked out the window and calmly reminded him: “Let’s go. If we’re late, everyone will be worried.” Lucas’s hand gripping the steering wheel unconsciously tightened, his knuckles gradually turning white. The journey was silent. We arrived at the Chen family house. The Chen family elders were very fond of Lily and were willing to give the entire family fortune to the mother and daughter. “Rachel, the chain of hotels under the Chen Group will be handed over to you in the future. Consider it our dowry for Lily.” Seeing my arrival, Rachel deliberately showed off the family heirloom jade bracelet on her wrist and quickly thanked them. Then she feigned surprise: “What about Emma? Shouldn’t the Chen family prepare a dowry for her too?” Just as the elders realized Emma’s existence and their faces flashed with embarrassment, Lucas casually interjected: “We’ve established a primary school in rural Kenya, Emma can…” Before he could finish, I directly interrupted him: “Lucas, keep it for yourselves. Emma doesn’t need it.”

Perhaps it was the first time he heard me call him by his full name, Lucas was stunned. Seeing this, Rachel tightly held onto Lucas’s arm and spoke in a sarcastic tone: “Sister must be angry, right? But after all, Lily is the legitimate heir of the Chen family. It’s reasonable for the elders to arrange things this way.” “However, as her aunt, I’ll definitely arrange a job for Emma in the future. I can’t bear to see her go hungry.” Lucas immediately smiled with doting eyes and pinched the woman’s chin: “I knew you were the kindest, always thinking of others no matter what.” Emma and I were squeezed into a corner, completely out of place with all the Chen family members. Of course, we were considered “others.” Seeing that we were not welcomed, even the servants began to gossip without restraint: “Knowing that the young master liked Rachel, she still shamelessly gave birth to a little burden. How shameless!” “Huh, anyway, the young master won’t marry her. The Chen family giving them food and shelter is like throwing scraps to beggars. If they want to stay, let them stay…” Everyone gathered around Lily, singing her happy birthday song and blowing out candles with her. Emma had always crouched outside the dining room window watching others celebrate birthdays as a family of three, but now that Lucas was back, she still could only watch from the side. After dinner, Lucas took Lily to the rooftop to watch the fireworks display. Rachel found me. “Sis, you shouldn’t have given birth to Emma. Do you really want to use a child to steal my happy family?” Looking back now, it’s laughable. If Lucas hadn’t made excuses to go on a business trip, promising to come back and fulfill our engagement, I wouldn’t have given birth to Emma. Seeing that I remained silent, the hatred in Rachel’s eyes became more obvious: “You know what? No matter how hard you try, even with a child, you can’t steal Lucas’s heart. I am the rightful Mrs. Chen!” As she spoke, the woman showed off the family heirloom jade bracelet on her wrist, smiling triumphantly: “Don’t you think it’s redundant for you and Emma to stay in the Chen family?” Then she began to grit her teeth: “I’m tired of beating around the bush with you. I’ll say it directly, take your bastard child and get out of the Chen family!” As soon as she finished speaking, a slap unexpectedly landed on my face. Emma heard the commotion and ran over, directly pushing Rachel away and standing protectively in front of me: “Don’t bully my mom!” Lily also rushed over to help Rachel, getting into a fight with Emma. The scene became increasingly chaotic. I originally wanted to quickly break up the fight, but Rachel held me back and even encouraged her daughter to scratch Emma freely. “Lily, don’t be afraid. Daddy will support you. Even if you scratch up a wild child like her, no one will care!” Lily completely inherited her mother’s viciousness, pinning Emma to the ground and bullying her without restraint. Until Emma couldn’t bear it anymore and used all her strength to push Lily to the ground, breaking free from the restraint. Unexpectedly, Lucas, who arrived late, saw this scene and without a word, slapped Emma across the face.

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I blew my cover in the eighth month of my one-year contract marriage to the CEO. While Ethan Gray was working out shirtless, glistening with sweat, I got distracted by his sculpted body. Absent-mindedly cleaning the floor, I casually tossed something in my way onto the couch. The next second, Ethan’s eyes widened in shock, time stood still, and I froze in horror. Holy crap! I had just tossed a 90-pound barbell! With one hand! My left hand! 0 Ethan Gray had been away on a business trip for over two weeks and finally returned home. Well, “home” might not be the right word – this luxurious mansion in Crescent Bay was just one of many properties he owned. The only difference was that I – his wife in name only – lived here. At that moment, he was working out in the gym, drenched in sweat. I had deliberately changed into a white dress and was slowly wiping the floor with a cloth. He glanced at me and frowned, “You don’t need to do this.” “It’s okay,” I smiled softly, lowering my head slightly. The angle of my lowered head and falling strands of hair were all carefully designed to appear delicate and lovable. “I’m too weak, so doing some housework is like exercise for me.” Since the sugar daddy rarely came home, I had to make sure he saw how hardworking and diligent I was, especially considering the $20,000 he paid me each month! Hearing my explanation, he didn’t try to dissuade me further. “Do as you wish, then.” He continued exercising while I diligently cleaned the floor. Perhaps it was too hot from the workout, so he took off his shirt. From an angle he couldn’t see, my eyes instantly bulged like saucers. That muscular upper body, with well-defined lines and muscles, sweat dripping from his neck down to his chest, abs, and those irresistible V-lines… Ahem… I shook off the inappropriate thoughts and casually tossed something on the floor onto the couch. Wait a minute! What did I just throw?! I snapped back to reality and saw what I had tossed onto the couch. My pupils dilated in shock. Holy crap! I had just tossed a 90-pound barbell! With one hand! My left hand! I was done for. My vision went black, and I don’t know how long it took before I mechanically turned my head to meet Ethan Gray’s dumbfounded face. He looked at me, then at the barbell, then back at the barbell, and finally back at me, his expression bewildered. I forced out a dry laugh, “When did the gym buy foam barbells? I’ll throw it away!” As I said this, I was about to move it. “Don’t move!” Ethan stopped me, walking over with a cold smile. “Do you think I’m blind?” He reached out with his long, strong hand and gripped the bar. Taking a deep breath, he flexed his arm muscles and lifted… But it didn’t budge… Ethan’s face darkened as he stared at me with those piercing eyes. “90 pounds, one-handed. Well done, Zoey!” I wanted to cry but had no tears. My mind raced, but my mouth moved faster than my brain. “Well, is there a possibility that… you’re just not strong enough?” What am I saying?! “No, that’s not what I meant. Let me explain…” He took a step closer, and I retreated a step, suddenly sitting on the couch. He placed his hand on the sofa, trapping me in his arms. His handsome face was cold, his thin lips barely moving, his tone seductive and ambiguous. “Whether I’m strong enough or not, you can find out for yourself.” Me: “…” Where did he learn such a cliché line? I was so embarrassed that my toes curled. He took another step closer, his hot breath on my neck. I could almost see my reflection in his pupils. Goosebumps broke out all over my body. I held back, and held back again, but finally couldn’t resist. I bent my knee, raised my leg, and used all my strength. I kicked him three meters away… “Mr. Gray!” I rushed over to help him, panicking. “Zoey!” Ethan roared in anger, clutching his stomach in pain. I swear I didn’t mean to! It was just a reflex, I swear!!! 0

Ten minutes later, Ethan was lying on the couch, and I was nervously applying ointment to him, my hands as gentle as if I were touching a cloud. Although I didn’t understand why I had to apply it to his stomach, a place he could easily reach himself. But! Looking at those well-defined abs and that smooth, tempting skin, oh my, I could rub it all night without sleep! “Put some strength into it! You need to massage out the bruise. Where’s that strength you used to kick me?” Ethan said with his eyes closed. I couldn’t help but increase the pressure. “This is my stomach, not a washboard. Why are you using so much force!” Ethan yelled again. Too light wasn’t okay, too heavy wasn’t okay either. I got angry too, “Do it yourself then!” Who does he think has no temper? He looked at me straight in the eye, expressionless, and uttered two words, “Dock pay.” “No, no, no!” I immediately put on a smile, “I’ll rub it properly. If it’s really not good enough, I’ll go take a class to learn.” Anything but docking my pay, that’s the bottom line! “Hmph.” He snorted lightly, “Come back to the family house for dinner tomorrow.” “Okay!” My eyes lit up. Originally, Ethan Gray wanted to find someone for a fake marriage to avoid his family’s pressure to get married. I signed a contract with him to pretend to be his wife for a year, with a monthly payment of $20,000. If I had to go back to the family house to deal with his family, there would be an additional bonus. $20,000 was not a small amount, but who wouldn’t want more money, right? To explain how this pie fell into my lap, we need to go back to eight months ago. It was a beautiful sunny day. I was crouching by the roadside, crying my heart out. At that moment, a shiny luxury car stopped in front of me. Ethan Gray, dressed impeccably, got out of the car and gracefully handed me a handkerchief. “Why are you crying?” I sobbed, tears rolling down like broken strings of pearls, “I’m out of money… wah wah wah…” Ethan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said, “I have a job here that pays you $20,000 a month. Want to do it?” “Yes!” I agreed almost without thinking. Ethan smiled, “You’re not going to ask what the job is? Aren’t you afraid I might be a bad person?” I glanced at his car and said softly, “Are there bad people who drive Rolls-Royces?” Then, not forgetting to flatter him, I added, “There probably aren’t bad people who look this good either, right?” In reality, I had sized him up and determined that his build posed no danger to me. No one dislikes hearing compliments. He smiled even more happily, “Very well, come with me.” I hopped into the luxury car, hit by this huge pie, and signed the contract. Later, I asked him why he chose me. Ethan recalled for a while and said, “That day, I had never seen a girl cry so heartbrokenly. You were crouching there, small and vulnerable, looking so fragile that it made people want to protect you.” Fragile meant easy to manipulate, and wanting to protect meant approachable, very suitable. I pondered for a long time and finally understood. CEO × Damsel in Distress, isn’t that a fixed pairing? So, I began to diligently play the role of a fragile flower. Of course, I didn’t dare tell Ethan that the reason I was crying so heartbrokenly that day was because I had beaten up a pervert who was harassing me. He had two broken ribs, and I was bankrupt from the compensation. Ethan kept his promise. Not only did he transfer the money on time every month, but he also let me live in his four-story villa. In just four months, when the contract ended, I would be able to run away happily with the money. Everything was going well, if only I hadn’t lifted that barbell today. 0 “August 20th.” I took a marker and drew an ‘X’ on today’s date. The circled date was the day I first met Ethan, and also… the day when the one-year contract would end.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296245”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance