Category: English

I had been pretending to be good by Lucas Foster’s side for four years. Four years ago, when the video of Natalie Nelson killing my sister in a car accident was exposed, my boyfriend Charlie West hired a top lawyer for her, helping her clear her name. When I was left alone and helpless, it was Natalie’s stepbrother, Lucas Foster, who stepped up and chose justice over family ties. He found a lawyer for me, collected evidence and witness testimonies everywhere, and finally sent Natalie to prison. When the dust settled, Lucas proposed to me, and I agreed. But in our fourth year of marriage, I saw a birthday wish from Natalie in Lucas’s email. It was accompanied by a happy selfie of her on the beach. The date in the bottom right corner of the photo was yesterday. [Happy birthday, bro!] [Claire Hayes’s heart has been with me for four years now, with no adverse reactions. Thanks to you and Charlie, I’ve been given a new lease on life.] [It’s just a pity that you have to be forced to stay with Chloe to keep her from causing trouble.] Lucas’s reply was: [As long as you’re happy, I’m willing to do anything, sis.] After reading this, I smiled brightly. These three murderers still want happiness? After four years, their time is up!

I carefully recorded and saved this conversation between Lucas and Natalie as evidence, then quickly left Lucas’s study. Unexpectedly, as soon as I opened the study door, I ran into Lucas face to face. Lucas’s brow furrowed almost instantly: “What are you doing in my study?” In our four years of marriage, he had showered me with affection and even allowed me to work in the Foster family’s company, but he never let me near two places: his study at home and a specific room in his office at the company. Before he could finish speaking, I fearfully threw myself into his arms, choking back tears: “Lucas, I just had another nightmare. I dreamed of my sister covered in blood when she died. I was so scared, but I couldn’t find you anywhere, not even in your study…” The coldness in Lucas’s demeanor instantly melted away. He raised his hand to hold my waist, while his other hand gently patted my back to comfort me: “It’s okay, I’m here. Don’t be afraid.” “I know Claire’s death has been a constant pain for you all these years, but now that the culprit is behind bars, we should move on and live our lives well.” I trembled in his embrace, but my heart was filled with nothing but surging hatred. Lucas still didn’t know that I had long since discovered his involvement in my sister’s death, even though Natalie was the only apparent culprit on the surface. The reason Lucas chose to marry me was nothing more than an act to fool me. It was all to help his beloved stepsister Natalie escape legal punishment. Thinking of this, I fought back my nausea and cried even harder in his arms. Lucas put aside all his work and patiently comforted me for a long time, driven by guilt. After I had calmed down, he hesitantly spoke: “Honey, I need to tell you something… Natalie has been released from prison. She’s coming back tomorrow.” Seeing me freeze, he hurriedly added: “I shouldn’t be telling you this right now, but you know, she’s still related to me by family ties. Even though she committed a terrible crime, she has to come home. But I’m worried…” This usually decisive CEO’s voice grew softer as he spoke, filled with uncertainty. It was indeed cruel to ask the victim’s family to accept the return of the culprit. Especially since I was his wife. But I just wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes and smiled gently, without even furrowing my brow: “I understand your concerns. I’ll be fine.” I looked up and gently caressed his brow: “You’ve done so much for me, even choosing justice over family. I should let it go too.” Hearing this, Lucas’s hand on my back suddenly tightened, and he kissed my forehead. “Chloe, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” I chuckled lightly and pushed him away: “Come on, we’re an old married couple now. Stop being so mushy.” “Since Natalie is out of prison, we should throw her a welcome party to ward off bad luck. Let me take care of it.” Lucas breathed a sigh of relief and hugged me tightly, but the guilt in his eyes deepened. “Chloe, my sweet Chloe, you’re so good. I’ll never let you go in this lifetime.” I leaned on his shoulder, smiling sarcastically. Is that so? Well, let me show you just how “good” I can be.

Over these four years, I wasn’t just the respected and beloved Mrs. Foster; I was also a valuable asset to Foster Enterprises. Many profitable business plans were my ideas, and I fought for many employee benefits as well. Two years ago, when Lucas said the company was facing difficulties and urgently needed to cooperate with West Corporation, I agreed. Charlie West was my ex-boyfriend, the one who abandoned me when I sought justice for my sister and instead hired a top lawyer for Natalie. But at that time, for the sake of Lucas’s company’s development, I reconciled with Charlie without batting an eye. Now, once again for Lucas’s sake, I proactively suggested throwing a welcome party for the murderer of my sister. How could he not be moved by such devotion? How could our friends and family who knew the situation not like someone like me? At the welcome party, the elite of Ocean City gathered. Natalie, dressed in a gorgeous red gown, entered gracefully on Charlie’s arm. Her composed demeanor and arrogant attitude didn’t resemble someone who had just been released from prison at all. Instead, she looked like she had just returned from a vacation abroad. Of course, she had indeed just returned from abroad, and Lucas had personally picked her up from the airport. Natalie immediately spotted Lucas standing beside me. She ran over and threw herself into Lucas’s arms. “Brother, I’ve missed you so much! I was wrongfully imprisoned for four years, but now we can finally see each other!” As she spoke, her eyes, filled with jealousy and hatred, darted towards me like daggers. She added in a spoiled tone, as if showing off: “This welcome party is so beautiful! Did you prepare all this for me, brother? I love it!” Lucas fondly ruffled her hair: “All of this was arranged by Chloe. Come, say hello to your sister-in-law.” The smile on Natalie’s face instantly froze. She turned her gaze to me, forcing out a fake smile and greeted me briefly. As the party officially began, Natalie flitted through the crowd like a social butterfly, her eloquent performance drawing bursts of laughter. But I could feel her gaze, seemingly present yet absent, closely following me. Finally, when Lucas went to the restroom, Natalie approached me. At the time, I was resting in a corner of the party. Without a word, she took a glass of red wine and splashed it on my face. “Oh my, I’m so sorry, sister-in-law! I wanted to come over and toast you, to thank you for preparing such a lavish party for me, but I accidentally spilled it on your face.” “Are you okay? Do you need me to help you clean up?” Despite her words, she just stood in front of me, smiling mockingly, showing no intention of helping me at all. I took out a handkerchief to wipe the water from my face, revealing a calm smile: “It’s alright. Go enjoy yourself. I’ll just wash up in a bit.” My nonchalant attitude seemed to ignite Natalie’s anger. She slammed the wine glass down on the nearby table, no longer trying to hide her malice towards me: “Chloe Hayes, what are you playing at, acting all magnanimous? Don’t think I don’t know your little tricks. Are you planning to act pitiful so my brother will sympathize with you? You’re way out of your league!” Her gaze shifted to something behind me, and she suddenly leaned close to my ear, smiling as she said: “Guess what? Do you think my brother would allow someone who maliciously bullies his sister to continue being his wife?” As she spoke, she raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the face, her eyes immediately brimming with tears. Lucas quickly rushed over to protect the seemingly faltering Natalie in his arms. “Natalie, what happened?” Natalie curled up pitifully in Lucas’s arms, her lips quivering as tears fell like broken strings of pearls. “I just wanted to come over and toast Chloe, but she called me shameless. She not only slapped me but also grabbed the wine from my hand and splashed it on her own face, trying to frame me for bullying her.” Lucas immediately looked at me, seeing the wine dripping down my face and staining my dress. “Brother, I don’t understand why Chloe is treating me like this. Is it still because of that car accident? But I really didn’t mean to, and I’ve already served four years in prison for it. Why won’t she let it go…” Lucas’s face quickly darkened, but not towards me. Instead, it was directed at Natalie.

He furrowed his brow and immediately let go of Natalie, sternly saying: “No one is to bring up that incident again. Why are you imagining all this?” Natalie’s lips parted slightly, looking at Lucas in disbelief. I stepped forward to intervene: “It’s okay, Lucas. Natalie probably didn’t mean it. I’m fine.” “Today is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let’s not ruin it over something so trivial.” Lucas’s face remained grim as he coldly led Natalie away. As the onlookers dispersed and the party continued, I secretly followed them. In a corner on the second floor, Natalie finally couldn’t hold back and shook off Lucas’s hand, complaining in a coquettish tone: “Brother, you’re hurting me! And why won’t you believe me? Why are you siding with an outsider instead?” Seeing Natalie’s aggrieved expression, Lucas let out a long sigh, his tone softening: “We both know the truth of what happened. Chloe has been through a lot too. You should let it go.” Natalie’s eyes widened, looking at Lucas as if she didn’t recognize him: “What are you saying? Brother, don’t tell me you actually think of Chloe as your real wife. You only married her to help me escape punishment!” “It’s been years since that incident, and I’ve served my fake sentence. It’s time for you to dump her!” Lucas shook his head, “We owe her too much. I’ve prepared myself to spend the rest of my life making it up to her.” But as he turned to leave, Natalie hugged him from behind: “I don’t believe it! Lucas, you like me, don’t you? We’re not blood-related. I know you love me, otherwise why would you do so much for me?” Lucas froze as if struck by her words. His hands trembled slightly. Finally, giving in to his desires, he turned around, cupped Natalie’s face, and kissed her fiercely. I silently stopped recording, saved the video, and left the second floor. When Lucas brought Natalie down from the second floor, the party was coming to an end. He couldn’t find me anywhere and only discovered me crying in the storage room when we got home. Hearing him open the door, I pretended not to notice and cried even harder. “Chloe!” Lucas rushed over to hug me, frowning as he spoke: “I was wondering where you’d disappeared to. What happened? Why are you crying like this?” I quickly turned my head away, hastily wiping away my tears with my sleeve before forcing a smile and facing him: “It’s nothing. I just twisted my ankle while tidying up earlier. I hid here because I was afraid you’d laugh at me…” Lucas stared at me, his eyes full of pity: “Chloe, don’t you know that your smile is the most forced when you’re lying? I can see right through it.” “I…” I nervously glanced away. He wiped away my unshed tears with his knuckle, “Tell me, why were you hiding here crying?” I bit my lip, holding back for a moment before hooking my arms around his neck and letting my sobs break free. “At the party, Natalie mentioned my sister. It made me think that if Claire were still alive, she’d be about Natalie’s age now…” “But I’ll never get to see her grow up.” As I mentioned my sister, a flash of panic crossed Lucas’s eyes, quickly replaced by guilt. His grip on my waist tightened as he said remorsefully: “It’s all my fault. I was so busy with the party that I neglected your feelings. Tell me, honey, what can I do to make you feel better?” I lowered my eyes and shook my head: “You don’t need to do anything. Just letting me see you often is enough.” “Lucas, can I come to your office more often from now on? I’ve been having nightmares lately, dreaming that you’ve left me. I… Could we have meals together and talk more? Maybe that would help.” Lucas frowned hesitantly. He had always avoided letting me into his office. Because in there, he kept many secrets he didn’t want me to know. I withdrew my arms, forcing a light laugh: “If you’re too busy, forget it. I was just thinking out loud.” “Lying again.” He gently tapped my forehead, smiling tenderly. “Of course I can fulfill such a small request.” I brightened visibly and kissed his cheek, “You’re the best, honey!” The look of delight on his face didn’t seem fake, a spark of fire dancing in his eyes. Lucas happily picked me up in his arms, and I nestled my face against his neck in feigned shyness. I almost couldn’t hide the disgust in my eyes…

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In the seventh year of my secret crush on Jasper, I ended up marrying him. On our wedding night, he handed me a divorce agreement. ” After a year, we’ll go our separate ways peacefully,” he said, glancing at my lace nightgown with a slight smile. ” Miss Adeline, is there something on your mind?” When the year was up, I asked, “When are we going to the civil affairs bureau?” He acted as if he didn’t hear me. “Who was that guy earlier?” I laughed and replied, “Mr. Lu, is something on your mind?” During my graduation internship, right after I was offered a full-time position, Jasper approached me. He asked if I would marry him—a marriage of convenience. In a year, he promised to give me ten million. Who can afford to let pride overshadow money, right? I was afraid if I hesitated even for a moment, he’d change his mind.

From the time we got our marriage certificate to our wedding night, less than a month passed. That night, I dressed up intentionally in a lace nightgown. But Jasper handed me a divorce agreement. “After a year, we’ll part ways.”

He had grown a lot more refined and composed since high school. I was momentarily stunned. “Should I sign it now?” Jasper seemed in a hurry. ” Just give it to me before the contract ends.” I nodded. “Where will you be sleeping tonight?” The air was filled with silence. I really wanted to slap myself. Jasper paused, then briefly smiled, his gaze lowering with meaning. “Miss Adeline,” he chuckled, “is something on your mind?”

Following his gaze, I suddenly covered my chest. “Shameless!” Jasper raised an eyebrow, leisurely leaning against the doorframe, teasing me on purpose. ” On such a joyous night, should we sleep together?” We were both adults, and given how I was dressed, any man would misunderstand. I slammed the door shut, both angry and embarrassed. This guy was still the same bold rogue from high school!

I didn’t see Jasper again after that. I heard he went abroad for business. Living in a mansion with a husband who was never home was quite relaxing for me. Late at night, I heard the sound of an engine downstairs. After seven months, Jasper was back. He slept in the guest room. I relaxed and turned over, then suddenly opened my eyes wide. Last night, I had drunk too much and fell asleep in the guest room. I had even taken out the love letter I wrote to him when I was young to read, and it was still there.

The hallway was chilly. I quietly opened the guest room door. I heard water running in the bathroom. Jasper was showering. Holding my breath, I searched around but didn’t find it. The next moment, the bathroom door opened. Jasper was only wearing gray lounge pants. His skin was pale and muscular, still dripping wet. Our eyes met. He said calmly, “Are you hiding someone?”

I glanced at his abs, “No.” Jasper leisurely dried his hair, “Did you need something?” I made up an excuse. “Um… just checking if you’re hiding a woman.” Jasper chuckled, “If I were hiding a woman, I wouldn’t be back tonight.” “So, you’ve been with other women these past seven months?” Realizing I said something wrong, I shut my mouth. But Jasper wouldn’t let it go, looking at me with interest, teasingly. “Do you want to talk about this with me?”

Without waiting for an explanation, I suppressed the discomfort in my heart, wanting to say something. The phone rang. Jasper put on a short T-shirt and stepped out onto the balcony to answer in English. I wasn’t interested in his call. I searched again and decided to pretend to sleep. Jasper was unlikely to share a bed with me; I’d search again in the morning. I couldn’t let him find it first. Half-asleep, I felt the bed sink beside me. That night, I dreamed of Jasper from high school. The transfer student from Hong Kong, smart, handsome, and well-off. His name was once popular throughout the school. He had a girlfriend. I didn’t know why they argued back then, but she cried. Jasper, holding his school uniform, bent down to comfort her helplessly. I stood not far away, feeling a profound silence.

reams are always nonsensical. One moment, I was heartbroken and suppressed. The next, I dreamed of pulling up a radish. The bedroom light suddenly turned on. Still immersed in the dream, I mumbled, “Why can’t I pull it out…” Jasper took a deep breath, “Open your eyes and see what you’re doing.” Just as I was about to open my eyes, a warm hand grasped my wrist and moved it away. Jasper got up and went to the bathroom, not waiting for me to speak. He said in a cold voice, “Keep causing trouble, and you’ll sleep on the floor.” “…” He’s really fierce.

Waking up the next day, it was bright outside. I felt the cold spot beside me. Slowly, I finished breakfast. Jasper was already waiting in the car. We were going to the family estate today. In the car, we said nothing. Finally, I said, “Sorry about last night.” Jasper was working. He glanced at me, “What were you looking for last night?” I paused, then honestly replied, “A love letter.” “You wrote it?” “Yes.” Jasper’s gaze landed on my face. He asked, “A secret crush, huh?” My cheeks warmed, “It was my senior from high school, very handsome, you know.” I spoke while looking at him. Jasper chuckled briefly, as if unconcerned. I felt like a clown. What was I expecting? “So what now that you’re married?” I looked up, stunned. Jasper turned to me, teasing, “Should I sleep between you two?” “…”

When we got out of the car, I boldly tugged at his sleeve. ” We need to act the part; I want to hold hands.” Jasper’s expression didn’t change, still on the previous topic. “So do I sleep between you two, or what do you want?” He smiled, but I felt it was empty, like there was nothing inside. As if he seemed easygoing but was actually cold inside. I said, “I’ll put on a grand show for you!” With that, Jasper looked down at me, seemingly genuinely smiling. Then he gently took my hand, intertwining our fingers. “Then you have to mourn for me, wife.”

At the family estate’s entrance, I knew he was acting. He didn’t really want to hold my hand. But hearing him call me ‘wife’ made my heart race a little. As soon as we stepped into the living room, “We’ve waited from the beginning of the year to the end, and the third child finally brings his wife home to meet us?” Jasper was the third child in the family. He probably married me to avoid an arranged marriage. Jasper pulled out a slight smile, “Mom, I didn’t want to disturb your peace.” “You mean you didn’t want me to disturb yours.” The middle-aged woman, draped in a shawl, sneered, looking at me. “Miss Adeline, right? Come and have a cup of tea.” But there was no tea in front of her. She meant for me to make it. Just as I was about to stand, my wrist was held down. Jasper leaned back in his chair, playing with my fingertips, “With two maids standing by, does she have to do it?” “Can’t I want a cup of tea made by my daughter-in-law?” “Of course, but my wife isn’t for serving.” Stop acting… I damn well like you even more.

The Aiden family children are usually busy. So it’s a rule that they must come back for a meal and stay overnight once a month. The dining table was cold and quiet. This house didn’t feel like a home; it was oppressive and serious. In the bedroom, I was nervous again, “I can sleep in the guest room.” “That would be a breach of contract.” The contract stated that if Party B caused others to find out it was a fake marriage, Party B owed Party A five million. I changed the subject, “Do you have a lot of conflicts with your mother?” Jasper, not done with his work, replied dismissively, “Are you into me? Want to save me?” “Didn’t the woman you spent seven months with save you?” He laughed, “If I had someone I liked, why would I marry you?” “…” He said he didn’t have anyone he liked now. I felt a bit disappointed. I opened my mouth to speak. Suddenly, everything went dark. Later, I heard it was because the second brother and his wife were fighting next door. A cup of water spilled into the electrical outlet, causing a blackout on the entire second floor. By then, I was already startled and ended up sitting on Jasper’s lap.

I wasn’t at a loss. I just wanted to be close to him. “I’m so scared.” Jasper paused, “I’m more scared.” The room was dimly lit. “What are you afraid of?” His voice was playful, “Afraid of losing both money and love.” He’s been in social settings for so many years, understanding people well. Like he saw right through my feelings for him. I pretended not to understand, “So why did you marry me?” Jasper, with little emotion, draped his arm lightly over my knee, “Be good, short of money.” When did I lack money? Thinking of something, I didn’t explain. Seeing his brows furrowed, he was probably about to say, “Keep it up, and you’ll sleep on the floor tonight.” “Jasper.” “Hmm.” “Do you believe I can guess what you’re thinking?” We were so close, almost feeling each other’s breath. Jasper lifted his eyes, his gaze brushing over my lips. “Do you think I dare?”

Under the moonlight, his eyes were very dark. I saw myself in them. I whispered, “You probably dare.” Jasper seemed surprised by my words, gently tapping my knee with his finger. After a while, his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and he shifted his gaze, “No protection.” “…” I then realized we weren’t talking about the same thing. The light finally came back on. I stood up in a panic, palms a bit sweaty, “Rogue.” I said, escaping into the bathroom. Coming out, Jasper was still at the computer. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up, his side profile sharp and refined. As if he’d forgotten what just happened. I felt uneasy. In the dead of night, once again sharing a bed. After his shower, he came out. I instinctively pulled the blanket a bit. “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you.” His tone was light. I couldn’t tell if he was reassuring me or telling me not to get my hopes up. I turned my back on him in anger. “Turn off the lights; it’s too bright, and I can’t get used to it.” Jasper, being obedient, said, “You sleep first.” I snorted, “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you either.” After hastily finishing my sentence, I dashed into the bathroom. When I emerged, Jasper was still seated in front of the computer. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, highlighting his sharp profile. It was as though he had completely forgotten the earlier conversation. I felt a pang of discomfort. The night was quiet, and once again, we shared a bed. After his shower, he came out, and I instinctively pulled the covers up. “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you,” he said with an indifferent tone. It was hard to tell if he was trying to reassure me or make me abandon any hope. Annoyed, I turned my back to him. “Please turn off the lights; it’s too bright for me.” Jasper complied, “You can sleep first.” I scoffed, “Don’t worry, I won’t touch you either.” “Well, once you’re asleep, who knows.” My ears burned red as I recalled the sensation from last night, something I struggled to control. … Jasper always seemed busy, often returning home late when I was already asleep. On the phone, my best friend was incredulous, “How can you sleep next to such a handsome guy and not do anything?” I whispered, “He doesn’t seem to like me.” “If he did, he would have made a move on your wedding night. You know, sometimes love and family grow with time.” I hung up, realizing she had a point. I might not win his heart, but I should at least try to experience something with him. Lost in thought, the department manager called me over, “These are documents Mr. Jasper needs delivered, Miss Adeline. Could you please take them over for me? Thanks a lot.” He handed me the documents and left. Over the years, I’ve faced many humiliations, one after another. But I took a deep breath; once I get the ten million, I’ll quit immediately! The location was just at the hotel across the street, and I could see Jasper. As I counted the room numbers, a woman opened the door. She was wrapped in a bath towel and, seeing the documents in my hand, said understandingly, “My boyfriend just stepped out. You’re his employee, right?” In that moment, I forgot how I felt. Numbly nodding, I handed over the documents and turned to leave, my steps unsteady and my mind blank. I wanted to call and ask him something, but I realized I had no right to interfere in his private life. After all, our marriage was fake from the beginning. I felt a rush of sadness and wanted to cry. To ease the pain, I went to a bar and hired a couple of male escorts. My best friend had to cancel last minute and advised me over the phone to take it easy and not let things get out of hand tonight. But I couldn’t hear anything. My phone lit up again. Jasper was asking, [Where are you?] I pretended not to see it, but after a few seconds, I replied anyway, [Working overtime] [Thank you for your hard work.] Such a considerate reply. I felt a bit emotional and typed back fiercely, [Good thing you know!] [Hmm, should I come toast a drink to you?] … I suddenly looked up, neon lights flickering before my eyes, and sighed with relief. Jasper was likely cozied up somewhere and wouldn’t be here. As I withdrew my gaze, I glanced casually and locked eyes with the man not far away. Jasper stood in the shadows, a faint red glow at his fingertips. In his suit, tall and long-legged, he took a drag of his cigarette. Through the smoke, his gaze was emotionless as it fell on me. At that moment, I had a male escort on each side, one pouring wine, the other feeding me fruit. In a daze, Jasper leisurely stubbed out his cigarette and walked over slowly. The escorts sensed trouble, “Violet, who is he? He looks so fierce.” I suddenly didn’t know how to explain. The escorts wouldn’t let up, “Aren’t we enough? Did you call another one, Violet, speak up, Violet.” Jasper turned his head, “Try calling one more.” The escorts shrank back, too scared to speak. I awkwardly stood up, feeling a bit dizzy, “Let’s go home…” Jasper looked amused, “Where do I sleep this time?” “Don’t worry, you won’t have to sleep in the middle.” He laughed angrily, “So you’ve rearranged things for me, huh.” His expression turned cold as he grabbed my wrist, leading me to the door. I struggled, equally angry, “You’re allowed to have a girlfriend, but I can’t have fun? You have to let me make mistakes too.” Mistakes, indeed. He frowned, “What girlfriend?” “She’s all showered and waiting for you!” The phone rang. Jasper answered it, and as he paid the bill, he also covered the cost of the escorts I had hired. Such a nice guy, so generous. After hanging up, he sent a message on the screen, then looked at me, “Who taught you to make such a fuss?” I got into the car, “Who’s really making a fuss!” Jasper sighed inwardly, choosing not to argue, “You’re drunk, stop it.” The phone rang again. It was my department manager, Zane. As soon as I answered, he was angrily scolding, “I told you to deliver the document to 913, where did you send it? The business partner is still waiting in the conference room, and Mr. Jasper is urging, if you don’t want to work, just leave tomorrow!” I was already in a bad mood, drunk, and spoke without thinking, “You’re just a scapegoat always shirking responsibility! You clearly told me to send it to 319…” After saying that, I paused, realizing I might have misunderstood something. The voice on the other end was clearly confused, “Iris Adeline, you’re something, I ask you to do one thing and you throw a fit, if I were Mr. Jasper, I’d fire you right away!” I impulsively said, “He’s right here, tell him yourself.” It was on speaker. My head was dizzy, leaning against the car window, resting my eyes. The person next to me had a deep and pleasant voice. In my haze, it felt like a dream. I heard him say—if you speak to her like that again, you’ll be packing your things and leaving. … It started raining. When I woke up, we were home. I didn’t open my eyes, and Jasper didn’t wake me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and carried me. His chest was warm with a hint of moisture. I couldn’t help but open my eyes a crack, quietly watching him, strangely reminded of him in high school. In the cafeteria, on the sports field, even in the store when we brushed past each other. Those memories stayed with me for many years. Maybe my gaze was too intense, like I was looking through him at someone else. Jasper suddenly stopped, lowered his eyes, “Who are you looking at?” My face was flushed, murmuring, “Someone I like.” His fingers tightened on my waist for a moment. Jasper’s eyes turned cold, perhaps remembering the love letter I was looking for last time. He placed me on the bed, pinched my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Iris Adeline.” “Hmm.” “Look closely,” he said in a deep voice, “I’m not him.” … The memory of the hangover was fragmented. Jasper got up half an hour earlier than me. Washing up, changing clothes. Neither of us spoke first. It felt like an unspoken cold war. I asked about the important matter, “What about the document I delivered wrong last night, is it important?” Jasper was tying his tie, and in the morning light, his face looked even more handsome. Some people, just standing there, can provide emotional value. He said, “It’s the project promotion plan, it’s fine.” I was relieved. Jasper glanced at me, “Nothing else to say?” Thinking of last night’s awkward misunderstanding, I shook my head, wanting to leave, “Nothing.” As I was about to pass by, he held my arm for a moment. He sighed, “During our marriage, I won’t do anything to betray you.” I took a few seconds to react, fearing he’d bring up the male models, “Got it, I’ll head downstairs first.” Jasper didn’t let go, thinking I was still angry, “Really, no girlfriend.” His eyes were dark. His tone coaxing. My thoughts slowed, suddenly feeling a bit envious of the girl who occupied his youth. This person is gentle and restrained. Being in a relationship with him must be a delightful thing. “Are you explaining to me?” Jasper paused, wanting to ask, “What do you think?” Silence between us. He continued looking at me, not sure what he was thinking. I stood awkwardly, also asking, “What are you thinking?” Jasper leaned against the wardrobe, a faint smile on his lips, “Thinking if you get drunk, do you like to kiss people randomly.” I didn’t kiss him last night, did I? Zane seemed to know something shocking. Today he was extra attentive, offering two hot drinks as an apology. I didn’t want to engage, thinking all day about when I might have kissed Jasper. That night, there was a dinner gathering. The business partner was hosting. I was involved in the project, so I was naturally invited. Jasper arrived late. He sat right next to me. Zane, ever the opportunist, used the chance to bond with me over drinks. The business partner jokingly asked if he had a thing for me, being so attentive. Zane shook his head repeatedly, glancing at Jasper, “Miss Adeline has a boyfriend.” I was stunned, not wanting more misunderstandings, I explained, “No, I’m single.” The table fell silent for half a second. Then the laughter resumed. The business partner smoothed things over, “Young people these days focus on their careers, marrying late. But Mr. Jasper, you should hurry up, almost thirty, let me introduce my daughter to you sometime.” Jasper remained unreactive throughout, smiling, “Sorry, I’m married.” In an instant, some were surprised, some were confused. Zane was the latter, his gaze at me changing multiple times. Finally turning disdainful. Our marriage agreement was mutual, not public. Now, something felt off. I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. I glanced at Jasper next to me, sending him a message. [Mr. Jasper, what do you mean?] The screen lit up, Jasper glanced at his phone. But showed no intention of opening it. I anxiously nudged him with my knee. Jasper finally, generously, replied. [Don’t want to meet his daughter.] So that’s it. I lowered my gaze

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When I was seventeen, the boy I liked committed suicide. His blog was made public online. In millions of posts, his hidden sorrow and feelings for me became known to thousands. At the end, he wrote: “Only you can save me.” That night, I went back to the day we first met and hugged him. The usually aloof and proud boy fumbled: “Classmate, this isn’t appropriate, is it?” Zack died. I heard the news while squeezed in a crowded subway during rush hour. Next to me were two high school girls in uniforms, whispering to each other. I caught some fragments: Zack, sleeping pills, Chris remembered. These keywords connected together easily made me think of something unpleasant. There was a moment of ringing in my ears, and I turned my head to look at the two girls. Perhaps frightened by my blank stare, one girl hesitated: “Sister, do you like Zack too?” I was stunned by this question, nodded, and the girl immediately showed a sympathetic expression. “My condolences.” What a pity, only after you died did I have the chance to say I liked you in front of others. The topic of Zack’s suicide had already risen to number one. His good friend Chris made all the private posts on Zack’s blog public according to Zack’s last wishes. I scrolled through his blog posts one by one. He wrote about how painful it was in his creative process, how difficult it was to maintain his sharp edges in the entertainment industry. My heart seemed to feel the same pain. In these articles, he kept reminiscing about a person called ‘Lily’. What a coincidence, we have the same name. If I didn’t know that I had almost no contact with Zack during high school, I would have thought it was me. But when I saw the last post, my tears instantly dried on my face. “09/02/2014 Today, a classmate listened to my original song seriously. What a strong sense of achievement! I really want to hold a concert and sing just for her.” “I’m thinking, even if many people don’t understand me, what does it matter? As long as I’ve been treated seriously by one sincere gaze, I’m lucky.” “If there ever comes a day when I want to give up, only Lily can save me.” In an instant, the hundreds of articles with ‘Lily’ in them had an answer. ‘Lily’ was me. My heart started beating uncontrollably, but what followed was a deep sense of helplessness. If… if I had been a little braver back then, could I have saved him? The dead are gone, and the living still have to go to work tomorrow. I looked at the redness under my eyes in the mirror and sighed. Zack… I hope in your next life you can be an ordinary but happy child. That night, I dreamed of Zack. In the dream, the sky was orange-red like an oil painting. I stood on the playground, with unfamiliar classmates playing basketball in the distance. Everything was so familiar. Eight years ago… Just then, a guitar sound came from behind me, accompanied by a boy’s low singing. In an instant, I suddenly froze. This scene, I would never forget in my life. It was because I accidentally heard Zack’s original song that I started to have a crush on him. The voice from behind continued, and I turned around stiffly, staring at the boy in front of me. Zack was only seventeen at that time, his face still had baby fat, his hair fell on his forehead, and his eyes were pure. His temperament hadn’t yet developed the melancholy of his post-debut days. Sensing my burning gaze, he stopped. “Classmate…” He was about to say something when he suddenly stopped. My tears also instantly slid down my cheeks. Zack stood up, put everything else aside, and fumbled in his pants pocket to find a pack of tissues. “I don’t think I was singing a sad song, was I?” He handed them to me: “Or do you have something upsetting you?” From Zack’s personal diary, I knew that Zack had also fallen in love with me at first sight because of my appreciation for his music. I threw aside my former reserve and shyness, and suddenly hugged Zack’s waist without warning. “Zack… you’re still alive… that’s so good.” I said these words chokingly. Zack raised his hands the moment I hugged him. Behind us, many classmates started whistling teasingly. “Classmate, this isn’t appropriate, is it?” Zack’s ears turned red, and he stood stiffly, not daring to move. I let go, took out a jade pendant from my neck. This jade was given to me by my grandfather at a scenic spot when I was a child, saying it could bring safety. It had always been with me, and I indeed had been healthy and safe since childhood. Now I laid this jade in front of Zack. “It’s for you.” Since it could protect me, it could protect you too. After all, it was in my dream, I could do whatever I wanted. Zack’s ears turned red, a bit bewildered by my behavior. “This…” His clear eyes seemed to have a glimmer of water, his hand took it. “Thank you then…” He gripped my jade in his palm, tightening it. When he looked at me again, his gaze was a bit serious. “Classmate, have we met before?” I paused, shook my head, and tried hard to suppress the sourness in my heart to give him a smile. “Maybe, just seeing you, hearing your music, I felt a special sense of familiarity.” When I first met you, it was like reuniting with an old friend. My consciousness gradually recovered, and when my eyes opened, my face was cold. Indeed, dreaming of Zack still makes me sad. When I arrived at the company, the atmosphere was gloomy. As soon as I sat down, a colleague came over. “Have you seen Zack’s public blog?” My heart was suddenly pierced by a thorn, but I still nodded strongly. The colleague immediately opened up. “I didn’t expect Zack to have so many painful aspects inside.” “And, I didn’t expect such a handsome guy would have unrequited love.” “But that girl must have liked him too, right?” “Otherwise, how could she directly give Zack that jade pendant?” In an instant, my eyes suddenly widened, and even my breathing became heavy. “What did you just say?” As I said this, I opened Zack’s blog and turned to the last post. “A jade pendant?” The colleague’s words suddenly came out, and I also saw the content in Zack’s blog post that wasn’t there yesterday. “This girl suddenly cried when she saw me.” “She took off her jade pendant without saying a word, her neck instantly turned red.” “But when I asked for her name at the end, she ran away without saying a word.” But this… was what I did in my dream… “How is this possible?” I muttered to myself, and my colleague’s eyes showed a bit of confusion. “Didn’t you see the news? Zack was clutching this jade pendant when he died.” “But you have the same name as this girl, it’s really such a coincidence.” If I understand correctly. Last night’s dream really gave me a chance to save Zack. But why… did he still commit suicide? I was so uncomfortable at my workstation that I could hardly breathe, hating myself for not seizing the opportunity. Back home, after a simple wash, I fell into a dream again. This time, I must hold onto him. Today’s dream scene was on a dark path outside the school gate. It should have just missed the crowd after the evening self-study session, now there were very few people on the small path. I wonder which scene of me and Zack this is? Suddenly, I heard an angry shout from the alley beside. “Don’t touch my guitar.” In an instant, I had an impression. In the second year of high school, there was a nasty off-campus fight incident involving Zack. To say it was a fight, it was almost one-sided with him being beaten. The cause was that Zack accidentally discovered his classmate being extorted for protection money by boys from a vocational school. So he took his classmate away. Zack had quite a few brothers, so those people were wary of Zack and let him go at that time. Later, they found a few small-time thugs from society and took Zack to a small alley when school was over. I heard they smashed Zack’s guitar that he had used for a long time, and Zack was outnumbered. Afterwards, Zack bought a new one, but obviously, every time he played the guitar, his expression wasn’t as immersed. So, this was Zack. And at this moment, I was just a seventeen-year-old girl. I thought calmly, every time Mr. Harrison was on duty, he would stay in the office for a while after the evening self-study session. The school, now with only a few lonely lights, became my reassurance. I first hid to one side and called the police. Then I sent a message to Mr. Harrison: “Mr. Harrison, there are students from other schools extorting our school’s students at the school gate.” After sending the message, I stuck to the wall, covering my breath. Now in the alley was an oily voice. “Actually, we don’t have to touch this, but you have to apologize to my brother.” “Why should I?” A sound came from inside, as if someone had hit the wall with the guitar. “Don’t move!” Zack’s voice in the quiet alley was like a whimpering lion. ———-This is the breakpoint———- Even though I knew I should protect my own safety, I really couldn’t sit by and do nothing.

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It had been three months since I found the werewolf when he ran away on a dark, windy night. Before leaving, he warned me fiercely: “Werewolves only have one mate for life. I already have a wolf I like, and I’ll never accept you! “Get rid of those dirty thoughts. I won’t like you!” With that, he ran off, leaving me standing there, dumbfounded. What was he talking about? I had been treating him like a dog all this time. What did that have to do with being mates? Finding the werewolf was purely accidental. At first, I thought he was a dog. On the third day after bringing him home, I discovered he had turned into a human. He was lounging lazily on my sofa cushions, eating chips and watching TV. When he saw something he liked, his fluffy tail wagged happily back and forth. In that moment, I don’t know how many times I recited the core values of society in my mind. Later, he explained the werewolf species to me with a look of disdain, and I realized he was actually a normal evolved creature. “So can you eat dog food?” I asked, rubbing his ears. “Don’t- don’t rub them!” His face turned red and steamy as he stepped back, seriously answering me: “I need to eat meat, not dog food. “I’m not like those lowly dogs who fawn over humans.” Me: “…” He’s quite high-maintenance.

The werewolf’s disappearance was inexplicable. I thought about it for a long time but couldn’t figure out what he was doing, so I gave up thinking about it. Life was very peaceful after that. Until two weeks later, when a business partner invited me to a coffee shop to discuss a project. I brought my laptop. While chatting, by chance, I spotted that werewolf with one glance. He was in human form, very tall and muscular, wearing a suit. His eyes were cold and indifferent as he leaned on the railing, looking down at the crowd below with an impatient expression. “Miss Emma, do you know Mr. Lucas?” the business partner asked eagerly when he noticed me looking: “Mr. Lucas is a major shareholder of Rong’an. I chose this place today because I knew he often comes here. “Why don’t you introduce us?” I was stunned for a moment, then realized he was talking about the werewolf. I shook my head: “I don’t know him. I just thought he looked handsome. Sorry.” The business partner sighed, his expression clearly disappointed. His attitude towards me became somewhat colder afterwards. I didn’t mind. After finishing explaining the project, I got up to pay the bill and saw the werewolf tilting his head, talking to an elegantly dressed urban beauty. The two were standing very close, so close their bodies overlapped, like the man was holding the woman in his arms. [More like they were kissing.] I turned my eyes away without any particular thoughts. On the way home, I passed by a pet hospital and saw a big dog displayed in the window. A yellow Labrador. I put my hand on the glass, and it happened to look up, grinning at me and lifting its paw to press against my palm through the glass. In that moment, I made up my mind. I’m buying it!

Raising a dog is much more comfortable than raising a werewolf. The dog doesn’t talk, loves eating dog food, and is very well-behaved. When I’m not home, it always lazes around on the carpet, waiting for me to come home and walk it. I took it to many places. The beach, the ocean park, the seal aquarium… One day when I went to buy coffee at a cafe, the staff wouldn’t let the dog inside, so I tied it up outside and warned it to be good. Suddenly two people appeared beside me. The werewolf and that woman he was intimate with the other day. The woman stared at the Labrador’s wagging tail and sneered: “Dogs are such fawning creatures, a disgrace to canines.” Beside her, the werewolf’s eyes were also dark and gloomy as he looked at me. I ignored them, patted the Labrador’s head and said softly: “Be good, baby. Mommy will make you meatballs tonight.” With that, I got up and walked past the two of them without giving them a single glance.

When I came out, my dog was gone. The leash I had tied was loose, and both the leash and dog had disappeared. My movements froze for a moment. The werewolf was standing at the door smoking. Seeing the situation, he said very disdainfully and excitedly: “See, it doesn’t want you anymore. “How could such a mindless creature be loyal to its owner?” Wolves can smoke? I walked away in disgust. I called the dog’s name while looking for it, asking passersby if they had seen a yellow Labrador. After walking nearly two kilometers without finding it, I started to panic. Just as I was about to call animal protection for help, an annoying voice came from beside me. “If it’s lost, it’s lost. What’s so great about that stupid dog? “It can’t even track its owner by scent, truly a disgrace to canines. “What’s so good about it? Yellow and ugly, like a pile of human excrement. “Don’t casually raise dogs, canines are very possessive…” I finally couldn’t hold back anymore. I scolded him, suppressing my anger: “Are you sick?” He was stunned for a moment, then said in disbelief: “You’re scolding me for that stupid dog? “You’ve only had it for two weeks, and you’re scolding me because of it. Are you going to set the dog on me next… You can’t treat me like this.” He looked very wronged. So wronged that he was about to cry, his originally narrow wolf eyes widened, faintly tinged with red. But I was very annoyed. I couldn’t understand what he was doing. “It’s my dog, of course I’ll protect it… And you’re the one who said we wouldn’t have any relationship in the future.” I looked him up and down for a moment, seeing his high-end tailored suit, and reached out my hand to him: “You seem to be doing very well in human society. “Pay me back for the meat I fed you before. I want to buy toys for the dog.” “You- you!” He looked like he was about to die of anger, his words becoming incoherent: “What toys does a stupid dog need…” “Mr. Lucas!” Someone suddenly called out to him from across the street, interrupting his words. The person ran over excitedly, looking at him with burning eyes. It was that business partner from the other day. He turned to talk to me, his attitude much warmer than before. “Miss Emma, why didn’t you say earlier that you knew Mr. Lucas? We can sign that contract right away! I’ll have legal draw it up now. “If I had known you were so close to Mr. Lucas, we wouldn’t have dragged this out for so long, right?” Me: “…” Lost my dog and now forced to work on my day off. Damn wolf! I smiled politely, and when the client wasn’t looking, I turned my head and glared fiercely at the werewolf. His expression became even more innocent and wronged, his big eyes filled with tears that looked like they could fall at any moment.

It was already 7 pm when I finished signing the contract. Tired, I walked out of the company to see a man and a dog facing off at the entrance. The yellow Labrador’s body was tense, its paws scratching the ground as it growled a warning at the “wolf-scented” bad guy opposite. Meanwhile, the werewolf stood relaxed with his arms crossed, looking very disdainful and saying things I couldn’t understand. …Was he communicating with the dog? Can dogs understand wolf language? I watched in disbelief for a while before going over to rub the dog’s head. I comforted it: “Don’t be angry, baby. Mommy’s back.” The werewolf was silent for a moment, then came over and crouched down beside me, head lowered. “What are you doing?” I asked. “I want to be petted too.” He moved his head closer: “You raised me too. You can’t just pet it and not me.” I was a bit speechless. I had just learned his identity from the business partner. Lucas Gu. The youngest son of the Gu family in the capital, a shareholder of Rong’an, the country’s largest semiconductor manufacturing company. He could be considered in the top tier of wealth and power. How could he be such a shameless wolf… I stood up and asked him coldly: “Did you steal my dog earlier?” “I didn’t steal it.” He mumbled: “That leash was too loose. I just tugged and it came undone. The dog followed the ham on its own, I couldn’t do anything…” I stared at him silently without saying anything. He bit his lip: “Okay, I was wrong.” He looked very dejected: “You’re too good to it. You pet its head, buy it toys, even kiss it. I was jealous. “After all, you used to only raise me, this one wolf.”

“Weren’t you the one who said you had a wolf you liked and would have nothing to do with me in the future? You told me not to covet you, right? “That secretary lady today, is she the wolf you like?” I asked him coldly: “You like her but still come to play with me. Is this the loyalty you talked about?” “I’m not disloyal! That wolf is my sister, born from the same mother.” He explained anxiously: “You were the one hugging and cuddling with other men. I got angry, that’s why I said those hurtful things. “Werewolves only have one mate for life, unlike you pure humans who are fickle and so disloyal…” His voice got smaller and more wronged as he spoke, until he finally wiped his tears with the back of his hand: “You saved me, saw my pure wolf form, and petted and hugged me so many times. You’re the mate I’ve chosen… You can’t betray me!” Me: “…” Can it work like this?

“I don’t like you. I petted you before because you were a dog… no, a canine. “I don’t know how your werewolf tribe defines the term ‘mate’, but in our human world, hugs and petting don’t determine a relationship.” I told him very frankly: “For that project, I get a commission. Consider it compensation for your food expenses at my place these days. We’re even now. “I don’t like you, and I don’t want to be your mate. Please don’t do any more weird things in the future. “Goodbye… No, never see you again.” With that, I pulled the Labrador away. Walking quickly, wanting to get far away from this weird werewolf. He didn’t chase after me. I breathed a sigh of relief. After getting home, I made beef tofu vegetable soup for the dog, along with a bowl of dog food. I sat beside it and watched it lick the plate clean, feeling very sorry for it. “That bad werewolf made my baby go hungry for a day,” I said, petting its head. “Next time we see him, let’s bite him, okay?” The dog grinned and raised its paw to high-five me. That night, as I was sleeping hazily, I suddenly felt something furry rubbing against my chin. Thinking it was the dog, I pushed it away subconsciously: “Baby, don’t bother Mommy.” The thing paused, then rubbed even more vigorously, even sticking out its tongue to lick my neck. Again and again, the wet and sticky sensation made my whole body tingle with heat. I opened my eyes and found myself staring into a pair of pitch-black, narrow eyes. They were staring straight at me, as if wanting to devour me whole. — It was that werewolf.

I tried hard to push him away. His pitch-black eyes flashed with crimson as he raised his paw to press down my hand. His huge wolf body covered me, enveloping me completely. Black fur fell on my cheeks. I turned my head away awkwardly and angrily kicked him: “Get off!” He let out a muffled groan, his body trembling, but pressed down on me even more— “What are you doing? Get off! Did you hear me? Are you trying to commit a crime? You bastard…” I was about to cry out when I heard his muffled voice: “I’m in pain. Can I just hold you for a while? “I’ll just hold you, nothing else. Please.” His wolf head nuzzled my cheek, his furry ears inadvertently brushing my forehead. His mouth let out uncontrollable whimpers. I was stunned for a moment: “…Mating season? Sensitive period? Or are you on drugs?” He shook his ears but didn’t answer my question. His wolf body was twice my size, his fur covering the entire king-sized bed. It was really heavy on top of me. I was silent for a moment, then patted his paw: “Can we change positions? “Let me be on top.”

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“Just sign it, Lily. My child can’t be illegitimate.” The night my sister was hospitalized after a car accident, her husband slapped the divorce papers against the ICU glass. Outside, he wrapped his arm around a female student’s waist, his fingers suggestively caressing her swollen belly. “She’s supported you for eight years. It’s time for her to step aside.” I stared at the girl’s face with a hint of amusement. Lily Evans: My high school classmate – the bully who drove someone to suicide eight years ago – now wrapped in a pure white cotton dress, timidly calling me “little sister Olivia.” Amidst the chaos, I clutched the paper in my pocket tightly. It was my brother-in-law’s medical report, showing a sperm survival rate of 0.03%. 0 “It’s okay, Lily. You know she can’t have a boy. A hen that can’t even lay eggs should be slaughtered.” Professor Thompson shielded Lily behind him, his crude language a far cry from his usual refined professorial image. On the other side of the glass, my sister’s oxygen mask was seeping blood. She remained oblivious to her husband’s betrayal. The smell of disinfectant stung my eyes as I looked through the glass at my sister’s body, riddled with tubes. Just three days ago, she had been adjusting Lily’s master’s degree gown tassel, smiling warmly: “Lily is like a second sister to me.” Because Lily wasn’t just anyone – she was the girl my sister had been supporting all these years. In her sophomore year of high school, Lily had been at the top of her class. Everyone in the village said she was destined for greatness, surely bound for Harvard. But her family couldn’t afford it. Her parents wanted her to marry the mayor’s son early, to help pay for her brother’s wedding. She wasn’t content with her fate and kept seeking sponsors. My sister, seeing her plight, immediately drove to her home to investigate. Not only did she give Lily’s parents a sum of money, but she also sponsored Lily through high school, college, and graduate school. Lily’s college entrance exam scores weren’t as stellar as expected. She didn’t make it into Harvard, barely scraping by with an undergraduate degree. Her subsequent master’s degree and upcoming PhD were all arranged by my sister. When Lily applied for her PhD, my sister placed her in Professor Thompson’s lab – the most prestigious lab in her field. Over these eight years, my sister not only arranged Lily’s education but also used her connections to find her jobs. As for Lily’s future marriage, my sister had been planning ahead, already scouting suitable young talents for her. Who would have thought that Lily didn’t fancy young, handsome men, but instead jumped into my brother-in-law’s bed? Professor Thompson sat with Lily for a while, then lost patience. He pulled out a document from his folder and handed it to me: “When your sister wakes up, have her sign this agreement.” His tone was indifferent, as if the person in the hospital room had nothing to do with him. I flipped through a page and felt my face flush with anger. How shameless! My sister was unconscious in the hospital, and here he was, bringing his mistress to force my sister to leave with nothing? 0

Seeing my silence, Lily looked up with a timid expression, her voice soft and hesitant. “I’m so sorry, Olivia. I’m grateful to Amelia, and to James too. I just want to fulfill their wish and give the Thompson family a son to carry on the family name.” “I’m not asking for any status. James and I are truly in love. I only want to repay their kindness.” Lily bit her lip, looking like a frightened deer. Professor Thompson held her closer, his eyes full of concern: “Don’t say that, Lily. I’m determined to get this divorce!” Suddenly, Lily stumbled and grabbed my father’s sleeve, her pregnant belly accidentally bumping against the emergency cart. She looked up with tears in her eyes: “James, why don’t we just leave? Amelia is in such a state…” “Leave? No way! My grandson must be born legitimate!” A shrill voice cut through the corridor. It was Mrs. Thompson, my sister’s mother-in-law, clutching her prayer beads as she rushed over. Her bony finger jabbed at my nose: “You little brat, how dare you glare at your sister Lily? She’s carrying our heir!” The prayer beads stung my face as they swung against it, reminiscent of the cigarette burns Lily had inflicted on a transfer student’s hand eight years ago, the sparks splattering onto my school uniform. I smiled, fingering the medical report: “You’re right, Auntie. The Thompson family’s precious grandson should be properly verified. But how do you know it’s a boy? Or even a Thompson at all?” I deliberately dragged out my words, watching Lily’s face turn ashen: “With today’s technology, prenatal paternity tests are quite safe.” I chuckled, feeling the other paper in my pocket – a document delivered by courier this morning, its cover stamped with “Sperm Bank Withdrawal Record Inquiry Result.” Suddenly, Lily clutched her belly and crumpled to the ground. Dark red blood flowers bloomed on her pure white cotton dress. Her voice was extremely weak: “Little sister Olivia, it’s understandable that you misunderstand me. You and Amelia are so close, but how could the baby not be James’…” She suddenly grasped the hem of my clothes, her eyes brimming with tears, her face as white as jade with a few spots of red: “Little sister Olivia, I’ll be honest with you. James was actually my first love.” Seeing the beauty in tears, Professor Thompson immediately slammed me against the wall. The back of my head rang from the impact. “You little bitch, just like your sister. Look at what state Lily is in, and you’re still upsetting her! Don’t I know if Lily was a virgin or not?” “If anything happens to Lily’s baby, I’ll make you and your sister pay with your lives.” Professor Thompson loosened his tie, glaring at me fiercely. The monitor was still screeching. I licked the blood from the corner of my mouth and looked at Lily. She was using the support as cover to flash me a familiar cold smirk. That smile was identical to the one on that rainy night when she had stomped on the transfer student’s head, burning her face with a cigarette! The transfer student’s pretty face was already blistered from the burns. Lily, ignoring her cries, yanked the latest model earrings right off her ears. “James, my stomach hurts so much.” Her trembling fingers clutched my brother-in-law’s tie, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. In a corner out of sight, she mouthed to me: You’ve already lost. 0

Ten years ago, on a night like this, my sister had burst into the dorm room, soaking wet, clutching James’ scholarship application form tightly to her chest. Back then, her eyes had sparkled: “Olivia, he said he’d buy me a diamond ring once he becomes a professor.” Yes, my sister had always been deeply in love with James. James’ current position was entirely due to my sister’s support. In high school, James had fallen for my sister at first sight – she was from a wealthy family and excelled academically. He’d said, “Amelia, I can’t give you much now, but I can give you my whole heart.” Under James’ gentle advances, my sister had gradually fallen for him. They finished high school together, did their master’s together, their PhDs together, and finally stayed on as faculty at the same university. When James couldn’t afford tuition, my sister paid for him. When James struggled with his research, my sister comforted him. When James was awkward at social events, my sister worked the room for his projects, putting on countless fake smiles. A young man from a rural area, who originally couldn’t afford tuition and was about to drop out. After meeting my sister, his life took an upward trajectory, eventually becoming a top professor. Amidst the shrill alarms of the monitors, I saw my sister’s fingers twitch through the glass. The prayer beads Mrs. Thompson had thrown at her were still wrapped around her pale wrist, the sandalwood beads gleaming a dark red under the cold fluorescent lights. Three months ago, when I’d burst into the Thompson house, these supposedly blessed beads had been grinding into my sister’s hand. Lily had leaned into James’ embrace, chuckling lightly: “Don’t upset yourself, Mrs. Thompson. Amelia just can’t have children, it’s not like she deliberately killed your grandson.” This was the home my sister had protected for ten years. Mrs. Thompson had always used my sister’s inability to have children as an excuse to treat her poorly. She would berate my sister daily, and my sister often cried secretly in her room, hating herself for not being able to bear a child. “Olivia, what are you standing there for?” Mrs. Thompson suddenly grabbed my collar, her prayer beads digging into my collarbone. “Hurry up and buy some brown sugar for your brother-in-law! Lily says her stomach hurts and she wants ginger tea!” I looked at this old woman who had once knelt in front of the Wells’ mansion begging for tuition money. Now she wore a jade bracelet my sister had given her, but used her gold-ringed finger to jab at my chest: “You jinx, all you Wells women are bad luck!” I had long known about my brother-in-law’s affair. That day in the lab, I’d seen James holding Lily. His suggestive fingers had slipped off her clothes, and I knew then that my seemingly upright brother-in-law had finally given in to temptation. Lily gently pushed James away with her small hand, as if reluctantly: “James, we shouldn’t be doing this.” I had run back to the Thompson house in a rage, intending to tell my sister about James’ infidelity. But I found my sister crouched in the Thompsons’ bathroom, scrubbing the toilet. Mrs. Thompson had thrown her blood-stained underwear on my sister’s head: “If you can’t have children, you should at least absorb some human energy.” After returning home, I checked all of James’ papers, only to discover that the first authorship that should have belonged to my sister had been changed to Lily! But this experimental data was clearly my sister’s! 0

It turned out that for all these years, James had been claiming my sister’s experimental data as his own to get promoted to full professor. My sister had kept quiet for the sake of her husband’s career. Years later, when she finally had the chance to become a full professor herself, it turned out her work had become the bully’s achievement. That day, I brooded alone for a long time. Had my sister and James’ childlessness all these years really been just my sister’s problem? I secretly doubted, and tricked James into participating in our company’s free comprehensive physical examination. Finally, I got the test report: sperm survival rate 0.03%. How could he possibly father a child? It had been him all along who couldn’t have children, yet James had pinned all the blame on my sister for all these years. I clenched my fists, slowly formulating a plan. I smiled and took Mrs. Thompson’s hand, looking at her with a hint of apology: “My sister’s inability to give the Thompson family a ‘biological grandson’ all these years is indeed her fault. I’ll go buy some brown sugar water for sister Lily right away. Don’t worry, as soon as my sister wakes up, I’ll make sure she signs this divorce agreement immediately.” Mrs. Thompson was surprised but nodded confidently, her wrinkled finger poking me lightly: “Little Olivia is so sensible, unlike that jinx of a sister. When our Thompson family has a grandson, you’ll have contributed too.” I suddenly grabbed her hand emotionally, tears welling up: “Oh, Auntie, you’re such a good person! All these years you’ve never held a grudge, and you’re even giving me credit. When Lily gives James a ‘biological son’, can I come see him? After all, Lily has given the Thompson family quite a ‘surprise’!” Seeing Mrs. Thompson hesitate, I continued: “It’s not that I want to cause trouble. It’s just that my parents feel guilty too. They think my sister has let the Thompson family down. They want to take this opportunity to properly apologize to the Thompson family and bring a big gift.” Hearing the words “big gift,” Mrs. Thompson’s eyes widened. She fingered her prayer beads and squinted. Then she nodded, grunting: “Fine then. Your Wells family is finally showing some sense. Having my son as an ex-son-in-law, a big professor, brings glory to your family name too.” I chuckled softly, wondering if James would be able to handle seeing his “biological son” later. I turned and went to buy brown sugar water for Lily, bringing it to her after it was ready: “Sister Lily, I’m sorry you’re not feeling well and had to come all this way. My sister’s fate is in heaven’s hands now, you don’t need to wish for her early death.” Lily shook her head repeatedly in denial: “Olivia, I only hope for Amelia’s speedy recovery.” “Well, thank you then. The brown sugar water is getting cold, drink up.” I was too lazy to argue with her, scooping up some brown sugar water and looking at her expectantly. “Sister Lily, I truly know I was wrong. There’s nothing wrong with the brown sugar water, I just bought it. You’ll feel better after drinking it.” Seeing her reluctance, I let a few tears drop, looking up at her pitifully. James inexplicably felt a twinge of softness and coaxed Lily: “Lily, drink some brown sugar water. It’ll make you feel better.” After a few seconds of standoff, Lily finally took a small sip. Then, she clutched her belly and screamed. Seeing this, Mrs. Thompson immediately threw her prayer beads at my face. James scooped Lily up in one motion, and the three of them hurried away. 0

I walked to the hospital bed and removed my sister’s oxygen mask, looking at her with concern: “Sis, do you see my brother-in-law’s true colors now?” My sister’s eyes were filled with tears, her voice choked with sobs: “Olivia, how could I have loved the wrong person?” I hugged her tightly, speaking softly: “It’s okay, sis. At least we still have a chance now. At least we can fight back.” After comforting my sister, I went to Lily’s hospital bed. James and Mrs. Thompson had gone out to buy food, so I locked the door behind me. Lily was peeling an apple. When she saw it was me, she dropped the fruit knife in terror. “Olivia, your sister isn’t dead yet and you’re already rushing to show your loyalty?” Lily shrank back, the jade pendant on her chest gleaming coldly – it was the family heirloom Mrs. Thompson had forcibly yanked from my sister’s neck. I sat down on her hospital bed, smiling as I tucked a stray hair behind her ear: “Sister Lily, why aren’t you calling me ‘little sister Olivia’ anymore? Why have you dropped the act?” “Olivia, I could cripple your sister, and dealing with you would be even simpler. Are you trying to threaten me?” Lily straightened up, a sinister smile playing on her red lips. “I’m well aware of Sister Lily’s methods. We saw them in high school, didn’t we?” “But today, let’s talk about something else.” I opened my phone and projected an image onto the stark white wall. The sperm bank records cast an eerie light, with Lily’s signature clearly visible next to the notation [Donor ID X-0742]. Seeing this, Lily’s eyes widened in disbelief: “How did you get this?” Ignoring her question, I looked at her with a hint of mockery: “So the child isn’t my brother-in-law’s after all! You couldn’t even wait for IVF, could you?” I swiped to the next image on the wall projection, my smile growing brighter: “Actually, I can understand your impatience. After all, the Thompson family struck gold with one professor. They’d need a legitimate grandson to inherit, wouldn’t they?” Lily’s face turned deathly pale. She bit her lip: “You little bitch, what do you want?” I smiled at her: “Why, to ask for your help, of course.” Seeing Lily’s hesitation, I tossed her James’ medical report showing his 0.03% sperm survival rate, then twisted the knife: “I could guess the child wasn’t my brother-in-law’s, but I never imagined it wasn’t William’s either!”

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I stared at my baby brother Lucas, who was just learning to speak. I knew that not far away, there were child traffickers waiting for their chance. Hearing the piercing cry of a child, I felt disoriented. “You deaf girl! Take your brother out to play!” my mom Karen yelled. My lips trembled as I pinched myself hard. The pain made me shudder. Mom impatiently pushed me, her familiar curses filling the air. “I really gave birth to a useless girl. Always pretending to be dead when there’s work to do.” Suddenly, I snapped back to reality. Turning my head, I saw my small reflection in the glass window. I had been given a second chance at life! Glancing at the calendar on the wall, I instantly realized what day it was. I carried Lucas out, trying to organize my thoughts. Loan sharks, debt collection, falling from a building. I bit my lip and looked at Lucas, who was curiously looking around. Did I hate him? Of course, I did. In those few seconds of falling from the high-rise, I had cursed this family with all the malice I could muster. I was supposed to get married in just a few days, finally escaping this suffocating quagmire. Instead, I died in an abandoned factory, becoming nothing but rotting flesh for flies and ants. I took a deep breath. The overwhelming resentment made black thorns grow in my heart, my eyes gradually turning frantic. I remembered this day very clearly. It was on this day that we encountered child traffickers. I went to buy Lucas an ice cream, but he was lured away by someone with a lollipop. I was terrified, but I was smart enough to ask adults around for help. In the end, Lucas was saved, but he was traumatized and cried non-stop when we got home. Lucas was already two and a half years old, but he had been spoiled rotten by our mom. He would cry and throw tantrums at the slightest dissatisfaction, speaking one word at a time. “…Hit…Me…Hurt…” Mom’s eyes widened in anger. She grabbed a belt and beat me half to death. “You little beast, he’s your brother! How dare you hit him! Why don’t you just die!” I curled up, crying out, “I didn’t! It was bad people, bad people tried to grab him!” “You little beast, still lying! You’re the worst thing in our family. How did I give birth to such an ungrateful creature?” I cried until my voice was hoarse, crawling to the edge of the bed. “Lucas, Lucas, tell mom I didn’t hit you!” But Lucas seemed amused by the scene and started giggling. Lucas suddenly laughed as if he had seen something interesting. The child’s innocent laughter overlapped with my dark memories. My whole body tensed up. The sudden fear almost made me throw him away. I trembled all over. I didn’t know if it was because of hatred or excitement. — The ice cream stand was just around the corner. Two men wearing old-fashioned hats were crouching not far away. Once again, I stood at this crossroads of fate. Sure enough, Lucas spoke up. “Ice… eat… eat.” I lowered my head. “Does Lucas want ice cream?” Lucas nodded. I felt my blood boiling, turning my brain into mush. I walked towards the ice cream stand. Lucas was left behind. I couldn’t see him, but I could clearly feel his small figure. Gradually shrinking, blurring, falling into a haze. I took the ice cream from the vendor, shuddering at its cold touch. If Lucas disappeared… I wouldn’t have to live like a dog in this family anymore. I wouldn’t have to support a family of bloodsuckers. I wouldn’t be chased by debt collectors to the point of jumping off a building. I should have had a great life. I stared at the ice cream, unconsciously gripping it tightly, my eyes as red as blood. “Hey, hey, girl, you haven’t paid yet!” the vendor called out. The scorching July sun shone on me. But I felt like I had fallen into an ice pit. I threw away the ice cream and ran back like a madwoman.

Lucas was gone! My mind went blank, as if a heavy snow had fallen. Stumbling, I found the bicycle repairman and cried out, “Bad people, they took my brother!” With the memory of my previous life, I led people directly to the alley entrance. The repairman and onlookers subdued the kidnappers, and I took Lucas back. As soon as I removed the cotton cloth stuffed in his mouth, he burst into earth-shattering cries. Holding him, I was also in tears. I wanted to change my miserable life. But the awakening of female consciousness should not come at the cost of sacrificing humanity. This time, I didn’t run home immediately like I did in my previous life. I wiped away my tears and went to the police station with the repairman and others. I was very calm when giving my statement, focusing on comforting my crying brother throughout. When the statement was done, Lucas had cried himself to sleep. I asked the repairman to take us home. The repairman praised me the whole way. “Oh, you little girl, you’re so brave. You’re made for great things.” “If it weren’t for you today, your brother would have suffered.” “These damn child traffickers are worse than animals.” I smiled awkwardly, choosing to remain silent. Little did he know, I had almost become an accomplice to these inhuman creatures. Back home, Mom started yelling before she even saw us. “You useless girl, coming back so late. Were you slacking off? Come here and wash the clothes right now.” She hadn’t finished scolding when she saw the sleeping Lucas in my arms. She rushed over with an “Oh my!” “What happened to Lucas?” She was anxious and heartbroken. “Did you, you little brat…” “Mom, you’re disturbing Lucas,” I said. Sure enough, Mom shut up immediately. She glared at me fiercely. I ignored her and carried Lucas into the room. If I didn’t know how to handle her by now, I would have lived these two lives in vain. The repairman would help me sort out the rest. But I needed to think carefully about what to do next. During dinner, Mom scolded me for being a jinx, saying I shouldn’t have taken Lucas there. I ignored her words, focusing on eating. Lucas sat in Mom’s lap, letting her feed him, showing none of his usual tantrums. He ate whatever she fed him, being so obedient that Mom could hardly believe it. After dinner, I cleaned up the messy table as usual. Lucas, who never wanted to move and always demanded to be carried, came over and looked up at me. “…Sis…Sis…” Mom happened to pass by and exclaimed with delight, “Lucas can call people now?” Since Lucas learned to speak, he had never called anyone Mom or Dad. He rarely spoke because whenever he wanted something, crying was enough. I didn’t expect his first time calling someone would be dedicated to me, the “useless girl.” The joy on Mom’s face instantly disappeared. She spat at me. “You useless girl, always teaching my darling bad things. Stay away from your brother in the future, you hear me?” I carried the bowls into the kitchen, the corner of my lips curling up. “Okay.” When it was time to sleep, Lucas started fussing again. “…Sis…Sis…Want…” He cried his heart out. Mom was heartbroken and angrily questioned me. “What kind of spell did you cast on him? Why does he only want you?” I looked innocent. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he was scared earlier today, and I happened to be by his side.” Lucas would cry if he was away from me. Despite her extreme reluctance, Mom had no choice but to compromise. The plan was successful. Lucas and I faced each other. Mom had once worried that her only precious son might have some intellectual disability because he started speaking late. But I knew he was actually very smart. When he was little, he loved to snatch my things. A stone, a wildflower, a card, no matter how well I hid them, he could always find them. If I didn’t give them to him, he would cry and make a scene in front of Mom. Invariably, I would end up being beaten severely, kneeling on the ground apologizing, and handing those little things to him. I slightly narrowed my eyes, watching Lucas’s ingratiating face. Before dinner, I changed his diaper. I moved very slowly, brainwashing him for an hour. “See, today you didn’t listen to your sister and stay put, so bad people caught you.” “If you dare not listen to your sister again in the future, bad people will beat you to death.” My tone was gloomy, unable to suppress the hatred mixed in. “Just like… how Mom beats your sister, they won’t stop, they’ll keep beating and beating…” Living beings instinctively fear dangerous things, and with the addition of force, they choose to submit. Young ones are the same. He seemed to sense the genuine malice in my words. His eyes darted around, and he reached out for me to hold him. From tonight, when he cried and insisted on sleeping with me as I had instructed. I understood.

My life would change completely. In a different way. “Lucas, what did your sister tell you?” He had just started first grade and was dejected as he returned the broken water gun to someone else. I was very stern: “Lucas, apologize.” Lucas was very unwilling, even looking at me with some hatred. But I didn’t back down. With my height advantage and adult presence, I forced him to finally speak up. I went to his classmate, gritted my teeth, and took out all the pocket money I had saved from selling bottles. “I’m sorry, we’ll buy you a new one.” I patted the chubby kid’s head and said softly: “Sister will buy you candy. Please forgive Lucas, and can you play with him in the future?” The chubby kid hesitated but nodded. Lucas grumbled unhappily: “Who cares about playing with them.” This little brat. With Mom as a strong negative influence. I spent five whole years and still couldn’t correct many of Lucas’s bad habits. When I first started educating him, I encountered many obstacles. Lucas and I agreed that if he made a mistake, he would have to eat bitter melon. Every time I forced it to his mouth, Lucas would scream and yell, attracting Mom. But he never dared to say it was my fault. Before he was three years old, I had imprinted in his DNA that he must absolutely obey his sister’s words. Just like a baby elephant tied with a rope, even when it grows up and can easily break free from the rope. It doesn’t have this awareness, and I don’t allow such things to happen. Over these five years, I constantly reminded myself. Never let Lucas become like he was in my previous life. On the way home, I remained silent. Lucas glanced at my expression. “Sis, the backpack is so heavy.” After Mom discovered that I could teach Lucas to speak, she very reluctantly handed him over to me to take care of. But she still constantly reminded him, instilling the idea that everything of his sister’s belonged to him, and that his sister was just a lowly girl. But she acted too late. When it comes to brainwashing, how could an ignorant illiterate like her compare to me? The child I had already set on the right path couldn’t be ruined by her again. Seeing that I wasn’t responding to him, Lucas became anxious and ran in front of me. “Sis, I was wrong. Don’t be angry. Don’t make me eat bitter melon.” If it were Mom, she would definitely say: “It’s all those little bastards’ fault. My darling is always right. Mom will buy you cake, and we won’t play with them anymore.” I looked at him coldly. “What did you do wrong?” “I shouldn’t have snatched the toy from Chubby just because they wouldn’t play with me.” I gave him a light tap on the head and said sternly: “Remember this, be kind to others, and also—” I suddenly raised my voice: “Never be greedy for things that don’t belong to you, do you hear me!” In my previous life, Lucas ended up in trouble because he was greedy for enjoyment and too vain. After Lucas became sensible, I rarely scolded him harshly anymore. He was startled by me and stood at attention, trembling as he repeated: “Don’t be greedy for things that don’t belong to me.” “I remember, Sis.” As time passed, Lucas entered middle school. One night, Dad came home drunk again. He often did this, so at home, Mom was the one who called the shots. “I and some friends… are planning to… open a brick factory,” I heard Dad say as I was going to get water for washing feet. My hand shook, and some water splashed onto my shoes. This brick factory was my lifelong nightmare. Dad was fooled and lost everything. From that moment on, I fell into another hell. “You’re a woman, what money could you possibly spend?” “Hurry up and give me five thousand dollars. Didn’t you earn quite a bit? What’s wrong with contributing to the family?” “What do you mean you have no money? You’re just selfish, watching your parents starve outside while you eat and drink well.” “Your brother is in a relationship. Buy him a house.” “If you don’t help your brother pay off his debts, you’re ruining his life!” From age fifteen to thirty-five, I supported these bloodsuckers for twenty whole years. They clung to me tightly, sucking the marrow from my bones, draining every drop of my blood. During those twenty dark years. They were happy, enjoying themselves. With vicious smiles, they watched me struggle desperately in the quagmire. I trembled all over, my face pale, as the long-absent feeling of panic engulfed me. Lucas passed by: “Sis, what’s wrong?” I suddenly came to my senses, as if grasping at a lifeline. “Lucas, Dad’s business will fail. Mom listens to you the most, quickly stop them.” Lucas listened to me very well, and there was another reason— I could “predict” things. Over the years, I had foreseen many big and small family matters in advance, so Lucas had a mysterious reverence for me. Lucas frowned: “Sis, how should I say this? They won’t listen to me about this kind of thing.” I dragged him into the room. “Lucas, listen, Dad will not only lose everything, but he’ll also end up with a crippled leg.” I was almost hysterical: “Go quickly, use whatever method you can.” “We must not let Dad get involved in this!” My expression was too ferocious, scaring Lucas stiff, but he had no choice but to go. I slid down against the door, covered in cold sweat.

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On the first day of college, my roommate revealed her identity as the daughter of the richest man in town. I was confused since her last name didn’t match the billionaire’s. She explained she took her mother’s surname since childhood. I secretly called the billionaire’s wife: “Mom, I heard you have a secret daughter with someone else behind Dad’s back?” On the first day of freshman year, our dorm was in an uproar over one girl. Heavy makeup, clicking high heels, designer logos from head to toe. “Hi everyone, I’m Wendy. My dad is the richest man in town,” the girl introduced herself with her head held high. The revelation of a billionaire’s daughter caused quite a stir in the dorm. “Wow, I’ve never met a wealthy heiress before!” My roommate Mia excitedly approached her. But before she could get close, Wendy stopped her with a hand: “Don’t get too near me, I’m prone to allergies.” What? Allergic to what? People? Why not just live in outer space then? Seeing Mia’s awkward expression, I couldn’t help but speak up: “Isn’t the richest man in town surnamed Smith?” Besides, I don’t remember seeing anyone named Wendy on the 2025 Forbes list. Wendy looked at me, giving me a once-over. How to describe it – one part scrutiny, nine parts disdain? “I use my mom’s surname.” “Oh, I see,” I said, feigning sudden realization. “Mrs. Smith, I heard you have a secret daughter with the surname Wendy,” I texted quietly. Mrs. Smith replied faster than ever: “Get lost, I just managed to calm down your jealous dad last night.” Thinking of my easily jealous dad gave me a headache. For males, regardless of species, even if Mrs. Smith just gave directions to someone, he’d throw a fit all day. But looking at this ‘sister’ who appeared out of nowhere, well, let her pretend if she wants. As long as she’s not spending our family’s money. Just as I was about to climb into bed, a man and woman entered the room. Their bodies were covered in signs of wind and sun exposure, dark and thin, carrying two huge pieces of luggage. “These are my family’s maid and driver,” Wendy explained to us, then turned back to the couple and said, “Just leave the luggage there, you can go back now.” “Miss…” The maid was about to say something but was half-pushed out of the dorm by Wendy. That night, Wendy suggested playing Truth or Dare to get to know each other better. Since it was everyone’s first time meeting, we all agreed. Mia lost the first round and chose Truth. Wendy asked: “What do your parents do?” Mia’s face lit up with happiness as she recalled her parents: “My parents run a supermarket chain.” “Oh, that must be a tough life for you,” Wendy’s contemptuous tone slipped out naturally. “…” Is this girl low on both IQ and EQ? How can she say such disdainful things so confidently? “Why don’t you ask her what the supermarket chain is called?” Wendy looked puzzled. “Walmart.” The daughter of a founder who opened so many large chain supermarkets nationwide, and you say her life is tough? I had seen Mia’s father at one of my dad’s dinner parties earlier when her parents came to drop her off. Sure enough, when Wendy heard this, her eyes lit up for a moment. Then she lightly patted Mia’s hand, “You should have said so earlier, we can hang out together in the future.” “…” She’s not allergic to touching others herself? I lost the second round and chose Truth. Wendy jumped in: “What do your parents do?” Ugh, is she a parrot? Did she only learn this one question? Holding back the urge to roll my eyes, I said: “They’re farmers.” I wasn’t lying. The delicate-looking Mrs. Wang is actually a forensic pathologist. After seeing too many corpses and smelling enough formaldehyde, her greatest wish in life is to return to farming. Mr. Wang, who dotes on his wife, made a grand gesture and rented hundreds of acres of farmland in the suburbs. He handed over the company to their son and has since been living a farming life with his beloved wife. They even said they were too busy to manage my college move-in. However, the hundreds of acres of farmland are mostly barren and overgrown with weeds under the couple’s care. When Wendy heard “farmers,” a smile, no, more like a sneer, immediately appeared on her face: “One shouldn’t be too vain. If your parents are farmers, you shouldn’t wear designer brands. Anyone can tell they’re fake. But you’re pretty enough, I can introduce you to a rich guy in the future.” I glanced at my ‘fake brands’ and was speechless. This heiress seems quite ignorant. I gave her a white eye roll. Wendy lost the third round and chose Truth. I asked: “The wife of the richest man in town is surnamed Wang. You, who supposedly took your mom’s surname, are sure your last name is Wendy?” Can’t even do basic research before pretending? Wendy’s face changed instantly. “You…” she stammered. Before she could finish stuttering, I threw her words back at her: “One shouldn’t be too vain. If your parents are farmers, you shouldn’t wear designer brands. Anyone can tell they’re fake. But you’re not that pretty, so I won’t bother introducing you to any guys.” Seeing the tense atmosphere between us, Quinn, our dorm leader, quickly found an excuse to end the game. But the grudge between Wendy and me was set from that moment on.

On the second night of Freshman Orientation Week. Wendy returned to the dorm carrying a large bouquet of roses and two designer shopping bags, her face unable to hide her joy. “Wow, which handsome guy is so generous?” Quinn exclaimed in surprise. “This set must have cost quite a bit, right?” Seeing everyone gather around, Wendy replied with feigned shyness: “It’s not much, just a few thousand dollars.” Mia: “If he’s not a rich heir, this definitely doesn’t add up. How did you two meet?” “When it comes to dating, you should find someone wealthy. He’s our senior, called Jack. He asked for my contact info on the first day of school.” “Wow, love at first sight? That’s so nice,” Mia’s eyes were full of envy. I noticed Mia was the most innocent and least grudge-holding girl, always cheerful. “Tomorrow night, my boyfriend is inviting everyone to dinner at Nobu. It’s his brother’s restaurant,” Wendy announced. Quinn and Mia excitedly high-fived each other. Nobu, a famously difficult place to get reservations in town, even for the wealthy. Wendy looked at me playing on my phone in bed: “Oh, you can come too. This might be your only chance in life.” “Sure,” I agreed readily, ignoring her snarky tone. Mainly because I was too curious about this Jack character. First Wendy didn’t recognize my parents, and now here’s someone who doesn’t recognize my brother? Is my family the United Nations of surnames? Though, Jack… that name sounds familiar. The next day, at Nobu. “Miss…” The waiter was about to greet me when I gave him a look to stop. “We don’t need service, we’ll manage ourselves.” “Wow, rich people’s place. This lobby is so luxurious, like a palace,” Mia’s eyes were spinning rapidly as soon as we entered Nobu. Seeing her expression was too cute, I couldn’t help but joke: “Mia, are your parents abusing you?” “Hehe, am I overreacting a bit?” Mia grinned mischievously. “Not at all, you’re adorable.” Much more lovable than certain pretentious people. “We’re in the South Bay private room,” Quinn received Wendy’s message. “This way,” I pulled back the two who were walking in the opposite direction. “Hey Claire, how do you know this place so well?” Mia asked curiously. “Maybe I’m a psychic?” I teased Mia as we arrived at the private room. “This is Quinn, Mia, and Claire. This is my boyfriend Jack,” Wendy introduced us one by one. Jack also greeted each of us politely, but when he saw my face, he suddenly froze, with an expression of disbelief. Wendy must have noticed her boyfriend’s unusual reaction and pinched him hard. Jack snapped back to reality and avoided my gaze as he sat down. I saw Wendy silently questioning her boyfriend what was wrong, but he just shook his head. So it’s him. No wonder the name sounded familiar.

With everyone seated, Jack called the waiter to start serving dishes. As various exquisite dishes were brought to the table, Mia and Quinn’s exclamations of surprise greatly satisfied Wendy’s vanity. Perhaps because I didn’t show the reaction she wanted, Wendy suddenly said to me: “This is Almas caviar, flown in from the Alps. Country folks probably never get a chance to taste this in their lifetime. Try some.” It’s from Dubai, sis. The Alps only have glaciers now! I really wanted to retort, but seeing the man opposite carefully glancing at me and tugging at Wendy’s clothes, I raised the corner of my mouth slightly. Never mind, it’s true this country bumpkin hasn’t had it in a while. The rest of the meal continued in this vein, with Wendy repeatedly emphasizing how I, a farmer’s kid, had never eaten or seen these things before. Her boyfriend looked like he wanted to say something but kept stopping her. “Claire, I’m sorry.” As soon as I came out of the restroom, I heard the man apologize. “Jack,” I paused, but felt I had to say something, “She’s not right for you.” The man rubbed his face with his hand: “I know, but I really can’t help it. I like her so much.” Seeing the man’s resolute expression, I finally left in silence. Love can make guys lose themselves too. “Thank you for not exposing me,” I heard a dejected male voice behind me before I walked far. Jack became an orphan in a major earthquake. Later, by chance, Mrs. Wang sponsored all his expenses. But according to Mrs. Wang, he refused her help since his sophomore year of high school and has been working part-time jobs to pay for everything himself. The year he got into college, Mrs. Wang once brought me to celebrate with him. Mrs. Wang always praised him highly. I just didn’t expect to meet again in this way. That night, a discordant dinner ended harmoniously. That evening, I secretly called my brother, because knowing Jack’s personality, he would never ask my brother for a free meal. Although I really dislike the pretentious Wendy, for Jack’s sake, I decided to try not to provoke her in the future. The day after the dinner, two photos and a sensational headline pushed me to the top of the hot topics on the school forum. “Shocking! Country girl schemes to seduce someone else’s rich boyfriend!” The first photo: Under the lights, a woman gazes at a man affectionately. The yellowish lighting makes the woman’s gaze seem unusually ambiguous and flirtatious. The second photo: A woman riding a sheep, frowning at the camera. She’s wearing a loose white T-shirt on top and strikingly colorful pants on the bottom, surrounded by countless chickens, ducks and geese.

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I never expected to end up tangled in the sheets with Jack Carlisle, my family’s longtime friend and my unofficial guardian. The morning after our passionate night together, I did what I do best: I put on my ice queen face and pretended nothing had ever happened between us. But Jack? Oh, he’s not taking it well at all. He’s going absolutely crazy, trying to make me acknowledge what we shared. I heard that he never dates, never gives women a chance at a real relationship. And he certainly never touches the same woman twice. Yet somehow, we’ve been maintaining this secret affair for six whole months. Then one day, Mrs. Carlisle excitedly showed me a photo. “Jack picked his fiancée himself. Isn’t she beautiful?” I looked at the stunningly gorgeous woman in the picture and smiled, offering my congratulations. “She’s very pretty. They make a great couple. Congratulations to Jack.” Late that night, Jack suddenly appeared in my room. “Getting cocky, aren’t you, Aria? Calling me ‘daddy’ in bed and ‘Mr. Carlisle’ outside. Are you playing games with me?”

As I made my way downstairs, my body aching, I saw Jack sitting at the dining table. His tie was undone, his collar open, revealing the bite mark on his collarbone. I nearly stumbled, quickly grabbing the railing to steady myself. Jack glanced up at me, his tone as calm and indifferent as ever: “Be careful coming down.” “Mm, I will,” I replied. He said nothing more, lowering his gaze to continue eating. I watched his long fingers grip the knife and fork, cutting into the food on his plate. His knuckles were prominent, his hands clean and strong. My cheeks began to burn as I remembered how those hands, so skilled with surgical instruments, had explored uncharted territories of my body just last night. Again and again, they had brought me to the heights of pleasure.

I bypassed the dining room and headed for the kitchen. Grabbing an egg and a carton of milk, I prepared to leave. “Aria,” Jack suddenly called out to me. I instinctively stopped and turned around. He had already stood up, taking the jacket handed to him by the housekeeper. “I’ll give you a ride. We’re going the same way,” he said. “No need, I can take the subway…” I began to protest. Jack didn’t respond, just looked down at me from his imposing height. My gaze accidentally fell on the bite mark on his collarbone, and I quickly looked away, as if burned.

“No subway today,” Jack said, glancing at his watch. “Let’s go.” Afraid of annoying him, I didn’t insist further. Jack, being a surgeon, was always a neat freak. I didn’t dare eat anything in his car, so I stuffed the egg and milk into my backpack. As I got into the car earlier, I must have aggravated the tender area between my legs. Sitting in the car seat made me feel uncomfortably stiff. Jack seemed to notice. He closed his tablet and lowered the partition in the car. “We’ll stop by a pharmacy. You should apply some ointment,” he said. I kept my head down, my face burning hot. “Okay.” “If it still hurts after applying the medicine, come to the hospital. I’ll take care of it.” “Alright.” “I drank a bit too much last night. I lost control and hurt you.” “It’s okay, Mr. Carlisle,” I said softly. “I was drunk too. It wasn’t entirely your fault.” I understood Jack’s meaning clearly. In his view, last night was just drunken sex. But the truth was, I hadn’t been drunk at all. I had deliberately used alcohol as an excuse to let myself cross the line. “Don’t overthink it. Focus on your studies for now.” “Mm.” The car moved smoothly forward. I sat properly, occasionally brushing against his pants with my bare legs when the car bumped. He didn’t move away, but I discreetly shifted further from him.

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My husband secretly bought an apartment upstairs for his childhood female friend. He was cheating on me right under my nose. Later, a fire broke out in our building due to equipment failure. As we were escaping, I caught them in the act, and they pushed me into the flames. As my soul left my body, I watched from above as the true nature of these evil people was revealed. Perhaps due to my intense resentment, heaven gave me a second chance. When I opened my eyes again, it was my wedding day with my husband. The wedding venue was packed with guests. Zack, standing opposite me, said “I do” with deep emotion. I hesitated for a moment, and the bouquet slipped from my hands. Just a second ago, I had been floating above my own funeral, watching my husband and his mistress scheme over my family’s assets, discussing how to use a jade pendant to suppress my soul. Unable to contain my anger, I had rushed towards them seeking revenge, only to be sucked into the jade pendant. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back at my wedding with Zack. The overwhelming sense of unreality made me uneasy. I needed to do something to prove this wasn’t a dream. In the next moment, a sharp sound rang out, and the entire venue fell silent. Against the backdrop of sweet background music, Zack’s face was turned to one side by a slap. Feeling the stinging sensation in my palm, I finally believed that heaven had truly given me a second chance. From great sorrow to great joy, I suddenly burst into laughter, like a madwoman. Zack, who had just been slapped, showed no signs of anger. With a slightly swollen face, he came over to check on me. “Mia, what’s wrong?” My parents also rushed up from below, examining me from head to toe. Seeing my parents again, I felt a pang in my heart. I hugged them with tears in my eyes and apologized. “Mom, Dad, I’m so sorry.” Not understanding the situation, my parents unconditionally embraced and comforted me. “Sweetie, are you unhappy? If you’re not happy, we don’t have to go through with this wedding.” I almost agreed, but then my eyes met Zack’s. His face was half white and half red as he stood there stiffly. Averting my gaze, I saw my mother-in-law sitting in the family section, looking equally nervous. In the fire, I had sworn that if given the chance, I would make them suffer a thousand times more than I did. Now, I needed to let the wedding continue. I explained to my parents, “It’s nothing. I just realized how immature I’ve been and how much trouble I’ve caused you.” My parents believed me and returned to their seats after I reassured them. I took the officiant’s microphone and, taking advantage of the tears still in my eyes, forced out a choked voice to explain to Zack. “I was just too emotional, too in love with you. I was afraid this wedding was a dream, that’s why I acted that way. I’m sorry, Zack.” My declaration made Zack’s tense body relax. He wiped away my tears and spoke gently and magnanimously. “Mia, this isn’t a dream. We’ll be happy together.” I nodded emotionally and said that crucial phrase: “I do.” Zack excitedly hugged me, as if embracing a precious treasure. But now, I was acutely aware that I wasn’t a treasure, but a stepping stone—a ladder for Zack to climb higher. I would make him trip over this stepping stone, let him climb the ladder, only to fall hard from the top!

After the wedding, the three of us returned to our marital home. Yes, three of us—me, Zack, and my mother-in-law. In my previous life, Zack and I had planned to buy a house for my mother-in-law in the countryside. But after seeing our marital home, she changed her mind and insisted on living with us. The apartment my parents gave me as a wedding gift was a large flat, more than enough for three people. Unable to withstand my mother-in-law’s fuss, I agreed to let her stay. But this decision nearly drove me to depression. She was extremely petty, making a big fuss over the slightest things and arguing with me in a loud voice. Whenever I talked back, she would throw tantrums and use every dirty trick in the book. She also spread rumors in the neighborhood that I was a bad daughter-in-law, making it impossible for me to hold my head high in the community group chat. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I moved with Zack to the smaller apartment he had bought with his own money. Looking back now, I realize how stupid I was. This was clearly a scheme concocted by mother and son, forcing me to live in a small apartment where I would be cheated on, while my mother-in-law enjoyed the large flat. This time around, I planned to deal with my mother-in-law first. “Mother, I’ve been thinking, and you were absolutely right before. A housekeeper is an outsider, we shouldn’t let our resources benefit strangers.” “From now on, I’ll give you the money for hiring a housekeeper and other household expenses. You can manage the household.” My mother-in-law happily agreed, even praising me for being good with money. I laughed coldly inside, waiting for her to lose control of the situation. On my mother-in-law’s first day in charge: The three meals were far from what I had requested. Breakfast: soy milk and fried dough sticks. I said nothing. Lunch: noodles with sauce. I still said nothing. Dinner: pickled vegetables with rice porridge. I continued to say nothing. The next morning, the cycle repeated. Breakfast: again, soy milk and fried dough sticks, and even less than yesterday. I stood at the dining table, looking coldly at my mother-in-law: “Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” Because Zack was present, my mother-in-law felt she had backup and didn’t even bother to pretend to be apologetic. She was extremely self-righteous. “Soy milk and fried dough sticks are fine for breakfast. All those complicated things you told me about, I can’t remember them.” “When Zack and I were poor, we ate even worse than this. People should learn to be content.” I ignored her and turned to Zack. “Zack, is your mother saying that I should suffer along with you? Is that it?” “I married you, and I can’t even have a meal I want to eat? Is that what you’re saying?” Zack looked uncomfortable and was about to explain when my mother-in-law interrupted him sharply. “You’re just being a spoiled princess. What’s wrong with soy milk and fried dough sticks? Didn’t you eat them yesterday? Did they poison you?” This time, I didn’t let Zack speak either. “Fine, I can eat it. But since we’re cutting back on expenses, give me back the extra grocery money.” At the mention of money, it was as if I had hit my mother-in-law’s sore spot. She jumped up, her eyes wide. “With transportation costs and labor fees, there’s no extra money!” I folded my arms and looked directly at her, speaking clearly. “Transportation doesn’t cost that much, and labor fees are wages, which aren’t included. If every meal is going to be at the standard of soy milk and fried dough sticks, you need to give me back at least five thousand dollars.” As my mother-in-law was about to argue, Zack suddenly interrupted loudly: “Mom! Listen to Mia.” Zack didn’t understand his mother as well as I did. To her, money was more important than her son’s words, and she couldn’t hear him at all. Sure enough, my mother-in-law burst into tears, pointing at us and scolding. “I’ve never seen someone so insistent on taking money from their elders. The daughter-in-law you brought home is too much, and even the son I raised with my own hands doesn’t side with his old mother anymore. What a misfortune for our family!” She waved her arms wildly, crying and complaining as if we had committed some terrible crime. As the drama unfolded, I went back to the bedroom to get my bag. Zack stopped me: “Mia, where are you going?” “Home.” “This is your home.” I laughed coldly, looking at him silently, then at the old woman who was still crying loudly. Zack couldn’t withstand my mocking gaze and helplessly let go of my hand. Before leaving, I discreetly glanced at my mother-in-law on the floor, catching a glimpse of her cunning, satisfied smile beneath her fake tears. Hah, laugh while you can. Your time for real tears will come.

I ate well, drank well, and slept well at my parents’ home. Life was extremely comfortable. The only discomfort came from Zack’s daily phone calls and messages. In the evening, I received another punctual call from Zack. But this time, when I answered, it wasn’t Zack’s voice, but my mother-in-law’s. I remained silent, waiting for the other end to speak first. After some faint urging in the background, my mother-in-law started speaking haltingly. “This time… it’s my fault. I’ll… give you back the money, and I’ll cook better meals from now on. Please come back.” Then Zack’s voice came on the line. “Mia, Mom knows she was wrong. Please come home. It’s not good for you to stay there for so long. Your parents already had issues with me, and if you keep doing this, they’ll look down on me even more.” In reality, whether I returned home or not wasn’t important. What mattered was that Zack was afraid my father would give him a hard time at work. Understanding his twisted motives, I remained silent. Zack softened his voice, using the approach that I used to fall for. “Mia, I’ve missed you so much these past few days.” Hearing this, I felt a wave of disgust, goosebumps breaking out all over my body. Afraid he might say something even more nauseating, I quickly agreed. “Alright, I’ll come back tomorrow afternoon.” The next day, I returned as promised. The table was full of home-cooked dishes. Although certainly not as good as our previous housekeeper’s cooking, they had at least made an effort to apologize. After the meal, my mother-in-law reluctantly returned the money to me. For the first few days after I returned, my mother-in-law did her job passably well. But by the fourth day, she gradually began to show her true colors. Lazy, sloppy, careless. One day, Zack came home with a face as black as thunder and went straight to the bathroom, spending a full hour there. At the dinner table, he asked his mother, “Mom, how did you wash these clothes?” My mother-in-law put on an innocent act: “I wash them every day, what’s wrong?” I saw Zack put down his chopsticks with considerable force, barely containing his anger. “I’ve had a cold recently, so my nose isn’t working well. Today, I wore the clothes you washed to work, and everyone I met avoided me. When I asked, they all said my clothes smelled bad. How could that be if you wash them every day?” I had smelled it in the morning, but I didn’t say anything. My mother-in-law probably smelled it too, but she didn’t dare say anything. Now that the truth was out, my mother-in-law still tried to defend herself. “There are so many clothes to wash every day, it’s normal to forget one.” Zack was gritting his teeth, struggling to control himself. “Mom, stop making excuses! Is it so hard to admit you made a mistake?” I was also struggling, trying not to laugh out loud. The show of dogs biting dogs was about to begin. My mother-in-law suddenly stood up: “Fine, now you’re starting to despise your old mother. When I raised you from a baby, changing your diapers and feeding you, why didn’t you complain about your old mother’s poor work then? Now that you’ve grown up, you’re nitpicking everything your mother does…” Zack’s face grew darker and darker as his mother ranted. My mother-in-law was spitting as she yelled, and suddenly turned her attack on me. “And you’re no better! Making your old mother-in-law work all day, my back and waist aching. Don’t think you’re really a princess. Take a good look at yourself before you judge others. Both of you are ungrateful!” I stepped back to avoid her spit, still trying to reason with her. “It’s just a job that you’re paid for, not exploitation. If you really can’t handle it, don’t force yourself. I have high standards for my life, and Zack can’t lose face when he goes out. By being so careless, you’re hurting both of us.” My mother-in-law’s face turned the color of pig liver. “I’m hurting you? Zack, search your conscience, has your mother ever hurt you?” With his mother being so unreasonable, Zack was about to lose his temper. “Mom, I couldn’t hold my head up in front of my colleagues today, all because of you. You’ve really gone too far this time!” This pushed my mother-in-law’s anger to the limit. Before either of us could react, she ran towards the front door. By the time we caught up with her, she was already downstairs in the community. My mother-in-law plopped down on the ground and started wailing loudly, her voice carrying far and wide. “Oh, how miserable I am! I worked myself to the bone to put my son through college, and now that he’s successful and married, he’s forgotten all the good his mother has done. He’s joining his wife in bullying me!” The commotion attracted a lot of attention from the neighbors. Some were watching from their windows, others came downstairs for a closer look. Remembering how the neighbors had criticized me in my previous life, I pushed Zack forward, sarcastically saying, “Your mother, you deal with her. I’m just a wicked daughter-in-law, I won’t get involved in your mother-son affairs.” With that, I melted into the crowd of onlookers, distancing myself from the situation.

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In the twenty-third year since I was adopted by the Lewis family, everyone assumed I would marry Adam Lewis. But he thought I was beautiful yet brainless, far inferior to the intelligent beauty he met in college. I knew he probably didn’t love me, so when he went abroad as an exchange student with his smart female classmate, I agreed to an arranged marriage with the Chen family. After I got engaged to the eldest son of the Chen family, Adam returned. When he saw me with my fiancé, he went crazy. “Melody, didn’t you promise you’d only be with me? How could you break your word?” I was just about to enter Adam’s room with a plate of cut fruit when I heard laughter from inside. “Adam, when are you going to marry Melody?” “We heard your parents are practically hounding you about it. Last time you ran out in the middle of an experiment, it was to take your mom’s marriage-pushing call, right?” “Your family is interesting, adopting an orphan and still following the old ‘child bride’ tradition… But seriously, Melody has been devoted to you, only liking you from the beginning until now. As for her looks and figure…” Another burst of laughter erupted, mixed with suggestive undertones. “She’s just the type men like, and conveniently has an empty head. You can easily manipulate her to do whatever you want in the future. How perfect!” My hand, ready to knock, froze. My heart sank. That’s right, everyone knew I liked Adam. But everyone also knew he didn’t like me. Sure enough, his voice rang out, clearly annoyed. “Whoever likes her can have her. I won’t marry her no matter what. Weren’t we going to play games? Are we still playing or not?” Adam didn’t want to discuss it, but someone always had to push the topic. “If you don’t like her, then it must be Cassy. Everyone knows our talented Cassy only smiles for you!” The teasing continued in waves. Outside the door, I stood holding the fruit, unable to move, feeling suffocated and miserable. Unlike his vehement denials when teased, Adam only chuckled lightly when Cassy was mentioned. Then came the sound of glasses clinking and chairs moving. The topic seemed to have been forcibly changed. I’m an orphan, adopted by the Lewis family when I was very young. From an early age, people joked that I was Adam’s future bride. Mom and Dad never stopped them, always smiling as they watched us, saying they were observing our compatibility. Later, when more people said it, Mom and Dad would ask me too. “Melody, would you like to marry Adam in the future?” “Yes!” After that, I followed Adam around like a little tail, but he always kept his distance. At the dinner table, he would push the food I put on his plate straight into the trash without even looking at it. When Mom and Dad asked him to pick me up from school, he ignored it. I would wait by the roadside until dark, then slowly walk home alone. When I saw him at school and greeted him, he acted as if he didn’t hear me, walking past me expressionlessly. Some people privately speculated about our relationship, but he always said he wasn’t familiar with me and not to associate us. I didn’t understand what I had done wrong to make him dislike me so much. I snapped back to reality, looking at the tightly closed study door, just like the barrier between Adam and me. He was inside, and I didn’t even dare to knock. I thought for a moment, then decided to take the cut fruit back to the kitchen, staring at the carefully arranged plate of fruit. “Well, well, what’s our little beauty hiding here for?” a frivolous voice sounded behind me, making me turn around sharply. I was startled by the voice behind me. I turned to see Paul, Adam’s friend, who was one of the people talking upstairs earlier. He leaned against the kitchen doorframe, his eyes shamelessly roaming over my body, a smile with unclear intentions on his lips. Seeing that I didn’t answer, Paul seemed to get more excited. He crossed his arms and walked a few steps closer to me, his gaze falling on me without any restraint. “But Melody, how do you have such a good figure… None of my girlfriends are as… hot as you.” The man’s slightly flirtatious comments made me frown instinctively. I was about to leave when Paul suddenly grabbed my arm. “Where are you going?”

Paul snickered and leaned in closer to me, grinning. “Little sister Melody, you’d be better off with me! How could someone like Adam ever like a pretty face with an empty head like you?” He looked me up and down, his gaze so blatant it was as if he was undressing me with his eyes. “The one standing next to him will only be someone like Cassy. That talented beauty next to Adam is what you call a perfect match. Standing next to you, it’s like a young master with his servant girl. Do you understand the difference?” The contempt in Paul’s tone was undisguised, his equally disdainful gaze falling on me. Paul’s words made my face turn pale. But it’s possible that I understood this point even more clearly than he did. I had actually seen Cassy before. Once, Mom asked me to bring something to Adam at his university. I searched all the way to Adam’s lab and saw him smiling in a way he had never shown me, listening attentively to a girl with a high ponytail opposite him. The two stood side by side, discussing complex formulas that I couldn’t understand at all. I watched them through the glass window. The two seemed to be in a world of their own, with no room for anyone else. They also looked very compatible, like formulas arranged together, always without a place for me. That day, I handed the things to Adam’s classmate without even thinking of going in. Come to think of it, I was just an adopted daughter of the Lewis family. I was already incredibly grateful that they had given me a second chance at life. How could I dare to go along with Mom and Dad’s jokes and think that I was worthy of Adam? Just as I was lost in thought, Paul suddenly let go of my arm and pulled me into his arms! “What are you doing!” I cried out, instinctively pushing him away hard. In the struggle, my elbow hit the drying rack at the edge of the sink. The plates on it fell into the sink with a loud clang. Paul’s arms were like iron clamps, gripping me so tightly that I couldn’t break free. “Let go of me!” I saw a flash of satisfaction cross Paul’s face. In my panic, I heard hurried footsteps coming down the stairs. Adam and a few other friends appeared at the kitchen door, probably alarmed by the noise. When Paul saw them, he let go of me as if he had been electrocuted. He quickly stepped back and immediately put on a surprised and angry expression, pointing at me. “Adam! Look at her!” His voice was loud, filled with accusation. “I just saw her standing here in a daze and came over to check on her out of kindness. She suddenly threw herself at me and hugged me!” He laughed coldly, his sharp gaze sweeping across my face. “What? Can’t get Adam, so you’re trying to seduce me? Want to be a daughter-in-law of the Phillips family? Melody, you’re really overestimating yourself!” “That’s not true! He was the one who…” I hurriedly tried to explain, my whole body shaking as I attempted to clarify what had just happened. But no one gave me a chance. The few friends who had come down with Adam looked back and forth between Paul and me with suggestive gazes, smiles on their faces as if they were watching a good show. They clearly believed Paul’s twisted version of events. Adam’s face was terrifyingly dark, his gaze falling on me like knives, filled with undisguised disgust and impatience. “Enough!” He harshly cut off my unfinished words. “Melody, look at yourself! Go back to your room and change your clothes! Stop embarrassing yourself here!” Embarrassing myself? I lowered my head instinctively. Only then did I realize that during the struggle, water from the sink had splashed out, soaking a large part of my chest. The thin summer fabric clung to my body when wet, clearly outlining the curves of my chest. I instinctively covered my chest with my hands, still able to hear a few laughs from around Adam. Embarrassment and overwhelming grievance instantly broke through my last line of defense. He didn’t even think about listening to my explanation. I rushed out of the kitchen, almost fleeing back to my own room.

After returning to my room, I changed my clothes as quickly as possible. At the same time, I heard the commotion outside getting quieter, as if Adam had taken his friends and left the house. I sat on the bed, tears falling uncontrollably. In high school, it was no secret that Adam and I lived under the same roof. People often joked that I was Adam’s child bride. It happened so often that Adam finally snapped, slamming down the book in his hand with a cold face. “I don’t like idiots. Stop associating us in the future.” Compared to someone like Adam who was always at the top of the class, I was indeed not very smart, always hundreds of places behind him in rankings. I knew what Adam said was true, but I still felt sad inside. Even studying hard at home in private didn’t help much, and I didn’t dare ask Mom and Dad for tutoring. Instead, it was Adam who accidentally saw me studying at home and casually tossed me his unused notes. The top student’s notes were indeed helpful. My grades improved significantly, and I attributed it all to Adam’s notes. At that time, I used my saved pocket money to prepare a beautiful notebook for Adam, secretly placing it in Adam’s desk drawer. But I never imagined that when Adam took out the box with my name on it, the notebook had turned into lingerie. I still remember Adam getting angry. In front of the whole class, with an ashen face, he threw that box along with its contents hard at me. “Melody! Can’t you have some self-respect? This is outrageous!” The box hitting me really hurt. I was slow to react, watching the bright red lingerie fall to the ground, feeling a chill from head to toe, not understanding why my gift had turned into this. Suppressed laughter and whispers immediately erupted around us. I was at a loss for words, feeling my face burn hot. Adam’s embarrassed and angry gaze made me feel even more cornered with nowhere to hide. That incident ended with me being forced to transfer schools amidst all the gossip at school. Fortunately, Mom and Dad believed me. They knew I wasn’t the kind of person who would do such a thing. Only Adam, from that day on, looked at me with nothing but cold disgust. The already thin relationship between us completely broke, becoming increasingly estranged. That night, Adam and his friends didn’t come back. Mom and Dad were out of town and hadn’t returned. I was scrolling through TikTok when I unexpectedly came across a video of Adam. On the screen, against the background of a noisy bar, the camera was focused on Adam. Someone holding a phone asked loudly, “Adam! Tell us now! Melody or Cassy, who do you choose?” In the video, Adam seemed to have had a bit to drink, but his eyes were still clear. He didn’t even hesitate for a moment, a careless smile on his lips. “Cassy.” Decisive and straightforward. The screen went dark, leaving only my pale face. From then on, I started deliberately avoiding Adam. When he came home on weekends, I would find various excuses to stay at school. Even on days when I had to go back, I tried to stay in my own room as much as possible, reducing the chances of running into him. We became like two parallel lines living under the same roof, never intersecting. But Adam changed a bit. In the past, he never cared about any of my social media posts, but these days he started frequently liking my posts on Facebook. I don’t know how many times I picked up my phone, saw the scenic photos Adam had liked, thought for a moment, and still chose to delete them. Along with the other posts Adam had liked in the past few days. It was as if doing this could really make our relationship return to something purely platonic. But no matter how much I tried to avoid him, when I received a call from Mom and Dad saying I had to come back for dinner tonight, I had no choice. “Melody, your brother has decided to go abroad as an exchange student for a while. Come back tonight, we’ll have a farewell dinner as a family.” I didn’t know how to feel. Perhaps it was relief. If he left, I wouldn’t have to hide so carefully anymore. I couldn’t refuse Mom and Dad again, so I had to go home reluctantly. But as soon as I got home and opened the door, I saw a girl with delicate features standing with Adam. When they heard the sound and looked at me, Adam hadn’t had time to retract his doting smile for her. My gaze lingered on the girl. Wasn’t it supposed to be a family dinner tonight? But why… why was Cassy here?

“You must be little sister Melody? I’ve often heard Adam mention you.” Cassy was beautiful. She took the initiative to shake my hand, then familiarly linked her arm with mine. The moment he saw me come back, the smile on Adam’s face disappeared without a trace, and he turned to enter the kitchen. Cassy was lively, talking about how she was about to go abroad with Adam as exchange students, and might even share an apartment with him in the future. “Adam is so attentive and considerate. He even suggested we live together, worried about my safety as a girl alone. Your brother is really a good man.” I forced myself to squeeze out a smile uglier than crying. “Yes, he’s very good.” Very good indeed, so good that I’ve been chasing after him since childhood, yet I can’t even touch his shadow. I was so immersed in my own thoughts that I didn’t even hear clearly what Cassy said afterwards. At that moment, I just nodded and said “good” mindlessly, not realizing that Cassy had just asked me if I thought it was good for her and Adam to be together. “Dinner’s ready.” I instinctively looked up and saw Adam, who had returned without me noticing, standing in the hallway not far away, his gaze heavy as he looked at me. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly averted my gaze. Mom and Dad’s attitude towards Cassy’s presence was lukewarm, only polite at best. Cassy kept trying to liven up the atmosphere, but neither Adam nor I said a word. Just then, a pair of chopsticks reached over, placing a glistening piece of sweet and sour ribs in my bowl. I froze, looking up at Adam. A nameless anger suddenly surged in my heart. I silently used my chopsticks to push that piece of rib he had picked for me to the side. My heart felt sour and bitter. He had always disliked me, even hated me a little. Why did he have to create this illusion of caring about me before he left? After dinner, Adam got up to send Cassy home. I returned to my room to sort out some seasonal clothes. As I passed by the living room, I heard Mom and Dad’s lowered voices coming through the slightly ajar door. “…It seems Adam really doesn’t like Melody.” It was Mom’s voice, tinged with a sigh. Dad was silent for a moment before saying, “You can’t force love. We can’t push the kids too much. We’ve always said the two of them would be together when they grow up, thinking that from childhood to adulthood…” Mom continued, “That’s true. By the way, the Chen family brought up the marriage arrangement again a few days ago. I think that Chen boy seems quite steady…” “Mm, I’ve met the Chen boy a few times. His character and abilities are not bad, and his family background is comparable. It’s just that I don’t know if Melody…” Yes, Adam doesn’t like me. Everyone knows that. Even Mom and Dad have finally given up. That’s good. I know Mom and Dad’s business hasn’t been going well lately. The Chen family is someone Mom and Dad want to partner with. If I can play a role in this, it’s a way to repay Mom and Dad for raising me. I took a deep breath and pushed open that slightly ajar door. Mom and Dad looked at me in surprise. I tugged at the corners of my mouth, putting on an obedient smile. “Dad, Mom.” “I’m willing to get engaged to the Chen family.”

The day I met Noah Chen was the same day Adam left for abroad. After that dinner, Adam and I returned to our clearly defined boundaries, though I could feel Adam looking at me several times, but when I turned around, I only saw his back. I met Noah Chen. As the only son of the Chen family, I had often heard about him. He was wild in his youth, but before he even graduated from high school, he had helped his family secure a big project. From the start of college, he had been working part-time at his family’s company while studying at a top domestic university. When Noah saw me, he couldn’t stop smiling. I’ve always felt a bit awkward around good-looking people who act unpredictably like him. So when he rested his chin on his hand and looked at me lazily, I couldn’t help but ask a question. “Why… do you want to…” Get engaged to me. Noah also smiled and gave his answer, “Because you’re beautiful!” I didn’t quite understand. If it’s just about looks, there are so many people more beautiful than me. But at that moment, what flashed through my mind were the words Adam’s friend had said. “…The type men like, and conveniently has an empty head. You can easily manipulate her to do whatever you want in the future. How perfect!” I didn’t say anything more. From the moment I agreed to Mom and Dad’s proposal, I had treated my marriage as a transaction of gratitude. So whatever Noah wanted in the future, I would go along with it. But Noah turned out to be quite different from what I had heard. Before, I had heard that Noah was flirtatious and unreliable, full of nonsense that you couldn’t tell was true or false. I agree with the part about him being full of nonsense. Otherwise, this guy wouldn’t send me a message saying he was going on a business trip and how tired he was, and then appear outside my school leaning against his car the next second. Noah always found various reasons to ask me out on dates. Today is the one-week anniversary of our engagement, today is some random holiday, today is the one-month anniversary of our first meeting… He always came up with new ideas, whether it was picking me up from school or coming to my house to pick me up, always in a high-profile manner. At first, Mom and Dad were worried that we wouldn’t get along well, but when they saw me glaring at him and then unable to hold back a smile, they started smiling along with us. And I seemed to be getting more and more used to Noah’s presence. He never joked about my looks or figure like others did. He sincerely praised my A+ grade report, and affirmed my clumsy but hardworking interest in learning to make clothes. He also didn’t spare his time, accompanying me to the library, to small diners, doing many things that Adam would find a waste of time just hearing about. And I also seemed to be more adapted to having him around, even adapted to the point where I had forgotten how long it had been since I had thought about Adam, or instinctively started to hide when I heard Mom and Dad mention Adam at home.

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